Work Text:
The hospital room is quiet except for Natasha’s own heartbeat. She’s still connected to the machines, but this is different from the physicals, from the ejections, from the missions.
Much, much different.
Her hand instinctively rests over her belly, over the swell still there, even hours later. Smiles gently at the weight under her hand, before her gaze drifts to the bassinet in the corner.
Where their son sleeps.
Even through her exhaustion, the need for sleep, and sleep, and more sleep, she can’t help her need to see him. See him herself, without the hustle and bustle of the doctors and everyone else.
With a careful, shaky breath, she lets her legs dangle over the side of the bed. One, two, three, lift, and she moves, slowly, to the one light source that remains on, sneaking past Bradley and Jake and their long and low snores as they rest on each other.
“And they didn’t even give birth,” she mutters to herself with a smile, shaking her head. But she doesn’t hesitate to press a kiss to her fingertips and brush it along their knees, right where they knock together as they lean on each other.
The monitor's cords are just long enough, with enough give she can make it all the way to the bassinet. She can’t help her smile as she gazes down at her son.
Her son .
Their son.
He doesn’t stir much as her fingertip brushes over his brow, as it trails down his nose. When she makes it to his lips, she could swear he has a smile, the tiniest hint of one. Had one when he was born, too, when she held him to her chest, as she sobbed out her relief.
Always smiling.
She spends a few more moments with him, but lets him snooze like his fathers. Chuckles as his hands, in the little onesie Maverick bought for the special occasion, move up to his face before settling back down at his sides and he snoozes again.
It’s odd, now, seeing him so apart from her. After ten months of feeling him grow inside of her, she can’t help the… empty feeling that seems to threaten the edges of her vision. But seeing him now, outside of herself, after bringing him safe and sound into the world…
Pride. Love and pride.
While she knows the monitors need to stay on as much as they can, her bladder tells her it’s time to get up and move. Like the nurses showed her, she disconnects herself from the monitors, but doesn’t move back to the bed to press the call button. She can handle this on her own. Start gaining some kind of independence back.
The bathroom trips are intricate now. Dab, not wipe, cooling pads, the spritz bottle. It’s a complicated sequence, and she winces at the stinging. The gown does provide easy access, at least, but every sensation is a new one.
A lot of things are new now. Something she’ll have to get used to.
When she emerges again, her bladder is relieved, and the cooling pad feels so good she almost trembles with it. However, she’s met with two stern looks from her partners on the window seat in the room, and a nurse in the doorway who gives a sheepish smile.
“I’m sorry,” she tells Natasha, glancing toward Jake and Bradley. “I didn’t mean to wake them, but when you disconnected from your monitors, I just wanted to peek in –”
“It’s fine,” Natasha says, sighing a little bit. So much for independence. “ I’m fine. I was using the bathroom.”
“You’re not supposed to be standing on your own,” Bradley chides her, lightly, as he stands and squeezes Jake’s shoulder. “You could’ve woken us, we would’ve helped –”
“I made it just fine,” Natasha says, reaching for his hand as he offers it to her. And then she smiles, looking between the both of them. “You were resting. I wasn’t gonna prevent you from getting sleep considering we probably won’t get a lot of it for a while.”
“We’re a team, Nat,” Jake says from his spot, looking up from his phone to smile at her, leaning forward so he can reach and touch her hip. “We’ll handle the lack of sleep when we get to it. For now, we can take care of you.” And when his eyes move to his son, she sees his whole visage soften. “The both of you.”
“We also got a call to the desk,” the nurse tells them, as Natasha reaches down to touch Jake’s hand. “From someone called Kazansky, wondering if they can come up. I put them on hold for now.”
“I’m texting Ice right now,” Jake tells them. “Him and Mav are finally here, and they’re bringing some food, too.”
Mav. Suddenly Natasha’s heart quickens, and she smiles at the boys with a broad grin. “ Perfect . He can come up, they’re both on our approved visitor’s list,” Natasha says to the nurse, turning to her, before looking back.
“What’s that look?” Bradley says, taking the moment to help her back to bed as the nurse nods and heads back to the nurses’ station. Careful with her gown, careful as she sits, careful and cautious and kissing her head as she leans back. “What’s perfect?”
“It’s Mav,” Natasha says, looking at Jake and Bradley with a bright smile. “Mav and Ice. They haven’t met him yet.”
Suddenly Jake’s face lights up, too, and he stands with a sudden burst of energy. “Fuck, you’re right .” Moves to the bassinet, makes sure the nameplate the nurses made for them is written perfectly. “I’ve gotta get a video of this.”
But Bradley’s brow stays furrowed, as he looks from Natasha to Jake and back again. Part exhaustion, part misunderstanding. “What do you mean? They know he’s here.”
“Bradley,” Natasha sighs, before squeezing his hand still in hers. “ Bradley . They know he’s here, sure, but they don’t know his name .”
–
Waiting for Pete and Tom feels like an eternity. Bradley takes to pacing in the small room, legs brushing Jake’s every time he passes the couch where Jake sits again. Jake’s eyes are focused on his phone, sending directions to the two men as they get lost and more lost and lost again in the hospital. But Natasha, Natasha’s eyes stay on her son, her smile bright and big as she lets her fingers trace his features. As she dares waking him so she can hold him in his arms.
“You’re gonna love Pete,” she tells him, rocking him slowly, adjusting the little hat on his head. “And he’s going to love you. He’s been talking about you for ages. Talks Ice’s ear off about you, and you weren’t even here yet.”
“You nervous, Bradshaw?” Jake asks, grinning up at him as he passes by him again.”Your pacing is giving me hives, honey.”
“I’m fine,” Bradley retorts, dodging Jake’s fingers as he attempts to pinch his side. “I’m fine .”
“You’re nervous,” Jake says again, setting down his phone for a moment to stand and take both of Bradley’s hands. “And that’s okay. But Mav’s gonna love it. Of that I have no doubt.”
“But is it right?” Bradley says, and his voice cracks a little bit as he looks at Jake, jaw working. “Is it… is it what we should do?”
Natasha slowly walks over with their son in her arms, bringing him close to Bradley. Lets him catch their little one’s gaze before reaching up with one arm and carefully rubbing his back.
“It’s up to you, Bradley. It always has been. When we talked about it, I know you were hesitant, and that’s fine,” Natasha murmurs. Watches as one of his hands leaves Jake’s to reach for one of their son’s hands. So small, barely big enough to hold a finger of his father’s. “He’s our son. And we all have to agree, of course. But. I think your dad would be proud. And I think Mav will be, too.”
Bradley sighs a little. Still shaky. But as their son starts to stir from a long slumber, grips at Bradley’s finger tight, he finally smiles, big and bright.
“He does look like a Nicholas,” he tells them. Glances back at Jake and gestures to him forward. “Don’t you think?”
“Nicky,” Jake replies, wrapping his arms around Bradley’s waist. Chin on his shoulder. “Nicky boy.”
Nicky. Nicky sounds better in Nat’s head, too, as she looks at his tiny face. He doesn’t fit Nicholas yet, but she has no doubt he will. Will grow up strong, and brave, just like his namesakes.
“Nicholas Peter,” Bradley says firmly. Leaning forward to kiss the boy’s head, chuckling as he squirms in his mother’s arms. And then his eyes meet Natasha’s, and she nods. “Nicholas Peter… Seresin.”
Suddenly Jake stills. His whole body, usually always in motion, becomes a statue. Natasha’s gaze flickers to her face. He’s halfway to reaching Nicky when he stops, mouth falling open a little bit as he stares at their son between her and Bradley.
“Jake,” Natasha whispers. “Jake… you all right?”
He swallows. She tries to read the emotions on his face, but it’s carefully schooled into a mask, shut down.
“... you sure about that?” he murmurs. Finally able to meet their eyes. “That name. It’s not – it hasn’t got a good… legacy behind it.”
“It’s your name,” Bradley tells him, and his back straightens with it. Firm, certain, sure. “It’s your name, and now it’s his name. Nat and I talked about it, and. If he can’t have ‘em all, he’s having yours.”
Slowly, the mask falls. Steadily, Jake’s eyes fill with tears until they stream down his cheeks.
And of course, that’s when Mav and Ice make their appearance.
They’re polite about it. A gentle knock on the door, one that makes Jake startle and wipe at his eyes while Bradley and Nat turn to face them. “Come in,” Natasha calls out, smoothing the front of her gown, making sure it’s tied in the back as Bradley takes Nicky in his arms. “We’re decent, I promise.”
At first they can’t see either face, balloons filling the doorway, the smell of takeout permeating before either man. But then Pete manages to push through with his hands full of a gift or ten, Ice following behind him with a long-suffering gaze toward his husband..
“You’ll never guess who made the first wrong turn,” Pete tells them, glancing back toward Ice.
Ice’s eyes narrow. His hands move to set the balloons down by the door, before moving upright and using his hands to sign to Pete.
“Give you all one guess ,” Pete translates. His lip curls down. “Hey!”
Natasha, Jake, and Bradley all look at each other. “One guess,” Natasha laughs.
“Maverick,” they say at the same time.
There’s a brief pause. “Okay, it was me. I admit it. But enough of that.” Pete sighs finally, glancing back toward the three of them, just as Jake pulls together enough to stand beside them, hand on Natasha’s back. “Now where’s the kiddo?”
The moment they both see Nicky in Bradley’s arms… Natasha hopes Jake remembers his phone. But even if he forgets, Natasha thinks she’ll never forget their eyes. Gentle looks, Ice’s mouth opening in a little ‘o’, Pete’s shining look toward the new baby. The way their whole bodies seem to slump a little, overwhelmed as Pete drops the presents and takes a step forward. Everything else seems forgotten. All that’s left is their son.
“Oh, Bradley,” Pete whispers. Ice’s hands lift to rest on his husband’s shoulders as he takes another step toward them. “Oh, fuck – oh, goddammit, I shouldn’t – god, can I hold him?”
“Of course, Mav,” Bradley whispers, and Pete steps away from Ice to go wash his hands, doesn’t miss the sniffle as he does.
Natasha’s eyes meet Ice’s as the two of them step away, Jake standing behind her in a mirror of the admiral before. “ How are you doing?” he signs, slower than he does with Pete as they’re all still picking it up, pointing to Natasha. “Get some sleep?”
“Some,” Natasha tells him, grinning as he watches Bradley talk Mav through holding him, Mav’s protests at remembering how he held baby Bradley just fine not missed. “But good. It’s… different, and new, but we’re doing good. I’m doing good.”
“She was a rockstar,” Jake tells him, hugging her gently. “But we’re keeping an eye on her. Making sure she doesn’t push herself too hard.”
“People in this family tend to push themselves too hard. Be sure to rest,” Ice agrees. But he reaches out for her hand, squeezes one in both of hers. “I’m proud of you, kid.”
Her eyes fill with tears at the praise, nodding at him as she leans back into Jake. “You got it, Admiral. Plenty of rest.”
“Oh, wow .”
Mav’s awed voice gets her attention. Gets them all looking over, as Maverick holds a newly swaddled Nicky, who looks perfectly content in his arms.
“Look at him, Tom,” Pete whispers, moving over to him. “Doesn’t he look like his mom?”
Ice’s nod is slow, seemingly just as awestruck as Mav as he moves closer. His hand reaches for Nicky’s fingers just as Bradley’s did, and Natasha’s throat closes up at the sight of them, so gentle and loving.
“What’s his name?” Maverick asks, voice still so small.
And when Natasha says it, she says it with pride. Confident. Certain.
“Nicholas Peter Seresin.”
It takes a few moments for it to fully sink it. For everything to click. But when it does, it’s clear. Maverick’s whole demeanor changes, and Bradley moves quick to stand beside him, to reach for Nicky just in case.
“Oh, Bradley,” Pete whispers. When he looks up again, the tears are free-flowing. “Nicholas… for your dad?”
“Yeah, Mav,” Bradley murmurs back. “And Peter for…”
The second hits just as hard as the first. Pete’s eyes widen, big and bright, and Bradley takes Nicky this time, holds him and rocks him as Pete starts to tremble. “Me?” he asks, disbelief. “Why do you think – after me?” He moves closer to Ice, looks up at him before staring at the three of them. “What do you mean? Me ?”
“You. Jake and I agree,” Natasha speaks up. Wiping at her own tears, feeling the hormones and the emotions all collide within her. She moves to sit, Jake with her as she does, rubbing her back. “For Bradley’s dad, sure, but… but also for the bravest man we know. For a man we want our boy to know, and who we want to know him.”
Maverick just keeps shaking his head. He looks like he needs to sit, but stands anyway, leans against Ice as he watches the three of them. Bradley goes to put Nicky into the bassinet, and when he comes back he squeezes Maverick’s shoulder.
“You and Ice, Mav,” he tells them, looking between them. “We want him to know you both. As… role models. As leaders.”
“As grandfathers,” Jake finishes. When Mav and Ice look over, Jake holds Natasha close. “All of us want you both here. As a part of this family. Because… God knows you’ve been there for us, and we want you there for him.”
Slowly the five of them look around. Meet every gaze, look at every member of the family. Jake holds Natasha, who reaches for Bradley’s hand, who squeezes Mav’s shoulder, who leans against Ice.
Who finally gives a brilliant smile.
He lifts a front-facing fist. Bends it at the wrist. Repeatedly. And though Mav doesn’t need to translate, he does, as he nods along, fiercely. Answers for himself, for Ice.
“Yes. Yes, yes, of course, god, of course.”
And then he glances back toward Nicky. Laughs as he watches the little hint of that smile.
“Do we think we’ve got another pilot on our hands?” he asks, raising a brow. “I think we could teach him a thing or two.”
“Pete,” Ice rumbles out, low, warning.
Natasha laughs, breathing it in. This moment, with their family. “No matter what he does,” Natasha tells them all, “he’ll have all of us behind him.”