And, we're back! It's time for the talk...no, not that one. I hope it's believable and not too sappy of a chapter.


Clint showed Bucky and Kate their rooms, then left them to unpack and headed back downstairs. Standing at the bottom of the staircase, he watched as his kids continued admiring their gifts, then noticed some wrapped presents still under the tree. Laura walked up to him, focusing his eyes on the tree located next to the fireplace. "Presents are yours from the kids. Remind me, and I've got one for you, too."

"Laura, I didn't."

"I figured, and it's okay. Just a little something I found while going through some closets."

Clint nodded in appreciation. Laura truly was too good for him. He'd known from the beginning he didn't deserve her but was grateful for every moment they'd shared. Without her, he wouldn't have his kids, and he wouldn't trade them for anything. When Thanos ripped his family away from him, he'd never come so close to giving up and giving in to the deep depression that had overtaken him. Instead, he focused on taking out people who, in his estimation, didn't deserve to live, tallying up his kills on his arm as a tangible way of keeping track and staying focused. Clint knew he wouldn't stop until every evil he could get his hands on had been removed from the earth, doing what Thanos didn't. Clint shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, and sighed. "Ready?"

Laura nodded. "Good a time as any, I guess." The couple slowly returned to the living room. "Kids, go ahead and give your dad his presents."

Nate was the first one to scramble off the couch. He dove under the tree and grabbed the present he'd wrapped himself, evident by the wrapping paper haphazardly held together with an ungodly amount of Scotch tape. "Here, daddy. I made this for you."

Clint pulled his youngest son onto his lap while taking the gift from him. "Thanks, buddy." Clint opened the present; a drawing Nate had done of the three kids. "That's awesome, Nate." The picture was of the kids having a snowball fight on the farm. Cooper and Lila each had snowballs in their hands, and Nate was standing between them, looking as if he was trying to decide which side to join.

"Do you like it, Daddy?"

Clint kissed the top of Nate's head and ruffled his hair. "I love it, Nate. Makes me feel like I was there."

Nate leaned back into his dad's chest. "I'm glad. I miss seeing you smile."

Clint internally groaned, making what he was going to have to tell them all that harder, knowing they'd be seeing less of him. "You always make me smile, kiddo." Clint hugged his youngest son before turning his attention to his two older children. "Who's next?" Cooper walked over to his dad carrying a case, silently handing it to him. Clint opened it to discover a set of woodworking tools. He pulled one out and studied it. "Coop, this is awesome." He looked over at his oldest son, his shy, studious young man, so much like his mother in how he carried himself. Clint knew he already was feeling the weight of being the man of the house when Clint was away and hoped Cooper would still find the time to be a kid after the divorce. "First thing I make, I'll give to you."

Cooper shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "Thanks, dad. I remember how much fun we'd had working on things and figured it was time for you to upgrade your set."

Clint nodded, thinking back to the various items he and Cooper had worked on together for the house. "Those were good times. I had a blast, too. Come here, big guy." Clint smiled as he pulled his oldest son down to give him a one-armed hug. "I love it, thanks." Cooper hugged his dad back, then pulled away to sit on the couch next to Clint.

Last was Lila, the kid most like him. There was no mistaking that she was Clint Barton's daughter. As much as Cooper resembled Laura, Lila had the laser focus of her dad. As Cooper was sitting down, Lila made her way to her father. "Here, dad. It's not much, but I hope you like it."

Clint smiled. "Honey, it's from you. Of course, I'll love it." He opened the envelope, and his smile got even bigger. "Lila, I'm so proud of you! An archery scholarship! I always knew those lessons would come in handy." Who would've ever thought that an offspring of the ex-carnie, ex-spy, ex-assassin Clint Barton would go to college? And, not only to college but getting paid to attend said college? "So, the offer's good until you graduate high school?" if Clint were more of an emotional person, he knew he'd be crying by now.

"Yeah. I plan on taking advanced classes so I can graduate early."

"Our daughter, the future architect. And, Cooper, still planning on welding school?"

Cooper nodded. "I'm going to check out a school after the first of the year."

"Good." Clint looked over at Laura, who nodded and sat at the other end of the couch. "We've got something we need to talk to you about." Clint kept Nate in his lap, and Cooper scooted closer to his mom to make room for Lila between himself and their dad. "There's no easy way to say this, but your mom and I are…are getting divorced."

"What does that mean?" Nate asked.

"It means that Mommy and Daddy won't be living together anymore. We still love all three of you, and don't ever forget that." Clint hugged Nate, reached over, hugged Lila, who was next to him, then reached and clasped Cooper's shoulder.

"Do we have to move?" Lila asked.

"Nope. You'll still be living here, so you'll still get to keep your friends, still go to school here."

"Dad?" Cooper asked. "Where will you live?"

"I bought a place in New York City. It's got enough bedrooms that each of you can have your own room, decorated however you want. And, before you say anything," Clint looked at Cooper and Lila, "I know I wasn't around much while you two were growing up, but I was doing what I did, so you'd be safe, not having to worry about anything."

"We worried about you, though, Dad," Lila spoke up.

"I know, and I'm sorry about that. Kids shouldn't have to worry about their parents. Your mom did a great job of keeping things together, but I think too much time apart, especially the last few years…." Clint still had trouble talking about the blip and then everyone's return. He never knew how much Laura had told him about his activities during their absence, but he knew they'd wondered, especially how he looked when they first saw him after the battle, with his full sleeve tattoo and the hideous mohawk. To him, the new, harsh look represented how he felt inside, his inner turmoil and true devil may care attitude. Clint had dealt with his deep sense of loss the only way he knew how, by turning it inward and using it as motivation.

"Will I still see you?" Nate asked in a small voice.

"You bet, kiddo. Your mom and I will work something out, plus you'll get to come back to New York and stay in your very own room." Clint pulled his phone out of his pocket and flipped through the photos, stopping and showing one to his youngest son. "There you go, Nate."

"Cool!" Nate tried to snatch the phone out of Clint's hand.

"Whoa, hold on a sec." Clint held the phone over Nate's head so he couldn't reach it. Nate crossed his arms and pouted. His dad chuckled as he texted Lila and Cooper the pictures of their rooms. "Now you can have it." Nate grinned as he took the phone from Clint, who looked down the couch at Laura. "Can we talk?"

Laura nodded, stood, and walked into the kitchen. Clint followed, sitting down next to her. "How did you get a place so quickly?"

Clint filled her in about Grills' building. "Come to find out, Phil had it all planned out. He'd purchased the apartment for me years ago."

"That man always seemed to have his finger on the pulse of what was going on and always treated you like his son. I'm not surprised he had something set up for you."

"You're more than welcome to come with them to visit. I can get a larger bed for the boys and have them share." Clint reached over and took one of Laura's hands. "Don't ever doubt I love you, Laura. It's just…."

Laura placed her other hand on top of Clint's. "I never did. You just happened to love your job more. I used to think I could share you, but it's not enough anymore. Don't worry," she held up her hand, "there's no one else, not sure there ever will be. It'll be hard to live up to Clint Barton, the Amazing Hawkeye." She smiled. "I'm not mad. Resigned, I guess would be the better word."

"And, for all of that, I'm sorry." Clint knew the phrase would never be enough to cover his multitude upon multitude of sins and transgressions, but he didn't know any other way to express how he felt.

"I've had a lot of time to think about it. I forgave you a long time ago, Clint. If I'm mad at anything, I'm mad at myself for waiting so long, though I guess there's never a good time for a decision like this." The couple sat at the table in silence, each going over all the time they'd spent together in their heads. After several minutes, Laura sighed and stood. "I'll be right back." She walked away and returned a few moments later, handing Clint a photo. "I didn't get a chance to wrap it."

Clint took the framed photo from her and smiled. "I remember this photo. It was our first successful mission." The photo showed Phil standing between Clint and Natasha. He wore his usual suit, though the tie was a bit askew. Clint and Natasha flanked him on each side, still in their SHIELD uniform, each with an arm thrown across their handler's shoulders. Natasha had smudges on her forehead and cheeks, while Clint had bandages across his nose, several fingers, and spanning the back of one of his hands. Clint had a broad smile, his blond hair sticking up haphazardly like a bird's nest, while Natasha looked put together as if she just appeared ready for the day. He ran a finger across the glass as if he could wipe the blemishes away. "Thanks, Laura."

Laura nodded. "Glad I found it." She sighed. "Now, I need to finish getting dinner ready. "Kids! Time to help Mom get the meal together!" She turned back to Clint. "Don't worry. I made enough for everyone. Get our guests, tell them it's safe to come back downstairs." She turned toward the kitchen, pointing to each kid where she wanted them to help.