This chapter is kind of just a transition to the next big plot thing...so, enjoy!
Pt IV
"Come on, Lila," Nat says, taking the just- in- case overnight bags from the trunk. She quickly slams it. "We only have a few blocks to walk and then you can go back to sleep."
"Okay, Auntie Nat," Lila says, rubbing her eyes to keep them open. Nat hands Cooper and Lila each their bags, and sling hers and Nathaniel's over her shoulder. Yes, for some reason Nat had a bag in the Bartons' get away car. She's learned it's best not to ask.
"Take your brother's hand," Nat instructs Lila, who listens. Cooper latches himself to Nat's sleeve. Nat takes Nathaniel out of his carseat and triple locks the car.
"Let's go," Nat says. "Hurry." She wasn't happy with the fact that they'd have to walk past a nightclub to get to their hotel. Stupid city parking.
"How far is it?" Cooper asks.
"Three blocks," Nat responds. "Not far at all."
The three start walking, Nathaniel still asleep in Nat's arms. They make it the first block okay. Then Lila, half-asleep, drags Nat towards the 'place with the pretty lights', AKA the nightclub Nat had so badly wanted to avoid.
"No, no," Nat chastises her gently. "That's for grown-ups."
"Come on, Lila," Cooper says. Lila happily listens to her brother and skips down the road, right past a few men passing a bottle. They eye Nat over and glance at the kids.
"Hey, gorgeous," one man, obviously the drunkest of the lot, slurs. "Whaddya say ya ditch tha kids and come 'ave a drink wi' us?"
"No, thanks," Nat says, smiling. But her speak venom. "I'm good."
"Ya sure?" the man asks, stumbling over. Nat wants to punch this man into next week, but she also doesn't want to attract attention. "Ya can leave tha kids in tha alley or somfin'!" He attempts to wrestle Cooper away, who promptly stomps on his foot. Then he switches back to Nat. "Come on!" He reaches a hand for her face-
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," Lila mumbles as Nat hands Nathaniel quickly to Cooper. Nat whirls around and socks the man square in the jaw. If she wanted, she could have put enough force into the punch to kill, but she's trying to stay off the radar. Which is why, after a few good kicks to a less-nice place, she snatches Nathaniel back and stalks away as quickly as possible.
They check quickly into the hotel and find their room. Nat unfolds a small Pack-n-Play for Nathaniel and lays him down. Lila and Cooper climb into one bed and are asleep almost immediately. Nat racks her brain to try and remember what the meeting place was- there are so many. Which was the one in case someone was taken hostage? Right. Washington, D.C.. But where? She'll know it if she sees it, that's for sure. But D.C. is a big place. If she could contact Clint somehow…
Nah. She'll worry about it in the morning. Nat knows firsthand that if you don't get enough sleep while on a mission, bad things happen. And right now her mission is getting these kids to safety.
Yes. She'll worry about it in the morning. But she'll sleep with one eye open.
"Auntie Nat?"
Nat jerks out of bed, gun at the ready, safety off, and then sinks back into the pillows when she realizes it's just Cooper.
"What is it?" she mumbles.
"Mommy's on the television," the boy responds. Nat jerks up yet again. Nathaniel is gurgling happily in the Pack-n-Play and Lila is watching the television attentively.
"This is a message for Steve Rogers, James Barnes, Sam Wilson, Clint Barton, Wanda Maximoff, Scott Lang, and King T'Challa of Wakanda." A sinister voiceover, the voice of Secretary Ross, is added to the image of Laura, with a black eye and a young girl on her lap, as well as a young Wakandan girl and an older African-American couple.
The voice continues. "To the fugitives: you have exactly one week to turn yourselves in to the United Nations. If you have failed to do so after one week, one of the people you see before you will be killed." The screen switches to Secretary Ross. "To King T'Challa: we know you are hiding the criminal Avengers. If you turn them in to us, we will release your sister and the rest of these people. To the rest of the country: Natasha Romanoff, also known as Natalia Romanova and Natalie Rushman, is currently a wanted criminal for failing to comply with government procedures. She is thought to be traveling with three children; Cooper Barton, Lila Barton, and Nathaniel Barton. Any information leading up to her arrest and/or location will be rewarded." With that, the television clicks back to it's normally scheduled cartoons. Nat takes a deep breath.
"Come on, kids," she announces. "We're going to find your father."
"Daddy!" Lila says excitedly.
"Where are we going?" Cooper asks as he starts to pack up his stuff. Nat glances at the clock- 9:48.
"Washington, D.C.," she responds. "We'll meet up with the other Avengers there. Clint will know we're coming."
"And then we can rescue Mommy?" Lila says.
"Yes, Lila," Nat says, smiling kindly. "Then we can rescue your mother."