Steve sat in on the meeting that T'Challa called about the looming danger of Hydra. Natasha was reviewing their security systems and intel gathering abilities. It was his opinion that vibranium was too valuable to some plan they had to let go of Wakanda. Even though they exiled the Prime Minister and Elder of the council along with M'Baku, the threat remained. Timba, one of T'Challa top military advisers, took the floor.

"We can withstand any attack from without. Most of our country is behind the vibranium walls and our weapons are superior to any country," he started. "Our problem are enemies within. M'Benku was closer to a coup then we realized. I have reviewed our military and fifteen percent of our officers supported the prime minister."

"What are you going to do with those officers?" asked Steve.

"Exile," said Timba.

"So you increase your enemies on the outside and these enemies who know Wakanda well, too well," said Steve.

"Do you have a suggestion, Steve?" asked T'Challa.

"Yes, sire, I recommend you talk to them. Find out why they supported M'Benku and deal with it. If they fear the outside then through their hypocrisy in their faces. If you are the problem then confront that problem. You are their leader," Steve stated.

"I agree," he said. "I cannot fail them as a leader. I will meet with each and every one of them."

"Your Highness, this is rash. Exile is more efficient," said Nikia.

"But it is not the best solution," said T'Challa.

"I shall make arrangements for these meetings, sire," said Nikia, who then gave a sideways glance of Steve.

She was starting to see him as a threat to her king because he brought the risk taker out of T'Challa.

"Natasha will have a report done for me this afternoon, Steve," said T'Challa. "She asked for access to one of my private jets to use for a few days. I grant that use."

"Thank you, sire," said Steve, who had no idea why Natasha wanted use of one of T'Challa's private jets. They had stealth capabilities as well as straight up landing and takeoff abilities. Did she have a personal mission plan, or had it slipped her mind to tell him she had planned something for them?

"I say we convene this meeting for now," said T'Challa. "I want a complete security review as well as a military one."

"Yes, sire," came a unison response.

T'Challa stood up then Nikia stood up. He exited the room with her on his tail. Steve stood when Timba caught his attention.

"I heard that you are a tactical genius," said Timba. "Can I expect your assistance with our military?"

"I'd be happy to review whatever response plans you have to attacks," Steve said.

"Thank you," he paused.

"Call me Steve," said Steve.

"And I am Timba, Steve," said Timba. "I am glad that you are here, Steve. Your experience fighting Hydra will be invaluable."

"Have whatever you wish me to review sent to my personal account, I will do it right away," said Steve.

Timba smiled, "Good."

AVENGERS

After a long day of dealing with Wakanda business, Natasha took a long hot shower. When she finished up, she slipped on a robe and exited the bathroom to see Steve at the computer writing up a report to Timba. When she came into the apartment, he had been there at work and he still was there. She stood and watched him for a few moments then spoke, "Busy day."

He looked up. His eyes showed weariness, a weariness that had been there since the day he resigned his commission and citizenship. She was worried about him more and more.

"Busy enough. T'Challa told me to tell you that you can have use of one of his private jets," Steve informed her.

She smiled then sat down on the bed. This was part of her idea to visit Clint and get Steve a few days away from Wakanda.

"You have a trip planned?" he asked.

"We have a trip planned," she said.

"Really?" he replied.

"Fury has relocated Clint and his family to Ireland. I thought we'd visit and check up on them," she said. "We quietly sneak in and then quietly sneak out of the country. What do you think?"

"I think you have a plan," he exhaled then looked at the computer, sent the document he was working on, and closed the computer. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow?" she asked him.

"Sounds good to me," he said.

"It'll be good for us to get together with familiar faces. I think we both have been feeling isolated lately. Clint is family. We need family right now," she said.

"You're the boss," he smiled.

Her heart broke with that smile. Whatever burdens he was carrying he carried alone. She wanted to share them but the need to be Captain America was too great in him. Captain America looked out for his team and not the other way around. If Secretary Ross or Stark were in front of her right this moment, she'd kill them with her bare hands.

"Lila will be glad to see her favorite uncle," Natasha noted.

"And I get to sketch the Irish landscape. My mother often waxed poetic about it," Steve told her.

"I forget that you're Irish," she said.

"As Irish as you are Russian," he smiled. "My mother and father both are from Connemara."

"If I'm not mistaken Fury relocated to the Aran Islands," she said. " A sheep farm."

"Off the coast of Galway," said Steve. "You either are a sheep farmer or fisherman on the Aran Islands. It stark and isolated, but it is supposed to be beautiful."

"Good. Easy to find a landing spot," she smiled. "Sheep farmer."

"All you need is a couple of well trained dogs, the land, and patience," said Steve.

"That sounds about right for Clint," Natasha chuckled.

"It rains a lot on the Aran Islands," Steve told her.

"I'll pack accordingly," she said.

AVENGERS

The medical center was busy. Bucky went through a series of cognitive tests, included in them were trigger words and phrases to bring out his programming. He didn't respond to them, which meant that his brainwashing was finally broken. No longer was he at the whim of phrases or words strung together that brought out his programming making him a killing machine for others. Now he needed to deal with the guilt at having killed so many.

At night when he dreamed he dreamed of blood. His body was bathed in it, his hands covered to the point that his pale skin couldn't be seen. The blood of so many was on his hands that it couldn't be washed away. One of those he was told to kill was Steve and he almost succeeded. Imagine if he had succeeded. His brother's blood on his hands, too. The brainwashing was going to be easier to deal with than the guilt.

Dr. M'Bama finished writing in his chart then she looked up at him.

"Mr. Barnes, we recommend that you start daily sessions with a psychologist," she said.

"I don't need another person in my head," he responded.

"The Doctor I recommend is Dr. Janice Nimbia. She is the best we have," said M'Bama.

"I don't want to talk about my past," spat Bucky.

"If you don't talk about then you'll never be free from it," she countered.

He looked up at her with haunted eyes then said, "I shouldn't be free from what I've done. I should pay for it, suffer for it."

"Mr. Barnes, she can help you deal with it. You need that," she told him.

He exhaled deeply then said, "Make the appointments."

AVENGERS

There was a stark, green and gray beautiful to the Aran islands. The green of the beauty came from the peat and grass of the land and the grayness came from the rough, intimidating ocean that surrounded the islands. Clint's place was large with a traditional thatched roof house and a larger more modern one. The smaller house was used for guest mostly. Like the rest of Ireland the Aran Islands was filled with rocks, so that waist high rock walls outlines his property and kept his sheep from running away.

Natasha landed near the smaller house. Clint was expecting them. He and Natasha kept in contact with each other through a cat lover chatroom. It amused them both. When Clint saw see step off the jet he started worrying about his captain. The bread and long hair was one thing, but the sad eyes and feeling of responsibility that hung around him like a nimbus was unmistakable.

Laura and the kids ran to them and greeted them. Natasha grinned broadly when she saw that Laura was at least five months pregnant. She leaned over and kissed her belly. Steve picked up Lila in his arms and carried her. Cooper told him that he still had his shield. Steve told him to keep protecting it. Clint walked up to Steve and offered his hand to shake. Steve shook it.

"Beautiful place," Steve noted.

"It grows on you," smiled Clint.

Steve noticed that he was wearing a herringbone scally cap. He chuckled.

"You are fitting in it seems," Steve said.

"I try," grinned Clint. "You could fit right in around here. All you need is jeans, work shirt, and scally cap."

"I probably look like a musclebound version of my father," said Steve.

"Let's get inside. Laura made a lamb stew. We eat a lot of lamb lately," Clint grinned.

Steve laughed. At the dining room table Steve chowed down to a large bowl of lamb stew and fresh baked bread, while Natasha sipped tea. Laura explained she had to start baking bread because they were so far away from a bakery. Clint explained that he was also getting into fishing, too. It was dangerous off of Aran Islands, but it paid well and the kids loved the catch of the day for dinner. It was a good hour before Clint brought up the inevitable.

"I heard you ran into Stark," said Clint. "And he's still alive. That's a surprise."

"It was Steve not me," said Natasha.

"He carries his own burdens. The Avengers are a shell of itself and I know that the US government is putting pressure on him to bring in those who don't sign the registry," said Steve.

"What a jerk," growled Clint. "If he every came for me it would be the last thing he did."

"Clint," Laura warned him.

The kids were in the other room. Lila was drawing and Cooper playing a video game.

"Fury update on things?" asked Natasha.

"Yeah, he did. Maria Hill is acting as his liaison to congress. He is trying to convince as many senators and congressmen to speak out against the registry. Sam Wilson is helping her quietly. They work well together," explained Clint. "Fury is working on the president, though it appears that Steve having good poll numbers is having the opposite effect on the president then you'd think. He is starting to view Steve as a rival."

"Fucking politicians," sighed Natasha.

"I agree with that," added Laura.

"The Smithsonian's display on Captain America has become a best seller. The crowds during the weekend are around the corner," Clint said then he noticed that brought even greater sadness to Steve's eyes. "People can't get enough about Captain America."

"This must be painful for you, Steve," said Laura.

"It is what it is," said Steve. "My new code name is Nomad. It seemed appropriate. T'Challa trusts me."

"Wakanda, huh?" said Clint. "I didn't see that on coming. Diplomatic passports, too? Well, done."

"We can thank King T'Challa for that," said Natasha.

"At least you are safe," said Laura.

"How are Scott and Hope doing?" Steve asked.

"Hank Pym is hiding them. Scott occasionally shows up on the news for some daring do. Hank uses him for special missions then hides him from Stark and Talbot," said Clint. "How is Wanda and Pietro?"

"Adjusting," said Natasha. "The people of Wakanda have been inviting, but they miss Sokovia."

"Have you heard about Sokovia?" Clint asked.

"What's happened there?" asked Steve, his attention pepping up.

"It is now officially a Hydra lead country. The Red Skull has declared himself it's president and they have requested full status in the UN since they are a EU country," Clint explained. "Of course, the first thing the Red Skull did was do away with the registry and invite any enhanced individuals to Sokovia to live."

"Hydra," growled Steve.

He stood up from the table and walked out. Natasha leaned back in her chair and sighed.

"Sorry about that but he had to hear," said Clint. "It just happened overnight."

"I know," said Natasha.

"You get the idea that Hydra was behind the registry," said Clint.

"Hydra tried a coup in Wakanda. We stopped it," said Natasha.

"Fury is pissed. He thinks a war is coming and we will be unprepared," said Clint.

"Is Hydra still hidden within the congress?" asked Natasha.

"Probably a handful of senators and congressmen," answered Clint.

"And AIM?" she asked.

"Now officially part of Hydra. Fury thinks they are working on their own helicarriers now," said Clint.

"Keeps getting better and better," snapped Natasha. "What is SHIELD doing?"

"Reforming and trying to start up spying capabilities again," said Clint. "Coulson is deputy director now. He's trying his best."

"And he hasn't called us back to SHIELD. Why?" asked Natasha.

"Because he knows that Steve needs you and that my family needs me," said Clint.

"Steve does need you," said Laura. "You can see it."

"I know. But I'm not really helping him. He's getting more distant," said Natasha.

"Give him time, Tasha. The finally adjusts to one kick in the ass and he gets another one. There is only so many kicks a person can take," said Clint.

"He better start kicking back soon," said Natasha.

"He will," said Laura.

"How do you know?" asked Natasha.

"Nat, he loves you. He's a natural fighter. The man just needs time to deal with everything then he'll be back to normal," said Laura.

"I still want to kill Stark," said Natasha.

"Me, too," added Clint.

AVENGERS

After lunch Steve went out for a long jog. Clint showed Natasha the farm included sensors and security he had set up. According to him Fury would be monitoring the farm and would send a Quinjet out immediately if he thought they needed to evacuate. Ireland was chosen because it had few enhanced and places like the Aran Islands were so isolated.

"Laura is going to end up having the child at home," said Natasha.

"I know. I've been reading up on childbirth. I can handle just abut anything," he smiled. "Of course, it helps that it is her third child."

"Which you are going to name after her godmother Natasha, right?" said Natasha.

"Right," smiled Clint.

In the background one of Clint's sheep dogs could be heard barking as it rounded up the sheep. Clint sat down on the stone wall.

"A war is coming, Nat," he said. "I know I'm going to have to get involved at some point but I'm going to put it off for as long as possible."

"Fury tell you about the coming war?" she asked.

"Yeah, he did," said Clint. "Hydra has a military now and a base to fight from. Most countries don't have the military to stand up to Hydra and those who don't really don't want to fight. The countries surrounding Sokovia would easily fall if Hydra invaded them. The EU? There isn't a country in the EU that can stand up to Hydra one on one, especially with the help of AIM and canon fodder troops. The US will be its primary enemy. The Red Skull holds a long grudge."

"Russia won't fight unless it has to and then it will pick the send it thinks will win. China will be he same," said Natasha. "We'll be needed."

"Cap will really be needed. Imagine fighting a war without your best soldier," said Clint. "This really sucks."

"I agree," said Natasha.

A light rain started to fall. Natasha pulled up the hood of the jacket she was wearing. Clint sighed.

"It rains here a great deal," he said.

"Steve mentioned that," said Natasha. "How does Laura feel about all of this?"

"She knows that I'll eventually have to go. We don't talk about it much, but she knows," said Clint. "She married me with open eyes. Just like Steve has his eyes open when it comes to you. He loves you Natasha not some bullshit version of you. We are both lucky."

"Clint, I'm afraid of losing him," she admitted.

"How? He loves you. That's it for him. He's not the type to go from woman to woman. You are it, Tasha," Clint said.

"I'm afraid he's going to get himself killed, Clint," she said then closed her eyes. "He's getting even more reckless than normal. He needs a team."

"I know, Nat. He needs us. We have to be there for him when it counts," said Clint. "I'll be there when the time comes."

"Thanks, Clint," she replied.

"We should get back to the house. Laura is cooking a roast beef with all the fixings. Lila will want her drawing time with Uncle Steve and Cooper will want to hear all about Wakanda," said Clint. "It'll be a nice family time for everyone."

Natasha smiled then said, "We need this."