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.
"So," Yelena grins as she pulls off her coat and hangs it up, "do you have the vodka?" Her gaze flickers around the room, pausing for a just second on a pacifier Natasha had accidentally left on the coffee table. She raises an eyebrow in silent question before her eyes once again focuses on her sister, and Natasha pretends to be oblivious.
Not now. She wasn't ready.
"Of course." Natasha wasn't about to drink with you here, but there was no harm in Yelena doing so as long as she didn't go too crazy.
The sisters spend about half an hour catching one another up on their lives, Natasha purposely ignoring the giant elephant in the room that her sister was not so subtlety hinting at each time it was her turn to talk. Unfortunately, the inevitable happens, and Natasha wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
"So," Yelena trials off, "you have a kid I don't know about?" She attempts to tease, but her efforts were a little strained. It was clear to see she was confused.
Natasha shifts uncomfortably, "Sort of..?"
"Wait, really?" Yelena seems absolutely baffled now. And Natasha doesn't blame her. "How? I thought the red-"
It was Natasha's turn to cut her off. That was not a conversation she wanted to have today. "They have. They did. That hasn't changed. It's not like that. She's not...she's not actually a baby. Not really." She attempts to explain.
"Huh?" Yelena was staring at her like she had three heads. "What are you saying?"
Natasha sighs as she brings a foot up to rest on the chair, hugging her leg to her chest. "I'm saying that she's eighteen. But, her past, lena, it's...she's traumatised, and she regresses to a younger age to cope. She's just...a baby."
"A...baby?"
"Yeah. Believe me, it took me a while to get used to the idea of looking after someone who has to depend on me for absolutely everything, but...but it really does feel like she's my kid."
The look on her sisters face was undecipherable, and Natasha feels her heart begin to pound in her chest. But before Natasha could even begin to speak again, a soft breath of a whisper fills her ears. Yelena seems to hear it too, and simultaneously, two heads turn to face you.
You were stood in the doorway of the kitchen adorned in nothing but one of her oversized hoodies that drowns your small frame. You were anxiously fisting clutching the sleeves to your chest, and Natasha brings both feet back to the floor before holding open her arms. You don't hesitate to step forward and fall into them, allowing Natasha to lift you so you were sat astride her lap. You burrow your face into her neck, hands clinging to the material of her shirt. It was obvious to Natasha that you weren't as little as you normally were, but you definitely weren't big either.
Natasha could feel Yelena's eyes on her, and she allows herself a small moment to cuddle you and take in your scent before lifting her own eyes to face her. Despite her absolute adoration for her sister, Natasha would not hesitate to give her a piece of her mind should she insult you. But, as she looks up, she was surprised to see that there was no look of disgust on Yelena's face. There was, instead, a small smile.
"She is...small." Was all Yelena could bring herself to say, and Natasha snorts slightly in amusement as she continues to rock you in her arms. You weren't asleep. Not by any means and she knew this by the constant fluttering of your eyelashes against her neck. But the action was repetitive and constant, alleviating some of her anxiety.
"She is." Natasha nods in agreement. "Would you...do you want to hold her?" She asks somewhat hopefully. She didn't want to force this onto Yelena by any means, but it would be nice to have somewhat of a support system when things became a little overwhelming.
By now, it was clear to see you were back to being tiny if the way you were suckling on the material of her shirt was anything to go by. Your chin was also soaked with drool, and surprising herself, Natasha finds her hand instinctively lifting her hand to wipe it away.
Yelena's eyes meet her own for a second, nose scrunched go in slight disgust. She does, however, nod her head and hesitantly holds out her arms. "If she will let me."
Natasha smiles as she rises to her feet, "She will. She's pretty clingy, but so long as she can still see me she should be okay." She lowers you down onto Yelena's lap, her sisters arms wrapping somewhat awkwardly around your midsection. Natasha adjusts her hold slightly before sitting back down opposite, and you gurgle and happily kick your legs when your mama comes into view again.
Yelena wrinkles her nose slightly as she stares down at you. Your head was limp against her shoulder, and Natasha watches in amusement as her sister seems to capture your complete attention. You looked as though you were in awe, and you giggle happy when Yelena's hand playfully pokes your side. In return, you bring a clumsy hand up to poke at her lips, and Yelena playfully pretends to bite them. This has you laughing even more, and Natasha doesn't think her heart had ever felt so full.
Her grin widens when Yelena begins speaking to you.
"Yes. I'm your auntie lena. I'm your...." She glances at Natasha for a second, and the red head raises an eyebrow as if to say yes? Yelena simply smirks before looking back down at you. By now, you were basically cradled in her arms, her hand beneath your neck keeping it supported like you were an actual newborn. Natasha doesn't have the heart to tell her you were perfectly capable of holding your own head up. Besides, you seemed to be in absolute heaven as you tangle your tiny hands in her shirt.
"I'm your mama's younger, much cooler sister." She coos as she playfully pokes your nose, and you gurgle happily as you attempt to take her finger and put it into her mouth.
Natasha rolls her eyes as she rises to her feet before grabbing a bottle from the refrigerator and placing it into the microwave to heat it up. With your current attempt at trying to eat Yelena's finger along with the fact you had been suckling on air for the last five minutes, it was obvious you were hungry.
Thirty second later, she was grabbing her sisters free hand and placing the bottle into it. Yelena looks up at her, eyebrow furrowed in confusion. "Well, as my younger, much cooler sister, you wouldn't mind feeding the baby her bottle whilst I shower, right? Don't forget to burp her once your done." She calls over her shoulder as she leaves the room.
You whine and wriggle in Yelena's arms at the sight of your bottle, and the blonde looks away from glaring at her sisters back and awkwardly places the bottle into your mouth. You suckle hungrily, your hand clinging to two of her fingers.
"сука." She mutters.
**
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