Serva me, servado te

CHAPTER SIX: AFTERMATH

Bruce, Bucky and Sam stood around the quantum portal as they watched Steve go. The Winter soldier turned around the two other men and asked. "Hey, guys. Do you know what Steve meant about 'James Rogers'? I mean, that is certainly not me."

"Of course he did not, you're not married." Sam replied as he looked at Bucky. "But, no. I don't know what he meant."

"Boys!" Pepper called out from the porch. "Come inside a minute."

"You guys go ahead, I'll stay here until Steve comes back." Bruce said as he looked at them with a small smile. "He should be back already, actually."

Bucky gave the big man a sad smile. "I don't think he's coming back. Why come back when he could have the life he's always wanted?" He looked at Sam who had a sad expression on his face. He couldn't really hide his sadness. Both walked with him inside the house.

Bruce looked at the quantum portal and let out a sigh. Bucky was right, why would Steve come back?

"Uh, Bruce. You should come see this." Sam said from the porch, he and Bucky stood at the door frame and they both looked inside the house.

The 7 PhD's man walked towards the house letting the Quantum Portal on, just in case. He climbed on the porch and looked inside the house. Tony and Pepper were in their living room with Morgan.

After the fight, Peter stayed with them a little bit before going in town to see his Aunt May and his friends. Happy went along with him and Rhodey had stayed with the Starks. This is was all normal, the only thing that could step out of normality was the little boy sitting on Rhodey's lap. He looked exactly like a combination of Steve and Natasha.

Bucky and Sam who had been on the run with them never realized that they could've been a thing. They never acted like a couple or like two persons who could be… doing it. What had happened those last five years? Things were so confusing. The three of them looked at each other with surprise, even Bruce had no idea about this.

"Yeah, it was news to us, too." Tony said when nobody dared to talk.

"Well, I guess that's what Steve meant by James Rogers." Bucky said before walking inside the house. He went to where Rhodey and James were and crouched down to the child's level. "Hi, Buddy. I'm Bucky, your father's best friend." He said, holding out his hand for him to take.

The child smiled, he had Natasha's smile, and took Bucky's hand in his. "I know you. Mommy talks about you sometimes."

"Does she?" Bucky asked, a smile crossing his lips.

"Yeah,"

"Did she ever talk about me?" Sam chided in as he walked closer to the kid. "I'm Sam."

James looked up at Sam and shook his head. "No."

"Oh, come on, the falcon?" He tried again.

The child shook his head again and shrugged. "No." He smiled at Sam. "But I know birdie."

"Birdie? I don't-" Sam sighed. "If that child ain't Natasha's."

"Where's my mom?" James asked and each adults drew in a breath at the kid's question. "I miss her."

"James..." Rhodey started. "Your mom..."

He turned his head around and looked up at his uncle. "What about her?"

"She..." He sighed and couldn't bear to say it to the child.

"Maybe right now is not the good time, we should wait until Steve comes back." Pepper suggested as she saw her friend struggle. She knew nobody could ever be ready to tell a child about one of his parent's death. Especially a child that young.

"Yeah... About that, we don't know if Steve is gonna come back." Bucky said. "I have doubts or maybe they're fears, I don't know. It's just… I picked up a vibe, I don't know how to explain it. It kinda feels like he's gonna leave." He looked at Tony as the words left his mouth. "But he wouldn't James behind."

"Surely." Tony replied.

The metal armed guy got up on his feet, his eyes were still on Tony. "Could we speak for a minute, please?"

Tony passed his hand over his face and looked over at Pepper who gave him an encouraging smile. The two men never had the time to talk about what The Winter Soldier did to Tony's parents and Bucky wanted to apologize. In his mind, he was the reason the Avengers had drifted apart so many years ago and he thought that if it wasn't for him, Sam, Steve and Natasha would have been free and not on the run.

"Of course." The billionaire replied and stood up. He shook his head towards the kitchen for Bucky to follow him which he did. He took two glasses from the drawer and filled them with water then he handed one to Bucky.

He took it and looked at Tony. "Look, I wanted to tell you how much I was sorry for what the winter soldier did, for what I did. I know that apologizing won't bring your parents back but I feel like I needed to apologize to you. I also want to say sorry for being the reason you, Steve and the rest drifted apart all of those years ago. It occurs to me that, maybe, if that hadn't happened, things would've gone differently with Thanos. Anyway, I'm sorry."

Tony sipped his water as he listened to Bucky's words. "Bucky... I... I want to apologize for my behaviour. I have not been the better man back then and I had time to think this through, seven years is quite a long time. Over the years, especially after Morgan was born, I think I might have forgiven you. You will always be the man who killed my parents, even if it wasn't actually you and I might hold it against to you but... I want to try to be a better man. For my daughter." He said slowly. "I forgive you, Bucky. But it might takes some time to fully trust you."

He looked at Bucky who had a relieved look on his face. "Thank you, Tony." He held out his hand for him to shake and the inventor took his hand.

A strange noise was coming from outside and the two men turned their heads towards the window at the same time. "Was that the quantum portal?" Bucky asked.

"Only one way to know." Tony replied.

They walked out of the kitchen and followed everybody outside. They looked at the portal and they let out a breath of relief. Steve stood there with the box where the stones had been put in and Mjolnir. He walked down the stairs and looked at everybody who looked at him as well.

James was the first one to step out of the small crowd to greet his father. It was the second time he was seeing him and he was very happy. He walked to him and went to hug him when Steve crouched down to his level. Then, son and father hugged.

New York, 2023 one week later

"May she rest in peace." The priest told as he crossed his fingers over his body.

It was a rainy day, how ironical for a funeral. The avengers have decided to have a funeral for Natasha so they and the world could say goodbye to the great Black Widow. James was present among the adults even though he didn't really understand what was going on.

Steve was sitting next to his son and had an upbeat look on his face. Tony was next to him and he put a comforting hand on his upper back.

The priest finished talking and walked away. After that, a few people that hadn't really known Natasha left as well. It was only the Avengers and a few Shield agents.

"Is she around?" Tony asked with discretion to Steve who looked at him.

"Yeah, she would have not missed it for the world." He replied before adding. "Can you watch James for a minute, please?"

"Sure, which one?" He asked as he gestured to the three James sitting next to each other.

Steve shook his head out of amusement and stood up. He walked a little backwards making sure nobody was seeing him or following him. He stepped next to a figure who had stood from afar during the funeral with a back umbrella covering her head. "How does it feel?"

"To attend your own funeral?" The woman asked. "Weird... Really weird, but somehow normal."

He looked at the woman. "Normal? How come?"

"Over the years, I have led many lives that weren't my own and it wasn't until James that I found who I really want to be." She said. "Despite being considered a hero for years, I've always wanted to give up on that life and retire."

"Now, you can." He assured her as he took her hand. "You are a free woman now, Natasha."

Natasha turned her face to him and a smile came over her lips. "Yeah, all thanks to you."

Vormir, 2014

The Captain first arrived on Vormir. Before returning any of the stones on earth, he intended on getting his love back. He was going to do anything to save her, to bring her back to their family, to him. He walked for a while and climbed the mountain. "Where is she?" He muttered under his breath as he arrived at the top.

He stopped when he saw a shadow lurking in the dark. "Natasha?" He asked as he raised up Mjolnir in his hand just in case it wasn't her. He heard a chuckle and the shadow stepped out revealing his face. "

Greetings, Captain." The Red Skull said, smirking.

Steve's face fell. How was this possible? What the hell was he doing here? "You gotta be shitting me." He said.

"You came for the girl, I suppose." The Red Skull said. "You are wasting your time."

"The rule is, a soul for a soul. You bring her back and I give you your dear stone." Steve said looking at him. "I'm not going to leave without her, you know this."

"You see Captain, it's not that easy. I can't bring back a soul that doesn't want to be brought back." He started. "Your friend does not want to come back. Give me the stone and let her be."

Steve started to feel his blood boil as he became angry. "Lies! Bring her back!"

The Red Skull sighed and raised his hand. "See for yourself." He moved his fingers and Natasha appeared in a hollow of light. She looked beautiful than ever even though she looked confused. She looked around and saw Steve. She smiled slightly then remembered what happened. "Steve..." She trailed off.

He walked up to her and took her hands. "Natasha," He breathed out. "It's time to go home."

She pulled back her hands, shaking her head. "No, Steve. I can't go back. It's impossible, you know it better than anyone."

"Yes. Yes, you can. If- if I give the stone back I can get you back. I'm ready to bargain with the devil himself to make you come back to us, to me, to James."

She gasped when she heard her son's name, she bowed her head refusing to meet his pleading baby blue eyes. "He's better off without me, Steve." She whispered. "I was always ready to die."

He walked closer to her and raised her chin with his hand. "Natasha, look at me." He ordered softly. "He deserves to grow up with his mother, he can't be better off without the best woman in the world. You are a good mother, Nat and not matter what you did you deserve to live the life you want."

Save me, and I will save you