Peaches- In The Valley Below

"Look at the world with bright eyes, because you aren't broken yet." -Unknown


The Entire team looked at the decorated common room, and they all were extremely proud. Streamers hung all around. A huge banner with bright blue letters hung above the entry way. Red, White, and Blue Balloons were everywhere.

"She's gonna love it!" Pepper spoke with a grin.

"Indeed, she shall. Lady Sophia will be most ecstatic." Thor said.

"I'm surprised we didn't kill each other in the process." Sam added.

"Ditto to that Bird Bro.." Clint said.

"Steve?" Natasha asked, he had slowly moved from the group, and stood looking out the window. His hands inside his pockets, he let out a sigh. "Steve." She repeated, and he turned around to face her. "What's wrong?"

"I just don't know what I would do without you guys.." He spoke, and everyone was silent. Even Dummy, who was spinning in circles.

"Steve-" Tony started.

"I mean it guys. I came into this century, alone and scared. I had no idea what I was doing, or where I would go." He took a step forward. "And you guys showed me the way, when I found out about Sophia-"

"Ste-"

"Please Nat. Let me Finnish." He said. "I honestly didn't know what to do. But you all helped me. You all helped her, and for that. I am eternally grateful." Steve hesitated his next words. "I'm glad to call you my family."

Pepper started crying, Natasha teared up, and everyone just pulled in for a group hug. Vision, Wanda, and Pietro were hesitant at first, but Sam gave them a smile and then they joined in on the massive hug. Before they slowly broke apart and made their way to their floors. Until it was only Steve and Natasha left alone in the dimly lit common room.

"She's turning out great Steve.."

"I just believe it's been a year.."

"A great year at that.."

"Nat?"

"Yeah Steve?"

"Nothing."

"You're still a terrible liar Rogers."

"Well..."

"Yes?"

"Would you... um."

"Would I what, Steve?" A smile began to etch it's way across her lips.

"Would you like to be my girl?"

"Yes"

"You don't have to say yes- What?"

"I said yes, Steve."

"Really?"

"Yes." She said again with a laugh.

There was then a goodnight kiss, and they bid farewell until morning.


"Papa! Papa! Papa!" Sophia ran into Steve's room early the next morning. She crawled up next to him in the bed and placed a hand on his face.

"Good morning beautiful. Whatcha need, it's 5 in the morning?" Steve spoke, voice filled with sleep.

"It's my birthday Papa! I'm three now!" She emphasized.

"Was that today? I though it was next Tuesday.."

"Papa!" Sophia said slightly shocked.

"Oh wait. That is today."

"Yes Silly."

"Can I sleep just five more minutes?"

"Five whole minutes?"

"Mmhmm." He hummed as he closed his eyes. With got a giggle from Sophia.

"Fine, but can we cuddle?" She asked, and he opened his eyes and smiled.

"Course we can Soph." He opened up his arms, and she burrowed herself down. Steve placed a kiss to the top of her head, as felt her starting to drift back off to sleep as well.

"I love you, Papa."

"I love you too, Sophia."


"Steve? Sophia?" Natasha softly called as she entered the floor. There was no answer. So she decided to look around for them, eventually finding them in his bedroom. They weren't asleep, instead they were under the covers, and extreme giggle fits erupted from Sophia. Along with chorus' of "No Tickle!" and "Papa Stop!" Which made Natasha smile even more. She knocked on the entrance door, and she saw the sheets fly up. Sophia looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. Steve, mostly the same.

"Hi Aunt Tasha."

"Hello Nat."

"Hello Sophia, Steve."

"Aunt Tasha, guess what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Can pigs fly? Is it raining? Or is it.. Your birthday?"

"It's my birthday!" She beamed. "I'm three, and Papa didn't remember."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Guys."

"Did too." Steve whispered to her.

"Steve."

"Sorry Nat."

"Sorry Aunt Tasha."

"I just figured you would want my present first." Natasha spoke, and Sophia practically flew out of the bed. And went up to hug her. Steve frowned, and Natasha just stuck her tongue out. Then bent down to give Sophia her present. The paper was on the floor in seconds and Sophia gave Natasha a wide grin.

"Thank You, Aunt Tasha."

"You're Very Welcome, Printsessa." (Princess)

"What is it Sophia?" Steve asked as he shifted in the bed.

"It's a doll."

"I made her just for you."

"What are you gonna call her?" Steve said standing up, then walking over to wrap and arm around Natasha's waist.

"Nadia."

"Really?" Natasha asked with a small smile.

"Really Really." Sophia said with a smirk. "Papa?"

"Yeah Soph?"

"Kiss Aunt Tasha."

"What?"

"Go on, and kiss Aunt Tasha."

"Why would he do that?"

"He loves you, and you love him. I'm not blind, I'm just three."

"She's been hanging out with Stark too much."

"Agreed.."

"Well go on Papa. Kiss her."


"Papa! Look!" Sophia squealed as she looked around the common floor. She had just had her breakfast (pancakes with blueberries and strawberries) with Natasha and Steve. And she just couldn't wait any longer, so she ran in front of her Papa. Looking around, her eyes filled with awe, and tears. Then she ran out of the room, leaving a disappointed Tony and Clint. Steve wanted to run after her, but Nat gave him a look. And she raced after the small child.

"Sophia?"

"Go. Away." Sophia said, sniffling between the words. Natasha found her curled up in a ball near the entrance to the med-bay. There, she could still see everyone, but they couldn't see her.

"Sophia, It's me."

"I know. I can hear your thoughts."

"Sophia-"

"Please. Go Away."

"Too bad, so sad." Natasha spoke with a smirk as she plopped down next to her and looked out. " 'Cause I'm not leaving." So the two sat in silence a few moments, before Sophia curled into her side.

"Aunt Tasha?"

"Yeah, Soph?"

"I miss my Mommy. I can't remember her, but I miss her so much. My heart hearts, a lot." And in that moment, one could almost pinpoint the exact moment her heart felt like it ripped in two.

"I miss mine too." She replied back.

"You had a mommy?"

" A very long time ago."

"What was she like?"

"She had red hair like me. And she had green eyes, and a voice like an Angel. When I was very little, she would sing me to sleep everynight. And we would bake pies every Sunday.."

"What happened to her?"

"She was killed.."

"Like my mommy? I don't really remember her."

"Just like your mommy. But you wanna know something Sophia?"

"What?"

"Right now, you might not have a mommy. But you have a brilliant Papa out there, who loves you more than the world."

"Really?"

"Really Really."

"Aunt Tasha, Can I ask you a very, very important question?"

"Yeah Sophia, you know you can ask me anything."

"Can you be my new Mommy?" Natasha felt her heart, stop. Literally, she stopped breathing for a few seconds as she looked at the small child. She was an assassin, she killed people. There were people from her own country that cowered at the mention of her name. But here. Sophia, this precious, innocent child was begging, for her to be her mother. Something she just couldn't deny her.

"I'd love to be your Mommy."

"Mommy?" Sophia asked hesitantly.

"Yeah Sophia?"

"I love you."

"I love you too kid." Natasha said giving her a hug, as they sat for a few more moments in silence. "We should go back out there now."

"Okay."

"Give your dad a hug, and a Thank You. As well as everyone else. They worked extra hard to make this your special day."

"Alright." She stood up and took Natasha's hand, and they walked back out into the room. Steve met Natasha's eyes and she gave a nod, and a smile.

"Hey there Birthday girl. Ready to party?" Clint asked. Knowing it best not to bring up what happened moments before.

"Yes please. And thank you guys."

"You're Welcome Squirt." Tony added with a smile.

"Games First then?" Clint asked.

"Yes, but we have to go wake everyone else up." Sophia spoke with a smile.

"Let's have a bit of fun with it." Clint smiled.

"Clint"

"No Pranks, Steve. Not this time anyway. Just a bit of honest fun."

"Bring her back in one piece."

"You aren't coming with us?"

"No, I think the old folks would like to talk for a bit." Steve kidded.

"I'll come with you Birdbrain. Might be fun."

"If you break anything-" Pepper started.

'We won't Pepper. Shield Honor." Clint said with a small hand gesture.

"Have Fun, Be Good." Steve told Sophia.

"I will Papa, Mama."

"Mama?" Tony questioned. "Did you tie the knot and not tell us?"

"No." Natasha answered with a small smile. "It's a long story."

"I'd love to hear this." Steve spoke, and the mischievous trio headed off.


"Whipped Cream." Clint spoke in a serious tone.

"Whipped Cream." Sophia repeated with a smile, as she handed him the can.

"I have a feeling this won't end well.." Tony started.

"Nonsense Tony. Thor will love this. And if he doesn't. We got a secret weapon."

"What's that?"

"Me!" Sophia whispered as Clint began the dirty work. "I have the puppy dog eyes." She smiled, and then showed off her special talent.

"Stop, squirt, you'll make me cry." Sophia giggled, and Clint looked back at them with an annoyed look as he topped of the whip-cream in Thor's hand. Then he started the tickled, and in seconds the Asguardian looked like a sundae.

"WHO DARES TO DISTURB THE MIGHTY THOR?!"

"Shit."

"Language." Sophia whispered to Clint, and Tony eyed her.

"Run." Clint spoke, and they did. And moved on to their next Target, Pietro.


"Bullhorn."

"Bullhorn."

"Clint."

"Shut. It. Stark. Sophia, when I say run, run."

"Clint. Running is his Superpower."

"So?"

"So, what's running gonna do?"

"Not sure."

WERRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNN

"Run"

"Clint!"

"RUN."


"Water Bucket."

"Water Bucket."

"Clint, she's a witch. She'll do weird shit to your mind."

"Language."

"Same Drill. Run when the deed's done. Ready? 3,2,1..."

SPLASH

"Run forest Run!"


"Alright, this is the last one."

"it's the final countdown.." Tony sung quietly. Which got a giggle out of Sophia.

"What do we have planned for Sam?" She asked in a whisper.

"Something very special.."

"Which is?" Tony added.

"The American."

"What?"

"Spray paint."

"Clint."

"Spray paint."

"Clint."

"Yes?"

"I don't think-"

"Too late."

And then Sam woke up, looking very much. Like Uncle Sam.

"I'm gonna skin you Clint."

"Gonna have to get in line." He said with a smirk.

"Uncle Sam?"

"Oh. My. God."

"What?"

"Cap's kid has got an Uncle Sam!"

"That's just uncanny."

"You're telling me." Sophia said looking up.

"Well, lets go back to get ready for games."

"Yay!"


Alright! More about Sophia's birthday in the next chapter. And I just want to thank you all for supporting Steve, Sophia, and I. With almost now 10,000 views and 100 followers. It really means a lot to me. Thank you so, so much. And as always. Reviews are always appreciated.