Almost Dusk {A Black Widow Story}

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

(Rose's Perspective)

The day after the events at the Cathedral, I find myself standing outside on the porch of the safe house.

It's a cool day, the wind sending a chill down my back as I look out over the horizon. The sun is hidden amongst the clouds, rays of light poking out as the clouds hover in the way.

The farm house has homeliness to it that reminds me of Sunday family dinners and the fall when the leaves float down in vibrant autumnal colours.

As we all stand there on the porch, I try to memorise the view. From everything to the expanses of open land in the distance, to the old farmhouse shed, to the porch we stood on that overlooked the entire view.

With a sigh, I store the mental snapshot inside my head, hoping to keep it there forever.

Then I turn and face Eva who stands beside me, leaning against the porch railing as I do.

Her eyes are red, her face still a little pale, but overall much better looking than before in the hospital. I close the distance and hug her tightly. She hugs me back.

"I'm going to miss you." I murmur as I let her go. "You too" She whispers back.

We hold each other's hands and smile.

"Oh!" Eva suddenly jumps up, "I forgot something!"

She runs back inside and I look to Clint and Nat who don't seem to know any more than I do. When Eva comes back she returns with her green turtle, she holds it out to me.

"I want you to have it," She says, "To remember me by."

As I take the turtle, I shake my head. "I can't. This is your most precious thing. What will you do without it?"

She smiles at me.

"Glavnaya means home. And for a long time, that was all the home I had. But now, after everything I've been through, I know that home is inside of me. And I can make home anywhere I want. So keep it. I want you to."

I hug the little green toy to my chest and then I hug Eva one last time.

When I turn to Natasha, I can see she's fighting back tears. But she wears a brave face as we hug each other.

"Tell Steve that I think you're cooler than he is." She smirks and I laugh.

"Bye Natasha. Thank you again for everything."

"And thank you." She tells me back.

And then I turn to Clint. That's when the tears I held at bay break free.

His head is down as he tries to hide the tears already running down his cheeks.

I run in to hug him and whisper. "Thank you Clint."

He just holds me tighter.

When we finally break away, I glance at each of them one last time. I try to save this moment in my mind, hoping to never forget these faces ever again.

Then I walk down the steps of the porch to put some distance between us.

Clutching the turtle tightly in one hand, I use the other to open the latch on the pocket watch.

I push down on the top of the watch, blue energy light glows.

I push it down once more and I feel the light rain over me, the sensation warm on my skin.

With a final look, I wave goodbye to everyone.

Then I press the pocket watch one last time, the watch buzzing in my palm and in a blink and flash of blue light, I find myself in total darkness, my surroundings gone.

(Natasha's Perspective)

"I'm gonna miss that kid." Clint mutters as we all head back inside.

I smile at the thought of Rose returning home. It meant things were going back to normal.

Or at least as normal as it could be around here.

"Do you think we'll ever see her again?" Eva asks as we all collapse into the couch.

"Oh, I don't think we've seen the last of her just yet." I smile. But in truth, I had no idea whether we ever would.

"It was a very kind thing you did" I say to Eva, "Giving up Glavnaya must have been hard for you. I know how much it meant to you."

She shrugs, "I don't need Glavnaya to remind me where my home is anymore. I think home can be all sorts of things now; places, people, a feeling. Home is so much more than what I thought it once was, and I won't ever forget that."

For someone so young, I think Eva is incredibly wise beyond her years. Her life experience has aged her in a way that makes her all the more resourceful.

I hope she kept that resilience in her.

"I've been thinking." Eva starts, readjusting her sitting position.

"Mmm?" I say, crossing my arms and glancing at Clint who looks like he has passed out on the couch.

"Can we go downstairs and practice training skills again like we did last time we were here?" She asks eagerly.

I laugh as Clint's eyes shoot open, watching him flailing on the couch.

"Now?" He whines, "But I literally just sat down."

I smirk at him and face Eva who looks back with hope in her eyes.

"Let's go."