"I can't- I can't do this." The scientist rushed into the Barton's farmhouse in midst of having a panic attack. His breath short and fingers pulling at his tie from his neck to undo it slightly, to breath. Clint stormed into his own house following the man, with tears in his eyes too. The hurst carrying Natasha's coffin had pulled up outside the farmhouse, ready for the funeral taking place. "You think this is easy for me, Banner?! It's not! I could've- I could have saved her! If the mission hadn't gone wrong- She wanted to go because she thought she had nothing to loose! We was her family. Me and you and-" Steve entered straight after and rested a hand on both of their shoulders, pushing them apart. "Clint this isn't Bruce's fault-" Clint's attitude turned sourer for feeling guilty that he couldn't save Natasha on their recent mission to Vormir. Natasha heroically sacrificed herself for the soul stone and saved millions of people around the world. "So what are you saying? That it's my fault?!"
"No ones blaming anyone. Now please. Let's give Natasha the funeral and respect that she deserves. She wouldn't want any of you acting this way, especially today." Tony appeared moments later with a little girl in his arms and another walking beside his legs, both around the same age. The little girl in Tony's arms was placed on the floor and ran over to Bruce, comforting him. Her dark curls bounced as she ran across the room, as her black starry dress floated behind her. "What's your daddy being, Nova?" Tony asked his niece before picking up his own little girl, Morgan. "A silly green bean!" She laughed in her high pitched chuckled as she tugged on to one of Bruce's curls to grab his attention. Bruce looked up with a noticeable stream of tears down his puffy red cheeks. Poking the girl playfully in her stomach, before wrapping his daughter into a hug. "Did you get that off, Mommy?" Nova nodded in response and jumped into his arms, wiping his tears with her tiny fingers. Laura entered her living room and entwined her fingers with her husbands. "Everything's ready."
It was sunny and warm outside. Thats where the service began. Out on the Bartons farm, later burying Natasha under her favourite spot on the field. Under a tree where she would used to go and read for downtime at the Bartons. Clint was the one who suggested it and Bruce was happy to go along. Nova and Morgan walked down the aisle hand in hand, in front of the six males carrying the coffin to the front. Thor and Steve at the back. Tony and Cooper in the middle. Leaving Bruce and Clint at the front. The order measured in height size and the males carried the coffin respectfully to the platform. Each and every Avenger you could name was there to support Bruce and Nova. All through the service, Bruce tried to remain as calm and stable as possible, especially for his daughters sake. "Natasha Romanoff was known to most as The Black Widow of SHIELD and The Avengers. However to most of you here? This woman wasn't just a teammate or friend. She was much more. Part of the family. A loving wife, and a exceptional mother..."
The service went on and on. Bruce felt like he was dreaming most of it, deep down he was praying that he was. Desperately hoping Natasha would storm out of the Barton farmhouse any minute and shout at him for leaving his shoes in the way of the door, or asking for his keys, to grab his sweater from the car because she felt chilly. His heart sank further and further, knowing nothing like that would ever happen again. His train of thought was suddenly disturbed by Tony tapping him gently on the shoulder. "You're up, Buddy. Remember, take your time and breath." His best friend whispered. Bruce let go of his daughters hand and stood up, walking to the front and centre of the crowd of 50 or so people.
Bruce was never good at public speaking, but for Natasha? He would do his best. "Im so not prepared at all. Now if Nat was here, she would be on my case about it." He let out the smallest light chuckle. His lips barely curled into a smile as he wiped the tears from his eyes. His smile grew ever so slightly as he thought about her eyes, her smile... the way she could do something so horrible, that he could never be mad at her. "She was such a big pain in my ass, you know. Natasha always left the gas needle below empty, she couldn't put gas in the car. It was impossible for her. And this total stubborn inability to master a remote, so she would just randomly click buttons until the tv was spiralled into some unimaginable condition. Im so mad, just thinking about her." A chuckle escaped his mouth, as he looked to his feet with a wide teary grin. A couple of other people spoke, Steve, Tony and Clint. Nova dropped a single red rose on to the coffin, before it was lowered into the ground and held tight on to her father, as they both said goodbye to Natasha.
Afterwards Bruce rejected the offer of staying at Bartons farmhouse for the reception. It was all too exhausting for him to handle. Alls he wanted to do was cry until he fell asleep, although thats what he did most nights or drink his pain away. Nights like these, Tony and Pepper would often babysit Nova to give Bruce some peace at mind. However tonight Bruce thought it best to take Nova away from the funeral reception. the little girl was only 4 and was too much to deal with at such a young age. The dark haired girl ran into the living room and picked up a remote thinking that it connected to the tv. "Mommy!" The girl shouted happily from the living room. "Mommy's gone sweetheart, there's nothing we can do-" Through his heavy tired eyes. The brown orbs appeared on Natasha. "Nat?" Only a whisper escaped his lips.
"Hello? Is this damn thing on? Stark!" Natasha called Tony for assistance in the video, unaware that his BARF technology was already recording her. "Its on, Red. Don't damage my equipment." Tony said to her, before the projection went off for a split second. Suddenly the projection showed Natasha sat down on the couch, looking at both of them. Ready to make her farewell speech to her family. First to Nova. "Hey baby! Your dress looks very beautiful. I'm glad Aunt Pepper and Aunt Laura helped with the outfit choice." Natasha's projection smiled at the little girl. Nova hid behind Bruces leg, scared and unsure what to do. The 4 year old knew her mother was gone, so it all seemed confusing to her.
Uncontrollable tears flooded Bruces glasses, as the single father tried to stay strong and hold back his sobs for his daughter and Natasha. "Tell your daddy to stop being a dork, please Sweetie." Natasha flashed her famous smirk across her lips, causing Bruce to burst out into a crying chuckle. "I have so much to cover that I don't know where to start. Bruce... don't be mad at Tony. He may have knew all of this was planned, and just incase things went wrong on the mission, I wanted to record something for both of you." Bruce took Nova in his arms and sat down next to the projection of his wife on the couch.
"I wanted to save you both... I needed too, in order for you to be safe and live in a world free of threats. If was a sacrifice i was willing to make for you both. I know Nova will grow up without a mother, but she has so many people to guide her in the right direction, Bruce. I don't want you mopping around the house. Go out with Tony and the guys, have some fun! Nova, if you are watching this in the future and your father still hides away in the lab. can you physically pull him outside and tell him to get a life, Sweetie. You are going to grow up to be one beautiful young woman and don't let any man walk all over you. I don't think you're father or Uncle Tony will let that happen anyways." Natasha chuckled. "I have prerecorded messages for your birthdays and Christmas and every other holiday there is. I love you both so much! Don't ever forget that. We will be together again." She softly smiled, wiping her own tears in the projection and soon disappeared.
