"i want to make you proud, mother."
Natasha stared down at the positive pregnancy test in shock. This wasn't supposed to happen. As a Black Widow, she had been sterilized by the Red Room to prevent such an occurrence. And yet, against all odds, she was pregnant.
She knew she had to keep this child. The Red Room may allow her to carry to term, but they would no doubt take the baby from her after birth to raise it as another asset. Natasha placed a hand on her still flat stomach. She would not let them turn her child into a mindless assassin.
Over the next few months, Natasha hid her pregnancy symptoms as best she could. When she could no longer hide the swell of her belly, she admitted the truth to her handlers. To her surprise, they allowed her to keep the pregnancy a secret and continue on smaller missions.
The day she went into labor, Natasha was terrified. She was completely alone, giving birth in a sterile medical room in the Red Room facility. When the baby was placed in her arms, a boy, Natasha wept. She had never felt a love so immediate and all-consuming.
"Peter," she whispered. "My little spider." She pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
Natasha was permitted to raise Peter in the facility. She watched him grow from a toddler to a young boy, pouring all the love and affection she could into him while also training him to one day serve the Red Room.
When Peter was three, he fell and split his head open on the edge of a table. Natasha staunched the bleeding and rushed him to the medical wing, heart pounding. He received stitches across his hairline, leaving a jagged scar. She kissed the scar every night when she tucked him into bed.
On Peter's fifth birthday, Natasha overheard two guards speaking. "The boy's progress is remarkable. He will make an excellent asset. It's time he began specialized training." Natasha's blood ran cold. She knew this day would come, but she was not ready to lose her child.
That night, after Peter fell asleep, Natasha used the small amount of computer access she had to make a desperate plea for help. She had no idea if her message would even be received, but she had to try for Peter's sake.
Weeks passed with no response. Then one day, when Natasha and Peter were in the courtyard for his daily exercise time, the perimeter alarms blared to life. Gunfire and explosions echoed through the compound. Natasha sheltered Peter behind a concrete wall, heart pounding. Was this rescue or attack?
A familiar voice called out. "Natasha! It's Clint, I got your message!" Natasha nearly sobbed in relief. Clint Barton, her closest friend. He had come through.
She peered around the wall to see Clint and a half dozen SHIELD agents battling Red Room operatives. "Peter, stay here. Do not move from this spot. I need to help Clint."
Peter's eyes were wide. "But Mother-"
"Stay. Here." She hurried off before he could argue. Natasha joined the fight, her widow's bites and fists taking down Red Room agents with ease. Between her and Clint, they soon had the upper hand.
"Let's move!" Clint yelled. Natasha turned to go collect Peter when agony lanced through her. She cried out and looked down to see a spreading red stain on her abdomen. A gunshot wound.
"Tasha!" Clint was at her side in an instant, lowering her to the ground and applying pressure. "Hang on, stay with me!"
Natasha shook her head, already feeling the blackness encroaching. "Clint, listen. My son, Peter. He's here, five years old, dark hair. Please, get him out."
Clint's eyes widened in shock even as he kept pressure on her wound. "Your son...I promise, Nat, I'll find him, I'll keep him safe."
The darkness rose up to claim her. The last thing Natasha saw was Clint's determined face as he called for an evac. Then she knew no more.
-----
When Natasha came to, she was in a SHIELD medical facility. Clint sat at her bedside, worn and weary but very much alive.
"Welcome back. We were starting to wonder if you'd ever wake up."
Natasha struggled to sit up. "Peter...my son..."
Clint placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Nat. When I went back for him, he was gone. The Red Room took him."
Natasha closed her eyes, grief threatening to swallow her whole. She had failed her child. But she would not stop fighting for him. Turning a sharp look on Clint, she said, "I'm going after my son. And you're going to help me get him back."
-----
Over the next decade, Natasha relentlessly hunted for leads on the Red Room and her son's whereabouts. Clint and occasionally other allies like Nick Fury aided her search, but Peter remained tantalizingly out of reach.
Until finally, intel crossed Natasha's desk that made her heart leap - an active Red Room assassin fitting Peter's description had been spotted in Europe. She and Clint immediately sprang into action.
They tracked the young man to Prague, observing him from afar. He moved with a dancer's grace as he stalked his target, wielding wrist shooters with deadly accuracy. When Natasha glimpsed his profile, her breath caught. Those eyes...that unruly hair...could it be?
Clint glanced at her. "We need to get closer. You take the east flank, I'll circle around west?"
Natasha nodded, pulse racing. This was it. The moment she'd been waiting for.
As she stealthily approached the assassin, she heard a cry of alarm followed by a heavy thud. Clint. Darting forward, she arrived to see Clint pinned beneath the young man, a wrist shooter aimed at his head.
"Stand down!" Natasha ordered, her widow's bites at the ready. "Let him go, now!"
The assassin glanced up, eyes widening. He stared at Natasha with a mix of disbelief and what she thought might be recognition. Slowly, he released his hold on Clint and rose to his feet.
Natasha kept her wrist aimed at him warily. "Who are you?" she demanded.
The young man licked his lips. "My name is...Peter."
Natasha's heart seized. Up close, she could see the scar on his temple. It was him. After over a decade, she was face to face with her son again. Her wrist shooter lowered incrementally. "Peter..." she whispered.
Peter took a hesitant step forward, eyes never leaving her face. "Do I...do I know you?"
Emotion clogged Natasha's throat. "Yes. I'm your mother, Peter."
Shock splashed across his face. His eyes darted to her wrist shooter and he tensed, as if preparing to defend himself.
Natasha immediately lowered her arm and raised her hands in a gesture of peace. "Peter, listen to me. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to help you. Do you remember me at all?"
Peter stared at her warily. But she could see him struggling to access old memories. "I...I remember a woman with red hair. She used to sing to me. She called me her little spider." He looked up at Natasha uncertainly.
Natasha's lips curved in a trembling smile as tears burned her eyes. "That's right, Peter. That was me." Slowly, telegraphing her every move, she stepped forward and reached out to cup his cheek with her palm. Peter flinched but didn't pull away. "Oh, my beautiful boy. Look how you've grown."
Tears shimmered in Peter's eyes. "I don't understand. If you're my mother, why did you leave me?"
Natasha's heart broke. "Oh Peter, I didn't want to. I fought to keep you with me. But I was badly injured when you were just a boy. The Red Room took you from me while I lay unconscious." She brushed away a tear that slipped down his cheek. "I never stopped looking for you, and I never stopped loving you."
A quiet sob escaped Peter's throat. Before Natasha realized what was happening, he surged forward and threw his arms around her, hugging her fiercely. "Mother," he gasped. "I remember you."
Natasha clutched him close, burying her face in his hair as her own tears fell freely. "My sweet boy. My little spider." They held each other for a long moment, 10 lost years melting away between them.
Finally Peter drew back, scrubbing the moisture from his face. He gave a watery laugh. "Look at me, crying like a child."
Natasha smiled gently. "You've held this pain for a long time, Peter. Don't be ashamed." She glanced over at Clint, who was watching the reunion with a tender smile. "There's someone I want you to meet."
She introduced Peter and Clint, explaining how Clint had been there for her Red Room escape and how he tried to rescue Peter as a child. The two shook hands warmly.
Clint's expression turned serious. "Your mother's told me a lot about you, kid. And I know you got dealt a bad hand growing up in the Red Room. But I see a lot of good in you too. Given the chance, I think you could do great things." He paused. "Have you ever considered using your skills for more than just assassination?"
Peter looked startled, as if the thought had never occurred to him. "I...I don't know. The Red Room is all I've ever known."
Clint nodded. "Well, here's the deal. I want to offer you a chance to start over. To join me and your mom as an agent of SHIELD. You could help a lot of people, put those fighting skills of yours to good use. But only if you want to." He held Peter's gaze evenly. "So what do you say, kid? You ready to change your path?"
Peter looked between Clint and Natasha with uncertainty. But underneath Natasha could see the spark of hope and longing in his eyes. This was Peter's chance to take control of his own destiny, to become more than what the Red Room tried to make him.
Slowly, Peter drew himself up straight and met Clint's eyes. "Yes," he said firmly. "I want to join SHIELD. I want to help others and make up for my past." He turned to Natasha, resolve shining on his face. "I want to make you proud, Mother."
Joy leapt in Natasha's heart. She hugged Peter tight once more. "You already have, my brave boy."
-----
And so Peter Romanoff began his new life at SHIELD. Though it was an adjustment, with Natasha and Clint's help and support, he found his footing as an agent. His skills were unmatched in combat, but he also shone in science, technology, and as a strategist.
Within his first year, Nick Fury pulled Natasha aside. "That boy of yours is one of our finest recruits ever. Reminds me of you when you first joined up." He eyed her shrewdly. "Something tells me he could hold his own with the Avengers."
Natasha straightened with pride but demurred, "Peter still has much to learn."
In truth, she cherished this time rebuilding her relationship with her son, getting to know the young man he had become. Peter was thoughtful, smart, and kind beneath his stoic exterior. And he seemed truly happy for the first time she could remember.
So Natasha was content to keep Peter to herself a little while longer before introducing him to the wider world of heroes. But that time came sooner than expected.
-----
Natasha brought Peter to Avengers Tower, nerves plaguing her. "Just be yourself, Peter. They'll love you."
Peter nodded, though he seemed anxious. Natasha couldn't blame him - meeting Captain America and the Hulk was daunting.
The Avengers greeted them curiously in the common room. Natasha took a breath. "Everyone, I want you to meet Peter...my son."
Shocked silence met this pronouncement. Tony was the first to recover. "Your son? I didn't even know you had a kid, Romanoff."
Natasha's lips curved wryly. "It's a long story. But Peter is here to stay." She glanced around at the team. "He wants to make up for his past with the Red Room by becoming an Avenger. And I wholeheartedly support him." Her tone left no room for argument.
The Avengers were quick to pledge their acceptance of Peter after Natasha's endorsement. One by one, they introduced themselves and shook Peter's hand. He met their eyes squarely, exchanging brief but polite words. Natasha could tell he was committed to earning their trust and respect.
As they all settled around the lounging area, chatter resumed slowly. Steve asked thoughtful questions to draw Peter out while Bruce asked about his scientific background. Under their friendly attention, Peter began to relax and tentatively share more about himself.
Tony clapped him on the shoulder. "With your skills, brains, and DNA, something tells me you're gonna fit right in, kid."
Warmth bloomed in Natasha's chest watching Peter converse with his new team. He offered her a small private smile when their eyes met, both content in this moment.
-----
Peter adjusted quickly to his life at Avengers Tower. Natasha helped enroll him in a local high school under the pseudonym last name of "Parker" so he could experience normal teenage life too.
Peter confessed one day, "I'm still getting used to so many people. Making friends doesn't come naturally to me."
Natasha squeezed his shoulder. "Give it time. Just be yourself."
Sure enough, he soon grew close to two classmates - Ned Leeds, an excitable fellow science geek, and MJ Watson, a brilliant activist who challenged him in the best ways.
When Peter revealed his Spider-Man identity to them, Natasha couldn't have been prouder of the trust he placed in his new friends. And they proved themselves worthy, guarding his secret fiercely.
Around Thanksgiving of his junior year, Natasha noticed Peter seemed preoccupied after school. "What's going on, little spider?" she asked one evening. "Girl trouble?"
Peter's cheeks flushed. "Sort of. I just...I really like MJ. But I don't know how to tell her."
Natasha smiled and tugged him close. "Here's my advice. Don't play games, don't beat around the bush. Just tell her honestly how you feel." She pulled back, looking into his eyes. "Any girl would be lucky to have you, Peter."
He hugged her tight. "Thanks, Mom." Her heart glowed every time he called her that.
A few days later, Peter reported the conversation had gone well and he had a date that weekend. Natasha just smiled knowingly. Her little boy was growing up.
-----
Peter excelled academically, but struggles still plagued him. His Red Room past wasn't easily left behind.
Natasha arrived one day to pick Peter up from detention. "What happened?" she asked.
Peter scowled. "Flash Thompson was spouting off lies about our family. I lost my temper and punched him." He looked at her anxiously. "I know violence isn't the answer, Mom..."
Natasha sighed. "It's not ideal. But I understand why you reacted that way." She turned a stern look on the principal. "My son has worked hard to overcome his past. I won't have him disparaged by cruel gossip." Her glare could have cut steel.
The principal backpedaled rapidly. "Of course, Ms. Romanoff, I'll speak to this other student..."
Natasha squeezed Peter's shoulder on the way out. "Don't listen to bullies. And call me next time before punching anyone." Peter ducked his head sheepishly but smiled.
-----
Natasha woke abruptly, senses instantly on high alert. It took her a moment to identify what had jarred her from sleep - the sound of crying coming from down the hall. Peter's crying.
Heart clenching, Natasha threw off her covers and hurried from the room. Ever since she'd rescued him from the Red Room a year ago, Peter often had nightmares about his time there. He was only a kid, but had endured things no child should. Natasha wished she could take those traumatic memories away.
She softly opened the door to Peter's bedroom, the nightlight casting a gentle glow over his small form twisting under the sheets. Natasha quickly crossed and gathered him into her arms.
"Shh, Peter, it's just a bad dream. You're safe now," she soothed, rocking him back and forth.
Peter clung to her, still caught in the nightmare's grip. "No, please! I'll be good! Don't make me..." he sobbed.
Natasha blinked back tears, hugging him tighter. "Peter, wake up! It's Mom. No one is going to hurt you."
After a few long moments, Peter's cries eased and he slowly relaxed against her. His eyes blinked open, gazing up at her blearily. "Mama?" he whimpered.
"That's right, I'm here." Natasha smoothed his sweaty curls back and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "You're safe with me, my little spider."
Peter took a few shaky breaths, lower lip still wobbling. "They were gonna make me fight the big girls. I didn't wanna..."
Natasha's gut twisted. She remembered well the terror of being forced into the training rings with opponents who outmatched her in size and skill. The punishments doled out for failure or hesitation. As gently as she could, Natasha tilted Peter's chin up.
"Peter, look at me. You will never have to do anything like that again. No one can make you fight here." She stroked his wet cheek. "Those people will never lay a hand on you again, I promise."
He searched her face for a long moment before giving a small nod. "You'll keep me safe, Mama."
Natasha pressed her forehead to his, emotion clogging her throat. "Always, мой маленький паук. With my life." She would destroy anyone who tried to harm one hair on her son's head.
As Peter's breaths evened out, Natasha shifted them to lean against the headboard, his head tucked under her chin. She began humming softly, an old Russian lullaby she could still recall faintly from her own childhood. One of the few good memories she had.
Peter's eyelids soon grew heavy again as the gentle melody soothed him back to sleep. But Natasha didn't return to her own bed just yet. She kept watch over him the rest of the night, keeping the demons of his past at bay.
Over the next several years, the nightmares occurred less frequently as Peter settled into his new life at the Avengers Compound. He grew more confident under Natasha and Clint's tutelage, learning to defend himself but also that he didn't need to use violence unless absolutely necessary. Peter regained the childhood the Red Room had tried to strip away, full of joy and light.
But the dark dreams never fully went away. Natasha always knew when they crept back in by the cries that pulled her instantly from her own bed. She never hesitated, going right away to cradle her little spider, rocking and soothing him until the panic passed. Often she would sit with Peter curled in her lap for hours afterward, combing her fingers through his hair until dawn peeked through the curtains. But even as he got older, he still sought her out after nightmares, too shaken to be alone.
Natasha was heading to the kitchen one night for a glass of water when she heard the soft footsteps behind her. She turned to see Peter standing there, looking small and vulnerable in a way that belied his now towering height. Wordlessly, she opened her arms.
Peter practically collapsed against her, shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs. Natasha guided them over to sit on the living room couch, stretching up to stroke his hair and murmur soothingly as he cried himself out.
"I'm sorry, Mama," Peter finally mumbled, swiping at his eyes. "I'm too old for this, but the dreams just seemed so real and I..."
"Shh, don't apologize, baby." Natasha cupped his cheek, brushing away the lingering tears. "You've endured more than anyone your age should have to. It's okay to still need comfort sometimes."
Peter's eyes shone with gratitude and he hugged her fiercely. Natasha returned the embrace just as tight. However tall her son grew or whatever amazing feats he accomplished as Spider-Man, he would always be her little boy. She would gladly chase away his demons, anytime, day or night.
Natasha wasn't sure exactly how late they stayed curled up together on the couch, Peter's head in her lap as she stroked his hair. But eventually his breathing evened out in sleep. Natasha pressed a feather-light kiss to his temple before allowing her own eyes to drift shut, perfectly content to stand guard over her child through the night.
In the years that followed, their relationship evolved to an extremely strong bond between a mother and her son as Peter fully came into his own as Spiderman. Natasha couldn't have been prouder of the brave, compassionate hero he'd become. But she never stopped being his safe space to turn to when the shadows crept in.
One night after a brutal mission, Natasha found herself haunted by ghosts from her own bloody past. Sleep was elusive, old guilt and pain swirling through her mind. Rather than tossing and turning, she slipped silently from her room and went to perch on the Compound rooftop, gazing out unseeingly at the night sky.
Soft footsteps behind her made Natasha glance over. Peter stood there with a blanket in hand, expression knowing. "Hey Mom," he said simply, draping the blanket around her shoulders before sitting down close beside her.
And just like when he was small, Natasha found herself leaning into her son's sturdy warmth, the steady beat of his heart chasing away the darkness. No words were needed as he wrapped an arm around her and she laid her head against his shoulder. They stayed that way as the stars faded to dawn, two battle-weary souls drawing comfort from each other.
So many years had passed since Natasha carried a sleeping toddler Peter to his bed after soothing away his nightmares. Now it was a grown boy supporting and comforting his mother through the bad nights. But the trust and love between them remained unchanged. Her little spider still knew when his mama needed him. And Natasha would be there every time her boy awoke crying out from haunted dreams.
He hugged her tight. No matter how old he got, Natasha never tired of holding her son close. She had lost him for too long. Now she cherished every moment they had together. Her brave, big-hearted boy who lived up to all her hopes. This was where she had always belonged.
Some bonds went deeper than time or age. For them, it was the connection between mother and child. No matter how old he got, Peter was still her baby. And she would always be the one to keep him safe.