🫧baby bubble🫧

You  giggled  loudly.

“How  about  close  enough  to  hear  the  waves,”  he  suggested,  “but  far  enough  away  that  your  juice  boxes  don't  get  swept  away?”

That  sounded  acceptable.

Ross  held  out  his  hand,  and  you  took  it  eagerly  while  he  led  you  across  the  warm  sand.  He  spread  the  blanket  out  with  exaggerated  seriousness  before  handing  you  one  corner  to  help.

“Awesome  job,”  he  praised.  “You're  the  best  helper  on  the  beach.”

Your  cheeks  warmed  instantly.

Not  long  after,  Ross  helped  you  pat  down  towers  while  you  carefully  placed  shells  along  the  sides  like  decorations.

“Whoa,”  Ross  said  dramatically,  staring  at  the  finished  castle.  “This  might  actually  be  royalty-level  architecture!”

You  puffed  up  proudly.  “It’s  a  kingdom.”

“A  kingdom?”  he  echoed.  “Then  we  definitely  need  guards!”

Before  you  could  ask  what  he  meant,  a  familiar  voice  called  out  from  behind  you.

“Well,  good  thing  we  showed  up!”

You  spun  around  to  see  Riker  and  Rocky  jogging  down  the  beach  carrying  surfboards  while  Rydel  and  Ellington  followed  behind  them  with  huge  smiles.

“Hi,  boys!  How’s  it  going?”  Rydel  asked  as  she  crouched  down  beside  you.

You  immediately  gave  her  a  big  hug  and  launched  into  an  excited  explanation  about  your  castle,  your  shell  collection,  and  how  Ross  almost  put  the  blanket  in  the  ocean.

Ross  pointed  at  you  accusingly, trying his hardest not to laugh.  “That  is  not  how  it  happened.”

Riker  laughed  and  held  up  his  hand  for  a  fist  bump.  “Sounds  awesome  to  me.”

After  a  while,  Rocky  and  Riker  headed  into  the  waves  to  surf  while  the  rest  of  you  stayed  closer  to  shore.  Ross  sat  beside  you  at  the  edge  of  the  water,  letting  the  foam  rush  over  your  feet  before  pulling  back  again.

“You  wanna  go  in  deeper?”  he  asked  with  a  playful  smirk.

You  nodded  instantly.

Ross  picked  up  both  surfboards  with  ease  and  led  you  carefully  into  the  shallows.  He  steadied  the  board  while  you  climbed  on  top,  hands  gripping  the  sides  tightly  as  he  paddled  forward.

The  salty  breeze  filled  the  air  while  waves  rocked  the  board  gently  beneath  you.  You  squealed  when  Ross  splashed  water  toward  you,  immediately  splashing  him  back.

“Oh,  it’s  on  now,”  he  declared  dramatically.

Rydel  laughed  from  nearby  while  Ellington  pretended  to  act  as  a  referee.

“No  splashing  the  tiny  surfer!”  he  called.

“Too  late!”  Ross  answered.

Soon  everyone  drifted  back  together  near  the  shore,  tired  and  smiling  from  hours  in  the  sun.  As  evening  settled  in,  the  group  wandered  along  the  boardwalk  with  ice  cream  cones  in  hand  and  sand  still  clinging  to  everyone’s  feet.

You  walked  between  Ross  and  Rydel,  swinging  their  hands  while  the  sky  slowly  darkened  overhead.

Then  Ross  suddenly  stopped  walking.

“Guys,”  he  said,  pointing  ahead  excitedly,  “look!  A  plane!”

Far  above  the  ocean,  a  plane  crossed  the  sunset  sky  with  its  lights  blinking  faintly  against  the  clouds.

You  tugged  on  Ross’s  sleeve  immediately  before  raising  your  arms  toward  him.

He  smiled  knowingly  and  crouched  down.

“Need  a  better  view?”

You  nodded.

Ross  lifted  you  carefully  onto  his  shoulders,  steadying  your  legs  while  you  pointed  excitedly  at  the  sky.

“There  it  is!”  he  said.  “Right  there.”

From  up  high,  the  whole  beach  stretched  out  before  you-  glowing  lights  from  the  boardwalk,  crashing  waves  below,  and  your  friends  laughing  nearby  as  the  cool  evening  breeze  rolled  in.

As  Ross  carried  you  down  the  boardwalk  on  his  shoulders  while  everyone  playfully  argued  over  what  snacks  to  get  next,  you  decided  this  had  easily  been  the  best  beach  day  ever.

EXTRA:

some pictures of these goobers at the beach, i love them sm 🥹

Everyone was getting ready for a mission, including myself, well everyone except for y/n. He had been given some time off for a few weeks, I tried asking Maria what was going on but she said it was just for a "mental break."

Of course I understood the need for breaks in a job like this, its a lot of pressure and you're practically guaranteed to lose at some point, and when something bad happens... it weighs on you.

I had gotten close to y/n recently after a mission, we didn't really get along that well before that. He was really closed off at first, especially with me, I couldn't help but take it personally but then we eventually started talking and things worked out with us.

I couldn't help but worry about y/n being alone whilst we were on this mission. He'd been getting really upset recently, I really wanted to know what was happening with him. I wanted to be there for him but it's hard to help someone when your miles away trying to save the earth at the same time.

"Hey, Agent Romanoff good to see you." Maria welcomed, I smiled and greeted her back. She told me to follow her and i hissed when she slapped my side. "Go home Natasha."

I straightened myself out and shook my head. "The team need me." Maria sighed turning around. "They need you healthy Natasha, you're hurt go home. The team already left for the mission. I'm just proving my point to Fury at how stubborn you are."

I huffed all the way home about not being able to go on the mission. Sure Maria was kind of right but she did get on my nerves sometimes.

I parked my car and walked inside the tower. "Hey y/n?" I called out after hearing his footsteps, when our eyes met we both froze.

Y/N POV

I woke up this morning to being told there was a new mission, and that everyone was about to leave. I couldn't help but be relieved, the whole tower to myself. I could be little without anyone noticing. I didn't have to hide it today.

I got some breakfast, my favourite of course, then somehow avoided Natasha's attempt at talking to me.

I loved Natasha a lot but there was always something about her that made me want to be in my little headspace. That's why when I first met her I was more than a little distant.

"Okay kid, don't trash anything we will be back soon." Tony said from outside my bedroom door a mumbled some thing incoherent as a response, he seemed to accept this though as he left me alone after that.

Once I knew the tower was empty I got changed into my favourite onesie and grabbed my stuffed animals and a bottle. I got my stuffies comfortable on the couch before settling down in front of the television with them. "hm what you wan watch?" I asked looking at my stuffies for help, I saw my favourite show pop up on the screen so clicked play.

Two hours of tv later I was getting thirsty, I noticed the empty bottle next to me so I went to the kitchen to make a drink. Everything was going fine until i went to pull the juice carton away from the bottle but it got stuck on the rim and knocked it over. A sudden wave of juice flooded the counter and soaked my pyjamas.

I let out a whine of frustration and devastation as I looked at the huge mess. I hated the feeling of the soggy clothes against my skin so I pulled it off, tears threatening to spill out. I stepped out, leaving the onesie in a puddle of juice.

I went to go grab another onesie from my room, slightly cold from standing there wearing nothing but a diaper. I only took a few steps when I heard a voice behind me, I turned to see Natasha looking at me in complete shock.

I couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears. Natasha snapped out of it and came towards me. "No no buddy, don't cry it's okay." I still didn't calm down, backing away from her. "Okay..." She looked around for a minute before grabbing one of my stuffies. "Hey why don't you give your teddy some hugs and take some breaths for me." She offered me the stuffed animal which I accepted, burying my face in it.

"Woah. What happened in here little guy?" Natasha asked I assumed she saw the mess which only made me more upset. Now I was going to be in trouble. "Sowwy." I mumbled behind the fur, she grabbed some paper towels from the side and cleaned up the mess.

"That's better, I'm guessing this is yours?" She held up my dripping pyjamas. I shook my head, she didn't seem to believe me but she nodded anyway. "Why didn't you tell me you are a little?" She asked before turning to leave. "Come on, let's go clean this and get you changed before you freeze."

I hesitated, I was getting cold, I think I may have been shivering but I was still not sure about her knowing my secret. She held out her hand but I shook my head.

"Scawed." I don't know how she heard me whisper but she stopped for a minute and smiled sympathetically. "What's scaring you bud?" I slightly lowered the bear. "is dark." I said pointing down the corridor. "an you see me little."

"Don't be scared, I'm right here with you." Nat walked down the corridor and turned on all the lights, "and you can hold my hand if you want. You don't have to be scared about that either, I don't mind that you are a little. I just want to help you, can we go get you in some warmer clothes?"

I nodded taking her hand. "So what's your stuffies name?" All the way to my room and back she asked me questions about all my favourite things and she actually seemed interested in me. I soon realised it wasn't as scary as I thought, Natasha had always made me feel safe and that feeling only seemed to grow now that I was little.

"Okay we got new pyjamas and a new clean diaper, what else do we need hm?" She asked standing in the kitchen. "Baba?" i asked quietly. "Of course how could I forget the cutest little one's baba. Why don't you get ready and pick a movie or something to watch and I will be back with your baba in a minute." I nodded excitedly before rushing off to pick a movie.

When I heard the Russian's footsteps I hid under my blanket so she wouldn't be able to find me.

"Okay, I have a cup of coffee and I have a bottle for the cutest little ever, excuse me bear? have you seen a cute little in a onesie anywhere? Uh huh uh huh." I listened curiously as she spoke to my stuffie. "Well I thought I left him here but now I can't find him anywhere. Now there's just this blanket here hm I am a little cold, I don't think y/n would mind me borrowing his blanket." I giggled as she tore the blanket off and looked at me with a shocked look on her face.

"There you are." She chuckled, tickling me. "I got your baba." She smiled handing me the bottle.

"tanks chu." I said around the bottle in my mouth. "No problem." She replied, pressing play on the movie.

We didn't move off the couch for the rest of the day except when it was ABSOLUTELY necessary, we stayed put watching all the movies and tv shows we wanted.

"Well bud the team will be back soon so I think it's time we get you ready for bed and we can play again tomorrow okay?" I nodded rubbing my eye. "Okay little dude let's get you in the bath and ready for night night."

Nat helped me get ready for bed, she made sure I brushed my teeth and she even helped me pick out the best onesie. "Okay buddy, get in bed." I climbed in with my stuffies and Nat pulled the blankets over us and tucked us all in.

"Goodnight y/n." Nat smiled placing a kiss on my forehead I smiled, digging my face into the pillow to hide my grinning. "I'll see you in the morning buddy." Nat smiled before turning to leave.

"Nu Natty." I whined making her turn around. "teddy wan kisses toos." Nat smiled and walk back over to my bed. "Of course, how could I forget?" Nat smiled kissing the bear in my arms. "I'm guessing you all want kisses too?" She asked my other stuffed animals, I nodded and she hummed quietly, kneeling on the edge of my bed, "Goodnight all of you." She placed a kiss on each of their head's. "Night night natty."

A few hours had passed when I jolted awake from another nightmare. I curled up clutching my stuffie secretly hoping Nat somehow know i was in trouble and would come and find me. I laid in the dark crying into my stuffie before realising she wasn't coming and staying alone in the dark was a terrible idea.

I remembered what Nat had said earlier about not needing to be afraid of the dark when she was around, she was only down the hall, all I had to do was walk a few steps and I would be okay.

Still clutching my stuffie I climbed out of bed and snuck down the corridor, there was a small light under her door so I assumed that she was awake.

I knocked on her door but I didn't get a response, I pushed the door open and her bed was empty, I was about to close the door but a hand stopped me. Nat pulled the door all the way open, her face changed from annoyed to a smile. "Hey kiddo, are you alright?"

"bad dreams." I mumbled into my stuffies fur, she frowned slightly offering me a hug. "That's not good, I'm sorry, do you want to sleep here tonight?" I nodded enthusiastically forgetting all about my fear.

"Okay, go grab some stuffies and hop in, do you want a drink to help you sleep?" I gave a small nod before leaving to get some more stuffies. I came back and threw them all on Nat's bed making her chuckle. "okay you get all settled in here and I will bring you your drink in a second."

I laid down in her bed cuddling up with my stuffies, almost falling asleep until she walked in. "Hey I got your drink." I rubbed my eyes and sat up, "Do you want anything else?" She asked handing me my drink, I thought for a moment before nodding. "Can I has cuddles wiv Natty?"

"of course little one." She smiled climbing into bed next to me, I snuggled up to her and she put her arm around me, holding me in a comforting hug. I instantly sighed, feeling extremely relaxed and soon I was struggling to keep my eyes open. "Go to sleep sweetheart, I will be here when you wake up." I mumbled a goodnight before giving in to my sleepiness.

The next morning I woke up early and the lamp on her bedside table was still on I realised she must have kept it on all night in case I woke up again. I tried to get up without waking her but I must have failed because I heard the bed move as she rolled over to look at me.

"Hey." She smiled, sitting up. "Hey, good morning. And uh... thank you for yesterday, I'm sorry you had to deal with that but I appreciate it." I said, fidgeting nervously.