Look, an update! Whumptober 2022 took it out of me this year for some reason, so I'm a bit behind on updates. Because of this, you get a longer-than-usual chapter. You're welcome.

A big thanks to Sebastian Stan for his inspiration for part of this chapter.

Clint, as usual, woke up early the next morning. He sat up and stretched; the ever-present snap, crackle, and pop of his various joints caused Lucky to lift his head to check on Clint. "Aw, Lucky. I'm fine. Just one of the joys of growing old."

The bedroom door flung open, and a small body flew into the room toward the bed. "Daddy!"

"Oomph." Clint groaned as Nate landed on his dad's stomach. "What are you doing up so early?" Clint sat up and pulled his youngest son into his lap.

Nate shrugged his shoulders, reminding Clint of his son's namesake. She would do the same thing when she was trying to avoid talking about something. "Wanted to see you."

Clint turned Nate's face toward his. "Everything okay, bud?"

His son nodded but was frowning. "You won't be here anymore."

'And so it begins,' Clint thought. He knew this would happen but hoped his self-imposed guilt wouldn't start until after leaving the farm. "I know it won't be the same, but you let Mom know anytime you want to talk to me, and we'll video chat, okay? In fact," Clint smiled, "we'll get a schedule set up before I leave, and you'll be the first. How's that?"

A smile that didn't quite make it to Nate's big eyes appeared. "Okay."

"Plus, you'll get to come to New York soon. You've got to help me decorate your room."

Nate's smile grew and finally reached his eyes. "Can I have Batman stuff?"

Clint chuckled a bit sorrowfully, thinking about what Tony would have to say about that. "As long as you don't have pictures of anyone green using a bow and arrow, you can put up whatever you want."

"Not even if it's the Hulk?" Nate's smirk closely resembled Clint's.

"He would be the one exception. If we find anything showing him holding a bow, we'll buy it."

"Good."

"Hey, you wanna go help me shovel the driveway?"

Nate shook his head. "It's already done. Bucky did it."

Clint rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised? Has he already fixed breakfast?"

"Not yet. He didn't wanna wake everyone up."

"So, guessing you're hungry?" Nate nodded. "Okay, go downstairs, and I'll be down after I get dressed. Then we'll get breakfast started." Clint ruffled his son's hair, watching Nate as he left the bedroom. As soon as the door shut behind Nate, Clint got up, took a quick shower, and then went downstairs to find Bucky and Nate at the kitchen table.

"Mornin'." Bucky lifted a steaming mug of coffee in greeting. "Poured you a cup." Bucky tilted his head toward the kitchen.

"He made me the best hot chocolate ever!" Nate exclaimed, pulling the mug away from his face and displaying a white, frothy mustache across his top lip.

Bucky shrugged. "Figured he was a little young for coffee."

"Aw, Bucky, you're never too young for coffee." Clint strode to the counter and gulped down the coffee Bucky had poured him. "What do you say, Nate?"

"Thanks, Bucky."

"You're welcome, sport." Bucky ruffled Nate's hair. "Ready for breakfast?" Nate nodded.

"Already on it," Clint said from the kitchen. While Clint was drinking his copious amounts of coffee, he started pulling down pans and grabbing items from the fridge. Bucky stepped in to help, and between the two of them, they had a nice spread for breakfast with eggs, toast, bacon, and fruit. As they finished setting it on the table, Nate came back down the stairs leading Kate and the rest of his family. "Morning, all." Kate yawned and reached her hand out, expecting Clint to hand her a coffee mug, which he did. Clint turned as he heard Laura chuckle. "What?"

"She is so your protégé, Clint. She'll fit right into the family."

Clint shrugged. "I know how to pick 'em." He grinned, then went to open the front door. "Lucky? Come on, boy." Clint whistled, and the dog ran out the front door and into the yard. He stood on the front porch and looked around, beginning to realize this was no longer his home. Soon, he'd be living full-time in New York City. The gravity of the situation hit him again. At times, farm life was all he knew from the time the Bartons had moved here until the wreck that killed his parents, then to the various foster homes and even in the circus. It wasn't until SHIELD found him that he knew about living in a big city. SHIELD helped him adapt to living anywhere, though he guessed that started with the foster homes. He and Barney never stayed in one home for very long, what with Barney's temper and Clint's ability to act out at the most inopportune times. Plus, most people didn't want two for the price of one, so the boys finally had enough and ran off to Carson's.

"I can see the smoke coming from your brain," Bucky said as he stepped out onto the porch. "You're thinking too hard again."

"It's what I do." Clint paused for a moment before continuing. "Just taking everything in for the last time."

"You'll be back. I'm sure Laura will let you visit."

"Yeah, but it won't be the same."

"I know a little about that, moving back to Brooklyn. It definitely wasn't what it was like in the 40s. Guess that's what they mean by the saying, 'you can't go home again.' "

"I think Bon Jovi thinks otherwise," Clint said, smiling.

"He's a Jersey boy. What the hell does he know?"

"Look at Barnes with the 2000's musical knowledge."

Bucky shrugged. "Blame Steve. It was on his list of musical knowledge he thought I needed to be brought up to speed on."

"What? The Four Seasons weren't on his list?"

"Oh, they were." Bucky broke out his best falsetto voice and started singing, "Sherry, Sherry, baby." Clint joined in with his deeper voice for the background vocals.

"Well, now that we've had the entertainment portion of the meal," Laura said, smiling and holding the front door open, "how about coming inside for breakfast?"

"Yes, ma'am," Clint replied. "Lucky!" The dog came running back up to the porch, but Bucky caught him before he ran inside.

"I'll dry him off. Go ahead and eat."

"Thanks, Buck."

Bucky waved and the screen door shut behind him. "Come on, Lucky. Let's get you dried off." He reached over to the wooden table, grabbed the towel, and scrubbed the dog down as best as he could, with Lucky enjoying all of the attention and rolling over for extra belly rubs. "You are a good boy, aren't you? Clint's gonna be happy you're around. He seems to need someone to take care of and someone to take care of him. You two will be great for each other." Bucky gave Lucky a few more swipes with the towel, checked his paws to make sure they were dry, then opened the door. Lucky immediately ran to the table to make sure he didn't miss and dropped food. Bucky hung the towel over the railing and then came inside. "I'm gonna jump in the shower, and then I'll grab some food."

"We already saved you a plate," Laura said. "I'll put it in the oven to keep it warm." Bucky nodded his thanks as he went up the stairs. "He seems to have come out of his shell. He's more talkative since the last time I saw him."

Clint nodded, thinking back to when (mostly) everyone was together at Tony's memorial service. He was still too wrapped up in Nat's death to engage with many people. He remembered greeting a few people, then standing at the water's edge with Wanda, both thinking about the people they'd lost because of Thanos. God, he was such a bad person for losing touch with her, especially knowing how much she'd lost in her short life. Clint heard Kate giggling with Lila and realized he might have another chance to affect someone else, to make up for what he couldn't do for Wanda. He felt a finger poking into his side. Looking down, he saw Nate jabbing him. Clint leaned over, picked up his youngest son, and plopped him in his lap. "What's up?"

"Can I help you pack?"

"Sure thing. Done with your breakfast?" Nate nodded. "Okay. We'll head upstairs after helping Mama clean up." Laura tried to protest, but Clint ignored her, and he and the kids put up the food and loaded the dishwasher. By then, Bucky had returned downstairs, finished his breakfast, and put his dishes in the dishwasher. He'd already packed and had brought his bags downstairs. He and Laura sat and talked as Lila and Cooper went upstairs to check in on their dad.

Nate had brought a few of his toys for Clint to take with him. "Are you sure, bud?"

"Yep. They'll need to get used to their new room, and they'll help keep you company."

Clint blinked back tears. "Thanks, Nate. I'll make sure they're kept safe for you. I'll send you pictures as soon as I find some furniture, okay?"

"Okay, daddy." Nate threw his arms around Clint. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you more." Clint sniffed and hugged Nate a little tighter. "I'll call you when we get back to New York, okay?"

"Yep!" Clint let go of Nate and heard his son run out of the room and down the stairs. Clint picked up his bags and took one last look around the bedroom before turning around and carrying his bags downstairs, where he saw Kate talking with Lila and Bucky wrestling with Cooper and Nate.

Laura walked over to him. "If I find something you missed, I'll send it to you."

"Thanks. I'll text you the address when we get back."

Laura nodded. "I checked the weather. Looks like it'll be smooth sailing, but still be careful, okay?"

"I will."

"Hey, Clint? We'll be fine, and that includes you. The kids are just a phone call away."

"I know." Clint looked at Laura, and the couple hugged. "Thanks for putting up with me for so long. You'll be at the top of the list if they ever have a nomination for living saints."

"Oh, please. It wasn't always easy, but I don't know that I'd change a thing 'cause if I did, it would mean I would've never met you and had the best three kids in history." Laura leaned in and kissed him. "Take care of yourself, Clint."

"You, too, Laura. I'll let you know when we get back to the city." Clint picked up his bags and carried them to the SUV. After loading them into the back, he turned around, and his two oldest children were standing in front of him. "Hey, guys. I hope, despite everything, you had a good Christmas."

"It was great, Dad," Cooper said. "You were here, and that's what matters." In a rare show of emotion, Cooper hugged his dad. "Have a safe trip back."

"Will do, son. Hopefully, you can come out on spring break."

"Sounds good. I'll keep you posted on my welding."

"Thanks, Cooper. Text me anything."

Cooper nodded, and Lila took his place. "If you promise not to worry about us, I won't worry about you."

Clint wrapped his arms around his daughter. "Deal, Lila. Kate gave you her number, right?" Lila nodded. "Good, she needs another calming influence in her life."

"Dad," Lila groaned, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed Clint on the cheek. "Love you, dad."

"Love you, too, Lila." Clint made sure Kate and Bucky had loaded their luggage into the vehicle and then closed the hatch. As he went to walk toward the driver's side, Bucky swiped the keys out of his hand. "Hey!"

"Told you, Barton, I'm driving."

Clint huffed. "Fine. Katie-Kate's still in the back with Lucky."

"I heard that! Come on, Pizza Dog." After running around and saying his goodbyes to the Barton family, Lucky jumped into the vehicle, and Kate climbed in behind him. Clint gave his family one last round of hugs, then got into the passenger side of the SUV. Bucky started up the vehicle, made sure everyone was clear, waved, and then pulled down the driveway.

"Going to California, right?" Bucky asked Clint, smirking.

"Ha, ha. It's programmed into the GPS."

"I didn't need GPS to find Nazis, and I don't need GPS to find our way back to New York, so enough from the peanut gallery."

Clint shook his head, then reached for the radio, but Bucky slapped his hand. "Hey!"

"Driver controls the radio. Now, does this thing play anything from the forties?"