You people are incredible for getting this far.

I spent the last four weeks editing the entire series and… whoa! That's a lot of words. I am amazed so many of you have made it this far. That you're still reading blows my mind. Thank you so much xxx

Clint looked up at the bulbous moon in the sky, surrounded by the twinkling stars, and took another swig from his bottle of beer.

He hated the nights.

It was easier in the days. When he was surrounded by the others, while they were working on the various projects to help people, when they were looking at the photos from Tony and Pepper's wedding and eating pizza, he could pretend it was okay.

But at night, when he went to bed alone, without even a call to Laura and the kids to say goodnight, it became a nightmare. So he would grab a few beers from the fridge and carry them outside to drink until he was buzzed enough to sleep.

Every night was the same

Except this one.

As Clint lowered the bottle from his mouth he saw a flash of light and then a kid walking towards him with a wary smile in place.

His first instinct was anger, to throw the bottle at Peter's head. That kid, with all the power of the Infinity Stones, hadn't stopped his family turning to dust in front of his eyes.

His second instinct was to feel a wave of pity, because he knew Peter had no control over what happened, had suffered because of it even,

His third instinct was hope, because there was something in Peter's smile that made him think the conversation they were about to have was going to help him in some way.

"They're okay," Peter said as soon as he was close enough to hear. "I just left them, Laura and the kids, and they're okay."

"You… They're… Are they…" Clint couldn't form a question, his mind was reeling..

Peter placed his hands on Clint's shoulders, holding him upright, and said, "I brought them together in the Soul Plane and took them home. Where they are now looks exactly like your farm. It technically is your farm—just not here."

Clint exhaled a huge breath that he felt like he had been holding since Thanos snapped his fingers.

Peter went on, giving Clint the news he needed and also a pang of longing to see them. "Lila and Nate were struggling at first, and Cooper, but he was trying to be the strong one, the man of the house. I stayed with them for a couple weeks, and they're good now. Laura is great—even though she misses you more than anything. She says she's doing it exactly like you planned and it's working."

Clint dropped his beer bottle, letting it smash on the ground, and wrapped his arms around Peter and yanked him as close as he could.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Peter embraced him in return and said, "I was happy to do it. And I have a great time with them. Nate loves Lego as much as me, and Cooper is always up for a game of Mario Kart. And Lila is teaching me archery, picking up where you took off, and I still suck."

Clint held him at arm's length and laughed then asked, "You're really doing all that with them?"

Peter nodded. "I am. And I've got a message from the kids. I think they voted on it or something."

Clint's eyes prickled and heart skipped. "What did they say?"

"'As soon as this nerd has saved the world, we want to go to Disney World.'"

Clint made a sound between a laugh and a sob and said, "I've been promising them that trip for years, but we never made it. I was too busy being a damn superhero."

"You can soon," Peter said. "I know this is impossible for you, them being gone and you being stuck here, but they are okay and I will make sure they stay okay. You focus on you and what you're doing here and let me take care of them." He bit his lip. "Can you trust me to do that?"

Clint didn't even have to think for a moment before he answered. "Kid, I trust you with the fate of the world, and Laura and the kids are my world. I trust you to take care of them. Just…" He but his lip. "You'll come tell me about them and them about me, right?"

Peter nodded. "As often as I can, I promise."

Clint pulled Peter into his arms again and held him tight against his chest. He had no words for how grateful he was to Peter for doing this for him: taking care of his family and bringing him news of them.

The five years stretched ahead of him felt like a mountain to climb, but he now felt that he could handle it.

With Peter on his side and his family's, he could make it through until they were back.

So… I know it was short but I felt it was important to check in with Clint and give him a little comfort.

Until next time…

Jadey xxx