"Valerie? VALERIE!"

Valerie came alert with a start, her dark hair flying over her shoulders as she sat bolt upright in her seat, "What?!"

"Are you even listening to me?" Natasha demanded, her hand poised at the whiteboard.

"Yes!"

"What did I just say?"

"Teamwork is a balance between self sufficiency and trust in your team. A lack of either can have catastrophic consequences." Valerie rattled off the last sentence Natasha had spoken with apparent boredom. Natasha narrowed her eyes at the younger girl, but was unable to find fault with her recitation.

"Fine," Natasha said with a sigh, "It's time for your sparring class with Steve. Go on then."

Valerie frowned, "That's not for another half hour."

"Oh just go entertain yourself until then. I need a break from your unending enthusiasm. Class dismissed." Natasha capped the dry erase marker she was holding decisively. Valerie sighed, "I'm sorry! School just was never really my thing."

"That's probably why you have so much still to learn," Natasha said dryly.

Valerie looked at her reproachfully, and Natasha softened. "We both just need a break, go relax until Sparring."

Valerie nodded and got up to go, but stopped and looked at Natasha, who was frowning into her smart phone. "Aren't you getting married in a few days?"

"Hmm?" Natasha responded noncommittally, not looking up.

"Your wedding. Isn't it coming up soon?"

Natasha glanced at the girl briefly, "Yes it is. Why?"

"It's just that… don't normal women do a lot of preparing? Like decorating and, I don't know, like spa stuff?"

Natasha looked at Valerie quizzically, her full attention on her now, "Spa stuff?"

"Well I mean don't they? To be ready for the wedding?"

"I don't know what normal people do Valerie. I'll manage without Spa stuff I think." She turned back to her phone and was engrossed in it until she felt Valerie's eyes on her. "WHAT Valerie?"

The younger girls face looked doubtful, her eyes roaming her mentors face. Natasha felt herself flushing, "What? You think I need a makeover or something?"

"No, not a makeover…"

"What then?"

"Are you sleeping at all? Your eyes look… well you don't seem rested, and you never stop looking at that phone."

Natasha forced herself to smile, "Don't you worry about me, I'm fine. I'm just doing some planning and there's a lot to consider! I'll take your spa day idea into consideration," she said, seeing her look of doubt. Natasha took the girls shoulders and steered her charge firmly to the door. "Now go meet with Steve, you're wasting your free time."

Valerie turned and gave her a piercing look, her face impassive. Natasha looked back at her for a moment, then smiled. "I'm fine. Go on now." Valerie looked for a second longer, no expression betraying her thought, then shrugged and left. Natasha sighed with relief, was that how everyone else felt about her? Having no idea what was going on in the girls head was unnerving. She was a sharp little thing though, Natasha had to give her that. She looked at her phone again at the live video feed she had hacked into. There they were, looking far worse for wear, and still in their cells. Good.

Natasha pushed her fingers through her hair and dragged them down her face. She knew she needed to let this go. They were imprisoned for life. But they were alive. As long as they lived she would fear their return, and she had so much to lose. She gazed at the screen as Darya shifted painfully in her cell. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine her wedding, all the people she loved in one place, to celebrate her love for Steve. What could be a more perfect target than that? What better way to make her suffer than to take advantage of her vulnerability? Her face hardened. It was time to call in an old friend.

Natasha stepped into the gym to catch the final few minutes of Valerie's lesson with Steve. They were back to back, Clint and Sam attacking from both sides. Natasha stifled a smile as she watched the girl, who looked so tiny compared to Steve and the others. She held her own, assisting Steve when Sam slipped his guard.

"Nice work Valerie! You're really getting the hang of this!' Steve said warmly, and Valerie flushed. "Go get cleaned up, I'll see you at dinner. Nice work today."

Valerie smiled at him and nodded, smiling again at Natasha as she passed. Clint grinned after her, "She's doing great. Come on Sam, I can see Natasha wants time with Steve," he winked suggestively and Natasha rolled her eyes. She stepped into Steve's arms and pressed herself against him without breaking eye contact, "You might be right."

"I'm out," Sam said, "You two have fun." Laughing, Sam and Clint left the room, giving Steve knowing looks and thumbs up as they went.

"Hey," Steve said smiling, his voice low. He brushed her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek, "You doing ok?"

Natasha pulled him closer and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, "Just fine," she said tiredly.

Steve stepped back and held her at arms length, making Natasha frown and tried to squirm back in closer but Steve held her firmly. He touched her cheek, "You seem tired and stressed. You haven't taken down your shield in days. What's wrong?"

Natasha shrugged, "Wedding stuff I guess. And I can't have you seeing the dress before the wedding, it's a bad omen."

Steve looked at her steadily, "Nat Wanda is doing all the wedding preparations, you told me so yourself. Are you having doubts?"

"No!" The word came out of her with such force that it surprised them both. She smiled at him, "No, never." She slipped from under his grasp and folded herself into his side again with a sigh. "I'm just…" She paused as she thought of the live stream she had been obsessively watching, "Having nightmares still. Nothing I can't handle."

"Want me to come sleep with you tonight?"

She smiled up at him and tilted her head back pointedly. He kissed her without hesitation. "I'll let you know."