Scarlett
Part 30
Disclaimer: This year was a terrible one for the whole planet. I was waiting for the Black Widow movie, but it hasn't been released this year. So, I wrote my interpretation on the Infinity War. Have a nice Christmas and I hope a Happier New Year than 2020!
"Nat, why is Lila blabbing something about putting a hand into the crocodile's mouth and Cooper said that he rode a motorcycle with bikers?" Laura raised one brow at the Black Widow who was playing with Nathaniel on the sofa.
"Because your daughter is a fearless girl and your son is a charmer, who can melt the heart made of stone," Natalie grinned at Laura still tickling the toddler. "Besides, I thought one month without kids would cheer you up a bit. Have you managed to do Barton IV?"
"You know what, Nat! Being a mother of one toddler takes a lot of energy. So, we decided to stop at three. It's a magic number for us!" Laura retorted Romanoff's teasing.
"You dealt with toddlers I deal with teens and pre-teens. Sounds fair to me." The woman gave a toy to the boy who was already out of breath from giggling too much.
After children finished their last day at school and vacation began, Natalie together with Barton organized some kind of a camp for the poorest children from the neighborhood. Together with the man who bred horses and about 20 children, they spent time on his farm, where children helped with horses, had riding lessons, had a course on farming and boy-scouting, went camping with Barton and Nat into the woods, prepared food, washed clothes and took care of those, who were younger. They listened to adventure stories, had gatherings around the fire, played, talked and had a lot of fun. Every day they learned something new. When one month came to an end and those children had to go home, Mr. Booker - the horse breeder with some volunteers organized another month for other 20 kids. They thanked Barton and Natalie for their donation and this genial idea. Romanoff noticed the horse farm long ago and asked if Scarlett could take horse lessons. Then she attracted some rich people from the nearby towns to make their children take riding lessons. The farm became a popular place, where a childless couple could hear a lot of children's laughter. That's why, they supported Barton's idea to begin a charity for those, who couldn't afford themselves some time for relaxation, if hard daily work, even though done in a way of a game and competition, could be named relaxation. The children were happy, though. Here they felt freedom, blissfulness of childhood and saw other people who understood their problems and wanted to help.
So, one month of vacation was gone followed by another month of travelling. Nat took Barton's Lila, Cooper and her Scarlett, bought tickets to Disney World Resort in Florida. They spent two days there, visited the crocodile farm, bought some souvenirs, Romanoff hired a black SUV and they went back home travelling by car. Kids were delighted.
"Nat, it's Steve. Come with me." Barton called from the basement.
Laura immediately came to pick up Nathaniel from the sofa. An expression of worry and concern was all over her face. She knew that if it wasn't anything serious, Rogers would have never used the safe line. The woman nodded to Natalie who already ran down into the basement.
"Hello, Nat. We have code NY. I just received a call from Stark. We have a big trouble." Steve looked his own self just with a beard and moustache which were strange to see on his always neatly shaved face.
"Who is under attack?" Romanoff stuck to the point in her usual style as if she hasn't been a nanny for almost two months. Now she turned into her Black Widow style ready to bite.
"Stark thinks these aliens are after Vision. He has a stone. King T'Challa tries to locate him and other bearers of stones if we have any others."
"What stones? What are you taking about?" No matter spy or not, this year was hectic for her from the beginning. Scarlett changed everything. With all the avengers on the run, her spy past began to be seen as a blurry picture.
"The infinity stones or all-power stones. I'm also not a great expert in this, but I know that we need to attract all our forces to confront whatever power is against this world." Steve sounded deadly serious.
"I'm in," Romanoff nodded.
"I'll take care of Scarlett," echoed Barton. His time in prison taught him a lesson. He didn't want to leave his wife and children all alone. Superhero or not, family was the only thing that was worth fighting for. If he needs to fight, he will, but on his territory and by his rules.
"I'll come tomorrow at 5 a.m. Be prepared," said Steve and disconnected the call.
Within a week they found Wanda and Vision. Thank God, they were in time at the platform to help their two friends get away from the aliens. Black Widow was merciless as usual. First, she nearly killed a male alien. Then, she reprimanded Wanda and Vision for not getting in touch for so long. Scarlett Witch was angry and thankful at the same time to her friends who really saved life of her boyfriend. In two days they were back in Wakanda, where kind T'Challa welcomed the avengers with open arms.
"How was your day?" the blonde woman asked looking at the girl on the screen of her computer.
"You will be disappointed with me," was the answer of the read head.
"Why so?"
"I saw two 6th graders bulling one 4th grader. I asked them to stop. They refused, so I used some grips you taught us. I made sure I didn't break any bones, but they screamed in pain. Still, nobody's seen us and I don't think they will go to complain about this." Scarlett told preparing to hear some schooling.
"As long as it doesn't become your habit, I'm cool with it." Nat replied feeling really proud with her child. "Just remember that you don't bring a knife to a gunfight."
They talked for a while when Scarlett suddenly asked:
"Mom, can I talk to Steve?"
"Yes, of course."
Captain America came in several minutes as he was in his room thinking of a strategy of their tomorrow's fight and hoping that Suri will have enough time during the night to disconnect Vision's stone from other neuron synopsis.
"Hey, Fox Cub. What's up?" Rogers already got used to Natasha's evening talks with the girl. It was like a routine for her, no matter where she was and what she was doing at a special hour she called Scarlett.
"Tomorrow we have a picnic. Clint says soon will have rainy days. So, he decided to have a family picnic." The girl chirped jolly but Steve didn't see joy in her eyes.
"That's great. I hope you'll have a wonderful time!" He tried to cheer her up.
"Can you promise me one thing?"
"I'll try to do my best." He winked at the girl.
"Please, take care of Nat while I'm away." The tone she said that and the thing that she called Romanoff "Nat" but not "mom" had to put the man on the alert. Rogers didn't take it into consideration, though.
"Sure, Fox Cub. But your mom can take care of herself. I'll keep an eye on her. Don't worry."
They talked about school, subjects and that bad accident with the 6th graders. Of course, Captain America reprimanded the girl that there were some other ways of settling conflicts, but in general, he was proud of the child.
The next day the battle with Thanos happened. Natasha was taken aback by Vision's shattered body. In her own way she tried to calm other warriors who were totally destroyed by the disappearance of their comrades or beloved once. Only after an hour she realized that she had to call Scarlett. The woman dialed the number but nobody answered. She was listening for the ringtone for sometime, then disconnected and dialed Clint's number.
"Clint, I can't reach Scarlett…" But she was silent because she heard soft sobs of Laura in the background. Natasha immediately understood what happened. The words stuck in her throat. "Are the children OK?" She said reluctantly.
"I'm sorry, Nat. I have no idea what happened," was the reply of the hoarse voice. "I don't understand how this can be and why?" Black Widow imagined Clint there in the yard with the phone in his hand and tears running down his face.
"All of them?"
"No, Lila and Scarlett. Laura cannot stop telling me that she and other two kids are alive just because of Scarlett. I don't know how it's possible. I am so sorry, so sorry…" The man took a deep breath.
"Can you tell me what happened?" She tried to steady her voice for him not to hear how vulnerable she was.
"I was playing with Lila. She was shooting the targets with the bow and went to take the arrows back. Laura was with kids near the barbeque grill. I saw them standing there embracing each other. Nathaniel was in Laura's arms, Cooper put an arm on Laura's shoulder and Scarlett was hugging them with both her small hands. I heard Nathaniel giggle and saw a bright light. It looked like a small explosion but without any sound. I ran to them. Scarlett was gone. Laura and Cooper said that Scarlett told them to take care of you. I'm sorry, Nat." She could hear the man sniffling. "I called for Lila but we couldn't find her. I've already searched everywhere."
"Clint, she's gone as well as Vision, Sam, Wanda and half of the population of our damn planet because of Thanos." Saying this the woman disconnected not able to continue this impossible dialogue.
Romanoff felt like suffocating. She went to her room not knowing where she was and how did she get there. She didn't cry. Her eyes were dried and her heart was shattered into pieces. They failed. They lost their friends, their families and half of the population because they didn't win the battle.
"Nat, have you called Fox Cub? Is she fine?" She heard Steve's voice as if he was talking in a faraway distance, he stood right in front of her.
"She's dead, Steve, as well as Lila Barton. She couldn't save them all, though she did better than we had done." She whispered trying to steady her breath, trying not to scream at the man, who wasn't guilty. He was just human.
Rogers gritted his teeth and hit the wall with his fist so hard that some stones dropped on the floor and now there was a hole in the wall of the palace where already vanished king T'Challa welcomed them to have some rest before the battle.
"It shouldn't be like this!" He shouted in the atmosphere.
Romanoff silently disappeared in her room. Next day Steve found out that she disappeared and from his life.
To be continued…