Forty minutes later, we were both ready and raring to go. We headed downstairs with our bags and waited in the foyer. The receptionist (yes, there's a receptionist and knows absolutely everything about everyone; it's weird) was chatting on the phone to someone about something that sounded important. As we entered, however, she greeted us with a smile and then focused on her phone call again.

Clint turned up with two holdalls and a backpack twenty minutes after us. How much stuff was he taking? I thought I had a lot, considering I've managed to fill a 50 litre holdall. He smiled at us and led us to where a Quinjet was waiting. We filed on and stashed our bags at the back of the craft. Once we were strapped in, Hawkeye sat himself in the pilot's seat.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," he started with a chuckle, trying to speak in a posh voice. "The flight will be about an hour long. The weather is sunny and clear at our destination and there are expected to be no delays. So, sit back and enjoy the flight." Wanda and I were laughing so hard that if it hadn't of been for the straps across our chest, I would have fallen out of my seat.
"Clint, you're such a joker."
"That's my job, with three kids and a team to train, one of us needs a sense of humour and that fell to me."
"We can tell," Wanda wiped away tears of mirth.

The flight went fairly quickly, Clint allowing us to study the plane once we had levelled out. There was an abundance of gadgets and gizmos with various functions. They had Tony Stark written all over it. That man has way too much free time on his hands. Pepper needs to keep him occupied more.

"Girls, we're about to land, strap yourselves in for me."
"Sure thing, Clint."

It was the gentlest landing I think I've ever experienced. Upon touchdown, Clint set the ramp down and handed us our luggage. We could see the house from here; it looked stunning from here. I could see kids running around in the yard.

"It's beautiful," Wanda stated in awe.
"Well, it's home and Laura keeps the place going."
"It's wonderful."

The walk down to the house was so peaceful. Wanda and I were amazed by the nature. Everything was blooming after a bitter winter. We reached the gates and Clint opened them so we could go through. The kids looked up when they heard the metal squeak. The young girl, jumped at him and he caught her effortlessly, having dropped his bags to open the gate. He wrapped an arm around the boy who held him tightly.

I saw something in my peripheral and saw a woman, no older than Barton, holding a baby in her arms, waiting on the deck. She smiled at him fondly. He set his daughter on her feet, picked his bags up again and swiftly walked over. We followed quietly; the kids were staring at us with a questioning gaze. Clint put his bags by the foot of the stairs, walked up them and wrapped his arms around his wife. We waited silently whilst they conversed. After a few minutes, he turned to face us, the baby now in his arms.

"Girls, this is my wife, Laura, Laura, meet Piper Knight and Wanda Maximoff."
"It's lovely to meet you both." She pulled me into a hug which I reciprocated slightly awkwardly. She then moved onto Wanda who smiled kindly. "Kids, come and say hello to our two new guests." The two kids came and stood in front of us.
"Hello," the boy offered. "I'm Cooper." The little girl smiled at us so I knelt down to her level with a smile.
"Hi there, what's your name?"
"Lila," she responded shyly.
"Well, Lila, your dress is very pretty."
"Thank you, my Aunt Nat got it for me."
"Well, she has very good taste." Lila laughed shyly. I stood up and Wanda grinned at me.
"Kids, this is Piper and Wanda, they're going to be staying with us for a couple of days while they recover." Laura looked at her husband. I knew that look all too well. We're going to be talking later. He nodded at turned back to us.
"Will they read to us?"
"Sure, if you want us to?" Wanda offered. "I love reading."
"Oh god, she's damn near impossible to talk to when there's a book in her hands. I never get a response." Wanda nods in agreement. Nathanial started wailing.
"Looks like Nathanial needs his feed, I'll take care of it." Hawkeye went back inside.
"I'll show you two to your room, then. You don't mind sharing, do you?"
"No, we share at the base, so all is fine."
"Kids, you can go and play again. We'll be back in a few minutes."
"Go and pick a book and we'll read?" Wanda told Lila. She nodded happily and ran past us. We picked up our bags again and followed the older Barton into the house.
"You've got your own bathroom, as well. We didn't want you sharing with us and the kids." We set our bags down.
"Thank you, Mrs Barton."
"Laura, please. Mrs Barton makes me feel old," she chuckled and sat herself down. "Clint was very concerned about you both when he rang me last. What I do want to know though is what he meant about an accident?"
"Ah. Well, do you know that we're both enhanced?" I started. She nodded. "Well, I can control snow and ice. When my parents found out, I was disowned by my whole family and kicked out. I lived on the streets for three years, until about three months ago when Captain Rogers found me. I had tormenters, the same three men that would do everything they can to hurt me; I was raped by all three, two weeks after being kicked out. They left me for dead but my abilities saved my life. When they found out I was still alive, they did everything they could to kill me but nothing worked." Laura gasped in shock. Wanda wiped away a stray tear that had escaped and took my hands in comfort.
"Shh," Wanda whispered. I wrapped an arm around her and she held me tightly while I tried desperately not to cry.
"Cap swooped in and got me off the streets, gave me a safe place to live, hot food and medical care. I was roomed with Wanda and well, now we're best friends and look after each other but the memories never fade. They stick with me and are always are at the back of my mind, fighting their way to hurt me. A week ago, we were training, hand-to-hand combat. Nothing we hadn't done before. I was fighting Wilson. He started to taunt me. What he didn't realise is how much his words would get under my skin. The same words as those three men every time I was punched or kicked or raped." The tears were flowing down my cheeks but I kept going. "I was so caught up in my memories that I created a snow storm in the room. Swept Falcon off his feet, Wanda brought my back to reality with her abilities and then I passed out."
"Oh, sweetheart," Laura stood up and hugged me. "Now I see why Clint was so worried. You're welcome here anytime; you're both been through so much and still teenagers. Now it's time to be taken care of."
"We survive," I shrug. "We've had no choice, neither of us," I gestured to Wanda. "We do what we can to keep going."
"Well, you rest yourselves up for now, I'm gonna start dinner and Clint will be out in the yard cutting wood."
"We're gonna go read Lila a story," Wanda smiled.
"Yeah, it'll get my mind off my past and help me focus on the future. Plus, I've always loved kids."

Laura smiled and left the room. We trailed after found the smaller Barton sitting on the couch with a book in hand. Wanda sat next to her and I sat next to Wanda. She leant against me and I wrapped an arm her shoulder. Lila handed Wanda the book and we saw that it was Peter Pan.

"Oh, I loved this book as a kid," I commented.

I've never done so well on a story with such regular updates.