A/N: Hey, I"m back. I know I've been gone for like ever, but I've seen AOU and I now have a little more direction for my story. Sorry for the long wait, but here's a long chapter for you.
Read it. Enjoy it. Review it.
It's funny the moment you realized that all of your preconceived notions about life are totally and completely screwed. Five years ago there weren't secret organizations like SHIELD or HYDRA, there weren't aliens who called themselves gods, and it definitely wasn't possible for her to die and to come back to life. Five years ago Katie was just a woman really good with computers. Now she was someone else. Now she didn't know what or who to believe.
That was the reason she asked Thor if she could have one day before returning home. He didn't quite seem to understand her reluctance. He actually expected her to want nothing more than to return to her family as soon as possible, but he didn't push. She didn't expect that day to move as quickly as it did and soon Katie found herself only mere moments away from doing the one thing she wasn't completely sure she was ready for.
She spent her last remaining moments in one of the castle's beautiful gardens trying to think of how this will all play out. She is aware that they were all sad because of her death, and she knows that she should be sympathetic to that fact, but she can't forget the lies and the secrets and the betrayal from the people she calls family.
"We should've known you'd find your way down here at some point." A voice spoke suddenly, startling her. She turned to see the smiling face of Fandral. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine, I'm the one burying herself in her thoughts." Katie replied turning to a particularly beautiful pink flower.
"That is the Giraluna" Fandral said as he watched the woman marveling at the flower. "It is very special flower, carrying healing abilities in it's pedals." he moved to stand beside her and quickly grabbed her hand as she reached to touch it. "And a deadly poison in it's thorns."
She turned to him with wide eyes. "A flower that has both the power to help and to hurt." he simply nodded as he released her hand. "Sounds familiar." she turned back to the flower, and Fandral watched her closely, still trying to figure out why the woman in front of him was so important.
"Lady Katherine-"
"You left." Katie interrupted turning back to the man. "When Thor went in search of this spring, you helped them fight, but then you left." Fandral dropped his head in shame before shaking his head sputtering apologies.
"Please forgive me, I-"
"Stop" Katie said grabbing his hand with a smile. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about it, hell I completely understand why you did it. It's Thor and the others who confuse me." she shook her head. "I was dead because sometimes people die. Second chances should be granted to those who deserve them."
"Do you not think you deserved the second chance you received?"
"Do you?" she asked. "Isn't that why you left?"
"Yes" he replied turning from her. His eyes were drawn to the bright clouds that hung above them. "But just because I didn't know if you deserved the second chance you received, doesn't mean you didn't deserve it." he smiled as a flock of birds flew by and Katie followed her gaze. "Though my opinion on the matter has changed greatly."
"I'm not sure mine has." Katie muttered when she spotted Thor walking toward them. He was smiling widely and she knew what was coming."I guess you're finally kicking me out." Thor frowned at her choice of words.
"Do not misunderstand, you're welcome here for as long as you would like, I just thought you'd be in a hurry to return to your home." Thor said and Katie simply nodded. He was right. She should be chomping at the bits to get home, but for the life of her she just wasn't ready. Not yet.
"I am, I just-" she looked around the garden smiling at some sort of beautiful flying insect around a few of the flowers. "I like the simplicity of this place. I like that no one here is trying to trap me in a box. No one here is keeping secrets or trying to hurt me." she turned back to Thor who placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You have a fierce heart lady Katherine, and I've witnessed you defy unbeatable odds. This shall not be any different." he said pulling her into a hug that even Katie wasn't aware she needed until that very moment.
"Like a band aid, right?" Katie said as she pulled from the hug. She looked over to Fandral with a smile before turning back to Thor. "I guess we should go." They all began walking back toward the castle, Katie in front as Thor and Fandral followed.
"What's a band aid?" Fandral whispered over to Thor.
"It's a sticky paper Midgardians use to heal wounds." Thor replied and Fandral's eyes widened.
"Paper?" he asked and Thor simply nodded.
After that the preparations for her departure were on there way. Katie stood beside Thor at the entrance of the castle as she said her goodbye to her Asgardian friends. Volstagg and Hogun were just walking off in search of food, before Katie turned to Thor.
"You know I kind of expected to see your father before I left" she said and he turned away an expression she didn't recognize crossing his face. "Is everything alright?"
"My father is not a proud man. He knows your gratitude." He looked like there was something more on his mind, but Katie didn't want to push him. She knows since the Queen's death, Odin has probably become someone different.
"Well at least I am here to bid you farewell." Sif said and Katie turned to her with a smile. "I wish you well Lady Katherine."
"And I you." Katie replied with a smile and a nod before turning to Fandral who simply nodded his head to her. "Fandral."
"Lady Katherine"
After their farewells, Katie followed along side Thor down the rainbow bridge.
"Just so you are aware, Heimdall's eyes shall still be on you." Thor said and Katie nodded. "I wish I was able to stop what happened, but even he can't explain the turn of events that lead to your death."
"Well hopefully we'll find out at some point" Katie replied before her eyes looked back down to the bridge as they walked. When they finally reached Heimdal, he stood at his place, sword in hand with a look Katie could only describe as unbeatable strength.
"It is pleasure to have you back with us Lady Katherine." Heimdal said, his eyes fixed on the worlds beneath him.
"And a pleasure to be back." Katie said as Thor help her up the steps of the wheelhouse. "So you're going to send me back home."
"Are you ready for such a journey?" he asked turning to her fully. Katie turned away in thought before turning back to him.
"I don't think it matters if I am or not, it's a journey I'm going to have to take." Katie replied and the guard merely nodded.
"Then let us waste no more time." Heimdall replied before he drove his sword into the middle of platform, and a beam of light shot out surrounding them.
Katie kept her eyes closed for most of the short trip, only daring to open them when she felt the ground beneath her. She was once again surrounded by flowers, but these were familiar. These were the flowers she helped pick out for the tower's roof top garden. The lights above the flowers made the beautiful scene as beautiful at night as it was in the daylight. She was home.
"Shall we venture inside?" Thor asked looking down to Katie who hadn't moved from her spot beside him.
"Yeah, might as well." Katie said finally scrounging up the courage to move her feet. They moved toward the elevator and awaited it's doors to open. Thor glanced over to Katie, whose hands were wrapped protectively around her belly.
"I'm sure your Hawk will be happy of the your return." Thor said and Katie tensed slightly at the thought of the impending reunion with her husband. Her mind traveled to the last time they were even in the same room and she had to take a deep breath just calm herself. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open and Katie silently stepped inside, Thor staying at her side. "Lady Katherine, are you sure you're alright with this?" he couldn't miss the uncertainty in her eyes. She bit her bottom lip as she stared at the doors in front of her refusing to meet his questioning gaze. "Katie-" it was rare that Thor fell upon such informalities, but he knew there was something Katie wasn't saying and he was slightly worried.
She met his eyes for a moment before reaching up and pressing one of the buttons inside the elevator. "I'm fine Thor." she replied after a few beats of silence. "I have to be." when the elevator finally stopped, the doors opened to a floor the Thor recognized instantly. He looked over to Katie with a furrowed brow.
"As much as I would love for you to hold my hand through this, I just can't" she turned to him with a smile. "You've done so much for me already and I just can't take anything else from you. I'm sure Jane is waiting for you and you should go to her now." Thor stood there for a moment, searching her eyes for any indication of distress that he could fix, but he knew there wasn't anything more he could do for her. He gave her a smile before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
"Everything will be fine Lady Katherine." Thor says softly. "I'm sure of it." Katie gives him a reassuring smile before he turns and steps off the elevator in search of his Lady Jane. Once the elevators close, Katie finds herself alone and it happens. Everything that has happened, every detail replays in her head causing her to stumble back, her back falling against the wall.
"Katie, are you alright?" a familiar voice asks and it's a voice that seems to break through the craziness in her head. She smiles and lifts her head.
"Yes JARVIS, I'm fine. Thanks for asking. How have you been?" she can't help but ask more interested in how her old friend will answer rather than the actual answer.
"I am not sure of how to vocalize my state of being since your last visit" JARVIS responded and Katie can't help but smile at such an honest answer. "Though I must say I believe your presence will be much welcomed."
"Yeah." Katie sighed looking over to the buttons that lined the wall, and for the life of her she couldn't reach up and press one of them. "I can't do this." the words were a whisper of the honest to God truth. She knew if she went to her apartment, if she saw him, then only one thing would happen. The moment where she would have to reassure everyone that everything was ok, when in her heart it wasn't. She was angry and she was wanted to hash everything out, but only a heartless person would do such a thing.
"Katie, where would you like to go?" JARVIS asked and Katie couldn't help but feel that was the million dollar question. The apartment was out of the question. She wasn't ready for that scene to play out yet and so there was only one other place she felt she could go.
"The lab JARVIS. Take me to the lab." soon the elevator was moving and Katie felt like she could breathe again. When the doors slid open, Katie was met with the familiar sight of the place that always made sense to her. She walked into the lab, looking up to the monitors her eyes drawn to the moving images. It wasn't until she was closer did she recognize what they were showing. "They're looking for the Rosen Bridge." she mutters before stepping forward and typing a few keys ending the search. She let her eyes scan over the place to see it was less tidy then she remembered. There was a stapler on the floor, so she walked over bent down to pick it up. The moment she did, the sound of the elevator opening stopped her dead in her tracks. Heavy footsteps walked in and then stopped.
"JARVIS, what's going on, why has the search stopped?" a familiar voice spoke and Katie didn't move. "Have you-" there were a few more steps. "Did you find her?"
"My search was unsuccessful sir, but-"
"Then why has the damn search ended!" Tony snapped angrily. "It doesn't stop until she's found."
"Well it's a good thing I'm here, huh?" she finally spoke standing up straight to meet the man's eyes. The whole room stopped in that moment and Katie felt the nervousness twitch in her belly. "Hey Tony." he didn't say anything which is strange for a man who usually has a response to everything. Katie didn't move from her spot, afraid of the moment of her stepping forward only for him to step away. "Guess who's not dead?" she watched as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before releasing a heavy breath. They'd been here before, this moment where she just appears after he believed she was dead. "I'm really here." she spoke knowing that probably was the only thing he needed to know right now. Still nothing and Katie was really starting to believe that this was all a big mistake. "I'm sorry." he lifted his head at her words as she shook her head. "I didn't-I wouldn't have done this if-" she met his eyes once again and in a heartbeat, Tony had moved to her and brought his arms around her in a tight hug.
"How is this possible?" Tony finally asked and Katie smiled as she brought her arms around him hugging back."
"Thor keeps his word" Katie replied finding an awful lot of comfort in the arms of her friend. "I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing, this isn't your fault. Shit just happened." he pulled from the hug, but not to far. He pull back just enough to look at her face and really grasp that she was really here. "I thought I lost you again and that is not a good feeling. What happened?"
"I'm still not sure. I was at the agency and then Sarkissan came and we were driving until we stopped and then there was this truck coming at us." Katie sighed, the memory hitting her. "And then I felt-" she placed a hand on her belly. " The baby started kicking and I knew I couldn't just sit there and die." she met his eyes with a shake of her head. "And then nothing. Then I'm waking up in Asgard with absolutely no idea how I got there, and Thor telling me that the world thinks I'm dead."
"Well yeah, the world thinks you're dead, but I didn't. I knew that it couldn't end like that." he placed a kiss on her forehead. "You know I doubt that big bird would let you out of his sight the moment he laid eyes on you." Katie sighed turning her back to him. "He doesn't know you're back, does he?"
"No one other than you and Thor, and well JARVIS know I'm here." Katie replied as she looked over one of Tony suits that he seemed to be in the middle of building. "I couldn't face him yet. Not when I'm positive that I would hit him if I did."
"What did he do this time?" Tony asked and Katie turned to him with a furrowed brow. "What?"
"You don't know?" she asked and Tony narrowed his eyes and simply shook his head. Katie was sure that at this point that the whole tower would know, but she should've known they wouldn't. Coulson probably made sure everything stayed under wraps. Katie turned to face him, folding her arms over her chest. "My parents are alive." Tony's eyes widened at the news.
"How is that...Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure seeing as they kidnapped me, took me to some cabin in the woods and then tried to justify faking their deaths." It was still too bizarre to even believe. She was there and it was hard for her to even believe.
"But your dad, I thought you-"
"I did, but apparently there are those who can make people see the things they want them to see."
"SHIELD is behind this?" Tony asked and Katie nodded. "Of course they are. What are they not behind these days?" Katie chuckled slightly turning away from him. She didn't want him to see something and so he decided to see what it was. He walked over to her, placing himself in front of her making her look up to him.
"What did he do?"
"He knew. He knew and he didn't tell me. Hell he didn't even plan on telling me. You know I knew-" she shook her head and walked away from him. "I knew once we came back and we let it all back in, New York, Avengers, SHIELD, it was going to ruin it." she was now pacing and Tony chose to just stand there and let her vent for a while. "We were happy, we were-" she stopped and looked over to him. "He let them ruin us."
"Maybe-" Tony started unsure if he should finish "Maybe he was trying to protect you." Katie stared at Tony for a moment trying to see if he were serious, or if this was some sort of joke.
"You're defending him?"
"No, I just get why he might keep something like that from you."
"You're joking, why would you-" it seemed to hit her in that moment. The only reason Tony Stark would defend Clint Barton was if he done the same thing. "Are you keeping something from me?"
"I didn't say that, I just-"
"Tony, what is it?"
"Fine, when you got that call from the woman claiming to be your mother and I went to check it out-"
"You found nothing but an empty house." Tony ran his hand through his hair with a sigh and Katie took a step forward. "Right?"
"Well not nothing." Tony said walking over to her, but she took a step back. "There was a chest and it was filled with pictures."
"Of what?"
"You, when you were younger, your parents." he waved for her to follow him. "They're here, just-" he turned and began heading to his office, but stopped when he turned to see her still standing there. "I'm sorry." Katie dropped her eyes from his for a moment before bringing her eyes back to his.
"It's fine." she said with a smile he knew wasn't genuine. "I mean I'm sure you had your reasons and-"
"No, that's not how we work." Tony said walking over to her and placing himself right in front of her. "Sure, what I did, I thought I was protecting you. You'd just had some panic attack that scared the shit out of me and I had nothing but a chest full of pictures. There were a million and one reasons why it was there, so I thought I would wait until I had some more. Was it right, probably not, but I thought I was saving you from a crap load of bullshit that you didn't need to deal with. Hey-" he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You should be angry at Barton, at me at everyone who decided they knew what was best for you. You shouldn't put everyone else's feelings before yours." Katie simply nodded before turning and heading for the elevator. She only stopped after she pressed the button. The doors slid open instantly and before she stepped on, she turned to Tony.
"I can handle a lot more then you think, so next time give me the chance to prove it to you."
"I'm sorry, I thought-" Katie held up a hand to stop him and decided to just comply.
"Out of everyone in the world Tony Stark is supposed to be honest with me. I should trust him if I can't trust anyone else. He's my best friend." she shook her head and just took a step back onto the elevator. "Things I thought were true, but I'm being proven wrong about a lot of things lately." and with those words the elevator doors closed and just like that she had one big reunion down and another to go.
It was still too soon to face Clint. She still needed time to actually form thoughts, and words, because at the moment all she had for him were a bunch of expletives paired with some physical violence. Katie stood on the elevator unsure where to go now. Once upon a time this Tower felt like home. It was more of a home than any other place she'd been and now...now she really wanted to leave. That thought kept floating to the back of her head, telling her that it would all be so easy and so simple if she just ran. Running was her go to move, but she had more things to take into consideration. Her hand rubbed mindlessly across her belly, just awaiting those next couple of thumps underneath her finger tips. She figured the baby must be sleeping. She should be sleeping, but she just couldn't.
"Where shall you like to go Katie?" JARVIS asked and Katie lifted her head slightly as she thought over the question.
"I think-" there was someone she figured she should probably see. "Yeah, I should probably go talk to Mattie." When the doors opened, Katie stalked off down the dim lit hallway and headed down the familiar path toward Matthew's door. When she rose her hand to knock, the hesitation suddenly hit her. Their last conversation definitely wasn't one of their best moments, and she wasn't sure how this next conversation would go.
"Would you like me to inform Mr. Banks that you're outside his door?" JARVIS asked and Katie smiled slightly as she lifted her head. She was starting to realize this AI was probably her best friend at the moment.
"No, I can do this." Katie sighed before finally knocking a couple of times on the door. She stood there, waiting nervously, partially hoping he didn't answer the door. That hope was crushed the moment that door swung open, and a the familiar face of her brother appeared. His eyes were wide with shock as he simply stood there and just stared at her. It was the expected reaction, which she had to counteract with the unexpected reaction. Katie took a step forward, grabbed his shoulder with one hand before tossing a fist right in his gut with the other causing him to double over instantly. "Hey Mattie." she greeted before moving around him into his apartment.
Matthew stood there for a couple of moments unsure if he was dreaming or if that just happened. He suddenly turned to see her sitting on his couch with her hand covering her eyes.
"You're...you're not dead." Matthew said from his spot by the door. He was still finding it hard to even consider this moment was real and he just didn't know how to deal with this.
"No, Agent Black I am not." Katie replied lifting her feet to his coffee table. "I am alive, and very tired, so please just stop talking for a second." Matthew walked over and took a seat on the recliner across from her, and just silently looked at her still wondering if this was real.
"I would've told you-"
"Oh no you wouldn't!" Katie snapped angrily opening her eyes and glaring over to him. "You would've taken it to your grave Agent Black. Top CIA agent, excelled in counter-terrorism, espionage. You were, I'm sorry you are the poster boy CIA agent and for some reason you thought I should be the one you hide it from."
"You think I didn't want to tell you?! You think it wasn't eating me up inside that I had to hide something so big from the one person in this world I even give a damn about?!" Matthew slid forward on his seat, trying to bring himself closer to her, but she slid further away. "My sister worked for a very dangerous government agency. She's been through the ringer and when she looked at me she smiled because she thought I was her saving grace. She would smile because she believed her little brother was just this normal screw up. I kept this from you because you needed me to just be your normal little brother. You needed something normal in your life and I wouldn't take that from you." Katie didn't say anything to that, because he was partially right. If she were totally and completely honest with herself she would say that he was more than partially right. "How did you even find out?"
"You're my little brother, of course I checked in on you. Of course I saw how you were doing in college, of course I made sure when you were arrested for disorderly conduct, a mysterious order popped up to have you released." she dropped her feet back to the floor and leaned in closer to him as well. "Of course I was aware that a recruiter from the CIA stopped by on your graduation day with a business card and a promise that you could help change the world. I never left you, you dill hole." she shook her head as she sat back against the couch. "I thought you were out after Operation Black Bird, but I guess I was wrong." she turned away from him and once again closed her eyes. "I've spent my whole life being lied to. I didn't need you to pretend to be normal, I just needed you to be honest with me."
"I'm sorry" Matthew whispered, but Katie didn't say anything. "I'm glad you're not dead." Katie looked over to him. "You're kind of a big part of me Rinny and if you're gone then I'm a very empty individual. So I know you're still upset and I know this is probably the last thing you want to do right now, but I don't care. I'm your brother and you're my sister and for the past couple of days I was made to believe you were dead and I think I at least deserve a hug." Katie sat there for a moment, and Matthew thought for sure that she would keep pushing him away, but then she stood to her feet and walked over to him. He stood as well in front of her.
"Well-" she said opening her arms slightly and without hesitation, the young man pulled his sister into a tight hug. After a few moments, he felt her arms wrap around him as well.
"Don't die again." he muttered against her ear. "Like ever. Like live forever, ok?"
"Ok." Katie replied before pressing a kiss to his cheek. When Matthew pulled back, he looked down to her stomach before placing a hand over her rounded belly.
"And keep my little niece or nephew here too." he looked up to his eyes. "Despite what I might say sometimes, I definitely need you around."
"I'm not going anywhere." Katie said turning and walking over to sit on the couch. "Not when the crazy has just gotten started." she let out a yawn and Matthew's couldn't help but ask an obvious question.
"Where's agent Dick?" he asked looked back to the door. "I thought he'd be the first person on your guess who's still kicking tour?"
"That's a long story." Katie sighed closing her eyes. "And at the moment, I think I would just like to sleep." she spun around so she was now completely lying on the couch.
"You can have the bed-"
"I'm not taking your bed."
"And I'm not letting my pregnant sister sleep on my couch." Matthew replied and Katie let out an annoyed moan before standing to her feet and shuffling toward the bedroom, letting the door slam behind her.
Matthew smiled. For the first time in a long time he smiled. Sure she was angry, but she would get over it at some point. She was back and that's what really mattered.
The next morning Matthew's eyes snapped open quickly and he jumped to his feet and headed for the bedroom. He cursed as he glanced out the window to see the sunlight. He told himself that he wouldn't go to sleep. Despite what happened the night before, a part of him was still afraid that it was all some dream or hallucination. He pushed open the door and saw her lying there, her back to him and for a moment he just stood there and watched her.
"Mr. Banks." JARVIS spoke and Matthew could've sworn the AI was whispering. Matthew closed the door so he wouldn't wake his sister.
"What's up JAR?" Matthew asked.
"You have visitors" Matthew looked at his clock with a furrowed brow. It was six o clock in the morning and since no one in this tower had a real job, no one was really up this early except for him. He walked over to the door, and looked out the peep hole, letting out a groan as he did. Taking a deep breath and trying to mentally prepare himself, Matthew pulled open the door. "Tony, Doc, what are you doing here?" Tony simply waved him off before storming into his apartment and looking around before turning back to the man.
"Where is she?" Tony asked before spotting the closed bedroom door, and instantly walking over.
"Tony, don't! She's sleeping!" Matthew called and Tony stopped right outside the door. "So you know?"
"Yeah, I found her in the lab last night." Tony replied rubbing his hand over his eyes. It was at this point did Matthew get a good look at the man. His eyes were red with dark circles, like he didn't sleep at all last night. "I told her about the chest?"
"You did what?" Matthew asked angrily. "Could we not do a vote before you went out and threw us all under the bus."
"Matt" Bruce spoke and the young man turned to now see Bruce sitting in his recliner, with his hand covering his eyes practically still asleep. "Tony did the right thing. There was too much lying and secrets being kept in this tower."
"Yeah, I would have at least like some input."
"Well she knew the truth and still slept here." Tony said waving a hand toward the door. "So I'm guessing she isn't too pissed at you."
"She must be really pissed at the secret agent dude because there's no way she'd choose staying here over being with him." Matthew looked between both men awaiting some answers. "What happened?"
"Katie's parents are alive." Bruce spoke lifting his head. "According to Tony, Katie met them that day in the park after she met with Barney."
"Parents? As in mom and dad?" How is that possible?"
"How is anything possible these days?" Tony asked tossing his hands up in frustration. "SHIELD. I'm really starting to believe SHIELD created more problems then it actually solved."
"Where are they now?" Matthew asked looking between the two men.
"No idea, but I know of one person who may know. The guy she's seems to be avoiding."
"That was going to be my next question." Matthew replies his eyes darkening slightly. He knew his sister and knew that if she wasn't with Clint right, then the man must have really fucked. "Let me guess, Mr. Former Agent Man, isn't as former as we thought?"
"He knew about her parents before she did." Bruce replied with a shake of his head. "Look we don't know the whole truth-"
"Oh come off it doc. He's been lying this whole time-"
"He's not the only one!" a new voice snapped and they all turned to see Katie. "Everyone in this room has thought it best to keep something from me." Katie's eyes turned to Tony. "I think it's time to assemble the team. We should talk."
When Clint's eyes opened, nothing happened. He remembers waking up, happy, ready for the day. He remembers his eyes opening and the first thing he saw was the most beautiful thing he's seen in his entire life. Now when he opened them, just nothing. He heard voices from the other room, and sat up from the bed. When he walked out into the living room, he saw Natasha and Bruce who both turned to him instantly.
"What's going on?" Clint asked seeing a look past between the two. "Nat-"
"He did it." Natasha replied and Clint stared at her in confusion. "Thor, he-" the woman seemed a bit surprised herself after just learning of the news. She met Clint's eyes and knew there was nothing else he wanted to hear, but the words he'd been dying to hear. "Katie's alive."
Clint didn't say anything after that. His eyes turned away as if he were trying to make sense of what she'd just told him.
"Hey, Clint. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true." Bruce added. "She wants to see you-" Clint turned to the man. "Well all of us. Upstairs in the conference room, right now." Clint had a location and time and that's all he needed. Without a second thought Clint turned and rushed out of the apartment in the crumpled clothing he'd worn the day before. When he stepped onto the elevator, he looked at the numbers and for some reason blanked on which floor the conference room was on.
"JARVIS-" Clint spoke and suddenly the elevator began moving. "Thank you."
"You're welcome sir."
Clint's hands twitched at his side, as he waited impatiently. This was crazy. He couldn't help but feel that this was all just a little too crazy to be reality. Was he dreaming? Hallucinating? The doors of the elevator slid open and there she was. Katie was standing in front of a large window, her arm draped lazily over her belly as she stared out to the city. In that moment, Clint was bombarded with emotions that nearly took him off his feet. He let out a deep breath as if a switch was turned on, and he could finally breathe again. Katie turned the moment she heard him, and her eyes widened for a second before her eyes glance down to her stomach.
Clint couldn't take his eyes off of her. He couldn't stop looking at her, because he didn't know if this was even happeneing. He didn't know if this was real, but right now, in this moment, he didn't care. She was right there and he wouldn't dare blink if it meant that she'd be gone. When she looked back up to him, she stood up straight with a cold look in her eyes that he'd seen before. Never aimed at him. Not until this moment. He knew what the first words out of his mouth needed to be.
"I'm sorry." Clint breathed, taking a step forward, the need to be closer to her growing with every passing second. "I shouldn't have kept something so important from you. I should've been honest, I should've-" he took another step, feeling everything he thought was gone inside of him coming back. "You're my partner. You and that-" he looked down to her swollen belly and smiled the first smile he'd been able to conjure up since she left. "You and that baby are everything to me." he met her eyes just as he stepped in front of her. He was close, but he didn't reach out to her, despite everything in his body wanting to. "Kat-"
"I'm angry with you. I want to hit you and I want to scream at you and I-" she gasped, the hand around her belly tightening slightly. Clint instinctively took a step forward, but she backed away from his touch. "I'm fine, it's just-" she let out a grunt as she turned away from him just as the elevator slid open once again and in walked the others.
"I can't believe it." Steve said walking over to Katie, his eyes going over her in disbelief. "How is this possible? The last time we saw you, you were-" he stopped, not wanting to rehash unpleasant memories.
"I'm not entirely sure. Thor and his friends found some freaky water that brought me back"
"Back from where?" Clint asked and Katie turned to him. He was still standing close, something she doesn't think will change anytime soon. "You were dead, so how are you here?"
"Since when is dead ever the end for us?" Tony spoke and they all turned to him. "I get you guys want to understand the whys and hows of all of this, but I think the most important thing right now is that she's here. She's back and not dead."
"Tony is right." Thor spoke smiling over to Katie. "Lady Katherine is here, and she is a live. I think for right now we should be grateful for that."
"So what now?" Bruce asked and they all shared a look.
"Now we're here. Now we're back and we're together and we fight the bad things that try to hurt us." Katie said taking a step forward. "We are the Avengers-" That was the first time ever that she admitted her inclusion in this group of extraordinary people. She looked at each and everyone in that room and felt like this is where she needed to be. "-and we do nothing as good as kicking ass."
Katie walked into this tower, with a feeling of anger and disappointment and at the end of the day, none of it no longer mattered. The truth was, and would remain that people were inadvertently human. They made decisions, some good, some bad. Katie stood in a room filled with people she was proud to call her family and right now she felt that's what everyone in this moment needed. They needed family and so she'd get over her shit, and move forward. As best she could anyways. After the little reunion, everyone stood around silently.
"Lets order in" Tony suggested turning to Katie. "A welcome back celebration for my kitten."
"Tony, maybe we should-" Bruce looked between Katie and Clint who looked like they still had words they needed to say. "Call it a day."
"What?" Tony glanced over to Bruce who gave him a look for him to just let it go. Tony turned back to Katie who seemed to be avoiding all looks from Clint. "Fine, but I'm still ordering a crap load of food and you're all invited." Tony walked over to Katie who seemed to stiffen slightly at his closeness. He dropped his head slightly to force her to look into his eyes. "Today is a new day. Yesterday is in the past. Everyone in this room will get a good nights sleep just because you're here." Tony pressed a kiss to Katie's cheek. "You're my kitten, now and forever." the last part was whispered just for her to hear. Katie turned her eyes to the man with a small smile before watching he and the others turn and leaving the room leaving no one but her and Clint.
"The truth" Katie said after a few moments of silence. "I think that's where we start."
"Ok."
"Did you know the entire time-"
"No, absolutely not. It was the day that you started talking to me again. That day Nat came and got me and took me to Coulson who told me that he needed my help on something. Something that concerned you and your safety and the only way he would tell is if I promised to not say a word about it. Not even to you."
"And you agreed."
"Of course I-" Clint took a step forward and Katie once again met that step with a step back that hurt like hell. "I know how it looks to you, but the truth is that I would rather you alive and pissed at me, then dead. Those were the options put in front of me. I chose the one that ends with you alive." Katie turned away from him and walked back over to the window. "Which didn't happen. So either way I still lost." Clint walked over to stand beside her, his eyes on the side of her face. It still felt unreal. Even in this moment when she was standing right there, he couldn't believe it. Just the day before he'd finally admitted to himself that this moment wasn't going to happen. And now that he was right here in it, it just didn't seem real. "You're right here, safe, alive, is the only thing I've ever wanted." Katie turned her eyes to him, and could see the seriousness, and honesty that he held behind his green eyes. "Kat I-"
"When I see you my heart just rams in my chest." Katie said suddenly, turning to him. "It has since that day I spotted you in that coffee shop. I still get butterflies in my stomach when I'm around you, and when I'm angry with you, when I'm really pissed off at you, there's always a small part of me that just wants you to kiss me and make the troubles just go away." Clint took a step toward her, but she once again backed away, this time holding her hands up to stop him. "My parents are alive." she still couldn't find away to just roll off of her tongue. "Who knew first doesn't change that. It does change what I see when I look at you. You're Special Agent Clint Barton and that guy places the job above everything else."
"Kat, that's not true. I-"
"Do you remember when you wanted to leave because you were afraid of that moment when you'd have to choose between being Agent Barton again, or just being the guy who gets the girl. You wanted to leave because you thought you knew what you were going to choose, but I didn't believe it. I thought that once we got out from everyone else's thumb that we could just live. You promised me that we could have it and then you chose to be Agent Barton again-"she snapped her finger. "-just like that. And you were really good at it. It's just I think we should take some time and-" her words were cut off by Clint's lips as they crashed into hers, making the world around them dissolve. His hand slid around her back pulling her as close as possible before her arms snaked around his neck. And just like that everything else just didn't matter. In that moment Clint just wanted to kiss her forever, but apparently he needed to breathe, and so he pulled away, but barely. He kept one hand on her waist, while the other was pressed against her cheek.
"You know I lived in a world without you in it for three days and it sucked shit." Clint said, both their breaths still trying to calm. "You died and the sun didn't rise or set. The wind didn't blow and-" he let out a deep breath because he couldn't explain the happiness he was feeling as he stood there with her and a smile pulled at his lips. "You died and you took everything with you. So if I had to make a choice-" he brought both his hands to cup the side of her face. "Then there really isn't a choice. I fucked up and I'm sorry, but I promise you today and everyday after that it's you and me." For just a few moments Katie just stared up into his eyes and he knew the wheel was turning. Knew she was analyzing everything up until this moment to decide her next move.
Katie reached up and took Clint's hand before pressing it against her belly so he could feel the fluttering underneath his fingers. A gasp escaped his lips as he felt the baby kicking against his hand. "Whoever is in there goes crazy when you're around apparently." Clint met her eyes with a look she couldn't even describe, but it did make her own eyes water. "You, me and whoever is in there, alright?"
"Alright." Clint replied with a bright smile before he once again gave into the needs of his body and pressed another kiss to her lips.
"Take me home." she whispered against his lips. Clint pulled away, bringing his forehead against hers.
"Not home, not yet. But one day I'm going to take you home." Katie smiled before pressing one final kiss to his lips before he placed a hand on her back before sliding an arm underneath her legs before lifting her up into his arm causing her to laugh.
"Stark was right." Clint said as he walked them toward the elevator and Katie's eyes widened at his words. "And this is probably the one and only time those words will come out of mouth, but he was right." he turned to Katie as he stepped onto the elevator. "Today is a new day and I'm not going to waste it." Katie wrapped her arms around Clint's neck, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips that always fit so perfectly against his.
That night Katie was just too wired to sleep even though the man beside her was arm was wrapped lazily around her, as her head rested on his chest, his heart beat thumping under her ear. She lifted her head and slid her fingers over his lips letting her eyes just stare at him for moment. When she returned she was sure that she would just be so angry when she finally spoke with him, and yet she couldn't. She wanted to be angry with him, so badly but in the end something happened. She realized that life really is short and she was a big enough person to let go of the past to just move on with the future and that's what she was going to do. Her parents were alive, and her husband knew and didn't tell her and that fact alone sucked ass. But Katie had to make a decision... a very tough decision. She had to choose whether she was going to hold on to the bad stuff or let it go and just be as happy as she could be with her family. When all is said and done, she knows deep down in her heart that she made the right decision.
Trying her best not to wake him, Katie slid out of bed before heading to the bathroom to shower. After she showed, Katie changed into pair of black yoga pants and a SI hoodie before slipping on her favorite pair of fluffy slipper and heading for the door.
"JARVIS, if Clint wakes up and wonders where I am, let him know that I'm down in the lab." Katie whispered as she opened the door and headed toward the elevator.
"As you wish." JARVIS replied as Katie stepped through the elevator.
"So JARVIS, have you figured out how to describe your state of being yet?" Katie asked as she leaned back against the wall of the elevator awaiting to arrive at her destination. "How have you been?"
"I have been quite content since your departure, but I must admit that since you've been back I have been-" JARVIS paused and Katie lifted her head slightly. It was moments like this that intrigued her beyond measure. It was as if he was thinking. "More." a smile pulled at Katie's lips as the doors to the lab opened.
"You will probably never understand how much you amaze me JARVIS." Katie said pushing herself from the wall. "And just so you know I have been more as well." When she stepped off the elevator, Katie didn't expect Tony to pop out from behind one of the computers startling her. "Son of a-" she placed a hand over her heart. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I live here" the man replied. "Actually I own here. So I think I'm the one who gets to ask what the hell you are doing here? Can't sleep?"
"Well it would seem neither can you." Katie replied walking over to stand beside Tony. His eyes looked up to the holo screen in front of him that showed different equations and blueprints. "This looks like fun." Katie reached up and began zooming in on some of the diagrams, not noticing the smile Tony had as he watched her. "What is it?" she glanced over to him as he turned to the hologram.
"It's called the Ultron Program and I'm pretty sure it's going to change the world."
"You think everything you do is going to change the world." Katie muttered turning back to the screen and expanding one of the equations.
"Well this is"
"Sure it is."
Tony turned to Katie, before bringing his arms around her in a tight bear hug that made her groan before he placed a kiss on her head.
"Ugh, I still don't want your billionaire cooties."
"Too damn bad kitten."
A/N: So as I mentioned before I did see Age of Ultron and if you haven't then you should definitely go. It was beyond words awesome, and it fueled my plot bunnies who were running on fumes up to this point. So I think this story will end with a couple of more chapters that will focus on Age of Ultron. And then that's it. Well I won't say that, because that seems just too final. I'll say that the end of this story will most likely not be the end. There are still marvel movies coming out and I guess as long as you all want to see my OC navigate through them, then I will definitely continue.
Until next time!
~DWH~