Thank you to all that read or reviewed my last chapter!
To everfaraway- Excellent question. Unfortunately, according to Agent Romanoff, the answer is in fact classified.
Why don't we just get started…?
Clint's POV
I woke up to Tasha leaning over from the driver's seat shaking me awake.
"What happened," I said groggily. I noticed we were pulled over on the side of the highway. I remembered driving for about ten minutes before Nat realized that I hadn't slept in days. As soon as I settled in the passenger seat the deprivation set in.
"You had a nightmare, you started yelling and swinging. It took forever to wake you." She squinted her searching for a reaction on my face.
"Sorry, that never happens…" my voice drifted off the images of my dream were starting to replay, they formed scenes.
"Clint? Clint?" I was ignoring Tasha's plea to grab my attention. Some scenes were more prominent than others.
"Nat, I remember," I was looking at her but my eyes were much farther away, "I remember the guards I shot, the helicarrier, and you. I remember holding a knife to your neck and wanting to kill you." Tasha didn't respond, "Nat, say something."
"What do you want me say, Clint? It happened I know that, I've accepted that."
"You sound infinitely stronger than me right now."
"Were human, Clint. I should know, you taught me that." Her eyes met mine I felt more at ease.
I nodded and she continued, "Listen, you haven't seen your wife or kids in a half year, you'll feel so much better when you do. Trust me, okay?" Once again I nodded and she resumed driving.
Natasha's POV
The sky was a capturing swirl of pinks and oranges when we arrived. In the distance, I could see Lila and Cooper playing in the front yard while Laura sat on the porch. Lila, being the most observant, spotted our car first I could hear her squeal as she alerted the others. As we pulled up to the property, Clint was out of the car in a heartbeat wrapping the two kids in his arms. I lingered in my seat, gathering my belongings. Clint released his kids when he saw Laura approaching.
She was wearing a long floral dress her hair was down in tousled waves she wore a slight grin on her face. Clint looked seriously at her, studying her eyes they both fell silent for a few seconds just staring at each other. Laura was the first to move as she used one hand to cup Clint's face and whispered, "Hi." They both broke at once and began kissing passionately. Both of Laura's hands slipped to the back of his neck while his arms snaked around her waist. I smiled at Clint's vulnerability under his wife's watch, no one else could entice that reaction from him.
The children shuffled over to the car and nearly dragged me out of my seat screaming, "Auntie Nat!" I let them tackle me onto the grass in an aggressive hug. I laughed and gripped them in my arms kissing the tops of their heads.
"Alright, alright let Tasha breath guys!" Laura bent down and tickled Lila until she squirmed off of me, Cooper followed.
"You two can go help daddy set the table for dinner," They raced over to Barton who caught Lila in his arms and carried her into to the house.
"Great kids," I laughed still laying on my back. Laura settled by my head smoothing out my hair.
"They're alright," Laura smiled, "They really missed you this past year, I really missed you."
I sighed, "It's been a long year, Laura. And sorry about that phone call the other day, didn't want you to worry."
Laura let a small laugh escape, "Worry? You two are secret agents and assassins, I always worry. And don't apologize, if anything hearing your voice put me at ease," She looked sad, "I hadn't heard from Clint that entire day, I was scared. He called me last night and told me everything he knew about his time… brainwashed."
Rested on my elbows, "He remembers more," I whispered sadly, "in the car, he had a nightmare and it came back to him. He's so uneasy around me now."
Laura gave me puzzled look so I continued, "He recalled how badly he wanted to kill me. I had to fight him off on the helicarrier. I guess the blade he was edging to my neck stuck out in his nightmare." Laura gasped and leaned forward to hug me tightly. I hugged back, clinging to her and closing my eyes while I rested my chin on her shoulder. I felt better than alright, I felt loved and calm. I couldn't ask for a better home.
Later that evening
I was wide awake, sleep seemed terrifying and ridden with insecure thoughts, I couldn't trust sleep. I turned to my side and squinted at the clock, 2:36. I sighed and shuffled back and forth until I admitted defeat and sat up. I stared out at the scenic view, there wasn't a hint of violence upon the grassy fields and rolling hills there wasn't panic or tragedy just peace for as far as the eye could see. Then a faint sob passed through my ears. It was Lila, I registered from the direction and pitch of the sob. I threw on my silk robe and crept down the hall to her bedroom.
Lila was sitting up in her bed and her breathing was slightly labored. She stared at me with wide eyes.
"Hey little one, did you have a bad dream," I tried to sound soothing and she crawled from her bed and wrapped her arms around my legs. I lifted her to my hip, "Would you like to stay with me tonight?" The four year old nodded and I carried her back to my bed. I tucked her in next to me and smoothed her hair back.
"I had a dream that daddy didn't come back," I could practically hear my heart break as she retold her nightmare, "Nobody knew what happened, he just stopped calling mommy and then she told us that the bad guys got him."
I stroked her cheek and contemplated a response, I decided to be honest, "I worry about that too. That's why when he goes to fight the bad guys I go with him to make sure he's okay."
"You protect daddy?" I nodded.
"That's my job, so you shouldn't worry because I do my job well." Her innocent eyes took in every word, "get some rest, sweetheart. Everyone's safe." She nodded and for some reason I believed my own words.
Clint's POV
Natasha and I seemed to be getting along with life too well. Ever since we had arrived two days ago we seemed perfectly normal from the outside. Laura wasn't buying it and was patiently waiting for one of us to completely crumble. Natasha and I were at war to see who would crack first.
"Well, Cooper has definitely gotten stronger," I announced as I walked in from the backyard where the kids were playing. I was rubbing my wrist where he had tugged at it. When looked up at Laura, who seemed to have ignored my comment, was looking disdainfully at the couch. I glanced down to see Tasha lying there.
"Nat's asleep," she frowned.
"I had a hunch she wasn't sleeping well these past couple of nights, glad she's getting some rest."
"Yeah, but now I have to go into town alone," Laura sighed.
"You were going to take her grocery shopping?"
My wife shook her head, "We were also going to stop at the liquor store," she smirked, "She was supposed to teach me how to buy good vodka."
I chuckled as she gathered her purse and headed for the door. "I'll be back in a bit," she paused to place a kiss on my lips before leaving.
I was sitting in the kitchen fixing sandwiches for the kids who were still running aimlessly outside when I first heard it. There was a gasp of air and a plea for someone to stop. I walked toward the couch to confirm my suspicion. Nat was twisting and sweating while trapped deep in a dream. Crouched next to her and began trying to shake her awake. Her eyes opened a bit too wide and she didn't relieve the hyperventilating. Her eyebrows furrowed when she saw me.
"Please, please don't hurt me." She begged shaking her head. To my surprise she sounded like she was about to cry.
"Tasha, why would I hurt you?" As I tried to sound calming, it came out as perplexed.
"Clint, please. Please, please don't kill me." I placed a hand on her shoulder and it was enough to send her lurching to her feet and running upstairs. I heard her bedroom door slam and I sat on the couch with my head in my hands waiting for Laura to come back and tell me what to do.
When Laura arrived I hadn't moved from the living room. She took one look at me and knew something went wrong. I spoke first as she sat down next to me, "She woke up from a nightmare, she thought I was going kill her again. She ran to her room and hasn't come down yet."
"Did you try talking to her?"
"I really don't think she wants to speak to me at the moment."
She put a hand on my leg, "Clint, you're the only person here that can remotely relate to what happened to her earlier this week. Take advantage of that please." I nodded and headed to Natasha.
I knocked on the door, I waited for a response but there was none. I tried a few more times before letting myself in. She was staring out a window with a blanket around her. She didn't face me when she spoke, "I'm sorry, I don't even know what happened. This isn't me, Clint. I don't know what's happening."
I shrugged and sat next to her, "Traumatic stress, probably." I said casually.
"Why now, Clint? Why me?" She turned to look at me.
"Because were human, Tasha. Yes, you've endured a lot more than what anyone should but it doesn't negate that still humans."
"Will you help me?" I hated to see Nat look uncertain and perishable.
"Always, were partners remember?"
Thank you everyone! So I'm really excited for the next few of chapters, loads of fluff and action! On a different note, (feel free to skip this if you're not interested) my new story comes out tomorrow! I'm really excited, it's called A Broken Union. It will have all the avengers in it plus others. It's going to be action packed with plenty of (romantic) clintasha! Please check it out, I'm really happy with this one!