Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
January 7th 1991
It has been three months since Clint told Melinda that he wanted to be adopted and thanks to Lian May's connection within a few days Clint was legally adopted by Melinda.
It is a Monday morning and Clint was fast asleep until Bobbi jumps onto his bed, and him, waking him up.
"Bobbi Bear?" Clint asks confused.
"Wake up Clint! Wake up!" Bobbi tells her brother.
"It's…...six am." Clint says after rolling over to check his clock, being completely confused about why his little sister is waking him up, "Why are you waking me up so early?" Clint asks confused.
"Because it's your birthday!" Bobbi says, jumping down from Clint's bed, "So you've got to get up." Bobbi tells her brother, there being no room for questioning in her voice, as she pulls his blanket off him.
"No." Clint says, pulling his blanket back on, "It's my birthday which means I get to choose what I do and I want to sleep in." Clint tells his sister, "So let me." He says as he closes his eyes and tries to make himself comfortable.
"But you need to get up! Mom said that I can't have any of your birthday cake until you're up so you need to get up, because I want birthday cake" Bobbi tells her brother.
"A, huh." Clint says as he turns away from his sister then he realises exactly what his little sister just said, "Wait what?" Clint asks opening his eyes, "Birthday cake?" he ask turning back to look at her.
"Yeah, and presents, it's your birthday that's what happens." Bobbi tells her brother, not understanding why he looks so confused, "And I want to eat the cake but Mom said that we have to wait for you so that's why you have to get up." Bobbi tells her brother.
"I guess I'm getting up." Clint says, not really sure how to feel as he sits up as he can't remember the last time he had an actual birthday celebration.
"Yay!" Bobbi says happily, "Come on Clint, you've got to move quickly." Bobbi says as she grabs her brothers hand and pulls him along.
"I'm coming Bobbi Bear, I'm coming." Clint says as he trails behind his little sister.
When Clint and Bobbi arrive downstairs Clint is amazed to find that the entire lower level of the house has been decorated in balloons and streamers and that there are a few presents sitting on the table with a large cake in front of it with Happy Birthday Clint written on it.
"This, this is incredible." Clint says amazed as he looks around.
"Yep, now we can eat cake." Bobbi says, being happy about that as birthdays is the only time Melinda would even consider letting her children have sweats this early, "MOM." Bobbi yells and Melinda hurries into the room, having ran when she heard her daughter yell, "Clint's up now we can have cake." Bobbi says to her mother, as Melinda scans the room for danger.
"Did you wake your brother up?" Melinda asks her daughter, as she walks over to her children, after making sure that there is no danger.
"No." Bobbi lies.
"Bobbi." Melinda says in a warning tone of voice, "Don't lie to me."
"Okay, yes." Bobbi answers, "But I really wanted cake." She explains, giving her mother an 'I'm innocent look', a look which Melinda ignores.
"That doesn't make wakening your brother up okay." Melinda informs Bobbi.
"It's okay." Clint says, "If I knew you had done all this I would have wanted to be woken up." Clint explains, "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me." Melinda says, walking the last few steps that separate her from her son and hugging him, "Happy Birthday Clint, I love you." She says as she hugs him.
"Thanks, Mom." Clint says. Because he knows that he has to keep things professional at S.H.I.E.L.D it isn't often that Clint calls Melinda Mom so when he does it means a lot to her.
"Can we have cake now?" Bobbi asks curious when her brother and Mother break apart.
"In a minute, be patient.' Melinda tells her daughter, "It's a tradition that Bobbi and I have where we eat cake for breakfast on one of our birthdays." Melinda explains to Clint.
"I like the sound of that." He says with a grin.
"I thought you might." Melinda says, "Grandpa will be here in a few hours to celebrate with us." Melinda informs her son, "And Grandma got heled up but should make it for dinner." Melinda explains.
"Really?" Clint asks surprised as he, Melinda and Bobbi walk over to the table.
"Really." Melinda confirms, "Today's all about you Clint." Melinda says and Clint just gives a nod as he doesn't trust his voice because he is so touched and amazed by what Melinda has done for him.
March 14th 1992
It has been over a year since Clint's sixteenth birthday and in that time Melinda, Clint, and Bobbi have lived in six different cities because of Melinda's work. Understandably that has been an adjustment for Bobbi and Clint, Bobbi especially, but Melinda has been doing her best to make it as easy for them as possible.
Even though she has lived in so many places in the last year there has been one thing that Bobbi has been able to do wherever she lives and that is Gymnastics, and because of that she has become quite good; so good that she is competing in a competition after only being where she is a few weeks.
Ever since she found out that her daughter was going to compete Melinda told Fury not to bother her for anything, no matter what, so that she and Clint can sit together in the stands and watch, support and cheer on Bobbi, which exactly what they are doing.
"Bobbi Bear's group is next, right?" Clint asks his mother.
"Yeah, it is." Melinda confirms.
"Good."
"It's good of you to come watch, I know there are other things you would rather be doing on a Saturday but I know it means a lot to Bobbi that you're here." Melinda tells her son.
"Are you kidding? This is Bobbi Bear's first competition there is no where I would rather be." Clint tells his mother, telling the complete truth as while he usually likes to do other things on his weekend right now the place he most wants to be is by his mother's side, watching his little sister.
For the next fifteen minutes Melinda and Clint watch while the other people in Bobbi's group compete and when it gets to Bobbi's name Melinda claps and cheers loudly while Clint stands up and basically screams. As he does that Bobbi catches her big brother's eye and smiles at him, shaking her head, only slightly embarrassed by his outburst, but mainly it gives her comfort she takes inspiration from the fact that her mother and big brother are watching her.
For the next few minutes Melinda and Clint watch, with looks of complete pride on their faces, as Bobbi completes her routine and when she is finish both Clint and Melinda stand up and clap and cheer Bobbi on both being amazed by what she did.
Ten minutes later everyone else in Bobbi's group have competed and the judges are announcing the winners.
"And in first place, Barbara Morse." The judge announces and Melinda and Clint once more clap as loud as they can for Bobbi.
As she accepts her medal the first thing Bobbi does is look towards her brother and mother and grins, it meaning so much to her that they are there watching because she knows how busy they are.
Ten minutes after Bobbi received her medal the meet is officially over so Melinda and Clint are able to go up to Bobbi. As soon as they are close enough Bobbi runs over to her family and Melinda pulls her into a hug.
"I'm so proud of you Bobbi. You were amazing out there." Melinda tells her daughter.
"Thanks Mom." Bobbi says with a smile.
"Mom's right, you kicked ass." Clint says with a grin.
"Thanks Clint."
"Are you hungry?" Melinda asks her daughter, "Because for lunch I thought we could go wherever you want." Melinda tells her daughter.
"McDonalds?" Bobbi asks as her mother hardly ever lets her have fast food.
"Is that what you really want?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yes." Bobbi says with a determine nod.
"Then okay." Melinda says, not being a fan of that. but because it was Bobbi's choice celebrating her achievements then that's where they will go.
"Yay." Bobbi says happily.
"Let's go." Melinda says and the family of three walk out of the gym.
"Wow Bobbi Bear, you've got to win more of these thing so Mom lifts her ban on junk food more often." Clint says to his sister in a whisper and in response Bobbi just laughs.
Twenty minutes after Melinda, Clint and Bobbi are sitting together at a table at McDonald's eating, while Bobbi explains all about what she was thinking when she did every little thing.
"Um, Mom, were you expecting Fury?" Clint asks curious.
"No." Melinda says and she turns to look out the window where she sees Fury getting out of an black SUV. As soon as she sees him Melinda frowns as she knows that for Fury to show up without warning then something must have happened, something big and most likely bad.
As soon as Fury walks into the McDonalds he spots Melinda, Clint and Bobbi and walks over.
"Nick!" Bobbi says happily, "I came in first." She tells him, sounding proud of herself.
"That's great, Bobbi." Fury tells her, completely meaning that as he sits down next to Clint and across from Melinda and Bobbi, "I need you to come in." he tells Melinda.
"No. I spending the day with my kids." Melinda tells Fury, wondering why he would come when she made it clear that she wouldn't come in because she wanted to spend the day with her kids.
"I know that, but this is important." Fury says as he doesn't like dragging Melinda away from her kids, but he has to for this, "Phil was captured during the mission he was on and you're the only one with the skills to save him." At Fury's words Melinda gets a brief look of horror on her face which she quickly attempts to cover up so that she doesn't worry Bobbi or Clint.
"How long ago?" Melinda asks
"Two hours forty-five minutes." Fury says and Melinda is torn for what to do, she wants to stay with her children but she also, desperately wants to get Coulson back.
"It's okay, Mom." Bobbi says, "Go rescue, Phil." Bobbi says as she understands enough to know what is going on, "Clint and I will be okay."
"We really will be." Clint assures his mother as he has seen Phil and Melinda around each other enough to know how important Phil is to her.
"Okay." Melinda says after a few minutes of thinking, "But I'm taking you two home first and calling Grandpa so that he can stay with you while I'm gone." Melinda tells her children as she knows her father had to work, which is why he couldn't come to Bobbi's gymnastics competition, but he should be home by now
"But I can look after both of us." Clint points out.
"I know you can Clint, but I would still feel better if Grandpa was there." Melinda explains as even though she knows and trusts Clint to look after himself and Bobbi she is worried about their safety so she would prefer if her father was there watching them too.
"Okay." Clint says, understanding that.
Three Days Later
It has been three days since Fury found Melinda in a McDonalds to tell her that Phil was captured and in that time Melinda managed to complete her rescue mission and to her relief Phil is home safely with only a few minor injuries.
It's one am when Melinda walks through the front door of her house and even though she knows they will be asleep all Melinda wants to do is check on her kids and so she heads to Clint's room first.
In Clint's room she finds that he is fast asleep but he has left the TV on so she turns it off, before walking over to him. Once she is standing over her son Melinda covers him more with the blanket that is hanging off and places a kiss on his head.
"I love you, Clint, sweet dreams." Melinda says in a whisper before double checking that the window is locked before heading out of the room, closing the door behind her.
After leaving Clint's room Melinda walks over to Bobbi's and unlike her brother Bobbi hasn't fallen asleep with the TV on, but has fallen asleep with a book right next to her, and so Melinda picks up the book, marks Bobbi's page and puts it on the bedside table. Just like she did with Clint, once Melinda puts the book up she covers her daughter completely with her blanket and places a kiss on her head, "I love you, Bobbi, sweet dreams." Melinda tells her daughter before going and double checking that the widow is locked.
"Mom?" Bobbi's voice asks as Melinda checks the lock.
"Yeah, it's me Sweetie. Go back to sleep." Melinda tells her daughter.
"Did you rescue, Phil?" Bobbi asks curious, it being clear that she is now wide awake.
"I did." Melinda says walking over and sitting on the edge of her daughter's bed.
"Mom, are you a superhero?" Bobbi asks curious.
"No." Melinda answers as she doesn't see herself that way, "My job is to protect and help people, to keep them safe." Melinda explains, giving her daughter the simplest explanation for what she does.
"But that's what a superhero does." Bobbi tells her mother, "You are a superhero!" Bobbi says, there being no room for argument in her voice.
"No, I protect superheroes." Melinda tells her daughter.
"That's way cooler." Bobbi says her eyes widening, "One day can I protect superheroes too?" Bobbi asks curious, surprising Melinda who wasn't expecting that.
"If when you're older and it's something you really want you can." Melinda says, choosing her words careful as if joining S.H.I.E.L.D is something that Bobbi really wants when she is old enough Melinda won't stop her, but at the same time Melinda doesn't want her other child to be in the kind of danger that being a S.H.I.E.L.D agent puts you in.
"I will, I want to be just like you when I grow up." Bobbi tells her mother.
"If you say so." Melinda says, honestly she hopes that her daughter will be a better person than her, "And we can talk about that whenever you want, but right now you need to go to sleep, okay?"
"Okay." Bobbi says in response.
"Good, I love you, Bobbi." Melinda says, placing another kiss on her daughter's head.
"Love you too, Mom." Bobbi says in response and Melinda gets up and walks out of her daughter's room, giving her one last look as she does.
November 12th 1993
After Bobbi's gymnastics competition the May tradition of moving constantly has continued, though they have stayed at places slightly longer. Clint has officially graduated from high school and is working for S.H.I.E.L.D full time something which makes Melinda both incredibly proud and anxious as even though she knows that her son is incredibly skilled she will never stop worrying about him.
It is Friday afternoon and Melinda was planning on picking up Bobbi from school herself, but she just got called into a meeting about a mission she and Coulson went on so she is searching the base for Clint.
"There you are." Melinda says when she finds her son in the gym.
"Here I am, what's up?" Clint asks his mother curious.
"I just got called into a meeting and I…" Melinda starts to say but Clint cuts her off.
"Need me to go pick up Bobbi." Clint finishes.
"Can you?" Melinda asks.
"Yeah, sure." Clint answers.
"Great, she finishes in half an hour." Melinda tells her son.
"I will be there." Clint assures her mother.
"Thank you, I got to go I'm late for the meeting I'm meant to be at." Melinda explains before hurrying off.
"Hey, Barton." One of the sci-tec agents says walking in, "I have something to show you." He informs you.
"Oh?" Clint asks, checking the time and realising that he has ten minutes before he has to leave to get Bobbi.
"Yeah, it's a new prototype bow." The Sci-Tec agent explains.
"Oh, awesome" Clint says and he walks over to have a look.
Fifteen minutes later Clint is testing out the new bow when he sees his watch out of his corner of his eye.
"SHIT." Clint yells.
"What's wrong?" The Sci-Tec agent asks.
"I'm late for something important." Clint says shoving the bow into the sci-tec agents' hands before sprinting out of the room.
After leaving the gym Clint hurries downstairs and gets in his car and drives out, and being as quick as possible while still following the road laws, Clint makes his way to Bobbi's school but because of road works he ends up arriving even later.
"BOBBI?" Clint calls as he walks along where the children wait to be picked up and doesn't see any sign of his little sister, "BOBBI." Clint yells as he hurries across the schoolyard becoming panicked.
"CLINT. HELP." Clint hears Bobbi's voice say and Clint turns to see a man trying to force Bobbi into a van.
"BOBBI." Clint yells as he sprints, and jumps over the fence The entire time Clint runs and jumps he has one thing on his mind; saving his sister.
Once he is close enough Clint throws a punch at the man, which forces him to let go of Bobbi, and before the man can react Clint pushes his head against the van door, knocking him out.
"RUN." Clint tells his sister as he grabs her hands and pulls her along as he starts to run.
"Clint, you're hurting me." Bobbi says as she feels her arm almost being pulled out of her arm socket as they run.
"I'm sorry, Bobbi Bear, but you need to keep running." Clint says, there being panic in his voice as he knows that the only thing that matters is getting Bobbi somewhere safe.
"I don't know if I can." Bobbi admits.
"Okay." Clint says before picking up Bobbi and continuing to run, not focusing on how hard it is or how much it hurts, the only thing Clint is focusing on is getting as far away from the school as possible so that they are safe.
For the next few minutes Clint runs while holding Bobbi until he spots a phone box which, after making sure he wasn't followed, he rushes over to.
"Are you calling Mom?" Bobbi asks as Clint puts her down on the floor.
"No, Nick." Clint explains, while he dials Fury's family only emergency number, as he knows that Fury will be able to interrupt the meeting his mother is in, something which a phone call from Agent Barton wouldn't do.
"Go." Fury answers.
"Nick, It's Clint. A man just tried to abduct Bobbi from school. I've got her and she's okay, but I don't know who he was or if he followed us." Clint explains.
"Where are you right now?" Fury asks, as he, unknown to Clint grabs his side arm so that he can head to where Melinda is and pull her out of the meeting and then get to Clint and Bobbi as fast as possible.
"A phone box across from one of those indoor playgrounds on sixth." Clint explains.
"Okay, here's what I want you to do; take Bobbi to the playground. Blend in with the other families. Your mother and I will be there soon, got it?" Nick asks Clint.
"Got it." Clint says before hanging up, "Mom and Nick are on their way, are you okay, Bobbi Bear?" Clint asks, looking down at his sister.
"Yeah, thank you, Clint. I was so scared." Bobbi admits, it being clear to Clint that she is still afraid.
"I'm sorry, Bobbi, I'm so sorry that I wasn't there to protect you." Clint says, feeling overwhelming guilt because he wasn't there to pick up Bobbi because he was too busy testing out a new bow, "But I promise you that from now on I will always be there to protect you, I won't let anyone take you, ever." Clint promises, "I love you, Bobbi Bear." Clint tells his little sister.
"I love you too." Bobbi response and she hugs her brother.
"Let's go." Clint says after about a minute, "We've got to go to where Mom and Nick will meet us."
"Okay." Bobbi says and Clint once more takes his sister's hand as the leave the phone box, Clint having his eyes peeled for any danger.
It has been about ten minutes since Clint called Fury and he and Bobbi are at the playground doing their best to blend in when Clint sees Melinda and Fury walk in.
"Bobbi Bear." Clint says to his little sister who is on the swing.
"MOMMY." Bobbi says, jumping off the swing and rushing over to her mother, Clint walking behind.
"Bobbi." Melinda says puling her daughter into a tight hug, "Are you okay? Were you hurt?"
"No, I wasn't hurt. I'm okay." Bobbi assures her worried mother.
"Clint?" Melinda asks looking over her daughter's head to look at her son.
"I'm fine, I'm sorry Mom, I was late picking Bobbi up." Clint explains the guilt he is feeling being perfectly clear in his voice.
"It's okay. It's not your fault." Melinda assures her son; it being clear to her just how guilty he is feeling.
"I've got agents checking but I need you to tell me everything." Fury tells Clint and that's exactly what he does.
After the day they had Melinda isn't surprised when both her children ask if they can sleep in her bed, and she also isn't surprised when at one am she can't sleep. All she can do is sit up in bed and watch over her children.
One thing that does surprise Melinda is when the phone starts to ring at about quarter past one.
"May."
"It's Coulson. I figured you would be up after what happened." Phil's voice responds as he knows that Melinda's daughter was almost adducted and Clint stopped it.
"You figured right." Melinda answers, making sure her voice isn't loud enough to wake Bobbi or Clint, "What's up?"
"Nothing, I thought I would just call to check in." Phil explains. "How's your daughter?" he asks, there being genuine concern in his voice.
"Shaken, but okay. She wasn't hurt." Melinda explains.
"That's one good thing." Phil comments.
"Yeah."
"What can I do?" Phil asks after a minute pause.
"Find the people who tried to take my daughter.' Melinda requests.
"Fury and I are working on it. We'll get them, Melinda." Phil assures his best friend.
"We have to." Melinda says as she looks down at her sleeping children.
"And we will." Phil promises, "You should get some rest, you need it."
"I can't. I need to watch them." Melinda tells Phil.
"Melinda…" Phil starts to say but Melinda cuts him off.
"I could have lost her today, Phil. My daughter, she was almost taken." Melinda says, it being clear that she doesn't know how to handle that.
"But you didn't. Your daughter is safe, she wasn't hurt, you've got to focus on that." Phil says, "You'll drive yourself crazy if you don't, if you focus on the what ifs." Phil says, trying to be as comforting as possible, "Get some sleep, Melinda, everything will be okay in the morning."
"I'll try." Melinda says, not sure if she actually will, "Night Phil."
"Goodnight, Melinda." Phil says and they both hang up, but like she suspected Melinda doesn't try to sleep she just continues to watch her children, going over and over in her mind the fact that she almost lost them today and as she does she knows, without a doubt, that she doesn't want to ever feel that horror again.