James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, Natasha, Mary, Steve, Tony, Sam, Vision, Wanda, and Pietro are all sitting around a table after getting a call from the Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross. Clint retired from the Avengers because since now and the defeat of Ultron, he and Mary had a baby, a son named Clark Lee Barton, who is a little over three months old right now. Mary and Clint are also officially engaged again. They have a house on the same land as Laura so Clint can see Katie all the time and Katie can see Clark.
Clint says he'd be a stay-at-home dad for Clark while also helping Laura with Elijah and Katie. Laura is married to Henry Dallas now, Elijah's father. Even if she wasn't, Mary trusts her fiancée.
"Five years ago, I had a heart attack," Secretary Ross says. "I dropped right in the middle of my back-swing. Turned out it was the best round of my life, because after thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass... I found something forty years in the Army had never taught me: perspective. The world owes the Avengers an un-payable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives... but while a great many people see you as heroes, there are some... who would prefer the word 'vigilante'."
"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha asks from beside Mary.
"How about 'dangerous'?" Ross asks. "What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict their will wherever they choose and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?"
Ross activates the screen behind him. News footage from the past Avengers and SHIELD matters flash the screen as he speaks.
"New York."
The Chitauri leviathan. Terrified citizens. A soldier firing a gun. The Hulk smashing into a building and sends a dust cloud to engulf the camera. Rhodey is regretful, he looks back at Natasha. That was Mary's first fight as an Avenger with her enhanced powers Hydra gave to her.
"Washington DC."
The three Insight helicarriers, firing on each other. The destroyed Triskelion. A helicarrier crashing into the Potomac and throwing up a massive wave, engulfing citizens and the camera. Sam looks down, as do the twins. Mary grabs Pietro and Wanda's hands. They smile at her and lower their heads again.
"Sokovia."
Terrified citizens, running. The city rising. A building falling over. Wanda and Tony watch the screen. Pietro and Mary share a look. It was in Sokovia where she saved his life.
"Lagos."
The burning building. Paramedics moving the body of a dead girl. Wanda is offended by the footage from Lagos. It was right before Lagos when Clint and Mary conceived Clark.
"Okay, that's enough," Steve intervenes when he sees the offense on Wanda's face.
Ross nods to an aide and the images disappear. "For the last four years," he says, "you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." He places a thick document on the desk and he passes it to Wanda.
An aide hands him a thick book and Ross slides it across the table to Wanda and she passes it to Rhodey.
"The Sokovia Accords," Ross says. "Approved by 117 countries... it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of a United States panel, only when and if that deems it necessary."
"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place," Steve says. "I feel we've done that."
"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Ross asks, Steve looks up and meets his eyes. "If I misplaced a couple of 30 Metatron nukes... you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."
"So, there are contingencies," Rhodey speaks.
"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords," Ross says and Steve glances at Tony. "Talk it over."
"And if we come to a decision you won't like?" Nah asks.
"Then you retire," Ross says and Nat stifles a smile as she shared a look with Mary.
======
"Is he okay?" Laura asks Clint as he comes over with a crying Clark.
"I think he's teething," Clint says. "How did you do it? The whole stay-at-home parent thing?"
The brunette laughs. She's currently pregnant with her third baby, but her second with Henry. "It wasn't without difficulty, especially with Elijah, but he helped a lot with Katie and now I have Henry here... sometimes." Laura takes Clark. "Go get the teething ring from the freezer." Sue looks at the boy. "You look like your mom, Clark. Thank goodness."
"Hey!" Clint gasps as he comes back. "He could have gotten good looks from me."
"Sure, but he didn't," Laura says as she takes the ring and lets Clark gnaw on it. "He got them from Mary."
"Daddy! Can you bring me and Elijah to the lake while papa Henry works?" Katie asks.
"I got him," Laura says to Clint as he looks at Clark. "Go."
Clint nods. He goes outside with Katie and Elijah.
"Yes, little man, you look like your mom," Laura coos and he stares up at her with his green eyes. They went from blue to green when he was two two months old.
Laura sits in her rocking chair in her living room and she rocks little Clark Barton.
