Remembering Romanoff

Chapter 3

       Steve let out a long sigh as he signed Nat's release forms. She was coming home today. He had to face Scarlett and let her know her own mother didn't even remember her name. Nat walked out, bandaged head, casted arm, she was fine but she wasn't at the same time. She was still Natasha Romanoff, but she wasn't the same Natasha Romanoff Steve knew. The glint in her eye was gone. Her face didn't light up like it used to every time she walked into a room and her face just seemed lifeless.

       Nat was walked over to Steve, "Do I have to go home with him?" she asked, turning to the nurse standing beside her. Nat was visibly shaking at the thought of going home with Steve.

      "He's gonna help you. You get to go see your daughter too. You have to go with him, honey." The nurse let go of Nat's shaking hand and walked closer to Steve, "Remember, don't push it. Let her remember on her own." Steve nodded as the nurse headed back to Nat and handed her over to Steve. 

      Steve went to put his arm around Nat, simply by instinct, she quickly pulled away and he put his arm down. "Sorry," he apologized. "Instinct." Nat forced a laugh as her and Steve walked out of the hospital. 

      When they got to the car, Steve automatically opened the taxi door, slightly startling Nat who cautiously got in. The ride back to the house was silent, but they were greeted at the door by Scarlett who immediately hugged Nat. She pulled away saying, "I'm glad you didn't die mommy!" Once she got the confirmation of a slight smile from Nat, Scarlett skipped down the hall. Her ponytails bouncing as her steps echoed down the hall. "Is that her?" Nat asked, the  glint in her eye slightly returning as she genuinely smiled. "Yeah," Steve answered. Nat was still looking at the hall where Scarlett disappeared but Steve could only watch his wife. 

     "I remember always wanting a kid. I used to tell everyone. They used to call me weird for wanting kids at six years old. I guess I just wanted to have kid so I could make sure they didn't live the life I did." Steve's forehead wrinkled as his eyes narrowed in confusion. "How much of your life do you remember?" Steve asked, beginning to question Nat's condition. "I remember up until my tenth birthday at the orphanage. After that it's kinda spotty up until I think my fourteenth birthday. Then it all just kinda goes black, I guess." Steve nodded, realizing she had absolutely no memory of him. They had met in Nat's Junior year and Steve's Senior year. Well after Nat's fourteenth birthday.

     Nat walked away from Steve and walked around the house. "Where's your bathroom?" She asked as she walked back into the kitchen. "Take a left and then it's your first right." Steve smiled. Nat listened to what Steve said and found the bathroom quickly. She closed the door and just stood at the counter which sat right below the large mirror on the wall. She leaned up against the counter, placing her hands on either side of her to support her. She dropped her head and felt her eyes flood with tears. She let them all out and before she knew it she heard a knock at the door. "Are you okay, mama?" Scarlett's voiced squeaked. Nat wiped her eyes and sniffed. She opened the door to see her daughter looking up at her with her bright blue-green eyes. "I'm okay." Nat smiled as she rubbed Scarlett's blonde head of hair. 

      "Lunch is ready!" Steve called from the kitchen where he stood next to the stove where a big pot sat. "Mmm! I smell chicken noodle soup! Your favorite, mama!" Nat sat down in the seat Scarlett pulled out for her. Nat took a spoonful of the soup out of the bowl that was sitting, steaming in front of her. She forced it down with a big gulp. It took all of her not to spit out the soup. She held back a gag as she swallowed another bit of the soup. She could not understand how she used to like the soup.  "You okay, Nat?" Steve asked, looking up from is already almost empty bowl of soup. "Yeah, I'm just not very hungry." Nat faked a yawn. "Is there a place I could sleep?" Scarlett looked up from her bowl. Visual confusion on her face. "The bed is fine, Natasha." Scarlett went back to eating as it seemed all was normal. "No, no. I don't want to intrude. I can sleep on a couch if that's fine with you?" Steve frowned. "If you want to, but please, don't feel like your intruding." Scarlett's spoon clattered as she looked up and back and forth between her parents. "Why is she sleeping on the couch?" Both Nat and Steve broke their gaze and looked at Scarlett. "Is mommy mad at you?" She asked. 

       Nat looked at Steve and could see the tears filling his eyes. He blinked to hold them back, but one fell. "Daddy? Whats wrong?"