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Chapter 12: Familiar

Bruce POV

I woke up in the middle of the night with Natasha poking me in the arm.

"Bruce!", she whispered intensely.

"Hmm, what's going on?", I replied groggily.

She sighed,

"You stole the comforter again, and I'm freezing over here!"

"Whoops."

I pulled the edge of the comforter up for her to crawl under, and she snuggled close to me. I wrapped her up in my arms, and she kissed me softly, yawning as she whispered goodnight. I soon drifted off to sleep.

I woke up as the alarm went off, rolling over and turning it off, grabbing my glasses and nudging Natasha, who was still sleeping, bundled up in the plush comforter. I kissed her on the cheek, and nudged her again.

"Nat, wake up."

She opened her eyes, and yawned, before sitting up and saying,

"Morning Bruce."

I was about to ask her how she slept when Jarvis came over the intercom and said,

"Mr. Stark wants to see all of you in the living room in exactly one hour."

Natasha groaned,

"Five more minutes…", and fell back on the covers with a smirk on her face.

"Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"Happy Halloween."

I smiled, and got out of bed.


Natasha POV

I rolled out of bed reluctantly, and wrote in my diary as Bruce did his morning routine, coming out with wet hair and a towel wrapped around his waist. I went in, did my routine and came out, and threw open the doors to my gigantic walk in closet (Tony had made sure that every room had two walk in closets when he rebuilt the tower).

I pulled on my underwear, a pair of skinny jeans, a long sleeved black and orange V- neck shirt and a pair of ballet flats before running out, and taking Bruce's arm as we left the room.

When the elevator doors opened to the living level, my jaw dropped as I glanced around and walked out into the living room.

Fake spider webs were strung up everywhere, complete with little robotic spiders that would skitter around in their webs. Jack o' lanterns were placed around the room. The labels on all the bottles behind the bar had been covered by labels that read things like 'Witch's Brew' and 'Eye of Newt'. The wall of windows had been covered with deep, red velvet curtains. The normal furniture was replaced with antiques covered in sheets, and candles were everywhere. There was even a cauldron hanging on a wrought iron rack in the fireplace.

Tony had really gone all out with his decorating. I looked at Bruce who was amazed. The elevator opened behind us, and Loki walked out with Darcy on his arm, glancing around at the scene in amazement as Darcy said,

"Wow, Tony takes his holidays seriously."

Loki raised his eyebrows, and looked at Darcy.

"This change in interior design is symbolic of a Midgardian holiday?"

"Yeah, it's Halloween, which means that people decorate their houses, carve jack o' lanterns, dress up in costumes, and the kids go trick- or- treating with their parents, or friends while people our age go to parties.", Darcy explained.

"Do all mortals celebrate this holiday?"

"Most of them do, but others don't because it's against their beliefs."

"I see…will we be dressing up?", Loki asked as he walked around the room. Darcy nodded at her boyfriend.

"Our costumes arrived in the mail yesterday."

Everyone else came down, and marveled at Tony's decorating. Then Tony and Pepper strolled out of the elevator in costumes.

Tony was dressed as a gothic vampire: fangs, red contacts and all, while Pepper was dressed as his counterpart.

I nodded in amazement, and nudged Bruce who murmured,

"I'm glad I didn't decide to be a vampire this year."

Tony made a gesture to all of us, and spoke in a pretty decent Transylvanian accent,

"Good morning everyone! Happy Halloween! As you know, SHIELD will be hosting their annual ball here tonight, so I took the liberty of decorating the tower!"

My mind wandered to yesterday when Bruce, and I decided to have our wedding on the spring equinox. Nicole Hales had told us how great the idea was and gave us a multitude of pamphlets for different banquet halls so that we could plan out our reception.

"We will spend the day doing what we usually do until noon, then we will go and get ready for the ball, which starts at seven. Remember that tonight's ball will include a costume contest, so may the best disguise win!"

I ate a bowl of oatmeal, and headed to the shooting ranges with Bruce in tow. He may be the Hulk but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be taught how to shoot.

I put a pistol in his hands, taught him how to take aim, and he shot his first bull's eye in less time than I thought he would take. We gradually worked our way up to the bigger guns, which he had a bit of trouble taking aim with, but he was shooting like a well-taught junior agent in no time, and actually having fun.

"Natasha! Hey," Bruce called, holding up his target, " Ten for ten at long range! Not too shabby for my first time, huh?"

I shook my head,

"No, that's actually really good, you're actually a really good marksman, especially since this is your first time on the ranges." I quirked an eyebrow at him, "Are you sure that this is your first time out here?"

He nodded to me as Serena and Clint kicked open the grate for the air vent behind me. Clint got to his feet, and offered his hand to Serena, who took it, and pulled herself up.

"Hey partner!", Clint greeted me with a quick hug, "Teaching the good doctor how to shoot?"

"Yeah and he's giving Agent Lewis Winslow a run for his money."

"That guy from tracking?", asked Serena, pulling out her throwing knives, and beginning to sharpen them.

"Yeah, you sat next to him last week at a meeting. He got you your coffee."

"Oh that guy! I remember him! He helped me hide those lizards in Maria Hill's desk last April Fool's day!", said Clint, nocking a practice arrow, and firing.

Bruce looked up at me, and asked,

"Wasn't he the one that tracked down the Ripper?"

"The very same." I said, taking aim, and firing. "Is he coming to the ball tonight?"

"He should be," Clint said," He said that he and Agent Harford would be carpooling with Agents Victoria Snow and Tabitha Baron. You remember them, Natasha? They were the only two women in the class of fifty men that one year that we had to train the new recruits."

I nodded as I remembered the two agents from logistics.

"They were also the only two that didn't end up being broken after mental torture."

Serena asked,

"Don't the four of them live together?"

Clint shrugged,

"I think they share an apartment. They're roommates and best friends. If you wanted to find out anything more than that, well," He chuckled, "You'd have to ask a SHIELD medic."

We shot in silence for another hour and a half until Serena's digital watch beeped.

"That's noon, we've got to get ready for the ball. But honestly, who takes almost seven hours to get into a costume?"

Bruce shrugged,

"I think it's supposed to give the women time to get their hair and nails done. I know I spend most of the time trying to tame these curls of mine."

Serena looked up,

"Ever tried a perm?"

Bruce wrinkled his nose,

"I never wanted anything too permanent, besides, the chemicals kill your roots."

Serena nodded.

"I know I have to constantly change my hairstyle because of my hair type, it gets frizzy if I don't do something to it.", Serena gestured towards her short hair, "I read it in a magazine that short hairstyles for black women were very elegant, and easy to maintain. That's why I got my hair cut short. Besides, Nat remembers when I started at SHIELD, how I had those long dreadlocks?"

I nodded,

"Yeah, and how you cut them off the week you got here because one of your sparring partners ripped a few out of your head."

Serena cringed and nodded as Clint came over, and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"It's time to get ready."

Serena opened up the air vent, and crawled in, Clint replaced the grate and yelled, "See you at the ball!", before crawling away.

Bruce put his gun away and said,

"Do those two just have something against taking the stairs?"

I shrugged. In all my years working with Clint, I never questioned him once about how he was always crawling through air vents.

Bruce and I left the shooting ranges, and went to the elevator and waited. When the doors finally opened, we cleared our throats awkwardly because Loki had Darcy up against the wall in the elevator, and was kissing her passionately.

The blushing demigod broke away from his mortal girlfriend, and all of us stood there in silence as we rode to our respective floors.

When Bruce and I got off the elevator and the door to our apartment had closed behind us, Bruce said,

"Well that wasn't awkward at all."


Bruce POV

"Are you almost ready to go? Tony will throw a fit if we're anything but punctual.", Natasha called from the bedroom.

"I'm coming.", I called from the bathroom as I looked at myself in the mirror, and ran a hand through my hair one more time before putting in my contact lenses, and adjusting my helmet. I walked out, and found Natasha sitting on the bed.

"Well you look nice Mark Antony.", she said, eyeing me up in my Roman general costume.

Natasha was dressed as Cleopatra, and she looked positively stunning, even if she was wearing a wig, and a bunch of Egyptian looking costume jewelry.

"And you look as beautiful as ever, my Queen.", I held out my arm to her, and she took it. We walked down the hall to the elevator, and we got on. Natasha turned to me, and adjusted the fringe on my helmet before planting a kiss on my lips.

The doors slid open, and we looked out over a sea of colors and costumes. I saw Steve and Beth twirling on the dance floor. Beth was dressed up like a princess, and Steve was dressed as her prince. Natasha noticed them too and said,

"Beth looks just like Princess Aurora, and Steve looks like Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty! They make the cutest couple in the world, don't they?"

I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You mean second cutest right?", planting a kiss on her cheek.

She smirked and nodded.

I saw Clint and Serena at the bar, and they greeted us with a smile and a wave.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe that Clint actually dressed up like Robin Hood! Tony will never let him live this down! Serena makes a beautiful Maid Marian though, doesn't she?", Natasha laughed from my side.

"DEAR FRIENDS!", Thor bellowed from behind us, causing us to jump.

We spun around and saw Thor dressed up like a warlock of some kind with Jane beside him dressed as a stylish witch. Thor carried Liz and Ed in a 'two peas in a pod' costume and both of the seven month old babies were sleeping soundly despite the party atmosphere.

Jane was looking beyond us with a look of wonder on her face, I turned around, and saw Loki dressed as a cowboy and Darcy dressed as a saloon girl, spinning on the dance floor. Well that was unexpected.

"There's a ton of competition for this 'Best Costume Contest', but I think we wear ours' the best." Said someone from behind me.

I turned, and came face to face with Phil, Maria, and Fury who were all dressed as pirates.

"Wow.", was all Natasha could say.

We socialized for a while, and then I asked Natasha to dance as a slow song started.

I led her out onto the floor, and pulled her close to me as we swayed in the dim light.

"Bruce?"

"Hmm?"

"I've been feeling a bit off lately. I'm going to get fitted for my maid of honor's dress soon and then my wedding gown shortly thereafter. I just have this strange feeling inside of me, and I have no clue what it is."

"Could you describe the feeling?"

"Jittery and elated, yet I keep getting this feeling like something big is about to happen, and I have no idea what it is. The sensation is familiar, but I can't place it."

I thought. It could just be a case of nerves, but Natasha didn't get nervous too often.

"Did you have anything to drink tonight?"

"Yeah I had a glass of red wine."

"Maybe you're getting sick," I noted, "you are looking a bit green in the face.", I touched her forehead, "No wonder you're not feeling well, you're burning up!"

A split second after those words left my mouth, Natasha said,

"I don't feel so well!", and ran for the bathroom.

I followed her to the bathroom door, and heard her retching from the other side. Too bad it was the ladies room, otherwise I would've rushed in, and comforted her. I stood there for what felt like an eternity until Natasha finally stumbled out, looking paler than ever, and I asked her if she wanted to go sit down. She nodded. I didn't want to suggest leaving just yet. I checked my watch. 10:00. They should be giving out the awards soon.

"Attention, please.", Fury stood up with a microphone, and began to hand out the awards.

"The Funniest Costume Award goes to Agents Winslow, Harford, Snow, Baron, Green, and Sitwell for their team costume: The Six Pack of Beer!", Six agents rushed forward in beer bottle costumes carrying a huge cardboard 'package' around them to collect their prize.

"The next award goes to the best couple's costume. Our runner ups are Agents Barton and Atwell with 'Robin Hood and Maid Marian'. Our third place goes to Steve Rodgers and Beth Covington with their 'Sleeping Beauty' costumes. Second place goes to Dr. Bruce Banner and Agent Romanoff: 'Mark Antony and Cleopatra'. And our first place goes to… Edward and Elizabeth Odinson for 'Two Peas in a Pod'.

Natasha patted my hand, and I accepted the prize from Fury.

I picked up Natasha bridal style, and carried her to the elevator. We left the party, and went back to our floor. As I carried her through the door, and sat her gently on the bed, she bolted for the bathroom, threw off her wig, and made it to the toilet just in time. I came in, sat beside her, held her hair, and rubbed her back as she got it out of her system.

"Natasha, we have to get you in bed." I said, switching into doctor mode.

She nodded, and I helped her to her feet. She got cleaned up as I helped her take off her costume, and put on a comfy pair of flannel pants and one of my t-shirts. She crawled into bed, and I took her temperature.

"How bad is it Doc?"

"You've got every sign of the flu."

"But, we got vaccinated."

"Sometimes the virus used in the vaccine isn't completely dead, and your white blood cells can't act as quickly as we would like."

I got her some medicine, and gave it to her.

"Bruce, could you ask Jane to run to the store for me tomorrow?"

I nodded.

"What should I ask her to get you?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just feminine hygiene products, since I know guys aren't the best people to send out on shopping trips like that. I remember one time four years ago when I was sick, I had to get Clint to buy me some stuff, and he jumped out a window. I had to get Maria to buy me the stuff."

I laughed, and shook my head.

"Time to get some sleep now sweetheart.", I leaned forward, and kissed her on her warm forehead, "I love you."

I went to get changed, and when I came back, Natasha was curled up in a ball, sleeping in a nest of blankets and pillows.

I opened a drawer beneath the bed, and pulled out a blanket and a pillow to make myself comfy on the sofa. I drifted off to sleep in no time.


Natasha POV

The Next Morning…

I woke up to someone poking my shoulder.

"Natasha. It's me, Jane. I got those products you wanted. Bruce left to get some lab work done, he said he'd be back in a couple hours."

I rolled over, and slid my bunny slippers onto my feet. Jane held out the bag of products to me, and I mumbled a groggy "Thank you", before taking the bag and walking into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

Last night, I told Bruce that I had a familiar sensation. I had lied when I said I couldn't place it. The last time I had felt like this was the day I found out I was pregnant.

I opened the bag, and pulled out a pregnancy test kit.

"Here goes nothing", I thought to myself as I took the test.

I washed my hands, and cleaned myself up, setting the timer on my phone so that it would go off when the test was done. I took another dose of fever reducer, and sat on the edge of the tub, waiting in silence as the test was completed.

What would I do if I was pregnant? What if I miscarried again? I don't think I could bear it if I lost another baby. What if I wasn't pregnant? Would I tell Bruce?

I looked at my phone as it beeped. Then I took a deep breath, and got up off the edge of the tub.

I reached out, and picked up the strip.

A little plus sign stared me in the face.

Positive.

I knew that the sensation was familiar.

I looked at the diamond ring on the fourth finger of my left hand. Bruce would have to know eventually. I just had to tell him the right way.


A/N: Sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger but Chapter 13 is coming very soon! Leave me a review and tell me what you thought!