DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Marvel.


Of course they would turn up at her driveway making noise. She was outside, picking up the mail with the baby in her arms when Pietro and Sam stopped in front of her in a white BMW convertible, hip hop music blasting as high as it could. She actually had to cover the baby's ears as she glared at them. Wanda and Vision stopped right behind them, and she had to do a double take as she saw his human disguise. He was wearing a blue snapback, red shirt underneath a black leather jacket, jeans and sneakers. His skin was pale, almost like hers, although you could see some red tint to it.

"You two, are jerks" she glared as Pietro and Sam laughed "Viszh, you look great"

"You can call me Jarvis. Sounds more acceptable than Vision, I believe"

"Alright, you might wanna hold your girl, the noisy neighbors son saw you and is interested… And he's watching out of the window on the second floor right now" Natasha smirked when Wanda's eyes widened in horror.

"Where's Steve?" Sam asked as he jumped off Pietro's car, smiling at the baby as he chewed on his fist, a hand holding tightly to Natasha's shirt.

"Pepper gave him the day off so he went to do some grocery shopping. The little guy has been eating more than usual. And you are on feeding duty today" she stated as she handed the baby to Wanda, rolling her eyes when Pietro started making faces at him and Vision snapped photos.

"Wasn't the photo shoot last week enough?" she wondered and Sam laughed "Apparently not. Let's go inside"

Vision and Wanda had decided that they needed fake family pictures and had staged a photo-shoot for the three of them and basically kidnapped Steve from Stark Industries. They had gotten quite creative, creating some pictures of hers and Steve's "wedding" along with some candids of them hanging with their friends. They had made a mold of her stomach and created a fake pregnant belly for her to wear, literally forcing Steve to hold it and kiss it as Vision snapped away. They even staged the baby's birth, getting one of those realistic looking baby dolls to match Clinton so Steve could hold it as she was "semi-conscious" in an OR in the facility's medical floor. They had groaned through it, but had to admit it was amazing what you could do nowadays with technology, even if it overwhelmed Steve.

"It's Captain's birthday next week, yes?" Pietro asked as he sat on the couch, Sam turning on the TV and sitting next to him.

"Yeah… For the world's safety, let's say he's thirty two" Natasha replied as she sat with them, eyeing as Wanda feed the baby on the kitchen, smirking proudly when he chunk some of his food to her.

"Hill believes we should celebrate it here. So the neighbors see you do know other people asides your siblings" Sam stated, stopping his channel surfing on a football game.

"Do as you please, but I'm sure Steve won't like that"

"I won't like what?" Steve asked as he walked through the front door, grocery bags in his arms.

"They want to throw you a birthday party next week. Right here" She stated, walking up to him and taking one of the bags before heading for the kitchen.

"No. No parties. Having all the Avengers in a civilian house in the suburbs is calling for trouble. There is a reason Clint kept his family a secret. Natasha and I are supposed to be taking care of that baby, not putting him at risk"

"It was Hill's idea. She said it would do good for your image. Neighbors will notice and it is the fourth of July! You Americans always grill on that day and it's our first here" Wanda pointed out, sitting next to her brother as she wiped baby food off her hair, eyes bright with a child-like excitement that had Steve wondering how Pietro even managed to say No to her.

"And all Avengers will be here. The baby will be safe. Loosen up, man" Sam stated, not taking his eyes off the screen.

"Mr. Howard Stark ensured this house was armored and safe. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts remodeled and updated the security system. I know how it works and FRIDAY and I can look out for any threats. I believe it might be an enjoyable evening for everyone involved" Vision stated from the recliner he was sitting in, quietly reading a book.

Natasha headed back to the living room with the baby, sitting on the floor and placing him next to her, watching as he attempted to stand holding onto Wanda's leg, who kept encouraging him. Pietro was trying to understand what was happening on the TV as Sam explained. Vision reading quietly. He smiled, because he wouldn't mind spending more time like this.

"Okay then, we'll have a barbeque on the fourth. No neighbors involved."

-00-

He was not particularly sure how long everyone stayed, but it was long enough to feel exhausted. But now he was finally at peace. Sam and Pietro had finally gone back to the headquarters and Natasha had gone with Wanda and Vision to help them find their own loft. So that meant he was alone, with the baby. He had been asleep for a couple of hours after everyone left, but he had woken up a few minutes ago, requiring a new diaper and food.

"Well champ, looks like summer is at its best" Steve spoke softly as he carried the red haired baby out to the backyard, smiling as he settled on the deck, ready to feed him.

"I always pictured this, you know? I grew up poor, but Bucky and I always thought about living in a house like this. Big and warm with a huge patio to play with our kids. Or mine, since Bucky said he didn't wanted kids" he sighed softly.

"James. If I had gotten the chance to become a father to a boy that would've been his name. Bucky would have complained, of course, but I knew he would have been happy about it." The baby stared up at him, blinking as he ate.

"We should give you a name a real, not that Clinton is bad but… it doesn't feel right. And baby got old two days into this, but Natasha refuses to call you something else unless we are in public. Says your future parents should get that honor… I apologize beforehand if said parents are Tony and Pepper, because you'll end up being Anthony Stark the second"

"That would be tragic" Natasha said as she stood by the door. She was dressed in a denim short and red tank top and her hair was tied in a messy bun. She looked normal, relaxed. "What's the matter?"

"You look relaxed, even though we are caring for a possible mutant baby. I've never seen you like this"

"Remember what Pepper said, if we are stressed, he'll get extra fussy. We can barely handle him as it is"

"He's an easy child. We lucked out I guess" Steve smiled softly as the baby let out a burp, giggling as he turned towards Natasha, still eating "He's a happy child"

"That he is" she agreed.

"Wanda and Vision found something they liked?" he asked as the baby finished off his bottle, immediately stretching his arms towards Natasha who sat next to Steve and took him in her arms, cuddling him.

"Vision doesn't really care. It's Wanda's choice. There's a little flat five minutes from here she seemed to love, so they might move there"

"Is Pietro moving with them?"

"No. Wanda says he met some girl and wants to look independent. Figures"

"He'll grow up. I bet Clint is praying he does soon" Steve got up, stretching before taking the baby's empty bottle off the floor "I'll go take a shower. Let me know if you need help"

"I got him"

-00-

"Happy Birthday Steve" he heard a soft whisper in his ear and felt tiny hands hit on his chest, which made him open up his eyes to find Natasha sitting on his bed right next to him, holding the baby as he sat in between them.

"Hey" he smiled softly, his eyes barely a slit as he turned towards them and smiled at the baby, who placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek "When did he learnt to do that?"

"Wanda taught him. He adores her" she smiled as she brought up a little box and handed it to him "Hope you like this"

"You didn't have to, Nat" Steve stated as he sat up and leaned against the headboard, placing the baby on his lap as he opened the box. It felt like a family moment, and he decided to cherish it for what it was.

He lifted the lid off the blue box, pulling out a chain. It was thick and it had a cross hanging from it. In two little plates, were the initials of his mother. "Nat…"

"Don't even mention it Steve. You deserve it. And it didn't cost me a fortune don't worry"

He was at a loss for words. No one had gifted him with something so unique and especial. And he realized for the first time that Natasha had actually heard all his stories about his mother, how he missed her and how he wish he could carry her with him, not only on his mind. They had been going back from a SHIELD mission when they passed in front of a Tattoo shop. He told her how he always wanted to get a tattoo of his mother's portrait but his body simply rejected the ink. She told him that she never got one because it was not practical, to have something that could be so easily identified. She had listened, and she had cared. And his heart was full of happiness and… love?.

He didn't know what to say, so he didn't. Instead, he pulled her to him, kissing her softly and pouring his feelings into it, only breaking apart when the baby pulled himself up using his shirt and babbled, smacking their faces while giggling.

"Nat I'm so-…" he didn't even finish, she kissed him again before getting off the bed, pulling the baby with her.

"Wanda and Vision will be here any sec. Get ready birthday boy"

He sat in the bed, shocked for a few minutes. He couldn't believe he had actually kissed her. Or that she had kissed him back without complains. There was no mask, no lies. And he had these feelings that had been growing day by day. Especially since they were thrown in that house. And he had known for a while that he liked Natasha as more than a friend, but he figured she would never accept any advance from him, after all he had been the one that wanted her to be a friend.

"STEVE!" He heard Natasha yell from downstairs, which made him snap out of his thought and run downstairs, fearing something had happened. Instead he found Natasha feeding the baby in the kitchen as Wanda and Vision started pulling out decorations.

"Um… Sorry, I thought something had happened" he smiled, his face going red as he walked back towards the stairs.

"Happy Birthday Steve!" Wanda smiled, Vision doing the same. He thanked them and rushed upstairs, taking a shower and then taking some extra time to trim his beard. He was pretty sure trimming the beard was more work than staying shaved, although he liked it. He was quite surprised to find Natasha sitting on his bed when he came out, legs crossed.

"Um… Where's the baby?"

"Wanda and Vision went to pick up some stuff for the barbeque, so they took him. And yes, I have FRIDAY tracking their every move"

He nodded nervously and Natasha smiled, it was amusing how he got flushed when he was nervous. She rolled her eyes and walked towards his closet, pulling out some clothes.

"You still like to dress like an old man. It's your birthday and we might have not invited the neighbors, but they will be sitting in their yards, watching" she stated as she pulled a black polo with red trimming, a pair of dark jeans and a pair of high top sneakers he didn't even knew he owned. "The baby will be dressed just like you, so…"

"Nat, about what happened i…"

"Let's just… let it happen. Whatever happens… let it be" he nodded, because that was everything he was going to get out of her and he knew it. She turned to leave, not before giving him a lingering kiss and one last comment that had him turning as red as the trimming of his shirt.

"Slick your hair back. It really turns me on that way"


AN: Sorry i got behind on the update. Left my laptop at the dorm and didn't went there until today. Please R&R and to those following and reviewing this: Thank you! -OHP