I had planned on talking to Riley that night. But as soon as we got back to base I got slapped with another extraction. By the time I'd gotten back from that it was late and Riley had only briefly woken up when I came in. I was so tired I crawled into bed beside him, still dressed in my work clothes. I slept through my alarm the next morning and only had five minutes to get ready before work. I didn't know it then but it became a pattern every morning after that.

We barely saw each other for the entire week. It was strange after me having a week off and spending nearly all of our time together. I'd logged so many flying hours even Clint had declined joining me on some of the flights. My feelings of needing my hand held very quickly disappeared. I felt like I'd suddenly become to taxi for all of Operations. I was flying STRIKE teams and Specialists everywhere. I'd even learnt SHIELD had a division called Special Service which I had no idea what they actually did. I'd been too tired to remember to ask Clint or Natasha about it during our morning workouts. Riley had begun to call my Quinjet my other boyfriend as a joke. I didn't blame him though. I spent more time in it this entire week that I had my last few months in SHIELD.

It was Friday evening and I was flying as fast as I dared to so I'd get back in time to head to the team barbecue at Evans place. I'd been lumped with a supply drop to an Alaska base and I was by myself. Clint something on in the afternoon so he wouldn't be back in time if he joined me. I tried to get Natasha to come with me for company but she had a meeting with Hill for something later in the day. I'd been painfully boring and the only thing I had to keep me amused was my phone. Next time I was going to bring my laptop and some DVD's to pass the time. I was going to be late for the dinner so I told Riley I'd just meet him there.

By the time I landed back at the Triskelion, it was 2030. The Quinjet had only just powered down before I bolted out of it and straight to the locker room. I got changed out of my flight suit and into casual jeans and sweater in record time. The locker room was completely deserted so I stripped off and changed at my locker hoping no one would walk in. I was on my Kawasaki and zooming down the long stretch of highway away from the Triskelion in ten minutes.

Evans lived further out than I'd been before in DC. Even without any traffic it still took me 30 minutes to get there. I was starving by the time I pulled up in behind one of the many parked cars out the front. I sat on the Kawasaki, sending Riley a message to let him know I was here. Even though I could hear the crowd from out here on the street, I didn't feel right letting myself in. The front door opened and I climbed off my bike, tucking my helmet under my arm.

"Everyone is out back, come in Kari," a feminine voice called out from the door. "Riley has his hands full."

Right, people who I didn't know but knew a lot about me. I had already caused a stir not only joining SHIELD, but making it onto STRIKE Team Delta. It seemed nearly everyone knew me, or of me. I didn't have to introduce myself to any teams that I had picked up this week. Everyone knew me already. This is how Jared must feel all the time. Now walking into a social situation with Riley's team who I barely knew was going to be more than interesting. Especially if everyone's partners had come along as well.

Trying to ignore my nerves, I weaved through the cars and onto the brightly lit front porch to the mystery woman. She was dressed a lot nicer than my grungy USAF sweater and jeans, only making me feel really out of place already. Her smile was welcoming enough though.

"Nice to finally meet you, I'm Abby," she breezed along in conversation without any hesitation. "Come in, the food has only just gone out. Hope you're hungry."

"Always." I couldn't think of much else to say. Abby turned and walked back into the house, me tagging along a few steps behind. She didn't need to introduce herself as Evans wife. The long hallway lined with pictures was enough to give that away if I hadn't already put the clues together.

"Bathroom is that way." Abby paused for half a second to point towards her left. "If you see one of the boys walking out of there without putting the seat down smack them over the head. You're lucky you can actually reach the back of their heads."

I laughed at that. She was a tiny woman, probably just 5 foot. She wore impressive heels that I was eyeing off in admiration. They were seriously nice heels.

"Troy insists this place is a second home to the team, so by extension you can treat it like that too," Abby continued. There's something I didn't know, Evans first name was Troy. You learn something new every day.

"There's' beer in the cooler, I don't think you'd be a wine type of girl." Abby shot me a quick smile over her shoulder as we stepped out onto the back deck. "Make yourself at home, I think Riley is over there."

Abby pointed towards the back corner of the deck. She was right, Riley was there talking to one of the guys whose name I couldn't remember. Riley was side on to me, half in the darkness of the night.

"Thanks, Abby," I barely got the words out before she disappeared. Even if I wasn't nervous I had a feeling she was the type of person where it'd be near impossible to get a word in. I skirted along the edges of the group trying to ignore the stares I was getting from nearly every single female there on the back porch. Guys from the team greeted me as I walked past but I didn't stop to chat. A few kids were running around playing, I narrowly avoided being run over my one small hoard of them. Riley didn't see me so I walked up beside him and snagged the beer bottle hanging from his hand. He jumped in surprise, whirling around to face me.

"Sneaky," Riley said with a breathless laugh. The smile on his face at seeing me made my day. "Hi."

I found myself lost for words as I saw what was in his other hand. Or more accurately asleep on his shoulder, cradled close to his body. The baby was only just visible, wrapped up in a few layers of blankets in the cold night air. After the initial surprise, I smiled at the very adorable sight of Riley cuddling the baby. He was still gently bouncing, what I assumed to be her, judging by the pink beanie on her head.

"Something you want to tell me?" I joked stepping in to give Riley a brief kiss. The teammate he'd been talking to nodded at me in greeting and left us alone in the corner.

"Alexi," Riley said, gently peeling a few blankets away from the little's girl faces. A few dark curls had escaped from her beanie. I couldn't see much of her face in the dim lighting. "She's Evan's daughter and my goddaughter."

I had no idea Riley was actually that close to Evans for him to be named her godfather. Riley rarely spoke about work at home, let alone anything else in his life. It was times like this I realised how little I really knew about him still. We could have a conversation for hours and Riley never spoke about himself.

"She smiled and held her hands out for me as soon as I walked in," Riley continued, looking a little sheepish, "I can't say no to her. I'm not brave enough to put her down because she can be a little hell raiser when she doesn't want to sleep."

"Not gonna lie, you look pretty adorable," I said with a grin. Even for someone as unmaternal as me, there was something very attractive about a handsome man holding a baby. "How old is she?"

"Ten months, she was born early so she's pretty tiny." Riley shifted Alexi slightly making her stir. She lifted her head, yawned and went straight back to sleep. "Want a hold?"

"No, I'm enjoying watching a few of the ladies looking like their ovaries are going to explode from the cuteness," I said quickly to cover my discomfort at the thought of holding such a tiny baby. It wasn't a lie though. A few of the ladies kept glancing over towards Riley either smiling or throwing me envious looks.

"Yeah, a few guys forgot to mention to their partners that I have a girlfriend now so they can stop bringing along all of their single friends," Riley said, looking embarrassed about admitting that to me. "It broke a few hearts, or so they say. I don't care though. I have you to come home to and that's all that matters right now."

Riley always knew how to make me feel special. Right now his words, combined with the adorable smile he was giving me made me melt into a puddle of hormonal goo.

"Too bad for them," I quickly recovered my senses, reaching over to give Riley another kiss. This time I lingered against his lips. I only pulled back enough to whisper against his lips. "You're all mine."

The returning kiss from Riley was not very appropriate for public. It made my head spin at all the passion he could put into it. After barely being able to touch him this week, it sent my body into overdrive.

"Come and eat before it gets cold," Abby's voice carried out over the back porch. We broke apart both looking guilty. The movement was enough to disturb Alexi, who lifted herself off Riley's shoulder, face screwed up like she was about to cry. If she started crying, I was abandoning Riley and leaving the screaming infant all for him.

"No, no, no don't do that," Riley said soothingly giving her a few gentle bounces. He certainly looked like this was well practised. "Come on, go back to sleep for Riley."

Alexi squirmed in Riley's grasp until she was able to turn around a little bit. Riley sighed and adjusted her so she was now sitting on his hip. Alexi turned to look at me with the biggest pair of blue eyes I had ever seen. To my surprise, and slight horror she smiled at me and reached her arms out.

"She likes you." Riley looked extremely surprised "Do you want to go to Kari, Munchkin?"

"No, I'm fine, I don't hold babies," I rambled trying to back away. But it was too late. As soon as Riley held Alexi out to me she grabbed my fingers on my hands that were held up. She grinned even more and let out a cross between a gurgle and a giggle.

"I'll break her." I knew I was being irrational looking down at the tiny baby. She really was tiny under all those blankets though. I felt like I'd crush her by accident if I did something wrong. Alexi squeezed my fingers tighter and tried to pull herself onto just my hands. As tiny as she was, she had a killer grip.

"You won't break her," Riley said reassuringly. "Go on, she normally doesn't like anyone else. She'd old enough she'll squirm to where she wants to sit. You'll be fine."

I relented, putting the beer bottle on the table. I looked to Riley for help as Alexi squeezed my fingers even harder.

"Just pick her up," Riley shifted so Alexi could come over onto me easily. "And kind of sit her on your hip. That's where she likes to be."

I did as I was instructed, staring down at the tiny person peering up at me now on my hip. She smiled and reached out, grabbing a handful of hair and giving it a yank. Before I could react she shoved the end of it in her mouth.

"Gross." I winced, prying my now soggy braid out of her mouth. "Little monster, I let you come over here and I'm terrified of small children. Play nice."

As if she understood my words Alexi shoved her fist in her mouth instead. She was still staring up at me looking completed fascinated.

"Terrified of small children?" Riley asked playfully as he snagged the beer bottle up again.

"Yes, they drool, vomit and poo at a moment's notice." I pulled a face. Alexi gurgled again, making it sound like she was laughing at me too. "I have a million and one cousins which I actively avoid until they can control their body functions. Even then I used to tie them to a tree if I had to babysit for any long periods of time."

Alexi yawned again before snuggling into the crook of my arm. Her eyelids dropped and before Riley could reply, she was asleep again.

"She really likes you," The beaming smile Riley was giving me was adorable. I couldn't help but smile back. "Normally if someone else holds her she screams and makes a fuss. Besides me, she won't go to sleep for anyone else except Abby. It drives Evans nuts. You can kind of hike her up over your shoulder if she gets too uncomfortable. Let's eat, I'm starving."

I didn't have much choice but to sit down with Alexi fast asleep on me. It was a challenge to eat one handed but after not eating all day, I found a way to shovel as much food into my mouth as possible. Riley even cut the steak into manageable pieces for me so I didn't look like a carnivore eating its prey. Riley downed a few beers over dinner, enough to make me assume he wasn't driving home. I was too tired to drink much. If I did I'd be like Alexi, fast asleep on someone's shoulder with no noise waking me up. There would possibly be drool as well, something Alexi was doing on my sweater. Despite my unease of being in a crowd with no one I knew that well, the conversation flowed around the dinner table. It wasn't hard to be drawn into it and soon I was laughing along with everyone else. Curiosity got the better of a few of the partners and I found myself talking about my brief time in SHIELD. Telling the story about Natasha shooting me with a chalk round earlier in the week was a hit. Even more so when I admitted what Clint had done to Natasha afterwards for payback.

STRIKE Team Bravo was like one big family. It surprised me to see the majority of them married, and a few with kids. The joke about Operations having the highest rate of single people definitely didn't apply here. Only five of the guys, Sam included were single.

When dessert was cleared Abby came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.

"She can go to bed if you're done being cute and giving her cuddles," Abby said quietly. "I'll show you to her room."

Riley got up and pulled my chair out for me. He went to take Alexi off me by Abby batted his hands down.

"Sit." Abby scolded him lightly. "And get your girlfriend another beer for when she gets back."

There was no arguing with Abby. Riley simply held his hands up in defeat. She walked into the house, me behind her yet again, following her up the stairs this time. Despite the easy conversation over dinner, I was still feeling awkward.

"So," Abby looked over her shoulder at me with curiosity all over her face. "How serious is it with you and Riley?"

"We've only just started dating," I said tactfully. Fuck me was I about to get another lecture on hurting Riley's feelings? I hoped not. I couldn't stop the goofy smile on my face at the thought of how happy he made me right now. "But I'm pretty smitten, to be honest."

"So is he," Abby said with a small laugh. Her friendly tone immediately put me at ease. "The look he kept giving you at dinner made me think he wanted to take you home and try for your own babies."

"Oh fuck no." I shook my head quickly. "It's way too early for that."

"It doesn't mean he wasn't thinking it," Abby teased lightly. "That or he's just looking forward to the whole practising part."

Her last sentence made me laugh. We certainly weren't short on the whole practice part when we weren't busy at work. I'd never had so much sex in my life. Not that I was complaining. It was really, really good sex.

We reached the top of the stairs and walked to the room straight in front of us. A golden star hung on the door with Alexi's name on it. Her room was stuffed full of toys and various baby things. It wasn't hard to tell she was spoilt rotten. I had a feeling Riley had contributed more than his fair share to the toy pile.

"How do I put her down?" I asked. I really didn't want to wake her up or do the wrong thing.

"Just lay her down on her back," Abby explained, pointing to the crib. "She's pretty passed out. But it's anyone's guess if she wakes up and starts screaming simply because she can."

I gently lifted Alexi off my shoulder and placed her down as carefully as I could without disturbing her. She only stirred for a brief second, looking up at me with a smile before falling asleep. I couldn't help but smile back. She was kind of cute how she always smiled at me. In the room, there was nothing but Alexi's gentle breathing. Next to me, Abby let out what sounded like a sigh of relief.

"My little miracle," Abby said quietly. "Some days it's hard to believe she's here. Did Riley tell you about her?"

"Riley doesn't tell me much about himself. I didn't even know she was his goddaughter until tonight." I tried to keep the frustration out of my voice but failed miserably. He was so ope, but closed off at the same time. Even playing that silly game of 20 questions didn't give me much of an insight into who he really was.

"Don't be frustrated with him." Abby looked away from her daughter and back to me. "He's shy and been burnt very badly in the past. The fact you two are dating is a massive step for him. You have no idea what an amazing guy you have there."

I couldn't think of anything to say to Abby. I knew Riley was shy. It'd come up a few times, mostly from Rumlow teasing me about Riley actually talking to me before we dated. But I hadn't noticed it was shyness keeping him closed off fro me. More like he was guarding himself a little, trying not to fall in too deep too quickly. It'd make sense on why he tried to hold off on sleeping together so early.

"It took us seven years of trying, so many rounds of IVF that I lost count to conceive Alexi," Abby said when I didn't say anything else. "Troy and I had pretty much given up all hope of ever having a family."

My parents had the same problem. Jared and I were the result of many rounds of IVF. Unlike the rest of our family who seemed to breed like rabbits, my parents had all the trouble in the world having us.

"I was 27 weeks pregnant and the guys were called away on a mission," Abby looked back down to her sleeping daughter. "Riley had failed his psych assessment so he was the only one around. Troy asked him to keep an eye on me because I was a high risk pregnancy. Riley spent all his free time here making sure I was staying off my feet, running me to doctors appointments and everything else. He and Sarah had just split up for good this time so instead of moping, he did everything he could to make my life comfortable. It had been a couple of really bad months so I was glad he was around and starting to come out of the funk he dug himself into."

My heart did a little flip flop at how amazing Riley really was. I still didn't know the full story of what happened between him and his ex. But if it was bad enough for him to fail a psych assessment I wasn't too sure I'd want to go digging. It wasn't going to be pretty and I didn't want to drag those memories back up for him.

"I had a massive craving for burritos," Abby said, shaking her head with a small laugh. "It seems so silly now. Riley went out to get me some for dinner. He'd just sent me a message to say he was on the way back when I suddenly felt really sick. By the time he got back I was on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood due to placenta abruption and premature labour."

Fuck me. No wonder Alexi was so tiny. Even in my limited experience, I knew that was scarily early for a baby.

"He didn't panic, he called for an ambulance, rang my doctors and held me while we waited," Abby looked lost in the memory. She shuddered a little before she kept going. "I don't remember the ambulance getting here. The last thing I remembered was Riley telling me he was going to make sure everything was going to be all right. The doctor's said I'd nearly bled out before I got to the hospital. I developed a lot of complications, was unconscious for a few days. Troy and the team were off the grid so it was just Riley there. When I woke up, he hadn't been home for days. He took turns sleeping beside Alexi and I. I had to explain to the nurses that he wasn't actually my husband when I woke up. They all just assumed he was. I must have looked like quite the cradle snatcher."

I chuckled at the last part. Abby looked like she was in her late 30's.

"Troy didn't get home until a week later, even then I think Riley had been home once and that was only because I complained he stank and needed a shower." Abby smiled at the memory. "He didn't want to let either of us our of his sight until he knew Troy was there. I didn't know until we finally got her home that Riley had forced the doctor's to keep working on Alexi even when they wanted to stop. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have my complete little family. He's such a quiet hero. He didn't want to be fussed over when we made him her god father. You have no idea how happy we both are for him that he's found someone."

"I had no idea of any of this." I was blown away by the story. I didn't doubt a word of it. But it made me even more nervous than I was going to fuck this relationship up. I still had my moments of self doubt about this working. Especially after spending the last week at work so much. I could never be as selfless as that.

"He'd never tell you either because he wouldn't want you to make a big deal out of it," Abby said gently. "I'm telling you because that boy is a gem, he deserves to be treasured. You make a good pair. Even Troy had commented he hasn't seen him this happy in a long time. He might tease you two and try and keep you apart at work as a joke but he's only being a tormenting shit. It's nothing serious. Riley is family to use. We'd do anything to make sure he'd happy"

His reaction the other day when I was the one doing their extraction made sense. I wouldn't be surprised if Evans had rung Coulson directly and done it as a favour to Riley.

"Sam gave me the if I hurt him there won't be a corner of the universe I can hide talk the other day when I picked them up," I said, feeling awkward again. I had the feeling Sam would have to get in line if I ever didi anything to hurt Riley. "I know it hasn't been long but I can't see myself without him. I never have this, the perfect job, perfect boyfriend. I'm a bit worried I'll wake up and it'll all be a dream."

"You two are so perfect for each other," Abby said with a laugh. "Come on we better get back downstairs before someone comes looking for us."

To my surprise, Abby reached over and gave me a quick hug. I found myself returning it with a smile. It felt like I'd just been accepted into another extended family.

"I mean it that you are welcome to treat here as a second home," Abby said as she pulled away with a wide smile on her face. "And now I have another babysitter."

"I used to tie my cousins to a tree if I had to babysit." I quickly pointed out so I wouldn't get roped into this alone. "I'm not really trustworthy enough to leave kids with."

"Good thing she loves her Riley then," Abby laughed again. "Lets get back downstairs. It's about that time of night when the bourbon gets dragged out."

Bourbon and I weren't friends. It's what I got smashed on for my 21st party. I was definitely just sticking to beer for the rest of the night.

The bourbon did come out by the time I got back downstairs. It was well after midnight when everyone started to filter out. I'd ended up sitting across Riley's lap at one point and hadn't moved. I was more than comfortable lounging on him with his arms wrapped around me protectively. He'd quite happily gotten into the bourbon and was fairly tipsy.

"I think I'm done for the night." I finally gave up after I finished my beer. I was pretty exhausted and after the 2 beers I'd be nursing all night.

"I'm impressed you stayed up this long," Riley pressed a kiss against the side of my head, his lips lingering. "I'll call a cab?"

"My Kawasaki is still here." I didn't really want to ride home when I was this tired. But I wasn't sure if I could leave it here or not.

"So is my car. We can pick them up tomorrow." Riley picked up his phone off the table. As he unlocked it I spied his lock screen photo. It was a photo of Riley and I both smiling at the camera. I had no idea who had taken it, or where, but it was a really nice photo of both of us.

"Who took that?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity as I pointed as his phone. "If you trust me to drive your car I can just drive back to your place and then we don't have to get a cab back here to pick up both of them."

"I think it was that night we got smashed off tequila," Riley stopped was he was doing and thumbed through his phone until he brought up the picture. I was sitting on Riley's lap and he had his head resting on my shoulder. We looked so carefree in it. It really was a gorgeous photo of us. "It was on there when I was flicking through my photos trying to find something. You going to be okay to drive home? I know you're tired."

"It's 20 minutes, I can stop and get a Red Bull from somewhere if I get desperate." I was tired but I wasn't so tired that I couldn't handle a 20 minute drive. Especially in a nice car like Riley's.

We made our goodbyes to the few people that were left. Riley quietly went back upstairs to give Alexi a goodbye kiss. It was adorable how much he really loved his god daughter. He was quick and in less than five minutes, we were in the car and driving off. Riley's car was really nice to drive. I couldn't help but give the BMW a little more gas than necessary as we went down the suburban street. Riley had taken a beer for the road and he was drinking it in silence as I drove.

"You know the other day when you brought up the whole pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen thing?" Riley said suddenly as he turned in his seat to face me. He tucked one of his legs up under himself so he could fully face me.

"I was only being stupid," I said with a laugh, brushing it off. It really had been a weird comment at the time.

"I really want to get married and have kids. Did you know that? I have everything planned out." Riley admitted, giving me a lopsided grin. "I want the big white wedding but not in a church. Two kids, a boy and a girl. Aren't the girls the ones meant to dream of that stuff? Did you ever think about it?"

"Are you going to remember this in the morning?" I glanced over at Riley in surprise. I wouldn't have picked that about him at all. It made some nervous butterflies appear in my stomach at the impending serious conversation.

"Yeah but my filter doesn't work after bourbon so if you want to know anything ask me now," Riley's lopsided smile turned into a mischievous grin. "No limits."

"Honestly? I never thought about that," At least I could be honest about that. Marriage and children were so far from my mind, I'd never really given it much thought. "I was always so fixated on being a pilot. I never took the time to think of anything beyond that. I've never had a serious enough relationship to think about it either."

"I had it all planned out." Riley let his head drop against the chair while still grinning at me. "Join the Navy, become a SEAL. Didn't ever expect to make DEVGRU and become the leading sniper in the Navy."

I pulled my attention from the road, raising both my eyebrows at him. Now that had never come up in conversation before. I'd never thought to ask what SEAL team Riley was. DEVGRU was known as SEAL Team Six to the general public. The best of the best. Again there was just so much I didn't know about him. I didn't say anything else, I just let him continue in his drunken ramble.

"The plan was to make Petty Officer, settle down and find a nice girl, have a family." Riley started to play with the label on his empty Heineken bottle. "Never in my wildest dreams did I expect SHIELD to come knocking on my door after my third tour in the Middle East. Fuck I didn't even know what SHIELD was to be honest."

"Lucky you," I said dryly. "All I ever heard about was SHIELD when I was growing up. So what did you actually do to make SHIELD come knocking? Must have been pretty intense."

"It was pretty fucked up." Riley looked away from me, intently playing with the label he'd half ripped off now. I was about to reassure him we didn't have to talk about it if he didn't want to. But he kept talking. "We were storming a compound where an important Taliban figure was meant to be. Turned out to be an ambush and the team got pinned down in the building complex. Lots of civilians were trapped in there too, some were rigged with bomb vests if you got too close whoever was behind it would trigger it."

Riley started to rip up the label into smaller pieces. I reached over and gave his leg a gentle squeeze for some encouragement. Riley occasionally woke me up when he had a nightmare. Now I had a good idea what those might be about.

"I was positioned on a roof about a block away. Building was a snipers delight. Lots of open windows and spaces, you could see through the building just through one window. While the guys on my team were pined down in there I was shooting everything I could. That included the civilians with bomb vests. Cleaned myself out of every bit of ammo I had but I never missed my targets. We got out of there, all alive. Team said it was because of me, but they all fought just as hard as I did."

It was a lot to process. There was obviously a lot of missing pieces to the story but I wasn't going to pry right now. No wonder SHIELD came knocking on his door.

"I got a Silver Star out of that mission." Riley threw the pieces the label he'd torn up in the air. I didn't miss the scoff in his tone at the mention of a medal. "And a visit from a person who identified himself as Agent Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division offering me nearly triple my annual salary and probably triple the risk too. Nothing like essentially being paid to be an assassin."

"You said you loved your job," I said quietly not knowing how to respond to all of this. The Silver Star medal was the third highest decoration someone could get in that mission had been must have been hell.

"I do." Riley shot me a brief grin. "Half the work, more exciting missions. Do you know what I was doing in Panaca?"

I shook my head. Riley was a level six. When he didn't go into details of his mission, or even speak about it. I assumed it was above my security level. But we never really discussed work either.

"Taking out a SHIELD threat. A pretty old one too," Riley said, looking very pleased with himself. "Apparently some old German scientist who'd made a pretty weak version of the Super Soldier serum they used back in World War 2. Kept him younger, but he thought he'd try and perfect it by snatching mutant kids and seeing what made them tick. Took SHIELD a lot of years to track him down. I was very happy to put a bullet through his head."

"Enhanced," I gently corrected Riley. "Not everyone likes the term mutant."

My correction was to cover my own discomfort as well. There was so much going on in the world that I had no clue about. Even from my own two missions, it seemed like there were a lot of bad people in the world. You'd never hear about any of this in mainstream media. SHIELD kept its operations far too tightly locked up.

"When we get married and have kids will they have powers?" Riley changed the subject abruptly. He was staring at me intently. The way he asked the question made me jump. I drove onto the wrong side of the road as I gaped at him.

"What's this when business?" I quickly corrected the car and got my wits back. "We haven't been dating that long."

I could feel my heart pounding my chest from that one sentence. Shit, what was I getting into here? I was crazy about Riley. But this was really muddy territory he'd just waded into. It'd been a month, barely a month and he was already thinking about that? Or was this just far too much bourbon speaking and he really wouldn't remember it in the morning?

"I'm falling head over heels in love with you," Riley admitted with his lopsided grin.. "I know its early days but I can't see myself with anyone else. So unless you cheat on me I'm in this for the long haul. My mouth is running away on me so bad isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," I said, laughing at his last question. It broke the tension immediately. "Have you seriously thought about all of this?"

Riley nodded vigorously. He was watching me, waiting for an answer to his previous question.

"Possibly?" I had to stop and think about it. Mutant genealogy wasn't exactly a well researched subject. Powers were such a crap shot too. "I think the gene generally comes from the father, but no one really knows."

"Why don't you use your powers more?" Riley pulled his other leg up so now he was sitting cross legged on the seat facing me. "Are you ashamed of them? I swear if I could do something like that I'd be using it all the time. Like Jared does."

"Jared's teleporting is pretty handy," I said as a deflection to give myself time to think. I didn't really know the answer to the question myself. It's not like I ever had anyone asking me about them on a day to day basis. "I'm not ashamed of them. I just spent a long time never using them, so I don't feel the need to really use them."

"What can your parents do?"

After this question, I was going to steer the conversation back towards Riley more. Even if it was because he as drunk I was enjoying him opening up about himself. The topics were far too heavy but at least I was beginning to slowly chip away and know the man underneath the quiet exterior he put up around himself.

"Mom is an empath, she can sense emotions and to a degree manipulate them as well," I explained. "Dad can self replicate. It's kinda freaky to be honest. You walk into his workshop when he's busy and there's give copies of him all working away at various things."

"I wish I could sense emotions," Riley said, looking at me with a wistful smile. "I'd give anything to know what goes on in that pretty head of yours sometimes."

"Likewise." I couldn't help that dry remark slip out. "I feel like I barely know you sometimes. You can talk for hours and never tell me anything about yourself."

"Sorry," Riley instantly apologised. He looked embarrassed at what I had just pointed out. "It's a defence mechanism I've kind of built up. Blame my ex for that."

"So I heard from Sam." I couldn't help myself. From Sam's comments earlier in the week, to Abby's tonight, I really did want to know what happened between Riley and his ex. But I didn't want to hurt him by dragging it up.

"Did he threaten to shoot you if you broke my heart?" Riley didn't bother to cover rolling his eyes. "You know I got that talk not only from your brother, but Romanoff and Barton as well."

"That doesn't surprise me in the least." It really didn't. I knew Jared played the overprotective big brother role very well. It was only a matter of time before Natasha and Clint took it upon themselves to do the same. "Yes, he did, and he also said that even Barton and Nat wouldn't be able to protect me if I did. I'm pretty crazy about you Riley. The last thing on my mind is hurting you. He also looked like he had a big secret he was about to spill but stopped himself at the last minute."

"My trust fund secret?" The words spewed out of Riley's mouth and he clapped his hand over it too late. His laugh was stifled behind his hand. "Shit."

I laughed with him. This conversation was bouncing all over the place, but this turn in it was at least funny.

"Riley you aren't the only one with a trust fund," I said when we both stopped laughing. "My Grandparents own one of the biggest cattle ranches in the US. I just can't access mine until I'm 30."

It wasn't a ridiculous amount of money. But what I had sitting there was enough to buy a house later in life and make one or two sensible investments. Mom would never confirm it but I had a feeling that Grams paid for my expensive high school, the part my scholarship didn't cover anyway. They weren't extravagant with the money by any means. But it was nice to know if anything went drastically wrong I could get myself out of trouble.

"My Dad and his brother have a massive chicken production back home," Riley explained, pulling his hand away from his mouth . "When Dad died, his share of the company got signed over to me. I'm not gonna lie, it's a hefty deposit in my bank account every month. I'm sorry for not telling you. Girls seem to like to take it as a challenge to see how much they can spend. You and I wrestle each other to see who can pay for dinner before the other does. It's really different for me to have someone so independent."

"Your bank account and what goes in it is none of my business," I reassured Riley. I was finically independent enough that this wouldn't change a thing. "Though I'm really bad at saving money so if it gets to the day before payday and I'm broke I may just ask you to buy me a packet of Ramen noodles so I don't starve."

"And this is why it's being very easy to fall for you," Riley laughed. He rested his head against the car seat watching me drive with a smile on his face. "I didn't think I'd ever be this happy again after Sarah. She fucked with my head so badly. You know what she did?"

"We don't have to talk about her," I said gently. Riley had steered the conversation right to where my curiosity was but I didn't want to have the night go to shit because of bad memories.

"I'm surprised Sam didn't fucking let his big mouth run off about it," Riley said with a grumble. He pushed himself back upright. "You know how I told you we were together for ages but she didn't like me being away all the time?"

I nodded. It seemed Riley was going to talk to me about her whether I wanted to hear it or not.

"She'd fuck around while I was away." Riley's face momentarily fell. He took a deep breath before plunging into the conversation. "I stupidly told her how much money I actually had and it was like a sport to her to see how empty she could leave the bank account at the end of the month. But she was gorgeous, amazing in bed and I'd just come out of another relationship where she'd left me as well. So I thought if I just gave Sarah what she wanted that she wouldn't leave me either. We'd have massive arguments and she'd break up me. Then I'd always let her come back no matter what because I didn't want to be alone. I was pretty naive to think I could make it work. When she told me she was pregnant I thought it was mine. She didn't tell me otherwise. I was ready to propose to her and get the happy family I want so badly. Then one of the guys from Charlie Team sent me a video of her fucking him and a few friends."

"I'm amazed you didn't kill him." I was lost for words again. How could someone like Riley go through so much bullshit and still be a good person? What's worse, how could someone take advantage of him like that? Riley was such a good person. Everyone had said that about him. I had no idea how anyone could take advantage of him like that.

"Turns out Sam and Nick set it up." Riley started to fiddle with the rest of the label left on his beer bottle. "They suspected for ages but never had any solid proof. I got my pretty fucking solid proof and kicked her out. Did the whole paternity test and I wasn't the father. It tore me up for a long time. It wasn't until I failed a psych assessment at work I realised being angry wasn't helping me. Neither was moping around and feeling sorry for myself. Did Abby tell you what happened with Alexi?"

"Yeah she did," I said quietly. Here he was pouring his heart out to me and I had no idea what to say to that. What could I say? Sorry felt like such an insignificant word for everything he went through. Threatening to hunt down and kill the bitch seemed so much more appropriate. I'm sure Natasha would help me with it, and disposing of the evidence afterwards.

"It just made me refocus and realise that life goes on no matter what. That I could do good things and help people instead of feeling sorry for myself," Riley looked up with a crooked grin. "It seems the universe paid me back in a really good way. I was so pissed off when I got shot in the arm, but if it hadn't of happened I never would have been able to talk to you."

"The universe sure has a funny way of making things work doesn't it?" I returned the grin. The universe really did work in funny ways. If those idiots hadn't drugged me, I never would have met Riley. He was fast becoming the best thing in my life to ever happen to me.

We'd pulled into the garage at his building. The 20 minute drive felt like it'd passed in mere minutes. I parked in his spot and as soon as the car was stopped Riley lent over and kissed me. After a week of nothing but a few kisses here and there and one very hurried quickie in the shower, I wanted him so badly. The feel of his lips against mine was an instant turn on. Our teeth clashed against each other, his lips were bruising against mine. My tongue tangled around his demanding his attention. It was Riley to pull back first.

"Are we christening the car or making it back up to my apartment before you rip my clothes off?"

As tempting as it would be to push the seat back and fuck him right there on the passenger seat, sport cars weren't made for that level of comfort.

"Apartment." I didn't waste any time in jumping out of the car.

We both ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. As soon as Riley got the front door opened, I stripped off walking straight for the bedroom, leaving my clothes in random piles. I was completely naked by the time I got to the bedroom. Riley was right on my heels. I planned on turning around but he was just as impatient as I felt. He gently pushed me onto the bed, me hitting with landing on my hands and knees. I felt the mattress dip behind me as Riley fell onto the bed behind me. He wasted no time, his hand going between my legs straight away. His fingers teased along me a few times before sliding into me easily. I pushed myself back onto his fingers as he worked them inside of me. His thumb was brushing against my clit sending jolts right down to my toes.

"I missed you so much this week." Riley sounded as breathless as I felt. I let out a groan of disappointment, but it quickly turned into a moan as he sunk his cock into me. He stayed still for a second, his breathing even heavier now. He slowly started to move, tantalizingly slow at first. One hand gripped my ass hard enough that I know I'd have finger sized bruises on it tomorrow. His other hand went back between my legs gently working my clit.

"I'm not going to last long," Riley said, sounding like he was on the edge of his self control right now. He picked up the pace, angling his hips in the perfect way to hit all the right spots in my body.

"Me either." Tt was hard to get the words out. I could already feel my orgasm building. I buried my head into the blanket trying to stifle the sounds falling from my lips. Riley's pace quickened again, not only with his thrusts but his fingers as well. It was enough to send me over the edge. My entire body shook which the intensity of the orgasm. I don't even know what sounds I was making into the bedsheets. Just as I was coming down from it I could feel Riley's pace start to get erratic. A few seconds later he buried his cock in as deep as he cold go, shuddering as he came as well.

It took us both a good minute to regain our senses. My legs didn't want to work anymore as I collapsed on the bed face first. Riley lay next to me, gently sifting me so I could lay on my side, cradled up to his chest. My eyes felt like lead weights, I just couldn't keep them open anymore. The slid shut and I had a smile on my face as I started to drift to sleep.

"I adore you." Riley murmured into my hair just as I was nearly asleep. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me."

I didn't have the energy to reply. I wanted to tell him I adored him as well. Despite my initial freak out about him talking about falling in love with me earlier, I could see myself going with this. Riley was making it very easy to fall in love with him as well. I wasn't quite there yet, but I wasn't far from it either.

It was a nice last thought before falling asleep, safely wrapped up in Riley's arms.

The sun was dimly shining when my eyes cracked open. I though I'd heard a noise dragging me out of the edges of sleep. I glanced over at the clock and immediately settled back down. 0622, fuck that shit for a Saturday. Riley wrapped his arm around me again and pulled me close to him, tangling his legs over mine. A second later an arm full of clothes landed in my face.

"Get the fuck up, I need you," Jared's voice sounded tired and strained.

I threw the clothes off my face, sitting up wrapping the blankets around my naked body while I glared at my twin. All these weeks where I hadn't seen him and he disturbs me on a Saturday morning after a huge week at work. I could easily kill him.

"Get. Out," I said through gritted teeth.

"No, I'm serious, I need you for a mission Kari." Jared didn't look one bit sorry he'd disturbed my sleep in. Or the fact I was laying here naked with my boyfriend. He was dressed in casual jeans with a hoodie thrown over whatever he'd been wearing underneath. He looked exhausted. His hair was sticking up everywhere and I could faintly smell smoke on him.

But my ears perked up at what he said. As annoyed as I was, I couldn't begin to imagine what Jared would actually need me for. Hell I can't even begin to think of why he'd even be allowed to take me on a mission. His level 7 clearance was far beyond me.

"It'll be fun." Jared offered with a feral gleam in his eyes. "Please Kari?"

I'm sure I was going to regret this.

"Get out so I can get dressed."

The feral look in Jared's eyes extended down to a grin on his face. He disappeared without another word. Riley rolled over onto his stomach and pulled a pillow over his head.

"Whatever your crazy twin is dragging you into please be careful," Riley's voice was nearly indistinguishable being muffled into the sheets and by the pillow. "And punch him for interrupting my plans for morning sex to get rid of this hangover."

"I heard that," Jared's voice called from the lounge room. "Let's go, Kari, we have a meeting in 10 minutes."

It took me less than a minute to yank my clothes on and kiss Riley goodbye. Jared at least had the decency to have a cup of coffee ready for me.

"Let's go."

Jared grabbed my hand and before I could protest the world dropped out for underneath us.

Authors Note

Edited 4th November 2018.