October 3rd: For days like today

(Romanogers, Claura, rated K; obviously not MCU - canon xD)

The pipy ringing of the doorbell echoed through the farmhouse briefly, just long enough for the residents to notice their visitors had arrived. Laura leaned closer to the door, abandoning the stove for a second, called in the direction of the stairs: „Honey! Could you answer the door?"

Clint's voice could be heard a second later accompanied by quick footsteps taking two stairs at a time: „Yes! On my way!" As he reached the door he unlocked the chain and opened it. He smiled as he spotted the visitors standing on the porch: „Well, see who finally made it!"

Natasha grinned: „We are not the ones who decided it was a good idea to live in the middle of nowhere…"

Clint rolled his eyes, but couldn't help grinning too: „Yeah… got it." He then turned to Steve who was holding a little bundle of blankets and jackets: „Hi Steve… is he asleep?"

Steve shook his head slightly tucking up the fabric close to the little face: „No, he's way too excited to see his uncle and aunty again." Clint stepped aside to let them enter: „Ha! I knew he liked us much more than Tony and Pepper…"

Steve smirked while entering: „Of course, Clint…" Natasha removed her jacket first when the door was closed before freeing her baby from all the layers and taking the boy from Steve's arms to allow her husband to doff his own jacket and hat. Clint was leading them into the kitchen and dining area when they were ready where they were greeted by Laura stirring the contents of a pot with a wooden spoon. Three-year-old Nathaniel was sitting on a blanket playing with a bunch of lego when they entered.

Laura turned around and smiled at her three visitors: „Food is almost ready. I assume you are hungry." Natasha nodded and walked over to greet Laura at the stove.

Natasha looked around and asked: „Where are Lila and Cooper?"

Laura looked up to meet her eyes: „They are at a friend's house to go trick or treating." She then smiled and carefully touched little James' hand with her finger: „Hey, little man… you're growing up so fast." James curiously closed his fingers around Laura's pointer and looked at the hands.

Natasha looked down at her son and nodded: „Yes… I can't believe he is already six months old. That's half a year!"

Laura smiled while cautiously removing her finger and turning to the stove again: „I know what you mean. It feels like yesterday Nate has been born and about Cooper and Lila… they are pupils already. I'm afraid when I blink they will leave me for college." Natasha grinned: „Oh, Laura. It will still need a few years to go by until that will happen."

Laura sighed and nodded: „Right… But now we should eat. I think the sauce is just right." Natasha nodded and walked back over to the table where Steve and Clint were chatting about how it was going. Natasha placed James in the baby-chair before sitting down next to it by the table. Clint was now rising from his seat and helped Laura carry the plates, the pot with the additional sauce and the baking dish with the chicken and vegetables. Nathaniel was pausing his lego project and sat down by the table as well.

While they brought the food over to the table Steve walked over to the suitcase they brought and pulled out a can of baby food. He turned to Laura and asked if he could heat it up a little. Laura gave him a small pot and quickly Steve made the mush warm for his son. He poured it into a bowl afterward and placed it next to Natasha: „Sorry, little guy. It will be just a little longer and you can eat the same food as mom and dad."

He then sat back down and they started eating the meal Laura had prepared. Natasha was feeding James the mash who seemed to enjoy it as much as the others enjoyed the chicken.

Later Steve and Nat were doing the dishes while Clint and Laura played with the boys. When they finished Laura rose from the floor and addressed her guests: „We have a present for you…" Clint added before either Steve or Nat could say something: „You, Laura. It's from you, you made it."

Laura rolled her eyes: „Okay then… I have something for you."

Natasha followed Laura who was walking over into the living room with her eyes: „We said no presents, remember?" Laura came back into the room with a piece of fabric: „It is something I made out of boredom. I want you to have it for James." She held the bundle out for Natasha to take it.

The other woman hesitated before accepting it and unfolding it. Nat held the blanket out in front of her to look at it. It was a handmade patchwork-piece with the symbols of all the Avengers embroidered. The backside was lined with fleece which made it suitable for autumn and winter.

Laura watched as Steve and Nat were admiring the blanket: „Happy Halloween, I guess… Since he is too young for costumes…"

Nat smiled and started folding the blanket again: „It's wonderful, Laura! James will love it, it's perfect."

Laura looked away a little shy: „Thank you… it's for the cold days, you know. Days like today."