SEVEN
They didn’t have to wait that long for Wanda and Clint to arrive. They were having a peaceful dinner when they heard Wanda calling Natasha’s name in distress as she hurried her way to the group in the dining area followed by Clint.
When her eyes laid on hers, her tears continued flowing down her cheeks as she ran towards her with open arms like a child being reunited with her mother after not seeing each other for a long time. Natasha welcomed her in her warm embrace trying to comfort her out of her distress, “Wanda I’m here now,” she told her shushing her cries and reassuring her that she won’t be going anywhere this time and they stayed in each other’s arms for a while and Clint was looking at them in awe still not believing the situation unfolding in front of him.
He just stood in the corner watching Wanda as she clings to Natasha’s side not wanting to let her go, afraid that once she does she might just disappear again. This broke his heart seeing the trauma Wanda has to go through. Once Natasha was able to calm her down, she gazed at Clint giving him a bittersweet smile and he sensed that something had happened on that godforsaken planet. He slowly went his way towards her giving her the most comforting hug he could give her. Tears continued flowing down his face as he felt relieved once he felt her warm embrace giving him the assurance he needed, that she was alive and well and that she was right here with them once again.
After getting that stone in exchange for her life Clint couldn’t even think of his family without feeling guilty about how he got them back. He was willing to give his life for them only if he had fought harder it was supposed to be him and not her, but seeing her today in his arms alive he couldn’t be happier. He didn’t know what exactly happened but he was overjoyed that he finally got his best friend back. “You’re, back Nat I thought I lost you forever.” “It should’ve been me, Nat, I thought we had an agreement?” he scolded her.
“You think I’d let you jump off that cliff Barton? You knew damn well that I could beat your sorry ass any time of the day.” She retorted, letting him know that she’ll always end up at the bottom of that cliff no matter how hard he would’ve fought her that day, and just tightened his embrace.
They were on the way to his farm when they heard the news about Natasha and they couldn’t believe the news and made a detour back to the cabin, he immediately called his family and informed them about Nat and that they’ll be running late. Wanda was aloof during the entire course of the journey and he couldn’t blame her as he was in the same situation as her.
The moment he saw Natasha sitting at that dinner table with the rest of his friends, he was washed away with relief and the heavy burden he was feeling ever since attaining that stone was thrown out the window, and was glad that Wanda had found a bit of ease after making sure that Natasha is indeed well. After the situation calmed down his eyes kept lingering in the room still not finding the blonde man who was looking forward to seeing her again more than anyone else in this entire room.
“Is Steve not back yet?” he asked Sam and Bucky. The two gave him a look that answered his question and turned to Nat again. He knew that Steve volunteered to bring back the stones and didn’t know about his decision yet. He and Wanda packed up and left to get to his family thinking that it would be best for Wanda to take a break and be surrounded by people who could watch her closely and he couldn’t think of any other person but Laura. If there’s anyone who could make someone open up to them that would be his wife. She was able to get to Nat and he was sure that she could do the same to Wanda.
“About that, I’m getting him back first thing in the morning.” She informed Clint and Wanda and immediately saw the worry on Wanda’s face. “You’re leaving me again?” Wanda asked looking like a kicked puppy and that pained Natasha’s heart. She held her hands reassuring her that she won’t be that long. “Wanda, I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise you it’ll only take a minute or two.” She could see that she wasn’t convinced at all and tried to persuade her again, but James beat her to it. “I’ll be with her, I’ll help her drag Steve’s ass back here and we’ll be back before you know it,” James said giving her the most genuine smile and she knew that he was indeed telling the truth.
After Wanda fell asleep from exhaustion she heard Clint on the phone with Laura and realized he hadn’t seen them yet. It took a while to finally convince him to go and see them immediately and she finally did, but not after making a deal with him. The deal was for them to go come and visit right after getting Steve back which she agreed to in a blink of an eye.
After walking Clint out and some more hugging he finally left and she felt the exhaustion taking over her and groggily walked back to her room and settled down beside Wanda.
The next day….
Natasha and James were suiting up and Professor Hulk was doing some last-minute adjustments to the machine with Wanda just in the corner witnessing as they prepare for the so-called time heist in the Stark Storage area.
“I’ve set up the time and coordinates with Steve’s time and location before he went off the grid, good luck Nat.” Bruce gave her a gentle smile before going back to his post.
Wanda came over to the platform giving Natasha a longing look and she took Wanda’s hands in hers reassuring her that she’ll be back quickly. “Wanda I’ll be back before you know it.” She told her giving her a genuine smile and making her feel at ease and went to where Bruce was standing and waited for their return.
They arrived at a location familiar to James and somehow figured out that they were in a time when the war has ended. They were outside Margaret Carter’s house and he noticed Natasha staring intently in the window. When he followed her gaze what he saw in front of him broke his heart for Natasha.
The minute they arrived in the place Natasha had put the pieces together and knew that this was Steve’s original timeline he must’ve been stuck in the ice at the moment seeing that they had won the war. This tugged a pain in her heart knowing that he chose his past rather than the present he had. She felt like the family they have was never enough for him or that the memories of her weren’t enough to make him stay in that unconventional family they formed.
When she started to wander her gaze around she finally saw him in the window of that white picket fence.
She saw him dance with her and that brought another pang in her heart, and the most painful part was he was looking at her the way he used to look at her like she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever laid his eyes on. She started questioning Steve’s love for her, but immediately brushed it off. She knew that Steve wouldn’t lie to her, that he wasn’t lying when he told her he loves her, just maybe not as much as he loved Peggy she thought to herself.
She looked at them until she couldn’t anymore, she saw them leaning for a kiss, and that was her cue to turn to Bucky and gave that look telling him it was time to go back. She gave him a bittersweet smile and pressed the button to get home.
The minute she pressed that button and disappeared, the color on Steve’s face was drained the moment his lips touched Peggy’s, and pulled away from her as if her touch had burned him. The spark he felt that came out of nowhere was suddenly gone and was replaced by dread and emptiness once again. He looked at Peggy apologetically and she understood that the Steve in front of her was not the same Steve she knew before.
She looked at him intently and finally realized that gone was the adoring stare he used to give her when they were training and all that was left is empty stares and she gets the feeling of him being lost.
“I’m sorry Peg, I thought I could do it, but I can’t,” Steve told her looking defeated and lost. “I understand Steve, you can tell me everything whenever you are ready.” She told him calmly, patting his shoulder an indication that they will have that talk in the coming days.
Steve had this nagging feeling when he felt that fluttering feeling inside him telling him that it was the other half of his heart, but immediately shrugged it off the minute it was gone. He knew that this feeling only happens in Natasha’s presence, but since he knew she was never coming back, he thought that he should offer what was left of him to Peggy who was here at this moment. When that spark disappeared he knew that he could never offer anything to Peggy because he had nothing left to give it all went away the minute Natasha was taken away from him. He knew he could never love again, not even Peggy who he thought he once loved. He wouldn’t do this to her she deserves someone who will love her wholly and that is not him.
He was a fool for thinking that he had loved Peggy, he didn’t know what love was, not before loving Natasha Romanoff. If only he had listened to that feeling and come back to his family, none of these would have happened, and they could all be spared from the heartaches.