FRIDAY

While there were still 22 hours left before Loki arrived on earth, FRIDAY's preparations for it were nearly complete. The completed STARK tower was closed down due to technical reasons, with a skeleton crew running everything important. After a lot of debate and discussion, it was decided that Morgan, Pepper, and Ms. Ross would stay in the bomb shelter beneath the mansion, during the duration of the invasion. One of the FRIDAY's suits and three Mark III's would stay with them, each of them being remotely controlled by JARVIS and FRIDAY. While Boss, Mr. Banner, Mr. Barton, and Ms. Romanova would arrive with Mr. Rogers and Mr. Odinson, Virgil and Mordo would be staying in the tower itself. Virgil would be overseeing the security systems and evacuation of the tower with VERONICA's help, while Mordo would deal with the Chitauri's. Nela would not enter the battle until boss clears her too. That decision had lead to another round of argument until boss lady had intervened. She had lectured both of them on their languages and asked them to listen to FRIDAY. FRIDAY's voice had been positively smug when she had spoken after that.

She had become quite close to boss lady of this dimension in these months. Much more closer than to the woman he had addressed as her mom once. Boss lady here was much more happier and open to talk. They had discussed a lot of things in their spare time, ranging from Morgan's activities to Boss lady's irritation with the other board members. While the member's concern about Boss lady's abilities to work as a COO of a multinational company was valid, given that she had worked as a secretary before that, they were creating so many problems that boss would have to intervene sooner or later. Boss lady and her had also bonded speaking about TADASHI. The new A.I. would keep complimenting Boss lady at every chance she got, and would continuously use puns whenever FRIDAY would talk to her. She knew Boss lady loved her new A.I., and to her, she was a sibling, but that didn't stop them to get irritated. Boss had paid for his work many times in previous months.

As planned Ms. Romanova had ended her assignment a week ago, submitting a positive report for boss's consideration as an Avenger. She had listed his negatives but had marked him as a worthy candidate for the initiative. Boss had tried teasing her over it, but except a single raised eyebrow and a quirked smile, she had not given any response.

Thinking about the spy brought FRIDAY's attention to her usual partner. Mr. Barton, instead of keeping an eye on Dr. Selvig, was at his home. FRIDAY checked on the security system installed at the farm, noticing Mr. Barton trying out the new bow and different types of arrows boss had designed for him.
While normally FRIDAY would have been against it, but Mr. Barton had become quite close to Boss and Colonel Rhodes in past months. Any time Mr. Barton would visit the mansion, he and boss would spend the entire time bantering with each other. Colonel Rhodes would join them too, whenever he was there. Morgan had started talking to him quite easily, but FRIDAY had marked it up as him having a daughter just a year elder than Morgan.

What truly amazed FRIDAY, was Mr. Barton's reaction to the video.

(5 months ago)

Mr. Barton had refused to come inside until Ms. Romanova came out to escort him. Once he had entered the hall and saw the people inside, he had turned to face Ms. Romonava. He looked relaxed, but FRIDAY knew he was readying himself for a hostile situation.

"Your message was of an emergency Nat, not a high profile meeting."

Ms. Romanova, instead of answering had just pointed him to sit on one of the chairs and asked FRIDAY to play the video. Mr. Barton had not said anything during the entire duration of the video. He too had the neutral face Ms. Romanova used, but not as perfect. Several times FRIDAY caught the anger, confusion, horror, and fear on his face. Not to mention the tightening of his fists and the expression of disgust that arrived once. Once the video ended, FRIDAY had expected him to act just as Mr. Barton of her old dimension. Instead, he had looked up to where her holographic projection was sitting and asked a question.

"So I went from jamming a taser arrow in her forehead to treating her as my adopted daughter in a matter of weeks, and no one noticed that?"

FRIDAY thought back to that time. She had been born recently, and boss sometimes talked to her like he did with JARVIS.

"Boss did Mr. Barton. He brought up the issue with Mr. Rogers, but he dismissed it."

"Did he gave any reason for it?"

"No, Mr. Barton."

He was silent after that for a long time. The only ones still in the room were Boss, Dr. Banner, and Ms. Romanova.

"So why am I here?"

FRIDAY knew the question was directed towards boss as much as it was directed towards her. She answered first.

"You are one of the selected candidates for the avengers initiative, Mr. Barton. Your help would be required in the future."

"That's not an issue. I meant why are you guys trusting me? The Clint I just saw was a grade a jerk. Even if I don't count the comment in the raft about watching your back, the murder spree he went for five years. And I am the same as him."

Boss answered this time.

"Because Natasha trusts you. And we believe your alternate self mind was never in the right place after Loki."

Just like Ms. Romanova, Mr. Barton's one eyebrow rose. He turned towards the spy, with a large grin on his face.

"On first name basis already, huh nat."

Ms. Romanova rolled her eyes at boss.

"He is not bad."

FRIDAY ignored the boss's cheering, focusing her attention on Mr. Barton.

"Would you help us, Mr. Barton?"

"Of course. Can't leave my partner alone, can I?"

With that, Mr. Barton was added to the group. During the dinner, the topic of his family came up. In this world, Mr. Barton knew about her wife's job before she married him.

"She wants to work again, but the risk is too great."

Boss turned to face her projection. She was sure he was thinking about the conversation they had some days ago. She gave a nod.

"She can work at SI if she wants."

The room had fallen silent at that.

"Why? How?"

"I have seen her files when she used to work at SHIELD. It's not bad. Pepper agrees."

"And what about SHIELD?"

FRIDAY interrupted before boss could say anything.

"SHIELD will not be an issue for you two much longer, Mr. Barton."

Now she had Ms. Romanova's attention too.

"and how would that happen FRIDAY?"

"We can discuss that after the invasion, Ms. Romanova. Mr. Barton, I would suggest talking to your family, and if they agree, move to New York after the invasion."

"Wait, wait. Move to New York. Why will we move to new york?"

Boss spoke again.

"Well Legolas, we know you are not happy to live on the farm, and neither are your children or wife. Here you will be safe after leaving SHIELD, at least much safer than that farm."

"The farm is safe. No one in the SHIELD knows about its existence."

in response, FRIDAY projected one of the HYDRA reports on the avengers initiative. Mr. Barton's file had the name of his wife and children, along with their date and place of birth.

"Fuck off. How did SHIELD know that much? Fury promised the information was removed from SHIELD's servers."

"This file was copied from HYDRA servers Mr. Barton, not SHIELD."

The fear on his face was clear now. He started to stand.

"I need to get them out of there right now."

FRIDAY had to stop him. SHIELD and HYDRA would notice him moving his family. Luckily, Ms. Romanova was thinking the same thing. She grabbed his hand.

"Clint stop. You cannot shift them right now."

"I bloody hell can. I am not going to let my family live in danger one more second than needed."

"Yes, you are. If you move them right now, SHIELD will know. If FURY suspects anything, SHIELD will join the hunt for them, right along with HYDRA."

Mr. Barton kept on standing, his body still tense. After a few minutes, he fell on the couch, his head in his hands.

"I cannot leave them there nat. I won't be able to do anything knowing they may be harmed at any moment."

Boss interrupted once again.

"You won't need to. There are a few prototype SI
security systems you can install at your house. I have two mark 3 armors. They can fold down in a suitcase. We can leave them at your house, for an emergency evacuation if needed."

Mr. Barton was staring at boss, who had started to fidget in his seat.

"Thank you."

"No problem, Birdbarain."

"Bir..."

Ms. Romanova stopped him.

"Don't. If you stop him, he will get worse."

FRIDAY spoke up before boss could say anything.

"I would also recommend you to allow me or JARVIS the control of security systems, Mr. Barton. We would take less time to respond to any emergencies, and would be able to use other resources if needed."

He was silent for a few minutes and then nodded.

"I am okay with that, but I need to discuss it with my wife. Can I tell her about the things you have told me?"

"I would prefer to keep it a secret, Mr. Barton. But if it is necessary, an arrangement could be made."

"Thank you."

He had talked to his wife after that. After the call, he informed FRIDAY that they were okay with FRIDAY's suggestion. Boss has asked her to deliver the systems at the farm through one of the stealth suits.

Mr. Barton had raised a genuine concern.

"If we use those suits to evacuate my family, won't the attacking force know that you are involved."

Boss had been silent and serious after that, reply in a tone, that was filled with anger.

"HYDRA and SHIELD are already on my enemy list. Once the New York invasion is over, they will start paying for everything they have done."

(Present time)

No one had said anything after that, and Mr. Barton had left the mansion the next morning. Things had changed after that. Laura Barton along with Nikita Romanova was going through the SHIELD dealings in SI's finance department. The security department was also being checked through by Ben Parker and Mr. Hogam, after Virgil had pointed out that for Ms. Romanova to pass the background check boss lady had been talking about, SHIELD must have some agents in that department. On a personal level, Lila barton had become Morgan's new friend, although there friendship was still virtual.

Since the world will know about Dr. banner's living arrangements after the invasion, Ms. Romanova had informed SHIELD about his current location. With everything in place, now all she could do was wait.

MORGAN's POV

Morgan knew something was different. Something had changed. And she might only be 4 but she knew something had gone wrong. After all her dreams said so and while Morgan might not be the type to normally listen to dreams, but the magic men said she should. There were two of them in her dreams one had a cape like Superman, and the other wore green. In her dream, she'd overheard them talking the big sissy. They were talking about having to go away and how things might be different in the new place they ended up.

Morgan liked this place more than the older one. She missed Gerald. She had another big sissy that meant she had two or should it be three cause Peete a girl now and she remembers that he was her big brother but now he is a girl so that means that she's a big sister… right. Either way that's cool, I mean she kind of remembers playing with Pete as a boy but he was always sad and now she's not so everything's better. She also got a new big brother. His name was Jarvis, she liked Jarvis. He called Little Miss, which was silly because he is her brother, but he called daddy Sir so big brother Jarvis was silly.

Morgan likes how daddy is now. He wasn't quite as sure as he used to be but he also gave better hugs and didn't have as many bad dreams, which meant that she could cuddle on the couch with him more. Daddy used to not like falling asleep on the couch because he was scared he would a bad dream and hurt her, this daddy didn't mind. And Morgan knows that this mommy and daddy aren't quite the same as her mommy and daddy. Her daddy had dark eyes and was a little taller, but she loves daddy no matter how he looks. Just like she loves her new mommy, this mommy who said words a little differently. Just like she loves her new Pete who now was Penny. Mr. magic who wore green was the same as was Uncle Rhodes.

And that's what's cool about this new place, Morgan got another uncle or two and auntie, she never had an auntie before. She had never met Uncle Ben and had only met Uncle Mordo once before she had to go to sleep for a really long time but she really likes them. Uncle Ben is big and nice and gives the bests hugs, and Uncle Mordo made pretty lights when she had nightmares to help her sleep.

Morgan has a lot of nightmares now. They're kind of scary. There is one where the mean red white and blue man takes daddy away and he never comes back. Or the one with loud noises and uncle happy has a red stain and he goes to sleep and doesn't wake up. Sometimes there are about Uncle Rhodes, and he's all sick in a hospital bed and he doesn't get better. The scariest one is with mommy. She's all pretty and glowing like a fire fairy this weird Dragon monster comes along and covers her in something that puts her fire out. Mommy gets smaller and smaller as it does until she's gone. But it's okay when she has a nightmare because one of her big sissys will be there or big brother Jarvis will tell her a story or daddy will hold her.

Mommy's kinda busy she doesn't see her as much but that's okay mommy was always busy before so that's why she's daddy's girl. Sides daddy has a built-in nightlight now and she likes his nightlight it warm and safe.