Clint finally noticed them and it didn't take long until they were safely on the ship. Natasha sat with a blanket around her body, trying not to show how much she was freezing. Tony and Bruce had been ordered to exit the mission and had been picked up by some SHIELD agents to discuss the faults of the mission with director Fury.
Steve sat down beside Natasha and she glanced at him. "Why would.. The XX.. a bomb?" She said, too cold to even get out the words. Steve put his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "What are.. doing?" She asked as her teeth kept chattering. "Do you want to get warm?" He asked and she relaxed a bit as he brought some warmth to her cold body. "Clint. Where are we going?" Steve asked and Clint looked back at Natasha in Steve's arms. "Safe house. We need to get her warm." He said with a concerned look that made Steve's stomach twist.
Steve held his arm around Natasha's waist as they walked out of the helicarrier. To Steve's surprise, they were outside a little farm and a big old house. Clint walked with quick steps towards the house as Steve and Natasha tried to keep up. Steve watched as a woman came outside to greet Clint.
"Can you make some tea and I'll get some more blankets. She's ice." Clint said to the woman who looked worryingly at Natasha. "I'm fine." Natasha claimed but Steve could still feel her shivering.
Natasha had gotten some new clothes, precisely as Steve. She sat around the big kitchen table with another blanket over her shoulders and a cup of hot tea in her hands. "So you're married?" Steve asked Clint. "13 years soon." Clint said with a smile. "Congratulations." Steve said with a smile. Natasha grinned. "Yeah right, congrats." She said teasingly and Clint have her a look.
"I need to go to bed. But I made two guest rooms ready for you." Laura said as she got downstairs. "Thank you Laura." Natasha said with a smile.
"We really don't want to be any trouble." Steve said and Laura shook her head. "Don't worry about it." She said as Clint gave her a kiss on the cheek and she went upstairs. "I should go too. You'll be alright right?" Clint asked Natasha who nodded. He nodded back before he went upstairs, leaving Steve and Natasha alone downstairs. Natasha took another sip of her tea as Steve looked at her. "Are you sure that you're okay?" He asked and she chuckled. "I jumped into some cold water. I'm not sick. I'm fine." She said, tired of everyone asking if she was alright when she clearly was. "I just wanted to make sure." He said and she looked at him. "How about you? Are you okay?" She asked after a while. Steve was surprised by the question. "I usually don't get cold.." "No. I mean, how are you?" She asked while staring into his eyes. "You don't get that question often do you?" Steve smiled a small smile and looked down at the table. "Well, you ask me that now and then. I'm okay.." He said but she could detect the lie in his voice. "You know, I'm always.." She began but was interrupted by a small voice.
"Auntie Nat?" Lila stood at the end of the staircase with a teddy bear pressed to her chest. Her brown hair was in two braids and she wore a yellow nightgown with a flower on it. "Hey honey." Natasha said with a big smile as the little girl ran into Natasha's embrace. She lifted up Lila in her lap and held her tight. Steve was surprised by the little girl and watched them. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" Natasha asked with a lighter voice. "Yes but I heard you." She said happily with a tired voice. "What are you doing here?" She asked and Natasha smiled. "I'm visiting you for a day or two. Fun huh?" She asked and Lila nodded. "Who's that?" Lila whispered as she pointed at Steve. Natasha grinned. "That's Steve. Haven't dad told you about him?" Natasha asked and Lila nodded. "He did. He has a shield." Lila said and Natasha nodded in agreement as Steve smiled at the little girl.
He was drowning in the look of Natasha holding a little girl. He had seen Natasha help and show concern for others but this was something different.
"Let's go to bed now before your mommy and daddy wakes up. Alright?" Natasha said and Lila nodded. "I'll follow you upstairs." Natasha said as Lila took her hand. Natasha looked at Steve and mouthed "Five minutes" before she walked with Lila, hand in hand, up the stairs. Steve gazed after them with a sigh. "Auntie Nat?" Lila asked as Natasha tucked her in.
"Yes sweetheart?" Lila looked at Natasha with big eyes for a while before opening her mouth. "Are you okay?" Lila asked suddenly and Natasha was surprised by the little girls question. "Yes why wouldn't I be?" Natasha asked with a smile. "My daddy said you were lonely. Are you?" Lila asked and Natasha frowned.
"Did your dad say that?" Natasha asked and Lila nodded. "I heard he and mommy talk in the kitchen." Lila said. "Well, then they're wrong sweetheart. I'm not alone. I have you.. And your dad.." She said.
"And Steve." Lila said and Natasha smiled a small smile.
"Right. See? I'm okay. Sleep tight now honey." Natasha said as she kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight." Lila mumbled as her eyes started to close. "Sweet dreams." Natasha whispered before closing the door.
Natasha walked down the stairs and met Steve's eyes immediately.
"So they have a daughter?" Steve asked and Natasha chuckled. "And a son actually." She said as she sat down by the table again. Steve smiled and nodded a bit. "You aren't going to bed are you?" Steve asked.
"Wow you know me so well." She said with a smirk. "Well, do you want to go for a walk?" He asked and she nodded with a small smile. "Sure."