4
On the ride over to the tower, Natasha had fallen asleep so the car ride was mostly quiet. Maria and Steve talked about the arrangement and they decided that they would co-parent with Natasha and that she would spend 2 weeks in the tower with Steve and 2 weeks with Maria. This also meant Maria’s spare bedroom would be turned into Natasha’s bedroom when she would stay with Maria.
“I’ll grab Natasha,” Steve said as he parked the car as close as he could to the tower, he really hoped there weren’t any paparazzi around because he didn’t need any of them as a news cover story. Steve wanted to keep this as quiet as he could for as long as he can he knew Maria was a private person and wouldn’t want to be featured all over the news
“Do you know who’s in the tower?” Maria asked as she opened the door so Steve could take Natasha out of the car.
“I think Tony, Clint, Bruce, Pepper, and Thor won’t be coming until next week from Asgard,” Steve said as he took Natasha into his arms and out of the car, she didn’t wake as he took her out which is weird since Natasha was a light sleeper but he guessed she was tried from today’s events.
“Do you think we should wake her?” Maria asked as they started walking to the tower she had to admit she was a little worried about being in the tower she never really visited the tower only when she and Natasha had a girls night and went back to the tower since it was closer than her apartment but that only happened a total of 2 times and she never stayed for the morning.
“No. Nat’s a pretty light sleeper and she didn’t wake up when I picked her up so she’s pretty exhausted,” Steve answered
“Yeah, she is exhausted. You know you’re going to have to learn to braid hair right?” Maria said as they entered the tower.
“Why can’t you braid her hair?” Steve asked and Maria raised her brow at him with an unimpressed look.
“Because I’m not always going to be here and neither will Pepper.” Maria states as they go into the elevator and Steve pressed the button to his floor.
“Can’t we just cut her hair, it's pretty long?” Steve didn’t even know where to begin with a girl’s hair and he’s never had to deal with it since his hair is short and he likes it like that. And Natasha’s hair was past her shoulders he wouldn’t even know what to do to her hair.
Maria snorts,” You must have a death wish. You don’t mess with a girl's hair especially Romanoff’s hair.”
“Maybe I can ask Thor?”
“Or you can just learn it’s really simple.”
“A french braid isn’t simple.”
“Steve I doubt she knows what a french braid is and if she does I’ll do it,” Maria said stepping out of the elevator on Steve’s floor.
“Will you teach me?” Steve asks
“I will. We should put her down.”
“Jarvis, where is Natasha’s bedroom.”
“It’s right across from your bedroom Mr. Rogers,” Jarvis answered in a hushed whisper so he wouldn’t wake up Natasha.
Following what Jarvis told them and entered the bedroom that was right across from Steve’s room and saw that Pepper and Tony had really outdone themselves. Gently laying Natasha down in her new bed and placed a kiss on her head before he and Maria left the room.
“Steve I gotta go,” Maria said
“Where are you going? Not back to work, Fury gave you the day off.” Steve said not that he was trying to be in Maria’s business but he was hoping she would stay for dinner for Natasha’s sake of course.
“No. But I do need to go get Natasha’s room at my home setup and do a little bit of shopping for her.” This was partly true Maria did need to go shopping for Natasha but she also was going on a date with a guy who she had been seeing for some time but she wasn’t going to tell Steve that it was her personal life.
“Oh, see you in 2 weeks, I guess.” Steve was kind of hurt that she wasn’t staying. He had grown to like Maria over the time that they knew each other and he would be lying if he said he hadn’t wanted to ask her out on a date but he never had the nerve to ask her out.
“See you in 2 weeks. If you or Natasha need anything you know my number.” Maria said as she made her way to the elevator with Steve trailing behind her.
“I do. Bye Maria.”
“Bye Steve,” Maria said as the elevator doors closed
Steve, not knowing what to do with himself, went to the communal floor and started dinner. He had Jarvis monitoring Natasha and since Pepper was at the tower she was helping Steve cook and she had promised Steve that she would teach him how to braid hair.
“Mr. Rogers I would like to inform you that Miss Natasha is up and on her way here,” Jarvis said interrupting Steve’s conversation with Pepper.
“Thank you, Jarvis.”
“I can’t wait to see her,” Pepper said Steve had shown her some pictures that they had taken in the park and Pepper had been cooing over the photos and Natasha ever since. As Pepper said that they heard the elevator door open.
“Daddy!!” They heard a sweet voice call out
“In here princess,” Steve said and he heard her running towards the direction of where she heard his voice, and when she came into view she was holding the rabbit that was on her bed.
“Daddy where’s Mommy?” Natasha asked as she came over to Steve completely ignoring Pepper who was gushing over how adorable Natasha was. Natasha was holding out her hands indicating to Steve that she wanted to be carried.
“Natasha aren’t you going to say hi to Pepper,” Steve said picking up the redhead
“Sorry. Hi Aunt Pepper.”
“It’s fine sweetheart it’s good to have you home. I’m going to go round up Tony and Bruce. Clint, you can get down from the vents now and help fix the table.” Pepper said as she walked out the kitchen and Clint dropped out the air vents and started setting up the table, Natasha wasn’t even fazed as Clint jumped out the vents just glared at him like she did when she was big and Clint was found in the vents.
“Daddy where’s Mommy?” Natasha asked again
“Mommy went home princess,” Steve said neither he nor Maria had made a plan on what to tell Natasha if she asked where she went.
“But we are home.”
“Yeah, we are. But Mommy has a different home and you’ll see her in 2 weeks.” Steve said, placing Natasha on the counter so he could see her face.
“But if me and you live here why doesn’t mommy were a family and families live together,” Natasha said tilting her head in confusion she was pretty sure that her Mommy and Daddy’s are supposed to live with each other and be a happy family.
“We are a family Tasha. It’s just that me and Mommy aren’t together so we don’t live together but that doesn’t mean we don’t love you.”
“So you and Mommy don’t love each other,” Natasha asked leaving Steve frozen and shocked for a couple of minutes and he knew Clint notices since he had been in and out of the kitchen during the whole conversation.
“Natasha I care about your mother deeply, okay,” Steve responded honestly
“Okay,” Natasha said
“If it isn’t my favorite niece,” Tony said as he came into the kitchen
Natasha giggled,” I’m your only niece, uncle Tony.”
“You’re right you're my only niece and that’s why you’re my favorite,” Tony said as he tried to hug Natasha but she moved away from him.
“You don’t want a hug from your favorite uncle.”
“You’re dirty uncle Tony.” Natasha was right Tony was covered in grease from working in the lab
“Tony wash your hands. Natasha come on let’s sit at the table.” Pepper said, picking up Natasha and taking her to the table which Clint was already seated at waiting impatiently for the food to be set.
Steve and Bruce brought the food in and Tony brought in the pitcher of water, Steve took his seat next to Natasha who sat in between him and Clint while Bruce, Pepper, and Tony sat opposite of them in that order.
“Are we waiting to say grace or are we going to dig into this pasta,” Tony said as no one moved, reached for food even and he was always the first or Thor whenever he was around.
“Yeah, daddy I’m starving,” Natasha said agreeing with Tony
“See even little red is waiting,” Tony said, reaching for the pasta and serving himself, Natasha and Pepper, the others following suit filling their plates with salad and Steve putting a healthy dose on Natasha’s plate even though she protested that she didn’t want veggies.