A/N: Thanks for your feedback, I truly appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.


Chapter 23: Little Miracle

Natasha POV

"Here we are, back in New York City. Wake up Bruce.", I said softly as I nudged my sleeping husband.

He woke up and asked,

"What did I miss?"

"Nothing, you were just asleep for the better part of the flight. We've landed at LaGuardia and it's time to get off the plane. SHIELD sent a vehicle to pick us up and take us back to the tower."

"Okay…", he said, pulling off his seatbelt, standing up, and stretching as best as he could in the small cabin.

We disembarked and walked across the runway to the SHIELD SUV where Phil and Maria stood, patiently waiting.

When we got to the SUV, Maria held out her arms and I gave her a hug.

"Nat, we missed you! How was your honeymoon?", she asked, embracing Bruce next.

"It was beautiful and very relaxing.", I answered, "How have you been?"

"Not too bad, but we're hanging in there.", Phil answered.

We got in the SUV and had our luggage put in the back before driving away.

"So, how's Ivan doing?", I asked.

"He's fine, but he's really looking forward to tonight.", Maria said.

Bruce began to bounce his knee anxiously at the very mention of Ivan, not that I blamed him.

Ivan had been really overprotective of me when I was a teenager, but everything he did was done to keep me safe because I was technically his daughter and he loved me above everything else.

I just hoped that he wouldn't freak out once he found out that I was married and expecting.

I felt Bruce lace his fingers with mine and squeeze gently. He was so nervous about meeting his father-in-law and I could feel him shaking.

We pulled up out front of the tower and Happy helped Phil, Maria and Bruce unload the bags. I had been told almost a month ago not to do any sort of heavy lifting since I was almost in my third trimester. Once Bruce had heard those words come out of Dr. Hiddleston's mouth, he had taken it upon himself to make sure I didn't do any lifting at all, heavy or otherwise with the exception of dragging my drunk friends in from the car. The only thing I was allowed to carry was my purse.

We rode up to our floor and put the luggage in our room. Maria and Phil left us to unpack and the second the door shut, Bruce sank down on his side of the bed and put his head in his hands.

I walked over and sat down next to him.

"Bruce? Are you going to be okay?"

"I don't know, I'm just nervous about meeting your father, that's all. What if he doesn't like me?"

I hugged him and he laid his head on my shoulder.

"You'll be fine. Trust me.", I reassured.

"I don't know…", Bruce muttered.

"Bruce, he's not going to try and break us up if that's what you're afraid of."

Bruce remained silent and I continued speaking, trying to alleviate his fears.

"Ivan can't do anything, even if he wanted to. He would never do anything to hurt me. Ivan would never force us apart."

Bruce looked up at me as I placed my hand on his cheek and kissed him softly before pulling away and whispering,

"He never could."

"I know.", Bruce said with a soft smile, "Because nothing could ever keep me from you."

We sat in silence for a while, just content with being in each other's presence until a knock at the door broke the silence.

"Open up lovebirds!"

"We have your fluffy canine, and she's running in circles about my feet!"

Bruce kissed my forehead and said,

"That would be Darcy and Loki with Snowy."

"We should get Snowy.", I said, opening the door and kneeling as our puppy rushed into the room, barking and hopping on me.

I laughed as Bruce knelt beside me and Snowy hopped into his arms.

Loki sat crisscross on the floor with Darcy next to him and we played with Snowy.

Jarvis interrupted playtime.

"Mrs. Stark has informed me that Mr. Petrovich has arrived and is in the living room."

My eyes flicked to Bruce who had stiffened up with Snowy in his lap.

Loki noticed the change in Bruce and took Darcy's hand before saying to Bruce,

"I was terrified before I met Mr. Lewis, but now he calls me 'son' and I feel as though there was never reason to fear him. I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Yeah,", Darcy added as she stood with her boyfriend, "You have a lovely personality, so I don't see how Ivan couldn't like you."

"I could…", Bruce said softly as they left.

I hugged him and said,

"Bruce, I'll be with you the whole time."

"Okay.", Bruce placed his hand on my rapidly expanding baby bump, "It's hard to believe that in a little less than three months, we're going to be parents. It's so exciting and terrifying at the same time."

I nodded and said,

"I hope the baby has your eyes."

Bruce gazed at me and said,

"I hope it has your smile."

"Let's go meet Ivan, I'm sure that he's dying to meet us."

Bruce grabbed my hand and nodded.

We went with Snowy down the hall to the elevator and rode up to the main level.

I walked across the threshold, Snowy raced ahead to bark excitedly at Ivan.

"Natasha…", Ivan said as he got up and saw me for the first time in almost eleven years, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Father…", I said, letting go of Bruce's hand and closing the gap to give Ivan a hug.

"My daughter, you look so beautiful and…", Ivan stopped and looked down at my baby bump before looking at Bruce and back at me, "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, and married.", I said, showing Ivan my rings before taking Bruce's hand and saying, "This is my husband, Dr. Bruce Banner."

Ivan swept his gaze over Bruce a few times, taking him in, before he offered his hand to Bruce.

"So you're the man my daughter married?"


Bruce POV

I took Ivan's hand and gave him a firm handshake. The Russian had the perfect poker face which just made me even more nervous.

The Hulk was getting really antsy, but not to the point where I would need to run to the unit and let him out. I just kept pushing him back and telling him to shut up. The Hulk's presence could either make or break Ivan's first impression of me.

"Yes sir, I'm Natasha's husband."

"Are you also the father?", he asked, gesturing to Natasha's pregnant figure.

"Yes sir."

"Come, both of you, we have a lot to talk about.", Ivan said in an emotionless voice.

I grasped Natasha's hand as we sat down on the sofa. Ivan sat down in the chair across from us and asked,

"How long have you two been married?"

"It'll be a month on April 20th.", Natasha replied.

"Is he treating you well Natasha?"

"Of course father, I wouldn't be with someone who didn't."

"Dr. Banner, what do you do for a living? Are you an Avenger?"

"I'm an Avenger, but I work in the labs with Tony Stark most of the time. I have my PhD in thermo-nuclear astrophysics and I'm not qualified as a medical practitioner, but I can do simple things like set broken bones and stitch wounds."

"Which Avenger are you? The one that's blue and can freeze anything he touches?", Ivan asked.

"No sir, that would be Loki, he's the one with the freeze powers."

"You didn't answer my question, which one are you?"

"I'm the Hulk.", I said, shuddering slightly.

"The giant green monster? The one that demolishes buildings in mere seconds with his temper tantrums? You turn into that?", Ivan asked, clearly astonished.

"Yes sir."

Ivan looked at Natasha before speaking to her in rapid Russian, to which Natasha replied.

I couldn't understand a word of it, but I could understand the tones they were using.

Ivan was fearful, shocked, and somewhat angry. Natasha was trying to be reassuring but her voice was laced with undertones of concern.

"Um…", I began, "I'm going to get a glass of ginger ale, can I get you two anything while I'm up?"

Natasha nodded

"Yeah, I'd like a glass of apple juice…On second thoughts, can you mix chocolate milk and pickle juice together?", she asked looking up at me.

"Wait…Pickle juice?", I asked, growing mildly queasy.

"Yeah, I just got a craving for it mixed with chocolate milk.", she said.

"Ok then. Can I get you anything Mr. Petrovich?"

"Nothing for me. I just want to say a few things, so before you go concoct this drink for my daughter, sit down and listen to me.", he said, his dark eyes boring into me.

I sat down and he said,

"I would like to say a few more things and ask a couple more questions before I hear the entire story of how you two somehow managed to last this long without killing each other."

"Father!", Natasha scolded, "That was uncalled for!"

Ivan held up his hand and Natasha fell silent.

"Now. I don't like the idea of my daughter being married to someone who has the potential to destroy her if he loses his temper. I also don't like the fact that you conceived a child prior to becoming married. I don't like a lot of things about this odd couple but I realize that my opinion means nothing."

"Father, I wasn't thinking about your opinion because I thought you were dead.", Natasha explained.

"I know, I know.", Ivan said, waving his hand as if he was batting her words out of the air, "I didn't expect you to be married or with child. In fact, this whole ordeal makes my head hurt, but it must be addressed."

He paused and swept his gaze between us before continuing.

"In view of the circumstances, I realize that I am helpless."

"How so?", Natasha asked.

"Natasha, you aren't sixteen anymore. You've blossomed into a beautiful, radiant, and intelligent woman. You are in charge of your own life and who you choose to spend it with. You may be grown up, but remember this,", he said, taking both of Natasha's hands, "You will always be my little girl.", he embraced Natasha, murmured some words to her in Russian and then broke apart.

Ivan turned to me, his expression hardening.

"Bruce, I expect you to take good care of my daughter."

"I will."

"I know you will, you both took vows when you were married to take care of each other. Natasha only broke one vow, but it was for a good reason. I don't know how good you are with keeping your word, but if Natasha has come to trust you, I'm sure I will eventually place my trust in you as well."

"Thank you sir."

We sat down again.

"Now, I'd like to ask a few questions.", Ivan said, "First of all, when is the baby supposed to arrive?"

"June 24th .", Natasha answered.

Ivan looked at me.

"Can you control the Hulk?"

"Yes, to a certain extent.", I said, knowing that his next questions would be about the Hulk.

"Has the Hulk ever hurt or attacked Natasha?"

"No, not intentionally. There was one incident two years ago, but that was an accident.", Natasha answered, "Nowadays I can talk to the Hulk and he would never think of hurting me or the baby."

"I see, will I have a grandson or a granddaughter?"

"We wanted to be surprised.", I said.

"Okay. I have no more questions for right now."

Ivan stood and motioned for us to do the same, he held out his hands and I mirrored Natasha as she placed one of her hands in his. Ivan smiled at us and said,

"I hope to learn about both of you even more in the coming months. I have been offered a room here by Mr. and Mrs. Stark and I plan on staying until I have to leave or until you want me to leave, whichever comes first. Even though you are both married already, I suppose it's only right to give you my blessing."

A huge wave of relief washed over me as he said those words.

We stood in blissful silence until Beth came over.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but dinner's ready."

"Shall we?", I asked, motioning towards the dining room.

Ivan and Natasha nodded and we all went to dinner, glad to have resolved our family matter.


The next day…

Natasha POV

"Bruce? Where are we going?"

"Just be patient.", he said, "We're almost there."

Bruce had blindfolded me after breakfast and said that he had a surprise for me.

I felt the blindfold being untied and Bruce said,

"You have to keep your eyes closed until I say so."

"Okay…"

"Open your eyes, Natasha."

I opened my eyes and gasped as I looked around. Bruce gestured around and said, "Surprise!", in a soft voice.

I stood in the most perfect nursery ever and I couldn't believe it was all for the baby I was carrying, the little miracle that was currently kicking me in the stomach.

"Bruce, It's perfect. I love it.", I said as I hugged him.

"I thought you would, I had it done while we were on our honeymoon. I had Tony hire one of Pepper's interior designers to turn the second bedroom of our apartment into a nursery."

"You did well, and I love the colors you picked."

The walls were a light yellow and the ceiling was an eggshell white. Long curtains hung in front of the doors to the balcony. The room had everything from the essentials to extras like a fully stocked book shelf with everything from parenting books on the top shelves to fairy tales and bedtime stories on the bottom shelves. The chair by the window had a quilt draped over it and there were stuffed animals sitting in the chair. I walked over to the closet and opened the door to find shelves full of extra sheets and blankets for the crib and a set of empty drawers to fill with clothes when we found out whether we had a son or a daughter.

I turned around and noticed the photos on the wall near the crib, they were photos of Bruce and I along with the other Avengers. I turned back to Bruce and said,

"It's perfect. And the pictures are beautiful, especially the one of us on our wedding day."

"I still remember how I felt when I saw you coming down the aisle."

"How did you feel?"

"I felt like I was the luckiest man in the whole world. How about you?"

"I felt like I was finally becoming complete."

Bruce came close to me and stroked my cheek gently.

"I tell you this every day, but I'll tell you again anyway,", he murmured. "You are so beautiful. Especially when you smile, you never seemed to do that until you became pregnant again."

"You gave me the greatest gift in the world. You gave me a little miracle,", I said and patted my baby bump, "How could I not smile?"

Bruce knelt down and kissed my baby bump before whispering to his unborn child,

"Your mommy is so beautiful, you should see her when she smiles, it lights up the whole room. I know she and I will love you to death, because you're our little miracle."

He stood up and kissed me.

"I love you Natasha."

"I love you too Bruce."

We remained in each other's embrace for a long time, and I could've stood there forever, as long as Bruce was holding me close.


A/N: I hope this was good, please review and tell me what you thought!

This may be my last update for a while, as I go back to school next week.