Baggage

“Ouch.” Natasha hissed as she shook her hand pulling away from the oven.
Clutching her wrist in some sort of attempt to ease the pain she ran over to the sink and rinsed the burn with cold water. It’s not like this was the end of the world, Natasha has sustained way worse, it would just be inconvenient. She also knew it would raise questions and invoke paranoid in both Fury and Clint. Clint had seemed to come around more and check in on her, keep her in the loop, and she didn't mind, it made her have a sense of security.
Looking down to the platter of cookies, she places them all on a small platter, when she turned for the saran wrap to cover them with, she saw a small hand. Like some sort of spider, Peter was climbing on the knobs to the island and his nimble fingers were snatching a cookie. If it hadn’t been for her acute senses, she may have never saw.
“Pete!” She yelped.
Peter bit into the cookie as crumbs coated his looks. He gave her a look that resembled a child who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he practically had been.
“Sorry.” He blushed, not sounding sorry at all.
“I’ll let it slide this one time, since its a special day.” He said a bit stern.
“What’s today?” He said curiously.
“I’ll explain while you get dressed. And since you got the cookie I don’t want to hear a single complaint.” She challenged.
He groaned and trudged to the steps.
He was just like this mother.
/
Peter got dressed and didn't complain one bit. Natasha explained that it was a holiday where you showed appreciation for things in your life, while eating good food. SHe also assured him that it was also her first Thanksgiving and they would take this on like everything else, together. Nat also told Peter about her new friend Wanda, to whom he was very excited to meet. He innocently told his Mom that she met his friends so it was fair he met her, and she smiled to her son.
An hour Natasha emerged from her bathroom. She was wearing an oversized black sweater dress paired with some knee knee length boots. Her hair was falling in curls that practically reached her midriff as opposed to her go-to braided style. Giving herself on last look, she called for Peter, grabbed the car keys and the cookies, and left her house.
/
Steve arrived to Bucky and Wanda’s early. He had habit of doing that, and he always said it was a military thing but it was purely a Steve thing. Wanda greeted him quickly after scrambling to push him into the kitchen to help Bucky with last minute preparations. Wanda was not one to dabble in cooking so she focused most of her attention on cleaning and setting the table. After fiddling with how she should fold the napkins about twelve times, Bucky snaked in arm from behding.
“Relax, it;ll be fine.” He said kissing her hair.
“I know this is just out first one together, and I want it to be good.” She huffed.
“It will be.” He assured.
From behind his girlfriend Bucky mentally counted each place setting to the super-sized table.
“Doll I think you counted too many.” The brunette said.
“Nuh-uh.” Wanda protested.
Stepping from behind her he used his finger to point at each plate as he went down the line.
“Me, you, Stevie, Sam, Clint, Laura, Scott, Hope, T’Challa, Tony, Okoye, Nick.” He finished.
Then for effect he turned it the shorter table alongside the big one.
“Cassie, Scott, Nate, Shuri, Lila.” He explained.
To each table there was an extra setting.
“I didn't tell you?” Wanda asked her voice rising as she contorted her mouth in order to seem apologetic.
“Tell me what?” Bucky asked confused.
“I invited Nat and Peter. Sorry I forgot to tell you. Are you mad?” Wanda asked nervously.
Bucky chuckled.
“Of course not doll. You were being’ nice, and Nat’s nice, and I can’t wait to meet her boy. Also Stevie’s face is gonna be priceless.” bucky grinned mischievously. ‘
“Steve?” Wanda questioned.
“I have so much to tell you.” Bucky said dragging her to the couch.
/
Within the twenty minute window before guests arrive as whilst Steve was running to the store to get the cider Wanda requested Bucky debriefed her on Steve’s new crush. Ultimately Wanda and Bucky decided to play matchmaker.
Sometime after Steve arrived with the cider, and just like that people filtered in. Sam arrived first.
“Woah, weird to see you not being attached to Hill’s hip.” Bucky jokes.
Sam pushed past him into the foyer.
“Funny.” he said sarcastically.
“Maria has been working on some lead in Jersey and has some family nearby in Pennsylvania so she's spending the holiday there.” Sam explained.
“Sorry man.” Steve called from the sofa.
“Hey it's okay, Maria likes to send some pretty compromising images when we are away more than a few days.” Sam winked.
Steve couged, as Bucky made a hacking sound.
“Gross, I work with her.” Bucky reminded.
Sam laughed and joined Steve on the couch.
Sometime later the Langs and Bartons filed in, Fury and Stark followed close by. The last to arrive was T’Challa, Okoye, and Shuri (to Steve’s knowledge they were the last). T’Challa was from some long line of royalty and after an unfortunate successful assassination on his father, he and his sister who was only about age three fled the country. Coming with them was his closest friend Okoye, who also happens to be in a relationship with Thor’s childhood friend Valkyrie. Everyone life in this town crossed very interestingly to say the least.
They had all been waiting around engaging in small talk as the aroma of the food taunted them.
“Lets eat.” Barton groaned.
Laura slapped his stomach, and he faked being hurt.
“Can’t, we are waiting on two more.” Wanda called from the counter.
“Who would that be?” Okoye asked curious herself.
Before Wanda or Bucky could answer, a knock rang throughout the house.
“James be a dear and get the door.” Wanda called.
Bucky compiled a huge grin plastered on his face.
“Gladly.” He responded.
Striding to the door, he flung it open and smiled at the sight.
NATasha stood with Peter clinging tightly to her collar, and his face nuzzled into her collarbone. While balancing her boy on one hip, she had a tray of cookies in her other hand.
“Hi Bucky.” She smiled.
Prodding the boys heard from her neck, she whispered in his ear something.
“This is Mr.Barnes, can you tell him what you said in the car?” She encouraged.
“Happy Thanksgiving.” peter said timidly.
Bucky smiled at the small child.
“You too, and you Natasha.” He stated.
Peter seemed to ease a bit.
“What do ya say we go into the living room? Some people there are really excited to see you.” Bucky said to Peter.
He smiled and nodded nervously. Natasha kept him on her hip as Bucky helped by grabbing her tray.
“There are some people here who you and the kid will be happy to see.” Barton stated.
Natasha nodded unsure what he met, but followed nonetheless. Despite the knot in her stomach like agreeing to be here was a mistake and she was intruding, she proceeded. For Peter.
As Barnes proudly walked into the room that had an open floor plan connecting the kitchen, living, and dining room. He cleared his throat.
“Everyone this is-” Before Bucky could get his words out he was interrupted.
Stark stood from his seat as Peter jumped form Natasha’s arms and raced toward him.
“Mr.Stark!” He yelled happily as Peter swung him around.
“Whats up squirt?” Tony lougheed ruffling Peter’s hair.
Natasha couldn't help but chuckle with warmth and happiness at the scene that she hadn’t noticed the pairs of eyes on her.
“Nat!” Scott was the first to say coming to gather her in hug.
Normally that wasn;t Natasha’s thing, especially with a man but Scott was affectionate, and harmless.
Embracing Scott quickly, Fury appeared at her side. Smiling up to him, he couldn’t help but return the notion.
“Didn’t know you’d be here.” He said hugging her and whispering low in her ear.
“Ditto.” She responded as they pulled away.
“I didn’t know who would be here.” She finished.
Natasha was so preoccupied with her greeting she failed to notice Steve's face, but Bucky didn't miss it.
The way his jaw dropped and then formed into a bright smile. His eyes shined with something that was pretty familiar to Bucky. Almost like what he saw in himself when he first met Wanda.
Eventually mustering the courage Steve left the couch, and appeared in front of Natasha.
“Happy Thanksgiving Nat.” He said sweetly.
She smiled, and suddenly felt oddly comfortable.
“You too, but I have a secret.” She stated.
Steve knitted his bros for her to elaborate.
“This is my first one.” She whispered husky.
His face dropped in shock, but than softened.
“Let’s make it the best.” He stated.
Before he even knew what he was doing, he grabbed onto her soft hands and led her into the dining room.
The touch send electricity through their bodies, and normally Natasha would flinch and retract her hand but couldn;t find herself to. It felt so right, familiar. Steve pulled her into the dining room as her soft hand rested in his own. Blushing at the contact he gently let go and waved exasperated to a chair. Grinning, he pulled the chair out for her. Shocked that a man of the twenty first century could possess such chivalry, a ghost of a smile appeared on her lips as she sat. Steve sat quickly next to her, as everyone else quickly found their seats.
Bucky made a show of cutting the large turkey, but once that was done people began passing around the trays. After Natasha got all the fixins onto her plate, she decided to get up to check on Peter.
“Hey bud.” She said crouching down onto the floor to the smaller table he sat.
“Hi Mama.” He said fork in hand.
“Need me to cut that?” She asked eyeing his plate full of food.
He nodded excited, as he kicked his little legs impatiently. Grabbing a knife, she cut his food into appropriate pieces and gave him a small kiss on the head when he was done, to which he laughed giddly.
At the adult table Steve had been eying the entire ncounter and couldn't help but feel his stomach bubble to how tender it was. Feeling someone elbow his side, he turned.
“Huh?” He asked shaking his head.
Clint stared at him with beauty and almost angry looking eyes.
“You got eyes on Nat?” he asked seeming protective.
“What? That’s crazy.” Steve tried to lie.
But if there was anything about Steve Rogers, it was that he couldn't lie for his life.
“Watch yourself.” Clint bit out in a low rumbly tone as Natasha sat back down.
A bit uneasy about the encounter, Steve decided to focus on the beautiful woman next to him, all his anxieties melting away.
/
Dinner went off without a hitch as Natasha managed to hear anecdotes of Steve standing up to bullies as a small scrawny kid in Brooklyn. Hearing these stories only made her think higher of the man, as he blushed madly. Now they were all gathering for desert which consisted of cookies, pies, ice cream, pretty much anything sweet. As Wanda cut a piece of pie for Nick Fury, his phone rang loudly. Groaning, he pulled it out and was more than prepared to click the off button, until the name seemed to catch his eye.
“Excuse me.” He said sternly.
Nick returned twenty minutes later, his face looking sad but also a mix of that he was angry. Natasha noted the fact and gave him a pointed look, to which he shook his head.
As desert concluded, they all gathered the dishes and piled them into the sink. As Natasha was scraping the contents of Peter’s plate she felt a hand grasp her wrist.
“Come with me.” He commanded, but not in a threatening tone.
Placing down the plate, she obliged.
“Everything alright?” She asked scared.
“Look Nat, I don’t want to ruin your Thanksgiving or anything, but Coulson from NYPD called.” Nick said.
“He said that Rumlow and Rollins were poking around asking about your old place, and even went to the hospital.” Fury informed.
Just like that everything changed. The air escaping her lungs as she viciously clutched her chest. SHaking her head as her vision blurred. Her mind swirling with awful thoughts, the first being what if they find her, or worse, Peter. Choking on a sob, she covered her mouth to muffle them. Nick placed his large hands atop both her shoulder staring into her eyes.
“Hey relax, your safe here, no one knows where you went right?” He asked.
He damn well knew the answer but needed to remind her.
She nodded slowly.
“Exactly. For now we lay low, breathe a little, okay Nat?” He suggested.
SHe tried not to answer and couldn't.
“Hey why don’t you gohome? Relax with the kid, ease your mind.” Nick offered.
It was a good idea, but she didn’t know if she could be alone. Of course she would have Peter, but alone in a sense of understanding.
“Okay.” SHe finally managed to breathe out.
Racing into the dining room, she hugged Wanda quickly as she waved off the remainder of the group.
Just as Nat was clutching Peter close for dear life, hurrying home, someone called for her.
She should have kept walking. She knew she should, but couldn;t allow herself that.
“Nat?” His soft voice called.
Stopping dead in her tracks, but not daring to turn around.
“Everything alright?” He asked carefully.
SHe still didn’t turn, but a tear escaped her eyes, rolling down her cheek. A few moments went by, with no movement.
“Mama, why are you crying?” Peter asked innocently.
“I’m fine Pete.” SHe answered quickly.
Finally turning to Steve, she spoke.
“I’m okay Steve. Happy Thanksgiving.” The red head groggily said, leaving the house.
Steve stood. SHe looked anything but alright, her eyes red, puffy, and glassy as her hand viciously shook. Seeing her like that, and he had no right to just walk up and hold her tight killed him. This is when he knew that these feelings run deep.
/
Natasha was nestled on the couch. It was around eight and she put Peter down he had a big day. SHe showered and changed, so now she laid out on the couch with a knife in her hand trying to focus on whatever trashy reality show was playing. It was white noise thought. All she could focus on was any noises around her such as clambering, and booms that could mean the worse. Natasha was clearly on edge, and only making things worse was the loud knock on her door. Flinching, she gathered herself and stalked near the entrance. She attempted to convince herself if he were here for her, he would just barge in. But who was she kidding? He was so sick he would wait on the porch until she answered and declare she was his. Throwing the door open as she raised the knife out of view from her intruder, but when she saw who it was she could not control herself. She dropped the knife with a loud clunk from the metal.
“Steve?” SHe managed to say.
“Hi, I’m sorry, it’s late.” He said scratching the back of his neck.
She just stood waiting for him to go on.
“You seemed upset before, what happened? Was it something that I did or,” He asked scared he upset her.
“No, no, not you.” She abruptly protested.
“But someone/” He investigated.
Natasha opened her mouth to speak a few times, but words never came Steve could tell she was hesitant, so spoke for her.
“You don’t have to tell me.” He said earnestly.
“If your not here for answers, then what?” Nat asked, people always wanted something from her.
Steve shrugged, before answering with:
“I didn’t want you to be alone.” He stated, his eyes full of emotion.
Natasha felt the corners of her eyes prick, as she widened the door for him to step in.
Maybe she wasn’t alone.