Time flies when you find yourself where you are meant to be
When December 3rd actually rolls around, it was a Tuesday.
Robin goes to wake Natasha up like she did every morning while Melina had morning snuggles with Yelena.
“Natasha…” Robin enters the bedroom and the sleepy child grumbles softly but sits up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Good morning.”
Natasha tilts her head up to stare at Robin. “Morning…”
Robin approaches the bed and pulls the covers back, scooping the sleepy child up into her arms to pepper her face with kisses. Natasha gasps, squirming before letting out a soft laugh.
“What are you doing, mama?” Natasha laughed.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Robin said and Natasha goes still in her arms at the reminder. “You’re nine years old today.”
Natasha wraps her arms around Robin’s neck to rest bury her face into Robin’s shoulder. Robin lets out a small sigh, expecting that reaction, reaching up to rub the child’s back.
“I know, baby girl,” Robin shushes when Natasha’s breath hitched. Getting older meant they were closer to going back to the Red Room. Closer to Natasha’s graduation ceremony. Closer to finishing the first cycle of the Red Room. “I’ve got you.”
Natasha shakes her head. “I don’t want to be nine…” She whispers.
Robin pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “I know, sweetheart, but everybody grows up eventually.”
“I don’t wanna. I wanna be your little girl forever,” Natasha tightens her grip around Robin’s neck, curling her fingers into Robin’s pajama top.
“My sweet baby,” Robin croons softly, swaying side to side. “You’ll always be my little girl.”
Natasha shakes her head. “I’m not actually your little girl. It’s not real. This is all just pretend. I’m going back to the Red Room and I won’t see you anymore.”
“Maybe I didn’t give birth to you, and maybe they gave you to me for pretend, but I have come to love you like my own,” Robin runs her hand over Natasha’s hair. “I love you, Natasha.”
Natasha is quiet for a few moments before leaning into Robin. “I love you too, Robin.”
Robin kissed the top of her head before carrying Natasha out of the bedroom and over to Yelena’s room. Melina smiles when she sees them.
“Happy birthday, big girl,” Melina outstretched one arm for Natasha. The sleepy toddler in her arms reaches out toward Robin so the two women exchange children. Robin nuzzles her nose against the top of Yelena’s head, letting out a small sigh as she watches Natasha rest her head against Melina’s shoulder.
They eventually all make their way downstairs where Melina prepares pancakes for breakfast. Robin sets a small gift she had picked up for Natasha down onto the counter. “Here. This is for you.”
Natasha looked down at the gift before looking up at Robin and then back down again.
“Open it, Nattie!” Yelena chirps, leaning forward in her chair to swipe at it. “Open!”
Natasha carefully and slowly opens the gift, staring down at what Robin had bought her. “That’s contraband.” She said quietly.
Nestled inside the box was a small red swiss army knife.
“I trust that you will only use it if you truly need it,” Robin said and Natasha carefully picked the weapon out of the box before her fingers flick the blade out with practiced ease. “Only use it to protect yourself. I’m trusting you with this.”
Natasha glances over at Melina. “Melina let you get me this knife?”
“She’s the one that suggested it,” Robin truthfully didn’t really know what to get Natasha for her birthday. She had to get her something but knew that Natasha would only appreciate something useful. No stuffed animals or posters or something else other girls Natasha’s age would love.
Natasha carefully clicks the knife back into place in it’s holster. “Thank you.” She said, gripping the knife tightly before sliding it into her pocket as Melina sets a plate in front of her.
Drop-off that day was like any other Tuesday. Robin was left home alone so she heads out to the grocery store.
Robin picks up a cake from the bakery, some candles, and a lighter. She also bought a bag of frozen peas. The woman checking her out recognizes Robin and connects the dots between the number of candles and the cake.
“Oh, it’s darling Natasha’s birthday, is it?” She croons, carefully scanning the cake. “They grow up so fast, the time just seems to fly by.”
When Robin picks the girls up from school and daycare, she takes them to the park to feed the ducks with the bag of frozen peas she picked up earlier.
Robin takes photos. She takes photos so that one day she can peer down at them and remember better times. Remember who she is.
She takes photos because they can’t take those from her. Robin was allowed to have possessions of her own as long as they didn’t interfere with her work. She’d keep photos. She’d keep the wedding ring. She’d keep Yelena and Natasha’s most prized possession safe for them.
Because even when they go back, Robin was going to ensure that she killed General Dreykov. Antonia was a bump in the plan but Robin would ensure she was taken care of. Robin would kill General Dreykov and then she would take her little family and she would run.
She’d run until they were safe. Until they no longer jumped at each shadow in the dark or each noise at night.
When the bag of peas is empty, it was getting to be time for Melina to come back. Robin scoops both of her girls up to carry them back home.
“You are strong, mama,” Yelena squeals, her arm bumping against Natasha’s.
“Melina can’t carry me and Yelena at the same time,” Natasha agrees, reaching out to bump Yelena’s shoulder.
“Melina’s strength is in her legs from ballet. Mine is in my upper body from hauling around injured people,” Robin replies before hoisting Natasha up higher on her hip. “Don’t poke your sister.”
Yelena finds it hilarious when Robin dangles her upside down for poking Natasha again.
They arrive back ten minutes before Melina arrives home to Yelena still giggling hysterically with a red face from being dangled upside down and then tickled when Natasha saw an opening. That leads to Yelena trying to tickle Natasha back and Robin laughing as she tries not to drop the squirming kids in her arms.
Melina makes Natasha’s favorite pot pie for dinner and Robin lets Natasha pick out the cartoons she wanted to watch.
Natasha picks the Teenager Mutant Ninja Turtles, a cartoon that Elliot had dragged her into. Yelena squished her sister by flopping into her lap and claiming that Natasha was sitting in ‘her spot’.
Natasha’s grinning openly by the time that Robin finally brings out the cake she had bought earlier that day.
“I’ve never had cake…” Natasha commented and Yelena clapped her hands together.
“It’s yummy!” The toddler informed her sister, watching Robin press nine candles into the cake. Melina lights them and Robin watches Natasha eye the fire.
Robin teaches them how to sing “Happy Birthday”. None of them had ever done it before and Robin is once again reminded of their lack of childhoods. Yelena proceeds to parrot the song again two more times in Russian and German. Natasha’s confused when she’s prompted to make a wish.
“It’s said that the smoke from blowing out your candles will carry your wish up to the gods to grant,” Robin explains. “So make a wish but don’t tell anybody what it is, and blow out the candles.”
Natasha takes a moment, looking around the room before inhaling and blowing out the candles. All nine candles go out with one breath.
The cake doesn't stand a chance against the four of them.
Natasha gets to stay up past her bedtime and watch more cartoons until she’s practically falling asleep on the couch. She doesn’t protest when Robin tells her that it’s time for bed, merely raising her arms up and asked to be carried.
Melina pressed a kiss to Natasha’s forehead from where the child was scooped up in Robin’s arms. “Happy birthday, big girl.”
Robin settles Natasha down for the night, pulling the covers up over her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Natasha’s arms reach up to wrap her arms around Robin’s neck and get her to stay close for a moment.
“Do you think my wish will come true?” Natasha asked softly and Robin doesn’t lie.
“Depends on what you wished for,” Robin takes a seat on the edge of the bed so she doesn’t have to bend over to let Natasha cling to her neck.
Natasha was quiet for a few moments before she moves her mouth to Robin’s ear. “I wished to stay yours and Melina’s forever.” She whispers.
Robin smiles down at her, gently prying Natasha’s arms from around her neck to settle her back down. “Don’t you remember what I told you earlier, silly girl?” Robin smoothed back Natasha’s hair. “You’re my sweet baby, forever and always.
Natasha lets out a small smile that’s interrupted moments later by a yawn. “Thank you for celebrating my birthday. It’s the first time I’ve ever done anything special for it.”
“You are so very loved, Natasha,” Robin whispers to her, leaning down to nuzzle their noses together before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Never forget that.”
By the time Robin is in bed with Melina, she’s exhausted. Melina wraps her arms around her, nuzzling close to her. “I’ve never celebrated a birthday before.”
“Yelena’s birthday is next. Then yours,” Robin said, pressing a soft kiss to Melina’s lips. “We have more to celebrate.”
Melina grins up at her. “You’re too perfect for us.”
Robin chuckles because she is the furthest thing from perfect. “So you say. Goodnight, sweet girl.”
“Goodnight, my love,” Melina replies softly.
Robin drifts to sleep playing the words of Natasha’s wish over and over again in her mind.