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It's only 7 am, but the entire Watchtower is looted by a cry of a baby. John Walker, or well known as US Agent, a member of The New Avengers, and also the dad, is having a headache.
Alexei comes out of his room “I swear to god, John. Can you mute that baby down?" asks Alexei.
"I'm trying, okay?!" John replies.
Yesterday, John's ex-wife, Olivia, was asking his favor to take care of their son. Olivia is a little bit busy taking care of her sick father. John doesn't mind taking care of their two years old son and bringing him to the Watchtower.
Well, of course... with Val's approval through Mel. At least Val is not cruel this time.
It was fine at first. The team were welcoming him very well, especially Bob and Yelena. Surprisingly, they are pretty good at handling children. But since last night, Mark has being cranky and couldn’t stop crying. Perhaps because he missed his mom or not comfortable staying at the Watchtower.
"Is he thirsty? Have you given him milk?" asks Yelena.
Ava is coming out from her room and having a seat next to Yelena at the kitchen bar. She is extremely annoyed with the toddler, but remains silent because she understands that it's not easy to take care of him.
"Yes, already did." John answers while Mark is crying so loud on his lap. "Gosh, I need to pee right now!"
Bucky, who is eating french toast, is walking at him. "You go. I'll take care of him for a while." Bucky says.
John breathes a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Bucky." He replies. He hands Mark to Bucky and runs to the toilet.
Bucky is looking at Mark awkwardly. Mark is not cranky anymore while sitting on Bucky's lap. "Hey?" Bucky greets him.
Mark is just looking at him and wiping his tears.
"You are a little soldier. Why are you crying? Are you thirsty? Hungry?" Bucky asks him.
Mark is shaking his head, a sign of a "No."
"Are you bored? Want to take a look outside?" Bucky is carrying him to the giant window. "That is a bus." Bucky is pointing at a bus. "And look! There is a bird flying." Now Bucky is pointing at a flying bird.
Ava, Yelena, and Alexei are looking at each other in confusion. This is such an odd scene to watch.
"Never knew The Winter Soldier was also trained to be a father." whispers Alexei to Ava and Yelena.
"Seems like you are ready to be a daddy." Ava teases him. Bucky is just turning at them with a frowned forehead.
Bob has finally appeared, he is rubbing his sleepy eyes. "Good morning," as he sits on the couch.
Not very long... Mark is crying again and he is slapping Bucky's face. Bucky is looking at the baby with a disbelieving look--It's the same reaction as when the Dora Milaje disarmed him.
"100% Walker's son. No need DNA test." says Bucky. "I can't, please anyone take this kid."
"Oh sure, let me hold him." says Bob.
Bucky is giving Mark to Bob. Bob is carrying Mark while singing 'Wheels on the Bus' CoComelon version. Surprisingly, Mark is laughing happily in Bob's embrace.
"Toddlers." says Ava, referring to Bob and Mark.
John is finally out from the toilet and joining them at the kitchen bar. "Thank god, I held my pee for hours."
"Okay, what are you going to do with your son? We are having an important mission today at DC." Yelena asks Walker.
"Shit, you are right." replies Walker. "Bob can take care of him, he is Mark's best friend for sure."
Bob is smiling. "I would love to, but I don't think I can for today. I'm having a therapy session today." Bob answers. "Sorry, Walker."
"Shit." curses Walker. "Can we ask Mel to reschedule Bob's-"
"No. We can't." Bucky hisses at him. He is hating that idea.
Bob is trying to calm them. "Actually, it's fine. Maybe we can ask Mel-"
"No." The entire team cut his words.
Ava is heaving a sigh. "My leg injury is recovering, I can walk properly. I can join you all, so Walker can stay and take care of his son."
"That's worse. You stay." Bucky replies.
"Really? Do you have any better ideas?" Ava asks him. "I'm fine right now! Please let me be helpful!"
Yelena is shaking her head, a sign that she disagrees. "No, Ava. Maybe you are not limping but this is probably a huge mission. You can get hurt again."
"It's simple! Ava stays at the dorm and takes care of John's son! Ha! It's safer and helpful!" Alexei says.
"No. That can't be happened." Ava rejects his idea immediately.
"Well, that's not a bad idea, though." Yelena says.
Ava is shaking her head and looking at John. "I don't hate your son, but I can't handle a child. I'm clueless, inexperienced, and I'm having baby blues."
"Ava, you've never given birth to any child. You don't have baby blues." Bucky corrects her.
Ava growls in panic. "Still, I don't know what to do with that kid!"
"Ava, I understand that you don't like kids. I know that you hate me as well. But please, can you help me with this one?" Walker is begging her that time.
Again, Ava is shaking her head. "No, Walker-"
"I can teach you before leaving. I will prepare my son's meal. You just need to heat it in the microwave later during lunch and dinner." cuts John. "I'm begging you this time, please help me."
Ava scoffs. "Fine. I'll do it only for the team. Not for you."
Yelena releases a sigh of relief. "Thank god."
"Thank you!" John is yelling and hugging Ava immediately.
Everybody in the room is shocked. Ava is the shockest one. "Walker, let me go or I'm gonna change my mind!" says Ava.
"Okay, sorry." replies John while releasing Ava from the hug.
--
Ava is staring at Mark who is sitting on the carpet. The boy is looking at her too, a little confused. He is thinking about who that lady is.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ava asks him.
The boy keeps looking at her. Of course, he doesn't understand what Ava said. Ava sighs, "Are you bored?" She asks.
"CoComelon!" says Mark.
"Oh god, not that damn yellow bus song again." Ava growls hard again. But she has no other choice.
Lesson #1 from John Walker:
When he is bored and cranky, Play 'Wheels of the Bus' by CoComelon.
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round
Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All 'round the town
"Sing!" says Mark to Ava.
"You want me to sing?" Ava asks him.
"Sing!"
Ava claps her forehead. "Oh my god please kill me right now..."
"Sing!" Mark's voice is louder this time.
"The wheels on the bus go round and round..." Ava sings the lyrics flatly.
Jokes on you if you think they only sing that song once. They sing it for like a thousand times, at this point Ava wants to puke so bad.
"Hey Ava, just wanna make sure you and Mark are alright." John is calling Ava through the phone.
"I'm not alright! I've been singing this shitty yellow bus song for an hour, I think I'm going crazy!!" Ava is venting the emotions.
Ava can hear laughter from all of them. Even Bucky is the one that laughs the loudest this time. "Are you kidding me? I was trained to be a fighter not a nanny?!!!" She says in frustration.
"Sorry, can't do anything for that. That's his favorite song. He would scream if you changed the song." replies John.
"Please finish the mission ASAP!" Ava says before ending the call.
After almost two hours of singing that CoComelon song, Ava is preparing lunch for Mark. John already cooked a baked salmon with broccoli this morning, and Ava needs to heat it in the microwave and make a mashed potato.
Lesson #2 from John Walker
Don't forget the Choo-Choo Train.
"Okay, Little Walker." Ava is sitting Mark at the baby chair near the dining table. "Time for lunch." She says.
Ava is letting out a heavy sigh. "Are you ready for the Choo-Choo Train?" Ava says while flying a spoon of mashed potato.
Thankfully, Mark is not spitting the food. He is actually eating so well. Sometimes, he takes the food to his mouth by himself. Ava feels relief this time.
"Okay. Nice job, Little Walker. At least you're good at eating." Ava says while looking at Mark taking a baked salmon to his mouth.
Ava takes this moment to eat her lunch too. After thinking for a long time, she ordered Chinese food because it's the only delicious and instant food to eat in these circumstances.
"Well, actually it's great. I'm having a companion at lunch." Ava says to Mark, even though he didn't understand any single word she said.
After finishing the lunch, Ava is moving Mark to the carpet for playing with his toy. Ava is also washing the dishes and feeding Alpine and Mr. Cucumber too because Alpine can't stop meow-ing since they have lunch..
"Shut up you whiny cat, of course I'll feed you." Ava says while putting dry food in Alpine's bowl. "You eat a lot. Are you also a super soldier? fat cat." says Ava while caressing Alpine's head.
Don't let Bucky know. Bucky is going to scold her if he finds out about how Ava called Alpine. "Please don't tell your dad." says Ava again to Alpine.
Done taking care of the pet, Ava is back with Mark. Mark is playing with his toy, and suddenly without Ava predicted, Mark is crying.
Ava is having a seat next to him. "Oh god, why are you crying?" asks Ava.
Her hand is moving to the TV remote to replay the CoComelon song again. But Mark is still crying. Oh god, please save Ava.
John is picking up a call from Ava. "What, Ava? It's not the right time! I'm in the middle-"
"Your son is crying. I already played that damn song again but he is still crying. I already feed him too. I don't understand why he is crying!" cuts Ava, feeling exhausted and frustrated.
There is a long silence from John. "Have you checked his diaper?"
"What?"
"His diaper. Smell it, now."
Ava is carrying Mark and smelling his diaper. "OH GOD HE IS POOPING!" Ava screams hysterically.
"I know," replies John. "I've taught you how to clean up this morning. Don't panic, It's just a poop."
"Yes, and it is the worst!" Ava replies to him while she is ending the call.
Ava takes a heavy breath, she smiles, and she carries Mark to John's bedroom. "Okay Little Walker... let's clean up."
When Ava opens the diaper, she can't hold the smell. She closes her nose and gives him a disgusted look. Surprisingly, Mark laughs at her reaction.
"You should laugh earlier." says Ava.
While Ava is cleaning up Mark, Ava realizes something. Being a mother is not easy. She would never be ready to be a mother. She doesn't even know how to be one.
"Well, you should be grateful. You have both of your parents, and they love you a lot. You should be a good person when you grow up." says Ava to Mark.
Ava lost her parents since she was a kid. She grew up without them, and she ended up growing up as an experiment. She never got any affection from anyone. She was lonely.
Even though she almost got burned alive at the vault by Valentina, she is really grateful. At least, that unfortunate event led her to this team. This team might be a bunch of suicidal losers, but still, they are her family. For once in her life, she never feels lonely anymore.
Mark can't stop murmuring "Ga-Ga-Ga" while clapping his hands.
"Such a yapper. Just like your father." Ava says. She smiles. "Please don't grow up like your father."
--
While Yelena, Bucky, Alexei, and John arriving at the dorm, the first thing they saw is Ava sleeping so tight on the couch, she is even snoring.
"Oh, you guys back." greets Bob.
John is noticing that Ava is sleeping alone on the couch. "Bob, where is Mark?" John asks.
"He is sleeping in your room. When I arrived, I saw Mark sleeping on Ava's lap. So I decided to move him to your room." Bob answers.
John is walking to his room and sees his son is sleeping on his bed. He is so relieved and walks back to the living room.
"Is she alive?" says Yelena while watching Ava sleeping.
"I'm afraid, no." Bucky answers.
Yelena touches Ava's arm to wake her up. Ava is awake and sees all of them are watching her sleeping.
"Why are you watching me like that?!" Ava says.
"We thought you were dead." Bucky replies. He is walking to the corner where Alpine is sitting.
"Thank god, you guys are finally home." Ava heaves a sigh, and suddenly she is bawling alive. "Shit! I haven't given that kid a dinner!!!"
John is waving his hand to Ava. "Jesus, calm down!" John says to calm her. "That's okay, it's still 5.30. I'll feed him."
Ava heaves a sigh again. "Oh god, I think I'm having baby blues for real."
Yelena, who is standing near Mr. Cucumber mini cage, is looking at Ava. "Ava, please don't tell me that you were the one who fed Mr. Cucumber?"
"And Alpine too?" Bucky adds her. He realizes that there are a lot of dry food left in the bowl.
"Yes, technically I'm taking care of 3 children." Ava answers. "You should thank me this time."
"Yeah. Thank you, Ava. Really." says Yelena.
Bucky is sitting on the couch, next to Ava. "You were struggling enough to take care of Walker's son. But you take your time to feed Alpine too. Thank you."
Ava rolls her eyes. "Your whiny cat couldn't stop meow-ing. She asked for food every hour."
"Hey!" Bucky hisses at her.
"I can't thank you enough," says John. He is handing Ava a can of beer. "Thank you for taking care of Mark."
John is smiling at her. Probably the most sincere smile John ever give to her. "Make sure it will be the last. I can't be a nanny anymore. I retire." Ava replies.
Yelena laughs at her response. "I thought you had a plan to open a day care one day."
"I'd rather die." Ava says.
"What if you become a mother one day?" John asks her.
"With all my childhood trauma? No thanks." Ava says. She takes another sip from the beer.
Ava never imagined herself to have children. Even for getting married, she never thinks of that. If she could reset her life and have a normal life, she would rather go to school and build her career.
"Actually, I agree. Handling children is not easy. I don't think I'm ready yet to have a child." Bucky replies. "I want to have one, but... I don't think I'm ready for now."
Yelena sits next to Bucky. "Yeah, make sure to have safe sex, buddy." She shoves his arm to tease him.
Bucky frowns at her. "Too much information." He says.
"Okay, enough talking about having kids," Ava tries to change the topic. "I'm starving. Let's order dinner!"
"Chinese food would be great," Bucky says.
Ava hisses at him. "No! I had that for lunch."
"Pizza. It's simple." Yelena says.
John shakes his head. "No. We already ate pizza three times this week." He refuses.
"How about... burger?" Bob tries to give them ideas.
Ava raises her brows. "Such a lame choice, but I'm craving for that right now." She says. "Okay, then it's a burger!"
"Come on, you haven't heard an idea from me." John says.
"I took care of your son today. You have no right to argue with me this time." Ava replies.
Bucky heaves a heavy sigh. "Let me order it, so the both of you can stop talking."
"I want a cheeseburger deluxe with coke," says Ava.
"Me too, but with extra fries." says Yelena.
Bob raises his hand. "I want a beef burger. With fries." says him. "Oh, and also strawberry milkshakes, please."
Bucky heaves another sigh. "Calm down kids, I’m old and I only have 2 hands and one of them is prosthetic."
At least, all of them are closing this tiring day with a great burger.