Chapter 11: The Black Widow

******The Next Day******

Natasha explored the city while Steve worked his shift at the station. She met up with him at lunch. It made her smile when a few of his fellow officers offered to buy her lunch if she'd drop the loser. Steve chuckled and took it all good-naturedly. He'd told them more than once that he was dating someone else, but they still liked to tease.

"So where do you want to eat?" Steve asked as they walked out of the precinct.

Natasha shrugged. "I'm not picky," she said. Her travels had taught her to say thanks to any food offered and not complain.

"Felicity loves this diner not too far from here," Steve said.

They walked, enjoying the warm day. Soon the weather would become cooler. Natasha grinned when she read the restaurant sign. "The Big Belly Burger? Clint would be so jealous. He's loves his burgers," she said.

"Diggle's sister-in-law works here, so that's how it became their place," he shared as they went inside and sat down.

Both decided to try the famous burgers. While they were waiting for the food, Natasha examined her friend without comment.

"What?" he asked, knowing she had something on her mind.

"You know I really like Felicity. I think she's perfect for you," Natasha said.

"That's good. I think she's perfect for me, too," he said, smiling happily.

"But I'm concerned," she said.

Steve frowned. "About what?" he wondered.

"Oliver Queen," she replied.

"What about him?" Steve asked as he took a drink of his water.

"He's in love with Felicity," she said, waiting for his reaction. When he said nothing, she continued, "And she's obviously very attached to him."

"I know," Steve said. "She loves him. If he'd been willing to go there, I doubt she and I would have met. She'd never have left this city. Not for a moment."

"So what are you going to do about it?" Natasha asked.

"What am I going to do? There's nothing to do," Steve replied. "I know Felicity loves me. Her feelings for Oliver have changed. Love that's not requited can either grow bitter or change. Hers changed. His will, too."

"So you agree that he's in love with her?" she asked. "Because I asked him, and he wouldn't admit it to me."

"You expected him to admit to my friend that he's in love with my girl?" Steve asked, grinning. "I'm not sure you're that good, Nat."

"Given time, I'd find out every secret he has!" she boasted confidently.

Steve chuckled. He would never bet against her. "He and I talked last night, so you can relax."

"After I went to bed?"

Steve nodded. "Yes. I know he loves her. I told him that since we both loved her, we needed to make sure she stayed happy. Us becoming real friends is the first step," Steve said.

Natasha shook her head. Only Steve. "Only you would think being friends with the man in love with your girl was a good thing," she said with a fond smile.

"Oliver's been through a lot. He needs Felicity. She brought him back from the dark place he was in," Steve said. "Both Roy and Diggle need her light. I can't be selfish with her. Besides, it's me she's coming home to."

She laughed, approving of his smug smile of satisfaction. "Good point," she said. "I just hope Oliver won't cause problems later on down the road when he's tired of living alone."

"When he gets tired of that, he'll get a girlfriend," Steve said. "Felicity says he's had a few the past two years."

The server came with their food. Both silently agreed to change topics. Instead, they talk about the latest SHIELD gossip.

"I believe Fury is turning the reigns over to another agent he trusts," she said.

"I thought I made it clear that SHIELD should be no more," Steve said in annoyance.

"Well, it'll never be what it was," she said carefully. "But HYDRA is targeting or recruiting former agents. Who's going to protect them? Fury has to do something."

"But the world and HYDRA thinks he's dead," Steve reminded her.

"Yes. That's why I expect him to pick someone he trusts," she said.

"You?"

She snickered. "How about someone he trusts that would be good at being in charge?" she clarified. "You'd be a logical choice, but your reputation was damaged enough with the last HYDRA attack."

"Not to mention, I'd never take the job in a million years," Steve said.

Natasha knew that Steve was a natural born leader, but she understood that the covert nature of SHIELD would never quite feel right to him.

Later that evening, Steve led her to Verdant, texting Felicity that they were in the closed down club. Felicity quickly appeared, kissing him hello and greeting Natasha warmly.

"I'm so glad you guys are here!" she said excitedly. She took Steve's hand and led him through a door that led to another. Soon, they were going down some stairs.

"There was a dance club here?" Natasha asked.

"Yes. Oliver and his best friend Tommy started it. Tommy died in the Undertaking when his father, Malcom Merlyn, set up an earthquake device. Thea, his sister, took it over. But she's been gone since Slade and his goons tried to destroy this city," Felicity said.

When they got downstairs, they looked around. In the corner, they saw Diggle sparring with Roy. Oliver called out some suggestions. Then he threw them both staffs. At first, Roy held his own. Then Diggle grinned and pressed in. In less than a minute, Roy was on his back.

"Guys, our guests are here," Felicity announced, getting the men's attention.

Roy flushed red in embarrassment. The gorgeous Avenger and Captain America had both witnessed his humiliation. He glared at Felicity. "You could've said something sooner!" he said.

"I did. Before I went upstairs to meet them. But you all were too busy trying to beat each other up!" she replied with a slight smirk.

"Roy, this is my friend Natasha. Natasha, this is Roy," Steve introduced.

"Too busy to have dinner with us, huh?" Natasha teased, enjoying his embarrassment. She'd been making guys blush for a long time now. It never grew old.

"Uh, yea. Sorry about that," he said weakly.

"So this is where you spend all your time when you're not with me?" Steve asked Felicity as he looked around, noticing the red and green outfits in the glass case.

"Yes," she said, leading him around the room and pointing out her favorite things. When they made it to the salmon ladder, she whispered something to Steve. He replied, making her blush.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Natasha wondered.

Diggle chuckled. "She's probably sharing her love of bare-chested men working out on that thing," he said, gesturing to the ladder.

"He probably told her he'd give it a go when they were alone," Roy said with snicker.

Although Oliver was glad for Felicity, he didn't want to think about her doing anything with her boyfriend in his place. "How about you join us and spar?" he asked Natasha.

She shrugged. "If you don't mind getting beat by a girl," she said.

"Oh, they're used to that," Felicity supplied with a smile. "Sara would fight all three of them at once. She usually won."

"We were going easy on her 'cause she was a girl!" Roy defended, causing Felicity to burst out into peals of laughter.

When he gave her a wounded look, she said, "Do you want me to call Sara and tell her you said that?"

The look of fear that came over Roy caused everyone to laugh.

"I'll be glad to work out with you guys," Natasha said.

"How about it, Captain?" Diggle asked.

"I'll watch for a bit. Let's see how you do with Natasha," he said, smiling.

They moved to the mats. "Staff?" Oliver asked.

"Sure," she said, taking one. She tested its weight and then nodded. It was made of strong wood. "This will work."

She suggested that Roy and Diggle try themselves against her first. Roy grimaced. He hated getting beat up by beautiful women. However, he was game and gave it his best shot. It took Natasha two hits to have him on his back. One hit on his stick. Then she swept his legs while turning to hit Diggle, who tried to attack.

Oliver came in, taking Roy's place. The two exchanged furious blows with the Black Widow. However, she hit Diggle's staff with a particularly hard blow, snapping it in two. The men stared at her in surprise.

"That's the first time that's happened," Oliver said, smiling. The woman fought as hard as Sara. However, Oliver figured she had a few years on both Sara and Oliver. A Russian spy since she was a young girl, she was brought up brutal.

"What can I say? I play rough," she said with a wink.

Oliver felt a stirring response. The woman was too attractive and knew it. However, he still found her confidence appealing. She reminded him of Sara in so many ways. Yet she seemed more aware of herself, more okay with her ghosts—they were obviously old friends. Natasha Romanoff was completely comfortable with who she was, what she'd done, and what she might have to do in the future. He couldn't help but envy her a little.

"How about we go one on one?" Oliver suggested.

Diggle happily stepped out. "If I want slapped around by a woman, I'll go home to Lyla," he said, grinning.

"This should be good," Roy said, rubbing his hand. "I've got twenty on the Black Widow. Who's in?"

"I'll take that bet," Diggle said.

"Me, too," Felicity said loyally. "Oliver's gotten better since Sara." After fighting supersoldiers, all he did was train.

Oliver grinned at their show of loyalty. He waited for Natasha to take the first punch. She did. He blocked it easily, bouncing back. Then the two begin to fight in earnest.

Felicity grinned, watching them. Natasha was so good. She knocked Oliver down once, but he quickly jumped back up.

However, a beep from her computer distracted her, and she went over to check it out. Tapping some keys, she saw that fun time was over.

"Guys! We need to move. There's gang activity at Terry's Market around the corner," she shared.

"Again?" Roy asked. "Didn't we bust that group up a few weeks ago?"

"It's a game of whack-a-mole," Diggle said warily.

"You should call the cops," Steve said with a frown.

"I already alerted them," Felicity said as Oliver and Roy grabbed their gear.

"It always takes them ten minutes at least," Roy said.

"There should be cops patrolling," Steve said.

"I grew up in the Glades. It's never a priority for the cops," Roy said grimly.

"After the Undertaking, the precinct was hit hard. Many died, too, the night Slade and his soldiers tried to take over the city," Felicity explained. "We always involve the cops. It just takes them too long sometimes."

Steve said nothing as the three got ready to leave in two minutes. As they were about to walk to the stairs, he said, "Is it alright if I tag along?"

"You're just going to leave me?" Natasha said in mock outrage.

"You're both welcome to come," Oliver said. "But we can't wait for you."

"I think we'll manage," Steve said dryly. Natasha snickered.

Oliver and Roy left with Diggle.

Felicity told Steve and Natasha the fastest way to get there. "Be careful," she said. She got up and gave him a quick kiss. "Remember not to say any of their names around others."

Steve nodded, not comfortable with what Oliver and company did. However, he was going to refrain from judgment until he saw them in action. Natasha agreed that he should use his faster speed to get there.

"I'll be right behind you," she said.

Steve took off at his top speed. When he made it to the location, he saw a few young men outside. A commotion could be heard inside. He approached.

One of the guys stepped in front of him, blocking his way. "The place is closed," he said to Steve. A broken glass could be heard.

"Come any closer, you might get hurt," the other guy said.

Steve had left his badge at home, not realizing he'd need it when off duty. He regretted that. "Son, think about what you're doing," he warned.

The dark-skinned man laughed. "You're not my dad!" he said.

The other guy pulled out a knife. "Leave before I cut you up!" he threatened.

Steve sighed. "Fine, have it your way," he said. He moved forward and easily took the knife from the guy before he realized what was happening. He hit the guy in the face before the man could react. The guy fell to the ground, unconscious. Steve turned just as the other man attacked.

Oliver and Roy stopped in surprise as they approached the location. Captain America had beat them there.

"Why are we surprised?" Roy asked. "He's a living legend."

"Yeah," Oliver agreed. But he still threw something that wrapped about the guy's legs.

Steve quit trying to talk the other guy down when he realized Oliver and Roy had arrived. When the kid was distracted and protesting his suddenly bound feet, he stepped forward, tapping him unconscious.

"Did you leave us any?" Roy asked with a grin.

"I never made it inside," Steve said. Roy and Oliver moved to the entrance. Five young members of the Mayor's old group were tormenting the owner and his employee.

"Let them go!" the Arrow ordered, causing all eyes to go to the entrance. None of them noticed a slight redheaded woman who'd chosen the back way to enter.

Natasha had grabbed one of Oliver's staffs as she made her way to the location. She'd used the alley entrance to get in, knowing the group would be watching the front.

"Men are so predictable," she said, shaking her head. As Oliver ordered them to step down, she approached and used her staff to knock one to his knees. Then she hit the one holding the owner. Her actions distracted them from Oliver, who quickly moved forward at their inattention.

"How many times do I have to do this?" he complained to the one in charge.

"You cost us our leader! We'll never stop!" the one holding the story owner Terry exclaimed.

"Then you can join him in jail!" Oliver said, releasing an arrow that lodged in the man's shoulder.

He cried out and released Terry. In less than two minutes, all five were subdued.

"You didn't have to shoot him!" Steve said angrily when he came in. "He's just a kid."

"No, he's a thug, a drug dealer, and a criminal," Oliver replied coldly. "If they want to terrorize the people in my city, they're going to suffer until they learn." He approached the leader who was conscious but on the ground. Then he bent down and ruthlessly yanked out his arrow. The man screamed in pain. "If I see you and your guys around here again causing troubles, you will regret it!"

The man wasn't dumb enough to argue.

Sirens were heard. "We should go," Diggle said from the doorway.

Roy and Oliver headed to the door while Steve and Natasha stayed put.

However, Natasha watched one of the men on the ground reach into his pocket and pull out the gun he had been too nervous to use earlier. The screams of his leader, however, convinced him of its necessity. The gun shook in his hand as he pointed it to the Arrow's back.

"Watch out!" Natasha yelled as she dived in front of Oliver. She gasped in pain as the bullet hit.

Without thinking, Oliver turned, pulling out an arrow in the same motion. He released it, but it was too late. Natasha hit the ground before he could catch her. The bullet meant for him had found a target.

The gunman screamed as the arrow hit his forearm. The gun fell. Roy moved and grabbed the gun. The sirens were closer.

"Go!" Steve ordered, cross that things had turned ugly. "I'll take care of her and deal with the police."

Oliver nodded grimly, casting one last glance at Natasha who was conscious. She gave him a tight smile, saying, "I'll be okay. I've had worse." He nodded and left.

Steve stemmed the blood flow in her shoulder. The paramedics arrived right behind the police. Fortunately, Steve knew the officer. The paramedics were loading Natasha up on the stretcher when Captain Lance arrived. The radio had said Steve was involved, so he made a deter on his way home to see what had happened.

"What happened?" Lance asked Steve.

Steve was torn, wanting to go with his friend.

"I'll be fine. Meet me at the hospital," Natasha said.

With a resigned sigh, Steve nodded. He stepped away from the ambulance.

"Well?" Lance prompted.

Steve hesitated, unsure how to explain his presence. His captain gave him an opening.

"You were helping the Arrow?" Lance asked. Steve nodded. "Felicity?" He nodded again. Lance grimaced. "Well, we may as well make it official. You can be the city's liaison to the Arrow. God knows he's done more good than harm for this city."

"But he's a murderer," Steve said. He had trouble seeing Oliver that way. However, he knew the man's history as the vigilante. He hadn't actually come to terms with it yet. It seemed his boss had.

"When he first appeared, he killed a lot of really bad guys, and I wanted him really badly at first," Lance said. "But then he changed. The Undertaking happened. He saved countless lives by finding the bomb and then stopping Merlyn. Then if it wasn't for him fighting Slade and his super soldiers, I'm not sure the city would still be here. We're going to give him a full pardon for past crimes, so he's no longer a wanted criminal."

"So Felicity isn't breaking the law by helping him?" Steve asked.

Lance chuckled. "Well, I'm sure she violates a lot of cyber laws, but that's not my concern. I wouldn't make it yours," he said, smiling.

Steve was relieved. He knew that the one thing that would ever cause problems between him and Felicity was her involvement with Oliver's criminal activities. If the Captain didn't consider them criminal, he could relax. "So you don't mind if I'm involved with the Arrow?" Steve asked.

"I take it you know who he is?" Lance asked.

"I do," he replied.

"And he's someone we can trust?"

"Yes, I really do think we can. I know Felicity has trusted him with her life for a while now," he said.

"I don't want to know a confirmation of his identity. It's better if I have plausible deniability, but it's good that someone one the force knows who he is. You're someone the mayor and police commissioner will trust," Lance stated. "If you were on hand to give statements—something the Arrow never does—it would always strengthen the D. A.'s cases. It's not always a guarantee conviction—his involvement. The courts like witnesses. Since he doesn't testify, it hurts the cases. You can prevent that."

Steve realized he had a very good point. He knew Felicity would be very happy about this development. He explained to his captain what had happened that led up to Natasha being shot. Then he excused himself to head to the hospital. He sent Felicity a text. Naturally, she was already at the hospital when he arrived.

Felicity hugged him. "Thank God you're okay!" she said. "When I heard the gunshot through the comms, my heart stopped. I didn't know if you're bullet proof or not. Are you?"

He smiled and shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. I can be shot and killed. However, I heal much faster than the average person. And I'm very good at dodging bullets," he explained.

"I wish Oliver was. He's got more scars than Scarface!" she said. Roy and Oliver appeared.

"I talked to the doctor," Oliver said. "Natasha will be fine. The bullet wasn't lodged inside, so there's no surgery required."

"That's good," Steve said. "When can we see her?"

"Soon," Oliver said.

"I have some good news for you," Steve said to him, glancing at Felicity. "For all of you really."

"What?" Felicity inquired.

"Captain Lance is going to make me the official department liaison with the Arrow, and he informed me that you will be receiving an official pardon for all past illegal activities and crimes," Steve said.

"That's great!" Felicity said, beaming. Finally, her guys could relax a bit. She also knew that it bothered Steve that they were circumventing the law. Now it wouldn't be an issue. For the first time in a long time, her life was exactly the way she wanted it.

"Yes," Oliver said, a bit stunned. He knew Quentin was more of an ally to the Arrow than ever before, but he never thought he'd make things so official. "It looks like you're going to be working with us."

Roy grinned. "How cool is that?"

"If you go around shooting arrows into kids, though, we're going to have problems," Steve warned.

Oliver's eyes darkened at the implied criticism. Before he could say anything, Felicity came to his defense. "Oliver is in control. He doesn't damage anyone permanently, but let's save this argument for another day. We need to focus on Natasha," she said. She squeezed Steve's hand, begging him to let it go with her eyes. He sighed and nodded; he could deny her nothing.

A short time later, they all gathered into Natasha's private room—Oliver had insisted. He may have lost his fortune, but his family still had a wing of the hospital named after them.

"Hey," Natasha said, giving them a smile. "I don't know why they put me in a room. I don't need to stay overnight."

"I insisted," Oliver said. "You took a bullet meant for me. Making sure you're okay and receiving the best care is the least I can do."

"I knew soldiers that died from less," Steve said. "It's best to be cautious."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Fine. But someone better bring me chocolate pudding. None of that Jello!" she insisted.

Felicity laughed. "A woman after my own heart!" she exclaimed.

"Glad you're going to be okay," Diggle said.

"Did they give you stitches? How big will the scar be?" Felicity asked with a grimace. "Oliver has too many already. He didn't need another. Not that I wanted you to get shot! I'd never want anyone to get shot! It's just that Oliver's back and torso are looking more scar-ridden all the time."

Oliver gave her a faint smile. Steve put his arm around her, hoping to stem the flow of words.

"Nothing wrong with battle scars," Natasha said, winking at Oliver. "I have a few myself."

"I bet," Oliver said knowingly.

"Felicity even has her own," Roy bragged. "She took a bullet for Sara once."

Natasha gave her an admiring look. "Impressive," she said even though she knew it already. There wasn't much she didn't know about Felicity Smoak. Learning a person's secrets was both her job and her passion. She gave Oliver Queen a speculative look. Soon, she'd learn all of his.

*****Felicity's*****

Later that night, Felicity was in bed with Steve, her head resting on his bare chest. She loved listening to his heartbeat, surrounded by his strength.

"Is this my life now?" she asked, looking up at him.

"With me? I hope so," he said, smiling lovingly at her. He brushed back a strand of hair from her face. "When I woke up from the ice, my life seemed pretty unreal. Things were so wrong. I didn't fit in this new world, but now I do."

"You fit with me," she said smugly.

"To my very great fortune, yes," he said, still in awe of his luck. "You make missing the past five decades worth it."

Felicity's grin stretched even wider. He never failed to make her feel so loved. "I didn't know I could be with a man like you. One that would make me this happy. One that wouldn't make me choose," she admitted.

"Between me and Oliver?"

"Between you and working with Oliver," she clarified. Then she sat up, biting her lip. "You know I had feelings for Oliver. Strong feelings. I've not hid that from you."

"I know," Steve said patiently.

"He's important to me," she said. "But he's not more important than you. You know that, right? I never thought I could feel like this. Be this happy. I never wanted to picture a life without Oliver in it because he matters to me. He's become one of the most important people in my life. My best friend. But I'm not in love with him. Not anymore. Not even a little."

Steve smiled. "I know that, hon. It's good to hear, though. Natasha's been worried. She knows that Oliver cares a lot for you," he said tactfully. He knew instinctively that Felicity would freak if she knew exactly how much the man cared, so he refrained from saying more.

"Well, I'm not his type nor will I ever be," Felicity said with a rueful smile. "He's into girls like Natasha." Her eyes lit up. "She took a bullet for him. I bet that'll get his attention!"

Steve chuckled. His girl never gave up. He pulled her down for a kiss. "Never change. I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," she said softly. No matter what monster came their way—she wasn't naïve enough to think none would—things would work out. Love made all the ugliness worth it. It made everything else fade away. There wasn't anything she couldn't imagine Steve and Oliver unable to handle because together they'd be quite a team. The thought made her incredibly happy.

******The Hospital*****

Oliver was stopping by to check on Natasha when she was trying to make a break for it. He grinned as she stepped out of the hospital room, completely dressed.

"Had enough already?" he asked.

"I gave it several hours," she said defensively. "Any longer and I won't be held responsible for my actions!"

He laughed. "You lasted longer than I would've. I'll give you a ride to Felicity's," he said.

"Thanks!" she said gratefully.

He walked her to his bike, handing her a helmet. His stomach muscles clenched when her arms settled around him. Taking a deep breath, he started the bike and took off.

In no time, he made it to Felicity's. He parked the bike and got off after her.

"You don't have to walk me up. I'm a big girl," Natasha said.

"I don't. But I want to," Oliver said simply.

She shrugged. "Suit yourself," she said.

"Do you have a key?" he asked.

Nodding, she pulled it out. "He gave me a spare key when he went to work this morning," she said. They waited at the elevator in silence. Natasha was debating her next move. She could sleep with him, tying him to her in a tangible way. Glancing at him, she hesitated. For some reason, she wasn't sure she wanted to be that close to him. She wasn't so sure he'd be that easy to walk away from.

Oliver had no plans at seduction. Her life was even more complicated than his. She spent time with men even more impressive than he. He doubted he came across that special anyway. However, there was something about her. Surprisingly, he found that he was reluctant to leave her alone.

When they arrived at Steve's door, he reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm really grateful for what you did today. Thanks again," he said.

"I'm glad I was there," she said simply. She held his gaze a moment. Then she stepped forward, her other hand reaching up around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. She thought to tease him, making him mad for her. However, the moment his lips touched hers, she was lost.

Oliver felt her kiss all the way down to his toes. His arms went around her, pulling her tight against him. His body hardened; he took the kiss deeper.

Somehow, she ended up against the door, her tongue fighting his for dominance. Man, could he kiss! A cynical part of her knew he'd had lots of practice, but at that moment, her body didn't care.

His hands moved up and down her body. Finally, they pulled back for air. Their eyes locked. A question was in his.

Breathing heavily, she put his hand on his chest, pushing slightly. He took the hint and stepped back.

"That was unexpected," he said, giving her a heated look.

"Yes," she admitted, a bit shaken.

"It shouldn't have been. You're beautiful and passionate," he stated.

"So I've been told," she said carelessly. She worked hard to compose herself. His kiss had left her reeling. Something that hadn't happened to her in such a long time.

"Should we explore this further?" he asked. He'd been treading water for so long. No one besides Sara and Felicity had held his attention for long. However, Felicity was like the Madonna—beautiful but forever out of his reach. Natasha, though, was right here. Her beauty and appeal were a powerful combination.

She gave him a searching look. "I don't think that's a good idea," she said.

"You don't?" he asked, surprised.

"Felicity looks at us and sees a honeymoon," she said with a slight smile.

"What?" he asked in dismay.

"She's trying to play matchmaker," she explained.

"Oh," he said, not sure how to respond to that. Then he smiled. "She's got good taste."

Natasha laughed. "I think we should table this for now," she said.

"You're sure?" he asked.

She nodded, running her hand down his chest. Giving him a regretful look, she said, "Maybe someday."

"I look forward to it," Oliver said with a grin. He bent down and gave her a light kiss before turning away.

Natasha watched him walk to the elevator, a bit disappointed he hadn't tried to convince her. Then she turned to put the key in the door, not wanting to know if he looked back.

Oliver Queen was a dangerous man. No wonder Felicity Smoak risked so much for him and his crusade.

She stepped inside, finding it empty. That was good. She needed time to pull herself together.

When she finally made it to bed, she smiled in anticipation. Tomorrow would be a new day. One that was bound to include Oliver.

"He'll be begging me to stay," she told herself as she drifted off to sleep, confident in her appeal.

Until next time.

*****The End*****

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