The Fangirl that Saved the World

Chapter 8

Steve's POV 

I look over at the doorway and see Bruce and a nurse. The nurse seems confused, but Bruce connected the dots. He gives me a very worried look.

"Steve? Who's Sebastian Stan?" Bucky asks me.

"That's you," I sigh.

His eyebrows lift on his head. He is completely lost.

I look back at Natalie who is still stunned. I guess she thinks she met her favorite actors.

Are we even her favorite actors? That would be very disappointing otherwise.

"What is this? Is this some sort of prank that the MCU made to promote the Falcon Winter Soldier show or something?" Natalie asks.

Bucky's eyes pop out of his head.

"The what now?!" he asks.

Oh boy.

"What's with the old arm? I thought Bucky got rid of that one in Wakanda," Natalie says referring to the soviet metal limb.

"Bruce, can you call in the team. They should know about this," I say.

He nods and leaves the room to make the call. The nurse leaves behind him out of total confusion and allows me to talk to Bucky and Natalie.

"Steve, what is going on?" Bucky snaps.

"Alright, Natalie you need to listen to me. You are in a new universe. You're in the MCU. That's what it's called right?" I ask.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?" she scoffs.

"You did before. You've been here for months. You helped us stop Ultron. You were on the news!" I try to prove to Natalie that I'm telling the truth.

"Show me," she commands and folds her arms.

I almost forgot how stubborn she is.

"I don't know how to do that. Can I google it or something?" I ask pulling out my phone.

Natalie just laughs.

"Fine, I believe you," she laughs over her words.

I almost feel insulted. Right now I'm just relieved.

"Just to be sure though," she says and turns to Bucky.

"Give me your arm."

Bucky looks at me and I nod, telling him to do as she says.

Bucky kneels down and allows Natalie access to his metal arm. She examines it by running her hand up and down it. She tugs at his shirt and signals for him to remove it.

I start to get a little irritated and I can tell Bucky feels uncomfortable stripping for my girlfriend in front of me.

She traces her fingers where skin meets metal and nods her head firmly as she comes to a conclusion.

"Alright fine. There are no lube leaks. I believe you 100%."

It was at that moment when the team came rushing in. Pietro first, obviously. They all look at Natalie and she looks back seeming very overwhelmed.

"Chris? I mean Steve. What year is it?" she nervously asks me as her eyes scanned across the room.

"It's 2015," I reply.

"And you said I helped defeat Ultron, right?" she asks I nod.

"You left out a part," she says and stands up out of bed.

"About how you saved an entire city. Zero casualties," I smile and stand with her.

Everyone remains silent. They just stare in shock.

"I did that?" Natalie looks over at me.

"Indeed. I told you she was a hero," Thor smirks.

"That's right. It was all you, fangirl. You even got to boss Fury around," Tony adds and takes a sip of his coffee.

"So, I like it here? Is that why I didn't go back to my earth?" she asks and the whole room looks down at the floor.

"Not exactly. You can't go back. Your earth is gone. We're what you got," Clint says stepping forward.

"So, I'll never see my family again?" she says with a small tear dripping down her cheek.

"Not necessarily," Bucky adds as he slips his shirt back on.

Natalie turns around to face him and we all give him an odd look.

"When Natalie and I were on our mission in Cleveland, we stopped to see her mother," he explains and I go temporarily paralyzed.

She took Bucky to go see her mother? Why?

"What for?" I ask.

"Natalie said she needed to pay her back for helping her out when she first got here. She also said she needed familiarity. She needed home," he looked down and his feet and shoved his hand in his pocket.

I can understand that. If I were given the chance to go back in time, I would. I wouldn't leave everything though. I'm the man they depict me to be in the movies. I guess this is a movie though, so maybe I'm just nuts.

I know what Natalie is going through, that's all. I visit Peggy as much as I can because she's all I have besides Bucky. The two of them are my home. Well, I have Natalie now. Sort of.

"So, what else did I change?" Natalie asks trying to change the topic.

"We don't really know. You didn't tell us much. What can you see that changed?" Rhodey asks her.

"Well, Bucky is here and Tony isn't trying to kill him. Pietro isn't dead. Bruce is here. Wait, where's Sam?" she asks looking over the crowded group of people.

That is a really good question. Sam is nowhere to be seen.

"How long ago was Ultron?" she asks the group.

"About two months ago," Natasha answers immediately.

"Why? What's up kiddo?" Clint asks.

"I'm not a kid, Clint," she glares and he smiles.

"There's the girl I know and love."

Natalie runs out of the room in her hospital gown and I go after her. I shove through the team and race to catch up with her. It didn't take long. She's not a big fan of exercise. Natalie has made that very clear.

"Natalie where are you going?" I ask holding onto her arm.

"The roof."

"No, you're not," I refuse.

"Why not? I just need to know if I'm right," she says.

"You can figure that out later. Bruce needs to run some tests to make sure you're okay and you are not going outside in a hospital gown," I point a finger.

"Steve, I'm fine. You're not my father," she argues and shoves my finger away.

Ouch. She really doesn't remember anything.

"That doesn't mean I don't care about you," I say.

She rolls her eyes and walks again, but I stop her. I pick her up and swing her over my shoulder.

We get back to the room and people gather outside. I set Natalie onto the bed and she crosses her arms over her chest. She looks away from me and she doesn't look back.

"I hate you, Steve Rogers."

I can't help feeling that pain in my chest from before. This time, she's a little more open about it. As I ironic as it sounds, that only makes her more closed off.

"Trust me, I know."

I have to make Natalie Carter fall in love with me all over again.

This will be rough.