STRIKE Team Omega

The end of October brought a well-deserved break for John and Natasha. Between missions, they had managed to get a few days off, and John decided it would be a good opportunity to visit Clint at his farm.

For Natasha, however, this visit had a special weight: it would be her first time meeting Clint's family. Although she had worked alongside him countless times, the nervousness of meeting his wife, Laura, and his children, Cooper and Lila, made her reflect more than usual.

"Relax, Nat," John said softly as they drove along the quiet roads that led to Clint's farm. He noticed her thoughtful silence, something rare for the normally unflappable Black Widow.

Natasha looked at John, forcing a smile.

"I'm relaxed. I just don't know how to deal with... families. I've never been good with children," she admitted, crossing her arms and leaning back in the car seat.

John smirked, knowing that Natasha's anxiety was more an emotional barrier than anything else. He took her hand briefly as he drove.

"You'll do great. Laura's a great person, and the kids will love you. Besides, Clint has already told them a lot about you. Cooper will probably want to hear you tell stories about secret missions, and Lila… well, she'll want to play. Nothing complicated."

Natasha sighed, still a little uneasy, but she allowed herself to relax when she heard John's calm tone. He always managed to reassure her, something she was beginning to realize was increasingly rare in her life.

When they arrived at the farm, Natasha was struck by how simple the place was. Everything was so… normal. The wooden house, the open field around it, the soft sound of the wind swaying the trees. It all seemed to belong to another world, far from the missions, espionage, and war they faced every day.

When they got out of the car, Cooper, now six years old, was the first to spot John.

"Uncle John!" Cooper ran towards him, his arms open, and John promptly bent down to pick the boy up.

"Cooper!" How are you, champ? — John smiled, hugging the boy affectionately. Natasha watched the scene with slight surprise. The easy interaction between John and the child was something new to her.

Shortly after, Lila, now one year old, appeared on Laura's lap, who smiled broadly when she saw John. She walked over to him with the little one in her arms.

"John, I'm so glad you came!" — Laura said warmly. "And this must be the famous Natasha, Clint's partner. I'm finally going to meet her."

Natasha approached, extending her hand a little hesitantly. Laura, however, ignored the formal gesture and pulled her into a hug.

"No formalities here. We're all family. Welcome." — Laura said with a welcoming smile.

Natasha, surprised by the warm welcome, relaxed a little and smiled back.

"Thank you, Laura. It's a pleasure to meet you. Clint talks a lot about you guys."

"I hope they're good things!" — Laura laughed. — Oh, that's Clint. He talks more about others than about himself. But come on in, make yourself comfortable. The food is almost ready, and I'm sure Lila is looking forward to meeting you two.

Lila, who had been quietly on Laura's lap, looked at John with her big curious eyes, reaching out to him. John quickly picked her up, and the little girl smiled, holding tightly to his neck.

"She adores you, as always," Laura commented, watching the scene with affection.

As they walked into the house, Natasha felt more at ease. There was something comforting about this domestic environment, something she rarely experienced in her life. The dinner table was set, and the aroma of home-cooked food filled the air, giving her a sense of home that she hadn't felt in a long time.

"So, how was your trip?" Clint asked as he appeared in the living room, a smile on his face. He walked over to John and Natasha, greeting them warmly. "I hope the roads weren't too bad."

"Smooth. And it seems like you're still taking good care of your family, Clint." — John replied with a smile, nodding appreciatively.

"I do what I can," Clint said, casting a loving glance at Laura and the children.

During dinner, the conversation flowed naturally. Clint and John told old stories, remembering missions and games from the time they were together at S.H.I.E.L.D. Natasha watched everything with a slight smile on her face, but at certain moments, she felt Cooper's eyes on her. The boy seemed fascinated.

Finally, he couldn't contain himself any longer.

"Are you the Natasha that daddy talks about? The spy?" Cooper asked, his eyes shining with curiosity.

Natasha laughed softly, looking at Clint, who shrugged with a mischievous smile.

"Yes, that's me. Did your dad tell you a lot of stories?"

"Yes! He said you're very good at fighting and that you can beat anyone. Can you teach me how to fight too?"

John laughed when he heard the question.

"Maybe when you're a little older, Cooper," Natasha replied softly, smiling at the boy. "But I bet your dad already taught you a few things, right?"

Cooper nodded excitedly, while Lila, on John's lap, played with her necklace.

"She has good stories to tell, Cooper, but most of them you'll only hear when you're older," John joked, ruffling the boy's hair.

The evening unfolded calmly and comfortably. Natasha, who was nervous at first, soon felt at ease with Laura and the children. There were times when Cooper insisted that Natasha tell him some "spy" stories, and she found herself telling some adventures (obviously edited) that fascinated him.

Lila, in turn, remained glued to John, causing Laura to laugh and say that the girl always had a crush on him. When night fell, John and Natasha said goodbye to their family, ready to head back. Laura hugged Natasha again, thanking her for visiting.

"You're always welcome here, Natasha. It was great meeting you," Laura said sincerely.

"Thank you, Laura. I really enjoyed being here. It's nice to… see a different side of all this," Natasha replied, with a slight smile.

Cooper and Lila also said goodbye, and John promised he would be back soon for another visit. Clint, as always, teased John about how the kids adored him more than them.

"You're stealing my popularity with my own kids, Hawke. That's not fair," Clint said, pretending to be offended.

John laughed, patting his friend on the back.

"You know they always preferred Uncle John. Nothing you can do about that."

Natasha watched the exchange between the two, feeling strangely at peace. There was something comforting about seeing John so relaxed and happy, surrounded by people who loved him.

When they finally got into the car and began the drive back, Natasha leaned back in her seat, watching the night fall over the hills.

"It was a good night," she said softly.

John glanced at her, smiling.

"I told you you'd like it. They love you, and I knew Laura and the kids would get along with you."

Natasha smiled back, and for a moment, she was silent, just enjoying the comfort of being with John.

"You're lucky, John. To have people like that in your life," she murmured, almost to herself.

John reached out, lacing her fingers with his.

"You're part of this now, too, Nat. We're a family."

She looked up at him, her eyes soft and filled with an emotion she rarely allowed to surface. With a small smile, she nodded.

"Yes, I guess we are."

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