Y/n's POV
{I know this is quite the skip but we roll with it}
Within a blink we were waking up to the excited squeals of our daughter. I checked my phone, the 20th of March 2021. Harriet clambered up onto our bed and shook Natasha awake. She opened her eyes with a groan as Harriet flopped onto her chest and tried to hug her.
"Good morning Princess." She smiled, kissing Haz's head. I turned to look at my wife, she was gorgeous as ever. Her hair was still neatly plaited and somehow as her red roots had grown out they had made a pretty ombre to the blonde ends of her hair. All these years later she still refused to dye it out. I looked around the room as I slowly woke up more. It was still the same as it had always been apart from the extra portraits on the wall. A picture of Natasha and I's first dance as well as a canvas print of Harriet as a baby. Natasha tickled Harriet and she wriggled around in a fit of laughter.
Haz's red hair had grown long and thick and it was stunning. Each night Natasha tamed it back into a plait in an attempt to control it. As she grew, Harriet's freckles got stronger and her green eyes brightened. I looked at her, her pale skin slightly rough where she had laughed, her hair fluffy and astray. Her smile was as wide as Natasha's and it made my heart swell. Harriet was three now and one of the most playful and sweet little girls I had ever met. She wasn't fussy and always wanted to try new things, we had quite the little explorer on our hands. She was smart, but she was also physically talented. It didn't take long after her learning to walk before she ran, and jumped and skipped. She was strong, weirdly strong and somehow she could climb anything.
"She'd be praised highly in the red room." Nat would sigh, watching our daughter thrive into a confident girl. We let her grow at her own pace, learn in ways that worked for her and we would listen to her. That way we knew she would grow up to understand her feelings, with the ability to express them and learn from them. She would grow into a woman ready to take on the world with her best foot forward, a woman who could rise from her mistakes and stand up for what she believes. But for now her life was happy and as fun as we could make it.
Today's excitement was because Natasha was taking her to her first ballet class. Ballet and gymnastics was such a key part of Nat's childhood that she wanted to see if her daughter would enjoy it. But we both agreed that if it wasn't for her we wouldn't force it, instead we would allow her to choose what path she would take.
"Come on!" Harriet called, rolling off of the bed slowly. Natasha cast a glance at me, we had been up late last night. I knew that she was tired, she had found it hard to go to sleep. Sometimes she still suffered from the effects of her youth and once in a while those emotions would flood back to her. I had talked with her and held her close until she dozed off.
"Mama!" Harriet called again, now waiting in the doorway.
"It's not until 11 pumpkin." Natasha sighed, getting up from the bed. I smiled, watching Nat carry Harriet out of the room. I laid there for a moment before heaving myself from the warm embrace of the bed.
I glanced in the mirror, I too had dark circles under my eyes but they weren't just from the lack of sleep. I had been thinking, a really dangerous game. The Avengers had basically split up and for the most part weren't talking. Steve was still with us, Bruce hadn't contacted us in a while as he was completely off doing some science work somewhere. In his retirement Tony had slowly cut himself more and more from us and it had been weeks since our last conversation. Rhodey had been posted somewhere else in the world, he was still keeping an eye out for Clint but there had been no news for months. Clint was smart, he soon realised that Rhodey was on his tracks so he obviously started covering them, or perhaps it would surprise us all and had settled down in hiding somewhere. Carol, and the others were still doing monthly calls to check in. Nat was leading them but they provided little news of anything particularly interesting.
I rubbed my eyes and headed to the kitchen to get breakfast ready. I poured Haz a bowl of cereal and made Nat eggs on toast. It was approaching 8 am and I expected Steve would be back from his daily run soon. He always went early in the morning, avoiding attention. I knew he liked that time alone to think in peace, the thought seemed welcoming.
Natasha came to the kitchen, Harriet resting on her hip. They were both still in their pajamas but Harriet's hair was far tidier than it had been when she woke us up. Nat put her down and she ran over to me to get her cereal. I handed it to her slowly and she grasped the bowl with her tiny fingers.
"Careful." I reminded her.
"Thank you." She smiled and wandered off to her little table and chair. We wanted her to be independent when she wished to be so we gave her her own table and chairs. She had the freedom to be alone when she wanted to be or with us if she needed us.
I sat down beside Nat at the table, our knees touched under the table and she used the hologram screen that protected from the table to check the news. Nothing exciting had happened. In fact life was dull. Neither of us had ever spent so much time doing nothing. Natasha found it especially hard, she was raised in such an intense environment that her brain sometimes struggled to just relax. I gave her a little nudge with my elbow. She smiled and swiped away the screen.
Once we had all finished our breakfast Steve returned home, he went straight for a showe whilst we washed up. Harriet had a stool that helped her to reach the sink and she helped me to wash up her plate and cup.
"Thank you." I said, kissing her forehead and helping her down from the stool. She gave my leg a hug before spinning off around the kitchen. She had been practicing her 'ballet moves' ever since Nat told her she had been booked in. It was at the studio that Natasha sometimes used to let off some steam.
The morning passed by quite quickly until it was time to get Harriet dressed and ready. We slipped her into her leotard and Natasha wrestled her hair into a bun and then gelled back her wispy baby hairs. Harriet was practically buzzing with excitement when we got into the car.
"Music please!" She asked from the back seat. We put on the CD and she immediately started to sing along. She actually had quite a sweet little voice. Natasha glanced at her in the rear view mirror and I saw her lips grow into a soft smile. I looked out the window and the trees passed by. We drove away from the compound and into the city, taking the familiar route past the pizza place and towards the studio. Nat began to hum along to the music as well. I loved moments like that where life just seemed so wonderful and easy.
We took Harriet inside. The instructor was friendly and welcomed the children with a wide smile.
"All parents are welcome to stay but there is no need if you have things to do. We have plenty of help if you'd like to leave." She turned to all of us. I could tell that people were trying to place where they recognised us and we took the decision to leave. Harriet had already started talking to a sweet little girl who looked as if she had equally as crazy hair as she did. We gave our daughter a little wave but she was in her element and didn't seem bothered as we slipped out of the studio.
"Shall we grab a coffee?" I suggested. Natasha nodded and we made sure the car was locked before heading off towards the busier streets. I knew there was a quaint little cafe around the corner. Natasha's fingers brushed past mine and then slowly slid between mine. We ambled down the street on the cloudy spring day. It was just cold enough to warrant a wooly jumper and welcome the warmth of a nice drink.
As we entered the café the little bell rang. There was a table for two in the corner which we claimed quickly. The café was packed with people. It was small but oddly cozy, the light was slightly dim and the furniture all a raw wood. There was a light smell of coffee that hung in the air as well as many plants that hung in baskets from the ceiling or sat in the center of the table. A girl who looked no older than sixteen came to take our order.
"A hot chocolate with all the added extras please and a black coffee. Oh and two flapjacks please." Natasha ordered. The girl nodded, scribbling it down on her notepad before hurrying back to the kitchen.
"I think Haz will enjoy it don't you?" I asked Nat.
"Well she seemed excited and she's already quite flexible. I forgot to tell you, she can almost do the splits."
"The splits? That's crazy. In my head she's still only a baby."
"Never mind. How are you? We never get much time alone anymore." Natasha held my gaze and smiled gently.
"I'm good." I nodded.
"100%?" She raised an eyebrow. "Only I haven't seen dark circles like that since post snap or when Haz had that period where she refused to sleep."
"No, I'm fine I've just been reminiscing, that's all." I lied.
"Mmm, if you're sure. I know you miss Wanda and Sam, and Tony, even Bruce and Thor. Things will go back to normal one day. I promise." She gave my hand a squeeze.
"I love you." I whispered.
"I love you more." She winked as the waitress returned with our drinks. Natasha smelt the rich coffee and sighed.
"What about you. How is my perfect wife?"
"I'm okay, just a bit tired. To be honest I've just been struggling keeping myself busy. I still don't like how we have nothing to do."
"Me neither but I guess Haz keeps us on our toes." I giggled.
"I don't know if it's easier now that she's walking and talking and acting more like a proper human being or if it was easier when she was completely useless."
"I'm starting to think that she was easier as a baby. She slept far more."
We spent the hour in the little café before wandering back to pick up Harriet. When we went in she was still talking to the little girl we had left her talking to.
"Is that your daughter?" A lady to our left asked. Natasha looked at the lady, she had mahogany skin and a kind expression.
"Yep, she's our daughter." Natasha replied with a smile.
"Is that your daughter?" I asked. She nodded.
"Yep, they seem to be getting on quite well. They haven't really spoken to anyone else." The lady explained. "I'm Jordan." She held out her hand.
"Natasha." Nat shook her hand.
"Y/n." I introduced myself after.
"Nice to meet you." She smiled.
The instructor called the class to an end and the children ran over to us. Harriet hugged Nataha's leg. She was giggling and bouncing around as she looked back at her new little friend.
"What's your friend called Harriet?" I crouched down to ask.
"Kiara." She smiled.
"Well have you girls had fun?" Jordan asked.
"Yes!" They shouted together.
"Thank you." I called to the instructor and we headed out to the car. Harriet and Kiara ran on in front. They dashed out the door but it had rained since they had gone inside and Harriet fell down the stairs. She sat up quite quickly but tears streamed down her face. Her tights were ripped and her knee was bleeding. Kiara paused and watched as we crouched down beside Haz. Natasha wiped away her tears gently whilst I looked at her knees. Harriet held up her hands which were also grazed. Harriet began to cry properly.
"Sh, sh, sh." Natasha whispered. "I know it stings." She kissed her forehead. Natasha picked her up. "You're my brave girl aren't you. It hurts but just remember that pain only makes us stronger."
Natasha kissed her forehead and we went back to the car. I sat in the back whilst Natasah drove us home, Haz waved her friend goodbye as I shut the door. Her tights were red with blood and her hands had began to bleed from the scrapes.
"It hurts mummy." She sniffed.
"I know baby but we'll be home really quick and then uncle Steve can make you those cool sandwiches for lunch whilst mama cleanses those grazes off." I told her. She nodded and held tightly onto my hand. We got home quickly and I carried her inside. I put her on the kitchen side and Nat rushed off to get the first aid. I pulled off her shoes and tights to fully show her bloody knees. They were quite badly grazed and the right knee had a proper cut. They seemed quite clean but it was hard to tell with the blood. It had run down her leg slightly but mostly had stopped now. Steve came out of the toilet and frowned.
"What happened?" He asked worriedly.
"I fell over." She began to cry again. I gave her a hug and she buried her head in my chest. Natasha came back in with the first air box, making a siren sound.
"Dr Mama will see you now." Steve teased. Harriet looked up. I moved to the side so that Nat could get to her.
"Now this will sting but I promise it will be quick, okay pumpkin." Nat began to wipe off her knees with alcohol wipes and more tears spilled out of her little green eyes. I kept an arm around her shoulder and kissed her head.
"Good job little one." Steve reassured her.
It didn't take long until Nat had cleaned her up and put plastered on all her scrapes. They weren't too bad, it just meant she'd be a bit sore for a day or two.
"But you did great in the ballet class I heard!" Steve said to her as he made her heart shaped jam sandwiches. They were her favourite snack at the moment. She nodded and quickly sprang back to being the happy girl she normally was.
"That's good then. And you made a new friend as well?"
"Yes, she's got crazy hair like mine!" Harriet giggled. "We're best friends!"
"That's brilliant!" Steve grinned. Nat was tidying away the first aid and I made us all a drink.
"You'll be a warrior princess in no time." I high fived Harriet, that was her current dream job. I thought it was quite fitting for a daughter of two Avengers.
Steve handed her her lunch and made a start on some for the rest of us. I sat down at the table and sighed. This was only the start of patching up knees and kissing injuries. We had many more years of falls and failures but we were all ready to help her back up every step of the way.