Trapped in her own Web

A Single Spark

It had been a couple of weeks since the last mission and Bucky and Natasha were taking full advantage of it being a quite day in the facility. Natasha was laying on the couch with her head in Barnes's lap reading a book. Bucky was playing with her hair, twisting it into braids and then threading them together to form some sort of crown. He huffed gently when she squiggled around to get comfy and she laughed as he tugged her hair. The silence was nice and peaceful and neither felt the urge to break it.

True to her word, Natasha had told Clint everything. That's why it didn't come as a surprise to him when he walked in and found the couple being all couple-ey. He shoved her legs off the couch and sat down. She glared up at him in annoyance and he just shrugged. So she went and sat on his lap. Now Bucky wasn't having any of that and pulled her across to him. She jabbed him painfully in the ribs but settled down.

"Sorry to ask you Nat but Laura and the kids are in town. I kind of want to make it up to Laura for not being there so could you...?"
"Of course Clint."
"Thanks, the kids will love spending time with aunt Nat." Bucky raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything. "Oh and Tony says the other kid will be hanging round here today so I guess you're on double babysitting duty."
"Barton!" She made to get up but he was already up and out the door.

A few minutes later giggling could be heard. The doors burst open and in came three kids. The older one, the boy, was carrying a baby. "Auntie Nat!" The little girl squealed with joy before launching herself at the red head who only just had time to brace herself as they both went flying backwards into the settee.
"Hey Lila," she hugged the over excited girl and then leant forward and took baby Nathaniel off of Cooper and bounced him gently. Bucky was looking slightly alarmed and she laughed at him.

"Guys you remember daddy telling you about cousin Steve," they nodded. "Well this is his friend, cousin Bucky ok? You behave for him like you would for all your other cousins ok?" They nodded again but got distracted by Peter walking in.
"Oh hey miss Rushman, Tony said I had to come spend the day here."
"It's Romanoff Peter. Lila, Cooper, this is Peter ok. Pete, this is Lila, Cooper and Nathaniel Barton. Clint's kids." He nodded confused. "Now shoo, go play." The kids scrambled off and Lila grabbed Peters hand and dragged him with them. Natasha just chuckled.

"Auntie huh? How come we're all cousins?"
"Cos you're not as important as me." She laughed as he shook his head. She offered him Nathaniel. "This is Nathaniel Pietro Barton, go on, hold the little traitor." He raised his eyebrow at the nickname but shook his head.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Natasha rolled her eyes and dumped the baby in his arms. He gently held the boy like he was a delicate glass structure, worry was written all over his face. Natasha smile softly and moved his arms so the baby fit more comfortably. James held him close to his body and gently rocked him.

Natasha left and found the others playing around in the other lounge. Peter and Cooper were building a train set together and Lila was scribbling furiously on a piece of paper. Natasha went and sat down next to her. The picture was of two boys, who she identified as Peter and Cooper, with lots of arrows sticking out of them and making them look like pin cushions. The little girl was scribbling red lines to show blood and then went and drew little knives stabbing them.
"Oh dear, what did they do?"
"They won't let me play with them. They say it's not for girls."
"Well they're right." Lila looked at Natasha in confusion. "Why do you want to hang out with boys, they all stink. Plus girls are so much cooler than them, we would get bored by their stupidness." Lila giggled. "It's not their fault that they're idiots, now what about we draw something nicer hmm?" Lila nodded and grabbed another sheet of paper.

Natasha's attention was diverted when she heard a crash and she spun round to see the two boys swinging in the air using Peters webs to hang off. "PETER PARKER, COOPER BARTON GET YOUR BUTTS DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW." Both boys dropped to the floor and looked guiltily at their feet.
"What were you thinking? Never mind, you weren't. Peter you are 15 for crying out loud and are attending a top science school, I know you have brains so use them! Cooper ... never mind I've known your father long enough. Don't do it again understood." They both nodded.
"Sorry miss Romanoff."
"Sorry auntie Nat." Then went back to the train set grumbling and thinking up new ideas.