Natasha's world has revolved around Steve. She loves him more than she can express to him. Although, she knows there is no turning back now. All those years in training: training for one thing specifically. Nonchalance.
The Black Widow has been trained to have no emotions. No sadness. No fear. And most definitely, no love.
But Steve changed all of this. He has showed her that no matter how hard she tries; she cannot suppress her true feelings. Especially when it comes to him.
God, I love him, Natasha thought as she watched his chest soundlessly rise and fall, like waves crashing upon the shoreline.
It should have been a typical day. Go to work at S.H.I.E.L.D., then come home to Steve. The couple has been living at Stark Towers, along with the other Avengers (with the exception of Thor, who comes and goes as he pleases). She loves her new life and fresh start with her now friends, Pepper, Maria, and everyone else in the tower. Even the romantic tension between Clint and her has subsided, and life could not be any better for the redhead beauty.
But today would be far from ordinary. Natasha had already called S.H.I.E.L.D. to let Nick know that she and Steve aren't coming in to work today. They have much bigger things to discuss.
Yes, it terrifies her, but she knows she has to tell him.
This is what he wants after all, isn't it?
She hated this. All the questions, the uncertainty. It scared her more than she cared to admit. But she has ignored this growing…problem? Issue? Blessing?
Whatever Steve wants to call it, she has to divulge this growing matter. It's too important to ignore any longer. And besides, she can't really hide it for much longer. This secret is eating away at her like rust on an old bicycle. It's been two months, and the Black Widow has come to terms that she cannot face this alone.
"Nat? What's wrong?"
His concerned, but nonetheless beautiful voice startled her. She checked the clock on her nightstand to see that it was 3:42 am. She had been miles away, and didn't even realize how long she had been lying awake, letting her mind wander.
"Please don't do that to me Steve."
"Then tell me what's wrong Tash. I know you too well. You're not here with me. You're inside your head."
She couldn't help but smile a little bit to herself. After two years of marriage, it still surprised her how well Steve could read her. He's the only person that can look through her.
Natasha instinctively pulled the navy blue sheets of their bed over her head, covering her fiery red hair.
"Babe, you've been acting this way for weeks. I'm really starting to worry. Please, just tell me what's wrong. Let me help you. You have you're armor on, and I want to peel it away. I love you."
Nat felt a surge in her chest as it her heart was melting.
I can do this. I have had to face tougher obstacles than this in the past. It's time to be brave and face reality.
"Steve, we're not going to work today," Natasha timidly murmered through the cotton fabric of the sheets.
"Okay, this is a start. And why aren't we going to work today love?"
As he questioned, he simultaneously pulled the sheet down from her face, revealing those bright blue eyes that reminded him of a blue tulip. He could tell she was scared. Her eyes, huge and wide, pleaded with him as if she were struggling to break free of some invisible force holding her back.
"Please don't be mad at me," she barely whispered as her eyes began to fill with water. Whatever this thing restraining his wife was, Steve immediately knew that it was serious. Natasha never cried.
"Shh, shh, honey whatever it is, it's alright," he did his best at comforting her. He sat upright in the bed, and pulled her slender body into his lap. It was truly amazing how she conformed to him. Her head leaning against his chest, as his strong, muscular arms caressed and cradled her.
She was almost consumed by him, but they were each other's soul mates. Steve slowly and rhythmically stroked her red hair, waiting for her to tell him what has been plaguing her. He would be patient with her.
I will go to the ends of the universe to be with you, he thought.
They sat like this for almost an hour. Hot blood running through his veins to keep her warm. Suddenly, her body tensed, and he released his hold on her. She pulled herself upright, and moved across from him.
Natasha sat facing her husband.
This is it, she repeated to herself over and over until she mustered up the courage to believe her own words.
"Steve," she said in her most delicate voice, looking directly into his baby blue eyes. God, she loved him.
"I know I've been acting strange for the past month or so. And don't interrupt me, but I'm sorry. I know I can be a bitch normally, but you don't deserve to be treated like this. And, I know you're concerned," she continued, gazing up at his changing expression, "but you shouldn't be because there's a reason for this." She took a deep breath and just let it out. Arching her eyebrows and looking at her husband through puppy dog eyes, she admitted,
"Steve, I'm…um, we're pregnant."