When the Avengers showed up to the hospital they almost gave the nurse a heart attack. To be fair they did make for a pretty horrendous looking bunch. They were all covered in a mixture of ash, blood, and dust. Plus Clint still had his bow, Wanda still had red energy pulsing around her, and they were all in a state of half pajamas, half battle outfit.

Still, they were familiar faces in an unfamiliar setting and Steve was grateful that they had managed to get there under such short notice. Especially since the last he'd seen them they had been fighting against top notch assassins.

"How is she?" Pepper asked as he met them in the waiting room

"She's...being her usual self, just more aggressive."

Tony snorted, "that sounds like our Natasha all right."

"How are you guys? I didn't exactly leave you in the best spot."

"We were fine. There sure were a lot though. But we got all of them so Nat can have her baby in peace."

Steve let some of his worry go. That was one more bad thing out of the way.

"So what do you think Rogers? Boy or girl?" Tony held up two hats, one with a red hourglass and one with his shield on it.

"We heard about your guys's debate so we got these. The correct parent can have their symbol with the baby, plus fifty dollars."

Wanda rolled her eyes, "the betting was purely Stark's idea."

Steve laughed, touched that his friends had done this sweet gesture.

"Thank you, I don't know what to say." Reaching out he touched the small hats and felt both frightened and overjoyed that soon he and Natasha would have a family together.

"Mr. Rogers?" The nurses voice had him crashing back down to Earth pretty fast.

"What is it? Is everything alright?"

The nurse looked worried, "your wife is asking for you. I think you better go."

Steve nodded and then looked at his friends who looked both worried and excited.

"Um, you guys can come up with me I guess..."

"No we can stay here for the time being, you go to Natasha." Pepper shooed him away and gratefully he hurried for the elevators.

•••

When he got to the room he had a couple of seconds to get inside before Natasha was stumbling towards him, crying.

"I can't do this," she whispered, "I'm not good enough, I'll do something wrong I just know it." Her breaths were fast and she sounded panicky as she clung to him.

"Hey, hey, shh. You're going to be alright, you can do this. You just ran from our home in labor, most woman can't do that." He stroked her hair and guided her back to the bed.

"Besides, I'm going to be with you the whole way. If something bad happens I'll be here."

Lifting her tear stained face she looked at him, "really?"

"Of course."

Smiling a bit she managed a few deep breaths before letting out a small whimper.

"You okay?" He asked, worried he hadn't convinced her enough.

"I'm fine, it just hurts, a lot." She bit her lip and gripped his hand tightly as the contraction seared through her.

"Do you need anything?"

Burying her face in his shoulder she let out a groan, "I want the baby to come out of me. Oh god, it hurts a lot."

Steve rubbed her back, trying to help her pain. After a bit she relaxed slightly and wiped the hair out of her eyes, "it's over."

Nodding he started to take his hands away when she shook her head.

"No wait, could you just, continue doing that?"

"Anything for you." He murmured and kissed her head, "try to sleep a bit, you're obviously tired."

Rolling her eyes at him she made a face. Nonetheless she closed her eyes and very quickly her breathing grew deeper. Smiling he laughed to himself, despite her pain she was still her usual self.

Getting up, he tucked the sheet around her and then headed back out to update the others.

They were situated in the waiting room outside of Natasha's room. When he exited they all got quickly to their feet.

"Everything good?" Wanda asked and he nodded.

"Just a bit freaked out."

"Well," Tony started, "you can't really blame her. A small human being is coming out of her

and- ow!" He rubbed his arm and looked reproachfully at Pepper.

"What was that for?"

She glared at him, "can't you just be quiet for one moment?"

"So, the reason I came back out." Steve interrupted, before things could escalate between the two. "Was that I think she might be close so if I don't come back out it's probably because something serious is happening."

Clint nodded and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "don't worry Steve, she'll be alright."

Exhaling he managed a shaky smile in return, "I certainly hope so."

•••

"You know I was thinking and I realized we don't have a nursery." Natasha's voice shook him from his dozing and he looked at her sleepily.

"What did you say?"

"I was saying we don't have a nursery. Or clothes, or anything really."

Steve yawned, "well, where do you think Bucky is right now?"

Her eyes narrowed and she frowned, "what do you mean?"

"We had a nursery at the compound all set up. It was what Clint was working on every night. But Pepper had the good idea to set up another nursery at Tony's house. She said that we might want a more private place to stay at and she and Tony won't mind having three more people with them."

"So that's why Clint was so tired." Natasha said thoughtfully. "Huh, that's so nice of them."

"Mmhm." Steve set his head back on the mattress and she curled back into him. Holding each other, they drifted back off to sleep.

Clint spotted them on his way back from the bathroom.

Pausing he stopped to observe them. Both curled into each other on the mattress. Steve with his arm protectively over Natasha's stomach. Instinctively protecting his child, even in his sleep. Shaking his head he continued back to his spot. Those two were perfect for each other.

•••

Steve awoke to the nurse entering the room.

Getting out of bed he watched as they checked on the baby.

"Is everything okay?" Natasha asked worriedly.

"Yup, your baby is looking fine and pretty soon they'll be here!" The nurse exclaimed, less cheerfully than Steve wanted.

Still, it seemed to work on Natasha, "thank god, I just want this to over." Dragging a hand over her eyes she rubbed her stomach. "You're certainly enjoying it in there."

While she talked to the baby Steve excused himself and went after the nurse.

"Is everything really good?" He asked after catching up with her. She let out a sigh.

"Right now, yes. But her dilation has seemed to stop at eight centimeters. Ideally we would want ten before asking her to push. Since her water already broke we want the baby to come out as soon as possible so we can avoid an infection."

"And if it doesn't get to ten quick enough?" Steve waited with bated breath.

"We're going to have to do a C-section. Over the next few hours we're going to watch for signs of stress on the baby and hopefully she can dilate a bit more."

Steve nodded and watched as she walked away. He knew from articles online that a C-section meant surgery. Just the thought of it made him feel sick and he quickly returned to Natasha's room.

"What were you talking to her about?" Natasha asked as soon as he got back into the room.

"Oh I was just asking her if the others were okay to stay in the waiting room out there. We do have quite a big bunch." The lie slipped off his tongue easily. He felt bad at lying to her but at the same time didn't want to stress her and cause any scene.

Climbing back onto the bed beside her he held her close, hoping she would dilate soon.

•••

Be careful what you wish for.

Two hours later Natasha's hand connected with his nose and he let out a yelp as he jerked awake and smacked his head against the headboard.

Eyes watering he peered at her confused. The next second he was out of the bed hitting the button for the nurse.

Natasha was on her side, eyes closed as she trembled from the contractions. Sweat glistened on her forehead and on the heart monitor he could see her heart rate accelerating.

"Tasha, what's going on?" He asked anxiously.

She clenched his hand in a death grip, "I think the baby is coming."

"Okay, don't worry the nurse is coming right now." He rubbed her back again and waited for the nurse to come back.

When she did, she immediately checked her and announced her at ten centimeters. Pretty soon there were people flooding into the room and Steve watched anxiously as they prepped the room for delivery.

"Okay, when I say push you gotta push as hard as you can for ten seconds and then you can have a breather alright?" The nurse instructed Natasha and she nodded.

"Alright everyone, let's do this!"

And so it began.

Steve was, as promised, right beside Natasha the whole time. He held her hand and whispered encouragement as she struggled to bring their child into the world.

Slowly morning turned into early afternoon and as things progressed (slowly) Natasha got more and more tired.

It was during a break that she started to really feel it.

She was breathing harder and her eyes were closed as she tried to summon some last moment strength.

"Steve?"

He looked down, "yeah?"

"I'm so tired."

"I know, but just a little bit more and then you can get all the rest you want."

Nodding, she opened her eyes again and got ready to push again. It didn't last long.

"I- I can't. I'm too tired, I can't do this!"

Tears were on her cheeks and she struggled to breathe between panting and sobs.

"Natasha," Steve said softly, "Tasha look at me."

Meeting her watery gaze he continued, "Tasha you are one of the strongest woman I know. And yes, I say it a lot but it's true. You went through hell and came out on top, you've done so many incredible things and gone through so much. I know you're tired and in pain. And if I could I would take it all, but I can't. You just need to push two more times and it'll be over."

Taking a shaky breath she bit her lip, "promise?"

"I promise."

She nodded and as the nurse started counting she pushed again. She threw everything she had into those last two pushes. With a final splitting pain she collapsed back onto the pillows.

"Please tell me I'm done." She panted.

"Natasha?" Steve's voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.

"Hmm?"

"Look down."

She looked down just in time for the nurse to lift a small bundle onto her chest. No sooner had they done it did it open it's mouth and let out a cry.

She gasped and felt tears start to blur her vision as she held her baby to her chest for the first time.

"You did it, oh my god you did it." Steve said trying to wipe away his tears and hug her at the same time. "I'm so proud of you."

"Congratulations you two! You have a healthy baby daughter."

Daughter. They'd had a girl.

"Hello there little one," she said softly as her daughter whimpered, "I've been dying to meet you, you know that?"

Looking up at Steve she grinned and he would be lying if he said she wasn't the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

"I told you you could do it."

Laughing she held her baby closer and closed her eyes tightly, "I did it." She whispered softly, "I really did it."