Chapter one
Clint groaned and rolled over in his bed. Well, he was meant to roll over, but he must have been on the edge because he hit the floor with a *thump!* Clint sat up and blinked the sleep out of his eyes- he could smell bacon and coffee wafting up the stairs from the kitchen- Bucky was obviously already awake. Clint pulled the duvet up over his shoulders to shield him from the early morning October chilly air.
Clint grabbed his hearing aids and phone off the bedside table and shoved them in his pocket so he could pull himself up with the duvet still wrapped firmly around him. Clint was wearing a worn-out pair of Hawkeye pajama pants and a long-sleeve dog cops graphic tee along with his dinosaur duvet cover.
Bucky had been living with Clint for close to three years now and it was actually quite a pleasant experience. Bucky had handed himself into Shield about six months after showing up in Iowa, and his name was cleared three months later when it was proved that Tony had successfully removed the programming. Bucky had come right back afterwards, and he was now officially on paper as an Iowa citizen. Steve didn't want it to happen, but Sam had helpfully told him that it was "good that Bucky wants to leave", and that it showed he was "making strides in breaking the trauma responses by showing that he can make choices now."
"You makin' breakfast, Barnes?" Clint asked as he rounded the corner, but it was pointless anyway because his hearing aids weren't in. Clint came and sat at the counter, Lucky at his feet. Clint was pretty sure that Bucky was saying something because his head was moving slightly, "Hang on, ears aren't in." Bucky nodded his head without turning to look at him. Clint hooked his BTE's in and said, "What were you sayin'?"
Bucky used the spatula to flip something in a frying pan, "I'm making bacon and pancakes." Bucky moved away from the pan for a moment to grab a mug from the cupboard and poured coffee into it before handing it to Clint, who took it eagerly and gulped it empty in seconds while Bucky watched, coffee pot still in hand.
This had been their morning routine for a few years now- Bucky would wake up before Clint and start on breakfast and Clint would come in for caffeine and food eventually. Bucky had become accustomed to Clint's high need for caffeine and would hold the coffee pot every morning, waiting to give him his first re-fill. Clint loved these mornings, they were so domestic and it was a strange- but welcomed- change to his dumpster-fire life.
Clint was sipping his second mug of coffee when the words Bucky had said were starting to sink in and Clint perked up, "Mmmm, bacon." he said dreamily, and Bucky snorted lightly from where he was at the stove. Soon enough, there was a delicious-smelling plate of bacon and pancakes in front of Clint and he started drooling as he was pouring the syrup over the pancakes. Clint looked over at Bucky, who was already eating his food and sleepily (he hadn't had his third cup of coffee yet) said "Marry me." Bucky chuckled and poured him more coffee.
Clint commonly proposed over breakfast- the way to his heart was food- but it was never serious, they weren't even dating. No matter how many times Clint had thought about it in the wee hours of night. And in the shower. And with a bottle of lube. Okay fine, he was almost always thinking about it, and most of it was extremely dirty.
Clint got a handle on his thoughts and looked up at Bucky, fork halfway to his mouth, "'re we workin' on the porch today?" Bucky finished swallowing his food before replying with "Christ Barton, are your hearing aids working properly? It's hammering it down outside." "Oh. I thought that was static from my hearing aids, not rain!" Bucky rolled his eyes and shovelled more food in his mouth. "It's s'posed to let up a bit later in the afternoon, but I doubt it. It's basically winter now." Clint nodded, "Yeah, I reckon it'll keep on all day an' prob'ly all night. It'll start snowing in a month or two."
"So're you just gonna read all day, Barnes?" "Nah, I'm still renovating my bedroom." They hadn't gotten around to it until a few weeks ago when Bucky had expressed interest in actually sleeping on a bed. They had made the trip out to an IKEA and they were *still* putting together furniture. "'Kay, well, did you picked a paint colour yet?" Bucky nodded, "Yeah, I decided on-" There was a knock at the door. Clint and Bucky turned their heads to look over.
Bucky started getting up, "I'll go see who it is." Clint nodded and finished his breakfast, shoving the last bit of pancake in his mouth and downing the dregs of his coffee. Clint pet Lucky on his head as an apology for not giving him any bacon, "Sorry, bud, I was hungry." Bucky was taking a while at the door and Clint was about to get up and see what was going on when Bucky shouted "Clint!" He sounded genuinely distressed and that sent Clint jumping off the stool to race over to him.
Clint didn't know what he *was* expecting, but it certainly wasn't a tiny, wet baby cradled in Bucky's big arms. Bucky, poor guy, looked terrified. Clint couldn't help the giggle that escaped at seeing a terrified super soldier holding a baby. Then it hit him- why was Bucky holding a baby? Who's baby was that? "Wh- Why- Baby?" Clint couldn't get the words out and that was what he landed on.
The baby was a tiny newborn girl with a mess of mousy-brown hair on her head and big blue eyes. She had the cutest little button nose and a smattering of light freckles across her little cheeks. She was bundled in a wet, pink blanket and a tiny onesie covered in bunnies.
"Someone left it on the doorstep in its baby carrier. Poor thing was soaking wet." Clint's face dropped, "Oh. It's a safe surrender." Bucky looked lost, "It's fairly common around here. Moms who can't look after their babies will usually drop them off at firehouses. That's often called "safe haven", but if there isn't one nearby- ours is in the next town over- they will drop them on doorsteps of families they believe will take good care of their baby."
Bucky looked unbelievably like a kicked puppy at that explanation, "Oh." He looked down at the baby with big, sad eyes. Clint looked at the carrier on the floor and then nealt down to rifle through it. It was a basic black baby carrier with two fluffy blankets, a bottle, and a change of diaper. "Ah! Found it!" "Found what?"
Clint got up, he had a letter in his hands. "It's a letter. Poor thing's name'll prob'ly be written inside- if it has a name. They leave 'em sometimes, explaining why or saying that they hope their baby'll be okay. And sometimes names." Clint scanned the short letter until his eyes landed on it. Clint came up to Bucky and took the baby into his own arms- Bucky looked so relieved- "Hi Olivia." Clint smiled down at her as she cooed up at him. "...Olivia?"
Clint couldn't bring himself to look away from Olivia so he just said "Yeah, little Olivia," over his shoulder, "That's what the letter said, anyways." He smiled as Olivia took his pointer finger into her tiny grip. "We should get you dry, huh?" Clint finally looked up at Bucky, "Can you get her dry and wrapped up in a blanket or something? I gotta call reinforcements." Bucky stepped forwards and tentatively took her back into his arms, "I- I'm scared I'm gonna hurt her." Bucky looked so scared and Clint nearly broke, "Buck, you're not gonna hurt her. I know you- if you don't want to hurt her, you won't. You didn't want to stay in New York, so you didn't."
Bucky looked slightly less terrified at that. He turned and very slowly walked with Olivia to dry her off in the bathroom upstairs. Bucky's hair had grown quite long over the last three years and now was reaching past his shoulder, moving side-to-side with every cautious step. Clint didn't know what to do, but he had the number of someone who probably did. And he hadn't spoken to her in close to six years (except the odd check-in text message along the lines of "I'm alive." or "Happy new year!" accompanied by a photo of Lucky with those number glasses on his face).
Clint reached for his phone, which was in his pocket, and very quickly dialled Natasha's number. He listened to it ring twice before she picked up, "Clint?" "Nat. I need help." He heard her exhale sharply before saying "Where are you? Is Bucky there? Who am I killing? Do you need medical attention?" "I'm at home, Bucky is here, hopefully no one, and no." Clint thought for a moment before adding "Though Olivia probably could do with a check-up."
"Who's Olivia?" Nat sounded confused, which, fair. "Olivia is a baby. We had a safe surrender on our doorstep. On our doorstep, Nat! She can't be more than a few weeks old, I don't have anything for a baby. And it was raining and I really hope she doesn't get pneumonia or something- that's why I said she might need a check-up. Bucky's warming her up right now, just- she's so small, Nat!." "Breathe, Clint, you're rambling. Okay, I'll be there in a few hours. I'll hijack a quinjet and hit up a Target or something for supplies. You're okay, Clint. You can do this, even if it's just until you can hand her over to CPS."
Clint's heart dropped at that "What? No, No I- I ca- Nat, I can't give her to CPS, I- oh, I can't breathe. She can't go in the system, gods knows what'll happen to her. Not when I know what happened to me!" "Okay, Barton, breathe. You're safe, you're in your house, and you don't have to give her up. If you want to adopt her, speak with Bucky and let me know. Stark's got crazy-good lawyers who can get them to over-look both of your histories. You're going to be fine, you hear me?"
Clint's breathing was evening out and he wiped his tears with the hem of T-shirt before swallowing and replying shakily with "Y-yeah. I know, just- you said CPS and I thought about everything that I was put through. She's so small and innocent and I know that she'd get adopted right away, but there are horrible people in the foster and adoption system. And the other kids, Nat. I've known Olivia for less than twenty minutes, but no way does she deserve CPS. No one does."
"D'you want me to bring Bruce? I know he's not technically a doctor, but he knows what pneumonia sounds like." That sentence was pointed, "Hey! That was one time!" Clint winced, "Okay, three times, but that's not point. And yes, bring Bruce, please. Hell, bring everyone, I don't care, there's a baby in my house so I'll willingly lift the "No Avengers" rule if it means I get help. I'm so lost right now." "Three hours max, I'll bring newborn diapers and clothes, formula, and other stuff." Clint exhaled heavily, "Thank you Nat, Christ you're a godsend!"
Natasha chuckled, "Three hours Clint." And then she was gone. Clint stood in the kitchen for a moment before promptly collapsing onto the floor and digging his left hand into Lucky's fur. "Three hours." he whispered to himself. That seemed... do-able. Clint heard footsteps descending and turned to look at... Bucky cradling a tiny pile of blankets and baby. "Nat'll be here in three hours, but I kind of- told her she could bring anyone because a baby means all hands on deck. Soooo, Steve might show up, I'm sorry."
Bucky stared at him, "Sorry for what? You're right, a baby is all hands on deck. It certainly was when I was a kid, people gave my mom all sorts of hand-me-downs. If Steve is coming to help, then let him. What're we doing with her?" Clint sighed, bracing himself for an argument, "I don't wanna give her to CPS. I can't Bucky. I don't expect you to stay, though. You can leave, go anywhere, but I cannot give her up. I'm sorry."
Bucky looked confused as he approached the table and slowly sat down, "I didn't expect you to. I meant, are we staying in Iowa, or are you thinking we might need the help from the Avengers full-time?" Clint was so confused, "Y-you don't... want to... leave?" Bucky started bouncing Olivia in his arms, "Why would I want to leave?" Clint was considering pinching himself, just to see if he was dreaming. "Because you lived without choices for like seventy years and I basically just stuck you with a baby?"
Olivia started crying, "Hold on, there's a bottle in her carrier, I'll grab it for you, Barnes." Bucky smiled and nodded "Thank you, and I'm choosing to stay. With you. If we need to move back to New York, I'll do it. For you." "I got the bottle, I think I gotta warm it up though, right?" "Um, yeah, I think so. In the microwave?"
Clint nodded and moved around the island to reach the microwave on the counter. He put it in the microwave and then resumed the conversation, "Why would you do that? I'm just..." He gestured at himself, "...me." Now it was Bucky's turn to look confused, Clint took the bottle out of the microwave and started shaking it gently. "You're Clint Barton. You didn't question it when I needed a place to stay, you backed me up when I handed myself in, made me feel comfortable, and even helped me through countless nightmares. Why wouldn't I?"
"Here ya go." Clint handed Bucky the bottle for Olivia. "I did those things because it's what everyone would do, right?" "Wrong. You're a good person, Clint." Clint sat down and cocked his head at him, "No. I'm really no-" Bucky grabbed the front of Clint's T-shirt with his flesh hand, Clint looked down at it and then back at Bucky, "Whaaattt are you doing?" "Can I kiss you?" And that was the exact moment that all of Clint's thoughts flew right out of his head and all he could do was nod enthusiastically.
When Bucky leant in and connected their lips, Clint could swear he saw stars. It wasn't heated or anything, it was just a thousand times better than anything Clint could've ever imagined. Their lips fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. When Bucky pulled back, Clint was pretty sure that he probably looked awe-struck. "Wow." Bucky cocked an eyebrow at him, "Wow?" "That was amazing. Wait, we didn't squish the baby did we?" Bucky glanced down at Olivia, "She's fine, she fell asleep immediately after eating." "Oh, okay, good." "Can we put her down on the sofa with us or will Lucky smother her?" Clint waved his hand, "He should be fine, he's interacted with tiny humans before."
Bucky narrowed his eyes at Clint as he stood up with Olivia, "Tiny humans?" "Have you never watched 'Grey's Anatomy' before?" "What's that?" "Oh, it's a mind-numbing medical drama. We should start it now because each episode is like forty-five minutes long and we've got like two hours until reinforcements show up. Budge up." Bucky nudged himself and Olivia over to the end of the ratty old couch to make room for Clint, who curled himself up and had dragged his long-forgotten duvet over with him.
"Why are the episodes forty-five minutes long? Who wants that?" Clint giggled, "Oh, just wait until we get further in the show and have to alternate between an episode of 'Grey's' and an episode of 'Station 19'." Bucky looked hilariously horrified, "Why?" Clint shrugged, "There wasn't much else to do in 2005." Bucky took that as a fair enough answer and stole some of Clint's duvet for himself as Clint loaded DisneyPlus on the TV.
Clint was about to start the first episode, "Wait! We need hot chocolate." Bucky nodded, "Absolutely. I can do it, if you take Olivia." "Of course, gimme the sweet baby!" He was making grabby hands at Bucky, who rolled his eyes endearingly and handed her over. "You want cream and marshmallows?" Clint gasped and tried to pretend taking an arrow to the heart, but he had a baby in his arms and failed miserably, "Do you not know me at all? Of course I want it all! Ooh, add some of that grated dark chocolate on top of the cream, too! It melts in deliciously."
"'Course, I know you too well, Barton." "Really? 'Barton'? You acquisitioned a child and then kissed me and 'Barton' is still what you're goin' with?" "Hey! I call you Clint sometimes, or would you rather I call you "Hawkeye: World's greatest archer and marksman?"" "Yannowhat, that could work." Bucky came back over to the couch and placed Clint's mug on the coffee table, "Drink your hot chocolate and shut up." "Heck yeah, 'Grey's Anatomy' time!"