To say that the three weeks of bed rest made Natasha restless may just be the biggest understatement ever. Tony walked into the living room to find Natasha laying on her stomach on the couch with a pillow over her head. He could practically smell the anger radiating from her.
"You had any breakfast yet Tasha?"
She grunted.
"I'll take that as a no, pancakes?"
Another happier sounded grunt came from Natasha. Bruce walked in just in time and he took over the cooking, knowing that Tony cooking would most likely end in a fire. Tony sat on the floor in front of Natasha and began talking to her stomach. The avengers had started doing that and although she looked annoyed, none of them missed the quirk of her lips.
"you know Tony jr-"
That earned an eye roll.
"I really hope youre not as bitter and dramatic as your mommy cause two people moping around would be a serious pain in the ass"
Natasha turned her head so her face was visible and glared at Tony.
"wheres Steve?"
"took bird boy out to get some groceries, should be back soon. Shouldn't you be in a better mood, today is your last day of bed rest. As long as Banner says your okay it's all good."
"I don't see why he doesn't just do the check up now, itll save you guys from hearing a whole lot of whining."
Bruce set a plate of pancakes down infront of her and left the room, he re entered several minutes later with a medical kit and Natasha's face lit up.
"Bruce I love you so much."
"Should I be worried? I thought you loved me."
Bruce and Natasha turned to see a smiling Steve enter the room followed by Clint, Steve was carrying all the bags as Clint sipped on his coffee.
"Nope, I just keep you around for your body."
"Good to know."
Steve kissed the top of Natasha's head and Clint handed her a drink. Bruce continued to test Natasha as Steve settled comfortably onto the couch next to Natasha and ate one of her pancakes. Clint handed a coffee to Thor who had just entered the room.
"Well Tasha, looks to me that you are all good, just take it easy."
Natasha practically flew off the couch and into Steve's bedroom before re emerging and dragging Steve into the elevator.
"where are we going Nat?"
"I have been sitting on the couch for 3 weeks, I want to walk around, enjoy the cold air and do anything I want. Plus I my birthday is in a few days so I get to buy myself a present."
Steve smiled and put his arm around Natasha's shoulders and pulled her in close. He had already gotten Natasha's birthday present. He was worried that it would seem rushed, but considering they were having a baby together and that he loved her that much, he figured he might be okay. They spent the rest of the day outdoor until it started dipping in the low 30's around 9 and Natasha started getting tired. When they walked inside Clint was lying upside down on Natasha's 'nest' of blankets that she had built over the past few weeks. A few days later Natasha woke up to see Thor stairing down at her.
"Hey Thor…can I help you with something?"
"Indeed dear Natasha please follow me."
He didn't even give her time to change, she walked out into the living room in one of Steve's shirts. She was bombarded with the smell of waffles and ice cream filling her nose.
"Happy birthday lady Tasha."
"Thank you Thor."
Natasha sat on the kitchen counter and happily accepted her waffles from Clint as well as a small box. Her jaw dropped when she opened it. The very first thing she had been given when she joined S.H.I.E.L.D was a watch. Clint had given her his own watch after he witnessed her having an episode and believing she was back at Red Room. He thought she needed something she could look at and remember that she was free so he took off his watch and handed it to her without a second thought. That watch had been destroyed during their first mission together in Budapest. In the box was an exact replica of the silver watch.
"Barton…"
She was speechless.
"love you too Romanoff, now eat your damn food before the ice cream melts, I spent a lot of time on those waffles I don't want them to get all soggy."
She nodded and dug. Thor set down a big bag next to her and smiled, he was follow by Bruce with a beautifully wrapped box and Tony simply sat down and smirked. Once Natasha finished her breakfast she was urged to open presents. Thor gave her a bottle of asgardian alcohol for "after she had Tony jr", Tony got smacked for that, and a baby lamb stuffed animal made of the best asgard had to offer. Natasha thanked him and he hugged her as she opened Bruce's present. The most beautiful ballet shoes she had ever seen, they left her speechless.
"No more bloody feet, I've been working on the materials for a while now. They wont be nearly as painful."
"Thank you so much Bruce, this is…incredible."
He smiled shyly and a blush spread across his cheeks. Tony got up from his seat and motioned for Natasha to follow him. She followed him down to the gym, she immediately noticed a door that had not been there before, Tony motioned for her to open it. Inside was her own personal ballet studio, equipt with everything she could possibly need. She turned to look at Tony and could see he was scared and looking for approval. He certainly got it, she flung herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Tony"
He smiled a genuine smile and kissed the top of her head.
"No problem princess. Now come on, Capsicle insists that we spend the day out. Go shower and get your cute butt into something warm."
Natasha didn't even bother glaring at him, she simply went upstairs and did as told. When she came outside the rest of the avengers were standing around the kitchen table arguing.
"whats going on?"
Clint turned around looking slightly guilty with a glass in his hand and Thor's birthday present to Natasha behind him.
"Tony told me to do it!"
Natasha rolled her eyes and then winked at Clint, a nearly evil smirk gracing her lips which makes Clint go pale.
"so where are we going?"
"we're going to go see avenue q, then lunch, then the aquarium and then dinner and then you and the star spangled man get some time alone cause as hot as it was I don't feel like watching you two go at it."
"Tony, I swore I wouldn't kill anyone on my birthday but I might make an exception for you and Clint."
He winked and followed Steve and Thor out the door, Clint was hot on Tony's heels and Bruce offered his arm to Natasha. The two had a very odd friendship, infact everyone else thought they were the least close in the avengers. However Natasha and Bruce were extremely close, they didn't need any big shows to prove it. Natasha and Bruce could sit in perfect silence for hours and not be uncomfortable. They had actual discussions and they would always be there for each other to offer a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on. They walked into the garage, Bruce drove the car and Natasha and Steve took the motorcycle. The show went on for quite some time, Steve and Thor seemed to not understand some things, what they did understand made Steve blush and Thor howl with laughter. The other four avengers were in tears, the show had definetly been a success. Tony nearly fell out of his seat laughing several times and Natasha was holding onto her stomach trying to contain her laughter. They left the theater slightly lightheaded from laughing.
"I think that was the most I've laughed since Clint had to dress in drag and work at a strip club in Rio."
They all turned to look at Clint, he mearly shrugged and smirked before moving forward.
"I rocked those heels."
Natasha snickered and looked at Tony.
"Lunch time?"
He nodded and climbed into the passangers seat of his car. They ate at a small secluded asian place and spent the rest of the day at the aquarium. Tony and Bruce stayed close to Thor making sure that he didn't do anything to get in trouble and Natasha and Steve watched Clint. They had dinner and Steve drove to Brooklyn while the other avengers went back home. Natasha didn't protest as Steve led her into an old abandoned building or when she had to walk up 17 flights of stairs. She was glad she hadn't put up any problems when they reached the roof. There was a blanket laid out with twinkly lights all over the place. The stars were perfectly visible which was hard to believe considering they were in New York.
"Steve…this is amazing"
"You deserve it Tasha, happy birthday. Bucky and I used to sneak away from the orphanage and come here. It was like nothing could touch us up here, we were invincible."
Natasha grabbed Steve's hand and pulled him down with her, both of them laid down and watched the stars for what seemed like eternity. Suddenly little white snowflakes started coming down and the smile on Natasha's face intensified. She stood up, looked up and closed her eyes, letting them hit her face. When she opened her eyes again and looked down Steve was looking up at her on one knee.
"Natasha, Ive been gone for a long time. I'm a man out of time, I blinked and the whole world left me behind. Everyone I knew is gone, my home was gone. Or at least I thought it was, turns out I've found a new home, with you. You make me feel like I'm meant to be here. You bring out the best in me, you make me happy and frankly without you I don't think I would still be here. Hell there would be no reason for me to be here, there is no tomorrow without you. So please do me the honor of being my wife. I know this is soon and might seemed rush but I know that life is full of uncertainty. We could all be gone tomorrow, I just know I want to spend every today I have with you."
He looked like he could go on for a while longer so Natasha got down on her knees and kissed him.
"absolutely yes Steve. I love you."
He took a little black box out of his pocket and opened it showing Natasha a beautiful diamond ring that just happened to match her watch perfectly, as well as her new ballet slippers. But at that moment nothing else matter. It was just her and Steve as they hugged surrounded by the stars and the fluttering snowflakes.
"Should we go home?"
Steve hummed in comfirmation and picked up the blanket wrapping it around Natasha.
"Should we tell the group? Maybe we should wait until after Tony jr- the baby is born"
Steve laughed at Natasha's slip up as they made their way downstairs.
"I guess."
"Its not that I don't want them to know, I just want Tony to have as little time as possible to register the fact that were getting married, that way he'll have less take to make a big fiasco out of everything."
"Pretty and smart"
Natasha chuckled as she sat on the bike behind Steve and snuggled into him, holding on tight.
oh gosh you guys had such a positive response to Natasha being pregnant, you're totally gonna hate me!
