I wrote this chapter right after 'Born to be With You', but I decided I'd leave you hanging :) Who's excited to hear Natasha's answer?

"Natasha Romanoff, will you marry me?"

Natasha's mind was spinning. Never in a million years had she expected for Steve to ask her hand in marriage. It was not professional. It was not Nick Fury-approved. It would cause too much pain if one of them died in combat. It was dangerous. It created a target. It wasn't safe. A thousand reasons why it shouldn't happen, and maybe more. And she wasn't ready for the commitment that marriage would take. Who was she, to accept the proposal? She was a Russian spy. A liar, an assassin. Natasha did not want to put that kind of reputation onto Steve's shoulders. There would be gossip. People would believe her motives insincere.

"I'm sorry, but I can't marry you right now." Natasha said finally. Her words weighed heavily on her heart. She hated what was coming out of her mouth. "I can't marry you until I know where you stand in your relationship with Maria. I can't marry you until I know that I'm the only one that you love." Steve looked like a sad, lost puppy now. Natasha felt a shock of cold run through her. I never really changed. I've always been the ruthless assassin that the press says I am. She thought wildly.

"Why didn't you just ask, Nat?" he asked softly. "I would have told you in an instant. I'll tell you now how I feel about Maria." Natasha's resolve wavered a little, but she steeled herself.

"Words don't always make up for actions. You tossed me away as soon as she returned. You've taken her places that you've never gone with me. You've spent more time trying to get her memory back than you ever spent with me. You sit next to her whenever you can. You talk with her, and when you do, you look like a man who's died and gone to heaven. You've never looked like that when you talk to me." Natasha replied, the words spilling out of her mouth. Steve's gaze was filled with hurt and anger.

"If I loved her, I would never have asked you to marry me!" Steve said forcefully. "Doesn't that action make up for all of that?"

"Maybe it does to you, but it doesn't change what I think! I can't marry someone who follows another woman around like a poor, lost dog."

"Maria was my best friend, and I want her to remember what we shared together. Is that so much to ask? Is it a problem if I want to speak to a girl that I thought was dead? Who I thought about almost every day for five years?" Steve demanded. Their voices were getting louder.

"Have you thought about me every day for five years? No, I don't think so."

"That's because you were always there! When I wanted to ask you a question, you'd be there to answer it! Maria was dead, and there were so many things I wish I said to her."

"I'm sorry, but no is my answer. Not today. Maybe when you can prove to me that I'm more important, then I'll say yes. But when you cling to Maria like that, it makes me wonder who you love more. Once that that doubt is gone, then my answer will be yes." Natasha said coldly. She turned on her heel and stalked out of Central Park, leaving Steve standing under the shelter of the trees, the engagement ring's box still in his hand.

Wanda spun around the common room, her hands clasping Marie-Grace Stark's. They were both laughing and Wanda felt happier than she'd felt since Pietro's death. The tower was empty- Steve and Natasha had gone to see a Broadway show. Pepper and Tony had put Wanda in charge of Marie-Grace, and then they had gone to the Stark Industries exposition. Bruce and Betty were at some sort of science conference. Thor and Jane went out for dinner together. Vision was at the SHIELD base, fixing the Helicarriers. Clint was visiting Laura and the kids back at the farm. Maria had gone home to collect some of her personal belongings.

"Miss Maximoff, someone is at the front door. He wishes to speak to you." JARVIS said. Wanda let go of Marie-Grace's hands. She directed her powers downstairs and found contact with the man's mind. Her eyes grew big as she took in the information.

"Gracie, do you remember what you're supposed to go in case of an emergency?" Wanda asked the little girl, her voice fighting to keep calm. Marie-Grace nodded. "I need you to do it, now." The girl dashed to the hidden staircase in the wall and bolted up it.

"JARVIS, the cell phones are bugged, aren't they?" Wanda asked the A.I.

"I'll run a scan, Miss Maximoff." JARVIS replied. A minute later he was done. "It appears that they were placed there a little over four days ago. Around the time that the lawyer woman visited the tower. Would you like me to contact the other Avengers?"

"Call Elizabeth Ross's cell phone. Hers wasn't bugged- she was in France four days ago. Tell her to deliver a coded message to the others. There's a mythical beast standing at the bottom of the Avengers Tower." Wanda said urgently.

Betty's cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She apologized swiftly to the people sitting around her and answered it.

"Miss Ross." Wanda's voice was low and swift. "Find Bruce and tell him that we have a mythical beast on the doorstep of the Chrysler building. Tell him it's urgent and he needs to get the rest of the club to come and check it out." Betty frowned. She turned to Bruce and repeated Wanda's words, whispered in his ear.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. Elizabeth just found out that her father is in the hospital." Bruce said immediately. The professors gave murmured sympathies. Bruce dragged Betty out of the building.

"Listen, Betty. HYDRA's showed up at the Avengers Tower. I need you to walk calmly to the pub on 65th street. When barman asks you what drink you want, then say that you'd like the Aviator cocktail. The barman will call the Avengers in the form of a salesperson selling drinks. The Avengers will arrive shortly at the tower."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to tell Nick Fury that HYDRA is on our doorstep."

One by one, the Avengers got the barman selling drinks on their cell phone. Each immediately excused themselves from a public setting and set off toward the Avengers tower. Wanda had lit the floors in a specific order and the Avengers prepared their weapons.

When they got there, the doorstep was empty. The only thing left was a piece of paper.

We are coming.

Hmmm... suspicious, isn't it? I liked coming up with their way of communicating.