Make It To Me (Chris Evans AU Fic)

The Kitten

The Evans home was fairly quiet on the chilly Fall evening as the sun had almost finished setting and cold Seattle air blew in. Chris had left to pick up Jack and Logan from baseball practice, Sophie colored on the floor in the living room and Nina folded laundry at the table while helping Ryan with his homework.

"I hate multiplication tables. They're the worst," Ryan huffed while putting his little hands on his cheeks after dropping his pencil on the table in frustration. "I'm just dumb."

"Ryan, you are not dumb and I don't want to ever hear you say that again," Nina firmy said before she stroked his hair and pressed a sweet kiss to his forehead. "You'll get it, I know you will. Besides, I'm here to help you."

Ryan leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his blue eyes before telling her, "I asked Dad for help yesterday but he told me I had to ask you 'cause he said you're the smart one."

Nina couldn't help but tip her head back and laugh as she replied, "That's not true, daddy is very smart. School just wasn't really the best way for him to learn and that's okay... do you think daddy is dumb?"

"No," Ryan shook his head, voicing his opinion of his father that he looked up to and admired so much.

"See, he's not dumb and he didn't do the best in school. But he's kind, brave, loving, loyal, and fun and all of those things are really important. I think they're more important than being smart," Nina encouraged him while pulling Ryan onto her lap so she could kiss his cheek. "And lucky for you, you're all of those things and you're smart. Just like your daddy."

Ryan couldn't help but giggle as his mother squeezed him and kissed all over his little face. She tickled his sides and had him wiggling and shouting with laughter that ended in both of them cracking up while he wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged his adoring mother tightly and kissed her.

"I love you Mommy," He told her, making Nina's heart melt.

She squeezed his tight and snuggled her face against his while she told him, "I love you too honey. Why don't you take a little break for a while and then come back to your homework."

He nodded, happy to get a break and ran off to the living room to plop down by his sister. Nina had just finished folding the laundry when Sophie and Ryan came over to the table with Sarge next to them and Sophie petted his head while informing Nina, "Momma, Sargey needs to go potty. He was doing his whiney thing."

"Okay, we'll let him out," She said while getting up to open the door.

"Can we go out with him?" Ryan wondered while Sophie nodded her head in agreement.

Nina thought about it for a moment and told them they could as long as they put their coats on since the evening air had become cold. The kids obeyed and took Sarge out to the backyard after Nina turned the porch lights on. She kept an eye on them through the window but was confused when a little bit later, she heard Sarge barking and then saw him come through the door before the kids.

He came over and nudged his nose against her leg to get her attention before going back to the door to lead her. Nina followed and called out into the dim backyard, "Sophie! Ryan! Where are you guys?"

A moment later she saw Sophie's soft brown waves bouncing as she ran up to the house with Ryan right behind her. They both were calling out for her and were talking over one another trying to tell her something but she couldn't figure out what the big fuss was until the two were right in front of her and she found a tiny kitten in Ryan's arms.

"Mommy, mommy, we found the kitty out in the backyard!" Sophie's eyes were wide.

"Yeah he was in the bushes over there and was all by himself," Ryan informed his mother.

Nina kneeled down and gently looked at the small kitten in Ryan's arms. It was tiny and grey with bright green eyes that looked up at her with so much confusion. The little kitten opened its mouth to let out a tiny mew, making the kids 'awww' and then quickly ask their mother if they could keep it.

"I don't know, we need to see if it's mom is around. You two stay in here with the kitten and keep it in the kitchen. I'll go out with Sarge and look for it's mom," Nina said while pulling her jacket on.

Nina grabbed a flashlight and took Sarge outside and searched for the mother but found no sign of any cat around. After she had searched in vain, she went back inside, letting Sarge in first before closing the door behind them.

A warm smile crossed Nina's face when she saw the two kids sitting on the floor while the kitten bounced between them, happily chasing the string they were putting in front of it. Their giggles filled the air and Nina swore her heart melted when Sarge trotted over to sniff the kitten and let it pounce on him, only making the kids laugh even more.

"Did you find it's mommy?" Sophie asked.

"No, I didn't," Nina said while grabbing a soft blanket and coming to sit by the kids on the floor.

The kitten wandered over to Nina and she gently scooped it up and wrapped it in the warm blanket before lovingly holding it in her arms while she stroked it's soft fur to help calm the poor kitten down. Sophie laid her head on Sarge, wrapping her arms around his neck while Ryan came over to look at the kitten and asked, "Can we keep the kitty, mom?"

"I don't know honey... " She trailed off. "We need to talk to daddy first and see what he thinks."

As if on cue, the sound of the front door opening echoed in the house and soon Nina saw her two eldest sons standing in the kitchen in their baseball uniforms while they simultaneously shouted, "A KITTEN!" And raced over to peer into Nina's arms to see the tiny cat.

The moment Chris' hunky frame made an appearance, Sophie and Ryan were at his feet explaining what had happened and begged him to let them keep the cat. Once he heard the entire story, he gathered up all the kids and told them to go up and change into their pajamas, leaving him alone in the kitchen with his wife, Sarge and the little kitten.

Chris walked over and sat down on the floor by Nina, looking at the little cat in her arms and chuckled, "So do we have a new pet now?"

"I told the kids we have to ask you first," Nina said without taking her eyes off the cat.

Chris felt like their home was full enough as it is with four kids and a dog but when he saw his precious loving wife cradling that tiny kitten, he just asked, "You really want to keep it, don't you?"

Nina nodded softly while she held the sleepy kitten close to her chest and tears formed in her eyes before she rambled, "Chris, it's just so sad! This poor little kitten was out there all by himself and it was so cold out and I couldn't find it's mom. He was probably so scared and I just can't imagine anyone abandoning this poor little animal and now he doesn't have a family."

"Well he does now," Chris smiled while he wrapped one of his muscular arms around her slender shoulders.

Realizing Chris was saying yes to keeping it, Nina's face lit up and she asked, "Really?"

He leaned in to kiss her sweetly, "Of course, baby. If you want him, then we're keeping him."

Nina squealed and pressed little kisses all over Chris' stubbled face before she gently lifted the kitten up to hand him to Chris. The hunky man would absolutely say he was a dog person and he wouldn't change his bond with Sarge for anything, but he had to admit the little kitten was pretty cute. What he thought was cute though was the way Nina cooed over it and told Chris how adorable it was.

She was hands down the most loving and caring person that Chris had ever met. That quality is what made him fall so hard for her and over the years, he got the opportunity to see and feel the tender way she loved him, their children and Sarge. Whenever there was a new person or animal to love, like the kitten, it just fully displayed her compassion to him and made Chris all starry eyed over her all over again.