Bruce is sitting on the floor of his and Natasha's apartment, laughing comfortably despite the awkwardly ridiculous place they've decided to sprawl out their picnic dinner.

Bruce addresses a nosy Alex with a pet, "I know you're not just here to catch up."

"I need help with Lucy," she says, almost in a whisper, with her head low.

After four hours of sitting there together, catching up and reminiscing, she's still hesitant to blatantly explain her dilemma to her cousin. By now, her uneasiness in the "Lucy" topic isn't a secret to Bruce.

Walters runs her green tinged fingers up through her dark hair, her eyes still looking down, "I've never tested her for a hulk gene. It's been keeping me up at night ever since I got back from Russia. I haven't seen any physical changes manifest themselves due to tantrums, tears, happiness- she's just a normal girl."

"But?"

"But her dad is a wolf and I'm...this fabulousness. When I met Tony at the beach it felt like a sign. I don't trust her with anyone but you."

He clears his throat, chugging the rest of his water with his eyes looking at the glass, "I don't love the idea of testing on her just because you think something might be wrong."

Jen opens her mouth, turning toward her cousin but stops- He looks triggered, thinking about his father and other previous tormentors.

She shakes her head;

"Aww Doc, it's so much more than testing her. I love my daughter and I want you to love her. It's not just my fears… She doesn't know you, I'd like for her to. You're the only other family on my side and I truly dislike John's father. If anything ever happened to John and I there's no one I'd trust more than you and Nat. I could get hunted down and shot at by a disgruntled client-."

"Don't talk like that."

"My point stands; I think she should know her guardian."

He's quiet when he thinks, lifting an eyebrow, "What is she into?"

Jen clasps her fingers and laughs, "She likes to dance."

"She can bond with Nat over that. Does she like to read?"

She bites her cheek, suddenly afraid of his incoming questions, "Casting calls?"

"So no books."

"She'll read a cookbook? She's not, the, 'straight A student' I thought I would have."

"Okay," he smiles nervously and lowers his chin.

"Give her a chance. For me? I think maybe being away for the summer might be good for her. Let her see that she has, family, outside of just her dad and I. Whether she has powers or not."

He nods, understanding how much this means to Jennifer. She wraps a larger arm up and over his shoulder.

Alex runs to the door to greet the incoming Lucy and Izabella once Bruce answers the knock on the door with a "Come in!"

Mikhailov knows exactly where to find the apartment, and ensures that Lucy finds it with no problem. She waves and the girls hug 'goodbye'.

Jen addresses her daughter who is now playing with Alex;

"How was your movie?"

"Great! How was dinner with Uncle B?"

Bruce makes a face and looks at Jen, unsure if he likes his nickname, he whispers "'Uncle B'?"

"I don't know,' Jen shrugs, narrows her stare and looks at her cousin, "…how was it?"

He holds a smile, "Educational."

Lucy steps forward hopefully, "Annnndddd? Did mommy talk to you about me, mayyybeeee...staying….?"

Bruce throws his head back into the cabinets underneath the sink, "I guess, you can stay for the summer, I just need to talk to Tasha-."

"YES! Oh my god! Thank you! You will NOT regret this, I am so ready to find out if I have powers! Mom knew you'd say yes."

"She did, huh?"

"I swear you won't even hear me in the mornings, I'm so stealthy-."

"Lucy," Jen waves her hand, urging her daughter to calm down and lower her volume.

Lucy takes an inhale and whispers toward Bruce as the two awkwardly make eye contact, "Sorry! I guess you like it zen. Mom told me- I'm so excited! Can I hug you? Are you a hugger-?!"

"No-," before he can finish Lucy has ducked in on the other side of Bruce, hugging him fiercely.

Jen yells, "Group hug!"

The front door reopens soon after with a familiar CEO and her husband mid ramble. Tony stands with Pepper, Antonia on the hip as she twirls her keys and greets a barking Alex.

Stark tries and fails at stopping a snort over seeing his friend on the floor of their kitchen sandwiched in a smothering embrace from the two girls. He looks so small when he's not green.

"Tony!" Lucy runs over excitedly.

"Heyyy rockstar! Did you have a good night with Hermione,' Tony moves forward, 'We lost Anna's sleeping blanket. Any chance it still exists or has it become Alex's chew toy?"

"Who does she think she is,' Natasha yanks the handle on Clint's car door, climbing inside with a huff as she goes on her rant, 'Maria can't make a call on this. It's my project, it's my mission!"

Clint's correction is soft as he starts his car, watching the upset redhead tugging to lower his broken window, "I didn't realize being second in command gave her this authority."

"It's not her call!"

"You need to get a hold of Fury."

She bites her cheek, "You don't think he's actually in Hawaii either."

"If Fury went anywhere he'd call you first."

"I've been trying for 24 hours now, he's still not picking up."

"Drive by?"

Natasha pauses, "Is Laura expecting you home-."

"I've got an hour."

She bites her cheek as Clint makes a hard left and continues up the path from headquarters.

Her head shakes nervously with determination;

"This is bullshit. I need to call Bruce and tell him what's going on."

"Good luck getting reception, you're in hillbilly town now."

She waves her phone with a smirk, "Stark is a wizard, I'm not worried about reception. My problem is the battery."

"Naturally. Techy genius can't resolve basic problems-."

"You need a map?"

"Nah,' he fiddles with the radio, 'I know where we're goin'."

She checks her nails, "It's Fury's summer place so we'll need to get lucky."

Banner's groggy voice comes through on speaker when he offers her a 'hello'.

"Sorry I never made it home last night-."

Barton laughs and interjects, "She drank so much she passed out on my couch."

Bruce sighs, 'Okay'.

Natasha takes back her conversation, "Clint and I went to H.Q. and talked with Maria...SHIELD wants full control of the training center and adoptions."

'Why?'

"We're being replaced by two senior agents that we're expected to work under. They think we're hiding something, sending incomplete reports. Look; I don't know how much we're going to be able to do until I talk to Fury."

"That's where we're goin'," Clint offers.

"Wipe the drives if you can. Clear out anything you think could be used against these kids. If we have to step down even a notch at least they'll need to start fresh. It'll give me time to figure out what's going on-."

'...Should I, triple down on security? Should we get Happy- What's your intuition saying.'

"It's saying to backup all information."

'Okay.'

"My battery is going to die soon."

'Be safe-.'

"How was Jen?"

'…you were right,' he laughs lightly, 'You're always right.'

She smiles, "I'll see you later."

'Alright.'

The archer waits in the immediate silence, a finger over his lip, "The doc didn't sound too happy about last night's festivities."

Natasha lifts her boot over the dashboard, "He's a worrier. We know this."

"Laura does the same thing,' Clint raises his pitch, 'What do you mean you're taking Garrett fishing?! Garrett has homework. When are you coming home!"

"You're an ass if you think anything you say to me about Laura won't get back to her."

He smirks with a snicker, "Fillme in on the green-cousin gossip?"

"She's worried that her daughter could be a meta-Make a right at the stop sign."

"You've gotta tell me before Tony finds out."

She turns to face him with a wide smile, "Okay! What is wrong with you two?! You huddle in the corners like drug dealers swapping cash."

"We have bets going; on who gets the 'Natanner' gossip first. He owes me $20."

She scoffs, "Bruce and I are that amusing?"

"Just casualty prone which means your profitable. It makes me an extra $100 a month."

"Save up, you need a new car."

It's another hour or so before they reach their destination, a modest two story home overlooking the mountains. Clint pulls up in front of the handsome area and takes in the sights.

Natasha walks boldly to the door, biting her cheek as she clenches a fist and raises it to knock. As she does her head starts to spin. She moans with an 'oh no', over the familiar sensation.

Clint calls for her as the lights flash against her eyelids and without warning her world goes dark.

Izabella is in her favorite spot, the second floor, third window. Her heels are tucked with a pad on her knee as she sketches an image that has haunted her for over a year.

The screams still haunt her nightmares and everytime she closes her eyes she just sees those yellow ones.

It takes a certain spin of her hand to see the vision and since accidentally messing with it, she hasn't tried it since. Her powers scare her but the images frighten her more.

Steve's question is always the same when he comes to visit her window seat;

"Are you drawing your mom again?"

Izabella has no other logical explanation. It's the initial lie she's told the captain so she sticks with it.

She hides her sketch over her purple pleated skirt with a smile.

"Well can I see it?"

He'll usually give her praise, go off on a war story, make some remark about how art is a healthy form of therapy.

Today is different. Steve kindly addresses the broken shield in the corner of her colorful creation on the opposite page;

"The detail on my shield is impeccable."

"Oh!" She quickly flips the pad, accidentally revealing more than she would've liked.

He laughs, holding a friendly smile, "I guess my war stories are clashing? You know, if they're ever too much-."

"It okay."

He nods and addresses the clock, "The girls were wondering if you're going to run with them? Miss Romanoff called out so your aunt is taking over."

She tugs the strap on her white tank top and points to her skirt, "I change first?"

He nods politely and moves to view her sketchbook;

"Can I?"

She flips one around. It's grim, violent and just like the one before it. For a soft spoken kind heart, she holds a lot of darkness.

A knock on the door, followed by a doorbell leaves Steve suspicious and Izabella running off. He heads down the stairs and addresses the uniformed mob that has arrived. They seem polite and he recognizes a few of the agents so he allows them in after a few words about data and paperwork.

Riley appears at the top of the staircase, just as confused as the rest of the kids who step outside their quarters to stare at the random SHIELD agents.

Rogers smiles and tries to reassure, "It's alright, just a...routine check, is that correct?"

Maria Hill enters last, her new dark uniform proudly displaying an extra few badges. Her shoes clock against the floor, pivoting to address Steve in search of Romanoff;

"I need to speak with Natasha."

The Captain nods, "I'm afraid she's out-."

"Where is Dr. Banner?"

"I'm not sure ma'am."

"I need a key for the lab to pull some data. The Banner's haven't exactly been on time with the past few reports."

"I don't believe I have access to that-."

She nods politely, hands behind her back, "Alright, I'll wait. Do you have a key to the office?"

Steve grins, "I can, have the Starks make you a copy?"

"That would make things far more efficient."