5
Natasha Pov
Maria who had slipped out of the room to give them privacy and to bring them food had left Natasha with Loki and so far everything was going fine the 2 were cuddled up on Loki's hospital bed watching cartoons when Loki hit her with something she didn't expect from a 3-year-old and something she was really trying to avoid.
" Dr. Millis said he's asked you out on a date and you said no. Why?" Loki said looking at her innocently and batting his long eyelash making him look innocent and adorable at the same time and Natasha thought Dr. Millis wouldn't say something like that to Loki especially since Loki was 3 and didn't need to know about her love life.
"Loki that is none of your business and Dr. Millis had no right to tell you that," Natasha said after she recovered from the question
"He also asked where my dad was and if I still saw him," Loki said attention now back on the television
"And what did you tell him?" Natasha asked she specifically wanted to avoid Loki answering those types of questions; she didn't know how he would answer them since Hydra fucked with his memory and she didn't know what or who he knew.
"I told him that he left when I was a baby. Why don't I have a daddy? Does he not love me anymore?" Loki said and Natasha could hear the sadness in his voice and he looked up at her waiting for an answer, one she didn't have and as every minute ticked by she saw Loki's eyes watered. she saw his eyes lose their glimmer of happiness that was now turned into sadness and he no longer bore the smile he had on a few minutes ago but a frown and quivering lips.
It broke Natasha heart because today had been the most domestic day in her life and she did enjoy it, she felt normal like she had a normal balance but she knew nothing in her life was normal and Loki being a 3-year-old who is calling her mommy when in reality he is a grown man that she sees as a friend. But even though Loki wasn't her son she still acted like he was and she knew other people would probably run away and never look back but she couldn't because every time Loki called her Mommy she found herself smiling. Natasha wanted didn't want him to cry because from what Loki told her his day went fine and he was happy and now he was on the verge of tears and Natasha didn't want to see him sad but she also didn't know what to tell him about his daddy because she didn't have an answer and any lie she came up with wouldn't help.
So Natasha did the only thing she could do is she put her arms around Loki and whispered sweet reassurance to him both in English and in Russian because Natasha couldn't lie to him and she didn't know what to tell him. So here they sat Loki in her arms crying his heart out because he feels unloved but that could never be because he has more love than he could imagine. Natasha didn't know how long they sat like that but that was how Maria found them when she came in, Loki was no longer crying but refused to let Natasha go and she wasn't complaining she didn't want to let him go either she wanted to hold him close and never let go.
"Hey, I brought back food," Maria said when she entered with a tray that indeed was full of food.
"Good because I'm starving."
"Well good because then the food and my money would go to waste. For you Loki I brought a cheeseburger and regular fries with a strawberry milkshake, Natasha yours is a burger and curly fries with a vanilla milkshake, for me I got a cheeseburger and curly fries with a chocolate milkshake." Maria said handing Natasha her and Loki's food and Natasha had to say she was surprised she remembered what Loki liked the 2 had only eaten together a couple of times and it was just late-night paperwork or things.
"Loki what do we say to Auntie Maria," Natasha said laying the food down on the laptop desk for him to eat
"Thank you, Auntie Ria," Loki said bouncing up and down impatiently waiting for him to be able to eat his food
"You're welcome, kid," Maria said
"I'm going to go eat with your Aunt Ria. Okay?" Natasha said to Loki who was focused on his burger and nod his head not even looking her way
"So what happened while I was gone," Maria asked in a hushed whisper as Natasha sat down crossed from her.
"You know Dr. Millis right."
"Yeah, the good-looking one who keeps asking you on a date."
"That one. His Loki's doctor and he asked Loki some questions about Loki's father."
"And what did Loki tell him?"
"That he left when he was a baby," Natasha said popping a french fry in her mouth.
"Is that why he was upset," Maria said, nodding her head towards Loki who was multitasking, eating, and watching tv at the same time.
"No he asked me why he didn't have a dad and if he loved him. I didn't know how to answer him and I didn't want to lie to him so I didn't say anything." Natasha explained taking a bite of her burger and looking over at Loki who didn't look all that upset anymore.
"I'm sorry Nat I should've been here. I left to go get this paperwork and when I came back he did look a little upset and when I asked him he said he was fine."
"It's fine Maria, it isn't your fault but Dr. Millis shouldn't have asked Loki that. It wasn't his place and I'm going to make it known to him tomorrow."
"You know you're great at this. Being a mother and all."
"Maria don't start."
"I'm seriously looking at how you handled today. If Loki thought I was his mother I would be across the country hiding until they found a cure. But you did well and you're acting like his mother, you're being a mom."
"But I'm not a mom Maria, I kill people, I don't kiss bobbies, I am not mother material. Hell Pepper is more mother material than me."
"Stop doing this to yourself Nat, you are mother material and you proved that today so stop belittling yourself because you're more than the Black Widow."
"So what are you going to do?"
"About what?"
"If he ever asks again about his dad."
"I have no idea. I can't say he died because then I would need a grave and a picture, I can't say he left and never came back because that would break his heart. So right now I'm clueless."
"You could say Ward is his father," Maria said with a smirk on her face
"God no. Absolutely not have you've lost your mind."
"Come on you've been there done that and you guys had a thing 4 years ago so it would be believable and if he says no you could always make Phil make him act the part as Loki's dad."
"No I'll think of something but I'm definitely not doing any of that."
"Anyways I guess you're going to be missing out on the drinks this weekend."
"Yep, I have a child now."
"Get one of the boys to babysit."
"As that would work I'm pretty sure by the time I get back the towers would be in ruins and Loki probably dead."
"Your right. Movie night then?"
"Yeah let's do that instead."
That night there was no longer talk about "Loki's father" at all everything went normal, Maria left after eating with them, Natasha returned to snuggling up with Loki who had fallen asleep an hour after Maria had left, Natasha knew he was tried he had an eventful day and she too would be tried from everything. It wasn't long before Natasha also let sleep overcome her.