A/N: yeah sorry. I've been really stressed lately so this fanfic has sorta been put on hold. But I'm working on it. This is a girl focused chapter, but not so much on Wanda in this one. This chapter kind of important when it comes to explaining Natasha's relationship with everyone as well as her way of acting in the future. You'll understand what I mean later on.

Also changed the characters from Steve to Pepper, because honestly I don't think Steve will be that present and I love Pepper and want to include her more.

As always thank you for all the love.

S-B

"Leave it"

Pepper looked between the two of them as Natasha keep challenging the super soldier. Pepper might not have the same kind of partnership with Natasha as the rest of the team, but like everyone else she had noticed something was off. In fact, her non-work relationship with Natasha was probably what was making her look at it differently than the rest. She, like Laura, had less professional friendship with the spy. And it was clear something more bothering the girl. Something bigger.

Natasha was a person with a lot of personas. Her life and personality are based on what the spy defined as lies and nonexistent characters. She looked at herself as someone she couldn't identify. Pepper didn't agree. While she agreed that Natasha was a person with a tendency to change persona based on what she was doing, she wasn't without a personality. But what Pepper saw as her actual personality and real character traits wasn't what the Avengers saw.

Pepper's first meeting with Natasha was when she was Tony's assistant. But back then she wasn't Natasha Romanoff, she was Natalie Rushman. Still, Pepper saw a lot of Natasha's real personality in "Natalie". Natalie was in a lot of ways very different from the public Natasha. Natalie had originality been created to get close to Tony. She needed to be professional, but she was also working with Tony. A man who acted like a spoiled teenager brat most of the time. So, she had been playful, and serious, but also very personal to get closer to her goal. The way Natasha acted around Pepper then was almost identical to how their relationship was now.

When it had come to light that Natalie wasn't real Pepper and Natasha had gone from a close work relationship to something very tense, very fast. Pepper had lost trust in someone who once was her assistant and her right hand. Still, she saw Natasha maybe more than she wanted. She was always around because of SHIELD. Eventually, Pepper had forgiven her. But even though Pepper chose to forgive her, Natasha became a lot colder towards the other woman. Professional, strict, serious Agent Romanoff.

To Pepper, it almost felt like a betrayal the way she was acting. It was like she didn't even give Pepper a chance when in reality Pepper was the one who should be the one to be mad at the other one. Pepper tried to convince Natasha to go out with her ever so often, so whenever they were together, they tried to keep whatever they were doing far away from work. As time went on Pepper could see Natasha slowly letting "Natasha" taking over from "Agent Romanoff". A far less serious Natasha came to life around Pepper, and it couldn't make her happier.

In the time Natasha and Pepper didn't talk Pepper had missed having her around. She cherished every moment with Natasha. Natasha was a person Pepper trusted with her life. She was in many ways the only real girl friend she had, and Natasha had time after time showed her appreciation towards Pepper. Now Pepper was noticing a change in her.

While Natasha and Pepper never had been the type of friends who talked about their feelings all the time, Natasha hadn't shown any problem talking about it with Pepper. Sure, she wasn't ranting about every small detail in her life, but she always answered truthfully when Pepper asked.

The way Natasha had looked at her when she entered the room was almost with guilt. Pepper was sure Laura had noticed it too. Pepper didn't know Laura very well. She had only met her a couple of times, but judging by the way Natasha talked about her and Pepper's own first impression the woman was nothing but kind. Pepper knew Natasha and Laura had a close sister in law kind of relationship and Laura seemed just as concerned as Pepper felt inside.

Natasha looked like she was ready to leave and go back to her own room. Pepper threw her phone in her bag ready to go after her if she decided to leave. She wanted to talk to the other woman. Alone.

Their actions got put on hold as Friday interrupted the dinner party.

"Ms. Potts, Stark is calling."

"Alright. Why aren't you calling me on my phone?" Pepper answered fishing her phone up from her bag if he decided to call just her instead.

"He wanted to talk to all of you"

"Put him on" She sighed as a blue hologram popped up in the middle of the living room. Tony was looking down on his own phone. He was on a "business trip". Or that was at least what he had told her. Still, Pepper knew that wasn't exactly what he was doing. She was pretty sure it was just an excuse to try out some new things on his suit. Mark 43 or something. She was just happy he decided to do it in an open area and not in their home.

"Aha, would you look at that Pep. Visiting the avenges in the new HQ. seems like you visit them more than you visit me in my own workshop." Pepper opened her mouth to protest but Tony lifted a hand stopping her in her tracks.

"Seems like everybody is here. Kapnip and his agent and mini agents." Tony said with a dry tone in his voice, referring to Clint and his family.

"Capsicle, metal arm, wannabe iron man, Scarlet whatchamacallit." Pepper heard Rhodey sigh and could see Wanda look awkward on the floor. Pepper rolled her eyes mentally making a note to try to talk to Tony about his nicknames.

"So, how are we doing totally spies?" Tony turned his body towards Natasha, and Pepper already felt bad for her. She knew Tony had no plans on holding back now.

"What do you want, Tony" Natasha's voice was cold. Pepper could tell she was worked up already and Tony was not making it better. Tony looked at Natasha before he looked around in the room. He nodded at Peter who was sitting just a few feet's away from Pepper.

"How is the training going?" Peter was about to answer when Tony cut him off.

"Actually, I don't care. I know Steve is doing a great job. And that's why I wanted to talk to you, Natasha." Tony looked at the spy with a smug smile.

"And not only me but for me and Nick. But mostly me. You are doing nothing for the team right now. In fact, you are kinda useless because we don't need you at HQ." Natasha looked at the man in disbelief, shocked by what she was hearing.

"I mean you are a world class spy. And you are here doing nothing. Clint is, of course, this dumb family guy, so who cares about him. You, on the other hand, have no reason to stay. So, Nick and I. But mostly I, want you back in the field. Now. So that's exactly what is happening. A mission to your home country actually. Information is already sent to you. Mission starting now" Tony smiled at Natasha before looking back on his phone uninterested in everyone's response.

"WHAT! NO!" Pepper was the first one to say something. He could not be serious, could he? She just came back from literally been kidnapped for the last 6 months for god's sake.

"Actually yes." A new voice came into the discussion and a Nick Fury's head popped up in the corner of the hologram.

"Director, she is injured still, you guys have to have somebody else. What about Maria Hill?" It was Steve's turn to say something now. He threw a worried look at the girl's directions.

"Yes, she is an excellent agent as well, so are you, Rogers. But we need a very specific skillset. And Natasha got what we need." The director answered calmly.

"And what if we don't allow her?" This time it was Clint. His voice was firm and with a hint of anger in it.

"I don't care. It's not up to you."

"So why did you call all of us then." Clint's voice was shaking in anger now. He was not okay with this in the slightest.

"Because it's something all of you should be aware off" Nick started.

"I understand that this might seem extreme, but we are in dire need of Romanoff. And we know she will deliver. This is a very important mission. It needs to go perfect. And Romanoff is the definition of perfect."

"Rumors has it that somebody escaped Wakanda with a lot, and I mean a lot of Vibranium. We didn't know it was that much left. But after King T'Chaka death recently a lot has happened. We just need somebody to look into this. Of course, with a team but we need him down. T'Challa wants him alive, but we don't care." Tony explained. He still looked down on his phone still kinda uninterested.

"Natasha?" Pepper turned around looking at the spy. Natasha had her same emotionless look in her eyes. But Pepper could swear she saw some distress in her eyes for a second.

"No, I get it." The director looked at her with a strict look, demanding a more precise answer.

I'll do it I mean." Natasha said short. The woman looked down at her phone, probably scanning through whatever Tony and Nick had sent her before nodding at them.

"Thank you for the mission." The spy said before leaving the room with her head down.

A/N: Again, a short chapter to just keep going. It is currently 2 am, but I wanted to publish something as soon as possible. Again, thank you for everyone who is reading. If any of you have any requests or anything you would like to read in this fanfic, PLEASE PM me!

S-B again.