A/N: Thanks for all the feedback and support, your reviews motivate me!

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.


Chapter 17: Twelve

Natasha POV

Twelve is a very important number.

December is the twelfth month in a year, there are twelve days of Christmas, twelve is the number of years I spent with the Red Room, it's the minimum number of times per day that Bruce has to prevent Tony from blowing the top ten floors of the tower up, and it's also the maximum number of weapons that I can conceal at a time.

But, the most important things about that number for me at this very moment was that twelve weeks into a pregnancy was the first time I felt something shift inside me.

According to Dr. Hiddleston, I conceived in late September and would be due sometime in June. Bruce was standing next to me in the kitchen when I felt the baby shift for the first time. It was a slight movement, it was small and fleeting, yet it was strong enough for me to feel.

I was holding Snowy's water bowl when I felt it move. I gasped and dropped the bowl in surprise, spilling water all over the kitchen floor.

Bruce was at my side in a heartbeat, concerned as always.

"Natasha! Are you okay?"

I nodded and my hand flew to my abdomen. He noticed immediately and asked,

"What's wrong? Are you in pain? Is it the baby?"

I nodded and found my voice.

"Y-Yeah Bruce, I'm okay. It…the baby…I think it just…moved."

He stepped back and raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"They can move this early?"

I shrugged.

"I guess so."

He picked up Snowy's water bowl and began to mop up the water as I stood stock-still, silently hoping the baby shifted again so I could be certain that I wasn't imagining things. I was rewarded with another soft movement.

"Aha! I felt it again!" , I exclaimed.

Bruce stood up and didn't even try to hide his smile. I took his hands and placed them on my abdomen so that maybe he could feel it too. I bit my lip as we waited in silence. I thought to myself, "Any day now would be great.", as Bruce and I waited patiently.

"Natasha…"

"Wait.", I said.

The baby moved and I said,

"There! It moved again! Did you feel it?!"

Bruce shook his head and took his hands off my abdomen and said in a puzzled voice,

"No, I didn't feel it. Are you sure you aren't imagining things?"

"I'm positive that this baby just moved. In any case, we have an appointment with Dr. Hiddleston today, so we can ask about the baby's progress then."

He nodded and refilled Snowy's water bowl.

We walked into the living room and saw Snowy sitting under the piano. When she saw us coming, she raced away, barking as she went.

"Snowy!", Bruce called as she raced off down the hall and into the room that Steve always used for those times when he got the urge to paint.

"Oh shit.", I muttered as Bruce broke into a run after her.

He almost collided with an apron-wearing Steve, who came out of his studio with Snowy in his arms and a half smile on his face.

"Don't worry,", he said, handing Snowy over to Bruce, "she didn't ruin anything."

"Thanks Steve.", I said.

He smiled and nodded,

"No problem, I have to remember to close the door all the way so this little puffball doesn't get into any more mischief."

He went back in and closed the door.

I took Snowy from Bruce and murmured, "What did you do this time?", to her in Russian.

She whimpered and seemed to understand what I was asking. I set her down and she whimpered some more, her ears drooped, and her tail went between her legs. I looked at Bruce who sighed and said, "She had an accident.", and went to go find it and clean it up.

The baby moved harder this time, but I ignored it because Tony just walked into the living room with Happy and said,

"Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!"

My jaw dropped when I saw the sheer size of the tree they carried in.

Clint dropped from the overhead vent followed by Serena, who he caught.

He noticed the tree and said,

"Holy shit! That's a huge ass tree!"

Serena mirrored his expression and Tony came over to us and said,

"Ta-da! Don't you like it?"

Loki and Darcy walked out of the game room to see what was going on. Loki asked,

"Is this some sort of a Midgardian custom?"

Darcy replied,

"Yes, the tree is a part of the Christmas holiday. Tony went all Clark Griswold* on us when he bought a tree this size."

Loki asked,

"Who's Clark Griswold?"

Darcy rolled her eyes, grabbed her boyfriend's hand, and pulled him into the home theater,

"I'll show you, it's pretty funny."

I nodded to Bruce who just cleaned up after Snowy and said,

"We have to go, it's almost time for the appointment."

He nodded and said,

"I'll get the coats, you find someone to look after Snowy."

I opened the door to the home theater and asked,

"Hey can you guys watch Snowy while Bruce and I go to the doctor's office? I know how much she likes you guys."

Loki nodded and Snowy bounded in and made herself comfy on his lap. Bruce came up behind me, already bundled up. He helped me into my coat and we passed a disgruntled Pepper on our way to the elevator. She stopped us and said,

"Take the stairs, the elevator is full of sap and pine needles."

"Thanks Pepper,", Bruce said as the CEO rolled up her sleeves and looked like she was going to deck her fiancée, "don't yell at him too loudly, it's the twins' naptime."

We walked down the stairs and got into my car.

"How do you think the baby is doing?", Bruce asked as we rolled out of the garage.

"I think it's fine and that we have nothing to worry about, like you said."

"Okay. Do you think that we should move out after we get married and before the baby is born?"

I shook my head.

"I don't know. I want to live in the suburbs and all but can we discuss moving at another time?"

He nodded as I pulled into the parking space. We went up and talked about how Tony's bachelor party went.

The men stumbled in the door at two AM the other night, all of them (except for Steve and Bruce) were drunk. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen.

Clint was singing the theme song for Spongebob Squarepants with Tony. Phil kept telling Steve that he loved him. Fury was being supported by Thor who was commenting on how Fury looked a lot like Odin, with the eyepatch and all. Loki wouldn't stop laughing as he shouted "Wheeeee! I am Loki, God of Mischief and champion of the Keg Stand!" until he ran into a wall, fell to the floor with a thud, and started sleeping. Bruce was tipsy and had tried to have a conversation with me, but ended up having the conversation with the air about a foot to the left of me. We didn't see much of the guys the next day, they were all hung over.

The ladies and I took Pepper out to a male strip club. I was the designated driver and the ladies got just as wasted as the men.

Pepper was drunk after a few Scotches (she and Tony shared the same tastes in alcohol). Beth was wasted after two very strong Sangrias. Maria and Serena were seeing who could do the most shots of Bourbon and Maria won. Jane was more of a social drinker but got a bit tipsy after a few Martinis. Darcy drank I don't know how many beers and then was wasted to the point that she got up and danced on a table. All in all it was a good night and Pepper had more fun than she'd had in ages.

"Miss Romanoff? Dr. Banner?", the assistant called.

We followed her back and went through the usual introductions with Dr. H, who announced that today we would be doing the first ultrasound, finding out the gender if we wanted to know, and getting a due date for the birth.

"Any questions, comments, or concerns for me?", Dr. Hiddleston asked.

I asked,

"How early can I feel the baby move?"

He said,

"That depends on the mother. Babies begin to move around at seven weeks."

"And what would the first movements feel like?", I asked.

"Well, seeing as I've never been pregnant, I wouldn't know firsthand but when my wife, was pregnant with my daughter, she said it felt like fluttering and gentle shifting. Gentle movements that only the mother can feel. My daughter didn't start kicking hard enough for me to feel until almost seventeen weeks.", he glanced at Bruce and said, "I'm sure you can't wait to feel the baby kicking, I know I was just like that when my wife was pregnant."

Bruce nodded and I asked,

"So can we get the exam underway?"

We went into the exam room and I laid on the table with my shirt rolled up.

Dr. Hiddleston put some cold gel on my abdomen and started the machine, sliding the scanner over the gel. Bruce was with me and he held my hand as I said,

"Ugh this gel is freezing."

Bruce smiled and said,

"It'll be over soon."

Then I heard it, the fast paced heartbeat of our unborn son or daughter.

I started crying as I saw the first picture of the baby. Bruce did as well. They were tears of joy.

"Bruce, that's our child…alive and well."

Bruce had no words to express his emotions, he just smiled through his tears, pulled out his iPhone and snapped a few photos of the ultrasound and then Dr. Hiddleston snapped a photo of Bruce holding the wand to my abdomen, me lying on the exam table, and the two of us with the screen in the background. "Would you two like to know the gender?", Dr. Hiddleston asked.

I glanced at Bruce who shrugged.

"I want it to be a surprise." I said with a tone of finality in my voice.

Dr. H nodded and said that my due date would be Sunday June 22nd ,2014.

Bruce left as I was cleaned up and we left in a happy haze, not saying a word because our joy couldn't be expressed by using mere words.


Bruce POV

The next day was very busy in the tower.

It was December 23rd, one day before Christmas eve and Natasha just informed me that she had a bunch of last minute shopping to do. We went to the nearest mall and browsed around.

She got Tony a huge travel coffee mug, Pepper got a charm bracelet, Steve got watercolor paints, Beth got a set of earrings, Clint got a new knife holster and a personalized knife, Serena got a bottle of vodka and an owl hat, Thor and Jane got a gift card to Gymboree and personalized items from the L. L. Bean store, Loki got a collection of Shakespeare's works (he was getting into 'Midgardian literature'), Darcy got a new stun gun, Maria got a gift certificate to a day spa, Phil got a set of king sized Captain America bed sheets, and Fury got a scarf.

I had already got my Christmas shopping done. Natasha had already bought me my gift and was keeping it a secret.

"Can you give me a clue?", I asked. I hated suspense and waiting but I was a very patient man, so I could wait a day or two.

She shook her head playfully and said "No" before she winked at me and said, "We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

We got back to the tower and we helped Tony decorate the tree. For it being so ridiculously large, the tree actually looked nice when it was completed. Loki and Darcy took Snowy on a walk and wouldn't be back for another twenty minutes. I helped Natasha wrap the gifts she had bought, we placed them under the tree and began to cook dinner.

"Hey Bruce?"

"Hmm?", I asked, stirring the soup.

"This will be our first Christmas as a couple but our second Christmas as teammates. Do you remember last year?"

I nodded as she pulled the rolls out of the oven.

"You remember how everyone thought Clint and I wouldn't show up for Christmas?"

I smiled and replied, placing a soft kiss on her lips,

"And then you and Clint walked into the cathedral and sat with us at the Christmas eve church service."

Natasha nodded and said,

"We looked like hell and we still had some weapons on us in plain sight. We got so many dirty looks that night because the rest of you were all dressed up in your best clothes."

I smiled and pulled her to me, leaning down and placing my forehead on hers. She closed her eyes and sighed. Snowy raced in from her walk and began tugging on the leg of my khakis, wanting to play. Natasha pressed her lips to mine and pulled me close.

"Dr. Banner, I think that I may have an early Christmas present that you'll enjoy very much."

I smiled as she ran a hand through my hair, tugging lightly against it. I wasn't even going to begin to tell her how much that turned me on, she already knew.

"Mm, Agent Romanoff, I know I will."

I placed a hand on her baby bump and remembered how happy I was yesterday when I got to see our child, to hear its heartbeat for the first time, and know that everything was going to be okay.

We ate dinner and decorated the remainder of the living area. Then we went into the home theater and watched the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life'. We took Snowy outside to do her business and then went inside to go to bed.

Snowy settled down immediately. I changed into my flannel pants and a plain white t shirt in the bathroom. When I came out, the lights were dimmed and Natasha was nowhere in sight.

I took a few steps forward and was flipped around and pinned to the bed by my dear Agent Romanoff.

"Merry Christmas Dr. Banner.", she purred.


Natasha POV

I woke up the next morning with Snowy licking my hand and Bruce holding me around my waist.

Bruce stirred beside me and kissed my neck.

"Good morning."

I rolled over and kissed Bruce. Snowy barked at me and I rolled out of bed, pulled on my bathrobe, snow boots and winter coat. I snapped on Snowy's leash and took her outside. I came inside and went back to the apartment to take a shower. The little child inside me shifted as I got undressed and took a shower. I got cleaned up and dried my body off, glancing down at my abdomen.

I patted my growing bump, admiring the miracle that was growing inside me.

What if I was a bad mother? I thought about how I only had a year off of work before I would have to go back and pick up where I left off. My job required that I had to be stolid, deadly, smart, and sexy. It also meant that I would be overseas and away from my child and husband. What if I couldn't do that? What if I was compromised or killed and then the enemy came after Bruce and the baby?

So many what if's clouded my thoughts and made me upset. So much was at stake now that I wasn't putting only myself at risk, but an innocent child and Bruce as well.

I shook my head. I could handle myself then and I would always be able to do that. I still couldn't help but think of what the child would do when they found out that their mother was a murderess.

I pushed those thoughts from my mind as I blow dried my hair. I slipped on my clothes and walked out of the bathroom, hand still on my abdomen and a warm feeling coursing through my veins, mingled with uncertainty.

Bruce was smoothing down his shirt in front of the mirror as I walked over to him and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Morning Bruce."

He turned to me and kissed my nose.

"Let's go to breakfast."

I took Bruce's hand and we walked to breakfast with Snowy racing ahead of us on the stairs, eager to get to her food bowl.

"Bruce, I've been thinking about the baby. What if it doesn't like me? I'm not really the motherly type and this baby is going to need someone who'll be there for them. Once I go back to work, I'll never be at home to take care of this kid."

I turned away from Bruce and clutched the handrail, lowering my head so that my hair fell forward in a curtain around my face. I was getting weak. I had to stop crying. Bruce took me by my shoulders and turned me around, pushing the hair away from my face.

"Natasha. Look at me and listen.", he said in a soft yet steady tone.

I lifted my head and saw the sincerity in his eyes.

"The baby will love you just the way you are and I'm sure Fury will let you work in the country until the child is old enough to understand that their mother is a superhero and saves people's lives."

"I don't save people, I murder them. How will this kid react when they find out that its my job to kill people. Bruce I know you're nervous too, how on earth do you stay so calm?"

He shrugged and said,

"I'm always worried that the child will inherit the Hulk from me and then hate me for it. The reason why I'm so calm because I'm used to calming down the Hulk."

I placed my hand on his and said,

"We'll work on this together."

The day progressed smoothly as we played games and sang carols. Turns out that Steve and Beth made the perfect couple and the perfect duet, so did Darcy and Loki. We went to a Christmas church service. Bruce and I held hands through most of the service and as I was listening to the sermon, he leaned over and whispered,

"Natasha, you will be an amazing mother."

"And you'll be an amazing father. Even if the child has your half. I will always love you and this child."

Bruce smiled and said,

"And I'll always love you and the baby too."


A/N: What do you think? Send me a review!

*Clark Griswold: The lead character from the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."