When they get back to the Tower, Clint leads Phil up to their bedroom and undresses him slowly, pushing him back on the bed. Phil reaches a lazy hand up to grasp Clint's shirt before he can pull away.

"Off," Phil orders.

Clint grins. "I thought you were tired?" he asks, but he pulls his t-shirt off anyway, straddling Phil on the bed.

"Not that tired," Phil replies, pulling Clint down on top of him.

They make love slowly and for once, quietly. It's gentle and sweet and Phil gets the feeling that Clint is worshipping him with his body and every touch feels holy. It's over, all of it, finally. They're together and his team is protected. This is the victory dance.

When they're done and Clint has cleaned them off with a washcloth fetched from the bathroom, Phil sighs and rests his head on Clint's shoulder.

"I love you," he says into Clint's neck, because he remembers what it felt like to believe he'd never get to say those words again and he resolves to say them more often in the future.

"Love you too," Clint replies, and he rolls onto his side and pulls Phil close, wrapping himself around Phil, one palm resting on the scar over Phil's heart. It makes Phil feel safe and protected, and usually Phil's the one taking care of Clint, grounding him, protecting him when he's injured or upset, but now their roles are reversed, and Phil allows himself the luxury of being the one taken care of for once.

They both sleep without nightmares that night, and wake late in the morning. When they finally emerge from their rooms it's to the divine smell of bacon and eggs - Steve is standing at the range with an honest-to-god apron on, and Bruce hands them both a cup of coffee with a smile.

"Morning," Tasha says from her place on the couch, looking up from where she's working on the crossword in the morning paper with a genuine smile - the one she rarely lets anyone see. Tony and Pepper make their way down shortly thereafter, and Thor follows with a booming greeting.

They sit at the table, all of them, eating Steve's wonderful breakfast and chattering amongst themselves. Tony and Bruce are debating some obscure physics topic, Bruce with quiet confidence and Tony with loud gesticulations. Natasha is actually in close conference with Pepper, whispering something Phil is quite certain he doesn't want to know about. Thor is teaching Steve the wonders of texting - probably using his frequent conversations with Jane as examples, based on the blush that heats Steve's cheeks.

Clint reaches down mid-bite to snag Phil's free hand in his, and just smiles innocently when Phil glances his way. Phil tightens his grip as he looks around the table. This is his team. This is his family. It may have been hell getting here, but Phil finds that he's never been happier.