Never Letting Go (Steve Rogers x Natasha Romanoff)

Chapter 10 - Projects

-May, 2017-

"So you've been good then?" Steve said into his phone as he walked across the living room. Natasha watched him contentedly as he mouthed "Bucky" to her. "Really? Wow, well that's good news." Steve paced the front hallway as he talked. Natasha thought it was cute that he couldn't sit still while he was on the phone. "For how long?" Steve peeked around the corner to smile at her with wild, crazy eyes and he gave her a thumbs up. "That's great news, I was hoping you'd say that. Do you think you'll be here through July? Nat wants to have a 4th of July party... NOOOO, it's not a birthday party... yeah, I know but it's not. No one needs to celebrate my birthday." Steve laughed and she could hear the genuine happiness in his voice. Sounds like Bucky's coming for a visit, she thought.

There was a knock at the front door and Natasha got up to answer it, carefully puffing out her t-shirt first as she felt like she was starting to show... although Steve had assured her she wasn't showing yet. She opened the door to find Clint smiling at her, toolbox in one hand and a six pack in the other. "Hey, pal," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on in, buddy," she smiled and wrapped an arm around him. "I didn't know you were coming over today."

"Yeah, Steve said he needed some help with the kitchen. How's it coming along?" Clint said and the two of them walked to the kitchen doorway, past Steve who waved at Clint while still on the phone with Bucky.

"Well, the paint looks good," she said with a little sarcasm.

"After today, it will look a lot better," Clint said, patting her shoulder. "The cabinets make a big difference."

"Thanks for the help," she smiled. Just then Steve joined them, shaking Clint's hand and wrapping an arm around Natasha.

"Hey, there's the mutt!" Clint exclaimed as Meg came running into the room. "What'd you name her again?"

"Meg," Steve said.

"You named a dog Megan?" Clint laughed.

"No, her name is Megara, like from Greek mythology," Natasha corrected.

"Ohh, I like that," Clint said and then promptly handed Steve a beer. He began taking one out to hand to Natasha and she started to panic wondering how she could turn him down for a beer and not leave him wondering if she was pregnant. I don't think I've ever turned down a beer from Clint...

"No, I'm good... it's 11:00 in the morning, Clint," she said, thinking on her toes.

"Clint, I'll be right back," Steve said and motioned for Nat to come with him. "I just have to talk to you before I forget," he said to Natasha as they walked away. They walked upstairs to the bedroom to talk quietly. "Hey, you should just tell him," Steve said to her, giving her a grin. "It's okay to tell now, right?"

"Yeah... technically I'm into my second trimester and... I guess it would be okay. Did you tell Bucky?" she asked.

"Oh, no. I really wanted to. But I'd rather be able to see his face when I tell him," Steve said. "So, I actually wanted to tell you this before I forget - Bucky's coming home for a visit in June. He'll be here through my birthday." Steve's face looked pretty excited.

"Aww, Steve, that's great!" she said, she was so happy for him. "Does that mean T'Challa is coming too?"

"Well... no... apparently T'Challa feels confident with Bucky traveling alone. I was pretty surprised but it's great because that means Buck can stay here. I just have to fix up that other room first."

"Another project," Natasha said, dryly.

"Quick one, I promise," he said, giving her a peck on the mouth. "We're going to be tying up the biggest part of the kitchen today and then I can install the countertop and sink later this week. I promise, babe, it's almost done. I know you're getting tired of the house being like this."

"It's okay," she sighed. "I understand why it's easier to do it now than when the baby is here."

Steve gave her a warm smile followed by another kiss. "You're the best." He started back out to the hallway to go downstairs with Clint but Natasha stopped him.

"Steve, don't say anything to Clint... I want to but... maybe we should tell everyone together. Why don't we wait for your birthday party? - You know, your 99th birthday party?" she winked.

Steve smiled and shook his head. "You are such a turd, babe. But okay, that sounds like a plan."

-June, 2017-

"I'm definitely starting to show," Natasha said, examining herself from the side in the long mirror in their upstairs hallway.

"Baby, you are barely showing at all," he called back to her from the baby's new room.

She walked towards his voice, Meg following her like a shadow. "It's okay, Steve, I'm not upset about it... I mean, my body's going to change." She watched him smile as he brushed paint onto the wall carefully.

Natasha started to step into the room. Steve spoke up sweetly, "Babe, please don't let Meg in here, I don't want the mural smeared... or to have to clean up a paint covered puppy."

"Okay, Meg, you stay here," Natasha said as Meg sat down. Natasha closed the door behind her. The room echoed more now because of the emptiness and the door being shut. "Steve, this is so great, I love it," she gushed, looking at what he'd done and watching him paint seagrass at the bottom of the mural.

"It's almost done," he said, looking up at her from the floor.

"You're really powering through everything. You got the kitchen done, the guest room's done... I didn't expect you to get the baby's room this far so quickly," she said and she stepped behind him and leaned down for a kiss. Steve set his paintbrush down without even pulling away from her and he reached up to hold her face as he kissed her more deeply. Natasha crouched down to get closer, kneeling on the floor and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She leaned her head against his. "I just want everything to be perfect for you," he said.

"You're so good to me," she smiled.

"And you are distracting me," he said, turning his face towards her to get closer and grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm sorry, I —"

"No, it's a good distraction," he said and he held her face again to continue kissing her. Steve put his arms around her and moved her onto his lap as he continued exploring her mouth. He rolled backwards with her on top of him and then he rolled her onto her side.

They laid on the hard floor looking at each other

Steve let out a light laugh, "This floor's pretty hard... I was trying to be spontaneous but why don't we take this somewhere more comfortable?" He jumped up to his feet and helped her up. Steve didn't let go of her hand as he started walking towards the bedroom.

"So you're still attracted to me?" she giggled.

Steve turned to raise an eyebrow at her. "Try and keep me away."