So because my courses are using all my free brain cells I am going to try and get a chapter out at least once a month. But thank you for your patience so far and the love you've shown this story!
~Eight months later~
Time has a funny way of speeding up. You look forward, look back, and realize that so much had happened in a blink of an eye.
Tony had managed to secure Ted with a fifteen-year prison sentence. Not only for my assault and repeated restraining order violations, and defamation but turns out eight years ago Ted held up a liquor store. Armed robbery was added to his sentence.
It was an enormous relief to say the least. Ted would come up again, but it wasn't something I had to think about for the next fifteen years.
Maybe by then, his liver would fail and he would be dead.
A girl can dream.
However, dealing with the aftermath of Ted leaking Clint and mine's relationship didn't go as smoothly. Natasha crafted an excellent press release that not only tore apart Ted's character but managed to get some public sympathy on our side for what had happened.
The Avengers stressed that the one thing Hawkeye (because we didn't want to use Clint's full name) and Miss Dorothy Laurens wanted was privacy and respect.
Tony then had to do a subsequent press conference with Pepper to tell everyone to back off and give us space.
It wasn't easy.
Especially in those first few weeks.
And add to that I told Clint the whole story about my mother and the accident. I felt I owed it to him because we were now in this situation together for better or worse. Clint didn't surprise me though. Even as I broke down and told him my greatest guilt he held me and told me that none of what happened was my fault.
It did lift a weight off my shoulders, but still...sometimes the guilt clung to me. No matter what anyone said or told me. But I know deep in my heart that Ted was the real villain in my mother's death.
That was one thing solved. But there still left so many things to deal with.
Every time we went outside the apartment I was paranoid someone was taking a picture of me even if I couldn't see them.
Clint escorted me to and from work for my protection. Even though the paparazzi interest outside of our apartment died a week after the story broke. Though we still had a few stragglers here and there. It made Clint breathe easier, so I let him do it until about August, then I put a stop to it. Plus, I always had my pepper spray.
Dealing with the people at work was a whole other matter in itself. Eventually, I learned to ignore the gawking looks and whispers. Though it wasn't easy.
But someone, probably Diana, started a rumor at work that the only reason my exhibit was selected was due to my association with the Avengers.
Tony and the team had to shut that down immediately. Jude had to release a statement saying that nothing in my work had been influenced by my association with who I was seeing and my relationship to the Avengers.
Thankfully Jude was nothing but supportive.
For those first few difficult weeks, Clint and I went back up to the compound every weekend just to get out of the city and away from the chaos. Clint and I would leave right after I got out of work and drove straight to New York. Not getting to the compound until after ten at night. But everyone was thrilled to see us all the same. Everyone on the team was amazing and so supportive. And I got to know them so much better because of our getaway weekend time. They even let me show them Hamilton.
That was a good night. They respectfully put up with my singing and historical input.
Wanda and I had become awfully close as a result of my time at the compound. I cared for her like she was my little sister. Natasha and I even managed to strike up a friendship...though I still thought she was a teeny bit scary.
Steve and I became good friends. That was something I wasn't expecting. The super soldier and I had grown close. Especially after he managed to send back his Captain America outfit for the Howling Commandos Exhibit. When I told him that it arrived on my desk in a box with no return address on it, he turned beet red. Mumbling something about coincidences. But a smile appeared on his face when I told him that the museum hired Stan back as a result of the returned outfit.
In return, I digitized all of the video and audio files I had on Sergeant Barnes from the Howling Commandos Exhibit and put them on a flash drive for him so he would be able to watch them any time.
That was an emotional moment to say the least. But he was very thankful to have them.
Clint didn't admit to it much but I knew that it did him good to be able to go back every weekend and see his family in those first couple of weeks. In a way, I guess Ted's major fuck up did us both some unexpected good.
The Avengers became a family to me.
And for Beth.
She and Sam had begun dating.
They were coming up on five months now.
Much to Clint's extreme annoyance.
But it wasn't that bad. A few times we went out on double dates with them and everything went fine. And for once it was my turn to give someone the 'I'll kill you if you hurt her' speech to someone Beth was seeing.
Consequently, Sam became like a goofy older brother to me. While Steve balanced it out being the levelheaded older, older brother. I even helped him catch up on his lacking pop culture information.
While Tony was the toddler running around with a credit card and mechanics tools.
While all this was happening I still focused on my exhibit. Now that I was in the public eye I had much more to prove to everyone. Especially those who believed that I only got the exhibit because I was Hawkeye's girlfriend.
Pouring all my time and energy from June to October I lived, breathed, dreamt, and wrote about all things involving prohibition and illicit speakeasies. When I was in the zone and working on the exhibit people at the compound learned not to bother me. Unfortunately for Rhodey, he found that out the hard way when he snuck up on me to ask what I wanted for dinner while I had my headphones in and was working. The resulting stream of curses and expletives made me feel so guilty. But now everyone knew not to bother me when I had my headphones in unless it was an emergency.
Nat and Tony had praised me on my use of curse words.
Clint created a phenomenal exhibit set for us. The bar was amazing. He even managed to secure a replica speakeasy door with a slotted compartment. The completed product looked absolutely fantastic.
Clint even surprised me with a special gift. As I was working on my exhibit, for our four-month anniversary he gave me the Hamilton snow globe I had been ogling when we went to see the show. Clint told me during intermission he went back to the gift shop and bought it for me.
Because of course, he did.
The following Monday I came into work and proudly, and smugly displayed the snow globe on my desk next to my Hamilton postcard set, and my Fiola Mare matchbook.
Steve became my personal pocket guide to the 20's and 30's. Even though he was only a kid when prohibition was at its peak, he shockingly, was an observant child. Plus he said he liked revisiting his childhood. He told me so many stories about him and Bucky running wild through the streets of New York.
The day the exhibit finally opened was both stressful but a huge relief. Pops took the day off and came into D.C. for the opening. Beth and Sam accompanied him. Clint was there of course.
Then the whole team showed up and surprised me.
I was totally shocked, to say the least. But I wasn't angry. It was great to have them there. Thor was even there which was sweet because I knew how busy he was in Asgard. The God of Thunder liked the exhibit, even if he was lost during most of it. Rhodey and Steve tried to give the background history as best as they could. The team even managed to be lowkey in public. Imagine that, the Avengers keeping crowd control to a minimum.
Some crowds were drawn but the team did a great job at redirecting the focus from them onto my exhibit.
Afterward, we all went out to dinner at a private restaurant. Tony's treat of course. Pops was even coming around to the idea of the Avengers.
At least he wasn't referring to Tony as the philandering hippie with robot suits anymore. So that was progress I gladly took.
The exhibit was a success, much to Diana's irritation! Subtly rubbing my success in her face felt so good.
Once all that was done and over with there was only one thing on my mind.
Disney.
Miraculously Clint put up with my perfectionist planning and itinerary sheets. He patiently sat through dining reservation planning sessions and hours of mapping out our fast passes in connection to the parks we would be going on that particular day.
He sat through picking out matching t-shirts and Mickey ears. Corresponding our magic band colors. Info sessions on what to pack in a backpack, the perfect spot to see the fireworks.
Any normal man would have lost it but not Clint.
Clint smiled through it all.
God did I love him.
The day we left for Florida I was almost bouncing off the walls. The second we touched down in Orlando and I was able to step outside and breathe the sunny, humid air was wonderful.
The Bay Lake Towers were simply incredible, to say the least.
When we checked in at the hotel, I made sure that Clint had gotten a 'First Time at Disney' button for him to wear every day.
Clint had booked us a one-bedroom suite overlooking the Magic Kingdom. The first time I saw our view overlooking Space Mountain I stood there liked a stunned idiot.
I chastised Clint and told him he didn't need to get a one-bedroom suite. We would have been fine in a studio. But he simply rolled his eyes and kissed my cheek and told me I deserved the best.
Our first night at Disney we went out to the California Grill for dinner and went for a walk by the lake. We spent the rest of the night curled up on our balcony while we videoed the team during the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
The next day decked out in our custom Disney gear we headed into the Magic Kingdom. Clint indulged me and let me stand and marvel at Cinderella's Castle thinking 'I'm Home'
In return, I bought him a Dole Whip. His face when he swallowed the pineapple soft serve was something I will always remember.
I told him that Dole Whip was legendary.
We rode ride after ride and I took so many pictures of him and us together. Sending them to Nat and the team in our group chat.
By the end of the day, Clint told me his favorite ride so far was Big Thunder Railroad.
I was a Haunted Mansion girl myself.
He could barely contain his laughter when I mimicked the voiceover of the entire ride.
I trudged him through the park so we could get excellent seats for the fireworks. By the time we walked back to the hotel I was exhausted but on a high.
That was the magic of Disney.
By the end of the trip, Clint had begrudgingly agreed that I was right. Disney was magic.
But he was magic too. So I think that had something to do with it.
Clint, being the genius he was suggested we ship the majority of our souvenirs, well I went way overboard buying for everyone that I will admit to, back home so we wouldn't have to pack and lug it all the way back to D.C.
It was a good idea considering we would have so been over the weight limit at the baggage check.
The trip was one of the best experiences of my life, and that was mainly because of Clint. Getting to explore and show him Disney World was the best.
I think Clint would argue, privately that is, that he loved the trip because of the special gift I gave him.
My virginity.
Though to be fair I wouldn't call that a gift, but Clint kept insisting it meant so much to him that I loved him enough to fully share myself with him in every way possible.
Making love for the first time wasn't perfect. I wasn't expecting it to be. I didn't light any candles or spread any rose petals because I'm not that type of person.
But it was beautiful because I experienced it with Clint and no one else. I gave him everything and never once did I look back and regret it.
Plus, Clint made sure I was….uh fully satisfied.
I was always learning new skills he had.
When I called Beth and told her, for once I had rendered her speechless. That lasted a good thirty seconds before the squealing started. I told her everything, but she was bound by a promise to not mention any of what happened to Sam.
The last thing Clint and I needed was the team ribbing and joking over our newfound sex life. But I'm 100% sure Nat would help Clint shove some people off a roof if it meant shutting some people up.
We left Disney and the trip just further cemented the fact that Clint and I were meant to be. For better or worse.
Especially when he was driving me crazy.
Which goes back to the issue at hand….
"Are you nuts?" Asking him as I continued to brush my teeth.
"No, I'm being responsible and practical." He responded from the living room.
"Babe Wanda is literally on her way to spend the weekend with us. I'm sure she is not going to want to be dragged from open house to open house as the way to spend her weekend." Retorting as I came out of the bathroom into the living room.
Clint was hunkered on the couch looking at listing sites.
Clint was like me. We were both stubborn.
So when one of us got an idea in our head there was no stopping us.
Clint's newest obsession.
Buying a house.
"I'm sure she won't mind. It's not like that's all we'll be doing." He answered, "Oh this one has five bedrooms." He grinned from his tablet.
With a roll of my eyes, I went to my laptop and opened my email. I was working from home today to spend as much time with Wanda as I could.
Now that she was eighteen I felt more of a greater responsibility to get her out of the compound and let her have an actual teenage experience, minus the superhero stuff. Regularly now she spent two weekends a month with us.
Steve fully endorsed the idea, saying it was good that Wanda was getting out and seeing more of the world.
Nat always grumbled when she had to fly Wanda down to D.C. in the quinjet for her weekends with us, but secretly Clint and I both knew she didn't mind. She was also of the idea that it was good for the teenager to get out and be around normal people.
Well, as normal as it was with us.
"Fine I'll ask her, but if she doesn't want to go then we aren't going." Firmly telling him as I answered a few emails. Since the exhibit had turned out to be such as success even though it was going to be open for another three months, my star had begun rising at work. I had been promoted a teeny tiny bit since the exhibit premiered. There was no pay raise and no fancy title but I received more freedom to do my own thing and get out of Diana's clutches just a tad. Though technically she still was my boss.
"Where did this rapid need to get a house come from anyway? Right after we came back from spending Christmas at the compound with the team you've been going nuts House Hunters style." Saying to Clint as I worked from my laptop.
It was only two weeks into January and I was ready to kill my archer.
"It didn't come from anywhere. I just think we should move into a house. More space, you could have an office." He replied.
"Hmm…" Mummering not believing it "Who planted this idea in your head?" Asking him.
"You won't like me telling you." Clint looked at me with a smirk.
"What? Who was it?" Eyeing him with suspicion.
"It was Nat. She suggested the idea." Clint said with a smile in his eyes.
Giving him an incredulous look I picked up my phone and dialed Nat and put the call on speaker.
"We're almost there chill." She picked up the phone.
"Did you give Clint the idea to buy a house?" Asking her outright.
The line was silent.
"You snitch." Was all she said when she finally answered. Somehow, she knew I'd put the call on speaker.
"She asked I wasn't going to lie," Clint replied, trying to defend himself.
"So now I'm going to get the blame for pushing you to buy a house." The assassin snapped back at Clint.
"Damn sure you are. Do you know what it's been like since Christmas living with this! He's been driving me nuts!" Exclaiming into the phone.
Clint looked mildly offended.
"What I still love you." Shrugging my shoulders "But you have been driving me insane, so thanks again Nat for that." Turning the conversation back to her.
"A house is a good fit for you guys. I think you're ready." She replied.
"Oh well thank you for your input." Sarcastically rolling my eyes.
In the background, I heard laughing. I could only assume it was Wanda.
"Well, now Clint wants to drag me and Wanda out house hunting this weekend." Saying to Wanda and Nat.
"I don't mind going." Wanda chimed in.
Clint clapped his hands and did a victory cheer from his spot on the couch.
"Damnit Wanda you were supposed to say no so I could get out of this!" Mentally cursing inside my head.
"Is Nat making you say this or do you actually want to go?" Asking her just to make sure.
"Hey!" Nat yelled offended.
"I would one hundred percent not put it past you to force her into saying yes." Again the sarcasm was thick.
"No, I actually want to go. I think it would be cool to be there if you guys get a house. As long as its not the only thing we're doing this weekend." Wanda said.
"Believe me it won't be." Eyeing Clint and his smug ass grin "We're still on for the Knock Twice Night tonight with you, me and Beth."
"I'm so excited!" She enthusiastically said and I could picture her wide grin over the phone.
"Yeah, yeah now if you're done yelling at me, I'm actually driving a jet so." Nat said, "We'll be landing in twenty." She said and then hung up.
Staring back at Clint, I wanted to wipe that stupid grin that was still plastered on his face.
"I hate you." Biting out before going back to my laptop.
"Would you rather have a study or a sunroom?" He excitedly questioned. I knew he was doing it just to annoy me.
"You know I do love the idea of separate bedrooms." Beaming back at him.
"Don't even joke!" He pointed a finger at me.
I said nothing but kept a smirk on my lips as I went back to work.
"That last place had way too much wood paneling." Commenting to Clint as we got into the car after looking at house number three.
"Yeah God forbid there was ever a fire, you guys would be totally screwed," Wanda added with a wry smile from the backseat of the truck.
"The house was built in 1899," Clint said.
"It showed." Deadpanning to him.
"Come on there is only one place left," Clint said starting the car.
"Babe come on it's slowly bleeding into the afternoon and it's Saturday. No more today." Saying with a slight whine in my voice.
"Just one more place and I promise we're done. I think you'll really love this one." Clint smiled and began driving.
"That's what you said about the previous three houses." Replying to him.
"I thought you didn't mind the second one?" He inquired.
I scrunched my nose and shook my head "Not enough bathrooms. Five bedrooms and only two baths. No way."
"And the first place had that God awful wallpaper everywhere," Wanda said.
"Yeah, do you know how long it would take to strip all of those walls? Sure, it was a nice size, four beds four baths, but that rework would take so much time." Adding to Wanda's comment.
"Time is something I have in abundance now," Clint smirked and we couldn't help but laugh.
"Well this last house is a bit bigger than what we've seen, but I think you'll love it." Clint smiled and patted my leg as we drove to the outskirts of Bethesda.
"How much bigger?" Questioning with narrowed eyes.
"You'll see." Was the only response I got.
"That's never a good sign." Wanda joked and I nodded my head in agreement.
Checking my phone I turned and said to Wanda "My Instagram is still going off after I posted the photos from us last night."
Last night Beth, Wanda, and I went to one of the Smithsonian's Knock Twice Cocktail Parties as part of my exhibit. I had to pull some strings to get Wanda in, and we made sure they marked her hand so she wouldn't be served any alcohol, much to her annoyance. But it was an awesome time.
I think the most fun was getting ready and dressing up in 20's fashion. Wanda looked fantastic in the 1920's maroon flapper dress she wore. Beth did our hair, while I attempted to do Beth's. The end result was a B-. Not bad in my opinion since I was nowhere near as good as doing hair as Beth.
The main photo I posted of the three of us dressed up inside the exhibit holding our drinks (soda for Wanda) while we stood in front of the bar with the caption 'We're the Cat's Meow' made Instagram go nuts. Partly it blew up because I tagged the Scarlett Witch in the photo, and everyone else on the team who had an Instagram account commented, thus drawing even more of the internet's attention.
My favorite was Tony commenting on us to 'Don't take any wooden nickel's.' Meaning don't do anything stupid.
I commented back saying 'Right do the opposite of what you would do, go it.'
Several people liked that comment.
"It was so much fun." Wanda beamed "Even if you wouldn't let me drink." Her face turned sour.
"You're eighteen." Replying back with a stern look.
"It's legal in Europe." She said crossing her arms.
"Well, we're not in Europe." Rolling my eyes at her "Plus if I allowed you to get drunk Steve would have killed us."
Wanda grumbled in the backseat about being treated like a baby. I caught Clint's eye and we smothered our grins.
She may be a superhero, but she still was only a teenager.
"Alright last house." Clint pulled up on a paved drive and parked the car.
After we got out of the car we inspected the outside.
First glance the house was gorgeous. Styled in Queen Anne architecture with big, wide windows and a widows walk on the third level of the house. The house was paneled in a darkened robin's egg blue color with white to off-balance it. Up the driveway leading to a stone cobbled drive resting before the front steps. The front yard looked beautiful. Peppered with flowerbeds, shrubs, and off to the side was a medium-sized willow tree.
"It even has a wraparound porch." Clint slyly smiled as we walked up the steps.
I attempted to make a noncommittal noise because Clint knew I would love to have a wraparound porch. I was not going to get my hopes us just yet.
Just because it was beautiful on the outside doesn't mean it wasn't a disaster on the inside.
The realtor was waiting for us on the front porch. After we shook hands, she gave us a rundown on the property.
"The house was built in 1900 and has a total of 9,125 square feet with ten bedrooms and twelve baths in an acre of land." She grinned at us.
"Ten bedrooms!" I screeched out.
Turning to Clint I stared at him "Are you insane?" Looking at him like he'd lost his mind.
"The property used to be a former bed and breakfast." The realtor added.
"What are we going to do with ten bedrooms?" Questioning Clint in bewilderment.
"Well, one would be ours of course." He grinned like this whole idea wasn't nuts "We could transform one into an office for you. Plus, a bedroom for a future little Barton." He winked.
Wanda laughed and attempted to cover it up by coughing as all the blood rushed to my face.
Clint and I have babies? What a first time to bring this up in front of our friend and a random realtor. But I'd be lying if I said the idea hadn't crossed my mind before once or twice.
Still, that didn't help my mortification.
"And what are we going to do with the other seven bedrooms? Are you going to be the one to pop out seven kids?" Tapping my foot in annoyance.
This time Wanda didn't attempt to cover her laughter.
"We'll figure it out. Beth could have her own room. So could Pops in case they ever wanted to spend the night. Wanda would have her own room of course." Clint said.
"Oh I want to pick my room!" Wanda enthusiastically responded.
"Plus the team will always be coming in and out of the house. The extra bedrooms make sense." Clint tried to rationally explain.
"And how much is this house going for?" Turning back asking the realtor.
"The house is listed at just over two million five hundred thousand dollars." She beamed at us.
Blanching like a fish I grabbed Clint's arm and towed him down the stairs as I said "Excuse us for a moment."
"Are you fucking nuts!" Hissing at him when were several feet away from the realtor and Wanda.
"Clint I cannot afford to buy a two and half-million-dollar house." Stressing to him "I'm going to be paying off my student loans until I'm forty-five and that's not even including me wanting to go back for my PhD!"
"Yes that's why I'm buying the house for us," Clint replied calmly.
My only response was to stare at him.
"You cannot be serious." Finally saying to him.
"Dot I have money. Too much money. I want to use that money to build a life together for us." Clint explained to me.
"But, you buying a house…the whole house? I…this is nuts." Shaking my head as I ran a hand through my hair.
My personal sense of pride was waging a war against the sweetness I felt for the man in front of me.
"I know this is a lot, but please let me do this for you, for us," Clint said in a small voice that made my heart twist.
Exhaling a long breath, I said, "Let's see the house."
Clint grinned from ear to ear and took my hand in his. We walked back up the walkway and up the stairs.
"Let's proceed." Saying with a small smile.
Wanda patted my back as we walked through the front door.
As the realtor took us through the house, I was hard-pressed to find things I hated.
I loved the curved bay window in the living room. I loved the huge dining room where I could see us hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. I fell in love with the embossed wallpaper on the first floor. I loved the carved designs on the staircase.
The stained-glass antique windows took my breath away. The kitchen was huge and had just been updated with doors leading onto the back porch and the enormous backyard. I imagined us getting a propane-powered fire pit and roasting marshmallows under the stars. Clint commented that he could have a work shed in the backyard for his projects.
The master bedroom was lovely leading out onto the widow's walk, and the ensuite bathroom was amazing. The tub alone was what I'd buy the house for.
Among the many bedrooms we saw, Wanda picked hers out, half-joking, half-serious.
All the doorknobs were antique brass with different carvings and engravings on every single one. This house was both stuck in time and modern in the best ways. The historian in me loved the history in the walls and the still present details without it looking like some cheesy, bed, and breakfast.
Upstairs on the top fourth floor was set up for an entertainment room, complete with a bar. Tony would love that. Clint joked that he could turn this into his man cave.
When we went back downstairs the realtor gave the three of us some time to talk and we went back out onto the porch.
"This house is amazing!" Wanda squealed "Like it's huge, but cozy at the same time if that makes any sense. You wouldn't guess this place had ten bedrooms."
Walking over to the banister I stared out onto the front yard.
Mowing this would a bit of a pain in the ass but I suppose we could hire a service. Clint could have his workshop in the back and even set up some bullseyes for target practice. Though I would want to fence the whole property in for safety and for privacy. Sure there were some touch-ups Clint would need to do, nothing major. Plus, he wouldn't mind at all. I'd like to paint some of the bedrooms, so everything at least wasn't in a cream color, and the back porch needed to be refloored. And we'd need to check the plumbing, and Clint had commented on needing to put on new doors on the two-car garage.
I suppose the commute wouldn't be terrible. I could park and ride the metro. It would be a better commute than when I was living with Pops and grandma. The property taxes in Maryland were high but not as high in D.C. Bethesda was a nice area too. The street wasn't too busy which meant we wouldn't need to worry when teaching our future kids how to ride their bikes.
My eyes widened at the last thought.
Fuck….
I loved this house.
Turning back around I looked at Clint.
"I hate you." Seriously saying to him.
Clint looked at me hopeful.
"So you like it?" He asked with an innocent tone.
"No." Replying and watched his face fall "I love it." Letting out a sigh.
Clint let out a whoop of joy and scooped me up in his arms.
"Wait, wait I still-are we really doing this." Bringing us back down to earth for a second.
"Why not? You love it. I love it. It's perfect for us and for the future we're going to create." Clint beamed at me as he stroked my cheek.
"Aw that's so sweet." Wanda cooed in sincerity behind us. A huge smile on her face.
Letting out a laugh I shook my head.
"You do realize that furnishing this place is going to cost another million alone right?" Questioning to him.
"Dorothy it's not a problem." Clint rubbed my arms "Besides we don't have to furnish every single room at once."
Sighing once more I dropped my head against his chest.
"I must be out of mind." Mummering to him.
Lifting my head I stared at him.
"You do realize this is nuts right." Just wanting to reaffirm that I wasn't the only one who thought so.
"Oh no, it's completely insane. But it's so us." Clint grinned like the devil.
"That is true," Wanda added her two cents.
That made me laugh.
I was silent for a few long seconds.
If my mother's death taught me anything it's that life is short. I had a man who loved me and wanted to buy a house with me.
I'd be an idiot to pass this up.
"Fuck it. Let's put our bid it." Grinning at him as laughter escaped me.
P.S. here is the link to the house that I based my creative imagination on and built a few things of my own.
/property/crescent-park-queen-anne-masterpiece/#prettyPhoto