"Nat, Naaaaattttttttt." Laura whined. "What?" Nat said, her head snapping back to Laura.
"Ok, who or what has caught your attention?" Laura asked, her hands on her hips and smirking. "What? No one has caught my attention." Natasha answered, hoping her face didn't look too suspicious. Laura looked at her questioningly, sipping her beer. "Ok. I know what it is. You have the hots for Cap!" Laura exclaimed, "Shut up!" Natasha hissed, her gaze slipping to Steve, who was making Lila a milkshake, and back. "Ha! You didn't deny it! OMG you like Cap!" Laura said triumphantly.
Ok, you see, Natasha didn't just like Captain America, she loved him. Ever since they met on the quinjet she knew she felt something. Then they were partnered up after Loki tried to destroy the world. But that one conversation in Sam's guest room changed everything for her; she had asked him if he would trust her to save his life and he had said yes. That simple conversation changed everything for her, in that moment she knew she loved him. The only problem was she had never told him how she felt because she knew he didn't like her like that and he was now dating the Blonde. Now here they were at the Barton's celebrating Clint's birthday and Laura had figured it out.
"Ok fine! I love him! So what? He doesn't feel the same way," she paused, her gaze flicking back to Laura, "And before you ask how I know that, it's because of the blonde practically clinging to his arm!" Laura noticed the fact that Natasha was looking daggers at the blonde hanging of Steve's arm, he looked like he was struggling to put the finishing toppings on the milkshakes because of the blonde. "Wait, are you telling me that you love Steve and yet you set him up with that blonde agent?" Laura asked, not quite believing it. Natasha nodded and sighed. "Auntie Nat! Auntie Nat! Come look at the milkshake with whipped creams, sweets, donuts, chocolate sauce and cookies Steve made for me!" Lila shouted. Natasha laughed as Laura shook her head at Steve who looked very guilty. "I'll be over in a sec." Nat called back to Lila, "Tell anyone, including Clint then I will kill you." Natasha hissed playfully, Laura nodded feigning the scared look that she gave Natasha. Then Natasha turned in her heel and went to talk to Lila, Steve and the Blonde girl
"That does taste good." Natasha admitted to Lila, who gave her a big grin. Turning to Steve who was now free of the blonde, although she was still standing at his side, she asked innocently, "Make me one, solider?" Smirking at the blush creeping up his cheeks, Natasha's gaze flicked to the blonde who was glaring at her like she had just kissed Steve. "Sure. What flavour do you want?" He asked, "Umm I dunno. Whatever flavour Lila has, it's really nice." Steve nodded before raiding the Barton's fridge, "It could take a while if you want all the toppings Lila has." He told her, head still in the fridge. Natasha laughed as Lila tugged on her arm towards where Tony was having an animated conversation with Clint. "No you fucking-"
"Ok, let's go back over to Uncle Steve, Lila. Uncle Tony is using some bad words." Nat told her, taking Lila's hand and walking back over to Steve- who was now completely free of the blonde. Before Natasha could place Lila on the kitchen counter she heard Laura calling for her, "Lila! Cooper! Bed time! All the Avengers will be here tomorrow! Come on" Lila looked disappointed before hugging Steve and Nat and saying good night. "So, you finally took my advice and called blonde over there." Nat asked gesturing to the blonde who was talking to Maria. Sitting on the kitchen counter she smirked as the Blonde shot her a glare. "I'll have you know she's very nice and her names Sharon Carter." Steve told her with a blush. "I didn't ask if she was nice, I asked if you called her." She stated, "So did you?" Handing Nat her drink, Steve answered, "No. She ran into me and dragged me to get coffee." Nat nodded, "Right. When I wanna date guys I drag them to get coffee, then I become a sloth and hang onto their arms." She joked, Steve laughed and replied, "Well at least I don't seduce guys for my line of work." Nat felt her eyes burn as she placed her drink on the island and ran to her room, followed by Steve's shouts.
"Good. She's gone. I never really liked " Sharon said, coming up from behind Steve, sipping on the milkshake he had made Natasha. "Really Sharon?" Steve asked, the look he gave her made her flinch, "I just upset my best friend and all you can do is voice your jealousy?" Sharon looked exasperated, "It's just she is always working with you, taking up your time. I hope she's ok, but I now I get you all to myself."
"She's my partner, I have to work with her." Steve gave her an incredulous look before detaching her fingers from where they had molded onto her arm and running after Natasha. Sharon stared at him, hurt on her face. You aren't spying. You're just following him to make sure he stays loyal. AND so that bitch of a red head doesn't make a move on him. Sharon told herself as she followed Steve up to Nat's room.
"Nat? Hey can I come in?" She heard Steve ask. "Yes." She replied before curling back into a ball under her covers. She lay there for minutes before she felt her bed dip and Steve's hand on her shoulder. Instantly she felt less tense, by she was still mad at him. "Nat, I am so so sorry. I didnt think about what I was saying. I'm sorry." Steve told her, "I know Steve, I know. It's just I hate myself. I hate my past. I hate the fact that I trained in Red Room. That I can't have children." She paused, realising that only Fury knew about that, she curled into an even tighter ball (seriously though how that even possible?). "Oh God. Nat I didn't know. I-" he stammered, for once at a loss for words. His best friend, the one girl he truly loved, his partner couldn't have children. His heart broke for her. "Come here." He said quietly. Natasha uncurled herself and leaned into his side, she felt him press a gentle kiss to her forehead. They stayed like this until they heard a gasp at the door. Pulling away from his embrace Natasha moved towards the door and swung it open. She was faced with a fuming Sharon, "What the hell? That's my man!" Sharon screamed, "Sharon, shut up! You'll wake Lila and Cooper!" Steve told her, coming to stand behind Nat. Before either Nat or Steve knew what was happening Sharon had slammed Natasha and was now punching her. Natasha just stood there bewildered. "Sharon stop!" Steve ordered, moving to stand between his insane girlfriend and his best friend. "What are you thinking? There are children in that room! I'm just apologising to my friend" Steve told her.
Natasha shoved past both of them as she heard sobbing coming from Lila and Cooper's room. Pushing the door open she called, "Hey, you guys ok?" No reply, walking into the room she sat on the edge of Lila's bed. "Did you guys hear or see anything of what just happened?" Nat asked quietly. "Why was that blonde lady punching you and why did you just stand there?" Cooper asked, his voice waving. Lila just sobbed and crawled into her Auntie Nat's outstretched arms. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. I'm sure Steve has taken Blonde back downstairs, or he's kicked her out." Nat told them, a smile tugging at her lips at the thought of Steve beginning single. "You like him." Lila stated, "What?" Nat asked, confused. "You like Steve. I know. You look at him differently to the way you look at Dad or Tony." Cooper said, flicking on the light and moving to sit next to Nat. Lila looked up at her with tear stained eyes, clearly expecting an answer. "I don't like him" Not a lie, but not completely truthful either. Cooper looked at her, one eyebrow raise as if he knew she wasn't telling the complete truth. "You are just as observant as your dad Cooper. Ok if you must know I love him. Happy?" She said, her tone sad. "Why do you look sad, Auntie Nat? Does he not love love you back?" Natasha laughed at Lila's innocence. "Lila, honey, you can be in love with someone and not have them love you back. That's what it's like with me and Steve. I love him so much and-" Natasha paused when she heard something moving outside the room. "Who was that?" Lila asked, her eyes wide with fear. "Probably no one. I'll go and check." Nat said, stroking Lila's hair. Peering out into the corridor she noticed Steve's bed room door shut quickly. "Go back to sleep. I need to talk to Steve." She said flicking off the light. "Yay! Uncle Steve and Auntie Nat are getting together!" Lila squealed before she was hushed by Cooper. "I'm pretty sure we aren't getting together. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Good night Lila, goodnight Cooper." She said before shutting the door.
"Steve?" Nat called. "Steve? Can I come in?" No reply, "Ok, I'm coming in." She warned before opening the door. She was met with a bewildered Steve, who had a gash on his head. "Oh my God! Steve! What happened?" Rushing over to him she reached for the tissues on his bedside table and started trying to clean the cut. Steve's hand grabbed her wrist and he looked at her, blue eyes met green. "You love me?" He asked. Natasha nodded, "I know you don't feel the same, otherwise you wouldn't have dated Blonde psycho." Natasha said, getting up to leave. Steve grabbed her hips and pulled her back. Capturing her lips her murmured, "I love you too."
Natasha jerked away, her eyes wide. "Wait, what?" Steve chuckled at her confused expression. "I love you Natasha. Always have, always will." He said kissing her nose, "Well then, I love you too Steve." She murmured, interlacing their fingers and laying back on his bed. "Well, I'm going to bed and if you stop me I will kill you!" Steve laughed and lay down next to her. Turning of his lamp, she turned and nestled her head into his neck. "Goodnight love." He murmured into her hair before going to sleep.
Groggily, Steve and Natasha walked downstairs to find Tony, Clint, Bruce, Bucky, Sam, Rhodey and Maria passed out in various different places of the room, Pepper, Laura, Lila, Cooper, Wanda and Vision were all sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast. They all turned to face Steve and Nat, whose hands were entwined, "WAIT! What?!" Pepper screamed as Lila ran up and gave them both a hug. "Pepper, darling, not so loud. WHAT? RED AND CAP?! HOLY SHIT!" Tony screamed, "Language!" Steve told him. At the screams and shouts of both Tony and Pepper the rest of the passed out Avengers awoke, rubbing their heads and staring at Steve and Nat. "Yes, before anyone asks any questions- we are together, Steve broke up with Sharon and Tony- before you ask no we have not been intimate. And I'm hungry, so when I've eaten I will answer questions. Steve do what you want, but I want to kill Tony if he teases us!" Nat declared before grabbing some toast and sitting next to Wanda on the couch. Steve moved to sit next to her and kissed her.