AN: Hi...sorry for disappearing, I got super distracted by something life related and I honestly thought I posted this Chapter. Like I literally had to do a double take when I saw that there was only 9 chapters on this because I knew I had finished Chapter 10 but apparently I just never got round to publishing it :P

I'm an idiot but enough of that.

It's time to shop til they drop! A lot of Nat and Laura in this chapter so yay!

Enjoy :)

Chapter 10 - The Perfect Photo

The past few hours had been hectic but if Laura had learned anything in that time, it was that she did not look right in bright colours. This wasn't exactly new information to her but the image in the full body mirror just drove that point home.

It had been Pepper who had picked out the yellow summer dress and Laura had glared at it the moment she had spotted it hung on the woman's arm. The essentials had been procured hours ago, leaving her at their mercy but apart from the horror that was draped around her frame, Miss Potts and Natasha had actually been pleasant company.

And the two made a formidable team. Bouncing ideas off of each other with ease, Laura actually had a hard time keeping up with them. They were efficient, navigating the New York shops with military precision. It was almost as if they had everything planned out.

Laura was beginning to suspect that every outing with the Avengers was like this. Organised and efficient, like some kind of mission. Simply leaving the tower had turned into a stealth evac.

The press seemed to hover around Avenger Tower, cameras ready, waiting to pounce. It had been agreed upon round the breakfast table, that Stark and Rogers would leave a few minutes before the rest, exiting via the main entrance to keep the vultures entertained.

In the meantime, the rest of them would sneak out one of the back exits. The boys would regroup after the two superheroes managed to shake the press.

She would have been lying if she'd said that she wasn't grateful for the planned distraction. The last thing she needed was to have her face plastered on worldwide media. But she suspected that the little evac mission hadn't just been for her benefit. "You almost finished in there?" Natasha's voice reminded her to stop glaring into the mirror.

Laura snapped out of it, pulling the curtain back and stepping into the waiting area of the changing room. "Where's Pepper?" Her scowl turned curious as she took in the relaxed spy, sitting, one leg crossed over the other, in front of her changing room. The red head was wearing a gorgeous dark green dress that looked miles better that what Laura was wearing.

Natasha finished off a text before looking up at Laura. "She had to take a call". A smile quickly grew on her features as she took in the peeved off look on the young girls face. "Not your thing?"

Laura caught sight of herself in one of the nearby mirrors and almost growled at the reappearance of the dress. "I don't see why I need a summer dress. The days are getting colder, not warmer."

Nat chuckled at her, appearing completely at ease but in reality, she hadn't let the woman out of her sight. You could tell a lot about a person just by how they shop and Laura shopped strangely. For starters the woman didn't window shop or search for clothes, instead she simply walked between aisles, occasionally stopping to look at stuff but just look, never touch. Natasha had noticed Laura's attraction to darker colours and her distinct dislike for bright ones. She'd also noted that the young girl spent a good amount of time in the men's section, looking for things there which Natasha found very interesting. Her phone buzzed in her hand causing her to roll her eyes. Tony needed to learn when to give up.

"Sorry about that. Oh wow, that's nice" Pepper commented striding back into the practically empty changing area, wearing a beautiful mint green dress. It wasn't that the shop they were in was unpopular but it was more expensive than most and it was also a Monday. Laura's face scrunched up in disgust as she caught sight of herself again, shaking her head at the CEO. "No?"

"No, the colour's just…too much" Colour had always been a no zone for her. It wasn't that she had anything against the daffodil yellow dress but she just preferred darker shades.

Whatever Pepper was about to reply with was cut off by Natasha's phone buzzing again and the woman letting out an irritated sigh. "Your boyfriend needs to learn not to bug me, Pep"

"Trust me, I've tried to tell him but at least he's improving" Pepper tried to put a positive spin on it but she knew she'd failed.

"What's he after?" Laura cursed her curiosity. She'd managed to ignore the stupid billionaire at breakfast and he'd made it surprisingly easy as well.

Nat smiled at the dark haired girl's reluctance to bring up Tony. "He texted to tell me that they were on their way to the café and I replied that we'd head over once we were finished dress shopping. Only now he's hung up on the dresses. Wants a picture of us wearing the dresses we're trying on".

Pepper shrugged her shoulders while smiling "Sure, why not?"

Her response sent Natasha's gaze straight onto Laura who caught the action easily. However Laura had to admit that Pepper had a point, why not. Well, Stark would obviously use it as some kind of joke material but at the same time, that could be useful to her. She needed to get the man off her back about the whole blood sample argument, maybe this could distract from that and make him feel like he'd won or something. She'd have to deal with his taunts but she was positive that she could withstand him. This thought process took seconds and when Laura re-joined the real world she found that Pepper was now staring at her as well. Her Boss had clearly been informed of her spat with her boyfriend. Laura sighed knowing that she wasn't going to enjoy this. "Fine but just one".

Pep seemed to brighten at that. "That's fine. You can take one of us then I can take one of you and Nat."

The phone was quickly past to her as Nat was pulled up into standing. Laura managed to catch a glimpse of Tony's text before she went onto the camera, feeling a small spark of hatred for the man she was about to let "win". The girls posed, nothing fancy, just standing next to each other, both women smiling happily for the camera. Laura smirked as an idea popped into her head as she snapped the photo.

Natasha could tell the new girl was up to something as she passed the phone over to Pep. The dark haired woman smirked widely as she came to stand next to her. Nat dubiously went to place her hand on Laura's shoulder, only to have Laura reach up to whisper in her ear. What the shorter girl said made Nat snort loudly before nodding along to her plan. Seconds later, Pepper was also sent into a giggling fit as she struggled to keep the camera still enough to snap the picture.

The photos were sent, the girls quickly changed out of the dresses and exited the changing area. Pepper was the only one who decided to buy her dress because Natasha decided that she had enough dresses for now and Laura wouldn't buy her dress if someone paid her to. So as the CEO went and paid, Laura took the time to just wonder around the shop for a little while longer. She really had no intention to buy anything else, they'd already brought far too much for her.

The walk-in wardrobe in her guest room would be filled by tomorrow and most normal people would be ecstatic but Laura was nowhere near normal and nowhere near ecstatic. "It's a nice jacket". Laura's eyes snapped towards the voice to find Natasha standing next to her. She followed the red head's gaze to see that she was standing in front of a leather jacket in the men's section. "Thinking of buying it for someone?"

Her eyes snapped back to connect with the smirking woman. Laura didn't need to ask who she was referring to. "No". She adverted her eyes. Laura would be lying if she said that the Black Widow didn't unnerve her slightly and she couldn't help but feel defensive about this line of inquiry.

The spy clearly had a bone to pick. "Shame, I think he'd appreciate it". It was highly concerning how transparent she was being.

"You sound pretty sure about that." Laura snorted sardonically, mind wandering back to the night before. She'd been tired and flippant with him, regret was beginning to tinge her memories. She was meant to be helping, she should have been more patient with him. She was finding this harder than it should've been.

"And you sound like you're underestimating how much you mean to him." Natasha's response brought her mind back into focus, only for it to grow confused. She stared at the spy like the woman was stupid.

Barnes barely remembered her, she barely meant anything to him. She was his link to the past. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Stop playing dumb, Laura. You're smart enough to know what I getting at." Natasha huffed out, turning to fully face Laura. But Laura wasn't 100 % sure on what this was about. She couldn't mean something to Bucky, the man didn't know her. He had one memory of her and even then it wasn't her in his memory. It was a ghost, a phantom that she'd buried 11 years ago.

But Laura was sure about one thing, none of this had anything to do with Romanoff. "Look, my past is my past. It's none of your concern."

Natasha scowled at the younger woman's uppity attitude. "Your past is his as well and he's my friend, he's our friend. We're allowed to be worried."

"There's no need. I've talked it over with him." Laura answered hoping to put an end to this discussion. She really didn't need to be interrogated by Black Widow today.

Natasha's voice still held a bit of miff as she responded "I heard".

Laura's attitude disappeared in that instant as she stared at the woman in surprise. She'd heard? What was she talking about? How? The only people awake on that floor had been her, Bucky and…

Natasha watched as a look of understanding crept onto the dark haired girl's feature before Laura turned around slightly herself, eyes trailing off toward the check out where Pepper was currently talking animatedly with the cashier. Natasha would have been concerned that the girl was about to take offence and get upset with Pepper but she just sighed deeply and seemed to accept her fate. "We came to an understanding. I'm not about to spill my guts to him, Natasha, it won't help".

The ex-agent actually smirked at her because Natasha wasn't expecting Laura to open herself to Bucky. Hell, if there was anyone who knew how valuable secrets were, it was Natasha. Everyone had skeletons in their closets, some were scarier than others and no one could expect anyone to open themselves up for a bunch of strangers. Unless, of course, it was an actual interrogation. "I don't expect you to".

"Then are we good here?" Laura questioned wanting to finish this conversation as her eyes followed Pepper, making her way towards them.

But Nat just frowned at her, ignoring Pep as she joined them. The other red head was smart enough to see that something was going on. "You two may have come to an understanding but there is still things that you don't understand".

"Like what?" Laura's emotions flitted between feeling challenged, confused and curious. She failed to see what she didn't understand but at the same time she was intrigued to see what she'd missed.

Natasha's eyes flitted between the confused Laura and the uneasy Pepper, realising that this little talk was stretching out a bit too long. "Come on, we'll walk and talk". She herded the two other women out of the shop and started to lead the way towards the café, keeping a slow pace so as to watch the younger girl.

The small bell chimed as Steve and Bucky entered the quiet tucked away Café. The place was small, no more than five tables in the entire room. Paintings and photographs hung on the walls making the place seem homely with chairs and couches littering the room giving it a quirky feel.

"You get lost or something?" Clint called out to them as he laid on one of the couches. The boys had decided to split up an hour ago, mostly because Steve wanted to get art supplies and Tony didn't.

"A little bit" Steve sighed relieved that they had finally gotten off the streets. He watched worriedly as Buck walked round him and made his way to a table in the corner. His friend had copped better than the last time they'd tried this but no matter how much Steve tried to look on the bright side, he had to admit that Bucky was still struggling. Struggling to relax. Struggling to believe that there wasn't a heavily armed battalion round every corner. Struggling to adjust. "Where's Tony?" Steve asked the archer coming to sit at the same table as the man, choosing to give Buck some space.

"Round back, talking to the owner" Clint grunted, deciding to sit up and feeling his body protest. "Thanking him for allowing us to use his café on such short notice and probably asking him to keep our presence here to himself". Steve nodded in understanding but Clint could easily tell that the man was stressed. "So how did it go?"

"Fine" The look Clint gave him told him that he simply wasn't buying it. But Steve didn't want to talk about it. Didn't want to admit that he didn't know how to get over this hurdle yet. He wasn't a psychologist and Bucky wouldn't trust a proper psychologist.

Clint understood what Steve was thinking without him even saying it. Steve was very good at carrying burdens and Clint was convinced that if he could, Steve would carry the weight of the world's problems all by himself. Steve's selflessness was what made Steve…well…Steve. But as a father of a pre-teen, he knew the dangers of "Fine".

"So you two decided to turn up…" All three men's attention snapped onto the billionaire as he came striding out of the door that lead to kitchen. Tony's grin was the first thing that put Steve on edge but his concern eased slightly as he noticed that Clint shared the genius's amusement. But it returned full force as Steve noticed that not only was Tony in the middle of texting but he was also heading for Bucky's table.

Bucky noticed this as well, bracing for whatever was about to come out of the man's mouth. So imagine his surprise when the phone was slide towards him. "Your girl seems to be enjoying herself". Tony's giddy mood was irritably understandable. Bucky had to push down a smile himself as he took in the photo on Tony's phone. Natasha and Laura stood side by side, Nat leaning on Laura slightly and both in very expensive looking dresses. However both girls didn't look particularly pleased as they gave the camera the middle finger. Bucky couldn't imagine a photo that could depict Laura Kinney as perfectly. "I mean talk about rude" The phone was whisked away from him before Bucky could realise that he was staring at it. "But I have to admit it's growing on me". Tony smirked widely as he passed the phone over to Steve. He hadn't thought he was going to get that photo. He'd accepted that Nat wasn't going to send him anything. He was content with just annoying the ex-Russian and was about to give up when Fate decided to shine on him. "Thinking of having it framed".

"Do that and both of them will kill you" Clint countered the inventor as he sat down with them.

AN: I'm not afraid to admit that I'm pumped for the next chapter. Some quality Bucky and Laura time is on it's way :D

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Feedback will hopefully (Fingers crossed) get me back into a routine for this story.

See you next week!