ELEANOR WAS IN the car as Wilson Fisk towered over it, prepared to finish the Bishop matriarch off himself. He had already killed her driver and her escort.

"Let's talk, Eleanor." He said.

Suddenly there was a shout.

"Stay away from my mom!" Kate commanded as she pointed her bow at Kingpin.

"What are you going to do with that?" Kingpin asked the archer as he turned around.

Kate shot an arrow at him, which pierced through his floral shirt but stopped at the armored vest beneath. He broke the arrow off with a swipe of his cane.

"What?" Kate muttered in disbelief.

She shot a grappling arrow at him but the large man grabbed the projectile, tugging the wire and pulling Kate toward him. He backhanded her and sent the girl flying backward.

"The daughter..." Fisk said as he fixed his cufflinks and took off his large coat. He discarded his hat as well. "Eleanor's right. You've gotten too close."

Kate groaned and lifted her head, feeling the sting of his backhand from before. Fisk towered over her and brandished his cane.

Suddenly, he heard the rev of an engine. He looked to his right but couldn't react as Eleanor drove her car into Fisk.

Kingpin slowly got up, being able to despite being hit by a car at full speed. Kate noticed this and leaped through the hole, now standing face-to-face with Fisk.

"Where you going, big guy?" She taunted before jumping up and trying to punch him.

Fisk moved away and grabbed her bow. Kate still held on as he dragged her across the floor.

"You're in over your head!" He exclaimed and threw her down.

He left her there and made her way to the broken wall, adamant about killing Eleanor. Kate quickly retrieved her bow and shot an electrical net arrow that blocked his path.

Fisk snarled and looked back, seeing Kate charging him. She swung her bow but Fisk grabbed it and hit her in the stomach, the force sending the archer flying into a gingerbread house display.

Kate dropped her quiver during the struggle. She crawled over to get it, but Kingpin grabbed her and threw her across the room. He picked up the quiver and pulled out the trick arrows.

"Mind your own business!" He yelled as he broke the bundle of arrows in half.

Kate panted as she looked up, then sprang to her feet to engage Fisk. She jumped onto his arm and wrapped her legs around it, but the large man simply flailed his limb and threw her off.

The archer recovered and slid under his legs to get behind him. He turned around just when she rushed him and Kingpin simply pushed her away like an NFL lineman.

"You're really starting to annoy me." Fisk grumbled as he walked over toward the downed Bishop.

Kate quickly held up a cufflink, one that she ended up taking from Fisk during the fight. She used Barton's trick she learned and flicked it toward one of the broken arrows by his feet.

It hit the tip of one of them and activated an electrical current that connected with the other arrow tips. The electricity hit one of the dangerous-marked tips, and in a matter of seconds, it exploded.

Kate took cover and shielded her face. The combined force of the explosive arrow, shockwave arrow, and flare arrow sent Fisk flying across the room. He hit the wall and then the floor. Now unconscious, Wilson Fisk was out and finally down for the count.

The archer got to her feet and gave one last look at the defeated crime boss. The electrical netting she deployed earlier had deactivated which allowed her to exit through the hole in the wall.

Kate ran over to the side of the car and noticed Eleanor stirring awake.

"Mom? Mom?" Kate called out.

"Oh...Kate." Eleanor exhaled as she spotted her. "Are you okay?"

She helped her mother out and the two embraced. Eleanor began to cry.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, baby." She sobbed before parting. "We're gonna put this behind us. You'll see. Okay? It will all go back to normal."

Kate paused for a moment before responding. "It's never been normal, Mom. I think part of me has always known that."

"Honey, this was just an unfortunate arrangement. And it's over."

"Killing Armand? Hiring an assassin to kill Clint? Kill my friend? Framing your own fiancé? That's an unfortunate arrangement?"

"Yes, sweetie." She replied. "That's how the world works. I've protected you from it. You may not have known what was going on, but I did it for you. I know what it's like to have nothing. And you can't handle it."

Kate shook her head. While Clint and Maggie believed she could handle herself...her mother thought the complete opposite.

"How do you know what I can't handle?" She asked.

"Because I know you. And I know that you think you can live your life without consequences just like your father. But someone has to clean things up. Someone has to take responsibility."

As she talked with her daughter, police cruisers arrived at the scene.

"You're right," Kate told Eleanor. "Someone does."

A detective walked up to the Bishop matriarch and took out his handcuffs.

"Mrs. Bishop, you're under arrest for the murder of Armand Duquesne III. Turn around, please."

Kate watched as the officer cuffed her mother. Eleanor looked back at her daughter.

"Is this what heroes do?" She asked Kate. "Arrest their mothers on Christmas?"

Kate stared at her. "I'm sorry. I love you, Mom."

"Let's go." The detective told the speechless woman. He escorted her to a cruiser, and Kate let out a deep breath as if she was holding it in during the entire exchange.

Tony and Paul fought on the ice rink. Despite the former's photographic reflexes, Paladin was still a formidable fighter. Adding the fact that he also had a knife with him, it gave Masters the extra task of trying to avoid it.

After an attack by Paladin, Masters was able to parry and get him to drop the knife. He then dodged a couple of his hits before twisting his arm and elbowing him.

He punched him across the face and kicked him away. Paladin rolled across the floor but chuckled as he got up. He was seemingly enjoying the scuffle.

Tony went up to him and was prepared to pummel him some more but Paladin reached out and expelled gas into his face. The same that he used on Maggie earlier.

He stumbled back, blinking his eyes and coughing. He started to feel the gradual building of the stinging and thumping pain in his head.

"Should've kept your mask on." Paladin remarked as he picked his knife back up.

Despite the disorienting pain, Tony was still able to keep his eyes open a bit and focus. He had been in the army for years...so what he was feeling was nothing. To him, it was just some beefed-up pepper spray.

Paladin charged at the impaired Tony and swiped his knife. He ended up cutting his arm and his thigh. Tony groaned but stayed in place.

Paul tried slashing Tony again but the mercenary parried his thrusts and put a hold on his hand. He headbutted Paul and tried to disarm him but Tony was hit with a left hook back.

Paul threw the knife he had in his hand over Tony and caught it with his left. He jabbed it into his shoulder.

"Argh!"

Paladin walked a few steps away as he relished in the success. Tony grunted as he got back to his feet and held his bleeding shoulder. Paul looked back and bowed as he flipped the blade around his hand.

The maimed and still-impaired Tony glared and engaged Paladin. He tried to hit him but the man dodged his attacks before slashing his shoulder twice more and stabbing him in the leg and side. He finished with a stab to his other shoulder.

Paul was going to strike again but Tony grabbed his arm in an attempt to disarm him. He was punched again but Tony barely reacted and twisted the man's wrist, finally getting him to drop the knife.

Tony elbowed the man in the groin before picking up the knife and cutting Paul across the side. It went rather deep and the man groaned in pain as he stumbled back.

Paul, how maimed and bleeding himself, still went at Tony. Masters ended up throwing the knife aside, wanting to be more hands-on. As Paul threw a kick, Tony grabbed his leg and snapped it.

Paul fell to the floor and crawled away. Tony slowly got up and followed him. The assassin also got to his feet and still tried attacking Tony.

The strong man grabbed a hold of his arm and snapped it too. Paul yelled out in pain. Tony applied more pressure and broke it further.

Tony landed an elbow to his jaw and then dropped down to hit his other leg, the immense force breaking it too. Paul fell to his knees where Tony grabbed him and threw him face-first into the icy floor.

Paul was now disoriented, broken, and weak. Tony had gotten the upper hand despite still feeling the effects of the gas. It didn't deter him. It never did. He was adamant about taking down Paladin and nothing was going to stop him.

Masters grabbed Paul, picked him up, and put him in a chokehold. The maimed Paladin reached back to try and grab Tony's face but it was a fruitless attempt. He started to choke him.

"Boy Scout blood. That's where you're wrong. I'm not like them."

Paul was losing air by the second. Tony continued.

"I'm fine with killing, being ruthless, taking down scum like you who want to harm the innocent. Bullies who think they have the power over people. I don't like bullies."

Tony leaned in toward his ear as he choked him. He spoke.

"I can kill you. But I get that this was your job. That all you saw was the money. So...I'll give you a pass."

Immediately, he hit the man in the back hard with his knee. The force broke his spine and Paul let out a shuddered gasp. Tony held him in place.

"This was the last assignment you'll ever take."

Masters dropped him. Paul fell on his stomach and took in struggled breaths. Along with having a broken arm and two broken legs, he was now paralyzed and could not move. He was spared...but at a price.

That was Tony's cost. His righteous vengeance.

The tall man stood there as he looked down at Paul's broken body, panting as he held his bleeding arm. Nearby, Maggie was just getting to her knees and recovering from her own injuries.

She looked up at him right when Masters turned to her too. They locked eyes for a moment but no words were exchanged. Masters said nothing as he stared at her.

Both Clint and Yelena were also waking up. The archer turned to his aide and groaned as the blonde was also stirring awake. Maggie looked at them and was honestly relieved they were all right.

Maggie turned toward Masters again but saw that he was already a great distance away. He walked out of the ice rink and went up the stairs. The redhead watched as he disappeared from view and left the scene.

She didn't even have the strength to call out to him or go after who she now knew was her biological uncle. Maggie grunted as she knelt and let out a breath. As she did, she noticed something in the corner of her eye on the floor...

A crumpled-up piece of paper.

The authorities arrived at the scene in Rockefeller Center. The police arrested the defeated Tracksuit Mafia goons and also took in the maimed Paul Denning.

Maya Lopez fled the scene after having to kill Kazi. Wilson Fisk was also nowhere to be found despite being beaten by Kate earlier. In the case of Tony Masters, he was also long gone.

The LARPers spoke to their fellow first responders and detailed what they did. Jack Duquesne sat with Wendy, who offered him a place in their group. Jack thought about it...being a swordsman in that guild could be a good form of leisure.

Clint, Maggie, Yelena, and Kate were by the ice rink being tended to by EMTs. They left them alone sitting outside of an ambulance. Maggie told Kate what they went through while she was dealing with Kingpin.

"Jesus Christ." Kate breathed out.

Maggie nodded. "He saved us. He didn't have to...but he did."

"It must've been hard for him to hear all that," Yelena remarked. "Or for him to remember."

"And your dad never knew about him?" Clint asked Maggie. "With the whole...genes thing?"

She shook her head. Clint sighed.

"This is a trip."

Kate rubbed her face and also let out a breath. The whole ordeal they've gone through the past few days have been insane.

"Speaking of trip..." She shook her head. "What a way to spend the holidays."

Maggie snickered. Clint nodded and turned to the raven-haired woman.

"You know, I gotta be really honest with you, Kate." Clint began. "It doesn't happen too often, but...every once in a while you come across somebody...that just makes you better in every way."

Kate looked at the older man, taking in his words. She assumed he was reflecting on their current partnership. Clint continued and looked at his clothes.

"And that Missy, boy, she just...outdid herself with this suit. And the elasticity of this fabric..."

Kate chuckled. "Okay, you can stop."

"Yeah, I still gotta thank them for this. This is so badass." Maggie remarked.

Clint examined her suit, which was scuffed and a bit battle-damaged from the entire fight. The look of her reminded him of Natasha and even his wife, Laura. He smirked.

"Tough suit for such a little ass-kicker."

She laughed. "I'm not little. I'm my mom's height."

Clint gave her a look. Maggie scoffed.

"Fine. I'm still a couple of inches away. But I'm almost there."

He laughed and Maggie nudged him. Yelena stood beside them and chuckled at their exchange. Clint spoke again.

"I know tonight was a lot. Dealing with the Tracksuits, Masters...that other guy. I gotta say..." He turned to Maggie. "You did good. I'm so proud of you."

Maggie smiled. Clint looked at Kate next.

"And you...you took on Kingpin all by yourself. Not many people walk away from something like that. At least not in one piece. I'm proud of you too."

Kate reached over and held his hand. "Thank you."

Clint softly smiled. As he held Kate's hand, Maggie leaned over and rested her head on her uncle-figure's shoulder. Again, that was a moment that brought a smile to Yelena's face.

"Oh, you too, Yelena," Clint added. "I mean...you did all right."

She scoffed. "Sure, old man."

Clint chuckled. He sat there in between the two girls and thought for a moment.

"You know what? We gotta walk that dog." He said.

Kate agreed. "Yeah. We do."

• • •

THE CAR DROVE down the empty road. The Iowa plains could be seen out the window which were painted white with snow.

Clint manned the vehicle while Kate, Maggie, and Lucky the Pizza Dog were in the backseat. They were currently playing a round of Heads Up! and Maggie was trying to guess who or what she was.

Her word was Denzel Washington.

"He's an actor." Kate said.

"That barely helps," Kate said with a scoff. "Tom Cruise?"

"He was in Training Day."

She shrugged. "I've never seen it."

"What?" Kate exclaimed.

"Yeah."

"Wow."

Clint looked at them through the rearview mirror. "The Equalizer?"

"Oh...oh! Denzel Washington?" Maggie asked.

"Bingo."

Maggie cheered while Kate chuckled.

"That was the hint that helped you?" Kate asked.

"That's one I have watched. My dad was in the living room seeing it and it was awesome." She replied, then pointed at her head. "Plus, it's good to do some homework."

They made it to the Barton's homestead. Clint exited the vehicle and started to unload gifts from the trunk. Maggie came out and assisted the older man.

"Are you sure this is okay?" Kate asked as she got out with Lucky. The girl was pretty nervous about finally meeting their family.

"Don't worry. They're gonna love you." Clint replied.

He closed the trunk and they made their way to the house. Immediately, Clint's children opened the door and beamed at the sight of their father.

"Dad!" Nathaniel exclaimed and ran to him.

"There he is!" He hugged his son. "I'm so happy to see you."

"You made it! You kept your promise." Lila said.

Nikolai also came out and exclaimed. "You're here! Yay!"

Maggie also greeted them. The redhead hugged her little brother then Lila. Clint smiled and handed a couple of gifts to her and his son, Cooper.

"Here, here. Take something. Merry Christmas." Clint said then gestured toward the girl. "This is Kate."

"Hi! Merry Christmas." She greeted.

"Come on in. It's so cold!" Clint told them.

Before they entered the house, two people came out to greet them as well. To their surprise, it was Y/N and Natasha. Maggie was surprised.

"Oh, my God! Hi!"

"Hey, baby!" Natasha greeted and opened up her arms.

Maggie embraced her mother. Y/N stood beside them and rubbed his daughter's head.

"We missed you, Mags."

She smiled and hugged him too.

"Merry Christmas." He added.

"How long have you guys been here?" Maggie asked as she parted.

"Just a few hours." He replied. "Clint told us you were on your way so I didn't bother texting you or anything. A little surprise, you know?"

Maggie turned to Clint. "You knew?"

The older man made a goofy face and immediately went inside. Maggie laughed and looked at Kate.

"Oh, right!" She began to introduce her. "This is Kate. She's a new friend of mine."

Kate quickly spoke before the two could even get a word out. The incoming rambling brought a giggle out of the teenager.

"It's such an honor to meet you two! Mrs. Romanoff...or Carter? You're so awesome! And so pretty up close! Mr. Carter, I thank you for your service. I bet people thank you all the time but I'm actually serious. For what you did then and what you have been doing now. You guys are so amazing and made an amazing daughter. She's a badass just like you two! You should be proud."

Y/N chuckled as he glanced at Natasha. He nodded and the older redhead replied.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Kate. And we appreciate it." She then looked at Maggie. "And we are proud."

Back inside, Laura Barton greeted her husband and embraced him. Cooper went up to the tree where he put the rest of the presents down. The rest came back inside with Lucky following close behind.

"Oh, my gosh! That dog's so cute!" Nathaniel exclaimed as he knelt to pet him. "What's his name?"

"His name is Lucky." Kate replied.

Clint looked back after hugging his wife. "Oh, right, yeah. I brought home a couple of strays." The man pointed at Kate. "Laura, this is Kate."

"Kate." Laura greeted and went over to hug her. "So good to have you."

The raven-haired girl embraced her mentor's spouse and smiled.

Afterward, the Barton and Carter family, along with Kate and Lucky, spent time together in the house. To their surprise, they were joined by another guest.

Maggie went over to open the door and she was met with the arrival of Yelena. She was also joined by her dog, Fanny. The teenager didn't expect her to come as the blonde hinted the night before that she had something to do.

"Aunt Yelena?"

"Surprise." She replied with a smirk.

Maggie immediately hugged her. Yelena smiled and was brought inside the house. They went into the living room where everyone else was her. Out of everybody, Natasha was the most surprised.

She stood up from her seat. "Yelena?"

The blonde gave her a soft look. "Sestra."

Yelena figured her sister would shout and berate her for just now showing up after over a year of not seeing them personally and if she did, she wouldn't have blamed her. But Natasha just went up to her and embraced Yelena.

"I'm sorry." Yelena apologized. "For not being there for you or the kids as much as I should have. I didn't understand—"

"Stop, stop," Natasha interjected, parting a bit to look at her face. "It's okay. You're here now. That's all that matters."

Yelena felt an immense sense of relief...along with a feeling of want...of love. She held back tears as she brought her sister in for a much tighter embrace. Y/N sat on the sofa and smiled at the sight. He too was glad to see Yelena back.

They all soon reacquainted with Yelena and continued the holiday festivities. Maggie had sat down at the dining table with her aunt Laura after the woman finished talking with Clint, who went outside to burn the Ronin suit and have a conversation with Kate.

"You doing all right?" Laura asked her.

She nodded. "Yeah. This is turning out to be one of the best Christmases I've had."

Laura smiled. Having the Carters over along with the integration of Kate into their fold and the reunion with Yelena was making the holidays surely one to remember for Maggie. The woman reached into her pocket and took out a watch that Clint had given her earlier.

"Had quite an excursion back in New York, huh?"

"Heh, you could say that."

"Clint told me you handled yourself well. I've always known you were brave, resilient, and a badass. Even got a look at that suit you have in your bag."

Maggie chuckled. Laura continued.

"And he said you did pretty damn well using my staves."

"I knew they were yours!" She replied.

Laura laughed. "Well...now they're yours. Along with this."

Maggie arched a brow as she was handed the watch. She turned it around and saw the engraved SHIELD logo along with the number 19, which was Laura's call sign during her time there.

"Oh...this was what Uncle Clint was trying to get back. Said that people would try and track you down if they found it."

She nodded. "Some people aren't keen on what he and I did back in the day. Some bad folks still are sour that we screwed them over."

"I bet." Maggie chuckled. "Mockingbird and Hawkeye kicked some real butt."

Laura smirked. She looked out the window and saw Clint walking back toward the barn with Kate. She especially eyed Kate.

"And they could still be out there kicking butt." She said.

Maggie didn't get what she was saying at first until she looked out the same window. She knew that Clint wanted to talk to Kate and pass down the Hawkeye name to her. Laura was doing the same in her own way. Maggie looked back down at the watch.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

Laura nodded.

"There isn't anyone else that I'd want to carry on this name."

With that, Maggie smiled. She leaned over and hugged her aunt to which she reciprocated. In Maggie's mind, she was going to do her best to honor what had just been bestowed upon her.

It took a while, but Clint and Kate finally got back to the house, but to everyone's surprise, they weren't alone. The man had a small chocolate Labrador puppy in his arms with a bow on his collar.

"Look at what Santa left in the barn!" He looked down at the dog. "Addressed to...Maggie and Nik!"

Maggie's eyes widened and so did Nikolai's. They were filled with awe and joy. Then there was Y/N, whose eyes expanded for a completely different reason. In most cases, Nik would be the one to run first when seeing something fun or something he liked...but this time Maggie was the one who leaped out of her seat.

"Oh, my God!" Maggie took the puppy and carefully held it. "Oh, my God! Is this really happening?!"

Clint laughed. He remembered seeing how she was with Lucky the last few days and knew she always wanted a dog. So, earlier in the day, he had called Laura to visit the neighbor a few blocks away who was trying to sell a Labrador puppy and bring it home.

"Merry Christmas, Mags." He said.

Maggie embraced Clint as he carried the dog. Nikolai finally ran over to them to see the puppy and Maggie let him hold it too. They then went toward the couch where the Barton kids also got a look at it.

Y/N and Natasha stood beside Clint and looked on at the children, Yelena, Kate, Fanny, and Lucky, with the puppy. The soldier put his hands on his hips.

"You couldn't have given me a heads up?" He asked Clint.

"What? You can't take care of a pup?"

Natasha spoke. "Well...actually..."

"We, um..." Y/N whispered. "We have one waiting back at home."

Clint reacted. "Oh."

They looked back at the group. There was no way to take back the gift now, so Y/N had to deal with it. Clint pat him on the back.

"Well, you got that big ass backyard for a reason, right?"

Y/N was sitting at the dining table alone enjoying a coffee. He was also reading a book on his phone. It was something he had started and was getting used to, but it was convenient since he didn't have to carry a physical copy around.

Maggie walked up to her dad. He looked up at her and smiled.

"Hey, sweetheart," Y/N said. "You enjoying everything so far?"

"Yeah." She simply replied. "Uh, Dad? Can I talk to you?"

He arched a brow. "Okay."

Maggie sat down at the table Y/N was at. She looked around, seeing Natasha talking with Yelena and with the new puppy. Clint was with his wife, the kids, Nikolai, Kate, and Lucky. She turned back to Y/N.

"Um...it's about what happened back in New York."

"With the Tracksuits? The fight at Rockefeller Center? Yeah, I know about that. Clint told us on the way here. You know..." He reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm proud of you. I'm happy to have such a brave and kick-ass girl like you."

"Thanks." Maggie chuckled. "Yeah, but...this, this is about...the guy who tried to kill us but ended up switching sides and saving us."

"Oh?" Y/N leaned back in his seat. "I didn't know about that."

"He, uh...went by Taskmaster. Had a similar suit to what you used to wear but less armor. And...he looked like you."

Y/N was confused. Maggie took out a folded and wrinkled paper from her pocket: Julie's letter. She placed it on the table in front of her father.

"He was birthed in a cloning chamber, like me. He was made with the blood of Grandpa Steve and Grandma Peggy, like you. He's...lost people, like us."

The super soldier listened to his daughter, taking in what she was saying. He was perplexed.

"How—how do you know this?"

"It was said during the confrontation. And..." She tapped the letter. "It's all in here. I read it myself."

Before he could ask what the letter was, Maggie clarified.

"It's a letter to the man...from his mother, telling him everything about what I just said. I just gave the cliff notes version."

Y/N couldn't believe it, knowing that there was someone out there who looked like him...had the same abilities as him...and had the same parents as him. He took the letter and unfolded it.

"God..."

Maggie spoke again. "He's all alone out there. He doesn't know what to think and feels like he has no one. We need to find him."

"Wha—Why?"

Maggie looked straight at her father, an expression of solemnity and resolve.

"Because he's like me, Dad. Like us. Someone who was made to be a weapon was given a second chance. And..."

Y/N looked up from the letter. Maggie continued.

"He's your brother."

• • 1989 • •

JULIETTE WOULD NOT let them take the infant for their nefarious needs. She couldn't let HYDRA raise it to be the weapon they desired. She needed to free him.

She had taken it out of the chamber when there was nobody in the lab. She held the crying baby and he seemed to calm in her arms. She smiled at him for a moment.

"Let's go, little one."

Juliette made her way out of the lab. She tried sneaking and being as quiet as possible, knowing that the other scientists and guards were in their quarters. She made her way to an exit but heard a shout.

"Sustabdyti! (Halt!)"

She froze in place. A guard came out of a room and saw the lady. He went up to her as she kept facing forward and hiding the baby beneath some sheets.

"Burodykite savo verslą (State your business)."

"Uh..." She stuttered, speaking the little Lithuanian she knew. "Aš tik grįžtu į savo kambarį (I'm just going back to my room)."

The guard recognized the voice of the bilingual French scientist who joined almost a year ago. He spoke in English.

"Turn around."

She didn't at first. He demanded again.

"Turn around!"

With hesitation, she did. The guard saw the infant beneath the sheets in her arms and his eyes widened.

"It's the asset..." He spoke. "You're stealing the asset!"

"Please—"

He immediately grabbed his radio. "We have a situation! The asset—"

Suddenly, the guard's neck was snapped from behind. He fell to the floor and Juliette was stunned. She looked up, seeing the familiar face of a man she had seen in the cells within the facility.

It was an American prisoner of HYDRA, who they referred to as simply 195. He had just escaped his cell and was trying to make his way out.

"Hello." The man simply greeted Julie, then picked up the rifle. "He won't be getting up any time soon."

Prisoner 195 walked passed her and saw an exit ahead. He spoke to himself in a whisper.

"22:34. Almost time for their slumber. Five scientists in their quarters, all armed. Six guards, minus this one, armed too."

"Excuse me?" Julie said lowly but the man kept speaking.

"Got thirty minutes until the rest of the guards make rounds in the halls."

"Hello?" She spoke again.

Finally, 195 turned around.

"Please, I need help getting out of here." She said.

"You got a lab coat. You work here. You know your way out."

"They won't let me with..." She looked down. "Him."

195 finally saw the baby in her arms. He knew about the experiments and that the infant was HYDRA's asset. He took in a breath, looking back at the door for a moment before turning to her again.

"Okay." He walked to the guard's body and grabbed the sidearm he had in his holster. He handed it to her. "Keep this with you."

"But—But I don't—"

"You just aim and fire when you're in trouble. Don't hesitate. You hesitate, you die."

Julie stayed quiet but nodded. He nodded back.

"Stay close."

Prisoner 195 and Julie went through the facility. The man, once a soldier, ended up doing most of the work taking out any guards they came across as well as scientists.

They had made it to a lab. 195 looked around for an exit as he had his rifle raised. Julie, still with the baby, saw a glowing glass chamber in the middle of the room. She knew exactly what it was and who was in stasis within.

Y/N L/N.

She went up to the console beside it. Prisoner 195 noticed her leave his side and called out.

"What are you doing?"

Julie started typing. She could faintly recall the codes to the chamber but still tried.

"This man has also been experimented on. For years. I have to get him out too."

195 was not keen on the idea. He worried about his own safety and that of Julie.

"That's not a good idea."

"I have to try."

"No!"

"Why not?"

"You don't know how deeply rooted HYDRA's programming is instilled in him. If you get him out and he's immediately on their side...we're both dead."

Julie looked at 195 and then back at the console. She thought about it for a moment. The man had a point.

"Think about this." He added. "Think about the baby."

She looked down at the infant who still had his eyes closed and was sleeping. Julie took in a breath and stepped away from the console.

"Okay."

"Leave him." 195 said as he gripped his rifle. "Let Lithuanian forces deal with him. If they ever stumble upon this place."

Julie gave one last look at Y/N in the chamber before walking away from the console. She then followed 195 out of the laboratory.

They kept looking for a way out. Finally, they spotted an exit ahead. Freedom was near...but it wasn't immediate.

A guard came out of a room with his gun drawn. Julie was looking straight at the door and didn't notice, but 195 did. He shouted and ran forward.

"Stop!"

The guard fired at Julie. Prisoner 195 had gotten in front of her and took the three shots to the side. He fell to the floor and groaned.

The HYDRA loyalist tried firing again but his gun jammed. He quickly tried to fix it but Julie immediately took out the sidearm she had and shot the guard straight in the head. She gasped and panted after doing so.

Julie took a second before kneeling over the wounded 195. She was shocked and tearfully apologized.

"Oh, my God! I'm—I'm so sorry!"

"It's...it's fine." He groaned. "Just...let's get out of this damn place."

Julie helped the man up and they walked toward the exit. Finally, they made it out of the secret facility.

They kept going for a while until they made enough distance. The duo and the infant were in the middle of the woods, their only light source being the moonlight above. 195's state weakened and he fell to the floor. Julie dragged him to a tree where he laid against it.

"We're almost there," Julie said. "I—I know of a boat they keep by the coast. We can all leave."

"Not—not me." He weakly replied.

"Come on!"

195 shook his head. Julie became tearful as it started to dawn on her that the man who saved her was now going to die and she wasn't able to repay him for his deed.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed.

"No. Don't be." He took in a breath, holding his side which was profusely bleeding because of the bullet wounds.

"You saved me. Us." She said as he glanced at the infant. "You didn't have to. You could've just left."

"I guess...that's the American hero in me." He replied and chuckled sickly.

195 reached for his pocket and pulled out dingy old dog tags. He held it in his bloodied hands before giving it to her.

"Take this."

"What...?"

"The—these are mine. I got no family to give it to anyway. And...and I'd rather let you have it than leave it here on this damn island."

She held it in her hand. Julie nodded.

"Okay."

195 looked around. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the chill of the nightly breeze and taking in the aroma of the trees.

"It's great to finally be out after so long. I—I never thought I'd get to feel this again."

He then opened his eyes and looked at the infant in her arms. He continued.

"He...he...he's precious. They were going to make him become a weapon. A monster." He said. "Now he has a second chance. He has you. Be his mother. Give it the life it deserves."

Julie cried. She held the man's hand and frantically nodded.

"I will. I promise."

The prisoner weakly but genuinely smiled, believing every word she said. He kept holding her hand and slowly closed his eyes. After a moment, 195 took his final breath and passed away.

The French woman lowered her head and let the tears fall down her face. The infant in her arms also began to cry...as if he felt the loss of their savior.

Julie let go of his hand and walked off with the baby, making distance between them and the body. After some time, she made it to the coast and saw the unattended boat by the docks.

She took in a breath and let it out before looking down and touching the baby's face. Julie then took out the dog tags the prisoner gave her and saw his name etched on it. She somberly smiled and focused on his first name...

Tony.

• • 2025 • •

TONY MASTERS HAD settled in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania for the remainder of the year. He basically spent New Year's there, mostly to himself in his lonely abode: a motel room.

What transpired the week before, with Hawkeye, Yelena, and Maggie, battling Paladin and dealing with the Tracksuit Mafia situation, was a lot for him. That wasn't even including the resurfaced revelation of his origins and true lineage.

Despite not having his mother's letter with him, he can recall every word, every specially dotted I and crossed T, the type of ink she used to jot them down. He had known about where he came from and how he got his name the entire time...but purposely kept it buried.

Now he didn't know what to do. He couldn't go back to being Taskmaster, at least not for now. Aside from the fact that had basically screwed over Valentina, Norman, and Fisk and were likely going to try to go after him, he also didn't feel like it'd be right to go out there again sporting the costume and name. It just didn't feel right.

He needed some time to himself. A chance for self-reflection. It'd be a nice change and something to look forward to for 2025. Tony felt like he surely needed it.

New year, new me...he thought.

After buying some things from the local thrift shop, Tony entered his motel room. He had barely shut the door when he heard a feminine voice speak.

"Took you long enough."

Tony turned around and saw a silhouette sitting on the armchair in the corner of the room. She turned on the light and Tony saw who it was...Yelena.

"I gotta say, Belova." He spoke as he put his bag down. "You're probably the only person who can get the jump on me."

She smirked. "You really mean that?"

"No." He replied. "I could've shot you through the door before I came in. But someone trying to take me out wouldn't have waited inside, they would've tried to kill me before I came in. Maybe even when I was coming from the store. So...I knew whoever was inside wasn't a threat."

Yelena nodded and got up from the seat.

"Same old Masters."

"How'd you find me?"

It wasn't hard to find Tony, at least not for Yelena. For the former Widow and current private investigator, finding her old friend was mere child's play.

"You often stay in quiet cities when you're on the move. You're also a sports guy and admire players' loyalty to not only their teams but where they originated. Your favorite player on the Mets was Mike Piazza. He grew up here in Phoenixville." She explained and then looked around the room. "After that, I just had to find the motel with the worst reviews."

Tony lightly smirked. "I ever tell you you're smart, Belova?"

"Not nearly enough." She replied.

"Sorry about what happened in New York. You took the hits well."

"You were able to get some in because I wasn't trying to kill you."

"And you only got a few bruises because I wasn't trying to either."

"Touché."

"What do you want?" He asked. "Val got a contract? Osborn? You know my current situation."

"Yeah, yeah. They're probably plotting to kill you." He waved it off. "Honestly...I'm just here to see how you're doing."

Tony raised a brow. Yelena continued.

"I get what you're dealing with. What you're thinking. Maggie told me."

The man took in a breath through his nose. He knew that the redhead overheard what Paladin said and was likely the person who took Julie's letter when he left it.

"She did?" He asked.

Yelena nodded. "It's a lot to take in."

Tony was as still as a redwood tree as he looked at the blonde.

"Who else has she told?" He asked.

"Her dad." She stepped forward. "He's looking for you, you know? He wants to meet you. Get to know you."

"Well, the family reunion could wait. On second thought...it can be postponed for the foreseeable future." He shot back. "I don't want to be found."

"I know."

"Are you going to tell them where I'm at?"

"No." She replied. "You shouldn't be forced into that if you're not ready."

Tony was taken aback by her words. She really cared for his well-being and understood his current state of mind. He appreciated that she was willing to keep him hidden and not tell anyone else about his whereabouts.

"Thank you, Belova."

Yelena nodded. Tony took a breath and continued.

"You're right. I guess...I do need time. It's just...the thought of my parents, then my real ones, then my brother's still out there and then I find out I have an actual brother—"

"Tony." Yelena stopped him, calling the man by his first name which rarely happened. "No need to explain. It's okay."

Masters nodded. There was a brief silence in the room before he spoke again.

"How...how was your New Year's?"

Yelena stifled a laugh. She shook her head.

"That's my queue to go. Can't risk getting stuck in an awkward conversation with you."

Tony chuckled. Yelena walked up to him and placed a piece of paper on his broad chest, keeping it there. She looked up at the tall man.

"In case you need anything, here's my number."

He took it. Yelena slapped his pec.

"Don't be a stranger, big guy."

She walked passed him and started opening the door. Tony looked back at Yelena and she spoke before leaving.

"To answer your question...my New Year's was all right." She shrugged and smirked. "I hope yours was too."

All Tony did was nod. Yelena nodded as well before leaving the room and shutting the door. The man looked down at the paper in his hand and let out a quick breath.

Later that day, Tony checked out of the motel. Only sporting the clothes on his back, a bundle of cash in his pocket along with his passport, toothbrush, and his father's medal, he walked down the lone Pennsylvania road.

He kept on walking, holding out his thumb for any good samaritan willing to give him a ride into the next town.

Tony Masters will return...

END OF: HAWKEYE