Stay With Me

3. The Truth Hurts

Undisclosed Location. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. July 5th 2018.

"What the hell Natasha? I said to talk to her. Not drug and kidnap her!" Steve yells while checking Juliette's pulse. The steady beat of her heart increases slights under Steve's fingers. Like she knows he's there, even if she's unconscious.

"I didn't kidnap her. I forcefully encouraged her to see you?" Natasha questions, trying to make it sound like she didn't do exactly what Steve said.

"Ugh yeah, that's kidnapping. Christ Nat she's going to be so angry."

Nat shrugs. "Good, you like when she feisty."

"She's going to be more than feisty. She's going to be livid."

"She'll get over it. Because she isn't over you. By the way, she didn't sleep with that guy."

"How do you know that?"

"She told me."

Steve lifts his gaze from Juliette's sleeping face. "She told you she still loves me?"

"Not exactly, but if you would have seen the way she polished off a bottle of wine and cried herself to sleep last night you would know it too. It's obvious."

Steve stares down at the love of his life, and prays what Natasha said is true. He should have tried harder to get back to her. Juliette's silver satin robe falls open as he stares, revealing her black silk pajama set. The material so sheer he can nearly see through it and so soft it feels like butter against his skin.

He loved those pajamas. He gave them to her their first Christmas together. The way the sheer material hung off her shoulders and peaked at her breasts — he groans — remembering how she felts under his palms.

"You're staring."

Steve shrugs, not even denying it. "What am I gonna do if this doesn't work? How am I supposed to live knowing she's out there, being loved by someone else?"

Natasha stands over Steve as he kneels in front of Juliette and lays a hand on his shoulder. "It will work."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know you, and I know her. And no two were ever destined for each other the way you two are. You belong together."

Steve nods and whispers. "We were gonna start a family. I was going to retire. We wanted a normal life."

"You can still have all those things. This is just a small hiccup in your story."

He sighs, stands and starts pacing around the room. "Why isn't she up yet? How much did you give her?'

I gave her the right amount. But when I prepared it I didn't know she'd been drinking. It might take her a while to sleep it off." Natasha grimaces when Steve spins on her, rage in his eyes.

"She's going to be so mad."

Natasha laughs, "Yeah yeah, she's going to be mad and turn into a brat, you're going to get frustrated and turned on trying to put her back in line, she's going to defy you which turns her on and in an hour of her waking up I'll be standing outside waiting for you two too finish hashing it out. Thank you... you're welcome."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Juliette groans.

Steve drops to his knees in front of her again, and pushes the hair from her eyes. "Sweetheart, you're awake." He gives her a sad half smile, silently apologizing for the situation.

His smile quickly fades as Natasha marches over to them and hand cuffs Steve's wrist, followed by Juliette's.

"Natasha? What the hell?" Steve turns.