Chapter two: Fallen and Found

Natasha looked in the mirror and sighed. She was dressed in a floor length black gown that embraced her figure and her hair was swept up into a loose bun with small ringlets tucked behind her ears. The reason for the special dress was that today their missing teammates would be coming back and making their first public appearance in a gala that Tony was throwing.

For the last week he had thrown himself into tracking everyone down and getting ahold of them. He made it very clear that it was not a trap and the news broadcasting their pardons were, in fact, very much true. So far, Sam, Wanda, Rhodey, Tony, and Natasha were all going. Steve had not been confirmed although Tony had managed to speak to him.

Natasha's stomach clenched and she tensed. Lately her morning sickness (which was unfortunately not limited to the morning) had been acting up. There was no way she could be sick right now, not when they were seconds away from leaving. Taking deep breaths she pressed both her hands to her stomach. There was a bump there but not noticeable unless she wasn't wearing anything, something she definitely planned on not doing at this event.

"Natasha? It's time to go."

Tony poked his head in and she turned, dropping her hands.

"Are you okay?"

He asked concerned and she nodded, careful as she walked forwards.

"I'm fine, it's just the baby."

Tony pursed his lips and helped her down the stairs and to the car that would drive them to the gala. "Is that, a self driving car?" She asked as they both got into the backseat. Tony nodded proudly, "I had it made when I started planning the gala. I figured since I would have my hands full with Legolas and Baby Widow here, then I needed to have one less thing to stress me out." Natasha's eyebrows skyrocketed, "Baby Widow?" She repeated and Tony patted her abdomen, "You're the Widow, and he's the baby. Baby Widow." Natasha sat back, "I'm pretty sure that I can say on behalf of the baby that we hate that nickname. Besides I don't know if it's a he or not." Tony shrugged, "whatever you say."

The ride to the event was uneventful. To pass the time Tony bored Natasha out of her skull with a long list of boring sounding meetings. By the time they pulled up to the sleek red carpet rolled out in front of the building, she had seriously been contemplating knocking him out.

Then she looked out the window and paled.

"Why are there so many people?"

Tony barely gave a glance at the massive hordes of fans waiting excitedly for a glimpse of the superheroes.

"It's not that many. Besides, me and Clint will be there to protect you from the masses."

Natasha swallowed and nodded. Mustering up the courage she opened the door and stepped out of the car.

Almost as soon as her foot was out the door the fans started to scream. As Natasha stepped away from the car though, she was only aware of two things, the cameras clicking away and the ever present prickling sensation in her stomach. A hand at the small of her back made her jump slightly and she looked up. Tony stared back at her worriedly.

"You okay?"

She nodded and allowed him to lead her down the carpet and into the gala. As she walked Natasha's fears melted away and she even managed a few smiles in the directions of the cameras tracking them. So far, so good.

They were mostly down the carpet and nearing the stone steps leading inside when the crowds let out another roar. Turning they watched as Clint Barton got out of a sleek blue sports car and struck a few poses before walking towards them.

"Tasha!" He exclaimed happily when he'd reached them, he enfolded her into a big hug before drawing back and inspecting her. "That dress looks amazing I can tell why Steve fell for you." He teased and she blushed, "yeah, yeah."

The dress was stunning. It was black and cinched in at the waist before flowing down to her feet. There were two small straps that crisscrossed over her shoulders, forming an hourglass pattern against her back.

Tony, impatient with their conversation, tugged them onwards. "How does it fell to be pregnant?" Clint asked as they walked. Natasha gaped at him, "how do you know that? Did Tony tell you?" Clint nodded, "congratulations by the way, you'll be a great mother." She raised an eyebrow but left the comment unanswered as they entered the main room.

From the moment they entered the gala they had little time to talk to one another. They found Rhodey and Sam already there and then immersed themselves in the crowd, taking pictures and signing autographs. True to their word Clint and Tony attached themselves to her side and stayed with her as she moved throughout the event.

After a while they headed towards the stage where they would answer questions. As Natasha went she couldn't help but continually scan the crowds for Steve. So far he hadn't turned up and she tried to shrug off the thought that maybe he didn't want to come back. He had to, for the baby's sake.

Unbeknownst to her, Steve was driving towards the gala at the very moment. He was wearing a dark black suit and nerves were eating away at his stomach. He had received the calls from Tony and let him know he was fine. He had not however returned the call around the gala, he had been to caught up on getting back to New York as fast as he could.

When he pulled up the amount of fans screaming was disorienting. Nevertheless he stepped out of his car, plastered on a perfect smile, and headed off to go meet the love of his life.

The questions were horrible. Every one directed at Natasha was either about her and Steve, or about her lifestyle. And while she certainly wasn't about to talk about her childhood she also was not in the mood to talk about her relationships.

She was standing in between Tony and Clint when she caught a flash of blond hair at the back of the room. Her breath caught and she studied the back of the room, because it had been Steve. She was sure of it, even if she couldn't see him she knew he was here.

"Hey, Clint. I think-"

And then the floor exploded.

Smoke billowed up and Natasha was thrown to the ground as screams erupted around her. A pair of hands yanked her upright and Tony thrust her towards Clint, "remember the plan?" He yelled and Clint nodded. Quickly he pulled Natasha along to the back of the stage before thrusting a bundle towards her. "Change quickly." He yelled and she did as she was told.

Once she was dressed in jeans, jacket, and boots Clint grabbed her arm and ran with her for the doors. Smoke was everywhere and she coughed as the air soured. "Where are the others?" She yelled and Clint pulled her close, diving behind a pillar as flames licked their way across the floor. "The others are creating a diversion, we need to get you out of here!" Natasha was about to respond when she gagged and immediately threw up. Clint rubbed her back as she heaved and anxiously kept watch as she heaved.

When she was done they ran. Smoke was blinding them and rubble was all over the floor. Somehow they made it to the door and they ran down the steps with only minimal stumbling. They'd just reached the bottom of the steps when suddenly a deep pain in her stomach made Natasha double over. She cried out as it changed becoming more painful and her lungs seemed to burn.

"Tasha!"

Clint was at her side in an instant as she collapsed to her knees and then to her side.

"Are you hurt? What's wrong?"

She groaned and her breathing cane sharp and fast as the pain in her lungs seemed to get stronger. Clint quickly searched her for injuries and when there none he realized with a start that it was internal.

"This will hurt, I'm so sorry."

Bending over he scooped her up and lifted her into his arms. Natasha felt like a knife had been driven into her chest and she flinched, crying out again. Clint gritted his teeth and was about to take a step forwards when a new voice spoke at his shoulder.

"Nat?"

She blinked, every breath painful. Slowly a face came into focus, blond hair, bright blue eyes that were currently shadowed with worry, the face of her super soldier. Clint stumbled and Steve quickly hoisted her into his arms, before turning to Clint.

"What the hell is going on?" He yelled and Clint shook his head, "I don't know. Right now our main priority is Natasha, we have to get her to safety."

Steve nodded and they ran for the garage. When they reached the car and discovered it was locked Clint nearly kicked it in frustration, "of course Tony didn't tell us the password." He growled and cast a worried glance at Natasha who was stirring.

"He told me," she said and struggled to her feet, "Baby Widow." She said as clearly as she could. They all heard the locks pop up and quickly they scrambled in.

It was only after they were some distance away from the bombed event center that Steve spoke again.

"Why Baby Widow?"

He sounded puzzled and Clint glanced at Natasha who looked like she would pass out.

"You didn't hear? Natasha's pregnant."

"What?!" Steve was shocked, "you're pregnant?"

Natasha nodded and sucked in another pained breath, "nine weeks so far." She closed her eyes and rested her hand on her stomach, her baby would be fine. It had to be. She opened her eyes when a all familiar, very dreaded, clench happened.

"Stop the car!"

She yelled. Clint did, throwing Steve into the window, he raced over to Natasha's side of the car and held her hair back as she heaved again. She was trembling and sweaty by the time she finished puking up every last bit of her dinner.

"I think," she started and swayed as she dragged herself to her feet. She met Clint's worried eyes and tried again, "I think that somethings wrong."

And then she collapsed.