I know it's a little (okay, how about really) late to tell you that this story has Captain America: The Winter Soldier spoilers, but it does. Sorry if I ruined the movie for any of you! Anyways, I present to you for your reading pleasure the next chapter of this story!

Chapter Twenty-Six

"Have you heard anything from him?" Steve asked me the next morning, an extra cup of coffee already sitting beside him on the counter waiting for me. Last night had been a sleepless one. What could Aunt Nat tell him that would make him change his mind? Sure, she was his wife and a master at persuasion, but I doubted that my uncle would budge on a topic like this. He was a stubborn hard-head like me. Some Barton traits were great in a fight, but a real pain when you wanted them do something that they'd already set their minds not to do.

"No." The bitterness of the coffee tasted stronger with disappointment. Not only could I not train with Steve, but my uncle was probably still furious. It wasn't turning out to be a good morning. I felt the touch of calloused yet soft skin and I saw Steve's hand placed gingerly on mine.

"It'll be alright." The corners of his lips tilted upward slightly.

I tried to smile back, despite my lack of faith in his words. It wasn't alright, but his encouragement helped ease my pain. He had a way of doing that with his smile, you know. It wasn't the Captain America smile that was plastered up on every Captain America-loving teenage girl's wall, but the smile that belonged to Steve Rogers. It was from the man who sat with me with a caramel machiatto with whipped cream on top and watched the sunrise every morning. And it made me feel better than any one smile that came from the famous masked Avenger.

"Did you know you have a beautiful smile?" His question left me in silent awe, but he surprised me with the normality of his tone; similar to a "how are you" when meeting an old friend.

I could feel my cheeks burn slightly at the question, but I quickly felt embarrassed, which only made my face burn hotter.

"No." I said quietly as we looked out towards the sunrise from the bar counter. But my curiosity could not keep my tongue silent for long. "What made you notice?"

I swore I saw his cheeks turn pink as he chuckled somewhat nervously. "When you laugh."

We were quiet for several moments, but I could feel something burning. The thermostat was probably set too high because I felt like I was going to pass out from the heat.

"Am I interrupting something?" My uncle's surprise house-call made us both jump in our seats.

"Uncle Clint? What are you doing up this early?" He was usually asleep this time of morning. Despite the old S.H.I.E.L.D. routine, twin toddlers kept him out for a while.

"Cap, can you excuse us?"

I wanted to grip Steve's hand and beg him not to leave. If my uncle flipped out, he wouldn't be there as a shield to stand between my uncle and me. He cast me a worried look before meeting his friend's gaze.

"Yeah." He exited, taking his coffee cup with him, a clear indicator he would come back (hopefully to find me still alive). He gave me one last look as the elevator doors shut behind him, giving me one last chance to give him a face that clearly told him 'If I'm not out in an hour, find me.' I slowly turned my head back to my uncle, who stood rooted to the spot, his expression unreadable.

"Is there enough coffee for one more?" Steve and I had not been expecting company, the first pot completely dry.

"I'll make some more." I quietly and nervously made my way over to the counter as my uncle resumed Steve's spot by the counter. As my hands shakily brewed the next batch, my thoughts wandered.

He seemed calm. I stole a few glances in his direction as his eyes wandered around the room, pretending to be interested in the paintings that hung on the walls. But I noticed the muscles in his arms were tense, meaning his mind was on more than just the pretty pictures on the walls.

I tried to keep my hands from shaking as I placed a cup in front of him. He looked into the cup as if half-expecting for something to jump out of it. His hands eventually curled around it, bringing the hot liquid close to his lips, but he immediately placed it back down.

"This isn't easy." He spoke softly.

I was quiet. Bartons had a difficult time managing their feelings. It was a strenuous task to get them out one word at a time. But all we needed was someone to listen to us when we decided it was time to let them out. When Dad died, Uncle Clint was my rock. I suppose that's why Aunt Nat was such a good match for him; the way she was silent when he needed to talk made her invaluable as a partner to him. He needed her as much as she needed him to smooth out her rough edges, which required the same technique of silence and understanding.

"When you almost died by the Dark Hand, things changed for us. We started to watch you more often, but we wanted to give you a fair amount of privacy. But if the Dark Hand was evil, HYDRA is a million times worse than that." He paused, his hands now clenched on the cup in front of him. He could smash it into a thousand pieces if he gripped it too hard.

"They tortured Steve's best friend, brainwashed him and made him into a killer. They've tried to kill all of us on occasion. They even killed Stark's parents. They've played a part in creating wars and supported terrorist groups. Thousands of people have died in their wake and they are willing to kill thousands more to get the power they desire. And they'll do anything to stop those who stand in their way. If takes our family and friends to stop us, they wouldn't bat an eyelash at doing so."

I should have been trying to take it in, but I didn't want to. They sounded like the Dark Hand. But worse. And I didn't want to imagine such monsters.

"Hannah, after S.H.I.E.L.D. went down, we had to cling to our most treasure possessions; our families and friends. We don't do it because we enjoy it. We hate it as much as you do. But we do it for you. We fight to keep our loved ones close so that they can be safe. After HYDRA reared it's ugly head, we had to stress more rules. We had to watch you constantly. We took shifts walking around your campus to make absolutely sure you were safe. Stark and Banner inserted a microchip so that we would know where you were. Your cousins have to stay cooped up in the Tower almost every day because they're so mischievous and could sneak right past us if we're not careful. But we only do it because we love and care about you. You may not have known it, but when you almost died, this whole Tower almost fell apart. And that was just when you first arrived here. If something happened to you now at the hands of HYDRA, this family would fall to pieces. Please, try to understand this side of the story. I, as well as your aunt and friends, couldn't bear to lose you."

I sat there, frozen. The microchip? The secret spy shifts at my college? HYDRA? And the past four years, everyone had been sneaking around, watching my every move?

But I remembered the Dark Hand. I remembered the dark, old room and being strapped to a chair, dying while their leader plotted to kill my aunt and uncle after I bled out. I remembered the hopelessness and the pain. The thought of never seeing either one of them again or of them hurting my family. My mind shifted to HYDRA: cold, sadistic monsters who only craved power. They'd murdered innocent people; men, women and children without a second thought. And they'd kill me and my little cousins who didn't stand a chance against them.

"But I also realize I can't stand by and allow you to walk around defenseless." With a sigh, he continued, "It would be a greater sin not to let you train and protect yourself when I've already put in you harms way. Although I hate the idea of you facing HYDRA one day, I know that it is near-inevitable. And that is why I am letting you train with Steve."

"Thank you." The words couldn't have come out quick enough. I could barely contain my excitement. My uncle embraced me in silence. But a mutual understanding was made between us that day, one that I would try to remember and remind myself of each day. Being a part of this family meant constant protection. But it was done only out of love.

"I won't let you down." I whispered in his ear and I could see a grin perk on his once-serious expression.

"You're just like me, you know." He was talking about the strong and stubborn uncle that had been with me ever since Dad died. But once in a while Bartons could be persuaded, despite our determination at remaining rooted in our ways. You only had to give us the right push.

"We're Bartons. It's in our blood."

Woohoo! Hannah is free to train with our favorite super soldier! Who's ready to see a training session?