Sasha watched as the agent, who was now meant to be protecting her, strode confidently towards her. Agent Romanoff had changed from her fairly casual attire into a smart trouser suit and heels with her sandy brown hair now up in a business-like up do. She wasn't the only one who had noticed the female agent's change of clothes, as Director Fury raised his one visible eyebrow at his agent's appearance.

'I need to look professional' Agent Romanoff stated as if reading Sasha's mind 'make an impression'

'You remind me of an Agent I once knew' Director Fury suddenly said, giving Natasha a small half smile 'he used to dress like that when he was on babysitting duty'

Sasha looked slightly affronted that this was considered a babysitting duty – she was eleven, hardly a baby! However she continued listening into the adults' conversation. It was like they were saying things in code, which she did not understand. Her Dad did that as well, except he would say things, before looking around, wondering why no one understood him, and then a sad look would pass over his face.

'If I could be half the person that agent was, I would be a happy woman' Natasha replied, clearly knowing the agent Fury was referring to and Sasha watched curiously as her hands reached up to touch a small brooch, which was pinned to the left hand side of her suit jacket. She could just make out that it was some sort of stringed instrument, a strange badge for a secret agent to wear, Sasha thought.

'Well we mustn't keep them waiting' Fury announced, opening the car door and helping Sasha inside 'from what I gathered from Mrs Stark, they are very anxious to see you' he said addressing Sasha. 'Can you give these to Agent Carter and ask her to come and see me as soon as possible?' Fury then asked Natasha, who nodded and took the outstretched black folder, Fury was holding, before clambering into the car next to Sasha.

'Good luck and I'll be in touch' the Director said finally, before closing the car door.

'So you know Sharon, I mean Agent Carter?' Sasha asked the agent now sat next to her as the car drove off onto the busy streets of New York.

'Yes' Natasha replied

'She and Uncle Steve got engaged over Christmas' Sasha added, trying to make conversation 'it was about time, since they've been dating since forever'

'Did you manage to make a list of all the belongings you want from brought from your house?' Natasha asked

'Yes, though it's not that much because quite a lot of my stuff is in the tower' Sasha replied

'Really?'

'Yeah, Dad and I stay there all the time. At home it's just Dad and me, so it's nice to spend some time with other people. Uncle Bruce is great for helping with homework, Uncle Steve is a much better cook than Dad, Aunt Pepper takes me shopping because Dad is useless at things like that and I love playing with Milly and Ed'

'And Mr Stark?' Natasha asked, trying hard to not let it show how happy she was that her daughter had a supportive group of people behind her.

'Uncle Tony is the best' Sasha replied with a big grin on her face

'So you don't see Thor much?' Natasha asked 'he's also one of the Avengers?' wondering about the Asgardian demi-god, whom she had gone on several missions with, as a member of the Avengers.

'I don't see him very much. He seems to spend most of his time on Asgard' Sasha replied. 'Also Dad and Thor don't seem to get on that well; they seem to keep having disagreements'

'So it's just you and your Dad?' Natasha asked, trying to gain any more information about Clint from her daughter. Though she had tried to keep tabs on him, it was better to hear information from someone close to him.

'If you're asking about my Mom, I don't have one' Sasha replied bluntly. 'Well of course I have one' she amended 'but she left me and my Dad when I was just a baby. Dad never mentions her and the rest of the team refuse to speak about her. I don't even know her name or what she looks like'

'Do you want to know?' Natasha asked curiously

'No particularly. She obviously did not think I was that important if she just abandoned without an explanation or a goodbye and besides I don't need her, I've got all the family I need.'

'Oh'

'That's not to say I don't imagine what she's like' Sasha added, wondering what was it about this woman that compelled her to talk to her. 'I think she must have had the same colour hair as me' she said tugging at a lock of her chocolate brown coloured hair 'since my Dad's hair used to be a dirty blonde, a bit like yours, before it went grey'

Before Sasha could continue with her description, the car came to a stop and they climbed out to face the entrance of Stark Tower. After collecting her bags, Natasha, followed by Sasha entered the tower to be greeted by JARVIS, the resident AI.

'Welcome Miss Barton, Agent Romanoff, they are waiting for you on floor 108' he stated in his crisp English accent, which had not changed over the years.

'Hi JARVIS, how are you?' Sasha asked

'I'm very well, thank you Miss Barton' he replied as they headed towards the elevator.

'JARVIS, do they know I'm the one accompanying Sasha?' Natasha asked quietly as they stepped into the open elevator.

'No Agent Romanoff' JARVIS answered 'Director Fury just said a S.H.I.E.L.D agent would be with Miss Barton and would stay with her for extra protection'

'I bet Tony loved that' Natasha muttered under breath as they rose up the tower.

'I believe that Mr Stark might have said a few choice words about the organisation you work for' the AI replied dryly.

'Well this is going to be fun' Natasha said as the elevator doors opened onto the Avenger's communal area, where they spent most of their free time.

'You don't have to worried, they're all really nice' Sasha said, trying to reassure the older woman, not catching the sarcasm in Natasha's voice.

Natasha's reply was cut off by Sasha's squeal as she saw her Uncle.

'Uncle Tony!' she cried, running straight into the older man's arms 'oh it's so good to see you'

'It's good to see you here, safe' Tony replied, wrapping his arms tightly around the eleven year old girl, who he considered to be his niece.

'Where are Milly and Ed?' Sasha asked, asking after her 'cousins'. She could not see the ten year old Stark Twins anywhere.

'Your Aunt Pepper thought it would be good if they spent some of their summer vacation spending time with her parents and then going to a summer camp' Tony explained 'apparently they should have some normal childhood experiences, or something like that' he said rolling his eyes.

'Don't roll your eyes Tony Stark, you know as well as I do that they'll have a great time' Pepper said entering the room, from the kitchen which was just off the communal area.

'Yes Pep' Tony replied releasing Sasha, who immediately was pulled into one of Pepper's special Mama-bear hugs.

'Are you ok sweetheart?' she asked Sasha

'Yeah, I think so' Sasha replied, the enormity of the situation with her father going missing and herself being in danger, had not really sunk in yet.

'Well I'm here if you need to talk' Pepper replied.

'So which Agent do you have protecting you?' Tony asked, expecting Fury to have sent one of his incompetent baby agents with Sasha. 'What's you name Agent?' he called out.

'Romanova, Natalia Romanova' Natasha replied, stepping out from the shadows, from where she had been observing the little reunion.

'Why is it every time you introduce yourself to me, you use a different name?' Tony asked, over his wife's surprised gasp. Out of all the agents Fury could have sent, Natasha was the last one they had considered.

'Maybe because it's fun Mr Stark' Natasha replied smoothly, walking towards them.

'So what are we to call you then?' Pepper asked, somewhat coldly. She could not believe that the woman who had abandoned her family and disappeared into the night, was now stood in front her, introducing herself as the agent who was to protect Sasha.

'For your convenience Mrs Stark, you may call me Agent Romanoff, or Natasha if you prefer' Natasha replied politely, reading the strawberry blonde's body language, which was incredibly hostile.

'JARVIS just told me that Sasha had arrived' Dr Bruce Banner stated as he come rushing into the room, from the labs. 'Nat-Agent Romanoff, what are you doing here?' he asked upon seeing his former teammate.

'I'm here to help protect Miss Barton' Natasha replied professionally.

Sasha watched curiously the interactions between the adults. It was as if they all knew Agent Romanoff, who for some reason had introduced herself under a different name to Uncle Tony. She could feel the tension radiating off everyone as she wait to see what would happen next.

'Agent Romanoff, Ma'am, what are you doing here?' came the confused voice of Agent Sharon Carter, who had just entered the room, cutting through the silence, as she dragged her fiancé, Captain Steve Rogers, in behind her.

'Ah Agent Carter, Director Fury told me to give these to you' Natasha said, handing over the files Fury had given her. 'He also said that he wanted to see you as soon as possible'

'Yes Ma'am' Agent Carter replied with a nod.

'Captain Rogers, may I just say that I'm so glad you finally got round to proposing to Agent Carter' Natasha added, addressing the unofficial leader of the Avengers. 'At least now she doesn't spend as much time moaning in the locker rooms, about waiting for you to get your act together.'

'You know each other?' Tony asked watching the conversation between the two women.

'She's my boss' a now embarrassed Sharon replied.

'I was Agent Carter's trainer and temporary handler for a time' Natasha clarified

'How is your shoulder Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking?'

'Still healing' Natasha replied. 'I got shot in the shoulder recently' she added informing the other occupants of the room of her injury, knowing they would just bug her about it otherwise.

'Was it in Afghanistan again?'

'No not this time' Natasha replied, before giving Sharon a look, which clearly said don't ask me any more questions

'Well I'd better be off, this looks urgent' Sharon stated 'don't wait up' she whispered to Steve, giving him a quick peck on the lips before disappearing into the elevator.

'So why did you tell Uncle Tony a different name, to what you told me?' Sasha asked Natasha, as silence descended once again over the room.

'S.H.I.E.L.D knows me as Natasha Romanoff' Natasha explained 'but other people I work for know me by another name. I know how much Mr Stark hates being lied to, so I thought I should tell him my real name.'

'You don't work for S.H.I.E.L.D?' Steve asked overhearing the conversation.

'I work for them when it suits me' Natasha replied evasively 'but other organisations like to utilise my skills as well'

'So are you here under S.H.I.E.L.D?' Bruce asked.

'I'm here as a favour for Fury' Natasha replied 'I owed him for getting me out of a sticky situation' she added before pointing to her left shoulder. 'I'm going to have to check out the security in the tower' Natasha stated, adopting her business pose 'and if it is convenient, it would be best if I at room close to Sasha's'

'Yes, right, of course' Pepper stated 'there's a spare room in Agent Barton's quarters, where Sasha normally stays if that is ok'

'That sounds perfect'

'Agent Romanoff, I'll show you where it is' Sasha said, gesturing for the female agent to follow her.

'Why don't you head on up Sasha' Tony suggested 'I just need to have a quick word with Agent Romanoff'

'So do I' Steve added

Natasha rolled her eyes at their behaviour

'Nice hair' Tony remarked when Sasha was out of earshot 'I almost didn't recognise you'

'What do you want?' Natasha asked bluntly

'We, as concerned uncles' he said gesturing between him and Steve, who was standing next to him with his arms crossed 'would like to know your intentions towards Sasha'

'Look Stark, I'm just here to make sure she stays safe until Agent Barton is found and the threat against her neutralised. If I had my way, I would be out there finding him, but because of my shoulder, I'm out of action'

'But-' Steve started before being cut off by Natasha

'She doesn't know who I am, she doesn't want to know who I am and she doesn't need to know who I am' Natasha interjected. 'So I believe if you can keep things to yourself and not go blabbering to her, we will all get along fine' and with that she turned on her heel and after grabbing her bag she headed in the direction of Clint and Sasha's quarters.

'Hey Natasha' Tony called out, causing her to stop, turn around and glare at him 'I like your badge'

Natasha turned back around with a small smile as she thought about the small cello brooch pinned the left side of her suit, which she had got after the Battle of Manhattan in remembrance of Tony Stark's former baby sitter.

So what did you think?

:)