Last Chapter! Thank you so much again for all the reviews and encouragement and for adding my story to your lists!
"I'm telling you Pepper, I don't know what to do." Clint Barton puffed out an exasperated breath as he sat on a stool at the breakfast bar in Tony and Pepper's penthouse.
He had come to seek Pepper's advise on Natasha's current behaviour. She was seven months pregnant and meaner than hell - all of her anger and frustration over the last few weeks had been hurled at Clint and he didn't know how to turn it around. So he now sat in front of the only other woman he was friends with.
Pepper leant against the counter top and looked at him sympathetically. "You know Clint you just have to walk a little while in her shoes."
Clint frowned at her and she continued, "What I mean is imagine you are Natasha, smoking hot body, world class assassin and suddenly you're pregnant. You're getting heavier everyday, you waddle like a duck and your hormones are going haywire. Get what I mean?"
Clint nodded looking at the floor - he hadn't really considered how all these changes were affecting Natasha. He just saw it as a magical experience watching his child grow inside of his wife but then he wasn't the one who had to carry the baby.
"How's the sex been?" Pepper said bluntly causing Clint to stutter a little.
"Um, um…well uh." Pepper frowned, "Come on Clint I'm not going to tell anyone I swear."
"Well we haven't really been doing that recently." Clint said suddenly becoming fascinated with the floor.
"Why not, you usually can't keep your hands off each other." Pepper said.
"Well you know I'm not really sure how to go about it since she got bigger, I don't want to hurt her, or the baby…." he said suddenly realising how silly that sounded.
"So you just haven't done it and haven't talked to her about it." Pepper said raising her voice. "And now on top of everything else she probably thinks that you don't find her sexy anymore. Plus I bet she's horny as hell!"
Clint blushed and sighed. Once again, he hadn't thought she'd see it that way. Crap.
He threw his hands up and got off the stool standing in front of Pepper. "Ok I get it, how do I fix it?" He said asking her advice.
Pepper smiled at him, "oh I have some ideas. Nothing short of a grand gesture will do and that's something I have no problem arranging. After all I've been apologising to people for Tony for years!" she said triumphantly.
"In the meantime, go see Bruce about your little bedroom dilemma and I'm sure he'll be able to tell you what to do for the best." She said shooing him away as she started to tap her I-pad furiously.
"What, no way, I'm not talking about this with a guy.." His protests were silenced by Pepper holding out her arm towards the elevator. He guessed that meant GO so he did.
He loitered outside the lab thinking about how he would bring this subject into conversation with another dude and was startled by Bruce opening the door to the lab and peering out at him.
"Clint just come in already, Pepper called ahead." He said going back in.
"Oh great," Clint said under his breath, this was going to be uncomfortable.
A little while later Clint arrived home and looked for Natasha. These days she was spending a lot of time in the pool to relax. As he made his way there and looked through the glass on the door he saw her floating on her back moving her arms and legs occasionally. He smiled as her bump rose above the water and marvelled at her beauty.
He could honestly say she was beautiful, all she saw was the weight gain and loss of physical fitness but was watching her nurture their child and couldn't help but find her damn sexy. Familiar urges started to rise within him but he tried his best to push them aside as he opened the door slowly, making a little noise so he wouldn't startle her.
She turned over and waded to the side of the pool, bobbing up and down as she watched him come over to her.
"I'm sorry, " She said to him sighing - she had been apologising to him a lot lately. He gave her a loving look that said don't worry about it as he lay on his stomach so that his head was hanging out over the edge of the pool beside hers.
He leaned forward a little more and tried to kiss her worries away. "Baby you've got nothing to apologise for. I know this isn't easy for you to deal with and I should be helping you more."
She opened her mouth to protest and he kissed her again before she could talk. When he broke away, she said, "Dammit, stop doing that." Smiling slowly she shook her head at him.
"You need some time to yourself so a car is coming to pick you up and take you into the city in a few hours." He said getting up and retrieving a towel for her. He held her hand and helped her out of the pool wrapping the fluffy towel around his family as he kissed her forehead.
"Where am I going?" She said with a puzzled look on her face.
"I don't actually know, that's where Pepper comes in but I'm guessing it's some kind of spa place…I'm not sure she wasn't specific and said I didn't need to know and just to hand over my credit card. It was kind of like being mugged….anyway you're staying there overnight and then she's bringing you back tomorrow sometime."
Natasha threw her arms around Clint's neck and buried her face in his shoulder muttering something as she began to cry (also a new regular occurrence - man this expectant father thing was tough!).
"Honey, come on, let's go get you packed up and ready to go." He brought her face up to meet his and wiped her tears away.
The next day Natasha was dropped off at the house and Clint met her at the door to take her bag.
"So how was it?" He asked setting her bag down on the floor and taking her coat, discarding it on the chair.
"It was so amazing. Relaxing and peaceful, I really needed it - thank you so much baby." She said as she kissed him on the lips briefly.
He winked at her and took her hand leading her down the hallway. "I've got a little surprise for you.."
He stopped at the door of one of the guest rooms which had a big red bow on it. She rolled her eyes at the bow.
"Come on, I'm making an effort here, now close your eyes." He scolded her.
He opened the door and guided her in, standing behind her as he said, "Okay, open up."
Natasha opened her eyes and let them focus on the room. They widened as she beheld everything in front of her and then clouded over with tears as she looked back at Clint. He smiled at her reaction as he leant against the door frame.
The room smelled of fresh paint, light green with a Winnie the Pooh border around the top of the walls. Against the back wall of the airy room was a beautiful dark wood crib all made up with a cheerful mobile hanging over it. Acting on impulse she went over to it and wound it up, smiling when she heard the gentle nursery rhyme music it made.
Matching closets and drawer sets, a changing table and a beautiful rocking chair by the large window filled the room. She walked over to the chair and sat down carefully, rocking back and forth for a second.
Swallowing hard she looked back at Clint, "How did you get this done so fast?"
Clint came over to her and said, "Well you know, Pepper's pretty organised and people seem to work at warp speed at the mention of Tony's name. I painted it and did the border and the guys assembled the furniture and helped me do bits and pieces."
She smiled at the thought of them all in this room working together. He helped her up from the rocking chair and said, "But if you don't like any of it…" Natasha held up her hand to quiet his fears shaking her head.
"It's so beautiful, I love it. I couldn't have dreamt of a room like this - I didn't even know they existed outside of movies and books." She said wistfully looking around again.
Her words broke his heart. This was nothing she'd ever had and it mesmerized her.
"Maybe if you look in the top drawer there might be something for you." He said motioning with a nod of his head.
She smiled and opened the drawer to reveal a jewellery box. She lifted it out and opened it up to reveal a beautiful white gold pendant to match the bracelet that he'd given to her on their first date. She motioned for him to put it on for her as she held her hair up from her neck.
He fastened it carefully and kissed her neck when he was done. She turned to him and stood on her tiptoes to hug him tightly. She could never have dreamed of this, never had dreams until she had him.
Later as they got into bed Natasha went to turn off the light but he stopped her.
He rolled over so that he was leaning over her and kissed her passionately.
She looked a little taken aback and it made him feel guilty that he hadn't been paying her enough attention in this way.
"I'm sorry for not making love to you for so long. I don't want you to think it's because I don't find you attractive because you have no idea how sexy you are right now, honestly. I just was afraid to hurt you or the baby and well I did what any smart guy does and completely ignored the problem." Clint confessed to her as she stroked his neck.
She smiled at him, "well I'm a little relieved that you still want me because I sure want you." She pulled his head down to her level gently and kissed him soundly.
Some time later as they lay coming down from their passion Natasha turned to Clint and asked, "where'd you learn the new positions?"
Clint said quickly without thinking, "Bruce."
As he ran into the Tower he jumped into the elevator and said, "Medical floor Jarvis, hurry." Clint had received a call a little while earlier from Pepper to say that Natasha had gone into labour whilst visiting with her and to get his ass there damn quick.
He was excited, nervous, completely terrified - too many emotions to be colliding inside him at once that he almost felt weak. The doors opened and he squeezed through them impatiently heading to the room Pepper had told him Natasha was in, only to be met at the door by her on a gurney being rushed out.
"What's going on?" He said as he looked at Natasha whose face was pale and contorted with pain. She was delirious and didn't seem to know he was there.
Bruce came up beside the gurney as they hurried her towards the operating theatre with Pepper and Thor following closely behind.
"She's haemorrhaging Clint, we've got to get the baby out fast to stop the bleeding. I'm sorry you've got to stay here." As they pushed her through the doors Clint noted the blood soaked sheets and tried to follow her in.
Thor came to him and held him firmly, "No my friend you must let them help her. We will stay with you however it long it takes brother."
Clint knew it was useless to fight and sank into a chair when Thor let him go. He looked up at Pepper silently asking what happened.
"We were just talking and she had a sharp pain and passed out. I yelled for help and Thor came in, carried her down here and Bruce examined her. She seemed ok when I called you and then just before you came in she said she had the pain again and thought her waters had broke but when we looked it was blood." Pepper looked down fighting back tears, sitting beside Clint. She took his hand in hers and he held it gratefully as he looked at the doors helplessly.
What would he do if anything went wrong? He could never live without her now, not knowing how happy he can be with her. It would be pointless. He bent over and began to sob silently squeezing Pepper's hand.
Thor sat down on the other side of him and silently placed a hand on his back.
After what seemed like an eternity the doors finally opened and Bruce emerged. Clint's head snapped up as soon as he heard the doors and he jumped up.
"Bruce?" He said desperately. Bruce began to smile slowly. "They're both fine, you can relax Barton. We managed to stop the bleeding as soon as the baby was delivered. We had to give her a lot of blood so she'll be weak for a while but she's starting to come around slowly.
Clint nodded and took deep breaths as he reached out for Bruce's hand. As they shook he placed his other hand on top of Bruce's saying, "Thank you, Bruce - I'll never be able to repay you." He said genuinely.
Bruce shook his head, "Just that they're both ok is good enough for me." He leaned back and pushed open one of the doors, "Which reminds me.."
A nurse emerged with a bundle of blankets and placed them in Clint's arms. "Congratulations Mr Barton, this is your daughter." she said.
Clint moved the blanket back to see the baby's face better and she opened up her eyes staring right at him. He fell in love for the second time in his life and was utterly speechless.
"Oh my gosh she's so beautiful, is she ok?" Pepper said touching her cheek softly as she questioned Bruce.
"She's just fine, very healthy and strong. Seven pounds of cuteness." Bruce said smiling. "Why don't you take her back to the room, we'll bring Natasha back in a little while."
"What, on my own? What if she needs…-" Clint said nervously and Bruce called over his shoulder,
"You're her Daddy, you're what she needs."
Clint, Pepper and Thor walked back to the room and Clint sat down in the chair with her. "Oh my God, I'm her Daddy." He said to himself as Pepper and Thor looked on.
When they brought Natasha back he had been sitting with his daughter alone for some time. Pepper went to get Steve and Tony - Thor left to give him some time alone.
He sat on the edge of the bed and touched her hand as she came around. "Hey baby, are you okay?"
"Mmm, I feel like shit." She said honestly and he shook his head.
"No swearing around the kid now." At the mention of the baby Natasha's eyes opened properly and focused on the baby in Clint's arms.
"Oh my God, " she exclaimed as she reached out for her daughter. Clint settled her in Natasha's arms and kept a hand on her for Natasha was still very weak.
Natasha held her daughter for the first time and began to sob uncontrollably.
"Hey come on, it's ok. You're both ok and that's the most important thing." Clint said soothing kissing her cheek and tasting her tears.
There was a knock at the door a few hours later and Clint realised they'd have to let the world in sooner or later.
He got up from the bed and opened the door to be smacked in the face with several large pink balloons.
"Oops, sorry Legolas, couldn't see for the balloons." Tony said dropping them in the corner as he stepped towards the bed. Clint rolled his eyes as he punched the balloons away from the bed pretending they were Stark's face.
Pepper, Steve, Bruce and Thor following gingerly behind at least having the decency to check that it was ok if they came in.
Of course it was as Natasha sat up carefully with the baby, feeling a little stronger. Pepper went straight to her and hugged her the best she could.
"Thank you Pepper and you Thor, I dread to think what would have happened if I'd been alone." Natasha said looking between her friends. Clint closed his eyes momentarily at her words, not wanting to think back to just a few hours ago when he had thought the worst.
Thor came over to Clint and said in his booming voice, "May I bestow a blessing on the child? In Asgard it is customary for the King to do so with a newborn baby."
Clint looked at Natasha and shrugged, "Sure, I guess, go for it!" Thor took the baby carefully from Natasha and got down on his knees. Everyone watched with amazement as he raised her up above his head, making Natasha's heart beat a little faster. He whispered some words and made a little sign on the baby's head with his finger finally tenderly kissing her cheek before handing her back to Natasha.
She smiled and placed her hand on his arm, "Thank you Thor, I appreciate that." He nodded his head in acceptance.
"Yeah okaaay, not even a day old and she's already been blessed by a King. That's pretty good going!" Tony said, completely ruining the moment of course.
Bruce came over to Natasha and touched the baby's hand softly. Natasha motioned for him to take her but he shrank from her shaking his head. "It's ok Bruce - if it wasn't for you she and probably I wouldn't be here."
Clint came to Natasha's side and took the baby, "Really Bruce, I'd gladly trust you with my daughter's life. I know you'd never harm her." He held her out and Bruce finally took her from him.
"Is this really such a good idea, I mean one false move and big old green guy comes…owww" Tony was stopped in his train of thought my an elbow from Pepper.
"I'm just saying that maybe it's not a good plan to …oww. Can everyone stop elbowing me please." Tony said as this time the elbow came from Steve and it was a lot harder.
Bruce handed the baby back to Clint as she began to fuss and he soothed her like a pro. "So what's her name?" Steve asked as he touched her tiny hand.
Natasha looked at Clint, "Well we had a deal that if it was a girl Clint would decide and if it was a boy I would decide. So Clint, fire away."
She said looking at him expectantly. He smiled at his daughter and said, "well I've thought long and hard about this - her name is Katya. Katya Seville Barton." The name was met with soft aww's from the assembled friends and Natasha looked up at her husband with tears in her eyes.
Katya was the name of Natasha's mother, her biological mother that she was torn from as a child and never saw again. Seville was the city in Spain where Clint had been sent to kill Natasha but instead chose to spare her life. The fact that their daughter would bear these two meaningful names filled her heart with more love than she thought possible.
Two days later as Clint secured his daughter into her car seat for the journey home a visitor appeared at the hospital room door with a large bunch of flowers.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner, I was out of the country. Hill let me know." Nick Fury set the flowers down on the bed and peered into the seat at the sleeping baby. Clint could have sworn he saw the smallest hint of a smile from the Director of SHIELD.
"Thank you Sir, it's good of you to come. Natasha's just upstairs with the others, she'll be back in a minute."
Fury straightened up and shook his head, "I have to be going, just a flying visit." As he started towards the door he held out his hand and Clint shook it.
"Good luck with your new mission son." Fury said with a nod and was gone. As Clint looked back at the baby, he realised it was going to be the toughest mission he'd ever faced.
That night as Natasha came out of their bathroom she felt almost human again - still a little weak she made her way over to the bed and was met with the cutest sight she had ever seen.
Clint was lying on the bed asleep in front of the television with their daughter asleep on his chest. He stirred to see her and smiled lazily shifting carefully.
"That looks comfy - any room for me?" Natasha asked. He held out his arm for her to lie down against him and she settled down carefully next to the baby. She stroked her daughter's soft hair tenderly and pressed a kiss to her forehead before reaching up slightly to kiss Clint.
They snuggled down together and after a moment Natasha said, "She wipes everything clean - my ledger, all the red is gone."
Clint smiled kissing her forehead. "No more red for us, only pink." They both chuckled softly. Clint tightened his hold on his wife as they drifted off to sleep once more, safe together.
That's IT! I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter! :D
