Author's Note: I'm back, everyone! Sorry this took so long, between the amount of work I had to finish last week, and everything I've been doing while on break, I haven't had much time to write. And, when I had the time, I really didn't have the energy!

The title of this chapter...I was so excited about it, actually, because I usually have a terrible time coming up with titles. It's a reference to the story of King David in the Bible, specifically I Samuel 22:1-3. To sum up the story (which you should all read, by the way): David was the one chosen by God to be king of Israel. The current king, Saul, was not happy about that and paranoid that David would kill him and steal the throne (which, he didn't). So David went into hiding as basically an outlaw and everyone who was "in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him" at this place called the "Cave of Adullam". At this point, the Avengers are definitely in distress and discontented, so Clint's house becomes their "Cave of Adullam".

Also, there is dialogue used taken directly from AoU. If you've seen the movie, you know which parts. I take no credit for Joss Whedon's brilliance.

All the usual things apply: Thanks to all reviewers, please keep up the good work ;) Enjoy the chapter!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers!

Chapter Eleven: The Cave of Adullam

Sam had just finished dumping the last of the ground coffee into the coffee-maker when the tromping sound of footsteps told him that he was not alone.

Cooper came stumbling into the kitchen, hair tousled but eyes alert. He glanced over at Sam with a puzzled look, as though he were trying to remember who this strange man in his kitchen was.

All of sudden, his face relaxed. "Oh. Morning, Mr. Sam. Why are you making coffee?"

Sam grinned. "Figured it was good way to say sorry for showing up on your doorstep unexpectedly."

Cooper frowned and sat down at the table. "But you didn't show up unexpectedly. You called first."

"Yeah, I know. But I still feel kinda bad."

"Well, don't. Nothing interesting ever happens when Dad's gone. All we do is go to school and pretend to be surprised like everyone else when the Avengers go fight someone."

Sam rolled his eyes. "You sound like Christy. She hates having to fake like she doesn't already know stuff, too." Dark, black coffee started to drip into the coffeepot. "You like coffee, kid?" he asked, half-joking.

Cooper shook his head violently. "Nuh-uh! That stuff is gross!" He lowered his voice to a whisper. "I think it's got some kinda chemical in it or something, 'cause Dad always acts like a zombie until he drinks it in the morning. Mom too, but not as bad."

Sam bit his lip to keep from losing it then and there. "Well…you're right about the chemical part. Coffee has something in it called caffeine. It makes your heart pump faster, so you feel more awake. The bad news is, some people get to the point where they can't function without that wake-up jolt."

Looking thoughtful, Cooper muttered, "Then I'll stick with hot chocolate. That doesn't have caffeine in it, does it?"

Sam frowned. "Uh…hate to break it to ya, kid, but it does. Just not as much as coffee."

Cooper nodded. "Okay." He looked down at his hands. "So…what's it like being an Avenger?"

Sam poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down across from Cooper. "Absolutely crazy."

"That's what Dad says. Is it good crazy or bad crazy?"

"Good crazy, promise." Sam took a sip of his drink. "I mean…I didn't ask to be an Avenger. I kinda just got dragged into this."

Cooper leaned forward. "How?"

"Well, it sort of started because I met Steve, uh—Captain America, in D.C. But it really started because him and Natasha, Black Widow, showed up at my house after some bad guys took over SHIELD…you know SHIELD?"

"Yeah. I hear Mom and Dad talk. Even when they don't know it."

Sam grinned at this candid confession. "Okay. Well, the bad guys took over SHIELD and suddenly Captain America and the Black Widow are on my doorstep saying everyone they know is trying to kill them."

"Aunt Natasha said everyone they knew was trying to kill them?"

Sam gave a half-laugh. "And how do you know it was…" he trailed off. "Wait, you guys have met Natasha?"

Cooper nodded. "Yeah. She comes home with Dad sometimes."

Sam mentally facepalmed. Of course she does. Of course. Why am I completely and utterly not surprised?

"So how'd you know Natasha said that?"

Cooper shrugged. "Sounds like something she'd say. So…they hid out in your house?"

"Ah…basically. Yeah, and then I helped them take down HYDRA. With my giant, metal wings." Sam shook his head. "Man my life is crazy."

"So how come you're not fighting now?"

Sam sighed. "Because my friend is. And, unlike you and Lila, Christy doesn't have a safe house to go to. Or a mom. Outside of me and Bucky, and the Avengers…Steve's all she's got."

Cooper frowned. "Where's her mom?"

"Cancer." Sam muttered. Cooper made a disgusted face, and then looked sad.

"So she died?"

Sam nodded.

"Oh…" Suddenly, Cooper sat up straight, a very serious look on his face. "She has a safe house now. And she can borrow my mom if she wants."

Sam nodded again, slowly. "I think she'd like that. I also think she'd like it if you told her that yourself."

Cooper shrugged. "Okay, I will. I…I like that."

"Like what?"

Cooper glanced down at the table. "I like…having the house that anybody can go to. Where people can be safe and eat and sleep, and not have to worry about bad guys. I don't think I wanna be an Avenger like Dad, but…I like making sure people are okay."

Sam smiled. "Now that is a very important job, kid."

"As important as Avenging?"

"As important as Avenging. Maybe even more."

"We're gonna have to make boundaries." Christy said firmly, glancing around the Barton's front yard. "Otherwise I'll never be able to find you guys. Everybody hides better at their own house, anyway."

It was mid-morning. Currently, all three kids were enjoying their free day by engaging in what was shaping up to be a serious game of hide-n-seek.

Cooper nodded and scanned the yard. "Don't go past that field over there." he said, pointing back beyond the house. "There's nowhere good to hide there, anyway. Just the barn and the bushes and trees in our yard."

"Okay, sounds fair."

Lila, never one for logistics, heaved a sigh. "Can we play now?"

With a dramatic flourish, Christy spun around and closed her eyes. "One, two…"

She heard the sound of Cooper and Lila starting to make a break for it…and then the sound of something large and metal whizzing through the air…

Her eyes flew open just in time to see what looked like a tiny version of a helicarrier descend out of the sky.

The machine landed in the field Cooper had just declared off-limits for hiding in.

The kids all huddled close together, barely registering that the door had been flung open and all three adults had rushed out of the house as well.

The small helicarrier's door opened into a staircase, and down stepped a man wearing a gray collared shirt, a black suit coat, black slacks, a balaclava…and an eyepatch.

Sam bit into his sleeve and hissed several words that he definitely had promised never to say around Christy.

Bucky was less restrained. "What the hell is he doing here?" he cried, though he did manage to lower his voice at the last second.

"Sorry to barge in on you folks…" Fury called out. "But, ah, I got word that you're about to have a few more guests on your hands. Well, more like five guests and one person who lives here."

Laura sighed. "I should start charging rent."

"Who's that?" Lila whispered. Christy started to answer, but Cooper beat her to the punch.

"That's Nick Fury. He's Dad's boss…well, kinda. He came here once, but you were little."

"He's not really anybody's boss, 'cause SHIELD collapsed." Christy added. "But he still acts like it. He's such a big spy, Uncle Tony said his secrets have secrets!"

"So, do I need to move my helicarrier, or can it stay as is?" Fury continued, as though this was the most normal thing in the world.

Laura shook her head. "You might want to move it into the woods, just in case. We don't have very close neighbors, but…"

Fury nodded. "I was probably gonna do that anyway. It'll be best that they don't know I'm here when they arrive."

"Then why exactly are you here?" Sam questioned.

"Is a man not allowed to check up on his team without suspicion?"

"No." Sam said firmly

"Not you, anyway." Bucky added.

Fury sighed. "It was about this time last time that they needed a pep talk. I figured that even if I can't be head of SHIELD anymore, I can at least give inspiring speeches."

Christy couldn't help but let out a snort at that. Fury turned sideways to face her.

"Well, well, look who's here."

Christy crossed her arms. "Uncle Nick, did you know Uncle Clint had a family this whole time?"

Fury pretended to think things over. "If I say yes, do I still get a hug?"

Christy sighed. "Yes. But you're not the only one whose secrets have secrets!"

"Okay, so how many people knew about all this?" Sam asked, gesturing around the farm.

Fury checked off people on his hand. "Me, Hill, Coulson, Romanoff…that's about it."

"Any more secrets we don't know about?" Bucky said, crossing his arms.

Fury smirked. "Where should I start?"

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Aw, forget it!"

Clearly, there were some battles of wits that one could not win. Especially when they were against Nicholas J. Fury.

"Are they coming?" Christy asked, craning her neck to peer out the window.

Cooper was staring at the sky, when he suddenly spotted something. "Yeah! There they are!"

A quinjet suddenly descended out of the sky and landed in a clump of trees. Everyone watched as a very tired and battered looking group of Avengers poured out and staggered up the gravel path to the house.

Sam grabbed Christy by the shoulder. "C'mon, we're gonna go in my room for now. They'll be having enough shocks without wondering why the heck we turned up here."

Christy frowned. "But I wanna see Dad…"

"You will, but we're trying to have him not die of shock." Bucky replied. "Let 'em come in, breathe; process the fact that Hawk-man has a family. Then we'll come out."

Reluctantly, Christy followed her uncles upstairs. She resolved to listen out the door until she could go down.

Meanwhile, Cooper and Lila were peeking through the curtains on the living room window.

"I wonder what's wrong with Auntie Nat." Lila said, frowning in concern. "Daddy's holding her up, like she got hurt."

Cooper shrugged, though he looked equally upset. "Dunno. They all look really tired."

"Well, they did just fight a bad guy…and Mr. Nick said the fight didn't go so good. Maybe that's why."

At the mention of Fury, Cooper suddenly started. "Where is he?"

"Hiding. With his plane probably." Laura said, coming up behind her children. "Guys…do me a favor and don't come barreling out as soon as your dad comes through the door."

"But why?" Lila asked.

"So we don't freak everybody out?" Cooper guessed.

Laura nodded. "Exactly. Look…go in your rooms, and when you hear the door open, count to…" She tried to think of a fair number. "…thirty. Then come out."

"We'll go hide in Mr. Sam's room, with everybody else." Lila said firmly. She grabbed Cooper's arm and half pulled her brother towards the staircase.

Laura sighed and went into the kitchen to check the amount of food in the fridge. At this rate, she was probably going to have to make a shopping run. She was just starting to gather up a few of the kid's loose school papers, when…

The front door creaked open and she heard Clint call out, "Honey? I'm home!"

Even with the small advance warning, her heart still leapt up into her throat, hearing that voice.

He's actually home…

She came to the place where the living room met the front hall and gazed at Clint, trying to drink in everything about him.

I'm so glad he's here…

"Hey…company." he muttered. "Sorry I didn't call ahead…"

"Hey…" she whispered back, cutting his ramblings off with a kiss.

She vaguely registered someone saying, "This is an agent of some kind."

They broke apart and Laura looked around at the sea of faces: one familiar and four known only from pictures and stories.

"Gentlemen, this is Laura." Clint said, with much understated introduction.

She gave a small wave and smile. "Hi. I, ah…know all your names."

Indeed she did. Aside from Nat, who looked simultaneously exhausted and relieved to be here, everyone's face bore a look of "what the heck is going on here?!" There was Steve Rogers, standing tall and trying to be the leader, even though he looked beat and confused, and Thor, looking extremely out of place and curious. The famous Tony Stark managed to return her wave, even as he looked completely weirded out. And Bruce Banner…

Bruce Banner looked like he wanted to curl up in a ball and sleep for an age or two.

Laura could feel her 'mom mode' kicking in. 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes' they might be, but right now, they more resembled a bunch of lost puppies.

Footsteps sounded down the stairs. Clint turned. "Ooh, incoming."

And Laura couldn't help but smile as Lila and Cooper ran headlong into Clint.

"Hey, sweetheart! Hey, buddy! How ya doin'?"

If Laura had thought everyone's faces were hilarious before, it was nothing compared to now.

"These are…smaller agents…" Tony muttered. Laura rolled her eyes.

"Did you bring Auntie Nat?" Lila asked.

Natasha unclenched herself from her slightly stiff pose. "Why don't ya hug her and find out?"

Lila ran squealing into Natasha's arms.

"Sorry for barging in on you…" Steve said politely, still looking a bit puzzled.

"Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed." Tony chimed in snarkily.

"Well, Fury helped me set this up, when I joined." Clint explained. "He kept it off SHIELD's files; I'd like to keep it that way. I figure it's a good place to lay low."

Natasha came over to Laura. "So, ah…how's little Natasha?" she asked, gesturing towards the baby bump.

Laura gave her an apologetic grin. "She is…Nathaniel." They had been all set to name their next child after Clint's best friend…but nature had taken its course. At least they could still do it halfway.

Natasha's easy grin faded into a look of mock indignation. "Traitor." she muttered at Laura's belly.

Laura grinned. "Alright, one more surprise, if you all can stand it." she called out. Clint looked confused, and then pleased. Everyone else just simply looked confused.

"Christy!" Lila yelled up the stairs.

"Sweetie, no yelling in the house…" Clint tried, but he was drowned out by a second round of racing footsteps as yet another child bounded into the hallway.

Steve's face had frozen when Lila yelled Christy's name. As soon as she came into view, his jaw actually dropped.

"Dad!" Christy screamed, throwing herself against Steve's giant chest. "Dad, Dad, I missed you…"

Somehow, Steve managed to make his arms move and wrap them around his daughter.

"Hey, baby…" he whispered. His eyes suddenly felt wet and he could feel himself sinking to his knees, still keeping a firm grip on Christy.

He hadn't been this glad to see her since…since D.C. Since the last time there was a serious threat. He'd been so busy…

I am never taking her for granted, ever again! Never! He squeezed her tighter. Not my baby.

He managed to stand and glanced over at Clint. "How…?"

Clint grinned. "I gave the house number to Sam and Bucky…where are those two, by the way?"

"Right here, Mr. 'I've Got Some Explaining to Do'." Sam said, as he and Bucky came around the corner.

Bucky gave Steve a half-smile. "Glad to see you still alive, punk."

Steve let out a fake growl, and gave Bucky a one-armed embrace. The other arm was holding firmly to his daughter.

"So, wait, you knew about this?" Tony protested. "How did they know about this?"

Sam sighed. "Mr. 'I've Got A Secret Life' over here slips me this phone number right before you all take off. 'Call it,' he says. 'It's a safe house,' he says. So, I call. We needed to get out of the city; it was wearing us out. And when the call goes through, guess what I hear? 'Hello, this is the Barton residence'. The Barton residence! As if this is the most freaking normal thing ever!"

"That was me." Cooper whispered. Natasha gave him a smirk.

"Yeah, sorry to drop that one on you…" Clint said, not sounding particularly sorry.

"Ya shoulda heard his voice." Bucky said, with a grin. "It dropped an octave. 'The Barton residence?'" he mimicked in a high falsetto.

Sam rolled his eyes. "I did not sound that high."

With all the controlled chaos going on, only Natasha and Steve noticed that Thor was headed for the door. Giving Christy a quick kiss on her forehead, Steve followed after him.

Natasha grabbed Christy's shoulder. "He'll be back in a sec, kid. I missed your face."

Christy smiled a little and leaned in. "Missed you, too." She gazed up into Natasha's weary-looking expression. "I love you." She said firmly. "I really love you."

She turned her attention to Bruce next, smothering him in a hug. "Uncle Bruce, I don't care what the news says the Hulk did, I love you."

Natasha could see Bruce biting down on his lip and blinking furiously.

"Thanks, kid…" he whispered.

Christy pulled back. "I mean it." she said, gazing up almost sternly.

Then, she looked over at Tony. The billionaire sighed.

"Yeah, yeah; I know kid. I done screwed up. Spare me the lecture…I already got it from your old man."

Christy shrugged. "Then listen to it." She hugged him. "I really love you, Uncle Tony. Promise. But we gotta talk later."

Tony made a scoffing sound that might have been a cover up for a sob. "Yeah, sure kid. Whatever you say."

As Christy and Tony continued in their small staring match, Natasha bumped Clint's shoulder. "I told you this was a good idea." she whispered.

Clint smiled slightly.

Yeah, yeah; Tasha was right… He glanced around at the blending of his two worlds. This was a pretty good idea…

Everyone managed to get though a round of showers without using up all the hot water. Natasha and Bruce were currently both asleep, exhausted in more ways than one.

Steve and Tony, due to either jet lag or something else, were not tired at all, so Laura had put them both to work chopping firewood. Bucky and Sam had been co-opted for some project at the back of the house that possibly involved a chain saw, as evidenced from the loud whirring sounds echoing from said area. Thor, of course, was already long gone.

Clint, meanwhile, was repairing some of the loose posts on the front porch. Cooper, Lila, and Christy were all hanging around and giving varying degrees of help.

Snatches of Steve and Tony's "discussion" drifted over to the porch. Lila frowned. "I think your dad is mad at Mr. Tony." she said to Christy.

Christy nodded. "They fight sometimes. Sam says they see stuff differently, which makes them not agree. So they yell, but then they always make up."

Clint smirked at this very succinct summation of Steve and Tony's relationship. "Mr. Tony's also done some not-so-smart things lately, without telling any of us." he added.

"He's not the only one keeping secrets." Christy muttered.

Clint sighed. I knew this was coming… He faced Christy.

"Okay, kid, out with it. Passive-aggressive looks terrible on you."

"What's passive-aggressive?" Cooper asked.

"Go ask Sam later." Clint replied, not taking his eyes from Christy.

Christy crossed her arms. "How come you didn't tell us? I mean, I get it: you're a spy and spies keep secrets, but not from people they trust! Dad told all you guys when he was adopting me, how come you didn't tell us…?" She trailed off. "Didn't you trust us?"

Clint let out a long, heavy sigh. "Plain and simple, kid? I was scared. Look, I hate to use this phrase, 'cause most of the time it's a cop-out, but sometimes it actually is true: you'll understand when you're older. Someday, you're gonna be all grown up and probably have a family of your own, and then you'll know…you'll know how scary it can be, having people to protect."

All three kids were staring at Clint, as he continued.

"Maybe it's not the best excuse in the world. But every time I thought it might be safe to spill…something would happen. And after SHIELD fell apart, I got real paranoid. I was worried, and…by then I was so used to keeping the secret that I just kinda kept things the way they'd been."

"What made you change your mind?" Christy whispered.

Clint shook his head. "I saw how crazy things were, all because of part of the team did something behind everyone else's back. And I thought…enough's enough. So, I'm sorry if you felt like I didn't trust you or something, Christy. But to be honest…sometimes keeping secrets is more about danger than not trusting people."

Silence settled over the group for a moment. Then, suddenly, Cooper cried. "Mr. Steve just ripped a piece of wood in half!"

Sure enough, the two sides of a chunk of wood lay haphazardly on the ground in front of Steve.

Christy shrugged, as Laura came out of the house and said something to Tony. "That's my dad!"

"So are we good?" Clint asked. "'Cause I'd hate to be on my favorite niece's bad side."

Christy nodded slowly. "Yeah, we're good. And I'm your only niece!"

"Am I your favorite daughter, then?" Lila asked innocently.

"Yes, you're my favorite…" Clint started, and then stopped as a giant grin appeared on the girl's face. "…you little faker." He grabbed Lila and started into the house.

"Don't take from my pile!" Tony cried out, as he started to walk towards the barn.

"But…his pile's so small." Cooper said, puzzled.

Christy shrugged again. "And that's Uncle Tony."

Steve found Christy out on the front porch later that afternoon. "So…Clint has a pretty good set-up here." he said quietly.

Christy nodded. "I like it."

"Would you like a house like this?"

Christy glanced over as Steve sat in a chair next to her. "What about the Tower?"

"Oh, I didn't mean today. Just…someday, maybe. I'd like to give you an actual house." He laughed softly. "I'd like an actual house."

"Maybe someday." Christy echoed. "But I don't mind living in the Tower." She paused. "Dad…what happened to everybody?"

Steve sighed wearily. "Remember how I told you about those two enhanced we fought? And how there were reports of them fighting with Ultron?"

Christy nodded.

"Well…one of them, the girl—Wanda's her name—she has…basically the power to manipulate minds. Telekinesis, they call it. She can use her mind to fight normally; push people back and such, but…"

Christy's face had a look of quiet anger. "Did she mess with your minds?"

Steve nodded. "She…twisted memories, I guess? At least, that's what happen to me. I saw…" he trailed off, a look of miserable longing on his face.

"Did you see Aunt Peggy?" Christy whispered.

All Steve could manage was another nod.

And in that moment, Christy decided that Wanda Maximoff had quite a lot to answer for.

She got out of her chair and managed to wiggle her way into her dad's lap.

"I love you, Dad." she said.

Steve shut his eyes and concentrated on the feel of that small body pressed up against his own.

"When this is all over, I'm taking you somewhere far away…" he whispered. "Somewhere like…oh, I dunno. Where do you wanna go?"

"Disney World?" Christy suggested. "Mom promised to take me once, but…"

"Disney World it is." Steve said firmly, before things could get any sadder. "When all this is over, I'm taking you to Disney World."

"It's a deal." Christy said. "Can…we stay here for a while? Just…sit?"

For an answer, Steve started to rock the chair back and forth. Christy lay her head on his shoulder.

The peaceful atmosphere wrapped around them like a blanket, and started to drip into Steve's soul.

This is great…absolutely great…

It was a good thing that they'd taken that time to just sit still, Steve reflected later, because soon after Fury revealed himself, everything turned to bedlam, with people scattering themselves every which way.

"We'll stay here for another day or so, and then head back to the city." Sam said, as Steve once more threw his change of clothes into a duffel.

Steve nodded. "That should be fine. Just make sure…"

"I'll watch them." Sam said firmly. "Don't worry about it."

"Alright." Steve grabbed his duffel and straightened up. "Thanks, Sam." he added, gratitude taking over his voice. "I dunno what I'd do…"

"Hey." Sam gripped Steve's shoulder. "Don't even start. You'd do the same if the positions were reversed."

"Yeah."

Clint poked his head in the door. "Ready to head out? Fury wants to see ya."

"Almost." Steve hefted his duffel. "Where's my kid and my better half?"

Bucky appeared behind Clint. "That's debatable, punk."

Steve sighed. "Sure it is, jerk." He wrapped Bucky in a hard embrace. "See ya on the other side of all this."

"Don't you die on me." Bucky hissed firmly. "I already had to deal with Christy flipping out about that. Don't do anything stupid."

Steve nodded and flipped off a small salute. "Captain's honor."

"Dad!" Christy once more flung herself on Steve. "You leavin'?"

"Yeah, we're headin' out. You say 'bye to everyone else?"

Christy nodded. "Almost." she hugged Clint next. "Bye Uncle Clint. Come…come home, okay?"

Clint nodded, hearing the weight behind Christy's statement. "I promise."

"Be good, do your homework, listen to Sam and Bucky." Steve said firmly. "And I'll be home before you know it." He hugged Christy one last time. "Now go get to bed, alright? It's late."

As Christy trooped up the stairs to Lila's room, Steve turned and followed Clint out to where Fury stood in the hallway.

It was back to the chaos. But it had been nice to rest for a while.

Hope you all enjoyed the ChristyVerse take on the "Barton's Farm" scene. Next update should be sooner than this one, although I will be pretty busy the next few days. So we'll see how that goes.

I almost forgot! The Civil War trailer! Guys...the Civil War trailer! My reactions were as follows:

1) "Oh my gosh, this looks fantastic!"

2) "Bucky!" "Steve!" "Sam!"

3) "Well, I'm gonna have some work to do to explain all this in the ChristyVerse..."

4) "Tony you idiot..."

5) *Deep Breath* "This doesn't appear to screw things up too much..."

So, in summation, I'm pretty excited/nervous/interested to see the fall out of this movie. Can't wait for May!

Reviews are wonderful things...