DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to Marvel.

A/N: Thank you for adding this story to your Favourites and Story Alert! Thank you for the reviews! MAGIC CONFETTI FOR ALL OF YOU!

Hogg: I'm not sure if Loki would make an appearance yet! I'm kinda planning this along the way XD

ScaryPencils: Thanks! :D I hope so too! Well, it'll be explained in this chapter!

Muse-at-dawn: Really? Awesome! As they say, great minds think alike ;)

XXXXXX

"Natasha, this one's yours," said Clint.

"Why me?"

"Because it would look weird for us to bring Baby Cap here shopping for clothes."

Natasha placed her hands firmly on her hips, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowing down on Clint. "What? Just because I'm a woman, it's my duty to go shopping?"

She stared at all of them, raising one eyebrow. They became nervous under her glare and as if on cue, they all started looking busy with something.

"Asgard needs me!"

"I have research to do!"

"I need to polish my bow!"

"Beeeeeeeep... OH LOOK! Stark Towers needs me!"

"That's not even your cell phone!"

"Yeah! You just made that noise up!"

"Shut it!"

"Cell phone? What is this cell phone?"

"We'll explain later, Thor!"

Quickly the others scrambled around and headed towards the exit. Natasha folded her arms and shook her head. She looked around for Steve and found him still trying to lift his shield.

He noticed Natasha so he walked over to her, tugged at her boot and when she looked down towards him, she saw his blue eyes curiously meeting hers.

"I want my shield," he said, pointing towards the circular object. "Please?"

Natasha couldn't help but smile. Even as a three-year-old kid, he still remembers to be so polite, she thought.

She bent down so that she would be on eye-level with him and said "C'mon, Steve. Time to get you some clothes."

With that, she picked up his shield to be left with Coulson and they walked out of the room.

XXXXXX

About two hours later, Natasha was walking back to her apartment holding Steve's hand while she carried shopping bags in the other. She managed to buy enough clothes to last him a week, so she folded the receipts and stuck them into her purse, reminding herself to claim her "shopping expenses" from SHIELD. They finally stopped at the front door and she fished out her keys from her bag.

"Miss? Where are we?" Steve asked.

"This is my home."

Natasha was surprised that a kid his age could string together proper sentences and he had no trouble in pronouncing words, as well has possessing an impressive vocabulary. Tony explained earlier that the most logical reason was that the serum that was injected in Steve as an adult was still in his system when he got transformed into a toddler.

He explained that although Steve won't have the same level of strength, speed, and endurance he had as an adult, the serum would heighten his capabilities as a toddler, which means his level of speech, thinking, and physical abilities would be at the peak of his age.

Steve walked in and looked around. Natasha set the bags down on the sofa as Steve walked around, taking in everything around him and finally settled himself on the sofa; his short legs dangling over the edge. Natasha couldn't help but stare at how... small... the Captain looks.

His blond hair was still neatly groomed and his eyes were still that in that piercing shade of blue. Even his clothes; a blue plaid button-shirt, brown pants, and dark brown shoes were exactly the same type of clothes that Steve would wear as an adult.

"Would you like something to eat?" she asked.

Steve was quiet for a moment before looking up at her.

"People told me it's rude to ask others for something," said the little boy quietly.

"Not if you ask nicely."

Steve remained quiet, tapping his heels together and playing with his fingers.

"C'mon, I'm sure there's something you want to eat," she said, sitting down next to him.

Steve slowly looked up at Natasha, blue eyes hopeful. "Can we have cheeseburgers for dinner?"

She smiled. "Then cheeseburgers it shall be. Have you ever heard of McDonald's?"

The little boy shook his head. "No. Is it a farm? Why do they sell burgers at farms?"

"Come with me and you'll see."

XXXXXX

"That was the best cheeseburger I've ever tasted!" exclaimed Steve as they entered Natasha's apartment.

She still couldn't believe that Steve had three burgers, two apple pies, and a milkshake. But then again, Steve did consume a lot of food as an adult due to his extremely high metabolism, so it really shouldn't surprise her.

Steve sat on the sofa and leaned back, a content look on his face. All of a sudden, he jumped back on his feet and looked around the room.

"Hey, what are you looking for?" asked Natasha, confused.

"My shield."

"Don't worry, it's in safe hands. You'll get it back as soon."

Steve's face fell and Natasha instantly regretted not lugging along his shield with them. She already had to walk around with a miniature Captain America and shopping bags full of toddlers' clothes. She didn't need a circular vibranium shield to add to that.

"How soon is soon?" asked Steve.

"More like... next week."

"Oh."

Natasha racked her brain, trying to come up with something. Finally, she came up with an idea when she saw an empty pizza box on her kitchen counter.

"I have an idea," she said. "But first, we'll need some paint and a brush."

XXXXXX

After going door-to-door asking her neighbours if they have some paint and brushes, they spent almost two hours trying to cut out a perfect circle from the pizza box, painting it to match Steve's actual shield, then attaching straps made from old towels to it.

"There. That should do it for now," she said, admiring her handiwork.

Steve slid the shield onto his arm and smiled. "Thank you," he said. Then he slid it off and proceeded to lay down on the sofa, and hugged the shield to his chest. His eyes were fluttering close as he snuggled against the soft material.

"Why don't you sleep on my bed while I sleep on the sofa? It's much more comfortable," offered Natasha.

"It's okay, miss. Your sofa is very soft, so it'll be fine. Also, this is your home."

She smiled and nodded. "If you say so. But if you need anything, just ask," she said.

Steve gave a sleepy smile and finally drifted off to sleep, so Natasha went to get an extra blanket to put around him. She smiled as she watched Steve sleeping peacefully, his grip on the cardboard shield as strong as ever.

"Good night, Cap," she said softly and she retreated to her room.

TO BE CONTINUED