I've never actually been to a circus before, Mother didn't approve. Alexis didn't bother pointing out that just because she didn't see Clint didn't mean he wasn't there somewhere.

I have to fix that, then. Because yes, Clint did still know some tricks of the carny trade, and he knew the schedules of the top five or six best circuses and carnivals.

Alexis snorted. She was well aware of his history, after all.

Pick a day, then.

Clint snorted, but went over a few schedules in his head.

There's a good one coming around next month.

I'll mark it on my calendar when I get a chance, Alexis said. So what perch have you found this time?

A good one. Clint wasn't going to give up his position that easily. He stretched a bit and looked around again. He could see the theme park from his spot, but it was a ways off.

A nice high perch for the hawk? Alexis snorted. Somehow I'm not even a bit surprised anymore, Barton.

I'd be surprised if you were. Clint grinned and settled in on his little corner of rooftop. It's nice up here though.

Nah, I won't fall off, I've got a good spot. And the clouds are a ways off, plenty of time. Because yes, Clint did think about such things when picking his perches.

Good, I don't think Tony's got a way to turn a bird splat into a functional archer again. Alexis grinned as she sent off that text.

Clint snorted.

I was climbing things way before Tony was around for it. Been climbing things since I was a kid. Of course, he didn't say why he learned to climb that early.

Yes, Barton, I know. That does not mean you won't fall one of these days and there won't be a Hulk to catch you. Because Hulk was surprisingly good at that.

Do I hear a hint of concern? Clint teased. Relax, I'm good here.

You'd better be. But Alexis left it at that, instead just spending a bit more time wandering around having fun. She even got a gaudy as hell keychain to attach to her SI ID badge.

Clint just snickered and waited for her to get back. He wouldn't follow her today, not unless something came up.

Alexis didn't come back until nearly 6, and then she headed up to her room to change. She figured she'd see if Autumn had plans with Pietro or not, if Tony or Clint didn't bother her first.

The vacation only lasted a few more days. And honestly, Autumn was glad to get back to work. She promptly got rid of her replacement and dove back into her job headfirst, making a visit out to the mansion again.

The mansion was in its normal state of controlled chaos, although Pietro was outside lounging in the sun while the kids were all in class.

Autumn was sitting in the back of one of the classrooms, just observing. Part of her job as liaison covered how the younger students were educated, so she had to sit in on at least one class.

For the moment, Pietro was glad for the quiet and solitude. He'd heard from Magneto again, and had refused him again. It was a rather difficult situation, and Pietro found himself tired, an unusual sensation for him.

Nobody knew Pietro better than Wanda, and it was she who found him lounging outside.

"What happened?" she asked, sitting down beside him.

"Megneto tried to contact us again," he said quietly. Anyone else he would have brushed off, but he didn't lie to Wanda. "He is becoming insistent."

"He's stubborn," Wanda murmured. "Something we are both familiar with. Did Father say why he wanted us to come back?"

"The usual. He wants us back, we could benefit the cause." Pietro shrugged. "He apologized for overstepping." Not that it meant much, not really.