Forever, we are family
Natasha sleepily stumbles into the living room an hour or so later and looks down at Yelena snuggling into Robin before reaching her arms out too. Robin lifts an arm and Natasha climbs onto the couch to flop into Robin’s side.
The sedative is still in her system leaving her uncoordinated and tired.
“What is this?” Natasha holds up her arm with the white cast.
“It’s to hold your wrist in place while it heals. You’ll have it on for a month or two,” Robin replies. “Does it hurt?”
Natasha slowly shakes her head. “What about training?” She asked quietly, leaning against Robin’s side as her eyes flicker to look at the cartoons on the television.
“We’ll figure that out when we come around to it,” Robin combs her fingers through Natasha’s hair. “Where’s your mom?”
Natasha shrugs slightly, leaning into Robin’s touch with a small sigh.
Melina joins them not too long later, taking a seat on the couch next to Natasha. Robin glanced at her and picks up on the terse way she carries herself. She reaches out to brush her fingers against Melina’s cheek. Melina leans over to rest her head onto Robin’s shoulder, Natasha snugly held between them. Yelena curled up in Robin’s lap, her head resting against Robin’s chest as she watches the television.
Natasha squirms her way onto Melina’s lap so Melina can scoot closer to Robin. Natasha’s legs lay over Robin’s knees and Yelena’s feet move to rest on Natasha’s ankles. There’s so much space for them to sit but they’re all squished together on one side of the couch.
Robin likes being able to have them close to her. To be able to feel them pressed against her and know that they are safe.
The clock ticks on and nobody moves or speaks as they watch whatever cartoons play on the television.
They’re finally interrupted when Yelena squirms and tugs on Robin’s hair. “I’m hungry, mama.”
Robin twists to glance at the clock and is surprised to see that it was way past when they usually ate dinner.
“I can--” Melina starts to shift Natasha off of her lap but the girl is still sleepy and lets out a soft whine.
“It’s okay,” Robin said as she peels away from them and sets Yelena down into the spot she was just sitting. “I’ve got this. You stay here, okay?”
Melina tilts her head up and Robin leans down to give her a soft kiss.
“Mama, kiss too?” Yelena grabs and tugs on Robin’s shirt until the tall woman leans down to press a noise kiss against Yelena’s cheek that makes the toddler squirm in joy.
Robin turns to press a kiss to Natasha’s forehead and settles Yelena down with Melina before heading into the kitchen.
She rifles through the fridge until she finally decides ‘fuck it’ and that they earned a treat. She orders them a pizza.
None of the girls other than Robin had eaten pizza before. Robin grabs paper plates and napkins so that they could eat in the living room.
She has to cut up Yelena’s pizza to make it easier for her to eat but the toddler manages to finish almost a whole piece by herself. Robin has to make sure that Natasha doesn’t get sauce or grease on her cast as she shows the girl how to hold the piece to eat before finally cutting her piece up like Yelena’s.
Nobody asks why they got pizza as a treat or why they were able to eat in the living room and watch cartoons.
The cartoons eventually turn to trashy television as it gets late at night. Yelena falls asleep curled up against Robin while Natasha sleeps with her head on Robin’s thigh and her torso laying over Melina’s lap.
“Are you okay?” Melina questioned, her fingers gently running along Natasha’s back.
“I will be,” Robin turns her head to kiss Melina’s temple. Melina tilts her head up to kiss her on the lips instead.
Robin reaches her free hand not holding Yelena up to run her fingers through Melina’s hair as she presses soft kisses to her skin.
Melina pressed her nose against Robin’s jaw to just feel her close. “I wanted to scream at you today when on the phone.”
“I made a choice,” Robin replies, gently scratching at Melina’s scalp with her fingers.
“You took her back--” Melina whispers, her voice cracking as she leans against Robin. “You sedated her and I was worried that you’d return without her.”
“I promised to come back,” Robin reminds her gently, kissing her forehead softly. “She’s ours.”
“You can’t keep that promise forever,” Melina spoke up quietly.
“I can’t…” Robin nods. “But I will for as long as I can.”
Melina’s fingers gently run over Natasha’s spine. “I’m compromised.” She finally admits.
“I know,” Robin pressed a kiss to Melina’s hair. “Me too.”
The clock reads near eleven at night when Robin finally decides that they needed to take the kids upstairs.
“I can’t carry Natasha up the stairs,” Melina admits as Robin stands with Yelena.
“I’ll come back for her if you want to wait,” Robin said, adjusting Yelena in her arms. Melina nods her head and Robin carries Yelena upstairs.
Yelena stays asleep as Robin changes her into pajamas and settles her down in the crib. Robin takes a moment to admire her baby before heading back downstairs. She pauses in the doorway when she sees Melina stroking Natasha’s hair and humming quietly to her.
Robin takes a moment to lean in the doorway and watch Melina be soft with Natasha. Melina finally noticed her and paused, her cheeks turning pink.
“You’ve gotten so much better with her,” Robin pushed off of the doorway and approached her, leaning down to grasp Melina’s chin before pulling her head up to kiss her. “I’m proud of you, my good girl.”
Melina smiles up at her and pressed her forehead against Robin’s briefly. “Thank you.”
Robin then shifts and slides an arm under Natasha’s knees and the other around her shoulders to scoop the sleeping child up into her arms. Natasha jerks slightly at the movement but sees Robin and quickly settles back against her.
“Think you can take her shoes off?” Robin twists to show the red sneakers still on Natasha’s feet. Melina undoes the laces and loosens them until she can easily slip Natasha’s shoes off.
Robin carries Natasha upstairs and sets her down on the bed before moving to the dresser to pick out a pair of pajamas.
“Sit up for me, sweetheart,” Robin coaxed the sleepy child and helps her sit up. Natasha sleepily obeys Robin and raised her arms to help her change.
Robin feels Natasha shift to her knees to wrap her arms around Robin’s neck. “Can I tell you something?” She whispers quietly in Russian.
“Of course,” Robin replies back in Russian, rubbing the girls back.
“I think that I might love you,” Natasha whispers into Robin’s ear.
Robin pulls Natasha into a tight hug. “My little one, I love you.” She pressed a kiss to Natasha’s forehead and feels the girl sag against her at the words. “I will love you and protect you for as long as I am able to.”
Natasha rests her cheek against Robin’s shoulder for a few moments. “We’re going back to the Red Room for good one day.” She said quietly.
“But that day is not today,” Robin shifts to lay Natasha down. “Just let yourself be little and I will handle the world, okay?”
“Okay,” Natasha whispers, letting Robin pull the blankets up over her to tuck her in. “Goodnight, Robin.”
“Goodnight, Natasha,” Robin pressed one last kiss to the top of her head before pulling away and leaving the room, closing the door behind her gently.
Melina had changed and was finishing up getting ready for bed by the time that Robin entered. Robin grabs a set of her pajamas to change into, pulling her shirt off and then moving to pull her bra off.
She feels Melina’s lips suddenly press against the back of her neck and shivers slightly at the feeling. Melina wraps her arms around Robin’s waist, her fingers brushing along Robin’s bare ribs.
“Can I help you, sweet girl?” Robin chuckles, closing her eyes to enjoy the soft touch.
“I just want to touch you, my love,” Melina replies, slowly trailing kisses down Robin’s neck to her shoulders.
Robin figures that it’s a way to reassure Melina that she was okay. But then Melina gently starts to suck on her skin.
“What are you doing?” Robin breathes out and Melina’s fingers dig into her ribs.
“You’re mine,” Melina pulls Robin back until she’s pressed against her. “Not his. Not theirs. Mine.”
Melina keeps leaving marks onto her shoulders and the back of her neck. Robin eventually has to turn to stop her before all that is left is one big bruise.
“I’m all yours,” Robin breathes out, grasping Melina’s chin to kiss her before trailing kisses down her jaw and neck. “And you are mine.”
She’s worried she’d pushed too far when Melina’s breath hitched but Melina grabs her shoulders to pull her closer. “Yours…” Melina breathes out in agreement.
Robin pulls the neckline of Melina’s pajama top to the side so she can suck on the skin and leave behind her own mark that Melina could hide in her uniform. She placed a soft kiss on the marked skin when she finished and Melina threads her fingers into Robin’s hair.
“More?” She whispers the request, giving Robin’s hair a gentle tug of encouragement.
Robin eventually tugs Melina’s shirt off so she can leave marks behind on her skin, obeying Melina’s request for more each time.
Melina wraps her arms around Robin’s neck and pulls her into a searing kiss that floods Robin with warmth and love and passion.
Robin never finishes changing and Melina never pulls her top back on. They hold each other in bed and their fingers brush over the marks they left behind on their skin as they fall asleep.