#Cooper Barton

[incorrectquotesmcu]

Clint: My daughter, Lila, is being tested for the gifted program at her school.

Clint: My son, Cooper, thinks his toothbrush is haunted.

[literaryavenger]

Happy Birthday

Summary: It's your birthday and the only person who doesn't seem to be excited about it is you.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: Mentions of death. Angst. Fluff. Language probably. My poor attempts at being funny.

Word Count: 2.5K

A/N: This story was completely self-indulgent, but I hope someone out there likes it!

Masterlist

You’ve always been very reluctant to celebrate your birthday.

You haven’t had a birthday party since you were 12. The following year your mom died a couple of days before and neither you nor your family were in the mood to celebrate anything.

It wasn’t by any means unexpected, she had been sick for a few years, but it still hit you hard.

You were the youngest and were far too young when she first got sick to really understand everything going on.

You were 8 and all you really remember is watching your mom get more and more sick until eventually there was nothing more the doctors could do.

Her death hit you hard and you closed yourself off, never talking about it or even crying after the day of her funeral. To this day you’ve still never cried, in front of others or even by yourself.

You started exercising to channel all your energy, refusing to do anything more like the therapy your family suggested. 

When you were 15 you discovered SHIELD and decided you wanted to help others, so you signed up for the SHIELD Academy, working your hardest and pushing yourself to your very limit.

You ended up being not only the youngest cadet ever, but the youngest to actually graduate and then the youngest recruit at SHIELD at only 16 years old.

Natasha was very impressed when she heard about you and took a liking to you, convincing Fury to make you part of her team during her missions and teaching you everything she knows.

That’s how you ended up in the Avengers Initiative, not that you felt you didn’t deserve it since you know how hard you worked and everything you gave up to work towards this achievement. 

The team themselves were initially skeptical since you were barely 18 during the battle of New York, but they were quickly proven wrong when they saw how well you handled yourself against the Chitauri. 

You were devastated when SHIELD fell, but carried on as an Avenger, battling Ultron and then moving to the Compound with the team.

You met the actual Bucky for the first time when you were 22, during the whole Civil War thing with Baron Zemo. Like Natasha, you were on Tony’s team, fighting mostly Pietro, but the conflict eventually ended. 

It took Tony some time to get over the whole “Bucky killing his parents while brainwashed” thing, but, as he likes to say, he can’t call himself a genius without admitting that Bucky didn’t have much of a choice. 

Thanks to Tony’s help Shuri was able to find a solution to Bucky’s brainwashing faster than she would’ve alone, meaning Bucky didn’t have to go back into cryo and was pretty quickly cleared to join the team, about a year after the airport battle in Leipzig.

You were warmly accepted by everybody and, the more the team grew the more you felt at home with these people.

And now you wish you could burn down the whole compound because, somehow, Tony convinced you to have a birthday party for the first time in 13 years because, in his words, 'you only turn 25 once'.

Good news is you managed to make him limit the guest list to the team and other people close to you like Maria Hill and Fury. Bad news is you’re still gonna be the center of attention, which you hate.

You couldn’t stop Tony from making everyone dress up for the party, and you couldn’t stop the team from getting you gifts even though you insisted all you wanted was everyone together and to have fun with them since for the longest time nobody ever even knew when your birthday was. 

What you didn’t realize was that the only person more worried than you about your gifts was Bucky.

Since he joined the team the two of you have gotten close, starting with his first training with the team where he very loudly told Steve about his disbelief that someone as young and small as you could actually be an asset to the team.

You quickly put him in his place by taking him down after less than two minutes of sparring, taking full advantage of his underestimating you because he “didn’t want to hurt a pretty little thing like you.”

Admittedly he was impressed and wasn’t shy about letting you know that, while the rest of the team snickered at his initial shock when you pinned him down.

You became friends after that, not as close as you’d like but friends nonetheless.

If you were honest with yourself you’ve been harboring a little crush on the supersoldier, but he’s never shown any interest so you resigned yourself to just being his friend.

Something that you did come to treasure, though, is your and Bucky’s late night talks.

It started with you walking in on him in the kitchen on a late night where you couldn’t sleep, nothing new to you, but the two of you barely talked other than acknowledging each other.

You took a bottle of water and left.

A couple of days later you ran into him again and you stood there in silence while you made yourself a cup of tea and then left for your room.

A few days later again he was just sitting there and said nothing as you made your tea, except this time you put a cup in front of him and silently took a seat next to him at the counter.

Two nights later when you arrived at the kitchen he was already there with a cup of tea in front of him and one in front of the seat next to him.

You didn’t want to assume it was for you, but you took a chance when you noticed it was the cup you always used, a blue mug with Stitch on it that says “Let’s get weird”. Your favorite in fact.

You hesitantly sat down next to him and, without you having to ask or without even looking at you, he told you that the nights you stay up late because you can’t sleep you tend to be more quiet during the team dinners and while you hang out afterwards.

You didn’t say anything in return and just sat there, trying not to overthink how much he seemed to watch you.

But the more nights you spent like that, the more you two talked and you gathered quickly that Bucky is a very observant person, nothing more.

You loved the time you spent together after dark where you’d talk about everything and anything, but come morning it was almost as if it never happened, which you came to accept.

It weirdly made the nights you spent talking even more special, which was almost every night.

But back to the present, you’re currently getting ready with Natasha and Wanda, who know much more than you about hair and makeup and are always happy to help you out with getting ready for Stark parties. 

You put on the black cocktail dress with rhinestones all over the corset and a slit down the left side, then the three of you make your way to the party room and you take a deep breath before entering.

Everyone is already there, all dressed up in fancy clothes as they all shout “Happy Birthday”.

You laugh and say hi to everybody while they all take turns hugging you, there’s not too many people but everyone important to you is there.

Even Laura and Clint’s kids are there, which you consider a second family at this point, since Laura always did treat you like a daughter.

You hate to admit that it's a nice party.

Knowing you, everyone makes an effort to not put you too much at the center of attention and you just go around talking to your friends like every other party.

Eventually time comes for the cake and, the moment you kind of dreaded, opening the gifts.

Since it's the first birthday you allowed the team to celebrate everyone decided to go all in for your gifts, which you picked up on from the very first gift you open.

Pietro got you a first edition of “The Picture Of Dorian Gray” which is your all time favorite book, Wanda and Maria got you a leather jacket and an amazing pair of boots that you knew were expensive because you were all out shopping together when you came across them.

Steve got you a gold heart-shaped locker with a picture of the team inside it, Natasha got you a charm bracelet with a little charm to represent everyone on the team, and Sam got you a cute necklace with your birth stone on it.

When you open Fury’s gift you start laughing since it's a gun, a SIG SAUER P226 to be precise, which is very Fury.

“It was my first gun when I joined SHIELD.” He says with a smile and you smile back, knowing how much thought he put into this gift.

You open Clint’s gift next, a bow and arrow that he already taught you how to use, and Laura got you a pair of diamond earrings.

Your heart melts when you open Lila, Cooper and Nathaniel’s gifts, respectively a friendship bracelet, an Avengers action figure of yourself and a Stitch plushie.

The three of them hug you tightly as you say thank you and now you only have two gifts left, Tony’s and Bucky’s, and they’re both little boxes. 

You open Tony’s next, thinking it’s some fancy necklace or earring but you frown when you see a car key.

“Is this the key to your car?” you ask Tony, knowing full well you’re holding the key to an Audi R8 Spyder, the car Tony’s let you borrow so many times you’re now wondering if he’s gifting you his spare set of keys.

“No.” He says casually “It’s the key to your car.”

You’re even more confused and simply stare at him with your mouth gaped, not really processing the information.

“Y-you… You got me a car?!” You almost yell out of shock and everyone else starts laughing at your antics when you start basically jumping up and down and hugging Tony, squealing like a little girl.

“Well, come on, let’s go see it!” Tony says enthusiastically after you’ve calmed down, and you get up, just as enthusiastic, but are stopped by Steve’s voice.

“Wait, wait. You have one gift left.” He says, picking up the small box and giving it to you. “It’s from Bucky.”

You were so pumped up by the car, you almost forgot about it and completely miss the mischievous look Steve gives Bucky and the murderous glare Bucky gives back.

You also miss Bucky starting to protest before you open his gift, but he instantly shuts up when he sees your face falling the second you open it.

It’s a small necklace with a blue rose in it, it really looks like something you’d give a little girl more than a 25 year old woman.

You look at it for a minute, running your finger on it before you raise your head and look at Bucky.

The whole room goes silent as they all watch you worriedly, everyone noticing immediately that tears are streaming down your face.

Nobody understands what’s happening and nobody knows how to react or what to do, it’s like they’re all frozen by the sight of you being vulnerable for the first time ever. 

Meanwhile Bucky’s heart is beating so loud he’s sure everyone around him can hear it, and he feels himself starting to panic at the thought of having ruined your birthday with that stupid gift.

Everybody else got you expensive gifts and all he did was get you a small, cheap necklace that reminded him of a story you briefly talked about once on one of your late night talks about a necklace you had as a kid.

He saw it at the mall while looking for a gift for you, remembering the sweet smile you had on your face when you mentioned it and the fleeting sad look he thought he saw when you told him you lost it when you were 12.

He was really proud of himself for that gift, but the more he saw the other gifts you got the more he regretted his choice, especially after Tony gave you a fucking car.

And now you were crying, not saying anything while just looking at him.

He doesn’t know what to expect from you at the moment, nobody does, he thinks you might yell, throw his gift back at him, tell him how much you hate it and him.

But you surprise everyone by throwing your arms around Bucky’s neck, hugging him tightly while crying into his shoulder.

You honestly forgot telling Bucky about that story and certainly didn’t expect him to remember it, especially since you always got the feeling that he didn’t care about your talks as much as you.

You just assumed that come morning he deleted everything you told him to make room for more important things, and you didn’t blame him.

But he didn’t.

What you didn’t tell him about the necklace is that your mom gave it to you because blue roses were her favorite, you had that necklace since you were born but you somehow lost it the day of her funeral.

That day you lost the two most important things in your life and cried yourself to sleep, and that was the last time you allowed yourself to be weak and cry.

Until today.

Bucky hesitantly wraps his arms around you, rubbing your back hoping to get you to calm down. He looks around at the rest of the team, panicking a little and not knowing what to do.

Everyone else is as clueless as he is, never having seen you in such a state before.

Bucky starts apologizing, his heart breaking at the sight of you crying, and he feels horrible that it’s because of him.

You shake your head quickly and pull away a little to look at him, wanting to reassure him you’re not sad or angry but incredibly happy, but words refuse to come. You take a deep breath to calm yourself and finally manage to speak.

“Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.” It’s quiet, but it’s something, and it’s enough to make Bucky let out a breath of relief at knowing you don’t hate him or his gift.

He brings you back in for another tight hug, almost forgetting about everyone else in the room as you hug him back without hesitation.

You’re honestly not even embarrassed at crying, all you care about at the moment is Bucky, his arms around you while he lets you bury your face in his neck, like you’ve been wanting to do for years now.

“Happy birthday, doll.” He whispers in your ear and, for the first time in 13 years, you really feel like it is.

[westannatasharomanoff]

Laura, to Clint: Help me get the kids in the car. Cooper! Lila! Come on! The whole family is going to the spaghetti hut for dinner!

Natasha: I guess I better go, then.

Laura: Where are you going?

Natasha: What?

Laura: I said the whole family. Get in the car.

[sycamorelibrary754]

Happy Easter

Summary: You are three weeks from your due date, but the thought of you and Natasha missing Easter at the Barton’s farmhouse in Iowa was simply inconceivable. What will you do if your little bundle of joy makes an early, unexpected entrance?

Genre: Fluff

Pairings: Natasha x reader, Avengers x reader (platonic).

Word Count: 5.7k

Warnings: None

A/N: Happy belated Easter! I wanted to post this fic on Easter, but there wasn't enough time. This is part 3 of Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! I recommend reading those stories first, but it can be read as a stand-alone story as well. This was so much fun to write. I hope you enjoy it! 

"Does anyone know where the purple egg dye is?" you inquired, scanning the table as you addressed the Barton kids. "I could have sworn we had two cups of every color." Cooper and Lila were fully engrossed in the Easter egg decorating contest, meticulously crafting their designs, while Nate seemed to relish in using every color available on the table. "Oh, it's on the counter.”

You were just about to rise from the kitchen table, no easy feat at this stage of your pregnancy. It felt like yesterday when you surprised Natasha with your pregnancy at Thanksgiving in front of her family and announced to the team that they would all be aunts and uncles at Tony’s annual Christmas party. Your due date was three weeks away, but missing Easter with Clint’s family in Iowa was out of the question.

“Don’t get up, Y/N. I got it!” Nat said as she jumped up to grab the paper cup of purple egg dye behind you.

"Thanks, sweetheart," you said as Nat placed the cup on the table.

"How are you feeling?" Natasha asked as she gently caressed your cheek. "Maybe you should take a break?”

“Nat, I promise I’m okay. Come sit back down and color some Easter eggs with us,” you replied, trying to put your wife at ease. 

Natasha was looking forward to Easter, too, but she was more focused on you and the final weeks of your pregnancy. Dr. Cho had given you the green light to go, with the condition that you'd have daily check-ins by phone and go on bed rest as soon as you returned home.

"Auntie Nat, look at this!" Nate proudly showed off an egg with The Black Widow symbol on it.

"Look, Auntie Nat," you echoed with a smile.

"This is amazing! Maybe I should have you design my next suit instead of Stark," she said.

"Shall we start the judging?" Clint asked as he entered the room with Laura.

"Yep, all set," Cooper confirmed.

"Just a sec," Lila said, focused on decorating her egg. "There, done."

"Where are Yelena and Kate?" Laura asked.

"We're coming!" came a shout from the living room.

"It's not a Fabergé egg, you two, come on!" Nat yelled.

"Tada!" Kate exclaimed, revealing a beautiful purple egg with green and orange stripes.

You whispered to your wife, "So that's where all the purple dye went.”

You placed your egg on the table with all the others. Pink and blue with red polka dots. Symbolic of your current anticipation over the impending arrival of your bundle of joy. You and Nat both agreed you wanted to be surprised.

“Hmmm, this is going to be a tough decision,” Clint said, stroking his chin. “As you all know, you will be judged on creativity, technique, and presentation.”

Walking back and forth in front of the kitchen table, you couldn’t help but giggle at his mock seriousness. 

“Allow me to confer with my fellow judge,” he said. After a few moments of hushed whispers with Laura, Clint returned to the group. “We thank you all for your participation. You all decorated beautiful Easter eggs. The competition was tough this year, but one egg stands head and shoulders above the rest,” pausing for dramatic effect. “The 2024 Barton Easter Egg Decorating Champion is Nathaniel Barton!” 

You shouldn't have spent so much time on the sketches!” Yelena said, slapping Kate on the arm. 

“Yes!!” Nathaniel cheered. 

“You are hereby awarded this Lindt Milk Chocolate Gold Bunny,” his father said, handing him the gold-wrapped chocolate as big as his head.

“That you will share with the rest of the family and not eat in one sitting,” Laura added.

“Aww!” Nathaniel whined. 

*^~^*

You spent the evening on the porch, surrounded by the laughter of the kids playing on the lush green lawn as the sun set over the farm. Laura served her delicious homemade Lemonade as you shared stories and reminisced about old times. The air was filled with nostalgia so vivid that you could almost reach out and touch it. Natasha sat next to you, holding your hand gently, her calloused touch a reminder of the strength and resilience she had acquired through years of training.

You were taken by surprise as you felt the baby begin to kick.

"Wow!" You exclaimed as you gently placed your hand on your belly.

All eyes turned to you. Though unspoken, everyone shared the same nervous anticipation as your wife for the approaching due date.

"Are you alright, malyshka?" Nat asked, her eyes filled with concern as she squeezed your hand.

"I'm okay. The baby is kicking. Here, feel." You said as you took her hand and gently guided it to your stomach, trying to find the right spot. 

“Oh,” Nat squeaked. “I’ll never get used to that feeling.”

“Move aside, sestra; I want to feel my little plemyannitsa or plemyannik.” (Niece or nephew).

Yelena playfully bumped her sister out of the way with her hip and eagerly reached to touch your stomach.

"Wow, that's amazing!" she cried out. "Hey there, little one. I'm Aunt Yelena, and I will spoil you rotten!"

"Have you two settled on a name yet?" Kate inquired.

"No," you sighed. "We just can't seem to agree. Since we both want to be surprised, it's been twice as hard to come up with two names."

"Don't worry, you'll know when you see the little bundle of joy," Laura reassured.

"This wouldn't be an issue if either of you were open to any of the names I've suggested," Yelena added with a grin.

“Yelena is not an option,” Natasha frustratedly replied.

“What about—“ 

“Neither is Alaska! That isn’t even a name!” Your wife is exasperated.

“It could be!” Yelena said. “What about—“

“Or Wolfgang!” Nat interrupted.

“You lack all originality, sestra,” Yelena berated.

^*~*^

The soft glow of the table lamp reflected off your glasses as you delved into the pages of your latest beloved read. You placed your bookmark between the pages at the sound of your wife closing the bathroom door and crawling into bed beside you.

"Did you get a chance to talk to Helen today?" Nat asked as she helped me fluff up my pregnancy pillow.

"Yeah, I did. She was glad to hear that the swelling in my ankles went down and suggested taking a warm bath to help with the discomfort," you replied, shifting to get comfortable against the pillow.

"Mmm, a warm bath does sound amazing," Natasha hummed as she settled down on her side, facing me.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you’d be joining me?” You said softly, with a sly grin and a raised eyebrow.

“Of course I would, detka,” leaning over and kissing your baby bump. 

You gently squeezed Nat's hand, feeling a wave of anticipation as your due date drew near. Thoughts of what your baby would look like and who they would become filled your mind. Would they inherit Nat's fiery red hair, or perhaps have your Y/E/C eyes? The anticipation was almost overwhelming, but knowing that Natasha was by your side made it all feel possible.

"Are you looking forward to the Easter egg hunt tomorrow?" You asked, pulling yourself out of your daydream.

Nat giggled, "You make it sound like I'm the one participating."

"Well, you might as well be. I can never tell who's more excited, you or the kids," you replied.

Natasha glanced down at our intertwined hands and then back up at you. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds.

"I think it's because holidays in my childhood weren’t real. We filled the photo album with fake pictures and empty boxes. But this," looking around at the small details of Clint and Laura’s farmhouse, "Is real, and I’ve always done my best to help ensure that Cooper, Lila, and Nate have everything I didn’t. A carefree childhood filled with love," Natasha explained.

"You’ve done a wonderful job with Clint’s kids, Nat. They love you so much, and I know you’ll be just as amazing with our little one," you said, doing your best to reassure her. “Goodnight, Natasha,” kissing her lips. 

“I hope you're right, detka,” Nat said, kissing your lips in return and laying a hand on your stomach. “Goodnight, malen'kiy (little one).

*^~^*

The following day, you awoke to the sun shining through the window and a soft breeze that caused the curtains to dance gently on the wind. Your back was aching, and you were tired, but you were determined to make it through today. You slipped into the most comfortable maternity outfit you had. Natasha helped you with your shoes, and you both went downstairs to the kitchen. 

“Happy Easter, you two!” Clint said upon seeing you two enter the kitchen. 

You sat down at the kitchen table as Laura placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of you and Nat, along with two glasses of orange juice. The kids were already eating and arguing over who would find the most Easter eggs this afternoon. 

Yelena and Kate walked in a few moments later, clad in bathrobes and their hair disheveled. 

“Against the idea of showering and dressing before breakfast, were you?” Natasha asked.

“Kate Bishop kept me up all night with her snoring, and Lucky and Fanny woke me up by sitting on my face,” Yelena mumbled as she flopped beside you. 

“Hey, that’s how dogs shows affection,” Kate interjected.

“So, I should consider your snoring a Valentine?” Yelena deadpanned. 

After breakfast, the kids ran upstairs to prepare for the Easter egg hunt while Clint got a head start on hiding the eggs. Nathaniel insisted Nat accompany him to help find his Easter basket, but she hesitated to leave you.

“Go ahead, babe. I’m fine.” Motioning for her to follow her namesake. 

“So, how are you really feeling?” Laura asked, now that Nat was no longer in the room. 

You let out a deep sigh, “Tired and sore,” resting your head in your hands. “But this quality time with you all means so much to both of us. I can make it one more day before going on bed rest.”

Laura rubbed her hand softly on your back, “Why don’t you sit in the family room with Kate and Yelena until the fun starts.” 

“Okay, that’s a good idea. Make sure Yelena and Kate haven’t snuck into the Easter candy,” you laughed. 

Laura helped you to your feet and then began to clear the table. As you started to walk, you felt a minor twinging pain in your stomach. You winced but thought nothing of it. With the amount of shifting the baby was doing these days, you had every spasm and cramp in the book. Unfortunately for you, you were in a house full of spies, and Laura picked up your discomfort. She made a mental note to watch you as the day progressed.

*^~^*

"Look, there's one!" Cooper exclaimed, pointing at the leather seat of the tractor in the front yard. He dashed towards it, but Lila beat him by a step. "Ha! Slowpoke," she teased.

From your spot on the porch, you glanced over and saw my wife hoisting Nathaniel onto her shoulders to carefully grab an Easter egg from the crook of an old sycamore tree. 

After about 15 minutes, everyone's baskets were full of eggs. Now came the fun of opening them all. You watched as all three kids dug into their baskets, opening the eggs to find mini Hershey bars, M&M's, jelly beans, or starbursts.

Nathaniel walked over to you and placed an Orange Starburst in your hand. "Here, Aunt Y/N. I know the Orange ones are your favorite."

"Aww, thank you, Nate," you said, kissing his forehead.

As you were about to open the soft toffy candy, a sharp contraction cut through my stomach. “Aaah!” you reached for your stomach as you bent over at the knees. Much stronger than anything you had felt before.

Natasha rushed to your side. “Y/N?! Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Reaching for your hand.

"I don’t know," you grunted.

Natasha's voice quivered with anxiety as she tried to rationalize the situation. "This—this can’t be it. We’re still three weeks out," she said, her mind racing with worry. "Maybe it’s just false labor."

That was the moment when your water broke. "Oh God—" you took a sharp breath as another contraction hit.

"Okay, not false labor," Nat conceded.

"It’s okay, Y/N," Laura reassured you calmly, gently taking your hand. "Most first births are a long labor. But we’re going to get you inside, okay?"

You felt a surge of panic. "What? No, no. I can't have the baby here. I'm not ready. We had a birth plan; I don't have my overnight bag!" you started to ramble, the anxiety rising in your voice.

"You're not boarding a Quinjet now. “I'm going to call Helen,” Clint said as he started to run inside.

"What's wrong with Aunt Y/N?” Nathaniel asked.

"Nothing, sweetheart, but the baby is coming a little bit earlier than we thought," Laura said calmly as she and your wife Nat gently guided you up the steps and into the warm and welcoming embrace of the house.

"Cooper and Lila, please grab a soft, warm blanket and clean towels from the linen closet?" Laura called out to the older children, her voice steady and reassuring.

I'l boil some water and tear up some sheets!" Kate announced frantically.

"This isn't Little House on the Prairie," Yelena quipped. She looked at you and Natasha with a warm yet nervous smile. "I’ll call Mom and Dad.”

"I thought you said this was a long process?" you managed to say between deep breaths, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Yes, but there's nothing wrong with being prepared, honey," Laura replied with a comforting smile, her hands steady as she and Nat helped you onto the bed.

Natasha gently grasped your hand and locked eyes with you. "Y/N, look at me," she said reassuringly. “You’re okay, and I'm right here with you. Let's take a deep breath together.”

You took a deep breath, trying to follow Natahsa's lead. The air came out shakily as it moved around the sharp pain of the contraction.

"Do you remember your Lamaze breathing?" Nat asked, her voice calm and reassuring.

"I think so," you replied, trying to focus on the breathing technique you had practiced during the prenatal classes.

*^~^*

Contractions came and went over the next few hours. You were thankful that childbirth was part of the first aid classes all SHIELD recruits were required to take. Otherwise, the prospect of giving birth in a farmhouse in the middle of Iowa would have been more terrifying than it already was. 

You heard the front door open and the screen shut behind it as footsteps hurriedly approached the bedroom. When you saw Dr. Cho, you just about burst into tears. 

Helen! Oh, thank goodness," you exclaimed just as another contraction began, your face twisted in agony.

"Y/N," Helen responded, rushing to your side and gently pushing the sweaty strands of hair away from your eyes. "Clint and Laura briefed me. They said that you're handling this wonderfully. Let me take a moment to set up, and then we'll check your dilation progress.”

Okay," you managed to say, catching your breath. "Where's Bruce?"

He's in Kamar-Taj with Wong. Something about ten rings? I'm not entirely sure, but don't worry, both of you," she reassured, meeting your and Natasha’s fatigued and apprehensive gazes. "I have a backup.”

Thor strode into the room, effortlessly carrying a collection of Helen's equipment that seemed as light as a feather in his hands.

"Thor? What are you doing here?" Natasha asked, clearly puzzled.

Thor glanced at your wife, then at you, then at Laura, and then at Helen.

"Hello, everyone," he said shyly. "I was, uh, Helen and I—Dr. Cho. She invited me for Easter, and we were enjoying a nice glass of Asgardian Mead when—"

"When Clint called," Helen finished. "Anyway, he's here to help, right?"

"Of course," Thor replied. "I've never witnessed a human birth before, but I've been present for the births of many Gods and am well-versed in many newborn blessings."

You and Natasha locked eyes, your nervousness quickly replaced with gratitude as you realized the significance of having another close friend by your side during this pivotal moment in your lives.

Natasha expressed her gratitude to Thor, finally breaking the silence. "We're both thankful that you're here," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. 

You nodded in agreement, silently acknowledging the sentiment.

"It's my pleasure, ladies," Thor replied warmly.

“Thor, can you bring the rest of my equipment in from the Quinjet while I check to see how far Y/N is dilated?” Helen asked.

“Sure, and do either of you need anything? He asked.

Some ice chips would be great, you said in a tired voice. “Thank you.”

“Water,” Natasha said.

Shortly after Thor departed, Yelena entered, engaging in small talk as they crossed paths in the hallway. "What's the God of muscles doing here?" she inquired.

"It's a long story," Helen responded.

"I spoke with Melina. She and Alexi are en route and should arrive by morning. At least, I think that's what she said. It was hard to hear her over Alexi's ecstatic screams in the background."

"Okay, Y/N, you've done most of the hard work in my absence. You're just about at 10 centimeters. It’s time to start pushing. You two are going to parents soon," Helen announced with a smile.

“Oh my God,” you said, looking over at Natasha. 

“Hey,” your wife said, running her hand through your hair, “I love you.” 

“I love you too,” you said.

*^~^*

“Push. Push, just a little more! Come on, push for five seconds. 5…4…” Helen counted down.

Gasping for air, you exclaimed, '3-2-1 oh!!' as you fought to catch your breath.

Thor gently wiped away the sweat from your forehead with a cloth.

“You're doing great, Y/N. The next contraction should be coming in about twenty seconds," Helen encouraged, glancing at the monitor. 

“I can’t,” you cried. “I can’t push anymore, I can’t.”

Natasha reassured you, "Yes, you can, Y/N. You're so close," she reached out and firmly took hold of your hand.

“Oh God, twenty seconds, my ass!” You shouted.

Natasha screamed in pain and fell to her knees beside you as you squeezed her hand. “Fuck, detka!”

"Here, Lady Y/N," Thor said, taking her hand in his, "Give my hand a good squeeze; you won't hurt me. And when you reminisce on this moment, you will remember that a God has faith in you. You can do this!" Thor's voice was solid and reassuring, his eyes filled with genuine belief in your strength.

Your eyes shone with tears as you held Thor's hand tightly, feeling the strength in his grip while Natasha enveloped you, her arm supporting your back.

I can see the baby's head. Are you ready to push one more time, honey?” Helen asked, “Here we go, on three: 1... 2... 3!”

You let out a final scream and then collapsed back onto the pillows, trying to catch your breath. As the room fell silent, the innocent cries of your and Natasha’s baby filled the air.

"It's a boy!" Helen exclaimed with joy.

Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at Natasha, who was also crying. It was more emotion than you had ever seen Natasha show before.

Helen held up your son for both of you to admire. His little head was adorned with the beginnings of red hair. 

"He's absolutely perfect," Nat exclaimed with a radiant smile as she affectionately kissed your temple.

Thor carefully cut the umbilical cord, and then Helen gently passed the newborn over to Laura, who began to clean him up. 

Overwhelmed with emotion, you exclaimed, "He's so tiny! Where'd he go?"

Natasha reassured you, "It's okay. They're just wrapping him up," as she wiped away her tears. Concerned for the baby's well-being, you cautioned, "Okay, well, be careful with him. He's really tiny!”

Moments later, Laura tenderly announced, "Here he is," and placed your precious son on your bare chest, swathed in a soft blanket.

"Hi, baby boy," you whispered, tears streaming down your cheeks. "I know you."

As your voice reached his ears, his little Y/E/C irises opened, revealing a world of innocence and wonder.

At that moment, gazing at your son, you experienced a love so profound it felt as though your heart had been laid bare.

Natasha tenderly kissed his head and softly murmured, “Dobro pozhalovat' v mir, moy malen'kiy mal'chik.” (Welcome to the world, my little boy).

We’ll give you a few minutes," Helen said with a reassuring smile as she closed the door behind her. In the serene stillness that followed, the only sound was the gentle cooing of your precious newborn son.

“I can't believe he's finally here,” you said.

"I know. He’s so beautiful," Natasha said, her gaze fixed on the newborn.

"It looks like he’s going to take after his Mama," you chuckled, running your hand over the delicate red hairs sprouting from his scalp.

"Yes, but look at his eyes—sparkling Y/E/C like yours. Wow," Nat said.

You remarked, "I guess this narrows the names down, then."

Nat sighed in relief, "Thank goodness I don't have to explain to my sister why we didn't choose Yelena."

Looking into your wife's eyes, you asked, "So what do you think?"

*^~^*

A short while later, a gentle knock on the door signaled Helen's arrival as she peeked inside. "Hey, you three. I need to conduct a few routine tests, and there are some eager people outside who can't wait to meet your son."

"Please, come on in, everyone," you welcomed them.

You couldn't hold back the tears as you witnessed the heartfelt expressions on their faces as they laid eyes on your baby boy. It was as if he instantly captivated them, just as you were when you first saw him.

"Oh, my goodness," Laura exclaimed as Clint enveloped Natasha tightly. Tears glistened in his eyes as he held his best friend close.

"He's beautiful, Natasha," Yelena said, her eyes brimming with tears. "Privet, malen'kiy plemyannik," she whispered (hello, my little nephew).

"He's so cute, Y/N! Oh my gosh," Kate exclaimed as your son wrapped his tiny hand around your finger.

"He is lovely," Thor added, his voice filled with warmth. "Strong and brave, like his mothers."

Cooper, Lila, and Nathaniel gathered around you, admiring the newborn in your arms.

"Everyone," Natasha began, her hand resting lovingly on your back. "We have someone special we'd like you to meet.”

“This is Nikolai Odison Romanoff," you announced with a proud smile.

"Nikolai! What a beautiful first name," Clint exclaimed, wiping his eyes. "It suits him perfectly."

"Oh, my, Odison," Thor said wide-eyed. "Ladies, this is an honor fit for someone else. I wasn't even supposed to be here, I—" 

"But you were, Thor. You were here when I needed someone the most," you said, looking at him with gratitude. "We'll never forget what you did for us."

The God of Thunder exhaled, visibly touched by your kind words. "I'm truly honored, Y/N. Thank you," he said, kissing your cheek.

Excuse me, ladies," Helen said, "May I borrow him for a moment? We'll be right back.”

Nikolai began to cry at the loss of contact with you, and the sound tugged at both your and Natasha's heartstrings. "It's okay, little one. It's okay," Helen soothed him. 

Then, looking up at your wife, you added, "There is something else we wanted to ask. 

“Clint and Laura, we would be honored if you would be Nikolai’s godparents,” Natasha said.

“Of course!” Clint declared.

“Nothing would make us happier,” Laura added.”

The couple hugged you both in appreciation as Helen returned with Nikolai. 

“You have a healthy little boy on your hands! Born March 31st, 2024 at 7:23pm. He weighs five pounds and eight ounces and measures 16.5 inches long," she said as she gently placed your son in Natasha’s arms. "He's a bit small, but that is because he was impatient and arrived a bit early," Helen explained with a warm smile. "Nothing to worry about.”

Natasha cradled the baby in her arms, swaying gently back and forth as a soft yawn slipped from his tiny lips.

“We’ll spend the night here, but I want to bring Mom and Nikolai back to the compound tomorrow. I want to perform a thorough examination in my lab before sending you all home.” Helen explained.

"Of course, whatever you think is best," you agreed.

Natasha nodded in approval before a sudden realization struck her. "Oh, Mom and Dad! They're on their way here."

"They can join us if you'd like," Helen suggested.

"That would be great," you said. "Right, Nat?"

"Yeah, great," Natasha said, her mind racing as she tried to imagine the chaos of the Quinjet flight home with Alexi and Melina.

Yelena couldn't help but burst into laughter, fully aware of what her sister was thinking, until Kate elbowed her in the ribs.

"We'll leave you all to get some rest," Helen said. "I'll be outside if you need anything, and I'll be back in a little while to help you with breastfeeding him.”

"Thank you, Helen, and all of you, for everything," you said, feeling the exhaustion and emotions of the day overwhelming you as tears began to fall.

After exchanging warm embraces, everyone exited the room, leaving you and Natasha in peaceful solitude with your precious newborn son, savoring the tender moment.

Natasha gently settled Nikolai in Nathaniel's bassinet, a family heirloom lovingly retrieved from storage by Clint and Laura. As your little one drifted into a peaceful slumber, you both couldn't help but marvel at the miracle of life, watching his tiny chest rise and fall with each breath. It was a moment you never wanted to forget.

“Rest, detka. I'll take care of Nikolai," Nat offered, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance.

"I can stay up; it's fine. You should rest," you insisted, determined to take responsibility.

"Y/N, you've just brought new life into the world. You deserve to rest for the rest of your life," Nat chuckled, her eyes filled with affection and concern.

She settled beside you on the bed and enveloped you in a comforting embrace.

"Look at your face," Nat suddenly remarked, her expression softening with genuine admiration.

"I must look a mess," you replied, a tired smile tugging at your lips.

"No, Y/N, you look absolutely beautiful," Nat insisted, her words filled with sincerity. "I've never seen your face more radiant than it is right now.

Natasha's soft lips met yours in a tender kiss, and in that moment, you felt the truth of her words resonate deep within you.

*^~^*

The following day, Laura prepared a delicious breakfast and brought it to you and Natasha in bed. Both of you had barely gotten any sleep with Nikolai waking up every couple of hours. Despite feeling utterly exhausted, you didn't mind one bit. This weariness stemmed from the joy of caring for your precious newborn son on his very first night.

Twenty minutes later, the tranquil moment was interrupted by familiar voices outside. Natasha gently pulled the curtain back to glimpse her parents making their way up the front porch steps.

Yelena strode into the room with her arms folded and a mischievous smile on her lips. "Brace yourselves," she teased, "The grandparents have arrived.”

"Where's my little guy?" Alexi eagerly shouted as he entered the room.

"Shh!" Natasha hushed him with a grin, motioning to Nikolai nestled in her arms. "Oh, look at him!" Alexi whispered in awe. 

"Mom, Dad, this is Nikolai,” Nat said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"He's beautiful, Natalia," Melina murmured.

"May I hold him? I washed my hands," Alexi asked eagerly.

"Of course," you replied, carefully passing the baby to Alexi. The sight of the mighty Red Guardian tenderly cradling your newborn son made you smile.

"Hello, Nikolai. I'm your dedushka," Alexi said affectionately. "You're so adorable; yes, you are."

As he spoke, Nikolai slowly opened his eyes, and you could have sworn you saw your father-in-law's heart swell with love. 

Alexi gently placed the baby in Melina’s arms. Your mother-in-law had always been a complex and enigmatic figure. She was one of the longest-tenured widows, and her resilience made her one of the strongest women in your eyes. As she cradled your newborn son in her arms, a single tear traced its way down her cheek, revealing a depth of emotion and vulnerability that you had never seen before.

Yelena inched toward you and whispered, “He won them over faster than you did.” 

*^~^*

The next morning, Thor joined in to assist with packing while Clint hurried to the store to purchase an infant car seat for Nikolai. You were a family of two when you arrived, and you were leaving a family of three.

After a swift diaper change, Natasha placed your precious bundle of joy in his carrier. "Time to head home, Nik," you said, taking his tiny hand in yours. 

You bid farewell to everyone and securely placed Nikolai's carrier beside you on the Quinjet.

Nat smiled as she prepared the Quinjet for takeoff. Your first Quinjet ride," she said. "You're already an overachiever, moy sladkiy mal'chik" (my sweet little boy).

Your phone suddenly vibrates with a flurry of notifications.

"The team group chat is blowing up, sweetheart," showing Natasha your phone.

Nick Fury: Congratulations on the arrival of your precious son, Nikolai! It's heartwarming to see the Avengers family welcoming the newest member. Everyone at SHIELD looks forward to meeting him and supporting you and Natasha.

Steve Rogers: Hey, Y/N and Nat, huge congratulations! I'm so excited to meet Nikolai, the newest addition to our Avenger family. 🎖️

Wanda Maximoff: Congratulations to you both! All those cliches, those things you hear about having a baby and motherhood—all of them are true. Motherhood is the most beautiful things you will ever experience. I’ll drop off some food for you both in the morning. 🥰

Clint Barton: Hey, Y/N! Make sure Nikolai is securely fastened in his infant carrier. I hope he sleeps the whole way back. If he gets fussy, ask FRIDAY to turn on the cabin pressure stabilization. It's a feature I insisted Stark add to the Quinjet after SHIELD found out I had kids. You're welcome. 😏

Laura Barton: I know things didn't go as planned, but I'm grateful we could share in your special day, Y/N. Nikolai is absolutely beautiful! Please let Nat know that I'll give her a call tomorrow. 😊

Tony Stark: Rushman! Y/L/N! Congratulations on the arrival of your precious son. Nikolai will bring you endless joy and fulfillment and become your favorite reason to lose sleep for the rest of your lives. 😉

Pepper Stark: Congratulations, you two! I'm so happy for you and Nat. I can only imagine how incredible it must feel to look into Nikolai's eyes and feel like everything is right in the world. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything I can do to help. Sending lots of love! ❤️

Bruce Banner: I'm truly sorry I couldn't be there; I’m thrilled for you and Natasha. I can't wait to meet Nikolai! 💚

Maria Hill: Congratulations, Y/N and Nat, on the arrival of baby Nikolai Odison! I can't wait to meet the little bundle of joy and see those tiny fingers and toes. The name Nikolai Odison Romanoff is absolutely beautiful. I spoke with Thor this morning, and the honor deeply moved him. 🥹

Thor Odinson: I am incredibly grateful to have been present for the birth of your son, Nikolai Odison Romanoff. Your decision to include me in this momentous occasion is a great honor, and I want to assure you that I will always be there to support and care for all of you. The arrival of Nikolai is a joyous event, and I am committed to being a steadfast presence in his life. ⚡

Peter Parker: Y/N! Congratulations on the arrival of Nikolai! I'm so thrilled for you and Nat. What does he look like? Does he have your hair or Natasha’s? What color are his eyes? I'm already thinking about all the adventures we'll have with him. I'm going to text Nat right now. I can't wait to meet him! 💙

Yelena Belova: Give my little nephew a kiss and hug from me. Also, heads up - Mom and Dad are considering staying with you for eight weeks to help care for Nikolai. Happy Parenting! 😂

Kate Bishop: Yelena is sitting next to me, and she can't stop laughing, so I'm going to assume that everything is going well. Please give Nikolai a kiss and hug from me! 🩵

*^~^*

You and Natasha stood together at the front of the Quinjet, the hum of the engines surrounding you as the aircraft soared safely through the sky. 

“Nikolai is sound asleep. I don't think your parents have taken their eyes off our son since they got here,” turning around to see Melina and Alexi lovingly admiring their grandson. 

Nat lovingly reached for your hand. “Our son,” she repeated with a big smile.

Nat took her place in the pilot's seat and turned off the autopilot as you settled in beside her.

"Come on, Y/N. Let’s go home.”

[clintbarton-thearrowguy]

*I drop off @the-loss-of-my-life @moon-barnes @fox-barnes @official-alpinebarnes at my house* you four stay here I’m going after Nat.

@hawkeyes-favorite @cooperbarton-hawkeyeskid @laura-barton-shield we have guests, Nat’s kids. Have fun, don’t burn anything down.

[lesbianandstressing]

✨soft natasha headcanon #3✨

Natasha’s graduation ceremony haunts her, and it’s because she thought all her maternal instincts were taken with her ovaries and uterus. But, Natasha is actually really amazing with kids. Cooper was seven when they first met, and Lila was five. They both immediately took a liking to her, and it was only two months after first meeting them that they asked to call her Auntie Nat. Even with kids that are older like Peter Parker, she is always so good with them. She’s Peter’s second favorite Avenger after Tony, and he thinks that she gives the best hugs and advice. Nathaniel and Natasha have always had a special bond. Whenever Clint and Laura couldn’t calm him down as a baby, they would always call Nat and he would instantly settle. Natasha can’t have biological kids, but there are plenty of kids in her life that she considers her own.

[bishovapls]

Hold On - Part 5: All you gotta do is say please, baby.

Pairing: Yelena Belova & Kate Bishop

Chapter Summary: Kate and Yelena are finally heading back to New York, but not before Clint calls Kate out on the real reason she came to Iowa in the first place. The journey home is slow and weighed down by tough conversations and emotions, but they manage to lean on each other through it. And when Yelena’s surprise is finally revealed, Kate’s way of saying thank you turns the moment into something neither of them will forget.

Warnings: Mentions of a previous suicide attempt, Red Room training/abuse flashbacks and thoughts, hysterectomy, very brief allusions to sexual abuse in the Red Room, and smut (It is pretty soft tbh).

A/N: It has taken me so long to get this chapter out, ahh. I’ve written and rewritten it so many times, I just couldn’t get the flow right, and I still don’t feel like it’s fully there. Originally, this chapter was so much longer, but I had to cut it down, and I don’t think it helped with the flow at all. Also, my girlfriend currently has me acting as Bob the Builder, fixing stuff up around the house ready for her guests that will be here next week, so I really needed to stop obsessing over this. It’s being posted as-is, and I really hope it’s good enough😅.

Also, we all know Google Translate loves to mess things up, so if any of the Russian is off, just pretend you didn’t see it.

Word count: 15k

Part 5 begins below the cut, you can also find the fic on AO3. I also have a masterlist.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Since the rather awkward but well-meaning ‘shovel talk’ with the Bartons, Yelena and Kate had ended up staying at the Barton family farm for an entire week longer than originally planned. What had been intended as a few days of refuge had quietly extended itself into something far gentler, far warmer, than either of them had expected. There was something disarmingly soothing about the rhythm of life on the farm, the quiet hum of daily chores, the wide-open skies, and the simple, grounding presence of people who truly cared. It gave them both a rare chance to breathe, to just exist for a while without the weight of New York pressing down on their shoulders.

But while it had seemed, from the outside, like they were merely resting, Yelena had been anything but idle. Beneath her calm exterior, she had been working tirelessly, almost obsessively, with Sonya and their trusted legal contact to untangle the complicated mess that Kate’s life had become in the wake of her mother’s downfall. Eleanor Bishop’s surrender of her assets had been swifter and more complete than anyone could have anticipated. Every account, every share, every property, Eleanor had signed them all over, as though ridding herself of a burden too heavy to carry. It felt almost too easy, and Kate, naturally, had been suspicious.

More than once, she had shot Yelena a wary glance over her laptop screen, voicing her concern in cautious, half-whispered words. "Lena, are we... sure this is legal?" she had asked, worry creasing her brow. But Yelena, who had seen far murkier corners of the world, had only given her that quietly assured look and a faint smile, saying softly, “Trust me, detka (babe).” And Kate had, because Yelena had become the one person in the world Kate trusted without hesitation, even when it made her stomach twist with nerves.

So now, officially, Kate had it all. More money than she would ever need, full ownership of Bishop Securities, and the penthouse. But while the money and the company had been practical victories, the penthouse remained a heavy weight chained to her chest. Yelena could see it in her eyes every time the topic came up, that tightness in her expression, the way her lips would press together just a little too firmly, like she was swallowing back the memories it dredged up. Memories of her mother, of loneliness, of a life that no longer felt like her own.

What Kate didn’t know, however, was that Yelena had been working quietly, almost obsessively, behind the scenes to fix that as well. She had spent stolen moments on hushed phone calls, slipping away under the guise of errands or casual strolls, laying the groundwork for a surprise that she hoped would soften Kate’s return to the city. She had no intention of letting Kate step back into a place that made her heart ache. 

As for the two of them, well, their fledgling relationship had blossomed into something far sweeter, far steadier, than either had dared hope. They were almost inseparable now, moving through the days with a natural, easy closeness that felt like breathing. When Yelena wasn’t off plotting her secret surprise, she and Kate spent nearly every moment together, as if making up for all the time they had lost to danger and uncertainty.

Every night, without fail, they curled up together in bed, their bodies instinctively gravitating toward one another. Yelena, despite her usual bravado, had slipped quite happily into the role of little spoon, tucking herself securely against Kate’s chest, as if Kate alone could keep the world at bay. Kate never once complained. She held Yelena close like she was something fragile and precious, pressing absent-minded kisses to her hair as they drifted off to sleep.

On the two nights that Kate’s nightmares resurfaced, Yelena didn't let her face them alone. She would sit up, bleary-eyed but determined, and throw on a movie until the shadows retreated from Kate’s mind. They’d stay awake together, wrapped in each other’s arms beneath the dim glow of the laptop screen, until exhaustion finally pulled them under.

But it wasn’t just the quiet, intimate moments that wove them closer. Their days had become something out of a dream. They tried everything the countryside could offer, throwing themselves into each moment with reckless abandon. When they weren’t in school, Clint’s kids had roped them into backyard games that became rambunctious affairs since Yelena, competitive to the bone, was determined not to let anyone, not even a child, beat her at capture the flag. 

Kate, of course, took this as a challenge, and the two of them ended up diving across the grass, tangled together in breathless laughter as Lucky barked encouragement from the sidelines.

They spent sunny afternoons sprawled out on blankets beneath the wide, open sky, making daisy chains and pretending not to care who could make the longest one, though both of them absolutely did. 

There were early mornings too, when Kate would let herself be coaxed out of bed just to watch the sun rise over the fields. She’d grumble the whole way, burying her face in Yelena’s shoulder, but the moment the sky blushed pink and gold, she’d quietly admit it was worth it. Yelena would kiss her temple in reply, smiling into her hair, and Kate’s complaints would fade into contented silence.

Their walks turned into playful races, always ending with them breathless and triumphant, collapsing into the long grass and staring up at the sky as if they had all the time in the world. Clint and Laura watched them from a distance with soft smiles, seeing not just two young women who had survived too much, but two people who, finally, were learning how to live.

It wasn’t perfect. There were still shadows that lingered at the edges, ghosts of fear and memory they hadn’t yet outrun. But, for the first time in what felt like forever, they’d found something that resembled home, a fragile, precious thing that made them believe, even if only quietly, that they could build something lasting. And that was exactly why, eventually, it had to end. 

They couldn’t stay with the Bartons forever. They had lives waiting for them, roads that needed to be walked. Kate had a business to mend, a city to reclaim, and Yelena had sisters to free, a mission that still burned bright beneath her ribs. As comforting as it was to stay wrapped in the warmth of family, borrowed as it was, they knew deep down it couldn’t last.

So, over breakfast on a sleepy Sunday morning, Kate finally broke the news. She set down her coffee cup and, with a quiet kind of resolve, told the Bartons they’d be leaving that evening. It felt heavy and right all at once.

Later, as they were packing, Clint appeared in the doorway of what had become Kate’s room, and now, unmistakably, Yelena’s too. He lingered for a second, awkward, almost like he didn’t know where to place himself. His fingers tapped against the doorframe before he spoke, a nervous edge to his voice.

“Kate,” he began, clearing his throat, eyes flicking between her and Yelena. “Could we, uh… could we talk? You know… privately? Before you go?”

Kate blinked, caught off guard. A flicker of worry pinched at her brow. Why couldn’t Yelena hear this too? What did he need to say that wasn’t for both of us? But still, she nodded, a tight little motion, and set down the jumper she’d been folding. With a glance at Yelena, she followed Clint out of the room, her heart thudding a little faster than before.

They had made their way to the dining table, and Clint had wordlessly set a cup of coffee in front of Kate. They sat across from one another, the space between them somehow vast and suffocating all at once. The silence felt brittle, stretched too thin, and Clint’s discomfort was obvious in the way his gaze darted to the window, to the table, to anything but her. He seemed to struggle with where to begin, the words knotting in his throat.

“Clint… what is it?” Kate’s voice cracked as she tried to make it sound lighter, a nervous little chuckle slipping through her lips, though it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest. “You’re scaring me.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, his brows pulling together as he exhaled a long, shaky breath. When he looked back at her, there was something fragile in his expression, something that made her stomach twist.

“I know you’re probably not going to want to hear this,” he began, his voice rough and uneven, tripping over the weight of his own words. “But I need you to understand… I wouldn’t bring it up if I weren’t worried. I am worried. I just…I need to be sure you’re going to be okay.”

The moment the words left him, her heart lurched to her throat. Her breath caught, brittle and sharp, and her hands instinctively curled around the warm mug in front of her, as if it could somehow ground her.

“Laura told you,” she whispered, her voice barely there, a hollow breath against the growing storm inside her chest. It wasn’t a question, it didn’t need to be. She felt her pulse thunder in her ears, anxiety clawing its way up like a rising tide.

Clint gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. His eyes were glassy, rimmed red as he swallowed against the swell of emotion. “She did,” he admitted, his voice tight. “She was worried, Kate. You’re going back there, and last time, you just…” He faltered, his breath catching as he tried to gather the words that had been gnawing at him. “You cut us off. Completely. And I thought—” his voice broke, and he pressed his lips together for a beat, forcing the lump in his throat down. “I thought we made it clear you mattered to us. I thought you knew how much you mattered. I’m so sorry, Kate. We should’ve made it clear.”

Kate’s eyes stung with unshed tears as she shook her head, her chest aching. She could see him fighting against the tears clouding his vision, see the cracks in his usually steady composure.

“Clint,” she breathed, her voice trembling, “stop. Please. Don’t apologise. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She swallowed hard, her throat raw. “I knew you cared. I always did. It’s just… God, Clint, it wasn’t about that. No matter what you or Laura said, or did, or tried… it felt like time. I didn’t see any other way. I didn’t plan to stay, no matter what.”

Her confession hung heavy in the air between them, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, a single tear slipped free down Clint’s cheek, his breath shuddering as he blinked hard, like he could will the rest away.

“We could’ve lost you, Kate,” he rasped, his voice thick with grief and fear that hadn’t eased with time. His fingers curled into fists on the table. “We could’ve lost you and I—” He stopped himself, shook his head as if the thought alone was too much to bear. “I don’t want you to go back to New York,” he said hoarsely. “We don’t want you to go. You’re safe here. You’re safe with us.”

His voice cracked on the last word, and Kate’s lips parted, but the words tangled in her throat, caught between the crushing guilt and the fragile tenderness of what Clint was saying. 

Her eyes burned, and she blinked fast, but it did nothing to stop the tears that blurred her vision. She hated this feeling, this raw exposure, this vulnerability that made her feel like her chest had been split wide open, but more than that, she hated how right he was. How much it hurt to hear the truth spoken out loud.

“I know,” she rasped, her voice unsteady as she pushed the words free. “I know you don’t want me to go. And maybe part of me doesn’t want to either.” Her hands tightened around the mug, knuckles pale. “But I can’t hide here forever, Clint. I can’t stay safe in this house and pretend like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, forcing back the sob that clawed at her chest. “I have to face it. I have to try, even if it’s terrifying. Even if I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

Clint’s eyes searched hers, as if he could somehow shoulder the weight of her fears if he just looked hard enough. “You are strong enough,” he said, his voice rough but certain. “But you don’t have to do it alone, Katie. You never have to do it alone again.”

Her heart clenched painfully at the nickname, at the way he said it like she was still that same stubborn, reckless girl who followed him into danger without thinking. She let out a shaky breath, and a tear slipped free, trailing down her cheek. “I’m not alone,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Not anymore.”

As if summoned by her words, there was a soft sound behind them, a light, almost hesitant knock against the doorframe. Kate turned her head, blinking through her tears to see Yelena standing there. She looked out of place in the doorway, her usual sharp confidence softened by something gentler, more uncertain. Her gaze flicked between them, lingering on Kate’s tear-streaked face, her brows knitting with quiet concern.

“Am I interrupting?” Yelena asked, though her voice was quiet, and it was obvious she already knew the answer. “I just…I had a feeling and wanted to check...”

Kate’s chest tightened at the sight of her, at the warmth and the worry in her eyes. She shook her head, her breath catching in her throat. “No,” she managed, her voice breaking. “No, you’re not.”

Clint followed her gaze, and something in his expression shifted, a realisation, a kind of fragile relief. He cleared his throat and wiped at his cheek with the back of his hand, trying to pull himself together. “Never,” he said hoarsely. “Because I think you’re part of this too.”

Yelena stepped further into the room, her eyes never leaving Kate. Without needing to be asked, she came to her side, her presence grounding and steady. She didn’t say anything right away, just placed a gentle hand on Kate’s shoulder, her thumb brushing in quiet circles against her skin. It was such a small gesture, but it sent a wave of warmth through Kate’s chest, steadying the storm just a little.

Kate exhaled shakily, leaning into the touch. “I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “I’m so scared.”

Yelena’s brows softened, and she crouched slightly so she could meet Kate’s eyes, her hand never leaving her shoulder. “I know,” she said simply. “But you do not have to be scared alone.”

There was no hesitation in her words, no uncertainty. Just quiet, unwavering resolve. And somehow, it was exactly what Kate needed to hear.

Clint watched them for a moment longer, his own heart aching, but there was a glimmer of comfort in his gaze now. He could see it,  the way Kate’s breathing had steadied, the way her shoulders had relaxed beneath Yelena’s touch. She wasn’t alone. Not anymore.

“You’ve got people in your corner, Katie,” Clint said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “You always will.”

Kate breathed out slowly, she felt herself slowly, gently, start to unravel, not in the way she used to, not like she was falling apart, but like she was letting the walls down at last, brick by careful brick. Her eyes, still glassy with tears, drifted from Yelena’s steady, grounding presence back to Clint, whose expression had softened into something achingly familiar. Protective. Warm. Family.

Without thinking, she reached across the table and took his hand. Clint’s eyes flickered in surprise, but his fingers curled around hers almost immediately, rough and calloused but comforting all the same. 

For a moment, they just sat there like that. No one spoke. No one needed to. The sunlight filtered in weakly through the window, catching on the glisten of Kate’s tears, on the rough edges of Clint’s worry, and the silent protectiveness in Yelena’s gaze. 

Clint was the first to break the quiet, “You promise you’ll call?” he asked, and despite himself, his voice cracked at the end of the sentence.

Kate gave a soft, trembling laugh through her own tears. “I promise,” she said. Then she tilted her head towards Yelena with a teasing edge that didn’t quite hide the affection beneath it. “Actually, you’ll probably be begging me to stop calling. We’re gonna annoy you so much.”

Yelena, catching on immediately, flashed the smallest, mischievous smile. “I will make sure she calls every day,” she said, deadpan. “Maybe two times. Possibly three. Don’t worry, Barton, I will make sure you are stuck with her. ”

Kate let out a wet laugh, her chest tightening with something warm and golden, and Clint chuckled low in his throat, shaking his head like he already knew they weren’t joking. “I’ll take it,” he said, voice thick with emotion, a tearful smile breaking through. “As long as it means she doesn’t disappear on me again.”

“I won’t let her,” Yelena said quickly, her tone still light but threaded with quiet certainty. “I mean, I know where she lives. She has no chance of disappearing, not on my watch. I’ll keep an eye on her, like a… hawk.” Her smirk lingered, the joke deliberate with two Hawkeyes right there, but beneath the mischief was something steadier, an unspoken promise, offered straight to Clint. She would be there. Kate wouldn’t be alone again. Not if Yelena had anything to say about it.

Kate rolled her eyes at the truly terrible joke, but Clint didn’t flinch. He saw it for what it was and nodded, a soft smile tugging at his lips. He trusted Yelena, trusted her word, regardless of her past or the fact that she was a Widow trained to deceive. None of that mattered. What mattered was the way she looked at Kate, the way she spoke with quiet conviction. Clint knew, deep down, that Yelena cared. Really cared. And she wouldn’t let Kate slip away without a fight.

They stayed like that for a little while longer, but eventually, Laura drifted into the room too, sensing the quiet aftermath of emotion, and she said nothing at first. She simply crossed to Clint’s side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, her gaze soft and full of understanding as she took in the scene.

Yelena was the one who broke the moment, lifting her hand to gently nudge Kate’s cheek with her knuckles, wiping away the last of her tears. “Come,” she said softly. “We still have packing to do.”

Kate swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. She rose from her chair, giving Clint’s hand one final squeeze before letting go, and Clint caught her in a rough, protective hug that she gladly melted into. He held her tightly for a moment, and when they pulled apart, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“You’ll always have a place here,” he said, his voice thick. “Always.”

Kate didn’t trust her voice to work, so she just nodded, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. Yelena, standing close at her side, brushed her fingers along Kate’s arm before lacing their hands together as they stepped away from the table. 

-----

As they moved to finish packing, there was a softness in the air between them, a quiet understanding that no matter how heavy this moment felt, they were not carrying it alone. Yelena kept close to Kate’s side as they gathered her things, not in the way of someone hovering, but as though she were quietly anchoring Kate, offering her steadiness without words, her presence a silent promise: You’re not alone in this.

Downstairs, the Barton kids were waiting, lingering in the living room like they didn’t quite know what to do with themselves. Lila was twisting a hair tie around her fingers, her eyes red-rimmed though she tried to mask it with a brave, lopsided smile. Cooper stood awkwardly near the doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets, while Nathaniel clung to his mother’s hand, his gaze solemn.

Kate’s chest ached at the sight of them. She swallowed hard against the lump rising in her throat and managed a small smile as she stepped forward, her bag slung over her shoulder. “Hey, guys,” she said softly, her voice catching just a little.

“You sure you have to go?” Lila asked, her voice wobbly but determined. She tried to play it off with a lightness that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I mean, we were finally getting you trained for family game night.”

Kate let out a breathy laugh, even as her vision blurred with tears. She set her bag down for a moment and crossed to Lila, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she whispered, her voice raw with honesty.

Lila clung back fiercely, like she never wanted to let go. “I already miss you,” she whispered back.

When they parted, Cooper was already stepping forward, his usual cool composure cracked at the edges. He didn’t say anything at first, just pulled Kate into a quick, awkward hug that lingered longer than expected. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” he said, pulling back just enough to look at her, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

“I won’t,” Kate promised, her throat tight.

Nathaniel, still holding Laura’s hand, looked up at her with wide, earnest eyes. “Will you come back for Christmas?” he asked, his voice so small, so hopeful, it nearly broke her heart.

Kate crouched down to his level, brushing a hand through his hair gently. “Of course,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Then, to her surprise, Nathaniel turned shyly toward Yelena, his gaze flicking between her and his mother as though unsure if it was okay. Laura gave him a gentle nudge, and he stepped forward. Without a word, he wrapped his little arms around Yelena in a spontaneous, childlike hug.

Yelena froze, blinking down at him as though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Her arms hovered in the air, stiff and unsure, before she awkwardly lowered them and rested her hands on his back, her touch gentle but uncertain. She glanced at Kate, a flicker of bewilderment in her eyes, but Kate just offered her a small, encouraging smile.

When Nathaniel let go, Lila stepped up next. “You’re family now, too, you know,” she said, her voice wobbling with emotion. Without waiting for a response, she threw her arms around Yelena’s waist, squeezing tightly.

This time, Yelena’s arms came up a little more naturally, hesitantly at first, then with growing warmth as she let herself return the hug properly. Something unfamiliar bloomed in her chest, sharp, aching, but not unpleasant. She didn’t know what to say, but Lila didn’t seem to need words.

Even Cooper, awkward and a bit shy, gave her a quick, one-armed hug before stepping back, clearing his throat like he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle his own emotions.

Yelena, blinking in astonishment, could only nod, her throat tight with things she didn’t know how to express.

Laura stepped forward then, her gaze soft but steady, and for a moment, Yelena thought she might simply offer a nod of farewell. But instead, Laura’s arms wrapped around her in a warm, full embrace, with no hesitation at all.

And Yelena… melted. Her breath caught in her chest as she felt something inside her crack wide open, something old and defensive and brittle. She sank into the hug without thinking, her hands clutching the back of Laura’s sweater, her eyes fluttering shut as she allowed herself, just for a heartbeat, to be held, to feel it. No tactics, no calculation. Just warmth.

Laura’s voice was quiet in her ear. “You take care of her,” she murmured, full of quiet strength. “And yourself, okay?”

Yelena’s reply was immediate, fierce and true. “I will,” she said, her voice rough.

Laura stepped towards Kate next, her gaze soft but steady as she pulled Kate into a firm hug. She didn’t say anything at first, just held her tight, as though that could say everything she needed. When she finally spoke, her voice was warm and low in Kate’s ear. “You’re always welcome here. Any time, for any reason.”

“I know,” Kate whispered, blinking back fresh tears. “Thank you… for everything.”

With the goodbyes nearly said, Kate and Yelena turned to Clint one last time. He stood by the door, arms crossed over his chest like he was trying to hold himself together. His eyes were red but proud, a complicated mix of emotions etched across his face.

Kate crossed to him, and without a word, they wrapped each other in a tight embrace. It wasn’t a quick hug, or one of obligation,  it was long, full of everything they couldn’t quite say aloud. Gratitude. Fear. Love. Hope. 

When they finally drew apart, Clint’s hands stayed steady on her shoulders, grounding her. His eyes were misted but unwavering, the kind of look that made promises without needing to be loud about it.

“Remember what I said,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “There’s nowhere too far, no hour too late. You need us, Kate, you call. You will call. Don’t shut us out again.”

Her throat tightened, but she nodded, voice barely above a whisper. “I will,” she said, and she meant it with every bruised, mending piece of her.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Clint turned toward Yelena, his expression softening. For a beat, she thought he might offer only a nod or a handshake, something safe, something she expected.

But instead, Clint stepped forward and pulled her into a firm, rough-edged hug. Yelena’s eyes widened in surprise, her body stiffening instinctively, not knowing how to respond. But as Clint held her, solid and sure, something within her eased, and she found herself returning the embrace, albeit a little awkwardly.

“You’re stuck with us now,” he said gruffly, his voice thick with feeling. “Whether you like it or not.”

Yelena huffed a quiet, unsteady breath that might have been a laugh, blinking fast against a sudden sting behind her eyes. “I like it,” she admitted, so quietly she wasn’t even sure she’d said it out loud.

Finally, with her bag slung back over her shoulder and Yelena and Lucky at her side, Kate made her way to the door. She paused on the threshold, her eyes sweeping over the familiar walls, the family that had become her own, the place that had caught her when she was at her lowest. She felt Yelena’s hand slip into hers, grounding her, and she tightened her grip like it was a lifeline.

With one last lingering look, Kate stepped outside. The air was cool and fresh, carrying with it the promise of something new. Yelena followed close beside her, their hands still entwined, with Lucky trotting beside them as they walked toward the car waiting at the edge of the drive.

-----

The car ride was quiet at first. Not tense, just still, like the whole world had exhaled and now sat in that long, lingering breath before anything else could be said. The hum of the engine was the only sound for a while, and even that felt hushed beneath the weight of everything they’d just left behind.

Kate sat slouched in the passenger seat, her forehead resting near the window. She wasn’t watching the scenery so much as letting it blur past, grey trees and fading light bleeding together as if the world outside were holding its breath too. Her fingers worked absently at the zipper of her coat, tugging it up and down in small, repetitive motions. Her eyes were distant, not quite teary, but heavy with the kind of sadness that sat deep in the chest, the kind that didn’t need an excuse anymore.

Yelena didn’t speak. She kept her eyes on the road, both hands on the wheel, but her attention was split, always aware of the woman beside her. She didn’t know what Kate needed yet: space, comfort, or distraction? Yelena had never been good at guessing with emotions, so instead she just tried to be steady, solid. Present.

But her mind wasn’t quiet. The warmth of the Barton household still clung to her like something she didn’t know how to wear, too soft, too kind, like slipping into borrowed clothes. It had all left a strange, aching feeling in her chest. Not bad. Just unfamiliar.

Every so often, Yelena flicked her gaze sideways, sneaking glances at Kate when she thought she wouldn’t notice. She watched the way Kate’s shoulders curled in on themselves, how her forehead leaned just a little toward the glass, like she needed the coolness against her skin to keep from fraying at the edges.

“You okay?” Yelena asked at last, her voice low and softer than usual, careful not to disturb the fragile peace between them.

Kate didn’t look at her. She blinked slowly, lashes thick and heavy. Her voice came a moment later, quiet and thin around the edges. “I think so. Just…” Her shoulders lifted in a half-hearted shrug. “It hurts. Saying goodbye to something that felt like home.”

Yelena nodded slowly, her jaw tightening. “It is home,” she said, simply. 

Kate exhaled a soft chuckle, the kind that wasn’t really a laugh, just the sound of something caught in her throat. “Not anymore,” she murmured, her voice fragile, barely audible. “I guess, I knew it couldn’t last, but I let myself pretend it could.”

Yelena’s throat tightened at the words, the weight of them settling over her like a familiar ache. She understood how it was easier to hold on to something, even if you knew it was slipping through your fingers. The pretending was comforting. The hope, however fragile, was easier than facing the emptiness. She wanted to say it out loud, but the words felt foreign, trapped somewhere between Russian and English, like they couldn’t fully exist in either language.

Instead, Yelena reached across the centre console, her movements slow, deliberate. Her fingers brushed against Kate’s lightly, just a touch, an unspoken question, a quiet offer. When Kate didn’t pull away, Yelena’s fingers curled into hers, tentative but warm, like the simple act of holding on to something could bridge the space between them.

Their fingers fit together as if they had done it a thousand times, a natural closeness that spoke louder than words ever could. Kate turned toward her then, just a little, her eyes searching Yelena’s face, as if bracing herself for a truth she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.

Yelena kept her gaze ahead, focusing on the road, but her voice, when it came, was calm, like she was setting something delicate and important between them, something fragile, but real. “For so long, home to me was just… a place,” she said, her voice quiet, the words wrapped in layers of thought. “Walls, furniture, somewhere to sleep. You know? But... that’s not home. Home is the people. It’s the feeling. The safety. The knowing you’re protected, you’re not alone.”

Kate didn’t say anything, but her posture shifted slightly, her shoulders relaxing a fraction, as if the words were reaching her slowly, like the warmth of sunlight breaking through clouds. Yelena’s words, though soft, held weight; they were not just comforting, but profound, the kind of wisdom earned from loss and quiet reflection.

Yelena breathed in again, her gaze still fixed ahead. “And trust me, Kate… I was young, but I remember how it felt to lose everything. To lose Ohio, to lose home. It’s not something you forget. So I know how you’re feeling. I know how your mind is loud with the dark thoughts, that they’re telling you that you have nothing left again.”

Kate blinked hard, her lips pressing together, the rawness of the words hitting deeper than she expected. She wanted to respond, to say something, but the knot in her throat tightened.

Yelena’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, not in a hurry, just a steady, grounding presence. “But that’s not true,” she said, her tone firming, but still gentle, as if she was holding Kate’s heart in her hands and didn’t want to break it. “You still have a home, Kate. You still have Clint. And the Bartons. They are your home. Even if they’re not with you right now. They’re still there. They’re a part of you, and that doesn’t change because you’re not in the same place.”

Kate’s gaze flicked to Yelena, and for the first time since they’d left, she found herself meeting her eyes, searching, trying to find the truth there. Her breath caught in her chest, a slight tremor in her fingers as she held Yelena’s hand.

“You just have to let them stay,” Yelena said gently, her voice laced with something ancient and quiet and steady, not just comfort, but the kind of truth you only speak after surviving its opposite. “Don’t shut them out, Kate. Don’t let the physical location convince you that you’ve lost your home. You still have a home. That part of your life is still yours. They are still yours.”

Kate didn’t respond right away. Her gaze dropped to their hands, still lightly joined, resting between them, their fingers twined so naturally it felt like they’d never learned how to be apart. There was something sacred in the simplicity of it. The warmth of Yelena’s skin, the stillness between them, the way their hands just… fit. And yet, her voice, when it came, was small and hesitant, barely above a breath. “You… you’re saying them,” she said softly. “You’re still mine, right?”

Yelena let out a quiet laugh, more of a gentle exhale through her nose, not mocking, more like she was amused by how unnecessary the question felt to her. “I think I’ve made that very clear, no?” she said, giving Kate’s hand a tender squeeze. “I’m yours. Even in New York. I will be there. Maybe not in the same way… maybe in a slightly different capacity, but still there.”

That last part made Kate’s stomach turn, something unpleasant curling in her chest. She shifted to face her more fully, brows drawing together. “Different capacity?” she repeated, her voice laced with a sudden unease. A thread of panic began to wind its way through her ribs. “But… you said you didn’t have to take contracts. You said you could stay. We worked it all out! You said you’d stay, Yelena. You promised.” Her voice cracked as it rose, urgency bleeding through. “You said you wouldn’t leave.”

Yelena glanced at her quickly, guilt flickering across her face before she looked back at the road. “Hey, hey, malyshka (baby)…shhh. I’m not leaving, okay?” she said carefully, her voice calm but firm. “I’ll be in New York. I just meant things will be different now. We won’t be living together anymore, not like at the Bartons.”

Kate froze, breath catching. “Wait… what?” she said, blinking hard. “Why wouldn’t we live together?”

Yelena looked at her, startled by the question, genuinely confused. “Because…” she said slowly, choosing her words with care, “that’s not the custom, is it? People don’t usually live together unless they are family, or married, or something more formal. I just assumed you would want to wait.” She gave a small, helpless shrug. “I was trying to respect that.”

And it hit Kate then, sharp and sudden, a wave of aching clarity crashing over her. Yelena wasn’t pulling away because she wanted distance. She wasn’t looking for an exit. She just didn’t understand that she already belonged there, that Kate didn’t need her to wait, didn’t want her to step back out of politeness or cultural confusion. Yelena was just trying to honour boundaries she didn’t realise didn’t exist.

Kate let out a breath, half sob, half laugh, thick with feeling. “Yelena,” she said, her voice trembling under the weight of something she couldn’t hold back anymore, “it’s not customary to fall in love with the person who tried to kill your mentor either… but I did.”

She hadn’t planned to say it, hadn’t even known it was coming. But the moment it left her mouth, something irreversible shifted in the air around them.

Yelena went still. Every muscle in her body locked up, her spine snapping straight like a string had been yanked. Her hand, still resting loosely in Kate’s, twitched violently then recoiled. Not with force. Not with intent. Just instinct. Sharp, sudden, automatic. Her body reacting before her mind could catch up.

And Kate felt it. The loss of that touch, that small, steady tether, was like ice water rushing over her skin.

Yelena didn’t speak. Didn’t look at her. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, wide and unfocused, her breath starting to come faster in shallow little pulls. Her shoulders curved inwards slightly, her posture folding in on itself like she was trying to become smaller or bracing for something invisible, something inevitable.

Because in her head, something had already struck. The Red Room wasn’t just a memory, it was a sensation. It was present. It was there in the cold that settled along her spine, in the tightening of her jaw, in the way her heart screamed danger at the idea of being loved. Love had never been something she was allowed to keep. From the moment they’d taken her, she’d been taught that love was weakness. That it would cost her everything.

She remembered the beatings, girls forced to kneel while their bodies were broken for even looking too long at someone with softness in their eyes. She remembered the punishments for loyalty, for comfort, for friendship. And worst of all, she remembered Natasha. The one person she had ever let herself love, and the way it had ended. In death. In unbearable, unfixable loss.

The problem was, Yelena knew she was in love, not in theory, not as some distant concept, but in the quiet, intimate moments that made up life with Kate. She felt it every time Kate touched her without hesitation, every time she laughed mid-argument or dozed off with her head on Yelena’s shoulder like she trusted her with everything. She knew. But she refused to name it. She’d dressed it up as care, loyalty, fondness, softer words, safer ones. Even when Laura had called it what it was, gently and without judgment, Yelena had sidestepped it. Because naming it made it real. Naming it made it dangerous.

Yelena had promised herself she wouldn’t make the same mistake as Natasha. That was why she’d allowed this, allowed herself to have Kate, allowed herself to have them. She’d chosen not to run. She understood now that survival didn’t mean cutting herself off from feeling.

But understanding wasn’t the same as saying it. Actually putting a name to the feeling, and acknowledging it out loud was something else entirely. That word still lit up all the old wires in her brain, still made her skin feel too tight, her chest pound and her body ache. 

But now Kate had said it, and that meant she was loved. It meant it was real. It meant she had something to lose. And no matter how much she wanted it, how much she already had it, the moment the word was spoken, something in her buckled. Because once it was named, it couldn’t be stuffed back into a box.

She didn’t even notice her hand rising to her neck, didn’t register her fingers digging into the pressure points, not hard enough to bruise, but tight. Pressing. Containing. Controlling. Squeezing like she could choke the emotion down, shove it back into the depths where it couldn’t hurt her. 

Until she felt Kate’s hand. 

Kate had reached out, her fingers curling lightly over Yelena’s, gently pulling her hand away from her neck. No pressure. No force. Just touch. Just presence.

“I’m not asking you to say it,” Kate whispered. “I never even meant to… but I’m not going to take it back, Yelena.  And I get it, this is new. Just… take your time.”

Yelena’s eyes flicked to her, and for a moment, she looked lost, undone in a way she rarely allowed herself to be. Her breathing was uneven, eyes glassy and wide, lips parted but unable to form words.

When she finally spoke, her voice was low and hoarse and broken at the edges. “I feel it too,” she whispered, avoiding the words she was still too afraid to say.

Kate smiled, a smile so full of quiet understanding. “I know,” she said simply, like that was enough. “It’s okay.”

And somehow, that warmth in Kate’s gaze anchored Yelena, not like a rescue, not like a cure, but like a rope tied around her waist in the middle of a raging storm. Just enough to keep her tethered. Just enough to remind her she wasn’t lost.

The silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but delicate. Yelena had turned the music on low, some indie playlist Kate had made, and was humming faintly along now, her body just a touch looser, her jaw no longer clenched. It looked almost like peace.

But Kate couldn't sit still, a question burned a hole behind her teeth. She tried not to speak. Tried to let it pass like she always did. Eventually, she couldn’t hold it back.

“Lena?” she asked softly, cautiously, after a few minutes.

Yelena flicked her gaze over, eyebrow arched in quiet acknowledgement. “Hmm?”

Kate took a steadying breath, her voice careful. “I wanted to ask you something. I’ve seen it a few times now, and I know I probably shouldn’t… I mean, I get that it’s not my place, maybe it’s just a thing you do and I’m overthinking…I just… if it’s important, I don’t want to keep ignoring it. And you don’t always like talking about things, which is okay, but—”

“Kate,” Yelena interrupted, gently but firmly, “you are rambling. What is it, Little Hawk?”

Kate pressed her lips together, cheeks flushed with tension, and then finally just blurted it out. “Why do you do that thing with your neck?”

The words hung there, naked and vulnerable in the quiet cabin of the car. She forced herself to stay silent after that, to not ramble, to give Yelena space to respond without pressure.

Yelena didn’t answer right away. She inhaled sharply, and for a second it looked like she might speak, her lips parted, her brow tight with thought, but then her phone rang through the car as it was connected, the screen lighting up with an unlisted number. No name. No text. But she knew.

Yelena didn’t hesitate. She reached for the screen on the dashboard, pressing the answer button with a swift motion. Kate noticed the subtle shift in Yelena’s posture, the faintest adjustment, like a wall going up.

Yelena greeted the caller in Russian, her voice smooth and composed. “Privet (Hello),” she said, the word feeling like a barrier between them. Kate’s brow furrowed as she listened, already aware that Yelena was using Russian to keep the conversation private. It wasn’t a new tactic; Yelena had done this before, especially when she couldn't leave the room to speak to whoever it was. It wasn’t malicious, just... practical.

From the speaker, a voice crackled, speaking quickly in Russian. “Vse gotovo. YA zapolnil kholodil'nik i shkafy. Vash Malen'kiy Yastreb budet khorosho podgotovlen na nekotoroye vremya (Everything is ready. I’ve stocked the fridge and cupboards. Your Little Hawk will be well prepared for a while).”

Yelena’s posture softened just slightly at the words, and Kate couldn’t help but watch her closely. She didn’t understand the words, but she could see the change in Yelena’s expression, a relaxation of her features, a small smile that crept onto her lips. It was a look Kate wasn’t used to seeing from Yelena towards someone else. It was... warm.

“Spasibo, sestra. YA tvoy dolzhnik (Thank you, sister. I owe you),” Yelena replied, her voice light, tinged with affection. 

Kate knew sestra meant sister. She’d heard it before when Yelena spoke about Natasha or the other widows. There was something deeply human in the way Yelena referred to them as her sisters. It was a bond Kate didn’t fully understand, but she could feel its significance.

The warmth in Yelena’s voice, however, made Kate feel... left out. She hated the feeling, but there was no denying it. She wanted to know what they were talking about, to share in this private moment, but there was no way to break through the language barrier. Not without understanding Russian, which she didn’t.

The voice from the speaker came again, faster this time. “Ty mne nichego ne dolzhen, eto ya tvoy dolzhnik (You do not owe me anything, I am in your debt).”

Yelena rolled her eyes, a playful sigh escaping her as she responded, “Zatknis'. Ty zhe znayesh', chto eto ne tak (Shut up, you know that’s not true).”

Kate smiled at the teasing tone in Yelena’s voice, but it only made her more curious. Who was this person? And why did Yelena sound so relaxed, so at ease with them? Kate could feel a knot twisting in her chest, that familiar pang of being left out, of not knowing. 

It was clear that this person was someone important to Yelena, someone she was close to. Maybe it was Sonya? Yelena had mentioned Sonya in passing before, especially when talking about her business and mother. But Kate had never heard Sonya’s voice. She couldn’t be sure.

“Nu i ladno, kogda ya smogu uvidet' Malen'kogo Yastreba (Whatever, when can I meet the Little Hawk?)”

Kate noticed Yelena stiffen at the question, her posture tightening, becoming just a little more guarded. There was something about the way she reacted that made Kate wonder what had been said. 

Yelena’s fingers tapped on the steering wheel as she responded, sighing lightly. “YA zavtra zayedu v konspirativnuyu kvartiru, mne nuzhny moi veshchi. Mozhet, ya yeye privezu (I’ll stop by the safe house tomorrow, I need my things. Maybe I’ll bring her).”

Kate tilted her head, trying to piece the conversation together. The words felt like an unsolved puzzle. She could sense the tension in Yelena’s voice, the slight tightness in her shoulders as she spoke. Kate’s concern deepened, though she had no idea what was really going on.

“YA znala, chto ty srazu zhe dvinesh'sya! Chto sluchilos' s ozhidaniyem (I knew you’d move in right away! What happened to waiting?)” The voice on the other end laughed, warm and teasing, and Kate could feel the lightheartedness of the moment, even though she didn’t understand the words. It was clear the person knew Yelena well.

Yelena’s voice softened once again, a faint smile tugging at her lips, but there was something deeper behind it. A sense of resignation, like she was admitting to something she hadn’t planned to. “Ona khotela, chtoby ya ostalsya (She wanted me to stay).”

Kate’s heart skipped at the sudden vulnerability in Yelena’s voice, something that felt rare, especially from someone as guarded as her. She wanted to ask, to check in, something…but before she could, the voice from the speaker came back, more genuine now, though still with a teasing edge. “YA rada za tebya, sestra. Ty etogo zasluzhivayesh' (I’m happy for you, sister. You deserve it).

Yelena’s fingers relaxed on the wheel, her whole body seeming to loosen. The conversation had gone on long enough now that it was beginning to blur together in Kate’s mind, a constant stream of words she couldn’t follow. But there was something comforting about it, the rhythm of Yelena’s voice, even if Kate didn’t understand everything. In that moment, Kate didn’t need to understand. She just needed to be here, next to Yelena, in this quiet, private space.

After a while, Kate’s eyelids grew heavy. She couldn’t keep her focus, the soothing sound of Yelena’s voice and the murmur of the conversation becoming a lullaby of sorts. She curled into her seat, closing her eyes for just a moment, her question from earlier momentarily forgotten. The words faded into the background, and before she knew it, Kate had fallen asleep, comforted by Yelena’s presence even if she couldn’t understand a single thing being said.

-----

They drove through the night and the next day, the road stretching on as Yelena stubbornly refused to let Kate take the wheel, again. Instead, she handed her a snack, gave her knee a reassuring pat, and said with a grin, “Relax, Kate Bishop. I’ve got this.” And she did, all the way. Between eating, blasting music, and teasing Yelena just to see her reaction, Kate let herself drift into short naps to make the journey feel faster. The deep conversations were put on hold for the rest of the journey, but Kate had promised herself she’d ask about the woman, about the strange way Yelena had squeezed her neck, but she’d wait until they were settled.

While Kate slept, Yelena remained ever watchful, her eyes scanning the road with focus. Every now and then, her gaze would flicker over to Kate, her sleeping form a serene image, head resting against the window, lips slightly parted, so peaceful it made Yelena’s chest tighten with something soft and unspoken, a moment she wished she could capture and hold onto forever.

As they finally pulled into the familiar car park by Kate’s old building, Yelena reached over and gave Kate’s hand a gentle squeeze, her touch both comforting and intimate.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Yelena’s voice was low and soothing, the faintest trace of a smile in her tone. “We’re here.”

Kate’s eyelids fluttered open, her groggy mind scrambling to make sense of her surroundings. She looked out the window and blinked, recognising the familiar car park of her old building. The puzzle pieces clicked together, and a rush of confusion followed.

“Wait…” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. “I thought we were going to the penthouse?”

Yelena just looked at her, the faintest glimmer of a proud smirk playing on her lips. She reached across the car, squeezing Kate’s hand with reassuring confidence. “Just trust me.”

Kate frowned, a little disoriented as she followed Yelena out of the car. Lucky happily trotted behind them, his tail wagging as he padded alongside. Kate's body was still fogged with sleep, but a creeping sense of anticipation began to tug at her.

They reached the pizza shop at the bottom of the building, and Kate opened her mouth to say something, but Yelena was already stepping forward, gesturing to a sleek, high-tech panel now seamlessly integrated into the back wall. The old door was now a pantry, and as Yelena placed Kate’s palm against the panel, a faint click sounded, followed by a mechanical hum as the panel scanned her fingerprints, then her retina in one smooth motion (courtesy of the Bishop securities database).

“Wait. Hold on. Yelena, this… this wasn’t here before,” Kate said, her voice cracking with disbelief as she took in the new tech. “You did this…? While we were in Iowa? I mean, who did this? How?”

Yelena’s smirk was almost playful, but there was something deeper in her eyes. “I had some help. I pulled in many favours.” She then smirked. “Plus, I’m just really good,” she added, winking.

“And always so modest,” Kate chuckled, but she couldn’t help but feel her heart constrict at the thought that Yelena had pulled in favours, all for her.

Yelena didn’t answer. She just grinned as she pushed open the secondary door that led to the stairs and the loft. As they walked in, Kate saw that every surface gleamed like new, the walls freshly painted. Kate’s breath hitched as they stepped inside, and her eyes swept over the space in wonder. It wasn’t just restored, it was better. Her favourite purples touched everything, from the throw pillows to the plush area rug beneath the sleek, modern couch.

“It’s… It’s perfect,” Kate breathed, barely able to get the words out.

Yelena’s grin only grew wider as she led her inside fully, Lucky bounding past in excitement. “Check this out,” she said, tapping another discreet panel by the door. A series of sleek monitors lit up, displaying live feeds from cameras placed at every angle outside the building. “Full perimeter surveillance. Motion sensors. Fingerprint and retina locks, only yours work until you give other people access.” She gestured to the windows proudly. “Bulletproof, blast-resistant glass. Top of the line. Thermal and acoustic insulation too. No one listens, no one shoots. And no one’s getting in without you knowing. Not even me.”

Kate’s jaw dropped slightly as she ran her fingers along the panel. “Oh my God…”

“That’s not all,” Yelena continued, excitement bubbling in her voice as she guided Kate toward the kitchen. “Your kitchen, enlarged. You may actually be able to cook now!”

Kate laughed breathlessly, still overwhelmed. She noted the polished countertops, the double oven, the neatly arranged cupboards, and then Yelena threw open a drawer full of neatly stacked, gleaming cutlery.

“A normal amount of forks,” Yelena quipped, looking far too pleased with herself. “You are welcome.”

Kate let out a disbelieving laugh. “I am one person!”

Yelena rolled her eyes, folding her arms. “Maybe so, but it was sad, Kate Bishop. Pathetic, really. Your guests need cutlery!”

Kate couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up from her chest, the sound bright and warm in a way that Yelena had sorely missed. They moved on to the living area, where Kate’s eyes grew impossibly wider at the sight of the colossal TV mounted on the wall, flanked by sleek bookcases and shelves filled with games and consoles.

“Okay, now you’re just showing off,” Kate teased, a smile tugging at her lips.

Yelena shrugged, though her grin remained. “Maybe a little.”

Kate turned to her, eyes still bright with wonder, but now tinged with something softer, something deeper. “Why did you do all this?”

Yelena’s smile faltered, softening into something far more serious as she met Kate’s gaze. The playfulness slipped away from her expression, replaced by a quiet intensity. “Because you didn’t need to go back to that penthouse,” she said, her voice low but firm, like a promise. “You needed somewhere that feels like you. Somewhere safe. Somewhere that is yours and not your mother’s.”

Kate’s heart skipped a beat. The words hit harder than she’d expected, a weight in her chest that she hadn’t anticipated. Without even realising it, she was moving toward Yelena. She looked at Yelena, really looked at her, as if trying to see through her, through everything, to understand the woman standing before her.

“Somewhere that is ours, Yelena,” she said softly, the words almost breathless, as if admitting them meant something bigger than she could express.

Yelena’s eyes widened, and she beamed, that signature smile returning for a brief, bright moment. “Then yes, somewhere that is ours, Kate Bishop,” she replied, the lightness in her voice betraying how much this meant to her, too. 

The room around them felt suddenly too small, and Kate found herself staring at Yelena, really staring as if seeing her for the first time. The kindness, the care, the ways she’d pulled Kate from the brink, giving her a home, a life, a future. Yelena had been a force of nature, coming out of nowhere to fix what Kate couldn’t even see. She’d pulled her back from the darkest corners, from her loneliest thoughts.

Kate blinked hard, fighting the surge of emotion that threatened to spill over. She didn’t have the words, but she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “Seriously, Lena…” Kate’s voice cracked, and she quickly cleared her throat, trying again, her tone quieter but far more earnest. “Thank you for this. You have no idea how much this means to me. Everything you’ve done… I don’t even know how to… I don’t know how to tell you how much it’s all changed things for me.”

Yelena’s eyes softened, the smile she’d been wearing slipping into something more tender, something full of understanding. “Anything for you, my Little Hawk,” she murmured, the affection in her voice sending a flutter through Kate’s chest.

But Kate couldn’t stand it anymore. Yelena had done so much, had been there when Kate felt like she was losing everything, when she was too lost in her own darkness to see what was right in front of her. It wasn’t just about the apartment. It wasn’t just about the things Yelena had fixed or done for her. It was about everything.

She reached for Yelena, her hands finding the soft curve of her face, and without thinking, without hesitation, she pulled her in. Their lips met, hard and urgent, and Kate felt a fire she hadn’t even known was there. A hunger, raw and desperate, as if everything she’d been holding back in her chest was finally spilling over, everything Yelena had been to her, everything she was to her.

Yelena’s breath caught in her throat, her body freezing for a brief moment before she melted into Kate’s touch, her hands threading into Kate’s hair as she kissed her back with an equal, frantic intensity. The kiss was desperate, untamed, as if they both needed it more than air. The world around them seemed to disappear, the hum of the city outside, the quiet of the room, all of it was swallowed up by the storm of passion between them. 

Their kiss deepened, messy and heated, every touch igniting something in both of them, something that they could no longer ignore. Kate’s fingers tightened on Yelena’s face, as if to hold her there, to keep her in this moment. Yelena was precious to her in ways Kate couldn’t quite explain, but she didn’t need to; she felt it in the way their lips met, in the urgency of their movements.

They lost themselves in each other, yet again. This was nothing new, another stolen moment in a week filled with them since they’d started dating, but this time it felt different. More intense. They both knew why. Neither of them had let it go further than this, hadn’t crossed that line yet out of respect for Clint, for the family. But here, with their bodies pressed together, hands roaming with an urgency that spoke volumes, it was as if they couldn’t hold back any longer, and they didn't have to. 

Kate’s heart was pounding in her chest, her senses overwhelmed by the feel of Yelena’s body under her hands, her lips, her breath. And then, before she even realised it, she had Yelena pressed against the wall. The soft thud of her spine hitting the surface barely registered as Kate pinned her there, deepening the kiss, drowning in the connection.

Yelena’s breath came in quick, shallow bursts, her chest rising and falling against Kate’s. They were both gasping for air, the heat between them building to a point where it felt like they might combust.

“Yebat'(Fuck), Kate,” Yelena rasped, her voice rough and full of pure want, her accent thicker than usual, her eyes dark with need.

Kate, of course, knew what that word meant, and she grinned against her lips, teasing and mischievous. She nipped at Yelena’s bottom lip before pulling back just enough to speak, her voice low and deliciously dangerous. “Maybe you should show me our new bedroom,” she murmured, a teasing lilt to her words.

What Kate didn’t expect, what made her stomach flip and heat pool low in her belly was the soft, helpless sound that escaped Yelena’s lips. A whine. A genuine, needy, utterly unguarded whine, thick with frustration and arousal.

Kate’s eyes darkened instantly, her grin sharpening into something positively wicked. “Mmm… that’s a new sound,” she teased, her breath hot against Yelena’s flushed skin. “I want to hear it again.”

Yelena groaned, her cheeks burning crimson as she threw her head back against the wall with a breathless laugh. She’d grown far too fond of this side of Kate, this confident, commanding Kate that only emerged in moments like these, when they were teetering on the edge of losing control.

Kate’s chest swelled with heat and affection, her fingers lacing through Yelena’s as she tugged her away from the wall. “Come with me, baby,” she whispered, her voice dark and sultry but still threaded with something so warm it made Yelena’s heart ache.

As Kate led her towards the stairs, she glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. “I assume it’s in the same place? Or did you make a secret bunker somewhere in the remodel?”

Yelena’s brain had entirely melted by this point, and all she could do was nod again, swallowing thickly. Her mouth felt too dry to form words, her body thrumming with a pulse that only grew louder as they climbed the stairs together.

-----

By the time they stumbled into the bedroom, both of them breathless from their kisses and laughter, everything outside their small bubble felt like it had vanished. Yelena kicked the door shut behind them, ensuring that Lucky would not disturb them, but before she could say a word, Kate was already on top of her, pushing her back onto the bed with a grin.

Yelena’s breath hitched, the sudden shift in energy leaving her momentarily stunned. Kate hovered over her, their eyes locking, as if silently asking permission. And Yelena, her pulse racing, couldn’t look away, she just nodded. Without another thought, Kate leaned down, her lips crashing into Yelena’s with an intensity that left them both breathless, dizzy. 

Their bodies tangled together on the plush bedspread, both of them fumbling with clothes in a rush. Kate’s hands were relentless, slipping beneath Yelena’s shirt, fingers grazing over skin that seemed to spark beneath her touch. Yelena’s own hands were equally desperate, tugging at the hem of Kate’s shirt, her fingers shaking with need as they explored her back, the heat between them thickening with every movement until they were both bare to one another.

Kate’s lips moved down, her kisses now trailing over Yelena’s jaw and neck, slow and deliberate. Yelena arched under her, gasping at the soft press of her mouth against her skin. Every kiss sent a shiver through her, every caress deepening the tension that had been simmering for so long. Kate’s breath was hot against her ear, her voice a low, teasing whisper. “You are always so easy to rile up, Belova.”

Yelena's body reacted without thinking, her hands finding Kate’s shoulders and pulling her closer. “You are so cocky,” Yelena managed to say, though her voice wavered with the heat of the moment. “Just remember, I can turn the tables if I want.” Her tone was confident, but her breathless state betrayed her.

Kate smirked, a low laugh escaping her lips. She trailed a finger down Yelena’s neck, drawing patterns on her skin, before letting her finger slip lower, following the curve of her collarbone. “You probably could, but you won’t…” Kate’s voice was teasing, almost knowing. She paused, her gaze locking with Yelena’s as she let her words hang in the air. “Because you like this, don’t you, baby?”

Yelena swallowed hard, the change in Kate almost intoxicating. She couldn’t understand how Kate switched into such a confident, cocky version of herself when, in any other situation, she was a shy, rambling mess. But this side of Kate always did something to Yelena, igniting a fire she couldn't deny. Her cheeks burned red, her breath hitching, but she tried to force herself to appear unaffected. Rolling her eyes, she huffed, "Shut up, and get on with it."

Kate laughed, the sound deep and satisfying. She didn’t wait for another word before lowering her lips to Yelena’s neck, kissing her with a new intensity that had Yelena shivering. Kate’s lips trailed down, her kisses lingering on the sensitive skin of Yelena’s collarbone, while her hands continued to roam, slow and deliberate, exploring every inch of her.

“You can be patient, right? This is the first time I get to properly explore,” Kate murmured with a crooked grin, mischief curling the corners of her lips as she hovered over Yelena, her breath warm against flushed skin as she pressed a kiss beneath her jaw, then another lower down, tracing the edge of her neck with a kind of affection that felt almost reverent.

Yelena arched into her instinctively, breath hitching, her whole body already strung tight with anticipation. “Don’t want to be patient,” she whispered, voice hoarse with need, dragging Kate back down by her neck into a kiss that was far from gentle. It was messy and clumsy and real, teeth clashing, tongues tangling, fingers fisted in dark hair like she could hold her there forever.

But Kate was determined. She eased back with a smile so soft it nearly undid Yelena completely. Her hands roamed with purpose, trailing slowly over ribs, stomach, sides, like she was mapping her inch by inch. Each scar was kissed like a vow, every freckle noted. Kate treated them like something sacred, something beautiful.

So when her lips brushed lower, when she reached the scar just beneath Yelena’s abdomen, a thin line drawn by hands that had taken without permission, she didn’t even pause. She just kissed it, tender as all the others, because she didn’t know that this one was different.

And Yelena went still.

Her entire body locked, chest rising too fast, fists curling into the sheets. It felt like being split open, raw and exposed and suddenly sixteen again, back in that cold room with the sterile light and voices that told her what would happen to her body.

“No.” The word broke from her like a snap, sharp and cutting and so much heavier than it should have been.

Kate pulled back instantly, her eyes wide, concern flooding her expression like a wave. “Baby?” she said, voice low and careful, no longer playful. “What’s wrong?”

Yelena couldn’t speak for a second. Her jaw clenched. Her gaze was locked on the ceiling, like if she just stared hard enough, she could blink herself into somewhere else. “Not there,” she said finally, the words tight and quiet.

Kate froze. Her hands stilled above Yelena’s skin, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to understand. It was just a scar, like so many others…but something about this one… something clearly hurt.

“Oh.” Kate’s voice dropped instantly, all the mischief draining from her like it had never been there. “Okay. I hear you. I won’t do that again. I’m sorry.”

Yelena gave a small, silent nod, still staring up at the ceiling, her body taut with tension. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, panic clawing just beneath the surface as her hand lifted to her neck, her pointer finger and thumb squeezing as she forced herself to calm down in the only way she knew how.

Kate didn’t move right away. She stayed still, watching her, eyes soft with worry. Then, slowly, she began to ease back, every motion quiet, deliberate, like she was backing away from a startled animal. “Hey,” she said gently, voice barely above a whisper as she shifted to the side. “Let’s get comfy, yeah? We can put something dumb on and just… curl up for a bit. I’ll make popcorn. Extra butter.”

But before she could fully move away, Yelena’s hand moved from her neck and caught her wrist, quick and firm, not with force, but with something urgent. “Wait,” she said, eyes darting to meet Kate’s. There was confusion there. Guilt. Fear. “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.” Her voice wavered. “You… you don’t want to carry on?”

Kate’s expression crumpled, not with frustration, but with heartbreak. Gentle, unexpected heartbreak. She sank back down, her hand immediately going to Yelena’s face, cupping her cheek. “God, no. Lena, you didn’t ruin anything,” she whispered. “You said no. That’s all I need to hear. I didn’t want to keep going if you weren’t okay. All I care about is your comfort.”

Yelena stared at her, confusion swirling in her eyes. The words were so simple. So ordinary. But they struck something deep inside her. No one had ever asked her what she wanted. But Kate had stopped. Had offered her an out. Had given her something Yelena wasn’t sure she even knew how to accept.

A choice.

And it felt… powerful.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. Her eyes lifted. They were glassy, but steady now. There was still fear in them, but there was strength too. “I still want to,” she said, quiet but sure. “I just… I needed to say no to that. Not everything.”

Kate blinked, almost startled by the honesty in her voice. Her hand was still on Yelena’s cheek, thumb brushing gently beneath her eye. “You sure?” she asked softly, searching her face for even the slightest doubt. “Promise me you will tell me to stop if you aren't okay?” 

Yelena nodded, eyes steady now, voice low but sure. “I’m sure, and I promise,” she breathed, before tugging Kate back on top of her like she weighed nothing at all, like she belonged there. The kiss that followed was immediate, demanding, and so full of want it almost hurt. Yelena deepened it instantly, hands fisted in Kate’s hair, her trust spilling out through every breathless sound she made, every desperate press of her mouth to Kate’s. The lust was building, yes, but so was something warmer, quieter. Something safe.

They were both panting by the time Kate pulled away, her lips flushed, her pupils so blown the blue of her eyes had almost vanished. She stared down at Yelena like she was trying to commit her to memory, before her smirk slowly returned. “In that case,” Kate murmured, her voice playful and husky all at once, “if you still want to… I think you should say please.”

Yelena scoffed, narrowing her eyes despite how wrecked she already sounded. “I am not going to beg you, Kate. I’m not that desperate.”

It was, quite obviously, a lie. Kate’s grin deepened. “Fine,” she said sweetly, and began to shift down her body, settling between Yelena’s thighs with deliberate slowness. She met Yelena’s gaze, checking, and when Yelena gave the faintest nod, she dipped her head and pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh.

Then another. And another. She trailed kisses down to Yelena’s knees, then back up, maddeningly slow, never quite where Yelena needed her most. All the while, her eyes stayed locked on Yelena’s face, watching the way her breath hitched, the way her fingers twisted in the sheets, her hips shifting helplessly.

“Just one little word,” Kate whispered between kisses, voice feather-light. “All you gotta do is say please, baby.”

Yelena whined and tried her best not to sound utterly undone. But Kate’s mouth was unrelenting, brushing kisses along the sensitive skin of her thighs until she was squirming, her restraint unravelling thread by thread.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Yelena muttered it, it was so quiet, guttural, almost a growl. “Please.”

Kate’s head snapped up with mock innocence. “Hmm? What was that?”

Yelena glared at her through flushed cheeks and clenched teeth. “I said, please.”

And Kate beamed like she’d just won the lottery. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

“You are insufferable,” Yelena muttered, trying not to smile, failing entirely.

Kate chuckled as she finally leaned in, hands firm at Yelena’s hips to hold her still. “You really shouldn’t say that to the one person who’s about to give you everything you want.”

With that, Kate moved down further as she pushed Yelena’s legs further apart gaining a perfect view of Yelena’s cunt that was glistening for her. “So wet for me, baby girl”, she whispered, almost reverently, as if seeing this was something holy. 

Yelena blushed, her cheeks flushing even more than they had been previously. Between the teasing and the begging, Yelena was already completely flustered, but hearing those words from Kate’s mouth sent her reeling. 

Kate leaned in to place a long teasing lick right down her slit. Kate moaned from the taste while Yelena’s hips jolted up, begging for more friction, more pressure, something.

Kate understood, and her hands came up, around the back of Yelena’s thighs, before roughly pulling Yelena’s centre closer to her face. Yelena didn't even get a chance to react before Kate’s mouth was back on her, her face stuffed into Yelena’s cunt, eating her like a woman starved. 

Yelena’s hips moved instinctively, chasing every flicker of contact, the friction and heat mounting with each pulse of pleasure. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her fingers curled tightly in Kate’s hair, anchoring herself to something as the pressure inside her climbed higher. But it still wasn’t enough. She needed more. 

“Please, Kate,” she gasped, the words breaking from her lips in a desperate, breathless whimper. “I need more.”

Kate slowed, just slightly, pulling back enough to look up at her, and when she did? That look on Yelena’s face, flushed, open, and trembling on the edge of something vast. It knocked the wind out of her for a second. But then the smirk returned, dark and teasing, because Kate was helpless to resist just how beautiful Yelena was when she was falling apart like this.

“More?” Kate repeated, her voice low, teasing as it vibrated against Yelena’s skin. “So needy, maybe I should stop altogether, hm?”

Yelena let out a frustrated, wrecked little noise, a half-whine, half growl as her hips jerked again, seeking out the contact that had been so cruelly interrupted. Her hands tugged at Kate’s hair in protest, begging her to continue.

Kate’s smirk widened, pleased and playful and just a little bit wicked, as she let her hands glide slowly up Yelena’s trembling thighs, fingertips brushing deliberately light, making her shiver. “Can you tell me exactly what you need?” she asked, voice low and velvet-smooth, laced with challenge. 

Yelena groaned, dragging a hand over her face like she could hide the sheer need pulsing through her body. She wasn’t used to this, to wanting like this, but Kate had made it feel like she could be that. Like she wouldn’t be judged for wanting, for craving, for falling apart beneath someone who looked at her like she was something to be cherished.

Still, the words stuck. They caught in her throat, thick and humiliating, and her pride, sharp and stubborn kicked back even as her hips lifted again, searching. “You know what I need,” she said finally, her voice rough, teeth clenched around the edge of a growl.

Kate only laughed, warm and maddening and far too pleased with herself. “Oh, I do,” she said sweetly, fingers ghosting closer, brushing just shy of where Yelena was aching. “But I want to hear you say it.”

Yelena let out a shaking breath, her eyes fluttering shut as her head tilted back into the pillows. She was blushing furiously now, half from frustration, half from how undone she felt under Kate’s touch, her voice, her goddamn grin. 

“I need your fingers,” she said finally, hoarse and broken, her jaw tight like it cost her something. “I need you to fuck me with your fingers, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Kate blinked. Then, slowly, she grinned, soft, stunned, and absolutely wrecked by the admission. “Jesus Christ, Yelena,” she breathed, the cocky smirk dissolving into something much, much hungrier. “Yeah, that’ll do it. That is exactly what I wanted.”

And with that, she sank back down, and this time, there was no teasing. No pulling away. Her mouth attached to Yelena’s clit, as her fingers dropped lower to ghost above her entrance. Seeking out consent one final time, Kate looked into Yelena’s eyes, but found nothing but pure, unbridled hunger staring back at her, so Kate made her move. 

Kate pushed two fingers deep inside, filling her completely without another thought. Yelena squeezed her eyes shut, the sensation overwhelming, and a raw, unfiltered moan tore from her lips before she could stop it. 

Kate’s voice came next, it was low, sultry, and coaxing like a velvet drag down her spine. “Open your eyes for me, baby,” she murmured, her breath hot against Yelena’s skin. “I want to see you fall apart. I want to watch it happen.”

The words hit Yelena like a spark to dry kindling, a fresh wave of heat rolling through her as her lashes fluttered open, eyes locking with Kate’s like she couldn’t look anywhere else.

“Good girl,” Kate purred, her voice a rich, honeyed drawl.

Yelena’s body betrayed her instantly, her cunt clenched onto Kate’s fingers, her hips twitching, breath stuttering, her fingers tightening in Kate’s hair.

Kate noticed. Of course she noticed. Her grin turned downright sinful. “Ohhh,” she drawled, her tone dripping with delight. “You like that, huh? You like it when I praise you, pretty girl?”

Yelena huffed, rolling her eyes in a half-hearted attempt to seem unaffected, but it was hopeless. Kates fingers were pumping inside her, curling at just the right spot, and whenever she wasnt speaking, her tongue was attached to her clit. 

Every shift, every movement sent Yelena’s body twisting and arching, betraying her with each desperate motion. Kate’s soft chuckle vibrated against her skin, only making things worse. And what made it even harder for Yelena to deny was the heat, the flush that spread from her chest to her cheeks, a deep, vivid red that smouldered under Kate’s gaze.

Kate raised an eyebrow, a quiet, knowing challenge in her expression. It was all it took. Yelena gave in. She nodded, small and embarrassed, but there was no hiding the way her body still trembled, the way her lips parted in silent surrender.

Kate chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through the air like a promise of more to come. Her lips brushed the inside of Yelena’s thigh, sending a shiver through her body. “Yeah… that’s what I thought,” Kate purred, her voice low and teasing, before she doubled her efforts.

Yelena’s breath hitched, and her hands clenched the sheets beneath her, her fingers digging into the fabric in an attempt to ground herself. Every inch of her skin burned, every nerve ending alive with sensation. She couldn’t stop the moans and whines pouring out of her mouth, the screams of ecstasy. 

At one point, all that could be heard was a chant of “uh, uh, uh,” Yelena couldn’t seem to catch her breath, couldn’t focus on anything but Kate, the way she moved, the way she made her feel like she was unravelling, thread by thread. 

Kate’s attention was unrelenting, each movement deliberate, bringing Yelena to the edge, and then pulling her back. And Kate loved it. Loved the power she held, loved how Yelena’s body responded like a beautiful, fragile thing, desperate for release.

“Please, Kate,” Yelena breathed, her voice shaky with a mix of need and frustration. The overwhelming sensation inside her made it hard to think clearly, but the ache was undeniable, her body demanding release.

Kate’s eyes softened as she watched Yelena, noticing the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. “Please, what?” she asked, her voice gentle but teasing, coaxing her without pressure.

Yelena shut her eyes briefly, trying to push the overwhelming emotions away, but it was no use. She wasn’t entirely sure what she needed to feel complete, or how to get there, but she knew she was in safe hands with Kate. “I just…I wanna cum, Kate. Please. Please!” she whined.

Kate’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she shifted slightly, but still continuing her assault on Yelena’s cunt with her fingers, her voice was light. “Look at you, so reluctant to beg earlier, and now look. What happened to turning the tables, hmm?” she teased, but her tone was softer now. 

Yelena didn’t have the strength to argue, her body aching with a need she couldn’t express. She felt vulnerable, her breath hitching as she spoke again, quieter this time. “I can’t… I just need… please,” she whispered, the words a quiet plea that broke through the walls she’d built up.

Kate kept up her pace with her fingers, using her thumb to apply the right amount of pressure to Yelena’s clit in place of her mouth as she instead placed kisses all over Yelena’s chest and neck. She knew Yelena was close, she could feel it, and she would make damn sure that Yelena fell over that edge. 

“You’re doing so well for me, Lena. So, so well,” Kate whispered, her voice thick with pride and affection as she leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Just a little more, baby.” 

Yelena nodded, the motion small but desperate, her eyes locked onto Kate’s with a silent plea that said everything her voice couldn’t. There was a raw intensity in her gaze, wide, glassy, full of longing, like she was holding on by a thread and trusting Kate to catch her. 

Instead of pleading, instead of making noise like she had previously, Yelena went quiet. Every breath she took shuddered through her, her body drawn tight like a bowstring, trembling as she edged closer and closer to the precipice.

Kate's expression softened, reverent and awed all at once. She brushed a hand across Yelena’s cheek, her thumb tracing lightly along her jaw. “I’ve got you,” she murmured again, steady and certain. “Just let go. I’m right here.”

Yelena’s fingers clutched at the sheets, at Kate, anything she could find to ground herself in that moment. Her heart was pounding. Her skin felt like it was glowing, every nerve lit up and singing with sensation.

And when Yelena finally tipped over the edge, the silence ended, her cry was loud, it was raw, vibrating through the loft like something that had never been given space before now. Something Kate had pulled from her with nothing but gentleness and fire.

Kate felt a wave of quiet satisfaction wash over her as she watched the serenity settle over Yelena’s face, the tension in her body slowly giving way to something softer, calmer. There was a kind of wonder in the way her features relaxed, eyes half-lidded and lips parted with the ghost of a breathless smile. 

Kate slowed instinctively, giving Yelena time to ride the climax she had just experienced, not wanting to rush a single second of it, just soaking in the sight of someone she adored looking so at peace, so safe.

But then Yelena let out a faint, breathy whine and gave her a gentle push, not forceful, just a nudge, a signal, her body speaking for her when her mouth clearly could not. 

Kate’s smile softened into something tender the moment she felt Yelena’s gentle nudge. There was no hesitation, no teasing left, just quiet understanding. She moved slowly, carefully, as if handling something fragile, pulling out and easing back with deliberate grace to give Yelena space to breathe. Then she leaned in and pressed the lightest kiss to Yelena’s cheek, her lips lingering there just a moment longer than necessary.

She gathered Yelena into her arms like she was something rare, something irreplaceable. Kate’s arms circled her gently but securely, holding her close in that space between passion and peace, where only comfort remained.

Yelena curled in tighter without a word, seeking warmth and safety in Kate’s embrace. One arm snaked tightly around Kate’s waist, the other sliding under her, anchoring them together. Their legs tangled naturally beneath the blankets, like they’d always belonged that way.

Yelena’s breathing was still uneven, her chest rising and falling as her heart gradually settled. Her lashes were damp, her eyes glassy, the storm inside her quieting but not quite gone. And yet, somewhere in the haze, she managed a small, breathless laugh, almost disbelieving. “I hate you a little bit,” she whispered, voice hoarse and teasing, though there was no heat behind it.

Kate grinned against her skin, smug in the gentlest way, her mouth brushing over Yelena’s temple before pressing a kiss just beside her eyebrow. The kiss was full of fondness, warmth, and a quiet pride, like she already knew the truth. “No, you don’t,” she whispered, her breath soft against Yelena’s skin.

Yelena sighed through her smile, her body still tucked close, utterly relaxed in Kate’s arms. “...Yeah. No, I don’t.” The words came easier now, her voice laced with affection, and she no longer felt the need to hide. And then, just like that, her expression shifted, her smirk returning with full force as her eyes darkened with something playful and deliberate.

“Now it’s my turn,” she said, and before Kate could react, Yelena slipped from her hold and rolled on top of her in one smooth motion, straddling her with ease.

Kate let out a surprised laugh, half startled, half delighted. Her hands instinctively found Yelena’s hips, holding her there like she never wanted to let go. “I’m not going to say no,” she breathed, eyes wide and completely captivated. 

-----

They spent the rest of the night in a tangle of sheets, laughter, moans and soft gasps, taking turns exploring and exchanging every bit of pent-up tension that had built between them. There was no rush, no expectations. Just hands and lips and whispered words, shared breath and flushed skin, tangled limbs and slow-burning smiles. 

By the time they collapsed into the pillows, limbs heavy and tangled, Yelena was barely conscious, a soft, sleepy smile tugging at her lips as she blinked up at the ceiling. Her body was boneless, spent, and thoroughly satisfied. She expected to fall asleep right there, curled into the sheets, too exhausted to move.

But Kate wasn’t done. Kate slowly untangled herself, rising onto one elbow. She didn’t say anything at first, just studied Yelena’s face with a softness in her eyes that made Yelena's stomach flip. Then she leaned in, brushed a kiss to her temple, and quietly said, “Need to get cleaned up, beautiful.”

Yelena frowned, too tired to understand. “What?”

Kate didn’t answer with words. Instead, she carefully scooped her up, one arm under her knees, the other behind her shoulders, lifting her from the bed like it was nothing. Yelena made a startled sound, half-protest, half-laugh. “Kate, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” Kate interrupted gently, adjusting her hold as she carried her across the room. Her voice was calm, sure, as if it wasn’t even a question. “Let me take care of you.”

That silenced Yelena completely. The bathroom light was soft and low, Kate nudged the door open with her foot and carefully lowered Yelena onto the edge of the tub while reaching for the taps. The bath was quick but comforting, warm water, gentle touches, Kate making sure every bit of her was taken care of without a single complaint. There was something quietly intimate about it, the way Kate wrapped her hair up into a messy bun to keep it dry, how she kissed the top of her head when she sank deeper into the water.

Later, wrapped in fresh towels and then swapped for oversized sleep shirts and soft pyjama bottoms, they found their way back to bed. Kate slipped in first and opened her arms without a word. Yelena didn’t hesitate. She crawled in close, curling up against her, head tucked under Kate’s chin. Kate’s arms came around her immediately, holding her close, like something too precious to let go. Yelena felt her body ache with that pleasant kind of exhaustion as she settled down.

Yelena lay in silence, her breathing slow and even but still not quite settled. Her cheek was pressed over Kate’s heart, the steady thrum of it grounding her in a way she didn’t have words for. Her fingers curled into the hem of Kate’s shirt, holding it like an anchor, tight, like she didn’t trust it to stay unless she kept it close. The cotton was warm against her skin, familiar and safe, and Kate’s arms around her didn’t loosen, not even a little. If anything, they tightened. Like a shield. Like a promise.

Kate held her like she was something fragile but not broken, like she wasn’t afraid of the sharp edges. And that was what stunned Yelena more than anything, not the night, not the vulnerability or the touches or the laughter, it was this. The quiet after. The weight of being held and knowing that someone wanted to. That someone chose to.

Her voice came out barely more than a whisper, hesitant and raw. “Kate?”

Kate didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t need to. Her hand moved slowly, brushing over Yelena’s spine, steady and reassuring. “Mm?”

There was a pause. Yelena swallowed hard. “…Why’d you do all that?”

Kate’s brows knit together, just slightly, her gaze drifting over the darkened ceiling as she let the question settle in her chest. It caught her off guard, not because she didn’t know the answer, but because it hadn’t even occurred to her to question it. 

Of course she’d done all that. Of course she’d carried Yelena to the bath, washed her hair, held her close. To her, it was instinct. Care shouldn’t have to be earned. Yelena mattered, was hers and of course she deserved softness after everything.

But the longer Kate sat with the question, the heavier it became. The implication behind it. The quiet disbelief in Yelena’s voice. That no one else had done this for her. That no one else had ever stayed after the storm passed and chosen to make her feel safe after. And that hurt, deep and low in Kate’s chest like something sharp had been pressed against her heart.

She shifted slowly, lowering her head with purpose, with care, and pressed a kiss to the crown of Yelena’s head. Gentle, reverent. Like a promise. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but steady, full of unshaken certainty. Like she’d been carrying the words with her all night, waiting for the right moment to give them breath.

“Because you matter to me. Because I want you to be comfortable.” She let her fingers curl around Yelena’s side a little tighter, grounding both of them. “And because someone should have done this for you already. But clearly they didn’t. So I will.”

Yelena didn’t move, didn’t say anything at first. But something shifted in her, something deep and unfamiliar that she couldn’t name. She blinked fast, her throat suddenly tight, and then slowly, like her body made the decision before her mind caught up, she burrowed closer, hiding her face in the hollow of Kate’s chest. Her fingers gripped tighter in the fabric, and her other hand slipped around Kate’s waist, pulling her in like she was trying to crawl inside her skin.

“…You’re such a sap,” she mumbled, the words muffled but not unkind.

Kate grinned, her lips brushing her hairline. “Takes one to know one.”

They didn’t speak after that. They didn’t need to. Words would’ve only cluttered the quiet, and what passed between them now didn’t require sound. The silence wrapped around them like something sacred, thick with comfort, with trust, with the unspoken knowledge that for once, they didn’t have to keep their guards up. That they were safe, here, with each other.

Kate’s hand moved in lazy, gentle patterns across Yelena’s back, fingertips tracing soothing lines like she was trying to memorise her. And slowly, with every breath they shared, their bodies grew heavier, hearts syncing in rhythm until even the shadows in the room seemed to exhale. Sleep found them like that, curled into each other, peaceful, held.

-----

A/N: So, they’re back in New York! They’ve had some important conversations, Kate’s said "I love you" (and definitely noticed the significance of the neck thing), and most importantly….drumroll please….they’ve finally done the deed! Whoop whoop. The fire is officially burning. Anyway, in the next chapter, we’ve got a surprise visit from someone who meddles, leading to Kate seeing a side of Yelena that she’s tried to keep buried. It could either bring them closer or tear everything apart…but either way, it will be angsty, so strap in.

Part 6

[thena0315]

MCU Youth

[natashaslesbian]

We Saved Each Other (Part Six)

Summary: Natasha is finally able to become your legal guardian, the problem is she wants to be more than that. She wants to be your mother

Word Count: 2.8k

Parings: (Kid!Reader x Mama!Natasha) (Kid!Reader x Barton Family) (Natasha x Clint) (Natasha x Fury)

Warnings/Content: some crying and some fluff

————

“Sign here please” Natasha swiped her pen over the dotted lines again “and last one just here” finally, she thought, this had taken much longer than she had hoped. “Congratulations” the blonde lady said, dressed head to toe in the smartest suit you had ever seen “you’re now y/n y/l/n’s official guardian” Mrs Williams said to Natasha as she moved her glasses from her nose to her head. The ex widow had now been a US citizen for 13 months, meaning she was finally able to become your legal guardian, meaning you would be staying with Natasha for a long time (you hoped it would be forever.) “yay” you called up from your chair, right next to Nat’s of course. She pulled you up onto her lap and held you close as Fury saw the older woman out. “Are you my mommy now?” You innocently asked “well not quite darling” Natasha said, causing you to frown “I’m your guardian which means it’s my job to look after you, but of course I will be your mommy as long as you want me to be” she explained “I wants you to be my mommy forever!” You beamed as you threw your arms around the redhead.

Natasha thought on what you had said for next week, wondering if she was really worthy of being a mother, being your mother. She thought about it throughout your many movie marathons, you were simply enchanted by the magic of classic Disney movies. She thought about it while you were cuddled together watching Mulan and long after you had fallen asleep watching Cinderella. “Mama” you called from Natasha’s lap, pulling her back to reality “the movie stopped” you whined “I think it’s finished y/n, are you ready for bed or do you wanna watch something else?” Your mom asked. You thought long and hard, a movie night could hardly be over after 2 films but you were oh so tired “finding nemo” you said through a yawn “again!” Nat feigned her exaggeration “we’ve already seen it 3 times this week!” You giggled as she mumbled her words into your tummy “it’s my favourite!” You laughed as you removed Natasha’s head and held it in your hands. She gently twisted towards your palm to leave a soft kiss “alright then baby, but after that it’s bedtime okay?” She said “ok mommy” you huffed.

Going to bed that night, Natasha continued to think about her role in your life. Each time you called her ‘mama’ the crack in her heart seemed to heal a little more. All those years of hurt had started to become distance memories rather than present thoughts that plagued her mind. You were rescuing her from herself without knowing it but a constant questioned remained; could she build a sustainable life with you? All the ex widow had ever known was killing and stealth, the real world was still so new to her too. Being a mother was a choice that was taken away from her and Natasha had accepted it so long ago, but now with you, everything had changed. Natasha couldn’t promise you a safe future, her list of enemies was too long to comprehend, she would always be a target. How could she live with herself if she were to put the same target on your back. But if there was one thing Natasha could promise you, it was love. It was that you would be loved so deep and true that you’d never forget it. She couldn’t replace your past or erase the memories, but she could build new ones. Filled with happiness and joy something she so desperately graved and something that you do desperately deserved.

The morning arrived before Natasha could even close her eyes and an exciting day laid ahead, the start of giving you memories filled with happiness and joy. “What if Cooper and Lila don’t like me?” You asked your mom, hiding behind the car door “oh y/n, how could anyone not like you!” Natasha said “I’m sure you’re gonna be the best of friends” she continued before taking a hold of your shaking hand. You joined Nat in knocking lightly on the wooden door, the large two story house looked so plain on the outside, but when the door opened a stream of colour and laughter caking roaring through. “Hey you two!” Clint said as he gave Nat a quick embrace “it’s good to see you y/n” you responded with your usual high-five “Laura” Clint called after rising to his height again “the girls are here” you stepped across a large welcome mat, signed with four handprints, and managed to take off your shoes with a little help from mommy. “Nat” said a soft voice from behind the corner. You watched as a tall beautiful brunette came into your vision “how are you my darling” she asked Natasha, who simply gave a nod “and this must be y/n” said the woman towards you. You moved behind Natasha slightly, using her frame to shield you. The two woman came down to your level “y/n this is Laura” Natasha said “she’s married to Clint and she’s one of my best friends” you looked between them both, trusting by Natasha’s eyes that Mrs Barton was safe “it’s wonderful to meet you sweetheart” Laura said as she held out her hand to you “hi” you whispered as you connected your palm to her own rather cautiously.

“Would you like to come and meet my children?” Laura asked as she held out her hand again. With a gentle nod and pat from Natasha you were lead further into the large cabin where you came into a room filled top to bottom with books art supplies and toys “y/n this is my son, Cooper” Laura said as she waved over her kids “and my daughter Lila” the pair said their hello’s and you politely waved back “Lila here is a few months older than you, I think you’ll get along very well, and Cooper is a great big brother, he’ll look after you both if you need anything” the older boy had already returned to his Lego set while Lila came to stand next to you “do you want to come see my new dollhouse” she asked. You looked back in search of Natasha and found her in the doorway with Laura “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me ok darling” she softly spoke “ok mama” you replied. Once the adults had dispersed Lila came right to your side “I didn’t know auntie Nat was your mommy!” She exclaimed “does that mean you’re my cousin? Mine and Coopers cousin?” Lila beamed “what’s a cousin?” You asked, you had never heard of one before and feared it was something awful to be known as “well it means we’re the best of friends, closer than bff’s can ever be!” Lila came to give you a big hug, and at first it took you by surprise, you didn’t allow physical contact with anyone other than Natasha. But Lila’s hug felt nice, you had never had a cousin before and felt excited that she would be your first.

After a few hours of play, Laura called you for dinner “but mommy I wanted to take y/n on the swings!” Lila huffed “maybe after dinner sweetheart, why don’t you show y/n to the dining room?” Laura suggested. The loss of your crafts and make believe games was soon forgotten as the smell of fresh bread seeped into your senses. “Here y/n, come sit next to me” Lila said as she pulled back a chair for you. You settled well considering Natasha’s chair was on your side. Dinner was going by smoothly until Lila’s curiosity got the better of her. “Auntie Nat?” She called passed you “if your Y/N’s mom, why have I never met her before if she’s the same age as me?” Lila innocently asked “well y/n and I haven’t known each other very long you see” Natasha said “what do you mean?” Lila replied “I’ve only been looking after y/n for a few months, since we first met” your mom said as she helped you grab another roasted potato “you only met each other months ago? So you aren’t y/n’s real mom then?” Lila meant no harm, she was just confused. But hearing her say that Natasha wasn’t really your mom hurt. “Well not biologically, which means we aren’t actually related, but I can still be her mom for as long as she wants me to be” Nat said, looking down at you with a smile at the end of her sentence. “But she’s not your actual daughter?” The little brunette asked again “Lila honey” Laura spoke up “do you want to come and help me with dessert?” She said in order to defuse the accidental tension.

You stayed quiet for the rest of the evening, opting to say you had a small tummy ache to avoid going out to the swings with Lila and Cooper. You sat contently with Natasha until it was finally time to leave “thank you so much for coming y/n it was so nice to meet you! We’ll have to sort out a play date for you and Lila hey?” Laura smiled as she helped you into your coat “thanks Laura” Natasha said taking hold of your hand and leading you back to the car. “Bye bye y/n!” Lila called from the doorframe, you managed a small wave back. Natasha hummed along to the radio the whole journey back, flashing you worried glances here and there. You still had your quiet moments and they usually meant that something was bothering you. “Y/n?” She softly asked to get your attention “are you ok sweetheart?” Her emerald eyed remained on you as she came to a red light. “Yes” you whispered, and Natasha knew you meant no but she didn’t ever like to push you to talk. “How about when we get home we have another movie night? I know those are your favourites” Natasha suggested “no thank you” you replied “why not darling? Don’t you wanna spend some time with mama?” Nat smiled at you as the car paused at a red light. “You’re not my mama” you whispered into the window. Natasha sat in shock, only remembering to move the car again when the driver behind gave a harsh hit on his horn “baby” she sighed as the car rolled forward again “that’s what Lila said” you mumbled into your closed fist. The widow understood now why you were so upset and the idea in her head was solidified.

“Are you sure about this?” Nick asked as he placed down the papers in front of him “I’ve never been more sure of anything Fury” Natasha said “and you feel you’ve adjusted enough to this…lifestyle?” The Director continued “I know there’s still a journey to be had, but with her by my side I know I can do it” the redhead spoke through shaky breaths “you know what this means don’t you?” Fury said “you wouldn’t be able to stay here, and we can’t support you outside of your work with us, you’ll be on your own” he sighed “no they won’t” Clint added “we’re converting our barn, the girls will live there and we will support them until they’re on their feet” he finished. “Ok, I’ll contact Mrs Williams first thing” Nick said. Natasha let out the breath she didn’t realise she had been holding “thank you” she whispered as Clint guided her out of the directors office. “Did you mean what you said?” Nat asked “about the barn, because you know we don’t have to I’m sure we can find somewhere” she began to trail off as Clint raised his hand to her shoulder “of course I meant it Natasha, Laura and I would love you to be our neighbours” he finished as he pulled his best friend into a warm hug.

You woke up with your back facing Natasha, just as you had fell asleep. You craved her embrace, to feel her warmth soak into your skin. But Lila’s words were on repeat in your head. The last few days had been tough on both you and Nat, the two of you not really spending much time together. You had wanted to give in so many times but feared she would reject you, as she wasn’t really your mom. You rubbed your tired eyes and reached for your water bottle, only to find it empty. All of your emotions came pouring out of you as another inconvenience was too much to take. You rolled over with tears in your eyes hoping to be met with Natasha’s green ones. But her side of the bed was cold, the duvet hanging at the bottom of the bed. You let out a loud sob, feeling all the weight of the world on your shoulders. You wanted to scream for your mommy but it didn’t feel right anymore. You shuffled down off the bed, grabbing your stuffy and running to the door. You made your way to the kitchen, where usually the smell of pancakes would’ve excited you. You saw a flash of red hair and sped to the legs attached. Natasha jumped, almost dropping the fresh strawberry she had just picked up from the bowl. “Hey angel” she cheerfully said, but her expression changed when she heard your small sobs “oh baby wasn’t wrong?” She asked. “I’m sorry” you sobbed “I’m sorry I don’t care what Lila says I just want you to be my mommy. Please will you still be my mommy I’m sorry” you clawed at Natasha’s trousers, wiping your stuffy nose on her knee “hey hey baby girl” Nat said as she crouched down to face you “you have nothing to be sorry for y/n, I’m still your mommy baby girl, I always will be for as long as you want me to be” she cooed as she wiped your falling tears “but it’s not real is it” you cried. “Sweetheart come here” Nat scooped you up into her arms and brought you to sit on the couch, taking a second to make sure everything in the kitchen was turned off.

Once settled into the redheads lap, you continued to pull at her shirt afraid she would disappear if you let go. “Y/n look at me” Natasha began “you know that what Lila said isn’t true, family isn’t always about blood and genetics. Family is in here” she said as she placed her hand over your heart “and no body can ever tell you what’s in your heart. Sometimes beautiful things can come from bad situations and people can connect in all different ways. You don’t need to be related to call someone family. You don’t need a piece of paper to call someone your daughter. But if that’s what you want y/n…” you looked up into Natasha’s eyes as she paused “I have a surprise for you, if you want it?” She asked “what is it?” You asked back, finally drying your eyes. “Would you like me to adopt you?” Nat whispered, afraid you had changed your mind. “Like be my proper mommy?” You mumbled “no baby, I’ll always be your proper mommy, but if I adopt you then the world will call us a family too, we can be together forever” Natasha smiled as you stared up at her, a glimmer of hope in both of your eyes. “Will you adopt me please mommy?” You asked “of course baby” Natasha giggled, pulling you into the tightest hug ever as she began to cry herself “I love you y/n” she cooed into your hairline “I love you too mommy”.

“Sign here please” Natasha swiped her pen over the dotted lines again “and last one just here” finally, she thought, this had taken much longer than she had hoped. “Congratulations” the blonde lady said, dressed head to toe in the smartest suit you had ever seen “Miss y/n Romanoff you are officially adopted by Natasha Romanoff” Mrs Williams said to Natasha as she moved her glasses from her nose to her head. The ex widow had now been a US citizen for 15 months, and she had finally become your mother, meaning you would be staying with Natasha forever. “yay” you called up from your chair, right next to mamas of course. She pulled you up onto her lap and held you close as Fury saw the older woman out. “Are we going to uncle Clint’s now?” You innocently asked “very soon darling” Natasha said, causing you to frown slightly “hey, I’m sure we’ll be there before you even know it. We’ll get all our things packed up and maybe go to the store and pick you out some things for your new room. And very soon you’ll be able to see your cousins as much as you want!” she explained “I can’t wait! I’m so happy you get to be my mommy forever!” You beamed as you threw your arms around the redhead.

————

A/N: This isn’t proof read so sorry if my dyslexic ass messed a few things up. Also I can’t seem to edit my masterlist atm so bear with while I try update it :))) -Star

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Taglist<3

@saraaahsstuff / @dannipotatoo / @tobiaslut / @a-simpfortessa-lesbriean / @marvelnatasha12346 / @yelenasdiary / @mousetheorist / @ashadash0904

[isthatmyjacket-covenofchaossq]

This scene is my roman empire 😭😭 it never fails to make me cry

Nat is so good with kids 🤧 I wish they had showed more how Lila was affected by her "auntie Nat" death in Hawkeye

On the other hand, Nat is alive and well and lives with Wanda and the twins far away from all the chaos in a farm house closer to the Barton's. The twins love her as much as Wanda 😌 to them Wanda is mom and Nat is momma (or mommy depends on the day)

[hawkeyecaroldanvers]

*Characters with the most screen time were included in the 4 bracket polls. If your favorite character was absent from all 4 polls, reblog & share who it is in the tags!

[incorrectquotesmcu]

Cooper: Hey, dad?

Clint: Yeah?

Cooper: Can a person breathe inside a washing machine while it’s on?

Clint:

Clint: Where’s Nate?

[haleingstorm]

Thinking about the Barton family in the context of my marvel x pjo. I know a lot of people tend to go with Clint Barton being either a legacy or a son of apollo but I raise you something else, something so much more tragic.

This involves some fudging of time lines so bare with me. Lets say for this one that Cooper and Peter are roughly the same age, Lila is 2ish years younger than Cooper and Nate is four years younger than Lila.

Laura has relations with Apollo, twice. Cooper and Lila are children of Apollo with Clint as their stepfather. Nathaniel is mortal, but only just. Perhaps there is a reason for this, perhaps there's too much divinity in the house, too much magic, too much radiation from one shield mission or another. But he’s a mutant.

A mutant with the ability to copy people’s talents with skin touch. The tragedy of it all, is that in any other family he wouldn’t have known. Most people don’t have talents that are so obviously copied. But Cooper feels every injury anyone has when he touches them, Lila is haunted by dreams of the future that she can barely remember. Both of them are demigods in the sharp, unnaturalness of their gaze. They are more than human, and as such Nathaniel never had a chance.

Clints never there, not long enough to see, the Mist hides most of the rest. Laura has a sense that something is off, but even she can not see through the mist and they are still young yet.

But the real world comes knocking sooner rather than later, and the three barton children are captured by HYDRA. Perhaps to be used as bragging, perhaps as blackmail.

They never find out, because the Barton children(with the help of some godly intervention) save themselves. Cooper fights his way out of the cell with bared teeth, even though he’s barely twelve and still tiny. Lila’s hands barely fit around the gun but she shots with the accuracy that betrays her heritage. Nate is quiet and silent.

This is the first lesson he learns: Be quiet, be silent and know when to run.

Apollo leads them to safety, to Camp. They will be safe from HYDRA there, but war looms on the horizon and they have a role to play. Nate is mortal, only red blood flows through his veins. There is not a shred of divinity but Cooper plants his feet and refuses to let him go. He does not budge and Nate ends up with them in Apollo’s cabin because Apollo is the defender of boys.

This is the second lesson Nate learns: you will never be enough because in the end you are mortal and they are not.

[themculibrary]

The Barton Family Masterlist

A Barton Family Christmas (ao3) - Kaychan87 clint/laura, bruce/natasha G, 1k

Summary: Christmas with the Barton family.

All in the Family (ao3) - Bettybackintheday clint/laura G, 1k

Summary: An innocent and fluffy look at the sleeping arrangements for some of the Avengers on their first night at the Barton Family homestead.

all of himself that is good (ao3) - shellybelle clint/laura/natasha T, 33k

Summary: “You’re all grown up,” Tony tells him. “You’ve got a wife, and kids. Why didn’t you think about them before you chose the wrong side?”

Clint is a father first. But not all family is flesh and blood.

Authority (ao3) - silver_drip clint/laura G, 3k

Summary: Civil War spoilers.

Clint returns home after escaping the Raft.

Festivities (ao3) - Fyre clint/laura G, 1k

Summary: In the Barton house, Christmas is all about family.

for the half of ourselves we have lost (ao3) - andibeth82 clint/laura/natasha M, 179k

Summary: Natasha says, “No matter what happens, this family will always be the one thing we have. We’ve all put each other through too much shit to let anything come between us.”

Clint says, “You know what it means to owe a debt, Nat.”

[a family picking up the pieces, before and after the war]

Halloween Traditions (ao3) - MalevolentLighthouse G, 200

Summary: Pumpkin carving with the Barton family.

Handle It Together (ao3) - Westgate (Harkpad) clint/laura G, 4k

Summary: When Laura leaves town for a conference, it’s the perfect time for a stomach virus to attack the Barton farm. It starts with Lila, but it travels fast. Clint can handle it, though. Mostly.

Nice Shot, Hawkeye (ao3) - AugustStories T, 4k

Summary: Lila was sixteen when Cooper went off to college, all the long way to New York City and NYU. Pre-Med. She had trouble believing it, her stupid idiot older brother, studying to become a bloody doctor. Nate was still a kid, he didn't know yet what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Lila did know.

She wanted to be a superhero.

Lila Barton wanted to be an Avenger.

scars can come in handy (ao3) - andibeth82 clint/laura T, 8k

Summary: “Coop invited a friend over,” Clint explains as he flops onto the couch. “He didn’t tell me. This kid from camp.”

“Is he okay?” Laura asks in a voice calm and neutral and practiced, every bit as natural at this game when children are present.

“Yeah,” Clint responds. “He seems fine. It’s just…he looks familiar. Like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

[or, Peter comes to the Barton farm.]

Sleep Number Rule (ao3) - RecessiveJean clint/laura, pre yelena/kate T, 7k

Summary: Farm or not, Clint always had a firm policy against bringing home strays.

Well.

Firm ish.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (ao3) - mitchpell clint/laura T, 28k

Summary: Clint takes his children to New York City to see Rogers: The Musical.

Wanda and the Bartons (ao3) - marvelaosdc1620 clint/laura T, 47k

Summary: After endgame is over, Wanda has absolutely no one left, so she goes to live with the Bartons on their farm in the middle of nowhere while she tries to recover from everything the world had thrown at her.

You Know I Do (ao3) - CarlyWrites clint/laura G, 1k

Summary: Clint and Natasha return to the farm after the Battle of New York. Clint is still recovering from being under Loki's control and Natasha privately struggles with the events that transpired.

You’re Here Where You Should Be (ao3) - paperairplanesopenwindows clint/laura, minor clint/laura/natasha T, 1k

Summary: Summary/Prompt Used: Natasha’s first Christmas with the Bartons + Clint and Laura’s first Christmas with Cooper doesn’t go exactly as planned + (an itty bitty little bit of) If love is for children, then so is Christmas. Clint’s determined to convince Natasha otherwise.

you were more than just a short time (ao3) - mayadrinkswater clint/laura G, 2k

Summary: laura barton is all-too-familiar with the antics of her husband and his best friend. they always, even in the most serious and near-fatal of missions, come back with a good story. they’ve perfected their ability to recall them, too, in a near perfect push-and-pull that almost seems rehearsed even though laura knows that it isn’t. laura never expected to miss it so much.

or

three times clint and natasha bring a good story home and the one time clint brings a new stray home in the form of kate bishop

[sycamorelibrary754]

Merry Christmas

Summary: It’s the most wonderful time of the year. You and Natasha are off to the annual Stark Christmas Party. Little does the team know that a special surprise awaits them.

Genre: Fluff

Pairings: Natasha x reader, Avengers x reader (platonic).

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: None

A/N: This is part 2 to Happy Thanksgiving! I recommend reading it first, but it can be read as a stand-alone story as well. I hope you enjoy!

“Be down in a minute, malyshka!” Natasha called from the bedroom. 

You were standing in the cozy kitchen, savoring spoonfuls of creamy peanut butter straight from the jar, drizzled with rich chocolate sauce. You jokingly referred to it as your "homemade Reese's." It was your first pregnancy craving, prompting Nat to rush to the corner grocery store at 2 am to procure the duo of ingredients.

"No worries!" You were all set for Tony's yearly Christmas gathering at the compound. Clad in a stunning green Sequin-Lace Halter Twist-Neck Jumpsuit, your tiny baby bump added an extra glow to the outfit.

Natasha's arrival was announced by the confident click of her high heels. A few moments later, she appeared in a stunning, sleek red midi dress with a scoop-back design, perfectly accentuating her figure.

"Wow, Nat, you look absolutely stunning in red. It's definitely your color," you complimented.

Her smirk grew as she put on her earrings, 'So, you're choosing it over the black?' she teased.

"I never said that, did I?" with a cheeky wink.

"Is the little one loving the homemade Reese’s?" she said, grabbing her clutch.

Absolutely!" I exclaimed, setting aside the tempting chocolate and peanut butter. "How about we whip up some delicious fudge tomorrow?

"Is it because the baby has such a sweet tooth?" Nat playfully teased.

"Absolutely," you giggled coyly.

"Whatever the baby wants, I guess," she said as she enveloped you in a warm embrace, then leaned over to plant a tender kiss on your belly.

"Are you ready to drop the baby bomb tonight?" Patting Nat's head affectionately.

“I'm feeling a bit nervous," she confessed, standing upright. "I remember how everyone reacted when they learned about Clint's family. I can't help but wonder how they'll take this news.

“They will embrace their roles as the wonderful aunts and uncles they were meant to be,” you said, grabbing your wife's hand. “Plus, announcing it with the Christmas crackers is a cute idea.”

"I hope so," she whispered before planting a gentle kiss on your lips. 

Can you believe Yelena still hasn't spilled the beans?” you asked.

"Oh, that's because I warned her that if she told anyone, I would make her run with me every morning at 5 am until the baby is born," Natasha explained.

“Well played,” you replied, high-fiving your wife. 

Thank you," she smiled. "Now, come on, let's go and get into the holiday spirit.

*^~^*

As you drove to the compound, the snowflakes delicately blanketed the landscape, creating a picturesque scene of holiday cheer. Each house you passed was adorned with shimmering Christmas lights, casting a warm, enchanting glow upon the neighborhood. You reached out to hold Natasha's hand, your fingers naturally intertwining as she pressed a tender kiss to the back of your hand, savoring the moment.

Upon your arrival at the compound, a rush of inviting warmth enveloped us as you both stepped into the lobby. Natasha brushed the delicate snowflakes from your hair and coat, her caring touch bringing a sense of comfort. Together, you made your way onto the elevator, where the voice of FRIDAY greeted us, creating a tranquil atmosphere as we continued our journey.

“Ladies, Merry Christmas, and welcome to the annual Stark Christmas party!”

“Merry Christmas, FRIDAY. How’s the party so far?” You asked as the elevator hum carried you up to the living quarters.

“The festivities are in full swing. Mr. Stark is treating the guests to a medley of lively and heartwarming Christmas carols,” FRIDAY explained.

"Of course he is," you chuckled.

“He only plays that baby grand after a few drinks," Nat added. "After our month-long covert op in Romania, we flew back, and he decided to mark the occasion with a tipsy performance of ABBA’s Dancing Queen.”

"Ah, I can't believe I missed it!" you groaned, pretending to be disappointed.

As the elevator doors slid open, the vibrant red and green decorations instantly caught your eye, along with the magnificent 12-foot-tall Noble Fir Christmas tree that stood proudly in the heart of the common area. It was evident that Pepper had poured her heart into adorning the tree, carefully draping it in an array of colored lights and delicate silver and gold ornaments. The festive ambiance filled the air, evoking a sense of warmth and holiday cheer.

"Look who's here - the Romanoff's have arrived!" Clint cheered as his kids eagerly ran over to greet you and Natahsa.

As Nate leaped into your wife's embrace, you welcomed Lila and Cooper with warm hugs. Each time you saw the Barton kids, it became apparent that they had grown a little more. Banner and Cho made carrying a child that would be a combination of both your and Natasha's genes possible. Observing the striking resemblance of Clint and Laura's children to their parents, you eagerly anticipated discovering which traits your little plum would inherit from each of you.

Natasha leaned in and planted a kiss on Nathaniel's cheek. "How's my little namesake?" she grinned. "Have you been practicing those punch and kick combinations I taught you?

"Practicing the what?" Laura asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, nothing,” Natasha flashed a sly smile as Nate burst into laughter.

"You both look amazing! The green and red combination is really working for you," Clint said.

Thanks! I have to say that your Christmas sweater is quite lovely. I really dig Rudolph's glowing nose." You don't see that very often!” You teased.

“Hey, the Barton’s are the cream of the crop when it comes to ugly Christmas sweaters.”

“Clearly,” Nat stated.

"I’ll take your coats," Cooper graciously offered.

"Wow, thank you. What a gentleman," you said as you handed him yours and Natasha’s pea coats.

Looking around, you spotted Wanda adding the final decorations to trays of delicious Christmas cookies. You put a hand on Nat’s shoulder and motioned toward the kitchen. She gave you a quick nod as you meandered over to the counter. 

"Wanda, Wanda, Wanda... What do we have here?" you inquired with a sly grin.

Y/N! It's so good to see you," she exclaimed, her arms wrapping around me in one of her signature warm and comforting hugs that I always loved. "This is my parents' famous Christmas cookie recipe," she proudly announced, holding up a worn and stained piece of paper. "I managed to convince Tony and Pepper to let me take charge of the desserts this year. So, we've got batches of freshly baked cookies, the decadent Viennese torte chilling in the fridge, and the pumpkin pie just coming out to cool on the counter.

Wow, you've been keeping busy," you said with a smile. "Is there anything I can do to lend a hand?

"Sure, you can take a cookie and go mingle. I'll be finished in a few minutes," she said, handing you a delightful cookie shaped like Santa. As you bit into it, you were amazed. It was the most delicious cookie you had ever tasted.

"Wow, Wanda! This is fantastic!" you exclaimed excitedly.

"That's exactly why I'll always champion homemade goodies over store-bought ones. Now, come on, go join the fun," she said, playfully shooing you away.

You turned around to see your wife, elegantly positioned by the fireplace, conversing with Steve with a champagne glass. As you began crossing the room, Kate and Lucky, adorned in festive attire, intercepted your path.

"Y/N! It's been ages! How have you been?" Kate exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement.

"Hey, Kate! It's great to see you and Lucky enjoying the party," while giving the Golden Retriever some affectionate pets.

"Kate joyfully exclaimed, "Yes, say hello to Santa Paws and Mrs. Claus!" Sadly, we can't seem to find Yelena. She's our dedicated elf." Kate glanced around the room with concern.

Wait, Yelena is actually dressed as an elf?!" Your eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, that's fantastic.”

“Yeah, if you see her, will you send her our way? We’re supposed to take the photo for our holiday card tonight,” Kate explained.

"Nothing would make me happier," you said with a smirk and a hand resting on Kate's shoulder.

You bid farewell to the young archer and her loyal pup before rejoining your wife.

"Hey detka," Nat greeted, gently wrapping her arm around your waist.

"Y/N, I was just telling your wife that she needs to find her holiday spirit and come Christmas caroling with us next week," Steve stated.

"Natasha singing? I'm not convinced that would do wonders for the community's morale," you quipped.

Nat giggled at the remark, "Says the woman who performs one-woman tributes to Harry Styles in the shower?"

“Hey" you interrupted, "I'll have you know that my performance of Sign of the Times has been receiving high praise.

A moment later, Tony and Pepper joined your little group, with Morgan walking alongside them.

"Hey there, Romanoffs! You've got to taste this amazing Hot Buttered Rum," Tony exclaimed.

I adore Hot Buttered Rum, but I'm in the mood for some sparkling cider tonight," you explained. "I bet Nat would enjoy some, though. Don't you think, sweetheart?”

"Sure," she said, grabbing the glass from Tony's hand. Steve looked back at you curiously.

As you looked down at Morgan, who was sitting on the cozy ottoman next to the crackling fireplace, you couldn't help but feel a deep connection. Ever since you discovered that you were expecting a baby, your heart has been inexplicably drawn to children in a way you had never experienced before.

"Hey there, cutie!" you exclaimed to the young Stark. "You're looking lovely tonight," as you crouched down to her eye level.

"Thank you, Aunt Y/N," she said with a big grin.

“Are you getting excited for Christmas?" you inquired. "You're at the top of Santa's nice list this year!

“Really?!” Morgan squealed.

"Definitely! I have a feeling the man in red will bring you some amazing surprises this year," you winked.

Hey, did you hear that, Daddy? Aunt Y/N just told me that I'm at the very top of the nice list!

“I sure did, squirt. I didn’t realize Aunt Y/N was so tight with St. Nick,” Tony said, eyeing you coyly.

"Of course, we're on a first-name basis. I'm amazed you're not," you said with a smirk, looking at the billionaire. You had a strong bond with Tony, treating him like a brother, but you couldn't resist teasing him.

Trust me, Mrs. Romanoff," Tony said with a smirk. "I'm way closer to Santa than you are.

“Do you have a direct line to the North Pole?” You countered.

"Are you getting milk and cookies flown in from Holland? You know those are his absolute favorites," Tony remarked, giving you a knowing look.

"Alright, that's enough," your wife said as she touched your shoulders from behind. "You both know Santa. You both have giant egos. Merry Christmas," Nat mocked. "Come on, Tony, let's grab some hors d'oeuvres for our better halves. I'll be right back, detka," she said, leading the billionaire toward the kitchen.

You couldn’t help but admire Natasha as she walked away. Looking back over her shoulder, she smiled at you with all the love in the world. You just about melted right there in front of the fireplace. Snapping out of your love daze, you noticed Pepper grinning at you.

“What?” you asked.

"Oh, nothing. I just can’t help but notice how glowing you look tonight," Pepper said as Morgan pulled her away towards Clint’s kids, while Steve strolled away to join Bucky in conversation with Rhodes.

"Hey, psst... psst!" a voice suddenly whispered.

You suddenly spun around just in time to see a styrofoam snowball hurtling towards your face. With lightning-fast reflexes, you snatched it out of the air smoothly.

"Good catch," a Russian voice exclaimed.

"Yelena, where are you?" You glanced around, but couldn't see my sister-in-law anywhere.

"Over here!" she called out, peeking from behind the towering seven-foot snowman beside the pool table.

"Aww, you look absolutely adorable as an elf," you giggled.

Yelena's voice was barely audible as she uttered, "If you weren't pregnant with my niece or nephew, you would be hanging upside down from the rafters right now."

"Do you know that Kate and Lucky are looking for you?" you asked.

“Why do you think I’m hiding behind the enormous snowman? Kate Bishop forced me to dress in this saccharin American Christmas costume, and now she wants photographic evidence of it.” Yelena said.

"Because she loves you, silly," she said with a smile, arms crossed over her chest.

"Dinner time, detka. Let's go," Natasha called out and then abruptly halted, bursting into laughter at the sight of her sister.

“Tred carefully, sestra,” Yelena threatened. 

Nope, I'm loving this. Isn't this the new mission suit attire?" she said, playfully tapping the bell hanging from her elf hat. "Maybe we can convince Stark to level up this outfit with some Widow Bites action.

“Do you have a death wish?” Yelena sneered.

“Come on, you adorable elf, it’s time for dinner,” you say as you place an arm around your best friend’s shoulder.

*^~^*

As you sat next to your wife at the elegant Astoria Grand Giovani dining table, the soft touch of Natasha's hand sent a gentle warmth through you. You turned to her and caught her shy smile; her cheeks tinged with a rosy, festive blush.

Pepper rose from her seat beside Tony at the head of the lavishly decorated holiday table. With warmth in her voice and a genuine smile, she addressed the gathered guests. "Before we savor this delectable holiday spread, I want to express our deep gratitude for every one of you being here," she said, gently clasping Tony's hand. "Every person in this room understands the preciousness of life, and we cherish every moment together. We want you to know how much we love you, and we wish you all a Merry Christmas."

"Cheers!" Thor exclaimed a few seats away, raising his glass as clinking filled the table.

The festive Christmas feast brought an abundance of delightful dishes to savor. The centerpiece was a perfectly roasted turkey, surrounded by tempting trimmings. Freshly baked bread, creamy mashed potatoes, and garden-fresh vegetables, delicately roasted and complemented with balsamic vinegar, graced the table. Laughter filled the air as the group indulged in cheerful conversation and shared a medley of lighthearted, albeit incredibly corny, jokes.

As the evening progressed, pregnancy mood swings began to intensify. Amidst the gathering, a wave of emotion washed over you as you and your extended family relished the holiday season together.

"Y/N, are you alright?" Carol's eyes held a deep sense of concern as she gazed at you from across the table.

Oh, yeah," you say, dabbing at the corner of your eyes with a napkin. "I'm fine.

"The holidays always tug at her heartstrings," Natasha covered, resting her head on your shoulder.

After your delicious dinner, you assisted Wanda in setting up the dessert spread. Placing the Christmas cookies in the center, you carefully arranged the Viennese torte and the pumpkin pie on either side. As the evening progressed, you passed around coffee and dessert wine; all enjoying the company and the sweet treats.

The room was filled with the cozy warmth of full bellies and slightly sleepy eyes as the group relaxed in the living room. Soft, enchanting Christmas music filled the air, creating the perfect backdrop for the kids' lively discussions about their Christmas wishes and what they hoped Santa would bring them this year.

"Alright, Kate Bishop, let's hurry up with this photo. I can't wait to change into my pajamas," Yelena declared as she reluctantly rose from the couch.

You got it! Stay right there. Come here, Lucky," Kate called out as the dog happily bounded over. "Vision, could you snap the photo for us?

"Of course, Ms. Bishop," he said, confidently taking the Canon EOS R-50 from the archer's hands.

“It is customary to say cheese before a picture, but since it is Christmas time, perhaps you should say mistletoe?” Vision inquired.

"Just take the picture, you overgrown toaster," Yelena said dryly, a hint of impatience in her voice.

Kate's voice echoed through the room, 'Mistletoe!'

"Hey, we're getting one of these cards, right?" you eagerly looked at your wife.

“I had Kate put us down for two,” she smirked.

*^~^*

As darkness descended, you leaned back and rested your tired head on Nat's comforting lap, feeling the soothing sensation of her fingers gently running through your hair.

Natasha glanced at her watch, noting the late hour. "Are you ready to drop the baby bomb?"

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I'll grab the Christmas crackers," you declared, getting up from the sofa.

"Hey everyone, Y/N and I have a surprise for you," your wife nervously announced as you handed out the gold and silver novelties to the team.

"Christmas crackers? Seriously? I was expecting something a bit more extravagant… Oww!" Tony complained as Pepper playfully pinched his arm.

You smiled nervously, your heart racing as you reached for Natasha. The snap of the festive crackers echoed merrily across the room. Clint's eyes lit up as he was the first to reach inside and carefully remove the tiny gift from the cracker. The little round ceramic white ornament, delicately tied to a vibrant red ribbon, appeared in his hand, reflecting the warm glow of the holiday lights. Lila, Cooper, and Nate, their faces filled with excitement and curiosity, eagerly huddled around their dad to get a glimpse as Clint slowly turned the ornament to read the inscription, a moment of joy and togetherness shared by the entire family.

"Uncle Clint?" he read, looking up at Natasha in complete shock.

Sam couldn't believe it and shouted, "No way!"

As Wanda, Carol, and Kate gazed upon their unique ornaments, they couldn't help but shout a collective scream of joy. Each ornament proudly displayed its name, followed by the cherished title of "Aunt."

Thor exclaimed, 'This is joyous news!'

Pepper jumped to her feet and wrapped you in a bear hug, while Laura did the same with Natasha.

“How far along are you?” Wanda asked.

“Almost three months,” Yelena cut in.

"Wait, you knew?! Why didn't you tell me?" Kate yelled, slapping her girlfriend on the arm.

“Because I want to sleep in!” Yelena shouted.

"Nat, I'm thrilled for you," Steve exclaimed, gently kissing her cheek.

Bucky enveloped you in a warm embrace, planting a soft kiss on your head.

"Are you ready to take on the role of Uncle Bucky?" You lock eyes with him.

His face froze in sheer panic, like a deer caught in the headlights. “Oh my God.”

“You’ll be great, Buck,” you chuckled. 

Bruce and Helen wrapped Natasha in a warm, heartfelt embrace, simultaneously holding her close from both sides.

Helen turned to you with a look of relief. "Now that everyone knows, we can openly discuss your pregnancy," she said. "Have you been taking your prenatal vitamins regularly?

"Don't forget, you've got an appointment on Friday," Bruce said.

Without a second thought, you replied, "Yes and yes," as Natasha leaned in to gently kiss your cheek, followed by another on your belly.

Tony swaggered up to you with his trademark smirk playing at the corners of his lips. Bracing yourself for one of his classic Stark one-liners or a cheeky joke, you were entirely taken off guard when he unexpectedly enveloped you in a comforting and heartfelt hug.

“Congratulations, Romanoff,” Tony said. “It looks like you do know Santa best.” 

[the-widow-sisters]

No One's Favorite

Summary: An introspective look at Natasha's relationships with family over the years and that she is truly only one person's first priority.

Word Count: 2.6k+

A/N: Wowza, it's been so long since I've written widow sisters stuff 😂 Hopefully I haven't lost my touch 😅

It feels good to finally post this one. I've had this in the drafts for a while, but I just didn't fully finish writing it until today 💖 I got inspired to write by @chargedlion's fic that was posted today 😂

I hope y'all enjoyed! Positive comments mean the world to me! 💗💗💗

   Natasha Romanoff was no one’s first priority.

   She never was, and she never had been.

   At least not except for when she had been succeeding in the Red Room training. But even then, it had been a passing moment of sweet respite in a barren landscape characterized by bitter unappreciation and frigidity.

   However, all of that had abruptly changed when Yelena had come stumbling into her life on chubby baby legs, adorable curls bouncing behind her.

   Natasha had not wanted to love her from the start. She had wanted to remain cold. To remain every bit of the fledgling young widow that she was intended to be and that she had trained relentlessly to be almost since her birth.

   Eight-year-old Natasha had not been one for love. She had never known what love felt like. Love had not been something that was achievable because it had never been something she could see right before her.

   Victory had been attainable and concrete. It had been something she could see in the blood of other young girls. In the gnashing of their teeth and the bruises on their skin as they crawled away to lick their wounds.

   However, she had never felt very victorious in those moments despite the sensation’s very real tangibility in the faces of her opponents.

   With Yelena, she had to find a new way to live. A new way to function. She had to be softer and the very thought of it had terrified her.

   The only thing that had pushed her to be that softer person that so deeply and inherently defied all that she had been taught was the fact that she was Yelena’s favorite.

   For the first time in her entire eight years of young life, she had been wanted. Truly wanted. And she had been someone’s favorite on top of all of that. She had been valued and loved of all things, and that had been something that she was simultaneously horribly terrified of and desperately starving for all the same.

   They had ended up living three heavenly years together. Yelena had received an endlessly loyal protector, and in exchange, Natasha had received all the affection, love, and devotion that she had craved all of her young life.

   Yelena had truly been her baby sister as far as she was concerned. She would take no other answers. If someone loved her this much and saw her as this great of a person, this someone was undoubtedly nothing less than a sister and true family.

   But then the three years were up, and Natasha had been flung back into the harsh, cold reality of her life.

   She had been— once again— nobody’s first priority.

   At least… To no one except for Dreykov.

   But being this sort of first priority had not been the kind that Natasha wanted. It had been harsh and unforgiving in its own manner.

   Victory had been tangible, but she soon had found a new sensation that was just as easily seen in its concreteness— it was submission. This one had been too tangible.

   It had been seen in the visits to Dreykov’s office after she had been called upon. In the knotting of her stomach and in the sense of disgust and humiliation she had felt after the visits.

   She had been someone’s first priority again, but it had not been right. It had not been the type of first priority that left her chest warm and her heart full, and honestly, if it did not give her that sort of feeling, she did not want it.

   And then, her time of being the favorite had come to pay off in the ultimate ceremony. It had been made out to be a reward. The ability to become the perfect agent in every manner. The ability to perform every aspect of her duties without any consequences.

   She had been stripped of her free choice, and more than that, she had been stripped of the chance to perhaps one day bring another little one in the world of her own.

   Once it was done, she had reassured herself with empty platitudes that she would not have been a good mother anyway. The Red Room simply would have taken her child, perpetuating her potential daughter into the same system as she had been in or taking her potential son and throwing him to the wolf packs of politicians searching for fresh meat.

   She had known that her latter reason would have likely been true, but the first part had been something that she could not exactly help but question, knowing the argument was weak in itself.

   But several years passed, and Natasha had found her opportunity to escape the cycle of submission.

   She had met Clint Barton and while she had been no one’s first priority in that situation for that moment at least, she had appreciated it for once.

   She had realized that it was safer to not be a first priority.

   It meant that there were no groping hands. It meant that there were no funerals disguised as ceremonies. It meant that there was no heartbreak. No attachment. No hearts on the line. Nothing.

   But then she had joined SHIELD and she had found herself partnering with Barton.

   And then she had become a first priority again. At least in the field.

   But she could handle that. It had been like being assigned with other widows. It was not uncommon to be unified in terms of being a team and having each other’s backs. That is, if the other widow was of high value in Dreykov’s eyes. He sometimes sent younger, less experienced widows with Natasha on missions, and she was specifically assigned not to interfere if unfortunate events transpired.

   So she and Clint had become a team and he was a high value partner, so she did her best to keep him alive. She had his back and he had hers, and it was a strangely well-matched partnership despite the fact that she knew as well as him that she was the most skilled.

   However, when it turned into something pertaining to actual value in their lives outside of simply just the fighting portions of missions…

   It had scared her. She had been terrified at first that he would try something with her.

   After all, Natasha had well-learned the ways of men. They were kind and gentle and sweet and full of compliments until they wanted something. Then they took and took with all of the roughness of bear claws attacking and ripping at the skin while she was expected to simply submit. Or even encourage it despite the sickness in the pit of her stomach and the numbness of her mind.

   The first time he had placed his hand on her shoulder, congratulating her, she had instantly stiffened, terrified that it was going to lead to something far less innocent. He had been confused and he had looked at her with such a genuine horror when she had hinted at the idea that she was taken aback at his reaction.

   It was at that point that she felt that maybe not all men were horrid human beings. She eventually even grew to trust him in a way that transcended merely missions. They began to talk more frequently about things that were not just related to work.

   For the first time since Yelena, she felt that maybe she was becoming a first priority in a way that maybe was not altogether horrifying. Natasha grew to enjoy his teasing, his kind smiles, and his occasional touches to her shoulders or upper back. He was kind to her, and while she was not used to it, she grew to love it all the same.

   But then she found out he had a family, and something within her was a bit hurt at the knowledge, despite the fact that she had never wanted any sort of romantic relationship with him or anything of the sort. She had merely thought that it was only them and that they were the only important people in each other’s respective worlds.

   When he had invited her to come to his home, she had been hesitant, but she was quick to agree despite her reservations. She did not want him to forsake her because she would not do this for him. They had grown close, and Clint was one of the only people in her world outside of Nick Fury. But Fury and her had a strange relationship.

   The day finally arrived that she came to meet his lovely wife and amazing kids. Laura was very kind to her, but of course, Natasha would have expected nothing less. She was married to the only fully trustworthy man that Natasha had ever known, so she naturally must have been a wonderful, deserving woman.

   But where Natasha’s heart truly softened was with Young Cooper and little Lila.

   She had started off somewhat afraid of them. She had not been around children— or at least innocent children like these— since Yelena. However, her reservations had quickly melted away with the first time that Lila had crawled over to her, looked up at her in such a way that reminded her so closely of Yelena, and had grabbed her leg where she was sitting on the couch. She had picked her up, and when the baby touched her cheeks softly, all of her walls crashed to the ground.

   It was with them that she realized she was capable of true softness and at least some semblance of humanity. She let them do whatever they wanted with her, her heart almost instantly falling into their small hands. Lila would play with makeup and fix her face, and she would go rock and flower-collecting with Cooper. She never argued with them or protested against their many frivolous whims, and Clint actually even had to try to convince her to actually put her foot down when it was something that Natasha did not want to do.

   But she wanted to do everything with them.

   Natasha could easily see that she was not first priority with anyone there, but Clint did not make her feel any less important despite the fact that she knew her boundaries. Clint had allowed her this piece of his world, and she was honestly thankful to have any shred she could get. It was something that made her feel almost like she did when she had her first “family.”

   As time went on, the Avengers eventually assembled, and it was with them that she had a work family. It was not perfect, and it was truthfully oftentimes a disaster, but she still loved them. It was another piece that she was trying to rely on to put together the puzzle of her broken heart. Despite teasing them often, she loved the boys. She would help anywhere she could, and she was always around at the tower when she was not on missions for Fury. She did all that she could to keep them together and keep them happy.

   But Natasha was not a first priority. Oftentimes, she was not even a second one with the Avengers. So when she fought to keep them together, they fell apart anyway.

   That was one of the lowest moments in her life.

   She was alone and on the run. She was an enemy of the United States and isolated from all the people she cared about. She had nothing and no one except for professional contacts.

   But that was when she received her package, several photos being the clue to precisely who was contacting her. It was then that she ran into Yelena again for the first time since they were pulled apart as children so many years ago.

   When Natasha had first seen Yelena on the other end of her handgun, she had felt like her heart might stop. Even though the years had hardened her into a murderous, fully-grown lethal weapon, Yelena had still grown into a gorgeous young woman. In fact, one of Natasha’s first thoughts had been that Yelena had never quite managed to grow out of those chubby cheeks.

   However, after all of the pain and all of the long-suffering she had endured over the past several years, she was scared to allow herself attachment to Yelena. Yelena was crass yet honest, and it was clear that she was angry with Natasha. Yelena was also attached to her even still. The anger was only a further indicator of that attachment.

   But it was easier for Natasha to put that thought away into a far, dusty corner of her mind so that she did not have to put a great deal of consideration into it. Natasha was angry enough with herself as it was. She was angry that she had not been able to do anything and that she had somehow managed to allow the woman that was once her sister to keep being abused by the organization that Natasha thought she had destroyed.

   However, it was much easier to be irritable in general and with Yelena than it was to stop and consider Yelena’s attachment to her despite all of Natasha’s failings. Natasha stopped to sufficiently hate herself at night, trying with everything she had to avoid chaining herself to the bed as she silently cried over everything that had happened to her and how alone she felt.

   The worst part about the entire thing was that she wanted Yelena to love her. To keep that attachment. Despite the fact that Natasha hated herself and felt that Yelena should hate her as well, she was still so selfish that she could not push Yelena away to make her hate her.

   It was best for Yelena to hate her, after all.

   Natasha was beginning to come to the conclusion that she was not loveable. Everyone she had forsook her or never took her as a first priority. She was never going to have someone that saw her as their most important person.

   But it was when Yelena selflessly sacrificed herself to kill Dreykov that Natasha realized she could not do it. She did not have it in her to make Yelena hate her or to push her away any longer. Something in her broke as she leapt after Yelena, freefalling, with the only thought in her mind being that she had to save her baby sister. She could not let her die.

   After fighting Antonia, Natasha had been so scared when she saw Yelena lying on the ground, the parachute having brought her down safely but Yelena still somehow being unconscious.

   And when those beautiful honey-green eyes opened to meet her own light greens, she broke down and told her what she should have said as soon as she saw her. Natasha dropped her guard and gave into the hurt, the need, and the love in her heart as she confessed the truth and her broken apology.

   Yelena had looked at her with such astonishment, such raw honesty, such pain, and such adoration that Natasha did not even know how to respond. She just looked at her, and when Yelena brought her forehead to her own, clambering into her as she initiated the best hug of Natasha’s life, Natasha grabbed on tight with no desire to ever let go.

   Yelena had whispered a soft thank you in her ear, but Natasha knew that she should be the one thanking Yelena.

   She finally had her person in her arms. And Natasha Romanoff was Yelena Belova’s first priority.

   She always was and she always would be.