Si vales, valeo

CHAPTER SEVEN: OUR NEW LIFE

New York, 2023

Natasha gratefully smiled at Steve. "I wanted to thank you Steve... for saving me, for always being here for me and for unknowingly giving me James." She let out a soft chuckle as the raindrops tinkled on her umbrella.

Steve, wearing one of the most handsome black suits she had ever seen him wear, smiled at her and squeezed her hand with such gentleness. "Come on, we should go somewhere warmer. I think the world knows now that The Black Widow's gone now."

"Yeah, but, uh, in a minute." She said and turned her whole body towards Steve. "Could you take James home? There's still something I need to do."

"Of course." He looked at her and saw the determination in her eyes, he wouldn't stop her even if he wanted to. "Come back..." He told her before kissing her cheek with a certain softness. He pulled back and looked into her beautiful emerald eyes.

She smiled, touched at the worry of the man. "Don't worry." She replied and watched Steve walk back to the crowd around her grave. It was strange to tell herself that she was dead, that to the world's eyes she no longer existed. She watched the soldier pick up their son and say something to Tony who nodded. Slowly, the adults started to get into their cars and leave. Natasha waited patiently under her umbrella as she fixed her eyes on the grave from afar.

After a moment, she saw a figure walk towards the grave and that was who just wanted to see. The person was dressed in all black and their head was covered by a hood protecting them from the rain. She smiled softly, she knew who it was and she knew that person knew about her still being alive.

She quickly glanced around before walking slowly towards the person, her shoes making squishing sounds on the soaked grass. She kept walking until she stood at the person's side.

"Who are you going to be now?" The mysterious person asked with a hint of a Russian accent in their voice. "You blew your covers years ago."

Natasha looked down at the grave seeing her name engraved on it along with her date of birth and presumed date of death. It was a really strange feeling, it felt like she was in a nightmare she would soon overcome. "I will just be myself, the one I always refused to be... I'm going to be Natalia Romanova."

"Are you aware that it is too close to Natasha Romanoff?" The person asked. "You could still become Natasha Rogers." The voice told with a hint of amusement in their voice.

"Keep dreaming, Yelena." The mother said. "Steve and I... We're not— We haven't had time to talk about this yet; but if I ever was to become Natasha or Natalia Rogers it won't be as a scheme so the world knows doesn't know I'm still alive." She looked at her and smiled. "You could come with us, you know."

"Where to?" Yelena asked. "In your small apartment with the Super Soldier? Keep dreaming, Nat." She said mimicking the woman's previous words. "No offence, of course."

"Obviously not." She replied with amusement. "James and I aren't going to stay in Steve's apartment forever. We will move out, eventually, but that's not what I meant. Yelena, I'm serious when I say that you could stay with us and be out of danger for good."

Yelena let out a sigh and looked back at her friend, her sister. "You had your redemption and I know that someday I will, too, but that time has yet to come."

"Why not? You could get it now, Yelena. You already went through so much and I know you also want to change your life." Natasha argued.

"I don't know... I don't think I'm ready to give up on everything just right now. I want to find myself just like you found yourself before abandoning this... Life." Belova replied with a smile. "Have a happy life, Nat, you deserve it. We'll see each other soon."

"Sooner than we think." Natasha said and to her huge surprise, Yelena wrapped both arms around her. "Take care of you." She told her as she returned her embrace.

"Yeah, you too." The blonde woman said before walking away and disappearing among the cemetery. Natasha watched her leave then eyed her grave with a slight smirk. She was getting her life, the one she had always wanted to get. Being free, having a family, having a child and having friends she could count on.

"Goodbye, old life." She declared and slowly, walked away from her grave. Once again, her feet made squishing sounds with each steps she took. She went to her car and drove home – or also known as Steve's place.

The day Steve saved Natasha, they had gone together to put back the other stones at the right time and place. Their little journey had given them time to talk. They had a discussion about who they were, who they had become now they had a child. They had both agreed on saying that they were more than just friends, they could not deny what had happened when they were on the run each time they crossed paths. They agreed on seeing where that new life would take them. And, about James, they had decided to raise him together. They said they would live in Steve's apartment until the compound gets built up again. Then they would move there so they could live close to each other which was easier for James.

In over a week, the little boy had gotten used to having a father along with his mother. It was something that had made him very happy, to know that there weren't just his mother by his side. Now, he had a bunch of uncles and aunts and especially a father. He loved living in Steve's small apartment because no matter what, they were close. Natasha thought living with Steve after so many years apart would be weird, but it was far from being like that. To her eyes, it was just normal. Normal and wonderful. It made her realize how much she had missed Steve and how much she enjoyed being by his side.

"Hey, I'm home." Natasha said when she walked into the apartment.

"Mommy!" James yelled as he ran to his mother and jumped into her arms. She smiled happily and hugged her child, she gave him a kiss on the cheek before setting him on her lap. She looked around expecting Steve to be there but instead Bucky was there.

"Uh, he was called on a mission or something like that." Bucky replied when he sensed the question that Natasha was going to ask him. "Fury needed him."

"Do you know why, exactly?" She then asked as she played with James' hair, pulling them gently one side then on the other.

"No, he didn't say." The metal arm man shrugged then added. "There is not a threat upon the world, this much I know."

"Thank you, Bucky." She replied gratefully.

He smiled at her and slightly scratched the back of his head. "Hey, um, I hope you don't mind I brought a little something for James."

"Anything but a weapon is fine, actually." She jokingly said.

"Wait, mom! I'll show you!" The boy excitedly said as he wiggled out of his mother's embrace.

Natasha chuckled as she let him go, he ran to his bedroom and some fumbling were heard. The redhead woman raised an eyebrow towards Bucky's direction. "Is his bedroom a mess or is he actually just looking for what you got him?"

"I would say a bit of both?" Bucky replied with an innocent voice.

"Are you asking me?" Natasha said smiling.

"I don't think so." He replied with a chuckle and settled on the edge of the couch.

"I found it!" James yelled from his bedroom before running back to the leaving room. He was hovering over his head a child sized Captain America Shield – that he was really proud to have. The shield was blocking his view and he bumped into something, or mostly into someone since he heard a slight hiss of pain. The child was mortified to have hurt somebody, he didn't dare to look up.

Only, the Shield was pulled up and he could see that it was his father he had hit. Steve was looking down at him with a smile on his face. "Hi there, little hero." He greeted his son and went on his knees to be on his level.

"Hi, daddy." James, suddenly all shy, replied. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, don't worry Champ." He said and kissed his head. "See you got yourself a shield like mine."

"Uncle Bucky gifted it to me." He proudly said.

"Did he?" He asked and looked up from his son to his best friend who was still sitting on the edge of the couch. "And did you thank him?"

"Yes!" James said smiling.

Steve ruffled with his child's hair and got back up. He looked at Natasha who was already glancing his way and he walked up to her. He put a kiss on her cheek for the second time that day and she smiled at him. "Welcome to your new life, Nat."

"No." She said shaking her head softly. She looked at Steve with a certain tenderness before grabbing one of his hands with both of hers. "Welcome to our new life."

When you are strong, I am strong