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7 : THE RUNAWAY PART 1

Natasha bought them new phones that didn't have any tracking devices embedded in it, in case Stark or Fury planned to monitor them. They planned their route for the trip across the country, mapping out the route from Manhattan down to LA. Natasha started packing everything in a bag while Steve made sure they have enough cash for the time they'd be gone.

Natasha's cover story was that she was going to go to visit her home land (which she already told JARVIS to tell everyone when they ask) and Steve's cover story was easy, as it was his regular week off so he will be traveling up state.

They planned everything out.

They were going to run away together, even if it was only for two weeks.

They left the tower as the moon met the sun and roared out of the city on Steve's motorcycle. They went straight out of the city, en route to Pennsylvania. They stopped for their breakfast at a diner in Bloomsburg because both were starving.

It was a small and lovely town and the diner had some really tasty pancakes. After Steve ordered his fourth plate of pancakes, the middle age lady who takes their order gave him a strange look.

"He eats a lot" Natasha said, an amused smile on her lips.

"I can tell" the waitress replied, pouring fresh coffee into each of their cups.

After they finished with their breakfast, the waitress suggested they take a stroll around the town as it was quite and beautiful. They accepted this recommendation and wandered around the town, taking a picture in front of the town square water fountain and taking an amused sigh when they discovered a Starbucks was in the town

Natasha tells Steve she wanted to visit Ricketts Glen State Park and spent a night there before they left Columbia County.

"I think we'll need more than two weeks at this rate" Steve said "We aren't even out of Pennsylvania yet, Nat"

"If this means that we will have some more time to ourselves then it´s fine by me"

He kissed her on the cheek. "I will go rent a cabin for us" He told her before walking away. She smiled.

Steve was given the cabin nearest the lake. As he gathered dry wood for the campfire, Natasha called to him.

"Babe, I need some help carrying some things back to our cabin" She said "And I have a little surprise for you"

Steve was indeed surprised when Natasha showed him an ice fishing equipment. But not a good kind of surprised.

Natasha took him to the frozen lake. She looked very eager for this activity and Steve didn't know why.

He didn't like this idea at all. The frozen lake with icy water below it. Icy water that could freeze you within a heartbeat. Damn it, not again!

Steve didn't know when he closed his eyes and when he stopped walking, but suddenly it all came back. The icy water drowning him, he could not breathe, and he could feel how his muscles stopped moving, his lungs slowly started to freeze. The cold crept its way up his spine.

No...Please no, not again. He can't do this.

Natasha walked happily towards the lake; she didn't notice her boyfriend wasn't next to her anymore.

"Steve! Come and help me here" She shouted eagerly but there was no answer from him.

She turned around to see Steve with his eyes closed tightly and visibly shaking. Every muscle in his body tensed up. She dropped everything and ran to him.

"Steve! I'm here. Open your eyes, it's just a memory" She said and wrapped her arms around him "Breath slowly, I'm here now. You are not alone" She rubbed his back and she felt his arms wrapped around her.

He started to breathe in and out and she heard him quietly groan.

"It's okay, Steve." She kept whispering before she cupped his face with both hands "Open your eyes"

He slowly opened his eyes and then he shut them tightly again after that, she leaned up and kissed his forehead.

"I'm sorry, Tasha" He said quietly before opened his eyes again.

"It's okay"

"I really don't want to do this"

"You can do it, Steve" She encouraged, taking his hand into hers and pulled him "Follow me"

Steve quietly groaned as a sign of protest but slowly followed her into the lake, but jumped every time he heard the sound of the ice because it sounded like it was cracking.

She led Steve to the fishing spot and held him in her embrace, and smiled brightly at him.

"See, it's safe and there is nothing to worry about" Natasha said "You are safe with me"

He wrapped her tightly "Thank you, Nat" he murmured into her hair.

Steve managed to handle his fear. The only thing that helps him through was Natasha's smile when she caught a fish. She was happy and he didn't want to ruin it with his anxieties.

"You're really good at this, Nat" He praised

"Well, I grew up in Russia and my survival training included surviving in lots of extreme conditions."

"Looks like we've got a lot of fish for dinner"

She gave him a bright smile again. And Steve had nothing else to do but to smile as well.

To make her happy he was more than willing to swallow his fear and enjoy his time with her.


Their dinner consisted of the fish they caught. Steve showed off his culinary skills again by cooking the fish to absolute perfection with potatoes and baby carrots. And Natasha tried to make small talk to distract him from his fear.

But she could see that his muscle still tensed and his body was shaking a little bit. It was her fault that overlooking the fact that icy water could trigger some bad memories for Steve.

"I'm sorry I didn't think that it might..." She started but Steve cut her off immediately.

"Nat, it's not your fault you didn't know how I was going to react and quite frankly neither did I, but I'm glad that you were there to help me pull through it." He reassured her

"Steve, you still don't look okay"

"It was just a panic attack. I'm okay now"

Natasha needs to do something to help it all go away. And the only way was to give him a new and nice memory of it.

She kissed him before she pulled her captain to the couch in front of the fireplace. She will give him a nice memory to replace the bad one.


The morning soon arrived, the Captain found himself sleeping on the couch. He could still feel warmth from fireplace, but he felt something else that made his heart flutter. It was no other than the sleeping beauty that was on top of him and that held a tight grip on his body.

Last night was great and the miracle in front of him helped repel everything that troubled his mind.

How could he possibly love her more than he already did?

"Stop staring, Rogers" Natasha said sleepily and with her eyes still closed "You know I don't like it"

"I should cook us some breakfast. We need to make it to at least Chicago today"

"I'd rather snuggle here for a little while" She replied "And don't you dare move"

"Yes, ma'am"

He kissed her on the top of her hair and held her loosely, her hands grasping tightly onto his waist.


Their breakfast was small and light. As Steve began to pack their things, Natasha told him she wanted to take a walk in the forest before they left. Steve told her it was a bad idea but he knew that Natasha does whatever she wants to do.

They went hiking, but after an hour Natasha managed to coax him into carrying her back to the cabin. It was almost noon when they left Bloomsburg. They drove back upward, out of Pennsylvania and into Ohio, making stops in Cleveland and Indianapolis. They indulged in a fair outside of Lansing before arriving in Chicago. They stopped for a dinner of Chicago style deep dish pizza before looking for a campsite.

Somewhere in Illinois

They found a place to camp for the night. One of its features included a hot spring for people to relax in. Steve set up their tent in a secluded area near the spring while Natasha gathered some wood to make a bonfire.

Steve lit a fire and began heating some tinned beans over the roaring flames. He wasn't fond of this as he could cook a gourmet meal more suited to what Natasha deserved, but for now he knew they had to make do. As he stirred the beans, he turned just long enough to see his girlfriend peel off her clothing (save her bra and panties) and walked into the spring.

"Nat! Put your clothes back on!" Steve said with his commanding voice "It's freezing out here!"

"It's a hot spring, Rogers" She replied with a chuckle and sat down in the hot water, she spoke to him again "Come join me!"

Steve licked his lips, his brow furrowed. Her eyes glistened the look that he couldn't say no to.

He took the beans off the fire and pulled off his shirt. His abs alone nearly caused her to faint.

Folding his shirt and pants neatly, he walked to the spring and sat down. She paddled over and wrapped her arms around him.

"It's so peaceful out, isn't it?" she asked.

"It is."

"No one around to bother us. It gives me an idea."

He looked at her and saw that lustful look in her eyes.

"Here? What if someone sees-"

"They won't. Please?"

Steve nodded and she saddled onto his lap. She began kissing him as he fumbled with her bra.

Before anything got hot and heavy, a flashlight shone on them.

"Ok, kids, out of there." A voice commanded. Natasha and Steve looked to see a man standing there: a park ranger.

"There's young children here. Come on. You're coming with me."

Natasha sighed and turned back to Steve. They were getting arrested.

The two climbed out and towelled off before slipping their clothing back on. Natasha put her left arm into her leather jacket as the ranger approached them.

The ranger took hold of Natasha's hands and pulled out some zipties. He cuffed her as Steve got his jeans back on.

"Son, your hands are a bit board for my handcuffs, so I'll trust you won't try anything." the ranger said, taking a firm hold of Natasha's arm.

Steve nodded and the ranger navigated them to a caravan that served as his office. They entered and he sat Natasha down in a chair.

"Sir, we apologize profusely for this. We weren't aware of what was going on around us." Steve said as the ranger began taking notes.

"You really think its worth arresting us? Nothing serious happened." Natasha added.

The ranger sat back in his chair, looking at his papers.

"I let you go, you have to leave."

"Deal."

The ranger pulled out some scissors and snipped Natasha's restraints. She rubbed her wrists as Steve guided them out.

"That. Was. Close." Natasha enunciated.

"Indeed it was. Come on, I'll splurge for a hotel in the city."

"At least there we won't be disturbed. Or interrupted."

He turned to her, that lustful look in her eyes once more. He prayed there was a room available somewhere in Chicago.


A/N: As always, Review, critic and advice are greatly appreciated! Please leave something, just one word of adjective that is mighty fine with me. At least I know how you feel about the story.

- Thank you to my proofreader, CAMILLE JONES and Muldoon22.

NEXT CHAPTER: The runaway continued and someone will caught them redhanded. (Who do you think it gonna be? Leave your prediction in the review)