This is going to be a collection of One Shots about the Avengers that I have bouncing around in my head that aren't really long enough to make into full fics- Moments in the lives of our favorite heroes. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter One: Natasha and Bruce; 1+1=3
Natasha still hated herself for what she had done.
What on earth had she been thinking? Picking a fight like this with Bruce, the day before their wedding? And for what? To cover her own secret?
Not that it was a secret she needed to be keeping from the man she was about to marry.
Tony and Pepper had gone above and beyond to prepare this wedding for them, to make sure that each and every detail was perfect. There was no expense spared, no wish ungranted. But because of her own little unexpected event, she'd decided to pick a fight with Bruce. A classic Natasha defense mechanism.
Funny how two pink lines can do that to even the most put together spy.
Natasha closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her grip on the edge of her sink so tight that her knuckles were turning white. She felt like her head was spinning. When was the best time to tell your fiancee that you were pregnant, she wondered. Before or after the wedding ceremony?
Perhaps during their first dance?
Maybe she should make up with him first. Make sure there will still be a wedding to plan this around at all.
Natasha Romanoff took a few long, deep breaths and splashed some cold water on her face before moving across the bathroom and sitting on the lid of the toilet. She thought back to the night before, where she'd yelled at her sweet Bruce, told him to get out of her hair and give her some space. She really just needed a moment to get her thoughts together, to allow the reality of their wedding, and now baby, to set in on her- she hadn't meant to hurt him. But the pain in his large, beautiful brown eyes as he nodded and left her the night before still hung on. Bruce always did what she wanted, and went as far as he could to make her happy. Natasha felt a tear slide down her cheek.
A knock on the door caught her off guard, and she jumped and quickly wiped her face.
"Yeah?" She called, putting her work voice on to conceal all emotion.
"Just me, Nat." Pepper called through the door. "Are you okay? Can I come in?"
"Come on in." Natasha called. The other woman slowly poked her head around the door and smiled.
"Hey, there's our bride!" Pepper called. "How we feeling?"
"Nauseated." Natasha confessed with a shrug.
"Oh, its just nerves. I was a wreck when Tony and I got married, remember? You had to redo my makeup twice." Pepper laughed. Natasha gave a weak smile, and Pepper's own smile faded, and she tilted her head. "Nat?" She ask, concerned for her friend.
"I, uh. I yelled at Bruce last night. I needed a moment to get my head level, you know? And I just... Screamed at him. Haven't talked to him today, either. Bad luck, and all that. Not sure if he still wants to marry me after that. I wouldn't blame him if he didn't." Natasha gave a heavy sigh and covered her eyes with her hands. She felt Pepper come over and kneel before her, the taller blonde gently taking her shoulder's in her hands in comfort.
"Hey... It's okay. Bruce loves you so much, Natasha. It's just all nerves, and he knows that. Trust me, he had breakfast with Tony this morning. He said you seemed to be very volatile, but he also attributed it to wedding jitters. He wasn't all that upset, I promise."
"It's not just the wedding, Pepper." Natasha said, taking her hands from her face. "I'm pregnant."
Pepper's face lit up with excitement.
"No. Way!" She squealed, and she clapped her hands in delight. "Nat, that is fantastic!"
"Is it?" Natasha snapped back, and Pepper's smile vanished. She looked her friend over very carefully and gently picked one of her hands up into her own.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Pepper ask quietly. Natasha looked away and sighed.
"What kind of mother could I possibly be, Pep?" She ask in a small, broken voice.
"What do you mean?" Pepper ask, still holding Natasha to give her support.
"Do you have any idea how many people I've killed?" Natasha choked out, before completely dissolving into tears. She broke out into a fit of harsh sobs, and Pepper tried to comfort her by rubbing small circles on her back and offering her tissues.
"Shh. Shh it's okay." Pepper soothed. "Nat, hey. It's okay. I completely get that you feel bad about your past, but I do know you are a wonderful woman. A great friend, and a good person. You've had a rough lot in life for... a few years, sure. Those things were not by your choice. But now you have this new life. You're not a Russian assassin anymore, you're an Avenger. You help people. You save people. You do good things, you help so many. Your past, and what you did without a choice is not what defines you, it is what you choose to do when you have the choice. And you, Natasha, you do good." Pepper said, hugging her friend close. Natasha returned the hug and clung to her friend for a long moment.
"Thank you, Pepper." Natasha said with a sniffle. "I feel a lot better about it. I really needed to hear that."
"Well, it is every bit the truth." Pepper grinned.
"I still have no idea how, or even when, to tell Bruce." Natasha confessed. "Its a lot for one day."
"It is. Wife and a baby... Big Day for Dr. Banner." Pepper joked. "But I do know one thing... That is everything Bruce ever wanted."
"Yeah?" Natasha ask through a watery smile. She knew Bruce had lived with Tony and Pepper longer than any of the other Avengers, having moved into the Tower right after the Battle of New York. Tony was Bruce's best friend, and often confidant- and Pepper, as Tony's wife, was often privy to the two scientist's conversations.
"Yeah." Pepper nodded. "He's going to be thrilled! And I know just how you should tell him..."
Natasha listened to Pepper's plan as she helped her wash her face and begin to get ready for the wedding. It was a solid idea, and Natasha decided to trust her friend on telling Bruce about the baby.
It was nearly midnight when the newly married Dr. and Mrs. Banner finally made it to their hotel suite from their wedding reception. It had been a long and most wonderful day, with all their friends in attendance. Tony had been best man and gave the most heartfelt speech, bringing tears to most every eye in the room. It was a ceremony and after party filled with love and friendship like she never thought she would ever be lucky enough to know. Wanda had caught her bouquet, and Conner, Clint and Laura's oldest son had caught her guarder.
Bruce carried Natasha through the doorway of the hotel suite and gently laid her on the foot of the large, soft, king-sized bed, where she landed in a puff of white dress layers. He then loosened his tie and flopped down gracelessly beside her and gave a deep, contented sigh.
"Hey Nat." He said, rolling over to face her.
"Yeah, Doc?" She ask, looking over at him with a smile.
"We got married today, baby." Bruce beamed. Natasha laughed.
"Yeah. Yeah we did." She leaned over and gave him a lingering kiss. "Help me out of this dress?"
"Oh yeah?" Bruce winked and wiggled his eyebrows. Natasha rolled her eyes in return.
"Do you even have the energy for sex after today?" She snorted, stifling a laugh as he unzipped her gown.
"Well... No not really, to be honest. Good thing we have forever, now, huh?" He said, kissing between her shoulder blades as he helped her step out of the multi-layered wedding gown. "It has been a very long day... Best day of my life, don't get me wrong. But long." Bruce said with a yawn. "We can pick up the marital activities in the morning, I think."
"I agree." Natasha said, shrugging a thin cotton nightgown on in replacement of her wedding gown. "But first, I got you a present."
"You got me a present?" Bruce questioned, confused. He even looked a little upset. "I didn't know we were... I mean... I didn't get you anything else, other than the ring and-"
Natasha silenced her husband with a kiss, and she pulled away and smiled.
"No, it was something Pepper and I decided you needed this morning. You weren't 'supposed' to get me anything, nothing like that." She assured him, stroking his face with her hand. "Hang on." She said, moving over to her luggage.
She dug around in the smaller outside pockets until she finally found which one Pepper had placed the box in, and she took out the small gift.
It was wrapped in silver paper, tied with a white lace bow. Natasha came over and curled up next to Bruce, and handed him the box. Bruce looked her over with suspicion, but he carefully unwrapped the ribbon and paper from the box before sliding the lid off. Inside lay a plain white mug, nestled in white tissue paper. Bruce took the mug out and turned it over in his hands.
"Okay?" He ask, laughing in a nervous, confused sort of way. "Not that I'm not thankful, but I don't think I understand."
"Here." Natasha said, holding a hand out. She took Bruce over to the sink and turned the hot water on, and waited while the temperature of the water rose and began to steam up the mirror. She then took the mug and dipped it under the near boiling water. Slowly, words began to appear on the side of the mug. She held it up for Bruce to see, and he read them aloud as the words appeared.
Doctor.
Physicist.
Avenger.
Husband.
Father.
Each one appeared after the other, and when 'Father' faded into sight, Bruce's face went pale. He looked shell-shocked, and he blinked hard a few times and looked at his new wife.
"Nat?" Bruce ask, his voice shaking. She sat the mug down on the counter and nodded.
"Yeah. Seven weeks." She confirmed. Bruce had her scooped up in his arms and he spun her, both of them laughing.
"I can't believe it!" Bruce grinned. "Natasha... I love you so much. This is amazing! Thank you!" He pulled her into a passionate kiss.
"I'm so happy." Natasha sighed into Bruce's shoulder.
"This explains why you were so mean yesterday... You and your hormones!" Bruce joked.
"HEY!" Natasha cried in mock-offense. "Is that any way to talk to the mother of your child?"
"God, I love how that sounds." Bruce sighed, pulling her close again.
"Me too." Natasha agreed. "Me too."
I hope you enjoyed this little story, please review and let me know, and which Avenger you would like to see a story from next. I have several planned.
Thanks for reading!
