Authors Note: OMG...I can't believe it's the end of this story, for now anyway *evil chuckle*

The response I've received for this has literally blown me away, thanks to all who have added to your favourites or followed, and a huge thanks to everyone who reviewed. You ALL officially rule...cookies to everyone! You have made a wee Scottish Lass very happy ;)

Thanks to Huggs, lovinthor, Fyroni, Melissa, Bookdancer, VioletBrock, Manicpanicgirl, ZhaLenn, sammygirl1963, Lollypops101, Anise Nadiah, kimbee and Hawaiichick.

Also a massive thank you to DevinBourdain, my awesome beta for all your help and suggestions throughout, and also for agreeing to help me with all my future Avengers projects. You're truly amazing!

So I'll shut up now ;) enjoy!

Epilogue

Clint lay awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn't nightmares keeping him awake, he simply couldn't sleep. It had been almost two weeks since he'd been allowed to leave medical after being shot by Karl. The wound was healing well, all that would be left was a small scar. Another scar.

Barton had overheard Phil asking Nick if he could just shoot the man responsible, the man who'd caused so much pain. Fury seemed to seriously consider the offer, but in the end he knew Karl would never be getting out. The Director knew people and was using that influence to make sure the criminal never saw the light of day again.

Glancing to his bed side table, Clint couldn't help but smile when he saw the book. Phil had purchased him a new copy of Robin Hood, he'd even wrote a few words inside. Reaching over, the teen switched on his lamp and pulled the book into his lap. He opened to the first page of the book, trailing his fingers over Phil's neat handwriting.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Every day you conquer that fear and I am so very proud to have you in my life.

I love you son,

Phil

Clint closed the book with a grin. Phil always had a way of making his heart swell with happiness. Something he was really getting used to feeling. He placed the book back on the table and was about to switch the light off when he heard it.

Thwack!

Barton arched an eyebrow in surprise. It was usually him making that noise with his bow, climbing out of bed the teen made his way downstairs, to investigate the source. His eyes widened when he spotted the back door open and Phil standing in the garden, aiming the arrow at the target.

"Phil?" he questioned quietly.

The older man's head snapped to the left, where Clint stood. "Hey…Clint….I…uh…"

Clint chuckled, making his way to Phil's side. "Why are you out here firing arrows at two am?"

Coulson smirked, remembering saying similar words to Clint not that long ago. "Couldn't sleep. And I wanted to see what all the fuss was about."

"Uh huh. And?" The teen smiled when he spotted two arrows in the target, they'd hit the outer ring but he was pleased Phil had still managed to hit the board.

"It's more complicated than I thought." Phil frowned at the two arrows. He wasn't used to not hitting a perfect shot, the young archer just made it look easy.

Clint moved closer, adjusting the older man's stance. Making him relax his shoulders and raise his elbow, slightly. "Now pull the arrow back, your thumb touching your cheek. Then exhale when you fire."

Phil watched the teen step back, giving him some room. He followed the instructions and let the arrow fly. It smacked just outside the red circle but the agent beamed as if he just hit the bulls-eye.

Barton grinned like a proud teacher. "That was really good Phil."

"Thanks."

Phil handed the bow over for Clint to take a shot, he'd been making sure the teen took it easy and had told him not to use his bow until he said so. The young archer hadn't been happy but understood why.

Clint frowned. "You sure?"

A nod was his reply.

Barton grinned, then picked up another arrow, knocked it and pulled it back until his thumb brushed against his cheek; he took a deep breath, then exhaled. The arrow was a blur until it smacked into the target, hitting directly in the centre of the red circle.

A comforting hand rested on his shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze. "Come on, Hawk. Let's get back inside.

Together they headed back into the warmth of the house. Phil walked into the kitchen and grabbed the carton of milk out of the fridge, holding it up in a silent question.

"Yes, please." Clint slid onto the stool at the breakfast bar.

Phil handed the teen a glass of milk while taking a drink of his own. "I was thinking," he started.

Barton arched his eyebrow in question.

"I wanted to invite a few people over for a BBQ. What do you think?"

"Sure, you know I wouldn't pass up free food." Clint smiled.

Phil chuckled. "It's always free food for you, kid."

The youngster shrugged.

"I want to let the neighbours know I do still live here," Phil told him, as if he was trying to explain the reason for having a BBQ. Clint knew the real reason was because he was trying to get things back to some form of normality. After Phil being shot, then Clint, things at SHIELD had been a little hectic.

"Oh they know, believe me." Barton smiled as he took a drink of milk. "You're old Mr Coulson, the bad man that scares the kids and stops them from getting their footballs back."

Phil looked hurt. "I'm not old."

"To the kids you are." Clint grinned.

They finished their milk, Phil taking the kid's glass and placing them in the sink. Clint slid off the stool and followed the older man to the couch. Both sank into the soft cushions with a sigh.

Coulson reached for the remote, flicking through the channels until he found what he was looking for.

Super Nanny.

Clint smirked as he watched the children run riot in their houses, swearing at their parents and just being little shits. He was starting to see why Phil watched this. It was highly entertaining.

"You didn't watch this to get ideas on how to control me, did you?"

"No, yes. Well at first, yeah." Phil paused, looking at the teenager next to him. Clint wasn't anywhere near as much trouble as he thought it would be in the beginning. "I thought she'd be able to give me pointers, but then I realised you were nothing like the kids she's asked to help. It sort of became a relief to watch what some parents had to deal with. Even with everything you'd been through Clint, you were a dream compared to those little monsters. I would never have survived if you were like them."

"Yeah, I'm practically an angel compared to them." Clint chuckled, "So total raise on my allowance then?"

"Don't push it."

Barton smiled to himself before turning to the older man. "I want to be just like you Phil. I want to help people."

"There are lots of ways to help people, son," Phil told him.

Clint gave a half shrug. "I know, but I want to do what you do." He looked Coulson in the eye. "I want to be an agent, Phil."

Phil nodded, he'd expected as much. "You're still too young to be trained as an agent Clint. But that doesn't mean you can't practise." He squeezed the teen's shoulder. "I'll help however I can, and so will Nick."

Clint couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. He was going to be an agent, he was going to be like his hero, like Phil. He never thought when he first met the man next to him that this would happen, that he'd finally have a home and a future to look forward to.

When the episode ended, Clint looked up at Phil, smiling when he realised the man had fallen asleep. He relaxed against him, resting his head against Phil's shoulder.

"You're not a scary old man to me. You're my hero," Clint mumbled, his own eyes closing.

It was quiet for a few seconds until Phil spoke. "You're my son, but that doesn't mean I won't send you for a time out if you call me old man again."

The young archer laughed lightly. "Yeah, yeah….old man."

Clint nearly vaulted over the back of the couch to get away, laughing hysterically as Phil leapt from the sofa to chase after him.

The sound of laughter filled the house, bringing the promise of new beginnings and new memories.

The End.

Well I hope everyone enjoyed this as much as I did writing it, and to all those who have asked if there will be a sequel...the answer is YES! I couldn't not do another, this one was soooo much fun.

I have plans for a few different stories at the moment, so I'm not sure how long it will take, but I hope you will all be patient ;)

I've also got plans to do a series of one shots from this story, showing Clint's birthday's through his years with Phil. If anyone has any suggestions on something they'd like to see happen, I will do my best to add it in. One will definitely be Clint getting to fight Uncle Nick haha...that's just too good to pass up!

Until next time

weemcg