I didn't want you to be, Alone

Part 14

(Ant man and the wasp: spoilers)

Natasha

Steve and I entered Tony's lab, panting. He had send an urgent summon to us all.

"Scott?! " Clint said, entering behind us.

"Hey man" he said nervously, "Hey Cap"

"You.. He disappeared.. Right? We thought you had... " I stepped forward.

"Pleased to meet you again, ma'am. I'm sorry for that.. I didn't.. " he looked apologetically at me and Steve.

"Its okay, Scott. Where were you? " Steve asked.

"I was.. Stuck.. In the quantum realm" he replied, "like Hank Pym's wife"

"All of them.. " Steve lowered his eyes.

"Yeah, they told me" Scott replied sadly, "But Cassie is fine. So is her mother"

"Yeah, she is. She misses you a lot" Clint told him.

"How did you get back? " Steve asked.

"I found him" we heard Bruce's voice.

"Bruce? " I rushed to him, "You are back? What happened to hulk? "

Bruce and Hulk were having issues. Bruce couldn't turn during the fight and hulk returned after a few days, it was a mess. Hulk evolved a lot, ultimately we thought Bruce was gone forever.

"Yeah, Nat" he admired me, touching my cheek. I felt Steve clench his teeth, "I returned a few days back, but.. You were "

"You were in the hospital" Tony replied.

"He? He returned three months back? " I asked, shocked.

"Nat, we didn't want to stress you" Steve touched my back.

"Stress? Steve? What is it about? " I turned to ask.

"Calm down, Nat" Bruce said, "I.. Hulk was researching on.. I absorbed a lot of energy.. It wasn't safe.. For anyone of you to see me. And then.. I got this message"

"He had entered the quantum realm, by mistake, as hulk. And I put a message in him.. So he could save me" Scott explained.

"What's the plan? " I asked, stepping back to take a seat beside Steve.

"Turns out the quantum realm can do wonders. Return to the past for starters" Tony explained.

"Eitri cannot make another gauntlet, but.. We can retrieve the gauntlet from Asgard" Thor said.

"Wait a minute. Everyone, I do not understand any of this. Maternity leave didn't mean, I should be kept away from all progress. Explain " I demanded.

"Well, mama Romanoff, hear it.. We have researching on ways to return things back to normal" Tony started.

"And in the attempt, we have come far to know, we can make another gauntlet and retrieve the stones before Thanos" Thor said.

"But how? " I asked.

"Time jump, Nat.. That's what answered all our questions.. Scott's return from the quantum realm.. Hulk's.. Bruce had a vision" Clint explained.

"I saw.. Cap.. With red skull.. Inside a plane" Bruce said.

I looked at Steve, he wrapped his arm around my waist.

"So? What now? " I asked.

"I return and find ways to make it possible" Bruce said.

"What? Bruce, it must be dangerous? " I objected.

"It is, Nat.. And we have to go through all this if we want everything right "Steve said angrily, his eyes almost accusing. He is still insecure of me and Bruce, when I am his wife and the mother of his three children? Great!!

"I will monitor it. Dr. Pym's work is quite helpful.. I devised a way to control it.. If it goes by plan.. " Tony said.

"We shall make it" Bruce replied.

"Also, to our help is Wong, master of mystic arts. He says there is a way to other realms, other universes. He meets us tomorrow.. We decide what's best and then act" Tony said.

"I need to go, my children need me" I said, getting up and walking away.

I can't be sure if I want this or not. Wouldn't it be too dangerous? Too risky? What if something happens to us? What about our children then? Our family was complete, even if it wasn't. I can't loose this to get back all that. The stakes are too high.

I picked up my little princess, who was waiting for her feed, and started feeding her. Trying to think of a way out of all this mess.

______

Bruce

Natasha was sitting at the couch, far away, with Margaret on her lap, and little Anthony by her side. She was smiling, looking beautiful as always.

"Is she the one? " Valkyrie asked. I turned to face her, and nodded.

"She is beautiful " she said.

"So is her daughter, her miniature" I said.

"Bruce? Are you fine? " Valkyrie asked.

"Watching the woman you love, with one of your friends, always. Is painful,  yes. But, she is happy. He gave her what I could never have" I said.

"She really does love him" she said.

"Hulk missed you a lot, big girl" I said.

She smiled, "I missed the big guy too, and the small one as well" she teased sipping her drink.

"Well, I guess, hulk has another reason to.. Leave me" I said. She smiled.

Yeah, I loved Natasha, but she moved on, I should to. And I really liked Valkyrie.

But that was if I survived the aftermaths of going into the quantum realm again. It wasn't easy, even for the hulk. And before I took that drastic step, I need to see her one last time. And this was that time. I couldn't go and say goodbye, I didn't have the courage. But I stayed afar. Watching her with her beautiful children. Took the scene into my eyes. Captured it forever. If this is the last time before, then I am glad it was like this. Watching her smile. Watching my friends. Spending time with Tony, Valkyrie and Thor.

"Bruce, we need to talk" Tony whispered in my ear, and I nodded, following him, watching Thor, Clint and Cap joining us.

"We cannot hide this from her. There are six stones. We all go behind one" Tony said.

"No, Tony!! She.. Nebula, Valkyrie, Scott anyone can replace her" Steve protested.

"I wish, they could" Wong said, stepping in with a large book in his hand. We all looked in confusion, as Tony took a side.

*****
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