Clint only realized how comforting that gentle hand touching him had been when it was gone. Yearning to feel it again, he leaned his head back to look up from his little nest to Natasha. When he saw her touching her belly with that thoughtful expression, his heart dropped a little. What did he expect, though? They wouldn't know for sure until the day of birth if everything would be alright. Even if chances were really good that it would work out... Natasha would live with that fear throughout the next months.

He reached out from his little cocoon to place his hand on hers and got that smile on his lips that still was so hard for her to show. It was his job to carry them both through this. Natasha already had something to carry.

"I loved how you looked holding the little one", he said just as quietly, carefully, but still with a hint of that anticipation the dream had left. "Wish I could have seen her face... I mean, or his... You looked so happy. Hard to believe it's only a few months until this happens..."