First, a word of warning. I published chapter 14 early, so you are getting 2 chapters today. Second, Marvel still owns the Avengers. I own nothing.
Natasha was in the ring when Sharon arrived. "We should talk, Romanoff."
"We'll talk on the mat. Get in," Natasha ordered.
Sharon reluctantly stepped into the ring. "Okay, if this is the way this has to go down, let's do this."
At her words, Natasha lunged at her. Sharon managed to block the first punch but the second one hit her hard. Being in the ring with an angry Black Widow was not part of the master plan. They exchanged a few more hits in silence and Sharon was actually pleased to be holding her own. "You said we'd talk, Romanoff. Can't you talk and hit at the same time? Why do you want to fight me so badly?" Sharon asked while dodging what she knew would have been a really nasty right hook.
"I just want to make sure you and I understand each other. Steve is a good man. He's not like us, Carter. What game are you playing?"
"Who says I'm playing? Aren't you the one who was playing games, Romanoff? Seriously, was I so much of a threat you felt like you had to seduce the man just to keep him away from me?" Sharon baited. Natasha was stunned enough by her words for Sharon to get in a hit.
"Didn't take you long to move in. Did you even consider Nicole?"
"This isn't about Nicole and you know it. What are you afraid of? Do you think Steve is going to grab Nicole and run away with m-" Sharon didn't get to finish. Suddenly, Natasha wasn't holding back. Neither of them even noticed Steve, Sam, Bucky, and Tony entering the room.
"Enough!" Steve shouted, pulling Natasha off Sharon. He looked at Sharon. "Are you okay?"
Sharon nodded. "We were just getting warmed up."
"You're bleeding," Steve observed and Sharon grabbed a towel and dabbed her lip.
"Talk to her," she said quietly before walking over to the others.
"That was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid," Sam said as he handed her a water bottle.
"It had to be done. Remind me not to open Steve's door wearing just his t-shirt again," Sharon replied.
"Girl, have you lost your mind?" Sam asked.
"More like forgot to pack pajamas," Sharon laughed a Sam's shocked look. "Steve stayed with Bucky, Sam. He just offered me his bed. We didn't share it. Kind of looks like this misunderstanding will work in their favor, though."
Sam just shook his head. "It doesn't look good to me."
"Patience, Sam. Just look at them."
"What were you thinking?" Steve asked Natasha.
"We were sparring, Steve. Don't think your girl can handle herself?"
"Oh, I'm well aware of how well my girl handles herself," Steve shouted. "We need to talk."
"Okay, let's talk while we spar. You want revenge for that night, here's your chance."
"Alright, Nat, we'll do it your way," Steve said, rolling up his sleeves as the fight began.
"Shouldn't we stop those two from killing each other?" Tony asked. "There is a child to think about."
Sharon shook her head. "Let it happen. This isn't a fight to the death. This is foreplay."
"Seriously? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like someone is going to get hurt."
"I'm with Sharon," Bucky said. "They need to work out their issues."
"We should get out of here and let the others know she's back," Sharon replied. "They need some privacy."
"Okay," Tony said, "but if you're wrong. I call dibs on the kid."
"You can't call dibs on a kid," Sam said as they exited the gym.
Steve and Natasha didn't even realize they were gone. "You went off on your own, Nat. I was worried sick."
"Worried? Is that what Sharon was doing in your bed? Was she comforting you while you worried about me? Really, Steve, I should have just slept with Daredevil last night. This is insane."
"Slept with who? Natasha, I thought you were out fighting some unknown Hydra agent."
"I was. It's done. Nicole is safe."
"You shouldn't have done it alone. I should have been there."
"Well, you weren't there and I didn't do it alone," Natasha replied as she kicked him. "I had Coulson's team and an old friend."
"Daredevil? What kind of name is that? What is he? An ex lover?" Steve had her pinned. "He is, isn't he? You just immediately turned to an ex to save our daughter. Natasha, why?"
"Because I wasn't sure I would succeed!" she countered then lowering her voice, "because someone needed to raise our daughter."
"Did you love him?"
"No, I never loved anyone before you."
Steve didn't have time to respond before Clint walked in with Nicole. "Daddy, Mommy, why you fight?"
Steve helped Natasha to her feet. "We were just sparring, princess. Daddy sure missed you," Steve said as he reached for his daughter.
Nicole shook her head and clung to Clint. "You fight bad guys. You not fight like this. You said you not bad. This bad."
"Nicole, we're sorry you saw us sparring," Natasha said calmly. "Everything is okay. I promise."
"You get your friend?" Nicole asked Steve.
"I did. He is here. You can meet him in a few minutes."
"You go pow pow and keep me safe?" she asked Natasha.
"You are safe. I took care of the threat," Natasha assured the child.
"You fighted. Say sorry."
Steve looked at Natasha. "I'm sorry. I guess I overreacted. I should have known you had a plan."
"I'm sorry I attacked Sharon. I'll apologize to her. I won't stand in the way. You deserve to be happy. I know things can't be like they were before-"
"No, they can't," Steve replied. He was about to tell her they would be better, but Natasha suddenly jumped out of the ring and ran to the trashcan. She was sick.
"Mommy, you okay?" Nicole asked.
Steve and Clint exchanged worried looks. "She's been off for a few days. Laura and I have been concerned."
"It's nothing. I just had a really long night and I need breakfast and bed," Natasha replied. She looked at Steve. "Take Nicole for a few hours. She's missed you. Go, introduce her to Bucky and," she took a deep breath in, "and Sharon. Tell Sharon I was wrong and I will apologize after I get a little sleep. We'll figure the rest of this out a little later."
"I think you need to see Dr. Cho. She's here to check on Sam's broken arm anyway. Let me take you to the med lab," Steve insisted.
"No. Spend time with Nicole. I'm fine."
"I'm with Cap on this one, Nat. How about a compromise? Cap can take Nicole and I'll go with you to see Cho."
Natasha just nodded. Steve put his arms around her and gave her a quick hug. "We will talk tonight. It's time to clear up all these misunderstandings. Go with Clint."
"No, Mommy, come with us," Nicole whimpered.
"Mommy needs to go see the doctor then she needs to sleep. We will see Mommy after while, okay?"
Nicole puffed out her lower lip, but she nodded. "Okay."
Once Steve and Nicole were gone, Clint put his arm around Natasha. "Sorry. I didn't know you were fighting. We just got here, and Jarvis said you guys were in the gym."
"It's okay. It's probably for the best. We need to sit down and calmly decide how to handle things with Nicole."
"And, each other," Clint added.
"It's too late, Clint. Let's just get this trip to see Dr. Cho over with so I can sleep. I'm so tired."
"Okay, let's go. You can tell me what you've been doing the last 48 hours while we walk."
Natasha sighed and told Clint everything. "It still would have been nice to be invited to tag along," he said when she was finished talking.
"I needed you with Nicole, just in case," Natasha replied.
Dr. Cho was as concerned as Steve and Clint. "This is the first time you've had any kind of illness since the serum, correct ?" Natasha nodded. "Were you exposed to anything on your mission? Gases? Did you eat or drink anything?"
"Nothing. I've just been under some stress."
"Doc, she's been sick for a few days. She really had no business even going on that mission in the first place," Clint added.
Dr. Cho nodded. "I'm going to start with some bloodwork and a urine sample. We'll go from there."
Natasha put out her arm while the doctor took her blood. Clint was sitting beside her with that look of pity in his eyes again. "Don't worry, Clint, and stop staring. I'm sure I'm fine."
Eventuly, Dr. Cho to returned to the room. "What's the verdict, Doc?" Clint asked.
"Are you comfortable with me answering with him in the room?"
"Go ahead. It's not like he would leave me alone until I told him what you said," Natasha replied.
"You're pregnant."
Natasha's eyes grew wide. "That's impossible! The Red Room sterilized me when I was a teenager."
"Tubal ligation isn't 100% effective. 1 in 200 women get pregnant afterward. I ran the test twice. You are definitely expecting."
Clint laughed. "Nat, this is great! And here I was, afraid you were dying!"
Natasha just sat there in shock. This was not happening. Steve didn't deserve this. How was she going to sit here and watch Steve start a life with Sharon while she was carrying his child?
