Clint

They had gotten back to the facility a few hours ago. Bucky went to talk to Hill and they had both decided that they needed Natasha back. Clint was the obvious choice to go get her. Clint didn't object either. He was in the Operations room with Sam and Vision before he left. Sam was staring at the main screen and Vision was busy looking at a console that a technician was sitting at. Sam sighed "Well learning that the best friend has a son is news"

Clint nodded "Our thoughts exactly"

Vision looked at them "Mr. Jacob Bronson's mother seemed rather pleased with what happened in New York"

Clint shrugged "She didn't know any of those people and she didn't seem like she liked the Government much either"

"Who could blame her, after they did that to her son" Sam said

"Doesn't mean she should want them all dead"

Vision shook his head "No it shouldn't, but anger gets projected on everyone, even if they're innocent"

Clint sighed "Amen to that" he said and looked at Sam "You got it handled here, I'm going to go get Nat"

Sam nodded "Be safe"

Clint nodded and turned to leave, he walked toward the doors. He was about to leave when a hand grabbed his arm. He turned to see Vision standing there. "Vision?" he asked

Vision's eyes shifted over to Sam "Can we talk privately?"

Clint nodded "Sure, come on" he led Vision through the doors and out into the hallway. They were both alone. Clint turned to him "Ok, wats up?"

Vision slightly chuckled and he wouldn't make eye contact, if Clint didn't know it he say he was nervous. He took a breath "You and Miss Maximoff"

Clint nodded "What about us?"

"Your relationship with her, it is close to a parent and child relationship isn't it?"

Clint was silent for a moment and he frowned "I would say so yeah" he looked at him, not seeing the point.

Vision nodded "Yes, well I have learned that it is customary to talk to the father before…"

"You do realize I'm not her father right?" Clint asked

Vision nodded and looked slightly angry at himself "Of course not, but I was wondering…" he began to say

Clint watched him closely and waited for him to speak. Vision hoped that Clint would guess what he wanted to ask so he wouldn't have to, he was feeling nervous and anxious, something he shouldn't feel, but he was feeling them all the same. Clint was waiting for his question and Vision gather the courage and asked "I wanted to ask for you permission to, I believe the word is date Miss Maximoff?"

Clint raised his eyebrows "I don't care Vision, if you want to date her, date her."

Vision nodded "Sorry for my error"

Clint shook his head "No error happened Vision, you don't need my permission to date her, and how does that work exactly?"

Vision slightly shrugged "I'm going by what I see"

"Well, good luck, I need to go get Natasha"

Vision nodded "Thank you Mr. Barton…uh I mean Clint"

Clint gave him a nod and smiled "No problem Vision"

Vision watched as Clint left him standing outside the Operations room. He took a breath that he didn't really need and walked back into the large room.

Clint headed to the garage to get a car, he hoped he remembered the way to Steve's apartment, he had only been to it twice out of all the years that he knew Steve. At least the one in New York.

Steve

Steve walked down the long hallway and he passed numerous desks and personnel. He took a right at the end of the room and he walked into Peggy's office. She was sitting at her desk and she was talking to Howard, his greying hair was lightly placed within his dark brown hair. Peggy's eyes shifted and she saw Steve, she smiled "Howard, it is not important, he just wants to spend time with you"

She stood up as he got close, Howard turned and eh smiled once he saw him. "Steve" he said and he brought him into a hug. Steve patted his back "Howard, how's Tony?"

"He's good" he said with a smile

Peggy looked at him "Yes"

Steve took a deep breath "You know sooner or later we're going to have to let Grant come here"

Peggy sighed and shook her head "Teenagers" she said softly "Well, I guess he'll just sneak his way here"

Steve shrugged "It wouldn't surprise me if he was here right now" he said glancing back as he saw his son disappear behind a corner. Peggy took a deep breath "Grant, come on out"

Grant's head popped out from behind the doors, he waved "Hi Mom"

Peggy looked at Steve "He still gets it from you"

"I think the spy stuff is from you" Steve said with a teasing smile as Peggy walked past him toward their son.

Grant have her a hug "Come on, I can run three times as fast as the other kids and I can lift a car"

Peggy put her hands on his shoulders "You are too curious for your own good"

Grant smiled and shrugged "I get that from you"

Peggy smiled "Well if you want to be involved so much, then I guess Howard can take you for a tour"

"Uh, Margaret I have somewhere to be" Howard said

Peggy looked behind her "Not now you do"

Howard took a breath and nodded "Of course Director"

There was a loud metal clank against the door "I heard someone snuck in here" Bucky said with a wide grin.

Grant leaned out from behind his father and waved at his Uncle. Bucky smiled "He finally snuck in here"

Steve nodded "I thought it would have happened sooner"

Bucky walked forward and his new metal arm that Howard made for him swung freely "You owe me ten bucks"

Steve nodded "And a drink, I didn't forget the bet"

Peggy looked at the two "You bet one when our son would sneak in here?"

Bucky shrugged "It was my idea"

Peggy nodded "I can believe that"

Grant snickered "Well how about Uncle Bucky gives me the tour while Howard can go do his thing?" he asked

Peggy sighed "Fine"

Grant put his hand into a fist and nodded in triumph. He walked toward Bucky and Bucky grinned. Peggy watched them start to leave "Just don't destroy anything" she called after them

Grant looked back "Bye Mom" and then he was gone.

Howard left soon after and Peggy sat on her desk slightly and it was just her and Steve. She looked at him "He will never by the small little boy that accidently caught the Christmas tree on fire"

"I believe Howard had something to do with that" Steve said

Peggy smiled and nodded "I need a vacation"

Steve got close to her and put his arms around her "I heard Sydney is beautiful this time of year"

Peggy smiled "You really want to go to Australia"

Steve shrugged "Just you and me, Grant is old enough to be left alone, well relatively alone"

Peggy rested her head into his shoulder "I'm down with it"

Steve chuckled "Well, when do you want to go?"

"Now would be fantastic"

Steve smiled and he gave her a kiss and he pulled away and he looked at her and it wasn't Peggy anymore, it was Natasha. Steve stepped away and he was back in darkness. He was thrashing, he tried to wake up, but he was stuck in the damn dream. He wanted to wake up and see Natasha. He liked the dream, but he knew it never happened, but his mind fought against him and wanted to keep dreaming. Steve tried to open his eyes, but they were locked closed, he hated the dream, it made his chest hurt. His heart ached every time he saw Peggy, but he knew that he had someone waiting for him to wake up, and to be honest, he loved Natasha more than Peggy. He loved Peggy, but he never really got to know her, beyond work. Natasha, he knew all the gritty details, all the mistakes, and all her faults, but he loved her.

Steve just wanted to wake up, before he lost the feeling of being in reality. His mind loved the dream, it was what he always wanted, to be with Peggy and have a family and be around for what he missed. He had dealt with all of this his first year, why was he still dwelling on it? He had accepted that he couldn't go back, what happened, happened. He needed it accept that and he had, or at least he thought he had, but his mind still wanted it all. He wished that it really did play out like it was in his dream, but it didn't and seeing it all made him feel horrible. Every time he saw something that got to him it was like a punch to the gut, and all the air in his lungs was gone. He needed to wake up, but he couldn't. Steve wanted to see Natasha, but he felt himself fall and the darkness slowly became bright and he was back and he stared at Peggy.

She frowned "Well, are we going to go?" she asked

Steve looked around and smiled, he felt like he was watching his own life play out in front of him "I'll make the arrangements".

Clint

The car that he was in was not the best in the snow, but he made it work. He had entered the city limits, but now he just needed to get to Steve's apartment. Clint drove through the hectic streets till he found it, he noticed Natasha's car, and it was hard to notice. He saw that snow covered it, she could come back for it. Clint pulled in and parked behind her, he did his best with the little space he had. He looked up at the apartment building and he pulled the keys out of the ignition and unclipped his seat buckle. He pushed the door open and he climbed out of the car, he stood in the cold breeze and shut the door. He put his keys into his coat pocket and stuffed his hands into them as well. He walked toward the door, he took his hand out of the warm pocket and pulled the door open. He walked in and was instantly met with warm air, he sighed in happiness as his breeze bitten cheeks started to get their feeling back. He walked past the main counter and he smiled at the woman sitting at it, he walked toward the elevator and he pressed the up button. He stepped back and waited.

He put his hands together, his fingers were ice cold, he sighed and he saw the door open. He stepped in and pressed the button for Steve's floor. He unbuttoned his coat and he felt the feeling of the elevator moving upward and then come to a sudden stop. He swallowed and he watched the doors open, he stepped out and looked down the long hallway. He just needed to find the right door, he walked to the right and he looked at each door closely and he studied the knobs and their locks. He saw one that looked obliterated and anther that was scratched up pretty well. Then he saw one that was almost perfect, Clint had no idea if it was going to work, he knocked on the door and listened. He didn't hear anything, but if Natasha was in there, he wouldn't hear anything anyway, so he tossed the thought away.

The door unlocked and opened as Natasha came into view with a gun in her hand. Clint looked at it and smiled "I hope that's not for me"

Natasha slightly smiled, but he could tell she wasn't in her usual witty mood. "Come in" she said and left the door open and turned around. Clint walked into the apartment and he closed the door, he didn't know if he would take his coat off, but he left it on. Natasha stood next to the left arm of the couch, she still had the pistol in her hand, but her finger wasn't on the trigger and it wasn't cocked, he was safe. "Well, Nat, I heard what happened to Steve"

Natasha crossed her arms and shook her head "It happened, what's up"

Clint looked at her and he could tell she didn't want to talk about it, he didn't blame her either. He walked forward, he saw Natasha lightly rubbing her finger over her ring. He stood in front of her "Listen, we need you to come back, Barnes and I just found out some juicy information on the cosplay dresser"

Natasha seemed to lighten up slightly "And?"

Clint took a moment and he looked around the room "His best friend Jacob Bronson, he has a son"

Natasha titled her head and widened her eyes "Family?"

"Just his mother and the girl he got pregnant, sadly the kid never met him"

Natasha moved slightly and took a seat on the couch, but she didn't relax, she stayed away from the back of it. Clint took that as an 'ok' to sit down, he grabbed a chair and sat down and he leaned forward "Listen Nat…"

She shook her head "Just leave it Clint"

Clint lightly tapped his hands together and he nodded "Anyway, Steve is getting better on the bone healing thing"

Natasha perked up slightly "How is he?"

"Good, he'll live, but he's still in the coma"

Natasha felt her heart sink and she sighed and looked away from him "He may never wake up"

Clint frowned "He's Steve, he'll wake up"

Natasha nodded and she looked at him and he saw tears in her eyes "What if he doesn't remember me?"

Clint frowned "I don't know"

Natasha took a breath and her chin was trembling, he could tell she was trying not to cry. She closed her eyes and he saw her fight the tears, she opened he eyes, but they were still there and one fell down her cheek. She took a sharp breath "I don't know what to do if he wakes up and remembers nothing"

Clint frowned slightly "Hey, let me tell you something"

Natasha looked at him and listened, Clint took a moment to begin "You remember waking up in the Tower and Steve and I were there"

"This was after I lost those four months right?"

Clint nodded "I don't think anyone knows besides me and Bucky, but Steve, he was wreck"

Natasha stayed quiet and Clint continued "He had just lost four months of something that he described as solid ground, but there you were. All locked up again, it took a while before you got back to how you acted during those four months, you act like that now, but Steve he had to remove everything from his room and place so you wouldn't know that you two had a relationship"

Natasha frowned "Why didn't he just talk to me?"

Clint shrugged "Honestly, how would you have taken that?"

Natasha took a moment, but she didn't answer and Clint nodded "Yeah, Steve did it for that reason, he got you to open up, and it was nice. Sure you're open with me, but I mean really open. He taught you to cook for God sake. Those ear rings that you wore during Stark's party where you flirted with Bruce and Ultron attacked, he bought those for you for Christmas, everywhere eh looked he saw what he had done, but he didn't care about that, he just wanted you to look at him like you used to."

Natasha slightly leaned back in the couch, Clint nodded "Now Steve didn't do it perfectly, nowhere near, but that fact that he lost you and then you acted like you two were still just partners, but you two really connected, I guess it was like losing you"

"But I was right there" Natasha said

Clint sighed "Yeah, but did you really pay him any time, other than go to get a drink, you guys were together all the time for four months, then for it to suddenly just stop, I don't think anyone would've taken that well"

Natasha kept quiet as Clint stared at her, he smiled "but Steve went along with it, stayed your friend and didn't act any different, but with the added stress his PTSD came back" Clint moved a little closer "Natasha, you made him happy, you made each other happy. Now sadly you didn't remember any of that for almost a year, but Steve was constantly haunting himself with memories, and he had me and Bucky brain wash him and get rid of his memory for those four months and you know what?"

"What?"

"He went back to normal, but he never really spent any time with you after that, the fact of looking for Loki's scepter kept him busy, but even then you started looking at Bruce, and Steve believe it or not, he liked you, for a long time. He just never made a move, and the fact that he wanted you to be happy, and he saw you happy talking to Bruce, he didn't want to mess that up. Steve sacrificed his own happiness so you could be happy, if Steve wakes up and doesn't remember us, then we let him know right away who we all are, it will be fine. Steve is a tough dude, and a fast learner, well he had to be he had you as a partner" he said with a smile

Natasha smiled and nodded "Ok, well what do you need me for?"

"Interrogation, you're going to talk to Sean"

Natasha sighed "Ok, I'll get my things, see you down at the car"

Clint nodded then frowned "How'd you know I have a car?"

Natasha shrugged "I figured"

Clint raised an eyebrow and looked at her pistol "You didn't see me" he said with a smirk

Natasha chuckled and walked away to get her things "I only act like I know everything"

Clint lightly laughed as he stood up and took the chair back to the table, he knew that all too well.

Steve

Steve was still stuck in his dream, he was back in the darkness. He laid there, he kept his eyes closed this time, he didn't want to open them and see the life that he thought he wanted. He wanted to open his eyes and see Natasha, but he was afraid that if he opened his eyes, he would instead be facing Peggy and his son. He would have loved to have what he did in his dream, but that was the guy who joined the Army, the guy who joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and became an Avenger didn't want that life, he wanted the one he had. The one with Natasha in it, Clint, Tony, Sam, he didn't want to leave them all. He loved the time that he was in, he couldn't handle seeing anymore of the dream. He didn't want to, he kept his eyes shut tight and he stayed in the darkness.

Steve suddenly felt his mind start to fight him, and his head ached. He put his hands into fists and he felt his head as it ached and he could feel it pulsing. Every fiber in his body felt the pain and he gritted his teeth and his eyes shot open and the pain instantly faded. He sat up and he was in a bed, he looked over and Peggy was sleeping next to him. Steve let a long breath leave him and he climbed out of bed and stood to his feet. He walked toward the door and pushed the door open softly. He saw a mirror on the wall and he looked at it, he was taken back by what he saw. His hair was still blonde, but he could tell it had some grey in it. He walked out into the main area and saw the kitchen, it was more updated, Steve frowned, what decade is it? He walked over to the wall aside from the kitchen and he saw a calendar and he read it. It was 1982, Steve took a deep breath. He checked to see what time it was and it was six, the sun was just starting to rise.

Steve heard a soft knock on the door, He frowned slightly and walked over to the door. He looked through the peephole and he saw a man that looked like him, he opened the door. "Hey dad" he whispered

"Hey" he said softly

Grant shrugged "I knew you would hear it, I heard you were up so I knocked"

Steve nodded "Can I get you anything?"

Grant shook his head "Nah, I ate before I came over"

Steve closed the door behind his son, Grant walked quietly forward and he turned and he saw Steve standing there, not moving. "You ok Dad?" he asked

Steve came out of his thoughts "Yeah, just thinking"

Grant nodded "You do that a lot lately"

Steve nodded "You came over to show me something"

Grant nodded "I did what you asked and I think I found something that may be very interesting"

Steve saw Grant pull out a file, he walked forward and led him to the dining room table. They both took a seat and Grant scooted closer to him and set the file down. "Howard helped a little"

"Did he?" Steve said and he touched his chin and he noticed that he needed to shave. Grant nodded and opened the file and pulled pictures out of it and set them down in front of him. Steve looked at them, he saw a wide picture of a dark and gloomy sky with a building in the background. Grant placed a third picture "These are some Intel from our operatives in Russia"

Steve looked at the second and he saw a large group of cars, Steve didn't see too much relevance in the picture, till he saw the third one, it was the same cars, but this time people were getting out of it. Steve saw the usual tactical team that he fought many times and then he saw a woman, around the age of seventeen by his guess, she had red hair.

Grant watched his father closely, "I think we found her"

"Her?" Steve asked

Grant nodded "Yeah the one who had caused us some grief on a few missions, the Black Widow"

Steve knew he shouldn't know who that was, but he froze and the dream faltered slightly. Steve felt his heart beat increase, Natasha, what the hell. Steve frowned slightly Natasha was supposed to be in training still when she was seventeen, she didn't start doing mission till she was eighteen and she didn't get on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar till much later. He remembered Bucky isn't part of Red Room, who knows what has changed. He never froze in the ice, Bucky never died, Red Room was doing things differently. Steve was really starting to hate this dream, but soon his thoughts on Natasha faded and he frowned "Do we know her next mission?"

Grant nodded "Yeah, she is going to be in Venice in three days"

Steve nodded "Ok, get a team prepped, we're going to Venice"

Grant nodded "Well I have to follow orders Dad, you are the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Steve smiled at his son "Well see you in a few hours, we'll get there ahead of schedule and set up a plan"

Grant nodded and stood "You got it"

Steve walked his son out and he closed the door, the dream faltered and Steve started to panic, he was going after Natasha, he really needed to get out of here.

Bucky

Bucky was seated at Steve's desk and Sam was standing next to him. Bucky had gotten a call from Gerald, and he stepped away from watching Steve's heart monitor beep steadily. He held his communicator close as Gerald spoke. "Well James, I looked into Department X like you asked me to"

Bucky nodded "What did you get?"

Gerald huffed a sharp breath "Not much, it was an organization very much like the others, but they specialized in understanding mutations to the human genome."

"Mutations?" Bucky asked

Sam inclined his head and thought about Logan, but he didn't say anything. Bucky cleared his throat slightly "Anything else?"

Gerald continued "Yeah, they apparently succeeded, of my…"

"What?" Bucky asked quickly

"They assisted Baron Von Struker with his experiments"

Bucky raised his eye brows "Hydra called them enhanced"

"Yes, but they had to learn of it from a source, a direct source. James do you remember that one man you killed in 65?"

Bucky frowned "The guy who could survive getting shot in the chest?"

"Yes, him. I have done a little digging and he was an agent of Department X"

"Wait are you telling me that Department X experimented on their agents to enhance them?"

"Through mutation, yes, apparently we know how Struker created our Maximoff twins"

Bucky nodded "Yeah with the help of an organization that liked experimenting on people"

"So Department X would be a big target, but the organization fell apart ten years ago"

"Maybe the main part" Bucky said softly

"That would explain a bit"

Sam looked at Bucky and he glanced at him "Do you know something Sam?"

Sam shook his head "No, but I have heard the name before"

"Any experience?"

"No, just rumors, not even rumors, just ghost stories"

Gerald spoke "What kind of stories?"

Sam shrugged "Stuff like enhancing people then selling them to the highest bidder"

Gerald sighed "We can had human trafficking to their lists of wrongs"

Bucky nodded "Good job Gerald, keep a lookout for any more information"

"It's what I live for, good luck with your situation James"

"Thanks, I'll do my best"

Bucky disconnected and he looked at Sam "These organizations were in bed with everyone"

"How do you think they made it so long?"

Bucky nodded "We'll focus on that later, right now Sean Richardson is a priority"

Sam nodded "I hope Clint got Natasha to come in"

"I know he did, Natasha trusts him next to Steve"

Sam nodded and walked toward the door "I'll be in the Operations room if you need me"

"Got it" Bucky said as he leaned in the chair to wait for Clint to arrive with Natasha.