THE AVENGERS SEEMED out of place as they walked up to the house. Y/N and Clint helped Natasha up the steps as the rest of the team followed close behind.

"Honey? I'm home." Clint called out.

Barton's statement confused Tony, since the only ones with the knowledge of his wife and children were Natasha and Y/N. It threw him for a loop once he saw a pregnant woman walk out of the kitchen and into the living room.

Clint went up to his wife, Laura, and gave her a kiss. "Company. Sorry, didn't call ahead."

Tony glanced at Steve. "This is an agent of some kind."

"Gentleman, this is Laura." Clint introduced as he held her close.

She chuckled. "Hi. I know all your names."

The Barton children suddenly came downstairs and ran towards their father.

Clint carried his daughter, Lila. "Hi, sweetheart!" He also hugged his son, Cooper.

Tony still was very confused. "These are...smaller agents."

The young girl hugged Natasha too. Y/N looked at Cooper and gave him a fist bump.

"Good to see you again, buddy." He greeted the boy before looking at Laura. "Uh, sorry for barging in on you."

"Yeah, we would have called ahead but we were busy having no idea you existed." Tony interjected.

Clint went on to explain how Nick Fury helped set his family up with the farm when first joining S.H.I.E.L.D, which was something Y/N already knew.

"It's off of S.H.I.E.L.D's files. I'd like to keep it that way." He added.

"I figure it's a good place to lay low." Natasha told them, then went over to Laura. "I missed you. How's little Natasha, huh?"

Laura looked down at her bump. "Well, she's...Nathaniel."

"Oof." Y/N chuckled. "Little Nat's gonna be a boy."

Natasha bent down and spoke to Laura's stomach. "Traitor."

Thor suddenly walked out of the house and Steve followed soon afterwards. Tony still stood there eyeing Clint and his family as he rubbed his chin.

"So are we sure these aren't agents?"

• • •

NATASHA WAS IN the guest room sitting on the bed, wearing a bathrobe as she waited for Y/N to finish in the bathroom.

Once he was done he opened the door and was surprised to see her.

"I didn't realize you were waiting." He said as he started drying his bare torso with a towel.

She got up and feigned a smirk, still trying to shake off the memory Wanda gave her of the Red Room.

"I would've joined you, but, uh, it didn't seem like the right time."

He let out a soft chuckle. "They used up all the hot water. Probably Tony."

"I should've joined you." She replied.

He shrugged. "Missed our window."

"Did we?"

Y/N normally would've accepted the offer, but a part of him didn't feel right about it...at least at that moment. Just the sight of her brought back flashes of what he dreamt earlier. His nightmare.

Natasha bleeding.

Dying.

Him killing her.

Y/N went over to the chair nearby and picked up the robe he left there. He started putting it on.

"I...uh...gotta go." He stammered. "I'll leave you to freshen up."

"What?" She asked. "Just stay."

"I can't."

She noticed how he'd refrain from looking at her straight in the eye. He walked towards the door but Natasha stepped in front of him.

"Please. Tell me what's wrong."

He sighed and kept looking down.

"Is it me?" Natasha asked in a saddened tone. Her current state of mind wasn't helping and made her think he was avoiding her.

But that was far from the truth.

Y/N immediately looked up after hearing her question, not wanting to give the wrong impression.

"No." Y/N replied and cupped her cheek. "Of course not. It's...it's me."

He looked down again and turned back, then started pacing around the room.

"I'm a monster, Tasha. Or at least I was supposed to be." He started to explain. "If you and Fury never found me, who knows what I could've become."

She walked closer to him. "Don't think about it, Y/N. You've persevered from that and became something better."

"And what's stopping me from turning back?" He asked. "Zola's protocol is still in my head. As long as I can mimic, there's a chance somebody can use that for their own gain."

Natasha took in his words and wondered why he was suddenly doubting himself again. Then she remembered Maximoff and how she mentally manipulated Thor, Steve, and her. She figured he was too.

"The twin. What did she make you see?" She asked as she caressed his shoulder and gave him a worried look.

Y/N contemplated whether to tell or keep it to himself. Ultimately, he felt that it'd be best confide in Natasha.

"The weapon I was supposed to be. I killed agents. I killed Maria...killed Fury...Barton. I killed you." He explained, his voice breaking.

He continued. "It felt so real. And a part of me feels that it could still happen." He grabbed her hand. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't." Natasha said softly and ran her fingers through his hair. "Because I know you're greater than whatever programming they tried to put in you."

"I don't know how true that is." He replied as he stepped away. "I know we're starting something here...between us...but I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Of what I am."

Natasha sighed and looked down, fiddling with her hands as she thought.

"I'm scared of me, too."

Y/N looked at her. "What?"

"You know my history. The Red Room, the KGB. I've done things I tried to atone for, but there's one thing I had to do that I can never fix."

He continued listening.

"In the Red Room, where I was trained...where I was raised...they have a graduation ceremony." She started to explain before looking down. 

She continued. "They had this...drug. It was given to the Widows in order to reduce aging and cure them of almost every disease. Sounds beneficial, but it...it also doesn't let us get pregnant."

Y/N gave a look of sympathy as he sighed. He let her continue.

"The serum sees the zygote as a disease and kills it before it can be anything. One less thing to worry about. The one thing that might matter more than a mission. Even killing." She took a deep breath in as she tried to compose herself.

"That's what they wanted. An assassin who can live an overextended life with only one goal in mind...the mission."

A/N: Surprise! I decided to change Nat's sterilization to what was described in the comics instead. Why you may ask? Because I have a plan for the future, of course! 😏

Natasha looked back at Y/N, still holding back tears. "You still think you're the only monster here?"

He stepped closer. "Nat—"

"You're able to have a family, while I voluntarily rid myself of the ability to do so." She paused for a moment. "They made me believe I had only one purpose in the world, and that was to kill. So, please...don't call yourself a monster, because you're not."

She was going to turn around, but Y/N gently grabbed her by the arm and held her close.

"I...I'm sorry." He apologized, taking in her story. It hurt to see her in turmoil and relive that memory. She didn't have to tell him about it but she did. "You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to." She interjected.

He paused for a moment. "Then...I'm glad you confided in me. And I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I'm sorry you had to see what you saw." She mentioned his nightmare. "But I want you to know that you're not what you fear. You never were."

Y/N appreciated her words and demeanor towards him throughout their conversation. He wanted to give her some reassurance as well.

"You aren't what you think either, Nat. Not to the team, to Clint, to me." He tucked some hair behind her ear and paused for a moment. "I love you."

Those three words took her by surprise. She never thought she'd hear them so soon, or even hear them in general.

"How can somebody like you love someone like me?" She asked in a soft tone.

"You complete me." He answered. "I woke up at the right time because I got to meet you, and I thank God for that."

Natasha smiled and kissed him. They both savored the moment before Y/N parted and looked around at the drawings and toys in the corner of the room.

"Having all this might seem impossible, but we'll find a way." He told her, inferring that despite their histories and predicaments they can still build a future together.

She understood what he meant and was willing to figure it out along the way with him.

"I adore you...моя сияющая звезда (My shining star)."

A/N: Some more lime ahead ooooooo. Again it's not that crazy but just wanted to warn y'all beforehand.

He smiled and kissed her again, this time more passionately and feverishly. Natasha matched his same energy, their kiss lasting to the point where Y/N needed to catch his breath.

Natasha undid her bathrobe and let it drop to the floor, exposing her bare figure that left her partner in awe. Despite their relationship having constant back and forth flirting and innuendoes, they never got to this point until now.

She smiled upon seeing his reaction before kissing him once again. Y/N took off his own robe amidst the embrace and maneuvered her towards the bed, placing themselves down gently.

He stopped kissing and looked down at the naked woman beneath him. She wondered why he suddenly ceased.

"I...uh...I've never done this before." He spoke, not being able to recall a time he's been with somebody intimately. "Or at least I don't think so."

She understood and ran her thumb along his cheek. It kind of excited her that she was going to be his first, or at least his first since he woke up from stasis.

She would surely guide him through it.

"Just run with it." She replied. "I'll help."

He smiled and continued kissing her, this time trailing them along her jawline and down her neck.

The passion continued, and thankfully their door was locked through it all.

A/N: A couple weeks after posting this chapter I actually ended up writing a full lemon for this scene. Check out the chapter "fast learner" in my Marvel OneShots book if you want to read it.

• • •

LATER THAT NIGHT the team was surprised by the sudden appearance of Nick Fury. They were all in the dining room as the former S.H.I.E.L.D Director spoke to them about the situation at hand.

"Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time. My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing."

"What about Ultron himself?" Rogers asked as he stood by the hallway.

"Oh, he's easy to track. He's everywhere. The guy is multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit." Fury replied as he turned away from the countertop.

Tony was throwing darts with Y/N and Clint. "Is he still going after launch codes?"

"Yes, he is. But he's not making any headway."

"Let's hope this doesn't turn into Terminator 2." Y/N said as he threw a dart at the board.

"He's fixated on the missiles. But the codes are constantly being changed." Fury added.

"By whom?" Tony asked before weaving out of the way of Clint's bullseye.

"Party's unknown." Fury stated.

Nick Fury then explained how Ultron's mission is to destroy the Avengers, and that it was up them to find a way to take him down.

"So stand. Outwit the platinum bastard." Fury said as he sat down.

Natasha looked at Cap. "Steve doesn't like that kind of talk."

Steve chuckled as he crossed his arms. "You know what, Romanoff?"

Fury ignored their inside joke. "So what does he want?"

Y/N fiddled with his dart. "To become better?"

"Better than us. He keeps building bodies." Steve interjected.

"Person bodies." Y/N cut in.

"The human form isn't sufficient. Biologically speaking, we're outmoded. But he keeps coming back to it." Tony said.

Bruce stood beside Natasha and looked at a drawing made by Clint's daughter. It was of a butterfly.

"They don't need to be protected. They need to evolve." Bruce looked up at the team. "Ultron's going to evolve."

"How?" Fury asked as his ears perked up.

Banner started to think. He knew where he would go to acquire a new form.

"Has anybody been in contact with Helen Cho?"

• • •

THE SUPER SOLDIERS and the agents flew to Seoul, South Korea to try and find Helen Cho.

Captain America and Freedom Fighter ran into the lab and saw the dead scientists on the floor. The young man spotted Dr. Cho on the ground against the wall and walked over to her.

"Helen!" Y/N called out.

He leaned over her and Steve stood behind him. They noticed her injury.

Helen grunted. "He's uploading himself into the body."

"Where?" Steve asked.

"The real power is inside the Cradle. The gem, its power is uncontainable." Helen inhaled amongst her pain. "You can't just blow it up. You have to get the cradle to Stark."

"First we have to find it." Steve replied.

Dr. Cho nodded. "Go."

The two left Helen after tending to her and sprinted out of the lab. Steve started speaking into his earpiece.

"Did you guys copy that?"

"Loud and clear." Clint replied, who was in the Quinjet with Natasha.

"I got a private jet taking off across town." Natasha informed. "No manifest."

Clint looked at the highway below and spotted a cargo truck.

"There. It's a truck from the lab. Right above you, Cap. On the loop by the bridge."

Y/N and Steve began climbing up the ladder to the overpass.

Clint continued. "You got three with the Cradle, one in the cab. I could take out the driver."

"Negative. That truck crashes, the gem could level the city." Cap responded as he helped his son up the ladder. "We need to draw out Ultron."

Freedom Fighter looked over the overpass and saw the cargo truck coming towards them. "Look!"

The super soldiers waited for the right moment before jumping off the overpass and landing on the top of the truck.

Y/N landed perfectly and rolled back onto his feet while his father did so awkwardly and fell over the edge. He fortunately grabbed onto the side.

"Hold on!" Y/N shouted and went over to help.

Inside the truck, Ultron heard the commotion and realized the two heroes were on to him.

"Leave me alone!" Ultron yelled and shot a beam from his arm. It shot open the truck's cargo door and Rogers dangled from it. Cars continued passing by below his feet.

The door closed but Ultron blasted it off its hinges. Steve leaped off and grabbed onto the side of the truck.

"Well, he's definitely unhappy." Y/N remarked. "We should keep it that way."

He went over to the edge and helped Steve up.

"You guys are no match for him." Clint communicated through the comms.

"Thanks, Barton." Steve replied.

Ultron got out of the truck and levitated over Captain America and Freedom Fighter.

"You know what's in that cradle?" Ultron asked before shooting a beam at them, but Rogers used his shield to deflect it.

He continued. "The power to make real change. And that terrifies you."

"Only thing that terrifies me are mummies." Y/N shot back before throwing one of his batons at Ultron.

It hit the robot and Steve tossed his shield next. Ultron was irate and shot more beams out of his hands.

Y/N evaded his attacks and Steve kicked his shield, this time it stuck in Ultron's chest.

"Stop it!" He growled as he pulled the shield out and threw it into the street below. He shot another beam at Steve, this time knocking him back.

Y/N faced Ultron as he threw his clubs at him and charged. He tried to stab the electrified tip of the baton into Ultron but the robot grabbed his wrist.

Steve quickly recovered and leaped onto the back of Ultron, putting him in a chokehold. Ultron threw Y/N aside and started fighting Captain America.

Ultron ultimately grabbed Rogers and dangled him off the truck. Fortunately, Natasha sped by on her motorcycle while holding Steve's shield.

She tossed it to him and Steve hit the robot's face with the vibranium disc. He escaped his hold only for Ultron to blast him off the truck onto the hood of an oncoming car.

Y/N jumped on Ultron and the robot tried to grab him.

Rogers took the time to get back onto the truck and started pummeling Ultron with his fists and shield, all while Y/N had him in a chokehold.

Ultron had enough and grabbed Y/N by the arm and threw him off the truck. He crashed onto the windshield of a passing car before he rolled onto the street.

Y/N groaned as he slowly up, seeing the truck speeding away along with Natasha evading Ultron bots. He looked to his right and saw a pedestrian by a parked motorcycle.

"Is that yours?"

"Clint, can you draw out the guards?" Natasha asked as she sped through the street.

"Let's find out."

Barton shot at Ultron with the jet's guns before the sentries started to fly out of the truck. They accelerated towards Clint, who flew up to get them as far away from the scene. It worked for a bit before the bots flew back down.

"They're heading back towards you. So whatever you're gonna do, do it now." Clint spoke.

An Ultron bot flew by and shot at Natasha, who swerved to avoid the blasts. Y/N suddenly drove by and threw his baton at it, knocking the sentry's head off and taking it down.

"Looks like you needed assistance." He said as they rode side-by-side.

"And you? How's your back from that fall?" She asked.

He chuckled. "It's fine. I'm not that old."

They neared the truck that sped beside the train Steve and Ultron were currently fighting in.

"I'm going in. Cap, can you keep him occupied?" Natasha asked.

Steve panted. "What do you think I've been doing?"

Y/N looked at Natasha. "You're going in?"

"Yeah." She replied.

"I don't think so."

"Why?"

"Because I'm getting there first."

Y/N accelerated forward and left Natasha in the dust. 

"Y/N!" She yelled. "Damn it!"

Ultron bots were flying to the scene and shot beams at both of them. Y/N leaped off of the bike before it was blown up and landed inside the truck.

He walked up to the Cradle and saw that the upload was halfway. Suddenly, the truck he was lifted up by two Ultron sentries and flown into the sky. Y/N stumbled back but caught himself before he can fall out.

"Okay, package is airborne." Barton said as he spotted the truck. "I have a clean shot."

"Negative. L/N is still in the truck." Natasha spoke from the ground.

"Yes, I know I piss you off sometimes but please don't blow me into smithereens just yet." Y/N reported back.

"What the hell are you—"

"Just be ready." Y/N interrupted Clint. "I'm going to send the package to you."

Barton sighed. "How do you want me to take it?"

Y/N started cutting the straps holding the Cradle. "Uh...I haven't thought that far ahead."

"You can't be serious." Natasha replied.

Clint flew closer to the cargo truck. "Y/N, come on. We gotta go." He went reverse and opened the air-stair.

Y/N finished freeing the Cradle and planted a C4 on the truck wall. He held onto the Cradle as it slid out through the back and towards the Quinjet.

BOOM!

The truck was blown up as Ultron suddenly grabbed Y/N by the foot and pulled him off, leaving the Cradle in the jet but taking the man instead.

Clint looked back and saw a glimpse of his friend being taken by the robot.

"Y/N!"