Natasha found their new allies amusing in a way. Rocket was understandable distraught, but his intelligence amazes her. It was impossible not to stare as she watched him question Steve. "You say you're going to need our ship-"

"My ship," Peter interrupted, not even bothering with a deep voice.

Rocket rolled his eyes and continued, "His ship, but you got here. You have to have a cheap of metal parked around here somewhere. Why can't you use your own?"

"We didn't exactly come in a space ship," Steve said, raising his eyebrows slightly and nodding Thor's direction. "He brought us."

"If you didn't come in a ship, how could he have brought you?"

Thor raised his hammer. "When we leave, I'll show you."

Rocket looked at Drax. "This guy really likes his hammer. I'm more of a screwdriver person myself, but whatever."

Drax nodded. "The god man has a big hammer. You have a puny screwdriver. All that matters is we will destroy Thanos. I will kill him with my bare hands and avenge-"

Rocket put up his hands. "Yeah, yeah, we know. What I really want to know is if your guys can pull off the technology we need to blow up a whole planet?"

"Tony's the smartest man I know," Steve said, and Natasha had to agree. For a former billionaire playboy, Tony had really invested himself into saving the planet.

"Smartest man you know on your planet, you mean. I'll need to look over the specs before we get started," Rocket said. He put his hands on his hips like he was trying to look menacing, causing Natasha to have to take another sip of her drink to avoid laughing. "Guessing that won't be a problem."

Steve smiled. "No problem at all." He looked at Natasha. "We should probably get going. The others will be wondering what's taking so long."

Natasha stood. "And, the sooner this stone is out of Thanos's reach, the better off we all are."

Steve looked at Rocket. "Keep your eyes open. You're not going to want to miss seeing what Thor can do with a hammer."

After a quick goodbye, they were ready to go. Thor raised his hammer as she and Steve held on tight and they took off. Natasha's only regret was that she couldn't see Rocket's face as they left. He was probably cursing his puny screwdriver.

Steve left as soon as they hit the compound grounds. He needed to tell the Ancient One they'd been successful. While Thor was talking to the other Avengers about their 'quest', his word, not hers, Natasha pulled Clint aside. "Got a minute?"

"Sure, everything okay?" he asked.

"Perfect. The mission was a success. We're right on track." Natasha bit her lip. She was so ready to tell Clint the big news, but it was going to mean eating a little crow. "There's actually something else I need to talk to you about. Steve and I-"

Clint groaned slightly. "If you are about to tell me you're having second thoughts about dating Cap then don't, because, Tasha, he's the best thing that's ever happened to you. I'm not going to let you throw away happiness, and don't deny you're happy. I've never seen you as content as you've been these last few months. Whatever you're thinking, stop thinking it. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. You got that? Be happy."

Natasha raised an eyebrow and just looked at her friend. "Are you done yet?"

"Depends, are you dumping our resident super soldier?"

"No," Natasha said, drawing out the word a bit for added emphasis, "I'm marrying him."

Clint's eyes bugged out and a confused look appeared on his face. "I was afraid-"

"Oh, I got that."

He picked her up and swirled her around. "This is great! You deserve this, Tasha. And, Steve, he must be over the moon."

"We're excited. I wanted to tell you first. I'm sure Steve will talk to James ahead of time, but we don't want to tempt fate. We just figured, why wait? We know, you know?"

"Oh, I know. I think it's great. Laura and the kids will be happy for you, too. What's the plan?"

"Just something simple. We don't want a lavish affair like Tony and Pepper. I was thinking we could just say our vows in front of the people we care about. Maybe, we'll just do it here at the compound."

Clint frowned. "That's not going to work. Laura and the kids will be crushed if they can't come and I can't bring them here."

"We could do our own private ceremony with them afterwards. It's been awhile since I visited home."

Clint smiled. "Now, you're onto something. You can get married at the farm."

Natasha shook her head. "I have a hunch the others are going to want to be there, and Steve is going to want James for his best man."

"So? Tasha, if Steve hadn't stopped talked Tony down, most of these guys would visit the farm soon anyway. They knew our secret in the other timeline. They can know it now."

Natasha took a deep breath and thought about all the possible ramifications of sharing the family secret with the others. "Are you sure? There's no going back from this one. We can't just un-tell the others. Keeping the family safe is mission number one."

Clint took Natasha's hand. "Everyone in this building is giving all they've got to keep a lot of families safe, including mine. Knowing they exist, well, that's not going to compromise the mission. I'm sure. It's time to grow the family a bit. These people are our people. They should know the truth."

Steve entered the room as Clint finished. It hadn't taken long in Kamar-Taj. "What truth?"

"Mine," Clint said. "It's time to tell our friends about Laura and the kids. Your wedding is the perfect opportunity to let them meet. What do you think? Wedding on the farm?"

Steve smiled and put his arm around Natasha. "It is your favorite place."

Natasha leaned against his shoulder. "It is. Okay, Clint, if you're sure, we accept your offer." Steve squeezed her a little closer and she kissed him.

Clint mockingly covered his eyes. "Yeah, still not used to all the PDAs, but great. When are you going to tell them?"

Steve looked into Natasha's eyes. "Dinner tonight. I'll give Bucky a heads up now then we'll tell everyone else together."

Natasha nodded and Steve gave her a final kiss on the cheek before going off to find his friend.

Clint still had the Cheshire cat grin plastered on his face. "This is going to be great. You'll see."

Tony had a catering team bring in dinner to celebrate the retrieval of another stone. The Avengers were all at the compound. Fury, Maria, and Peggy were there for the debrief, and the Ancient One, Wong, Wanda, and Rahul arrived right on time for appetizers. Everyone was feeling optimistic as they discussed their progress. It was only 2014, yet they had four infinity stones in their possession, a fifth was nothing but dust. Even the soul stone preparations were slowly coming together.

This small, intimate party was so much better than the one Tony had thrown after the team located Loki's scepter, at least it was in Steve's opinion. The others would just have to take his word for it Iike they did on so many events they never experienced thanks to his carefully constructed attempt at causing a positive butterfly effect.

When Steve and Natasha announced their wedding plans, everyone was happy for them. Tony and Pepper immediately started making plans for a lavish wedding party, but Natasha stopped him. "We have the wedding planned. You're all invited, but that's it. This is going to be a family only event, and we're having it at Clint's."

Tony looked puzzled. "Clint has a place big enough for all of us? I doubt it."

"I've got a farm. Plenty of room for you in the barn, Tony," Clint said, giving Tony a pat on the back.

"Really? How do you take care of a farm and still spend so much time with us?" Tony asked. "Don't you have to slop the pigs and milk those cows everyday?"

"Pigs? I don't grow pigs. Cooper and Lila require some attention everyday though, and sometimes they're as sloppy as a couple of pigs."

Tony cocked his head up. "Cooper and Lila? Horses?"

Clint smiled and pulled out his phone to show the group a picture. "My kids. My wife, Laura, handles the farm when I'm with you knuckleheads. This is my secret, but I'm trusting you with it. I know you'll keep it quiet-keep them safe. They'll want to watch Auntie Nat tie the knot, and bringing them here is out of the question."

Everyone was surprised, but Tony was floored. "Katniss has a family. Who would have thought?" He looked at Pepper. "I want some of those."

She laughed. "You're not ready for those yet. Save the universe then we'll talk about it."

The Wedding Day, Early 2015

Natasha was pouring her second cup of coffee when Laura entered the farmhouse kitchen. "Somebody's ready to start the day. I wonder what could be so important to cause you to be up early on a Saturday." Laura bit her lip before continuing her teasing. "It's like you're getting married or something."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "You've been spending way too much time with your husband. His bad jokes are destroying your sense of humor." Natasha raised her coffee cup. "Fresh pot, want a cup?"

Laura shook her head. "No coffee for me this morning, or any morning for the next seven months or so." She was grinning.

Natasha raised an eyebrow. She shouldn't be surprised. She still had the drawing Steve did of Baby number three, but she hadn't asked many questions, well, not about that particular detail. She was too busy processing the fact that Steve was his own source to dwell much on Baby Barton. "Congratulations in order? I know the plan was two," Natasha looked down at Laura's still flat middle, "but I guess that's had to change."

"You're safe to congratulate me. I'm over the shock." Laura put a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster and took a seat at the table with Natasha. "Clint and I were talking. We want to name this one after you. Call it mother's intuition, but I'm almost positive Lila's getting a baby sister. Cooper won't be happy."

Natasha sat her coffee cup down and tapped it with her finger. She remembered the title Steve wrote above his drawing, "Natasha's Favorite Traitor". "I'm honored, but I wouldn't make Clint paint the walls pink just yet. I've got a hunch of my own."

"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Laura said, hoping up to get her toast, "or we could just ask your future husband."

"I don't know. So few things are really a mystery anymore. Maybe it would be more fun to wait until your ultrasound."

Laura laughed. "True enough. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course. What's on your mind?"

"You and Steve haven't been dating that long, not really. I'm thrilled you're getting married, but why now?"

Natasha sat back in her chair. If she were talking to anyone else, she'd say there wasn't any point in waiting since they already knew this was where they'd end up, but this was Laura. She could be completely honest. "The other me never got the chance to have this. She died on that planet after spending the last five years of her life a recluse. I've been on my own before. I know what it's like. I never want to go back there. Don't get me wrong. I love Steve. I want to spend the rest of my life with him," she paused and took another sip of her coffee, "but there's still a very real threat out there. Any one of us could go before it's all said and down. If I don't make it, I don't want to go without having had this moment. Who knows how long any of us actually have? The other me never saw forty. Maybe, I won't either. It's a dangerous business."

"I wondered if we were ever going to get around to discussing what happened on that planet," Laura said, reaching across the table and patting Natasha's hand. "You sacrificed your life so we would have ours-so my children would have their father. Nat, I don't even have the words to express how much we love you. I'm grateful Steve was given the chance to make things right. You deserve a long, happy life with the man you love. The universe owes you that much after everything."

"I don't know about that. I just know nothing is guaranteed. It could easily go a lot of ways. For me, the worst case scenario would be losing Steve without at least trying to have a real life, so that's why I'm doing this now. Sound stupid?"

Laura didn't say anything. She just shook her head. That's how things were between the two of them from their first meeting. Whatever Natasha confessed, Laura always just listened. "Anyway," Natasha said, trying to lighten the mood, "can't have a honeymoon without a wedding. That would be cheating."

Laura laughed. "Like every day isn't a honeymoon with you two."

Steve decided the happiest moment of his life was the one he was currently enjoying. He was standing in Clint's barn, barely that cleaned up really well in his opinion, holding his wife in his arms, kissing her in front of the people who mattered most to him. If he could just live in this one moment in time for the rest of his life, he would happily repeat it over and over again without changing a single second.

As the evening wore on, he never left his bride's side for more than a few minutes. Even then, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was radiant. More importantly, she was happy-the happiest he'd ever seen her, and it filled him with pride that he did that. He put that smile on her face. This wasn't for show. She wasn't pretending to be someone she wasn't to catch a mark unaware. She was just a bride on her wedding day, and he was lucky enough to be the groom.

He was holding her glass while she danced with Cooper when the Ancient One walked up to him. "I'm glad you found your way back to your lost love."

"Me too. Thanks for coming. It means a lot to me. I know you've got your hands full. Any news on Kaecilius?"

"Nothing to worry about today," she said. "It still looks as though my next dealing with him will not come until after Stephen Strange arrives."

Steve noticed a tightness in her voice as she spoke. He turned and looked at her. Was it fear he saw on her face? No, he decided. It wasn't fear. It was more of an uneasy acceptance. "There's something you aren't telling me."

"Almost always, I have lived a long life, more lifetimes than even you," she said, giving him a small, controlled smile, "but even the longest lives must come to an end. I will not be with you in your final battle. This is why it is imperative you stay out of Dr. Strange's first battle. He needs to very quickly meet his potential."

"I don't think I like where this is going. If you know something is going to happen to you, you need to do something. We've changed things before. Everything worked out alright."

"We've been lucky. Luck does not last forever. Every day is a gift. You understand that better than most."

Steve looked back at Natasha. She was teaching Cooper the YMCA, but she instinctively caught him looking and winked at him. Yes, he understood what the Ancient One was saying. Every day was a gift, but that didn't mean they shouldn't fight for as many days as they could get-days like this one when everything was right. "At least, tell me when."

"Just before Stephen Strange faces Dormmamu," the Ancient One said. "I'll take a fall. I won't survive my injuries, and I'm at peace with the knowledge that Stephen Strange will prevail against that coming evil and you will prevail against your coming evil. All is well." She nodded in the direction of the dance floor. The music had changed. A slow song played. "Enough of this kind of talk. Go, dance with your wife. Today is a celebration."

Steve did dance with his wife. They danced the night away. When it was finally time for Natasha to throw the bouquet, the bundle of flowers landed right in Wanda's hands. She was standing just inches from Vision. Steve noticed the little sideways glances that passed between them. He didn't miss the slight pinking of Wanda's cheeks either. Some things were just meant to be. Steve hoped Wanda and Vision fit the category. They deserved their happy ending.

Avengers' Compound 2016

Natasha had the tab open on her computer again. It one she probably shouldn't even have searched in the first place, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from opening it every morning while Steve put the recruits through their paces. Wanda caught her once. It was just a few weeks after she'd returned from Kamar-Taj and resumed her training as an Avenger. The young woman wasn't happy about Natasha's new hobby. She begged Natasha not to do it, but she hadn't told Steve.

Natasha wasn't sure how Steve would feel about her newest project. They'd never discussed what would happen after the stones were destroyed, well, other than that they'd be together, but Natasha thought about it a lot. Things had gone off without a hitch so far. It could change, but they had a real shot at winning this one. With the mind, power, space, and reality stones destroyed, thanks to Wanda, they were close to victory. It was just a waiting game now, and Natasha didn't want to put the future off any longer.

Sure, there was a part of her that didn't believe their luck would hold. Natasha wasn't naïve enough to think that part of her wasn't drawing her to her daily internet search, but it wasn't just fear. This was the future she envisioned for them, and finally she'd found the perfect place.

Natasha was still looking at the pictures when Steve walked into the room. Ordinarily, she'd quickly close the tab, but today was different. It was time. He walked over and gave her a quick peck before noticing the screen. His face wasn't hard to read. She saw the deep lines in his brow as he stared at the images in front of him. "It's a Brownstone in Brooklyn," she said. "You don't like it?"

"I didn't say that. How'd you find it?" Steve continued looking at the images. "Did I tell you the address?"

Natasha crinkled her nose. "Address? You've been there?"

"Yeah, I lived there for awhile," Steve said, turning from the screen to look at Natasha. "After the Snap, when I moved back to the city, you found this place for me."

"Oh," Natasha said, "this is where you lived after you left the compound. What are the odds of me finding it again?"

"I guess it really was your taste. You were trying to be supportive. I wanted you to come with me. Figured we could still be roommates. You wouldn't leave the compound. I don't think you ever even stepped foot in the place.. Just found it online and told me to go for it." He paused. "The real question is, why are you looking at apartments in Brooklyn?"

Natasha bit her lip. This wasn't exactly the way she thought the conversation would go. "I was thinking about us. The team is doing great. Tony and Pepper are really just in and out now. Bruce is just waiting until we finish destroying the stones, so he can go do the crazy science experiment you told him his counterpart did. Thor plans on taking Jane back to Asgard and settling down. Clint has the farm. He promised Laura he would retire soon. Nathaniel is a lot more of a handful than the other kids were." She paused, thinking about how surprised Laura had been when she found out Little Natasha was a boy. The news hadn't come from Steve. They'd waited for the obstetrician, but Natasha hadn't needed the confirmation. It made sense. This was the treacherous act that made him her favorite traitor. "We won't really be needed here fulltime after the stones are gone. I was thinking Brooklyn would be a nice place to settle down. With your special skills, we could get here in an instant if they were in a pinch, but it's far enough away, we wouldn't be tempted to check in every day."

Steve put his arms around her. "You want to quit?"

Natasha laughed. "We couldn't really quit if we tried. I just want to slow down and enjoy life." She paused and closed her eyes. "I was 39. I never expected to get old, but 39 is not far enough away. Now that I have a really good reason to live, I think I'd like to try and live a little longer-really have a life."

Steve put his hand under her chin and tilted it up so he could easily kiss her. "I wanted you to live in the apartment with me so bad. Even not knowing I loved you, I always wanted you with me. Let's get the place in Brooklyn. We should have a home of our own. Not much to do but wait around right now anyway. Let's live our life."

Natasha smiled and kissed Steve again before calling the realtor and leading the apartment. They started spending every other week in Brooklyn. It was the perfect balance of work and family life. They stayed connected to the time even when they were away. They even got to watch as Wanda and Vision slowly found their own happily ever after.

The infinity stones weren't really a topic of conversation very often anymore. They only discussed the master plan when it was time for one of those important events. Stephen Strange's arrival at Kamar-Taj was a big one on their calendar.

Natasha kissed Steve goodbye as he prepared to go and pay the doctor a little visit. She didn't feel any need to go with him for this one, so she was headed to the gym to teach her self-defense class. It was something she really enjoyed. Teaching women (and a few men) how to protect themselves gave her a sense of normalcy. These students were just ordinary people with ordinary lives, but they wanted to learn from her. Knowing they'd likely never face the battlefield made the whole experience a very refreshing change of pace.

"Remember, he isn't a hero yet. Go easy on him, Steve," she said, caressing his cheek. "He just needs to know you believe he can do it."

Steve nodded. "I won't overplay my hand. I did pretty well when I was keeping the secret from you."

She raised her eyebrows. "Not the way I remember it."

After another quick kiss, she watched her husband open the portal and walk through. In another few weeks, they'd be able to destroy the fifth stone. They were really getting close now.

Kamar-Taj

Steve knocked on the door to Strange's room. It wasn't pulled all the way shut, so it creaked open. Strange was sitting on the bed with his blanket pulled up around his shoulders. He was still cold. "Nothing like the fear of freezing to death to make opening a portal easy," Steve said, "well, easier."

Strange looked his direction. "I know who you are. Why are you even here?. This is a little outside your wheelhouse, isn't it?"

Steve made an astral Shield and held it for just a moment before letting it disintegrate into a flurry of light. "I can do a little bit more than toss a vibranium shield."

Strange didn't look impressed, but Steve knew better. "You're a sorcerer, too. That's an interesting combination."

"Not an easy one to achieve. I learned sorcery after I woke up. It wasn't easy. I'm not like you."

"A surgeon with crippled up hands? No, you're not."

Steve shook his head. "I was going to say I'm not a natural sorcerer. You have a gift I could never possess. You know, the Ancient One once told me you were the best of us. You're going to learn how to do this, Strange. You just have to trust me on that. I wasn't very good at this when I first started. It took me a lot longer to master anything, but I stuck it out. You'll be fine. If you ever need to talk, I'll be here."

Strange looked unimpressed. "I only need to master controlling my hands, so I can go back to my life. Unless you can help me do that, well, we have nothing to talk about."

Steve ignored Strange's brash behavior. "Soon, you'll have to make a choice. You can be a surgeon again or you can be something more. I think you'll find the something more a lot more fulfilling, but the choice is yours. Either way, you're going to get what you need. For now, just know there are people who believe in you. Have a good afternoon, Doctor Strange. I'll be seeing you around."

Steve didn't wait for Strange to respond. He just walked out of the room and joined the Ancient One for tea. She was quieter than usual. "He heard what I was saying, even if he didn't like it," Steve said. "He knows he has a choice to make. He's arrogant. Now that he knows a soldier like me can learn, he won't doubt his own abilities."

"Very good. Thank you for coming. I thought it best you meet before he faces Kaecilius. Wong will fill him in on the true nature of your mission after-" She stopped midsentence and took a sip of tea. "This will be our last conversation. I need to tell you how very pleased I am with your progress. I did not have high hopes for your abilities. I would have preferred someone with a much different background."

"I seem to recall you needed a sorcerer, not a soldier," he said.

"I was wrong. I needed both, and you have done exceedingly well. I have no worries about the future of Kamar-Taj. Doctor Strange will do as he was prophesied to do. As for Thanos, you will handle him quite nicely. It is a sobering realization to know life will go on without you, but it is a comfort."

"Let me help you."

"You cannot. I must face Kaecilius in the mirror dimension. He will stab me. I will land at the footsteps of the Marriot hotel in Manhattan, and I will die. It is the only way."

"There's always another way. Pretty sure we've proven that."

"Some things should not be changed," the Ancient One said, reaching for the tea pot. "Have one more cup of tea with me. Let's just sit awhile. I enjoy your company."

Manhattan

The pain from Kaecilius's blade was almost a welcome feeling to the Ancient One as she fell. This was the end, yet it was also the beginning. She was ready and not ready, calm yet afraid. After so many years of cheating death, death was at the door. It was an acceptable fate.

She did not attempt to turn her body. There was no reason to see the concrete and pavement below her. She would feel it soon enough. As the top of the building faded to the middle, she started her own mental countdown to impact. She closed her eyes. Three, two, one.

Where was the crash? She opened her eyes. An Asian doctor was barking orders to the man who had caught her. It was Steve Rogers, and they were in the infirmary of the Avengers' Compound. "How?" she asked, using what little voice she had. It hurt to even speak.

"There's always another way," Steve said. "You made one tactical mistake. You told me the name of the hotel. I watched and waited. As soon as I saw you coming, I used a portal to catch you before you hit the ground and brought you here."

"But, Doctor Strange?"

"Probably thinks you're dead. We'll keep the truth to ourselves until he does what he has to do. He'll still become the sorcerer you want he to be, but you'll be around to watch it happen."

"I underestimated your need to protect your friends."

Steve smiled. "You're not the first."