Love and Battles

Chapter 7

Si vales, valeo

CHAPTER SEVEN: OUR NEW LIFE

New York, 2023

Natasha gratefully smiled at Steve. "I wanted to thank you Steve... for saving me, for always being here for me and for unknowingly giving me James." She let out a soft chuckle as the raindrops tinkled on her umbrella.

Steve, wearing one of the most handsome black suits she had ever seen him wear, smiled at her and squeezed her hand with such gentleness. "Come on, we should go somewhere warmer. I think the world knows now that The Black Widow's gone now."

"Yeah, but, uh, in a minute." She said and turned her whole body towards Steve. "Could you take James home? There's still something I need to do."

"Of course." He looked at her and saw the determination in her eyes, he wouldn't stop her even if he wanted to. "Come back..." He told her before kissing her cheek with a certain softness. He pulled back and looked into her beautiful emerald eyes.

She smiled, touched at the worry of the man. "Don't worry." She replied and watched Steve walk back to the crowd around her grave. It was strange to tell herself that she was dead, that to the world's eyes she no longer existed. She watched the soldier pick up their son and say something to Tony who nodded. Slowly, the adults started to get into their cars and leave. Natasha waited patiently under her umbrella as she fixed her eyes on the grave from afar.

After a moment, she saw a figure walk towards the grave and that was who just wanted to see. The person was dressed in all black and their head was covered by a hood protecting them from the rain. She smiled softly, she knew who it was and she knew that person knew about her still being alive.

She quickly glanced around before walking slowly towards the person, her shoes making squishing sounds on the soaked grass. She kept walking until she stood at the person's side.

"Who are you going to be now?" The mysterious person asked with a hint of a Russian accent in their voice. "You blew your covers years ago."

Natasha looked down at the grave seeing her name engraved on it along with her date of birth and presumed date of death. It was a really strange feeling, it felt like she was in a nightmare she would soon overcome. "I will just be myself, the one I always refused to be... I'm going to be Natalia Romanova."

"Are you aware that it is too close to Natasha Romanoff?" The person asked. "You could still become Natasha Rogers." The voice told with a hint of amusement in their voice.

"Keep dreaming, Yelena." The mother said. "Steve and I... We're not— We haven't had time to talk about this yet; but if I ever was to become Natasha or Natalia Rogers it won't be as a scheme so the world knows doesn't know I'm still alive." She looked at her and smiled. "You could come with us, you know."

"Where to?" Yelena asked. "In your small apartment with the Super Soldier? Keep dreaming, Nat." She said mimicking the woman's previous words. "No offence, of course."

"Obviously not." She replied with amusement. "James and I aren't going to stay in Steve's apartment forever. We will move out, eventually, but that's not what I meant. Yelena, I'm serious when I say that you could stay with us and be out of danger for good."

Yelena let out a sigh and looked back at her friend, her sister. "You had your redemption and I know that someday I will, too, but that time has yet to come."

"Why not? You could get it now, Yelena. You already went through so much and I know you also want to change your life." Natasha argued.

"I don't know... I don't think I'm ready to give up on everything just right now. I want to find myself just like you found yourself before abandoning this... Life." Belova replied with a smile. "Have a happy life, Nat, you deserve it. We'll see each other soon."