Chapter 10

Nathalie groaned as she awoke, and screamed when she saw the man staring at her from across the room. She struggled to get free, and snapped the titanium bonds around her. Snarling, her eyes darting everywhere, she backed into a corner, acting like a feral animal.

"Cool it, Mrs. Barnes." The man said, and Nathalie's eyes grew fearful as she found she couldn't use her magic. "Yes, I am Winston Deadshot, and I have a binder on your magic. You cannot use it here."

"Let me out of here." Nathalie snarled.

"But of course." He said, gesturing to the door. "You can leave… if you can kill the man behind that door." Nathalie swung the door open, roaring. She snatched the gun from the table in front of her, but when she saw the man behind the door, she froze. He was looking at her with familiar brown eyes which were warm and gentle.

"Kill him." Winston said. "Or you will never be free."

"I can't kill him…" Nathalie whispered. "I can't kill Bucky."

"Then you will be punished." The screams were heard for hours, Nathalie's voice pleading for the pain to stop. She was shocked with millions of volts of electricity, burned, whipped and shot at her arms and legs as not to harm her child, but she refused to harm the fake.

"I… will… not… harm… h-him…" Nathalie hissed for the hundredth time. "I… don't… give a… crap that… the thing in there… is a fake… I'm not… g-going to… to harm him… ever."

"Then feel the weight of your refusals." Winston snarled. "I thought you could be strong enough to kill him, but no. You had to resist. Until you can kill him you are to be punished."

… … …

For almost two years this went on, Nathalie giving birth to a beautiful little girl that she named Destiny, remembering the name that she and Bucky had agreed on if it was a girl. Winston actually let her keep Destiny, and she often curled her body around her daughter, protecting her from the fear and the dangers of the world. When she was being beaten, a kind female guard took care of the little one, the same guard often helping to bandage Nathalie's wounds. With time she forgot all of the Avengers but Bucky, the memory of him being the only thing keeping her from giving in.

One day, two years after her capture and before the usual beatings, Nathalie sensed a strong thread of magic within her. She wildly grasped at it, and remembering the location of the place due to a guard being stupid enough to tell her, called out to someone she missed with all of her heart.

BUCKY! The startled man instantly replied.

NATHALIE?! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHO CAN I KILL?!

I'm underground in Russia… underneath the old HYDRA base that the allies captured before you fell. You need to hurry, he's going to kill me soon.

Nathalie, don't leave me again! Not when I've just heard the first thing from you in over two years!

Bucky, I'm losing strength. There's a damper on my magic. I've gotten really strong, gotten tougher and learned more survival stuff from being here, but only one thing that I have kept me tethered to you.

What?

Our daughter. She has your eyes and face, but my skin and long hair. It's already a foot long!

I bet she's beautiful.

Bucky, he wants me to carry his child.

I won't let that happen.

I know. But he's going to start trying on Friday, and it's Tuesday here.

I'm coming for you. NOTHING is keeping me away from you again.

I'm losing the connection!

NO! I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE YOU TOO! Exhausted, she lost the connection.

"Come soon, love." She whispered as the female guard came in to take care of her daughter. "Come soon."

… … …

Three days later, Winston opened the door of her cell.

"It's time, my dear." he smiled viciously. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans, his shirt missing.

"No." Nathalie whispered, backing into a corner, frightened. He stalked forwards and grabbed her wrist, when a loud explosion sounded through the building. The earth shook, dust and dirt falling down and coating everything very lightly.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Winston roared, and Nathalie snarled, sweeping his feet out from under him and bolting through the door he had carelessly left open. "COME BACK HERE, WENCH!" She was already gone, heading towards the explosion. Where there was explosions, there was light. Where there was light, there was freedom. Her bare feet pounded against the floor as she skidded into the guard's room, snatching her daughter and curling her wings protectively around the both of them. She suddenly ran into a metal object, then backed away in fright as the gold and red metal man walked forwards, a strangely familiar voice coming through the helmet.

"Nathalie?! GUYS, I FOUND HER!" Nathalie bolted, her time in the Hellhole making her MUCH faster than she should have been.

"NATHALIE, STOP!" A woman with flaming red hair tried to grab her, but Nathalie snarled, grabbing her wrist and flinging her into a pile of stone while cradling Destiny with the other arm. She did the same to an archer in all black, then collided with a tall, blonde man.

"Nathalie, sis, stop!" He yelled, holding her tightly, but she bit his exposed hand, drawing blood and sprinting off in another direction. The same happened with another man with a stone hammer, and when she ran into the raven haired man that looked similar to the one with the hammer, she froze at his words.

"Nathalie. Stop. It is I, Loki. I am with the Avengers now. You are safe."

"I AM NEVER SAFE!" She roared, her fury snapping the bond on her magic and unleashing a wave of raw power, eager to be free after almost two years of confinement.

"ENOUGH!" She roared, black lightning surrounding her. A dragon soared through the opening, and Nathalie snarled, her eyes wild as a calmer looking man walked forwards.

"Nathalie, it's me. Bruce Banner, your friend. Relax." Nathalie snarled.

"I don't know any Bruce Banner. And I certainly don't have any friends." She bolted again, taking off towards the opening in the roof. She shot up, when a familiar metal hand grabbed her and pulled her in for a tight hug. She immediately broke down.

"Bucky, is it really you?" She sobbed. "I don't want to be scared anymore. I don't want to have to deal with this anymore. I just wanna go home, love. I wanna go home." He held her tightly, careful not to crush his daughter, and motioned for everyone to back away. They did, and Bucky held her tightly, his real arm cradling his daughter while the metal arm cradled his wife.

"Shh… I'm here… you're alright… nothing is going to happen to you…"

"I beg to differ, Winter Soldier." A terrifying voice boomed. Winston himself stepped out of the rubble. "There is a device planted within Mrs. Nathalie's arm that will convert her blood into poison once I press this button." He held up a bright yellow button. "Now, Mrs. Nathalie, come towards me slowly, or you will die. You can leave the brat with them." Nathalie shakily stood, walking over to him and wincing as he clamped a hand around her neck.

"Nathalie, NO!" Bucky yelled.

"I can't let him hurt any of you." She whispered as she stealthily wound her hands around his head. By the time Winston noticed, it was too late. With a twist and a snap of his neck, he fell to the ground, dead. Nathalie similarly collapsed after incinerating the button with a word, and Bucky instantly handed Destiny to a surprisingly uninjured Natasha then sprinted forwards, sliding and catching her before she hit the ground. She looked up, exhaustion written over all of her features.

"I always said I would catch you." Bucky said softly, but she smiled tiredly.

"Bucky, love. It's too late. The button was pressed before I destroyed it."

"No… you mean…?"

"I'm dying, Bucky. I love you. Take care of Destiny like you would care for me."

"Don't do this to me! I just got you back!"

"James… I love you, little shadow." She whispered, using the nickname she gave him in the War. She weakly put a hand on his face, and he did the same, then kissed her softly, tears running down both of their faces. Him because he would lose her for good, her because she was leaving him and hurting him.

"I love you, little dragon." He said just as quiet, using his nickname for her. She smiled one last time, then closed her eyes and fell limp. "NO!" He roared, holding her close, her hand limp in his grasp, holding it to his face as it turned cold. "NO! WHY, GOD?! WHY?!" He snarled as Steve and Thor tried to come close, curling her body against his stomach. "DON'T TOUCH HER! DON'T TOUCH ME!"

He picked her body up bridal style, starting to run, faster than ever before. Suddenly, Chelseth landed in front of him and he hopped on her back, telling her to fly anywhere that they would never be found. "Nathalie… Nathalie no…" He wept, his heartbroken tears landing on her pale, peaceful face. "I just got you back… and now… now I can never have you back…"

A single strand of magic wound its way up from her hand, and wrapped itself around his wrist, forming a little band with the acronym F.A.M.I.L.Y. on it. The acronym had been Nathalie's favorite.

Forget About Me, I Love You.