"I can see my granddaughter told you my favorite whiskey." Pops said with a sly smile as he opened the gift Clint had given him.
"Lucky guess Pops." Smirking as I helped get the grill fixings ready as a I gave Clint a wink.
"So Clint you live in D.C. is that correct?" Pops asked.
Stopping I looked at him "Pops we're next-door neighbors." Deadpanning "I've told you before."
"I know but it's fun messing with you." He smiled at me.
Shaking my head I went back to getting the food ready.
"Yes Mr. Morgan I live in D.C. next to your beautiful granddaughter." Clint smiled.
"Oh this one is smooth Dottie." Pops smirked, "And if we're going to be better acquainted, I insist that you call me Thomas."
"Pops the meat's all seasoned." Finishing up and washing my hands.
"Great I'll pop everything on the grill." He said grabbing the plate of food and heading out the back door.
While Pops was occupied, I took Clint on a small tour of the house.
"I think it's going well." Bringing him back downstairs.
"So do I. No sign of a shotgun yet." He joked.
Clint helped me set the patio table. Soon Pops was done with the burgers.
"Dottie is everything finished with your proposal?" Pops asked as we sat down for dinner.
"Almost. There are a few things I need to finalize and tweak before Monday but, basically, it's done." Informing him as we began to eat.
"And what do you do Clint? Dottie mentioned you're a soldier." Pops curiously asked Clint.
"Yes sir, I'm done with my current tour." Clint met my eyes "Truthfully I'm not really sure where to go from here. I'm on the fence about going back."
My body stiffened.
Clint had never said this to me before. Did he want to leave the Avengers?
I mean of course that was okay. It was his choice. It was just a shock.
"Well as someone who has seen combat I can empathize." Pops kindly said. Reaching over I patted Pops arm in comfort.
Pops never talked about his time in Vietnam. Me being the historian I knew why.
"Thank you, sir." Clint gave an appreciative nod "If I could I'd love to open my own furniture shop or maybe go into construction. I like working with my hands."
"Yes, Dottie told me how you helped fix her sink." Pops gave me a sly smile.
"Yeah Pops I'm sure if you and Clint teamed up you could start a company." Joking with the both of them.
After dinner was finished and the plates cleared I brought out the cake we brought.
"So Clint what exactly are your intentions with my granddaughter?" Pops asked joyfully.
"Jesus Christ Pops!" Shouting "You could have at least waited till we served the cake." Shaking my head in mortification.
"I'm sorry." Apologizing to Clint.
"No it's perfectly fine." Clint laughed at the situation.
He turned to Pops and gave him his full attention "Thomas I fully intend to treat Dorothy like the Queen she is because she deserves it. She is the most intelligent, gorgeous, kind-hearted, brave woman I've ever met." Clint beamed at me and I blushed deep red.
Without thinking I intertwined his fingers in mine giving him a sweet smile.
"And I am perfectly well aware that if I ever hurt your granddaughter, which I never intend to do, but if I do you have full rights to come after me with that shotgun I keep hearing so much about," Clint smirked.
Pops was quiet for a full minute before nodding and saying "Very good." With a small smile.
At the end of the night as Clint and I were leaving Pops brought me into a hug after promising to come on Sunday for lunch.
"So what do you think?" Whispering to him.
Pulling back Pops smiled "I like him. The shotgun offer still stands though."
Shaking my head I let out a laugh "I would expect nothing less." Kissing his cheek.
"Did you really mean that? At dinner with my grandfather. You're not sure if you want to go back to the Avengers." Gently asking Clint as we drove back to the apartments.
Clint let out a tired sigh "Yeah I did. I'm…I'm not sure I want to go back. I think I might want to hang it up."
"Can I ask why?" Gently prodding.
"It's-it's not the same as it was. I'm tired Dot. I'm tired of the late nights and endless missions, and the crazy shit that comes with every new assignment. I think I want something quiet. Something permanent and stable." He sighed and I grabbed his hand.
"Something happened after Sokovia. I can't explain it, but it feels different. And it's not just because of what happened with Pietro. Nat feels it too. I don't know." Clint shook his head.
"Would you be disappointed in me if I retired?" Clint asked me.
That stunned me.
Why in the world would he be considering how I felt?
"It's your life. I will support you in whatever is going to make you happy and make you feel fulfilled. I don't want to see you miserable and hating your job." Stroking his arm
"I want you doing whatever you want to do. Whether that is owning a furniture shop or going into construction or going back to active duty with the team." Softly telling him.
"Whatever you decide, whatever you want I'll still be here by your side." Leaning my head against his shoulder.
"Thank you." He sighed like he was letting out his nerves.
"Anytime." Kissing his shoulder.
"Have you told anyone on the team how you're feeling?" Inquiring.
"Nat knows. But she's the only one." Clint told me.
"How would it be for them if you didn't go back?"
"With Wanda, Sam, and Vision it's not like they'll be short on team members. Besides, it's not like I do much. I'm the bow and arrow guy." Clint joked in self-deprecation.
"Now I know for a fact that's not true!" Fiercely replying "And I'm sure if Nat were here, she would be saying the exact same thing."
"You're not nothing Clint. You matter because you have people who care about you." Stroking his face.
"Please don't talk about yourself like that." Softly saying.
Clint turned and his and gave me a tiny smile "I'll try when you try." He joked.
"No fair." Giggling as I pecked his cheek and settled my head back on his shoulder.
A few minutes of contented silence lapsed by us before I spoke again, "Just know that whatever you decide I'll still be by your side."
Clint pressed a kiss to my head "I know. That's why I like you." He joked.
Monday came. First thing I did in the morning when I got to work was drop off my submission binder in the bin next to Jude's office.
At least that was that.
Now all I had to do was wait until the weekend to get the email from the board saying who won the bid. Again, I wasn't expecting to win, but still, it will be a great relief to get the email nonetheless.
Diana was smug all day. Thinking that her submission would win, but I didn't care. I did my best and I was proud of myself for that.
The rest of the week went by quickly. Clint promised we would go out on Saturday to celebrate our one-month anniversary of officially dating.
It was corny. But I loved it.
I still couldn't believe it had been a month. The time had flown by. In the best way though.
On Saturday Clint let me drag him to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and up and down the National Mall to do the tourist thing.
All day I had tried not to check my phone for news of the email that would tell me I didn't get the bid. Finally, Clint had to take it away from me while we were in the museum.
It worked out better for me to enjoy the day that way.
By the time we got back to my apartment we were both exhausted.
"Thank you for putting up with my nerdiness today." Smiling at him as I sat down on his lap.
"You're welcome. It's nice having my own pocket history dictionary." He joked and it made me laugh.
"Yes, you and only you." Grinning as I kissed him.
Twenty minutes passed of us making out on my couch when I heard my phone go off.
"Sorry, it might be Pops." Untangling myself from Clint "He had mentioned that his shoulder had been bothering him so naturally I've been pestering him about it."
Getting up I looked at Clint and started to giggle.
"What? What is so funny?" He asked confused.
"Nothing it's just your lips are all swollen." Winking at him.
"Do you see me complaining?" He grinned like a devil.
Instantly I went red.
Deciding it was better to not respond and make a fool of myself I checked my phone. There wasn't a message from Pops.
"The email has come in." Glancing down at my phone then back at Clint's face.
Clint stood up and came over to me.
Biting my lips, I let out a sigh "I don't know why I'm nervous. I know I didn't get it." Attempting to laugh it off.
"Babe it's okay to be upset if you didn't get it. You worked so damn hard. It's natural to be upset." Clint rubbed my arms.
"Yeah, you're right. Besides, there's always next year." Hoping to sound optimistic.
Glancing back down at my phone, my insides swirled.
"Well better rip off the band-aid." Quietly huffing out.
Tapping the email open I swallowed the dryness in my throat as I read over the email from the board.
My face went blank. The air in my lungs hitched up and stayed in my lungs.
I don't know how long I was silent for because when Clint spoke I could hear the panic in his voice.
"Babe it's okay." He soothed.
Looking up from the phone I stared at him.
"I got it." Barely able to get out in a whisper.
"What?" Clint's face showed cautious hope.
"I got it. They selected my exhibit." Breathing out not believing it.
My eyes went back to the email thinking I read it wrong.
Nope.
It still said the board had elected to go with Miss Dorothy Laurens exhibit proposal.
"I got it hun." Laughing out still thinking this was some joke.
Clint broke out into a smile that I swear would split his face in half. Letting out a whoop he picked me up and swung me around like it was the 50's.
"I'm so goddamn proud of you baby!" He cheered before showering me with kisses.
"This is nuts!" Exclaiming as I broke out grinning "I got it!"
"You got it!" Clint cheered loudly still spinning me around.
Clint put me down in a giddy heap on the couch. He hovered over me and connected our lips.
"We need to celebrate this! I need to do something special for my girl." Clint beamed breaking away.
"Fine, we'll do something but don't go nuts!" Jesting with him.
"No promises babe!" He winked at me then kissed me again.
When I called Beth and told her I won her screaming lasted for a full twenty seconds before she was able to get a full word out.
She assured me they were joyous screams.
I fully believed her.
I wanted until my lunch with Pops to tell him the news. When I did he jumped up and brought me in for a tight hug. When we pulled back I saw some unshed tears in his eyes.
I joked Pops was getting soft in his old age.
Coming back to the apartment I was on cloud nine. It would totally be different when I went to work and Diana breathed fire on me, but for right now I was basking in the happiness of it all.
For once something had gone right.
It wasn't going to be easy, but damn I was going to put together this exhibit and make it amazing.
When I got back I went straight to Clint's balcony door. He appeared and ushered me inside.
"How did your grandfather take the news?" He asked as we sat down on the couch.
"He almost cried." A warm smiled on my face "I joked he was getting soft on me."
"When will you actually have to start work and oversee everything?"
I thought about that "Probably not for another month. There are a lot of preparations and loose ends we need to tie up. I want to get in contact with this historian and author, Daniel Okrent. He helped put together the American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition exhibit they had at the Constitution Center several years ago."
Running my hands through my hair I said "He literally wrote the book on the subject, so having his oversight and input on the exhibit would be amazing. I'm going to talk to Jude tomorrow and see if he can put me in touch."
"I'm sure he'd love to help out." Clint offered.
"We'll see." Biting my lips in nerves.
"Well I know something that would take your mind off everything." He smirked.
"What?" Eyeing him suspiciously.
"Tony has been hounding me nonstop to bring you to the compound. The team wants us to come down for the weekend. Leave here Friday coming back Sunday. The drive should take a little over five hours. We can take my truck."
"The…the Avengers want to meet me?" Stammering out with bug eyes.
"Yes. I believe I just said that." He replied in sarcasm.
"How…what would I even talk to them about? Hey super cool how you've saved the world!" Mocking out "You know what else is cool? I've cataloged 14 of the President's hair samples." Joking shaking my head.
Clint barked out a laugh "Baby they're going to love you. Just be yourself. I know you're super nervous, but these people are…well, I guess they're my family." Clint blushed and it warmed my heart "I'd like for you to get to know them."
Shit I couldn't say no to that could I.
Puffing out a sigh I got up and wrapped my arms around his neck "Okay but you have to promise to protect me." Smirking.
"Don't worry I'll protect you." He nuzzled my neck.
"Guess I'll put in a time off request then." Shaking my head.
Holy Christ this was going to be…an experience.
Just as I expected Diana was an even bigger bitch on Monday than normal.
I wonder why that was?
She smiled her plastic smile and congratulated me all the same but I could see that in her eyes she was mentally impaling me on a stake.
No. Even better she was waiting for me to fall flat on my face.
Everything sort of took off starting Monday. As the week went on I was propelled into full exhibit mode. Jude put me in contact with Daniel Okrent. He said the idea sounded interesting but wanted to see my proposal for himself.
That led me to overnighting a copy of my proposal to him via FedEx and me out of thirty dollars. Daniel told me he would call and let me know of his decision when he had the chance to fully go over everything.
So while I was sweating that, on top of that I was fully freaking out about leaving with Clint for the weekend to go to the compound.
Naturally, Beth was bouncing off the walls.
I was just trying not to throw up.
I told Clint that unfortunately, I would need to devote some time to work while we were out of town for the weekend. I felt awful about it, but Clint had assured me everybody understood.
But he also reminded me to have some fun. That's partly why he was taking me away from D.C. for the weekend.
Yeah okay. Try and have around a bunch of super famous, super intimidating superheroes.
Piece of cake.
Clint being the wonderful person that he is, agreed to help me design, map out, and build the speakeasy setup.
I tried to tell him it wouldn't be necessary that I could hire someone, but he strenuously objected saying I could pay him with make-out sessions and takeout.
Then he went into saying how he wanted to help me, and that he'd make the setup look amazing, to which I had no doubt, and how it would give him something to do.
Friday arrived and I woke up with heaps of butterflies flying around my stomach. I managed to eat breakfast but I'm not sure how.
By ten am we were on the road to upstate New York. To be sweet Clint let me play my music for the entire ride even though it was his truck.
"He's going to call sometime this weekend I just know it. Mark my words, I'm calling it now." Huffing out working on some exhibit prep.
"If he calls, he calls. You'll answer. No big deal." Clint said, resting his hand on my thigh.
"I don't want to come off as rude." Pouting.
Clint snorted "Trust me they won't think you're rude."
"First impressions are everything Clint and these people are your family. Especially Natasha." Gulping as I broke out sweating at coming face to face with Black Widow herself.
"You need to chill as the young kids say." Clint joked and it got a few laughs out a me "Take a break. Put on the pause button for a bit and just relax. They're going to love you. You just need to be yourself, babe." Clint soothed rubbing my leg.
"You're right. I know you're right." Sighing as I let my head rest against the window.
The drive went by relatively quickly. Too quickly for my liking because before I could comprehend anything we were pulling up to the security gate at the compound.
"Holy lord." Peeking out the window "This place is huge!"
"Yeah well with Tony, bigger is always better." Clint rolled his eyes.
"Okay, this is going to be okay. Just act normal. I can do this." Giving myself a pathetic pep talk as we drove up to the compound.
"Dot you're going to do great. Just please remember to breathe." Clint half-joked but was still serious. He grabbed my hand and gave it a tight squeeze.
"Remember I'll be there to protect you." He smiled.
"Promise?" Whispering as panic threatened to overtake me.
"Promise." He kissed my head before parking on the lawn.
My legs felt slightly wobbly as I hopped out of the truck but I didn't collapse so I took that as a positive sign.
Clint grabbed our bags as I marveled at the huge tower before me.
"Jesus Christ." Tilting my head to the sky to see the top of the building.
The giant A in front of the building was staring at me.
Yup we were definitely in the right place.
Shaking my head I reached in and grabbed my purse and huge laptop bag full to bursting with my binder, stationary items and laptop.
Taking a firm grip of my hand Clint led me into the compound. My heart hammering away the whole time.
No one greeted us which I found…weird.
"It's quiet. Why is it so quiet?" My eyes moving around skeptical.
"Nat and Steve probably had to hold every upstairs so they wouldn't charge at us." Clint joked.
"Good to see you again Mr. Barton." A voice sounded out of nowhere scaring the loving crap out of me.
"What the hell was that?" Moving my head around.
"It's FRIDAY. Stark's AI system." Clint chuckled "Nice to see you too Friday."
"I will inform the others that you are here. The others will be waiting in the recreation lounge on the fifteenth floor. Welcome to the Avengers Compound Miss Laurens." The AI voice sounded from everywhere.
"Thank you, nice to meet you too Friday." Hesitantly getting out.
"Come on. Time to meet the crazies." Clint smirked, tugging me to the elevator.
"Oh because that's helping." Rolling my eyes trailing behind him.
"I genuinely feel like I'm going to have a panic attack." My throat going dry as my heart thumped hard and loud in my chest.
"It's going to be okay." He quickly kissed me "Deep breaths. They know it's your first time meeting everyone. They'll behave and if not, Nat, Steve, and I will make them behave."
Holding a deep breath then releasing it I focused on Clint's thumb swiftly moving around my hand to give me comfort.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened.
Breathe. Please Breathe.
Clint stepped out of the elevator, gently tugging me along with him.
"Clint!" A voice sounded and my immediately my breath stuck in my throat "It's good to see you." The voice came over.
Clint put the bags down and shook the hand of Captain America.
"Good to see you too Steve." Clint smiled.
"You must be Dorothy. It's a pleasure to meet you. We've heard a lot about you." Captain America stuck his hand out.
Praying my hand wasn't shaking I shook his hand back.
God I hope my palms aren't sweaty.
"Thank you, sir. It's an honor to meet you Captain Rogers." Twitching my lips, hoping they were forming a smile.
Captain America beamed a knee-weakening smile at me "Please call me Steve."
Holy shit Captain America was talking to me!
"Yes sir." Blushing "Sorry, Steve." Correcting myself.'
Damn, he is as good looking in person as he his in photos.
"Hey, jerk." A feminine voice called out and I turned my head to see Black Widow coming over towards us.
Oh Jesus. She is definitely going to smell the fear on me.
I let go of Clint's hand so he and Natasha could hug. He instantly re-glued our hands back together.
"Nice to see you too." Clint grinned at her before turning to me "Nat meet Dorothy."
"It's great to meet you in person." Shaking her hand, smiling.
Boy did she have a firm handshake "Nice to finally meet you in person too. Clint never shuts up about you." She shot Clint a smirk.
A teeny tiny blush tinted his cheeks.
It made me smile "Well he does tend to exaggerate." Ribbing him.
"Not about you he doesn't." She grinned at me.
Now I was the one blushing.
"Is this the Lady!" A cannon, sorry voice, boomed into the lounge area. Jolting me in place.
Suddenly the Fucking God of Thunder was walking over to me.
Holy crap. Keep it together. Lord is he gorgeous.
Was this a requirement to be an Avenger? You had to be extremely attractive?
"It is an honor to meet you, Miss Dorothy Laurens." Thor, the actual God of Thunder bowed in front of me. He took my hand and pressed a kiss to it like a gentleman.
Totally caught off guard I let out a giggle like a schoolgirl as a new blush tinted my cheeks.
"Thank you, sir. Sorry, Mr. Odin." Fumbling out not sure what to call him. Because what is the protocol for meeting an actual real God?
"Please call me Thor! We've all been anxiously waiting to meet the woman who has stolen our fair archers' heart." He beamed at Clint and me.
"Thor!" Clint warned. He was turning red.
"What? Have I said something wrong?" Thor asked genuinely confused.
"Just a tad buddy. Don't worry I'll explain later." Steve patted the God's shoulder.
I didn't have time to bask in Clint's embarrassment though because a man floated up from the floor and was hovering before me.
"Hello…." Cautiously saying. Thoroughly creeped out.
"Vision remember what we talked about. Using the doors." Steve stressed to the…I wasn't even sure what to call him.
"Oh, right I did forget." The item? Man? Said to me "Do forgive me, Miss Laurens. I'm still catching up with the appropriate human manners."
He held his hand out to me "My name is Vision."
"Nice to meet you Vision." Trying to smile and be polite.
I didn't want to be rude, but I had no clue what exactly Vision was?
"Is she here?" A new female voice entered the room. A teenager with red hair came over to me and instantly wrapped me in a hug.
Slightly shocked for a second it took a moment before I hugged the mystery woman back.
"Sorry guess I'm just excited." The woman pulled back grinning "I'm Wanda!"
Oh God this was Wanda. Pietro's sister.
Her smile was warm. Her eyes soft but they held a glint of mischief.
I liked her instantly.
"I've heard so much about you Wanda!" I said to her "I'm excited to finally meet you." Smiling at her.
"I could say the same about you! Clint always talks about you." She smiled at the both of us.
Glancing at Clint I saw him rub his neck. A nervous habit.
"Yes, I've been hearing that quite a lot of that." Letting off a warm smile as I quickly pecked his cheek "He really gives me too much flattery." Smirking at all of them.
"Where are they!" Another new voice rang out into the room, "Are they here!"
Glancing I saw Clint let out a small groan.
"Hey Barton!" A new loud voice called out and made his way over to Clint and me.
"Good to see you man." He clapped Clint on the shoulder and Clint did the same.
"Good to see you to Sam," Clint said.
Ah, so this was Sam.
"And who is this lovely lady." Sam grinned at me.
"Dorothy Laurens, nice to meet you, Mr. Wilson." Shaking his hand.
"You sweetheart can call me Sam." He kissed my hand. Though I didn't let out a giggle as I did with Thor, I still blushed.
"Hey, I'd watch it Sam." Steve joked "Her boyfriend is standing right next to her." Steve quipped.
"I'm just letting her know that I'm also available when she gets tired of Barton." Sam winked at me.
A laugh did escape me that time.
Yeah…I could see him and Beth getting drinks.
Slipping an arm around Clint's waist I nestled closer to him "Sorry but that's not going to happen." Beaming up at Clint giving him a wink.
Clint threw an arm around me "Yeah Wilson get your own girl." He grinned.
"And last but not least we come to the best of the bunch." A familiar voice from countless YouTube videos reached my ears.
Iron Man.
Tony Stark stepped forward and eyed me up and down.
Deciding to be brave I stepped forward and held my hand out "Mr. Stark it's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for inviting me here this weekend." Putting a smile on my face.
"Yeah no." He stepped forward and kissed both of my cheeks "I don't do handshakes with people I'm trying to get to know." Mr. Stark stepped back and I turned pink, dropping my hand.
"And from what I've seen and heard, you might want to get comfortable with having all of our eccentric asses in your life." He smirked at me.
"I'm used to eccentric. I'm a historian." Lifting my chin feeling proud.
"Oh, I do like her already!" He bounced around like a giddy child "By the way call me Tony or Stark. None of this Mr. crap." He waved his hand around.
"Now let's get you two kids settled before we begin dinner." Tony turned around and clapped his hands "Thor their bags." And walked out of the room.
"Wow…he is everything I thought he would be." Only partly joking. Still, it made everyone laugh.
When we all sat down to dinner, Tony ordered like twenty boxes of pizza, did the questions start.
"So how did you two meet?" Sam asked me.
"Wilson we're neighbors." Clint deadpanned to him.
Looking down at my plate I hid my smirk by grabbing some salad.
"I know that man but how did you two get acquainted." Sam elaborated.
"Oh, we got off to a great start." Sarcastically saying to them.
"We both share a balcony because of a building defect. One day I came home from work and found him standing on the balcony. I went out to go introduce myself but he didn't say anything." Looking at Clint with a smile.
He rubbed his face.
"Hey, this story makes me look worse than it does to you." Countering.
"I thought he was ignoring me and that pissed me off. I tapped him on his shoulder, and he swung around, almost knocking me to the floor." Continuing.
"Lord Barton." Natasha shook her head.
"Always ready for a fight, right?" He joked.
"After scaring me, Clint apologized saying I startled him. I told him that I did call out and say hello. I then said to him 'are you deaf or something?'" Hanging my head in embarrassment.
Everyone broke out laughing at the ironic statement.
"Clint calmly said yeah, actually I am. He wasn't even mad. He didn't have his hearing aids on." Explaining to them.
"I spent two days building those for you. The least you could do is wear them!" Tony shouted.
"I wanted quiet for a moment!" Clint defended himself.
"So in one minute, I managed to freak us both out and mock his disability. Like I said, super start." Laughing as I stared at Clint who was laughing along with me.
"I didn't think we'd see or speak to each other much after that, but then two weeks later my kitchen sink broke." Chuckling.
"And she showed up at my door looking like a dripping wet dog." Clint laughed.
"I'm not even going to argue with you on that because it's true."
"When did you start connecting? Like when did you realize you liked him?" Wanda leaned forward looking for the tea.
Staring at Clint I smiled.
I did know that moment.
"I would have to say it was when he gave up his night to help me watch my duck." Grinning at him.
The entire table went silent.
Everyone looked at us confused. Only Clint and I knew the inside story.
Finally, Tony spoke, "I'm sorry is that euphemism for something?" Completely bewildered.
Clint and I threw our heads back laughing uncontrollably.
