4
Natasha felt oddly calm and she knew she shouldn't feel calm because now she had to take care of her 3-year-old friend but she calm and it scares her a little bit and she really wanted to talk to Clint but he didn't show at the hospital and she was planning on staying the night with Loki so talking to her best friend would have to wait for the next day, she wanted to feel more comfortable around Loki.
"You're taking this pretty well," Pepper said turning to her
"Yeah, I guess. I know I shouldn't be but I am." Natasha response the car ride to the mall has mostly been quiet
"Well, Loki seems like a well-behaved child," Pepper said she earned a snort from Natasha
"We're talking about Loki the God of lies and mischief."
"Yeah well, Thor said he wasn't really mischief until he was 5."
"How does Thor feel anyway?" Natasha hadn't really got a chance to talk to Thor and he didn't seem that bothered when they were at the hospital
"He was happy that Loki was found but when Fury said he didn't remember things the way they were and that he was a child he did look sad but he said he was just happy to have Loki back and nothing else mattered."
"Good I don't want him to feel as if I'm trying to distance Loki from him."
"Apparently Loki Uncle Thor is his favorite."
"And I bet Tony is going to do everything to outshine Thor."
"Yes, he will." Then it hit Natasha she didn't know Loki's size in clothing or shoes and they were going shopping for him and she really didn't want to get him the wrong things.
"We can't go shopping."
"What, why not?"
"Because we don't know Loki's size in clothes or shoes."
"You don't know Loki's size, Tony had scanned him and Jarvis took his measurements."
"Thank god Tony and his obsession to bring Jarvis wherever he goes."
"So I thought we could go to Carter's. They sell a lot of babies and toddler clothing."
"Sure I really don't know any kid's clothing store. God, I'm so out of my league."
"Natasha, you're doing perfectly fine. If it was me I would be a mess and avoid Loki at ever cost."
"But I don't know how to be a mother. I never grew up with one or remember what it was like to have a mother. I'm not mother material."
"Natasha you are mother material, you may have not had a mother but you handle Loki well as any mother would, you're going to be fine and we're all going to be here to help you in any way."
Natasha and Pepper fell back into silence after the whole finding out she really wasn't Natalie Rushman from legal, Natasha and Pepper had a rocky start in their friendship but they did get closer once Natasha moved into the tower but Natasha could consider her a friend and Natasha didn't have friends.
"We're here." Pepper turned off the car's engine before stepping out of the car with Natasha right behind her, Natasha and Pepper made a beeline to the Carter store. They really didn't want to get any unwanted attention. They just wanted to shop and get out of there as fast as they could.
"Can I help you with anything?" A worker asks them
"Can you point us towards the toddler boy section?" Natasha asks
"You go straight then you make a left turn you'll be right in front of the toddler boys section." Natasha and Pepper did just that and said their thanks to the worker and they find themselves in the boy's section.
"Before you go crazy what size is Loki," Natasha said as she saw Pepper looking throw the many racks of clothing
"Oh um 3T."
Natasha and Pepper shopped in silence mostly only talking when they found something really cute for Loki to wear by the end of the shopping trip the cart was full of clothes and shoes for Loki to wear they didn't know how long Loki would be a child but if he was a child for a month they would just donate the clothes and other things to charity.
"He needs toys Natasha, toys," Pepper said once they got out of the store hands filled with bags
"Pepper let's put these bags down before we do another shopping spree."
Pepper agreed they had a lot of bags and bought more things before they brought anything, so they went back to Peppers car dropping the bags in the truck unbeknownst to them someone was snapping pictures of the 2 walking out of the store with their hands full with the shopping bags.
"We're going to Target," Pepper said dragging Natasha all the way to target Natasha was never the shopping type she hated it and tried to avoid it any way she could unless she needed to dress for a mission or have to buy a dress for one of the many functions and gala's the Avengers had to got to but shopping for Loki was a lot more fun.
"Okay, he needs toys and a car seat," Natasha said as they entered Target
"I'll get the toys you get the car seat," Pepper said dashing off to find the toys section before Natasha could argue
Natasha took several turns before she found the car seat and she walked for a while before finding a car seat that best suited Loki's age and although she was desperately trying to find a car seat that was green knowing that was Loki favorite color she had no such luck and only found a gray one. Natasha found Pepper after 10 minutes in the toy section cart filled with not only toys but also Avenger merch pajamas, shirts, you name it the cart was filled with everything.
"Pepper what is this."
"This is a toy."
"No Pepper he already has enough clothes and really and Iron Man onesies," Natasha said picking up the Iron Man onesies in the cart
"Look at this Black Widow shirt," Pepper said, holding up a black widow shirt that said I wish black widow was my mom. Natasha didn't know who would buy the shirt and not take offense to it but it sure wasn't one of her ideas.
"Pepper is that supposed to make me feel better."
"Yes I'm not leaving anything and there is no such thing as too many clothes boys his age play rough and get their clothes dirty a lot may I added."
"God I don't even know who's worse you or Tony."
"Come on Natasha let Aunt Pepper spoil her nephew."
"Oh my god fine, fine but no more clothes and we should get him some books Loki's a bookworm."
By the time they left their final shop, they both had arms filled with bags of clothes, toys, and shoes for Loki Natasha wasn't even sure if he would get to wear all the thing Pepper brought him she only had a minor factor in the shopping spree everything else was Pepper she went wild when it came to shopping and for Pepper, it only took her minutes to figure out a person style if Pepper hadn't met Tony and choose a different career path she could have been a wardrobe stylist.
"I'm going to drop you off at Shield and take everything to the tower."
"No Pepper I have to set up his closet and everything drops me off at the tower."
"No, Tony said you are not allowed back at the tower that he wants you and Loki to see his room at the same time."
"The room isn't mine, I don't need to see the big reveal."
"Well you're still not coming to the tower Tony told Jarvis to not let you in if you do come to the tower."
"So basically I won't be in the tower until tomorrow. So I'm homeless, great."
"You're not homeless you're just not allowed in the tower until Loki is discharged."
"Sounds like I'm homeless."
"You're not homeless Natasha you'll be at Shield with Loki and wasn't that your plan anyway to stay with Loki for the night."
"Yeah but that didn't mean I was planning on not going to the tower after we finished shopping."
"Well, I'll be seeing you tomorrow, oh and grab Loki's car seat," Pepper said as Natasha got out of her car, Natasha made her way to the truck and took the car seat and also a bag that had a blue polo with pink shorts and brown casual shoes to complete the outfit.
"Bye Pepper," Natasha said as Pepper was driving off. Natasha made her way to her car to set up the car seat it was still light out but it was summer so it wouldn't get dark until 8, it took her an hour until she had figured out how to install the car seat but it was mainly putting it together installing it took her 2 minutes and now she was going to check up on Loki due to the many hours of shopping and Pepper dragging her from store to store wanting to spoil Loki in every way possible her words. As Natasha boarded the elevator she really hoped she didn't run into Dr.Millis and that he didn't question Loki about anything she didn't know what Loki would say. When Natasha got to the medical ward she made a beeline to Loki's room she wanted to avoid as much human contact and conversation as possible.
"Hey, Maria, Loki were you good for Auntie Ria." Natasha entered the room to see Maria doing paperwork and Loki watching tv
"Yes, Mommy," Loki answered not taking his eyes off the tv
"Hey I told him he should eat dinner but he wanted to wait for you."
"You were waiting for me?" Natasha asked Loki
"Yeah, I wanted to have dinner with you. You never have time before." Loki confessed looking down at his hands, Natasha never knew Loki wanted to have dinner with her so was always busy and would miss dinner but Loki or Clint would bring her dinner.
"I'm sorry baby I'll try to make sure I always eat dinner with you. I promise." Natasha said sitting right next to Loki on his bed
"You promise?"
"I promise," Natasha said taking Loki into a hug which he returned