I thought I'd lost you
Once the children are asleep and in bed, Robin steps out of Natasha’s bedroom after settling her down and turns toward the master bedroom.
Robin takes a deep breath before she entered. Melina was going through the same motions she did every night, changing into her pajamas and letting her hair down like nothing was wrong.
“Melina--” Robin spoke up but Melina ignores her, simply passing Robin a set of pajamas like Robin had asked for them instead. “Sweet girl--”
Melina turns her back toward Robin and Robin steps forward, grasping her wrist.
Melina flinches and Robin gently brings the hand she held up to her lips and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. “Sweet girl, it’s just me and you. It’s alright.”
“I know,” Melina moves to push past Robin to enter the bathroom to get changed but Robin stopped her once again.
“Melina, give me a moment and let me speak,” Robin said and Melina tried to slip past her again but Robin holds her arm out to stop her. “Melina, stop.”
Melina froze and Robin gently reached up to cup her face.
“It’s okay,” Robin whispers to her. “Look at me, sweet girl. I’m here. I’m alive. You are allowed to feel whatever you want about today.”
Melina won’t meet her eyes and Robin pulls Melina’s head forward to kiss her forehead.
Melina drops the pajamas in her grip, reaching up to wrap her fingers around Robin’s forearms. “Natasha took the brunt of it-- I had Yelena and she was trying to protect her… I couldn’t protect them both--” She chokes out.
“I’m so sorry, sweet girl,” Robin said softly, her thumb stroking Melina’s cheek. “It’s alright to be upset. It’s alright to cry.”
Like Robin had spoken the magic words, Melina’s mask cracks and her face crumples. Robin pulls her into her arms and Melina clings to her as she sobs.
“I’ve got you,” Robin whispers, kissing the top of her head. “Let it all out.”
Melina curls her fingers into Robin’s shirt, pushing her face into Robin’s shoulder as she shakes with sobs that are muffled by Robin’s top. Robin sways them in place, whispering to her.
“You did your best. I’m so proud of you, my good girl. I love you,” Robin continues to soothe, holding her as Melina falls apart in her arms.
Melina doesn’t stop crying until she has no more tears left to give.
Robin guides her toward the bed and sits her down on the edge. Melina buries her face into Robin’s stomach, digging her fingers into Robin’s hips as she tries to pull her closer. Robin strokes her hair, giving her a few moments.
“You were wincing earlier. Can I see?” Robin asked softly and Melina nods her head against Robin’s stomach but makes no move to undress.
Robin moves to pull away but Melina doesn’t let her. “Sweet girl, do you need me to help?”
Melina digs her fingers into Robin’s hips painfully before letting her go. Robin’s hips throb but she doesn’t blame Melina.
Robin crouches in front of Melina, reaching out to help her out of her clothes. “Arms up.”
There are a few bruises splattered against Melina’s torso and back, nowhere near Natasha’s but still painful looking. Robin then moves and her fingers rest on the button on Melina’s jeans, waiting for her consent.
Melina tilts her head back, a shuddering sigh escaping her lips as her fingers curled into the sheets on the bed and she nods. Robin undoes the button and zipper, Melina lifting her hips to help Robin tug her pants down and off.
There are red marks on Melina’s thighs and Robin brushed a thumb over them carefully.
“Did they…” Robin frowns, her chest tight as she waits for Melina’s answer. Melina gives a jerky shake of her head. “Okay. That’s good. Do you want to shower tonight? Or take a bath?”
“Join me?” Melina questioned in a hoarse voice and Robin nods her head.
“Of course. I’ll go run the bath,” Robin kissed Melina’s forehead before turning and heading into the bathroom.
She runs a bath, setting out towels and the pajamas Melina had grabbed. She then leads Melina into the bathroom and Melina finishes stripping with shaking hands.
Robin strips and steps into the tub first, sitting and waiting for Melina to step in.
Melina settles herself between Robin’s legs, leaning her back up against Robin’s front. She lets out a small hiss at the hot water lapping at the bruising on her torso and thighs.
Robin strokes Melina’s hair, her other hand gently rubbing circles onto Melina’s stomach. Melina is slowly melting against Robin, the tension leaving her body.
Melina’s head rests against Robin’s chest and she tilts her head up to look at her. “Will you sing like you did earlier?”
Robin, although startled at the request, pressed a kiss to the top of Melina’s head. “Of course.”
She’d practically do anything for Melina.
Robin sings softly, running her fingers through Melina’s hair as she focuses on the woman in her hold.
Melina slumps against her sleepily and Robin pressed a kiss against her temple.
Robin has to coax Melina up out of the water when it starts to cool and wrapped her up in a towel before pulling one around herself. Melina leans against her with a sleepy sigh.
“Do you think we can bring the kids into bed?” Melina inquired softly and Robin nods her head.
“Of course. Get dressed and settled and I’ll get them,” Robin dries off, pulling her pajamas on.
Robin scoops the sleeping toddler up out of her crib, Yelena letting out a soft sigh in her sleep as she snuggles against Robin’s warm skin.
Robin heads back to the master bedroom to see Melina sitting in bed. She passes Yelena to her and watches as Melina accepts the toddler and cuddles her close.
Robin then moves into Natasha’s room. The child jerks awake when Robin opens the door, panic in her eyes before she realizes that it was only Robin. She then winces at the sudden movement. “What’s wrong?”
“We’re gonna sleep together in the big bed in the master bedroom,” Robin tells Natasha, reaching down for the child. “Come here.”
Natasha rubbed sleepily at her eyes before raising her arms up and letting Natasha pick her up. Natasha wrapped her arms around Robin’s neck, resting her head sleepily onto Robin’s shoulder. “You’re warm…”
“I just got out of the bath,” Robin replies with a low chuckle as she carries Natasha back to the master bedroom. Melina had settled down with Yelena and smiles when she sees Robin with Natasha.
Robin sets the half-asleep child next to Yelena in the middle of the bed before climbing in after her, pulling the blanket up, and settling it over them.
All of her little family was close and safe.
Natasha curls up close with Yelena and Robin drapes an arm over the three of them until her hand rests on Melina’s hip.
As if she felt that she could finally rest, Melina closed her eyes and falls asleep quietly. Natasha falls back asleep quickly after her.
Robin stays up and watches over her girls, a lingering fear lurking in the back of her mind shouting at her the ‘what ifs’.
What if General Dreykov came back?
What if Belka came back?
What if they hurt her girls more next time?
What if they actually do kill her?
Yelena wakes up around five in the morning, the sedatives wearing off and leaving her grumpy. Robin has to worm the toddler out of Melina’s grip and over Natasha without waking either of them. The girl is eager for morning cuddles, tucking her head against the crook of Robin’s neck and planting her thumb between her lips.
With the empty space, Natasha and Melina shift closer to compensate and keep warm.
Robin doesn’t sleep at all, whispering softly to Yelena. “Mama loves you, little one. Mama loves you so much.”
Melina and Natasha jolt awake when their alarm clock goes off. Melina blinks up at Robin and frowns slightly. “Did you sleep last night?”
Robin doesn’t answer, instead passing Yelena over for Melina to get her share of sleepy toddler snuggles.
Robin is relieved that it’s a day off from school for Natasha. The child winces each time she moves and Robin pushed the back of her pajama top up to look at the damage.
There are angry purple bruises splashed across her back, dipping down past the waistband of her pajama pants. “How much does it hurt?”
“I’ve had worse,” Natasha wiggles, slightly uncomfortable.
“That’s not what I asked, sweetheart,” Robin chides, gently lifting the child up into her lap for a morning cuddle that she’s sure Natasha needed just as much as her.
“A lot…” Natasha whispers, tucking her head against Robin’s shoulder.
“I have some cream to help with the bruises,” Robin said. “Would you like me to get it?”
“In a minute…” Natasha mumbles, curling up against Robin’s tall frame.
Robin glances up at Melina and watches the woman watch her with love and adoration. Robin can’t help but smile slightly because she understood just how Melina felt.