Clint slowed the jet so that they could descend into the woods just outside the farmhouse. Natasha scanned the area meticulously with Stark's technology, looking for heat signatures that would reveal anyone hidden on the farm other than Clint's family. Clint looked at her, his bow at the ready and hand on the door.

"We good?"

"It appears so." Natasha drew her weapon, "I've got your six, lead the way."

Clint wrenched open the door and they both bolted for the house, the quinjet locking automatically behind them. Natasha scanned the yard as they ran, determined not to miss anything, but there wasn't a soul in sight. As they reached the front porch Clint slowed and signaled Natasha to cover him as he opened it. Moving into position she nodded, and Clint kicked the door down and quickly cleared the living space. He motioned her in. Together they moved through the house towards the bedrooms.

Clint led them down the hallway towards the back of the house and the hidden doorway that led to the panic room. As they rounded the final corner, Natasha gritted her teeth, certain that Darya would be waiting there for them. Clint stopped for a moment, letting out a breath he had been holding. There was no one in their way. He looked at Nat, "We made it here first." Natasha nodded tersely and kept her eyes on where they had come from, her expression grim. "Just get in there and lock it back up until we are ready to leave." She covered him as he punched in the code. She heard the door slide open with a hiss, and Clint's joyous words as he saw his family safe. Natasha never took her eyes off the hallway, backing into the panic room and hitting the button to close the door. It shut with a decided thud. She closed her eyes and willed her heart to slow to normal, her expression dark.

"Aunty Nat!" Clints daughter Lila came running over to her, paying no mind to Natasha's mood and threw herself into her arms. Quickly Natasha brightened, holstering her gun and wrapping the little girl in a tight hug. "Solnyshka! I missed you so much!" Natasha struggled for a moment to compose herself, keeping Lila pressed close. Pulling away Lila looked at her aunt, "We've been hiding from the bad guys in here allll day!"

Natasha glanced at Laura, who gave her a strained smile, "You have? But you weren't scared were you honey?"

Lila shook her head emphatically and grinned proudly, "Mommy said you and Daddy were going to keep us safe." Natasha looked at her seriously and nodded, "That's my brave girl." Natasha gave her a wet kiss on the cheek, making Lila laugh and wipe her face with her sleeve as she ran to her Dad. He scooped her up as Nat went to Laura, who was rocking eight month old Nathaniel, sleeping in her arms. Natasha's expression sobered as she looked at them, and bent slowly to plant a soft kiss on the baby's forehead. She looked at Laura, "Laura I- I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry."

Laura regarded her for a moment, before putting a hand on her shoulder, "We knew it was a risk. We were ready. Everyone is fine and in good spirits Nat. No one is blaming you." Nat frowned, "I am." She looked over at Cooper who was talking his father's ear off about his new lego toy. She caught Clints eye, "We need to move." Clint nodded.

He walked over to Laura and bent to kiss her, "Let's get out of here. Three kids, three adults, we will move in pairs." Natasha nodded and pulled her second pistol out of her belt and handed it to Laura, who quickly checked the magazine and chamber, sliding the lock back so it was loaded. Satisfied she clapped her hands to get the kids attention.

"Alright kids I want your emergency backpacks on, as well as your special jackets. We are going to run an emergency drill alright? Just like we practiced. You have to stay with your grown up and stay quiet until we get to the jet." Natasha looked at her incredulously, "Just like you practiced?"

Laura looked at Natasha, her expression even, "I told you. We are prepared. If it wasn't your enemies it would have been Clint's." Laura looked at Natasha's horrified face and spoke to Clint, "See I told you it would upset her." He grimaced, "I had hoped she would never need to know."

Lila ran to Natasha, cutting her off from responding, "I want to be with Aunty Nat!" Laura looked at her and nodded. Natasha bent to zip Lila's jacket up to her chin, the texture of the material making her frown. She stood and pulled Clint aside, "You have bullet proof jackets for your children?" Clint looked at her seriously, "Laura is right, if it wasn't your enemies it would be mine. We aren't taking any chances." Natasha felt ill. No child should have to face this possibility. She tried to focus, strapping Lila's emergency backpack on her securely. Laura strapped the baby to her chest as Clint briefed Cooper. "You must stay close to me at all times. We don't know who is out there ok?" Cooper nodded seriously, looking for all the world like a little man. Natasha shook her head, "Alright Lila, let's get you onto my back." Laura helped her strap the little girl securely to Natasha. Lila giggled and wrapped her arms around Natasha's shoulders and gave them a squeeze. Nat looked at Laura, "Is this kid always so positive?" Laura smiled and kissed Lila's cheek, "You nicknamed her "little sun" for good reason."

Clint gathered them together, "Ok, Natasha will take point followed by Laura and I. Keep the kids towards the center of the formation for protection. Nat are you ready?" Natasha swallowed and nodded. Lila went quiet as they settled into their formation and Nat's hand rested on the door. As Natasha hesitated over the handle Lila spoke, her sweet voice soft, "Aunty Nat? We're going to be safe right?" Natasha's fear quieted, replaced by firm resolve, the precious load on her back steadying her, "Of course Solnyshka. Always."

Her hand gripping her weapon tightly, Natasha opened the door and took off down the hallway, the others close behind. Lila tucked her face into Natasha's neck, closing her eyes as they made their way out of the house and to the front porch. Natasha hesitated as she opened the front door, the open expanse of the yard yawning out in front of them like a trap. Slowing her pace, Natasha swiveled her head back and forth, searching for even the smallest hint that there was danger ahead. Her eyes roamed over the lawn, the barn, the trees of the woods where they were headed, and everything in between. They made their way down the front steps, Laura frowned at the busted front door but remained silent. As they moved into the lawn Natasha noticed something off about the bark of the pine tree just steps ahead of them, between the house and the jet. It was scraped in places, freshly broken twigs littering the ground. Clint saw her looking and looked too, both their gazes trailing up. There, nestled among the branches watching them like a cat, was Darya Sokolov. No sooner had they seen her than Darya leveled her weapon at them, popping off two rounds in their direction. Natasha felt as though her blood had turned to ice. She stumbled backwards and in a panic emptied her magazine at random into the tree. Flashbacks of the Red Room overwhelmed her and she started to seize up as her worst nightmares unfolded in front of her. Her breathing hitched, and a bullet exploded inches from Natasha's feet.

"Natalia my dear, did you miss me?!" Darya's voice sounded deranged, and the sound of it made Natasha blanche in fear. On either side of them, two women appeared from the woods and closed in on them.

Strapped to her back, Lila screamed in terror. The sound was like a slap in the face, her blood running hot now, urging her into action. Quick as lightning she reloaded her weapon and hit the button on her chest that dropped Lila off her back. Scooping her up she turned and ran back towards the house, screaming at Clint and Laura to follow. Darya dropped from the tree and began firing at them, taking off after them at a run.

"Natalia! Come back and introduce me to your new friends!"

The six of them made it up the porch steps and Natasha handed Lila to her mother, who ran with Nathaniel towards the panic room. Clint and Cooper ran towards her, and Natasha covered them, shooting at Darya and her soldiers with lethal accuracy. One of the women fell, and another took a bullet in the shoulder. The bullets seemed to have no effect on Darya herself, and a pool of dread centered in Natasha's stomach. A bullet whizzed past Natasha's left shoulder, splintering the door frame. As Clint and Cooper passed her, she backed into the house, still firing and reloading before she turned and ran after them, toppling furniture behind her as she went. They thundered down the hallway, Darya hot at their heels, a spray of bullets splintering wood and shattering glass as they went. Clint and Cooper made it into the room and all of them screamed at Natasha to hurry.

"Close the door!" She screamed at Clint, who was shooting arrows that exploded at Darya's feet, slowing her down. One arrow struck the last of Darya's soldiers square in the chest, dropping her to the floor. He hit the button to close the door and Natasha dove to cross into the room before it shut her out. She twisted as she slid, looking into the face of the woman who had haunted her dreams for years, her green eyes as sharp as ever, her expression murderous. The door slammed shut just as Darya sent four rounds in Natasha's direction, leaving a faint imprint in the door. Natasha stared at the dents, following their intended trajectory from the door straight to her chest. She let out a shaky breath. From the other side of the door, Darya Sokolov laughed incessantly.