SIX
Natasha found herself in an unfamiliar place, this wasn’t the compound she thought, but as she inspected the surroundings more she found most of the equipment was familiar to her and she had seen all of these before. These were Tony’s inventions or more like toys as Pepper calls them. This brought a smile to her face and she can’t wait to see everybody.
“Auntie Nat!” a tiny voice yelled behind and she immediately turned around and gathered the toddler who was running towards her. “Morgan, I’m so happy to see you.” She told her with tears brimming her eyes whilst she hugged her tightly. Rhodey stood mouth open watching the scene unfold in front of him.
“Natasha? Is that you?” He asked without even noticing the tears flowing down his cheeks. Natasha went to where he was standing with Morgan in her arms still clutching her neck. “Hi Rhodey,” she said approaching him and putting down the toddler to give him a proper hug. He was still frozen unable to believe he was seeing Natasha in the flesh. When he felt her embrace he was out of his trance and responded to her hug. “I can’t believe you’re here Nat,” he embraced her tightly while sobbing.
Rhodey led her to the cabin where the rest was staying while she carried Morgan in her arms it seemed like the kid was scared of letting her go and she admits that she needed this, she was craving for warmth, and Morgan in her arms right now is giving her what she seeks.
As they approach the porch they saw Pepper carrying a plate of snacks for Morgan, but suddenly dropped it and created a noise that got everyone else’s attention inside the cabin. Pepper paid no attention to the mess she just created and ignored Bucky’s inquiry about what had happened. She was focused on the person carrying her daughter whom she was clinging to so tightly like she was afraid of letting her go. She felt the wetness on her cheeks and walked in their direction with open arms and engulfed her in her warm embrace.
Bucky, Sam, Peter, and Professor Hulk went off the porch to see what was going on and were surprised by what they saw. Natasha was there in Pepper’s arms as she carries Morgan and Rhodey looking at them with tears in his eyes. The shocked trance was broken when they heard Pepper’s voice.
“Nat, you’re here!” and engulfed her in her embrace once more and the rest gathered around them as well. Natasha scanned the rest of the faces around her and did not spot the blonde man she was looking for and neither is the other redhead girl whom she cannot wait to see again and check how she was after all those terrible things that had happened to her or even Tony who should be right by Pepper’s side.
“Where is everybody? Where are Steve, Wanda, and Tony? What about Clint, Laura, and the kids? Are they alright? What about the others? Are they alright too” She asked?
Everyone’s surprised and delighted look turned into a gloomy and solemn look indicating that something horrible had happened, this struck Natasha’s heart with pain, but she had to know what happened to the rest so she bravely asked once again.
“Wanda is with Clint and his family, while Steve is out in the time heist returning the stones on its original timeline.” It was James who informed her and waited for an update about Tony’s whereabouts, but it never came. She looked at him as if waiting for an answer, but he found him looking at Pepper sadly. She turned her gaze to the woman in front of her, she saw the sorrow in her eyes and understood easily that she was not seeing Tony anymore. She found herself crying again while embracing the woman in her arms trying the best she can to comfort her.
“I’m sorry Pepper. I am, this shouldn’t be the outcome, it should’ve just been me that was the main purpose of me jumping off in that cliff so no one else has to die.” She sobbed angrily this time.
“Nat don’t say that, you deserve to be here and so does Tony, but he made his choice. This might not be the outcome we wanted, but Tony is at peace now knowing that he was able to protect the people he loves.” Pepper looked at her in the eyes and wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks consoling her.
“Don’t blame yourself, Natasha, you being back here with us only means your purpose is not done yet. Tony’s passing is painful but we can get through this as long as we are all there for each other.” Pepper told her with a genuine and gentle smile and gave her a comforting hug.
They brought her to Tony’s grave and brought flowers to let her pay her respect. She placed a tiny pack of snacks on his tomb, something that he likes to munch on when he was working in his lab. They stayed silent for quite a while and gave her time to reminisce her time with him until Pepper had to turn in Morgan who fell asleep in her arms, most of them bid their goodbye as well until there was only Sam and Bucky left with her.
“Do we have any news from Steve?” she uttered breaking the silence. The two looked at each other as if trying to figure out who was going to tell her the news. Bucky turned to look at her nervously, which made her nervous.
“About that,” Bucky said while scratching his head, something that he does when he doesn’t know where to begin. “He might not be coming back, I mean he thought you were dead and said something about not knowing how to face the future without you.” He told her without a pause.
Natasha looked at him with an unbelievable look accusing him of keeping some vital information. “And you’re just telling me this, now?” she exclaimed. “I need to go and get him now, he needs to know something.” She told them dismissively.
“You’re leaving now?” Sam asked hurriedly, “what about Wanda Nat? Clint said they’re on their way can’t we just wait for her before you got? She was hurt after learning you died and I know this because she made us feel a part of her pain. It was awful Nat.” She looked at them after hearing this and Bucky gave her a knowing look telling her that Sam wasn’t exaggerating at all.
“I promise you, Nat. You will get to Steve soon, let’s wait for Wanda first and let her know that you are alive, okay?” “As soon as she gets here, we’ll go to Steve and drag his ass up back in here,” Bucky said reassuringly.
They went back to the cabin and waited for Wanda and Clint to arrive then Bucky went to Professor Hulk and told him about Nat’s decision to go and get Steve back so he could prepare the machine and make all the necessary arrangements for the trip.