Chapter 1:

The lecture I received from Clint was not as bad as I expected. Since I hadn't know that I was pregnant, he couldn't expect me to have avoided missions. That didn't stop him from lecturing me about why I didn't have the regular SHIELD check-ups. He knew the answer to that, I don't see why he bothered even asking me. Clint knew that the only time I sat through check-ups was if he was by my side.

"You could've both been killed," He drops down to the floor beside me, head in his hands.

I slid down next to him, taking his face into my hands. "We're all right."

Clint kisses me, holding me close to him. We'd had so many close calls you'd think we'd come to terms with the thought of losing each other.

"Let's get you home," he whispers to me.

I scoffed, shaking my head. "I don't even know where that is anymore."

"Tony has provided an apartment for me in the sub levels of the building. A little too underground for my taste, but I make due." he says. That's the thing about Clint, he'd rather be on Mount Everest than in a basement. For him to be living in one, well that's definitely got to have him itching for fresh air.

Clint took me down to the apartment. It was fully furnished with the latest furniture and tech. A few windows were placed on the walls with fake views. I assume Tony had these installed to make Clint feel more at home.

He insisted on carrying me into the bedroom. If he'd had it his way he would've carried me all the way from Banner's lab to down here. As soon as he placed me on the bed, I curled up on my side, relaxing into the soft surface.

"It's been too long since I've been near anything comfortable," I moan into the pillow.

Clint ran his fingers through my hair. "Well you better get used to it, Miss Romanoff. You are no longer a special agent."

"You're right," I sigh. "Now I'm a terrorist and an assassin."

"You've been that before," he reminds me.

"Yeah, now the whole world can see what a monster I was made to be." I pull him down to lay next to me. "Can we just lay here for a while? I've missed you."

He pulls me closer. "I've missed you too. I'm just glad your all right."

I throw my leg over his waist, clinging to his body. "I'm thankful that your safe."

Clint chuckles. "Fury has me on glorified desk duty. Why wouldn't I be safe?"

"I always worry about your safety," I admit. "If something ever happened to you...I don't know what I'd do. You've given me everything- a new life, happiness, love- things that I was told I never deserved."

"Tasha, you deserve all of this and more. Don't listen to what anyone has to say, you are an incredible woman who has made the most out of the shit she was given," he kisses my forehead. His hand lips down my body. To my surprise, he doesn't go where I thought he would. Instead his large warm hand stops right on my flat stomach. "You are going to be a great mother."

"If the baby survives," I turn away from him. "What they did to me...they wanted to make sure we couldn't have children. It was to prevent any emotional compromises."

"Well they must've screwed up, because your pregnant." Clint pulls me back to him. "You do want the baby, right Tasha?"

That was the heartbreaking truth. Looking into his eyes I could see how much he wanted this child. Clint had always dreamed of having a family of his own. He wanted enough children to have his own combat strike team. I'd never seen myself having any of this. I didn't see myself living past the age of twenty-five. The truth was something that he couldn't handle. I couldn't break his heart by telling him no, I don't want children. What kind of mother would I be? The only thing I could do was kill their teacher if they were put into time out.

"Only if it's with you," I say. If I had outright lied then he would've known. Simple statements such as that one would be the best way to deal with the situation. "I love you."

Clint kisses me hard. His hands run over my body, as if he didn't believe I was actually here in his arms. When we were both breathless he pulls away.

"I love you too," he tells me, the sincerity in his eyes.

"You need to get back to work if you are gonna be the bread earner now." I tease. "I'll get a shower while you work."

Clint laughs. "As if you'd let me be the bread earner."

"Well until I figure out where to go next, I'm jobless." I sigh. "Quit delaying. Stop by Pepper's office on your way up. She'll probably have a lot of questions."

"Are you sure you're going to be fine?" he asks me.

I kiss his cheek. "I'm a survivor, Clint."

With a couple of more kisses, Clint leaves me alone in his apartment. There were hardly any personal items anywhere. The bedroom walls were filled with different weapons. A picture frame sat on his nightstand holding a picture of the two of us when we'd been on a mission in Hawaii. We'd been posing as a couple and had to have our picture made to blend in as tourists. Our target at the time had taken the picture for us, leaving his finger print on the camera. He took a good picture for such a bastard.

I took a shower using his stuff. I didn't flinch when the soapy hot water hit my wounds. Instead I focused on the scent the shampoo and gel left on my body. Clint's smell was all over me. I got out of the shower, wrapping myself in a large black towel.

"If that's the sight I come home to everyday then I'll definitely take the job as bread earner," Clint's voice breaks me out of my train of thought.

I turn to him. "I thought I sent you back up to work."

He comes closer, checking me out as he moves. "Went to see Pepper. She sent me back down to take care of my injured wife."

"Did you tell her I was fine?" I ask.

""Course I did." he says. "She didn't believe me."

I sigh into his arms. "Well at least we have some alone time."