Trigger warning- Racism, Racist language (edited but there)
Please be advised
Natasha felt as if there would never be enough time to ask everything she needed to. Laura simply smiled, sitting across from her at the table as she gently swayed in place, lulling Natasha's namesake Godson to sleep. Between the two women on the table were books, all open to various points of interest in pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn stage. She'd been up all night reading Laura and Clint's many books.
"I just- I am in so far over my head... And TWO of them?" Natasha put her head in her hands, bracing her elbows on the table and she sighed heavily.
"You'd be surprised how much comes to you in that moment when the doctor lays them on your chest. When I had Cooper- We were both so scared. Clint has this dangerous job, he isn't home super often... We had a lot of anxiety and fear. As has every other mother. But I can tell you this, Nat. You will be a good mom. Because you are already the greatest Aunt my kids could ever need. You're great with them. Imagine how much better you'll be with your own."
"I-" Natasha started to say something, but felt bile rise in her throat, so she stopped and swallowed.
"Why don't you go upstairs and take a nap?" Laura suggested.
"I can't sleep." She groaned. "I feel so sick and crampy..." She sighed. "I am so out of my element, here."
"Well, lucky for you, I am in mine..." Laura smiled again, holding baby Nathaniel close to her chest as she rose from her chair. "Come on, I'll lay him down and get you some lavender for your pillow. We'll hang towels over your curtains to block out the light and you can take as long of a nap as you need."
"I don't know... I know my sheets have been washed, but my room here is the last place Bruce and I spent the night together, and I swear I can still smell him..." Natasha's voice cracked a bit. Laura leaned gently into her as the two woman climbed the stairs.
"I know what you mean, hun. It's okay. But you're gonna need that sleep. Just give it a try?" She paused at the nursery door and Natasha opened it for her and waited outside. A few moments later she reappeared, a small spray bottle in hand. Natasha looked her friend over, sighed and gave a weary smile. She took the lavender and headed for her room, willing to try anything to get a little bit of peaceful rest.
"So..." Steve said, munching popcorn, part of his handful falling onto Jennifer's hair where she was snuggled into his side on the couch in the common area, "Why would Dumbledore not simply put his foot down? I mean, he's supposed to be the most powerful one, right? He can't just tell the Ministry or whoever is running this game... for kids... that Harry is too young?"
"It's a worse plot hole than that, actually. But spoilers." Sam called from the arm chair he was draped across.
"You should find time to read the books as well, Captain. There is much more in them." Vision added.
Wanda, who was snuggled into his side laughed and looked up at him. "You read Harry Potter?"
"Of course. It's essential reading." Vision replied, humored.
"This is ridiculous." Steve mumbled. "Irresponsible."
"That actually describes Dumbledore's entire relationship with Harry pretty well, honestly." Jennifer laughed, looking up at Steve, who kissed her nose and fed her a piece of popcorn. The movie suddenly paused itself and both Tony and Pepper entered, and FRIDAY caused the lights to turn up.
"So, none of you plan on answering my texts?" Tony asks, annoyed as he comes to stand in front of the group.
"We're busy!" Sam and Wanda protested at the same time.
"I thought that is what we put the big flashing red lights on the wall in each room for." Sam added. "In case there was a mission."
"There is no mission..." Tony starts, then he pauses and sighs; he removed his sunglasses and looked at Pepper.
"We have an issue." The strawberry blonde crossed her arms and cleared her throat. "Its more of a PR issue than anything, but it is an issue none the less. And honestly, I believe you'd rather it had been a mission."
Pepper's words caused everyone to sit up in their seats. She took her Stark phone out of her purse and tapped through a few apps before the coffee table projection system kicked on. There were countless tweets, facebook memes, Buzzfeed articles and other social media and internet posts. All of which centered around pictures from Jennifer's birthday.
"Hang on..." Jennifer said, standing and crossing over. She grabbed a few of the images and moved them to the side, then moved her hands to enlarge them. The holographic images expanded to show photos of the dance she and Steve had shared, them holding hands, their kiss. Then the social media response. There were dozens of retweets and shares of people saying things like 'Get it, Sis' or expressing playful jealousy... but there were others that were not so friendly. Jennifer's face paled, a tear slid down her cheek as she read.
'That's disgusting... Cap should know better...'
'N***** bitch should know her place'
'Nasty whore'
"FRIDAY, take them down." Steve commanded, standing and wrapping his arms around the upset doctor from behind. He turned her to face him, bringing Jennifer fully into his embrace as she continued to silently cry. Steve looked over to Sam, who looked equally upset, his jaw clinched. He simply shook his head when he met his friends eye. Steve then turned his attention back to Jennifer.
He gently pulled away and took her face in his hands. "Hey." He said softly.
"I could've told you that would happen..." Jennifer said, clearing her throat. "This isn't even my first rodeo with it." She placed one of her hands over Steve's where he held her cheek. "It is my most public, however. Racists are everywhere, and it becomes something you just... ignore. But I also ignored something."
"What?" Steve ask, stroking the cheek he held with his thumb.
"You're Captain America." Jennifer whispered.
"So?" Steve said, confused.
"America isn't for us like it is for you, man." Sam said, coming over. "We're not part of the same America you are. You're the conservative wet dream. The 'Star Spangled Man with a Plan'." Sam said, arms crossed.
"But that- That isn't me..." Steve said, looking from Sam to Jennifer and around to the rest of the team that was present. "You all know that... right?"
"We do, yeah, man. Of course." Sam clapped Steve on the shoulder. "But it doesn't mean that any of them do."
"Conservatives and racists have been using your image on merch for years, Cap. Since you went into the ice. You weren't here to say anything, and then when you came out, I guess we didn't think to tell you about it or take legal action." Tony explained.
"How did these get out?" Wanda asks from the corner.
"Unfortunately, one of Jennifer's sisters posted them to her Facebook, which was set to public. Before she realized, they'd already spread far and wide." Pepper explained.
"Can we take legal action?" Steve asks, looking to Pepper.
"Of course." Pepper said. "I actually already have our people working on it, we will need your sign a few things, of course. But we can take a lot of it on. Slander suits, cease and desist orders... you name it."
"In the mean time, maybe you two keep a low profile?" Tony suggested. Jennifer nodded, but Steve shook his head.
"Oh no. Absolutely not." He took Jennifer's hand and squeezed it. "We need reservations at the most high profile, paparazzi infested place you can. Under my name, so we know they'll be there."
"Steve..." Jennifer groaned. Steve gave her a quick kiss and smiled.
"We need to give them something to really talk about." He said with a wink. Tony laughed.
"Aye aye, Cap, I like it. Thinking like me." Tony said, taking out his own phone to do as requested.
When Natasha wakes, its with Bruce's name on her lips.
This time, she isn't crying, or failing to help him. She dreamed of his face, his warm brown eyes that lit up when he smiled.
She'd dreamed that she was at home in the Avenger's compound, walking barefoot down the hall to Bruce's lab, where she found him working with Tony on something unspecific. Tony had excused himself when she came in, and she was able to tell him about their baby, like any other, more normal couple.
In this dream, he'd been so excited. Elated, even. Picked her up and swung her around before giving her a deep and loving kiss. It was just after this that she wakes up. The sinking feeling that she'd never see him again was now gone. In its place was the strongest hope that Bruce was alive and well, and would eventually make his way home to her.
Looking to the wall, she finds shes been asleep for the last five hours. It was helpful, she thinks, and pushes up out of her bed and makes her way toward whatever lovely smell is wafting up from downstairs in the kitchen.
Downstairs it appears Clint is back from working with the livestock and the older Barton children are home from school, and Clint is making her favorite chicken pasta. He glances up from the stove as she walks in and grins at how the redheaded assassin's hair is in a ruffled mess.
"Nice nap?" He calls as she passes the kitchen to go and sit beside Laura on the couch.
"Your better half really knows what she's doing with this whole pregnancy thing." She replies, leaning into Laura in an affectionate way. Laura smiles. A cartoon about dogs plays in the background, but none of them seem to care enough to pay attention, Cooper and Lila are working together on a lego set, Nathaniel is too small to care, gurgling in his swing.
"Listen, Nat..." Clint says, coming over behind the couch and holding out a tablet. "I know you just got some rest, and are probably feeling better, but I have to show you something that will piss you off. And I also feel the need to remind you that you cannot go on a killing spree while pregnant. I had a facetime call with Tony, Pepper and Sam."
"Wha-" She asks, but Clint slides the screen up to open it and she begins to scroll. Moving from site to site, social media and news sources, along with internet tabloids, Natasha felt her anger rise.
"Pepper said she was working on it." Clint said. "But she and Tony wanted us to be informed, as team members, that it was going on."
"Is Jennifer okay?" Natasha ask, concerned about her friend. "Should we call? Or go in? What about Steve?"
"It seems like Jennifer was hurt more than anything. She said she'd been dealing with racism all her life but it hadn't crossed her mind how public and controversial being with THE Captain America would be. Steve is..." Clint shook his head and chuckled, "Steve is pissed right off. Tony said he wanted to take her on a very, very public date tonight in retaliation. It will be their first public date, actually."
"That's adorable. Perfect idea." Natasha smiles. "Act like they don't care."
"Exactly." Clint agrees. "Tony is just hoping he does well enough to finally end his hundred year virgin streak..." Clint joked. Laura turned and swatted her husband's arm.
"Clint!" she warned, nodding to their older children, who were still busy with their toys.
"They aren't paying us attention..." Clint defended himself.
"How do you even know that dry streak hasn't ended?" Natasha ask, amused.
"Come on..." Clint laughed. "Its Steve. They've only been going out for a few weeks."
"Fair enough." Natasha laughed. "I'm glad to know Pepper and Tony... Mostly Pepper... Is working on damage control." Natasha shook her head. "Racist assholes."
"Tony said he had Sam and Vision call in 'tips' about them being on a date to several paparazzo members, and TMZ. They said to watch tonight." Clint added.
"Can't wait." Natasha grinned.
Tony had loaned them an extremely flashy red car- A classic and restored Chevy Corvette.
The engine rumbled loudly as Steve pulled them up to the front door of the restaurant Tony picked for them. Tony had picked this place specifically, as he told them it had a valet and velvet ropes which the staff always kept reporters behind. He hopped out of the driver's side, removed his sunglasses and hung them from the pocket of his leather bomber jacket. He smoothed the wrinkles from his light blue plaid shirt, which he wore tucked into dark jeans with a matching set of boots and a belt all in the same dark leather as the jacket. He smiled as he felt the flash of cameras start, and he circled the car and opened the passenger door.
Jennifer stepped out, her dark navy dress and bright white shoes catching the camera flashes almost as much as her pearls around her neck and in her ears- both a birthday gift from Steve. He took her hand in his, and with his free hand he tossed the keys to the valet who caught them in awe of what had just happened. Cameras continued to flash as they made their way to the door. Reporters shouted from the sidewalk, and among them came the same question, rephrased and repeated over and over, 'Are the rumors true? Are you dating?'
Steve looked down at Jennifer, who looked a little uneasy and he squeezed her hand.
"You okay?" He ask. She nodded.
"Yeah, I know you've got me." She whispered.
"So should we answer them?" He ask, eyebrow raised in amused mischief. She nodded again, and before she had time to prepare herself, Steve had swung her around and dripped her, before planting a deep, passionate kiss on her lips. She wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed him back, and he felt her smiling into the kiss. After a few seconds, he swung her back up and turned to the crowd of paparazzi.
"Any further questions?" He ask, laughing. Of course, reporters began shouting all sorts of questions, which the couple ignored as they entered the doors, leaving all distractions outside.
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