Hi Everyone! So this is my first fanfic on here, go easy please :D
~Spot
-Six Years before the Avengers-
"Congratulations, Ms Romanoff. It's a beautiful baby girl."
Natasha felt her entire body relax. She brushed her damp hair from her face and looked at the nurse, who was holding a crying baby.
"Can I hold her?" Natasha asked, her voice rough.
The nurse smiled and handed Natasha the screaming bundle.
As soon as the baby was in Natasha's arms, she stopped screaming and stared at her mother curiously.
"You have your daddy's nose," Natasha murmured.
"Now Ms Romanoff, I see here that you want to put the baby up for adoption," the nurse said, an edge of disapproval in her voice.
"Yes," Natasha whispered. She couldn't imagine having to raise a child in her line of work. It was safer for her to be adopted by a loving family.
The nurse pursed her lips. "And you do not wish to change your mind?"
The baby cooed and wrapped her tiny hand around Natasha's finger.
Natasha's heart nearly broke. She wanted to keep this baby. Clint's daughter. But she couldn't. And Clint didn't know.
"N-no," Natasha said shakily.
The nurse nodded. "Are you aware you have 60 days to change your mind? After that, the adoption is final."
Natasha shook her head. "I am not going to change my mind."
"I understand," the nurse said. She reached down and took the baby from Natasha, who felt tears spring into her eyes. Why did she feel like this? She'd never felt like this before.
The moment the baby realised Natasha wasn't holding her anymore, she began to cry again. The nurse attempted to stop the crying, but was unsuccessful.
The nurse left the room with the baby in her arms and Natasha drew her aching legs to her chest. She rested her forehead on her knees and desperately tried to hold her tears in. She couldn't keep the baby, no matter how much she wanted to. And she could never tell Clint.
"Ms Romanoff, your cell is ringing," the nurse said. Natasha looked up and took the phone from her.
"Romanoff."
"Tasha?" Clint sounded so worried. "Oh thank god. I've been trying to get hold of you for two months! Where the hell have you been?"
"Fury sent me on a mission, Clint. I wasn't allowed to say."
"Well, he wants you to come back in." Clint added in a tortured voice, "I need to see you."
"Clint, forget Budapest. Please. It was an accident. Put it out of your mind."
"I can't. Tash, I've been thinking about it for months. I can't stop."
"Listen Clint. We're partners. That's all."
A noise that sounded like a sob came from the other end of the phone. "Fine. You need to get here soon. Where are you, anyway?"
"Um, I'm close," Natasha said, biting her lip as the nurse wheeled the now sleeping baby into the room.
"Hurry," Clint whispered, and the line went dead.
"Take the baby out, please," Natasha said, trying not to glance at her daughter.
The nurse gave her a strange look, and wheeled the baby out again.
Natasha pushed herself out of bed and traipsed into the bathroom. She looked like a wreck. Her face was pale and her hair was damp and frizzy. Her whole body ached, and she really needed a shower. She turned on the hospital shower and stepped in, letting the hot water run over her worn out body. She felt slightly better when she got out, but Natasha's heart hurt for her daughter. She wanted to keep the baby so badly.
Natasha pulled on the clothes she'd worn into the hospital. She would need to change them soon, for now they were too baggy on her.
"Ms Romanoff?" the nurse called.
"I need to check out," Natasha said.
"You've only just given birth. It is unwise-"
"I said I need to check out. Thank you for your help."
Without another word, Natasha turned and marched from the room.
Natasha stared around her bare apartment. She hadn't been there in two months, yet there was no dust in sight. She assumed that the cleaning service had just let themselves in. That irked Natasha, but she pushed it out of her mind. Now she had to think of a way to explain to everyone where she'd been. She couldn't just say she'd been on a mission and not give them any details. Everyone would want to know exactly what had happened. Clint had the same clearance as her, so he had every right to know. Natasha would rather she told Clint rather than Clint asking Fury. If Fury told Clint that Natasha hadn't been sent on a mission, shit was going to hit the fan.
Entering her bedroom, Natasha peeled off her old clothes and instantly put them in the trash. She never wanted to see the maternity garments again. Natasha's stomach rumbled and she suddenly realised she was famished. She hadn't eaten since before she'd gone into labour.
I'll grab a burger on the way into work, she thought to herself. She no longer needed to eat healthily for the baby.
Rummaging through her wardrobe, Natasha found a pair of jeans and a red t-shirt, and she put them on. The jeans still felt a little snug, but the extra weight from her pregnancy would be gone soon. Natasha hesitated when deciding what shoes to put on. She was still sore, so high heels probably wouldn't be the best choice. In the end, Natasha just chose a simple pair of flat black boots.
Natasha's stomach rumbled again and she grabbed her jacket off her bed. She was getting a burger and then it was time to face the music.