Chapter 28-New bed
By: MysticFantasy
.
.
James stood to the side as he watched his uncles carry the remains of his blue crib out of the room. He turned his attention back to his mother who had just finished placing a pillow on the new toddler bed that now stood where his crib once was.
"Come look at your new bed, James." Natasha said.
James just clutched his teddy bear that had a mask and shield that matched Captain America's and shook his head.
"Come on, James. Give it a try." Steve said as he knelt next to the new bed.
The two year and three month old shook his head once again. He didn't like this idea of having to sleep in a new bed.
Even though the bed was decorated with a Captain America comforter and pillows, James didn't like the idea of sleeping in his room alone and without the safty his crib provided.
But his parent's were insistant that he was a big boy and now needed to sleep in a big boy bed.
"Come and see it at least?" Natasha asked as she sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her.
James slowly moved over until he was standing in front of the bed and didn't move any closer.
"It's not so bad, James." Steve said. "Your mommy and I sleep in a bed. Now you can too."
"Don't wanna." James muttered into his teddy bear.
"Why not?" Natasha asked.
"Want crib." James replied in the same tone as before.
"James," Steve said as he sat on the bed and brought James to sit on his lap. "You're a big boy now. It's time for you to start sleeping in a bed now. I know it might be a little scary but there's nothing to be afraid of."
James lightly nodded before watching his mother bring the comforter back and his father lying him down then cover him.
His father turned on his nightlight in the shape of his Uncle Thor with the hammer giving off the light.
"Everything is ok." Natasha said making sure James was tucked in. "There's nothing to be afraid of."
James remained silent as his mother kissed his cheek and then his father did the same.
"Good night, James." Steve said. "Sleep tight."
The two year old wanted to tell his parent's to stay but they were out of the room before he could get the words forming.
Holding onto his teddy bear tighter, James sat up and looked down at the bed he sat in.
His parent's said that it was just like his crib but without the sides. It had small sides but they weren't enough to please him.
He loved how safe he felt behind the bars and how high they were. He loved the way that he was able to climb in and out on his own without his parent's knowing.
Now that he's in a bed he didn't feel as safe and he didn't have anything to climb.
Not sure how long he had been sitting there thinking, James quickly climbed out of the bed with his teddy in hand and made his way out of his room.
Looking at the semi-lit living room of the large suite, James quickly dashed through the living room and to the door that belonged to his parent's room.
Not bothering to knock, he quietly opened the door and went inside. Carefully making his way around the large bed, he stood in front of his sleeping father who was on his side facing him.
Gently, James reached over and lightly tugged on his father's sleeve.
"Hm?" Steve hummed as he stirred and opened his eyes. He became a little more awake when he saw his young son standing in front of him. "James?"
The soldier sat up after waking his wife.
"James, what's wrong?" Steve asked as he lifted James and placed him on his lap.
"Stay here." James said.
"What's wrong?" Natasha asked. "James, are you ok?"
"Don't like bed." the child muttered into his father's shoulder.
Steve and Natasha looked at each other with knowing looks. They both made space between them and Steve laid James down.
"You can stay here with us tonight." Natasha said as she ran her hand through James' red hair.
James seemed to calm down. He laid down and snuggled close to his mother as she covered him with the blanket.
He closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall asleep.
.
l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l
l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l
.
James yawned as he woke up. He sat up, opened his eyes and was fully awake in an instant when he saw his parent's weren't around.
He quickly scrambled out of the bed, barely managing to keep a grip on his teddy bear, and rushed out into the living room where he spotted his missing parent's sleeping on the couch.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Steve and Natasha woke up at the sound of their son's voice.
"I was alone!" James exclaimed as he threw himself into his mother's arms.
"We know." Natasha said through a small yawn. "We wanted to show you that it wasn't scary sleeping in a bed by yourself. We left as soon as you fell asleep, honey. You were in our bed all night by yourself."
"I know it sounds mean but we wanted to show you that it wasn't so bad. Was it?" Steve asked.
James hesitated before shaking his head.
"Think you'd be able to sleep in your bed tonight?" Natasha asked.
Her son hesitated again before slowly nodding.
.
l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l
l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l
.
James stared at the bed for a moment before he felt a little push from behind. He slowly walked over to his new bed and climbed on.
He laid down and allowed his mother to cover him.
"Now James, promise that you'll give your new bed a chance." Steve said as he turned on the nightlight.
"Yes, daddy." James replied.
"Ok then. We'll see you in the morning sweetheart. Good night." Natasha said and kissed his forehead.
James watched ihs parent's leave his room but leave the door open a crack so extra light could enter.
He sat up and looked at his bed like he had the night before. He wanted to rush to his parent's room and stay with them again but he made a promise that he would give the bed a chance.
Lying down, he held his teddy bear tightly and closed his eyes. Although he had a feeling that he wasn't going to get much sleep.
.
l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l
l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l~*~*~*~*~*l
.
Natasha and Steve sat at the table in the kitchen of their suite as they waited for their son to arrive. They were pleased to know that their son hadn't tried to sneak into their bed again.
A small creak alerted the two Avengers and they looked over to their son's room.
Sure enough, James slowly walked out. His red hair was a mess and sticking out in every direction. He was rubbing his eye with one hand and in the other he held his favorite toy by the arm, dragging it along the floor as he walked toward his parent's.
"Good morning." Natasha greeted as she walked over and knelt next to her son.
"Hi." James greeted sleepily.
"Didn't get much sleep?" Steve asked.
James shook his head before yawning.
"Well, we're proud of you for sleeping in your bed." Natasha said and kissed his cheek. "You're turning into such a big boy."
James lightly smiled.
"You're our brave little soldier." Steve said as he ran his hand through James' messy hair, earning another smile from the toddler.