Chapter 35: Family

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We fight, we earn, we never learn

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We fight, we earn, we never learn

And through it all the hero falls

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The team wearily approached the safe house just a couple of hours after the sun had cast its morning glow. Steve tenderly supported Alice, who was still weakened due to the lingering effects of what Wanda Maximoff had done to her mind back on the ship. As they neared the farmhouse, hidden away in the midst of nowhere, a sense of relief and tension filled the air.

Thor, his curiosity sparked, inquired, "What is this place?" as they reached the front porch.

"A safe house," Tony responded with a nonchalant air, though a hint of uncertainty lingered beneath his words.

"Let's hope," Barton added, opening the front door with Natasha by his side. "Honey? I'm home."

Confusion played on Alice's features as she observed her surroundings. The house bore the signs of a family life, with toys scattered around the place. A woman, heavily pregnant and with drawings and colouring pencils on her hands, emerged from the kitchen.

"Hi," she greeted the avengers warmly.

"Company. Sorry, didn't call ahead." Clint kissed the woman on the lips, which prompted confused looks from the team.

"This is an agent of some kind," Tony mumbled.

"Alice, gentlemen, this is Laura," Barton introduced her.

Laura, with a maternal grace, waved and smiled at everyone. "I know all of your names."

"Uh, incoming," Clint warned, hearing the loud footsteps approaching.

"Dad!" A young girl, followed by an older boy, rushed into Clint's arms.

"Hi sweetheart! Hey buddy!" he exclaimed, lifting the girl, and kissing the boy's head. "How are you guys doing?"

"What the hell is going on?" Confusion deepened within Alice as she whispered to Steve, seeking some explanation. Why hadn't Clint mentioned his family?

"These are... smaller agents," Tony quipped, still uncertain about the situation.

"Did you bring Auntie Nat?" the girl asked.

"Why don't you hug her and find out?" Nat replied as the girl ran into her arms.

"Sorry for barging in on you," Steve apologized to Laura.

"Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea you existed," Tony expressed his uncertainty about the situation once again.

"Yeah, well. Furry helped me set this up when I joined," Clint explained. "He kept it off Shield's files. I'd like to keep it that way. I figure it's a good place to lay low."

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