Chapter XIV

Natasha was so thankful to Fury that he'd told her about this safe haven. In this house, they were safe. They could just be a little family. That's all she wanted. She just wanted to be with Steve and Chloe. She wanted them to be safe and happy. That was what mattered to her. She understood now completely why Clint had built Laura a farm and why he'd had no problem to give up everything. The love she had for her own little family overshadowed everything else.

Here in this house, she could just be a mother. Something she'd never thought she wanted, but now...Now it was everything.

She watched Steve and Chloe with a smile on her face. God, how she loved these two. Steve was lying on his back on the sofa and throwing Chloe into the air who squealed happily. Both looked so happy. She knew that she was incredibly lucky that she got to share this with Steve. That he'd decided to raise Chloe with her. That he was ready to be a father.

"Again, munchkin? You don't have enough?" Steve laughed at Chloe who was kind of frowning now that her dad had stop throwing her into the air. He lifted his arms again and threw her into the air. Chloe was delighted and Natasha was sure that she was going to love dangerous things as much as her parents. Her baby girl was definitely going to give her a few grey hairs.

Natasha got her phone out and saw that Yelena had texted her, informing her that she was still chasing Karli. Natasha told her to be careful and closed their conversation. She wasn't going to think about that right now. No, she was going to film this sweet father and daughter moment. She came closer to them and Steve gave her a smile that made her knees weak before he continued to entertain their sweet girl. Natasha sent the cute video to Clint and Sam before she put her phone away.

Chloe was tired after her flying lessons and Steve put her down for her afternoon nap while Natasha made hot chocolate for them. She even found rum and put a heavy splash into the mugs before she topped the hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream.

She looked over to the photo of Nick and Peggy Carter on the window still. It must have had been taken in the living room and showed them playing cards. She smiled to herself, in a way both of them had led her to Steve.

Natasha was with her back to the kitchen door so she couldn't see him, but his heavy footsteps announced Steve's arrival and she wanted to turn around to greet him, but his arms were already around her and he buried his face in her neck. He pressed a kiss to her skin and she closed her eyes for a moment.

"I love you." He mumbled and nuzzled her skin.

She turned in his embrace to face him. Every time she looked in his eyes, her breath got caught. No one had ever looked at her like this.

"I love you." She whispered, her hands traveling up his arms to cup his face. She pulled his head down and kissed him. The way he always kissed her...Like she was the most precious thing to him. For the first time in her life, Natasha felt truly loved and beautiful. She was home.

She was so lost in his kisses that she pouted when he started to pull away. "Your hot chocolates get cold." He chuckled and pecked her lips. "I'll kiss you after we've finished them. Anywhere you want."

She raised an eyebrow. She did have some ideas where he could kiss her. "Anywhere?"

The kiss he gave her made her toes curl and her dizzy with want for him. "Anywhere, doll."

Really, Natasha was a genius for throwing the can of whipped cream into the shopping cart when they'd been grocery shopping for their trip. Steve licking whipped cream of her naked body was truly fucking amazing.

"You wanna head to bed?" Natasha asked, yawning a little bit. It was almost midnight and she was starting to get tired. Chloe had been awake for most of the evening and they'd played with her, and now Chloe was upstairs finally sleeping.

"Just a few more minutes." Steve said after looking at his watch.

"Okay?!" He was acting a bit strange. Almost a little nervous.

"I'll be right back." He jumped off the couch and left the living room. Okay, what was going on. Had he heard something? Was someone outside? No, Natasha tried to calm herself. No, Steve would have told her if something was wrong.

Steve came back into the living room with a cupcake and on top of it was a lit candle.

Huh?

He smiled at her. "It's midnight, so it's officially your birthday! Happy birthday, Nat!"

Wow, she'd completely forgotten her own birthday!

"Thank you."

He sat down on the couch and held up the cupcake. "Make a wish!" God, he was so sweet to her!

She closed her eyes, thinking about the only thing she wanted, and blew out the candle. "I completely forgot it."

"I know." He laughed quietly. He put the cupcake on the coffee table and leaned forward to kiss her. "Happy birthday, sweetheart!"

She blushed a little. She knew it was sad, but no one had really made a fuss out of her birthday. Steve had tried to invite her to dinner on her birthday over the years but she'd always turned him down because she'd felt like she didn't deserve to celebrate it. But now, she didn't care about that anymore. No, she deserved good things because Steve loved her and he wouldn't love her if she were a bad person.

"I have something for you." He gave her another kiss and pulled something out of the sofa cushions. "I actually can't believe you didn't find it."

He had a black velvet box in his hands, but it was too big to contain an engagement ring which disappointed Natasha a little bit. Steve gave her the box with a shy smile on his face. "I hope you like it."

She opened the box and smiled at Steve. "Oh, Steve. It's beautiful! I love it!" He'd given her a golden necklace with a stunning diamond as a pendant. And next to the diamond was another pendant. A little C. "It's perfect. Thank you!"

"I had the necklace made before Chloe came into our lives, but I thought she had to be a part of it. The gold is from my ma's brooch. It was the only piece of jewelry she owned."

"Steve-" She choked out. This was the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her.

"The brooch wasn't your style, but I hope this necklace is." He wiped her tears away. "She would have loved you."

"Thank you." She breathed out and kissed him. "It's so beautiful. I love it. Can you help me put it on?" He nodded happily and placed it gently around her neck after she turned around. Her hands moved to the pendants. This was now her most precious possession. "I'll never take it of."

Steve pressed a kiss onto the back of her neck before he closed the clasp of the necklace. "I'm so glad that you like it."

"I don't like it. I love it." She leaned against his chest and looked up at him. "And one day, it will belong to Chloe. So she has something of her grandmother and mother."

Natasha woke up the next morning with Chloe on her chest whose tiny hands were moving across her neck and jaw. She'd slept wonderfully after Steve had given her more presents in the bedroom. What could a girl want more than jewelry and orgasms for her birthday? Natasha gently grabbed her sweet baby's hand and blew a raspberry onto her little palm. Chloe laughed and Natasha opened her eyes.

"Good morning, sweet girl!" She lifted her up to kiss her all over her face. "Did you sleep well?"

"She did." Steve said next to her. He was on his side, watching them. "She told me that she wanted to get up to wish you a happy birthday."

"Did she now?" She laughed.

"Yup."

Chloe's response was only a grin and her trying to grab Natasha's nose. Steve told her to stay in bed and cuddle with Chloe which she did until he came back with breakfast on a tray and they had breakfast in bed.

The Bartons, Pepper and Yelena called to wish her a happy birthday. Sam sent a video of himself singing (rather badly) happy birthday and even Bucky sent her a text. Her other friends (those who knew it was her birthday today) messaged her as well. She felt like a normal woman. It was nice.

They hiked a little through the area, holding hands and Chloe was in her baby carrier strapped to Steve's chest, wearing an adorable winter outfit. They took photos for the family album and Chloe watched everything around her with curious big eyes. They were back before sunset and slow danced in front of the fireplace. Chloe was dozing in Natasha's arms and Steve had his arms wrapped around them, keeping them safe and protected. He leaned down from time to time to kiss her tenderly.

It was the perfect birthday. She wanted to stay in his moment forever.

Steve smiled down at her, his palm cupping her cheek. "You're the love of my life, Nat. I want you to know that. My heart and soul are yours."

Her heart fluttered in her chest and she smiled brightly at him. "And you'r-"

A loud explosion interrupted her. The front door rattled in its frame, but it didn't burst. No! That wasn't possible! It couldn't...How? Her blood froze in her veins. She'd never been so scared before. Someone was coming for her baby!

Chloe started to cry and Steve pushed Natasha and Chloe behind his back. His hand was on her hip, keeping them connected. Natasha tried to calm Chloe. It was the only thing she was currently capable of trying to do.

"ROGERS! ROMANOFF!" Wait, she knew that voice! Was that Batroc?! How had he found them?! "Come out and give us the baby and no one gets hurt!