A present for you

Joy sat on Natasha's bed as she patiently waited for Natasha to get out of the bathroom, Joy was bored, so she decided to open up her mother's suitcase that was on the bed as she was curious.

"My baby, what are you doing?" asked Natasha as she smiled and she walked out of the bathroom as she dried her hair with a towel, she felt very refreshed after taking a shower.

"I was going to help you unpack mommy" said Joy as she turned to look at Natasha with her big brown eyes.

"Thank you baby" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Mommy how do you feel now?" asked Joy.

"I feel very refreshed after taking a shower my baby" said Natasha as she smiled and Joy smiled as Natasha wrapped the towel around her head.

"Now, let's unpack" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Yayyy" said Joy as she nodded her head and Natasha smiled as she sat down on her bed.

"Just who left this door open?" asked Alfred in annoyance as he walked to Natasha's room and he was taken by surprise when he saw Natasha and Joy sitting together on the bed.

"Madam??" asked Alfred with wide eyes as he saw Natasha.

"Hello Alfred" said Natasha as she smiled and she looked at Alfred.

"Madam, what a surprise, when did you return?" asked Alfred as he smiled.

"A few hours ago Alfred" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Oh well then, welcome Madam" said Alfred as he smiled.

"Thank you Alfred" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Happy new year Madam" said Alfred as he smiled.

"Happy new year Alfred" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Well let me leave you to rest now Madam, once again, welcome back" said Alfred as he smiled.

"Thank you Alfred" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Bye Bye Alfred" said Joy as she giggled and she waved at Alfred.

"Bye Joy" said Alfred as he smiled and he waved back as he walked out of the room with a smile and Joy turned to look at her mother.

"Alright my baby, let's see, I have a lot of things to unpack" said Natasha as she first removed the metal case that her gun was in so that Joy would not accidentally play with it.

"What is that mommy?" asked Joy as she pointed at the metal case.

"It's nothing important my darling" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Hey my darling, I have a present for you" said Natasha as she searched through her bag.

"You do?" asked Joy in surprise.

"Yes my darling, here it is" said Natasha as she found what she was looking for and she handed Joy a small black box.

"Mommy, what is it?" asked Joy as she looked at Natasha and then she started to open the box.

"It's a Matryoshka doll" said Natasha as Joy unwrapped the doll and she smiled in awe.

"Wow" said Joy as she admired the little doll that was heavy, and was very colourful.

"Do you like it my baby?" asked Natasha as Joy nodded her head.

"What is it mommy?" asked Joy as she looked at Natasha in confusion, she still didn't know what it was.

"It's a doll my baby, I bought it at the Russian airport, you see, each doll, has a little doll inside it, and an even littler one, you can keep things in it" said Natasha as she smiled and she took the doll from Joy as she opened it.

"You see, this first doll, it's the mommy doll, the oldest of them all, and then the smallest one inside, is like the seed, the baby of the family, the dolls are all family, together" said Natasha as she smiled, or at least that was the explanation that Romanoff gave her when she asked for the doll's significance.

"Wow mommy, they are so pretty, I love them" said Joy.

"Oh my baby, I am glad that you do" said Natasha as she smiled and she yawned.

"Be careful with them my darling" said Natasha as Joy nodded and she took the dolls as she fit them back into one another.

"Mommy, can I go put them in my room?" asked Joy as Natasha nodded.

"You can my darling" said Natasha.

"Okay Mommy, thank you" said Joy as he giggled.

"You are welcome dear" said Natasha as she smiled and Joy quickly hurried out of the room with the dolls in her hands.

Natasha yawned as she was really tired now, she felt so fatigued, Natasha put the suitcase on the ground as she stood up and she took her gun case and placed it safely in her closet, she put her laptop bag on her dressing table, and she walked back to her bed as she decided to rest for a bit, she did not even know when she closed her eyes and drifted off into slumber.

"Mommy!" said Joy excitedly as she ran back into Natasha's room as she took a pause when she saw Natasha sleeping.

"Mommy…" whispered Joy.

"Mommy are you sleeping?" asked Joy as she whispered and she wanted to make sure that she was asleep.

Joy smiled as she looked at the sleeping face of her mother, she looked so peaceful, Joy moved her hand to touch her mother's face as she smiled.

"Goodnight mommy, have sweet dreams" said Joy as she smiled and she gave Natasha a kiss on the cheek as she walked out the door to her room and she returned with her colouring book and crayons as she sat down beside her mother's bed on the carpet and she began to colour in her colouring book.

…

Dom was in the dining room as he heard little footsteps and he looked up from his phone.

"Hello sweetie" said Dom as he smiled.

"Hello daddy" said Joy as she giggled and she pushed out the dining chair to sit down next to her father.

"Where's your mommy princess?" asked Dom as he smiled.

"Mommy is very tired daddy, she is sleeping so we have to be very quiet so we don't wake her up" said Joy as she whispered and she nodded her head as Dom chuckled.

"Is that so princess?" asked Dom as he smiled and Joy nodded.

"Don't you think that we should wake her up so she can eat?" asked Dom.

"No daddy, we should not disturb mommy, she is very, very tired" said Joy.

"Alright princess, whatever you say" said Dom as he smiled and Joy smiled at him.

"Daddy, mommy bought me dolls from Russia, they are very pretty, do you want to see them?" asked Joy as she smiled.

"That's nice princess, I would love to see them, but after dinner, okay?" asked Dom as he smiled.

"Okay daddy" said Joy as she smiled and Dom smiled at her, he loved that his princess was so happy today.

…

Two days later

"Alfred… Alfred" called Joy as she whispered and she peeked her head into the kitchen.

"What is it Joy?" asked Alfred as he smiled and he walked to Joy.

"Alfred, did you finish the plan?" asked Joy as she whispered as if she did not want anyone to hear what they were saying.

"Ahh yes, the plan" said Alfred.

"Yes Alfred the plan" said Joy as she nodded her head.

"Well Joy, everything is ready, like you asked me to" said Alfred as he smiled.

"Okay Alfred, you go get my daddy, and I will go get mommy" said Joy as she smiled and she nodded her head.

"Alright Joy" said Alfred as he could not help but smile.

"Thank you Alfred" said Joy as she smiled at him and Alfred smiled at her as she quickly up the stairs as Alfred smiled and he shook his head, hoping that all would go well.

Joy ran up the stairs as she turned to the left and she stood on her toes to reach the doorknob as she opened the door.

"Mommy, mommy" called Joy as she opened the door to Natasha's office as Natasha looked up from her laptop, she was back to working.

"My darling, what is it?" asked Natasha as she smiled.

"Mommy, mommy, you have to come quick" said Joy as Natasha looked at her.

"What is it darling?" asked Natasha.

"Mommy, you have to come first and see for yourself" said Joy as Natasha found this weird.

"Is it that important darling?" asked Natasha as Joy nodded her head and Natasha sighed as she looked at the time, it was 5 minutes to 6pm.

"Give me a moment my baby, I have to finish this first" said Natasha.

"But mommy, it is very important, please come pleaseee" said Joy as Natasha sighed and she wondered what was making Joy so excited for her to come with her.

"Okay my baby, okay" said Natasha as she closed her laptop and she stood up.

"Yayyy" said Joy as she giggled.

"Come on mommy, come on" said Joy as she held Natasha's hand and she pulled her as Natasha wondered where she was taking her.

…

"Young Master, you must come quick, there is an emergency" said Alfred as he walked into Dom's office without knocking at all as Dom looked at him.

"What's wrong Alfred?" asked Dom in confusion.

"It's an emergency Young Master, an emergency" said Alfred.

"What happened? Is it Joy?" asked Dom.

"Yes young Master, it's Joy, she's…" said Alfred as at the mention of Joy's name Dom stood up quickly.

"Where is she?" asked Dom in concern.

"Right this way young Master" said Alfred as he led the way.

…

"Over here mommy, come" said Joy as she pulled Natasha's hand as they walked in the direction of the dining room.

"Young Master, she is in the dining room" said Alfred as he and Dom were coming from the opposite direction.

"My baby, you haven't told me what's going on" said Natasha as she looked down at Joy as in the same moment, her eyes met Dom's and she was left with confusion as Dom looked just as confused as she did.

"What's going on here?" asked Dom and Natasha in a chorus as they looked at the obviously guilty party which were Joy and Alfred.

"Alfred, what's going on here?" asked Dom as he looked at Alfred and Alfred said nothing as he laughed sheepishly and he looked at Joy, this was her plan after all, she had to go through with it.

"Baby, what's going on?" asked Natasha as she looked at Joy.

"Mommy, Daddy, don't you remember what day today is?" asked Joy as she let go of Natasha's hand and she looked at Natasha and Dom who looked at her in confusion.

"Isn't today the 5th?" asked Natasha in confusion.

"Yes mommy it is, but it's also a very special day" said Joy as both Natasha and Dom were left confused, and Joy waited for them to remember as she sighed when they didn't.

"Today Is your anniversary mommy" said Joy as she looked at Natasha and Natasha sighed internally, of course it was.

"Daddy, you too, you forgot, the both of you forgot" said Joy as she felt sad.

"Oh no my baby, yes we did forget, but that's only because we are both so busy, it skipped my mind" said Natasha as she looked at Joy and she smiled.

"It did?" asked Joy as she looked at Natasha and Dom.

"Yes princess it did, adults sometimes forget special occasions such as this" said Dom as he chipped in.

"Oh I see" said Joy as Natasha nodded.

"Well I asked Alfred to help me, and he made you and daddy dinner for your anniversary" said Joy as she smiled at Alfred and Alfred smiled at her.

"You did?" asked Natasha in surprise.

"Yes mommy, come on" said Joy as she took Natasha's hand and they walked into the dining room as Dom followed after them, and just like Joy had said, the dining table was set, with dinner for two.

"Happy Anniversary Mommy, Happy Anniversary daddy" said Joy as she smiled.

"Oh thank you my baby, this is wonderful" said Natasha as she smiled and she bent down as Joy gave her a kiss.

"You like it mommy?" asked Joy.

"Like it? No we love it" said Dom as he smiled and Joy kissed him as well as she smiled.

"Well enjoy dinner, Alfred and I are going to eat cookies" said Joy as she smiled.

"Alfred come on, let's go" said Joy as she looked at Alfred and he nodded his head as they walked out of the dining room as they left both Natasha and Dom alone.

Dom looked at Natasha as Natasha looked at him, she wondered how they got into this mess?

"I guess that we are stuck here?" asked Dom as Natasha said nothing to him at all as she sat down and she did not wait for him as he did the same.

…

Dom sighed internally, wondering if things would always be this awkward between them, their dinner was as stale as bread left out, Natasha was eating while she was on her phone, totally ignoring him, as he just focused on his meal, he could not take the killing silence.

Natasha made sure to eat as slow as possible, she wanted Joy to be asleep, the only reason she didn't refuse was because she saw the hopeful look on her baby's face, she had forgotten that today was her anniversary of being married to Dom for 6 years in this life, to her, this was just another boring Saturday.

"Are we going to continue like this?" asked Dom as Natasha looked at him as she drank water.

"What do you mean? Continue like what?" asked Natasha as she feigned ignorance.

"You know what Natasha, this" said Dom as he sighed.

"You know Mr. White, I only agreed to this dinner because of my baby's expectant look, I am not obliged to communicate with you" said Natasha as she replied.

"I thought that we made a truce?" asked Dom as he had also forgotten what day today was, it had skipped his mind, to think that he had been married to Natasha for 6 years.

"Oh we did, but that's only not to argue in front of Joy" said Natasha.

"You know Natasha, I am sorry" said Dom.

"What exactly are you sorry for? Tell me what?" asked Natasha as Dom went quiet, he did not know what to say, to say that he was sorry for everything would be an understatement, he was sorry for ruining their good relationship.

"Your silence speaks loudly Mr. White, I've known you for 25 years, and have been unfortunately married to you for 6, look we are both adults here, and I've outgrown the childish back and forth, it's useless, I know better than to keep grudges, let's face it, the only thing that ties you and I together is Joy, and all else fails" said Natasha.

"Let me tell you now, that if not for her, I would have moved out a long time ago, this marriage is a sham, I know it, you know it, so tell me what exactly you want?" asked Natasha.

"Peace Natasha, I want peace, you don't think that it's obvious for everyone, and especially Joy to see that we are not on good terms?" asked Dom.

"Look, peace, fine, I want peace as well, in fact, I hold no grudge against you, it's pointless, I have forgiven you believe it or not, I forgive you for all the pain you put me through, the hurt, the crying, the everything it's all in the past, and I am looking forward to the future" said Natasha.

"Thank you for forgiving me Natasha" said Dom.

"I didn't do it for you, I did it for me, because holding you in my heart, will do nothing but hurt me, and believe me, I've learnt that the hard way" said Natasha.

"I also don't want Joy to think that this is what Love is, to think that all marriages are as miserable as this, because they aren't, I want her to grow up in a warm environment" said Natasha.

"And so do I" said Dom as he agreed.

"Good, so we agree on that, so let's agree to do what's best for our daughter" said Natasha as she smiled and Dom nodded.

"Well Mr. White, that's a deal then" said Natasha as she smiled and there was silence between them for a while.

"You said that you have forgiven me, but you still call me Mr. White" said Dom as he looked at her.

"Yes, I have forgiven you Mr. White, but you don't expect things to go back to the way that they were before, now do you?" asked Natasha as Dom said nothing, she was right.

"Exactly my point" said Natasha as she smiled and she checked her phone, it was 8pm sharp, she was sure that her baby must have been in bed by now.

"Joy must be sleeping now, goodnight" said Natasha as she stood up and she walked out of the dining room as Dom sighed, at least they had cleared out some things.