I know everyone is writing post Infinity War stories right now, and I have read some really amazing ones. I seriously tried to talk myself out of writing one, because I didn't really know if I had anything new to bring to the table. But, the muse had other plans.

I am going on the theory that Avengers 4 picks up 5 years after Infinity War and basically undoes the damage with time travel. This story will cover those throw away years. Unapologetically, Romangers with a side of Pepperony. Hope you enjoy the story.

I own nothing. All characters belong to Marvel.

3 Minutes after the Snap

Natasha ran to Steve's side. She was relieved he was still there. So many people had turned to dust before her eyes and all she could think about was her family. That's what she, Steve, Sam, and Wanda had truly become over the last few years-a mixed up dysfunctional family.

When the Wakandan soldiers to her left and right turned to ash before her eye, she feared Steve was lost. Not that she wasn't worried for the others but Steve was the one who held them together. She didn't know how she'd survive if he had been taken from her.

Steve was in anguish as he knelt over Vision's body. Natasha knew what he was thinking. They had all failed, but he was blaming himself. A quick look around at the others who were with her told her everything she needed to know. Sam, Wanda, Bucky, and T'Challa were gone. They would be standing here otherwise, because this was where Steve was and no matter what had happened over the last two years, he was their leader.

Natasha felt ill. She thought she was going to be sick. This wasn't how this battle was supposed to end. Thanos had filled his gauntlet. What did that mean for Tony, Peter, and the sorcerer they were trying to rescue? Clint's picture came to her mind. She thought of Laura and the kids. It was too much. She doubled over beside Steve as she succumbed to the inevitable need to vomit.

She felt a hand suddenly on her back as she remained in her position, suddenly too weak to move and ashamed she hadn't been able to hold it together. She didn't need to look up to know it was Steve.

Minutes may have passed or it could have been hours, but she just stayed there with his hand caressing her back. Speaking meant acknowledging what had just happened. None of them were ready to do that just yet. Opening her eyes meant looking at a world too broken to fix. Going back to the palace meant discovering more who had been lost-more they hadn't been able to save.

Finally, Okoye spoke. "We can't stay here any longer. My king is gone. His people need to know his fate. Come, we must regroup."

They all followed Okoye wordlessly. Natasha couldn't help but admire the warrior's strength. If someone had asked her a day ago, she'd have believed she had the same strength. But, now, she wasn't so sure. It would have been so much easier if she had just turned to dust like the others. Wanda was so young. Sam was so full of life. T'challa was a good man and a good leader. And, Bucky, well, she would gladly trade her life for his right now. He was the one Steve needed to get through this horror, and she wasn't sure any of them would survive if Steve couldn't pull them back together.

Natasha followed Steve, her eyes focused on his back. She could see the slump of his shoulders. She noticed the way he refused to fully look up, choosing to keep his eyes downcast toward his feet as he walked slowly to the palace.

Bruce started out a little behind her with Thor and the racoon type creature, but he took a few long strides until they were walking side by side. She felt his eyes on her. She knew he was looking at her with the same intensity she was looking at Steve. It hurt so much. She knew now that it wasn't his fault he left her, but three years had made her realize a few things. She only hoped he had come to the same realizations.

Rhodey, ever the military man, chose to fly ahead of them. Natasha understood his reasoning. He needed to know what was happening everywhere else, and he wasn't going to find those answers on the battlefield. Natasha felt no such urgency. If Clint and the family were gone, she wasn't ready to know. If the world had lost Nick Fury, she would grieve for him later. Right now, she couldn't handle even one more loss.

They were met by Shuri when they arrived at the palace. She barely looked at them. She was too busy scanning the line of Avengers and Wakandan warriors in search of her brother. Her eyes finally focused on Okoye who just gently shook her head.

"No, he must be out there somewhere," she cried.

"Our king turned to dust before my eyes," Okoye replied sadly. "Your mother?"

Shuri shook her head. "Gone."

"We need time to grieve. There is nothing more we can do today. Shall I find rooms for our guests?"

Shuri only nodded as Okoye led the remaining Avengers to their rooms. "Captain, you can take this room," Okoye said softly as they reached the first door.

Steve walked into the room in silence, and Natasha followed him. "I'm staying with Steve," she said as she looked at the others. She wished she hadn't seen the hurt on Bruce's face as she closed the door behind them, but she knew this was where she needed to be after what they'd just experienced.

Steve turned to look at her as soon as the door had closed. She knew he was asking her why she was there even though he couldn't formulate the words.

"I didn't want you to be alone," she said softly. "I don't want to be alone."

Steve nodded and pulled her into a hug, and they cried together. The television in the room stayed off. Neither of them were willing to see the full extent of their failure. The room had grown dark by the time they were able to let go of each other. Finally, Steve turned on a lamp and sighed. "We should get cleaned up. You go first. We'll figure this out tom-" he stopped. "We'll do what we can-" he stopped again. "I really don't know if we can fix this, Nat."

"Me either," she replied softly.

"I'm glad you're here. If I'd lost you too-"

"You didn't. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere," she assured him.

"I'm going to hold you to that," he said as he pushed a strand of her blonde hair out of her face.

Once they had each washed the grime of the battlefield away and eaten the meal delivered to them, they crawled into bed as if they shared a bed every night. There was no awkwardness and no conversation. They just pulled the blanket over them and hoped the utter exhaustion from the battle would allow them to sleep a long, dreamless sleep.