"Let's go," Veronica beamed, that was the perfect opportunity to get information and piss off the damn sniper even more. Maybe I should seduce him too, she mused. Clint lay in the ventilator shaft above her office together with Natasha. She insisted to come along and he let her. She never followed him up there before, it was a sign that she cared.

"…Agent Barton is a menace," she sighed. "He's undisciplined and insolent. He isn't intelligent either."

"He can be irritating and bad-mouthed but he has a good heart," Phil said.

"He's a huge child," she finished her last report.

"That he is," Phil agreed.

"Why don't you reassign him?" She asked curious.

"He's a hand full and nobody wants to keep him longer than necessary," Phil explained.

"So why do you?"

"That was his best behavior this morning and I'm the only one who can keep him in check so I'm stuck with him. Fury would never reassign him," Phil hoped the explanation was enough.

"What do you do to dominate him?" she caressed his chest.

"I do what I have to do," he said cryptically, stepping a step back.

"He's loud and nerve-wrecking and you want to tell me he's on his best behavior?" She kissed his cheek, "You must be a saint to put up with him."

"What can I say I take in every stray," he led her out of the room.

Tears streamed down his face while he lay in the shaft, he looked so resigned and vulnerable that it tore on Natasha's heart, "Clint?"

"I knew the day would come," he whispered even though they were alone.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm loud, too cheerful, cheeky, rude and a menace," he stared down into the empty office.

"That's the way we love you," she took his hand. "That's the way we know you, I don't want you to change."

"But I drove him away," he swallowed hard. "They were right you know, I deserve what I get."

"No you never deserved what you got and you don't deserve this," she said hard.

He didn't say anything in return. "Come with me," she tugged on his hand.

Phil hated the 'date' with every fiber of his heart and wished he could go home. She was all over him and he felt rather dirty. Tony and Steve watched them from afar, grinning and gossiping. Phil finally understood what Clint's problem was. He didn't realize it sooner but she was hitting on him. He tried to befriend her and nothing more but Tony and Steve were talking nonstop about how perfect they are and how cute their children would be. It must have hurt Clint more than he thought. Phil realized that night that he had flirted back sometimes and gave her wrong signals that were the reasons why Nick told him to choose.

He owed Clint an apology. "It's late," he finally said and waved at the waitress.

"So what do we do now?" she said seductive.

"I go home," he said while he got up, she took it as an invitation to follow him. "Do you need a ride home before I leave?" he asked.

Her eyes widened in surprise, "I'd like to go home with you."

"No," he said, not even for the op.

"I thought we could revive our relationship," she pulled him closer for a kiss.

"No," he jerked away. "You and I that ended ages ago. We can be friends but nothing more."

"Hmpf," she huffed. "I'll get you back," she stormed out of the restaurant.

"What have you done?" Tony frowned.

"I'm not interested in her that way," Phil said and left.

"Trouble in paradise," Tony snickered.

Steve nodded.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Okay," Tony rubbed his goatee. "I know, officially, you have a room here but since when do you actually live here?"

"Four days, six hours, forty two minutes and thirty six seconds," JARVIS interrupted.

"Thanks," Tony rolled his eyes.

"Natasha decided I need a change of scenery," Clint shrugged. He looked tired and pale.

"Do you actually sleep sometimes?" Banner asked curious.

"No. Why?" Clint gave him a suspicious look.

"Because you look dead on your feet," he replied.

"Thank you," he sipped on his coffee, Natasha returned with the mail. "Stark, Stark, Stark, Banner, Banner, Barton," she distributed.

"What's that?" Tony tried to get a look at Barton's letter. "Divorce papers," he said before he got up.

"Divorce? You're married?" Tony knocked over his mug.

"Why didn't you tell us you're married?" Steve sounded gentle, "We could have helped."

"Why does she leave you?" Banner pushed.

"Why does everyone think it's always my fault?" He hissed, "I want the divorce."

"Why? You seem unhappy with the decision," Steve got up and approached Clint.

"Do you think a divorce is fun? I married for a reason," he held his tears back. "Don't Steve please," he stepped away from Steve's open arms.

"I need some time, don't worry," he fled.

"He's married I can't believe it," Tony shook his head; he hated the fact that he didn't figure it out on his own.

"I can't believe they divorce," Natasha took a muffin.

"You knew?" Tony frowned. "Of course you knew."

"What kind of person is she?" Cap asked.

"Clint loves her very, very much, more than his own life and I hope they sort it out before one of them get truly hurt," she left, she had talked more than she should have but even the black widow had to talk from time to time.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Phil worked through a stack of files as an envelope caught his eyes.

He opened it and dropped it after he read it. "That's why you left," he buried his face in his hands, "divorce papers," he whispered to himself.

"You got what you asked for," Nick leaned against the doorframe. "We tried to warn you."

"How can I make him understand without telling him about it?" Phil countered.

"You shouldn't have flirted with her. You spent more time with her than with him. He was even more irritating than usual only to get your attention but you just snapped at him. What were you thinking?"

"I don't know," he took a deep breath. "I think it was a matter of pride. She broke my heart without a second thought and I want her to regret what she's done."

"The price is too high and she isn't worth it," Fury crossed his arms in front of his chest. "The enemy knows that we're coming. We have to make a backup plan and we head out four days earlier."

"She sold us out," Phil said out loud.

"She did." Nick nodded, "and I think she doesn't even know what loyalty means, or love."

"Romanoff says he's all right and I shouldn't worry. He moved in with the Avengers," Phil suppressed his tears. "I confirmed what he always feared."

"You're nothing like them but you have to make your point clear, you have to prove yourself again," Nick left.

Phil threw the divorce papers into the trash bin.

Clint avoided Phil the few times they visited HQ, it was hard to be there but he couldn't stand to see his husband.

Clint spent most of his free time with Tony in his lab, where he taught Clint how to cause mischief with help of modern technology. They rarely talked about none technology related matters but Tony got a little glimpse at the real Clint Barton.

Steve dragged Clint down to the gym whenever he seemed unsettled and taught him hand to hand combat. Clint knew damn well how to defend himself but you never finish your training, there is so much to learn.

Bruce left him alone most of the time but he was never far away.

Black Widow watched them from afar, she was happy that Clint finally bonded with his teammates but on the other hand she knew it wouldn't last. Clint needed Phil like the air to breath. He couldn't live without Phil; Phil pulled him out of his personal hell and guided him since then.

"What are you thinking about," Clint settled down next to her.

"You and Phil," she said.

"He doesn't call," Clint sighed.

"You don't call either," she looked at him.

"True," he agreed.

"A divorce isn't the answer," she was right.

"I want to see if he signs them or not. If he does than our whole relationship was a lie," he explained.

A small smiled tugged on her lips, "You can be clever."

"Sometimes," he chuckled, "We have to get ready."

At 6 a.m. sharp, the next morning, they boarded the helicarrier.

Clint settled down next to Natasha, Tony set down next to him. It was his way to offer comfort in case he needed it.

Phil watched his lover, the young man looked like hell but it seemed he finally bonded with them. "Barton," he risked it.

Clint's head shot up, not sure what to do. "Come here," Phil ordered him to a side room of the heli, away from curious eyes.

The young man obeyed. "Yes sir?" he stood straight and his voice was neutral.

"I finally know what I did wrong," Phil whispered.

"You do?" Clint mocked. "Yeah I do," Phil rubbed his face; light reflected from his wedding band.

Clint jaw dropped. "I'll not sign the divorce papers do you understand?" Phil took Clint's hand, took of the gloves and slipped a matching wedding band on his finger.

"Do you think the change of heart changes anything?" Clint hissed.

"No but I think it's a beginning," Phil seemed sad, "It wasn't my intention to flirt with her. It was never my intention to hit on her. She hurt my pride after she left and I wanted her to regret it, to show her that I don't need her love anymore. I have you and she can never compare to you. You're the only one for me and I can assure you it was not your fault."

"The rest of the story is kinda my fault," Fury joined them. "We think she is a spy and we ordered Phil to befriend her and get information. Now we know, she is a spy."

"It was an op all the time?" Clint gaped.

"Yes but it got out of hand and I'm sorry," Phil sounded so honest that Clint wanted to believe him.

"How do I know that this isn't a plot too," he put on his glove.

"You don't," Fury said. "You have to trust us."

"I have to think about it, 'cause I know that you love me but I'm not sure you're still in love with me," Clint joined the others.

"Ouch," Nick stated.

"Just say it. I told you so," Phil watched Clint walk away.

"No," Fury shook his head. "I think what he just said is punishment enough", Phil nodded his head in agreement.

"Damn," Tony yelled.

Steve jerked, ready to fight.

"What?" Thor looked confused.

"Coulson wears a sweet little wedding band," Tony smirked. "Did you marry hear without telling us?" he pointed at Redcliff.

"No, sorry to disappoint you," Phil rubbed his ring gently. "I'm scared I put my wife in harm's way when I wear my ring but she had pretty good arguments. She tries for years to change my mind."

"And what changed your mind?" Redcliff glared.

"Her arguments get better and better," he smiled a true smile. Clint gave Natasha a knowing look but she just shrugged.

"Maybe you could save your marriage too," Tony offered, "a little gesture can change anything."

"I'm not sure if it's not too late already," he leaned back in his seat rubbing his glove right above the ring. A little smile spread over his face before he closed his eyes. Phil was there, he was safe, maybe it wasn't too late after all.

Tony's eyes went wide as he truly realized that Phil was married. "Damn, we tried to split up a marriage. Your wife must hate us."

"She hates your gut at the moment that's true," Phil rubbed his forehead.

Steve blushed furiously, "Please tell her it wasn't our intention to hook you up with someone else while your wife waited for you at home."

"I think you'll be fine. She's angrier with me anyway."

"Sorry," Tony grimaced.

"Don't worry. The whole incident taught me a lesson," Phil's glance was unreadable.