It wasn't easy, but Howard Stark let them have a party. After a lot of pleas, puppy dog eyes and a smart negotiation from Natasha (who said: "business is key. That's what he said," much to the amusement of the others,) and a nudge from Tony's Mum, Howard's wife, Maria.
So, at 9:00 am, Natasha set out to the Starks house.
Banners, streamers and confetti lay everywhere. It was a sight to behold.
"Hi!" Pepper enveloped her in a hug.
Natasha was wearing her best, which considering they were in grade six, wasn't that fancy, (unlike Tony and his whole house,) was pretty nice. She was wearing a black dress with a red belt.
(NO! I made a cover with the dresses, but it was on word, and it didn't work so I deleted it! AHH!)
Pepper wore a white shirt with a purple ribbon around her waist that led into a lavender skirt.
Maria Hill, a friend from English, wore a navy-blue dress that had a belt coming off as two ribbons at the side.
Laura Cardellini (Since I couldn't find her 'maiden'? name, I used the actor's last name. Oh. It's Laura Barton, I forgot to add that. :) wore a light blue dress with fake gemstones along the sleeves.
Wanda Maximoff had a teal dress with a lavender clip on the dress.
All the boys had suits or at least parts of one. Bucky was wearing a white shirt, a black tie and blue denim jeans.
"Hi," Natasha said, waving.
They all stood there, the boys staring at her, and Pepper, Maria and Laura just smiled sadly.
"Well, come on," Tony said. "There is cake, for goodness sake."
Natasha grabbed Clint and Laura's hands and led them to the food table.
Clint smiled at Laura, and she just rolled her eyes.
Steve, Sam and Bucky piled their plates with food. Natasha walked over to them.
"I wanted to wear jeans," she said simply, stealing a chocolate chip from Bucky's plate.
"Mum wouldn't let me. Thanks for the chocolate by the way."
Bucky tried to grab it back, but she slapped his hand away.
"So, I compromised by wearing a bowtie."
Steve stared at her. "How's that a compromise?"
She pointed to her neck. There was a small red bowtie fastened to her dress.
"If boys can wear pants, so can I. But my mum wants me to make good memories on my last day. I'll do it. It's her way of coping." She shrugged.
"Natasha IDK-if-you-have-a-middle-name Romanoff, get your but over here," Tony and Pepper yelled.
"Cake! Presents! NOW! Come on! Dancing!"
"You had me at cake," Bucky called.
Natasha smiled. She practically ran over to the table. She had an 'image to uphold,' but she was still an eleven-year-old girl. And what child can resist cake?
A huge pile of presents loomed over them, but she wasn't daunted. Next to it, a slightly smaller cake stood on a tray. It had three tiers and was a strawberry-chocolate cake with caramel oozing down the side. Obviously, whipped cream was all over it, in cute (definitely not little) swirls.
Natasha's mouth was open wide in shock.
"For me?" She whispered.
"Yeah, sis," Clint said.
Sam looked at them.
"You two are related?"
Grabbing a small little present that was badly wrapped, Natasha spoke, "Nope. Just act like it."
She ripped the red paper to pieces to find a small, white box. She opened it gingerly, to find a beautiful snowflake necklace, with small crystals in it. There was a note in the box.
'To Natasha, enjoy the dancing. I hope you like it -Bucky Barnes.'
She looked at the shrinking figure of Bucky.
"I... I don't like it," she scowled. Clint laughed, realising what she was doing.
Bucky looked crestfallen.
"I love it!"
Bucky sighed, unable to contain a laugh.
From Steve, she got a journal and a pack of pencils (normal and colour,) from Sam she got a book called Nevermoor: the trials of Morrigan Crow, (a really good book,) from Thor Odinson she got a mini dagger that could go into the handle, from Bruce Banner, a pair of red ballet shoes, from Wanda Maximoff and Pietro -her brother- she got a watch that had five gems on it and every present made her happy.
She was speechless.
"Guys," she was almost crying.
"No tears," yelled Tony. "Cake!"
After handing out the cake, they all demolished 1 and a half tiers of it. Natasha crept up behind everyone and added whipped cream onto their faces.
They laughed and Natasha was about to sit down, but Clint pulled Natasha to an area of the floor. Tony followed suit, with Pepper. He motioned for the DJ to play. Natasha smiled at the DJ, Rhodey, Tony's best friend.
They swayed on the spot, did fun dances and just had fun. Wanda and Pietro danced, Sam and Maria danced, and Natasha knew there was more.
Bucky 'stole' Natasha from Clint, then Steve did. Sam and some of the others did, while Clint danced with Laura.
Then there were the 'Sis' dances.
Natasha walked over to Clint, smiling.
"I'm gonna miss you guys."
He nodded. "We will too, Nat. Very much."
***
Natasha spoke up. "Guys, I have to go. I have to catch the train."
The statement was met by cries of sadness.
"You can come with me? You'll have to get there yourself, but..."
Clint laughed. "Yeah, Melina won't like driving sad-nearly teens."
The group formed a line, linking arms and they walked out, to their parents, guardians or friends' parents. They were going to be there when the train pulled out.
They would be there when the train pulled in.
"Avengers," Steve said. It was their friend group, though no one knew what they were avenging, though.
Arm in arm, they walked into the sunshine, Natasha's red hair swaying.
"Assemble," they chorused.
YOU ARE READING
The Red Ballerina-The Black Widow
Action"I did it! I got accepted guys!" That was the last they heard of her for a long time. And when she came back? She was different. She was cold and isolated. Is she the girl in Bucky's memory? Is she the Black Widow known as the Red Ballerina?
