Chapter XIX

Three weeks later

"Over there, Steve!" Natasha pointed at the window. "I think she'll love to look out of the window."

"You're the boss!" He smiled and carried Chloe's new bed over the window. They were currently furnishing the house with new pieces. They both had furniture that they'd wanted to keep, but this was a new beginning for both of them. And Steve had loved how much Natasha had enjoyed to plan Chloe's room. They had paid a lot of money to get the house done in such short notice, but they wanted to live here as soon as possible and celebrate Chloe's first Christmas here.

"Perfect!" Natasha said after he placed the bed right in front of the window. "This way she can watch the sky."

She came over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He loved that she was smaller than him and that he could rest his chin on the top of her head. The last weeks had been hectic because of the renovating of the house, but still so amazing. They didn't need to watch over their shoulders anymore and could just enjoy being parents and being a couple. Chloe was the light of their lives and Natasha was born to be her mother. And Steve was so fucking grateful that he got to share his life with them.

"Hi." Natasha whispered and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

"Hi." He smiled softly before slanting their lips together. Kissing Natasha was one of his favorite things. His fingers moved underneath her soft sweater to tease her skin and she chuckled against his lips. "I think we should set up our bed next."

"And why is that?" She grinned against his lip and pulled away when he tried to kiss her again. "We're still not finished with Chloe's room."

"Then we should take a break." He pushed her against the nearest wall. "I want you."

"Good." She jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. "I want you-"

Chloe started babbling, telling them that she was done with her nap. Natasha rested her forehead against his before she set her feet back on the ground. "Looks like we have to postpone our afternoon delight." She grabbed his face and gave him a kiss that made him want to push her against the wall again. "I'll check on her."

Steve found Chloe and Natasha in the already completely finished kitchen, getting Chloe's formula ready. Natasha was bouncing Chloe on her hip who was trying to form words.

His munchkin spotted him and smiled at him. "Mamama da mamama!"

He stared at Chloe and Natasha stopped bouncing her and looked at him. "Did you hear that?"

"I did!" She smiled at him.

Chloe was finally trying to say dada! She knew that he was her daddy! Wow, that was...God, he loved his little girl so much.

"Can you try again?" Natasha asked Chloe and walked over to Steve. "Dada. Say da-da."

Steve welcomed his munchkin in his arms and kissed her forehead. Chloe grinned at him and patted his beard with her tiny hand. "Mamamam, ah goo, Mamadamada."

"We'll get to dada." Natasha promised and handed Steve Chloe's bottle after she checked the temperature. She watched him feed Chloe. "Do you really think we could set up our bed today?"

"Sure. We've got everything here, we just need to build it."

"Then let's do it. We could spend tonight here. The first night in our forever home." She smiled happily at him. "My first real home. Not one with fake holiday photos."

"Can you burp her? I'll start right away." He was going to make sure Natasha got to spend her first night in her real home.

"What? No, you don't have to start right now!" She objected and she loved how selfless she was. "And I'll help."

"No, sweetheart. Stay here with our girl and I get the bedroom done."

"Steve-"

"Let me do this for you." He asked of her. This was something that he had to do for her.

She bit her lip, thinking about his offer. "Thank you."

He pecked her lips and ruffled Chloe's baby fluff before he jogged up the stairs to get started. It took him two hours, but he got it done. And he was quite happy when Natasha crawled on top of him after they tucked in Chloe to christen their new bed.

Natasha pressed kisses to his sweaty temple while he needed a moment to catch his breath. He moved his face away from her neck to look at her. She was a goddess and he felt proud that he was the reason she looked so satisfied right now.

"Mm, that was so good." She whispered and kissed him softly.

"Yeah?" He grinned down at her.

"Don't go fishing for compliments, mister." She moved her leg higher around his waist, reminding him that they were still intimately connected. "Your ego is already big enough."

Steve looked over to the alarm clock on the night stand. There still had a bit of time until they had to get up and Chloe was also still asleep. "Interested in round two?"

This time he moved and Natasha moaned. "God, I love to. But I have so much to do. I still have to get the apartment ready for Lena."

Right, Yelena was going to come to town and staying with them. Well, now she was probably staying at Natasha's apartment and they would stay here? He had to ask his girl what the plan was.

"I can be fast?" He asked with a smirk and Natasha laughed before she kicked him with the heel of her foot into his ass to get him to move.

Turned out that Yelena definitely wanted to stay alone at Natasha's apartment because she was scared that she was going to hear things that were going to traumatize her forever. Her words, not his. She didn't want to know Captain America's sex noises, apparently it was already bad enough that their dad was a horn dog. A statement that had made Natasha nod her head furiously. Steve felt like there was a story, but he didn't want to ask.

Yelena was entertaining Chloe in the living room while Steve and Natasha were in Chloe's room and working their way through boxes. They wanted to get Chloe's room completely done today. It was the most important one in the house.

"So I was thinking that Yelena could watch Chloe and we could go on a date?" Natasha suggested, putting more books into Chloe's new bookshelf.

He stopped putting baby clothes onto hangers to look at her. He should have asked his girlfriend on a date. Sure, they'd gone to that diner once, but they've never really had been on one without Chloe.

"That's a great idea." He told her and Natasha smiled beautifully at him and Steve felt like a teenager again.

"Oh, you two look like you're about to bone." Yelena had Chloe in her arms and made a face. "The bug's diaper is full!"

"Then change it!" Natasha crossed her arms. "That's part of having a baby."

"I'm not her parent!" Yelena whined and Natasha raised an eyebrow. Steve barely managed to hide his chuckle. These two were truly sisters.

"Change her diaper. You're her aunt and it's not that big of a deal!"

"Fine, but I want to get paid for babysitting her tonight!"

Natasha rolled her eyes at Steve while Yelena stomped into the little en suite bathroom to change Chloe's diaper. He enjoyed to see Yelena and Natasha together. He was glad that Natasha had a sister. He hadn't met so far the rest of the family, but he loved anyone who loved his Natasha.

The three of them were sitting at the dinning room table, having a late lunch.

"Well you're not a science teacher with a son and a husband who builds houses, but this life is good, too." Yelena said, smiling at Natasha.

"Yeah." Natasha smiled at Steve who was confused by the conversation. "This life is better though. Yelena told me years ago how she envisioned my life. "She said, looking at him. "But I much prefer this version. With you."

Steve's heart fluttered in his chest. "Me, too. But I did work on the house..."

His girl chuckled and reached for his hand to lace their fingers together. "That you did. But this is how I dreamed my life would be." She looked at Yelena. "My little sister free, safe and happy, and you-" The love in her eyes took Steve's breath away. "And you getting everything you want. I feel so lucky that it's me you want. And I never thought I would get to have a child, but now I have one. I feel like my life just started."

"Poor Chloe is gonna be one of those kids who are constantly embarrassed by their parents' lovey dovey relationship." Yelena said and Steve honestly had completely forgotten that she was in the room. All he could focus on was Natasha and how damn lucky he was that he was the one she had chosen to give her hear to.

"Don't you mean Chloe is going to grow up with a good example of how a healthy loving relationship should look like?" Natasha shot back and Yelena grinned at her big sister. Steve already figured out that Yelena loved to push Natasha's buttons. Rebecca had been the same with Bucky.

Yelena, Natasha and Chloe went shopping while Steve was working on his surprise for his girls. Bucky had come over to help him. Steve had told Natasha that he wanted to turn this room into his office, but in truth he wanted to build Natasha her own dancing studio. And maybe Chloe would want to dance with her mommy in here when she was older.

He and Bucky had already put the mirrors onto the wall and were now setting up the ballet barre. Bucky had told him that the Flag Smashers were laying low, but he and Sam were sure that they would show up soon.

"Do you guys need my help?"

Bucky shook his head. "No, it's our turn. You've done enough. You deserve to rest. And you've got a wife and baby."

"I'm not married." Yet.

"Yet. I know you're going to marry Natasha and I'm happy for you. She's a great woman and I've never seen you so happy before." Bucky smiled at him. "Sarah would be proud."

"Thank you. And I am proud of you, Buck. You've come so far. I've always known that you would make it. I never doubted that."

"I know, Steve. And thank you for that. Thank you for never giving up on me."

They were almost done with the room when they heard the front door open. Damn, they were back too soon!

"Steve? We're back!" Natasha yelled through the house. "Come say hi to your munchkin!"

Steve exchanged a look with Buck who shrugged his shoulders. They wouldn't be able to move the new chaise lounge into the room without Natasha noticing.

"Honey?" Natasha's voice came closer and he heard her walking up the stairs. And it sounded like Yelena was following her. They'd left the door open and Natasha could see them or rather see the room. "Steve?"

"Surprise!" He hoped she liked it. "It's not completely done yet."

Natasha was now in the room. Chloe was in her arms, smiling at Steve. "What is this?" She asked softly.

"Your dance studio."

"Oh, Steve. I love it! Thank you so much!" She walked over to him and kissed him. "It's perfect."

"I helped! Where's my kiss?" Bucky joked and Natasha actually kissed him on the cheek which made him blush a bit. Cute.

"Wow, someone is aiming for boyfriend for the year." Yelena looked around the room, but Steve barely noticed what she was saying because Natasha was so happy right now and giving him the most beautiful smile. "Uh oh, Barnes be warned, they're looking at each other like they're ten seconds away from boning. Give me the baby before you two get your freak on."

Steve ducked his head in embarrassment because Yelena was kind of right. He would love to throw Natasha over his shoulder to carry her into their bedroom to-

"God, we're not going to fuck while we have guests." Natasha rolled her eyes at her sister. "You really need to go on dates so you're not so obsessed with my love life, Yelena."

"You wanna go out with me, Barnes?" She winked at him and Bucky laughed good-hardheartedly.

"We can go get dinner sometime, but it won't be a date."

"I'm not saying no to free food."

"I didn't say I was going to pay." Bucky said, but Steve knew that he was going to. It was just something guys from their time did.

"We'll see about that." Yelena huffed and Bucky smiled fondly. Steve couldn't shake the feeling that Yelena was reminding Bucky of his little sister Rebecca.

Yelena was going to watch Chloe tonight so Steve could finally take Natasha on an actual date. He'd booked a table at a romantic restaurant and there was even an antique carousel near by that he wanted to take her to after dinner.

Natasha was still upstairs, getting ready and Steve watched Yelena and Bucky play Uno which was quite hilarious. Bucky didn't know the rules so Yelena was pretty much wiping the floor with him.

"Are you just fucking with me, kiddo?" Bucky groaned after losing yet another round.

"Of course not!" Yelena looked so innocent and sincere that Steve would have believed her if he didn't know the actual rules.

"Yeah, she's messing with you." Natasha said behind Steve and he turned around. Wow!

Yelena wolf-whistled and then fake- whispered to Bucky, "They are so going to bang later!"

"I know!" Bucky fake-whispered back.

"You...you look amazing, Nat!"

She was wearing a black dress that showed off her legs and shoulders. Her hair was in some kind of fancy up do and her lips were painted dark red. She was a vision.

"You look quite handsome yourself, Steve!" Natasha's gaze wandered over his body. Yes, he had decided to wear his charcoal suit because he knew that Natasha liked it on him.

"Um, guys, sorry, but I don't think you're going out tonight." Bucky said and Steve turned to look at his friend who was looking at his phone. "Sam texted me. Karli and the rest of the Flag Smashers are in New York and they're at the GRC Meeting Hall. They're trying to stop the vote on the Patch Act."

Steve looked at Natasha who grimaced slightly. Instead of a romantic dinner, they had to suit up. He didn't really want to, but Karli had to be stopped. He understood her and could support what she wanted, but he could never support how she planned to achieve that. A lot of people could potentially die today, if they didn't do anything.

"Let's go." He decided and Natasha nodded.

Bucky shook his head. "No, this isn't your fight. It's Sam's. It's time for the new Captain America to make his first appearance. He can't do that with you being there."

Steve knew that Bucky was right, but still... "We have to help you."

"I'll help them." Yelena stood up. "I actually know Karli, I can help." She looked at Natasha. "I'm ready. I can take your place."

"I know." Natasha smiled softly at her little sister. "And I am so proud of you."

It was decided that Yelena and Bucky were going to help Sam stop the Flag Smashers while Steve and Natasha were going to stay home. They watched Yelena and Bucky leave and Steve felt weird. He didn't want to go and yet he felt bad that he stayed behind.

"It's a bit weird, right?" Natasha asked, getting out of her high heels.

"Yeah."

"I feel a bit guilty that I'm not fighting with them, but I'm happy that I get to stay home with you and Chloe."

He pulled Natasha into his arms. "We'll get used to it. We did our time. It's time to live our lives and one day we won't feel weird about it anymore."

She snuggled closer to him. "I'm already starting not to feel weird about it."

"Let's order some food and have our date here. And if Chloe wakes up, she can join us." He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Natasha's lips.

"I love that. A date with my two favorite people."