The next few days passed in a haze for Natasha. She hadn't heard from Steve, and she couldn't focus on much of anything else. She hoped Nicole didn't notice her preoccupation. Nicole was pretty busy playing on the farm with her new cousins.

It took everything Natasha had not to call Steve, but she knew he didn't want to talk to her. If he did, he would have already called. She knew from Sam that Steve had made it to Berlin, and Bucky was going through mental evaluations. All she could do was wait, and waiting was driving her crazy.

"On your feet, Nat," Clint said with a grin on the fourth day at the farm. "Laura's packed us a lunch. You and I are going on a picnic."

"Clint, I wouldn't be much company. You and Laura go have fun. I'll take care of the kids."

"Not this time. You are getting out of this house today. Come on. It'll be fun."

Reluctantly, Natasha nodded and followed Clint to the Polaris ATV Clint affectionately called his getaway car. Clint drove to the lake near the other side of the farm. He whistled as he grabbed the picnic basket and a blanket from the back.

Once he had positioned the blanket in what he deemed the perfect place and passed Natasha a sandwich, he sighed. "You know we inherited this farm from Laura's grandfather."

"I did know that," Natasha replied as she took a bite.

"We knew it would be the perfect place to raise a family. My plan was to live in the farmhouse for a few years then build a place here with a nice view of the lake."

"It's a good plan."

"I thought so. I cleared the spot. Where we are sitting is where I thought we should put the breakfast nook. There would be a big island over there with a couple of stools so the kids could watch Laura cook. I'd go open floor plan, so we could watch the kids playing in the family room. The staircase leading to the bedrooms and a playroom would be right over there."

"That sounds nice, Clint. When are you going to build it?"

"Depends. Laura loves that old farmhouse. It's drafty and I feel like there's always a project or two I should be doing. The thing is, Laura thinks the farmhouse is the perfect place for our family, and, who am I to argue? I want her to be happy." Natasha nodded. "So, Laura and I have been talking. We think we'll just stay put and keep remodeling. We were actually thinking this spot might be perfect for you, Nat. What do you say?

We could be anywhere we're needed in no time with the quinjet, and Laura would happily keep her eye on Nicole. Tony could build us a shield like the one at the compound, so you wouldn't have to keep checking Nicole's bracelet every few hours. She loves it here."

"Clint, I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll think about it. You could keep your place at the compound and stay here part time if you want. You know I'm there as much as I'm here anymore."

Natasha felt a knot forming in her throat. It would be nice to give Nicole a more normal life. "I can't, Clint. It sounds wonderful, but I can't take Nicole away from Steve."

"He could come, too. I think Cap would enjoy a simple life for awhile. He's certainly earned it."

"I'm pretty sure Steve wouldn't want that simple life with me. It's a wonderful dream, Clint, but it's never going to happen. If I stay at the compound, Steve and I can figure out a way to share custody and Nicole can have both of us."

"Just talk to him, Nat, and I don't mean talk to him about the house. Tell him the truth. He wants you. He loves you."

Natasha nodded slowly. "I plan on it. I just think it is probably too little, too late."

Natasha finished her meal in silence. She could see the house Clint was describing. She could see Nicole sitting at the bar trying to sneak a cookie, and she could almost feel him wrapping his arms around her waist as she loaded the dishwasher. She could picture Nicole jumping in their bed during a thunderstorm or the three of them sharing popcorn on the couch. It was so normal, and normal was something she'd never had until Nicole came along. It would have been amazing, but she had to live in reality not make-believe.

They finished their picnic and had only been back at the house a few minutes when Steve called. It was a video call, so Natasha smoothed her hair back before answering. "Hi, Steve," she said in a small voice.

"Romanoff," he said curtly. "Can I talk to my daughter?"

"She's outside. I'll get her."

"Outside? Where are you?"

"The farm. She's safe. Clint's here and the bracelet's doing it's job."

"Don't you think taking her off the compound is something we should have discussed?"

"I didn't think you were speaking to me," she paused, "Steve, I just want to say-"

"Not now, not over the phone."

"When will you be back?"

"In a few weeks probably. We're in Berlin."

"Which hotel? I need to know just in case I can't reach you and something goes wrong."

"I'm staying at Sharon's. Now, can you get my daughter."

Natasha sighed. He was staying at Sharon's. She'd already lost. She called for Nicole who came running at the chance to talk to her daddy.

"Daddy, you in the phone. You so small, Daddy. How did you get inside," the child chattered. She kissed the phone. "Mommy, Daddy in the phone!"

"How's my best girl?"

"I good, Daddy. I play outside. I ride tractor. Uncle Clint not a grown up here. He Peter Pan. It a movie, Daddy. Lila watch it with me."

"It sounds like you're having fun!"

"I miss you, Daddy. Mommy miss you, too. She sad. Come make Mommy be happy."

Natasha wanted to crawl under the table. She was grateful Nicole was holding the phone, so Steve couldn't see her face.

"I'm sure Mommy is just fine. Hey, I want you to meet somebody. This is Daddy's friend, Sharon."

Nicole looked at the woman on the screen then at her mom. She wrinkled her nose and crawled in Natasha's lap. Natasha now had a view of Sharon setting extremely close to Steve.

"Hi, Nicole. I can't wait to meet you. Stevie, she looks just like you. I knew you'd make pretty babies," Sharon said with a smile. "Oh, hi, Romanoff, sorry for borrowing your help. I promise I'll get him home soon, and we'll give you a break."

"We?" Natasha asked.

"Um, yeah, Sharon will be coming with us. That's one of the requirements for bringing Bucky back. She'll be sticking around a few weeks to insure Bucky settles in and doesn't have an relapses."

"I didn't realize Agent Carter had psychology as one of her skill sets," Natasha said wryly.

"Oh, I volunteered. This is personal. I'm just so glad Stevie has Bucky back. I want to do my part."

"Well, I'm sure Stevie really appreciates what you've done," Natasha replied, using the moniker Sharon was apparently using as a pet name.

"Well, I better go. Daddy loves you, Nicole."

"And, Mommy, too?" Nicole asked, obviously annoyed by the turn of events.

"Mommy knows how Daddy feels. Talk to you in a few days."

Berlin

"Are you sure we didn't play that over the top? Natasha looked really upset," Steve fretted.

"We put it on pretty thick, but she already believed I was after her man. I just played the part she was expecting me to play. Did you see her face? That's the face of a woman desperately in love. She'll make her move as soon as you get home. Just play it cool. Don't give her any reason to believe you've fully given into my wiles. Pretend you don't even notice the flirting. She needs to see me as the would be home wrecker, not your lover."

"Are you sure she doesn't already think we are, you know."

"Lovers? You are too cute. You can't even say it. No, she thinks I've set the trap. She believes you still don't see it and it terrifies her. That's what we want. She needs to think she's rescuing you. Trust me, Steve. She's seething right now and probably plotting my death."

Steve's eyes went wide. "Maybe I should just call her back and tell her I know she's in love with me."

"You could do that," Sharon replied, "but if she hasn't figured it out yet, you'll be right back where you started. I just hope she forgives me when this is over. I really don't want the Black Widow coming after me."

The Farmhouse

"I don't like her," Nicole said after Natasha hung up the call.

"You know what, you don't have to like anyone you don't want to like," Natasha replied. "I don't think I like her either."

"Daddy's friend, not our friend."

"Yeah, I think I'm going to have to have a nice long talk with Daddy's friend when they get back," Natasha sighed, "It's on, Sharon. I'm not giving up without a fight," she added to herself.

Over the next three weeks, Steve checked in fairly often. He should have been home by now, but things kept getting delayed. He promised he would be home for Nicole's birthday, but her birthday was still over a week away.

Natasha hated that he wouldn't let her apologize. He just asked to talk to Nicole as soon as she answered the phone. Thankfully, Sharon didn't get on the phone again, but knowing he was staying in her apartment drove Natasha crazy.

She even felt sick at her stomach. If she weren't so stressed, she would be concerned. Her serum prevented her from getting illnesses, so being ill wasn't normal for her. Love apparently really did not agree with her, but with each passing day, she was more and more sure she was in love with Steve. She just wasn't so sure he still loved her.

When her phone rang early one morning, her first thought was that it might be Steve. Instead it was Melinda's voice on the other end of the line.

"We know who Hydra partnered with to turn your daughter into a weapon. Coulson thought the Avengers might want to handle this one personally."

"Thank you, May."

"I'm sending you what we have. Go make them pay."

Natasha sighed as she read the name. Wilson Fisk was well-connected. This wasn't something she could involve the Avengers in with a clear conscious, but she couldn't do this alone.

Without hesitation, she called Steve's phone. "Hello," Sharon answered.

Natasha felt sick. "I need to talk to Steve."

"He forgot his phone. Can I take a message?"

Natasha was silent for a minute. "No, just tell him I called. Don't hurt him, Sharon. He's a good man. He's a good father. Don't let him forget that no matter what happens."

"Natasha, what's going on?" Sharon asked in panic, but Natasha was no longer on the other end.

"It's better this way," Natasha thought to herself. "If I fail, Steve will be there for Nicole." she kissed her sleeping daughter on the forehead. "Mommy, loves you so much," she whispered.

Nicole stirred. "Mommy? What wrong?"

"Mommy has to go away for a few days."

"Like Daddy?"

"Yes, like Daddy."

"You help a friend?"

"I have to do something very important, something that is necessary to keep you safe and sound."

"Go pow pow again?"

"Yes, but don't worry."

"Cause you Widow but Widow not bad."

"That's right. Being the Black Widow means I know how to make sure you stay safe. Uncle Clint and Aunt Laura will take good care of you until I get back. This shouldn't take long, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy. Keep me safe."

Natasha kissed her daughter's forehead again, wrote a note for Clint, and slipped out the door. She immediately pulled out her phone and dialed an all to familiar number she never expected to dial again. "Matt, I need your help."