Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it's much appreciated :) - Qweb, Sandy-wmd, Lollypops101, Anise Nadiah, kimbee, VioletBrock, sammygirl1963, Manicpanicgirl, DBhawkguy30.
I may have to bring Jim Hannover back into this at some point, Phil will end him! *evil laugh* and I will enjoy making it happen!
This chapter is huge...just for all you amazing people!
Phil made his way downstairs after checking on the rest of his family. He could hear the loud snores coming from both the guest rooms; chuckling to himself he realised that his sisters really hadn't changed at all. Pausing at the bottom step, the agent noticed the kitchen light was on. He made his way quietly to the source, smiling when he inhaled the freshly brewed coffee.
"Morning dad." Phil couldn't stop the smirk from spreading across his face at the older man's surprised expression. It wasn't unusual for his dad to be up this early, the man was an early riser, had been since Phil was just a boy.
"Morning." Phillip pulled another mug out of the cupboard, adding one and a half sugars then arched an eyebrow in question.
"Yeah that's still how I take it." The younger man watched as his dad poured the coffee into his mug, thanking him when he handed it over.
Phillip stared at his son, seeing the tell-tale signs of worry in the younger man's eyes. "What happened?"
Coulson sighed as he took a sip of his coffee, setting the cup on the countertop he turned to the older man. "He had a nightmare."
"Is he okay?"
"He will be. Kid's good at pulling himself together, still I think it's going to be a while before he talks to me about that one." Phil folded his arms over his chest, watching as concern flashed in his father's eyes; it mirrored his own.
Phillip nodded, trusting that his son knew what was best for the boy. Phil had been looking after the teen for over two years now, although it still didn't make it any easier when he didn't know what to do. As a father and grandfather, Phillip hated seeing any of his family upset, or in pain. It hurt him deeply knowing just some of the things Clint had been through and being unable to help him. He was pulled from his thoughts when he noticed the teen moving silently into the kitchen to join them.
Clint gave the older man a small nod in greeting and a smile before moving to stand next to Phil. "I thought you were going to make my favourite?" he asked with a smirk.
Coulson chuckled. "Oh yeah, then I remembered I don't know how to cook so I was just going to leave it for you to do."
Barton glared at him but there was no real heat to it, grumbling under his breath about having to do everything, before starting to grab ingredients for his favourite food. "Pancakes?" he asked Phillip, pulling the frying pan from the cupboard.
"Yeah, thanks." Taking another sip of his coffee, the older man watched as the teenager started mixing together flour, milk and eggs. Both men stood back, watching as Barton poured some of the mix on to the lightly oiled frying pan, swirling it around in the pan to give it a nice even layer. It was after roughly thirty seconds that Clint made sure the pancake wasn't sticking to the pan before he flipped it high into the air, catching it neatly back in the pan.
"Nicely done, kid." Phillip watched in fascination as Clint did this numerous times, the height of the flying pancakes getting higher each time.
"Awesome!" Tommy cried, running into the kitchen. He was scooped up by Phil and planted on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. The seven year olds blue eyes were filled with awe as his cousin filled a plate with the best looking pancakes he could ever remember seeing.
Clint smiled at Tommy's expression and decided to show off a little more. Grabbing the bottle of syrup, he threw it up over his shoulder, catching it easily behind his back without even looking. The little boy's eyes looked like they were about to burst out of his head. "That is so cool."
"Here." Clint pushed a plate of four pancakes over to the smaller boy, sliding the bottle of syrup along with it.
Tommy caught the syrup, grinning at his big cousin. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," he replied, then hopped on the chair next to the small blonde boy. Both Clint and Tommy demolished their food, licking their lips in delight. Phil tore small bits from his pancake, eating and finishing his coffee. Barton laughed as Phillip ate his in one bite, the older man's cheeks reminded Clint of a hamster after it had taken its fill.
"Phillip, really?" Marie walked into the kitchen, her eyes already glued to the coffee maker, before she shot her husband a shameful look. The man in question just shrugged his shoulders and continued chewing.
Clint and Tommy snickered at the exchange.
Phil poured his mom a cup of coffee, then added a little milk before handing it to her. Marie gave him a grateful smile, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Phil."
Coulson grinned back, then set about washing the dirty dishes.
"Would you like some pancakes?" Clint asked the older woman, already sliding off the stool.
"I think I'll wait until the girls are up, thank you Clint." The teen nodded, stretching as he made his way over to the sink to help Phil by drying the dishes.
It didn't take long for the others to join them downstairs. Fiona and Rachel were squealing in delight when Clint said he'd make them pancakes. He did the same as before, tossing the pancake higher each time. Once he was finished he pushed a tower of the delicious, sweet tasting food over to the girls. Both his aunts and gran were watching with wide eyes too. They'd never seen anything like it.
Phil was feeling immensely proud at that moment, watching as his son seemed to forget all the troubles he'd had and just be himself. Clint had seemed to realise over the past few months that he liked to show off a little, show people what he was capable of. Phil didn't blame him for wanting to, the kid had been so down on himself from the first time they met, had absolutely no confidence in himself or in others. It was nice to see that changing. He had to admit the kid was damn entertaining to watch.
"Phil?"
Coulson turned to the blonde haired boy with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, son?"
Clint actually looked hesitant to ask whatever was bothering him, so Phil squeezed his shoulder and waited. Blue eyes locked onto his and the agent smiled, that intense gaze didn't catch him off guard anymore, he waited for Clint to see what he needed in his own eyes before he responded.
"What did you get me for my birthday?" he asked, so quietly that Phil had to lean forward to hear.
Coulson felt like slapping himself, after everything that happened last night he had decided to wait to give Clint his present, not wanting to add to the kid's already emotional state. Giving the teen an apologetic look, he placed his hands on Clint's shoulders and guided him to the back door.
Barton shot him a confused look, waiting for him to explain.
Phil pulled open the sliding door and walked out to the shed. Clint's eyes widened at the size of the box the older man was carrying, it was huge, almost bigger than Phil.
"Wow!" Was all he managed as Coulson set the box down inside.
"Happy birthday son." Phil waited patiently as Clint circled the large present, trying to decide where to start. The agent really hoped the kid liked it, he knew Barton was into all sorts of stunts and showing off. This really seemed like the perfect gift for a teenager. He was trying to move away from the weapons and things, letting Clint just be a kid for a while longer.
It didn't take long for Clint to start ripping into the paper that covered the large box; within minutes it was covering the floor and the teen was staring wide eyed at the picture on the front of the box. It was a bike, a BMX. Clint's eyes flickered to his dad with tears glistening in them, he'd never had a bike before. Only saw the other kids on the street cycling about and wondered what it was like.
Phil wrapped his arm around the boy's shoulder, squeezing gently. "You want to open it?" he asked softly.
Clint nodded, then with the older man's help had the box in pieces and stood staring at the bike in slack jawed awe. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. The bike itself was a metallic black, there was writing on the middle bar that connected the handle bars and saddle, which had the teen grinning like a fool. Hawkeye. The silver writing stood out on the black finish.
"You want to sit on it?" Phil asked, loving the look of happiness on his boy's face.
Clint simply nodded, gripping the handle bars and swinging his leg over the bike. He sat on the saddle, squeezing the rubber that covered the handle bars. It felt good, he thought. The right height, great looking, but he'd need to test it out for the balance. There was only one thing for it.
"Can I try it out Phil?" he asked, eyes sparkling in childish delight. "Please!"
The older man laughed. "Of course you can, it's your present son."
Clint hopped off the bike and ran over to Phil, hugging him tightly before taking the bike outside.
Tommy jumped up. "Can I come watch, Clint?" he was practically bouncing on the spot when the teen nodded. "Wait till I get dressed." Tommy ran upstairs, Rachel and Fiona seemed to think about what they wanted to do for a few seconds before they too were running upstairs to get dressed.
Sandra nudged her brother with her shoulder. "I think he likes it."
"Yeah," Phil replied, still smiling. "He's never had one before, so I thought it was about time. Kid is into all kinds of stunts, this should keep him entertained for a while."
Marie turned to her son with a worried frown. "Did you get him all the safety gear Phil?"
Coulson chuckled. "I'm getting the guys from work to make some safety gloves and a helmet. Whether or not the kid will wear them, we'll just have to wait and see."
Barton could feel their eyes on him, watching him and waiting to see what he'd do. Knowing he had to get used to the balance before he could try anything, Clint did a few practice laps around the garden before venturing out onto the sidewalk. He waited until Tommy and the twins were ready, walking outside to watch before he took off. Pedalling faster and faster until the light breeze was ruffling his short hair, a huge smile plastered on his face, the teen lifted the handle bars upward. Managing to keep the front wheel off the ground for roughly five seconds had Tommy and the others clapping and cheering. Clint had never felt as happy as he did in that moment, the front wheel connected with the ground and he skidded to a halt. Grinning like a fool, but he didn't care.
Phillip slung his arm around his son, feeling immensely proud. "That really the first time he's been on a bike?"
"Yeah." Phil watched as Clint did a couple more stunts, showing off for his cousins. "Kid is good at anything he puts his mind to." He turned to his dad with a smirk. "Just give him a few hours, he'll be doing tricks like a pro."
"I can see that." Phillip could tell that his boy had his hands well and truly full with that one. "He ever played baseball?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Not sure, he's never brought it up. I'm pretty sure he'd be good at it though," Phil responded.
The older man continued watching the teen as he tried a few more stunts, seeing the wide, happy smile on the kids face had him grinning with pride. Barton really was a talented kid. The adults ventured back inside after a while, leaving the kids outside to play.
Phil asked the others if they fancied a barbeque for dinner. It was a lovely day, the sun was already shining in the clear blue sky. It would give the agent the opportunity to cook Clint's favourite food, chargrilled meat, of any kind. He found it amusing that the teenager could eat an unholy amount of food and rarely put on any weight. It could also have something to do with the kid never sitting still, he always had to be doing something. Whether it be working out in the training gym, or going out for a run with Phil in the morning before heading to SHIELD. The run had become their thing, a way for Barton to focus his mind if he had a nightmare, or to simply relax, clear his head before heading to the secret base to spend time with his tutor, Molly. Coulson realised the run helped him too, especially if there was something on his mind about a mission, the banter that flowed between them as they ran their route made him forget all about his troubles.
Clint very quickly came to the conclusion that he loved his new present. It allowed him to practise new tricks, improving his skills and showing off his almost supernatural balance. The teen couldn't remember ever falling or losing his footing when up on the high wire at the circus. He found himself thinking of all the cool things he wanted to try on his new bike. Some of the tricks would probably give Phil a heart attack.
Barton also knew the older man was trying to steer him towards normal teenage activities, especially after overhearing Phil and Nick talking. The agent had told the Director that he couldn't be more proud of the teen but wished Clint was able to just be a kid for a while longer. The young archer really didn't mind being part of the secret government agency, surrounded by agents who were trained to kill, and were teaching him hand to hand combat. It made him feel untouchable for the first time in a long time. He could defend himself now, stopping people who thought they could hurt him.
"Can you do another trick, Clint?" Tommy asked, breaking Barton from his thoughts.
"Sure bud, just for you." Giving the younger boy a playful wink, he pedalled to the end of the street, turning around to face his three awe-struck cousins. Clint calculated the distance in front of him using the math that Molly had taught him, telling him how much room he was going to need for his stunt. He took off from a stationary position, pedalling as fast as he could and just when he was about to pass by his three spectators, he slammed on the brakes, adjusted his stance so that he came to a stop while balancing on his front wheel only. Instead of letting the back wheel drop, he bounced on the front tire in a half circle so he was facing the direction he'd come from. Then he leaned back, the back tire bouncing gently on to the ground.
"Awesome!" shouted Tommy, jumping up and down in excitement.
"That was really cool, Clint." The twins were grinning from ear to ear.
"Thanks." Clint rested his feet on the ground, his elbows on the handle bars. Smiling at the shocked expressions on his little cousins faces. He was getting kind of used to that look, making him feel special in a way he never thought he would feel. Barton was glad he'd decided to meet Phil's family, it wasn't nearly as scary as he thought it was going to be.
"Do you want to go inside? I was thinking of showing you some of the cool things I learned at the circus." The three eager nods he received had him chuckling in amusement. He'd take that as a yes.
Together they headed back towards the house, Clint bringing his BMX into the garden and leaving it next to the house. He wasn't willing to leave it lying on the sidewalk like the neighbours kids did with their own. His was much too valuable for that kind of treatment. He'd ask Phil if he had a padlock for it, or he'd ask the techs at SHIELD to come up with something that was impenetrable, they were good at that sort of thing.
Right now he was going to show his new family some of his tricks from his circus days, the things he'd learned to do by the age of ten. He just hoped they enjoyed it as much as he would when performing them. He was pretty sure they would.
It wasn't just his family that were blown away when Clint showed off his acts from his days at the circus, Phil was speechless. He'd seen the teen do some pretty daring stunts and also seen his accuracy with throwing knives, but he now realised he hadn't seen or even asked Barton to show him all the things he could do. Now he was kicking himself for not doing so. The kid was amazing, there was no better way to describe him. Phil watched as his parents' and sisters' jaws hung open in surprise, his was the same.
At first the teen had shown them his juggling act, using five everyday household items that could fit in the palm of his hand and thrown them up in the air, he barely even glanced at the objects as he tossed them about, keeping his eyes locked on his audience with a grin on his face.
Then he showed them his balancing skills. Phil had seen the boy running across thin beams like they were more than a few inches wide, now he watched Clint walk across the living room floor on his hands without once falling, make his way up the first two steps of the staircase then decide to flaunt his almost supernatural balance by lifting his left hand. Barton was as steady as a rock, his right arm holding his entire weight. The agent was gob smacked and ready to praise his boy when Clint's elbowed bent slightly, making it look like it couldn't hold his weight but instead of falling the teenager was coiled like a spring ready to execute his finale. The ex-carnie exploded off the step, twisting in the air and landing lightly on the wooden flooring with his arms spread wide: the ultimate performer.
Everyone clapped and cheered, Tommy's eyes were wide in shock. "Can you show me how to do that?" he asked after a moment of silence.
Clint just chuckled and mussed up the boy's hair. "Maybe when you're a bit older, bud."
Phil pulled the teen into a hug, squeezing him tightly. "Show off," he teased with a smile on his face.
Barton beamed at the words, he couldn't be any happier than he was at that moment. "You're just jealous, old man."
Coulson chuckled, squeezing the back of his boy's neck. "I am, and less with the old."
Together they turned to the rest of the family, choking back a laugh at the disbelief on their faces. "That was truly amazing, son," Phillip told the kid with a warm smile.
"We would loved to have seen you when you were performing for the circus. How long were you there?" Trisha asked.
"Roughly a year, then I took off. Some of the new acts and I didn't get along, decided it would be better to disappear." Clint tried not to let them see the pain it caused him remembering the time he spent on the streets. It was literally right after leaving the circus that he bumped into Karl, the man who almost took Phil away from him, almost took him away from Phil. The agent must have known the thoughts that would be running through the teen's head because his arm was suddenly pulling the kid closer, promising without words that Karl wasn't going to get anywhere near the teen again. Barton gave the older man a grateful smile.
"So what else can you do?" Marie asked, sensing the need for a change of subject.
Clint grinned. "I can throw knives and shoot arrows. I can also walk a tightrope but I'm not sure that would be possible to do here."
The adults nodded, but it was Sandra who decided to ask if Clint could show them his archery skills.
Barton beamed. "Yeah."
The next hour was spent in the garden with Clint showing them why he was nicknamed Hawkeye. His talent with the bow made very clear as he shot arrow after arrow with unerring accuracy into the target that sat at the end of the back yard. Barton felt himself unwinding with every arrow he knocked, aimed and fired. It was his way of relaxing, his mind clearing and taking comfort from the fact he never missed, ever.
Phil and his dad started prepping the barbeque, lighting the coals and deciding what they should put on it. Marie, Trisha and Sandra wanted a salad to go along with it, meaning someone would have to go to the supermarket. They came to a decision that Phil, Sandra and the three kids would go to the shop for food. The agent wasn't sure about leaving Clint behind, just in case something happened. He wasn't entirely sure what could happen but thought it might be something to do with the fact he and Clint were rarely ever separated. In work Phil knew Clint was watched like a hawk and surrounded by agents capable of taking on any enemy, but he still felt an uneasiness in his bones when he wasn't there. It could also have something to do with the fact that any time he'd left Clint alone in the past two years something bad had happened. Coulson was spared from his thoughts when Sandra pulled him to the car.
"Come on Phil. We'll be gone half an hour tops, Clint will be fine." Sandra could tell her brother was anxious about leaving the teen alone, she knew it was just his overprotective nature shining through. The kid had been through a lot but now he had lots of people who loved him and were willing to protect him. Phil just needed to remember that.
Even Clint was shooing him toward the car. "I'll be fine Phil, promise." Barton couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive about being left alone with Phil's mom, dad and sister Trisha. He knew the feeling was unwarranted, these people would never hurt him. He knew that deep down, he also knew that Phil had an uncanny perceptiveness and would know exactly what he was thinking. It made him love the man even more. Giving Phil his best 'I'll be fine' look, the agent finally nodded, huffing to himself about pushy family members.
"We won't be long." Phil got into the car, pulling the door closed and waited for the kids to buckle their belts before he pulled out on to the road. All of them waving as they left.
Clint turned to see Marie watching him, her gentle smile and brown eyes easing the nervousness he was feeling. She ushered him back into the house while they waited for the others to come back. Barton couldn't remember his own gran, what she was like or looked like. His family had been his mom, dad and Barney, that was all he'd ever known. Now he had Phil, his parents, his sisters and their husbands plus their kids. It was a lot of change for the teenager, Marie seemed to notice, making her just as perceptive as Phil.
"I know you're probably still feeling a little overwhelmed Clint, and I just wanted to say if at any point we are pushing too much or making you feel uncomfortable, just tell us to back off. We won't take it to heart, sweetheart." She smiled that smile that made Barton feel he could trust her and believe what she'd told him. "You will always come first for us, okay?"
The blonde boy frowned. "Why?"
"Why what?" Marie asked, her brown eyes worried.
"Why do I come first?" Clint's face scrunched up in confusion. "It took me a while to get used to the fact that Phil cared about me and wanted to help, but you've only just met me. I just don't get it."
The older woman took her time before answering, needing to get this right. "Do you know when Phil told me he adopted you that I have never been so happy? I was proud of him because even though I knew Phil had never spoken about having kids, I knew he'd make a great dad. He's patient, kind, caring and loves completely with everything he has." Marie saw the boy's eyes glistening as she spoke, knowing he was thinking the same thing about his saviour. "As soon as he brought you into his home, his life, you became part of our family. We love you Clint, even though we haven't gotten to meet you until now. You've been part of this family for over two years now. There is no escaping it."
Barton chuckled quietly, wiping the wetness on his cheeks away with his sleeve. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Now come on lets help get this barbeque sorted." Clint stood up first, holding out his hand to help her up off the sofa. Marie granted him a beaming smile, following the teen into the kitchen to choose what they were going to have.
"Do you like salad, Clint?" she found herself asking as she looked in the fridge.
The teen smirked. "I like anything you can eat, but I really like cutting it up."
Marie nodded. Phil would've been getting a smack on the head if he hadn't introduced Clint to the healthy side of eating, it was bad enough that her sons in law didn't eat vegetables or salad.
Phillip and Trisha entered the house after setting up the table and chairs in the garden. They were greeted to the sight of Clint and Marie laughing while they looked through one of the photo albums. Trisha headed to the kitchen, asking if anyone wanted something to drink.
"No thanks." "None for me." Phillip and Marie answered.
"Just water thanks." Clint smirked at the surprised expression on her face. He knew not many kids drank water these days, they were all into their fizzy drinks and energy drinks. He still liked the odd can of Pepsi but that was usually it.
Trisha nodded, grabbing two glasses and filled one with water and another with fresh orange for herself. She sat down in the opposite sofa when her eyes caught sight of something beside the couch her mom and Clint were sitting on. She glanced at her dad, knowing he'd seen it too but the older man shook his head. Give it time, her dad's expression said. The second bag of presents was still sitting there, waiting to be opened. Trisha nodded in understanding, while the teen was doing a lot better now, it wasn't worth the risk. She still found it hard knowing some of the horrors the boy had lived through, Trisha couldn't imagine if Tommy had to go through any of that. It didn't bear thinking about. As she watched Clint and her mom talking, laughing about some of the things Phil did as a baby. She saw an amazingly resilient little boy who'd managed to survive insurmountable odds. She knew now why Phil always spoke about Clint with pride in his voice. The boy was a survivor.
The others arrived back at the house within an hour, Phil making a beeline for Clint as soon as he stepped foot in the house. The kid just gave him a knowing smile, the one he reserved for the older man when he needed to know the boy was alright. Coulson sighed deeply, his lips twitching slightly in amusement at himself, he felt like such a mom sometimes.
Barton grinned at Phil's sheepish smile, the older man really needed to take it easy and stop worrying so much. It was no wonder the man's hair was thinning. "I'm fine, Phil. Promise."
"Okay." Phil squeezed the boy's shoulder as he walked past, lifting the plastic bag filled with salad and more meat on to the kitchen table. "You can help me cut up the salad if you want?"
Clint nodded eagerly. "Cool."
Everyone helped with the food, the kids taking turns bringing plates out to Phillip who was cooking everything. The sisters set the table up and brought out a jug of water and freshly squeezed juice. Clint and Phil brought out a giant bowl filled with salad, plus some different sauces for adding taste. Marie was told to put her feet up for a change as it was usually her who cooked for everyone, it made the sisters pause when their mother didn't even put up a fight. She nodded, grabbed herself a glass of fresh apple juice and sat down at the table. It was nice for a change to be the one waited on, the older woman was thinking she could get used to this as she took a sip of her drink.
It wasn't long before the smell of the food cooking had everyone's stomachs growling. Phillip eyed the amount of food he'd already cooked and nodded to himself. There was definitely enough to keep everyone going, that was for sure. One plate was filled with chicken legs and breasts, another plate was piled high with ribs, another with steak and the last was Tommy's favourite, hot dogs and burgers.
It was only when the last plate of food was placed on the table that everyone started digging in, their mouths watering at the sight of such delicious, tasty food. It was a feast fit for any family. Clint grinned as he bit into his first burger, his family.
Phil had just finished his third plate when he decided he'd had enough, anymore and he was sure he might just explode. Leaning back in his chair and letting the chatter from the table wash over him, his eyes flickered to Clint at his left. The boy was looking so relaxed, it was making the agent wish he'd done this earlier. He knew his boy wasn't one hundred percent yet, wasn't sure if the kid ever would be. Phil would fight to get him there, though. The teenager's biggest issue was trusting people and letting them in. Coulson couldn't blame him though, the kid had been burned too many times in the past. It was encouraging to see that same kid he'd took in, given a home and made a promise to keep him safe, trying to let more people into his life. It was a positive start, especially since Clint was usually only surrounded by SHIELD personnel.
"So how are you getting on with your schooling, Clint?" Marie asked, pushing her empty plate to the side.
Barton gave a half shrug, glancing over at Phil. The older man had already told him that his family knew he was an agent and worked for a government agency, but not much more than that. "Molly is great, not sure what I'd have done without her. We're working through languages just now, it's really cool."
"That's good. Phil told us you were learning at a twelfth grade level now." Sandra pointed out.
"Is that good?" Tommy asked, glancing between the adults before grinning at Clint.
Phil chuckled. "It means he's a right little smarty pants."
Clint could feel the flush rising up on his cheeks, glaring at the older man, he tried not to let the others see his barely hidden smirk before he bit into his second cheeseburger. He knew when he'd first come to SHIELD and realised how much he didn't know, he'd felt stupid because he hadn't been taught anything from when he was six years old. It took a lot of time and patience but Molly had gotten through to the younger boy, telling him over and over that he was really smart despite the circumstances and she knew he'd do well in anything he put his mind too.
They spent the next few hours just relaxing outside, letting their stomachs settle and chatting to one another. It had been a while since Phil had seen his family and they had lots to catch him up on.
Clint decided to show the twins and Tommy some of the easier things he could do, then help them do the same. He started off with a simple hand stand, instead of dropping back to the ground he started walking on his hands. Helping Fiona first as she did a hand stand, he caught her legs before they fell and let her walk a few steps while upside down before he lowered her back down. She was giggling the entire time and looked up at him with a triumphant smirk, her cheeks flushed red. Rachel was next, then Tommy. They did this a few times each, the adults glancing over every now and then when they were called on by the excited cries to watch what they were doing.
It was Rachel who asked Clint to show them something else. The teen grinned, he knew they wouldn't be able to copy him with this just yet, but he was a bundle of energy right now and needed to work some of it off. He took a deep breath, relaxed his shoulders and sprinted forwards. Making sure he had enough room, the young archer vaulted on to his hands like a hand stand but kept going. His athletic body continued revolving 360 degrees, feet passing over his head three times until he landed lightly on his feet, arms spread wide and turned to gaze upon the stunned faces. He winked at Phil who was laughing, the agent already knew Clint could do this as he'd watched him numerous times in the training gym. The teen had told him it relaxed him, cleared his head almost as well as their runs or him shooting his bow did.
"You've got some kid there Phil." Phillip commented after managing to pick his jaw up off the floor.
"Yeah, I do." Coulson didn't try to stop the pleased smile that crossed his features, he was happy and immensely proud of the youngster. The kid was constantly surprising him. Phil couldn't believe that his family's visit was almost over, despite how much he'd been dreading it. It had turned out pretty good.
"Is that the time?" Sandra asked, her shocked expression had the others glancing at their own watches. It was nearly ten o'clock, they'd been sitting there reminiscing about old times for almost five hours.
Slowly they all started gathering up the plates, glasses and left overs, taking them inside, cleaning up then collapsing on to the comfortable sofas, deciding to watch a movie together. They left the choice to Clint as it was his birthday the day before. The teen hummed and hawed over what to watch before picking Madagascar.
Phil arched an eyebrow at the blonde boy, silently wondering how he could watch something so many times. The answer he got was his boy sticking his tongue out at him.
Tommy high fived Clint for picking his favourite movie, while the twins smiled at their big cousin, giving their silent approval. The adults didn't comment, just got themselves comfortable and found that they ended up laughing more than the kids did through the film.
It was almost midnight by the time the movie ended and everyone was either sleeping or getting close to it. Trisha scooped Tommy into her arms, carrying him towards their room after bidding her family goodnight. Sandra glanced at her sleeping angels, turning to her brother for help. Phil smiled and nodded, standing from the couch he stretched his back then bent down to pick up his niece, Rachel. The young girl's arm wrapped around his neck as she cuddled in closer to his warmth. Sandra followed with Fiona in her own arms. Both girls were out for the count as they were placed gently on to the bed. His big sister giving him a kiss on the cheek before he left.
"Goodnight Phil."
"Goodnight Sandra, see you in the morning." Phil closed the door behind him, making his way back down the stairs to the living room. He paused at the second bottom step as he took in the sight before him. His mom was sitting at the far end of the sofa, Clint sprawled across the rest with his head pillowed on her lap. Coulson watched as she trailed her fingers through the teen's hair, whispering something to the boy that he couldn't make out. Stepping closer the agent couldn't help but smile when he realised his mom was singing softly, a song she used to sing to Phil when he had bad dreams.
Phillip smiled at his son, knowing the younger man was reliving his own memories. "She thought it might help, since he had a nightmare the other night," he explained softly.
Phil nodded. "Thanks." Waiting until his mom was finished, the agent walked over to them. Trailing his own fingers through the short blonde hair, he was pleased when Clint leaned into the touch. Giving Marie a kiss on the cheek, Phil slid his hand under the teen's knees and the other around his back. Barton immediately turned, burying his face in the crook of Phil's neck. It was so similar to what Rachel had just done that the agent chuckled.
"Goodnight mom, dad." Coulson knew he could have woken Clint up so he didn't need to carry him, the kid was getting pretty heavy now, but Phil found he wanted a reason to be able to hold him, to keep him safe. Especially from the monsters in the kid's head.
"Sweet dreams son." Their whispered reply drifted up after him.