May 4th, 2015
San Francisco, California
Natasha blinked as the glaring hospital lights pierced her vision, the world around her coming into hazy focus. Every inch of her body ached—dull, throbbing pain mixed with sharp, stabbing sensations. She tried to shift, but the attempt sent a wave of agony through her arms and legs, pinning her to the bed.
A soft voice came from beside her. "Ms. Romanoff? Can you hear me?"
Her throat was dry, her voice raspy. "Yeah... I hear you."
A man in a white coat stood by her bedside. His face was calm, though his eyes reflected a mixture of caution and sympathy. "You're in Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. You've been here for a few days now. I'm Dr. Morrison, and I've been overseeing your recovery." He glanced at the tablet in his hands, then back at her. "You sustained multiple injuries during the A-Day incident."
Natasha winced, the explosion still flashing behind her eyes. The heat of the blast. Ducking behind a terminal to protect the one thing she cared about the most.
Dr. Morrison continued, his tone professional but careful. "First off, you had shrapnel embedded in both of your arms and legs. We were able to remove the smaller fragments, but some pieces were lodged too deep to remove outside the operating room. The surgery we did removed all of those pieces, but your arms and legs will be sore for some time."
He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. "You also suffered a broken collarbone—it's been set and immobilized, but it will take time to heal. We've applied a brace to stabilize the area. There are deep lacerations across your back and shoulders from the debris, which we've stitched up, and you have some significant bruising on your ribs from the impact of the blast. Your lungs and other vital organs were thankfully unharmed."
Natasha grimaced, her head pounding. She raised a hand to her forehead and winced again. "My head..."
Dr. Morrison nodded. "You have a mild concussion as well. You'll need to take it easy for a while, as any further head trauma could complicate things. The dizziness and headaches you're feeling should subside, but we'll keep an eye on it."
Natasha closed her eyes, trying to process the litany of injuries, but one question loomed above all others. Her hand instinctively moved toward her stomach, her voice barely above a whisper. "The baby...?"
Dr. Morrison's expression softened, and the nurse beside him stepped forward, offering a comforting smile. "We ran multiple scans to ensure your pregnancy wasn't compromised. The baby is stable and unharmed despite the trauma. We'll continue to monitor your condition, but right now, there's no sign of distress or complications."
A wave of relief washed over her, cutting through the pain for a moment. Natasha let out a shaky breath, her fingers brushing her stomach gently.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. For the first time since the explosion, the weight of survival felt bearable. She could endure the injuries. She could face the pain. The baby was safe.
Natasha let her hand rest on her stomach for a moment longer, her thoughts racing. The physical pain was something she could handle, but her mind kept drifting to one person.
"Dr. Morrison," she rasped, her voice still hoarse, "Can you... Can someone get in touch with Steve Rogers? He's my—"
"Of course," the doctor replied softly, understanding the unspoken words. "We already notified him when you came out of surgery. He's been visiting daily and sitting next to your bed. A woman named Terra managed to get him to go get some rest near here. He's been staying nearby, waiting for any news about your condition."
Natasha blinked, relief flooding her chest. Steve was here. She hadn't been sure if he'd been caught in the chaos of A-Day or if he had made it through. The thought of him waiting, anxious and not knowing, made her heart ache more than the injuries ever could.
"Can he... visit now?" she asked, her voice quiet, almost vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.
Dr. Morrison exchanged a glance with the nurse, then nodded. "I'll let him know you're awake. He's been very worried."
Natasha let her head sink back into the pillow, closing her eyes for a moment as she absorbed the news. She could imagine Steve pacing somewhere in the hospital, his mind racing with thoughts of her. He was strong, always composed in battle, but she knew better. When it came to the people he loved, especially her, Steve would take on the weight of the world if he had to.
Natasha was dozing when Steve came in, the painkillers taking her back into sleep periodically, but she needed to stay awake to see Steve at least and ask about the baby. Her eyes fluttered open at the feeling of someone grabbing her hand and felt a forehead press to her knuckles.
"Nat," Steve's voice came in a whisper. "Nat... please don't scare me like that."
It wasn't an admonishment so much as a plea. Now that he was here and she was here and alive the fear was starting to leave him, replaced with sheer relief.
"I know what you're going to say," Natasha said, voice soft from the fatigue. "When I'm in a crashing helicarrier, I need to fall out into the water and stay inside and get pinned under machines. It's a rookie mistake and won't happen again."
Natasha smiled a beautiful smile after teasing him about the whole DC thing.
The laugh burst from his lips unexpectedly, melting the tension between his shoulders even more. He shook his head. "God, Nat... I love you so much." He leaned forward and rested his head on the corner of the bed to be closer to her. "I'm so glad you're safe. Both of you. The doctor said that the armor you and Tony developed to protect the baby worked perfectly. I didn't even want to think..." He let the sentence trail off. If he didn't want to think about it, he definitely didn't want to say it.
"Then don't," Natasha cut him off, knowing the exact same thing.
There was a huge burden lifted off of her entire body as she found out that the steps she had taken to ensure her baby's safety had been a success. The armor worked, like actually worked. She literally owed Tony for the rest of her life for this. She tried to shift to see Steve a bit better, but groaned due to the pain in her shoulders.
"Right, broken collarbone," Natasha said, after settling back in. "How is everyone else?"
He sat back up so that she wouldn't have to crane her neck to see him. While they talked, his thumb traced the back of her hand idly. "They're fine. A little beat up and tired but fine. I'm sure they're anxious to see you. Tony flew in all the way from India to make sure you were okay. He said it was because he really wanted to know if the armor worked but..." Steve shrugged. Tony had a big heart. He just didn't always show it in normal ways.
"And I'm sure Wanda wants to know you're okay for herself. Doc said only two visitors at a time if you're up for it."
"Yeah of course," Natasha said, wanting to make sure Wanda was okay as well. "We also need to make sure we thank Tony a lot. I know it's stroking his ego more than ever, but we owe him for James' life after all."
Natasha gestured towards the water cup by her bed.
"Can you get me some water while we're waiting for them to decide who gets to see the glorious injured pregnant woman first?"
He let go of her hand briefly to grab Natasha's water. While he was at it he poked his head into the hall. "Now accepting visitors!" He called.
"Can I hold the baby?" Natasha heard Tony's voice call out.
Natasha rolled her eyes as Steve pulled his head back into the hospital room to give Natasha her water. "Here." He nudged the straw toward her. "I think Wanda's coming."
Sure enough, Wanda appeared in the doorway. Her hair hung limply at her shoulders but her smile made up for its lack of luster.
"Natasha. I'm so glad you're okay." Wanda sat down in the chair on the other side of the bed. "The baby too. I'm so sorry. I noticed there was something wrong with the Chiron earlier but I got distracted and I never mentioned it. Maybe if I had, we could have helped."
Natasha just smiled as she saw the exhaustion on Wanda's face and just blew right by her apology.
"Wanda you look drained," she said. "Are you okay? They told me you did great and that there were no civilian deaths during the entire attack."
Wanda tried to smile but it felt like she was too tired to even do that properly. "I feel drained," she admitted. "Literally drained; like all the magic was just sucked out of me." She made a whooshing motion with her hands. "I could sleep for a week."
"You did hold up the Golden Gate bridge almost by yourself for quite a while," Steve pointed out, a note of concern in his voice.
Wanda lifted one shoulder. "Bruce helped."
"You can rest soon. Both of you. We're just waiting to see what the doctor says about how soon Natasha can leave," Steve said.
"I'm sure I'll be fine," Natasha said. "I mean bed rest for sure, and I'm not leaving on a mission until this child is out of me."
Natasha seemed to have learned her priorities now, more than ever. She was going to devote her life from now until the due date to keeping this baby safe and alive. If that meant no working out for that entire time, she was willing to do it. For her son, for Steve, and most importantly, for herself.
"You guys should head home and get some rest," Natasha said. "If anything you can come back and get me when I get released."
Steve held on to Natasha's hand a little tighter. "I'm sure Terra and Pepper are organizing a way home for you guys. Can you tell everyone that Nat's fine? I know you're all tired. It's been a long day."
Wanda glanced between the two of them and smiled. "Yeah. I'll tell them. Feel better, Natasha." Wanda gently squeezed Natasha's knee and left to join the others in the hall.
When she was gone, Steve adjusted his chair and settled in for the long haul. "I'm staying right here with you."
Natasha sat propped up against the pillows, her legs still sore but feeling far less fragile than before. The sterile hospital room felt more alive with Steve sitting next to her, his hand resting gently over hers.
Steve was still smiling, glad to have Natasha back around and awake.. "I think you're right, Nat," he said, his thumb rubbing small circles on her hand. "You need to rest."
Natasha rolled her eyes, though her lips quirked into a small smile. "Yeah I think so."
"Good," Steve said, leaning in slightly, his voice softening. "You deserve it. You've done enough."
Natasha tilted her head, giving him a mock serious look. "So you're saying I'm officially out of the action? No sneaking out to take down a few bad guys?"
Steve chuckled, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Wanda would probably hex you if you tried."
"Fair enough," she sighed, though her smile lingered. "I guess I can stay on the sidelines for a while. Maybe focus on some... domestic missions."
Steve's smile widened. "Like getting the baby's room ready?"
Natasha's expression softened at the thought. "Yeah," she said quietly, her fingers brushing over her belly. "Like that." She glanced up at Steve, her eyes warm. "You think we'll be any good at it? All this... normal stuff?"
Steve leaned closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "We've faced armies, survived more battles than most people can count. I think setting up a crib and painting a room is something we can handle."
Natasha laughed softly, the sound light in the room. "I'm not worried about painting the room. It's the everything else part."
Steve's hand moved to rest on her stomach, his touch gentle. "We'll figure it out together," he said, his voice steady. "One step at a time."
"Yeah," Natasha whispered, looking down at where his hand rested over their child. She could already picture it—Steve painting the walls while she picked out the perfect crib, the two of them arguing over color schemes and decorations. "We can do this."
May 5th, 2015
Natasha sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the lines of the blanket. Now that she was awake and had some food in her, her serum was working overtime and healing her body, and she was feeling a lot better. She had even been able to stand enough to use the restroom and let Steve help her take a shower.
Steve stood by the window, his posture tense as he stared out at the San Francisco skyline. She knew that look—he was thinking about Bucky. Sam had come in and given him a report that the Winter Soldier may have been spotted in the Balkans, although the report would be no good, as it was dated about a week ago and they were focused on many other things. Steve just nodded and dismissed it, but Natasha knew he was planning something.
"Steve..." Natasha's voice was soft, but it broke through the silence.
Steve turned to face her, his expression conflicted. "I know what you're going to say."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Do you? Then you know I'm going to ask you to take a step back, at least for now." She kept her tone gentle but firm. "I'm not saying don't look for him. But maybe... pull back a bit?"
Steve's jaw tightened as he walked over to her, sitting beside her on the bed. "I can't, Nat. You know I can't just sit back when there's a chance he's out there—alone, still being controlled by Hydra. I owe it to him to keep looking."
Natasha sighed, her hand moving to rest on her growing belly. "I get that, Steve. I do. But..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "You're not just fighting for him anymore. You've got more to think about now. We have more to think about. This last mission just proved that."
Steve's eyes softened as they flicked to her stomach, but the tension didn't leave his shoulders. "I haven't forgotten about us. About the baby. But Bucky—he's my family, Nat. If the situation were reversed, he wouldn't stop until he found me. You know that."
"I know," Natasha whispered, looking down. "But what if something happens to you while you're out there? You've already been pushing yourself too hard. You and Sam have been chasing leads for months, and every time you leave, I wonder if that's the last time I'll see you walk through the door." She lifted her gaze, her eyes searching his. "I've realized a lot of things recently Steve, and I almost lost our baby not even a week ago. Now that I know how stupid and careless I've been, I'm making a pledge to keep this baby safe. And I don't want to raise James alone, Steve."
Steve looked like he had taken a hit to the gut, the pain of her words clear in his eyes. "I don't want to leave you, either. But I can't live with the idea of Bucky still suffering. It eats away at me, knowing I could be doing something. It's not just about the mission—it's about saving my best friend."
Natasha reached for his hand, gripping it tightly. "I understand that. But we're your family too. And I need you here. We need you here."
Steve's hand tightened around hers, the conflict clear on his face. "I know you do. But Bucky needs me too. I have to believe that I can find him, that I can bring him home. I'll be careful, I'll pull back when I can, but I can't stop. Not until I know he's safe."
Natasha exhaled slowly, her frustration bubbling under the surface. She knew how much Bucky meant to him, and she respected that. But Steve's drive, his need to fix everything, to save everyone—it was going to tear him apart.
"You're going to have to make a choice soon, Steve," she said softly, her eyes locking onto his. "I can't keep asking you to stay, knowing you feel like you're abandoning him. But you need to decide what's more important right now. Running after ghosts, or being here for the people who are right in front of you."
Steve flinched, but she could see the determination in his eyes. "I'm not choosing between you and Bucky, Nat. I love you. I love our baby. But I can't turn my back on him. Not now."
Natasha let out a long breath, her heart aching. She leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes. "Just promise me you'll be careful. Promise me you won't throw yourself into danger without thinking."
"I promise," Steve whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "I'm not going anywhere for good. I'll come back to you. Always."
Natasha nodded, though the unease in her chest lingered. She just hoped Steve's promise would be enough to keep him safe—for all of them.
Natasha sat back against the pillows, the quiet hum of hospital machinery filling the room. She watched the door for any sign of Steve, who had gone to grab some food, leaving her in the quiet hospital room. The exhaustion from the day still weighed on her, the tension between her and Steve was still there after their talk about Barnes, but the space was giving her time to think and reflect.
A knock at the door broke her thoughts. "Hey, Romanoff," Tony's familiar voice greeted her as he stepped inside, holding two steaming cups.
Natasha glanced up and gave him a small smile. "Tony. Didn't expect to see you here."
He strolled in, his usual swagger a bit softer today, and handed her a mug. "Peppermint tea. Figured you might need something calming. I know these places can drive you nuts after a while."
Natasha took the mug with a grateful nod, the warmth seeping into her hands. "Thanks. You didn't have to come all the way over just for this, you know."
Tony sat down in the chair beside her, giving her a wry smile. "Well, I couldn't exactly leave you alone in this place. Besides, I wanted to check in. How are you holding up?"
Natasha took a slow sip of the tea, letting the warmth settle her. "Better than I thought, honestly. Physically, I mean. Still hurts, but... the important part is that the baby's okay."
Tony nodded, his expression turning serious for a moment. "I heard. That suit did its job, huh?"
Natasha's eyes softened. "It did. I don't know if I would have made it out if it wasn't for your upgrades. The shock absorbers, the protective layering... It saved the baby. So, thank you, Tony."
Tony shifted, looking a little uncomfortable with the gratitude. "Hey, it's what I do. No thanks necessary."
"No, I mean it." Natasha's voice was quieter now, but firm. "That suit wasn't just about protecting me. You thought ahead, about how to keep the baby safe even if something went wrong, even more than I prepared for. That means more than you know."
Tony glanced down, then back up at her, his eyes uncharacteristically soft. "You're tough as nails, Nat. I just gave you some extra padding."
Natasha chuckled softly, the sound almost surprising herself. "Still, I owe you one. I guess you're not so bad at this 'being a decent human being' thing after all."
Tony smirked, but there was warmth behind it. "Don't spread that around too much. I've got a reputation to maintain."
The room fell into a comfortable silence, the unspoken appreciation between them settling in the air. Tony leaned back, running a hand through his hair before glancing at her again.
"You know," he began, his tone quieter, "I don't say this often, but... I'm glad you're okay. Both of you."
Natasha's smile softened, her hand resting instinctively over her belly. "I'm glad too."
They sat in silence for a moment before Tony cleared his throat, trying to lighten the mood. "I've got an idea—how about I whip up a little Iron Man suit for James? You know, get him battle-ready right out of the crib."
Natasha snorted, shaking her head. "Absolutely not. He's not going anywhere near a suit until he can walk at least."
Tony feigned disappointment. "Fine, fine. No baby suit—yet. But the offer's there. Just think about how adorable he'd be, flying around the room in mini armor."
Natasha chuckled, the lightness in the conversation a welcome change. "We'll stick with baby blankets for now, thanks."
Tony grinned but leaned in slightly, his voice more sincere. "You're going to be a great mom, Nat. James is lucky to have you and Steve."
Her smile softened, touched by the sincerity in his tone. "Thanks, Tony. That means a lot."
He gave a small nod, the teasing grin fading into something more genuine. "Anytime, Romanoff. Just... don't forget, I'm always around for the heavy lifting—or, you know, babysitting when you need a break."
Natasha laughed softly. "I'll keep that in mind. But no suits, Stark. I mean it."
"Alright, alright," Tony said with a playful smirk, raising his hands in surrender. "No baby armor... for now."
May 8th, 2015
Natasha sat at the edge of the hospital bed, her legs dangling over the side as she held the pen in her hand. Steve stood beside her, his arm resting gently on her shoulder as they both looked down at the discharge papers.
"Just sign here, and you're all set," Dr. Morrison said, smiling warmly. "Take it easy, Natasha. No strenuous activity for at least a few weeks. You've been through a lot, but you're on the right track now."
Natasha nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude. The idea of going home—finally leaving the sterile hospital behind—was more than welcome. She scrawled her name at the bottom of the page and handed the pen to Steve, who quickly signed his part.
Dr. Morrison gave them a nod. "Take care of yourselves, both of you. And don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
"Thanks, Doctor," Steve said, offering his hand for a firm shake.
As the doctor left, the room seemed to exhale with them. Natasha glanced up at Steve, their eyes meeting, and for a moment, there was nothing but quiet understanding between them.
Steve shifted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nat... about what I said, before—about Bucky. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was choosing him over you, or the baby. You and James... you're my world. I just—"
Natasha reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I know, Steve. I know how much he means to you, and I wasn't trying to make you choose. I just... I was scared. I didn't want to lose you." Her voice softened, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have pushed so hard."
Steve knelt down in front of her, their eyes level. His gaze was full of warmth, his hand cradling hers. "You never have to apologize for wanting me to be here, Nat. You're right. I need to be here—for you, and for James. I just... I have to believe I can do both. I want to do both."
Natasha's lips curved into a small smile, her heart swelling with love for him. "We'll figure it out. Together."
He nodded, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "Together."
A peaceful silence settled between them, and Steve helped her up slowly, careful to support her as she found her footing. She still felt sore, but with Steve by her side, everything felt a little lighter.
"Ready to go home?" he asked, his arm wrapping protectively around her waist.
Natasha let out a long breath, a smile playing on her lips. "More than ready."
They walked slowly out of the hospital room, the quiet rhythm of their steps in sync. The world outside felt brighter, warmer, like they were stepping into a new chapter. As they exited the building, the cool air hit her skin, and Natasha leaned into Steve, feeling his solid presence beside her.
"You know," Steve said as they approached the car, his voice lighter now, "I was thinking... maybe we could pick up a few things for James on the way home. Start early on getting the nursery ready."
Natasha chuckled softly, glancing up at him. "Planning ahead already, huh?"
He grinned, his eyes sparkling with that boyish enthusiasm she loved so much. "Well, we've got to be prepared. Can't leave everything to the last minute."
She smiled and shook her head. "Alright, Captain Prepared. Let's take it slow, though. We've got time."
Steve opened the car door for her, helping her inside before getting in the driver's seat. As they started the drive to the airport, the soft hum of the engine filled the air, and Natasha felt a calm settle over her. Steve reached over and took her hand, their fingers lacing together.
They drove in comfortable silence for a while before Steve spoke again, his voice gentle. "I love you, Nat."
Natasha glanced over at him, her heart swelling with the same love she always felt when she looked at him. "I love you too, Steve. Always."