Chapter 76
AN: Thank you for the support. Hope you like this chapter.
FOR THOSE READING THIS ON FFN I have changed the category to Agents of shield rather than crossover as I counted, and I realised there are (or at least will be) more Agents of shield characters as key focuses over Avengers ones. Also, sorry if you just got a whole lot of random emails for chapters I posed days ago, it must have been a strange FFN glitch.
While their mothers are on their way back from the house, they hope will become their home Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena, who have no idea what their mothers have been doing, are with Tony at the safehouse they have been living at playing boardgames together. As they play their game Tony sees exactly what Melinda and Natasha said, that none of the girls are comfortable living in the safehouse, and it really disturbs him to see how quiet the girls are as if there is one thing he can usually count on it's how loud and 'big' in a sense Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena usually are.
"Uncle Tony, do you know when Mom and Mama will be home?" Yelena asks curious, as she can't help but worry that something bad is going to happen if they are not home soon.
"I don't," Tony admits, and he doesn't need Melinda's gift to realise the girls are disappointed by that, which he doesn't take personally because he knows how much the three of them love their mothers. "So, how about when we finish this round we make cookies together," Tony suggests, going to without even realising it, the same method Ana Jarvis would use to distract him when he was a child.
"Chocolate chip?" Daisy asks.
"Yeah, chocolate chip," Tony confirms.
"That would be great," Bobbi says excited, as both her sisters look extremely excited as well.
"Good, then let's get this wrapped up," Tony says, and while it is clear the girls enjoy the rest of the game it is also perfectly clear that they are rushing a little so that they make cookies.
A couple of hours after Tony suggested making cookies the cookies are just coming out of the oven when the door to the garage opens, the second it does Tony notices Daisy, Yelena, and even Bobbi tense, which fills him with pain as he never wanted them to feel so afraid all the time, just like he knows Melinda and Natasha didn't want that for their girls either.
"Talk about perfect timing," Tony says as Melinda and Natasha walk into view, hiding from the girls the fact that he made sure a knife was within reaching distance just in case it wasn't them, something which both Melinda and Natasha realised. "We just finished making cookies," Tony reveals.
"They smell great," Natasha notes.
"Did you all have a great day with Uncle Tony?" Melinda asks, looking between her girls.
"Yep," Yelena says as Daisy and Bobbi nod in agreement while Tony moves the cookies over to a cooling tray.
"That's good to hear," Natasha says. "Bobbi, Yelena, Daisy, while the cookies are cooling there is something Mom and I want to talk to you about," Natasha says.
"Is everything okay?" Bobbi asks concerned.
"It is," Melinda confirms. "In fact, what we need to talk about is something that Mama and I think is very good," Melinda admits, being able to feel that all three of the girls are curious about that. "How about we all sit down," Melinda says, gesturing to the couches, and so all three of the girls, Melinda, Natasha, and Tony once he has finished putting the cookies on the cooling rack, walk over to the couches and sit down, while the girls sit on a couch together Melinda and Natasha sit down in front of them while Tony sits on a nearby arm chair. "Before she died Grandma brought land in Pennsylvania, near a town called Lebanon and built a house on the land," Melinda explains to her girls, once everyone, including Tony, are sitting down.
"Mom and I went there today, and if it's okay with the three of you we'd like us all to move there before the end of summer," Natasha explains, looking between her daughters.
"You want us to move again?" Bobbi asks, and Melinda can feel that while she is glad to be getting out of the safehouse she is also disappointed.
"We do, but it is our hope that this would be our home for a long time," Melinda tells her daughter, knowing that while they can't promise everything they hope that with the other measures they put in place, including the girls going to school in New York, and changing vehicles when they drive from New York to the house, they will be able to live at the house for a very long time.
"I'd have to change schools again," Yelena says, sounding almost glad about that, which causes Melinda and Natasha to frown as neither of them realised she was having issues at her school, so they both know it is something they will have to discuss with her.
"You would," Natasha tells her. "But because of where the house is and to make sure we're all as safe as possible you'll be going to school in New York," Natasha explains.
"Cool," Daisy, who is already excited about starting school, mutters feeling even more excited.
"Will we have a backyard again?" Bobbi asks, proving what Melinda and Natasha already suspected which is she misses having an outside area.
"We will, and there's even a pool," Melinda says and as soon as she says that it is perfectly clear to the three adults how excited the girls are about that. "Mama and I were thinking that six of us could head out there tomorrow, see what you all think," Melinda explains to the girls, who she feels are all really glad that Tony is going to be with them.
"Do you think we're going to like it, Mama?" Yelena asks, looking at Natasha.
"I do," Natasha confirms. "But if there is anything you don't like, or anything that makes you feel uncomfortable Mom and I want you to tell us, so we can talk about it," Natasha admits.
"We know the last year has been hard, and upsetting, but Mama and I think moving will be a good thing for us all. So, we need you to say so if you don't like the house, or if you don't think it will be," Melinda explains. "Do you think you can do that?" Melinda asks her girls.
"Yes Mom," Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena say together.
"Good," Melinda says and she, and Natasha lean forward and hug their girls. After about a minute they break apart and together the five of them, and Tony share the cookies they made.
Just like the day before Melinda and Natasha head out to the Lebanon house early, but unlike the day before this time they are accompanied by Tony and their girls, and because of that fact they take a bigger car than the day before.
Just like the day before Natasha, who is driving, makes sure they haven't been followed, before pulling into the driveway of the house, and just like the day before she parks the car on the outside paved area rather than puling into one of the garage spaces.
"Cool," Daisy mutters, feeling that the house looks pretty amazing.
"Wait until you see inside," Melinda says, and the girls, as well as Tony who is clearly taking notice of everything, walk into the house.
"So, Mom and I can give a tour, or we can wait down here and you can look around on your own, what would you like to do?" Natasha asks her daughters, as they walk into the entry way, feeling that it is important they give the girls as much control as they can.
"I'd like to explore on my own," Bobbi admits, as she wants to be able to get a real feel for the place, and she can only do that without her mothers.
"Same," Yelena confirms.
"Me too!" Daisy says, clearly just agreeing with her sisters.
"Okay, we'll be down here," Melinda says, and once she does the girls head upstairs, Bobbi taking Daisy's hand to help her up the stairs.
"I'm going to explore too," Tony says, surprising neither Melinda nor Natasha.
"Of course you are," Natasha says amused, and Tony walks away, heading to the basement. "What do you think? Do they like it?" Natasha asks curious, wanting to know what Melinda feels from their girls.
"So far," Melinda admits.
"Good," Natasha says relieved, and she reaches out and takes Melinda's hand. "Let's go figure out how we'll set out our office," Natasha suggests, thinking that could be a good thing for them to do.
"Let's," Melinda says, and the two of them head to the office, both planning on distracting themselves while their girls explore.
After leaving their mothers Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena head upstairs and as they get to the top of the landing Yelena can't help but look around.
"Cool," Yelena says, feeling amazed as she realises the view.
"You okay, Lena?" Bobbi asks her sister.
"Yeah," Yelena answers. "I think I like this place," Yelena admits, looking a bit sheepish as she admits that.
"I think I like it too," Bobbi confirms, giving her sister a comforting smile. "Daze? What do you think?" Bobbi asks her sister.
"It's big… I like it," Daisy says with a grin, causing Bobbi to laugh at her sister, feeling amused that that is what is important to her.
"It really is," Bobbi confirms. "Let's see if the bedrooms are big too," Bobbi says to her sisters and together the three of them proceed to explore the upper level together and as they do each of the three sisters can imagine themselves living in the house their grandmother built.
While Melinda and Natasha are in the office their girls and Tony are exploring the rest of the house, and in Tony's case the backyard and shed too. For Daisy, who barely remembers their previous houses, she absolutely loves the house, and even Bobbi and Yelena who do remember the other places they called home, love it to.
A while after the girls and Tony left Melinda and Natasha they are still in the office when Tony walks in.
"So, I've got to give it to Lian, she clearly knew what she was doing," Tony admits. "Because of what's put in place I could get the whole place wired to generators in less than an hour if you wanted that kind of backup or to be off the grid," Tony admits, knowing that could be something they might want.
"Thanks Tony," Melinda says, thinking that it could be a good backup. "Does that mean you approve?" Melinda asks curious, as Tony's opinion is one that she and Melinda truly value.
"Oh yeah," Tony says with a nod. "I think this could be good, plus that kitchen is pretty great," Tony admits.
"It is isn't it?" Natasha asks, and she and Tony both excitedly talk about the kitchen and due to the fact that she is feeling what they are both feeling Melinda can't help but smile.
About twenty minutes after Tony joined Melinda and Natasha in the office, ever since which the three of them have been discussing practical considerations about the house, including things Tony is wiling to offer to help, the three of them are once again joined by Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena. The second the three girls walk into the office; Melinda can feel what they are feeling and knows exactly what they are going to say.
"So, what do you think?" Natasha asks her daughters.
"It's amazing!" Bobbi asks excited. "Can we pick our own rooms?" Bobbi asks curious.
"Only if there are no arguments," Melinda says as while she and Natasha have made assumptions about which room each of the girls will take, they both know that ultimately it will depend on what the girls want.
"Does that mean you want us to move here?" Natasha asks, looking between the girls.
"Yes!" Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena say together.
"It feels like it could be home," Yelena admits.
"I feel safe here," Daisy admits, and while it hurts Melinda, Natasha, and Tony to know that is something Daisy has considered they are also very glad to hear it.
"I'm really glad to hear that," Melinda tells her girls, realising that Bobbi is feeling that this is the fresh start they all need, and she has to agree, even though it is painful. "Would you like to see outback?" Melinda asks the girls.
"Yes!" Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena say excitedly, and hearing that Melinda, Natasha, and Tony head through the living area, and to the kitchen where they use the French doors to head outside.
Hours after Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena confirmed they want to move to the Lebanon House the three of them, Melinda, Natasha and Tony are back in DC at the safehouse discussing rooms, having decided that Daisy will have the room next to Melinda and Natasha's room, Yelena will have the corner room, Bobbi will have the room across from the stairs, and Tony jokingly, though Melinda and Natahsa both know he is serious and don't mind, has claimed the room above the garage.
"Do you really think we can be ready to move in a week?" Bobbi asks curious as her mothers have just finished explaining their plan to have them moved out to the Lebanon house within a week, something they want to do as they want the girls to be settled into their new home before school starts.
"I think we can if we work hard," Natasha admits. "Do you think you're up for that?" Natasha asks her daughters.
"Yes!" Yelena says excitedly, and both Bobbi and Daisy nod in agreement.
"Good," Melinda says approvingly, and before they can say anything else the door opens and Hope, who called to say she would be coming back today, walks into the safehouse.
"Hi, Hope," Bobbi greats, looking glad to see her, as the two of them get along really well, and even if she hasn't admitted it out loud, she sees Hope as the closest thing she has to a big sister.
"Hi Little Bird," Hope greats, and then she notices who else is in the living room. "Uncle Tony?" Hope asks surprised. "I didn't know you were going to be," Hope admits, feeling concerned.
"It was a bit of a last-minute thing," Tony admits. "How was your class?" Tony asks curious.
"Good, intense, but I feel like it was really informative," Hope admits.
"Hope, we're moving soon!" Daisy says excitedly, and as soon as she does Melinda can feel that Hope is hurt, and terrified of being abandoned.
"That's great," Hope says, forcing a smile. "I can get packed up and go back to MIT," Hope says, clearly not sure if she is gong to be welcome.
"Hope, no. No matter where we live, you'll always have a place, always have a room," Melinda assures her, not surprised that Hope needs that confirmation considering how Hank can be, but she can feel the hurt both Natasha and Tony feel at hearing Hope need that conformation, as well as the anger they are both feeling.
"Really?" Hope asked amazed, as she wanted to believe that she would have a place she didn't want to assume.
"Really," Natasha confirms. "In fact, you are going to have your choice of four rooms," Natasha says, assuming Hope will want the room with an ensuite. Feeling completely amazed by that Hope drops her bag and hurries over to Melinda and Natahsa, who are sitting next to each other, and hugs them tightly.
"Thank you, thank you," Hope says as she hugs Melinda and Natasha while Tony smiles as he watches the trio.
"You never have to thank us Kid," Melinda assures her. "We were just actually discussing moving practicals, if you want to join in," Melinda says to Hope, making it clear they want her opinion, as the three of them break apart.
"Sure," Hope says, sitting down with Bobbi, Daisy and Yelena. "I'm happy to whatever I can to help," Hope admits, and together the seven of them proceed to discuss all the practical considerations about what moving will entail.
A few hours after Hope arrive back at the safehouse Bobbi, Daisy, and Yelena are in bed while Melinda, Natasha, Tony and Hope have been joined in the living area of the Safehouse by Coulson, Rhodey, Clint, Laura, Maria, Fury, Peggy, Jiaying, Kora, Gordon, Harrison and Angelica, the ladder of whom having been able to join last minute as Sharon is with her mother while Antoine is staying at a friends place, while everyone else, except for Fury, were brought to the Safehouse by Gordon.
As they know they are going to need their family's help, as it's true that it takes a village, Melinda and Natasha have just finished explaining to their family that they are going to be moving and what they plan regarding school and SHIELD are.
"I don't see a problem with you operating out of New York for most of the week, but there will be times you need to be at the Triskelion," Fury tells Melinda and Natasha, knowing that he can't give them a blanket, 'they can always work out of New York all the time' as operational requirements make it impossible to predict.
"Of course, we thought that might be the case," Natasha admits.
"Even if the girls go to school in New York, you should still become familiar with Lebanon, become a part of the community," Peggy suggest to Melinda and Natasha. "Lian choose to build the house there because she thought the community aspect was a good thing," Peggy explains.
"Good to know," Melinda admits, the fact that her mother considered that also supports her theory that Lian always considered her, Natasha and the girls to end up living in the house. "We do hope to become apart of the town, but initially we are going to focus on getting settled in," Melinda admits.
"Probably a good idea," Coulson admits. "Whatever help you need, I'm there," Coulson assures them.
"Thanks Coulson," Natasha says gratefully.
"I know what you want most is to keep the girls safe, have you considered having them go by different last name at school?" Harrison asks, as he knows the attention having the last name Carter has caused him, and Sharon, and he knows that both Melinda and Tony have faced similar issues due to their last names, so he suspects that having the girls go by Romanoff, May or both is just going to cause issues.
"We have," Natasha admits, as that is one of the longest discussions she and Melinda have had "And as difficult as it is we're going to register all three of the girls under the last name Johnson," Natasha says, as while they considered registering the girls under the name Morse Johnson is more common and because of that they decided it would be best, and as it is such a common name they have no reason to suspect a connection will ever be made to Cal.
"The girls aren't completely happy with it, but Bobbi understands, and is helping her sisters too," Melinda says, as they discussed it with them earlier, very much wishing that that wasn't the case, but it is necessary, though she and Natasha have made it perfectly clear that as far as they are both considered their girls last names are Romanoff-May or in Bobbi's case her full name is Barbra Morse Romanoff-May.
"As hard as it is, it is probably for the best," Maria says.
"Still sucks though," Tony says, reminding everyone how he has struggled with his own name, and together the group proceed to discuss, in very explicit detail not just their moving plans but their future plans which involves discussions about when they will drive from the Lebanon house to New York to take the girls to school and when they will have Gordon teleport them to the completely off book Carter-Stark apartment which is going to be the address they use to register the girls in school. Due to how intense the conversations are, and the sheer details of things that need to be discussed it is several hours before any of them go to bed or leave the Safehouse.
