Natasha arrived at the Triskelion needing coffee and an explanation why a level 4 alert made her cellphone light up and interrupted her finishing a bottle of vodka. All agents were activated. Natasha exited the woman's changing room in her catsuit with her weapons all in their place to see Clint waiting for her. He was holding a large cup of coffee, which he offered to her. She took and drank a few mouthfuls even though the coffee was scolding hot.
"You know what is going on?" she asked.
"Rogers was attacked at his apartment by a rogue Strike team. Six body armored men against one unarmed and unshielded super soldier. Four dead, two got away," he said.
"And Steve?" she asked trying not to sound panicked.
"In medical having some bullets dug out of him. He'll be fine, though getting operated on when pain meds don't work on you is a bitch," said Clint. "Fury is on the warpath. I was at Stark's townhouse when the alert beeped me. Fury called Stark to tell him to put the Avengers on standby."
"Stark is here?" Natasha asked.
"He's at medical waiting to see Steve," said Clint.
They started walking towards the elevator banks.
"It appears that Steve's babysitter, who was packing to move out, heard the gunfire and broke into the apartment to find a raging and shot super soldier growling the word Hydra with four dead bodies at his feet," said Clint.
"Sharon was there?" asked Natasha starting to feel guilty for leaving Steve after their kiss.
"Yup," said Clint.
They reached the elevator banks. Natasha pressed the up button. She was headed for medical. The doors opened.
"Steve thinks it was Rumlow and Rollins that got away. He recognized their body movements," Clint told her.
"They are dead men," Natasha stated.
"Not arguing with that," said Clint.
The elevator stopped on the fourteenth floor. They exited to see medical was busy with nurses and security. Fury was standing in the hallway in conversation with Stark, while Hill waited patiently. They walked over and joined them.
"Hey, Red and Cupid," smirked Stark.
"Rogers?" asked Natasha ignoring Stark.
"He's going to be fine, though I'll want him to take a week to recover completely in a secure location," said Fury. "I want him cooled down and one hundred percent before he goes after Hydra. The man is furious."
"I have to admit it's scary to see him furious. Doctors were trying to get him to lay down to be operated on, but he wouldn't do it until Fury ordered him," said Stark. "He wanted blood. Something about this touched a nerve."
"A reminder that your most bitter enemy who should be dead is still out there, still powerful, and wants you dead might be a factor," spat Natasha.
She took another sip of her coffee.
"You want me to arrange a secure location for him, boss?" asked Clint.
Fury looked at him and smiled. He understood what Clint was asking and he liked the idea.
"You do that," said Fury.
Clint walked away to make a few phone calls and another arrangements. Natasha stayed with Fury.
"When can we see him?" she asked.
"Personal security?" asked Fury.
"He's my partner just like Clint, so what do you think?" she asked.
"I think Rogers is protected now," smiled Fury.
"Anybody here peckish?" asked Stark. "I'm peckish. Where's the cafeteria?"
"I'll show you the way," said Hill.
She escorted Stark away. Fury looked at Natasha.
"This was Hydra's declaration of war," said Fury. "I want him ready to fight a war. He's the best soldier either side has."
"I understand," she said.
"Good."
AVENGERS
Steve was moved to the post op then to a private room. Outside of the room were two security men. Fury and Natasha entered the room to find Steve standing there in his hospital gown pacing. He had taken the IV's out of his arm.
"Soldier, what are you doing?" snapped Fury.
"Sir, I can't relax. I'm fine. I need to get out of here and start going after Hydra. They have killed too many innocent people, too many friends. I've had enough of this," Steve said barely holding back his anger.
"Captain, we are at war with Hydra now, but to fight this war I need my best soldier healthy, not on the way to healthy, and cool headed. Do you understand that?" asked Fury.
"Yes, sir," Steve replied.
Fury looked at Natasha and nodded his head, "Talk him down."
"I'll do my best," she said.
Fury exited. Natasha walked up to Steve and wrapped her arms around Steve. He was surprised by this, but it didn't stop him from wrapping his arms around her. He kissed the top of her. Natasha stepped back.
"Now is not the time to play hero, Steve. You are going to let your serum get you back to one hundred percent and you are going to calm down so much that you approach this with a cold eye," she said, "Or I will shoot you myself and you'll be in a hospital bed for more than a week. Do you understand?"
He nodded yes.
"Now lie down," she ordered him.
He went back to his hospital bed and lay down. Natasha walked up to the side of the bed and took his right hand in her left hand. He looked at her like he wanted to say something but was afraid to do so.
"We have a few things to talk about but not here. Fury wants you recovering for a week. Clint is arranging a secure location. I'll be there. We'll have seven days to... talk," she smirked.
"Okay," he agreed.
"I expected a fight. You are the most stubborn man I've met when you want to be," Natasha pointed out.
"I don't want to be stubborn right now," he said.
"Good," she smiled.
The door opened and Stark entered. Natasha stepped away from the bed. Stark was eating a bag of blueberries. Before Natasha could say a thing he reached into his pocket and tossed Steve a large chocolate bar.
"I thought you might need this," he said.
Steve unwrapped it and took a bit of the dark chocolate, "Thanks, Stark."
"You called my father Howard, so call me Tony," he said.
"Okay, Tony," said Steve.
"So, Hydra tried to kill Captain America," said Stark. "They have a long memory, don't they?"
"I've been number one on their list for many years," Steve stated.
"Well, Cap, what are you going to do?" asked Stark.
"I was thinking of giving them a war, Tony," said Steve.
Stark grinned then said, "Whatever you want from the Avengers, let me know."
"I will," Steve said.
Stark popped a few more blueberries into his mouth then he looked at Natasha winked and left.
"What is it about you and him?" she asked.
"He thinks we are related in a strange way because we are both creations of his father, though I'm more Erskine than Stark," said Steve.
"Creepy," Natasha remarked.
"Maybe, but he's not altogether wrong," said Steve. "His father did help create Captain America."
"Eat your chocolate and stay in this bed," demanded Natasha. "I'm going to check what sort of arrangements Clint is making."
AVENGERS
It was after midnight that Clint and Natasha escorted Steve into the SUV. Natasha and Steve got into the backseat with Clint driving. Once they were on the highway, Steve decided to ask the obvious question.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"My farm," smiled Clint. "We'll be there in a few hours."
"Is it safe for your family?" asked Steve.
"Fury has three teams of agents with eyes on my farm. It's safe," answered Clint.
"Sleep, Rogers. You're not completely healed from the bullets yet," Natasha told him.
"I am kinda tired," he yawned.
Natasha scooted against the door and then patted her lap for him to put his head in it. Steve didn't argue. He laid his head in her lap and she started to run her hand through his hair. He yawned again then fell asleep.
"When we get to the farm, I'll make him a sandwich and see if Laura has some homemade soup lying around. The doctor said he needs to eat and eat while healing. His already overacted metabolism is working overtime to heal him," said Clint.
"Seven days. He'll be climbing the walls in two," Natasha stated.
"He can give Lila art lessons and I'll put him to work," Clint smiled.
"Your odds job and obsession with changing your house," smirked Natasha.
"Laura and I are planning another baby. We think three is the perfect number," he said.
"Another one," she smiled. "When?"
"Well, let's see how this Hydra shit goes first then we'll work on the baby," Clint told her.
"I wonder how they'll send next for Steve. Several KGB assets became Hydra assets from the intel I've read. Arkady Rossovich, Omega Red, is one of them and another is the Winter Soldier. Omega Red is dangerous, especially with his freakish ability to absorb life force with those tentacles, but the Winter Soldier is the greater problem," stated Natasha.
"You trained with him. You refuse to talk about him," said Clint.
"I won't talk about him," she said. "They took a good man and turned him into a killing machine. No, I won't talk about him, but I will kill him if he comes for Steve."
"I hear you," said Clint.
The next three hours continued in silence as Natasha nodded off. Clint drove humming to himself and occasionally singing to the radio. As they got closer to the ranch he became silent and turned off the radio. This act woke up Natasha.
"We getting close?" she asked.
"About another hour or so away," he said. "I want to pay attention now to make sure no one is following us."
"Two spies are better than one," she noted.
"Yup," agreed Clint.
For the next hour and half Clint and Natasha noticed everything. As far as they could tell they weren't followed. Clint took the next exit and started his usual meandering way home that ensured he could tell if he was followed or not. After thirty more minutes of driving, Clint pulled up in front of his house. Natasha gently woke up Steve. He sat up slowly and looked at his surroundings.
"This is your home?" he asked Clint.
"Yup," Clint replied.
"Nice," smiled Steve.
"Let's get you into the kitchen and have something to eat before you go to sleep for a few more hours," said Natasha.
"I could eat," he admitted.
Clint got the bags and Natasha led him into the house and then she led him into the kitchen, where she turned on the lights. It only took minutes for Laura to join them. After she greeted and kissed her husband, Clint introduced Steve to her.
"Honey, this is Captain Steve Rogers," Clint said.
"God, I remember reading about you in high school and now you're in my kitchen and you're actually younger than I am," she said.
"No, ma'am, I'm not. In terms of age, I'm actually in my nineties," smiled Steve. "I just happened to frozen for most of those years."
She walked over and gave Steve a hug.
"Sit down, Steve, and I'll make you a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich on homemade bread with some beef stew that I cooked a few days ago," she said. "Clint told me that you need food to heal."
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
"It's Laura, not ma'am," she said.
"Thank you, Laura," smiled Steve.
He sat down at the kitchen table. Natasha sat near next to him, while Clint made a pot of coffee. He knew that he'd only get an hour or two of sleep before the kids were up. Natasha reached over and held Steve's right hand. He stared into her eyes.
"We'll talk later," she said. "There's time here."
"Okay," he said.
Laura noticed this over her shoulder and smiled. Clint and her would have a talk later. She finished the sandwich and served Steve. He started to eat right away, as she heated the beef stew.
"Nat, Clint, you want some?" she asked.
"I'll take a bowl," said Clint.
"Just a small bowl," added Natasha.
Once the stew was warm she served them then she sat down with them at the table. Clint started eating his stew, while glancing at his wife with love. Natasha ate and glanced at Steve and he at her. Laura found this amusing. The coffeemaker beeped.
"Who wants coffee?" she asked.
"Everyone," answered Clint.
She chuckled then she stood up and got everyone coffee. Passing out the coffee she got milk and sugar then sat down.
"Laura, this is delicious. It's good to have home cooking," Steve said.
"What are you talking about?" Clint spoke up. "I eat your home cooking all the time as your roommate." He looked at Laura. "He's a damned good cook. I'm going to make him cook for us before he leaves."
"He's a guest, Clint," said Laura.
"Laura, I'd love to cook for you and your family," said Steve.
"Don't argue with him. He's the most stubborn man you've ever met," said Natasha.
"More than Clint?" asked Laura.
"More than Clint," answered Natasha.
"I'm not that bad," grinned Steve.
"Dude, don't argue. Learn from an expert. Sometimes it's just best to sit and smile," Clint told him.
"I don't keep my mouth shut well," said Steve.
"Then you really are a stubborn bastard," smiled Clint.
"Eat then you're going to bed," said Natasha.
"Yes, ma'am," Steve replied.
AVENGERS
Steve woke in the morning feeling better than he had in days. His room at a bathroom and shower, so he showered and changed in jeans and a black tee shirt before going down the stairs. When he finally got down the stairs, he saw Clint with his son Cooper and his daughter Lila getting catching up. Natasha, who was sitting on the sofa, noticed Steve and waved him into the living room.
"What time is it?" he asked as he answered.
"Eleven, Cap, you slept in," said Clint. "Laura will make you something if you're hungry."
"I'm fine," said Steve then he looked at the kids.
"This is Lila and that is Cooper," Clint introduced his kids.
"Lila, Cooper," smiled Steve. "Lila, I heard you like to draw and paint. I do both. Do you want to draw together later?"
"I'd like that," the young child answered.
"Good," Steve nodded then he looked at Cooper. "Your father was telling me that you have to cut wood later as a chore. Can I help you?"
"If it's alright with my dad," said Cooper, who looked at his father.
Clint nodded yes.
"Good," nodded Steve.
"Lunch is in an hour, Cap. Why don't you join in here and rest?" Clint offered.
Natasha patted the spot near her. Steve walked over and sat down.
"Why do you call him Cap?" asked Cooper.
"It's for Captain. You know Steve here is Captain America," Clint told his son.
"He can't be. Captain America comes from World War II. He'd be ancient," said Cooper.
"He is ancient," grinned Clint. "And he was frozen in ice for many, many years. He's only been thawed out less than year. But I already consider him a trusted friend."
Clint looked over at Steve and winked. Steve smiled. Lila walked over to Steve and handed him a pencil and a pad of paper. She sat next to him.
"Show me how you draw," she said.
"Okay," he said.
He looked at Clint and Cooper sitting on the floor. They were talking. It took less than ten minutes but Steve handed Lila an almost photo realistic sketch of Clint and Cooper. Her face lit up with a giant smile. Natasha was also impressed. Lila got down and showed Clint.
"Steve, this is amazing," said Clint. "Go show your mother."
Lila took the sketch and went into the kitchen.
"If you give up the hero business you can be an artist," said Clint.
"I wanted to be a painted but I was color blind, so I ended up a sketch artist. After the rebirth chamber my color blindness was cured, but I haven't tried painting yet," Steve admitted.
"Now I know what to get you for your birthday," said Natasha. "Paints, an aisle, and a model to paint."
"Who will the model be?" asked Steve.
She smirked but didn't answer. Laura came out of the kitchen.
"Okay, Steve, you are not leaving this house until you do a painting of this family. This is amazing," she said.
"Uncle Steve come up stairs with me and draw," said Lila.
"Okay, but only until lunch," he smiled.
"Okay."
AVENGERS
The rest of the day he spent with Lila then doing chores with Cooper, impressing him on his ability to chop wood, so much so that Clint said he had enough for winter now. After dinner they watched TV as a family and Steve found himself dozing as he sat beside Natasha. She put him to bed with the last words, "Tomorrow we talk."
When Steve woke up in the morning, he dressed and went down to the kitchen. Laura was making bacon and eggs, even though no one else was up yet.
"No one is up," he noted.
"They will be," she smiled. "Lila loves you and Cooper is awed by you. You've won over my children."
"They're great kids," said Steve.
"So, you and Nat. I approve," said Laura.
"Nat and I?" he asked.
"Let's not play games, Steve. Nat has googoo eyes for you and you have them for her. You're falling in love with each other. She needs someone strong like you. Most men are intimidated by her," she said.
"For a reason," he said.
"Are you?" asked Laura.
"No, I'm not intimidated. I'm infatuated," he smiled.
"Good. I approve," smiled Laura. "But if you hurt, Clint has permission to put arrows in you. Understood?"
"Understand," replied Steve.
Clint had a nest, a bunker area where trained and worked on his arrows. Natasha convinced him to let her use it with Steve. After lunch they took a walk to the nest, she entered the code and they entered the nest. She turned the lights on and they walked down the metal stairs to Clint's hideaway. Besides weight for training, a heavy bag, there were specialty arrows he was working on, targets to shoot at, a sofa, a small refrigerator, and a microwave.
Steve turned to speak to Natasha, but she jumped into his arms, wrapped her legs around his waist, and captured his mouth in a hot passionate kiss. Steve reciprocated until they both needed air.
"I thought we were going to talk," he said after gaining some air.
She put her feet to t he ground keeping her body against Steve's. As she rubbed against his crotch a sly smirk formed her lips.
"They weren't kidding when they said the serum enhanced you," she smiled.
"It made everything bigger," he said then blushed when he realized he said that.
"Don't be embarrassed, Steve. I approve," she said.
"This isn't the talk I expected," he countered.
"Okay, here it goes. I'm falling for you. Against my better judgment, against everything I ever been trained, I'm falling for you. Instead of running away from you, like I should, I'm running towards you. What do you have to say?" she ended.
"Natasha, I love you," he said in Russian.
She smiled. Natasha kissed him again. As they kissed with her right hand she began to rub his crotch. He erection grew. Natasha giggled.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked.
"I can't believe how lucky I am," she said. "Now fuck me."
"No, but I will make love to you," he said.