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The mission had been a complete success. STRIKE team: DELTA had taken down yet another branch of HYDRA. This one led by a one Derek Bishop. They had even managed to rescue Derek Bishops one and a half year old daughter from an elaborate trap set by him and his HYDRA minions.
Clint and Natasha were just about to leave headquarters after their debrief when they were called into Marias office.
“So… change of plans. The kid needs to go with you.” Maria said bluntly.
“What?!” Natasha nearly yelled.
“Katherine Bishop. I need you two to take her with you.” Maria said
“Why? I thought you worked something out with the Department of Child Safety?” Clint asked.
“Yea… we did. But its taking us a bit longer to find an appropriate foster family to take her.” Maria explained. “They need to pass a SHIELD level background check and be able to provide her with some sort of protection. That’s going to take us some time.”
“Like how much time?” Natasha asked as she fidgeted nervously “You have to know that Clint and I don’t really have experience taking care of kids.”
“Yes. We know that.” Maria nodded “ But you two are really our only option at this time. You should only have her for a week tops.”
Natasha let out a long breath as she looked at Clint, who simply shrugged his shoulders.
“Where is she?” Clint asked.
“Last I checked in, Coulson was occupying her in his office with some of his Captain America toys.” Maria rolled her eyes.
“Alright. Keep us updated on your progress in getting her a foster family.” Natasha grumbled as she stood up. “Come on, Clint. I’m tired and apparently we have a toddler to get to sleep before we can sleep.”
“Maybe Coulson’ll be able to tell us a few tips on how to get the kid to sleep. He has nieces and nephews doesn’t he?” Clint said reasonably as he followed Natasha out of Maria’s office and towards Coulson’s.
“Yes he does…” Natasha trailed off as they approached Coulson’s door.
“And finally Captain America along with the rest of the Avengers, saved New York and the whole world from Loki and a Chitauri invasion.” Coulson was talking in an airy and quiet voice.
Natasha and Clint looked at each other with raised eyebrows before entering the room.
“Ok, Coulson. Enough with the Cap crap.” Clint began but soon stopped as he caught sight of Coulson.
Coulson was sitting in his arm chair, the small girl was laying in his arms sleeping as she gripped onto a small Captain Ameribear in her sleep.
“SHH! You’ll wake her!” Coulson shushed them as they entered quietly.
“We just came to get Katherine so we can go home.” Clint whispered.
Coulson nodded as he adjusted the girl in his arms. “That duffel bag has all the things Maria managed to get for her. And that’s her car seat. Grab both. I’ll carry her to your car for you.”
At Clint and Natasha’s apartment, 45 minutes later
“So…” Clint looked at Natasha as he put the car in park. “Have any clue how to get her out of that contraption without waking her?”
Natasha snorted as she shook her head “My best guess is that we do it carefully and gently.”
Clint raised his eyebrows as he chuckled. “You doing that? I’m not really the… gently… type.”
Natasha smirked “I know.” With that, Natasha exited the vehicle and opened the back door and started to carefully gather the sleeping girl in her arms. “Don’t forget her things.”
“I won’t.” Clint said as he grabbed the bag.
“So, we didn’t talk about it. Where is she going to sleep? We don’t exactly have a spare bedroom.” Natasha whispered to Clint as they walked the distance to their apartment.
“She’s really tiny. Can’t she just… sleep between us?” Clint look at Natasha questioningly.
Natasha groaned quietly. “I suppose that’s the best option… seeing as Lucky and Liho wouldn’t leave either of us alone long enough to sleep if either of us tried sleeping on the couch… this is going to be a long week.”
“Think on the bright side of things. Maria said a week tops. They could have a foster home set up for her tomorrow!” Clint said brightly as he opened their apartment door. “Lucky… Lucky! Back, boy! No! Don’t jump on Nat!” He quietly reprimanded the hyperactive golden retriever.
Lucky instantly began whimpering as he went between prancing about and balancing on his hind legs around Natasha, attempting to smell the small girl in her arms.
Clint groaned at his dogs antics as he set the bag of supplies down on their kitchen counter.
“Uh, Clint?” Natasha called out to him. “Help?”
Clint looked back to find his partner was still just barely inside. Lucky was sitting upright in front of her, still attempting to smell the small girl in her arms. Liho, Natasha’s black cat, was twining herself between Natasha’s legs as she purred loudly.
Clint shook his head slightly, grinning. “This is gonna be fun”
Natasha narrowed her eyes as she attempted to step away from their pets.
“Lucky! Liho! Come on!” Clint let out a low whistle “Dinner!”
Both animals skittered out from underneath Natashas feet and followed Clint into the kitchen.
Natasha rolled her eyes as she smirked. “Thank you! I’ll be in our room” their door shut behind her.
Clint shook his head as he filled their animals food dishes. As soon as the animals were eating, he patted them both gently before heading into their bedroom.
As he entered the room he was unsurprised to find that Natasha was already sitting up in their bed and wearing one of his old t-shirts with the small girl laying down in the middle of the bed still perfectly sound asleep.
Clint shook his head, laughing.
“SHH!” Natasha shushed him. “I’d like to sleep. No waking her.”
Clint was grinning as he stripped down to his boxers and climbed into his side of the bed.
“Well, lets see how night one goes.” Clint was still grinning as he carefully leaned over the small girl and kissed Natashas forehead. “Maybe it won’t be that bad.”
With that Clint flicked the lights off and they both settled into bed.
It was only ten minutes later when the small girl stirred between them and let out a loud screaming cry.
Natasha groaned as she pulled her pillow over her head. “Please… please, tell me you can get her to stop…”
Clint sighed as he stood up. “Ok, Katherine. Lets go.” With that he scooped the still screaming girl into his arms and walked out of the room.