Author's Note: I'm currently stuck down in New Jersey cause of snow *sigh* but that gave me plenty of time to write *smile* lol! I'm still not entirely sure I like this chapter cause it skips around a little but there are certain aspects (the beginning and ending) that I really like so I'm keeping it as is. I've also set up some new story-lines I hope you guys enjoy!
Now before I get to the reviews, I just want to say that I've gotten a lot of requests for another baby Barton and/or Stark. I've taken all of your requests to heart and will consider them. However, given Anya is only a year old I doubt there will be another Barton for a while, and also with Thor and Jane having a baby soon I don't want to overload the story with screaming newborns. Though I greatly appreciate your requests I probably won't be following through and adding them to the story for a little while. So please don't get mad or upset if it doesn't happen right away. It's not cause I don't care, it's just a weird time for another Stark/Barton.
Review Reviews! (side note this story officially has 60 reviews which blows my mind!)
Addle: I don't remember which gender you originally voted for either lol but I'll mark you down as another vote for girl Fosterson :) YES I have watched Life As We Know It I love that movie and it actually inspired that last scene!
special agent Ali: Haha alright I'll put down another vote from you for a girl! I will try to integrate your idea of Ryland teaching Anya into the story. I think that would be super cute! :) As for what they look like I don't have anyone in particular in mind. I just picture Anya with big blue eyes, curly hair and a button nose. Ryland I picture with a mop of brown hair and Tony's big brown eyes. It's hard to say which parents either kid looks more like though.
The Madrigal: Another vote for girl! Thanks :)
Emett: Alrighty I'll mark down another vote for boy :)
Epic Elven Warrior Princess: Thanks! Alright one vote boy and one vote girl. Again. ;)
Lollypops101: Very good points! I will take both into consideration and mark down another vote for a boy :)
Morgan: Thank you! Clintasha is totally my guilty pleasure...though I don't feel real guilty ;) lol Alrighty another vote for a girl!
Guest: It would be pretty great wouldn't it? I'm gonna take this as a vote for girl Fosterson :)
yuki90: I love the shipname it's amazing! Though Tasha wouldn't like it considering it's Ace not Anya ;) hahaha Thanks for another vote! And also, I sent you a PM to talk about Steve and Bruce :)
Orion84: Thanks! I didn't actually add that conversation into the story because I wanted there to be a level of confusion to the decision Clint and Natasha make- because they're gonna go back and forth a few times haha. Hope you enjoy what part of the conversation we do have. As for Clint's feelings on Natasha going back into the field- in his mind, an ideal world would be neither of them leaving, in their world someone's gotta go so it's either him or her. She wants to go- he doesn't, it's a clear choice to him.
Guest1: Yup you can vote as many times as you want! :) Alright I'll mark down another vote for a girl. As I said above you may not see another baby Barton at least for a while but I'll take your gender vote into consideration :)
StarkObsessed: Thanks I'll put you down as a vote for a girl! Could they? Could they really? LOL just kidding. I can see Tony helping Ryland with homework while simultaneously calming a newborn ;) haha (P.S. LOVE your profile pic *drools* lol)
discordchick: First of all I want to say hi and welcome to the story! And I also want to say thanks for reviewing every single chapter! That really made me so very very happy! I'll mark you down as another vote for boy Fosterson. A lot of people are interested in seeing Anya as the only girl just like Tasha is amungst the Avengers haha
Notice: Paragraphs written in italics are Clint story telling. It didn't flow right to break it up under " " so I put it under italics.
Enjoy!
After the party everyone went their separate ways and Clint brought Anya downstairs to get ready for bed. Natasha helped clean up upstairs while Clint struggled to cleanup Anya. Getting the cake out of her hair was a pain but eventually Clint got her cleaned and in her pajamas and took her over to the nursery. It was past her bedtime and she'd had an eventful day so she was already falling asleep by the time Clint sat down in the glider by Anya's crib. She was dozing off but not asleep so Clint decided to tell her a story.
"I'm not very good at telling stories." He started off, tucking Anya under his arm so she could rest her head against his chest. "But since today is you're birthday, why don't I tell you a story about when you were born?
I still can't believe it was a year ago today, but I remember it like it was just yesterday. I was out on a mission with the team; we were supposed to stick close to New York just in case but things don't always go as planned and one way or another I wound up a little further out. Your uncles and I were in the middle of a fight when my com-piece started buzzing. In the off chance I would be out on a mission when your mom went into labor we set up a system to alert me. J.A.R.V.I.S. was a big part of that but we all hoped we'd never put it to use. But nevertheless I had an arrow taught in my bow ready to fire when the call went out. That remains the only time I've ever missed my target.
We all froze, your uncles and I, no one really knew what to do. I was a good hour and a half out of New York but you were already on your way- and fast. Uncle Steve was the first to point out the obvious by screaming, "You gotta go!" But I didn't know how. I didn't want to leave your uncles there to fight the rest of the battle but my little girl was coming and I wanted to be there. I pulled another arrow and fired just as J.A.R.V.I.S. informed me of a way out. He sent a helicopter to our location that was waiting on the roof. So that's where I ran, hearing your uncle's scream "good luck" and "congratulations" as I ran up eight stories in five minutes. I hit the roof, got in the helicopter and took off for New York.
Now your mom was already at the hospital by the time the call went out. She'd gotten ahold of Aunt Pepper when her contractions got too close together to just sit at home anymore. Of course there was a screaming match between the two women- Natasha screaming in anger and pain, and Pepper screaming out of fear and frustration. They got Happy to drive them to the hospital- a drive I'm glad I wasn't a part of. By the time I finally landed the helicopter atop the hospital your mom had already been there for a while.
In a rush to get to Natasha before you were born, I didn't bother taking the elevator or asking where her room was. I just asked J.A.R.V.I.S. to tell me where she was then took the stairs the whole way down. I skipped most of the stairs, jumping down most of them, but that didn't matter. Neither did the people around me giving me weird looks because I was an idiot with a quiver and a bow, wearing a S.H.I.E.L.D. suit and covered in sweat, dirt and bruises. I accidently scared a few women, rushing around the hospital hallways like a madman. Normally I would've stopped to apologize to them- like the gentlemen I am- but I didn't have time for that. I didn't want to miss the single most important thing to ever happen to me. You.
I eventually found your mom's room and burst through the door. I nearly missed it but luckily they were just getting ready when I entered. I can distinctly remember the acidity in your mom's voice when she screamed, "Get over here now!" at me. Of course I rushed over to her, dropping my quiver in the process and taking up her hand.
I won't disgust you with the details of labor other than to say I couldn't shoot straight for a month afterwards because of Natasha's death grip on my hand. It took six hours for you to finally evict but when you did…man, I lost my mind. You made this little sound…I can't even describe it. It was small and quiet, almost like a cry but not quite. I'll never forget that little sound. That sound was the first part of my new life. Then they wrapped you in a tiny pink blanket and laid you on Natasha's chest and…I'm not gonna lie, I cried a little. Okay…a lot. But your mom was crying too so I didn't feel so stupid.
You were just perfect. I'd never seen anything more perfect than your tiny face with your button nose, little pink lips- already full like your mom's- and your big blue eyes. The first time you mom and I held you, you hit me in the face; smacked me right in the mouth. That's when I knew I was going to have my hands full with you. The doctor's took you back in order to clean you up and weigh you, and as soon as we passed you off I missed having you there in my arms. You looked so small there between your mom and me. You only weight six pounds and eighteen inches long but my whole world was there in your eyes. Six pounds of my life wrapped in a pink blanket.
Eventually they asked us what your name would be but we already knew. Anya Catarina Barton, the second woman to take my last name and make it more beautiful. Your mom fell asleep almost immediately and I got you all to myself. I'll admit I was terrified at first- I mean you were so small and my banged up and bandaged hands dwarfed your little frame. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared I'd break you. You looked so fragile and tender; something for me to love and protect. My instincts kicked in immediately and all I wanted in that moment was to tuck you under my arm and keep you safe from everything- and I do mean everything. Protect you from physical harm and heartbreak and emotional trauma. I wanted to wrap you up in a little bubble where nothing bad would ever happen to you. But I also wanted to take you out and show you the world. I wanted to teach you things like how to shoot an arrow and how to play catch. I'll be damned I was even looking forward to tea parties and playing dolls with you. I just wanted to be around you, be a part of your life and your world. Whatever you did I wanted to be right there beside you; whether you're running into battle or walking down the aisle I wanted nothing more than to be right beside you. I'd only known you a few hours but you'd already reshaped my entire existence.
Eventually the team arrived and I had to pass you off again. Ryland was still young but he knew to be gentle with you so we let him sit with you in his lap for a bit. You really took to Uncle Steve even that early on. He was the first one to hold you beside the doctors and your mom and I. Of course Uncle Thor wouldn't hold you because he was even more terrified of breaking you than I. You got passed around and held by everyone and everyone said the same thing; how perfect you were.
"She's got your eyes, Clint." Aunt Pepper said as she smiled at me. Uncle Tony of course made a quip about what a shame that was but we ignored him like we usually do. What little hair you had was blond at the time but it was curly nonetheless. In fact you haven't changed much- only gotten a bit more durable and bigger. But it doesn't matter if your hair changes or your eyes change; I'll still think you're perfect. So long as you stay the same little girl that slapped me in the face the first time we met, you'll always be my Little Bird.
"Things are gonna change around here, Ace." He whispered to his little girl. "Thor and Jane are moving in and you're not gonna be the baby anymore. Ryland is gonna start school pretty soon so your little buddy won't be around so much. And mommy and I might be switching places soon. But I don't want you to worry, Little Bird. It's gonna be weird and hard but we'll get through it together. Always remember that, Anya. Always remember that you're capable of anything so long as we're together." Clint looked down at Anya fast asleep in his arms and smiled as he stood up. He laid her down in her crib, tucking a blanket around her and stroking her damp strawberry blond curls. "Goodnight, Baby Girl." He whispered as he kissed her little head. She was much bigger than that first time Clint saw her but for a moment he was able to relive the moment his whole world changed.
~!~!~!~
A few weeks after Anya's birthday Natasha and Clint sat down to discuss what Natasha threw at him on Anya's birthday. They asked Jane to babysit then went up to the gym to get in a work out, all the while discussing the issue while smacking each other around. That's how they talked.
Two hours later they were sitting on the floor of the gym, sweaty and a little bloody. Natasha's desire to go back out on missions was the push Clint needed to drop Hawkeye- for now. Sitting with Anya on her birthday was his real push though.
"Maybe when she's older we'll talk about it again." Natasha said as they laid against the mat. "We just…never talked about it before. I just stopped going out and you kept going. We never discussed it; it was just a given. And you said yourself you want to spend more time with her…"
"I get it, Nat." Clint cut in. "You don't have to justify it; it already makes sense. It's just…hard to come to terms with." Clint paused for a minute, staring up at the ceiling before finally looking down at Natasha. "Tasha, I don't know…who I am without Hawkeye…" he admitted softly, looking at her with sincere eyes.
Natasha went still for a minute before sliding across the mat and into his lap. "You are Clint Barton. You're my husband, my best friend…and one of the best things that have ever happened to me. You're the father of my daughter and the only person I want by my side through all of this." She told him seriously, holding his face between her small hands. Bringing her lips to his, Natasha kissed away his worries for a minute.
When they pulled apart Clint chuckled and said, "Don't be surprised if you come home to find her dippers tapped shut and the apartment a mess."
Natasha threw her head back and laughed- at him, at the silliness, and the truth of it. "I'm sure you'll do fine, Clint. You're a regular ol' Mr. Mom."
"You're right," he said, puffing out his chest. "I think I'll take up knitting and baking while you're away." He teased, earning a playful kiss from Natasha.
"Oh sorry I didn't realize you guys were still in here." Steve mumbled as he walked into the room- and in on the two kissing. "Mind if I work out a bit?"
"Go for it, we're just finishing up." Clint said as he stood up and pulled Natasha to her feet as well. Steve went over to the benches nearby to wrap his hands and toss his jacket aside. Clint watched him carefully as Natasha tossed him a towel. "Hey, Steve, why don't you go out?" Clint asked nonchalantly but pulling Steve out of his mind.
"What do you mean?" Steve asked as he went over to the heavy bag in the center of the room.
"Why don't you go out? This is New York City, there's a night club and a strip joint per block. But you never go out unless it's with the rest of us."
"I wouldn't go to a strip club with or without you guys." Steve replied. Natasha chuckled as she whipped a towel at Clint's head. "I guess I just don't want to."
"Is it cause of Peggy?" Clint asked and Steve kind of froze. Natasha shot her husband a dirty look for bringing up Steve's ex. "Cause if it's about Peggy…well, don't you think she'd want you to move on? Don't you think she'd want you to go out and have fun?"
Natasha put her hands firmly on Clint's chest and pushed him towards the exit. "I think that's about enough of that, Clint. Let Steve work out." She said as she pushed him out of the room but Steve stopped them.
"She would," he admitted softly and both Clint and Natasha turned to him. He was staring down at his hands real intently, like he wasn't really looking at his fingers but rather recalling some memory. "She'd want me to go out…dancing."
"So go dance…" Clint mumbled cautiously. There was a long beat of silence that lingered about the room before Steve started to smile a little.
"I think I will,"
~!~!~!~
"I'm ready, Daddy!" Ryland cheered as he bounded into the living room where his father was waiting. Tony looked up from the tablet in his hand and smiled at Ryland. The young boy was going to be spending the entire day with just Tony. Pepper needed to go on a business trip for the day- and night- and so Tony was responsible for his four year old son for a good twenty-something hours; something that terrified him.
"You are a weird mix of your mother and I, I'll give you that." Tony commented with a chuckle as he examined his son's wardrobe choices. He was wearing a light blue ironed button up and nice jeans- very Pepper. But he'd paired them with red Converse and his brand new Iron Man watch- very Tony. Not to mention his adorable Buddy Holly glasses and his mop of damp hair, well the kid looked cute. Too cute for Tony to resist scooping him up in a hug.
Tony kissed Ryland's neck as they headed for the elevator, grabbing their jackets on the way out. "We gotta head out to the parking lot first so wear your jacket." Tony said, thinking of the rain that consistently pounded against the tower. He had work to do and Jane was busy that morning so Tony was stuck dragging Ryland along as he went about his daily work routine. They went out to the parking lot (where they kept the S.H.I.E.L.D. cars as well as some of Tony's) to talk to Happy. Tony was interested in selling some of his older sports cars. Eventually when Ryland was old enough, Tony wanted to take the boy for a spin in a luxury sports car but until then, they were collecting dust. So Tony met with a buyer interested in buying three of his older model sports cars. After almost a half-hour they came to an agreement, all the while Ryland weaved around and in between Tony's legs, played in a nearby puddle and played tag with Happy throughout the car lot.
Once the deal was finalized, Tony motioned for Ryland to follow him back towards the tower where they shook off the rain and got in the elevator. "Now you can't tell your mom about this," Tony commanded as he brought Ryland up to R-and-D where he wasn't supposed to be. The rule about R-and-D came into play when Ryland was really little and snuck up there and almost got crushed by a new piece of tech. It was also an environment where Tony and Bruce could work- and curse- freely. But every now and then Tony brought Ryland upstairs and set him up with a coloring book when Pepper wasn't aware.
When the elevator doors opened they traveled down a few different hallways until they came to a clear glass door with a keypad by the handle. Tony punched in a password and the door opened automatically then shut behind them once they were inside. That's where Bruce was working amongst a plethora of tables, desks, papers and electronics. Bruce and Tony shared the office space but they also had separate areas to work alone down the hall.
"Hey, Little Man, what are you doing up here?" Bruce asked as he watched Tony and Ryland enter the room. Ryland smiled and waved at his uncle as he looked about the room with curious eyes. Tony told Bruce about Pepper leaving and Jane being busy as he went over to his desk and cleared a spot for Ryland to sit. "My lips are sealed," Bruce promised when Tony was finished informing him of the situation.
"Are yours?" Tony asked Ryland considering the last time he threw Tony under the bus. Ryland chuckled and bobbed his head up and down, pinky-promising his dad to keep him lips sealed.
"What are you building, Daddy?" Ryland asked and so Tony started to tell him about the latest inventions him and Bruce were concocting. For the most part Ryland didn't understand but he listened with wide eyes as he father animatedly and excitedly explained everything. "Can I help?" Ryland asked excitedly, practically jumping up and down.
"Why don't you draw me something to make," Tony said, handing his son a pen and a piece of paper. "Draw whatever comes to mind- whatever you want. And Bruce and I will make it."
"Really!?" Ryland gasped, looking up at his father with his big brown eyes. Tony smiled as he nodded, promising to make whatever it was his son came up with. So Ryland climbed into Tony's desk chair and got to drawing, working really hard for almost a half-hour. He thought really hard about what he wanted before drawing it as best he could and handing it to Tony.
"What is it?" Tony asked as he knelt next to Ryland and examined the picture. Ryland then launched himself into a full detailed and excited explanation of his drawing just like Tony did. He used his hands to describe it and its functions all the while Tony nodded and listened carefully.
"Well that's definitely doable, don't ya think, Banner?" Tony replied, handing the paper to Bruce who had also been listening to Ryland's explanation of his invention.
Bruce started to nod, saying, "We can definitely come up with something." and winking at Ryland. The boy was instantly over-the-moon thrilled as he went back to drawing. He mumbled while he played, talking about this that and the other thing all the while Tony and Bruce worked. Eventually though Ryland got bored. Having drawn on almost all the paper on Tony's desk, Ryland started to mosey about the office space looking for something interesting to do.
"Bruce, I wanna tell you a riddle." Ryland said, walking over to Bruce's desk and resting his chin against the glass. Bruce smiled as he set aside what he was working on and focused all his attention on Ryland who excitedly started his riddle. "Okay, so you're driving a bus. 8 people get on and 2 people get off. 3 people get on and 6 people get off. 14 people get on and 12 people get off. 4 people get on and 7 people get off. What color are the bus driver's eyes?"
The entire time Ryland recanted his riddle Bruce was counting in his head but as soon as Ryland asked the final question Bruce came up blank. He thought and thought for a good thirty seconds, all the while making a ridiculously dumbfound expression. "I can tell you two people are left on the bus but how would I know what color the driver's eyes are?" Bruce asked, looking down at Ryland quizzically.
"Because I said you're driving the bus, dummy!" Ryland cheered, throwing his hands up in the air. Bruce immediately caught on with a little gasp and congratulated Ryland with a chuckle.
"Don't sweat it, Big Fella," Tony said from his desk. "He got me twice with that one."
"Happy taught me that one!" Ryland said with a proud smile as he danced around in a fit of superiority.
"Appy! Appy!" Anya's little voice cheered as Clint carried her into the office. She was smiling, shouting her nickname for Tony's driver/bodyguard and good friend Happy.
"What are you guys up to?" Clint asked as he leaned his hip against Tony's desk, hoisting a squirmy and Anya over his shoulder where she just dangled from his arms, giggling. She was wearing a colorful print onesie with fake jeans and little tweed Toms that fell off almost as soon as she started kicking about. "I was thinking it's time we take Steve out, get him a girl."
"I've been trying to do that for a long time, Clint, he doesn't want to go out." Tony said with clear frustration in his voice. He'd been trying to get Steve 'out into the world' almost as soon as they'd met but he'd had little to no success over the years. Steve always came up with some lame excuse as to why he didn't want to go out and sometimes he'd just flat out refuse. Every now and then the team could get him out to a party or a dinner but for the most part the guy stayed inside where he knew what to expect and what was going on.
"Yeah I know but he said he wants to go out so I was hoping we could, I don't know, steer him in the right direction." Clint replied. Anya worked her way out of Clint's arms and down to the floor where she ran about the office squealing with delight. She ran into Bruce's legs underneath his workbench and he made a playful growling noise as he swept her off her feet and onto his shoulders.
"Boo!" she screamed and at first Bruce thought she was trying to scare him but quickly remembered that was her nickname for him. He tickled her playfully as he set her back down.
"Hey, I'm down." Tony replied, already concocting insane ideas of what to do.
"I'm game as well," Bruce added.
Clint hopped off Tony's desk and grabbed Anya as she tried to run past him, picking up her Toms in the process. "I'll let you guys know. We'll aim for this weekend." Clint said as he hoisted Anya into his arms and settled her there where he attempted to put her squirming feet back in her shoes.
"Eye! Eye!" she yelped, reaching for Ryland.
"You're going to get Uncle Steve a girlfriend?" Ryland asked Clint as he played with Anya as she dangled in her father's arms.
"We're gonna try," Clint replied, finally setting Anya back on the floor again. Ever since she started walking he couldn't keep her still longer than a few seconds max. He was on his way downstairs to meet Natasha and Thor at the park so she could run around a bit when he remembered he still had to ask Bruce and Tony what they thought of his plan.
"But if Uncle Steve has a girlfriend that means he'll spend less time with me." Ryland said sadly, hanging his head. Anya caught onto his sadness and walked over to him, tilting her head and trying to ask what's wrong without knowing the words.
"I'm sure he'll still have plenty of time for you, Ryland." Tony replied, kneeling in front of his distraught son. "But it's time Steve found someone to…compliment him- you know, the way your mom does me or Tasha does Clint. It's time he starts a family as well but that doesn't mean he won't still be a part of ours. Do you understand?"
Ryland nodded, sniffling a little. "I just don't want Uncle Steve to leave." Ryland admitted, falling into his father's arms and sniffling a little more.
On the floor, Anya started to get worried, her eyes getting big and sad as she watched Ryland on the verge of tears. "Eye…Eye?" she whispered, desperately trying to figure out what was wrong with her best friend.
"Steve isn't leaving, Ryland, I promise." Tony told his son as they hugged. "Change is a good thing, Rye."
"Effer!" Anya suddenly yelled, pulling on Tony's pant leg. Everyone looked down at Anya curiously as she continued to shout, "Effer! Effer!"
"What's that, Little Bird?" Clint asked as he picked up Anya. She reached to Ryland, pointing at him repeatedly before pointing at Tony and repeating the same word. She did it again, this time pointing at herself and at Clint.
"Effer," she said, pointing to herself then Clint. "Effer," she continued, again pointing between Ryland and Tony.
"Oh! Are you trying to say together?" Clint asked and Anya immediately bobbed her head up and down, saying 'Effer' again with a smile. Clint remembered what he'd said to Anya on her birthday about things getting complicated but sticking together. He'd said it again a few times over the last week or so but he hadn't realized Anya understood him.
"Effer," Anya said than smiled.
"That's right, Little Bird," Clint replied, kissing Anya's temple before turning to the other's to explain. "She's trying to say that even though things are going to get complicated, so long as we stick together, everything will be fine. Isn't that right, little girl?"
Anya nodded, smiling at Ryland. He looked up from Tony's shoulder and had to smile at Anya who'd tried so hard to console him. "You really think so?" Ryland asked, looking between the three men in the room with him.
"I know so," all three men said at the same time.
Author's Note: That last scene was very Three Men and A Baby haha! As always you can check out my Polyvore (samitballi. polyvore. com) for an outfit set for this chapter titled Part Vll (Ryland's outfit is SO cute! lol) Anya's middle name is Catarina which not only sounds pretty between Anya and Barton but it also means pure which I thought fit perfectly for the daughter of two people with such complicated pasts. Also, Anya means gracious in Russian so Ace's full name means Gracious and Pure. Eep! lol
12 votes for boy Fosterson - 16 votes for girl Fosterson
Whoa girls jumped ahead by a lot! lol We still have number of chapters left before the baby comes so keep those votes rolling in! *you can vote more than once*
Thanks!
