Spring in Moscow
Natasha walked slowly through the elaborate gardens on the palace grounds. Her nephew Mikhail had wanted her to sit in on a meeting, but the day was too lovely to not be outside. The sun was a balmy 60 degrees. Natasha smiled as she inhaled the perfumed air and soaked up the warm sunlight. Bright flowers in bloom surrounded her and added to the tranquility of the gardens.

It was much better than sitting in on a meeting.

She had used her pregnancy as an excuse and told her nephew she wanted to nap for awhile. Jet lag and pregnancy not mixing well or something along those lines.

The beautiful setting of the gardens helped to take her mind off of Ivan. The old man's health was in decline and Natasha worried about him. He was in his nineties and still had a sharp mind, but time was catching up to him. His body was beginning to fail him and Natasha and Ivan both knew he didn't have much time left.

There was a tightness in Natasha's chest at the thought of losing Ivan. He had been with her for her entire life and she couldn't imagine life without him. Ivan had been her only family for many decades. He was the only father she had ever known. He was a grandfather to her children.

She was so enmeshed in her inner thoughts she almost didn't notice the small fluttering feeling in her abdomen.

Natasha stopped walking and concentrated. She couldn't have been imagining it. There. Another one. Natasha smiled. The baby was moving and she just felt it for the first time. She just wished Tony could have been here for this. Still smiling, Natasha started walking again.