Chapter 82

AN: Thank you for the support. Next chapter will be sooner than 24 hours away because I this is my last night shift until later this week. Please let me know what you think of this chapter.


November 2000

A few weeks have passed since the entire family came together to watch Yelena's soccer game and in that time, it has become clear that both Daisy and Yelena consider Kate to be a friend and Kate considers both of them too be as well. It is the first Friday in November and even though they have just gotten back to their home, the Lebanon house, Melinda, Natasha, Daisy, Yelena and Bobbi are all in their respective rooms getting ready to leave again.

"We really should have made sure we had everything packed up last night," Natasha says as she and Melinda are making their way around their bedroom getting everything they need packed up, feeling that it was such a stupid mistake not to get everything ready the night before.

"Yep, we should have," Melinda says. "If we don't leave soon, we're going to have to call G if we want to get him in time, and he's already got enough on his plate," Melinda says, knowing that while Gordon wouldn't mind she would.

"Who is he already getting?" Natasha asks curious, as while she could guess she isn't sure.

"Kora, Aunt Jiaying, Aunt Peggy, Hope, I think maybe Tony and Mary, or they may already be in DC," Melinda admits, honestly not sure, though she suspects that Tony may already be in DC to make sure everything for the wedding is set up properly. "Either way he has enough on his plate," Melinda admits, knowing that Gordon may also be using his gift to collect last minute things they need, as she closes the bag, she is putting things in.

"Sounds like it," Natasha realises as she also closes her bag. "Okay, I'm ready, you?" Natasha asks, glancing around the room to make sure she hasn't forgotten anything.

"Yep, let's hope the girls are," Melinda says as they both pick up their bag and head out of their room. To both Melinda and Natasha's relief when they check they realise that all three of their girls are ready to go and within five minutes they are all in the car driving out of the garage.


A while after they left the Lebanon house, Natasha's driving thankfully managing to cut down on their travel time, Melinda, Natasha and their girls are walking through the front door of the Carter-Stark house where Clint and Laura's wedding is going to be taking place, a house that the entire family are going to be staying at for the weekend.

"About time you got here," Tony says, seeing them walk into the house, trying to hide the fact that he was waiting for them as he was starting to worry about them. "It wouldn't have looked good for the Best Women not to show," Tony says amused, looking at Natasha, who rolls her eyes, knowing Tony well enough to know that he is trying to hide the fact he was worried.

"We got a little held up at the house, we weren't as prepared as we should have been," Melinda explains, like Natasha she has realised that Tony was worried, and she didn't need her gift to tell her that.

"Wow, you two weren't prepared? I'm never going to let you forget that," Tony says amused, as he knows that both Melinda and Natasha are usually incredibly prepared, so the fact that they weren't isn't something he will let them forget any time soon.

"Uncle Tony, has dinner started?" Bobbi asks curious, deciding it would be best to step in before her mothers and uncle get into an argument.

"Nope, you've got about five minutes," Tony assures her.

"Great, we'll be in the dinning room in five minutes," Natasha says and while she, Melinda, Bobbi, Yelena, and Daisy head upstairs to put their stuff away Tony heads back to where the others are, feeling glad that he will be able to tell the others that the Romanoff-May family have arrived.

Less than ten minutes later Melinda, Natasha, Bobbi, Yelena and Daisy have retuned back downstairs and the five of them have joined Tony, Mary, Peggy, Jiaying, Kora, Gordon, Clint, Laura, Harrison, Sharon, Angelica, Antoine, Hope, Maria, Coulson, Rhodey, and Fury sitting around the, very large, table that is covered in food for their dinner.

"Before we eat, there's something I want to say," Clint says, standing up, and causing everyone around the table to look at him. "I never had a good idea of what a family was meant to be, then Mellie and Phil recruited me, and I recruited Nat," Clint says, looking between them as he speaks. "Then something incredible happen, I met a family who embraced me, we took me in as one of their own, this family," Clint says, looking around. "You all taught me what a real family is, how loving and supportive it can be, what family is truly willing to do for each other and how incredible that is, and because of that when I met Laura, and when she walked into our office, I wasn't scared of what I felt, I embraced it like you all embraced me," Clint says, knowing he is incredibly lucky to have been embraced so much. "Tomorrow I'm going to marry my best friend, the love of my life, and it means everything to me to have all of you here," Clint says, as he knows it wouldn't be right getting married without everyone who is sitting around the table present, though he can also feel the absences of William and Lian. "To Family," Clint says, toasting to everyone.

"To family," Everyone repeats, toasting with each other, and the entire family proceed to have an incredible dinner together, celebrating Clint and Laura's upcoming marriage.


From early the next morning everyone who is at the Carter-Stark DC property are extremely busy working to get everything ready for the wedding, though they did manage to have a nice breakfast together. Having just checked on Maria and Hope who, with help from Yelena and Daisy, are making sure all the chairs have flowers on them, Natasha, who like Kora is wearing a light pink strapless dress with her hair down, is making her way to the room Clint is getting ready in and once there she knocks on the door.

"Come in," Clint's voice responds and Natasha walks into the room, finding Clint in his suit, but having his tie undone, pacing back and forth. As she sees him Natasha doesn't need Melinda's gift to know that he is nervous.

"I was going to ask how you're doing, but I think I have my answer," Natasha admits, as she walks into the room and closes the door behind her. "Clint, it will be okay," Natasha assures her friend as she walks over to him, knowing what matters most at the moment is calming Clint down.

"What if it's not? What if I become just like my dad?" Clint asks worried, voicing his biggest fear, only feeling comfortable enough to do so because it is Natasha he is talking to.

"Not possible," Natasha assures him. "Clint you're a good man, you don't hurt people, you look after them, you protect them, I see how kind and gentle you are every time you interact with my girls," Natasha tells him, as she starts to do up his tie for him. "I have had the privilege of watching you and Laura fall in love, I know how much you love her, how happy you are together, you're ready for this, you're going to be a great husband," Natasha tells her friend, believing that.

"I… you're a pretty amazing friend," Clint says, feeling amazed at Natasha's words and feeling unsure about what to say in responds to Natasha's words and so she hugs her. "I love you, Nat," Clint says, to the person, other than Laura, he considers his best friend.

"I love you too," Natasha responds, feeling incredibly happy for Clint on his special day.


While Natasha is doing her best woman duty by checking on Clint Kora is doing her maid of honour duty by walking into the room where Laura is getting ready in.

"Wow, you look incredible," Kora says to her friend as she walks over to Laura who is wearing a wedding dress that is quite simple in design, but looks incredible in it, in part because of the way the white looks with her bright gold eyes as she decided that she did not want to wear contacts today.

"Thanks," Laura says, smiling back at her. "I can't get my hair pinned right, can you help?" Laura asks curious.

"Sure," Kora says, walking over and grabbing the box of bobby pins and a comb. "How are you feeling?" Kora asks curious, as she walks back over to Laura and gets started on helping her with her hair.

"Excited…. Nervous," Laura admits. "I can't wait to marry Clint, but I'm also nervous, scared about what it's going to be like," Laura admits.

"From what I know it's going to be a lot like how your relationship has always been like," Kora says, though she knows she doesn't have much experience with serious relationships, though she is an expert in having flings. "Lor, you love Clint. You're incredibly happy together, and you're going to continue to be, I just know it," Kora says to her friend.

"Thanks Kor," Laura says, turning around to face her friend who she hugs and once they break apart they continue to get ready for the wedding.


An hour after she walked into the room where Clint was getting ready Natasha is standing next to Clint, below an arch that Fury is standing in the middle of, in the backyard of the Carter-Stark property that has been decorated with both a ceremony space and a reception area.

As Natasha, Clint, and Fury, who is actually wearing a suit, are waiting under the arch the rest of their family, with the exceptions of Yelena, Daisy, Kora and Laura, are sitting in the chairs that have been set up in front of the arch, either side of the isle, but as they are all family there is no 'bride's' side or 'groom' side everyone is just sitting around.

"Just breathe Barton," Fury says to him in his usual calming voice, being able to tell how nervous he is, as Peggy presses play on the stereo and the wedding march Laura and Clint choose starts to play.

Seconds after the music starts to play Daisy, who is the flower girl, and Yelena who is the ring bearer start to walk up the isle together and to the arch. Once they have made their way to the arch Kora walks up and then finally Laura, with a smile on her face, walks up to the isle, her eyes only on Clint.

"Hi," Laura greats, once she is at the end of the isle.

"Hi," Clint says, smiling back at her, as they both move so that they are standing in front of Fury and the arch.

"We all know what brought us here today. In our world we don't get a lot of good, so we need to take the time to embrace the good moments when they happen," Fury says, looking around at the group as her speaks. "Clint and Laura have asked us all to share their moment today, to witness as they make the ultimate commitment to each other, and it is my absolute privilege to be the one they asked to marry them," Fury says, and he proceeds to marry Clint and Laura with a style only he can pull off, which is exactly what Laura and Clint where hoping for when they asked him to marry them, as everyone they consider to be family watches on.


About an hour after Fury married Clint and Laura the entire family are celebrating Clint and Laura's marriage by having their own little reception. While everyone in the family is speed out throughout the backyard doing various things to Clint and Laura and Melinda and Natasha, like several other members of the family, are dancing.

"So, are we supposed to ignore the fact that Tony and Mary obviously snuck of to one of the bedrooms?" Natasha asks amused, as she and Melinda dance together, feeling amused that they hid what they were doing so badly.

"Until we need to give him a hard time, yeah," Melinda confirms, knowing that when she gets a chance, she is going to give Tony a hard time about being subtle. "Daisy and Yelena are both trying to sneak cake," Melinda informs Natasha.

"I noticed, I figured we would let them be unless they do something actually disruptive," Natasha admits.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Melinda says, before glancing over to where Laura and Clint are dancing and smiling. "They're so happy," Melinda says, smiling because she can feel their emotions.

"Yeah, they are, they deserve it," Natasha confirms, then she turns to Melinda. "I know it may never be possible, but I'd marry you if I could," Natasha says to Melinda, meaning what she is saying completely which is pretty incredible as a few short years ago she would have never even considered saying those words, let alone meaning them.

"I'd marry you too if I could," Melinda says, being able to feel how much Natasha means that and knowing she would feel exactly the same if she could, before leaning forward and kissing Natasha, and once they break apart, they continue to dance together.

A little way away from where Melinda and Natasha are dancing together Hope is sitting and just taking in everything when Maria walks over and hands her a glass of champagne and sits down next to her.

"No one stopped you?" Hope asks as she takes the drink, more surprised about that than she should be.

"Nah, they're all too distracted," Maria admits. "I think even Sharon, Bobbi and Antoine could get away with taking glasses, if they wanted to," Maria admits, though she knows she isn't going to suggest they try. "Daisy and Yelena definitely couldn't," Maria admits, as she is pretty sure that everyone would notice if they tried.

"That's a good thing," Hope admits. "But I wouldn't be surprised if before long no one is paying attention to what is actually going on in this backyard," Hope comments, hoping no one decides to try to attack as she is sure that that will end badly.

"You're kidding right? Just because Mellie, Nat, Clint and Laura are dancing doesn't mean they won't notice what is going on," Maria comments, being sure that the four of them are experienced enough agents to still pay attention to what is going on despite what else they are doing, in fact unlike Hope she is sure that If someone were to attack they would have no hope at succeeding.

"I wasn't talking to them," Hope comments, and Maria gives her a confused look.

"What are you talking about?" Maria asks confused.

"You're kidding right? Aren't you meant to be the spy not me?" Hope asks with a grin on her face that Maria is sure she learnt from Tony.

"Are you going to be smug, or are you going to tell me what you've noticed?" Maria asks curious.

"Well, I could keep being smug," Hope says, and Maria gives her an annoyed look, one she doesn't actually mean. "But I'll take pity," Hope explains. "Well, to start with Uncle Tony and Mary have disappeared upstairs, you don't have to be a genius like me to realise what they're doing," Hope comments.

"That I did notice," Maria admits, having noticed that they weren't actually subtle with their 'sneaking'. "I also noticed that Daisy and Yelena are stealing food," Maria comments.

"Yeah, I think even Aunt Mellie and Aunt Nat noticed that, and are just letting them be," Hope admits, though she knows she will keep an eye on them to make sure they don't get into too much trouble. "But they're not the biggest concern," Hope admits.

"Oh, enlighten me, what is the biggest concern?" Maria asks curious, as she looks around, trying to figure out what Hope considers to be the biggest concern.

"Still working on that, but I think I can eliminate Sharon, Bobbi and Antoine, who are huddled in a corner clearly panning something," Hope comments, and once she does Maria glances over to where the trio are, clearly whispering to each other.

"I don't know, I think they could surprise us," Maria admits, as form what she has seen, despite their young ages, she is pretty sure that when Sharon, Bobbi and Antoine team up there is nothing they can't do together.

"Oh definitely," Hope admits, knowing how capable the trio are. "But I don't think they are as concerning as Aunt Peggy who is doing shots with Fury while Aunt Jiaying is, it seems like, encouraging them, or as concerning as the fact that Aunt Kora, Uncle Harrison and Uncle Rhodey are mixing drinks while Uncle Coulson, Uncle G and Aunt Angelica are going between drinking what they're making and dancing together," Hope explains, knowing her family well enough to know that those drinks are likely extremely strong.

"So basically, you're saying that we should expect chaos," Maria realises, as she looks between the people Hope named.

"Yep," Hope confirms. "To enjoyable chaos," Hope says, raising the glass she got from Maria and toasting her.

"To enjoyable chaos," Maria says and the two of them toast and drink their champagne, both very much looking forward to seeing what happens next as they know that considering their family it's bound to be enjoyable.

Across the dance floor from where Maria and Hope are sitting Clint and Laura, like Melinda and Natasha, are dancing together but unlike Melinda and Natasha the newlyweds are completely oblivious to what everyone else is doing because they are so happy.

"So, did today go exactly how you wanted it to go?" Clint asks Laura curious.

"It was even better, it was perfect," Laura admits.

"It was," Clint confirms. "I love you Mrs Barton," Clint says to her.

"I love you, Mr Barton," Laura responds and the two of them kiss.

After a few moments Clint and Laura break apart and once they do the two of them continue to dance together as they enjoy their wedding celebration with their, rather chaotic, family who they love so dearly.