sheisworthy:
She wanted to touch the swell of his stomach, wanted to comfort him, “Don’t do that,” she said, clearly referring to this Barton level of deflection that came so quickly to his lip. “You and I both know that you wanted to remodel anyway,” she could give a little maybe. But she shook her head. “I’ll worry about them later, right now I’m worried about you,” worried about these babies, she couldn’t call them that yet, she wasn’t ready to be attached to something. It was hard enough with Archer and the thought that she might lose him before she even had the chance. “You’ve never had any choice but to be alive, and they don’t either, da?” Her eyes fell to the baby bump and she indulged herself in putting on hand over his. “I won’t accept anything less, we survive.”
He lets out an exasperated sigh as she calls him out on his deflection without even fucking saying the words. Though when she gives a little he chuckles. “A little, but I enjoyed the whole minimalist look… plus easier to clean.” he chuckles. “But not exactly kid friendly… too sterile… not good for their little brains.” he says softly. When she wants to steer things away from the assailants, he complies, he doesn’t need to be angry. He just got all this new blood, no need to raise the pressure on it so soon.
“Правильно, мать…” the mother tongue rolls past his lips so easily and he looks at her with a soft smile. When her hand rests over his, features soften and he rests back in the hospital bed. “That’s the first and most important lesson you ever imparted… and I tell you know… it’s gonna be mine too.” he says softly. “Man I knew I was a handful, and it was just me… things seemed a bit easier back when I thought I was just having one kid…” he chuckles. “I’m scared shitless, but kind of excited.”
Archer sighs softly. “Wade only knows this because he saw it… heard it….” he swallows thickly before licking his lips. “I was scared….” he frowns. “For the first time in my life I was afraid, and I was afraid of dying…. I screamed mom, I cried.” his frown deepens. “Is that what this does…” he nods to his stomach. “Does it make you this human?”
She looked over him with sympathy in her eyes, oh how very human it had made her with Rose, with Archer. How human how soft he had made her. He was her pride and her heart and the only man she needed in her life. She took his hands and held them tight in her own. Her smile was still warm but not placating. She wouldn't show him anything disingenuous, not now.
"Любовь для детей," she joked half heartedly before smiling down at the bump. "I know it tears you up, worrying for something so precious and fragile, it makes you sick and fills your heart until it could burst. I know." Natasha took one hand and placed it directly on the bump for the first time. She wanted so badly to ease his fear and take the terror from his heart.
"They're okay, you hear me? You did good, you kept them safe because you are a good father. You got that from me too," she said making a little joke, a sly smile coming to her lips. "You did good," she said again.
