Natasha?! Steve's voice in her head pulled her out of her daze as she sat on the floor of the panic room staring at the bullet marks that should have taken her. She would have been shot dead had she been a second slower, and right in front of the children. Darya's laugh still sounded in her ears, and Natasha was having a hard time focusing.
Natasha what's happened? Are you hurt? Natasha shook herself.
N-No. We're ok. She got here right after us. Chased us back to the panic room. Steve… We're stuck.
Ok. Stay where you are, I'm coming for you.
No! Steve you promised! You have to stay away from her!
Steve could feel her fear as Darya's pounding reverberated in her ears.
Natasha, move away from the door. Listen to me. Look at the children, tell me what you see.
Natasha looked up, Cooper, Lila, and Nathaniel were huddled close to their parents, Lila and the baby wailing, Cooper stone faced and silent. Her heart broke for them.
Nat, we have to come. For them.
Another slam against the door made her jump and gasp, Ok Steve. But bring backup! I don't know how many women she has! Keep me updated and for God's sake, please be careful!
I will Nat, I love you. We are going to get through this.
I love you too. Please hurry.
A hand on her shoulder made her jump, pain in her thigh making her wince. Clint stood above her, "Hey, it's alright. Come away from there Nat ok?"
Natasha touched her leg gingerly, "It's my leg." Clint bent to look at it, noting the blood staining her pants along her thigh. "A bullet grazed you is all. It looks minor." He slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her away from the door and against the opposite wall. He tossed her some bandages from the cupboard and knelt to pick up Cooper, who had finally begun to cry.
"Is everyone alright?" Natasha asked hoarsely, looking at them all critically and trying to see if anyone had been hurt. They had been very lucky. Lila clung to her mother desperately, and Laura struggled to manage both her and the baby. Natasha held out her arms for Nathaniel and Laura grateful passed him over. She pressed him close and rocked him softly until his wailing quieted to a whimper, and gradually he fell asleep. "You're safe little one, you're safe," she crooned to him, a tear dripping off the tip of her nose and onto his blanket. Clint opened a cabinet and pulled out headphones, gently placing them on the two older children to block out the sound of the continuous pounding at the door. Natasha looked up at him from the floor where she sat, "You really did think of everything." Clint shrugged, "Be prepared."
Noticing the bandages untouched on the floor he frowned, "I gave these to you to wrap your wound genius." Natasha shrugged, "Nathaniel needed me." Clint gave her a look, "I think you needed Nathaniel," he said pointedly. Natasha had calmed considerably, the baby's warm little body soothing her, his tiny hand grabbing at her shirt. Clint knelt next to her and gently prodded her leg to find the wound but couldn't. He gave her a puzzled look, "It's gone. The blood is here but there's no wound."
Natasha glanced down, "Oh, yeah that's a new thing. Super serum healing or something."
Clint whistled, "Man, I'm jealous."
Laura stood, having successfully calmed Lila and came over to them, "Ok, that didn't work out very well. What is the plan?"
Natasha looked at Clint, "Steve is on his way with back up."
"I'm still not used to your mind connection thing." Clint looked at her dark expression, "I know letting him come here is hard for you. I want you to know I appreciate it." He looked at his family and ran his fingers through his hair. Laura put her arm around his waist and looked up at him, "We're fine. The Avengers are on their way and you've faced much worse with them and won before." She tugged at his arm, "Let's get the beds set up. I think the best thing right now is to have the kids watch a movie and go to sleep. It's getting late." Laura put her hand on Natasha's shoulder, "You too. Help me get everyone settled."
Natasha looked up at her, "How can you still want me around your children?" Laura frowned at her, "Natasha Romanoff, I'm going to need you to stop underestimating me. I am a soldiers wife. I understand the risks we take, I understood them when I signed up for this life. You are not like them. You are a woman my children adore, and they need you right now. Now stop wallowing and help me." The pounding on the door suddenly stopped. They waited, the silence eerie, but they couldn't hear anything. "She's not getting in here," Clint said confidently, "Not even if she has explosives. It's designed to withstand armies."
Natasha stood, careful not to wake the baby. She nodded and gave Laura a small smile. Laura quickly kissed her cheek and went to set up the hideaway beds. Natasha shook her head, what had she done to deserve such loyal friends? Tenderly she put Nathaniel down in his play pen and covered him with his blanket before going to Lila. She was listening to music with her headphones
on, staring at a coloring page and holding a crayon, but not coloring. Natasha sat herself on the floor next to her. Gently she took the crayon from Lila's hand and lifted her into her lap. Lila wrapped her arms tightly around Natasha, her headphones falling to the ground. "I'm so sorry Solnyshka," Natasha murmured to the little girl, "I know how scary that was for you." Lila hugged her tighter in response. "You were very brave, and everyone is safe. Uncle Steve and Uncle Tony are coming to help now."
"I wasn't brave," Lila began to cry, "I was scared the whole time!" Natasha rocked her soothingly.
"Lila, look at me," she pulled away to look Lila in the face. "Being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared. Being brave means you do the right thing even when you are."
"You aren't scared! You're never scared!"
"Lila, I am always scared." Lila stared at her a moment, taking that in. Natasha brushed tears off her face with her fingers and planted a kiss on Lila's nose, "Come on, let's pick a movie to watch together." Taking her hand they got up and made their way to Lila's bed, identifiable by it's pink bedspread. Natasha tossed Lila onto it, making her giggle despite herself.
"This is a pretty impressive room." Natasha said, taking in Coopers bed, and the one set up for Clint and Laura. A big screen TV swung down from a hidden place in the ceiling. Clint nodded, "We gotta hide in style!" Distant gunfire made both Clint and Natasha jump. They looked at each other briefly, "Alright kids, settle in for a movie, get your headphones back on." Quickly they got the movie playing and both children were tucked in and distracted.
Natasha went to Clint, "She's going to try to get in another way. She won't ever quit." Clint put a hand on her shoulder, "It doesn't matter, there's no way she can get in. Steve and the others will be here by morning. You might as well get some sleep Nat." Natasha nodded grimly.
"Aunty Nat?" Lila's small voice reached Natasha's ear. "Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
Natasha smiled, "Of course honey," she went to sit on the edge of Lila's bed, "Scoot over." Lila smiled and scooted over to give Natasha room and Natasha lay down beside her and ran her fingers methodically through her hair. Gradually, Lila's eyes grew heavy, until at last she fell asleep. Natasha watched her even breathing and sighed, this day could have been so much worse. As the movie credits rolled and the sounds of the others sleeping filled the room, Natasha too began to feel weary, and drifted gradually until she finally fell asleep.