Here's y'all another chapter! Remember that reviews are a writer's best friend.

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"NO!"

I bolted up, hearing Tony's screams. "JARV, what's going on?"

"Mr. Stark seems to be experiencing a nightmare. I'd highly advise you not to awaken him."

"Screw that." I sprinted towards his room, and saw Pepper trying to shake him awake. He shot up, gasping for air.

Marcos ran up the hall. "Mom, what's-"

"Shhh…" I replied, pushing him back towards his room. "Let's just get back to bed."

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NEXT MORNING

As I ate breakfast, Tony walked in and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"What happened last night?" I asked.

He shook his head."Nothing. Everything's fine."

"Heard you scream. NIghtmares?"

"Angie," he replied, "I'm fine."

I dropped my fork on my plate. "Stop telling me you are okay. You are not okay!"

"I am not having this conversation."

"Yes, you are!" When he turned to leave, I grabbed his arm. "Tony, you need help."

He looked away, avoiding my eyes. "Nobody would understand…."

"Uncle Tony…." My eyes welled up with tears. "Please…Even if it's Banner or Pepper or….me. Just talk to someone."

His jaw clenched as he shook his head. I slowly released his arm, and stormed off.

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"-My name is Tony Stark and I'm not afraid of you ...-"

A man glowed orange….

"-I know you're a coward, so I've decided that you just died, pal. I'm gonna come get the body…-"

An explosion ripped through the square….

"-There's no politics here; it's just good old-fashioned revenge. There's no Pentagon; it's just you and me ...-"

Happy's bloody body laid on the ground….

"-And on the off-chance you're a man, here's my home address: 10880, Malibu Port, 90265….-"

A missile headed towards the mansion….

"-I'll leave the door unlocked ...-"

Blowing it to pieces, and sending Tony down into the sea….

I woke up, gasping. Dammit, Tony...What are you going to get yourself into?

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"Do you have to go?"

"I'm sorry, Pepper. I'm done with all this. " I replied gesturing to the air around me. "I can't stay here and watch him hurt himself anymore. "

"You're just giving up!"

"No, I...Maybe I am. But that doesn't change anything. " I pointed towards the window. "That portal did something to him. It messed with his head. He's going to..."

"Going to what?" she asked. I shook my head. "What did you see?"

"He's going to do something that will bite him back."

"That's why he needs you. "

"No, Pep. He needs to learn this himself. I can't teach him everything anymore."

She nodded. "What do you plan on doing?"

"I don't know yet." I shrugged. "I thought about moving to D.C., helping Hank out at his office."

"What about Marcos?"

I sighed. "I don't know...I guess we'll just see where life takes us."

"Okay, just…." she pulled me into a hug. "Y'all two just stay safe."

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"Why can't I go? It's just school."

"Marcos," I groaned. "You are already behind, you have to go to school."

"I can just take the work with me," he replied.

"Marcos! I said no." He huffed and slumped in his chair. "I don't know what's going to happen with Clint. He may be my friend, but I don't know if I trust him enough with you, okay?"

"Fine...Just bring me back something cool."

I wrapped him up in a hug, earning a whine from the fifteen-year-old. "Oh, stop. You know you love it."

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UNSPECIFIED LOCATION

"Okay, Clint. Where are you taking me?"

"You'll have to wait and see." He smiled as he drove through the hills.

A couple hours later, we drove up to a farmhouse.

"Dude, it's a farm. What's so top secret about it? " The door creaked open and revealed a woman and two kids.

"Them." He led me towards them. "Angie, meet Laura. My wife. "

She held out her hand to me. "I've heard a lot about you. Pleasure to finally meet you."

I shook her hand. "Me too. Who are these little guys?" I moved down to the kids' level. "My name's Angie, what's yours? "

The boy hid behind his mother's leg, while the little girl ran up and hugged me.

"I Li'a" the girl lisped.

Laura laughed. "This is Cooper. Sorry he's a little shy. But I'm sure he'll warm up to you. He did to Tasha."

"Tasha? Of course she knows."

Clint picked up Lila and threw her in the air. "Come on, sis. Let's show you around."

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I collapsed in the rocking chair, earning a chuckle from Clint.

"Those kids wipe you out?"

"Nah," I replied, "I'm used to that. Just a little bit out of shape."

"So, why didn't you bring the kid?"

"He's behind enough in school."

He snorted. "Whatever. I know that's not why. You don't trust me enough with him." I opened my mouth to reply. "No, don't argue. You know it's true."

"It's…." I began. "It's complicated."

Laura knocked on the doorframe. "Everything okay out here?" Clint smiled in reply.

"Everything's alright, sweetheart. We're just having a heart-to-heart."

I noticed the bags under her eyes. "Laura, why don't you go up to bed. We'll clean up the kitchen for you."

"I don't know…."

"Laura," Clint replied. "Go to bed." He stood up and kissed her on the forehead. "We got this."

"Alright...See y'all in the morning, I guess."

I gave her a smile. "See ya…."

Clint whispered something in her ear, earning a nod in reply. Once she got up the stairs, he turned back to me.

"Come on, let's get stuff cleaned up."

I followed him into the kitchen. "Is she alright? She looks like she hasn't slept in a while."

"Well...she's dealing with C….her dad's death." Wait a second...Her dad is….

"Coulson...Coulson's her dad…." Clint nodded his head as he started wiping down the counters. My face paled. "Oh God...how did you..."

"I broke me, but I had to tell her, the kids. Gah, the kids…." His eyes glistened with tears.

"Did...did you tell them what happened to you?"

Clint shook his head. "How do I tell them that I was brainwashed into working with the guy that killed their grandpa?" He scoffed, "Heck no, I didn't tell them." He threw the rag in the sink. "I-"

"Daddy?"

"Lila?" Clint said. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Can't sleep…." She slowly made her way over to him so he could pick her up.

I ran my hand through her hair. "You too, huh?" She nodded in reply. I took her from Clint. "Come'ere, Lila. Why don't you have a sleepover with me tonight?"

"Can Cooper come too? He's sad too," she asked, lip pouted.

"Sure thing, kiddo…." I set her down. "Go get y'alls stuff and I'll be up there in a second." After she bolted off, I turned back to Clint.

"Angie…."

I held my hand up. "Don't, Clint. Your kids are hurting. Right now they need someone there to tell them it's going to be alright." I started towards the door and Clint stopped me.

"It's not that. It's just…." he began. "Thank you." I smiled in reply and headed towards my room.

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"Story, Miss Angie?" Lila whined.

"A story? What kind of story?"

Cooper shot up. "One 'bout you and Dad!"

"Yeah! You and Dad!"

I laughed. "Okay...Well, one day, I was making and breakfast and dancing, when suddenly a man in a spy suit showed up."

"Dad?"

"Not yet sweetie. When I turned around, I screamed. And he said," I lowered my voice, "'You're in serious danger. Here's one of my spies to protect you.' And I told him, 'No, I can fight for myself.' "

"Yeah!" Lila shrieked.

"Shh…" I whispered. "Mommy and Daddy are sleeping." She covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. "Anyways… I finally agreed and another agent came in. He was tall, dark and brooding. And…."

"LIke Batman?" Cooper asked.

I shrugged. "Kinda...But he smelled the pancakes I was making and his stomach growled." I pulled the covers over them. "And once I gave him the pancakes, he turned into this big old puppy dog."

Lila gasped. "The super secret agent gave you a puppy? Where is he? I want to see him!"

"Well, that's the thing, sweetie. I kept feeding him pancakes and he started turning into a person again."

"Oh, no, Daddy got turned into a dog!" Lila exclaimed. "How'd that happen?"

"Beats me kiddo," I replied. "But guess what? You know how puppy's stay your friend forever?" Both kids nodded. "Your dad still stayed my friend after he turned back. And he was also really good at playing video games." I cocked my head to the side. "It was weird, but it was cool."

The kids started to yawn. "Auntie?"

Wait, Auntie? "Yeah, Lila?"

She snuggled into the pillow, Cooper doing the same. "Thanks for saving my daddy from being a puppy forever." She yawned again. "Even if it would have been cool."

I smiled to myself. "Your welcome sweetie…." I brushed the hair from their faces as they drifted off. " 'Night sweethearts…."

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