There was a moment of silence, in which Natasha could only hear the pounding of her heart. In that moment, she genuinely wasn't sure how she should feel about this pronouncement, but then it come welling up, warm and bright and good.
She wanted this.
She wanted a family, she wanted to be a mother, she wanted to be a mother with him. She wanted to care for and nurture this fragile life they'd created together. And she wanted it fully, completely desperately. It was a surprise, yes, even a shock, but after only a moment's reflection there was not a doubt in her mind, not a corner cast in shadow. She turned her eyes to Harry, who was looking at her with the same expression of guarded hope. He too had always wanted a family, but no doubt he was wondering if she'd be upset that this was a surprise, that they weren't prepared.
And yes, those practical concerns would need to be addressed, but right now Natasha couldn't bring herself to care. There would be time later to discuss, plan, and make arrangements. She beamed at him, and his own smile, like the sun breaking through the clouds, was her reward. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him. Harry latched onto her with equal enthusiasm, and spun them around. Softly, Natasha giggle into his shoulder. "Merlin." Harry murmured "I can't believe it." These days he only reverted back to wizard-isms when under stress, or in particularly unguarded moments- Natasha found them adorable, and she treasured the pure, innocent joy in his voice.
"We're going to be parents." Natasha said, awed by the words that left her. Not so long ago, she had believed it impossible. Now not only was it possible, it was real.
Behind her, Shuri breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, you're taking this a lot better than I thought you would."
Harry reluctantly disengaged from Natasha, though she kept an arm wrapped around his waist. "We've both always wanted this. I guess that's why it happened. Magic works based on intention, and since we both wanted it to happen…" He trailed off, favoring Natasha with a sidelong smile. She beamed back at him.
The news spread quickly. Wanda had, of course, known right away, and Skye had taken the liberty of breaking out the drinks and explaining to their teammates the reason for their celebration.
Natasha hadn't expected the compound to be equipped for parties, but perhaps she should have. Tony had had a hand in building and stocking the place, after all, so of course they were prepared- speakers, music, karaoke, drinks, decorations both conventional and holographic. Tony had even gone as far as to create a very rough montage-slash-slide show for the occasion. Natasha didn't even mind that she would have to forgo drinking, even with Yelena's teasing about it. She was plenty occupied, as it was. Clint had hugged her tight, and she may have even detected a hint of tears in the corner of his eyes when he told her how happy he was for her. He, as much as anyone, knew how much this meant for her.
Wanda too, had been uncharacteristically tender with her. Natasha knew that she too had dreams of children one day, even if she wasn't ready for them quite yet. Skye though, seemed completely averse to having kids herself, though she didn't seem to begrudge Natasha for her own dreams.
Natasha stuck to the edges of the room while the party devolved, and she was happy that her teammates understood that she didn't want to be dragged out into the center of attention. While she could play that part easily, if she had her preference she'd stay to the side. She was content to watch her friends- her adopted family- celebrate, and she occupied herself by imagining what the future might hold. She pictured what it'd be like, raising children with Harry, maybe getting a cottage away from the stress and perils of the world, just for them and their little family.
"Don't blame them." Pepper joined her, sipping on a glass of champagne. "We've all been so stressed for so long. Its just nice to have something to celebrate."
Steve had accompanied her on the fringes of the room, and nodded in agreement "Yeah, it is. We've had too many pyrrhic victories. It good to remember what really matters."
"What really matters?" Natasha queried.
"Living life. Love, friends, family. Its easy to lose sight of that when you do what we do."
"Yeah, it is." She agreed. The life of an Avenger wasn't an easy one, and it would be easy for them to become jaded, to see every win as temporary, to see their struggles as pointless. It was only recently that the Avengers had begun to feel secure with the world as it was. The rolling set of crises seemed to abate, and they could begin to let loose. Sometimes life could be cruel. Sometimes there were no happy endings. People left, or died, leaving loose ends and closure. Sometimes you could struggle, and try, and hope, and pray and it still wouldn't be enough.
But not this time, she vowed. She didn't know if there was a point to it all or what fate had in store for them. Screw fate. This time, they got to live. This time they got to be happy.
-----
"Hold on, is that guy giving us the finger?"
"No. I don't think he's offering his fingers to us." Drax supplied.
Peter, meanwhile, squinted at the somewhat comedic sight that had drawn Rocket's comment. A man decked in medieval battle regalia was standing on top of a ship that had clearly seen better days. What was odder than his clothes (it was a big galaxy after all, Peter had seen every weird clothing custom he could imagine- including, delightfully, none at all), was that he was in space, without any form of protection, looking completely unbothered.
And no, he wasn't giving them the finger. His thumb was out as if to hitch a ride- that gesture was something he'd only ever seen on Earth.
Huh.
"Chill dudes, he's just trying to hitch a ride. Guess his ship broke down." Peter said as he began aligning their ship with the hitchhiker's. They had picked up the distress signal from this man's ship, and since the jump point had been conveniently along their planned path it hadn't cost them anything to stop by. Worst case scenario- it was a trap laid by pirates and they would all die, but no risk, no reward.
"I am Groot." Said Groot.
"Yeah, I'm not surprised either. That ship is a heap of junk." Rocket seconded. "Maybe they can give it to us as a 'favor', and we can sell it for scrap."
Peter rolled his eyes, knowing this proposal would draw Gamora's ire. "We're not going to rob people who are stranded." She predictably rose to Rocket's bait.
"Especially not someone who is so handsome and muscular." Drax said, admiringly.
Peter scoffed "Whatever. Any idea how he's hanging out in space like that?"
"Perhaps he's a god." Mantis suggested.
"Definitely." Drax agreed "Or maybe an angel."
The man, seeing that they were preparing to dock, threw open a hatch and jumped back into his ship. A few minutes later, he was walking through their airlock, strutting as if he owned their ship and not the rusty heap he'd been on. "Thank you fellow travelers." He told them with flourish "I assure you, you'll be rewarded handsomely for your services here today."
"Oh, I like him." Rocket nodded "Keep speaking our language, pretty boy."
Peter held up a hand "Not so fast. Who are you? And if you're so loaded why do you have such a shitty ship?"
"I am Thor, crown prince- errr – soon to be King of Asgard. I need to return to my home, whereupon you will be rewarded."
"Asgard?"
"Prove it." Gamora said.
Thor held up his hand, and after a few destructive sounding clangs emanating from within his ship, a hammer swerved into view and rocketed into his grip. Electric sparks raced down Thor's body, before discharging into the metal floor. Thor idly swung the hammer as he grinned "Is that enough for you, or would you like to see some lightning?"
"I am Groot?"
"Yeah, what he said." Peter agreed "Is there a catch? There's gotta be a catch." Asgardian royalty getting stranded in space didn't happen without serious extenuating circumstances.
In confirmation of his suspicions, Thor grimaced. "Er, yeah. There's one, teeny, tiny little complication."
"Go on." Gamora prompted.
"My insane brother is currently ruling Asgard while impersonating my father, so I'm going to have to wrest control of the kingdom from him first." This was said rapidly, as if saying the words quickly enough would keep them from paying attention to them. Internally, Peter rolled his eyes. Of course this wasn't a simple escort mission, they'd have to storm the castle. But arguably it was for a good cause, and the payoff could be immense.
"One moment." Peter waved him off, while the Gaurdians grouped together in a huddled. After a perhaps a minute of discussion, they broke. "Alight!" He announced "We're in. But- this reward better be worth it."
"Oh, it will be." So they took the job- of course they did- after all, no risk, no reward.
-----
"So, have you guys talked about names?" Shuri asked.
In fact, they'd had. "If it's a girl." Natasha said "We'll call her Lily." Harry had made the request, and Natasha couldn't deny it. His mother had died for him, Natasha was more than willing to honor the woman who had allowed Harry to enter her life. In return, though, she'd claimed the right to name their son. "We're still workshopping boys' names."
She didn't have a family history to draw from for names. All she had were her whims and judgement. It was an odd challenge, and question with no right answer. There were any number of good names, but no way to distinguish them. Though perhaps she would avoid naming him after any of her teammates. She didn't want to give her child those shoes to fill. "Jacob is a nice name."
"Jacob?" Shuri laughed.
"What?"
"I don't know, it just feels too normal?"
"Why shouldn't he feel normal?" Harry came to her aid. "Would you rather us give him a name out of legend and three middle names? Ozymandias Percival Wulfric Brian Potter, perhaps?" Shuri laughed again, even though the bulk of the joke had been lost on her.
They'd been making a point to spend more time with Shuri, when she was available. Her schedule was as busy as any of theirs- hopping between Wakanda, the Avengers compound, and the collection of outreach centers that Wakanda was establishing across the world. So when she was 'in town', they made the most of it.
After all, she was their next target. Natasha was aware that, with a child on the way, their window of opportunity was closing. There wouldn't be nearly the chance for dalliances once she and Harry were parents. Most couples had enough trouble maintaining a normal sex life after having kids, let alone their extravagant lifestyle. That was on top of the burdens of being Avengers – and they had both determined that they wanted to remain on the team in some capacity.
While having the extra help from Wanda and Skye, let alone the rest of the Avengers, might lighten the load for them, Natasha was under no illusions. If they were to sow their wild oats, they needed to do it soon. Shuri certainly seemed open to it, however, talk of baby names was not the most titillating conversation. It was time to drive things in a more appropriate direction.
"We were considering getting your help with healing the other widows." Natasha diverted.
Predictably, Shuri flustered. If she accepted she'd have to (get to?) watch Harry work his 'magic' on many women. "I'm not sure if that's strictly necessary." Shuri hurried to say "I mean, we know its safe… right?"
Harry grinned playfully "Here I thought you wanted to get more data on healing whole organs. You aren't going to get an opportunity like this again."
"That's for sure." Natasha said under her breath.
"It just seems a little… intimate."
"Oh, so you'd rather not watch Harry make dozens of women cum?" Natasha asked, and Shuri choked on her drink.
"That's not how I'd put it." She managed.
Natasha rose from her seat and walked behind Shuri, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Maybe you'd like a more… personal performance." She suggested.
"Personal?" Shuri squeaked, but her eyes weren't on Natasha, they were on Harry. He met her gaze with his own, forming an intense stand-off.
"I think you know what we mean." Harry told her "I know you want me. And…" He broke eye contact for a moment to glance down at her cleavage. "I want you too."
"Eep." Shuri squirmed in her seat, crossing, uncrossing, and recrossing her legs.
"So, it's really not that complicated. All you have to do is say yes."
There was only a moment of hesitation as the offer processed in her mind. Then "YES!" She nearly shouted. Then she coughed in embarrassment and continued "I mean, yes. That'd be good."
-----
While Harry led her back to his room, Shuri's eyes fell to his ass. She wasn't sure exactly how she got into this situation, but she knew she couldn't turn the opportunity down. This was a chance to sleep with Harry Potter, the object of her fascination and lust ever since he'd saved her and her father.
His selflessness and decisive bravery had made an impression for sure, and while he'd been recovering under the influence of the herb, she'd gotten perhaps more time with his mostly naked body than was healthy for her. She probably spent more time around him than was strictly necessary, definitely spent more time watching him than she needed, and absolutely spent more time touching him than she should have. She'd spent a full minute tracing his pecs with her hand, admiring the contrast of their skin tones before a spike in his heartrate had spooked her.
Something about him was so alluring and exotic. She'd never even seen an outsider in person until Wakanda had opened channels to the Avengers. Shuri, a member of the royal family, having sex with one was forbidden. She'd never had sex before, and she was expected to remain a virgin until she married. She innately bristled at the restriction, and while she'd had little choice but to abide by it in the flesh, she'd certainly violated it in spirit.
Strictly speaking, no one in Wakanda knew that she'd invented a vibrator. She'd only ever given them to her friends in the Avengers. It was a shame because she was proud of it. She'd spent hours testing and calibrating it, ensuring that with just on touch it could send a woman to extasy. Better still, unlike traditional vibrators, her invention did not desensitize. In fact, the deep vibrations seemed to stimulate blood flow and nerve growth. After all her religious use of the device, Shuri found that she was more sensitive than ever.
And Shuri had used it religiously- usually at her computer while reading fanfiction, or looking at fan art. There was no shortage of pieces depicting the Avengers, and Harry in particular, but she had very specific tastes. Fortunately she had the means to commission several pieces featuring the famous Avenger Harry Potter with the mysterious princess of Wakanda.
She wondered now, though, if perhaps there was a drawback to her design. Increasing sensitivity had sounded like a good idea at first, but now she wondered. As she followed Harry, she was keenly aware of how her body reacted. Her heartrate had picked up as soon as she'd sat down with them. Her cheeks had felt flushed ever since their conversation had drifted in a more risqué direction. But now, as she followed Harry and her anticipation rose, and she could feel her clit tingling, buzzing in a phantom sensation of her vibrator against it. The sensation tugged her along, ensuring that doubts wouldn't be considered.
"We're here." Harry announced, turning back to Shuri. "You sure about this?" He asked her.
Shuri nodded. She did want this. She'd had enough watching and waiting and imagining. She'd seen what Harry could do to a hardened spy with just a touch of his hand. She wanted more than just a touch, she wanted to whole package. It was just, in the back of her mind, she worried if she'd be able to handle it.