The Other Tiny Hawkeye

Chapter 3: What's Love Got to Do With Getting Married?

The following morning, the extended group that had gathered up in Logan and K's suite made their way downstairs. Susie had slept in a little harder than Katie — mostly because Katie had woken up not long after Logan and K had while they were chatting and trying to decide how to handle things. But that was a good time all the same, since Barney and Clint were sleeping lightly with the newcomers in their suite, and both boys were quick to offer Katie a hand getting around the place.

Clint in particular knew how scary it could be to explore a new place and to try to get used to a new home when everything was so much bigger than she was — since he'd been much younger than Barney was when they started bouncing around. And he made sure that she wasn't even alone as she got up and moving — and made sure she knew where all the important things were (like the movies, snacks, and best places to play).

It was a little overwhelming, and there was no way Katie was going to remember all of it, but Clint promised that he'd stick with her until she was okay.

By the time the kids met back up with Logan and K, K was half curled up on her chair and Logan was fixing up their coffee. He took both of their mugs and made his way across the room, only to set K's mug down in front of her and steal a good morning kiss before he sat down next to her. The two of them half curled into each other as they started reading the paper together after that — and to most of the mansion's residents, that was a perfectly normal and reasonable morning occurrence.

What's more, the peaceful quiet continued — and when Logan was out of coffee, K picked up both of their mugs and went to refill them without a word spoken between them. And again, when she returned with fresh coffee for both, he lifted his arm for her to settle in as they got back to the paper.

For Clint and Barney, it was totally normal — though Barney was distracted saying hello to Susie and Hank when they finally got downstairs as well (with Susie rubbing her eyes tiredly the whole time), so Barney didn't see what Clint did: that Katie was watching Logan and K with a sort of bright-eyed confusion.

She was still pretty new to everything, though, so Clint didn't say anything until Jean and Scott came downstairs with Rachel too — and then Katie looked even more confused as she watched those two teasing each other over coffee and stealing kisses. Even if most of their flirting was in their heads, it was pretty obvious they were being affectionate and holding hands and stuff.

Clint tipped his head to the side as he watched Katie. She was so very intent on the two couples, and it had his gears turning....

After Logan and K had worked through a few cups each, K leaned over to steal a little longer kiss. "I'm headed to the barn if anyone wants to help," she said — clearly directed more at the kids that were hanging around than at Logan, though he was simply smirking back at her.

"I can help," Barney said quickly — which, surprisingly, had Susie perking up and nodding.

"With horses?" she asked.

"Yep," K replied. "We have twenty that need breakfast. Barney can tell you their names."

Susie broke into a wide smile at that, and Barney drew himself up and nodded. "Yeah, I can show you where to get the grain scoop and all that," he said, which had the little girl totally starry-eyed as she bounced in place.

"Please oh please!" she sang out.

"We'll be back before you know it," K said as she gave Logan's shoulder a squeeze, then ruffled Clint's hair on her way past, with Barney and Susie in tow.

Clint patted his hair back down into place and grinned at his mom before he scooted closer to Katie, who was munching on her Pop Tart and watching Scott and Jean.