Chapter 3

By: MysticFantasy

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Why did I just say that?! Natasha questioned herself. I havn't seen Steve in months and now I'm saying he's my boyfriend!

Bruce looked about as shocked as Natasha felt by what she just said.

"S-Steve?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Natasha answered as she tried to keep her composure. "Steve."

"How long?"

"We've been together for nearly a year."

"But...isn't he...Didn't he go into hiding from the accords?"

"He's keeping himself and the others safe until the accords are settled." Natasha replied. "Plus, Tony is getting his thoughts and emotions figured out about it. You missed a lot of things that happened."

"Yea, guess I did." Bruce agreed softly. "Well, Steve is a lucky guy. When I see him, I'll be sure to congratulate him."

S**t! Natasha thought.

She would have to get to Steve and beg him to play along before anyone else broke this sudden information to him.

She could just imagine the look on his face at hearing everyone knew he had a girlfriend before him.

She could possibly get him to play along but she would have to find him first.

Bruce finally left and she was alone in her room. No doubt that Bruce would question Tony or someone else about this supposed relationship.

If he asked Tony then Natasha would have another person to worry about.

Tony would not only think that this relationship may have caused her to do things behind his back when the situation with the accords was taking place but now he was going to be nosy like no tomorrow.

"FRIDAY." she called as she moved to her secured laptop on the table in the kitchen area.

"Yes, Agent Romanoff? How can I assist you?" the AI questioned.

"The cell phone that Steve sent to Tony. Can you get Steve's location and phone number from it?" she asked as she fired up her laptop and pulled up a secure private chat.

"I am able to. One moment."

Natasha waited on pins and needles as she waited for FRIDAY to give her the information she needed.

"Agent Romanoff, I was not able to pin point Captain Roger's locaiton but I did retrieve his cellular number."

Natasha quickly typed the number into the chat and a message with it.

Steve,

This is Natasha. Our conversation is secure so you don't need to worry about anyone finding you. I wanted to find you to see if you were alright and if the others are ok.

She hit SEND and watched the message be sent.

As she waited for a reply, she stood and made a pot of tea. The water came to a boil after a few minutes and she added her favorite flavor when she heard a DING from her computer.

Placing her cup on a coaster, she read the message.

Prove it. What was the first dance you tried to teach me?

She had to smirk at that.

Even if Steve wanted to believe it was her, he knew better than to right away assume anything.

I offered to teach you ballroom dancing. You stepped on both my feet and brought me sunflowers along with chocolate ice cream and a gift certificate to the spa.

She sent the message and waited. It only took a few seconds for a reply.

Steve:

Nat, how are you? How did you get this number?

Natasha:

A spy has her ways, soldier. Are you and the others alright?

Steve:

We're all doing great. Everyone has healed from the battle and we're safe. I'm sorry but I can't tell you where we are.

Natasha:

I understand.

Steve:

How are you doing? Are you alright? And what about the others?

Natasha:

Everyone is ok. Including myself. Listen, there's something I need to ask you. I know this might be an odd thing to ask after everything that's happened and since we havn't seen each other since that battle at the airport but would you be willing to pose as my boyfriend for a short while?

Natasha hesitated to hit SEND but she forced herself to and then waited for his answer.

She held her mug of tea in her hands, savoring the heat that filtered from it and drank a sip.

His reply was taking a while. It was already three minutes since she sent it and she was starting to get a little worried about his answer.

What if he said no? What if he thought that this was a stupid request? That a request like this would ruin their friendship or he thought that she was being crazy for asking such a thing?

Five minutes passed and Natasha could not believe how nervous she felt. She couldn't remember ever being this nervous about anything.

Why was she feeling this way? Her hands were shaking and she felt her heart racing. All of this just waiting for an answer to a favor.

Maybe it was something more. Maybe...just maybe...Natasha was hoping for something else to come from this request.

Maybe a second chance at something that could have been.

Natasha stopped herself at that thought. She was hoping for a second chance with Steve the same way that Bruce was trying for a second chance with her.

Maybe she was being a hypocrite by doing this but then she remembered everything that has happened in the near two years since Bruce had been gone.

Steve was really the only man who stayed with her and never caused her any kind of harm in any form. She closest he had come to harming her was when he accidentally washed her favorite jeans with bleach.

An act that he quickly made up for by buying her five new pairs.

DING

Natasha lightly jumped when she heard the message alert. She gathered herself quickly and read his message.

Steve:

You know that I'd be willing to help you with anything you need. But why me?

Natasha released a shaky breath at seeing that he would be willing to help her. Now he just wanted to know why.

Natasha:

Long story short. Bruce returned yesterday and he wants to try to start a relationship with me. I don't want to be with him because of how he hurt me. I made it clear that I don't want to be with him but that wasn't enough. I blurted out that I was dating someone. When he asked who I said that I was dating you. Maybe the reason I said I was dating you was because I trust you. I know that this would be asking you to come from where you are and I don't mean to. So, please, until Bruce gets the message, will you please be my boyfriend?

Natasha sent the message and waited.

Not even a minute passed when she got Steve's message.

Steve:

I understand. If you're really sure about this and want me to play the part then I'm willing to head back to the tower and help you. It may take me a few days to get there but I can be there as soon as I can. I just hope that I can play the part of your boyfriend enough to where the others will believe it. Is Tony upset about the idea of me coming to the tower?

Natasha:

Tony doesn't know anything of what we're speaking of and I'm not entirely sure how he'll handle you coming back. No doubt that Bruce has asked him if we really are a couple. Tony will more than likely try to get all the dirt from me about this. I'll find out how Tony will react about it and message you. Wait until I give the all clear and then you can come back to New York. When you do, we can stay at a hotel and go over how a couple acts.

Steve:

I'll be waiting to hear from you. I'm really glad you're alright and I can't wait to see you again.

Natasha smiled at his message and typed back.

Likewise. Talk to you soon. Stay safe, soldier.

Closing the chat, Natasha couldn't help but feel better about the situation.

Steve was now her pretend boyfriend and he would be returning to New York as soon as she said so.

She really couldn't help but wonder where he was since he said it might take a few days for him to return.

That would mean he had to either be somewhere in the states that he had to travel by car or train or he was possibly in another country somewhere.

She didn't know if he had any safe houses anywhere. If he did it could have been one from his time in the war and he never mentioned to anyone.

There was a lot more to learn about the soldier then she orginally thought.

"Agent Romanoff, Mister Stark is asking you to join him in the community kitchen." FRIDAY announced.

That didn't take too long. Natasha thought.

"I'm on my way." she replied.