All of Me - Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D

Chapter Forty Eight

Dwight’s Office - 08:13 am

Clint, Natasha and Maria were seated on the couch just off from the door as they all looking at the Director. The three were curious to why their boss had called them into Dwight’s office for a private meeting only a few minutes ago.

Nick was looking at the three younger agents sitting before him. He had been thinking long and hard about his decision since meeting the five year old last night. He just hoped that these three understand his reasoning behind it. “I’ve asked the three of you in here to discuss young Lily’s future placement,” he voiced, pragmatic.

Clint and Natasha turned their gazes on one another, confusion etched across their faces. Why are we here? was a shared thought between them.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that, Uncle Nick,” Maria expressed with assertiveness. She knew that she still had to discuss it with her girlfriend, but didn’t want to bring up the subject until she cleared it with the Director. “I wanna adopt Lily.”

Nick inhaled a sharp breath when he heard his great nieces proclamation. He knew that the young agent had a big heart and had grown a quick attachment to the child. “I had a feeling that you were gonna say that,” he said. “But I think it would be best if Clint and Natasha became Lily’s legal protective guardians,” he voiced, earnestly.

“What?” the three agents exclaimed, collectively.  

“Wait,” Natasha voiced, stunned. “You want us to look after a child?” she questioned, gesturing to her partner. “Were you hit on the head really hard, recently. Are you going senile? Our jobs are too dangerous, Nick … what if something happened to one or both of us. Lily has already lost her parents and was put in a bad situation after that. Do you really wanna put her through that, again?”

Nick looked at the redhead, forbearing. “You and Barton are survivors … I have faith that you two will be around for a long time yet. I need to know that the girl is with people that can protect her. We still don’t know who is after her and -”

“She deserves a family!” Natasha snapped at the older man, surprising herself. “Not just protection detail,” she added in a calmer tone. “The child has been through enough.”

Nick glared at the red headed woman with his one good eye. He knew what the redhead’s real fear was. She didn't want to get attach to the child and have to say goodbye. “I know and that’s what she will have. Her protection detail will be her family,” he supplied in a pragmatic tone as his good eyes flickered between the two assassins. “This child will be in constant danger if word ever got out about what she is - if that’s happens, I need to know that her parents can protect her and disappear with her if need be. Whenever you or Clint are both on a mission, the child will have plenty of ‘aunts and uncles’ that can watch and protect her.”

The two spies were gobsmacked.

“Are you saying that you want me and Clint to raise her,” Natasha voiced with vulnerability lacing her tone. “Be her parents, permanently?”

Nick looked at her deadpanned. “Did I stutter?”

The agents were gobsmacked as they turned and looked at one another.

“Now is she going to be a Barton or Romanoff?” he questioned, just teasing them since she would need a cover last name so there wasn’t a target on her head.

“Uncle Nick,” Maria finally voiced after a moment. “I can protect her,” she assured him, determination burning in her deep blues. “Plus her abilities still haven’t been revealed. I want to be able to monitor her and make sure she isn’t exposed.”