Forty-Seven

                                    

                                          
Natasha 
"Nat?" Yelena asks in confusion. "Is it really you?"
I nod and step towards her, "it's me Lena. I'm here."
Yelena looks at Dr Lori and back to me, "where is here? This one won't give me a straight answer. She just keeps saying something about Heaven." Yelena pauses as if she was actually considering that answer now, "but if you are here.. then I died."
I nod, "you did."
Yelena frowns, "that is unfortunate. I had a party to go to." She shrugs, "oh well. I'm sure there are parties here." Her eyes glance down at my stomach and then back to my face, "what is that?"
I chuckle as I put a hand on my round belly, "I'm pregnant. Duh."
"We can't have kids. Duh."
"Here we can," I tell her softly. "The Rebirth fixes everything that was wrong with us when we died. So now we have a uterus, no more scars, no achy joints for years of combat training." I hesitate before asking, "how did you die?" 
Yelena glances at Dr Lori again and she excuses herself, "I should go find my wife." 
Once she's gone, I take a seat next to Yelena and wait for her to answer. It takes her a moment since her eyes are glued to my stomach. "I was sick," she finally says. "My brain.. started to eat itself. It was an unfortunate side effect from the mind control and not even mom could fix it." 
"I'm so sorry," I tell her. I was suddenly very grateful that I hadn't watched my sister these past few years. "How is mom? And Alexi?"
Yelena sighs, "they are good. Old and annoying but good. They were pissed that they weren't around to stop you from dying but they make up for it with little Natasha." She stops suddenly and gives me an apologetic smile, "I had a daughter with my.. wife." She waits to see my reaction and when I don't make a big deal about it she continues, "her name is Kate Bishop and we named our daughter after you." 
I can't bring myself to tell her that I already know so I just take her hand and hold it tightly, "I'm happy for you, little sister. You finally got the life you'd dreamed of." 
She hesitantly puts a hand on my stomach and says, "so did you. Although it's hard to imagine the type of man that can handle you." 
I stand up and pull her with me, "come on. There's people you need to meet." I don't correct her about the man actually being a woman. She'd find out soon enough. 
As we get out into the waiting room, I see Elias holding a sleeping Nik. When Elias sees us, she stands up quickly and comes over cautiously, "are you alright? Wanda said that you had to come here right away but she didn't tell me why and then all Doc would tell me is that it's a family thing and to give you space?"
Stepping next to her, I put a hand on her arm, "Elias this is my sister, Yelena. Yelena, this is my wife Elias and our son Nikolai." 
Yelena looks at all of us and smiles, "it's about time. I always suspected that we had more in common than what we thought."
I can't help the loud laugh that escapes me and Nik whines in Elias's arms. Elias rubs his back while making soothing sounds, "it's nice to meet you Yelena. I've heard a lot about you." 
Yelena looks proud, "all bad things I hope." 
"Not at all," I tell her. "Is it alright if Yelena stays with us for a while Elios?"
Elias smirks at her name, "of course she can. She may have to sleep on the couch though."
"As long as there's mac and cheese," Yelena jokes. 
Elias looks surprised, "good to know it runs in the family." 
"What does?" Yelena asks curiously. 
"The cheesy pasta obsession," Elias explains. "All she wanted for her first pregnancy was mac and cheese with hot sauce."
Yelena gasps, "my favorite meal."
"His too," I tell her as I gesture to Nik. "And to answer your question, there will be plenty of it at home. Which we should be getting to." I offer Yelena my hand and she takes it happily, swinging our hands between us as we walk out of the center and towards home.