Disclaimer – I do not own anything you recognise. The Avengers and the characters therein, belong to Marvel.
Chapter Twenty-Five
With the quinjet going full speed, it only took Nadia and Natasha forty minutes to get to the Barton's farm. They parked it in the field opposite the house, setting it to stealth mode to avoid detection and keep Clint's family a secret. Nadia had prepared a medical supply bag for the birth weeks ago with everything she could possibly need. She had delivered babies before while working in the emergency room of a hospital, but every time made her giddy with anticipation.
Natasha let them into the house, practically vibrating with nervous energy. It made Nadia want to laugh at how jumpy her friend was, so far from her usual controlled and composed self. Lila and Cooper had been watching cartoons on the couch, and they jumped up in excitement at the appearance of their aunt.
"Aunty Nat! Aunty Nat!" they cried happily, wrapping their little arms around her middle and squeezing in delight. Natasha's entire body relaxed, her eyes soft as she beheld her niece and nephew. Clint was with Laura in the kitchen, his face pinched with worry.
Nadia approached them, dropping her bag on the floor and accepting the quick but crushing hug he offered her. "Thank you so much for coming."
"It's no problem at all." Nadia assured with a smile. She turned to Laura, who was wearing comfortable pink leggings and a large grey t-shirt. "How are you doing?"
"Contractions are every twelve minutes. My water hasn't broken yet but they didn't the last two times either." Laura replied, her smile a little thin but otherwise she looked okay.
"When did they start?"
"About two hours ago."
Nadia nodded. "This is your third baby, so it probably won't be as long as your first two. Your body has done this before and remembers what to do. We'll just take it one step at a time."
"Cooper took seventeen hours to arrive." Laura said, wincing a little at the memory and Nadia grimaced in sympathy.
"I'd like to hook you up to an IV and get your blood pressure. I also brought a foetal monitor so we can track your contractions."
"Okay."
Natasha came up to them. "I'll watch over the kids. If you need anything, just give a yell."
"Thanks Nat." Laura squeezed her hand and Nadia stooped down to pick up her bag, gesturing for Clint and Laura to lead the way. They went upstairs into the master bedroom, where there was a small birthing stool set up along with a stack of towels and blankets. Laura perched herself on the edge of the bed, wincing a little.
Nadia placed her bag on the floor and crouched in front of it. She took out a collapsible IV stand and quickly set it up. She pulled out a bag of fluids and the necessary needles and tubes. She quickly set up to monitor Laura's progress, making small talk as she went. Clint held his wife's hand the entire time, remaining silent as Nadia worked.
Once her blood pressure had been checked and she had an IV line in her arm, Nadia placed small sensors on Laura's rounded belly, the portable foetal monitor sitting next to her on the bed.
"Okay, so you can move and walk around as you labour if you want to, but just be careful. I don't want you to feel like you're stuck in the bed and confined to one position. You're due for a contraction soon, so just remember to breathe through it." Nadia instructed gently, giving her a smile of encouragement. "You got this."
Laura nodded and smiled thinly, no doubt feeling the early signs of a contraction coming on. Clint held her hand and murmured assurances to his wife but made no move to touch her elsewhere or provide guidance. He had learned that a woman in labour didn't want to be smothered by a worried husband.
While Laura worked through a contraction, Nadia set up for Laura to give birth. She lay down a sterile floor mat on the bedroom floor, and set the birthing stool over it. she stacked the towels and blankets nearby and set about laying out what she would need to deliver the baby. A set of clamps, a small suction balloon to clear the child's airways and a pair of scissors. She sterilised everything thoroughly and checked her suture kit. It was an ugly fact of life that women would sometimes tear during a vaginal birth and Nadia had seen her fair share of violent births.
If, in the unlikely event that something went wrong, Nadia could perform an emergency c-section in less than two minutes. She had only done it half a dozen-times before, but she was confident in both her abilities and that nothing would go wrong.
The hours ticked by and Laura's contractions grew closer together. She would pace up and down the room, wheeling the IV stand with her as she breathed deeply. Clint would support her as she leaned against him, rubbing her back as the pain overtook her body. Natasha would come up every twenty minutes to check on everyone, keeping Lila and Cooper occupied downstairs.
Nadia couldn't help but watch in wonder. It always amazed her how a woman was able to bring a child into the world. Her body was capable of growing, nurturing and protecting a small foetus for forty weeks, her body accommodating the child as it grew. Her hipbones would widen and shift, her hormones would spike and her uterus would expand up to 500 times its original size. Her body was capable of enduring hours upon hours of pain and in the end, expel a child from with her and out into the world. And if that wasn't all, her body would also provide sustenance for the child for months after it was born.
And yet females are considered the weaker sex? Nadia shook her head.
When Laura's contractions were four minutes apart, her waters broke, and things sped up from there. Sensing that they weren't far off, Nadia and Clint helped Laura hobble over to the birthing chair. After lying on her back for her first two births, Laura had insisted on trying a different position this time, and Nadia had suggested this. It allowed gravity to assist in the delivery and the angle of the pelvis was better suited to help the baby down the birth canal. It was considered by many doctors and midwives as the best position to deliver in – hell, it was even pictured on the walls of Egyptian temples.
Nadia slipped on a pair of clean gloves and helped ease Laura's leggings and underwear off. Clint was babbling encouragements, sweeping her sweaty hair off her face and pressing kisses to her hand and forehead. A few minutes later, it was time.
"Romanoff! It's time!" Nadia shouted over her shoulder. She swept her eyes over he supplies one more time and then fell to her knees between Laura's legs. She was squatting on the birthing stool with Clint behind her.
Natasha sprinted into the room, sliding to stop on her knees next to Nadia. "What can I do?"
"I need you to put on a pair of gloves and help me." Nadia instructed, then she looked up to Laura's fatigued, sweaty face. "Okay, hon. You're ten centimeters dialted. On the next contraction, I need you to bear down and push for a count of ten. Okay?"
Laura nodded mutely, too tired to verbally answer. Natasha did and Nadia instructed, poised and waiting for her next command. The foetal monitor beeped, the warning of another contraction incoming and Laura groaned, but hoisted herself up, somehow finding strength to keep going.
"Okay, ready? Push!"
Laura pushed and pushed, Nadia coaching her through her contractions. Clint let his wife crush his hands as she laboured to bring their child into the world, and he did it all with a smile on his face. Natasha watched with a mixture of awe and disgust.
"We're nearly there! The head it almost out!" Nadia said, her hand cradling the top of the baby's head as it emerged. Encouraged, Laura cried out at the effort, but managed another six pushes and with a final effort, the baby's body slid free.
Slippery and wet, Nadia caught the baby and immediately turned him over. She had no need to suction his mouth, as he let out a loud and hearty cry. Nadia his little face scrunched up in displeasure and his skin purple, but he had all his fingers and toes.
"Happy birthday, sweetie." Nadia cooed, handing the child to Natasha and instructing her to wipe him down while she clamped off the umbilical cord. Clint cut it with surprisingly steady hands, and then the newest Barton was handed to his mother, who despite her agonising efforts, looked content and very much in love at the sight of her baby boy.
"Congratulations, you two." Nadia grinned, elated. Clint seemed speechless. He hugged her tightly despite the fact that her scrubs were covered in blood and amniotic fluid, mumbling his gratitude.
After seven hours and twenty-four minutes of labour, Nathaniel Pietro Barton had finally arrived.
Natasha took care of the clean up while Nadia helped to deliver the placenta and deal with the aftercare of birth. She had beamed with joy when Lila and Cooper were introduced to their new brother, placing tender kisses to his cheeks and forehead, asking their father how long it would be before they could play with him.
Nadia stayed at the farm for another two days after the birth, watching Cooper and Lila while their parents adjusted to being outnumbered by their kids. She cooked a few meals and put them in the freezer so that Laura and Clint could just pull them out and heat them up when they were too exhausted to cook. She and Natasha tended to the laundry as well, trying to ease the burden of household chores. Nadia entertained Lila by holding her in her arms and hovering a few feet of the ground, but the little girl had adored flying so much, giggling and crying 'Again, again!' while her brother chased them from the ground, his giggles echoing over the paddocks. Natasha took great joy in holding little Nate in her arms, sitting in the rocking chair on the porch while his parents slept upstairs.
Eventually Nadia and Natasha left, eager to give the new parents some privacy. Laura had pulled Nadia close, thanking her for helping with the children and extending an open invitation to visit anytime. Clint had practically squeezed the breath from her lungs as he whispered his own thanks once again and it left her smiling. Seeing the Barton family together only reaffirmed her desire to have this for herself. The cosy house, the children running around, the art on the fridge and toys on the living room floor. She could picture Steve perfectly, teaching their little girl how to throw a punch, and having story time with their boy. Her smile didn't leave her face until they touched down back at the compound.
By the time Natasha was able to peel Lila off her leg and Nadia had checked on Laura one last time, the sun was setting in New York. Caterers and wait staff milled around, setting up for the party that Tony had elected to throw. It was the last night before Thor had decided to leave for Asgard, and it was both a housewarming and farewell party all in one.
Natasha and Nadia parted ways to get ready, each at the new arrival in their family. When Nadia reached her shared room with Steve, she found him in the bathroom, a towel around his waist, steam in the air and a razor in his hand. She leaned against the doorway to their bathroom, her arms crossed as she watched him carefully drag his razor down his cheeks and over his strong jaw. He had just finished showering, his hair was still damp and there were still water droplets littered over his skin. Her mouth watered at the sight of him and her already good mood grew.
Steve spotted her in the mirror and grinned. "Hey doll."
"Hey handsome," she said, walking forward and winding her arms around his middle, pressing her face into his back. She inhaled the scent of soap on his skin and pressed a kiss to his spine.
"How'd it go?" he asked, rinsing off his razor and wiping his face clean of shaving cream.
"Very well. Clint won't be coming tonight, so we'll have to call him to share the news."
He twisted in her arms, his hands brushing her hair away from her face. "I got the picture you sent me. You look good with a baby in your arms." Steve said with a cheeky wink. She laughed, stepping away and out of his reach.
"One thing at a time, Rogers," she giggled, starting the shower again and stripping off quickly, ignoring the hungry look that Steve shot her. "I'm sorry I had to miss dinner."
They had made plans to have a romantic date the day that Laura had gone into labour, and Nadia had immediately rushed off, only stopping to gather a go-bag of medical supplies before she boarded the quinjet with Natasha. She had called Steve from the air and explained everything, but she had felt a little guilty leaving him like that.
"You were delivering a baby, doll. It's a perfectly acceptable reason. Sam and I just hung out."
"So, you ended up on a date after all," she teased, hearing Steve snort from the bedroom. She tipped her head back under the spray of the water, closing her eyes and sighing as the hot water rushed over her shoulders.
"I ran into Tony after you left with Nat," he began, and Nadia paused in lathering her shampoo in her hands. "He mentioned you two talked."
"We did." There was a paused as Steve waited for her to elaborate. "He…apologised."
"Pardon?"
Nadia grinned, tipping her head back to rinse out her hair. "He apologised for hurting me, not just for knocking me out but breaking my trust in him. He actually listened when I talked, Steve. I think he really heard just how upset I was about everything."
"He's a good man, deep down. I think he just forgets that it's okay for the world to see that." Steve said gently. Nadia peered around the glass of the shower and spotted Steve in the bedroom, buckling up his pants.
"He…he said that I reminded him of his mother. That if he'd ever had a sister he imagined I would be like her." Nadia added, and Steve looked around at her, his blue eyes wide. "It was so…wonderful to hear that. I know what it's like to love a sibling and to have someone who isn't even blood say that they feel that depth of emotion for me is…"
"It's a lot, I know." Steve nodded. He understood that Nadia hadn't grown up with a family in the traditional sense, bouncing from one foster home to the next. She never truly believed she would have the relationships she had now, whether they be romantic, friendly or familial. Nadia didn't think that Tony realised just how much her words meant to her, how full it made her heart feel.
Nadia quickly conditioned her hair, shaved and then rinsed off. By the time she stepped out of the shower, Steve was dressed and pulling a comb through his hair. He looked so gorgeous in his black slacks, dress shoes and a burgundy shirt. He didn't usually wear red, but she was so glad when he did. The colour was so rich and dramatic against his skin and fair features that it took his looks to a whole new level of handsome.
"Looking good, babe." Nadia whistled, and he threw her an amused smile as she strode over to their dresser, taking out her underwear and slipping them on and throwing on a silk robe over the top, a birthday gift from Natasha. Nadia took the time to give Steve as many genuine compliments as she could. While he had still been a handsome man before the serum, he hadn't received many compliments, and afterwards all the girls saw was the bulging muscles and uniform. Nadia was determined that he knew just how beautiful she thought he was, on the inside and out.
"How do you think everyone will react?" Steve wondered as he sat on the edge of their bed, watching her as she slipped the towel from her hair and brushed the long locks.
"To us announcing we're engaged?" She asked, then shrugged. "Probably happily. Pepper will want to start planning immediately, and Angela will ask us if she can release it to the media."
Angela was the new PR consultant that Tony had hired to handle press related matters for the Avengers. Usually Maria Hill would manage those sorts of issues, but she had elected to leave the team and join Nick Fury in whatever it was he was doing. Angela was a woman in her late-thirties who had graduated from NYU with a bachelors degree in journalism. She had been a reporter for ten years before she found a career in public relations and now helped sort through the shit-storm of media coverage that surrounded the Avengers. Nadia found her to be a sober, no-nonsense sort of woman.
"I suppose it's only fair," Steve reasoned. "We've kept it to ourselves for a while now."
"If it gets Sharon to stop undressing you with her eyes, then I'm all for it." Nadia mumbled, plugging in the hairdryer. Steve frowned at her, obviously having heard her.
Nadia switched the hairdryer on and quickly set about making sure she didn't attend the part looking like a bird had nested on her head. It only took ten minutes for her hair to dry reasonably well and she turned it off, only to find Steve standing in the doorway, his brows lowered in a frown.
"Sharon is just a friend, doll."
"Does she know that?" Nadia replied easily, going to sit down at her vanity and start priming her skin to apply makeup. Steve watched her with his arms crossed.
"I think you're seeing things that aren't there."
"This coming from the man who didn't know what fondue was." Nadia grinned when she saw Steve flush, gaping at her. "Yeah, Peggy tells me things too. I can't believe you thought it was a euphemism for sex."
"Well, I've learned a lot since then, doll." Steve reminded her, coming up to brace his hands on the back of the chair she was sitting in, watching as she carefully applied minimal amounts of makeup. "Besides, Sharon knows that I love you. She doesn't seem like the sort of person who would make a move on a taken man."
"People do stupid things when they're attracted to someone. Especially someone who looks like you."
Steve blushed again, shaking his head and kneeling next to her. She swivelled in her chair to look at him, studying his features carefully.
"Doll, I love you. I want to marry you. I want to spend every single day of the rest of my life making you happy. I don't care who it is checking me out or thinks that I'm good looking. I only care if you do it." Steve grinned and Nadia cocked her head at him, a smile fighting its way onto her lips and she leaned forward, kissing him gently.
"You're very charming, you know that?"
Steve raised an eyebrow at her, saying nothing but leaning in to steal another brief kiss from his fiancée. He retreated to the bed and watched her turn back to the mirror, makeup brush in hand. Steve loved watching Nadia put her makeup on. She didn't often do much, as she didn't have the skill or patience to try anything too dramatic. He watched as she applied neutral tones to her eyelids, followed by a sharp winged eyeliner that took her fifteen minutes to perfect, followed by mascara. Adding blush to her cheeks and a nude pink lipstick, Nadia began pulling her hair into a simple chignon at the nape of her neck, a few wispy pieces of hair framing her face delicately. When this was done, she slipped from her vanity and went to retrieve her dress, which was hanging up on her side of the wardrobe. It was a deep midnight blue, with a v-neckline and falling to the floor in a simple style, a slit up the left side of the skirt. It was a pretty dress, elegant yet still casual enough for a party.
Nadia let her robe fall from around her and she heard Steve's intake of breath from the bedroom. She turned her head and caught Steve blatantly staring. She was only in her bra and panties, which were black and her nicest set. She watched as Steve's eyes slowly drew up from her feet, over her bare legs, to her hips where her panties sat and then up over her stomach, chest and finally to her face.
"See something you like, captain?" she wondered, raising an eyebrow at him. Once upon a time, having any man look at her in that way would have made her uncomfortable. But this was Steve. He may be checking her out, but there was love in his eyes as well as desire.
"Very much," He said seriously, his voice low and a little husky. It was the same tone he used in bed and her heart sped up considerably. "Do we have to go to this party?"
"Yes." She laughed, stepping into the dress and pulling the straps over her arms, picking up the heels that she had chosen to pair with her outfit. Steve stood up from the bed when she made her way over to him, exposing the zip in the back. Without a word, he pulled the zipper up and then placed his hands gently on her waist.
"Tell you what," Nadia said, slipping into her shoes and turning around in his arms. She smoothed down the front of his shirt and stepped even closer to him. "After this party and we tell everyone our good news, you can bring me back here and do whatever you want to me."
Steve raised an eyebrow at her. "Whatever I want? That's quite a promise doll."
"Do we have a deal?" she challenged and Steve pretended to think about it for a minute before he agreed. "You know, we had a healthy sex life before this engagement but now it's definitely more frequent."
"Probably because we haven't had to deal with HYDRA or go on missions that last days. It's nice to come home and be able to just be together." Steve said, his grip on her waist tightening.
"I'm not complaining, believe me." Nadia giggled, pressing forwards to kiss him and then slipping her hand into his. "Come on, Rogers. Let's go. You can ravish me later."
X
The party was being held in the downstairs conference room. It had been decorated to perfection and there was a DJ in the corner, keeping the small crowd entertained while they danced, ate and drank. There was a makeshift bar and waiters walking around with appetisers on polished silver trays.
The room was filled with new staff, including the new security team, technicians, scientists and engineers. Helen Cho was in the corner, laughing as Sam flirted with her. Erik Selvig was listening to Thor as the demigod recounted one of his more thrilling adventures to a group of fresh-faced recruits. Natasha and Wanda were doing shots next to the bar while Vision watched them with wide-eyed bewilderment. Steve and Rhodey were speaking to Nick Fury and Maria Hill, who had decided to join them for the festivities. Pepper was talking with Angela and the two women seemed to be debating something.
Tony was whisking Nadia around the dance floor, making her laugh every time he dipped her backwards. It felt good to let go and just have fun, and Tony kept making her laugh with his commentary on the guests, music selection and the food. It was clear that while he wasn't going to be joining the Avengers on missions anymore, he was determined to stay at the compound as often as he could.
By the end of the song, Nadia was red in the face from laughing so much, and she excused herself to get a drink. Natasha was leaning against the bar, watching with a soft smile on her face as she watched Tony pull Pepper onto the dancefloor, holding her close.
"Am I being silly?" Natasha asked suddenly, and Nadia sipped her gia and tonic.
"What do you mean?"
"About Bruce." She clarified and Nadia nodded in understanding.
"You miss him. That's not silly. And as weird as it sounds, you're grieving for a future that isn't open to you anymore. It's understandable that you're sad, Nat."
"I thought I would be angry, but I'm not. I'm just…" Natasha shook her head and took another sip of her vodka martini. Nadia placed a hand on her arm and squeezed. Even if Nat wasn't angry with Bruce for taking off, Nadia was. She detested the forlorn, lonely look on her best friend's face, knowing that it was because Bruce had left her behind.
"What a mood killer, hmm?" Natasha smirked, her face falling into a carefully practised mask that she perfected long ago. Nadia rolled her eyes.
"You don't need to be sorry for how you feel, Nat. Emotions are rarely rational. They just are what they are. And I'm always here for you, you know that. Anytime."
Natasha's eyes, which were the same shade as her dress, softened. "I know."
There was a tap at her elbow, and Steve appeared next to them. "Sorry to interrupt. Can I borrow you for a moment?" he asked, addressing his question at Nadia.
Nadia looked at Natasha who waved them away, a small smile on her lips. She slipped her hand into Steve's and followed him as he led them away from the party and outside. The air was considerably cooler and Nadia sighed in relief. The heat from inside was almost stifling.
"Where are you taking me? I told you that you would have to wait until after the party before you can seduce me, Rogers." She teased as they walked down the grass, Nadia stopping to take her shoes off and prevent the heels from sinking into the dirt.
"I just wanted some fresh air and a minute alone with you," Steve replied easily. She nodded, accepting this and leaning a little closer to him, enjoying the quiet. It was a beautiful night, with the full moon hanging overhead and the air was crisp. The feeling of the grass under her bare feet tickled a little, but overall it was soothing after standing in high heels for hours. Steve's hand in hers was warm and familiar, as was the scent of his aftershave.
After walking for five minutes, Steve brought her to a stop and she tilted her head at him curiously. He took in a deep breath the looked into her eyes, stepping in close. He seemed to be memorising every detail of her appearance.
"You know, I never knew I could love someone the way I love you. I feel like it gets stronger every single day, and every single day I learn something new about you that I fall in love with. Your kindness, your compassion, your strength and wit and charm had me hooked before I knew what was happening. I was in the middle before I knew I had started. You make me laugh, you help me learn new things about myself and the world. You give me hope that I can have a normal life, with a house and a family and there's no one else I would want to do that with but you."
Nadia listening to him intently, her heart beating erratically in her chest as tears sprang to her eyes. Steve really had a way with words. Her breath caught in her throat as he sank down before her, kneeling on one knee and letting go of her hand.
"My only wish is to spend the rest of my life with you by my side, wherever that takes us. I will follow you wherever you go. I will do everything I can to make you happy. I will love you till my dying day, and even after. Nadia, will you marry me?"
Nadia's gaze dropped from his face, so open and full of love to what he was holding in his hand. A ring. It was simple and beautiful, with a large oval diamond in the centre and two smaller stones on either side. But his expression, with his blue eyes shining, his lips spread in a hopeful smile was more precious than any diamond.
"Yes. Of course, I will." She managed to breath out. Nadia wasn't sure whether it was the words he had said, or the fact he was on one knee, but this proposal was just as romantic as the first and she wondered briefly if everyone feels this way at some point or another.
Steve's smile only grew as he slipped the ring onto her finger and stood up swiftly, gathering her in his arms as he kissed her sweetly, passionately, lovingly. Nadia had been surprised and delighted when Steve proposed in her hospital room after Sokovia, but somehow this made it feel real.
He kissed her and kissed her, leaving her breathless. And when he was finished kissing her, he swung her around in circles, laughing exuberantly. She giggled at his antics, clinging onto his shoulders until he put her feet back on solid ground. She quickly took his face in her hands, her ring shining in the moonlight.
"I love you. More than words can express," Nadia whispered to him, her whole body singing with the elation she felt.
A loud whistle caught their attention and they turned in the direction of the sound, only to see the occupants of the party standing on the patio outside the conference room. Nadia realised they must have seen them through the glass windows and her cheeks flushed.
"Get over here, lovebirds!" Tony called, laughter in his voice, "We have some champagne to drink!"