The Eternal Avenger: Book Two

Chapter Eight: Answers

(Natasha's POV):

I couldn't keep the smile off of my face as the kids lured Claray into the woods. Although I was crouched on one knee, I kept my eyes peeled for any sign of movement. I wanted to spot her as soon as possible. But before long, I saw her carefully approaching. From behind me, Lila's voice made an announcement.

"We did it, Auntie Nat!" She cried, gleefully.

"You did good, Lila!" I called back. Claray had paused a few feet away, her hands clasped tightly to her mouth, eyes wide and brimming with tears that I hoped were happy.

"Tasha," She whispered. She reached for me, and pulled me to my feet.

"I thought you liked me at that height," I teased. Her face flushed red instantly.

"Tasha, there are children," she hissed. I giggled, grabbing her hands, pulling her in even closer. She smirked at me, pushing my hair out of my face lightly. "Aren't you supposed to give a speech or something?" She teased, resting her hands on my hips. I grinned up at her.

"Speeches aren't really my thing. This is more of an invitation." Claray grinned back, pressing her lips to my forehead.

"Oh yeah? Where are we going?" She asked.

"Anywhere." I rested my head on her shoulder.

"That's specific," she chuckled.

"An invitation to forever." Claray pulled back, slightly, staring down into my eyes with her crystal-clear blue ones.

"What are you saying?" She was adorable when she scrunched her nose like that. I smiled, pulling her back to a big rock a few feet away, sitting next to her. I looked down at our hands, clasped together like we would never let go.

"When I was in Budapest with Yelena...she made up this story about my life in her head. I told her that wasn't my story – that I had never allowed myself to be alone long enough to figure it out." She nodded, waiting for me to continue.

"Turns out, instead of no family, I had two. And you're a part of both of them, now." I reached up with my thumb, tracing the single tear that was making its way down her cheek. "No matter what forever looks like, and what happens from here on out, I just know I want it to be with you." Claray smirked.

"You're pretty good at speeches after all, Romanoff." I giggled through teary eyes.

"I used to think that love was for children and maybe it is. The truth is that when I'm with you, I finally feel free enough to be who I really am." Well now we were both crying. This was going well. I saw Nate out of the corner of my eye, waiting by the tree right where he was supposed to be. I gestured him over, and he handed me something. "Marry me." I opened my hand, holding the white gold, Celtic knot and sapphire ring.

"Are you asking or telling?" She smiled against my cheek.

"What do you think, принцесса?"

"Seems as though I don't really have a choice." I pulled back and grinned at her.

"Damn right." I vaguely remember the kids cheering as our lips smashed together and pulled each other into a tight hug. We walked back towards the farmhouse hand in hand, laughing as the kids – even the reserved teenage boy – ran in circles around us, giggling, cheering, and screaming for their parents. I leaned into Claray, whispering into her ear. "I've got one more surprise for you," I whispered. She looked at me with her eyebrows raised.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you love?" She grinned and I blushed. When she said certain things her accent reappeared ever so slightly, and it was the cutest thing I'd ever heard. We rounded the last corner before the house and Claray's eyes opened wide when she saw Bridgit standing there. She looked back at me and I nodded.

"Go on, then." I shooed her towards her old friend who immediately swung into Claray's arms in a massive hug. Clint and Laura appeared on the porch, arms wrapped around each other, holding up champagne glasses and handing them out to the others.

"Cocky about my answer, were you?" Claray asked once she disentangled herself from her friend's embrace. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I took a guess." She smiled at me, reaching back for my hand, pulling all three of us into a group hug.

"Good to see you, Nat," Bridgit said, smiling wide.

"You, too." I hugged her properly, walking hand in hand with Claray up onto the porch. The kids caught up to us in a loud, boisterous whoosh.

"Mom, Dad, we totally helped!" Lila shrieked excitedly. Clint grinned up at me, pulling me into a hug as well. I couldn't remember the last time I had hugged this many people all at once. Clint raised his glass into the air.

"I'd like to propose a toast to the world's second-greatest couple," he started. The group burst into laughter.

"How long did you have to train him to do that, Laura," Claray grinned. Laura laughed.

"I like this one, you can keep her," she smiled at me. I tilted my head

"Planning on it." Claray looked over at me.

"There are some people we should tell," she said, softly. Almost immediately, we glanced at each other, remembering all the other people that we wished we could tell, but couldn't. We smiled at each other anyway.

"I'll tell Carol," I said quickly. Claray scoffed.

"You just don't want me talking to her unless I have to," she smirked. I rolled my eyes.

"That's not true." That was exactly true.

"What about Wanda?" She asked. Next to me, Bridgit cleared her throat.

"About that." In unison, Claray and I turned in her direction.

"What?"

"What about her." I watched Bridgit's eyes flicker between the two of us.

"Now that's just creepy," she whispered. Claray rested her hand on Bridgit's shoulder, refocusing her.

"What about Wanda." Bridgit glanced over her shoulder at Clint, who was now staring at her intently. He had a soft spot for Wanda, looked out for her like a daughter in a lot of ways. Her brother saved her life. Claray saved her brothers, only to lose him to a stupid accident.

"We should sit down." Bridgit started, but stopped as the three of us nearly simultaneously crossed our arms over our chests. "Also, you all really, really need to stop that." I think at that moment she realized she was in the middle of a triangle of three former-Avengers. She put her hands up. "Let's go inside." Clint looked at Laura who nodded and immediately began rounding up the kids. Clint jutted his chin towards the house, and we silently spun and headed inside. Once seated around the living room, Bridgit leaned forward clasping her hands in front of her.

"What's going on, Bridg?" Claray asked, softly.

"Something has happened with Wanda."

"What kind of something." I leaned forward now, glancing over at Claray and seeing an equally concerned expression.

"When Natasha called me and invited me here, I wasn't in Scotland." She said softly. Claray frowned.

"Where were you?"

"I was in New Jersey." Bridgit glanced around the room at each of us in turn.

"Who did something to Wanda?" Claray asked, staring at her old friend intently. Bridgit lifted her eyes to her friend.

"You don't understand. No one's done anything to Wanda, that we know of. It's something that Wanda has done."