Author's Note: Sorry it took a bit longer for this chapter. I knew how I wanted it to go it just didn't get there easily LOL but I hope you enjoy this chapter. Maybe only one more chapter left.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Avengers or any of the characters.


From the moment Steve had left the tower he regretted it. He shouldn't have left Natasha. Something just didn't feel right. Not one of the supposed Hydra soldiers had put up much of a fight. Mostly they had just been men with guns and unfortunately quite a few civilians had died before they arrived. There had been at least twenty men and maybe two had slipped away but none of them were at previous Hydra standards. Possibly they were untrained recruits. They lucked out as far as that went. If they had been fully trained the casualties and damage would have been far worse. Which led him to wonder: What had they been trying to accomplish? Even Hydra didn't do random killings without reason. The whole fight had taken less than half an hour and they were helping local enforcement to restrain and load them up. It had all been taken care of and they were minutes from wrapping up but Steve just couldn't shake the feeling of wrongness in his gut. That was when the communicator on his wrist went off. Pushing the button brought up a screen showing that Natasha's homing device had been activated but it still showed her being in the tower. Natasha only would have activated it if she was in trouble. Steve felt his stomach sink, feeling coldness spread through him that he hadn't felt since the ice. It was a split second and then his training was taking over, "Tony, Thor!"

"Gone." Tony said as both he and Thor blasted into the sky. "I have no eyes in the tower. Jarvis can't connect."

The run to the jet felt like it took forever, like his legs had become leaden, he just couldn't move fast enough. When they finally made it back Clint ran past him, jumping into the pilot's seat and Bruce buckled in beside him. "As fast as you can make it go, Clint." Steve told him as he shut the hatch. Now it was a waiting game. He knew Tony and Thor could make it there before them. He just hoped it was in time for whatever was happening to Natasha.


Natasha sat with her back against the leg of the desk trying to breathe through the pain. She was definitely in labor and it was definitely too soon. Contractions seemed to be coming faster and she prayed she wouldn't have to give birth to the baby on her own. She could hear what sounded like a fight taking place outside the command center doors. Really it was just a bunch of banging and shattering noises. Nothing she could use to pinpoint just who was out there. Well, she knew who one was and she really hoped she was right in assuming Thor was also out there.

Suddenly there was silence followed by banging on the door that caused her whole body to tense in fear and pain that stole her breath away but the voice that followed was heaven sent, "Natasha! Are you in there? It's okay. Can you open the door?"

It was Steve. Tears of relief ran down her face and she felt the need to give into heart wrenching sobs but another contraction reminded her she wasn't out the woods just yet. There was no way she was getting up. The pain was just too great. Was this much pain normal? If it was then why would anyone want to have babies? Multiple babies even? And she had thought she could handle any amount of physical pain. She shook her head at herself. Focus. "Steve! I can't get to the door! The baby's coming!"

Steve just couldn't believe it. Shmidt was alive, now lying unconscious and pretty beaten down the hallway. Thor and Tony had made it there before he could and good thing too. Steve was sure he would have killed the man if he had gotten to him first but now Natasha was in early labor behind a door that he couldn't make budge. "Thor! Break down the door. Natasha," Steve called to her through the door, "Thor's gonna break through the door. Are you away from it?"

It didn't really matter. She couldn't pick herself up to move, "Y-yes!" She stuttered through another wave of contractions.

Steve stepped out of the way as Thor swung his hammer into the doors making them collapse in the middle but they held firm. Another blow sent one door flying off its hinges and Steve ran through to Natasha, telling Thor to go get the doctor. Steve landed on his knees beside her, wanting to pull her into his arms but refrained, not knowing if she had been injured. "Are you hurt anywhere?" He looked her over not seeing any blood but noticing how pale and clammy she was.

"Shmidt hit me on the back of the head. Possibly have a concussion but nothing else. Steve, the baby's coming very soon. The contractions are getting stronger." She was more than worried. It was a relief that Steve was here but he including the others had no idea how to deliver a baby and the baby was a month early. They really needed their doctor.

"Don't worry about it, Natasha. Just breathe. Thor just went to get the doctor. He'll be back soon. I'm going to pick you up now and take you to the delivery room." Steve wrapped his arm behind her shoulders and the other under her knees, pulling her in close to him before lifting her up. He hurried through the tower as fast as he could without jostling her around too much but unfortunately the delivery room they had prepared was the next floor up. When he got there he laid her gently on the bed, trying to help her sit as comfortably as she could. She leaned forward suddenly, gritting her teeth.

"Steve! The baby's coming now!" Natasha managed to gasp out.

Steve could feel the blood leaving his face and muttered, "Shit!" They just needed a little more time for the doctor to get there but that wasn't going to happen. Tony was trying to get the power back and they were really going to need it here shortly, preferably now. Clint and Bruce were locking Shmidt up in one of the holding cells that were located underneath the tower. They wouldn't be able to assist anytime soon but he called them anyway to let them know he needed them now and Thor was bringing the doctor. Looked like he was doing this himself but it really didn't matter. No one else knew how to deliver a baby either. Why the hell hadn't he studied how to deliver a baby?! It would only figure that it was happening this way. Steve reached forward, grabbing hold of Natasha's pants and underwear, stripping them off then throwing a blanket over her legs for slight modesty. He couldn't see anything so he turned the bed towards the windows were a little light from the surrounding city poured in. Taking a hold of the blanket over Natasha's legs Steve steeled himself then lifted it out of the way. The baby's head was already partially out and Steve could feel panic raising in his chest before he stamped it back down then he was thanking God that the baby was actually coming out head first.

"Natasha, the head is almost out." He told her, hoping that it would help in some way.

Natasha bit back a groan as she gave another push that released the baby's head. She leaned back trying to catch her breath, knowing she only needed one last push. Natasha took another deep breath feeling the next contraction start and pushed again, releasing the baby's shoulders and arms. Seeing Steve hold the baby up in his arms Natasha breathed in a sigh of relief, flopping back on the bed and passing out.


Natasha came slowly out of the darkness, blinking and feeling a sense of panic that she couldn't place. Looking around she could tell she was in a hospital room but that couldn't be right. How'd she get there? Where had she been before? Then the memory was there. Her baby! Shooting up in the bed she immediately felt a hand on her chest trying to stop her movement. Everything seemed so slow and it took her a moment to gather her thoughts enough to take in Steve's face and that he was the one trying to push her back down.

Natasha looked at him confused, feeling pain in the back of her skull. Lifting her hand automatically to her head but Steve grabbed it, pulling it away. "Stop, Natasha. I know you're confused and I'll explain but I need you to lie back down."

Natasha did as he said; still feeling the pain but the fog in her mind was starting to clear. "What happened? How'd I get here?"

"You passed out right after delivering the baby. Luckily Thor got there with the doctor and we brought you and the baby in here to get checked out. Shmidt gave you a concussion when he hit you. It was a wonder you made it the whole way through the delivery. But everything's okay now. You're fine and so is the baby." Steve said pointing over to a bassinet beside the bed. She'd failed to notice it before but now she could see her baby sleeping soundly.

"You feel up to holding him?" Steve asked.

She nodded, wanting him in her arms so badly it was like a physical ache. Steve gently picked his son up and placed him in Natasha's arms. Natasha felt tears well in her eyes, trying to take him all in, wanting the memory to last forever. She looked at Steve, "He's okay? Even being a month early?"

"He's perfect. Not a thing wrong. You'll need to stay another day for observation for your head but then we can all go home together." Steve told her.

Natasha grinned happily, looking over her little boy. She ran a finger lightly over his cheek to behind his ear feeling the downy softness of his hair. His head was covered by a little cap that they put on newborn babies and she couldn't see what his hair looked like so she gently pulled it off. Natasha laughed seeing her baby boy's bright red hair. It was as bright as her own and she ran her hand over his head to feel the softness. Then the baby slowly opened his eyes, blinking up at her. "Blue eyes."

"The doctor said the color may change."

"No, I don't think so. That's definitely your eye color. He is adorable. I know they say all babies are cute but he is a whole different level of cute. Seriously? Look at that face. Steve, we did good. Better than good!" Natasha gushed.

Steve laughed, "I think we're biased but, yes, we did good. By the way, I told the others I'd let them know when you woke up. They haven't officially met him yet but if you want some more time I'll let them know."

"I'm good. Go get them. I can't wait to show off this cute face!" Natasha said gazing into her baby's eyes.

It wasn't long before Pepper and the guys were all barreling into the room, all wanting to be first to see the baby. When they settled down Steve took Natasha's hand that wasn't cradling the baby and said, "We would like to introduce you to James Steven Rogers."

"Little James. That's so perfect." Pepper said tearing up, "And look at that beautiful red hair!"

Tony scoffed dramatically, acting hurt and disappointed, "You don't name him after me and now no one wins the bet."

Natasha laughed, "We figured you'd be influencing him enough without naming him after you."

"Yea, guess you can't have too much of a good thing." Tony said smiling, "But in all seriousness, good looking kid, you two, and congratulations."

They were all still oohing and awing over the baby when the nurse came into the room wanting to check on Natasha and show her how to feed the baby. They all said their goodbyes and Natasha promised them they'd all get one-on-one time with the baby soon. The nurse helped Natasha sit up and showed her the proper way to nurse the baby and when she was pleased she left them alone, telling them to call her with any issues.

Natasha sat back pleasantly running her fingers over James hair as he ate. Still looking at James she said to Steve, "By the way… Good job with delivering James."

Steve sat in an arm chair beside the bed, watching them and smirking back at her, "Thanks but you did all the work." His smile faltered, "You passed out after and I could only think the worst. I'm so sorry about what happened. I never should have left."

Natasha reached her hand out to him and when he took it she pulled at him and she slid over a bit so he could slip onto the bed beside her. Steve wrapped his arms around her, cradling her, while she cradled their son. "Steve I don't blame you. You had a job to do. It comes with the territory. No one even knew Shmidt was still alive. You still managed to be there and we're all okay and we're together. That's what matters." The look in her eyes held laughter when she added, "We'll just blame Tony. He's the one who said no one could break into the tower. How'd Shmidt do it anyway?"

"EMP I think. Tony was saying something about it but I tuned him out when it started sounding like another language. He says it'll never happen again. Shmidt is being transferred to one of SHIELD's special prisons. Hopefully that's the last we'll ever have to deal with him. He wanted you because of James right?"

"He said that the serum in James might complete the version of the serum he was given. There was that but he was so angry. I think mostly he just wanted to hurt you by using us." Natasha said. She was trying to keep her eyes open as she leaned her head into Steve's shoulder. The baby had finished eating and was already sleeping so Steve stood up and placed him back in his bassinet before he rejoined Natasha, pulling her in close.

"We can talk about this all later. Sleep now." Steve said kissing the top of her head.

Natasha rolled onto her side, hugging him and snuggling in against his chest. "I love you, Steve."

"I love you." He returned before joining her in sleep.