Later that day, Nat had managed to retain her dignity, joining Steve and the Barton's out in the back garden. Cooper and Nate were playing football, using two oak trees as goalposts, Cooper teaching Nate how to kick a proper goal and lifting him up on his shoulders when he succeeded. Laura watched nervously as Lila practised her archery skills over by the games shed, pulling back the arrow and letting it fly at the target, missing the bullseye by about an inch or two. Steve and Clint were preparing the outdoor grill for the evening's festivities, whilst Laura reassured Nat that everything that was happening to her body was completely normal. "Mum, auntie Nat, look! I hit the bullseye!" Lila cried, running over to them with her bow in one hand, and her quiver of arrows over her shoulder.
"Good job, little Hawkeye, now try and get three more!" Clint congratulated from the grill, as he and Steve piled burger patties onto a plate. Nat hugged her, squeezing her tight, pride filling her heart, and this wasn't even her own child.
"Excellent, sweetheart. I'm just going in to grab a book for auntie Nat, ok? Don't shoot that thing near your brothers." She warned, stroking her daughters brown hair.
"I won't, mum. Love you!" She promised, as she ran back towards her spot.
"Love you too!" Laura called as she entered the house.

Nat looked over at her family from her deckchair, a grin forming across her face. It was peaceful here: you could hear the birds chirping in the trees, you could hear her niece and nephews laughing and playing, you could hear the father and father-to-be discussing something to do with the avengers. Laura returned to her chair, book in hand, and placed it in Nat's. "There," She said, "This is from when I was expecting Cooper, and I found it really handy with any worries I had." Before Nat had the chance to thank her, Lila called over,
"Mum, why are you showing auntie Nat your pregnancy book?" Nat glanced over at Laura, then at Clint, and then finally Steve. She swallowed.
"Kids, you may want to come over here. I've got something important I need to tell you." The kids came swarming over, staring at her earnestly. She swallowed again. "I don't know if you have fully noticed, but I haven't been feeling my best lately." They nodded. "Well, that's because I'm going to have a baby." They all screamed with excitement, deafening the poor women, and all leapt onto Nat, nearly knocking her chair over.
"Hey, hey, kids! Take it easy!" Clint shouted from the grill as he made his way over to pull them off of her.
"Clint it's fine!" Nat laughed, finally feeling positive after the long few months.

"Who wants burgers?" Steve called, holding a plate the size of a mountain. Cooper and Nate raced each other there, Cooper letting Nate win on his mother's orders. Steve held the plate high above the boys' heads, as he herded them over to the nearby picnic table. Nat and Laura got up from their chairs and walked over, Laura calling Lila to put down her bow and come and have dinner. Cooper and Nate threw themselves at the bench, grabbed a burger in each hand and began to devour them, causing Lila to burst out laughing. Laura just sighed and shook her head, unable to suppress the smile that was ebbed on her face. Natasha grabbed a burger and took a bite. For once her nausea didn't kick in, allowing her to enjoy the meaty treat.

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It gradually got darker, and they had all huddled around a fire pit, Nat on Steve's lap, cuddling under a blanket. Laura and Clint were under another blanket, chairs propped close together so that the arms were on top of each other. Cooper, Lila, and Nate were all huddled under a third on the grassy floor, fast asleep, Nate snoring softly.

Nat had her head nestled in the crook of Rogers' neck, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing. Their fingers were interlocked, his thumb stroking her knuckle, feeling her soft skin under his slightly rough fingers. He leant his head on top of hers, inhaling her warm, flowery scent. Despite being as deadly as she was, he couldn't help but feel safe in her presence as he held her tightly. Her breath was a soothing reminder that throughout all of what they have gone through, they still had one another. "I'm going to bed." Nat said, rubbing eyes with her free hand.
"Ok, do you want me to go with you?" Steve asked, stroking her head.
"You can if you want to."
"I think we should all go in." Clint murmured, gesturing at the sleeping children beside them. They each got up, Laura picking up Nate, Clint picked up Lila, and Steve carried Cooper into the house, with Nat leading them after extinguishing the flames. She yawned, and stretched her arms up, carrying the blankets with her.