Leah arrived at the co-ordinates that Heimdall had sent her, it was a nice neighbourhood by the looks of things. She just smiled feeling nostalgic that she was not a part of her brother life like she use to be. They use to be so close but now she never felt further away from him. She followed the instructions that Heimdall had given her she arrived at the door of the apartment which should house her brother. She waited a minute hearing no movement within the apartment. Slowly she picked the lock taking her time as it had been a while since she had used any of her old training. She finally heard the successful click of the door unlocking, hesitantly she entered the dark apartment. Checking her surroundings making sure it was all clear before lowering her guard. She made the usual checks, removing any weapons she could find on the way arming herself for the possible outcome of this meeting. As she checked the whole apartment she found items which gave her hope. Photos of her and Clint all the way up to her departure to Asgard, she just smiled weakly at them, she had copies of these back on Asgard. She knew that he must still love her to have these up and around the apartment.
She looked at the pictures of her and Clint mucking about on one of their vacations. They were once so close, that even on Fury's orders of secrecy they knew what each other were doing. She ran her hand over one of the pictures in a frame smiling. She knew that she needed to do this to help her feel better about the matter of choosing someone she barely knew really but loved more than her own brother. She understood that it was a completely different type of love she had for Loki compared to Clint but she did in the end pick another man instead of her own brother. Part of her began to wonder if this was just a front for shield and the others as it made no sense at all. From what Steve had told her, this was not what she expected to see photos of her around his place, if he truly hated her then he would have nothing to remind him of her.
She then heard someone at the door making her stop and hid. Silently the door opened but no lights came on, Leah knew that if it was either Nat or Clint that they knew someone was here. Trying to calm her nerves and slow her breathing. She was grabbed out of the darkness she hid thrown to the floor. She rolled onto her feet looking around till she saw the shadow of her brother. She stood up not wanting to attack him or give him the wrong idea why she had returned.
"Clint." Leah began holding her hands out showing she was defenceless. "It's me, I am alone, Please don't."
Leah didn't have enough time to finish her sentence as Clint launched himself at her. His body hit hers sending them flying across the room with the force of the tackle Clint made. Leah hit the floor with Clint onto of her, her breath had been completely knocked out of her chest, she just lay there breathless as he pinned her to the floor she felt the sharp edge of a blade press against her neck. She looked down at the blade knowing that with what Clint knew. She remembered how he killed the beast that was created from her all those years ago, when she was imprisoned in Budapest after she had been change. She knew that he knew her weakness in her powers and how to kill her for the final time. Her silver eyes rose to meet his sparkling from only the street lights from outside the rest of him shadowed in darkness.
"Don't do this Clint." Leah gasped closing her eyes trying to calm herself but she could hear the panic in her voice "Please brother."
"You are a traitor." Clint hissed leaning down closer to her. "Why should I trust you."
"I am your sister." Leah retorted opening her eyes to look into his. "That should be enough."
"No." Clint snapped the blade pressing further down on her neck. "You gave that up when you choose him. You chose someone who wanted to take over this world, who cause pain and suffering around you. Yet you left and then came back corrupted by him. "
"I fell in love with a different man from who you knew. He did not corrupt me, he did nothing to me except open up." Leah argued struggling to breath as she felt the knife press further into her neck feeling the pain which came as it drew blood. The warm liquid began to trickle down the side of her neck. "If you going to kill me just do it, you know this would do it, removing my head worked for the other thing they created. Just know you're making your own niece an orphan and killing an unborn child. Can you live with that Clint, can you live with murdering your own sister and destroying her children's life's. "
She could feel the hesitation on the blade, she just gradually controlled her breathing before looking up at the dark face above her hoping her words would work. Minutes passed and neither of them moved, she watched her brother fight with inner demons within, she felt for him not truly understanding what happened to her, she only hoped he would give her the chance to explain. The knife was then slowly pulled away from her neck as Clint rose to his feet, Leah just lay on the floor still watching him moved away before offering his hand to her. Slowly Leah took it as he pulled her to her feet, she just stood opposite him waiting for him to say something first. Not really sure what he was thinking now.
"Why are you here?" Clint asked still sounding cold towards her but it was better than before she guessed. She knew that he was now willing to listen to her which was something she guessed.
"I wanted to see you, I have done for a while actually." Leah sighed rubbing her healing neck and the crusting blood away. "I wanted to tell you everything the first time I returned but things out of my control happened. Then the seconded time I came back with Thor after your accident I hoped to see you recover and then tell you myself but SHIELD put an end to that plan and well told me not to return."
"Can you blame them?" Clint argued sounding like he agreed with them which shocked her slightly but she remained calm about his opinions. She understood that he would have only heard one side of the story.
"Not really no, I guess I would think the same if I was in a different set of shoes." Leah shook her head looking down considering her next words. "But it was out of free will and my own choice to make. You can't help who you fall in love with, he understood me and I began to understand him."
"I don't want to hear about him." Clint's voice rose at the mention of Loki.
"He is not the man he was when he attacked earth, he changed for me and his daughter." Leah argued fighting Loki's corner, she had to change his opinion to get him to understand. Her heart pounded as she knew she needed to tell him the truth. "We are getting married the day after tomorrow. That is why I am here Clint. I want you there with me as my family, I never dreamt that we would be this fair apart from each other. I want Astrid and this next child to know who their Uncle is."
Clint turned his back to her not looking at her at all with these words, she could feel her tears fall down her cheeks now as she began to truly open up to him. She just wanted him to understand how she felt and why all of this happened. She just stood in the centre of the room watching him as he thought silently. He turned the lights on before turning and looking at Leah, she could see that tears had also fallen from his eyes.
"I missed you and still love you too much to give up Clint." Leah added as more tears fell from her eyes "To give up on us."
Clint moved quickly over to her wrapping his arms around her embracing her into a hug. It was a happy feeling that coursed through her entire body. One she had waited for since she had to make her choice and leave for Asgard permanently. She just returned the hug knowing that he was accepting her in his life again, she then felt herself sob harder in her brothers arms as he held onto her.
They eventually sat down opposite each other still not saying much. Clint had offered beer but considering she was pregnant she declined and instead took a tea with him. Her fingers were wrapped around the warm mug as she watched the steam rose. She had a million and one questions she wanted to ask him but knew the one which sat at the top of the list.
"So why not report me to SHIELD?" Leah sighed glancing at Clint who still seemed a little awkward with her around but more relaxed than he had been earlier. "I know what you're thinking considering I use to be with SHIELD too."
"You're my sister." Clint shrugged looking down sounding more like the brother she remembered. "Once Steve had explained everything and I was back in work I looked at the recordings they had." Leah's mouth dropped open slightly, she never thought about them recording her. "I didn't agree with the treatment they gave you, I never meant you to get harmed or be truly treated like that."
"I was fine." Leah smiled at him. "Astrid was born on time but with complications."
"Astrid." Clint said realising that was his niece. "That is a pretty name. How was there complications?"
"It doesn't seem that I am able to give birth naturally." Leah sighed thinking about it. "I nearly died from blood loss as my body tried to give birth. I can't remember much, I was unconscious. They had to open me up to get her out. I died though, I know not a true death but it was a scary time."
"Oh." Clint stared at her with concerned. "And all is well with her now?"
"She is a bright button." Leah grinned thinking about her daughter. "Walking and talking, she is beautiful too Clint. I would love if she could meet you." Clint just looked at her a little shocked before smiling and nodding.
"I would like that too." Clint expression then changed. "She is only a baby though?"
"No she is definitely a toddler now, Asgardian's and other creatures up there have a fast development in childhood and pregnancies. So she is at the moment growing and developing every single second event though she is only meant to be a baby."
"So your pregnant again?" Clint asked
"Yes." Leah nodded placing a hand on her stomach. "Only just pregnant though, that's why the wedding has been brought forward."
"Oh." Clint thought for a couple of minutes.
"Where is Natasha?" Leah frowned seeing the look of surprise on Clint's face. "I said I had kept an eye on you, I know about you two and I am so happy for you."
"She is on a mission at the moment with Stark." Clint smiled at her. "I guess after you left our relationship developed further."
"About time." Leah laughed "It's been bound to happen for ages."
After an evening of talking and getting to understand each other's decisions the sun began to rise in the sky. Leah just looked out of the window, she knew she must return for Astrid before people had realised she had gone.
"I need to get back for my daughter and before questions are asked." Leah glanced at Clint who just nodded looking a little upset that she had to go. "May I return tonight with Astrid possibly?"
"I would like that." Clint nodded "But don't risk yourself."
"It will be fine." Leah reassured him before giving him a hug which he returned "I will see you tonight."
"Let me give you a key, saving you picking a lock if I am not back in time." Clint went to a draw and pulled out a key. "See you tonight." He kissed her on the cheek before she left.
Leah left earth and headed back to Asgard, being greeted by a smiling Heimdall who had obviously watched the events unfurl on earth. She just grinned at the man before walking back to her chambers placing the key on a long chain and placing it around her neck. She changed into a green gown before going to the Queens chambers to see Astrid. The Queen was already up reading a book when Leah entered.
"Morning your up early." The Queen said greeting her.
"I believe its excitement within me." Leah smiled before having a little person run into her legs hugging her. "Morning sweetie." She ran her hand through Astrid black curly hair before picking the heavier little girl up and kissing her. "You okay?"
Astrid nodded wrapping her arms around Leah's neck and holding on tightly. Leah just smiled against her little girl looking forward to seeing Clint's reaction to meeting his niece.