𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 | ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ

𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 ▸𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒕 & 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂

"Was it good?" Clint asked as everyone at the table finished their lunch and he got up, picking up the empty plates. The children nodded and ran into the living room to get back to their game, and Wanda got up to help Clint with the dishes, too. "You don't have to," he said to her when she started picking up things from the table.

"I don't mind," she assured him with a slight smile and took the dishes to the kitchen, where she put them in the sink and turned on the water to wash them. Clint exchanged glances with Laura, who nodded encouragingly and motioned for him to go talk to the redhead. He nodded back and made his way to the kitchen.

"Wanda?" he said carefully, appearing at her side and placing the plates on the kitchen counter. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm handling it," she said quietly, not looking up at him. A few weeks ago, Clint offered to stay with his family for a few days. He didn't want to leave her alone on the base after all, where everything reminded her of old times. Steve, Natasha, Vision, and Tony were gone, leaving Wanda alone. Clint wanted to make up for the lost five years with his family, but he needed to make sure Wanda was okay, at least as much as possible. He hoped the change of scenery might be good for her.

He was glad she had agreed to his offer, and though only a few days became weeks, no one in the Barton family minded. Wanda was popular with everyone, and especially with little Nathaniel, who spent the most time with her. Clint was glad to have the redhead under surveillance, and he hoped she knew she could always turn to him. Life had dealt her a lot of blows, and he couldn't begin to imagine the emotions she must feel constantly. He admired her strength. He knew it must be incredibly challenging for her.

He put his hand on her forearm and squeezed it gently. She looked up at him. Even though she smiled every day, he could tell she was exhausted. "You know you can talk to me," he told her quietly. She nodded and handed him a washed pot. He reached for a towel.

"Clint, I appreciate everything you've done for me, I really do," Wanda began slowly, returning to washing dishes, "and I know you're trying, but ... you can't help me. I have to... I have to deal with this on my own. I just have no idea how long it will take." Then she looked toward the living room, and there was tenderness in her eyes. "But this . . . this reminds me of what we could have had. And what I'll never have."

Barton's eyebrow furrowed uneasily. "Does that mean you want to leave here? Do you want to go back to base?"

She shook her head. "No, no. I don't want to be alone anymore. I feel safe here with you, and I'm grateful to you for all your efforts. As you try to distract me, ease my pain..." She smiled at him. But then she looked serious. "But if I'm already bothering you, I can leave."

"Forget it," he winked.

"But if you change your mind, you'll tell me, won't you?" she said.

He sighed. She was stubborn. "Of course, but I already know I'll never have to tell you something like that. We want you here, Wanda. But I'm not going to keep you here at all costs, okay? If you want to leave, no one will stop you, even if we miss you here," he smiled, then turned to hear the tap of tiny feet. "Well, maybe Nate will try to stop you." She laughed.

"Wanda, will you come out and play with me?" Nathaniel asked her, his eager eyes on her. Nathaniel had been quiet and a bit of a loner since he was a kid, but as soon as Wanda showed up, he talked to her and spent every moment he could with her. He probably found his soulmate in her. Sometimes they didn't even talk, they just sat next to each other and all they had to do was know the other was there.

Clint smiled at this and ruffled his son's hair before nodding to Wanda. "Go. And bring Cooper and Lila!"

Nathaniel curled his lower lip. "We have to?"

"I know you want Wanda all to yourself, but your siblings want to enjoy her, too," he said, amused.

Nathaniel grabbed Wanda's hand and was already pulling her toward the foyer. "It's nice to have an older brother and sister, isn't it, Nat?" the redhead suggested, still loud enough for Clint to hear. While he was wiping his plate, he moved to Laura's dining room.

"Hmm, maybe. You have a brother and sister, too?" Nathaniel asked her curiously as Wanda knelt beside him and handed him a warm jacket. While he was dressing, she tied his shoelaces and nodded to his question.

"Brother. A big, older, protective brother."

"And what's his name?"

"Pietro," she replied, a faint smile on her face.

"I'm Pietro, too," Nathaniel said enthusiastically, and Wanda looked up at him. Her eyes gleamed sadly.

"I know," she said simply, gently pulling the cap over his head. Then she got up, put on her coat, and the two of them put on gloves. Then she held out her hand to Nathaniel, and he took it contentedly.

Clint smiled ruefully and went back to the kitchen to finish the dishes. After a while, Lila and Cooper headed out, and soon a muffled, cheerful shriek reached the house. Clint slung the towel over his shoulder and looked out the kitchen window. There was a fierce snow battle in their garden, and Clint didn't know where to look first. What amused him most was little Nathaniel, who tried at all costs to defend Wanda from his siblings.

"What are you spying on?" said Laura, smiling, stroking her husband's back.

"Just look at our children," he said cheerfully, keeping his eyes on them. Wanda and Nathaniel seemed to be winning. They high-fived with laughter, and then the redhead bent to pick Nate up in her arms. He put his arm around her neck and hugged her contentedly.

"Wanda's good with kids," Laura remarked.

"Yeah, Wanda can win people over," Clint muttered, and when he felt her hand on his shoulder, he covered the back with his hand. "Thanks, honey," he said quietly, taking his eyes off the children, turning to Laura. "Thank you for being so accepting and allowing her to stay."

Laura smiled and stroked his cheek with her other hand. "Of course, Clint. I know she means a lot to you. It's your second family. And the family has to stick together," she whispered, and Clint smiled fondly at her. He pressed a gentle kiss into her palm and then stood up, pulling Laura into his arms. He was so grateful to have them all back.