Evermore

Chapter 19

It had been four days since she injured herself and the storm hit. The ice and thunder still hadn't stopped and Natasha wondered if it ever would while she was looking out the bedroom window.

She heard the door open and Pepper came in with Morgan. The little girl headed straight for the dog. Natasha couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"How are feeling," Pepper asked sympathetically.

"Better than yesterday," she said with a small smile.

"You were able to get ready on your own with a hurt foot, so that's good. When Tony hurts himself he milks it for weeks."

Natasha couldn't help but laugh at the image in her head of Tony whining dramatically.

Morgan ran toward where Natasha was sitting and hugged her. The redhead let her sit in her lap as the girl told Natasha about her morning and Tony's suit.

Natasha loved when Morgan got excited about things and told her about it. It reminded her of when Yelena was around that age, and she would tell their dad about what their mom taught them.

"Since you're ready, I'm going to start breakfast," Pepper said when Morgan was done telling her story. "One of the guys will be up here soon. I volunteered to help you, but they wanted pancakes and I'm the only one who doesn't burn them."

"I'll see you down there," Natasha said while chuckling.

Several minutes after Pepper and Morgan left, Natasha got off of the chair and put a bit of weight on her foot. It felt better after a day of rest and sleep, but she knew walking on it was a bad idea. She hopped to the door and opened it to see Bruce sitting in the hallway, across from her door.

"Are you stalking me now," she teased as he stood up and Fanny ran past her to greet him.

"I'm not- oh, you're just joking," he said while petting the dog, then stood up as she scampered off.

"I don't want to be carried."

"Too bad."

"Just a few steps. Please," she asked giving him her best puppy dog face.

"Nat," he chuckled with a smile. Then he seemed to realize that he called her by a nickname he didn't know she had and his smile vanished. "Sorry, I meant Natasha."

"No, it's okay. Almost everyone I know calls me that. Just don't call me 'Nattie' and you're fine."

"Don't let Tony hear you say that, or he will start calling you that," he said with a bit of humor laced in his voice and held out his hand. "Will you at least let me help you down the stairs? I won't carry you if it makes you uncomfortable. But if you start slipping..."

Natasha nodded in understanding and took his hand.

"Can I," he asked gesturing to her waist. She nodded as he let go of her hand and switched to her waist, while she put her arm around his neck.

Their eyes met and Natasha felt her stomach flip flop, which she tried to push down.

"Bruce! Romanoff," Tony yelled from downstairs. "Hurry up or Thor's going to eat everything!"

"We're coming," Bruce yelled, then led them toward the kitchen.

It took longer than it would have if she allowed herself to be carried and she only slipped a couple of times, but she appreciated that he let her keep some of her independence when she asked.

When they reached their destination, everyone greeted her, "Hey, Natasha."

Bruce helped her into a chair and went to where the food was. Clint handed her a plate and said, "Saved this for you."