Ours

You laughed as you watched your girlfriend chase Amelia through the common room, pretending to be a monster.

“Mommy! Save me!” the four year old screamed, laughing like crazy as she dove into your arms.

You wrapped your arms around her, settling her weight on your hip. Booping her nose you asked, “Save you? From what?”

Amelia laughed and pointed towards Natasha, “Mama is being the tickle monster!”

Natasha crossed her arms, a smile on her face as she faked hurt, “Me? Now why would I be the tickle monster?”

That’s when your hands reached Amelia’s sides as you laughed, “Because I am the tickle monster!”

All three of you convulsed into laughter as Amelia scrambled out of your arms and ran around the room again. Now with both you and Natasha chasing her.

You had Amelia from a one night stand during your last year in College. You were a tech genius. You chose to keep the baby, and you were ever grateful that you did. Amelia was your light of your life. The best thing that had ever happened to you.

When Amelia was only a couple months old, after you graduated College, Director Fury had approached you about a job in Shield. Your computer and technology skills had gotten on their radar.

Of course you had said yes, back then, you had been working at McDonalds trying to pay for food and clothes and diapers for a baby. Struggling to make ends meet while paying off all the college debt you had collected over the years.

Shield had brought you into their fold. And within a week, you had been introduced to the Avengers.

Natasha had caught your eye right off the bat. You had never explored the depths of your sexuality, but when Natasha flipped her red hair and smirked, you knew you would fall for her.

And fall you did. Natasha had known you had a child, but you didn’t officially let her meet Amelia until a few months into the relationship.

Now it has been roughly three years and Amelia thinks of Natasha as her mother as much as you. And Natasha had grown to love and think of Amelia as hers as well. You both raised her and she loved both of you.

“Mommy, can I go with uncle Stevie to the fair?” Amelia tugged on your arm drawing you out of your thoughts.

You were on the couch, with Natasha resting peacefully on your shoulder. Amelia stood in front of you with Steve standing in the background with Bucky.

Steve looked at you and smiled, “There’s a small vendor fair in Central Park. Me and Bucky were going to go check it out. We can watch Amelia for the afternoon, I’m sure she’d love it.”

You smiled and leaned over and kissed Amelia’s cheek, “Of course you can sweetie. Be nice to your Uncles and listen to them, okay?”

Amelia giggled, and patted her cheek that you had kissed before running off on her chubby legs, to the super soldiers, “Kay Mommy! Bye Mama!” She called back to Nat as they got on the elevator.

You smiled as you saw Bucky swing Amelia up onto his shoulder before the door slid closed.

“Mmhhmm. Finally, some peace and quiet.” Natasha mumbled, snuggling deeper into your side.

You hummed in agreement as your fingers combed through Natasha’s hair.

That afternoon, you and Natasha ended up tangled together under the sheets of your bed.

Resting your head on her bare stomach your heart was full of love for the life you had built with Natasha. For your daughter.

“[Y/n]?” Your girlfriend’s tone caught your attention. You pulled yourself up and looked into her troubled green eyes.

“What is it Tasha?” You asked, immediately worried. Your hand reached out and clasped hers, offering comfort.

Natasha cleared her throat and began speaking softly, “So uh, I talked to Clint and he is onboard as long as you are. But well, how would you feel about being a surrogate?”

You were shocked. You were sure your mouth was hanging wide open. “What!?”

You struggled out of the bed and began pulling on your sweatpants and a sweater.

Natasha stayed in the bed, tracking your movements with her eyes, she pleaded, “Like, an Egg from me, and sperm from him. You carrying it. So that we could have a child from my blood.”

You stood frozen at the foot of the bed, staring at Natasha. Natasha crawled out from under the covers, unashamed of her nudity as she knelt in front of you. She took your hands in hers and smiled as she kept going, “We could do Egg and Sperm selection with Bruce so that we can be assured it will be a boy. What do you say? Do you want a baby with me?”

You tore your hands away from Natasha’s and ran your fingers through your hair as you absorbed everything.

“You planned all this without once talking about it with me?” You asked.

Natasha gave you a sideways look, “I’m talking about it with you right now.”

You growled, “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. And what do you mean, ‘have a baby with you’? I thought we already had a child together?”

Natasha laughed, but the sound was bitter, “Not really.”

You frowned and narrowed your eyes at your girlfriend, “What do you mean? We both have raised Amelia for the past three years, you are her ‘Mama’.”

Natasha stood up and threw on a robe, as she tied the ribbon, not looking at you she muttered, “She’s not my child.”

You became angry then. Your mothering instincts take over. You marched over to Natasha and shoved her shoulders.

She stumbled back and glared up at you, fists clenching.

You yelled, “Our daughter isn’t good enough for you? You think you need a boy from your own blood? Our family isn’t good enough the way it is?”

Natasha hissed at you, “Your daughter. Not mine.”

You gasped, tears brought to your eyes. Never once had Natasha said this to you. When you had first introduced her to Amelia, she had said that she wanted Amelia to be her daughter as long as you were together, she said she would love Amelia as much as she loved you.

“If that’s how you feel, fine. She won’t be yours anymore...neither will I.”

Tears slid down your cheeks as you turned away and ran down the hallways.

Natasha stayed in the room. As the reality of what she had just said began to settle.

You ran into the common room right as the elevator opened. Steve and Bucky were laughing, faces painted as animals as Amelia excitedly talked about the fair.

Steve was the first to see you. His face went from happy to concerned in seconds. “[Y/n], What’s wrong?”

You wiped your tears as you smiled at the trio. Crouching down, you scooped Amelia up, the cotton candy in her hand staining her lips blue with the sugar. “Mommy? Why are you crying?”

You sniffed, looking at the two super soldiers who had become close friends you held Amelia close as you walked towards the elevator, “We are going home, sweetie.”

Amelia frowned, “But we are home.” She said, in that innocent, simple way that children have.

Bucky stepped towards the elevator, stopping the doors from closing with an outstretched hand. He frowned at you, “What’s going on [Y/n]? Did you and Natasha fight?”

You fought not to begin crying again, you looked down at the floor as you spoke to Bucky, “Please, let me and my daughter go. I’ll call you guys later, okay?”

You glanced up, and Bucky must have seen the plea in them because he hesitantly stepped back, “Our phone and rooms are always open if you want to talk.” He said, standing back with Steve as they watched the elevator door close on you and Amelia.

You sighed, closing your eyes as the soft elevator music filled the silence. You opened your eyes and managed a smile when you felt your daughter’s hand on your cheek.

Amelia was frowning at you, “Where are we going Mommy?”

You glanced around before finally deciding that Amelia was old enough to get the truth, “Amelia. We’re moving out. Me and your Mama had a fight and broke up. We’re going to go stay with Auntie Maria for a while.”

Amelia frowned and put her thumb in her mouth. A habit she had broken but did when she was nervous or scared.

You soothed your daughter, running a hand down her back, as you bounced her on your hip, “It’ll be okay sweetie. We’ll be okay.” For a moment you wondered if you were trying to convince your daughter of yourself.

~~~~

It had been a couple weeks since you and Natasha had broken up. With the help of Maria and Fury, you got a hold of a decent house in downtown New York and set up a system with them so you could work from home since there wasn’t anyone to watch Amelia anymore.

You had called Steve and Bucky a few days after you had left the tower and they had brought you your clothes and Amelia’s stuff from the tower. They both hugged you and told you that the tower wasn’t the same without the sound of Amelia’s laughter or your amazing cooking skills.

They both said that Natasha was locked inside her room and refused to speak to anyone.

“Mommy! Someone’s at the door!” Your daughter yelled out from her spot on the couch watching Disney Channel.

You wiped your hands on your apron, you had been in the middle of making pizza for dinner, and went to open your door.

You put a smile on your face as you opened it, “Hello, how can we…” You trailed off as you saw who stood on your porch. As you hurried to shut the door, Natasha stuck her foot in the way so that it wouldn’t close.

You put your face close to hers and glared as you whispered, “What are you doing here?”

Natasha’s green eyes looked red and puffy as she looked past you, “Is Amelia here?”

You whispered angrily back at her, pushing on the door against her foot, “Where else would MY daughter be?”

You put emphasis on the word ‘my’ and watched Natasha’s face fill with shame. She looked down for a moment before speaking again, “I came to apologize.”

“Mommy! Who's at the door?” Amelia yelled from the living room.

Fear filled you that she would wander over and see Natasha. She had just gotten used to the idea that her ‘Mama’ would no longer be a part of her life. She didn’t need to see this.

You quickly shove Natasha backwards and follow her on the porch, yelling back at your daughter, “It’s just the mailman with a question sweetie, I’ll be back in a minute!” You closed the door behind you and paused for a moment to gather your strength. Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath before turning with a glare to Natasha.

“What could you possibly apologize for?” You asked, crossing your arms across your chest as you glared at your Ex. “You were pretty clear about what you thought about me and my daughter.”

Natasha’s shoulders were slumped as she begged, her hands coming up and reaching for you, “[Y/n]...I was just emotional. You know about my past, how I can’t have children of my own. I was jealous. But I spoke wrong, I chose the wrong words. Please, come back. I love you and Amelia with everything I have.”

You stepped backwards as you refused to take Natasha’s hands. They dropped down to her sides, but she still looked at you hopefully.

You frowned and spoke decisively, “No. Natasha. You spoke what you really thought. And I won’t let my daughter be raised by someone who thinks she isn’t good enough or worth their love just because she doesn’t share blood with them. Goodbye Natasha. Don't come back, don’t try to see Amelia, and don’t ever try to talk to me or Amelia again.”

And with that you stepped back into your house. Shutting the door quickly, you threw the lock in place and rested your forehead against the cool wood.

Taking deep breaths, you pushed back the tears and hysterics. You couldn’t afford to break down because of a relationship. You had to be strong for your daughter.

You opened your eyes to see Amelia bent over so that she was under you and looking up at your face. “Mommy?” She asked. Your heart squeezed to hear her voice sound so unsure.

You smiled and scooped her up, “Everything’s okay Sweetie. Want to help me put the cheese on the pizza?” you asked, tickling her sides.

Amelia squealed with laughter as you got to the kitchen and helped her spread cheese on top of the sauce.