Firstly, thank you for all of those who reviewed! 41 reviews for three chapters! WOAWZA. And all the alerts too!

Uh so... Clintasha with Hailey chapter? It's angsty, I'm sorry guys! I swear I'm already writing the next chapter (she meets Captain America woo!) and it's fluffy-ufagus with sprinkles on top.

Hope you guys like this one! (or if you'd rather I stayed away from the heavy angst let me know)

Enjoy!

Her father came home at late nights and Hailey was used to it. She was used to hearing her daddy's footsteps walk up to her door and a chaste kiss goodnight on her forehead. Tonight was just like those nights, except ever since they moved into the Avengers Tower with the rest of the super heroes, her father's footsteps was accompanied by another set. Tasha's.

"You know she's awake when you get into her room at night," the older woman's voice echoed into the hallway and into Hailey's room. It was already dark, and the digital clock that sat on her bedside table read 0234.

"I know she wakes up," her father's voice echoed back. " But I want to keep up the appearnces. You know, normal family and all."

"Family huh?"

Hailey's bat hearing perked up. Family.

She imagined Tasha's eyebrows arched up.

"Yeah, Tash. I know she calls you mom when it's just the two of you."

"You—how?"

There was a pause which brought Hailey to bit her nails. She hoped her father wasn't mad at her for calling Natasha mother.

"She slipped."

"I-I'm sorry. I know how much you try and keep Bobbi's memory alive with her…"

"Bobbi is her mother, of course I want to keep her memory with Hailey. You shouldn't humor her, letting you call her mom and all."

"I'm not humoring her."

"She's not your daughter, Natasha."

Hailey sat up next to the door. Although she didn't have to. Her dad and Tasha's voice were raised, angry with one another.

"I know that Clint," the older woman spat. "You don't think out of all people, I know, constantly reminded that she's not my daughter? That it was my fault because I let you go?"

"Nat…"

"Why won't you tell her about us, huh? Why do we have to hide our relationship, from her of all people? She would be over the moon if she found out!"

Relationship? Hailey thought in her head. She clutched her bear in excitement. Maybe they were going to be a family, after all. She didn't even need Mister Iron man or Mister Thor's help.

"I just… We don't even know what we are. Sometimes we're friends, sometimes we're more than that… I don't want to confuse her, or her to be hurt when –"

"When what, Clint? When you decide that you two are too good for me. When you decide that I can't be the mother that she needs and you two just leave me? Tell me, I can take it."

"It's not that… I just don't want her to forget Bobbi. Okay?"

"Don't worry Barton. The girl praises the ground her mother walked on. She would never forget. But you have to move on, you both do."

"Don't be selfish, Natasha. You don't even know Bobbi."

"You're right. I don't, how can I compare to someone so – perfect?"

"That's not what I – "

"You know what, Barton? I'm done trying."

Hailey's eyes widened when she heard the front door to the apartment slam shut. The apartment was engulfed in silence as she slowly made her way to her bed.

"I know you were awake for that," her father's voice echoed in the room. He was leaning against her door.

"Why you let Tasha go?" Hailey mumbled, tears falling out of her eyes.

"I didn't. She's upstairs in apartment. She didn't go anywhere."

"She not staying here tonight? What 'bout my gymnastics lessons, she always teach me in the mornings."

"I'm sure she'll come by tomorrow and pick you up for gymnastics," he reassured her brushing the hair from her forehead. "Here… Jarvis?"

"Yes sir?"

"Would you kindly ask Agent Romanoff if she would still pick up Hailey for her morning gymnastics tomorrow?"

"Miss Romanoff stated she would, sir. 0800 tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Jarvis."

"Will that be all sir?"

"Yes, thank you."

Hailey's tears stopped but she looked at Clint still, sadness radiating in her eyes. "What's wrong, Bird?"

"If I pinky promise, swear on my heart hope to die, promise that I will never ever forget mommy… will you tell Momma Tasha to come back?"

"It's not up to me, baby. Maybe you can ask Tasha tomorrow. But for now, it's bed time, or else you won't wake up in time for your gymnastics."

"Okay," Hailey nodded letting her father go through the motions of tucking her into bed.

"Sweet dreams, baby."

"Goodnight, daddy."

Thirty minutes later, Natasha felt the other side of the bed dip slightly. Her gun already in her hand, safety off as she felt for the second movement aiming at the person who entered her bed.

"It's me, momma," she heard Hailey whispered. Natasha lowered her gun, placing the safety back on and onto her side table, away from the young girl. Natasha scooted from the center of the bed, making room for Hailey to climb in.

"What are you doing up, Hail?" Natasha asked letting the small girl lay her head on her lap. She stroked Hailey's soft hair.

"I wanna-ta talk to you."

"About what, darling?"

"I wanna-ta tell you not to listen to daddy."

"I won't leave you," Natasha whispered to her, familiar with the fears that were going through Hailey's mind. "I'll still be there for you for gymnastics, ballet, Russian classes… whatever you want."

"But you won't be my momma?" Hailey looked up at her with sad eyes. "Is it coz I bad kid? I promise I be good! No more sneaking to see Mister Iron Man or playing with Mister Thund-Thor! If you be momma please?"

Natasha looked at the young girl surprised, tucking in the bit of information about meeting and "playing" with the team later on. This was a completely different issue she was going to have to deal with.

"It's not that I don't want to be your momma, but you already have one. Maybe somewhere down the road, your daddy will find someone he loves very much and marry her. Then you'll have a new momma."

"Why can't you be her?"

Natasha shook her head. How does she explain love to a child? "Because, Hailey. I can't."

"Can I still call you momma?"

"Only when it's the two of us, okay? Otherwise your father might not let me see you anymore."

"Why daddy no want you ta-be my momma? Yous the only momma I ever knew-ed."
"I'll tell you when you get older," Natasha promised, just as she did with everything else she thought was too complex for the small girl to understand.

"Can I cuddle with you tonight?"

Natasha bit her lip and shook her head. "You have to get back to your princess bed, baby."

"But I wanna cuddle with you."

"You have to go back to your daddy, Hailey."

Natasha stood up from her bed, carrying the small child up on her hip. She walked to the elevator as Hailey screamed and protested, wiggling in her tight hold.

"You lie to me! You's gonna leave me too!"

Natasha pulled the girl closer to her body. "That's not true, Hail."

"You no want me! You no love me! You lie! You don't wanna be my momma!"

Hailey threw a fit as they got into the elevator and made their way onto Clint's floor.

"I don't love you anymore, momma! Yous gonna leave me too!"

Clint was waiting for them at the door when he heard Hailey's scream from the elevator. He shot Natasha a curious look.

"She came into my room from the vents," Natasha replied handing the child over to her father. "You should probably sleep with her tonight."

Hailey was hiccupping, tears coming down uncontrollably from her eyes. "It's way past your bedtime, baby."

"I… I think we shouldn't have gymnastics tomorrow morning. Let her rest up a little for the rest of the week," Natasha said watching Clint walk away with Hailey in his arms. Clint nodded his head, his back turned to her as Natasha walked over to the elevator to give the small family space. After all, as of that night, she wasn't part of that family any longer.

Like I said, sorry for the angst break. It's part of the non-existent plot I have in my head.
Let me know if you guys would rather not have angst and stick to fluff over the next chapters!

Reviews, please? (: