Chapter 20
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: thank you for the support.
November 27th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Afternoon.
In his office Tony is working on the paperwork that he plans to file that will hopefully lead to Clint, and Scott, being able to come home to their children, though from what he is discovering it may be easier to bring Clint home than Scott.
"Boss, incoming call from Miss Melinda." FRIDAY's voice says.
"Thanks FRIDAY, put her through." Tony says and Melinda appears on the screen in front of him, standing in what he knows to be the Directors office.
"Hey Tony." Melinda greats.
"Hey Mel. How's S.H.I.E.L.D?" Tony asks curious.
"Classified." Melinda answers with a grin, causing Tony to laugh.
"What can we do for you?" Tony asks, amusement clear in his voice.
"Nothing." Melinda answers, "I'm calling to say thank you." She reveals.
"What for?" Tony asks confused, being pretty sure that he hasn't done anything for Melinda to thank him for.
"My agents are back, the ones I told you about, asked for your legal help with." Melinda reminds Tony, "That wouldn't have happened without your help, so thanks." Melinda tells him.
"Oh, you're welcome. I'm glad things turned out well." Tony tells her.
"So am I." Melinda admits.
"BOSS, your presence is being requested in the living room." FRIDAY reveals.
"Looks like you've got to go." Melinda says.
"Yeah. We need to talk more." Tony tells Melinda.
"I know." Melinda says before ending the call.
After the call is ended Tony gets up and heads out of his office, wondering who wants him and for what reason.
When Tony walks into the living room Tony finds everyone who lives in the Avengers only area and apart from Cooper, Vance, Peter and Rhodey they all look as confused as he feels.
"What's going on?" Tony asks, as he walks in.
"The last few days we've been spending a lot of time doing our own thing, and Pete, Vance and I thought we should have some fun, together, Rhodey agreed." Cooper explains.
"What exactly are you thinking?" Natasha asks curious.
"Game and Movie night." Peter answers, "Something we can all do together."
"That's a great idea boys." Laura says approvingly.
"Yeah, it is." Hope says approvingly, "What game are you thinking first?"
"Monopoly." Peter, Cooper and Vance say together.
"I think I'll just watch." Bruce comments, being pretty sure that him playing monopoly wouldn't be a good idea.
"Good call, Big Guy." Tony says as everyone heads over to where the three teenage boys are so that they can get started on their board game and movie night or technically afternoon.
December 1st 2016. Avengers Compound.
Early Morning.
It is early morning and Natasha and Tony, who still haven't had sex, though neither have brought it up since that first conversation, are lying in Tony's bed together. Either though neither of them are asleep neither of them are moving as they find lying in each other's quiet relaxing.
"Miss Romanoff, Mr Vance is awake." FRIDAY reveals as Natasha asked to be alerted to that.
"Thanks FRI." Natasha responds.
"You going to talk to him, show him the documents?" Tony asks.
"Yeah, I am." Natasha promises, "Can you get everything ready in the dining area?"
"Sure." Tony responds and the two of them kiss before Natasha gets out of the bed.
A couple of minutes later Natasha, who is now fully dressed, arrives at Vance's room.
"Vance, it's me." Natasha says as she knocks.
"Come in." Vance's voice responds and Natasha walks into his room and isn't at all surprised to find Vance, still in his pyjamas sitting in his reading corner, "Hi Natasha." He says, sounding glad to see her.
"Happy Birthday, Vance." Natasha says as she walks over to him.
"Huh, I haven't heard those words for a very long time." Vance admits, looking amazed.
"I know." Natasha says, sitting down across from him, "You're going to get presents at breakfast, but there's one I want to give you now." She reveals.
"I don't need presents." Vance says, rather quickly.
"In Tony's words, getting presents on your birthday is a rule." Natasha explains, "Here." Natasha says, sticking out a folder for Vance to take. Looking nervous Vance reaches out and takes the folder, which he opens and starts to read and as he reads he gets a look of complete shock on his face.
"Natasha…" Vance says, looking at Natasha in amazement.
"It's what I want to do, but I won't move forward unless it's what you want too." Natasha explains.
"You want to adopt me?" Vance asks, not sure what he is feeling.
"Yes." Natasha assures him, "I know I'm not much, but I would like to be your family. I want to give you should have always had, what was taken from you when you were six, but I would understand if that's not what you want." Natasha explains and Vance opens and closes his mouth several times, trying to figure out what to say, but then he just hugs Natasha.
'Yes, yes, yes." Vance tells her, "I want you to adopt me." Vance says, sounding happier than Natasha has heard him be.
"I'll file the paperwork today." Natasha assures him.
"Thank you."
A little while later Natasha and Vance walk into the living dining area where everyone else who permanently lives in the Avengers only area are standing around the table where there is a large cake and the entire room is decorated with birthday decorations.
"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Vance,
Happy Birthday to you."
Everyone sings the second Vance and Natasha walk into the room, and as they do tears of joy come to Vance's eyes.
"Thank you, thank you so much." Vance says amazed, feeling completely touched as he has can never remember having something like this.
"Come, sit down, you've got cake to eat and presents to open." Natasha says to Vance.
"Okay." Vance says, heading over to the table, feeling that no matter what happens nothing is going to be as good as Natasha offering to adopt him.
December 5th 2016. Courthouse.
Morning.
Thanks to the fact that a home study on the Avengers Compound was only recently completed and Tony's connections, Natasha was able to get an adoption hearing four days after filing the paperwork.
Having come to the city with Peter Natasha, Tony, Hope, Rhodey, and Vance are waiting outside the courthouse, waiting to be let in.
"Are you okay?" Natasha asks Vance in concern.
"Yeah, I just…. Don't remember how long it's been since I've been around this many people." He admits, looking scared, though as she doesn't see anything moving Natasha knows that he is in good control of his powers.
"I know. In the courtroom I'll be right next to you all the time, except when one of us is testifying, and if you need to just take me hand." Natasha tells him and Vance gives a nod.
"Nat." Hope says and Natasha looks to where she is indicating and she sees Melinda walking towards them.
"Thank you for doing this." Natasha tells Melinda.
"You don't have to thank me." Melinda assures her, "Vance, it's good to see you again."
"You too, Agent May." Vance says, there being nervousness in his voice, and the group drift into silence until Natasha's lawyer arrives and they are allowed to enter the court room.
Half an hour has passed since Melinda arrived and so far the judge has talked about the evidence and Natasha's lawyer has spoken describing the evidence both Natasha and Vance has spoken, Vance having been extremely nervous as he spoke, and Melinda has just been called to the stand.
"Please state your name and position for the record, and please make it noted that the room has been cleared of everyone except for essential personal and the courthouse has been searched for any listening devices." The judges says.
"Melinda May, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"When did you first come into contact with Vance Astrovik?" The judge asks.
"My team and I were instructed by our director to investigate a situation that we had become aware of." Melinda explains, "The situation was Mr Astrovik, he had become Inhuman and couldn't control his abilities." Melinda explains.
"When you found Mr Astrovik what how was he? What can you say about his mental state?" The judge asks.
"He was terrified, and hurt. He didn't understand what was going on or what he had done, but he didn't want to hurt anyone. He was terrified that he was going to hurt someone." Melinda reveals, "He wouldn't let anyone get close and he was terrified of everyone around him." Melinda explains.
"How did Miss Romanoff become involved?"
"Prior to S.H.I.E.L.D's fall I had worked with Miss Romanoff and since S.H.I.E.L.D became re-legitimate I have been the liaison between S.H.I.E.L.D and The Avengers." Melinda reveals, "When it became clear what had happened to Mr Astrovik I knew that the Avengers could help him more than S.H.I.E.L.D so I called Miss Romanoff and Mr Stark." Melinda explains.
"Please explain the first conversation you observed between Miss Romanoff and Mr Astrovik." The Judge requests.
"Of course." Melinda says and she begins to explain what happened during Natasha and Vance's first conversation.
A while later Melinda, Hope, and Rhodey have spoken and now Tony has been called up to the stand.
"Mr Stark." The Judge greats.
"You're honour." Tony responds.
"Please, say what you have to say." The judge requests.
"Of course. I am not naive enough to believe that I know Natasha Romanoff completely, but I do know her better than most, and I certainly know her better than you." Tony says to the judge, "You see the person in the files, the hearings, the news, but that's not who I see, who I know, and it's not who she is around Vance." Tony says, looking at Natasha and Vance, "In the past few weeks I have watched as Natasha has gotten Vance to open up more, she has helped him to see that he can want and that he isn't going to hurt everyone." Tony explains, "Natasha understands Vance, and what he's gone through, in a way that very few other people do, and that's only part of the reason why Natasha is the perfect person to adopt Vance. She wants to be his Mother; she wants to give him all the things that were denied to him over the years, and I know she can. Your job is to decide what is best for Vance, well what is best for Vance is to be adopted by Natasha, and your idiots if you don't see that." Tony says.
"Seriously, I swear those two are more open about their feelings when they are testifying than any other time." Rhodey whispers to Hope.
"Yep." Hope confirms as Tony walks down from the podium.
"We will take a half an hour recess while I ponder my decision." The judge requests and everyone gets up and leaves.
Honestly the next half an hour passes incredible slow for Natasha and she can feel her worry grow as she desperately wants the judge to return with his verdict. As she waits, watching Vance to make sure he doesn't get too overwhelmed, Natasha knows that she has to talk to Tony about what he said, but she knows that now isn't the time.
"Nat." Melinda says, walking up.
"Yeah?" Natasha asks.
"I just got a call. I've got to go." Melinda explains, "I wish I could stay, but…."
"It's okay. I get it. You've got to go." Natasha tells her.
"It's good seeing you again, Vance." Melinda says before leaving.
"Yeah." Vance says, forcing the word out.
"We should be allowed in any time." Natasha assures Vance, who just nods.
A few minutes later everyone is allowed back into the courtroom and as Natasha and Vance sit back down Vance reaches out and takes Natasha's hand.
"I have come to my decision and I am granting Natasha Romanoff's petition of adopting Vance Astrovik." The Judge says and both Natasha and Vance feel complete relief upon hearing that and for the first time since he was six Vance realises that he may just have a family that cannot be taken away from him.
December 5th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Night.
Hours later, having just left Vance, Natasha is walking into Tony's office where he's on his computer.
"How's T'Challa?" Natasha asks as she walks forward.
"Good. I'm trying to get him to come for Christmas, or New Year's." Tony reveals.
"How's that going for you?" Natasha asks curious as she leans against the desk next to Tony.
"It's a battle, one I'm sure I'll eventually win." Tony says with a smirk, causing Natasha to win, "How's Vance?" he asks curious.
"Okay. I think it helps him to know that this can't be taken away, not legally at least." Natasha reveals.
"And you're happy." Tony realises, realising that it makes him happy to see Natasha happy.
"Yeah, I am." Natasha admits, "About what you said…." Natasha starts to say.
"You don't have to say anything." Tony tells her.
"Yeah, I do. Thanks Tone." Natasha says gratefully, "And you may not know me completely but you do know me better than basically anyone." Natasha tells Tony.
"Yeah?" Tony asks, smiling at her, his voice sounding coy.
"Yeah." Natasha responds and Tony stands up and kisses her, both of them leaning against Tony's desk more, as they continue to kiss, though neither of them have any intention of doing anymore tonight.
December 12th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Lunchtime.
As Tony left to go to the meeting that will hopefully get Clint and Scott the pardons they need to come home Laura, Natasha, Hope, Vision, Rhodey and Bruce are all waiting in the living room, hoping for some kind of positive news while Vance is in his room reading, and the other kids are at school.
"It shouldn't be too much longer." Rhodey tells Laura, who is clearly worried.
"I know, I just need to know, one way or another." Laura reveals.
"I know." Hope says, giving her a supportive smile as they all drift into silence, all hoping that Tony will be home soon.
"Laura." Natasha says about ten minutes later, being the first one to notice Tony walking towards him, and truthfully she is rather proud at the fact that his face isn't giving away anything.
"Tony, how'd it go?" Laura asks, the second she sees him.
"I have good news and bad news." Tony reveals.
"TONY!" Everyone says, sounding annoyed and Laura sounds frustrated.
"Clint can come home." Tony says, walking towards Laura.
"He can?" Laura asks, sounding amazed.
"He's going to have to have a monitor bracelet for six months, and there will be some restrictions, and after that he can either sign the accords or retire, but yeah, Laura, he can come home." Tony reveals.
"Thank you." Laura says amazed before hugging Tony, "Thank you so much."
"You don't have to thank me, I told you I'd bring him home." Tony says as he returns the hug.
"What about Scott?" Hope asks as Tony and Laura break apart.
"I've hit a complication with Scott." Tony admits, "His parole officer and the authorities in San Francisco want to look over the agreement and it cannot be finalized until then." Tony reveals, "But that should happen within the next seventy-two hours." Tony reveals, honestly planning on raising hell if it doesn't as Scott should be home with Cassie before Christmas.
"Okay." Hope says.
"Now, excuse me. I've got to go call King Kitten." Tony says, "He'll get Clint home." He tells Laura.
"I know." Laura says with a smile and Tony walks out of the room, no one noticing his and Natasha's hands graze each other as they past.
"FRI, call King Kitty." Tony says as he sits down in front of his computer and starts to upload things to a secure system that only he and T'Challa have access to.
"Yes Boss." FRIDAY responds and about a minute later T'Challa appears on the screen.
"Kitten." Tony greats with a smile.
"Tony, my friend." T'Challa responds, smiling thought the screen, "I take it you have good news."
"Yep. I'm uploading all the documents on Clint's pardon to our system. He has to sign the agreement, and agree to the conditions, but then bring him home." Tony tells his friend.
"I will." T'Challa responds, "What about Mr Lang?"
"I'm having some issues securing his agreement, but I should have it within seventy-two hours." Tony reveals.
"Okay. I'll talk to everyone and I'll get Barton on his way home as soon as possible." T'Challa comments.
"Thank you." Tony says, gratefully, "So, have you given any more thought to Christmas or New Years?"
"I cannot make it for Christmas." T'Challa admits, "But I can for New Year's."
"Great." Tony says with a grin, "See you there. Tell Barton that if he doesn't take this deal then I'm going to devote all my time and energy to finding him and kicking his ass because his wife deserves so much better."
"Noted." T'Challa says, looking amused, "I'll let you know how things go."
"Thanks Kitten." Tony says before ending the call.
December 12th 2016. Wakanda.
Evening.
After hanging up with Tony T'Challa has made his way to the area where The Avengers are. When he walks in the room T'Challa finds Steve and no one else.
"Your Majesty." Steve greats when he sees him, wondering what is in the bag that T'Challa is holding.
"Captain, please gather your team." T'Challa requests.
"Of course." Steve says before leaving.
For a few moments T'Challa waits until Steve, Sam, Scott, Wanda and Clint walk into the room.
"Has something happened?" Clint asks, as soon as he sees T'Challa, as the group walk over and sit down.
"Yes, but it's good." T'Challa reveals, "For months now Tony has been working on ways to make it so that you and Mr Lang can return to your children."
"Why would he do that?" Scott asks confused.
"To have something to hold over you, so that you would feel that you owe him." Wanda comments.
"No." T'Challa says, his voice annoyed, honestly having become more than a little annoyed with how the former Avengers talk about Tony, "Tony knows what it is like to have a parent constantly gone to choose work over being a parent and he wants to protect your children from that." T'Challa reveals, "For months Tony has been working and as he has just achieved part of his goal."
"What do you mean part?" Sam asks, suspecting that it might not be completely good news.
"I've spoken to Tony today he has gotten Clint a conditional pardon, you can go home if you agree to the conditions." T'Challa says, looking at Clint, "Mr Lang, your parole officer and officials in San Francisco have requested to review your pardon and because of that there will be a delay, Tony believes he'll have it within seventy-two hours." T'Challa explains.
"So, Clint can go home?" Sam asks.
"If he agrees." T'Challa agrees, "I'd like to discuss the matter with you in private." He says to Clint, "And as I do I have something for the rest of you." T'Challa says, opening the bags and pulling out copies of the new accords which he puts on the table.
"The Accords?" Steve asks, "What do these have to do with anything?"
"Oh I get it. One of the conditions is that I have to sign these things, right? That's what Stark's done, made it so I'll never be able to see my wife and kids otherwise." Clint says annoyed.
"Actually no. If you don't want to sign the Accords then you can retire. You can just spend time with your family." T'Challa reveals, "This is coming from me. After working with Tony, Natasha, Rhodey, Hope and Vision to create the new accords I was planning on giving you the choice to either sign or leave my country but my friend Tony asked me to allow you to remain here until he had secured ways for Mr Barton and Mr Lang to see his children again." T'Challa reveals, and everyone looks surprised at that, "But now that has occurred I am informing you that you can either decide to sign the accords or leave."
"What about Bucky?" Steve asks, anger in his voice.
"I will continue to protect Mr Barnes, I will continue to try and find a way to help him, I will keep my word, and make sure no harm comes to him or no one takes him away." T'Challa reveals, "We worked hard to make sure that the New Accords are much better than the old ones, you should at least read them this time." T'Challa explains, "You have to I return after the New Year to make your decision." T'Challa says, looking between the members of the team, "Mr Barton, with me." He requests, and after exchanging a look with the others Clint gets up and follows T'Challa out of the room.
"This has got to be Stark. He's got to be influencing T'Challa!" Wanda says, sounding annoyed.
"Stark's powerful, and has influence, but I doubt that even he could influence a king." Sam says, but judging by the looks on the other's faces he isn't sure that anyone else believes that.
A few minutes later T'Challa and Clint walk into one of T'Challa's offices and Clint is pretty sure that this is the same feeling as when he would be called to Fury's office after screwed up.
"First, I would like to say that in the past few months I have had the real privilege of getting to know your wife and children." T'Challa reveals, causing Clint to look at him in surprise as he knew that T'Challa meets with the Avengers, he just didn't know that meant T'Challa spent time with his family, "Your wife is a lovely woman and your children are great, but they miss you. Cooper in particular has had difficulties with you being gone." T'Challa reveals, causing Clint to look down as it seems that T'Challa knows more about how his family is doing than him.
"He was so angry the last time I talked to him." Clint says, T'Challa being able to hear the guilt in his voice, "How's he really doing?"
"Cooper misses you, a lot and he's angry that you're gone, but apart from that he is okay." T'Challa reveals, "He and Lila have started school, and they both truly enjoy being at the Compound, but they miss you Mr Barton, they need you. There is only so much that Laura and the others at the Compound can do." T'Challa says, his voice full of sincerity, "If you stay away much longer there is a real possibility you will lose the possibility of a relationship with Cooper, and maybe Lila and Nathaniel eventually too." T'Challa reveals and Clint just stands in silence, as T'Challa's words drift over him.
"What are the conditions on my pardon?" Clint asks curious.
"You'll have to wear a monitor for six months. For three of those six months you will be confined to the Compound and then for the remained of those three months there will be places you cannot go and you will not be able to meet with those who went against the Accords." T'Challa reveals, "After those three months you will get the monitor removed and you can either choose to retire, without further issue, or sign the New Accords and follow them." T'Challa explains.
"That's all, that's all the conditions?" Clint asks.
"Yes." T'Challa says with a nod, "Tony has been working very hard to get this for you and he told me to tell you, in his words 'Tell Barton that if he doesn't take this deal then I'm going to devote all my time and energy to finding him and kicking his ass because his wife deserves so much better" T'Challa quotes, and Clint can't help but laugh, "For what it's worth I do believe Tony was telling the truth."
"Yeah." Clint mutters, not overly sure how to respond to that, instead he thinks about everything T'Challa just said, and everything it means, "I'll take the deal." Clint says.
"Good, you're making the right decision." T'Challa informs him, picking up something off his desk.
"I need to talk to the others, tell them my decision." Clint reveals.
"Of course." T'Challa answers, "You'll need to sign this. It's the pardon agreement." T'Challa says, handing a folder over to Clint.
"Okay." Clint says opening it, "Pen?" he asks and T'Challa hands one over, as he has it Clint signs the agreement and then hands it over to T'Challa, "When can I go home."
"I can arrange transport for first thing in the morning." T'Challa explains.
"Thank you, your majesty." Clint says gratefully before heading out, and heading back to the Avengers area.
A few minutes later Clint walks back into the area where Steve, Sam, Wanda and Scott are and honestly he isn't at all surprised to find the accords still on the table, looking like they haven't been touched.
"What did T'Challa have to say?" Steve asks curious.
"We talked about my family, about my options." Clint explains.
"You're going back, aren't you?" Sam asks, seeing the look on Clint's face.
"I have to. I need to be with my wife, and kids, I need to make things right with them." Clint reveals.
"So, you're choosing Stark." Wanda says, sounding annoyed.
"I'm choosing my family." Clint tells her, "Wanda if I stay away from them too much longer I will never be able to get them back, and I have to." Clint explains, "I better go pack." He says before heading out and to the room that he has been staying in.
"What are we going to do?" Scott asks as Clint leaves.
"I cannot make a choice for anyone else, but I'm leaving Wakanda, tonight." Steve reveals, "The Accords will limit how much we can help, but in the past few months we've forgotten that. We haven't helped anyone, and we have to." He explains, "I would understand if any of you decided to stay here, or go back to the compound." Steve reveals.
"Of course I'm coming with you." Sam says.
"Me too." Wanda says.
"Sam." Scott adds.
"Thank you." Steve says gratefully, "We'll leave once everyone is asleep."
December 13th 2016. Wakanda.
Morning.
Having spent a while tossing and turning in his bed Clint can't handle it anymore so he gets up, gets dressed, picks up his bag and heads out of the room. As he does he looks around and Clint becomes pretty sure that it is the first morning where Sam and Steve aren't awake first. Looking around the room Clint notices a note on the table and so he walks over to it and picks it up,
Clint,
We couldn't stay anymore. We all have to do what we have to do, you reminded me of that. I don't have to read the accords to know that they aren't right and Sam, Wanda and Scott agree. I hope you can make things right with your family, you deserve to. Tell T'Challa that I will be getting him a way to contact me if something changes with Bucky soon, but until then I trust him to look after my friend.
Thank you for your help,
Steve.
"Couldn't even say goodbye." Clint mutters, not overly sure what he is feeling.
"Clint." A voice says and he looks up to see T'Challa, "Is something wrong?" he asks concerned.
"They're gone." Clint reveals, handing over the letter, "They must have snuck away in the night."
"I see." T'Challa says with a frown.
"I'm ready to go home, if that's okay." Clint reveals.
"Of course. You're plane is ready." T'Challa says, "You'll need to give this to Tony." He says, handing over the file.
"Okay." Clint says with a nod.
"Follow me." T'Challa requests and Clint follows behind.
As he follows the king of Wakanda Clint can't help but think about his family. He can't help but wonder how they are and whether they will ever forgive him, though he hopes so and he knows that he will never stop trying.