Fragments of Us: A WinterWidow Short Story

The past isn't always buried.

After the brutal mission with Leo Novokov, Natasha Romanoff awakens with pieces of her life missing, fractured memories veiled in a fog she can't quite penetrate. Her life as a spy, her history as an Avenger-it's all there, except for the warmth of something she can no longer feel but senses should be there. Bucky Barnes, the man who once knew her better than anyone, has chosen to remain hidden, leaving the love they shared buried for her own protection.

Bucky is a ghost in her life, careful to stay in the shadows, but unable to fully let go. Everywhere he goes, there are quiet reminders of Natasha-the faded notes in his journals, the scars they gave each other, the empty side of his bed each night. But he's convinced that to bring her memories back would endanger her, so he lets her go.

For Natasha, however, the whispers of her past are relentless. Fleeting fragments of laughter, half-remembered dreams, and the brush of a familiar touch haunt her in the quiet. And as she uncovers old trinkets, redacted files that even her highest clearance level can't access, and glimpses of a man whose eyes spark an unexplainable ache, she realizes that her past holds secrets someone wants her to forget.

Driven by curiosity and a deep, instinctual yearning she doesn't understand, Natasha starts to chase the fragments back to their source. And with each step, Bucky finds himself pulled closer, torn between protecting her and wanting her back.