From the Ashes

Chapter 1: Introduction / Back in a Flash

This story starts, as so many do, with a happy, heartwarming moment.

My husband and I met and married many years ago, and moved to a beautiful farmstead in Missouri. It was located far from town, on a large, idyllic plot of land hidden away from prying eyes. It had everything I'd ever wished for: deep, dark oak forests, filled with mystery and adventure; a large, shallow stream, ideal for floating toy boats and cooling off on hot afternoons, and wheat fields that grew thick and tall, creating shimmering fields of gold that rippled in the wind and positively glowed at sunset. It was a world removed from the world, safe from harm and free of troubles, and I loved it.

While Clint's work meant he was coming and going, I was never short of things to do. The farmhouse needed constant attention and endless fixing, and in time came our family. Cooper was first, followed by Lila and then little Nat. When they were old enough we found places for them in the nearby school, but during the holidays and the evenings I used to sit on the porch and watch them play tag in the fields or hunt monsters in the forest. Sometimes, we all used to go and float little boats on that stream that had shown so much promise, or we would tell stories and roast marshmallows over the firepit in the yard.

I wasn't completely isolated; I knew all about the invasion of New York, the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the destruction of Novi Grad. Whenever Clint returned from duty, the children used to gather around and listen with shining eyes about the adventures of the Avengers. No matter how bad things got, however, I took comfort in the fact that they were always far away, and would never, could never intrude on my precious little world, with its precious little treasures.

In hindsight, that may have been a bit of a mistake.

The day the world changed forever was one of those perfect spring days; warm, but without the oppressiveness of the summer sun. The air was fresh, with a stiff breeze from the northwest, and the trills and thrills of birdsong gently roused me from my slumber. I lay there peacefully, enjoying the soft cocoon of my blankets and the gentle sigh of the wind. Sure, I was going to have to get up at some point, but that point didn't have to be now...

There was a snort and a sudden shudder of movement from the other side of the bed, and then my husband came to with a long, drawn-out yawn. The mattress shifted, and I cracked open an eye to see him sit up and stretch his arms slowly overhead, and then he turned to look at me with a warm, gentle smile. There was something about that grin of his that made my heart melt, and I found myself smiling sleepily back as he stood up and came around the side of the bed.

"Mornin', sleepyhead," he said, "Sleep well?"

"'Bout as well as I could; your damn thing was jabbing me all night." I murmured, and nodded towards the thick, grey bracelet wrapped tightly around his ankle, "When's it coming off again?"

"Not long now. Hearing's in a month," he said, "An' I was thinkin' that maybe we'd go somewhere to celebrate. Y'know, with the kids?"

"Oh yeah?" I looked at him suspiciously, "Like where?"
"Well, the kids've been buggin' me to take 'em to that new waterpark near Springfield, and since summer's comin'..."

"Really?" I groaned, "You know how I feel about waterparks, Clint."

"Relax, hon. It'll be fine," Clint said, and ran his fingers through his brown, close-cropped hair, "You can bob around on the lazy river while the rest of us have some real fun!"

I stuck my tongue out at him, "I know how to have fun, y'know!"

"Sure you do," he laughed, and danced backwards out of reach, "You just like to have it a little...slower than the rest of us."