Vacation

Steve settled into bed. The window was open slightly and he could smell the trees and fresh air. It was a pleasant change from the stink of the city. He could hear crickets chirp and animals scurry. He closed his eyes and drifted off for once not worried about nightmares. He was going to be ok. Things were going to be ok.

He woke up to someone carefully opening the door to his room. He could see it was still dark out but not far from daybreak. He cautiously opened one eye and found Cooper and Lila carefully examining him from the foot of the bed. "I'm telling you THAT'S Captain America" the little boy hissed as quietly as possible. "Nah-uh. Where's his Shield?" The boy put his hands on his hips in a way that screamed Nat. "He's on a break DUH. You don't take your backpack everywhere when you're not in school." She crossed her arms and huffed and he could see Clint in her. "You aren't supposed to make so much sense you're 6."

Cooper seeing that he had won held his chin high. The door creaked open and Clint looked in. "Guys let's leave Steve alone. Come on. Go brush your teeth since you're up. Lila, help Coop." Once they left Steve sat up and smiled. "Cute kids." Clint shrugged apologetically. "I didn't know they were in here. Sorry about that." He waved him off "it's no problem. I don't need as much sleep anyway. Anything I can help with this morning?" Clint smiled "well since it's your first morning here how about you go get the eggs from the hen house. The girls will let you move them. Don't let Jack bother you. He's just a grouchy old rooster."

A bit later Steve was dressed and heading towards the chicken coop while Clint was prepping food for the chickens nearby. He walked in the gate with the basket Laura handed him. The chickens all eyed him suspiciously as he carefully stepped inside the large hen house. He remembered Laura telling him not to take eggs from the chickens on the lower right. Aside from that he was good. "Morning ladies. Pardon the intrusion." He carefully moved the first chicken and found a few eggs.

He moved down the rows and finally made it to the last nest when he realized it was occupied by a huge rooster. There were people who kept chickens in his old neighborhood and he saw them on the French countryside during the war but this rooster was a monster. He stood up and stared at Steve, his one eye milky and dead. He sported several battle scars. "You must be Jack huh?"

At that the bird leapt at him sending him stumbling backwards into the small window of the hen house. He couldn't stop himself from falling through it as he was trying to keep the rooster from tearing his face apart. His backside punched out the window causing him to fold forward. He was prepared to fall to the ground however his fall was halted as his body was firmly wedged in the window frame. He couldn't get out.

Clint came in to check on him after Jack walked out of the house chest puffed proudly. He didn't expect to see Steve comically stuck in the small hen house window. He began to cackle at Steve. "Don't feel bad, even Nat can't deal with Jack. Let's get you out of there."

Despite their efforts Clint needed help. Steve wasn't able to find purchase because of the way his arms and legs were jammed. "Try wiggling a bit. Maybe if we can get your hips loose we can angle you out. " He took Clint's suggestion and began to wiggle. The handmade hen house was not built for the advent of a Super soldier trying to wiggle free from the window. Steve froze when he heard the first creak followed by a minescuel cracking.

Before Clint knew what was happening the back wall of the house rocked back and tore off from the house. He carefully stepped over and helped Steve off the ground. "Well….I guess the remodel of that chicken coop just moved to the front of the list. We'll go to the hardware store after breakfast." Steve looked at the broken wall in the ground "sorry" he said as he grabbed the back of his neck.

Before they left the chicken yard Jack made one last show of dominance as he dove for Steve. "That chicken is a monster Clint." He threw his head back and laughed. "He loves me for some reason. I got him by accident when he was a chick. He was in a bale of hay I bought to put down while we were doing work. I thought he was crushed but then he came around so we kept him and decided we needed some hens for him once he was a bit older.” Steve shook his head “Guess you just have a way with hard cases huh?” He grinned “I hope you aren’t comparing Nat to Jack because she will kill you.” Steve laughed “No, of course not, Natasha a hard case? Never.” They stepped into the house Laura looked up and smiled “Perfect timing we just finished making breakfast. Hope you like chocolate waffles.”

Steve stared wide eyed at the huge platter of them and smiled “I didn’t know they made them in chocolate.” Laura smiled “These ones are made with cake batter but yea you can get all kinds of flavors.” He watched as the kids began to add fruit and whipped cream and sprinkles to theirs. Clint smiled as he watched Steve carefully copy what the kids were doing. Cooper tapped his arm and handed him a bottle of chocolate syrup. “Gee I didn’t know they still made this stuff” he said, eyeing the Hershey’s bottle in his hands. “Buck and I would scrape together for a can of this when we could. He used to put it in his coffee. We also mixed it with fresh snow. Sometimes if he couldn’t get me to take my medicine he would give me a spoonful of this afterward.” Clint chuckled “I guess a spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down.” Steve grinned at him “He had other methods that I liked just as much.” Laura shot him a warning look.

Lila stared at him curiously. “Steve how old are you?” Steve took a deep breath “I… I kinda don’t know. I mean in the technical sense Im going to be 95 buuuuut since I didn’t age while i was frozen Im physically 25.” Laura smiled “I think we are going to go with 25. Not too many 95 year olds can say they have the body of a 25 year old can they?” Cooper's eyes were wide. “You were frozen?” he said in a hushed tone. Steve’s expression softened “Yea. Your dad's work found me and didn’t know I was alive but turns out I was ok but I don’t recommend getting frozen for 70 years.” Lila smiled with her face coated in chocolate “I’m glad they found you. You keep daddy safe.” Steve blushed “Shucks I think he takes care of me more.” Laura was snickering behind her coffee cup. “Clint I have to go over to Christy’s house for a while. I need you to watch the kids.” He looked over at her “Aw Gee whiz, Steve and I need to go to the hardware store to fix the chicken coop and it can't wait.”

Steve shot him a look but was secretly smiling. “What happened to the coop?” Clint jabbed a thumb at Steve “The super soldier managed to take the back wall out.” Steve rolled his eyes as he shoved a forkful of waffle in his mouth “Wa’ ‘ack’s fau’t” he said while Laura looked at him “Well, I never thought I’d see Captain America speaking with his mouth full at my dining table.” The blush returned to his cheeks as he swallowed “Sorry Ma’am.” Lila and Cooper giggled. “ooooooooo you got in trouble with mommy” Cooper chided. “He’s Captain America, he doesn’t need to listen to mommy right?” Steve shook his head “Yes I do as long as your mommy is letting me stay here.” Laura grinned “You are well trained aren’t you. I bet the sweetness got you out of a lot of trouble.”

“With everyone one but my Ma and one rather unforgiving nun at church oh, and Mrs Barnes. She didn’t buy it for even a moment.” They talked over breakfast for a while. The kids and Laura asking Steve questions here and there. “How come you aren’t married Steve?” His head shot up at Coopers question. “Um..I haven’t really met the right person.” He eyed him suspiciously “Have you looked for the right person?” he asked skeptically. He looked over at Clint who mouthed an apology. “Coop it doesn’t matter why Steve is married or not. I’m sure he will find someone he is happy with one day.” Lila rolled her eyes “Aunt Nat says he needs to be less picky otherwise he’s hopeless.” Steve looked back at Clint “She did huh? Well I’m gonna have a talk with Aunt Nat when I see her next.” Cooper's face suddenly lit up “You could always marry Aunt Nat!” Steve and Clint both began to choke while Laura was cackling. “Alright you guys. Lets stop questioning Steve’s dating life, you two be good for daddy while I’m gone. I’ll be back this evening.” She kissed them both and then Clint and left.

“Well then let's clean up the breakfast dishes and go to the hardware store. You both have to promise to be very good. You listen to whatever I or Steve tell you.” They both nodded and began to clear the dishes passing them up to Steve who was already at the sink washing them. Once that was finished they piled into the truck and headed for the hardware store.