Aftermath [winter soldier//Bucky Barnes AU]

Chapter Seventeen

SARAH'S POV

Hours later, our plane finally touched down. Bucky and I had maneuvered our way up to a sitting position at some point during the flight, and from where we were, I could see empty fields outside of the window.

"Clint, where are we?" I asked. He never told anyone where we were heading when we left, and no one was in the right state of mind to be able to ask before. He finished shutting the plane down and stood, turning around and giving me a half smile.

"A safe place."

I frowned, but didn't ask him for more. Everyone began unloading the plane and I helped Bucky to his feet, grasping his hands to let him know that I was there. He moved stiffly forward.

I looked past Bucky's weary form and caught sight of Steve and Natasha also leaving the plane, Steve's eyes still red and Natasha's arm around his waist. They were supporting each other's weight as they struggled to keep it together. Clint, Tony, Bruce and Thor walked ahead of everyone.

An old farmhouse sat in the middle of the field, a warm, cozy looking place with a wrap around porch and a chimney spewing smoke. A few fences were up, trapping sheep and a few cattle. I could make out a barn a little ways down the hill. I wondered if this was a safe house for S.H.I.E.L.D., or if it was a safe house Fury had conjured up for the Avengers to stay when they needed to lie low.

"What is this place?" Bucky asked, suddenly coming back into reality and noticing his surroundings. 

"I don't know," I answered. 

Clint, Thor, Bruce and Tony had just reached the door, and we were a few steps behind them. Clint swung the front door open wide with a suspiciously excited grin on his face.

"Laura?" He called, and I frowned in confusion, climbing the stairs after him with Bucky in tow and entering the house. 

Looking inside, it was unlike any safe house I'd ever seen. It looked like people actually lived here. Little knick knacks lined the shelves, and dishes sat on the counters of the kitchen, drying. A pair of shoes lay beside the door, looking freshly untied, and a pile of kids Legos sat under the coffee table. I noticed Thor accidentally step on them and swipe them under the table, casting Steve a look that said you better keep quiet. I tried not to laugh.

It was then that I caught sight of a very pregnant woman standing in the doorway. She had long, brown hair and a certain warmth to her that told me immediately that she could be trusted. However, she wasn't looking at me- she was staring at Clint in shock. Then the shock dissipated, and I saw an emotion on her face that I knew all too well; desperation.

She charged Clint and flung her arms around his neck, pulling him close as her body sagged with relief. I recognized the energy between them. They were very clearly in love. 

The Avengers stood in a loose half circle in the living room, watching Clint and Laura hug each other tightly. Tony leaned over to Thor.

"She's an agent of some sort," he decided, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself of it. And not a moment after he spoke, two little kids came speeding into the living room, tackling Natasha, who was not prepared for an attack and went down fast. 

"Those are... two smaller agents?" Tony tried again. I looked around at the whole scene again to make sure I wasn't still hallucinating. If I was reading this correctly...it looks like Clint has a family.

The two kids hugged Natasha tightly, and her face looked a lot different than it had a few seconds ago. Instead of looking tired, weary and lost, she now looked content and happy. Steve noticed the change too, and although he was also very much confused by the scene playing out before us, he had a ghost of a smile on his face from watching Natasha.

"Everyone, this is Laura. My wife," Clint finally announced, and you could see the gears turning in everyone's heads. There were obviously a lot of questions, and Clint expected that, so he opened his mouth to explain.

"Only a few people know. I'd like to keep this place completely off the books. I hope you understand why I never told you about this."

I nodded. It made sense why he'd want to keep this secret. Hydra was desperately after my child, and I had to fear for her safety constantly; Clint's family, on the other hand, was more or less a ghost story, so he could rest assured that no one would come after them. 

I cast a quick glance at Bucky, and he glanced back, clearly thinking about the same thing. I wondered if Fury would allow us to do something drastic- such as fake Calypso's death- and then take her off the records, and put her somewhere where no one would ever look. That would be a wonderful solution to our current predicament. But that's a problem for another day.

After Clint explained a little, everyone allowed themselves to relax, and Laura began assigning people rooms. She could probably tell that we were all mentally exhausted, and really needed a break. Tony and Bruce went upstairs first- probably because those two nerds were going to share a room- and the rest of us headed to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat. 

I noticed Steve and Thor walk out of the front door while the rest of us were occupied, and a second later, Steve walked in alone with a troubled look on his face. I gave him a questioning look.

"Thor said he needed to go attend to something. He left, but he'll return later," he said, and I frowned, a little confused, but decided against questioning it. Looking at Steve, I could still see a red tinge around his eyes, and a level of sadness there that I'd probably never be able to understand. So I reached forward and wrapped my arms around his neck in an effort to comfort him a little. He immediately reacted, wrapping his huge, muscular arms around my waist.

"I'm not gonna say 'I'm sorry,' because I know how empty that can feel, but I really hate it when you're sad, Steve. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know," I told him. He nodded against my shoulder.

"I will. And you're already doing more than enough, Sarah. Thank you."

I pulled back and nodded, throwing him a soft smile. He smiled back, and I pulled him to the kitchen with everyone else. I found my place at Bucky's side, and Steve found his spot beside Natasha. 

Laura passed out some food to us all, and I sat down at the kitchen table between Bucky and Natasha, eating and talking and laughing with my family. Only one person was missing, and that was Calypso.

But when I looked out of the window, I swear I could see her. The older version of her. She stood outside of Clint's house on the porch, her long brown hair swept to one side, her blue eyes bright and clear, her hands soft and not yet hardened by battle. She was beautiful, and she stared at Bucky and I, a wide smile on her face. As if seeing her parents happy was all she ever wanted.

I could imagine my little girl becoming like the one I was seeing now. And I hoped to god I lived long enough to see her like that.

--

A Christmas and Hanukkah gift for everyone :)

I'll try and update again before New Years, but if I don't please don't hate me. I'm really trying here :(

ILY guys please tell me what you think:)

-Jordan