A/N: Please read, follow, favorite, and review! Feedback would be greatly appreciated. I'm going to add in more POV's just to give you guys a better understanding of this slow-burn romance is playing out.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OC, Agent Serena Atwell. –Nova.

Chapter 3: The Life Of The Party

Steve POV

Natasha is coming home from the hospital tomorrow, and to be honest, it hasn't been the same without her around the tower.

I've had nobody to spar with, besides Tony in his suit and Serena, who isn't really that much of a challenge. I've been teaching Beth basic self-defense and she has been teaching me these exercise routines (Zumba and Yoga, I think she called them).

Tony just told me that he needs all hands on deck to fix up Natasha's new apartment, which is closer to the living area so that she doesn't have to overexert herself. I noticed Bruce standing next to her old apartment door with a sad look on his face, and I asked him what was wrong.

"Nothing. Hey Steve, you can keep a secret right?" he asked.

"Sure can. What's up?"

"I want to do something special for Natasha when she gets back, I just don't know what to do."

I quirked an eyebrow at him and said,

"May I ask why?"

"Um. I really like Natasha and I want to do something, sort of a romantic gesture to show her how much she means to me. I wanted to ask you for advice, honestly because you're the biggest gentleman in the tower."

I widened my eyes and rubbed the back of my neck , until I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist and hug me from behind. I felt the heat rising in my face and Bruce grinned at me.

Beth spoke from behind me,

"Take her out to dinner and a movie, it doesn't have to be anything too fancy, just take her to the Olive Garden, Natasha told me that she liked eating there once."

Bruce nodded and went into Natasha's apartment to begin moving furniture onto the elevator, leaving me alone in the hallway with Beth, who stopped hugging me from behind, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss me with a rare hunger for passion; one that nearly caused me to go weak in the knees.

"Ahem?"

We broke apart as Serena cleared her throat awkwardly and said,

"We need help moving boxes to Natasha's new rooms."

I straightened up, blushing madly as I usually did whenever Beth kissed me, brushed myself off and said,

"Sounds like a swell plan to me."

The Next morning…

Bruce POV

I awoke from the same repeated nightmare with a yell.

The Hulk smashing her into a wall as she screamed in terror.

My body was bathed in a cold sweat, hands shaking, before I ran out of my room, down the hall and into the Hulk containment unit; shedding my clothes as I went.

I had to let him out sometime just to let him calm down. I locked the door to the unit behind me and proceeded to Hulk out.

A few hours later, I calmed down and shrunk back to my normal size. I ran out of the unit and down the hall to my apartment where I got ready for the little homecoming party we would throw for Natasha today which doubled as a surprise baby shower for Jane.

There had been something nagging at the back of my mind for a while. How to ask Natasha out.

"I'm asking out a world class assassin, how hard can it be?"

I thought to myself as I ate a few peanuts from the bowl on the bar, sitting down on a stool. All of a sudden, Tony popped up from behind the bar.

"Hey Bruce! My Science Brother!"

I could smell the scotch on his breath so I figured he must have been slightly buzzed.

"Hey Tony."

"What do you want to drink?"

I, under any normal circumstances, would have just asked for my usual Merlot or even a glass of soymilk, but I figured if I was going to get rejected tonight, I may as well celebrate before that happens.

"Can you make a Manhattan?" I asked

A few minutes later, I was sipping my Manhattan and thinking of the best way to get Natasha off on her own when Jarvis announced that Jane and Natasha had just boarded the elevator and were on their way up. The lights went out in the communal area and our small party hushed.

Natasha and Jane walked out with Happy, Tony's head of security, and Jarvis brought up the lights.

"SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME NATASHA AND CONGRATS ON THE BABY, JANE!" all of us yelled in unison (Pepper actually had us practicing for when they entered)

I got up from the bar and went over to hug Natasha

"Welcome home Nat." I murmured into her ear.

"Hey Bruce, it's good to be back." She whispered, sinking deeper into my embrace.

The Hulk began to purr from the back of my mind like a giant green kitty. I smiled at the mental image that thought gave me.

"Natasha!" Serena called out as I let her go.

Serena came hurrying forward, carrying two shots of vodka, one in each hand. She handed Natasha a shot and the two friends threw them back at the same time.

After they had done two more shots, I decided to make my move. I knocked back my Manhattan and walked over to Natasha. Tony had Jarvis playing some smooth jazz and a few couples were swaying softly in the dim light. I tapped her on the shoulder, took a deep breath and went for it.

"Would you like to dance?"

Natasha motioned towards her leg brace and said, flashing a smile,

"Only if you're leading."

I grinned widely as I took her hand and led her out onto the floor. I pulled her close as we swayed next to Beth and Steve, who were lost in the moment. I smiled.

It looked like Steve finally got that dance.

Natasha leaned in and whispered into my ear,

"Bruce, this is the best night of my life."

I took a deep breath and whispered back,

"Wouldyouwannagooutwithmesometime?"

Natasha pulled back in confusion and said,

"What?"

"Would you want to go out with me sometime?"

"Oh." She sank into my arms, "yes I would."

From the back of my mind, the Hulk was yelling in success.

A cry from across the room caused me to snap out of my moment of glory.

Thor POV

This celebration of the return of Lady Romanoff and the soon-to-be presence of my son or daughter seems to have caused Jane to feel discomfort. She wished to be seated somewhere comfy. As I guided her to the sofa, she doubled over and squeezed my hand so hard I actually felt pain. Lady Potts yelled out that Jane's water had just broken as I glanced down and noticed the tile floor had some liquid splashed upon it. Jane clutched my hand for dear life and looked to be in pain.

"Jane what happened", I asked before her face contorted in agony and she screamed out what I have decided to deem worthy of an Asgardian battle cry.

Lady Potts ran over to my side and Lady Darcy asked if my Jane was going to make it to the hospital or if we needed to take her to the lab.

Jane cried out, "Hospital! Call 911!"

Sir Jarvis responded and said that he had called the paramedics, whoever they were.

Soon a group of men and women rushed into the room and over to Jane. They began to push and jostle me aside, I went to call Mjölnir to my side and summon my battle armor to rescue Jane, but when she saw my hand raised she yelled out for me to leave her be. I would never disobey my Lady Jane.

Natasha POV

Jane was whisked away by the paramedics and I clutched Bruce's hand and said,

"I know this sounds weird coming from someone who spent almost the last two and a half weeks in the hospital, but we have to go back, I have to be there. I promised her that I would be sitting in the waiting room." I pleaded with my eyes and watched as Bruce melted.

"Alright, if it means this much to you." He sighed in resignation.

Soon we were roaring out of slot 25 in the garage level, hitting the streets in my Camaro, with the top down. I looked over at Bruce who was fighting to keep his pesky chestnut hair out of his eyes. I giggled and put the pedal to the metal and tore off to the hospital that Darcy had texted us about (she was allowed to ride with Jane and Thor in the ambulance).

Nearly seven and a half hours, and many cups of coffee later…

I had fallen asleep against Bruce in the waiting room and then I was woken by the sound of a baby crying and the chill of hospital air conditioning which made me snuggle against Bruce's warm body. He nudged me and I got up (much to my dismay) as Thor ran out of the delivery room,

"DEAR FRIENDS! JANE HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO TWO CHILDREN, A SON AND A DAUGHTER! WE SHALL NAME THE BOY EDWARD AND THE GIRL ELIZABETH!"

I was genuinely amazed. Jane and Thor had fraternal twins together and now we would have two little demigods running around.

I had a feeling that I would turn into their 'Auntie Tasha'.

After Thor's announcement, we were told that the godparents were Pepper and Tony. I walked into the delivery room to find a little bundle clutched tight to Thor and Jane's chests. Bruce came up behind me and said

"Aren't they adorable?"

I nodded as Jane held out the pink bundle to me saying in a tired voice,

"Here, you won't hurt her, just hold her gently."

She yawned as I took baby Elizabeth into my arms, Bruce was given baby Edward to hold while Thor leaned in to plant a kiss on his wife's lips and murmur,

"Jane, you did very well. I love you. Pleasant dreams."

He stood and looked at me before holding out his arms to receive Elizabeth.

Bruce gave me Edward to hold for a short period of time before Thor laid both children down in their beds and left as visiting hours were over.

I got myself another shot of Espresso and put the top up to my Camaro before heading home. We gave Steve and Beth a ride back to the tower since they took a cab.

Upon entering the tower, I went to press the number for my floor, but Bruce shook his head and pressed the number for guest level number three, the floor directly below the living level. Bruce explained how these rooms were much more accessible for me with my leg brace and that the rooms were much closer to the elevator, so I wouldn't be overexerting myself. I nodded, too tired to argue back.

As Bruce walked me to my door, I remembered some research that I had done while in the hospital. Research on the symbolism of rose colors.

"Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"You remember how you said lavender roses symbolized enchantment?"

"Yeah?"

"I did a little bit of research while I was in the hospital."

"And?" He asked

"You were only half right."

He gave me a quizzical look that was adorable in its own way.

"How so?"

Here goes nothing, I was going to sound like a complete jackass.

"They also mean…"

I just couldn't confess this.

"Natasha?"

Maybe I could. Bruce pulled off his glasses and put a strong hand on my shoulder. His warm eyes made my fears disperse.

"They also mean… Love at first sight."

Bruce POV

Wow.

I can honestly say that I didn't see that one coming.

Natasha looked down at her feet and then scrambled for the doorknob.

I panicked and grabbed her wrist. I didn't want her to leave me alone with my swirling thoughts and reactions.

Did I love her at first sight? I mean she's beautiful, but that would be disgraceful, to say you were only in love with a person for their looks.

Then I thought about how I was given that glimpse of her fears when she thought I was going to Hulk out in Calcutta, how afraid she was of me after the battle for NYC. I was amazed by everything she did, and all I wanted to do was remain amazed. Of course the Hulk had things to say too. The first thing he said was "HULK LOVE NATASHA!MAKE HULK HAPPY!WHEN HULK HAPPY, BRUCE HAPPY TOO!"

That seemed like a good enough reason to say yes. So I did.

"Natasha. I have a confession to make."

She just looked at me.

"I did love you at first sight, I just didn't realize that until now." I glanced down at my feet and released her wrist, "If you don't feel the same for me, I completely understand. I- oof"

She cut me off as she kissed me full on the lips, she tasted like cherry chap stick, and my God the scent of her perfume made me forget my name for a second. I think my heart skipped a beat…or three. I stumbled backwards into her open apartment door, my hands moving to grip her hips.

Her hands were roaming across my chest and one was running through my hair. She toppled us onto her bed and in a mad scramble she somehow lost her shirt and she practically ripped mine off. That was when I decided that it had gone far enough and that we had to stop before I Hulked out and did something I would regret doing later.

This was the direction I wanted to go in, but at a more gentle pace.

I pulled my lips away from hers and said,

"Natasha, don't you think we should stop before we do something reckless?"

More like "before I do something reckless"

This seemed to make some sense to her and she pulled away from me, sinking down on the opposite side of the queen sized bed.

"Oh Bruce. I'm so sorry. That was way out of line, what I did."

I stood and sat cross legged in front of her, reaching out my hand to grasp hers.

"It's okay. I still love you for your bold nature."

She smirked and threw a pillow at me as I stood before laughing softly.

"If love is for children, then I guess I'm a child all right" Natasha said to herself.

She stood up and kissed me in a more chaste manner, before saying

"Goodnight Bruce, I love you."

A/N: So there's a taste at what will come next! Leave me a review if you liked it!