Amor vincit omnia

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE FINAL MOMENT

New York, 2023

Three months later

"Hurry up, James!" Natasha called out from her new living-room in the new Avengers building. The little boy rushed to the living-room to his mother's side and looked up at her. "I'm all ready!" He said rearranging his backpack.

"Whoa, that's a big bag. What did you put in it?"

"Everything that I'll need." He told her with the same boyish smile that his father had. He grabbed his mother's hand and kissed it. "Bye-Bye, mommy."

She chuckled and looked at him. "See you later, sweetheart."

He ran towards the elevator and called for it. When the doors opened, he got inside and waved at his mother. Natasha waved back before saying. "FRIDAY, take him carefully down the building."

"Of course, Mrs Rogers." The AI replied.

"Oh, no, no, no. It's Miss Romanoff." She said shaking her head.

"My bad." The voice told before shutting up and taking James down to the lobby.

Natasha cleared her throat and walked to the living to see Steve sitting on the couch with a book in his hands. She smiled softly and sat next to him, she leaned her head downwards to see what book he was reading and her smile grew when she saw that it was a book she had suggested him to read years ago; The Handmaid's tale. Her head looked around their living-room and her smile never left. The building had been quickly built back up so everyone could move back in. However, Tony decided to stay in his cabin with his wife and their daughter.

There now was two people sharing a floor. Steve shared his with Natasha and James, Sam was with Bucky, Wanda with Carol when she came on Earth. Clint went back to his farm and Bruce had flew to Norway to look after the new King of Asgard, Valkyrie. Strange and Wong went back to England whereas Thor left with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Scott returned in San Francisco with his daughter and girlfriend. Finally, the Wakandian went back to Wakanda and they met occasionally. Peter stayed in New York with his aunt May which made Tony happy. They would sometimes visit each other and spend time together. Peter had grown close to Morgan over the few months and he taught her some tricks much to Pepper's despair.

Natasha and Steve wouldn't be called into the field any more. They had both retired from their Avengers Life. They wanted to be able to be there for James. The only reasons they'd get pulled from retirement is if there's another universe-threatening mess.

The original Avengers had almost all retired by now. Tony, Thor, Bruce and Clint decided to retire to do the things they wanted to do. Most wanted to stay with their families while the others needed time for themselves.

Living together on the same floor made everything easier. Family time could happen at any moment now, which the three of them really loved. Diners, breakfasts, lunches, afternoon activities, walks, movie nights.

James had become a much happier child. He could now live like any other child or almost, he had both of his parents with a bunch of uncles and aunts. He absolutely loved being loved by so many people, his life was —as he said— thrilling. He never knew who he would see or who would pick him up from school. It was awesome!

Natasha's heart was filled with joy and love for the big family that had reunited. She beamed with happiness that Steve and James got along so well. She was not surprised, but somehow relieved that Steve had forgiven her for fleeing away with their child.

"Hey, Nat. Are you listening to me?" Steve's voice rang as he shook his hand before her eyes.

The woman snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Steve. "No, I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "I was just lost in my thoughts."

He nodded at her before repeating what he had said to her that she didn't hear. "There's this thing that I would like to take you to about." He said and this is only now that Natasha noticed the light pink shade on his cheeks.

She couldn't help but smirk slightly at this and she looked into his nervous eyes. "What is it?"

"Well, uh—" He cleared his throat. "A restaurant."

"What, are you buying one?" She cracked up an eyebrow in slight surprise and decided to tease him a little bit. Just a little bit. Steve stammered, shaking his head and she tried to keep in her laughter. "If that's your way of asking me out, it's really smooth, Rogers."

He looked at her and chuckled nervously. "Is that a yes?"

"Oh, you do want to take me on a date!" She exclaimed, raising a little bit from the couch and dropping her smirk.

"Yes, yes. I would love to take you on a date." He admitted, his nervousness leaving place to his determination. Natasha stopped talking when she saw that he wasn't backing away from his intention. "We have a son together which created a special bond between us, of course, and he will unite us till the end of time. But I know— We both know that even before you knew about James, there was this connection between us, and I won't pretend that it's not true. I don't want to do this any more."

Natasha looked at him and a genuine smile appeared on her face. "We've been acting blind, haven't we?" She asked softly as she took his hand in hers.

"Yeah." He saw before his ocean eyes met her emerald ones. "So, Natasha Romanoff. Would you let me take you on a date?"

The mother's smile grew sizes as her whole body was flooded with happiness. "I shall let you, Steve Rogers." She replied before an amused yet happy chuckle escaped their mouths.

"Tonight, I'll pick up at 8pm." Steve told her with his boyish grin.

"What— Tonight?!" She exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. "What about—"

"James? He's going over at Tony's after his ice cream session with Sam, which will start only after Wanda drops him off from the park." Steve told her before he let out a laugh. "That's a lot of people taking care of him."

"Sure is. Now I know why his bag was so big." Natasha commented before saying. "8pm, you said?"

A huge smile plastered on Steve's face and he eagerly nodded. "I'll pick you up, Miss."

"I hope so." She said and leaned in to kiss his cheek before she got up from the couch. She looked up at the clock on the wall to check the time. She went to her bedroom and looked through her closet for something to wear tonight. She took different pieces of clothes and laid them down on her bed.

Natasha was in her bathroom, putting on the earrings Steve had gotten her one Christmas. She checked herself in the mirror and went out of the bathroom. She picked up her heels and went to the living room. She sat on a chair as she put on her heels then stood back up to take her her purse from the table.

She turned around when she heard somebody clear their throats. She saw Steve, standing there with a bouquet of flowers. Roses. They were common but they were her favourites ones. He was dressed in a three-piece suit and had this smile on his face.

She returned his smile and looked over at him. "You look handsome."

"You don't look too bad yourself." He replied and walked further to where she stood. "Actually, you look beautiful."

"Thank you, Steve." She said after chuckling and looked down at the bouquet as a small smirk appeared on her face. "Are those for me?"

"No, Bucky gave them to me for Valentine's Day." He jokingly teased her.

She shook her head and scrunched her nose. "Being sarcastic, I see. It doesn't really suits you." She shrugged a bit with a smile.

"Whatever." He chuckled and handed her the flowers. "Here, you can have them."

Natasha thanked him and told him that she'd get them into water before they left. Steve took her coat and gave it to her once they were ready to go. He took her to a restaurant nearby that they had both had wanted to try. It was chic but cosy at the same time. They both already loved this place.

A waiter came and gave them the menu once they were sat. Natasha and Steve dived into the menus and stole glances from the other here and there. They ordered what they wanted and gave back the menus. Natasha's eyes locked with Steve's and they both let out an awkward chuckle. She pulled a lock of hair behind her ear as she said. "I'm really not used to this."

"Me, too." He told her. "It's my first date, you know. At least, the first one I can attend."

"Oh, right!" She said with a surprised face. "Now I'm much more nervous, I don't want to blow things up for you or even for us."

"No, Nat. You won't, that's not possible." He reached over the table and grabbed her hand. "There's nothing you could do that would blow things up for me or us, as you say. And, don't be nervous. It's not like we don't know each other at all."

"You sure about that? There are still plenty things you don't know about me." She pointed out with a slight shake of her head.

"And you will tell me whenever you're ready. Natasha, I asked you on date because I want us to be something more than friends or co-parents." He looked at her, one of his thumbs caressed her hand and he could see the ghost of a smile on her lips. "I have feelings for you, I want to be with you. I will be there, for as long as you want me."

"Steve..." Natasha let out in a soft whisper. She licked her lips and removed her hands from his. Steve sighed and saw her standing up. This wasn't what he was expecting, at all.

Natasha walked around the table and grabbed Steve's cheeks before putting her lips on his. He was surprised, he thought she was gonna leave. He stood up, put his hand on the back of her head as he kissed her back.

She pulled back and placed her hand on his chest. "I have feelings for you, too." She looked into his eyes and smiled. "I love you, Steve."

He smiled and kissed her again. "I love you, too, Natasha."

Love conquers all

The end.