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Natasha walked off the elevator and around the couch. Looking down at Clint she wanted to brush the hair off of his forehead, but chose not to so she wouldn't wake him. Clint had never been a good sleeper. Turning to lift Pippa out of her cradle she froze. It wasn't like Clint to leave the baby alone in their apartment. She moved away from the couch so she could speak to J.A.R.V.I.S. without Clint hearing their voices.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.?" Natasha asked.
"What can I help you with, Agent Romanoff?" J.A.R.V.I.S. asked.
"Where's Pippa?" Natasha asked.
"Miss Barton is with Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner in Mr. Stark's garage," J.A.R.V.I.S. said.
"Does Clint know?" Natasha asked.
"Of course, Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton is a very attentive father," J.A.R.V.S. said. "Mr. Stark volunteered to watch over Miss Barton so Agent Baron could get some some sleep. Agent Barton was looking quite tired. I don't think he's been sleeping, ma'am."
"Thank you, J.A.R.V.I.S.," Natasha said.
"You're back," Pepper said, starting to come off the elevator.
Natasha shushed her and pointed toward Clint.
Pepper nodded when Natasha pointed her back toward the elevator. Pepper backed into the elevator when Natasha joined her inside.
"Is everything alright?" Pepper asked.
"Tony and Bruce are watching the baby," Natasha said as the elevator door closed behind the women.
"What was Clint thinking?" Pepper asked
"I'm not sure he was," Natasha said. "J.A.R.V.I.S. said that he hasn't been sleeping well."
"Why hasn't he asked for help?" Pepper asked. "I'd be happy to hire a nanny."
"He wouldn't allow it," Natasha said. "You know about his childhood."
"I hadn't thought," Pepper said. "Tony probably wouldn't let a nanny in here either. He's never had anything good to say about the women who helped raise him."
"Phil had planned to retire and be a stay at home dad," Natasha said as the elevator stopped and the door opened.
"Director Fury couldn't have been too happy about that," Pepper said as the women headed down the long hallway.
"I don't think Phil ever got around to telling him," Natasha said. "I wish he had. Phil wouldn't have been there to be Loki's target."
"Tony said Phil went after Loki on his own," Pepper said. "Why would he take that risk?"
"I would never tell Clint, but I think Phil had one thing on his mind, revenge." Natasha said.
"He didn't think Clint was coming back?" Pepper asked.
"I don't know why he would have thought that; he knew Clint was a cat," Natasha said, when they reached the clear doors to Tony's garage.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.," Pepper said.
"Yes, Miss Potts," J.A.R.V.I.S. said, "would you like me to open Mr. Stark's doors?"
"No, thank you, We just need to hear what's happening inside," Pepper said as Tony turned around with Pippa in a baby carrier against Tony's chest flapping her hands in Bruce's direction.
The women could hear Tony speaking to Clint's daughter sounding amused. "So, munchkin, you want to go see Uncle Bruce?"
"You can't be serious," Bruce said. "I shouldn't be in the same room with her."
"Did you hear that?" Tony asked. "Uncle Bruce thinks you bite. Do you bite, mini-Legolas?"
Pippa smacked her lips together and reached toward Bruce.
Tony took Pippa out of the baby carrier and handed her to Bruce.
Bruce stood Pippa on his thighs and she leaned forward and patted his cheeks.
"See, I told you," Tony said. "She likes you."
Pepper couldn't take her eyes off of Tony. It amazed her that her Tony could be so good with a baby.
Both of the women shared a look when they heard Tony ask J.A.R.V.I.S. how long until Pippa walked and talked. Tony was not impressed with the answer.
"Pippa," Tony said, "you can do better than that."
Pippa smacked her lips and gave Tony a gummy smile.
"Are you spying on Tony and Bruce?" Clint asked as he stepped between the women and put his arms around their necks.
"It was hard to imagine," Natasha said.
Clint laughed and said, "Tony Stark, the baby whisperer."