Chapter 9: We Are Family

Barney couldn't actually sleep. He tried, but he just kept thinking about what K had said and about what it would be like to be adopted. With Clint.

It wouldn't be like the family they used to have. It would be better in a lot of ways, actually. Their dad wouldn't be around to screw it up. And Barney would still get to do his own thing and know that Clint was still safe.

He finally decided that he just wasn't going to get to sleep, so he made his way down to K's room and knocked quietly on the door. And in the short time that it took K to call out that the door was open, Barney legitimately thought about just… not.

But he went in anyway, shuffling a few steps before he nodded to himself. "Hi."

"Is everything alright?" K asked.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I just… I just couldn't sleep… I was thinking about my folks a lot…."

"Clint does that too, sometimes," she said, nodding.

"My mom was real nice," Barney said. "You woulda liked her, I think."

"I'm sure I would have," she agreed.

"You wouldn't have liked my dad, though," Barney said. "Mom didn't know how to make him stop." He glanced up at her. "Not like you do."

K nodded at that, looking serious. "My stepdad was like that," K told him. "My mom couldn't get it together either. I think that happens a lot, really. Doesn't mean she didn't want to, though."

Barney swallowed and looked down again. "So… so I think… I think I wanna be in the family that you and Clint have," he said.

Her eyebrows went up, and she looked up at him openly. "Really? Because I'd love it."

Barney nodded, still looking down. "I know I'm not Clint and I didn't find you, but I… I really wanna have that again. Me and him and a family and… and… yeah."

"I don't know that I could measure up to anything your mom did with you guys … but I'd like to try."

Barney shook his head. "I don't want you to be Mom," he said.

"Not what I meant," she tried to clarify. "I just want you both to know how wanted you are."

Barney smiled lightly and then scooted a little closer. "Are you sure?" he asked, finally glancing up at her. "Because if you're not… I get it. I do."

"I wouldn't bring it up if I wasn't sure," K said. "But that's also why I wanted you to decide. I know what it's like to be younger and not be given a choice in what happens to you."

"Well, you said I could stay at the circus, right?" Barney said. "So… so I think it's a good idea."

"Yep, you can stay at the circus during the season," K agreed. "And when you're off, well … I know you're not overly concerned about schoolwork, but if you would like to catch up, the place we've been staying at will take care of you right. I already told them that if you came there with us that you weren't going to ditch the circus, so they'd have to work around the season — and make sure you kept your time to practice." She tipped her head his way. "Besides. I said I'd teach Clint how to shoot a bow off of horseback. Not fair not to offer it to you, too."

Barney broke into a grin. "That would be so. Cool," he breathed out. He rubbed a hand through his hair. "Will they be okay that I — I ain't been to school in a long time, so I'm not really in sixth grade or whatever I'm supposed to be in…"

"They didn't have any problem with Clint — and they didn't give me any flack about not pushing him into school — so if anyone gives you grief, let me know and I'll take 'em out back by the trash cans."

"I can do that myself," Barney said with a smirk. "I'm old enough."

"Yeah but I like to do that stuff too," K said, grinning at him.

"Me too," Barney admitted.

"Then … you might just like that this school teaches self-defense as a requirement," K said.

Barney grinned. "That sounds like a school I might actually like."

"I think you're old enough for the combat class too," K said. "I'll ask when I make the phone call later… paperwork."

"Well, how old do I need to be? I'm eleven; that's pretty big."

"I don't know, but I think you'll be able to get in if I ask nicely anyhow."

Barney grinned at that and then almost hesitantly climbed up next to her to give her a quick hug. "I wanna grow up and do stuff like this when I get older," he told her. "I wanna help kids too. Like you said."

"You're gonna be the best dad ever then," she said. "Because you'll remember what it was like — and that helps, I think."

"Well, it's not like I got a real high bar to jump over to be better'n mine," Barney muttered.

"Then I'm sorry I didn't meet you guys earlier so I could kick the crap out of him."

"Woulda been nice if you got him before he got Mom killed," Barney agreed quietly.

She pulled him over to give him a quick hug and to kiss the side of his head. "You don't have to worry about that with me," she said. "I'm stupid hard to kill."

"Yeah. 'Cause you heal and stuff," Barney said. He swallowed and then hugged her again — and he finally started to feel tired after a little while sitting there with her now that he wasn't so caught up in thinking about it.

Of course, as soon as K was sure that her boys were both soundly asleep, she relaxed too, and when she glanced at the clock, it was with a little frown. It was too late - or early, depending on life choices - to make any phone calls. And since Barney wanted to surprise Clint with it … she'd have to wait until the boys were outside to make the call during daylight.

But when she woke up at her usual time, she listened hard and wasn't surprised at all to hear that the boys were still sleeping. It was a much more reasonable hour … and the guy that she knew would need the info was up … So she made the call and kept her tone quiet. "Am I too early, Scott?"

"Perfect timing, actually. I was just about to go on a run."

"Well, if you're not too swamped, I was hoping you could do another round of paperwork for me."

"What do you need?"

"Same thing — just … for Barney."

There was a pause before Scott answered — and she could hear the grin in his voice. "I already had it done up — just in case."

"I thought you might," she said. "But we talked last night, and he wants to go forward."

"That's great news," Scott said, genuinely thrilled — and obviously so. "I can have it to you as soon as we get the official signoff."

"I really appreciate it, Scott. Thank you. I'll be here most of the weekend, so if you need me to sign anything, I can hit it whenever I see you."

"Hey, I know how important this is. I'll make this a priority, and you'll have it in front of you fast."

She couldn't help but smile at him, since she knew how hard he'd pushed to get Clint's papers through, and she was reasonably sure that if it meant another chance to draft Steve into helping him — he'd jump on it just as fast as Scott. "You're wonderful, Scott. Don't hurt yourself, okay?"

"Hey, worst that can happen is a papercut, and then I'll file a grievance with you and your boys."

"And a pretty redhead will have to kiss it better … so I'm sure there will be a few dozen grievances."

"I'm sure," Scott said. "Okay, I'll call you when I have something."

"Thanks again," she said before she hung up, smiling to herself. She was awake, the dog was up with the boys … so it appeared that coffee was in order before she started on breakfast for the sleeping beauties.

The weekend was almost out when K got an early morning wakeup call the morning that she'd be dropping Barney off with the circus again. The scent of brimstone was the first thing that tipped her off, and then when she opened her eyes, Kurt gave her a deep, showman's bow, with Scott grinning beside him.

"Welcome to my hideaway," K said before she stretched out. "I take it you got impatient and got Jean to find us?"

"Hey, I know it's Barney's birthday," Scott said. "I wanted to catch you before the weekend was out so it could be one to remember."

"How many arms did you twist to get it done so fast, Scott?" K asked.

Scott held up his hands. "Hey, all I did was ask Captain America who I needed to talk to, and a few hours later, I had an invite to the tower."

She chuckled at that and waved them off. "Go make some coffee, I'll be out as soon as I'm dressed. And if you leave before I get to hug you both, I'm going to make you regret it."

"Oh, what a threat," Kurt chuckled. "How could we ever turn down a hug from such a beautiful woman?"

"I don't want to know how that could happen," she said, heading to her dresser already. "Coffee. Go. If you want to wish him a happy birthday, have a cup with me while I make breakfast."

"Of course," Kurt said, vanishing in blue smoke along with Scott so that K could finish her morning routine.

When she got out to them, the coffee was brewing and the men were both standing at the big picture window that looked out over the lake. "It's a little better to look at later in the season," K commented. "Like when the leaves are in full color."

"Is that an invitation to return?" Kurt asked with a grin.

"Would you want to return?" K asked. "There's not much here, after all."

"Ah, but the company is excellent," Kurt said. "After all, you have the magnificent Barney Barton, weapons master extraordinaire," he teased.

"He is pretty amazing," she agreed as she poured out a cup of coffee and headed over to pick up the folder from Scott, though she was sure to pop up on her toes and kiss his cheek.

Scott smirked at her. "Where are the boys?"

"Upstairs, sleeping. Or …" She paused and tipped her head to the side. "Pretending to be asleep. Probably waiting for breakfast."

"What are you making?" Scott asked. "I can help."

"Swedish crepes," she said. "Thimbleberries and raspberries I got out of the bushes yesterday."

"I can't help with the crepes, but I can help with the rest."

"And I can bring down our sleepyheads," Kurt said with a smirk.

"Sure, I won't argue it," she agreed before she started up with the batter.

Kurt grinned at that, and it wasn't long before both of the Barton boys were downstairs — with Barney more than a little surprised at how he'd gotten there.

"Happy Birthday, Barney," K half sang out as she kept working. "Your presents are on the counter. You should probably open the little one first."

Barney grinned and shook his head. "What's — what's with the group party?"

"We're just the delivery boys," Kurt chuckled.

"And sous chefs," K added.

Clint shook his head at that before he climbed up into his seat and grinned at both of them. "Long time no see."

"Yes, the mansion seems so much quieter without my favorite pirate in training," Kurt teased.

"I'm sure Logan won't take offense at all," Scott said half under his breath, though he was still smiling. "Solid replacement."

Kurt shook his head at that. "No, mein Freund, Logan is not in training."

"Not for that anyhow," K had to add, just to watch Kurt's reaction.

Kurt scoffed at her for a second, then smirked and teleported over to pick up her hand and kiss it. "Ah, well, when you have me for comparison…"

She started to laugh at that and then set down what she was working with to wrap him up in a hug. "I've been too slow, right? Is that the trouble?"

Kurt laughed and spun her in the hug. "Yes, of course. And really, K, if you spend so much time with my best friend, you must spend more time with me. I'm selfish about sharing my time with him, you know," he teased.

"I had no idea … seeing as there haven't been any interruptions."

"I was trying to be polite," Kurt said with a shrug. "Now… I am not so patient."

"I'm not going to fight you for time," K said with a little wave.

"Good, because you will lose," Kurt teased. He brought her hand up to kiss it again. "Which I am so sorry for."

"Oh, you're so wrong," she said, shaking her head. "I'd just move to distract and let him decide what to do with his time." She grinned at him and kissed his cheek. "Good luck."

Kurt was chuckling as he shook his head, though the Barton boys were both making faces behind his back and getting more dramatic about it when they caught Scott smirking their way.

Still, the little back and forth came to a stop when Barney had finished unwrapping his presents, and he came running over to K wearing a leather jacket that was just slightly too big for him to wrap her in a hug.

"I need a motorcycle now," he teased.

"I'm sure we can work up to it," she said pulling him in tightly and then kissing his cheek. "You look handsome. As always."

"I really like it," he said. "Thanks, K."

"You gotta get him stuff like that so people know he's older now that I'm getting real tall," Clint teased.

"I gotta get him stuff like that because it looks great on him," K said.

"Yeah, don't hate because you can't keep up," Barney said, sticking his tongue out at Clint.

Clint rolled his eyes again, and Scott tipped his head to the envelope he'd given K. "Great birthday, right?"

Barney glanced at the envelope. "Is that mine too?"

"Yep," she said, nodding lightly as she started plating up their breakfasts. "Open it."

Barney raised his eyebrows before he opened the envelope and then stared at what was inside. And of course, Clint was too curious to let it be, so he looked over Barney's shoulder… and let out a whoop of excitement, wrapping Barney in a hug that Barney returned with a disbelieving grin.

Clint rushed over to hug K, too, grinning up at her. "You get to be both of our mom!"

"Lucky me that you both agreed," K said, hugging him tight.

Barney grinned at last and then rushed over to K and gave her a hug too. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Thank you," she replied as she pulled him in. "But Scott — Scott was the one to rush the papers."

Barney looked up at the two men and paused. "Which… which one is Scott?"

"The tall one that's been smirking enough to break his face all morning," K said. "I thought you'd recognize our acrobat's voice though at least."

"He… was blonde before…" Barney shook his head and then slipped over to stand close — but not too close — to Scott and look up at him. "Thanks," he said quietly.

Scott nodded, not bothering to stow the smile. "Hey, I'm a firm believer in keeping families together," he said.

Clint grinned at that and zipped over to give Scott a short hug. "Definitely."