New beginnings (Natasha/you age regression)

13

Okay I love how this chapter came out.

**

The next few days pass without incident, and Natasha was grateful to see whatever sickness you had was slowly going away. By now, it was no more than a sniffly nose and cough, and you were back to your somewhat...normal self. That being said, you were still clingy, so there was little Natasha could get done due to the fact you were constantly wanting to be held.

She didn't mind as such, not really. It was just the fact that the apartment was paying for the lack of housework she'd gotten done. She tries to what she could whilst you nap, but you'd been lacking in that department lately as well. They were either ten minutes long, or completely nonexistent. There was no in between.

After nursing you to sleep for the second time today, Natasha quietly leaves the room making sure to leave the door partially open just in case you needed her. She then stands at the entryway of the living room, not quite knowing where to start. Figuring that the laundry would do, she grabs the basket from where she'd discarded it on the couch yesterday and begins filling it with the many soiled shirts and shirts sat dormant all over the floor.

It was no surprise to her when she manages to fill the basket with just the living room alone, and with a dismissive wave towards the rest of the mess she knows wouldn't be touched today, she heads towards the laundry room and begins to fill the washer. Just as she closes the lid, the phone in her ass pocket vibrates. Not having expected anyone to call today of all days, she hesitantly pulls it out. She couldn't help but smile at who greets her.

"Lena? To what do I owe the pleasure?"  She greets fondly as she holds the phone to her ear, turning the dial on the washer before pressing start. The sound of the water filling the machine was quick to greet her.

"Sestra," Yelena retorts in that usual sarcastic tone, and Natasha rolls her eyes, "I am ten minutes away. Make sure you have the vodka ready."

Natasha freezes, her mind immediately jumping to the sleeping little one currently in her bedroom. No. Yelena couldn't know about this. Not yet. "I don't think todays a-"

"What?" She could hear the dejection in Yelena's voice, and she hates that her heart aches at the sound. "You do not want me to come?"

"No! No, it's not that." Natasha was quick to reassure. "It's just-"

"Great!" Yelena cuts her off once again, apparently all recovered from her impromptu pity party, and Natasha internally scowls. She hates it when her sister does that. And she'd told her that. Countless times. "See you soon!"

"Listen, I-" She was interrupted again. This time, by the dial tone signalling Yelena had hung up, and she silently curses her sister as she shoves her phone back into her pocket. "Fucking fabulous." Natasha grumbles to herself as she stalks out of the laundry room, "this is just what I need."

*

Exactly ten minutes later, just like Yelena had said, there was a knock at her front door. In the time it had taken her to get here, Natasha had in fact managed to clean up a little and the living room looked like it had an owner once again. Her bedroom  was a completely different story, but hopefully Yelena wouldn't venture in there today.

As she rises to her feet to answer the door, her mind shifts to you. When she'd initially woken you to explain the situation, she'd expected tears and upset. She'd expect you to rip yourself out of your headspace and pretend like it didn't exist, but instead, your eyes had become clear and focused for just a second, and you'd nodded once, as if to say, I understand before falling back to sleep.

It wasn't ideal. Especially if you woke up with Yelena still here. But she'd cross that bridge when she comes to it.

Pulling open the door, she couldn't help but smile and immediately pull her sister into a hug. Yelena, despite her brash outward attitude, was quick to melt into her embrace, and Natasha smirks as she gives her a soft squeeze before pulling away.