Broken Hearts Club

Chapter 24

Off to Paris they went. Natasha couldn't help but look forward to this trip, she's been there before, but the thought of going with someone she loved made her excited nonetheless. It's the city of love after all. Vision and Wanda came along too, Natasha was more than happy to let the brunette come, she has been a great girl company to Natasha since they first met.

"It hasn't been a week since we got together and you're already paying for a trip to Paris. Imagine when the press finds out, I wonder what label they'll give me," she quipped honestly, sitting in the business class of a commercial flight. She insisted that she could pay her own expenses but Steve went ahead over her and booked everything already saying, 'I'm your boyfriend. You should let me pay you stuff.'

He chuckled, holding her hand between them, "You're part of the press," he reminded her, "You could set things straight, make sure people don't talk shit about you."

"Do you know how absurd it is to write something justifying about yourself and posting it publicly? It'll make me look like some narcissistic person," she countered and sighed before looking towards him, "I'll let them talk what they want about me, as long as you're with me then I don't give a damn."

"Seriously, Steve you didn't have to pay for everything. I can pay on my own," Natasha insisted once more.

"I know you can, I just want to treat my girl right," he said as he kissed the top of her head before turning back to look at a flight attendant offering the couple some drinks which they happily accepted.

Sipping his cup of coffee, he stared back at Natasha sleeping beside him, snuggled underneath a dark blanket. He smiled and thought how perfect this trip could be, he could take her see all those museums, take her eat some crêpes with a scoop of ice cream, he could bring her around and go shopping. Most of all, he could have her by his side when he'll finally present his latest works to the art loving society in a fine gallery in Paris.

All the happy thoughts were shoved away with worry and surprise when he saw her. Peggy, with her sophisticatedly curled hair done in an updo and fresh painted red lips strutted up from a seat two rows in front of him and into the lavatory. He wondered how he did not notice her enter the plane in the first place. He knew even if he hid from her sight right now, there's a 95% chance they'll meet each other once they arrived in the airport terminal.

Returning back to her seat, she met his eyes and gave him a smile and he hesitantly smiled in return. Then, she was walking towards his direction, looking as bold as ever. In that moment, all he wanted was to sink right into his seat and disappear from her sight. He can't have this conversation now.

"Honeymoon?" She asked him as she propped her elbows on the seat in front of him, still standing. Her voice slightly above a whisper, not wanting to bother the other passengers who were either sleeping or typing vigorously on their laptops.

"No, no, I was just taking her for a short getaway to attend my exhibition. What about you?" he shook his head as he adjusted his seat to sit upright.

"A family friend's wedding," she said with a warm smile before awkward silence loomed over them. She decided to speak up.

"Steve, why did you cut me off?" She finally asked, bitterness plastered over her face and he could see the slight hint of tears forming on the corner of her eyes, "I thought I meant something to you, but maybe I was another high school fling?"

"Peggy, you did mean something to me," he tried to explain, glancing back at Natasha, hoping she wouldn't wake up any time soon.