Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.

AN1: Thank you so much for the amazing support. It means so much to me. Honestly, I wish I had the video making skills to make an edit/trailer for this universe as I am loving writing it and getting more intrenched as I plan and continue to write. I hope you're loving reading this series as much as I am enjoying writing it. PLEASE, LEAVE A REVIEW/COMMENT.


September 15th 1997

About two and a half months have passed since Daisy walked for the first time, walking toward Tony, and with every single day that passes Daisy seems to be learning more, seems to be able to do more.

It's about one am and Melinda and Tony are fast asleep, or they are until they are woken up by Melinda's house phone ringing,

"Why would someone be calling at this time?" Tony asks, clearly half asleep.

"No good reason." Melinda admits, "May." Melinda says, as she answers the phone.

"Hey Mels." Clint's voice says.

"Clint? What's going on?" Melinda asks, sitting up as she figures Clint would be calling her in the middle of the night for a good reason.

"I kind of did something, and I kind of could use your help." Clint explains, his voice sounding more like that of the lost twenty-one-year-old kid she and Phil found than that of the agent he's become.

"What did you do?" Melinda asks, with a sign.

"It's probably better that I don't explain over the phone." Clint admits, "Can you come into headquarters?"

"You owe me." Melinda tells Clint.

"I know, more than you know." Clint says, and Melinda hangs up.

"What's going on?" Tony asks curious, sitting up too and kissing Melinda's shoulder.

"By sound of it, Clint's screwed up, majority." Melinda reveals, "I've got to go help him."

"Okay." Tony says, knowing better than questioning these things, "I'll see you when you get back."

"Yep." Melinda says, before leaning forward and kissing Tony, "Get some sleep, I'll be back when I can." Melinda says, before getting up and heading to get dressed as quickly as possible.


After getting dressed Melinda manages to get to the Triskelion fast, even by her standards, though when she is informed that Agent Barton is in the detention level she wishes she drove even faster.

"Clint!" Melinda yells as she walks into the detention corridor and sees Clint pacing back and forth, "What the hell is going on?" Melinda asks

"Fury sent me on a mission." Clint reveals.

"I know." Melinda responds, "What happened?"

"I was supposed to take out a target, but I brought her in instead." Clint explains.

"Why?" Melinda asks, knowing that Clint wouldn't have done that without a very good reason, but if she is going to help him then she needs to know what that reason is.

"There was something in her eyes, I think she wants to be different, but she just needs to be given a chance." Clint explains.

"That's why you called me, you want me to talk to her." Melinda realises.

"Yeah, her names Natasha Romanoff, she's a Russian spy, kind of a legend, and has been for a very long time." Clint explains, taking a step towards Melinda, "And if anyone can see what I saw it's you." He reveals, "So, I was hoping that if you agree that she deserves a chance you'd talk to Fury with me. He won't listen to me, but he tends to listen to you, and respects your opinion, so if you go to bat for her….."

"I'm not making any promises." Melinda informs Clint, "I'll talk to her, decide where to go from there."

"Thank you, Mels, really." Clint says, looking grateful.

"I'm your SO dealing with your screwups is my job." Melinda says, before heading into the detention room where this Natasha Romanoff is, and as he watches Melinda go Clint wonders if he has made a big mistake, but at the same time he has faith that Melinda will see what he saw.


A little while after Melinda left Tony is once more woken up, this time by the door to the bedroom opening,

"Mom." A quiet voice asks, and Tony quickly realises who it is so he turns on one of the lamps.

"Bobbi? What's wrong?" Tony asks concerned, as Bobbi is standing just inside the doorway clutching the mockingbird toy made her all those years ago.

"Uncle Tony? Where's Mommy?" Bobbi asks, and the fact that she called Melinda 'mommy' tells Tony that Bobbi had a nightmare.

"Your Mom had to go help Uncle Clint, but she'll be back soon." Tony explains.

"Oh." Bobbi responds, clearly looking disappointed.

"Why don't you come talk to me, Little Bird, tell me what's going on." Tony suggests, and once he does Bobbi looks hesitant, "It's okay." He assures her.

Hearing Tony say it's okay is all the encouragement Bobbi needs and so she walks across the room and climbs up onto the bed, where she sits next to Tony. Once Bobbi is sitting next to her Tony moves the blanket and puts it over Bobbi as well, as it is quite chilly.

"What's going on, Little Bird?" Tony asks curious.

"I had a nightmare again." Bobbi explains.

"What about?" Tony asks, though he can guess.

"Mom was hurt again, really hurt." Bobbi says, looking upset.

"You know I have nightmares too." Tony reveals, as he puts his arm around Bobbi.

"You do?" Bobbi asks, looking at him in surprised.

"Yep, about the same thing too." Tony says, telling the complete truth, "I worry about something happening to your mom, or you, or Daisy." He explains.

"Mom keeps getting hurt…. I don't like it." Bobbi reveals.

"I don't like it either." Tony assures her, "But your Mom is the strongest person I know, and one of the best agents there is, I remind myself of that, and the fact that Uncle Clint and Uncle Coulson are watching her back." Tony explains, "It helps."

"Yeah?" Bobbi asks.

"Yeah." Tony confirms, "Bobbi it's okay to worry about your mom, in fact considering everything it's normal, but try not to worry too much, okay? Your Mom's tough, and as long as she has a say in the matter she's going to come home to you and your sister." Tony explains to Bobbi, having no idea if what he is saying will help, but he needs to try.

"You too." Bobbi tells Tony, who smiles slightly.

"Yeah, me too." Tony confirms, "Do you want to go back to your room or stay in here tonight?" Tony asks curious, as he knows that Bobbi tends to sleep in Melinda's bed, even if both he and Melinda are in it, after she has a nightmare.

"Can I stay?" Bobbi asks, sounding nervous.

"Of course, lay down." Tony tells Bobbi and once he is sure that Bobbi is lying down, and comfortable, he turns off the light, and before long both Tony and Bobbi are fast asleep.


Back at the Triskelion, it has been a little while since Melinda went into the room to talk to Natasha, and ever since Clint has just been pacing back and forth. As he paces back and forth Clint sees someone walking towards him, someone he recognizes.

"Phil? What are you doing here?" Clint asks, as while he called Melinda he didn't call Phil, so he has no idea why Phil would be at S.H.I.E.L.D in the middle of the night.

"Fury called me. What the hell did you do?" Phil asks, looking less than happy.

"It's a long story." Clint explains.

"Well you better get in a talking mood, Fury's pissed, and he wants to see you." Phil explains, and before Clint can respond the door to the room Natasha is in opens and Melinda walks out, "May?" he asks, sounding shocked.

"So, what did you think?" Clint asks Melinda.

"You were right." Melinda confirms, "Let's talk to Fury."

"Um, I'm confused, but that's a good idea, because Fury's made it clear that he wants to talk to Clint, now." Phil explains.

"Then let's go." Melinda says, and once she does she, Clint, and Phil start to walk together, heading towards Fury's office.


A couple of minutes after Melinda, Clint, and Phil walked left the detention level the three of them walk into Fury's office, and for the second they walk in they can tell that he is angry.

"Agent Barton, what were you thinking?" Fury asks, taking notice of Melinda, but not commenting on her presence.

"I made a call… Sir." Clint explains.

"And it was the right one." Melinda says, causing both Fury and Phil to look at her.

"Why would you say that, Agent May?" Fury asks.

"Clint called me to come in so that I could talk to Ms Romanoff, and I did." Melinda reveals.

"What's your assessment?" Fury asks, truly looking curious.

"Clint made the right call." Melinda answers, "She has an interesting past, no doubt about that, and she has had to make truly difficult decisions, but she also has potential." Melinda reveals, and as she does Clint feels confused as he never told Melinda what Natasha has done, "With time, and the right support, I believe she can be a great asset to S.H.I.E.L.D, a great Agent, she just needs a chance." Melinda explains, "Clint made the right call, we should give her that chance."

"Would you be prepared to take full responsibility for Ms Romanoff, Agent Barton, and their actions?" Fury asks, looking directly at Melinda.

"Without hesitation." Melinda admits.

"Okay." Fury says, being satisfied with that, "Agent Coulson, do you have anything you would like to add?" Fury asks, looking at the Agent in the room who has been pretty quiet.

"I do not know enough about the current situation at the moment to make any comments, Sir." Phil says, being able to tell that Clint, and quiet possibly Melinda are in serious trouble, "But that being said Agents Barton and May have my full support and I trust both their judgements." Phil says.

"Understood." Fury says, with a nod at Phil, "Agent Barton, you are on probation, to be supervised by Agent May." He instructs, "Agent May you are to submit weekly reports on both Agent Barton, and Ms Romanoff." He says, "However, until I say otherwise Ms Romanoff will stay in the detention level. If she agrees she will undergo tests and once they are completed I will make my assessment.

"Yes Sir." Clint, Melinda, and Phil say together.

"You're dismissed." Fury says, and as all three of them know better than testing him Melinda, Clint, and Phil head out of the room, rather quickly.

"Okay, can one of you fill me in on what the hell just happened?" Phil asks curious, looking between Melinda and Clint.

"Clint can, I'm going home." Melinda says, before walking away.

"I'll buy the coffee." Clint says, and once he does he and Phil head towards the closest place, that is open, where they can buy coffee.


A little while after Melinda left Phil and Clint she arrives back home and because she is trying not to wake up Tony she gets changed back into her pyjamas in the dark, but as she goes to climb back in bed she finds Bobbi lying in the bed too.

"Tony." Melinda says, knowing that her tone will likely wait Tony, but not Bobbi.

"Mel?" Tony asks, opening his eyes, as Melinda carefully moves Bobbi towards more of the middle of the bed.

"What happened?" Melinda asks, as she lies down in the bed too.

"She had a nightmare again." Tony explains, "We talked, and she wanted to sleep in here."

"Oh." Melinda says, looking sad as she pushes Bobbi's hair back, out of her face, "Is she okay?"

"I think so, she was able to fall back asleep pretty easily." Tony explains.

"Good, that's good." Melinda says, looking relieved.

"What happened with Clint?" Tony asks curious.

"He made a call on a mission, one that had a lot of consequences, and that's made Fury very angry." Melinda explains.

"Was it a call you would have made?" Tony asks curious.

"No." Melinda admits, "But it was the right one." She reveals, and once she does she and Tony drift into silence, and before long they are both fast asleep.


A couple of hours after Melinda got home she wakes up at five am, just like she always does, and after she sees that both Bobbi and Tony are fast asleep, she gets up and heads downstairs, knowing that she has time before Daisy wakes up.

Once she gets down stairs Melinda heads straight to the kitchen to put on the coffee before she starts Tai-Chi as while she hates coffee both her father and Tony love it.

"If you're making coffee I'll have a cup." A voice says, as Melinda turns on the coffee machine, and as she recognizes the voice Melinda doesn't do more than just turn around.

"Good morning to you too, Nick." Melinda says, as she looks at him, "Glad you could make yourself at home." Melinda says, a level of sarcasm to her voice, "What's up?"

"I watched the video of you and Romanoff from this morning." Fury reveals, "You were in that room for forty-five minutes and only said a dozen words, she said less." He says, "How'd that make you decide to go bat for her?" Fury asks.

"I didn't need her to talk. In fact, sitting in silence with her said more than words ever could." Melinda explains, "I stand by everything I said, everything I did."

"Of course, you do." Fury says, standing up, "Read this, it's what we know about her so far." He says, dropping a file on the table.

"Yes Director." Melinda responds.

"Report to my office when you get to Headquarters, alone, there are a few things I want to go over with you." Fury explains.

"Yes Sir." Melinda says, and once she does Fury heads out of the kitchen,

"Morning, Stark." Fury says as he walks past Tony who is walking into the kitchen.

"Nick… what?" Tony asks, looking confused, but Fury doesn't stop walking, instead he just keeps walking and heads out the front door, "Okay, what's going on?" Tony asks curious.

"The fall out from last night, or this morning, technically." Melinda says, as she walks over and picks up the file that Fury left it.

"What's with the file?" Tony asks curious.

"That call Clint made was bringing someone in." Melinda explains, as Melinda opens the file and starts to flick through it, "This is her file."

"Okay, what's the big deal with Clint bringing someone in S.H.I.E.L.D?" Tony asks curious, still feeling confused.

"Her past." Melinda answers, "It's complicated, and raises some doubt about whether she can be trusted." Melinda reveals.

"But you think she can." Tony realises, being able to tell that.

"I do." Melinda confirms, "Just because she's done horrible things in her past doesn't mean she can't change, doesn't mean she's a horrible person. I think she could be an amazing S.H.I.E.L.D agent, she just needs support and time." Melinda explains.

"So, you and Clint are going to bat for her because you both can see what she could be." Tony realises.

"Exactly." Melinda confirms, with a nod, "Are you going back to New York today?" Melinda asks curious as Tony tends not to have a regular schedule for when he's in New York and when he's in DC.

"Nah, but I do have a meeting there tomorrow, so I'll go back in the morning." Tony explains.

"Okay." Melinda says with a nod, "I'm going to try to get some Tai-Chi done before Daisy and Bobbi get up."

"Then I'll go get breakfast, so your Dad doesn't have to make it." Tony offers.

"That would be great." Melinda says, with a nod, and once she does she goes one way while Tony goes another.


A few hours later, after a rather hectic morning at home Melinda is arriving back at the Triskelion, and once she is there she heads straight to Fury's office, where she is shown right in.

"Did you read the file?" Fury asks, the second Melinda walks in.

"Yeah, are the date time stamps, right?" Melinda ask, as she walks over and stands across from him.

"There's no reason to suggest otherwise." Fury admits, from where he is standing.

"Then how?" Melinda asks.

"You have a superpowered daughter, do you really need to ask that question?" Fury asks, giving Melinda a look.

"Someone experimented on her, made it so she ages slower." Melinda realises.

"Yes." Fury says, with a nod, "Whether she has other abilities remain to be seen."

"Do you know who did this to her?" Melinda asks, and it is clear to Fury that she would like to deal with whoever was behind it, something which doesn't surprise Fury as human experimentation to give people abilities is something Melinda truly hates.

"In the forties Peggy discovered a Soviet Organisation that would train, and brainwash, girls, turn them into the best spies, and assassins, in the word, everything we know so far indicates Ms Romanoff was apart of that organisation." Fury explains.

"And now they've graduated to human experimentation." Melinda says, with a frown, "The file was vague, do you have any idea how old she really is?"

"Not for sure, but evidence suggests she was born in 1950, and her aging was slowed when she was fourteen." Fury explains, "That means she has been a spy and an assassin for a very long time."

"Doesn't mean she's a lost cause." Melinda reveals, "Nick, Clint was able to bring her in, he trusts her, and this morning I didn't get the impression that she's here to infiltrate us. In fact, I think she's starting to realise what she's done all these years and is horrified by it."

"You really believe in her, in what she can be." Fury realises, still not completely understanding that.

"I really do." Melinda says, taking a step closer, "Nick, give Clint and I, and even Phil, a chance. We can help her, we can get through to her, we just need some time."

"I already said I would. I just hope you don't make me regret it." Fury comments, giving Melinda a look.

"A little regret not a bad thing, Nick. After all I'm pretty sure there are times when you regret allowing Clint and I to meet." Melinda comments, as she knows that there are times where she and Clint are pains to Fury because of pranks they pull, or stunts they pull on missions.

"You really don't want to bring that up now." Fury reveals, "You're dismissed, Melinda."

"Yes Sir." Melinda says, before heading out the room.


A while after Melinda left Fury's office she is walking into the detention room that Natasha is in.

"With me." Melinda says simply, and with a interested look Natasha gets up and follows Melinda out of the room.

Once Melinda and Natasha are out of the detention room Melinda walks down the corridor, and Natasha jogs a little to catch up,

"No guards, or restraints?" Natasha asks, not being able to help herself as she is a little surprised by both those facts.

"Don't need them." Melinda answers, as they continue to walk, and truthfully Natasha is very interested in what is going on, though that doesn't stop Natasha from noticing every single thing around them.

After about a minute after Melinda and Natasha left Natasha's room the two of them arrive at the elevators, and once they are in the elevators Melinda activates the elevators so that they can head to one of the gyms.

Once they are in the gym Melinda walks to the centre of the room, to where the work out mats are,

"We're going to spar, I'm going to assess your abilities." Melinda tells Natasha.

"Okay." Natasha says, with a nod.

"Whenever you're ready." Melinda says, and quiet quickly she and Natasha start to spar together.

October 31st 1997

Over six weeks have passed since Clint brought Natasha into S.H.I. . and while she is still living in a detention room she has been given more freedom than she did have, and Clint is still on probation.

It is Halloween and Melinda is waiting in her living room with Bobbi who is dressed up the female scientist from Jurassic Park, and Daisy who is dressed as a dinosaur.

"Where is he?" Bobbi asks, looking upset, as she looks between her mother and the clock.

"He should be here soon." Melinda assures her daughter.

"He has to be, he promised!" Bobbi exclaims.

"He did." Melinda assures her, "Bobbi has your Uncle Tony ever broken a promise to you?" Melinda asks.

"No." Bobbi answers, after thinking for a moment.

"He's not going to start now." Melinda says, completely believing that, and once she finishes speaking the front door opens and Tony walks in.

"Uncle Tony!" Bobbi yells happily as she runs towards him and almost tackles him to the ground as she hugs him, due to the force.

"Wow, I'm happy to see you too, Little Bird." Tony says, as he returns the hug, forcing himself not to wince, and Melinda, who is holding Daisy stands up.

"I was worried you weren't going to show up." Bobbi admits, and as she does Melinda tenses at that, as she knows Tony could take that one of two ways because of what Howard was like.

"You never had to worry." Tony says, as he squats down in front of Bobbi, "Little Bird when I make a promise to you or your sister, I will always do everything in my power to keep them."

"Promise?" Bobbi asks.

"Promise." Tony assures her, and once he does Bobbi hugs him.

"Well, now that's sorted I think we have candy to go collect." Melinda comments, having given Bobbi and Tony a few moments to hug.

"That we do." Tony confirms, as he and Bobbi break apart, "Let's go Little Bird." He says, and once he does the two of them, Melinda and Daisy head out of the house to go trick or treating together.

December 5th 1997

Ever since Halloween Tony has been in DC more, to the annoyance of the Stark Industries board, and the joy of Melinda, Bobbi, and Daisy.

It's a Friday night and Melinda, and Phil, are in their office completing their reports on Natasha who has been given more freedom, but who is still somewhat restricted in what she can do.

"You're really making recommendation for Natasha's restrictions to be left and for her to become a probationary S.H.I.E.L.D agent?" Phil asks.

"Yeah, I am." Melinda confirms, "And I don't see why you're not."

"I like Romanoff, and I do think she has potential, but I think we need to be careful." Phil admits.

"You do realise we're swapped positions." Melinda comments, "Usually you'd be arguing to give her a chance, and I'd be arguing that we have to be more careful." Melinda realises.

"Yeah, we would." Phil says, "You really trust her, even with everything that happened?"

"I really do, and Clint does too." Melinda points out, "Why don't you?"

"I want to trust her, but one of us need to be objective." Phil comments, as truthfully he would very much like for his fears to be unfounded, but only time will tell.

"Well I guess it's up to Fury then. He'll make a decision once he reads all the reports." Melinda comments.

"Yeah, he will." Phil says, as he and Melinda drift into silence as they continue to type their reports, both knowing that they don't have long before they have to report to Fury's office.