The billionaire's wife

Part 17

Natasha and Steve were quite at lunch, just eating and she avoided eye contact. He put a hand on hers and squeezed gently.

"Hey, is everything alright? " he asked, his voice full of concern, "if you.. I'm sorry I won't.. "

"No, its just.. Its been too long since I have actually been with someone. I almost forgot how it felt to be attracted to someone, how kisses felt.. I was just... Its like I'm experiencing it all for the first time" she said.

"I don't even want to know about those earlier times" he said in a possessive tone that made her laugh.

Her phone rang and it was from her mother's care centre. She instantly answered, her heart racing.

"Mrs. Rogers, your mother got a lung infection, we have taken her to the hospital wing, she is stable but.. " a woman explained.

"I'm coming " Natasha said, getting up from the seat in a hurry.

"Nat? What's wrong? " Steve held her arm.

"Steve.. My mom.. She" she was sobbing now, "she's in the hospital.. She got some lung infection "

"Hey, calm down" Steve pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back, "Is it serious? "

"They said she's stable " she replied between sobs.

"Don't panic, Nat. She'll be fine. Okay! Just don't panic " he said, "Come, I'll drive you"

He took her hand and they walked to the garage.

______

The doctors explained that she had a infection that was going on for some days and only came to view now because of how these patients were with their symptoms. They asked Natasha if she ever coughed more which she denied. It had been over a week since she met her and the caretakers denied of her coughing for more then two days. They came to a conclusion that it was acute and diagnosed at the right time, and would resolve soon. But given her chronic disease, she would need special care.

Natasha went to see her and as always, she didn't recognize her. She held her hand and sobbed but her mother just kept staring at her.

Natasha wasn't allowed to be in close vicinity for long, and she was back to Steve's side again, scared.

"Natasha, you heard them. She'll be fine" he hugged her again, as they sat on the hospital benches. She held on to his shirt.

"She doesn't even know she's ill. She just forgets everything" she sobbed.

"Natasha? Were you.. Screened?.. For the gene? " he asked, hesitantly.

She nodded, "I don't have it.. Neither does my sister.. But.. George does and.. The doctor's say maybe he would.. Maybe he won't "

Steve sighed a breath of relief.

"You didn't ask me this earlier" she said, looking up at him, "What if I did? "

"Natasha! Even if you had the gene doesn't mean you would get the disease, and.. I couldn't let you go for.. This" he said.

"But I did check, sir" Sam appeared out of nowhere, "It was part of the investigations we did on her. If she had the gene, we would have disqualified her"

"Is everything done? " Steve asked. Sam nodded.

Steve again pulled Natasha in his arms and pat her hair to calm her. She rested her head on his shoulder and soon, stopped sobbing.

After a while, a team of doctors arrived and went through the reports and checked on her mother.

Dr. Johnathan was the best chest specialist of the city, and Natasha came to know, Steve had him arranged to come over and give his opinion. He assured Natasha of the same. And the care givers were briefed about her condition.

They left the hospital after dawn.

"Do you want something to eat? Or some coffee? You look exhausted " Steve asked, as he drove back.

"No, I just wanna go home" she said.

"You just broke my heart by refusing to come on a date" he said in fake sad voice.

"Date? " she gave him an amused look.

"Yeah, a coffee date. You know, I met a beautiful girl at pool side and we kind of kissed but she refuses to come on a date with me" he said.

______

She blushed and he could see the mood lowering. It was a good distraction for her.

"Yeah, because you are inconsiderate. You also calmed the girl when she was sad for her mother. I can't believe it was just to hit on her" she teased.

"I did that because I cared.. But yeah, now I am hitting on her. She's beautiful, sexy, and has such a melodious voice, not to forget that I love to kiss her. And she has the softest heart, and cares so much for her family that.. It makes me wanna be a part of it" he said.

She smiled, "Okay, she agrees for a coffee date"

"Good " he said.

He took her to a nice and quiet cafe, where they laughed and talked, getting to know each other. She told him a lot about her mother, how she was before she got ill. And he shared some stuff about his grandpa.

As she drank her espresso, some cream was left on her lips. And as much as Steve wanted to wipe that with his tongue, he took out his handkerchief , and gently wiped it off.

"Cream " he said, justifying his action.

"Natasha, can I ask you something? " he was nervous, because this question meant a lot to him.

"Yeah, of course" she said.

"Did you believe me? When I said I didn't care if you.. Sam really never told me anything about it.. " he asked.

She took his hand, "Of course I did, Steve. Why would you lie to me? And its just something we could have known, there are many other things that can happen to either of us. Life is unpredictable"

"You actually believe I wouldn't have given up on you if you had the gene? " he asked, "Because to be honest I.. Now considering it.. I'm just afraid"

"Afraid of what? " she asked.

"Afraid of losing you" he replied.

______

Her heart jumped, "Would you have given up now? " she asked.

"I can't give up on you now. You are my wife.. No matter what happens I can't, I won't give up on you. I don't have many relations to treasure, you are only true relationship I have left. Just like you won't give up on your mother. In sickness and in health, remember? I took all those vows with devotion " he said, "I may have lied, if you had the gene and I knew then, I might have reconsidered it because.. I can't afford to loose you. But if it had been now, I won't "

She stood up and walked over to him, holding his head, "Its okay, I understand... I don't have the damn gene. We are fine" she said and he wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes.

"I would have done the same if I were you" she said, "And I did take the vows with devotion too"

He smiled at her, and kissed her hands, before getting up and walking out of the cafe, holding hands.

*******
Poor Steve
He doesn't want to loose her.
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