S.W.O.R.D. Headquarters
New Jersey

"Well, it seems like you've been through a lot, kiddo." Maria commented, as Zach had briefly summarized what he had gone through in the past eighteen years. "Imagine what your mother would say when she learns she's a grandmother."

However, at the mention of Carol, Monica turned away, seeming a tad uncomfortable. "But you're a dad now," She finally spoke up after a few minutes of her silence. "And twins too!"

"Yeah, bit of a bombshell on me, not going to lie." Zach rubbed his neck, and took out his phone, showing them their pictures. "I'm going to see them soon. My son's name is Rian, and my daughter's name is Ember."

"They look just like you, baby." Maria awed, looking at the holographic pictures of the twins. "You give them the world, sweetie."

Zach chuckled, looking at the pictures. "Oh, after not being in their lives, I'm counting on giving them the universe." He answered in admiration, already planning how to be a good father.

"Well, we'd wanna visit, Little Z." Maria sat back in her chair. "Being a parent is a lot of work — I can't imagine how you're gonna balance fatherhood and... all these heroics."

Zach took a moment to think. It would be a challenge, but he was committed to this; he wanted to be a father. "Wait, what about the mother?" Monica asked curiously. "Like you need to pay child support or..."

"Oh, no, nothing like that." Zach confirmed, waving his hand. "Ella and I are on good terms. If anything, we'd co-parent. Even if England is 6 hours away."

From the rest of the info Ella had given him, they took residence in Cornwall, England. It was a long flight, but it'd be worth the time in the air to see his children. He wanted to do all the work necessary; get to know his kids, be there for them, and ultimately support them through anything.

. . .

Some time later, Fury had called a Quinjet to take Zach to Cornwall straight from SWORD Headquarters. As it began its autopilot landing sequence, Monica and Maria walked Zach outside, wanting to see him off.

"Please stay in contact with us this time, alright?" Monica advised, as she and Maria pinned down their numbers into his phone. "It was hard getting hold of you through letters after you were adopted from Saint Agnes."

(a/n: guess who was also in saint agnes orphanage? If you don't know, do a quick google search :) )

"Don't worry, I will, Mon." Zach laughed with her, but as they finished laughing, Zach couldn't hug but hug Monica again. He felt Monica's arms tighten around him, one at his shoulder, and one around his body. Just as sisterly as he remembered, as he felt her kiss his forehead.

The two let go of each other, so Zach would hug Maria as well, and her embrace felt just as familial as well. "It was really great to see you again, Aunt Maria." Zach wiped tears from his eyes and from hers as well. "When I get a hang on this parenting thing, I'd like you both to visit."

"Just let us know where and when, baby." Maria pecked his cheek, and let him off inside the Quinjet. Zach turned back to the mother and daughter to wave goodbye, and felt the Quinjet start to lift off, and the ramp closed up behind him.

Zach took his cue to head to the cockpit, finding it had been programmed to take him to Cornwall immediately. All he had to do was wait a good 6 hours. Fortunately enough, Zach still had enough reception within the Quinjet to make some calls.

Especially to inform Tony he's a grandfather.

Time had passed as he continued his calls across the Atlantic. When he had informed Amara, she exclaimed with joy that her brother was a parent, but was still concerned about the arrangement. Regardless of what it would come to, she was ecstatic to be an aunt.

Tony was shocked however. As soon as Zach said the three words, "You're a grandfather", he heard him doing a spit take and saying, "I'm a what?!" Add "grandpa" to "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist."

He even managed to make a call to the team, who were on the move to find a SHIELD base to continue their work in the shadows. From what Coulson had informed him, all of them were aware of the news, especially of him being a father.

They were due to find the base within days' time, so Zach was informed to start for it as soon as they found it. For now, Zach had time to know his kids.

. . .

As six hours ran up, and the Quinjet prepared its descent into its programmed destination, Zach began to ready himself physically and mentally. He wanted to make a good impression on his son and daughter, and continuously prepared himself until the Quinjet's wheels made contact with the ground.

Zach nervously turned to the ramp, which had automatically opened up, revealing the location to be an open field with a nice, cozy house. As the ramp fully opened, he found Ella standing at the bottom, as both her hands held the small hand of their children.

Rian, who was just inches taller than his sister, stood to his mom's right, while Ember, who slightly hid behind her mom's left leg, peered out curiously. As Zach walked out of the jet, Ella kneeled down to their level, and made a gentle smile.

"Rian, Ember," She began kindly with a soft, nurturing tone, as she turned back to Zach, who looked nervous. "This is your dad. Who I told you stories about every night."

She turned back to Zach, as she held a gentle smile to him as well. "It's okay," She comforted, and held his hand. "They're good kids, and so, so sweet." Zach nodded, and kneeled down to the twins' level.

"H-Hi." He began softly, sitting down at their level, trying to make them more comfortable with them. "So... your mom's told you both a lot about me. I hope it's good things?"

(Young Charlie Tahan as Young Rian)

"They were," Rian flashed a toothy grin, sitting down in front of his father. "She said that you were the best, and she missed you a lot. I'm Rian!" He enthusiastically jabbed his hand out for him to shake.

"Wow, such a gentleman!" Zach smiled, and graciously shook the eight-year old's hand, and turned to Ember, who still looked a bit shy. "Em, it's okay!" Rian offered to his sister, ushering her to them. "Dad's nice!"

(Young Julia Antonelli as Younger Ember)

"She can be a little shy around new people," Ella advised Zach, sitting down next to him. "But maybe once she knows her dad, that could change?" Ella reached her hand out to their daughter, who slowly walked toward her, and sat on her lap.

"It's okay, princess," Ella comforted the little girl, who looked to her father. As Zach looked between his son and daughter, it was clear they both inherited his brown eyes. "You always said you wanted to meet your daddy, right?"

"Yeah." Ember spoke softly, still not looking away from Zach. Even if she was a shy little girl, her eyes never lingered off her father. Even if she was so young to question it, she knew that was her father.

The young girl sat up from her mother's lap, and strutted to her father, looking at him with an innocent, but piercing look. "You're my dad?" She asked as she sat down in front of him.

"Y-Yes, honey." Zach spoke with a stutter. He was still somewhat afraid; his son might like him already and he had just met him, but he couldn't imagine if his daughter didn't. "I'm your dad."

Zach didn't want to make Ember feel uncomfortable by doing any paternal gestures like brushing her hair behind her ears, or taking her arm. He just wanted to make sure his daughter and son felt safe with him, as well as loved and cared for.

Suddenly, he felt a small push against himself, and all he saw was a blur as Ember crashed into him, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. Her head was underneath his chin, and she stayed there.

Zach still felt taken aback, but after the smallest moments of hesitation, he gently embraced his little girl, and held her close to him. "I know I just met him..." he heard Rian speak up to his mother. "But could I hug my dad too?"

"You didn't even have to ask, bud." Zach replied with a heartfelt smile, opening the embrace to his son. And just like his sister, Rian smashed into his dad with a bear hug, making the now-realized father roar in laughter.

"Wow, I guess someone's super strength peaked, didn't it?" Ella laughed, smiling as she watched her — their kids — finally embrace their father after so many years.

And in his heart, their father never wanted to leave them. Not even for a second.

. . .

It was still morning in the English countryside, yet the twins were fully awake and active within their home. It wasn't a small house by any means, but it was wide enough for everyone who lived in it.

The house was actually one out of multiple S.H.I.E.L.D safehouses. In all seriousness, Zach found it incredibly similar to Clint's homestead in Iowa, which he had visited plenty of times when he was simply Natasha's trainee. It made sense that it was similar; Fury was in charge of it all, and had made the necessary calls.

He found that the twins had their own room with two separate beds, and a Nintendo NES sat under a CRT TV. Yet, so many LEGOs, majority were Star Wars, Ninjago, even some of the Avengers.

Yet they were with fictional missions with fictional villains.

"So, little man," Zach asked as he sat on the ground with his son, finding a Super Mario Bros cartridge on the ground. "You a big Mario fan, huh?" Rian nodded excitedly, making his dad smile as well.

"Well, guess what?" Zach chuckled, waving the cartridge. "Your dad is a gamer! Or — I was, y'know?" He looked through the games selection, neatly placed in the console. "I played these when I was a kid, but games have definitely improved over the years."

"Maybe someday... you and I could try them?" Rian asked with a twinge of hope, and his eyes lit up, excited he had a common interest with his dad.

"Of course, bud!" Zach smiled, putting down the cartridge to ruffle Rian's hair affectionately. "Heck, whatever you wanna do with me — as long as your mom approves — we'll do. And the same goes for your sister, alright?"

"Thanks, dad." Rian's smile continued to beam widely. However, Zach felt his heart skip a beat at that moment. His son acknowledged him as his dad; and yet, there wasn't a single moment in the time Zach had known him to even suggest that Rian harbored resentment against him.

The eight-year-old was just so happy to finally meet his dad.

"Of course, kiddo." Zach smiled, and sat back. "Hey, you and your sister... how come neither of you are mad at me?"

"What you mean?" Rian asked innocently in a child-like manner.


"I haven't been a part of your lives for eight years." Zach answered determinedly, with a serious look in your eyes. "I just found out that I'm a father a few days ago!"

"But here we are, and you two are the sweetest kids on Earth," Zach smiled, gently placing his hand on his son's head. "And I already love the two of you, but how come you're not mad?"

Rian only gave a small childish smile. "It's cause Mommy always told me and Em stories about you, Dad." He answered with a grin. "She always said it was never your fault, so if we got to meet you, we knew. Or something like that."

Zach could only chuckle. Ella had raised them well, even in isolation from everything. "You're a good kid, Rian." Zach smiled, raising his arms out to his son for a hug. "Come on —"

"OOF—" Zach grunted, just as his son tackled him to the ground in a hug. "Wow, your mom wasn't kidding... you might just have my super strength already!"

"I might!" Rian laughed as the two sat up.

"Daddy!!" The two boys heard Ember's voice cry out from downstairs. "Oop, it seems like your sister's calling!" Zach exclaimed, hopping to his feet. "We'll pick up in a bit, alright? I promise, bud."

Rian nodded adamantly as he blew into the NES cartridge of Super Mario Bros, and plugged it into the console. But Zach had felt so proud he bonded with his son. But his next task; bonding with his daughter.

Zach marched down the stairs to the living room, where he found Ember on the floor, drawing in a small sketchbook. "You called for me, sweetie?" Zach asked as he sat down on the floor next to her. "Uh... can I call you sweetie? Or any kind of nickname you'd like?"

"Yeah!" Ember's eyes twinkled, as she looked up at her dad, and then pointed to his lap. "Can I sit?"

"Uh, go ahead, if you'd like, sweetie." Zach answered politely, as his daughter stood up, and sat herself on his lap, right so that he was looking right over her. "What were you drawing?"

"You n' me." Ember answered, as she continued to doodle. "And also Mama, and Rian, and Uncle Ed, and Thea, and Grandma!" She set her pencil down and pointed down at a certain figure on the sheet.

"See, Daddy?" She said as she looked back up to him. "That's you!" The drawing was good for an eight-year-old. But seeing as his own daughter made it, Zach wanted to stick it on his own refrigerator door.

However, some things were still on his mind. "Thea, that's your cousin, yeah?" Zach asked her, pointing to the drawing of a shorter girl on the sheet. "My niece? And you mean Grandma—"

"May." Another voice spoke in the room, and Eddie had walked into the living room, with a girl (around the same age as Ember) with blonde hair sitting cradled in his arms. "Hey, Zach." He said with a tiny iota of a surprise. "Fatherhood looks good on you, man."

"Hey... Ed." Zach answered back, while Ember waved to him. "Hi, Uncle Eddie!"

"Hi, sweetheart." Eddie smiled back, ruffling her hair as he sat down along with his daughter. "So, you met your kids — and now your niece." He turned his attention to Zach, and then to the girl in his hands. "This is Thea. Mine and Amelia's little girl."

(Young Emily Alyn Lind as Younger Thea)

Upon looking at the blonde girl in his arms, Zach could already see her mother's features in Thea. "She looks like her mother." Zach commented, putting his hand out to his niece. "Hi, Thea... I'm your uncle."

"Uncle Z?" Thea asked, and looked at her dad, who nodded in agreement. "Auntie's talked about you. A lot. She really likes you!"

"Oh, I know, sweetie." Zach chuckled, as Eddie put Thea down next to Ember. "Hey, why don't you two draw something for us, yeah?" Eddie asked warmly to the girls. "I just have to talk about some things with your dad, alright, Em?"

Ember nodded once again, and laid down on the ground across from Thea. She handed her cousin a set of crayons and some papers, and very quickly, the two immediately talked together as they drew.

"So, everything's out there, isn't it?" Eddie asked as the two sat at the dining table. "No more SHIELD, no more HYDRA — you met your kids..."

"Yeah. No more secrets — I hope." Zach's eyebrows shrugged, hoping there wasn't any more left. Eddie nodded, and poured some juice for the both of them.

"Bet there's tabloids saying you're a father now." Eddie presumed, taking a sip.

"God, I hope I'm not trending on Twitter right now." Zach took one sip. "Dad's always trending for some reason." Twitter had blown up with tweets of the "incident" in New York, this would have caused some form of outreach.

"How'd Tony take the news, huh?" Eddie smirked upon the mention of Iron Man. "Being a Grandpa? Oh, I bet he was shocked as all hell." One more sip of Orange Juice. "He's a grandfather, the Avengers are uncles, and Natasha's an aunt..."

"Oh, she was just in the dark as I was about this. She was surprised, and she knows — every secret."

"Not this one. And not... mine." Eddie carefully put the glass down, and looked Zach in the eyes. And just then, Zach remembered something from the file.

"Eddie... isn't his real name."

His name was in quotations in the file. There was no "Eddie Monroe".

"Your name isn't Eddie. Isn't it?" Zach interrogated, leaning further at the agent. Eddie shook his head in agreement.

"I had to use an alias. Eddie's a common nickname, of course from Edward... or maybe even Edwin." He explained, raising his eyebrows. "And there was a pretty important Edwin in my life." His hand rested on his chin. "God, I miss him."

"But you knew him too." Eddie looked at Zach, dead in the eyes. "After all... Edwin Jarvis took good care of us, didn't he?"

Zach's eyes grew in surprise, and looked right back at him. Now with this revelation, he began to see the features upon "Eddie" that Tony had had. "Y-You're..." Zach began to stammer. "You're a Stark."

"Yes, I was a Stark." Eddie answered silently. "I don't use it anymore, Obie made sure there was no mention of me anywhere. Made sure everyone — including my own brother, Tony — thought I was dead."

"Man... fuck Stane." Zach grumbled. "What's your real name then?"

The brown haired man smirked. "Man, that hasn't been me in decades." He chuckled. "I was once named Arno Stark. Few years younger than Tony."

(a/n: to be clear, Arno is no OC. There is a comic run of this character, but this is adapted to be much different than his comic counterpart)

"Speaking of, the old man never really talked about you." Zach answered, taking another swig of juice as he thought it over. "Then again, he adopted me before I turned 10. Only quote-on-qoute family I knew about were — yeah, Howard & Maria."

"Guess Tony felt guilty about my death." Eddie mused. "But it doesn't really matter — Arno Stark is dead, and I have a new life as Eddie Monroe; son, brother, father."

"And your daughter..." Zach said as he turned back to see the little girls drawing and talking together, with not a care in the world. "She's really a Stark then — does she know?"

"Yes, but neither of us take that name now, and she does know about it." Eddie replied, taking a look back too. "And I don't mean to come off as harsh, but —"

"You're not my uncle, yeah." Zach interrupted. "I mean, you weren't by blood anyways."

"But, that doesn't mean we can't be friends." Eddie premised. "I know I was a dick years back, but we're on the same team. We both care about our teammates, and we care about our families — especially them."

Zach turned back to the girls, still talking and paying no mind to the fathers. It had only been just mere hours, but he had grown so attached to his son & daughter, that he never wanted to let them go.

"So, friends?" Eddie stuck out his hand, and just as quickly, Zach put out his hand into their handshake, resulting in a firm shake. "Friends." Zach affirmed.

Eddie's face rolled into a smile, and took one last sip of juice. "Friends."

"So, what do you think about your son & daughter, actually?" Eddie asked, noticing Zach still looked over his daughter. "They've always reminded me of you as they were growing up."

"Honestly — I think Rian's developing my super strength." Zach responded. "That kid tackled me to the ground like a mini Superman!" He added with a hearty laugh. "And Ember... She's so adorable—"

"Daddy!" cried the voice of Thea loudly, grabbing the two's attention. "It happened again!" The smell of smoke quickly flooded their nostrils, but Eddie's attention was directed to the girls, as he spotted one of their papers having quickly caught fire.

"Where'd that fire come from?" Zach hurriedly asked, jumping out of his seat, and ran to his daughter, while Eddie ran to his, but the unthinkable happened.

Ember patted out the fire. With her bare hand.

But she didn't scream or cry in pain. It just seemed like a simple inconvenience that she could take care of. All of a sudden, she found herself picked up by her dad, who gently took her arm to examine for burns.

"Ouch." Ember winched slightly.

"What — not a single burn." Zach gratefully exclaimed as he looked at Ember's hand. "Oh thank goodness." He graciously remarked, holding his daughter close to him as he looked at Eddie and Thea. "Is Thea okay?"

Eddie held his daughter close to him as well, looking down at the ground, where melted crayons stained the remaining pieces of paper. "She is," Eddie sighed with relief, looking towards her. "And it's not your fault, sweetie."

"Her fault?" Zach questioned. "The windows are closed, it's not that hot, and there's nothing they could have set fire to—" Eddie looked back towards Zach, with a knowing glare. 

"She has powers too."

"Yes — a few months after she was born, random fires randomly sparked," Eddie explained while kneading his fingers through the knots in Thea's hair. "We had some docs come in, they did some tests; they claim she was born with some mutation."

"Mutation was the best word they could use to describe it." Eddie then sat down on the couch. "They couldn't explain what it was. But we've been trying to keep an eye out for these, along with positive reinforcement and affirmations."

"Sorry..." Thea muttered softly, only to be met with a gentle peck on her head by her father. "What matters is that you and your cousin are okay." Eddie affirmed to her. "We can always get new crayons, yeah?"

"Speaking of which," Eddie said, turning back to the Avenger. "Ember didn't get burned?"

"Yeah, not a single scab." Zach took another look at her hand, then to her. "Ember, I'm very glad you're not hurt," Zach gently said to Ember, while Eddie cleaned up the mess of melted crayons. "But you have to be careful — I say this while you are seemingly fireproof."

"It didn't hurt much." Ember responded politely. "It was still really hot."

"Either way, it seems like you and your brother's powers are developing." Zach commented, still carefully watching her hands. "But please, don't do that again, alright? If your mom found out..."

"Mama knows." Ember quickly remarked.

Zach's eyes puzzled in confusion. "What? How does she know, sweetie?"

"She's right behind you." Ember pointed behind him, as he whipped around to face Ella staring back at him, from a few inches below him. "It's happened before," Ella recalled, walking into the kitchen.

"I took my eye off for not even a second, and next thing I knew, she had put her hand on the kettle." Ella's hands remained on the handle of the kettle. "As soon as I saw it happening, I grabbed her and quickly checked her hands. She wasn't crying or screaming."

"But I hadn't noticed she left a mark on the kettle." Ella turned it around to face the father and daughter, displaying a small handprint left on the kettle. "She herself burnt this kettle. But I guess I named her Ember for a reason, didn't I?"

"Hot things don't bother this girl, don't they?" Zach proclaimed, still holding Ember in his arms. "She's a pretty strong girl here, El." From the way Ember was holding onto Zach, Ella knew her daughter loved her dad.

"I'll let you continue bonding with this lil' angel." Ella smiled at her daughter, held her cheeks in her hands, and pecked her forehead. "I just talked to Rian, he says he really likes his dad; really wants to play video games with you."

"Alright, but what are you doing?" Zach asked her, as she grabbed a burner phone.

"May and Coulson got into an argument before SHIELD collapsed, so I wanna make sure I can get to her." Ella remarked, flipping open the burner. "We have maybe... a week before we touch base with Coulson?"

"That's alright." Zach replied. "I'll take whatever time I've got to spend with my kids and my niece." Ember turned to face her dad with a happy expression. "Maybe I'll watch them draw again."

"I'd love to keep a drawing my daughter made for me." As those words exited his mouth, he bestowed a small peck on the top of her head, making the little girl giggle adorably.

. . .

Another day had passed, and Zach had further bonded with both his kids, and his niece. He and Rian spent hours on finishing Super Mario Bros, which was a little tricky (as he was a little rusty) but the father-and-son team managed to defeat Bowser and save Princess Peach.

Yet, he was still able to spend time with Ember and Thea, who decided to take the time to paint his nails shades of red, black and cyan blue, which just so happened to be his daughter's favorite color.

The memory of Ember's smile was permanently etched in his head when Zach had asked for that particular shade.

Along with talking to his daughter, he also talked to his niece, and got to know her a little better. She had always regarded her cousins as her siblings, and their mom as her mother-figure. But Thea had also started affectionately calling him, "Uncle Zee".

"Hey, daddy?" Ember asked him as she continued to paint the edges of his right ring finger. "Are the Avengers our aunts and uncles? Cause Rian and I were wondering, cause we have all the LEGOs of you?"

"You know, I didn't think of it like that, sweetie." Zach honestly replied, giving her a smile. "I mean, your grandpa Tony is Iron Man after all. So yeah, I suppose Captain America, Thor, The Hulk & Hawkeye are your uncles, and Black Widow is your aunt then."

"That's so cool!" Thea exclaimed. "Can we meet them sometime, Uncle Zee?"

"I can try to see, honey." Zach replied to her. "They can be pretty busy, but I can see what I can do."

"I like Captain America, his shield's sooo cool." Ember grinned as she finished painting his nails. "But you're my favorite, Dad." Zach gently blew against the paint to dry it, and looked to his daughter.

"You are just so sweet, aren't you?" Zach answered as she sat on her father's lap, looking at her handiwork upon his hands. "I'm glad I'm your favorite."

"And don't tell Tony!" He added in a small whisper to the two girls, making them laugh. "You're definitely my favorite." Ember remarked happily through her giggles, and felt a small peck at the top of her head.

"Do we have other family?" Thea asked her uncle, leaning closer to him.

"Oh, not exactly family, but they're really close to me," Zach answered her question. "I have someone who's like my older sister, her name's Amara. In fact, she's one of the first people I called about being a dad. She has a kid, your cousin Jayden."

"I also just reunited with my godmother Maria, and my cousin Monica. And then of course, you know about Tony and Pepper. But I have my bio-mom, she's just..."

Zach spaced off for a second. After how long it's been since he's seen Carol, it had been several years since he saw her last. Eighteen years.

"She's just... been out of town. Really busy, y'know?" Zach claimed, as Ember leaned back onto his chest. "But I'd love to introduce you all to her when I see her again."

The pager Fury had given him suddenly felt so heavy in his pocket, it could have held him down on the ground. Fury had mentioned due to his carelessness in the 90's, Carol had confiscated it, but had returned it to him on the sole condition to only activate it during an emergency.

But yet, Fury entrusted him with it; the only way to contact his mom after 18 long, long years. Zach was only 11 when she saw him last, and around this time, she could be entering her 50s, yet looking just as young.

How would she react to learning she's a grandmother?

"But I promise," Zach reaffirmed to them, especially to Ember. "You'll meet your grandmother someday."

Yet, he could just press that button. Carol wouldn't know if it was him, she didn't know he had the pager. Nevertheless, he pushed that thought to the back of his mind.

"Hey, Uncle Zee?" Thea's voice broke him out of his thoughts, grabbing his now ringing phone from the sofa. "Your phone's ringing, it says Nat?" She handed the phone over to her uncle, who graciously took it from his niece.

"Oh, this is interesting..." Zach remarked as he saw the contact. "Getting a call from the Black Widow herself." By the mention of her moniker, the two girls looked at each other with wide eyes. "I'll be right back, girls."

Zach gently raised Ember out of his lap, and back to Thea. He then walked to the dining room, he heard little whispers from the two about their "Auntie Nat" and excited giggles about meeting the Black Widow.

He slid his finger across the screen, accepted the call, and placed the phone to his ear ready to hear her voice. "Hey there, new dad." Natasha's voice declared, and by the tone of her voice, Zach could tell she was smiling. "How's fatherhood treating you? Tell me about them."

"Hello to you too, Nat," Zach chuckled back, still looking towards the girls. "And... fatherhood's good, I've really gotten to bond with my son, daughter, and niece."

"I mean, the girls just painted my nails!" Zach proclaimed, looking back at his nails. "I'm Ember's favorite Avenger, too!"

"Oh, just wait till they meet me, I'll spoil the three of them." Natasha laughed right back. "And it's good to hear you like this, it's cute."

"Oh, probably, they're already calling you Auntie Nat." He chuckled, already thinking of the scenarios of the kids being spoiled by her. Natasha's always been incredible with kids, especially with Clint's kids.

"That's five kids calling me Auntie Nat now, huh?" Natasha answered back with a laugh, reminding Zach of a conversation he and Ella had the following day.

"Actually, there is something I wanted to ask you, now that I have you on the phone," Zach straightened his posture, and took a look back at the girls, now joined by Rian.

"So, Ella and I were talking last night... we've both decided to co-parent the twins," Zach began his statement. "They'll stay with me for some time T-B-D, they'll come back to her, but El mentioned since they've been secret for so long, they don't exactly have a godparent."

"And seeing that you've had a soft spot for kids, Ella and I couldn't have thought of a better person... to be their godmother?"

All of a sudden, Natasha's voice went silent. No quippy remark, no japs, or even a single sound. It actually kind of terrified him. "Nat... Nat?" Zach spoke up after her silence drew too long. "You there?"

He heard a small sniff from the other side, and heard Natasha's breath go back to normal. "You — you want me... to be your kids' godmother?" She repeated back to him, her voice sounding slightly emotional.

"I mean, yeah!" Zach acknowledged. "Cooper and Lila adore you, you love them to bits, and you are a good influence on them. Not to mention... you could become a favorite?"

"Say no more. I'd love to be their godmother." Natasha answered back, and Zach knew she was grinning ear-to-ear. "Oh, I gotta get my godkids presents! Text me a list; I'd find what they like."

"Alright, alright," Zach chuckled before lowering his voice to a whisper. "And I know I said you could spoil them, but not a Playstation 4. I've already bought one for them with some games and controllers."

"Ouch, okay." Natasha mockingly groaned, yet expressed an excited tone. "Way to take the fun out of it... but I'll find something special for them. Send me that list soon, I can't wait to meet my godson and goddaughter."

"You'll love them." Zach smiled, as he looked back to his kids. "I love them. I love them so much."

"Oh gosh, you sound so adorable, you know that?" Natasha gushed on the other side. "You're gonna be a great dad, Zachy. I should let you get back to the kids, talk later?"

"Yeah, of course." Zach replied. "Talk later. And I'll send you that list too."

"You take care, alright? Love ya, bud."

"I will. you take care too. Love you too, Nat."

The call ended with a signature "boop-boop-boop", and before he slipped his phone back into his pocket, Zach quickly typed up a list of some of the things she could get for her godkids.

"Hey, you." He heard Ella's voice speak up as she approached the table. The blonde pulled up the chair across from him, and took a seat. "The kids said Nat called? Did you tell her?"

"Yep, I just got off the phone with her now." Zach responded, having sent the list to Nat. "She accepted, and she's looking for gifts for the kids."

Ella made a happy smile. "I'm glad she did!" She smiled happily, as she drank a glass of water. "Nat's a good person, I'm happy the kids would have her in their lives."

"But something happened." Her face dropped any sign of a happy or jubilant expression. "Skye just called from the HUB; U.S. Colonel Glenn Talbot and his forces are going to be taking over the HUB. They've left it, and Coulson had her wipe any known public knowledge of us."

From this revelation, Zach twinged in slight surprise. "There is officially no record of any of us, but you." Ella continued with a serious expression. "That makes sense, as you're an Avenger, but for the rest of us..."

"You don't exist anymore." Zach deduced. Ella didn't say anything, but just slowly nodded. "So, I just want you to know..." She spoke up again. "If anything — anything at all — were to happen to me, I want the twins to be with their dad."

Zach tried to speak, but Ella placed her hand on his. "Zach, we're spies." She looked right into his brown eyes. "This line of work is dangerous, but not for you. You're superhuman, and I'm just human. Anything could happen to me, but not you."

"I know I messed up what we used to have, I will always bash myself about it, but I've never stopped caring about you." Her eyes had just started to water with tears, staining her cheeks. "But if something were to happen to me, I want to know that our kids are with their father; the only person I've ever loved."

"T-They will, Ellie." Zach took both of her hands in his. Even if his hands were shuttering, he held on tight to her hand. "God forbid that situation were to happen, I'll be with them. I'll always be with them."

"I love our little angels so much, I hope you know that, Ellie." Zach wiped the tears off her face. "Things might not have worked out for us, but you know I'll protect you in a heartbeat. We're still partners, and our children's parents."

"I'd want their mother in their lives." Zach stood up slightly, and kissed her forehead. Ella couldn't help but close her eyes, and continue to hold his hand in hers. Their future seemed uncertain, and regardless they didn't want to be together, the two wanted to make their lives work for their kids.

"Gosh, I really got emotional there, didn't I?" Ella awkwardly laughed, readjusting her hair as Zach pulled away, and sat down, yet offered her a kind smile. "Don't worry about it." Zach said just as kindly. "I'm always a shoulder for you to lean on."

Ella giggled in response. If laughter was hereditary, their daughter certainly inherited hers. "And you called me Ellie." She recalled. "I haven't been called that in years."

"It always made you make that cute smile." Zach remarked.

"I'm glad you're in their lives. And as their mother," Ella proclaimed, looking back at her son, daughter and niece. "I think you are a great dad to them."

"Awww, you're gonna make me blush, Ellie." Zach awed, and at the mention of her nickname, Ella made that smile he found adorable. In return, he flashed her another smile, and looked at the kids. "Hey, did we have any ice cream?"

"Oh, what kind of house with kids doesn't have ice cream?" Ella jokes, as the two laughed hard. "What you thinking?" She asked as Zach looked into the fridge.

"Ice cream night with our kids, of course." Zach smirked, pulling out two Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream of Stark Ravin' Hazelnuts & Hunka-Hulka Burnin' Fudge. "Hey, kids! Who wants ice cream?"

At the mention of the sweet treat, the kids exclaimed happily and rushed to the dining table. "Oh, we got everything for ice cream..." Zach raved as he searched the fridge, finding chocolate and caramel syrup, cherries, and sprinkles.

"And Ben & Jerry's!" Zach exclaimed, still holding a pint. "Oh, so good! What licensing deal did Bruce make to make Hunka Hulka Burnin' Fudge?"

"It's so good, Uncle Zee!" Thea exclaimed as she stood next to him, along with a bowl. "It's got brownie pieces, and chocolate chips!" Zach looked back at the container, displaying Bruce's alter-ego.

"Hulk, you beautiful monster, you got amazing ice cream." Zach joked, making the kids and Ella giggle.

DEPARTURE DAY FOR PROVIDENCE

CURRENT TIME: 7:12 A.M.

Days later, Zach and Ella were prepped and ready to fly four hours to Ontario, Canada. Coulson and the BUS team had found and activated one of Fury's underground bases, known as Providence, just a day prior.

From what they were told, Providence was a base hidden away within the mountainside in a snowy forest, protected by a large heavily powered turret, inhabited by S.H.I.E.L.D agent Eric Koenig.

As the team got settled in, Zach and Ella readied the Quinjet for their travels. Even if the kids weren't too pleased in the fact their parents were leaving for "work".

Eddie however was staying for a bit, but planned to come as soon as May's ex-husband, Andrew Garner was available to watch as he was done teaching.

"Do you and Mom halfa go, Dad?" Rian asked as he watched his father tap in some settings into the Quinjet. "We still have more stuff to do!" Zach stopped typing, and went down on his knee, facing his son.

"We do gotta go, bud." Zach affirmed, holding his cheeks within his hands. He didn't want to leave them either, but they still had some work to do. "But I promise, we'll be back as soon as we can."

"And when I come back," Zach added with a small smile. "I have a surprise waiting for you and your sister in the states!"

The little boy's eyes widened in excitement, and jumped for joy. "What is it!" Rian asked impatiently. "What is it?" All he received in reply was a gracious hair ruffling from his dad, followed by a chuckle.

"Wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you, would it?" Zach answered. Rian pouted slightly, and crossed his arms. "Aw, don't do that, bud." Zach rubbed his right cheek. "But I really think you'll love it, Rian."

"Okayyyy..." Rian whined, but still kept his excited expression. "I'm really glad I got to know you, Dad."

"Me too, kiddo." Zach smiled, and raised his arms up. "Come on, bring it in — GAH!" Of course, Rian had tackled him in a hug of his own. "There we are!"

"Alright, be good, okay?" Zach instructed, placing his hands on Rian's shoulders. "Listen to your uncle, and then your Grandpa Andrew, but enjoy yourself, kiddo. We'll be back as soon as we can."

"You got it, Dad." Rian grinned, just as Ella and Ember walked into the Quinjet, carrying some spare equipment from the attic. He turned to his mother and sister to help them with their supplies, while Zach continued to type in the coordinates.

The navigation system locked onto the coordinates, and locked onto an open space, with the shape of the Bus right in the dead center. "What's that?" Ember asked, as she looked at the screen right next to her dad.

"That is our mobile base, it's called the Bus." Zach kindly explained, pointing to the shape. "It's really nice, and all of our friends live on it, basically."

"When will you be back?" Ember asked, having snuck her small hand into her dad's. "Oh, your mom and I aren't sure yet, sweetie." Zach answered just as kindly. "But I guarantee, it won't be for too long. We'll be back before you know it."

"That's what I told your brother, but when we come back, we'll do whatever you want," He conveyed with excitement, making his daughter smile, and his son looked up from what he was doing. "And you'll have a surprise waiting for you too!"

"Oh, but the two of you are going to have to be patient!" Ella warned cautiously. "All we can say is that it's something the two of you, and Thea would really like!"

"But I know our babies can be patient, yeah?" Ella brought the twins together, kneeled down, kissed their heads, and pressed her foreheads on theirs. "Oh, I love you both so much! I'm gonna miss you both so much..."

"We'll miss you too, Mommy," Zach heard the twins say back, but then they turned around, and hugged him tight. He quickly sat down so he was at their level, and brought them closer to him.

"Love you, Dad|Daddy." Zach's heart melted as he heard the words come out of their mouths. His kids loved him, just as much as he loved them. He hugged them closer, and pecked both of their heads.

"I love you both." Zach whispered back to them, and couldn't help kissing their heads again. "Oh, I love you both so much." He just wanted to hold them forever in his arms, these newfound blessings in his life.

Ella's heart had also melted, and she dreaded having to leave, just when the twins' father was finally in their lives after so long. She didn't want to leave them either, but what could she do?

"We'll be good for Uncle Eddie and Grandpa Andrew," Rian told the two adults, just as they walked the kids off the ramp and to Eddie, standing outside with Thea. "We'll miss you guys." Ember added.

"But we'll be back as soon as we can," Ella replied with a hopeful smile. "Maybe we can bring some of our friends too?"

"And Eddie, I'll talk to Skye for you," Zach added, looking towards the gentleman. "But you gotta talk to her when you come back officially."

"I will, don't worry." Eddie marked off with a two fingered salute. "I've got time to put my head on straight, and we will talk it out."

Finally, it had come time to depart from Cornwall. The two agents waved goodbye to the twins, Thea, and Eddie as the Ramp closed behind him, and took their seats in the cockpit of the Quinjet.

"So, four hours to Providence..." Ella remarked, checking their flight time to Ontario, Canada. "Coulson mentioned once we arrive, we have to state our identities so the Precision Remote System doesn't fire."

"I also heard something about lanyards?" Zach asked, flipping the appropriate switches. The Quinjet roared to life, and the two felt the weight of the wings unfolding. "Coulson had mentioned that the thing destroyed it."

"Yep, the agent inside, Eric Koenig, has said we are to get them on a case-by-case basis." Ella answered, flipping more switches on her dash. "He's also been in Providence alone since 2012."

"We are clear for takeoff," Zach announced as all signs pointed for leaving. "2012? Alone? Sounds... fun."

"We'd probably get there at the same time as Ward," Ella guessed, shrugging her shoulders. As far as they knew, Ward was with Agent Hand to transport Garrett to the Shield Prison known as the Fridge.

However, The Fridge had fallen, causing delays in Garrett's incarceration.

"Can't believe Garrett was the Clairvoyant." Zach sighed, gripping the switch to start ignition. The Quinjet then started rolling fast and tilted up, the landing gear stowed away, and soon after, they were seeing clear skies.

"I mean, right under our noses too! What else didn't we know?"

A FEW DAYS AGO

HABANA VIEJA BARBERÍAHAVANA, CUBA

"All right... see you soon."

Grant Ward ended the call with Skye on his burner phone, behind a shirtless Garrett. They had freed Raina, Project Centipede's leader, and now just liberated prisoners and weapons from the Fridge, SHIELD's detainment and storage facility at a classified location.

100 stories high and only roof-accessible, they had infiltrated the Fridge with Ward's SHIELD cover still intact, but once inside, had killed the agents that let them in with a shot to the head.

They had stolen the Peruvian 0-8-4, which hadn't been launched into space, along with an Asgardian Berserker Staff, an ancient weapon left on Earth by a stranded Asgardian who took the name Elliot Randolph.

Whoever possessed this staff in its entirety would receive both an adrenaline rush and a burst of Super Strength fueled by its user's rage & anger. Now with the prisoners loose, dangerous weapons in their possession, and Ward's cover still solid, they had everything to continue their work in HYDRA's name.

"A secret base, huh?" Garrett questioned as soon as Ward placed the burner down, scoffing at what measures Shield had done. "Sounds just like Fury."

"Skye confirmed." Ward added. "Fury's out of the picture."

"Well, that is good news," Garrett smoldered his signature shit-eating grin, as he fit his shirt over his head. "Gives us one less thing to worry about."

"Now your... team still thinks you're on their side, that you're their friend. You're not." Garrett affirmed to his protege, who stood statically. "You just need that drive Skye put everyone's info into."

"If you can do this the easy way without blowing your cover..." Garrett added, knowing Ward could have gone sentimental on them.

"I'll need time to get that information from her." Ward declared.

Garrett shook his head. Time was certainly on their side. "You'll have it!" He answered. "Coulson will be busy." He turned his back on him, thinking of his next steps.

"I'll give you 24 hours to get the password and get out." He ordered, turning back to him. "After that... well, tie up your loose ends and bring the girl to me."

Ward nodded silently, knowing his objectives. Garrett marched towards him, staring into his cold eyes. "You got your story straight?"

"Yeah." Ward answered, turning his full body towards Garrett. "We just need to make it believable." He started at Garrett straight into his eyes, and without warning, Garrett sent a right hook into his face.

"Who are you?" Garrett growled coldly. Ward rolled his head, and stared back at Garrett. "Grant Ward." He answered, seething in moderate pain. "Agent of SHIELD."

SMACK.

Garrett struck him again, with more anger as he heard the name of the organization that left him for dead, adding a few knees to Ward's ribs. He pulled the back of his hair back to his eye level, and held him by his neck.

"Who?" he answered just as coldly. "Make me believe."

Ward sucked in the pain he felt, yet held his composure. "Grant Ward." He repeated. "Agent of SHIELD." Again, Garrett struck him across the face, making Ward spit up blood.

"Identify yourself."

"Grant Ward." Ward answered confidently, blood trickling down the right side of his face. "Agent of SHIELD."

"Welcome, Agent Ward." The robotic voice of Providence acknowledged in a monotone voice. "We've been expecting you."

PROVIDENCE

ONTARIO, CANADA.