Chapter 7

By: MysticFantasy

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"Sir, Agent Romanoff and Captain Rogers have sent you photographs of their first vacation week." Jarvis informed.

"Pull them up on the screen." Tony said as he filled a glass with his best burbon and started to the couch when Clint came running into the room.

"Did Jarvis say that they sent you pics?" he asked looking a little excited.

"Sure did." Tony answered. "Sit with me and let's see how much fun they're having without us."

Clint quickly sat on the couch with his friend as the first picture appeared on the large screen. It showed Steve with three women around him and floral necklaces were around his neck and one placing a kiss on his blushing cheek.

"Looks like Steve got the traditional welcome to Hawaii." Tony said as the screen changed to the next picture. A perfect view of the ocean from what appeared to be a balcony view with Natasha standing to the side of the picture with her hair flowing in the breeze and a smile on her face.

"Looks like Natasha is liking it so far." Clint said.

The next picture showed Steve lying fast asleep on a beach towel with a reddish orange yet still blue sky in the background.

"Holy s**t! He's actually sleeping during day time." Tony exclaimed.

"And Natasha got it on camera too." Clint mused with a smirk. "I bet he doesn't even know it."

"Good blackmail." Tony said as the screen changed. The genius felt his jaw drop when the next picture showed Steve sitting at a table dressed in khaki shorts, converse shoes and a blue hawaii shirt with a red tropical drink in his hand.

"Please tell me I'm not seeing things." Clint said. "Is Steve...actually dressed...modernly? And he's drinking?"

"He is." Tony said amazed as well. "Natasha is great at taking pictures. I'm going to have to watch myself around her. She might have something on all of us."

Clint lightly gulped at the possible chance of Natasha having dirt on him.

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"Think Tony is having fun looking at the pictures?" Steve asked from the kitchen.

"I think so." Natasha answered with a smirk as she watched the continuing rain fall outside.

The annoying weather hadn't stopped and it was starting to bug her that they'd been stuck inside for so long. She felt Steve stand next to her and smiled when he presented a cup of fresh hot chocolate that she took happily.

"It'll stop soon." he assured before taking a drink of his own beverage.

"I hope so." Natasha said. "We've only got four days left to party out here and we need to take as many pictures as we can so Tony will know to never challenge us again."

Steve lightly chuckled at her declaration although he did admit that she was right on both counts. Being inside for so long was starting to get to him. He was ready to go outside and do something.

He'd even learn to surf if it meant that he could get a hidden work-out. He felt like he was becoming lazy from not doing anything besides eat and lounge about.

Sitting on the couch, Steve turned on the tv and tuned it onto the weather channel.

"...rains have continued to keep locals and tourists indoors but it will come to a stop by early evening tonight. So everyone be ready for that limbo contest and bonfire tonight. A beautiful full moon will appear tonight, making the perfect night for new honeymooners and..."

"Thank goodness it's going to stop." Natasha declared sitting on the couch and snuggling close to Steve. "I'm starting to get cabin fever."

"How about we celebrate by going to that limbo contest and then going for a walk on the beach?"

"I love that idea." Natasha answered. "We have days to catch up on and lots of things to still purchase."

"We should get the others some gifts." Steve said. "Tony already warned me that he wants the best tropical drink we can find."

"We'll get him a bottle of whatever we can find." Natasha said. "What about the others?"

"Is there a mall or something around here?"

"I think we passed by one last week." Natasha answered. "We can go there tomorrow and get something for everyone."

"Great."

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Clint looked over his bow and grinned at how the light bounced off its newly polished surface. He loved seeing his best weapon looking its best. Made it all the better when he used it and took out his target.

"Friend Hawk, may I have a word with you?"

Clint looked up and spotted Thor walking over. Mentally slapping himself for not having heard the thunder god, Clint welcomed Thor.

"Hey Thor. What do you need?"

"My friend, do marriage ceremonies last so long on Midgard?"

Clint became utterly confused by that question.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"The Captain and Lady Romanoff have been away for so long. Is it normal for marriage ceremonies to last this long?" Thor asked.

Clint actually chuckled but quickly cut it short when he realized he didn't want to get Thor upset.

"They're not married Thor." he said. Not that I know of anyway. "They're on vacation. It means that they're taking some time to relax and have fun without having to work or rush into a battle. They'll be back in a few days and those pictures that we showed you were of the place where they are."

"So they are not married?" Thor asked.

"No, they're not."

"Well, it's strange that a man and woman would do such activities together if they did not have feelings of affection toward one another."

"What are you saying?"

"From the pictures, I believed that they had feelings of love toward one another." Thor answered turning to leave the room. "But I guess I was mistaken."

Clint looked down at his bow as he thought over Thor's words. Now that he thought about it, Steve and Natasha did seem a little different in the pictures. Other than the fact that they were totally relaxing, something did seem different about them.

After carefully putting his bow away, Clint rushed upstairs to the living room and quickly found the photo album that had just been made to store the pictures of the two's vacation.

Opening the book and looking at the pictures in the order they'd been taken, Clint started to notice small changes.

The pictures that had both Steve and Natasha in them changed over the first week they'd been away.

At first there was at least a good two foot distance between them standing together. Then the pictures of them together were of them standing almost directly in contact with each other. Their smiles seemed to be brighter and happier.

Oh sh**. Clint thought to himself with a smirk as he shut the book.

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"They are not romantically involved Thor." Tony said looking over his Iron Man suit. "They're just spending some time on an island having a good time and spending a lot of money. Doesn't mean they're in love."

"You Midgardians have confusing customs." Thor said with a smirk. "Still, I believe that the Captain and Lady Romanoff would be happy together."

"Thor, they will come back the same as before. Just friends."

"What if they don't?"

Tony looked up with an eyebrow raised.

"Are you saying that they will come back and in love with each other?" he asked curiously.

"I believe so." Thor answered. "Do you think they will not?"

Tony knew he shouldn't take the bait. Especially after the last time he had. But this was Thor. He wasn't all too clear about Earth bets.

With a smirk, Tony replied to Thor's question.

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Natasha snapped a quick picture of Steve making his way under the limbo bar. He cleared it easily as the crowd cheered and he stood straight.

"That's not so hard." he said making his way over to Natasha.

"Probably because you're in such great shape." she said.

"Guess I'm not such an old man after all." Steve mused as the line they were in continued to move.

"You have to stop listening to Tony. He's just telling you that because he's jealous you look younger than him." Natasha said as they grew closer to the limbo pole.

Steve grinned and figured that Natasha was right. Tony was constantly teasing him about his true age and calling him an old man. Jealousy about appearance made a good excuse for it to happen.

"Let's go under together." Natasha said taking Steve's hand. He nodded in agreement and noticed someone was holding Natasha's camera waiting for them to make their way under the bar.

With the bar lowered a peg, Steve found it a little more tricky to keep his balance. Sure he's flexible and acrobatic, but this was the first time he'd tried this game. Yet somehow he and Natasha managed to clear it.

Upon standing straight again, Natasha retrieved her camera and checked the picture. They both smiled seeing themselves halfway under the bar. They continued making their way under limbo bar as more people began to lose their balance and fall or knock the pole down.

Steve was now only one of few people left along with Natasha. The pole was at the point to where Steve didn't think he could make it under without either falling or knocking it down.

He was soon proved right as he tried to make his way under it and bumped into the pole. Now out of the game, he stood back and watched as Natasha continued to play. He smiled seeing her clear the bar easily.

Now it was just her and two others.

The bar was lowered again. Steve bit the corner of his lip as the first person made their way under only to lose balance and fall flat on their back. The second person was now up to try.

Steve believed the man was going to make it when once again gravity decided to prove its existence. The man fell over, nearly taking the limbo bar with him.

Natasha carefully manuvered her body and bent backwards. Steve watched with little surprise as she cleared the bar and the crowd cheered for her accomplishment.

He took a picture of Natasha receiving a flower crown and first place medal. She then made her way over to him.

"Congratulations." he said.

"Thanks. It was too easy though." she said. "Ready for that walk on the beach?"

"Ready." Steve answered as she took his hand. They made their way away from the party when something made contact with Steve's leg.

The soldier looked down and spotted a toy replica of his shield. He picked up just as a young boy rushed over but froze when he saw someone had his toy.

"Is this yours?" Steve asked with a smile and spotted the shirt the young raven haired boy was wearing. It was Steve in his Captain America uniform holding his shield in the air with the American flag behind him.

The child nodded as his eyes stayed on the man before him, seeming to realize who he was.

"You're a Captain America fan?" Natasha asked lightly.

The boy nodded again.

Steve smiled more as he reached into his pocket and took out a black marker. He quickly signed the toy with both his name and hero name.

"Here you go little soldier." Steve said with a smile as he handed the child his toy shield.

The little boy smiled greatly in wonder as he looked at his now autographed toy as a woman came over to them and took the boy's hand in her's.

"Jackson, there you are. I'm so sorry he bothered you." she apologized.

"It's no trouble ma'am." Steve said standing as the little boy tried to tell his mother who they were in presence of.

"Leave the nice man alone honey." the mother said as she picked up her son.

Steve smiled and saluted to the young child who returned his smile and continued to try to get his mother to see that it was Captain America they were next to. The mother ignored her son's antics as she carried him back toward the party.

Natasha smiled as they continued their way to the beach.

"You're really great with kids." she said as she walked onto the sandy shore.

"Had a little experience during my time as a performer." Steve answered. "Once I became a war hero my popularity with kids grew even more. I couldn't go anywhere without seeing a kid with a Captain America comic in their hand or having made their own shield. It was adorable."

"You're adorable Steve." Natasha said.

"Well, same to you Mr. Romanoff." Steve said with a smirk as he circled his arm around her shoulders.

The waves rolled onto the sand, just a few feet away from where the two are walking. The cool breeze brushed through their hair and the full moon was casting its silver light onto everything and giving the ocean and magnificent appearance.

"I've never been at peace like this before." Natasha said as they came to a stop and she wrapped her arms around Steve's torso.

"Same here." Steve said. "This really has been the best two weeks of my life."

"Mine too." Natasha agreed.

The two smiled happily as they stayed in each other's arms watching the ocean.