First off, antimonyavengers, crity2re, thanks for your reviews! Second, in answer to one of the reviews, there is a medical team at the Avengers facility, but none of the people working there are trained for pregnancies. Sorry if that wasn't super clear. Anyways, back to the story!

When Steve woke the next morning the spot beside him was empty and he could hear the water running in the bathroom. Stretching, he had just gotten out of the bed when the door opened and Natasha walked in wearing shorts and a black sports bra, carrying a towel.

"Took you long enough to wake up." She teased and gave him a brilliant smile. He stared at her his eyes wide.

"I might have used most of the hot water by the way. So if you were planning on taking a shower than you might want to wait." He continued to stare as she opened her dresser drawers and took out a maroon knit sweater. Natasha was about to add something else when she realized he was being unresponsive.

"Steve?"

No response.

"Steve! Snap out of it!"

He blinked and got up, quickly walking over to her and taking her face in his hands.

"Steve what-"

He kissed her. It was tender and sweet and filled with love and hope. At first Natasha froze but then she went with it and kissed him back looping her arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. His hands were in her hair and she couldn't help but think that whatever had gotten into Steve, if this was how he was going to react, she didn't mind.

When they broke apart her head was swimming. "what was that for?" She murmured as he pressed soft kisses to her forehead. He smiled softly, "Have I ever told you that you're the most beautiful person after a shower?" Her eyebrows shot up her forehead, "no, I don't remember you ever saying that, although it sounds like something you would say. And you didn't answer my question." Steve pressed his forehead against hers, "you're showing."

Well, she hadn't been expecting that. She glanced down and saw that there was indeed a bigger swell to her stomach. It was still on the small side but definitely there.

"Huh, would you look at that."

Steve twined his finger through hers, "can I touch your stomach?" She gave him a look. "Steve, of course you can touch my stomach." He nodded, practically vibrating with excitement. His hands were warm and she couldn't suppress a small shiver as he very gently touched her bump.

"Do you think it can hear us?" He asked in wonder and she smiled. "It can hear me, or, the sounds of me. I think there'll still be some time before it can hear you."

"Really? How do you know?"

"I looked it up back when I first found out I was pregnant." She admitted. How long ago it seemed that she had been alone and angry when she had looked that up. Now her anger had evaporated, replaced with joy and nervousness.

Steve straightened up and handed her her sweater. "Come on, lets get breakfast. You must be starving." Slipping the soft material over her head, she followed him down to the kitchen where he proceeded to start making her pancakes.

"So when are you getting an ultrasound?"

Natasha shrugged and picked at her nails. "Honestly, I know I need to do it, but there's always some distraction. Plus Tony still doesn't have a safe way to check on the little one and keep it under wraps." Steve nodded thoughtfully but kept quiet.

He had just served her the first plate of steaming hot pancakes when Clint blindly stumbled in with Tony and Sam close behind. Clint somehow made it to the stool next to Nat, snagging one of her pancakes, and let out a groan. Sam headed straight for the coffee pot and Tony watched anxiously as he started making it.

"What's wrong? You guys look like you haven't slept in a week." Natasha commented as she surreptitiously jabbed Clint with her fork. "What-ow-do you mean?" He asked yawning. She raised an eyebrow at Sam and Tony who were now wrestling over the coffee pot, "those two look like they're in desperate need of caffeine and you don't look much better." He rubbed his eyes, "it's nothing don't worry about it." Her eyes narrowed but she kept quiet.

"Tony we were just talking about you. Have you figured out a way for Nat to get her ultrasound soon?" Steve asked as he turned off the stove. Tony glanced up, "what? I mean, yes I did get that all sorted out, new hospital and this time all the staff is on heavy pay to keep their mouths shut." Steve frowned, "couldn't we just bring in nurses here?" He paused, "I mean we have a medical wing here, Nat wouldn't have to leave and we can trust the medics here to keep quiet."

Tony relinquished his hold on the coffee pot and watched sadly as Sam gleefully filled up his cup. "I don't think it will work, first of all, I already thought of that. But none of our nurses or doctors here are trained for pregnancy's. Plus we have no equipment whatsoever, and while technically I could buy new equipment, we would only use it once. Plus the governments not too happy with us right now and I think if we tried to lug a bunch of new baby equipment here for one pregnancy than they'll probably explode." Steve nodded, "I guess that makes sense, thank you then, for helping us." Tony shrugged, "it's what I would do for my friends."

"Guess that means I have to schedule an appointment now," Natasha muttered under her breath. It was more to herself but Clint responded anyways. "Don't worry about that. I scheduled you one already. It's in thirty minutes." Steve inhaled sharply, "Nat we should head out now then." She nodded and wordlessly gave Clint the rest of her plate before heading back to her room.

They were in the car and heading towards their new hospital, when Natasha started panicking. Fears were crashing through her at a fast rate, what if the baby was somehow affected by that stupid gas bomb? What if she had done something wrong, like eaten the wrong thing? Closing her eyes she pressed her hand underneath her sweater and tried to take comfort in the small swell.

Fingers threaded through hers making her jump and open her eyes. "Hey, you're gonna be okay. The baby will be fine I promise. It's strong, like it's mother." Taking a deep breath she nodded and tried to make her shaking hands stop. It helped that Steve wasn't letting go of one of them.

By the time they'd pulled into the parking lot, she had almost calmed down. It was only when Steve handed her a hat and scarf to conceal her hair; that she started feeling ill again. Twisting the scarf so that it covered most of her hair she trailed after Steve.

The inside of the waiting room was worse. It was painted a butter yellow and there was a faint smell of chemicals that made her stomach turn. As soon as Steve told the receptionist their names however, they were immediately met with a kind looking doctor who led them down a series of hallways. When they got into the room she motioned for Natasha to sit on an uncomfortable looking chair with paper over it.

As soon as she was seated (with Steve hovering around anxiously overhead) the nurse started asking her questions while fiddling with other stuff. How many weeks so far? Ten. First baby? Yes. Any consumption of alcohol or smoking while pregnant? Definitely not. Steve was at her side for each and every one and she held his hand tightly as she tried to answer her questions.

After a list of what to expect, what not to eat, and what she should be doing (all of which Steve dutifully copied down in a notebook), it was time for the ultrasound.

Slowly, she pushed her sweater up over her stomach, and shivered as the cool gel was applied. Her heart was in her throat as the doctor studied the computer and she was pretty sure that Steve was squeezing her hand harder than she was. And then... the sound of a heart beat filled the room.

She jumped and beside her, Steve did the same. "Is that the baby?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper. The doctor nodded happily, "Sorry for the sudden noise. I should have warned you. But that's definitely the baby!" Natasha pressed a hand to her mouth as she listened to the steady sound of the heartbeat. That was hers. She (and Steve) had created this little being.

"Is it okay?" She asked emotionally. The doctor looked at her kindly, "Yup, looks like the heart rate is around 160 beats per minute, which at this stage is totally normal. Do you want to see it?" She nodded, her throat closed with excitement. The doctor flipped the screen around and she and Steve inhaled sharply at the same.

There in all it's glory was their baby. They could see the head and the body and little arms and little legs. It was moving too, as they watched it squirmed around, moving busily. Natasha felt tears slide down her face. Steve gripped her hand tighter, "I'm so proud of you," he murmured kissing the top of her head. She nodded, trying to stifle her tears that were quickly turning into sobs.

The doctor stepped away to give them some privacy and she gave Steve a very, very, wet kiss. "Are you okay?" He asked concernedly and she nodded. "I'm more than fine right now. Because the baby's fine." She placed her hand on the little bump, a habit she was doing more and more.

"You're fine and that's all that matters."