A/N: OK, I'll be explaining just how Clint managed to get so many kids and families in this chapter. Just hang on a little longer OK?

"Josh? Have you finished packing?"

"Yeah. I can't believe you're makin' me leave."

His mom walked through into his bedroom and sighed.

"You're getting in too many fights. Your father's going to keep an eye on you. Plus, you'll get to meet Mary and Ruth."

Josh sighed and picked up his suitcase. His mother was trying not to cry as she waved him off. As he waited in the departures lounge he glanced down at the cell phone his dad had given him the last time he was over. Then the flight was called and he switched the cell off as he boarded. The flight from Mustang Texas to New York was long and Josh slept through most of it. Then there was a juddering halt and he clambered off. Waiting at the baggage carousel was boring but luckily his purple suitcase was first off. He glanced up at a poster and frowned. Why was his dad part of a superhero group called the Avengers? Maybe having a superhero dad wouldn't be so bad.

"Oh Harold, won't the kids love our souvenirs?"

A vastly overweight woman was talking to her super skinny husband. Josh rolled his eyes and carried on walking.

"Hey watch where you goin' kid!" shouted a guard.

Natasha looked at the arrivals, scanning them for a young boy in his midteens. Clint had been vague about his son's appearance so she'd been forced to bring a sign that said 'Joshua Barton' which made her feel like an idiot. Then she saw a skinny kid carrying a purple suitcase. It looked like it was Joshua but Natasha wondered why Clint hadn't mentioned that his son was black.

"Hi. You must be Tasha." said the boy.

"Yes, that's me. You must be Joshua."

Joshua shuddered. "Call me Josh. I only get called Joshua when I'm in trouble."

"Noted. Come on, the car's this way."

On the way she studied the teen. He was tall with big blue eyes and dark skin. His black hair was styled in a similar way to Clint's i.e. it was just long enough to run a hand through but far too short to be considered long. He was also skinny and restless.

"So… my dad's a superhero?"

Natasha laughed. "Yes. The idea for the team was formed several months ago. It's called the Avengers and only people with exceptional skills are allowed to join. Tony Stark is a billionaire genius with a suit of iron that can fly and fight. Bruce Banner is a genius scientist but when his heart rate reaches over 200 he turns into an enormous green rage monster. Steve Rogers is basically the perfect human. Your dad is the World's Greatest Marksman and hasn't missed a shot since he was 16. I'm a world-class assassin."

"Wow. I'm a skinny kid from Texas who can play basketball."

Natasha smiled and parked the car. They got the elevator up to the top floor where the other Avengers were waiting. Apart from Clint, Mary and Ruth.

"Where's my dad?" asked Josh.

Tony opened and closed his mouth for a second before coming to his senses. "He's out shopping."

"Oh."

"Josh? Hey, your flight got in early! We were just gettin' some food." explained Clint as he appeared.

"Hey Dad."

Mary and Ruth were introduced to their older brother and took him off to the playroom.

"So explain, because I'm a little confused." said Steve.

Clint grinned. "OK, I had Jake when I was 17. Then I had Josh who's 15 when I was 19. Ruth came along 5 years later when I was 24. Mary was 4 years later when I was 28. Obviously I'm 34 now."

"You're an old man." commented Josh.

"Mean boy."

Josh laughed. "Hey dad, is that bow and arrow yours? Will you teach me how to use it?"

"Sure."

A year later

Clint sighed as he got out of the patrol car. He'd been working a double shift and if he didn't run he was going to be late.

"Hey Clint, where's the rush?"

A senior officer, Carey Mahoney, was grinning.

"Ruth's birthday party. I got landed with driving the screaming girls to the mall. You guys are welcome to come if you want."

Carey pulled a face. "I'll skip thanks all the same."

"Skip what?" asked Larvell Jones.

Moses Hightower chimed in, "Clint's kid's having a birthday party."

Larvell grinned. "I'll see you later then."

Clint nodded. Laverne Hooks, Eugene Tackleberry and Leslie Barbara walked over.

"This is the birthday party right?" asked Eugene.

"Yes and if you get my eleven year-old daughter any type of weapon I will get my bow and shoot your nuts to a telegraph pole." threatened Clint.

Not one of the officers doubted him. He'd earned a brilliant reputation for himself when he'd graduated top of his class at the Academy and been partnered with Carey.

"What's going on?" asked Carey.

"These guys are coming round to my flat at about seven. You're welcome but if you'd rather skip…"

Carey laughed. "OK, OK. Seven, your place. Hey Hightower, you comin'?"

"Couldn't keep me away. I can't wait to see my godson."

Clint grinned and jumped on his bike. He roared down to Stark Tower ad grinned up at it. He might not be a full-time Avenger but every so often he was called back. Tony and Steve were still at loggerheads, Natasha was also part-time and working at Stark Industries, Thor was kinda used to Earth now and Bruce… Bruce was R&D for the Avengers, Stark Industries and fitting Hawkeye out with trick arrows. Clint parked up outside the Tower and hit the elevator button. The intercom filtered down.

"Who is it?" asked Tony in an annoying sing-song voice.

"Either you let me in right now or I blow the place up with explosive arrows. Your choice."

There was a pause and Tony opened the elevator for him.

"Thanks Steve." called Clint as he rocketed up to the top floor.

He swung the door open only to be knocked over by Ruth.

"Happy Birthday sweetheart. Sorry I'm late."

Ruth beamed up at him and wandered off to talk to her friend. Josh was sat with his friend Mohammed playing a video game. Josh had insisted on having a friend over while lots of eleven year-old girls screamed. Mary was sat with Bruce who had a knack for dealing with small children. Clint looked around. Steve was talking to one of the moms about something, Tony was 'helping' Ruth open her presents and Thor was playing with the bubble bath.

"Looking for someone?" asked a voice in his ear.

Clint turned and broke into a grin when he saw his fiancée.

"Hey Tasha. Where's Phil?"

A month after the three kids' arrivals Tasha and Clint had begun dating. A month after that she was pregnant. Nine months down the line Philip Jake Barton had been born.

"Sleeping, finally. You know Tony made him a bedroom."

"I did but I forgot. Oh, Moses should be here soon. And Larvell."

"Excellent. Destruction and mad noises." smiled Natasha.

Moses and Larvell had taken Josh under their wing. Josh was now unrecognisable as the skinny kid from Pasadena who was always losing fights. Now he wanted to be a basketball star and thanks to Clint, Moses and Larvell he was winning the few fights he was in. Eugene had also taught him how to shoot a gun and Clint had taught him how to shoot a bow and arrow. He, like his father, wanted to be a part-time Avenger, using a crossbow. His codenamed was Blackhawk. Josh got up and came back with Phil in his arms.

"I smelt shit."

Clint smacked the back of his head gently and took Phil off his older brother.

Tasha asked, "How was work?"

"Fun. I got to threaten an asshole, arrested two drunks and a flasher."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Any more children going to pop out of the woodwork soon?"

Clint grinned. "Well…"

He was then punched by six different people, Josh included.

"Jeez, I can't make a joke anymore?"

"With you we're not sure if it is a joke." said Bruce mock-solemnly.

"It's a joke. I promise. Just got the ones you know about."

The End