Chapter 17

"Yes, thank you so much. I'll send you the documents asap." Natasha promised the owner of the building where the foundation planned to open a new youth center. She wished the woman a nice day and hung up. She really hoped that they would be able to close the deal and could soon start with renovating. If everything would go well, this would be their third center in New York City for kids and teenagers who needed help. She hoped that she was making Clint proud with her work.

Her office door opened and Darcy came in with a bouquet of flowers in her arms. "Jesus, who is the guy who's sending you all these flowers?" She huffed while she put the flowers on a sideboard in Natasha's office. "I think that bouquet weighs more than a baby!"

Natasha ignored Darcy's question. There was only one person who could have sent those flowers and it was none of Darcy's business. "Do you have the bank statements ready?"

"Yes. I added them to the other documents."

"Great. Thank you, Darcy."

The other woman nodded. "Please tell me who sends you all those gifts! Does he have a brother? Who is also willing to send a lady flowers, muffins, and chocolate?"

"You can take your lunch break now if you want." Natasha said with a grin when Darcy pouted.

"Fine, then don't tell me. It's not like I don't already have a suspicion." Now Darcy was grinning. "God bless America!" She saluted before she left Natasha's office.

Well, Darcy wasn't wrong, but Natasha wouldn't tell her that. Yes, Steve was sending little gifts to her office. And Natasha liked it. She liked it a lot. He'd started doing it after she had been back on her feet after her flu.

Natasha couldn't really remember much from those days, apparently James had called Steve to tell him that his mother was sick, and that was both amazing and terrifying. She knew that her baby was special, but James being able to use a telephone was...definitely something. She would have to childproof her landline somehow so he wouldn't start calling random numbers. She had made her son memorize her number, and then later Steve's, for emergencies, but him actually calling his father all by himself made her realize again how smart their boy was.

She didn't remember much, but she knew that it had been nice to be taken care of by Steve. He'd looked after her the whole time until she'd fully recovered and James could come back home. She remembered them talking in her bedroom about...Peggy? It was all still a bit fuzzy. But Steve was different. He was more open in his affection towards her and she had to admit that it was nice to be treated like that. It wasn't just sex between them, she knew that. It was...more and it made her feel good. She really liked the stage they were in now. She wouldn't mind if it would be like that for a long time.

Her phone buzzed on her desk and she saw that Steve had sent her a selfie of him and James. The two were at an indoor playground today and it looked like they had a great time. She would have loved to come with them, but she had work to do and James should have a day with just his dad.

Her phone buzzed again and Steve had sent her a short video of James blowing kisses at the camera and saying that he loved her. Her heart almost burst out of her chest. She loved her baby so much.

The first thing Natasha did after coming home was to kick off her high heels. She stretched her feet and bent down to scratch Liho underneath her chin. Poor thing had been hiding in her cat cave when Natasha had been sick. The cat rubbed herself against Natasha's legs before she went back to her favorite spot on top of her cat tree.

Natasha checked her watch and it looked like she still had some time before Steve and James would come back. She'd accepted Steve's offer to bring take out with much gratitude because she was in no mood to make dinner. She was just glad to be home after a long day in the office, but it did look like they would be able to open the new center where they wanted to. So that was something.

She went to the bathroom to freshen up and to change into more comfortable clothes. The doorbell rang when she was about to make herself some tea.

"Mama!" James shrieked happily when she opened the door. "Hello!"

"Hi, baby!" She picked him up and kissed his cheek. God, he was getting heavier by the day. Soon, he wouldn't be so little anymore.

Steve smiled at her when she looked from her son to him. He held up two paper bags. "We come bearing food."

"Well, then come in!"

James told her all about his day with his dad over dinner and she was more than thankful that James got to have this. That he had a father now. It had been wonderful with just the two of them, but she could see how happy her son was that he had a daddy.

After dinner it was time for James's bath which he wasn't really a fan of, but he bravely let his parents bathe him. Natasha tucked him into bed and read him a story before she sang him a lullaby and kissed his forehead.

Steve had cleaned up the bathroom while Natasha had been with James, and she thanked him for it. He waved her off and asked her if she wanted to watch a movie with him.

They ended up watching Moulin Rouge and Steve had her feet in his lap and was massaging them. Oh yes, this felt really nice. She would have liked that during her pregnancy.

She told Steve about work and how close they were on getting the space they wanted, and she blushed when he told her how proud he was of her.

"Thank you."

"I mean every word. What you're doing is amazing, Nat. You're amazing." He gave her foot a squeeze. "I'm so in awe of you."

She never knew how to handle compliments and coming from Steve, they meant even more. "You're pretty awesome yourself."

He grabbed her hand and before she knew what was happening, she was sitting in his lap. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You showed me how this world works, you helped me find my place, you became my best friend and home, and you gave me a son." He cupped her face in his hands and her heart was fluttering. No one had ever said something like that to her.

She couldn't find any words, so she pressed her lips against Steve's. They kissed softly, like they had all the time in the world, and Natasha realized that they did. Their lives were different now, they were pretty much civilians, they could get to live like this.

"Steve." She whispered when he kissed along her neck. "Take me to my room, honey. Make love to me." She'd never referred to sex like this before, but there were no other words to describe what she wanted, no, needed from him.

"Anything for you, Tasha. God, you're so perfect." Steve murmured before he kissed her and then carried her to her bedroom.

"And now, daddy?" James looked up at Steve.

"Well, now we have to marinate the chicken." His father explained. "Do you know what that means?"

"No."

Natasha watched the scene before her with a big smile on her face. Steve had come over to cook with them one of his mother's recipes and James was very excited. He asked Steve lots of questions about the dish and his grandmother, and Natasha had never heard Steve talk so much about his mother before.

"That means we have to rub the chicken with oil and herbs so it will taste better."

James made a face. "I not wanna touch it! It's nakiiid!"

Natasha snorted and Steve looked like he was fighting off a smile. "That's okay. I'll do it, buddy."

"Mama can do it! Mama can do everything!"

"We promised your mama that we would make dinner tonight, remember?"

James nodded and looked over to her. "The chicken is nakiiid!"

"I can see that." She patted her lap. "Come sit with me while daddy rubs the naked chick. He's really good at it."

"Jesus, Nat!" Steve muttered underneath his breath and she gave him a cheeky grin. James was oblivious to what was going on and climbed into her lap.

"Do you have fun cooking with daddy?" She asked him, brushing her hand through his soft hair.

"Yes!"

"Glad to hear." She kissed his forehead and watched Steve marinate the chicken. The three of them doing domestic things together was honestly pure bliss. She knew that not everyone got to have what the three of them had, and she was very thankful.

James was back on his stool next to Steve when he was done with the chicken. Together they prepared baked potatoes and a salad, and Steve shared more of his childhood with James. She was glad that at least one of James's parents had had a good childhood.

The chicken smelled amazing when Steve got it out of the oven and it tasted even better.

She looked over to Steve and her breath got caught in her throat. He looked so at peace, so happy that he was here with her and James. The lost look in his eyes, that had been there since they'd met on the helicarier all those years ago, was truly gone. He was home now. She and James were his home. And he was theirs. And he loved her. Steve Rogers loved her. She remembered now what they had been talking about when she had been sick. Steve was hers and he would never leave.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked softly.

She blinked and noticed the tears in her eyes. "Yes. I'm just happy."

"Me, too!" James beamed happily and shoved another piece of chicken into his mouth. "Yummy!"

Steve's hand moved to her thigh and he squeezed her knee. "I'm happy, too."

James disappeared into the living room to play with Liho after dinner, and she and Steve cleaned up the kitchen. "About earlier-"

"It was nothing, Steve. I just realized how lucky we are to have this." She smiled at him. "I'm lucky to have you."

"I'm the lucky one, believe me." He whispered before he gave her a sweet kiss.

They pulled apart when they heard James's feet on the hardwood floor. He asked if he could have more juice before he ran back into the living room. Natasha filled his sippy cup with juice and water (James had no idea that she watered down his "drinks") and Steve grabbed her by the waist before she could bring their son his drink.

He kissed her deeply before he sent her with a pat on her ass to the living room. She mock-glared at him over her shoulder but he only winked at her.

The next few weeks were stressful for Natasha. Planning the new center took a lot of time and she was determent to only work with companies that believed in the project and not those that only wanted the job for the money. But in the end she found the right people and construction would soon begin. If everything went according to plan, the new center would open in late fall.

James spent a lot of time with Steve during those weeks since Natasha was practically clued to her desk. And she had to admit that it was nice to come home and dinner was already waiting for her and James didn't leave her side because he'd missed her all day. She missed him too when she wasn't with him. She wanted to be with James 24/7, but it wasn't possible. And probably not really healthy, especially when he got older.

Natasha took a cab home and blanked when the cabbie wished her a Happy Valentine's Day. Huh, was it already Valentines Day? Wow, she totally missed that. Oh no, hopefully James hadn't needed to bring anything special to daycare today!

She paid the driver and walked up the stairs to her apartment. She unlocked the door and James was already hugging her legs by the time she half opened the door. Everything about work was completely forgotten.

"Happy valtines day!" James squealed. "Happy valtines day, mama!"

She picked him up and kissed him. "Happy Valentine's day, baby!"

She let him down and he led her to the living room that was decorated with pink heart balloons and flowers. "Daddy and I did that!" He announced proudly.

"Wow, it looks amazing!" She was touched. It was so sweet and such a Steve thing to do. "I love it. Thank you!"

"Daddy made food!" He led her to the kitchen where Steve was standing in front of the stove. Her eyes landed on the kitchen table that was decorated in a Valentine's theme. Her boys treated her so well.

"Hey!" Steve turned around and smiled at her. God, he was so handsome. Her heart was beating faster. "Happy Valentine's Day!"

She wished him the same and thanked him for everything by kissing his cheek. Steve had made risotto and she appreciated the fact that he was trying to be a better cook. His mom's chicken had been amazing and this risotto was great as well.

The three of them watched a Disney movie together before James was tucked into bed by both his parents.

She and Steve sat down in the living room with two glass of red wine. "I completely forgot that Valentine's Day was today." She admitted.

"You work too much. You don't have to do everything yourself." He gave her a knowing look. "Darcy and the others can take on some of your work load."

"Yeah, I know...I just...I want it to be perfect."

"And it will be. You're honoring Clint's memory in the best way possible, sweetheart."

Of course Steve knew why she wanted everything to be perfect. "Thank you for tonight. I...I don't have anything for you..." She was ashamed. Steve did so much and she didn't even have a little gift for him.

"I don't want anything. Having dinner with my family is more than enough." He opened his arms and she moved to lie in his embrace. "This is all I need."

She was with her back against his chest and leaned her head on his shoulder to look at him. "Kiss me."

"So bossy." He chuckled, but he captured her lips in a kiss that made her toes curl.

"Happy Valentine's Day." She whispered against his lips and kissed him again.

It had been ages since everyone was in the same room at the same time, so Natasha gladly accepted Pepper's invitation to Sunday brunch. Almost everyone would be able to make it, and she was happy to see her family. She had enjoyed to form a family bond with Steve, but she missed the rest of the family. She'd seen Laura and Pepper from time to time, but not the others since work had been so busy. Even Rhodey would be there and Natasha hadn't seen him in ages since he was leading the European branch of the Avengers.

Natasha had already showered and was dressed, and now she was helping James to get ready. He was excited to see everyone and had drawn everyone something. Natasha had currently ten paintings in her tote bag so James could give them to his uncles, aunts, and cousins.

She was showing James how to tie his shoes when someone knocked on the door. She quickly finished tying James's shoes and helped him off the bench. "That has to be daddy. Go and let him in!"

James ran over to the door and jumped up to open it. Steve had a key, but he always knocked when he came over. "Hey, buddy!"

"Daddy!"

Father and son greeted each other with hugs and kisses and James ran back into the living room to say bye to Liho.

"Hi." She walked over to Steve and pecked his lips.

"Hi." He echoed and gave her another peck. He took the tote bag from her that had James's paintings and a quiche that Natasha had bought yesterday in it.

James came back and they left the apartment to get to Pepper's house. James ran immediately into Bucky's arm, happy to be reunited with his uncle who had been out of the country for the last several weeks. Natasha gave Wanda a long hug since she hadn't seen the woman since Pepper's Christmas party. Everyone loved James's gifts and he grinned proudly when they complimented his work.

The brunch lasted hours since they were all busy with talking than actually eating. Only the kids were stuffing their faces with food. They got caught up with each other's lives and James got very excited when he heard that Thor was planning to come to Earth in the next months.

Sam let it slip that he was kind of seeing someone and the fact that he didn't say anything more showed Natasha that it could be something serious. She was happy for him. She looked over to Bucky, wondering if he was ready for the dating world. He was such a great guy and he deserved someone who made him happy. He was so important to her and James, and she wanted him to be happy. Maybe she could set him up with some-

"Do you kiss?" James asked Sam, interrupting Natasha's train of thoughts.

Sam looked a little bit embarrassed, which was adorable, and he shot Bucky a death glare because he was laughing about James's question.

"Well, uh, yeah, sometimes, little man."

James hummed and nodded. "Mommy and daddy kiss. They think I don't know, but I do. They kiss and daddy stay in mommy's room. Like Liho stay with me."

Whaaat?!

Natasha dropped her fork and it fell onto the plate with a loud bang. She was staring at James, but she felt everyone's eyes on her.

Oh God, oh God, oh God. James knew?!

Shit!