Hiya! You guys! :'( I'm trying hard to pump these out but it's probably going to end a day or two after Christmas! I'm going to keep pushing hard as my gift to ya'll but gosh there's a bit to wrap up here and i gotta give my babies justice here on the third book.

Thanks for reading! Please review! If you're my latest follower, welcome to the jungle.

She takes a deep breath as she enters the transport, greeted by the many spies and friendly faces. Darcy's charge toward Romanoff is met with a warm embrace. Izabella meets them in their hug, choosing to find her Aunt in the crowd.

Natasha separates from her friend and spots Fury's station at end of the trail. She pushes her way in, seeing the rest of the team. Maria smiles upon seeing Natasha who returns her expression, glancing over Fury and getting scooped up by Clint. She laughs;

"Missed you,' her feet hit the ground and she turns toward Hill, 'How are you?"

She lifts a shoulder. With visible frustration over having been removed from the battle she taps the wrap that's half way up half her leg;

"Couple stitches. Didn't bleed out so."

Clint rubs his hand over her shoulder, arm wrapped around her upper back;

"I'm only sorry I couldn't shoot Ivan myself."

Natasha scoffs, arms crossed in front of her chest; "You and about 5 other people. Where are the kids?"

Fury lifts a hand, "I'm not there yet. The serum has been released. Cap, Thor, and Jane are clearing the field for surrendering strays with the SHEILD team. Looks like Jen is out and back with them. Tony's still untraceable. Hulk is well...everything I didn't want-"

"Don't even." Maria snaps back.

Clint shakes his head, watching Fury lift his hands in a surrender. Nick swipes his screen hardly turning to look at Natasha;

"Sorry for your loss."

She remains stoic, hearing the sarcasm through his tone that she's become so used to. Ivan- The known caretaker of the infamous Black Widow, gone from existence. She remains emotionless;

"Devastating. Where's Alexei?"

He points, "Cell 337. Sentenced as a war criminal so far. He won't have his head once we hand him over."

Natasha tightens her jaw. With an inhale she remains silent an extra moment. Fury focuses on her movement and silence before continuing;

"Whatever you want."

She unfolds her arms, separating gently from Clint;

"I want justice for the families."

Natasha steps away, turning the door to leave before checking in;

"Am I needed with Cap?"

Fury shakes his head, "We're good, hey Romanoff,' he leans once she steps to leave, 'Good to have you back."

She pauses to give him a slight smile, stepping out toward the back of the craft.

Maria lets the door shut before lifting a folder. She taps her opposite hand on the cover, the cryptic cover of files stored years ago;

"When can I give this to Nat?"

Fury shrugs, "When she's ready. Clint, you want to run her down and get it to her?"

Barton glances out a clear part of the window to watch Natasha head toward the cells;

"Later."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The cell is cold. Bright lights filling outside the actual confinement. Natasha steps into the small space, choosing to keep the glass up in the solitary space. She can hear the clicking, lights only coming up as they sense her presence.

She waits. Studying the remains of a man she used to call her love. With a firm stance she keeps her focus on him. With his wrists stuck together in a white immovable cuff Alexei moves to stand near the glass. They seem stare each other down, the man breaking the silence first. His voice echoing slightly in his vacant cell;

"I wouldn't have killed you, Natasha."

She tightens her jaw, head pounding. For a brief moment she doesn't hear him, but rather the other version of Alexei- the father. The family oriented farce falls once she exhales;

"Why did you do it."

He lowers his chin, focus still on the red head;

"Is Bruce ok."

"He's fine. Why did you do it."

He closes his mouth. With the shake of his head he glances off to the side;

"I don't know."

"Somehow that makes all of this worse,' she shifts slightly, 'You're being tried. As a war criminal. And not here, but in America. You're to be killed if you even think about escaping. Was it worth it?"

Alexei shakes his head, much more focused on her;

"I have nothing to say, Natasha."

She nods, glancing over the cell. With pain in her heart she takes an intimidating step forward;

"I know I could free you right now. You could run. But I can't forgive you. Not now, not ever. You're going to rot in a cell for all that you've done, for all you've put me through. I just wish I knew why."

He remains fixated on nothing. Vacant stare full of thoughts he refuses to share.

"I'm sorry."

Natasha closes her eyes, reopening with her resolution. His tone is genuine and pierces her soul. With the realization that he wasn't inclined to speak she takes her stance;

"I'm sorry you couldn't make the right decisions. To me, you died on that plan years ago. You died a hero. Someone I did love and trust. But that was years ago. You deserve everything you get going forward. You're beyond redemption because you refused to change, not because you couldn't. I know what you could've been and you let it all go for pride, or recognition- I don't know. You will die one day whether it be from your sentence or old age- but I will not mourn you. Not again."

She waits an extra moment, their eyes focused on one another. He clenches his jaw, firm in his own decision not to speak. She takes her steps to leave and without a second thought Natasha leaves him in the darkness of the cell. With all memories and regrets left behind she can breathe easier.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jennifer brushes off her cheek that's scuffed up from the brawl. Tony flicks Banner's shoulder, removing debris with a slight aggressive touch. His groan turns to a chuckle, all three clearly exhausted and slightly delirious in their change of clothes. The banter incites a punch from Jen to Tony over a complaint;

"Oh really?! You're sore?!"

Tony lifts a hand in defense, "Hey! I'm just a human under the suit. You automatically lose this argument."

Banner looks around the room, lifting a hand over his side. He pivots in in his stance. There's a tug at his arm before he's pulled away through a hallway. Tony takes a step forward with slight concern, stepping aside once he see Natasha.

Romanoff pats him down, gentle hands starting at his cheeks, "Are you ok? Nothings broken-"

He shakes his head, wanting to look at her eyes as they continue to scan him over. Bruce gently guides a hand over her face wishing she'd pause for a moment;

"I'm fine Tasha-"

"You're all wrapped up, why?

"It's just a precaution it'll be fine-"

"How's the pain?"

"I'm really fine-"

She grins lovingly, wrapping her fingers around his collar before pulling him close to her, "Good!"

Within moments Banner's lips are pressed against hers. His eyes stay open until she gently pulls away, lifting her hands over his face once more. His hand glides up her wrist, opposite wrapping around her waist to pull her close;

"I love you Tasha."

She smiles, meeting him halfway in their next kiss. Natasha wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him into a warm embrace. She closes her eyes to focus on the present. His warm frame drawn close as she lifts a hand up his neck and through his curls.

She whispers, "I missed you."

He holds her back, feeling her soft red hair on his face. Holding back a tear he holds her tighter and lets the world go blank.

. . . . . . . . . .

"The minions have all been taken into custody at this point. The children are divided. Some want to remain loyal to their recruited parents, others want redemption."

Fury waits until Steve finishes his report before asking his question, "Banner and Stark's cure?"

"Some want it. Others absolutely refuse. We can't force them to."

Maria interject, "We can't just have powered children roaming free."

"We ethically force anything either-" Starks comment is interrupted by a SHEILD member.

The man steps forward to address the group, his focus on Fury;

"Can we speak with Ivan's daughter?"

Natasha speaks without emotion, seated at the table with her hand holding Banner's under the table;

"Don't care what happens. He doesn't deserve a grave."

Fury angrily gives the man a signal to leave before refocusing on the group;

"We've begin to reach the remaining families. Over half of the kids are now homeless. SHIELD can provide a foster system but we can't take them all. The powered ones may find it difficult to get in a home."

Bruce lifts his shoulders with a slight shrug, "So, set up a training program. Teach them how to control their powers."

Nick shakes his head, "I have the staff, I don't have the experience..."

"I mean I,' Natasha starts, immediately regretting having opened her mouth, 'I understand...what they'd be going through."

Tony raises a hand, "I'd be happy to fund the project."

Steve nods, "I'd volunteer to help train."

"As would I." Thor raises his hammer with his opposite arm wrapped around Jane's shoulder.

Clint nods with Maria at his side, "Obviously we're in."

All eyes fall on Walters who looks over the team with a glance. She freezes in her texting, raising her phone to reveal a conversation between Jen and her husband;

"What? Don't look at me, I got a family and 2 jobs..."

Darcy shakes her head, slight sadness in her tone;

"You won't stay?"

Jen taps her chest, "I come as needed. But I'll volunteer Bruce."

Her cousin's eyes widen in his chair, "I can't do that-"

She nods her head, still pointing with her phone, "Yes you can. You're good with kids, we all saw how he handled Izabella. Put Nat and Bruce in charge. They can head up the project."

Natasha looks up at her husband. With a shrug she contemplated the idea. Their focus on each other conveying words they chose not to share. The red head turns her head toward Fury;

"We'll do it."

Stark leans forward, ready to make a deal, "I'll only fund it, if Izabella gets a role at SHEILD. It's just Izzy and her aunt and they both want to move to America. So give them a position at headquarters for the training project and it's funded."

Barton nods, "I agree. She saved Nat."

"And Bruce." Natasha says looking up at her husband with a grin.

Nick turns toward Banner, "Is she ready?"

Bruce eyes their leader thoughtfully, ready to make a case for the child who holds a special place in his heart. With partiality slipping through he agrees;

"With a little more training, absolutely. She's a fast learner and can aid the medical staff now if that's what she wants. Her powers are, different, but I think different is ok."

Fury slaps a hand onto the table, shaking Tony's hand, "Done. Darcy, let her aunt know they have a home at SHEILD's new training headquarters and send her niece a formal invitation."

Darcy salutes, ready to start file as she's been trained to do. Natasha fidgets slightly in her seat;

"Actually, I'd like to do it. I'd like to ask her- If that's ok."

Darcy shakes her head, handing over the documents;

"Go for it chick!"

"Hey! It was my idea,' Tony chuckles, dialing Pepper on his own device, 'Time to check in with the wife- Hi pep! Where's my girl? Put her on screen."

He slips outside, holding the door for a now dismissed Thor and Jane. Fury urges everyone along with eagerness, anxious to get back to work. Darcy files out next along side Steve.

Clint steps forward, leaning over Natasha's chair while Bruce checks in with Maria over her injuries. The doctor holds the door, allowing Maria to exit first.

Natasha leans to hear Barton, taking a 'classified' file into her hands;

"Fury wanted you to have this."

"What is it?"

"Fury gave it to Maria and I, said you might want to know where you come from. We always thought something was off- maybe you'd want to know."

Romanoff takes the papers into her hands and swallows hard. Her questions, her life's possibly a few pages turns away.

She glances up toward Bruce who is left in the room with his back holding the door;

"Vrach? Can you give this to Izabella? I might be here a moment."

He reaches to take the team folder, seeing her own;

"You ok?"

She nods, tentative smile on her face;

"Go ahead. I'll catch up."

Natasha waits until he exits and watches as he sits beside the young girl at the opposite end of the room. She can't help but smile over the look exploding over Izabella's face as Bruce no doubt explains everything in full detail. Natasha can't hear through the clear glass but she's sure the girl was translating every word to her aunt.

Romanoff refocuses on her own file. 'Classified.' The room goes quiet with only the hum of the heating vent filling the room. She feels a chill crawl up and down her spine. She could have family still alive. She could have had siblings. A sister, perhaps twin brothers.

She lifts the first page;

'Natalia Alianova Romanova, Drakov'

Natasha allows herself to dream for only a moment. With the vent clicking on, the warmth fills the room. With each blink she sees a memory. Feeling the flames, the cold tingle of her first pistol, she hears the voices, the laughs of friends she used to know.

As soon as she lifts the page she lowers it shut, letting the cover fall back over her name.

Classified.

She brushes a finger over the Russian characters, looking back out of the clear window to see her husband embracing a giddy young girl and her caretaker. Natasha releases a soft laugh. With one final glance at her folder she pushes out her chair to stand up and walks toward the door. Her hand lays flat against the frame and leaves the room.

With a shoulder presses against the frame she lets her weight fall. Her eyes focus on Bruce and his broken Russian in response to Izabella's broken English as they struggle to explain how she rescued the doctor to her aunt. Natasha laughs silently along with them though unsure of exactly what transpired between the three of them.

Natasha glances over her shoulder toward Fury who has been standing beside her for an unknown period of time. She shifts slightly over his gentle almost knowing voice;

"So. Who are you."

Natasha crosses her arms, slight smirk addressed toward Fury as she responds;

"I'm an Avenger. I'm a damn good spy and I'm a bad-ass wife with a husband who literally takes bullets for me."

He nods thoughtfully, looking over the team as they charge head first to circle the young girl and welcome her into the group. Natasha elbows Fury;

"Hey, thanks for giving me this job. This family."

He lifts a hand to pat her back;

"You got it yourself. And I'm lifting Hulk's ban once we leave Russia. You can let him know."

She scoffs, "Well thanks 'dad'. That's generous as we leave the battle area."

He sarcastically mumbles as he steps away, "Love you too child. I'll reach out to you and your hubby once we establish a place for the training center."

"New York. I want it by Morningside so I can jog over there."

"Yeah yeah."

Natasha rolls her eyes playfully and joins the group. Reaching a hand out she addressing the youngest member;

"Congratulations Izabella. Dobro pozhalovat' v sem'yu."

The girl smiles gratefully, pulling Natasha into a warm embrace.

. . . . . . . . . . .