A/N- I'm so sorry this has taken so long to post but I seemed to lose all my inspiration for a while and then I was on holiday for a few weeks. Anyway, I would just like to thank SweetSouthernCharm and MGA-Middy for reviewing my story. Thanks for all the encouragement. And Cap's Best Girl also deserves a huge thank you for being my beta and giving me the support I needed to continue writing this story after my writers block. Check out some of her Marvel related stories.

Chapter 4

Clint's P.O.V

"Great news!" Tony yelled as the elevator opened up into the Penthouse.

I looked up from my seat on the sofa, where I was firing balled up paper into the trash can.

"The Circus of Crime will be in New York in two days time!" He exclaimed, arms wide showcasing his point.

"So what's the plan? Bruce asked turning to me.

I began to sit up to talk strategy with the team, when Tony interrupted.

"Well I think..." He started.

"Umm Tony, actually Clint's the lead on this one." Natasha said looking at him to check his reaction.

"And when was this decided?" Tony asked, going into mini huff about not being in charge.

"It was decided seconds after you left the helicarrier" Bruce stated, trying to hold in his laughter.

"Well, then Clint." Tony turned to face me. "What do you think we should do?" He directed his attention to me, arms folded over his chest because of his playful tantrum.

"We should go to the circus, observe them first, and do some recon. Then formulate a play from what we find out about them." I answered not looking at Tony, still aiming for the trash can.

"That's a great idea" Natasha said in my direction, grinning as Tony tightened his arms across his chest.

"Would I have had any other kind of idea?" I smirked at her from my spot on the sofa.
-

Amy's P.O.V

As I sat in the back of the van taking us to our next stop in New York, I stared out the window into the crisp, black night sky. I looked around at the buildings trying to catch a glimpse of the one that could hold the key to my future- and my past.

Stopping at a set of traffic lights, I see the towering 'A' proudly displayed on the building across from me. Whilst staring at the 'Avengers Tower', as named for its residents, I felt the seat next to me shift slightly as someone sat down.

"Trying to spot, Clint?" the voice teased as he tried to conceal the malice behind his words.

"Actually, I was looking up at the sky" I lied "It's different from how we normally get to see it" I turned my attention back out the window and prayed for some quiet. He had other ideas.

"Ah, come on. Talk to me, I'm bored." He pleaded with me.

Turning to face him I saw that he was giving me his best puppy dog eyes- that had absolutely no effect on me, whatsoever because they weren't half as good as Clint's. "Go and find someone willing to keep you entertained then, Barney" I said dryly.

He stared at me for another second. Taking in a large breath, he continued "Speaking of my dearest brother, did you tell Tiboldt what we found out about him?" he half whispered to me.

I wished he had never seen that bloody paper with Clint's face plastered all over it "I did and before you ask he didn't take the news very well."

"Good" was the reply I got. "I hope he tracks Clint down and gives him what he deserves for abandoning us, his family!" Barney was practically shouting now, and in such a small space it had gained everyone's attention.

"Barney, calm down. It's not as if anyone was hurt..." I went to continue, but was cut off by him.

"Physically, of course no one was hurt" he started "But the emotional scars left by my dearest brother? Well, they'll certainly last for many years" He was smirking at me now. Clearly talking about how much Clint's leaving hurt me, but not saying it in those words.

I lowered my head as tears began to sting my eyes, not wanting my friends to see the weakness in me. An emptiness that has lasted for seven years all because he left me.

I look up, straight into Barney's eyes, praying he couldn't see the remaining moisture in mine. "Sarcasm. That's not exactly a healthy coping method, is it Barney? After all it has been seven years since he left." He looked back at me dumbfounded at how easily I could turn his mind games back on him. I turned my back on him, grinning at my small victory.

"I suppose your right" he sighed "I mean he did leave us to join the big leagues. Leave you. You must have been a good distraction for a while, but he obviously got bored of you"

I spun around with greater speed than I knew I had. And without thinking about it I raised my arm fist clenched. My eyes bore into Barney's as my fist connected with his face. I winced as I felt pain travel up my arm from the force I used to punch him, but refused to show that I had hurt myself. I looked down to see Barney rocking back and forth in the middle of the van's floor as blood poured from his now broken nose.

I sat back down on the seat I had previously been on and glanced back out the window, as a seemingly endless starry sky occupied my vision. Within these past few weeks I had thought about Clint Barton more than I had in seven years, but it was no less painful than the day I found out he left.

Clint's P.O.V.

I looked down at the other Avengers from my 'nest'- as Tony liked to call it. Watching as they all laughed and talked with each other as if that was all that mattered. I looked past them through the large window that overlooked the city. Looking down I saw the steady flow of traffic and began to think of Amy. I hadn't properly thought of her in many years. This mission however has brought many old feelings back to the surface.

I was taken from my thoughts when I noticed that the group of five in the sitting room had suddenly become four. I looked over my shoulder, to find Steve standing there holding two beers.

"I thought these had no effect on you?" I said, slightly shaking the beer I was handed.

"Yeah, but that doesn't stop me" He laughed, faintly. "I don't mean to pry but... What's been up with you lately? Ever since we got this mission you've been acting differently."

I shook my head not fully knowing what to say "Has it been that obvious?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, even Tony has asked what's going on with you and that's saying something." The Captain replied.

I thought about whether or not I should tell him and decided that it was time that my friends found out about my past.

I sighed turning to face Steve "This isn't the first time I've had dealings with the Circus."

Seeing the honesty in my face and hearing the truth coming from my voice, Steve asked "Would you rather tell this to Natasha? I know you have been friends for a while and that you guys are quite close."

"Nah, Nat already knows all of this and it's about time someone else knew as well."

"When I was six, my family was in a terrible car accident that only me and my little brother- who was four at the time, survived. We had no other family so we had nowhere to go. One day we went to this travelling circus in Iowa with the orphanage we had been put in, they took us in and trained us to become part of the circus" I looked over at Steve knowing he was listening in awe because I've never really been open about my past.

"I never knew you had a brother." Steve stated "Is he still in the Circus?"

"From what I know he's still with them." I nodded "Anyway, I lived with the other circus members travelling state to state, stealing anything we could get our hands on. I was friends with just about everyone, but my closest friend was a girl called Amy. She was a year younger than me and had lived in the Circus her whole life." I stopped speaking, all my memories of the Circus surging to the forefront of my mind, as if they were a strong wave breaking through the wall of a dame.

"So, was Amy the woman we saw on the security tape?" He asked curiously.

"Yeah, it was definitely her. She had the same long wavy black hair and pale skin from when we were younger." And from that point I started to tell Steve everything about my past with the Circus, Barney and even Amy.

"What did you hate the most about having to leave the Circus?" He asked, hoping I would answer any question he would throw at me.

"I knew I would miss the actual people from the Circus and sure I would miss my brother, Barney. But I knew the thing I would hate the most about leaving was not being able to see Amy every day. I tried to convince her to stay behind for the heist but she was so determined to go. I set off the alarm and they all went to prison. The Fridge I think"

"Why didn't you end up going to prison?" Steve asked still completely focused on what I was telling him.

"I told Fury that it was me who activated the alarm and for some reason he believed me and decided to give me another chance at a fresh start."

"Fury is all about second chances isn't he?" Steve chuckled

"Yeah. He is." My thoughts already returning to Amy, a ghost of a smile gracing my lips.