Time Bomb

Chapter 41

Once I had gotten dinner ready to serve, Bucky had also woke up. The 3 of us sat at the table and ate the spaghetti while we also chatted about old memories. I had asked about Steve but quickly found out that that's a touchy subject with these two. And I don't blame them.

"Alright, little Nat has been fed, bathed, and is now asleep in her crib." Dani said as she came down the hallway from the nursery.
"She didn't fuss this time?" Bucky asked her, coming from the kitchen with a drink in hand.
"Nope. But that may be because I used that lavender baby wash and the lotion on her." She said and took a spot on the couch, Bucky taking the spot next to her.
"Ahh, I wish we remembered we had it more often. Wouldn't probably help us get a little more of a break at night." He said and nudged her gently with his shoulder.
"Hey, Clint... thank you for today. I truly appreciate all your help." Dani said with a sweet smile on her face.
"Honestly, it was no problem at all. I'm happy to help. You're family, and family helps one another." I said and smiled in return.

We all sat in silence for awhile, watching the news on the tv trying to figure out how the world is still holding up after the fight with Thanos. Tons of replacement camps for those who got kicked out of their homes when those who got ashes returned. Small groups of people banding together to protest about it. Nothing Avengers worthy. Yet. There was also a small showcase of all the murals around different cities in different countries for Cap... the people miss having him around. Simply them knowing he was there for so long have them a sort of comfort. But now that he's gone and the world knows he's gone, there are a lot of people out there who are panicked now that Captain America isn't around to help if something really bad happens.

The weekend went by pretty smoothly, but now it is time for me to head back home to my own family. Getting to know little Nat over the last few days have been a completely joy and pleasure. I can't wait for her to get older so I can teach her the ways of using a bow and arrow. That's if Dani will let me.
"Have a safe flight and let me know when you get home? Tell Laura I said hi." Dani said as she stands with me outside by the jet.
"Of course. You guys should come visit us next time, Laura would love to see little Nat. Lila will have a hay day too to have a baby around." I said and hugged her tightly.
"I think we just might. Once we get Nat's health under control with her immune system, we'll definitely make our way over there." She smiled and pulled away from our hug.
"I love you, kiddo. Be safe and keep sending me those pictures and videos of my niece. I absolutely love them and don't think of you blow my phone up with them that I'll be mad. I won't." I kissed her forehead and made my way onto the jet as it roared to life.
"I love you too, Clint." I heard her say just barely over the sound of the engine as she made her way back to her house where Bucky stands waiting and holding little Nat close to his chest. I smiled and waved to them both as the hatch closed me into the jet and took off.

—Dani's POV—
Bucky, little Nat, and I made our way back inside after watching the jet take off to take Clint back home.
"Did you have fun this weekend, doll?" Bucky asked as he set Nat down in her swing and sat down on the couch next to me.
"I don't know if fun is the word I would use, but it was a really nice weekend with Clint. I didn't realize just how much I missed having him around." I said and leaned against him.
"I know you miss him. But soon enough, we'll be able to go see him and his family or we can have them come stay the weekend here. Once we get the okay from Nat's doctor that she's good to go, it'll be much easier." He said and wrapped an arm around me, squeezing me tightly to him.
"God, I can't wait to get that call in the next few months. All the tests she's gone through just doesn't seem fair for her." I said, feeling defeated.
"She's gonna be okay, love. You know that. She's already improved so much since her last appointment. Her next one coming up is in a week, we'll know more then on how she's doing. But I have complete faith that she's going to be just fine, babe." He said and kissed the top of my head. I know he's right but I can't help this feeling in my gut that I failed my child.
A short while later, I took Nat to her crib as she had fallen asleep in her swing. I made my way into mine and Bucky's room to get ready for a hot shower that I've been dying for all day.
I turned the water on and waited for it to hes tip while I undressed. Standing in front of the mirror, I stare at myself. Scars from battles since I first started fighting with the Avengers. My hair messy from being up all day now cascading down my body to just below where my breasts rest. I ran a brush through my hair and turned away from the mirror, catching a glimpse of Bucky standing in the doorway watching me curiously.
"You okay?" He asks as he begins to strip his own clothing.
"Yeah, just didn't realize how many scars I had from fighting over the years. I thought that when I had my powers, I didn't scar. But I guess I never really paid attention. I've never been one to stare at myself so I never noticed that just because I healed quickly, doesn't mean I wouldn't have scars. Like this one? Where the hell did I get it?" I said and lifted my arm to reveal a scar that looks like I had been slammed into a curved structure. Bucky kneeled down to get a better look at it, tracing it with his fingers.
"This was from your fight with Thanos. Remember? He tossed you around a few times and at one point before that time I caught you, you slammed into a half circle shaped piece of the broken compound. No one mentioned it because you didn't even notice you were injured. You got right back up and went straight back to fighting." He said and stood back up, removing his boxes from his body as we both got in the shower.
"I try not to remember any of the fights I've been in. It's not something I want Nat to grow up thinking she has to be a part of. I want her to make her own decisions when it comes to being an Avenger. If she chooses not to be a part of it, I want her to believe and know that she can make that choice. She doesn't have to follow in our footsteps for that sort of thing." I said as I turned my back to the water and let it run through my hair.
"No, I understand. I want the same thing for her. She shouldn't grow up in a world where she's always fighting. I want her trained for it just in case, but if she chooses not to fight, then we will support her fully in that choice." He said as he turned me around and massaged shampoo into my hair.
Showering together has become a part of our routine just so it takes less time. Being parents and always having to be up every few hours, leave sis with not a lot of time to ourselves. So we opted to start taking showers together almost always just so we can have some alone time while Nat sleeps. Time where we aren't cleaning the house or sleeping. Even just the short time in the shower has helped us to still feel connected while I've read tons of articles about parents that drift apart for awhile after having a baby. This is our way of not letting that happen.