Prologue
Clint held the now extremely fussy baby, awkwardly patting her tiny bottom as they lowered the bodies into the ground. The man who had called on him to help raise his child had gone off on a brief vision. There was no one to bury the two, so with the help of SHIELD, Clint Barton buried the newborn's biological parents. The hospital had been waiting on Zephriel's decision on what to do with his wife, and the hospital didn't know how a man went from so healthy to terminally ill so quickly.
"Here, let me," Laura spoke softly, taking the baby from the man's arms. "Shhh, I know. I know. You must miss your Daddy and Mama." Clint hadn't considered that because she was a baby, but Zephriel said they weren't from Earth. Maybe there was truth to what Laura said, that the baby could feel the loss of her parents.
"I can solve many problems, but I can't fix this," Clint said, keeping his voice low to not startle the baby that had finally begun to settle.
"You did," Laura disagreed quietly as they turned away from the gravesite. She cuddled the baby before handing her back over to the slightly distressed man. Clint took the baby back, and while calmer, he unwrapped her enough to free the wings. They had almost reached the car when Fury walked out from behind a tree.
"You're a natural," the older man said, his hands hooked behind his back. "I'm sad to know that he passed quickly after you agreed to take her. What is your plan?" Clint took a deep breath, adjusting the baby against his shoulder.
"I want a house, off the record, no SHIELD, no paper trail, nothing," he said, turning to look at the baby, who had settled against his shoulder and was drifting off. "I want her safe. She needs to be off the grid."
"Consider it done, Agent," Fury quickly agreed. He reached to touch the baby, but Clint instinctively moved back. Fury was a spy. He had eyes and ears everywhere and often had ulterior motives. The baby didn't need to be a part of it. "See, you're a natural."
"Sorry, Sir," Clint automatically said. He inhaled deeply and reached up to cup the newborn's head. "She's so little."
"Babies tend to be. Haven't you and your wife discussed having kids?" Clint could swear that the situation amused Fury.
"No, I mean, we figured that eventually we would have kids, but not for a while," Clint was still floundering for some even footing. His world had tilted on its axis the moment this helpless baby was placed into his care. "What happens now?"
"You take that baby and go to this address," Fury said, handing over a tiny slip of paper with coordinates. This will be a safe house for you three. I'm sure we'll have some work for you, but for now, have fun buying things for your daughter. For now... The records will be hidden and buried. She never had any parents but you and Laura."