Most of the team was in the living room. Natasha was on her floor, a place she seemed to be spending more and more time to Steve's suspicion, but he didn't push. Natasha was known to keep secrets. However, while the rest of the team and Pepper were watching a Star Trek movie, Natasha ran out of the elevator, large sobs shaking her body.

Clint was across the room in a heartbeat, wrapping his large arms around her. "Nat, what's wrong?"

"They took him. They took Dmitri." Every other soul in the room- save for Steve- froze. Pepper jumped up. "Who took him? Is he okay? Was there some sort of ransom demand?"

Tony stood too. "I will pay whatever it takes to bring him home."

Natasha shook her head sadly. "I just got the call. His father found us. Maria had taken him to the park and Ivan knocked her out and took both her and Dmitri. He called me to gloat."

Clint kissed the top of Natasha's head. "It'll be fine. We'll find Ivan and we'll get Dmitri back. I think everyone will be eager to help. Cap too once we let him know what the fuck is going on."

Steve blushed, still not used to all the swearing. "Yeah, what is going on?"

Natasha sighed. "When I lived in Russia, I was trained to be an assassin. You know that. They trained us to seduce targets as well as kill them and the training was rough on us girls."

Steve blanched he knew where this was going. He nodded his understanding. "Dmitri is my son from my time there. He's almost five now. I was pregnant with him when I came over here. SHIELD kept me hidden for several months while I recovered. His father is still alive and he kidnapped him today and called me to gloat about it. He said he was going to train Dmitri like he trained me." More tears rolled down Natasha's face. "I could hear Dmitri crying for me in the background."

Steve's face turned red with anger. No one messed with his team or his team's family. "Did he say where he was?"

"Yes. He said he would give me one chance to save Dmitri. Dmitri and Maria in exchange for me. He said one other person could come with me. They would take Dmitri and Maria home and I would go with Ivan back to Russia."

Clint shook his head. "There has to be another way. I'm not letting you go back to that hellhole."

Natasha bit her lip. "I have to do it. I can't let Ivan take Dmitri."

Steve held up his hand. "Ivan isn't taking anyone anywhere. We can make the trade, let him think he won, but before you leave, we'll come in and take out Ivan and whoever else needs to be put down."

The rest of the team nodded their agreement and Natasha and Clint suited up for the first part of the plan.

Natasha entered the building with Clint at her side. Two guards let them pass and inside the building, Dmitri's cries could be heard. "I want my mommy!"

This made fresh tears fall on Natasha's face. Maria could be heard trying to sooth the boy. "Shh, Dmitri. It'll be okay. I'm sure your mommy's on her way right now to come and kick these people's asses."

Natasha stepped into the room and gave Maria a weak smile. "What did I tell you about cursing around him? He picks this all up, you know."

Maria grinned and Dmitri started bouncing around in the chair he had been tied to. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!"

Natasha freed him and pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm right here, Love. I told you I would never let anyone take you, didn't I?"

Dmitri nodded. Natasha held him close before passing him to Clint. "You guys need to get out of here before Ivan comes back."

Maria frowned. "You're not coming with us?"

Natasha shook her head sadly. "That was the deal. You and Dmitri for me. I can't let anyone else-least of all my son- get hurt because of me."

Clint looked to be contemplating something before he rushed forward and crushed his lips to Natasha's. "I love you, Tash."

More tears fell down Natasha's face. "I love you too, Clint."

At that moment, Ivan stepped out of the shadows and scowled at Natasha. He stepped closer and Clint and Maria stepped back. Dmitri watched with a stoic expression from Clint's arms. Ivan shook his head and backhanded Natasha roughly. "Love is for children, Natalia. I thought I taught you that."

Natasha glared at him defiantly. "You were wrong."

Ivan clucked his tongue and looked to Clint. "Take the boy and the woman away. I will honor my deal." He grinned evilly at Dmitri. "Goodbye, my son. We will meet again another day."

Dmitri folded his arms across his chest. "I'm not never going with you. I hate you. And my mommy's going to kick your ass."

A laugh bubbled out of Natasha from her place on the floor and Ivan kicked her in the ribs. Natasha smiled at Dmitri. "You're right, Baby. Mommy's going to kick his ass and when I get home, we'll go out for ice cream."

Dmitri grinned. "Love you, Mommy."

"I love you too, Baby." She motioned for Clint to leave. He did.

An hour later, the rest of the Avengers stormed into the warehouse and took out the guards, making their way to the back room where Natasha was being kept. Not really to their surprise, Natasha had already killed Ivan. What did surprise them was that she had already been beaten brutally. She was clinging to life when they got there.

In the waiting room at the hospital, Steve was formally introduced to Dmitri. The boy's jet black hair was wet from his bath and he was in his pajamas, but his green eyes were as alert as ever. He grinned at Steve. "Are you Captain America?"

Steve smiled. "Yeah, I am."

"Mommy says you're a good leader. Are you?"

"I like to think so."

"Good. I don't want my mommy to get hurt so much, so you and Uncle Clint and Uncle Tony and Uncle Thor need to keep her safe."

"What about Uncle Bruce?"

"He helps her when she's already hurt. But Mr. Hulk keeps her safe."

Steve nodded. "Yes, he does. What's your name?"

"I'm Dmitri Romanoff."

"It's nice to meet you, Dmitri. I'm Steve."

"I'm going to call you Uncle Steve."

Somehow this affectionate name brought tears to Steve's eyes. "I'd like that."