When they pulled into the driveway, Nat carried the pizza into the house and set it on the table.
"Hey Coop, where's your mom?" Clint asked the boy, seeing him sitting on the floor with some Legos.
"She's getting ready. She said she's going to dinner with Dr. Price and that you and Aunt Nat are in charge tonight."
Clint nodded. "I'm going to go talk to her for a minute. Why don't you help your aunt get dinner on the table?"
Cooper nodded obediently and stood up from the floor, walking into the kitchen where Natasha was already setting the table.
"Hey kiddo. Did your da-uncle send you to help?" she caught herself quickly. Apparently, this was going to take a little more adjustment than she originally thought.
"Yeah," he nodded, getting the silverware out of the drawer and setting it out as Nat grabbed cups. When the table was set, he volunteered to go get Lila and disappeared to find her. Clint walked in with Nate a couple minutes later and handed him off to Nat so he could set up the high chair at the end of the table.
"Derek should be here in a couple minutes to pick Laura up. I figure we can eat once they're out of here."
She nodded and put the pizza in the oven at a low temperature to keep it warm, bouncing the baby on one hip gently as she did so. A minute later, a car rumbled up the gravel driveway and stopped in front of the house. Clint smiled and stepped out onto the porch, greeting the man that stepped out of the car and leading him into the house after shaking his hand.
"It's good to see you again, man. I'm glad you were available on such short notice. It's not often you two get a chance to go out instead of staying in."
The doctor nodded, smiling. "I'm glad she called. We really appreciate you doing this for us, Clint." Derek Price was tall. He was taller than Clint anyways, by a couple inches. His warm, brown eyes had a kindness to them that made Natasha want to trust him, and he had perfect teeth that made for a great smile when he noticed her standing off to the side by the kitchen.
"You must be the famous Auntie Nat I've heard so much about." He smiled and held a hand out to shake her free one.
She nodded and smiled back. "That would be me. Although, I guess you can just call me Natasha."
He chuckled a little. "Well it's great to finally meet you, Natasha. The kids speak very highly of you. And I'm very grateful to you for giving Laura and I this night out. She could use it – hell, we both could – and a little birdie told me it was your idea."
She shrugged one shoulder. "I like to help out where I can when I'm here. Laura does so much for everyone else."
"That's for sure." He smiled and ran a hand gently over the baby's head as Laura appeared at the doorway, entering the living room.
"Okay the kids need to be in bed by nine or they'll be monsters tomorrow," she started, talking to Clint as she put an earring in, "we need them on their best behavior for Cooper's birthday so 9:15 at the latest, okay? You know where everything is if you need anything. My phone will be on all night if you need to call- "
Clint chuckled a little. "Relax, Laur. I've done this many times. And I've got Nat to help me this time. Now go have fun." He shooed her towards Derek who smiled and kissed her on the cheek softly.
"You look beautiful, Laura," He said kindly. "So, what do you say we trust your brother to take care of the kids and get out of here? I made reservations."
Laura smiled and nodded. "Alright." She took the arm he offered to her and they headed towards the door.
"I don't want to see you back here before midnight, Laur," Clint called after them with a smile.
"Oh! Clint, don't let the kids go to sleep without brushing their teeth. And don't forget Lila's inhaler before she goes to sleep."
Clint groaned. "Laura, I never forget Lila's inhaler. Please. Go. Have fun. And stop worrying."
Derek smiled, shaking his head a little at Laura as he pulled the door closed behind them and they headed out to the car.