Avengers

From Time to Time

Chapter 20

Fury looked at his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his child, and smiled. "To see you."

Gina completely forgot about how she was dressed as Fury waited for her to speak, but she had no idea what to say. It had been more than thirty years since they'd seen each other and, in the time she'd created a multi-million dollar business, he'd lost his left eye. "Why are you here? Why now after all these years?"

He clasped his hands together in front of him, a regretful smile coming to his face. "It was brought to my attention recently that my actions in the past have been…ill-advised, especially in the way I treated you and our daughter."

His sudden claiming of Naomi as his child angered Gina. "Oh, no! She's MY daughter! You haven't been a part of her life since she was a child. I brought her up alone and think I did a damn good job of it!"

"I agree."

"And not only that…wait. What did you say?"

Fury glanced at the door leading to a large sitting room off the entry hall. "I didn't expect you to welcome me with open arms, but could we at least have a seat?"

Normally a very gracious hostess, just this once Gina wanted to kick him out just so she could slam the door in his face, but the thought made her nauseous. Not that she wasn't already. Without a word, she led the way. He removed his long coat, draping it over the back of the sofa then seating himself with a fluidity and control that she'd always admired. Those same attributes had been passed down to their daughter even without him being there as an example.

She perched on the edge of the chair to his right so he wouldn't have to turn his head to look at her though she would've preferred it if he didn't. Not much had changed about the affect he had on her. She still felt the attraction as strongly as the day they'd met. To combat the feeling, she stood. "Would you like coffee?"

"Only if you join me. I don't want to put you out."

"It's a little late for that. I've been 'put out' since the day we met."

Crossing one leg over the other, Fury smiled. "I don't want to put you out more."

Nodding, Gina scurried from the room and dashed down the hall to the kitchen, leaning against the door just for a moment before dumping out the old coffee and started a fresh pot. While taking down cups and the carafe, she caught her reflection in the chrome front of the refrigerator and gasped. She was a fright! Clothes dirty and her hair sticking up every which way.

In the downstairs bathroom, she ran a comb through her hair then went into the laundry room to yank a clean shirt and pants from the dryer. By the time the coffee was done, she was a little more presentable. In the medicine cabinet, she found a small bottle of body spray that apparently belonged to one of the girls. She spritzed a little on then returned to the kitchen.

Taking a deep breath, she carried the tray down the hall, Fury jumping up to help as soon as she stepped into the room. He set the tray on the coffee table then poured them each a cup of coffee. "Still take it with cream and one sugar?"

Surprised that he remembered, all Gina could do was nod. He passed her a cup and she busied herself stirring and watching him out of the corner of her eye, glad that he didn't mention the change in her appearance. She sipped from the cup not sure what to say next. Before she could make a decision, Fury set his cup on the table and reached out to take her hand. "I just came to talk. Then I'll leave and you'll never see me again."

"Promise?" Gina said it with such enthusiasm that Fury burst out laughing and after a moment, she did too. "Want me to start?"

Shaking his head and grinning, Fury reached for one of the cookies on the tray, and somehow that broke the tension. "Perhaps I should go first, because once you get started, I won't be able to get a word in edgewise until sometime tomorrow."

"How did you find me? I don't exactly live in the same neighborhood."

He bit off a piece of cookie, chewed reflectively as if he were making a decision. "I've always known where you and our daughter lived." Not quite understanding what he was saying, or rather the way he was saying it, Gina just waited. "Some of what I told you when we were together was true and some was not. I've come here today to rectify that situation."

"Why now?"

"I'll get to that soon. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask." Gina nodded, he finished off his cookie, wiped his hands and mouth before continuing. "I grew up in Hell's Kitchen. My mother died when I was five, my father died when I was ten, my brother was killed in Beirut and my sister was killed in a car accident the following year. I enlisted in the Army the day after I graduated from high school. When my second tour was up, I was recruited by Homeland Security though it wasn't called that until after 9/11.

"When we met, I was going by the name of Nicholas Ray Alden." She nodded wondering why he was rehashing old news, but didn't interrupt. "I was actually under deep cover to catch an arms dealer by the name of Sergei Utkin."

"That Russian guy you were always hanging around with? He really creeped me out."

He looked pointedly at her and she shut up. "We chose the building where the studio was because who would look for a top-secret organization in the same location as a porn studio? Three years after Naomi was born, we finally brought down the entire network, and when that operation ended, so did Nick Alden.

"I wanted to tell you, many times I started to, but there was always the next mission, a new identity." Fury stopped to finish his coffee and pick up another cookie though he didn't immediately eat it. "Shortly after Naomi's fifth birthday, a new super-secret organization came into being and I was tasked with recruiting and training the agents and support staff."

To Gina, this sounded very much like what Clint had hinted at when he and his partner had asked for her help in catching another arms dealer. She wanted to ask, but Clint had sworn her to secrecy and she'd never broken that promise.

"We're still in operation."

"What's it called? Or can't you tell me?"

Reaching for the carafe, Fury poured another cup of coffee, dunking his cookie and chewing before responding. "SHIELD. Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. I'm the director and answer only to the World Security Counsel. We operate under a much broader scope than the Homeland Security, FBI and CIA. In fact, it was SHIELD who was responsible for repelling the alien invasion over Manhattan."

Gina wanted to interrupt, to say something, anything, but she couldn't. She too had seen the news footage and knew that Clint had been a member of the team called the Avengers. Did that mean that all those years ago and again when he and Natasha had enlisted her help, they'd been working for "her" Nick? "What's your real name?"

"The name I was given at birth was Nicholas Joseph Fury." He put a hand up to forestall her next question. "There's more, but I want you to know that I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Just over three months ago Naomi came to work for SHIELD."

"My daughter is a spy?"

Chuckling, Fury shook his head. "No. Naomi is a staff psychologist who ministers to the mental health of our spies and assassins." He raised the cup to his lips, drank down the rest of the coffee and got to his feet.

Gina stood as well, brushing her hands down the back of her slacks. "Nick," she huffed, "why'd you tell me? You had to have a reason."

"It clears the air. If you're willing, I would like to start over. A clean slate." Fury looked at the clock on the mantel when it struck the hour then passed her a card. "Here's my private number. I'm staying at the InterContinental on Bossier. Call me any time, day or night. If I don't hear from you in forty-eight hours, I'll understand." And with that statement, he left her standing in the middle of the sitting room, the front door closing behind him a moment later.

~~O~~

Hours after Fury left, Clint and Naomi were still enjoying their new quarters having already tried out the bed. Naomi's head was pillowed on his shoulder, his new favorite sleeping position, playing with her hair, putting off carrying out Fury's orders to vacate their old rooms at least for now. "This beats squeezing the two of us into a twin every night."

"Yeah. Who know my father could be so understanding."

Clint didn't bother going into the details of the invasion that never made it into their reports. Fury had a strong sense of loyalty to his people, his country and his planet. Naomi would find out soon enough. If what he suspected was true, she'd be singing a different tune come Thanksgiving. And that reminded him of another Thanksgiving making him snicker.

Naomi lifted her head to look at him. "What?"

He brushed the hair from her forehead. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"Twelve years ago." His right arm joined the left at her waist snuggling her closer. "You gave me grief over bringing two little guns into the house while your mother drives around with a pump action shotgun in the trunk."

She shrugged causing their skin to slide against each other, the sensation very arousing. "Yeah. So?"

"So it's no wonder Fury fell for her. Go Momma! Ow!"

She'd jammed her elbow into his stomach just below the sternum in order to raise up to look him in the face. "Clint!"

Holding her tight to his chest when she slung her leg over to straddle his hips, he shrugged. "Hey! What man wouldn't be intrigued?"

The look in her eyes changed to teasing. "So I need to go get a pump action?"

"All you ever needed to do was smile." The teasing grin turned into that enchanting upturn of her lips from the moment he first saw her on the rotunda. "I gotta admit the thigh holster's a nice touch too."

Pressing her lips against his, Naomi turned her head to the side, her palms holding his head still while she ravaged his mouth. When they separated, she rubbed her nose against his. "I remember the first time I saw you in one."

"Yeah?"

"You'll laugh." Proving her point, he did just that. "Stop! I was watching a recast of a news program where you and the other Avengers were being given an award by the president for saving Earth. It didn't look like part of your suit, but it really caught my eye."

Rolling his eyes, Clint kissed the top of Naomi's head. "You and thousands of other women. After the invasion and the awards, we started getting fan mail. Stark hired a bunch of people to open and sort everything. We get the ones from the kids and from places like Make a Wish Foundation and answer them ourselves."

"So that's what you were doing the night we were locked in. I woke up in the middle of the night and you were at the computer. And the pictures on the refrigerator? They're from the kids?"

"Mm-hm." He knew his voice sounded wistful and a bit preoccupied. "Which reminds me. There's something I wanna run by you now that we're getting married."

Her smile faded just a little. "Oh? Sounds serious."

"Since it concerns our future, I'd say it's pretty serious."

Rolling off of him, Naomi cuddled against his side again. "I'm listening."

~~O~~

Fury's personal cell rang the caller ID showing Gina's name. "Fury."

"It's Gina." She had seldom sounded so hesitant. It was strange to hear it now and know that he was the cause. "I'm not saying yes, but not saying no either."

"Understood."

There was a long pause. "I've spent all these years wondering what it was that I could've done to drive you away and all this time it was you." He didn't say a word. She would get to the point soon enough. "Come to Thanksgiving dinner. Naomi's bringing her new boyfriend, but then you've probably already met him. Come around nine and you can help with the cooking. You were always good with a knife. Now I know why."

"I'll be there. And Gina…"

"Yeah?"

Though she couldn't see it, his smiled was filled with warmth and affection for the woman he never stopped loving. He and Clint were the same that way. They were both one woman men. "Thank you."

The line disconnected and Fury sat holding the phone in his hand, the smile still in place. He was being given a second chance with the mother of his child, and this time he wouldn't waste it.

~~O~~

Choosing to drive to Southampton on Thursday morning, Clint and Naomi pulled up to the house close to ten that morning. As they passed the gas station, they'd shared a grin remembering when he nearly ran off the road after the revelation about her mother's business. Parked in its usual place was Gina's Lexus, a rental car alongside. Holding Clint's hand, Naomi said, "I wonder who's here."

"Jared?"

She shook her head. "He drives a Bentley and usually walks over." Biting her lip, she gave him a furtive glance. "I told Mother I was bringing someone with me, but didn't tell her it was you or that we're engaged so be prepared for anything."

"I always am with your mother." Clint knocked on the door and it was opened a short time later, Clint and Naomi speechless for the first few seconds.

"Nick, what are you doing here?"

Fury smiled and invited them to enter. "Your mother invited me to share the holiday."

"O-kay." Leading the way, Naomi took Clint to the coat room her mother had installed five years ago. They hung up their coats and stashed their bags arriving in the kitchen in time to hear a minor disagreement between her parents.

"Add more brown sugar, Nick," Gina instructed in her no-nonsense voice.

"I know how to make candied yams, Gina."

Gina huffed in frustration. "Apparently not or you'd know there's not enough brown sugar."

"Um…" And that was all Naomi could say as Fury glared good-naturedly way at her mother. "What's going on, Mother?"

Gina turned, the wooden spoon she'd been using to stir the pot on the stove in one hand. From the scent, it was homemade cranberry relish, Naomi's favorite. "We're making dinner. What does it…"

Gina saw Clint, dropped the spoon, and with a whoop of joy, threw herself into his arms nearly strangling him in the process. Without hesitating, he picked her up and swung her in a circle. "Does that mean you're happy to see me?"

"Happy?" He put her on her feet again though she kept hold of his hands. "I'm speechless!"

With a grin and the lift of one eyebrow, Clint said, "Now that would be a Thanksgiving miracle."

Fury turned from adding extra brown sugar to the yams, wiped his hands on the apron tied around his waist and extended his hand. "Happy Thanksgiving, Clint."

"Same to you, Nick."

Naomi retrieved the spoon her mother had dropped and put it in the sink. The light glinted off her ring drawing Gina's attention and causing another squeal. She hugged first Naomi then pulled Clint into a group hug. "I am so happy for you! Have you set a date? No of course you haven't. What am I saying? We'll spend the weekend picking dates and dresses and…"

"Mother! No! We're not ready to set a date yet."

Hands on her hips, Gina looked from one to the other. "Why not? That should've been your first priority after the proposal and the ring."

"Giovanna." Fury hadn't shouted or raised his voice even a little, but that one word brought Gina to a halt, a glare in place and hands on her hips.

"I haven't been called that since…"

Now Fury gave her a half-smile. "Since the day I left?"

The jubilant atmosphere dimmed somewhat at the memory. "Yeah." Gina cleared her throat and took a small key from the drawer nearest the refrigerator. "Clint, would you…"

"Wine. Three kinds, two of each?"

"Make it four bottles of each to be safe. We have more guests this year."

Clint got that he was being sent on the errand to give the family a few moments alone so he took his time choosing the wine then waited another ten minutes before returning to the kitchen. By then there were several other guests milling around in the sitting room, one of which was Suzanne. The resident cougar was hanging on the arm of a man at least ten years her junior. Setting the box of wine on the counter, Clint went to greet her and the other guests.

With a brilliant smile, Suzanne gave him a peck on the cheek and proudly introduced him to her husband, Harrison Davis. Clint gathered that he'd made his fortune through an internet-based business, but didn't ask for details.

The remainder of the food prep was completed with the minimum amount of arguments making him wonder what the three of them had said while he was downstairs. Per Gina's instructions, he placed the wine that needed chilling in the second refrigerator in the pantry then returned to the sitting room where Naomi was talking to a mixed group of men and women. At least this time he and Jared weren't the only men.

He'd just got into a lively discussion about the Super Bowl when the doorbell rang, hearing Gina go to answer it. A moment later, Jared's distinctive voice echoed through the entry hall. Clint grinned and drank his coffee.

~~O~~

Standing on the front steps, Jared smoothed a hand over his short blond hair shot through with gray as he approached the age of sixty, adjusted his tie and tugged on the cuffs of his Persian blue shirt. It perfectly matched his charcoal gray virgin wool suit, silk tie and pocket square combination with a stunning platinum and black paisley design. The door opened and Gina went into his arms, hugging him tight. "Gina, my love. Happy Thanksgiving."

"Same to you and thank you for coming. I really need your shoulder to lean on today." She drew him inside as he shed his coat and scarf, hanging them in the coat closet, taking note of the strange outerwear and bags sitting neatly on the floor off to one side.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, my dear. The coconut telegraph says you have a special guest and I have to meet him."

Gina tucked her hand around Jared's right elbow. "Don't want to miss the fireworks, huh?"

"Not on your life. I also heard that Naomi would be here with her new beau so this is a two-for-one visit." The chatter of voices, clinking of dishes and soft music became clearer the closer they got to the sitting room. "Where is he?"

Jared jumped when Fury came up behind him. "Right here." The SHIELD director's one good eye looked him up and down without expression. "And you are?"

"Suitably intimidated, and you are so rockin' that leather look." The men shook hands. "Jared Fox."

"Nick Fury."

Leaning close to Gina, Jared stage-whispered out the side of his mouth, "Who is he?"

In the same tone, but with humor, she responded, also speaking out the side of her mouth, "Naomi's father."

"Ah." He should've known from the description Gina had once given him, though she'd neglected to mention the eye patch. "Are we welcoming him with open arms or like a step-child at a family reunion?"

Though Fury's expression didn't change, a glint of humor appeared in his dark brown eyes when Gina chuckled. "Somewhere in the middle for now. Oh, and there's a surprise in the sitting room."

"Fabulous! I love surprises."

"I guarantee this one will knock your socks off. Naomi brought her new fiancé."

Clasping his hands together and gasping, Jared could barely contain his glee. "I love weddings! And I will do all the planning. We'll start with…"

"…introducing yourself. Go!"

~~O~~

When Jared had gone, Gina chuckled, shaking her head at her friend's overly dramatic ways. Jared could be heard enthusiastically greeting everyone whether he knew the person or not.

"Does he ever stop talking?"

"Not when he's this excited, no."

His shoulders slumping, Fury muttered, "Oh."

~~O~~

Standing near the corner bookshelves, Naomi laughed at something one of her mother's friends said until she head Jared's voice. "Naomi, darling!" The designer swept her into a squishy hug. "Gina told me the good news. I want to see the rock and the fiancé in that order."

Naomi held out her hand so he could admire it. "Oh, darling that is exquisite! Now where's the man? I want to thank him personally for helping you forget all about…"

"Hello, Jared."

True to form, and to the great delight of everyone, Jared performed a spin followed by a gasp and a what the **** demonstration that involved the use of his entire body. His jaw dropped, his eyes bugged out and his hands flew out to the sides as he uttered a strangled scream just before throwing his arms around Clint almost knocking the two of them to the floor. "Oh…my…GAWD!"

"Good to see you again, Jared." Grinning, Clint awkwardly patted Jared on the back while Naomi just stood back and watched. Jared held on so long Clint's eyes began to plead with her for help.

"Jared! Let him go!"

He finally released Clint, but kept hold of his hand. He snagged Naomi's hand too and dragged the couple to the sofa, sitting between them. "I want to know everything, darlings. The break-up, the reunion, reconciliation, engagement, wedding, honeymoon, when you're going to have kids, and if you're going to name one after me."

Unable to stop laughing, Naomi said in a choked voice, "We haven't even…"

"Of course you're going to name one of your kids after me. I'm fabulous!"

In the kitchen, the timer dinged giving Clint and Naomi a reason to get away. Clint gently removed his hand from Jared's, got to his feet and pulled Naomi after him. "We'll talk later, Jared."

"Of course we will. Oh! I am just so excited. Our little girl's getting married." His voice took on a wistful quality. Then his attention was captured by Suzanne and Harrison and he was off on another tangent.

In the kitchen, Clint and Naomi, standing between Fury and Gina, grinned and shook their heads, Fury saying, "The friends you keep, Gina. He reminds me of that boy who used to make the costumes for you."

Gina's lips twisted wryly. "That's because he is the same boy all grown up." She rolled her eyes at Fury's pointed stare. "Well, sort of."

Within twenty minutes, Naomi, Clint, Gina and Fury had the buffet set up. Their guests filled their plates and once everyone was seated, Gina held out her hands. Around the table, the others did the same with Fury hesitating just a moment before taking his daughter's and ex-girlfriend's hands for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner prayer.

~~O~~

"Amen." The word was echoed around the table as Gina sipped her wine. The intimacy of the meal necessitated by the number of guests made Gina feel a bit crowded, especially with Fury sitting to her left. Returning her wine glass to its former position, she smiled and turned to Fury. "Please pass the salt, Nick."

He frowned at her. "I salted the green beans while they were cooking."

"I might want more. Please pass it."

Nick still didn't reach for the shaker shaped like a turkey. "You haven't even tasted it. How do you know you need more salt?"

Gina huffed at him. "Will you just pass the damn salt?" She jumped when Naomi slammed her hand on the table.

"Oh, for God's sake, will you two get a room!" Gina and Fury just looked at her in shock, but she ignored them while Clint and several others choked on their turkey. "You've done nothing but argue about everything since Clint and I got here. It's getting old and you're making Clint uncomfortable."

Clint's hand went to his back pocket and he started to stand. "That's my phone. I need to…"

Again Naomi slapped a hand on the table. "Sit! We're having a family dinner if it kills us!"

Clearing his throat uneasily, Clint put on a falsely cheerful smile and picked up the red gingham covered basket in front of him. "Biscuits?"

TBC