Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Sorry it's been a little while since my last update. Things have been very busy and I lost motivation to write for a while. On top of that, I recently got engaged (yay!), so that's occupied a bit of my time as well. However, I'm getting my desire to write back, so updates will continue.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 2- A New Threat

Oliver sighs a bit with content as he flips the french toast on the griddle over to cook. He and Natasha are eating breakfast this morning with Bruce and Rhodey. And this morning, life just feels good.

"Anybody want anything extra on their french toast?" Oliver asks as he takes the slices currently on the griddle off and starts putting some new slices down on the griddle to cook.

"Can you put a little cinnamon on mine?" Bruce asks.

"Sure," Oliver responds, taking a pinch of cinnamon and sprinkling it on a freshly laid-down slice.

Bruce smiles a bit as he takes a sip of orange juice. "You know, if I'd known that you were such a good cook, Oliver, I would've come to visit you in Starling City more often," he says with an air of humor.

Oliver chuckles before he says, "Well, i wasn't always such a good cook. Wasn't until after I became the Arrow that I really learned how to cook."

"Well, at least you can put it to use for us," Rhodey says with a smile on his face, and everyone chuckles.

Oliver finishes cooking the latest batch. Picking up Bruce's cinnamon slice on his spatula, he flips it up into the air, and Bruce catches it on his plate with a chuckle. He proceeds to grab the syrup bottle as Oliver serves up the rest of the french toast to the others.

The four Avengers chat and laugh together as they munch on their breakfast, discussing stories of past adventures and sharing some jokes.

Finally, everyone is finished with their breakfast. Bruce heads off for the gym as Rhodey leaves to go take a pleasure flight in his suit. Natasha and Oliver remain behind to clean up from breakfast.

As Oliver is washing the plates that he had finished gathering, he is whistling to himself. Natasha turns and looks at her husband with a smile while she is putting the griddle away. Life has been very good for them lately. There really hasn't been any threats they've had to deal with since the Westview incident (although Barry and Wanda have still not returned). And, as of late, Natasha has been starting to think a little bit about having a child.

As she looks at Oliver, she smiles a bit as she thinks of him doing this while she tries to keep their child from getting soapy water on themselves. Feeling maybe it's time to ask him, she is about to speak when suddenly her phone buzzes. She pulls her phone out and unlocks it. As soon as she sees the message notification on her phone, she grows serious. She quickly stands up and says, "Hey, honey, I'm gonna go to the store and grab a few things. I'll be back in a bit."

"Alright. I'll be waiting," Oliver says with a sly smile. Natasha rolls her eyes and gives him a quick kiss before she heads out, grabbing her keys and wallet on the way out.

Natasha heads quickly down to the garage and heads for her car. She quickly climbs in and starts the car, speeding out of the garage and heading for Los Angeles. She knows from what was said in the text that whatever is going on, it must be big.

It takes almost two hours to reach the address she was texted thanks to the traffic. Pulling up next to the old apartment building, Natasha parks her car outside building and heads inside. She climbs carefully up the stairs, a pistol in her hand.

Finally, she reaches a door leading onto the roof and opens it carefully. She makes her way carefully onto the rooftop, pistol in hand.

For a few seconds, there is silence. Then, she hears a familiar voice say from behind her saying, "I'm glad you came. I wasn't sure you would." Natasha turns around and sees Yelena standing a few yards away, a pistol also in her hands.

The two stand there for a moment before they both put away their pistols. "Well, whenever I hear from you, it usually isn't with the sense of urgency you included in that message," Natasha says.

"True," Yelena responds.

The two are quiet for a few moments before Natasha asks, "Why did you ask me to come here?"

"Because something's going that I need your help with," Yelena responds. She pauses for a moment, then says, "I'd almost finished tracking down the last of Dreykov's Widows. Some of them were very well hidden, and it took me a long time. However, as I went looking for the last one on the list, I encountered another group. The Ten Rings."

Natasha's face falls slightly before she says, "I know the Ten Rings. What did you find?"

"They've always been active across the world. However, when I ran into them, I managed to get out of one of their men that they're looking for something. Since then, I looked into them, and they've been reducing their activities across the world, focusing their efforts in the United States and China. It's unlike them, and I wanted to know why. However, I got a bit curious, and now I think their leader, the one they call the Mandarin, is after me," Yelena says.

Natasha is quiet for a few moments, then says, "So, you came because you want our help in taking on the Ten Rings?"

"Yes. They need to be dealt with. Plus, now I'm curious what they've up to, and I want to find out. But I can't do it on my own. Will you help me?" Yelena asks.

Natasha is quiet again for second before reaching out her hand and saying, "Deal." Yelena smiles, and takes Natasha's offered hand.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

So, now we're getting into the conflict here. So, yes, we're going to see Natasha and Oliver teaming up with Yelena to take on the Ten Rings. We won't be seeing Shang-chi yet for a number of chapters, but he is coming.

Next chapter should be up in a week or two. Until it is, please leave a review and stay tuned!