J: Let's play in my room, Toto.
The two run into the bedroom, James wanted to play with war toys, but Torunn wanted to listen to music and dance.
J: Torunn, come play.
T: I want to dance.
J: You always want to dance, it's my turn to choose.
T: Play alone then. I want to hear Hannah Montana.
Torunn climbed on top of the chair and began to dance.
T: So I put my hands up, they're playing my song
And the butterflies fly away, noddin' my head like yeah
Movin' my hips like yeah.
I got my hands up, they're playin my song
They know I'm gonna be okay. Yeeaaah, It's a party in the USA
James hit the toy on his head and rolled his eyes.
Steve knocked on the door and entered. He laughed at Torunn dancing on the chair, she felt embarrassed and stopped.
S: Hey, champ. Won't you give me a hug?
James stood up and embraced his father.
S: Why this face, huh?
J: Girls are stupid!
S: James! That's not nice to say.
T: I'll break your nose, James Rogers!
S: Torunn, what is that? You two stop, you are friends.
J: She doesn't want to play war. She never wants to do what I want.
S: You can't force her to play war and she is a girl, she doesn't like play of this kind stuff.
Torunn frowned and looked serious to Steve.
T: Just because I'm a girl I don't like play war? Yes, I do like! But I'm not in the mood!
James was about to cry, Torunn down from the chair and approached him.
T: You always cry whenever you're counteracted, you are very spoiled, James Rogers. When we marry, you will stay all day punishment.
J: Ew, I will not marry you.
Torunn glared at him.
T: Yes, you will!
James was shaking, he's a little afraid of Torunn, though she always defended him from other boys.
T: I want to leave.
Torunn was angry and turned to face James.
J: I'm… I'm sorry, Toto.
Torunn looked away and was ignoring James.
S: Oh Torunn, he apologized.
T: I want to stay with Aunt Nat! Take me to her, please.
Torunn left the room with her little hands on her waist and pert nose. Steve looked at James.
S: You like her, right?
J: No! Yuck! She's a girl, she's annoying and enjoy dancing!
Steve laughed at James' attitude.
S: Stay here with Sharon while I'll take Torunn to Maria's Apartament.
James consented to the head, Steve went to the living room and reached out his hand to Torunn.
S: Let's go?
Torunn got up and straightened her dress.
T: I'm big, you don't have to give me your hand.
S: I know that you're a big girl already, but I'm afraid to go down the stairs alone and fall. Can you help me?
Torunn snorted and held the hand of Steve.
T: James is a goofball just like his father.
Sharon: Bye, Torunn.
Torunn frowned and gave tongue to Sharon.
Steve drove to Hill's apartment and rang the bell. Natasha opened the door and was serious.
Torunn entered the apartment and ran turn on the TV.
N: Thanks for bringing her.
Natasha closed the door Steve, but before the door slam, he held the door, preventing it from closing.
S: Nat? W-what is that?
N: Natasha, for you.
S: Why are you acting like this?
N: How am I suppose to act?
S: I thought...
N: You thought wrong. Goodbye.
Natasha tried to close the door again, but Steve held the door and stepped into the apartment this time.
S: I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong.
Natasha was silent. Steve put his hand on Natasha's belly gently, trying to calm her. Always works. And it worked, she sighed and Steve approached her face with his, and the two stared at each other very closely. Steve was about to kiss her, but Natasha looked away.
N: What are you doing? Torunn is here.
Natasha whispered. Steve looked at Torunn, who was distracted by the TV.
N: You better go.
Steve looked at her for a moment, he wanted to stay with her.
N: James is waiting for you, go!
Steve left. Natasha looked at Torunn.
T: I'm hungry.
N: What about a pizza?
Torunn swung her legs on the couch and clapped her hands in agreement.
Natasha asked the pizza, and the two sat down at the table to eat.
T: Aunt Nat?
Natasha looked at Torunn.
T: Why Uncle Steve has two girlfriends?
Natasha almost choked.
N: What? Who said he has two girlfriends?
T: You and Sharon, the evil witch.
Natasha tried to avoid laughing about what Torunn said, but ended up laughing anyway.
N: Do not call her that, it is a lack of respect and I'm not Steve's girlfriend.
T: But you were about to kiss. I saw it!
N: Huh?
T: I saw!
N: You're too naughty, Torun, aren't you? But it was only a impression.
T: I think he likes you.
Torunn smiled at Natasha, who Also was smiling without realizing it.
T: Maria said James will live with you.
N: Yes.
Torunn was visibly upset.
N: What?
T: I wanted my parents to come get me too. Why don't they like me?
N: Who says they don't like you? In fact, they don't. They love you very, very much. When you go to Asgard, you will understand that it is a huge world there and your parents have many responsibilities there, and they're probably taking care of everything, leaving the place the most beautiful as possible to your return.
T: Well, does this take too long?
N: I think so.
T: Maybe they could come see me, real quick, just for a day or a few hours if they have a little time. Will you say to them?
N: I will.
Torunn reached her arms for Natasha, who took her and sat her on her lap. Torunn hugged her and laid her head on Natasha's shoulder and slept there.
...
Steve arrived at the apartment and it was very quiet.
Sharon: He slept.
S: What a bummer! I wanted to play with him a little bit.
Sharon: I made lunch for us, it's on the table. I was just waiting you to eat.
Steve went to the kitchen and sat at the table with Sharon. He took a bite and then started to play with the food.
Sharon: What? Is it that bad?
S: Huh? No, it's great, but I'm not hungry. Sharon?
Sharon looked at him, her gaze contained sadness, as if she already feared Natasha's return to the city. Steve noticed and couldn't say anything.
Sharon: She came back. Do you want to stay with her?
Steve now had the perfect opportunity to be free to date Natasha back, create James with her, to have the life he imagined for them. The only problem was to see the sadness in the eyes of Sharon.
S: No.
Steve said dryly, and Sharon knew it wasn't true, but anyway, she was relieved.
Sharon: Just promise me that if you kiss her, you will tell me.
Steve consented to the head.
...
After 1 week, Natasha got a new apartment for her, with 2 bedrooms this time, since the intention was make James lives with her.
Natasha was taking the last box for the new apartment. James, Torunn and Maria were in the car to see the new house.
Natasha got out and carried the box to the apartment, as soon as she opened the door, Torunn and James came running into the apartment, wanting to know everything.
H: I liked it, Natasha. It is quite spacious.
N: It seems too big.
H: You feel that because you're used to be just you. With children, all space is not enough.
They both heard the noise of something breaking in the bedroom.
H: Torunn!
Hill went to see what was and Torunn was flying and hit the lamp. Luckily no one got hurt. Hill returned to the living room.
H: Nat. I think James should stay with you from today.
N: But... Don't you think he will cry?
H: Maybe, but you calm him. You're his mother. Unfortunately, if he doesn't calm down, he will have to learn the hard way. At some point he will get used and he has lived these days with you at my home.
N: What about Torunn?
H: I can't let her stay, or she will get used to you too and I don't know when Thor will come back.
N: They don't know to be apart.
H: They will learn, I always warned them that someday this would happen.
N: I think it will not work.
H: Don't worry, I'll talk to her.
Hill helped Natasha to finish fix things in the apartment. When they checked the kids, they were sleeping. Hill said that now was the perfect time. She took Torunn while she was sleeping, because it would be easier if they not see they're being separated.
Hill left the apartment and put Torunn in the back seat of the car.
James woke up as soon as he heard the apartment door slam, he looked around and didn't saw Torunn, just Natasha. He already felt that something was wrong. He called for Torunn and Maria in the apartment and began to run through the rooms, trying to find them.
N: James. Listen...
James heard car noise and ran to the window and saw the car of Maria. James shouted loudly as he could, calling Maria and Torunn. Natasha was behind him, trying to calm him down.
Maria said it was okay for her to let James there, but now she heard James calling desperately for her, she was heartbroken and the worst part is that Torunn also woke and looked James at the the window, calling her. She got nervous and also began to cry calling James, while slamming the car window, trying to get out.
Maria Hill had to put on her sunglasses, to hide her tears and went away with Torunn.
James felt abandoned, he cowered on the floor and didn't let Natasha catch him. Natasha was also suffering to see him like this, she wanted to go down the stairs, call Hill and avoid his suffering.
As Natasha doesn't know how to deal with people, even with her son, she couldn't say anything to James, she left him alone in the room and went to her bedroom, she only wants to give him space for himself.
After an hour of silence in the room, Natasha came to check James and he was sleeping. Natasha now hoped that he would slept all night. And he did.
The next day, Natasha woke up for the best fright of her life. James sleeping on her side on the bed. Natasha smiled and stroked the curly hair of James, he's so beautiful.
When James woke up and looked at Natasha. Natasha thought he might cry.
J: I'm hungry.
Natasha smiled.
N: Me too.
J: Do you have cereal?
N: I do. Is that what you want?
James yawned and made positive with his head.
Natasha carried him in her arms to the kitchen and left him sitting on the bench. Natasha took a bowl, milk and the cereal box. She placed everything on the counter and handed the spoon to James.
James stood looking at her, uncomprehending.
N: Is not that what you want?
J: But you have to do.
N: What? You don't know how to do it?
J: I never did.
N: Why don't you try?
James looked at Natasha suspiciously, but he put the cereal in the bowl, and some of that cereal fell off the bowl. He put the milk and began to eat.
Natasha stroked his back and kissed James's forehead.
N: I knew you would be capable.
James was proud of himself.
J: Will I never see Torunn again?
N: Of course you will, James, you can see her whenever you want.
J: Maria?
N: Maria too.
J: Why can't I sleep there?
N: You can sleep there whenever you want but Maria has Torunn and you, I'm alone here, and I wanted you to be with me.
J: I don't like to be alone.
N: Me too.
J: Okay… I'll be with you.
James said with a mouthful of cereal. Natasha smiled.
N: Thank you.
J: Are you really my mom?
N: What do you think?
James shrugged.
J: I like you.
Natasha opened a huge smile.
N: I like you too.
James smiled.
N: James, your father is also alone, you know? You need to stay with him sometime too.
J: But he has to aunt Sharon.
N: But she doesn't live with him. At night, he can be afraid and it would be nice if he could have you there. Of course, if you think you are brave enough to stay there without Maria and Torunn.
J: I am brave!
James frowned.
N: I'm sure you are.
J: Can I see him now?
N: Your father?
James made positive with his head. Natasha glanced at the hour.
N: I think dad is working, I'll call him.
Natasha called Steve to tell the news, first Steve was jealous about the speed that James clung to her, but he was happy to know that their son now will live with them. Steve asked Natasha to leave James with Sam, that he would be there in an hour to get pick him.
Natasha left James at Sam's place and went to SHIELD.
When Natasha entered the premises of the building, she had a sudden illness. She remembered everything that happened there, the shots at Steve's, the death of Fury. She rested her hand on the wall of the corridor.
- Are you alright?
Natasha came to reality and looked back to see who was talking to her.
N: Yes.
Natasha frowned, and recognized that face, despite the sunglasses with red lens. But the stick for blindness, left no doubt that he is the lawyer that she fought in the alley, along with Clint.
N: Aren't you... Murdock?
- Yes, and you, Miss Romanoff.
Natasha again suspected that he can see and it's faking the blindness.
N: Are you pretending to be blind? How do you know who I am?
- Your voice and your scent. I would never forget.
Matt reached out towards Natasha, somehow he knew he would reach her arm. He held onto her wrist and slid to feel her fingers.
- Now, I'm sure. Your skin is softer than any other skin I ever touched.
Natasha frowned and drew her hand back.
Maria Hill was coming down the hall.
H: Oh I see you already meet our new lawyer.
N: Lawyer?
H: Yes, and I want you to join our meeting. Come.
Hill held on Murdock's arm to help him walk to the meeting room. She placed him sitting in one of the chairs and Natasha sat almost facing him. Murdock was with his face turned toward Natasha.
It looked like he was looking directly at her, even more because he had a little smile on his face that she could sworn that he flirts better than many men. This blindness can only be false. Natasha thought.