Natasha, Daughter of Ivan

by Azure Lightning Emerald Cloud

This is a look into what should've been the end of the film (in my humble opinion). I will never not be furious with how certain THINGS were handled, one THING in particular, which I seek to remedy in this fic. I do not own any characters herein, all rights belong to Marvel Studios and Disney. [Carol/Natasha], [Steve/Peggy], [implied Steve/Bucky]

10. Welcome Home

CHAPTER 10: Welcome Home

Carol stood midway down the stairs, respectfully out of the way, as she watched this family knit back together.

"Nat?"

Natasha tried to play it cool, for some reason, and raised an arm in greeting. Lila was wrapped around her shoulders with Cooper around her waist. Laura had seemingly hugged her first because she was a couple steps away from the Natasha and covering her mouth as tears coursed down her cheeks.

"Hey," Natasha began before Clint crossed the room and pulled her into a long hug. "I'm okay, I'm alive."

Clint didn't let go for a good couple minutes. "Don't…don't ever do that again," Clint pleades. "I can't…I can't live with you dying for me. I tried, and I can't."

Natasha sighs and releases him. "I won't die for you again, okay? I'll let you take the next one," there's a slight smile playing at her lips.

Clint nods and steps back. There's an awkward silence, because what do two spies say after that?

"Hey, on the flip side, you guys can compare notes about what being dead feels like?" Carol speaks out from her perch on the stairs. She's immediately levelled with several severe looks, and Wanda casually bewitches a lemon from one of the fruit bowls on the counter to fly at her face. Carol casually vaporizes it, and says, "Okay, lesson learned. No fun allowed." Wanda levitated another before Carol replies, "Jesus, fine. I give."

Carol raises both her hands in a mock surrendering gesture. The kids crack up. Carol gauges the faces around her, and her dumb joke did exactly what she wanted it to. "Well, do you want to start with the exposition, or would you like me to do that?" Carol asked Natasha.

"I'll do it," the redhead said as she slumped onto the couch; she was instantly pounced on by all three kids, including the full-fledged teenager. Chuckling at their childish exuberance, Natasha pushed them around so they weren't all on her lap, but contact was maintained with all of them. This was obviously going to be a long talk. Looking at Clint, she starts with, "How much did you tell them about Vormir?"