Steve couldn't take his eyes off of his daughter. She was absolutely perfect by his estimation. None of the others interrupted their morning in Natasha's quarters, so Steve got to really enjoy bonding with his daughter. He loved the way Natasha seemed to intuitively know what Nicole needed. It was a side of her he hadn't expected, and once they got their daughter down for her nap, he casually brought it up.
"Is it really that surprising that the Black Widow can handle a child, Rogers?" Natasha asked tersely and Steve realized he'd made yet another mistake.
"I didn't mean it that way, Nat. It's just, well, you've only had a few days longer than I have with her and your so good at this. I meant it as a compliment."
Natasha softened. "Sorry, I just didn't think I would ever have the chance to be a mom, and, honestly, with my ledger, well, maybe I'm a little insecure."
"You? Insecure? Nat you've got to be the most capable person I've ever met. If Hydra had to create a child for me, I'm glad they chose you as her mother. I mean it, Nat. You're really good with her."
"Thanks, Steve. When I was in the Red Room, I was told children would be a distraction from the mission. I didn't even bat my eye when they preformed the procedure at graduation. I didn't think anything was more important than the mission."
"Procedure?" Steve asked quietly.
"They sterilized me," Natasha replied. "It was supposed to make things easier, even killing. Nothing could be more distracting than having someone at home counting on you to return."
"I'm so sorry, Nat."
"I tried to pretend it didn't bother me, and I guess it didn't until I got to Shield. I have a good friend with a couple of kids. I was there for the birth of the oldest, and when the second was born, I only missed the delivery because someone had to stay with Cooper. Playing Auntie Nat actually gave me quite a bit of practice."
"Well, it shows," Steve replied. "My experience with kids pretty much consisted of signing autographs on the USO tour. I'm glad one of us knows what their doing."
"You're doing great so far. Don't worry, Steve. We'll figure this out together. I'm just glad we were already friends. There's not anyone else I'd rather do this with."
"Not even Clint?" Steve asked.
Natasha laughed. "Not you, too. Please tell me you weren't listening to the Shield grapevine. Clint's my best friend and I owe him a lot, but there are a lot of reasons I'm glad I'm not co-parenting with Clint. You and I work well together in the field. I think we can figure out how to parent together without things getting complicated."
"I didn't think there was anything but friendship between you and Clint. I just know you're close," Steve assured Natasha. "Her name, after Fury, right?"
Natasha nodded. "Sorry, I didn't wait for you, but I wasn't going to just call her Weapon A or little girl."
"I like it. It suits her."
"I didn't pick a middle name. I thought you should have a chance, and I think her last name should be Rogers if you are okay with it."
"I'd be honored. Are you sure you don't want her to have your last name though?"
"My last name is an alias, Steve. She deserves something real, something with meaning and a heritage. You're the one who can give her that."
"Thank you, Nat. It actually means a lot. I didn't expect to have this after I woke up. I mean, I've been a little busy and I guess I figured the chance to be a father had passed me by."
Natasha shook her head. "I always expected you to have a family, Steve. I wouldn't spend so much time trying to find you a date if I didn't think you were the settling down type. I just hope," Natasha paused, "I just hope Nicole's presence doesn't make things too complicated when you do meet that special someone."
"Nat," Steve began. He was ready to tell her she was the reason he didn't want to date anyone else, but the words just wouldn't come out of his mouth. "I, um, I, my mother's name was Sarah. Can we give Nicole her name?"
"Nicole Sarah Rogers it is, Steve."
"Thank you. As for worrying about my future wife having an issue with Nicole, I'm quite certain that won't be a problem."
"You sound awfully convinced, soldier. Have you been holding out on me? Is there someone special you forgot to mention?" she teased.
Steve didn't have time to answer before there was a knock on the door. It was Clint. "Have I given Cap enough time to bond? Because, I really want to my meet my little niece."
"Come on in, Clint. She should be waking up soon," Natasha said, giving the archer a hug.
The three of them visited a few minutes before Nicole woke up. She was a little standoffish to Clint at first, but Steve watched as Natasha gently reassured their daughter that Clint was good. By the time he left, the four of them had eaten dinner together and Nicole was getting tired again.
"No falling asleep yet, young lady. You need a bath," Natasha said as she picked up the spaghetti covered child. She looked back at Steve. "You coming? I'm not sure how she's going to react to bath time. I might need back up."
"Right behind you," Steve assured her. "She seemed nervous when Clint came in."
Natasha frowned. "Part of the brainwashing unfortunately. She was taught that the Avengers were her enemies. She's figuring it out pretty quickly though."
"She didn't seem to be afraid of me."
"I told her you were coming and that you would protect her just like I do."
"Thank you for that, Nat."
"Anytime, Steve. Now, get the water running while I peel these marinara stained clothes off of our daughter."
"Yes, ma'am."
Bath time turned out to be a little tricky. It was pretty obvious their daughter had never soaked in a tub before and it took a few minutes for them to convince her it was safe. Once she got the hang of it, Nicole really enjoyed splashing both of them with water. By the time they were finished, Steve and Natasha were soaked.
Steve dressed Nicole while Natasha changed into her own bedtime clothes, and he had to catch his breath when she came out of her room in a silk nightgown that would have made a pin up girl from the 40's blush.
Natasha must have sensed his discomfort. "Sorry, it didn't make sense to change back into daytime clothes and you've seen me in less on missions. I can change if it makes you uncomfortable."
"No, no, it's fine. This is your home. I'm the intruder here. These pajamas okay for our girl?"
"Adorable," she said with a smile, taking Nicole from his arms and carrying her to bed.
Once they'd tucked Nicole in, Steve sighed. "It's crazy, but it's hard to leave her. Will you call me if she wakes up in the night? I just don't want to miss anything."
"Of course, Steve."
"Thanks. I guess I should-"
"Unless-" Natasha began, biting her lower lip.
"Unless?"
"Unless you'd rather stay. I mean, you could stay for tonight, I guess if you want."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll get you a blanket and pillow. The couch looks pretty comfortable. Just take off that wet shirt, Rogers. I'm sure Tony spared no expense on the furniture."
"Thanks again, Nat. I really want to be there for her, for both of you."
Natasha went to her room and pulled a pillow from her bed. She had already discovered the extra blankets in the closet, so it didn't take her long to gather everything Steve might need to be comfortable. Steve had already removed his shirt by the time she returned to the living room, and Natasha had to keep herself from staring.
There was no denying Steve was an attractive man, and Natasha had certainly wondered what it might be like to be with him. If Sam hadn't shown up when he had six months ago, she was quite sure she would know exactly what it would be like. But, things were different now. A fling with Steve Rogers was absolutely out of the question. They had Nicole to think about now. His perfect abs would just have to remain off limits.
"Here you go, Steve. Sleep tight," she said as she quickly dropped off the bedding and rushed back to her room.
"Get a grip, Natasha," she chided herself. "He's your friend." As she lay in bed trying to calm down her hormones, she thought back to their conversation so many months ago.
"What do you want me to be?" she had asked.
"How 'bout a friend?"
Nicole's arrival meant that friendship was even more important. She certainly couldn't risk her daughter's future over a night of passion, and that's all it could ever be between the Black Widow and Captain America.
She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she was woken up by Nicole's cries.
"Mommy, Daddy, no. Get me. Get me," the child screamed.
Natasha raced to the child's room. Steve was only a few paces in front of her. She watched as he picked up their crying daughter.
"It's okay, baby. We're here," he assured the child.
"They try and get me. No want to go," the child sobbed.
Natasha put her hand on Nicole's back. "It's okay. It was just a bad dream. Mommy and daddy won't let anyone get you. Sh, don't cry. Do you want to come to Mommy's room?"
The child stopped sobbing enough to nod, and Steve carried her to Natasha's bed. He tucked her under the covers while Natasha crawled in beside her, and he headed for the door.
"Daddy, no go. Stay, Daddy, stay," the child whimpered.
Steve looked at Natasha, and Natasha sighed and nodded. Just what she needed to keep her hormones in check-a shirtless Steve Rogers in her bed. Steve never broke eye contact with Natasha as he climbed into bed on the other side of Nicole, and Natasha knew she wasn't the only one thinking about Sam's guestroom. Sleep was not going to come easy.
