Ha! Didn't think I'd post this early, huh? Just thought I'd give you all a little Sunday treat. I'm so excited to be hearing more and more each time I post up another chapter. I can't wait to hear what you have to say about this one!
P.S.- Warning. Does contain Frozen spoilers. So if anyone of you haven't watched Frozen yet-which you should-then don't read down to the end.
Chapter Thirty
"I broughtz my special backpack!" Natalia waved her Hello Kitty backpack in front of me that Friday evening, one that was probably filled with coloring books. She'd probably try to draw on the walls later. And Barney, I shuddered to think what might be in his backpack. Last time it was a lizard that I had to scream at Tony and Bruce to remove from my room. I hate reptiles. I'd much prefer a dog. Or anything without scaly legs or skin.
"You sure you can handle the twins tonight?" Aunt Nat asked me as she looked from me to the twins. I grinned. I had every plan to wear them out tonight.
"I've got this covered." She smirked. If anyone could run down these kids, it was me.
"Thank you again. You've no idea how much we need this." I wouldn't have blamed them for just having a night in the apartment to sleep for a good, solid twenty-four hours. But no, they were dressed for a night out.
"See ya later, kid." Uncle Clint gave me a quick side hug, leaving me with two little Barton monsters.
I leaned down towards them and said, "Do you two know what we're having for dinner tonight?" The two shook their heads, their eyes huge in excitement.
"I'm thinking...vegetables." I lied. There faces were gripped with horror and their once-excited eyes were now sunken and depressed. I almost felt bad.
"But Auntie Hannie, you never let us have veggies when we come over." Little Barney looked like he was going to cry. And I hated seeing those little eyes well up with tears. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Oops! I'm sorry. I forgot. It's not vegetables night. It's pizza night!"
Howls of joy echoed across the living room and they jumped up and down.
"I knew you wouldn't give us yucky veggies!" Natalia yelled in triumph.
"Alright, you know the drill. Baths first, then dinner." They loved eating in their pajamas, especially on Friday nights with me.
Baths were executed quickly and thoroughly without any Barton water fights, PJ onsies were zipped or fastened with Velcro (Barney with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Natalia with her Hello Kitty PJs), and the pizza arrived right in the nick of time. They nearly dug in like wild animals until they saw me and the stern look on my face. I may let them get a little crazy, but manners were a necessity.
"What now, Auntie Hannie?" The twins asked in unison once they had gorged themselves on their pizza.
"Well, I was thinking..."
"Ma'am, Captain Rogers has just arrived." JARVIS informed me.
What? What's he doing here?
I immediately placed my hands on my hair, feeling around for any wild and untamable strands.
Stop that! He's seen you when you've literally walked out of bed in the morning.
He came out of the elevator, only to have his legs grabbed by the twins.
"Uncle Stevie!" They cried.
"And who are these two?" He demanded as he hoisted the two up in his arms. They giggled with delight as he carried them to me. "Do you need me to throw them out?"
"No!" They screamed, still laughing like crazy.
"Come to think of it, they are causing quite a ruckus..." I teased.
"Well, I could always put them to bed." Steve winked at me.
"NOOOO!" Their cries erupted louder this time, and we both started to laugh.
"That's not funny." Natalia crossed her arms angrily. I had to force myself not to grin. She was too darn cute when she was mad.
"Alright, alright. I think they've had enough torture for one night." He placed them down, both now very angry. Seriously, they looked my aunt and uncle when they got mad. Barney even had the pouty lip like Uncle Clint!
"I mad." Little Barney imitated his sister, arms crossed and eyes glaring at us. I wish I had a camera to show the looks on their faces.
Steve squatted down to their height. "You know what will make it all better?"
"What?"
"ICE CREAM!"
Cheers erupted from all three of them, but I frowned at the idea.
"Steve, I don't think it's wise to give them sugar this late at night."
"Don't worry. It's sugar free." He whispered in my ear.
His sugar-free tactic worked like a charm. He doused the dairy product in sprinkles and the kids were none the wiser. He could be a real genius when it came to the kids. As Steve and I sat back watching the twins dive in to their treat, my thoughts drifted back to when the twins were infants. It was the first time my aunt and uncle had been out since they were born. Tony and Bruce had just left from a quick check up to see if I was doing alright when Barney and Natalia suddenly burst into tears. After an hour of constant crying, I gave in and started crying too. I didn't know what to do.
The elevator doors opened not a minute later to reveal Steve. I gave him a frantic look and he quickly took one, then the other in his arms. He coddled them close to his chest, rocking them gently as he absent-mindedly made a slow circle around the living room. The longer he held them, the quieter their wails became until they were nothing but sweet murmurings. He looked at me and smiled. I never knew how he did it, but the twins easily succumbed to being held in his large, muscular arms.
"So what do you think, Hannah?" Steve's voice brought me back into the present. He must have been telling me something because he was looking at me expectantly.
"Sorry, can you repeat that please?"
"Auntie Hannie, can we watch Frozen?" One of the twins replied.
The twins had been quickly drawn into the Frozen fad. Natalia had even dressed up as Elsa for her third birthday party. I had to admit, it was hilarious seeing the men in the Tower dress up in costume for the event. I had secretly stashed some photos of Uncle Clint in his Prince Hans outfit and saved them for future blackmail.
"Sure."
I popped in the DVD, all of us sitting down on the couch. The twins sat on one side, Steve on the other, and I was sandwiched in-between.
"JARVIS, could you dim the lights please and start the movie?"
"Of course, ma'am."
"What have I told you about calling me ma'am?" I swore, I had told him a hundred times to just call me Hannah.
"I don't wish to engage with this discussion at the moment." The AI replied calmly as the lights suddenly dimmed and the TV flashed on. I rolled my eyes. I swore JARVIS was almost human.
"Auntie Hannie, can we have some popcorn?"
I started to get up, but a large hand placed itself on my arm.
"Allow me."
I didn't object as Steve pulled himself up and started making our snack. He quickly returned with two small bowls for the twins and one large bowl for us. As the movie played, my mind was elsewhere. I felt like someone's eyes were on me. Once in a while, my eyes shifted over to my friend, but he was just watching the movie. I felt stupid for feeling so paranoid.
Just focus, Hannah. Everything is how it should be.
I forced myself to focus on the movie this time.
As Elsa ran off to build her ice castle, I was fine. As Anna and Kristoff were chased by wolves, I was fine. Even as they were kicked out of Elsa's castle by a giant snow monster, I was fine.
I reached for some popcorn blindly, only to feel something other than popcorn touch my hand. I looked down to find Steve's hand resting on mine. And they weren't moving.
Why am I not moving my hand?
It was like it was glued there. I guess his was too because it continued to cover mine. I dared not look up at him.
"Aunt Hannie, Uncle Stevie, why are you holding hands?" Natalia asked, looking at the both of us with genuine curiosity.
I felt my face grow hot and our hands shot back to their respective owners, leaving the twins to turn back to their movie.
"Sorry." I mumbled to him, shifting my eyes back to the movie. I hoped that super soldier serum didn't give him night vision because I imagined my face was deep red. I couldn't even look at Steve. I didn't want to.
Why are you so embarrassed? It's just a hand touch.
It was just a hand touch. I realized that. Everyone realized that. Over popcorn. In a movie. Something we had done over a thousand times before.
For the rest of the movie, I didn't feel anyone's eyes on me. But something else was nagging at me. Something I didn't understand. All I knew was that that feeling made me feel more unsettled and unhappy than I had felt in a long time.
I hope you enjoyed this short little segment. Thank you for reading!