A/N: Sorry if anyone seems OOC in this chapter, especially Natasha! Enjoy :)

"Mama!" James Rogers exclaimed as he and his twin sister, Lucy, nearly tackled their mother as she walked through the door.

"Well I can tell that a certain set of twins missed me," Natasha said as she dropped on her knees to hug her children.

"We're your only twins Mama!" Lucy said.

"You're right Lucy. Can you please go get Daddy and tell him I'm home?" The five-year old nodded and ran off excitedly to find her father. Natasha had been away on a weeklong intel-mission with Clint—and to be honest, she was exhausted.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of her son's voice. "I missed you so much Mama," he started as Natasha took his small hand in her own.

"I missed you too sweetheart," she replied, gently ruffling his blond hair. "But didn't you have fun with Daddy?

"Yeah, I guess so. But he was with Lucy a lot, and we always had to watch her princess movies. And she made Daddy have a tea party with her."

"Is that right James?" The small boy nodded as he pursed his lips—a gesture he must have inherited from her. "Well then, it sounds like you could use some alone time with Mama. How about you and I go to the park tomorrow, just the two of us?"

"Can we Mama, please?"

"Of course, мальчик, it's a date," Natasha promised with a smile. It was often difficult to please both James and Lucy at the same time, so sometimes, (especially when either Natasha or Steve was on a mission) it was hard to give each child the same amount of attention. And the fact that Lucy has Steve wrapped around her finger doesn't really help James. Natasha looked up to find Lucy pulling Steve to the door by his hand.

"Hey you," Steve said with a crooked smile as he approached his wife, who was now standing.

"Hey yourself," the redhead replied, mirroring her husband's expression. Steve hugged Natasha tightly before sliding his hands down to her hips. Steve leaned in and tenderly placed his lips upon hers.

"Eww! That's gross Mama," Lucy's remark interrupted the couple as the pulled away from each other, laughing.

"Say ew all you want now you two, but someday Lucy you will want to kiss a boy, and James will only have time to spend with his girlfriend," Steve cautioned his two five-year olds with a smile.

"No way Daddy, the only girl I will hug is Mama," James replied innocently.

"Hey, what about me James?" Lucy questioned with her arms crossed and her brow furrowed. Her expression reminded Natasha of the one that Steve wore when he was either confused or deep in thought.

"I don't want to catch cooties!" James toyed mockingly as he ran away, Lucy hot on his heels.

"What on Earth are we going to do with them Nat?" Steve pondered before pulling Natasha back into him for another kiss.

"I think the real question is what are we having for dinner? I'm starving and something smells amazing."

"Come on you, it's a surprise," Steve replied as he lead Natasha off towards the kitchen, his arm draped around her shoulders.

Natasha groaned aloud the second she heard two sets of footsteps running down the hallway. She pulled her pillow over her head in an attempt to tune out the noise, but she knew that it wouldn't make a difference in a few seconds. "And three...two...one," Steve counted down next to her, almost fully awake already. At the count of one, the bedroom door was pushed completely open as James and Lucy appeared.

"Mama, Daddy! Wake up!" Lucy squealed excitedly as she jumped onto her parents' bed with James. Both Steve and Natasha pretended to be asleep, much to their children's annoyance. "Come on Daddy, wake up!" Lucy continued with a smile as she and James climbed on top of Steve, attempting to shake him awake. Suddenly, Steve shot up into a sitting position, wrapping one arm around each of his children and holding them tight in his grip. Both kids screamed in surprise.

"Daddy stop! Let us go!" James squealed, laughing.

"No way, I've got you two now!" Steve exclaimed, trying to tickle both his children at one time. Both of them erupted into laughter, squealing in Steve's arms. Moments later, the twins calmed down, gasping for breath as Steve maintained his grip.

"We're hungry Daddy," Lucy stated for herself and her brother.

"You are? Well, why don't we let Mama sleep for a few more minutes and we'll see what we can do about breakfast."

Natasha flashed Steve a grateful smile as her eyelids began to close again. Steve stood up, a child in each arm, and began making his way to the kitchen. "Come on you two, how do pancakes sound?"

"Hi Mama," Lucy said with a full mouth of chocolate chip pancakes as Natasha entered the kitchen.

"Hi baby. I see that Daddy made breakfast for everyone."

"Mmhmm, it's really good," James chimed in. Natasha took a seat at the table next to Steve and began helping herself to the pancakes. "Are we still going to the park today Mama?" James asked innocently.

"Yes, just like I promised."

"Can I come too Mama? Please" Lucy practically begged.

Steve answered before Natasha had the chance to. "Lucy, James is going to spend some alone time with Mama today," the little girl's face immediately dropped to sadness. "But why don't you and I have another tea party?"

"Okay Daddy!" Lucy answered, once again cheerful. "But you have to wear a princess crown this time!"

"Alright, deal. Now you and James go get dressed, okay?"
"Yes Daddy," James and Lucy said in unison. Natasha laughed to herself. Steve really would do anything for his children.

"Why did you have to go away again Mama?" James asked his mother sweetly as the two walked hand-in-hand to the park. Of course, James and Lucy had caught on that their parents were important people, but they didn't know the whole story (that they were superheroes). Steve and Natasha had decided to wait to tell their children the whole truth until they were older.

"I had to go away for work James. I had to do an important job with your Uncle Clint."

"Oh," was James' only reply.

Natasha stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and knelt down to her son's height. "Look, I know that it's hard for you and your sister because Daddy and I go away a lot for work," Natasha said concisely, using language that a five-year old could understand. "But we hate to leave you two, and we wouldn't if we didn't have to. Your Daddy and I help a lot of people at work, and that's why we leave. Do you understand sweetie?"

James nodded his head in agreement and threw his arms around his mother's neck. The gesture made Natasha melt inside as she reciprocated the hug. "I love you Mama," James said in his small voice. That made Natasha smile proudly as she hugged her son tighter. When did she get so sentimental?

"I love you too мальчик. Now come on," Natasha stated with a smile as she stood. "Let's go have some fun at the park, just you and me."

Later that night, the family of four was seated around the dinner table, enjoying a meal. Natasha was relishing the momentary silence after her long mission. "Did you and Mama have fun at the park today James?" Steve asked his son.

"Yes Daddy, Mama and I played all day, and then we got ice cream. I had vanilla and Mama had strawberry."

"Yeah, we had a good time, didn't we?" Natasha stated, smoothing James' hair. "Lucy, did you have a good time with Daddy?"

"Yes! We had a huge tea party, and Daddy was wearing my princess crown. And he let me paint his toenails pink!" The five-year old said quickly, giggling.

"I think you're going to have to tell Uncle Clint and Uncle Tony about that," Natasha said with a smirk.

"Yeah! They'll think it's so funny, right Daddy?"

"We'll have to see about that Luce, let's just keep it between us for now," the soldier replied sheepishly.

"Okay Daddy, I'll try," Lucy said with a smirk, arching one of her red eyebrows. God, she looks just like Natasha, Steve thought to himself.

The conversation was interrupted by James' violent coughing.

"Whoa, are you okay buddy," Steve inquired, moving to pat his son's back. James nodded, reaching to take a few sips of his water. After several moments, James was able to catch his breath.

"Are you alright James?" Natasha asked, her protective instincts kicking in. James nodded again and made eye contact with his mother. Steve returned to his seat, and Natasha began to rub James' back in rhythmic circles. "Did food get stuck in your throat?"

"Yeah, I think so," James spoke hoarsely. "May I please be excused?"

"Me too, please?" Lucy tried.

"Yes, you both may be excused. But go play in your rooms, Mama and I will be there in a few minutes to put PJ's on." The two kids ran off, leaving Steve and Natasha alone to clean up the meal. "Do you feel okay Nat?" Steve questioned. "You look kind of pale."

"Yeah, I'm just exhausted. And I have a headache, but it's nothing serious," she gave Steve a reassuring smile.

"Alright, I'll finish cleaning up, you go help the twins. I'll be there when I finish up here."

After watching Frozen for the hundredth time, Steve and Natasha were able to get James and Lucy to bed.

"I can finally get some alone time with my beautiful wife," Steve smiled as Natasha got under the bed covers. He took her form in her strong arms and pulled her close to him. She rolled over on her side to meet his gaze. Steve cupped her delicate face with his large hand, then furrowed his brow in confusion. "Are you sure you feel okay Nat?" Steve asked, which earned him an eye roll from Natasha. Ignoring the gesture, Steve placed the back of his hand on her forehead. "You feel kind of warm babe."

"Steve, I'm fine." She replied. "I just need some sleep is all." She kissed him square on the lips before rolling back over. "Night Steve."

"Goodnight Nat."

Natasha's eyes shot open at the sound of her bedroom door opening. She was about to reach for her 9mm when she heard soft whimpering. Steve rustled in the bed next to her—he had obviously heard it too.

"Mama? Daddy?" James' voice came out quietly through broken sobs.

"James?" Natasha sprang up into a sitting as her son ran to her and crawled into her arms. "It's 12:00 am baby, what's the matter?"

"I don't feel good Mama," he said, burying his head in the crook of her neck. Steve rolled over, still half-asleep. Natasha motioned for him to go back to bed. "Alright sweetie, come on," Natasha whispered, standing up with James in her arms. She carried him downstairs to the kitchen and set him down on the countertop. "What hurts?" Natasha questioned, gently wiping the tears from her son's face.

"My throat hurts. And my head hurts. And I'm really cold," the child responded sadly.

"Okay, come lay down on the couch. I'll be right back." James complied and Natasha laid a blanket over him before going to retrieve a thermometer. She returned a minute later with the thermometer and some throat medicine. "Open up James," the boy obeyed and Natasha placed the instrument under his tongue. "Now don't talk or move until it beeps." The spy sat down on the couch next to her son. She had to admit; she wasn't feeling so hot herself. A minute later, the thermometer beeped and Natasha pulled it out of James' mouth. "You have a fever buddy. 102.6. Stay here and drink this," she handed him the throat medicine, to which James made a face. "You can watch TV, but stay here. We don't want you to get anyone else sick."

Natasha returned to the kitchen and cleaned the thermometer with rubbing alcohol before putting it in her own mouth. When the thing beeped, she removed it to look at her own body temperature. 101.8—she had a fever too. Great.

She grabbed her cell phone before returning to the couch. Natasha sat down next to James as he laid his head down in her lap, mindlessly watching TV. Natasha began to finger with his blond locks as she spoke. "Guess what James?"

"What?" he replied hoarsely and quietly.

"I'm sick too. Mama doesn't feel very good either. I'm sorry, I think I got you sick."
"That's okay. But, can you stay with me Mama?"

"Yes sir, I'm not moving. Don't worry мальчик, I'm going to take care of you." The two sat there in silence for a while before Natasha had a thought. She pulled out her phone and dialed Clint's number.

"Hello?" a very congested archer picked up.

"Let me guess, you're sick?"

"Tash? Man, you sound pretty bad."

"Not as bad as my son sounds," the spy retorted.

"Aww, James is sick too? Listen, I think that we picked something up on our mission."

"Yeah, that sounds right. And I gave it to James—I spent all day with him yesterday."

"Sorry Nat. This sucks," the archer stated.

"Is that Uncle Clint?" James asked weakly. "Can I talk to him?" Natasha couldn't refuse and handed her phone over to her son. "Uncle Clint?"

"Hey kiddo. I heard you don't feel too well."

"Nope. Mama doesn't feel good either."

"I heard, but you know what? I don't feel very good too."

"Mmhmm," James mumbled.

"Well look at it this way, you get to spend plenty of time with Mama."

"Yeah, I guess that is good."

"Alright, well I've got to go. Feel better kiddo."

"Bye Uncle Clint," James handed the phone back to his mother. He laid back down on her, placing his small head in her lap once again. James stared up at Natasha before letting out a big yawn. Natasha turned off the TV and laid down next to James.

"Come on мальчик, let's try to get some sleep."

"Come on Nat, let me take care of you and James," Steve pleaded to his wife the next morning. "You know that I can't get sick."

"And what about Lucy?" Natasha said through a stuffy nose. "She can get sick." Steve sighed—there was no way he was winning this argument. Natasha coughed a few times before speaking again. "Look, Clint is on his way to D.C. to hang out with me and James. We'll be fine—just please go to New York with Lucy and stay at the Tower for a few days."

"Alright, fine. But if anything happens, I want you to call me right away," the soldier replied.

"Yes Captain," Natasha agreed with an arch of her eyebrow.

About an hour later, Natasha and James said goodbye to Steve and Lucy. "Alright little man, what do you want to do?"

"Can we watch Cars Mama?" James asked earnestly.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather watch Frozen again?" Natasha smirked.

"No way Mama! I want to watch Cars and spend time with you!"

"Don't worry James, I'm not going anywhere."