Hey everyone! Sorry that this chapter took a little longer than usual to write. Also, this chapter is a little darker than usual in that there is some mentions of blood so if that bothers you PLEASE DO NOT READ! Thats all, hope you enjoy :D

Steve was dreaming.

Everything was dark. He couldn't see anything except for a few feet in front of him and even then it was difficult to make out.

At first he thought it was a good dream, the dark wasn't too menacing and it felt relatively peaceful. But then the cold started. Steady and sharp, it worked its way into his limbs and he shivered, trying to fight off the panic creeping up on him. Teeth chattering, he started walking in an effort to wake up his numb fingers.

Steadily it got colder and colder, his breath getting faster and faster. Panic was coursing through his veins and all he could hear was the roar of the plane as it drew nearer to the water. Clamping his eyes shut he tried to think of something, anything.

"Steve!"

The scream shattered the silence and his eyes shot open. That couldn't be her could it? He paused and strained his ears trying to hear anything besides the deafening quiet.

"Steve! Where are you!"

He started running. Somewhere, in this inky black world, Natasha was in trouble. He didn't know where he was going, he just knew that something bad was happening. His foot caught on something and he nearly landed flat on his face. Spinning around he saw that he was now standing on a rocky surface. A puddle of water nearby him caught his eye and he frowned. Where the water should have been crystalline, it was dark and thick.

Cupping his hands together he scooped up a handful and raised it to his nose. The smell made him rear back and cough. It was blood. Strong, metallic smelling, blood. His heart was racing and he shot to his feet as he noticed more splashes of blood sitting the ground in front of him.

"Nat!"

His yell was met with silence and he was about to yell again when the screaming started again. This time it was different. Louder and filled with terror and anguish. He looked helplessly around and took off in a different direction. He had to find Natasha.

When he did he nearly passed her. She was hunched over on her hands and knees screaming her head off. The smell of blood was overpowering and it was splashed everywhere.

"Natasha!" He dropped to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't move, and she didn't stop her awful wailing.

"Natasha! What's wrong! Answer me, please."

She finally looked up and he was shocked to see that tears were streaming down her face and her eyes were empty of everything but grief. The usual vibrant green had been reduced to a dull shell. She looked down again and when Steve followed her gaze his heart stopped.

Beneath her was a small bundle wrapped in a soft cloth blanket... and it was soaked with blood.

As he watched Natasha let out a low wail and dropped her head. Shakily, he reached for the bundle, already feeling the dread swirling up inside of him.

"No!" Natasha snarled angrily and launched herself at him. He grabbed her wrists and held her down as she tried to attack him. "Nat, please, just let me see.." she sobbed and wrenched herself to the side trying to break free. "Please," she cried, "just let me see my baby." He pressed her close and tried to calm her, "Natasha, it's too late."

She shook her head vehemently, "no, no you're wrong. She's just sleeping." Steve shook his head feeling the tears well up, "I'm so sorry." He whispered. She looked up at him, broken, "she's not sleeping is she?" She sniffle and Steve opened his mouth, "Natasha I-"

He woke up.

His hands were gripping the sheets so hard they were starting to split under the pressure. He was also way too cold. Releasing the sheets he realized he had been sleeping right under the open window. Quickly he reached up and shut it, stopping the cold air flow from coming in. Trying to regain his breath he was about to lay back down when something knocked against his back.

Natasha.

He twisted around and immediately exhaled in relief when he saw her stretched out next to him. His dream still fresh on his mind he pulled back the blanket covering her. Ignoring her muttering as she rolled over and curled into herself, he carefully leaned over and checked her for any sign of possible injury. She looked fine.

He even smiled when he saw that one of her hands was resting on her bump which was larger now that she had hit sixteen weeks. It wasn't a lot bigger but the doctor had said it was normal and everything was going alright.

Another mutter made him look at her face. He frowned, she was trembling he realized. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly, "Nat, wake up." She tensed and sweat was beading on her forehead. "Natasha." He said a little louder. Her breathing was uneven and she shook her head. "Natasha!"

She woke with a start and immediately shot upright gasping. "Hey, you're back now. You're okay." He rubbed her back as she shuddered and tried to wake up fully. "Steve." She finally managed to get out. He nodded and opened his arms, to which she gratefully fell into. "Did you have a nightmare?" He asked quietly. She nodded, "someone was calling for me and I couldn't reach them."

Steve grimaced, "that might've been me," at her questioning look he continued, "I had a nightmare about you and the little one." She looked down at her belly, "I have a lot of those. I'm always stuck in the same place and I don't- I can never- " she was stumbling over her words and Steve nodded, "it's okay, you don't have to tell me."

She rested a hand on the bump and leaned into Steve's embrace, "I just want the little one to be okay." She murmured sleepily. He nodded and put his hand half on top of hers. "Me too." They shared a smile and he was about to suggest they go back to sleep when they felt it.

It was small, almost unrecognizable, but a very small butterfly tap against where their hands were resting. Natasha froze and her eyes widened as she went pale. Steve went still as well and he met her shocked gaze. "Was that...?" He went silent as they felt another tap against their hands. Natasha gently rubbed her stomach, "hey there little one," she whispered softly, "you trying to get our attention?" Another soft tap against her hand made her smile and she looked at Steve who was trying his best not to cry.

"That's the baby?" He asked and she nodded feeling her own eyes well up. "It is. We probably woke him up." He raised an eyebrow, "he?" She blushed, "I think it's a boy, what about you?" Steve remembered his dream, "I think it's a little girl. In my dream you said it was a 'she'" Natasha snorted, "what about mother's instincts?" He was about to reply when a soft tap against his hand made him look back down at her belly.

"I do think you're a girl." He said speaking to the small being on the other side, "despite your mamas 'instincts'" "hey!" She hit his shoulder and he grinned wickedly as they laid back down facing each other. "I'm so proud of you." He whispered as he kissed her on the nose. She smiled and he watched as her eyes shined, "I can't wait for baby to come and meet the world." Grinning he tucked her protectively into his arms, her back to his chest, and rested his cheek against her soft hair.

They fell asleep with their hands resting on the bump. And inside Natasha's belly, the baby fell back asleep to, lulled by the steady heartbeat of its mother and the gentle pressure pressing against it from the hands of its parents. All was well in it's small world, just as it should be