Disclaimer: I don't own them – so please don't sue!
I began to work on the story about Emma and Clint's relationship prior to this one. It's called 'Lady Hawk' – for those who haven't checked it out yet, please do! So enjoy this chapter! And as usual, please review!
Chapter 17:
"Over here Emma! Look at mommy!"
Toddler Emma giggled as she happily ran across the sand towards her mother's opened arms who swooped her up and planted a big kiss on her cheek. "That's my baby girl!"
The old home movie continued on playing more of the summer beach vacation from when Emma was a toddler and Tony had to be about 8 or 9 years old. This was the 5th home movie that had been shared so far. All the members of the team had even stuck around the watch the old home movies – mainly to see that Tony Stark had in fact had a childhood, while Thor on the other hand was enthralled by the fact that the images of Tony and Emma's youth were displayed on the magic box.
The entire time, Emma had lay on the floor, arms wrapped around a pillow watching the old movies with more and more memories coming back to her. She had seen vacations, Christmases, Birthdays and other major events that she couldn't remember but knew that she had celebrated.
"Now I know where Audrey gets that face from," Clint said from up on the couch where he was sitting next to Thor as they were still watching the summer beach vacation video where Emma and Tony building a sand castle.
"What face?" Emma asked turning to look at him.
"That look of concentration. When she is trying to get something done. See right there," he said grabbing the remote off the table and pausing the video.
"Whatever," Emma said sitting up. "I still say she inherited her facial expressions from your side of the family. She has more Barton facial expressions instead of mine."
"Excuse me you too, I hate to interrupt this little lovers quarrel," Tony said. "But can we please get back to the video. You two can argue about your daughter and her kickass genes later on."
Clint was about to start the video again, when Steve stopped him. "Wait, you and Emma have a daughter?"
They both nodded.
"Are you married?"
They both nodded again.
"Thank you Captain Obvious." Tony said. "Haven't you noticed that they both always show up to everything together and are attached to the hip basically."
Steve looked around at the other team members who didn't look at all surprised. "You really didn't notice Steve?" Bruce asked.
Steve shook his head no as his cheeks turn reddish in color. "Come on guys, leave him alone," Natasha said. Tony was about to say something else before a pillow hit him square in the face. Emma was glaring at him.
"I agree," Emma said as she leaned back against Clint's legs. "Leave him alone and let's finish this movie. I'm getting tired."
Everyone settled back down and laughed at the scenes of Emma trying to walk as a toddler and smacking into things and falling on her face – everyone but Steve. He was still embarrassed that he hadn't caught on to the fact that Emma and Clint were married! How did everyone else managed to catch the signs? As the group finished watching the home movies, Steve watched Emma and Clint's interactions with each other. The touches here and there, even with her sitting against his legs on the floor. The way he was playing with her hair.
If he missed such a simple thing like this how could he be fit to lead the Avengers?
"What glorious smells are these?" Thor proclaimed as he entered the kitchen the next morning. Everyone else, but Tony, were all sitting around the breakfast area, enjoying breakfast while Emma was busy finishing up cooking.
"It's called French Toast," Emma said, placing a heaping plate of French toast in front of the Asgardian. Sausage, Bacon and Eggs soon followed. Thor began to fill a plate full of the breakfast foods. He had already learned that the food of Midgard was wonderful – especially if Emma had cooked or they had gotten pizza.
"Is that French Toast I smell?" Tony said, sleepily as he walked into the kitchen. He plopped down in a chair next to Thor and stretched.
"It is! And what a glorious thing it is!" Thor said with a mouthful of syrup and toast.
Everyone laughed.
"Now since Thor returned, he needs something for tomorrow night to wear to the party." Tony said helping himself to the scraps the Thor managed to leave behind. Emma put a few slices of freshly done toast on his plate before sitting down with everyone else as well.
"That we can handle." Pepper said. "Emma wanted to go shopping and I'm sure that we can convince Natasha to go with us as well."
"And while we are doing that, I suggest that you gentlemen make yourselves familiar with these profiles," Emma said, setting several sheets of paper in the middle of the breakfast area.
"What are these?" Bruce asked picking one up.
"These are potential A.I.M. scientists that will be in attendance tomorrow night." Natasha said. "Emma and I will use our resources to find out what we can, but we'll also need eyes watching them as well."
"Aww does this mean I can't get drunk at my own party?" Tony asked.
"Just don't get too drunk. Remember what happened last year?" Natasha said. "Your friend flew off with your armor."
"In my defense, I was dying then."
"Just limit it." Steve added.
Friday turned into Saturday without much fanfare. The girls went shopping and bought clothes that Thor could blend into society well enough in while the guys just kicked back and relaxed. That night, the guys had decided to try their hand at cooking since the girls did it so often. While the overall meal was pretty good, it was a disaster when it came to how the kitchen looked.
"Have fun cleaning," Pepper said, as she, Natasha and Emma all retreated and left the guys to clean.
"Come on Potts!" Tony called. "This isn't how it usually goes!"
"The kitchen isn't usually hit by a hurricane!"
He jumped from roof to roof as he followed the elderly woman and her granddaughter through the streets of New York. After loosing the Black Widow and Agent Carter for a few days, he went back to stake out the bookstore. He had implanted listening devices at both locations. From those wiretaps, he had learned that Emma Carter's mother in law, Edith Barton, had taken over the running of the bookshops for her daughter in law as well as taking care of her granddaughter.
But why?
Perhaps following them, he could find out. And also find out where Emma Carter was.
"Grandma, when are mommy and daddy going to come home and see us?"
"I'm not sure, Audrey. You know that they will call when they can."
The little girl nodded as they continued down the street.
Damn it. It would have been the perfect lead. But this little girl might just be the key to finding Emma Carter after all.
