Steve answered the burner on the first ring. "Tell me you convinced them to come with you."

"Betty Ross and her son are on the jet. I had a little help convincing her to trust me though," Sam said. "Widow was with her."

Steve let out a sigh of relief. "Good, put her on the phone. I need to talk to her."

"Can't do that, Cap. She took off in the night. I was sure she was coming with us. She didn't give me any inclination she was going to run for it. I don't get it, Steve. She seemed ready to go to Wakanda, even asked about you. I figured she'd be ready to help me tease you unmercifully about your girlfriend, but she disappeared."

Steve looked across the table at Sharon. The realization hit him hard. "What'd you say to her, Sam?"

"I told her she'd finally succeeded in talking you into getting a life and that you were picking up your girl."

"You told her Sharon was my girl?"

"Oh, yeah, told her all about the kiss. Figured it would bring a smile to her face but she's in Widow mode. She's all business right now."

"Not all business," Steve said, "just absorbing some bad information. Natasha and I were together, Sam. I'd just lost her when Sharon helped us. I wasn't thinking clearly. I've already apologized to Sharon for the kiss. Nat's on the run again because she thinks I betrayed her, and I guess I did."

"Oh, man, Cap, I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"I'm sending Sharon to Wakanda like we planned, but she'll be coming alone. Have T'Challa send one someone to the airport to get her. I'm not coming back until I find Nat. Take care of them, Sam. Keep everyone safe and out of T'Challa's hair. He has enough going on without any outsiders getting into trouble. I'll be in touch."

When they hung up, Steve looked at Sharon. He knew she'd heard the conversation, but he wasn't sure what to say. Sharon just shook her head. "When you said kissing me was a mistake, you left out a few details. Any idea where she might be headed? Romanoff is good at staying off the radar."

"Not a clue. Clint might have a few ideas, but I'm not sure he'll be willing to share the information. His loyalty is with Nat."

"When I get to Wakanda, I'll get your team together and see if anyone's got anything they are willing to share. In the meantime, I know someone who might be willing to help and still has resources at his disposal. He's loyal to Romanoff, too, but he thinks a lot of you."

"You have a way to contact Fury?"

"Not exactly." Sharon pulled out a small piece of paper and a pen and jotted down a number. "Shield isn't gone, Steve. The government is about to reinstate the agency formally with a new director, but the director who has handled things in the shadows is still around. He will help if he can, but his identity is going to shock you."

"We're sure he isn't Hydra?"

Sharon smiled. "Phil Colson is definitely not Hydra. He's alive. Don't ask me how. It's above my pay grade, but it's true. He is opposed to the Accords, so he won't turn you in to the authorities. Call him. He was Romanoff's handler when she joined. He's good. Even if she didn't share her secrets with him, you can bet he knows a few."

Wakanda

Betty was worried. Bringing Blake to Wakanda was the right call, but knowing Natasha was in the wind and pregnant brought up too many memories. It wasn't easy to hide with a baby on the way. She hadn't had a choice, but Natasha didn't have to do this alone. Something must have really spooked her friend.

With Blake asleep in his room, Betty wandered into the shared living room. The others were talking in hushed voices. She was about to turn and leave when Sam spotted her. "If you have time, Ms. Ross, we might need your help."

Betty looked at the tense faces and nodded. Natasha may not have wanted to come here, but she wouldn't have sent Betty and Blake if she thought they'd be in any danger. "I'll do my best."

"Cap isn't coming back until he finds Widow. Barton isn't being very helpful at the moment, and you were the last one to spend anytime with her. We need to know everything you know."

They weren't getting everything she knew. Betty wasn't about to betray Natasha's secrets, but she wasn't going to say that to these strangers. "I doubt I know anything that will bring her here any sooner. I was as surprised as you when she left."

"I don't doubt that," Sam said. "But, Widow always has a backup plan. Did she mention any place where she might go if Calcutta got hot?"

"No, she assured me she had a few safe houses we could hide in if we needed to leave, but she didn't tell me their locations. It was need to know information, so I didn't ask. I trust her so should you."

"Trust isn't the issue right now," Sharon said. "Well, in a way I guess it is about trust, but that's not on Romanoff."

"I don't understand."

"Cap screwed up," Clint said. "He betrayed her trust when he kissed Carter. She needs her space. We should leave her alone."

"He cheated on Natasha. Well, that explains her disappearance. If he's chasing her, she probably won't want to be found," Betty said.

"Thank you," Clint said. "Finally, someone is on my side."

"It was one kiss and they technically weren't together anymore," Sharon said, "and if I had known they were together at all, it wouldn't have happened at all. He loves her. He just wants to tell her."

"Too late. She's been hurt enough. Tasha is my best friend, and she's dealt with enough pain without adding this to the mix. If and when she decides to come here, she will."

Laura put her hand on her husband's shoulder. "She shouldn't be on her own. Coming back doesn't have to mean coming back to Steve."

Betty watched the exchange between husband and wife. In theory, she agreed with Clint, but he didn't know what she knew. "We need to find her," she finally said. "I'm sorry," she added, looking directly at Clint, "I won't betray her confidence, but it isn't good for her to be alone right now. She needs to be among friends."

"Is something wrong with Tasha?" Clint asked.

"There are times when being alone is too dangerous. For Natasha, now is probably one of the most dangerous times."

Clint nodded. "I'll send Steve the coordinates to all the safe houses that haven't been compromised, but you and I are going to have a private conversation first."

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Natasha bought a used Hyundai Santa Fe after she landed in Canada and started driving. It seemed like a nice nondescript vehicle someone like Stephanie Grant might drive. She was really hating herself for using a play on Steve's name for her Canadian alias at the moment, but this was the most suitable alias she had for her circumstances.

Stephanie Grant was a business consultant who travelled most of the year, at least that was the way Natasha has set her up. The house on Lake Alberta was supposed to be her summer home on paper. Natasha had chosen this area in case she and Clint ever had to run with the family. After D.C., Natasha had gone blonde to set this cover up, so she bleached her hair once again. She'd also made sure to mention her sister's family and how much she would like to have them over for an extended visit if her schedule ever permitted. Now, she just wished Clint, Laura, and the kids were with her instead of Wakanda.

The house was a four bedroom and it wasn't far from the lake. Better yet, had she needed to run with Laura and the kids and someone needed a doctor, Banff was just down the road, and it had an excellent hospital.

With the baby on the way, most of Natasha's aliases wouldn't have been nearly as suitable. She couldn't use one of her third world locations and guarantee proper medical care. Plus, this place was friendly. Vacationers came to canoe in the summer and be one with nature. It wasn't really a hot bed for criminal activity. She could raise her child here as long as no one figured out she was the Black Widow, and she certainly wasn't going to advertise her identity.

From her kitchen table, she had a nice view of the lake, and, more importantly, an lookout for anyone suspicious coming by boat. In the living room, there was a bay window to give her a good view of the road. Clint had met her at the house a few years earlier, just after she bought the place, and helped her set up cameras and silent alarms all over the property. No area was uncovered. Security wouldn't be an issue.

Loneliness, on the other hand, was a big issue. Natasha wasn't sure if it was the heartbreak or the hormones causing her to hate the solitude, but by week two, it was unbearable. Odd for her, she usually thrived on a few weeks of peace and quiet.

Natasha fully blamed the loneliness for where she was currently standing. She had just left her first official prenatal appointment when she saw the pet shop across the street. Why was she looking at dogs? In another six months, she was going to have baby poop to clean up, did she really want to deal with dog poop, too? One look at a tiny brown and white terrier gave her the answer. Yes, she did, she really did. "I'll take him."

After purchasing everything the attendant seemed to think she could possibly ever need, Natasha started her walk back to her car. A tall man with a cup of coffee in his hand bumped into her, knocking her packages from her hands and irritating the puppy on his leash. "Sorry about that, ma'am. Let me help you pick this up."

"It's fine. I've got it," Natasha said, but the man just smiled and helped carry the packages to her car.

"I'm not usually so clumsy," he said, putting out his hand. "The name's Mac."

Natasha shook the offered hand. "Stephanie," she replied. Her yet to be named puppy whined and she picked him up. "I better get this little guy home. Thanks for helping."

"Anytime, Stephanie," he said. "I'm new around here. Would it be too bold for me to ask for your number? Believe it or not, bumping into you has been the most human contact I've had in a while. I'd like to meet you for coffee sometime when you don't have this guy with you."

"I don't think that's such a good idea. I'm going to be straight with you, I'm not interested in dating anyone right now."

"Ouch, was I that obvious?"

"You bumped into me without spilling a drop of coffee then poured on the charm and managed to walk me to my car. It wreaks of intentional," Natasha said, looking him in the eyes.

"Okay, you got me. I saw a beautiful woman and played the klutz card, because women always prefer clumsy oafs to men who can walk without tripping," Mac said.

Natasha laughed. "You do make a good point."

"We could have coffee as friends, you know. It doesn't have to be a date. I am new around here."

Natasha bit her lip. Steve was with Sharon. Why did the idea of spending time with a nice, normal, attractive man bother her? It could only be friendship, of course. Not that he would still be hitting on her once she mentioned the baby anyway, but she loved Steve. She wasn't looking for anyone to fill his place.

"Alright, Mac, you can have my number, but it is not a date. Got it?"

"Understood, I'll call you and we'll set up our not a date for later in the week. Does that work?"

Natasha smiled. She prided herself on being a good people reader, and he carried himself like a nice person. Maybe she should make friends. It would be good for her cover.


Mac waited until she was out of sight before getting into the car. "It's her. Why didn't we just follow her home again?"

Phil smiled. He had a proud look on his face. "Because she's too smart. She would have noticed and bolted before the captain could get here. You should be proud. You just successfully pulled off a seduction play on the Black Widow."

"Not so much, she figured out I bumped into her on purpose."

"Yeah, next time spill a little coffee. Rookie mistake, but I see you still got her number. Nice work," Phil said. "I'll call Captain America."

"He doesn't go by that name anymore."

"Doesn't change anything. He's still him," Phil said as he started dialing the number.