Baggage

It was the middle of the night, when Natasha had heard the wails from through the wall. Knowing she could not just simply roll over and ignore it, she pushed back the covers. She had a responsibility, and duty and like numerous times before she would fulfill it. Walking no more than a few feet out of her bedroom, she creaked the adjacent door open and tiptoed to the center of the room. She scooped up the small body laying in the crib kicking and moaning loudly.
“It’s okay, I’m here.” She cooed letting his small hand wrap around her thumb.
His sobs subsided as she continued rocking him and singing in Russian. Once, he seems to relax she walked back into her bedroom and places him on the bed gently. Kissing his forehead tenderly, and whispering,
“Mama’s here.”
/
Natasha had spent the remainder of her night watching over his small frame. Though she knew that he could comprehend simple concepts and form sentences at the ripe age of two and some months, he did not know what a nightmare was. But Natasha did, all too well. She knew for a fact that on some painful nights the babe would relive the horrors of the car accident he got in nearly a year ago.
Peter Benjamin Parker lost his parents and aunt just around eighteen months. To her understanding and from the accident report it was raining. The rain had been coming down hard deeming the roads slippery and not the best for vision purposes. The car had skidded down a busy street colliding into a tree, as another car crashed into the Parker’s. Richard and May Parker died on impact, the left side of the car having it worse. Mary Parker was on life support for three days before succumbing to the imminent damage. Peter however was some sort of miracle. He was injured severely with broken ribs and a punctured lung, all these issues would ensure a life sentence for the child, but he fought. During his fight for survival Natasha was not only his nurse but his biggest cheerleader. Everyday encouraging him to do more, and though he didn’t understand her, if she tickled him in the right spots, or smiled he would giggle. As Peter’s stay to the hospital was coming to an end Natasha had overheard that he would be taken to a local orphanage and enter the system, her heart dropped. She ached for him knowing how it felt to be shipped from place to place having no one. Deciding to do something she adopted Peter and the state humbly granted her request. Peter was everything she had been missing. For most of Natasha’s life she had been mentally and physically tortured whether from foster parents, or a man she thought loved her. Peter had managed to fill the void that they never could, and needless to say she would die for Peter Parker.
Roughly a year later Natasha was relocating herself and her son to a small upstate town. She has lived in the city, but deciding as Peter grew the hustle and bustle may be a bit much and also to increase her safety since a psycho was in fact hunting her. The town only had six hundred or so residents, and went by the name of ‘Avengers Township’. Managing to save enough money from the years of nursing and other jobs she bought a small olive green house, three bedrooms and two baths for her small family. She just arrived yesterday. Natasha had not bothered to meet anyone having her hands full being a single twenty six year old woman moving hours away from one of two places she's ever known while lugging boxes around. However, today was the day she would drop Peter at daycare while she started her first shift at the local hospital called ‘Shield Memorial Hospital’. Her interview went swimmingly well and without having to explain the fact she had a son they agreed to spread out her shifts in the pediatrics wing rather than one thirty six hour shift once a week. Tripping over a few boxes on the way out of bed, careful not to wake Peter, she began her daily routine. Brushing her teeth, braiding her long red hair, and throwing on a pair of teal scrubs that complimented her eyes. After slipping on and tying a pair of converse that she had found out of luck in the many boxes she went to wake up Peter. Gently shaking his form, he stirred for a moment before his eyes fluttered open. His gorgeous brown eyes sparkled as he stifled a yawn.
“Morning.” She smiled down to him.
“Mama.” He said baring his few teeth.
“Time to start your first day at daycare.” She said lifting him off the bed and into the bathroom.
Peter was just two years of age and still needed help with these types of things.
Instructing him as he brushed his teeth and guiding him as she dressed him in a white shirt with a pair of overalls she smiled down to her son.
“Ready?” She asked tears forming in her eyes knowing that this change could be what the two need.
“Yah!” He squealed jumping into her arms.
She held him close as she grabbed her keys and purse as they made haste to the car. On the way out she made sure to admire the quaintness of the neighborhood as she strapped Peter into his car seat. Sensing him uneasy and fussy because cars freaked him out she turned her body and offered a ghost of grin.
“Just for a few minutes baby.” She promised, to which he nodded slowly.
Making good on her word they arrived to Tony and Rhodey daycare services just four minutes later. Unstrapping him she walked into the front doors and stopped at the desk. A gorgeous woman sat at the other side, dressed in all green with dark wavy hair.
“Hello I’m Natasha, I’m here to drop off Peter Parker.” She said as the baby grasped her neck and she adjusted him on her hip.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Gamora, Tony and Rhodey are in the back. If you want to hand him over I can take him back for you.” Gamora offered coming from behind the desk.
Natasha nodded nervously and placed him on the floor grasping his little shoulders.
“You be good, I’ll be back soon.” She said her voice strained and kissed his cheeks.
He threw his arms round her and she responded to the embrace.
“I love you Mama.” He whispered.
“I love you too Peter.” She said stroking his hair and reluctantly pulling away.
Gamora offered her hand and Natasha nodded for her son to take it and he complied.
“If you’ll wait here I just need you to sign a few things.” She asked, Natasha nodded as she watched her son walk through the doors.
Not even seconds later she appeared again going around and placing a stack of papers on the desk.
“These are just general consent forms, and this is something you will sign everyday at pick up and drop off indicating Peter is granted permission to leave with proper care and not some stranger.” She joked lightly.
Natasha chuckled a bit and accepted the pen. With shaking hands she signed each contract after thoroughly reading each. When she was done her trembling hand slid over the paper.
“Nervous?” Gamora asked.
“A little, it's just a new place and I hate leaving him.” She frowned.
“I promise he's in good hands.” Gamora said.
Natasha nodded apprehensively.
“I send my son here. It really is amazing. There's tons of kids the Bartons, the Langs.” She finished.
Nat smiled at this. Gamora pulled out her phone and showed off her lock screen.
“That’s my husband Peter, our dog Rocket, and the cutie in the middle is Groot.” She said proudly.
“We took Groot in just when he was about a month old. His mother died during childbirth, and his father was a very close family friend who also died suddenly.” She explained.
Natasha gave her a sad smile.
“Its weird, how much I have grow to love him as my own, not caring if you share the same blood.” Gamora pondered.
“Yeah it is, but it's also probably the best thing to happen.” Natasha stated.
“Yes it is, now I don’t want to keep you. Lovely meeting you Natasha.” Gamora finished.
“You too, thank you.” She said grateful for the woman.
Gamora smiled and Natasha headed for work.
As Natasha left Gamora smiled appreciating Natashas care for the child. However, Gamora assumed that Natasha was Peter's Aunt or maybe even sister, not a parent.
/
Natashas first day went well. She met the general surgeon Bruce Banner and neurologist Stephen Strange who offered guidance. Also, she briefly spoke to one of the nurses in the ICU, Wanda who wanted to meet for drinks. She decided to omit the fact she had a child, for two reasons. One, she did not know these people and it may draw suspicion from unwanted parties (Alexi), and two it simply hadn’t come up, it's not that Peter was a secret by any means but she also did not want to put him on display. She arrived back at the daycare about eight hours later eager to see Peter. When she entered she noticed Gamora had been gone, replaced by an African American male who looked in his forties.
“Hello, pick up for Parker.” She smiled.
Natasha decided to keep his last name so it would not draw attention had Alexi be looking for her, and she felt she owed it to his parents to keep apart of them.
“Of course, I can take you to the back.” The man said.
She nodded and signed the line for ‘pick up’, Following the man.
“I’m James, James Rhodes, but everyone calls me Rhodey.” He said offering a hand.
She took it and politely smiled.
“Natasha Romanoff.”
Rhodey pushed open the door to the large playroom and spotted Peter at a small table with a man in the back, he turned at the noise and smiled at her. He ran from the chair and hugged her legs.
“Hiya Pete.” She said crouching down.
“How was it?” She asked.
“Fun! I got to play with Mr.Stark.” He said slurred and pronouncing some letters completely wrong.
“Did you?” She said raising an eyebrow.
“He did.” She heard a man answered.
Natashas eyes flicked up to the voices owner, and locked eyes with who she presumed to be Mr.Stark.
“Tony Stark, pleasure to meet you. Peter here is a great kid.” He smiled down.
Natasha nodded in agreeance.
“I’m Natasha Ro-” He cut her off.
“Hows red? I'm gonna call you red.” He declared.
Her face scrunched in confusion.
“Can’t wait to see the kid tomorrow.” He said contently.
“And you.” he smirked eyeing her breasts.
She scoffed and placed Peter on her hip.
“Say bye Peter.” She told him.
He waved to Tony and Rhodes and they both happily waved back.
As the door shut behind the two Tony turned to Rhodey.
“Twenty bucks says she’s the sister.” He bet.
“Please, forty says she’s his Aunt.” Rhodes scoffed.
/
Peter and Natasha fell into a routine. He seemed to love Mr.Stark at the day care as well as his new friends Cassie and Copper. Everyday she would drop him for eight or so hours and return to pick him up where they would spend the duration of the evening together. However, on this Tuesday evening as Natasha went to get her son, her car came to an abrupt stop. She groaned loudly and pulled out her phone.
“Hello?” She said as the line clicked.
“Hi, is this Natalie?” The annoying voice asked.
“Yep Stark its me.” She said sarcastic.
Natalie was another nickname Tony gave her.
“I’m going to be late picking up Peter, my car broke down.” She explained.
“It’s all good,” He assured.
“Be sure to call the station, not the tow company they’re closed.” He said.
“Oh, thanks.” She said having no idea and actually grateful for his helpful side.
“No problem, see ya soon red.” He said and the line went dead.
Natasha dialed the phone for the towns police station and sighed in relief when someone picked up.
“Sergeant Barnes, how can I help you?” A man asked professionally.
“Hi, my car is stuck on the corner of Chitauri Way and Asgard Boulevard, and I was informed the tow company is closed today. Is there anyway I could get some help?” She asked nicely.
“Of course miss, we will send someone your way as soon as we can.” The voice assured.
“Thank you.” She responded.
“Just doing my job.” She heard him say before ending the call.
Thinking she could be here awhile she sat on the curb.
/
“Cut that out!” Steve groaned as Bucky flicked yet another piece of paper at him.
“Add that to the points Clint!” Bucky explained.
Clint turned to a post it on his keyboard and marked it with a thin line.
“You guys are the worst.” Steve said annoyed.
“Sorry Captain.” Bucky mocked.
Steve was just about to make a sly comment back when the phone rang.
Bucky picked it up, and jotted something down, talked some, and hung up.
“Broken motor vehicle.” Bucky told them.
Clint grunted.
“Those are the worst! I mean what kinda company is just closed on Tuesdays?” He questioned annoyed.
“Apparently the closest one to us.” Bucky retorted.
“I got it.” Steve said getting up and grabbing the keys to his patrol car.
/
Driving the short distance to the location Bucky had informed him he found a small black commercial car on the side of the road. However, he did not see anyone around it. Putting the car in park, he got out to observe the scene. As he turned to the front of the car, he found a woman tapping away on her phone sitting on the yellow curb. She wore a pair of black scrubs as the most beautiful shade of red hair was pulled into a side braid.
“Ma’am.” He said clearing his throat.
Her eyes jolted to meet his own. God, she was so breathtaking. Ivory skin contrasting her hair and emerald green eyes. Pert nose, and the softest looking lips he’d ever had the pleasure of seeing.
“Hi.” She said blushing slightly at not noticing him.
“This you car?” He said.
“Yes, it broke down. Someone had informed me that the towing company is closed Thursdays, I’m new around her.” She said a bit sheepish.
“That’s the truth. I can call this in to someone a few towns over, have it in the shop and back to you by tomorrow.” He explained.
She nodded.
“Welcome to town.” He finished his statement offering a smile.
“Thank you Mr.Rogers.” She said reading the name tag.
“Please, you're gonna make me feel like an old man, it’s Steve.” The blond corrected.
She laughed at this, and god it was a sound Steve would never get sick of.
“Alright Steve.” The redhead smiled, teasing a bit.
“Need a ride? I can’t leave a lady hanging.” He joked but was also pretty serious.
“Actually if you wouldn’t mind taking me to the daycare? I know its a bit far but I’m supposed to…” She never finished because Steve waved her off.
“No need to explain. It is apart of the duty.” He assured opening the car door for her.
She smiled and got in. She was a bit apprehensive at first getting the car with a stranger who happened to be male. She however did her best to calm herself, he was a policeman who seemed nice, and she kept telling herself she's safe.
The first few minutes of the drive were in complete silence, until Steve spoke.
“I’m sorry I never caught your name?” He questioned.
“Natasha Romanoff.” She said naturally.
The beauty of her name even sent shivers down his spine.
“A nurse?” He interrogated because of the scrubs.
“Yeah, I just started.” She smiled.
“Thats nice. I’ve been Captain around here for a few years now.” He explained.
She nodded impressed by the statement.
“You like it so far?” He continued the conversation desperate to just hear her soft voice.
“Yeah, I moved into a small house on Wakanda Terrace.” Natasha told him.
He looked stunned, and gathered his thoughts.
“The olive green one?” He asked.
He noticed her nod from the corner of his eye.
“Woah, I live in the blue one next door. I noticed the boxes and haven't had the chance to introduce myself. Must be fate, neighbor.” He joked.
“It must be.” Nat whispered as he pulled up to the daycare.
She opened the door and offered him one last thank you paired with a smile.
“It’s not problem. I hope to see you around.” He said honestly.
She nodded, and treaded into the daycare. As she opened the doors for her son she could not stop scolding herself to stop thinking about him. His blonde hair, the bluest eyes shes ever stared into, not to mention the chivalry of a man from another decade.
‘Never gonna happen Nat.’ She told herself entering the building.