A/N: Oh wow! I have to say I'm really surprised/happy/amazed that so many of you still actually love this story. I have thus decided that I shall not end it just yet. I do enjoy writing this fic and as long as there are readers out there I'll continue to write! :) Also just a word of warning, I've decided to incorporate the Avenger's movie world into this fic. I like to stay as close as I can to the movie plotline so there'll be a slight change, hopefully you will all enjoy it! The not-so-subtle hint is in this chapter and it should spell out exactly where I'm taking this story.
Tony never really thought much of the Avenger's Tower in New York. He knew the building was spectacular and he never denied it was probably one of his and Pepper's greatest works ever. But he never thought about living there before, well, he never even thought about it until Jared had mentioned that in passing during one of their family visits to New York. At first he couldn't see why Jared would like New York. The city itself was loud at its quietest moments and chaotic at all times of the day. The people rarely slept and without doubt there would always be a wayward drunk walking down the streets shouting, whistling and sometimes even singing.
It took Tony a long time to understand. But it took him an even longer time to get over the fact that he apparently did not know his son very well. It all started three vacations ago, before Julia was born when he had brought Pepper and Jared to the Avenger's Tower for their routinely, three month visit. He knew the cover story behind Natasha's station at Stark Industries. He had been debriefed of it almost soon after they had collectively formed the Avenger's team and saved the world from Loki's reign. The global threats had died down immediately after that last stint and Tony was grateful for that because less global threats meant that his family was safe from any impending doom.
Natalie, or rather, Natasha's cover story was carried on after her last assignment at Stark Industries when she had to supposedly 'gather intel' on Tony. She remained with them mainly so that she could better keep an eye on his side of the world. He would never formally admit it despite how many times Fury had mentioned it, but he was thankful for that, because between Stark Industries, his little family, the media and his Ironman suits, he really didn't have enough time to spend monitoring everything else. Also, her being there with them meant that he had an extra hand to help if any global, local or national threats unfolded near his little family.
He didn't like the fact that Jared wasn't in on it because he knew how much Jared looked up to Natasha. He also knew how comfortable Jared thought of his Uncle Happy and Aunty Natalie being in a supposed relationship. It wasn't fair to any of them, Tony thought. It wasn't fair to Happy because all of sundry knew that Happy Hogan really needed someone to settle down with. It wasn't fair to Natasha, seeing as she was married to Clint Barton, Hawkeye in their team. But most of all it wasn't fair to Jared, because he was only a kid and sometimes lying to a kid does things to their mind that Tony rather wished didn't happen to his son.
Jared was and still wasn't in on it and Tony knew, that it would only be a matter of time before Jared would finally put two and two together. Jared was a smart kid and in more ways than none, a genius, which Pepper liked to remind him that, Jared's brightness had nothing to do with Tony's intelligence what so ever. Tony still thought otherwise, but he loved Pepper and loved sleeping beside her at night to know that he should kept those thoughts to himself.
But with each time they visited the Avenger's Towers, Jared was still none the wiser. Although it seemed their visits brought out another side of Jared that Tony would have never in a million years predicted. It all started with a hint when Jared mentioned how amazing and cool the Avenger's Tower was. The visits after that continued with Jared's remarks about the sheer coolness of the building and how being able to speak to Jarvis anywhere and everywhere had to be the most amazing thing ever. But it wasn't until that one particular conversation that Tony happened to listen in on did he start entirely rethinking what he thought he knew about his son.
It all started when Pepper asked if he would grab a snack for her from the kitchen. He was busy at the time attending to another experiment of sorts in the lab with Bruce, but because he loved her and she was pregnant with Julia, and also partly because she had an irritated look on her face at the time, he didn't argue or make any sarcastic remarks. He knew when the right time was to joke around or to be serious, but he also knew when she was tired and irritated and how crossing Pepper's path when she was both would be catastrophic. He remembered the look on Bruce's face at the time and he remembered having thrown the scientist and fellow Avenger team member 'the look' before he casually kissed the top of her head and excused himself to get some snacks.
He was busy in his own thoughts about the experiment that he missed the potted plants decoration entirely and walked right into the tree just a few steps away from the kitchen. He was about to let out some profanities when he heard Jared's very noticeable voice accompanied with Clint's cool, calm and collected tone. In almost all of their visits to the Avenger's Tower, Tony would find Jared spending a great deal of his time bothering Clint. He had told his fellow friend that he didn't have to put up with Jared's pestering, but Clint, ever the polite man that he was always told Tony, 'it's alright. He's a bright kid and hey, it's not every day a kid thinks bows are cooler than a metal suit that flies.' Tony decided not to think much of Clint after that and instead found amusement when Clint threw him the please-take-him-away-from-me-so-I-can-spend-some-time-with-Natasha look every now and then.
Their voices were accompanied with the sound of a unfamiliar car related video game in the background. At first Tony was only able to catch a few words here and there between the gear changing sounds. He sneaked closer even though he knew full and well that he could have probably have asked Jarvis to record the conversation so that he could listen to it later. But there just wasn't any fun in that and every now and then, Tony missed being mischievous. He also knew that Clint had probably heard him from a mile away with his super master assassin skills. It was amazing when Tony thought about it sometimes, the kind of sensing capabilities that Clint and Natasha both had. It was almost down right disturbing.
"I wish we could live here," Tony heard Jared's unmistaken voice.
"Hmm…"
"I don't think daddy wants to live here," Jared added shortly.
"Have you spoken to your daddy about it?" Tony silently snorted at Clint's muffled voice between the chewing of chips. That man, despite his calm, cool, well-mannered self was surely teaching his son a bulk of bad manners at the moment.
"No," Jared replied. "I don't think mummy wants to live here either."
"Well, you never know until you ask," Tony was quite sure that Clint knew of his presence by that point.
"Yeah, I guess," Jared sighed, "Maybe I'll ask daddy later."
"Sounds good to me, bud," Clint replied between a few mouthfuls of crunches.
Tony had been rather absorbed and focused in that moment entirely thinking about how he could persuade Pepper to move to New York that he didn't notice Natasha standing behind him until she coughed and he jumped. She looked at him disapprovingly and he had to admit she still looked scary even when she wore simple civilian clothes.
That night when they had dinner Clint threw him a rather amused look and because of Pepper, he was nice and didn't comment, but that was also partly because Jared was in the room. He did however throw his comrade a smile when Jared excitedly threw his fist into the air and demanded a rematch at whatever game that was they were playing earlier after dinner. Natasha only glared at him, but he smiled sweetly and Pepper kicked him under the table. It bruised and when anybody asked in those weeks following, Tony said it was from that assignment they had in Afghanistan.
A/N: Sorry to leave two authors notes, I rarely leave two but I didn't want to write this at the top. It would give away the entire chapter. I really hope I haven't upset anyone with the change from Happy/Natalie shipping to the Clint/Natalie(sometimes known as Natasha) shipping.