Present day
"Tasha, pass me the peanut butter will you?" Clint asked me.
"Course." I replied and passed him the pot.
"Cheers." he said and began spreading the topping on his toast. He even looked sexy eating peanut butter. How is this fair?
Stark's ringtone scattered my thoughts "Yello?" he asked into the phone. I heard someone talking on the line and Tony's face dropped.
"What is it?" Banner asked. My thoughts exactly.
Tony looked at me. "Happy, video call me from reception." he said, not looking away from me.
"What?" I asked suspiciously.
"He..he said...she called you..." he started, but got interrupted by the video call that came up on the wall and Stark said "Accept" still not taking his eyes off me until the call came up.
"Happy, what is it?" Steve asked.
"There is a girl here to see Natasha." Happy said. Something was off.
"Okay, that would be normal and you would just send her away, but something makes her different. What did she say to you?" I asked.
"She asked to see...Natalia Alianovna Romanova." he said looking straight at me.
I let my face drop and felt eyes converge on me. Only a few people know that name to relate to me. All the Avengers know about it, but they wouldn't dare call me it. My breathing quickened slightly, but I didn't let it show.
"Happy, show me her face." I ordered and he stepped back to reveal a red headed, blue eyed girl. Is that...is...this cannot be happening.
"Natalia? Is...that you?" the girl asked. I can't believe this.
I stepped back slightly and nearly fell over if it wasn't for Clint catching me before I hit the floor.
He pulled me up to a standing position and looked into my eyes. The same as hers. How was I meant to tell him?
He released his hold on my frame and I turned back to the screen.
"Natalia? Are you alright?" she asked me. Happy came into view blocking our view of her on the camera.
"Should I allow her up?" he asked.
My eyes were clouded with tears and I felt Clint's thumb brush my cheek as he wiped away my tear.
He was confused. They all were.
"Send her up." I said and the video call ended.
I breathed out deeply and had to hold onto Clint's arm for support.
"Natasha, who is this girl and why does she know your old name?" Clint asked. He never did say the name Natalia. He said it reminded him of the old me in the red room and he doesn't like to think about me being harmed. Neither do I.
"Just give me a minute." I said and brushed my hands over my face. How are you going to deal with this one?
The lift dinged and I straightened up. Okay. You can do this. I walked over so I was 5 metres away from the entrance to it.
The doors opened and there she was. Beautiful red curls reaching her belly button. Shiny new blue eyes like Clint's. Small plump red lips. My height. She wore black skinny jeans, red converse shoes matching her hair, an AC/DC shirt and a black leather jacket.
She stepped out and asked "Mum, is that really you?"
I stepped forward and we circled each other. We came to a stop and I hesitantly placed my hand on her cheek.
"Belle?" I asked. She nodded against my palm and snuggled into my hand.
Suddenly, I was pulled into a hug by her and I wrapped my arms around her, as if on instinct. The hug was very comforting, like the missing piece I've been trying to find for the puzzle.
It fits.
"I'm guessing you got my letter then. I missed you Belle." I whispered in her ear.
"I missed you too mum." She said and hugged me tighter.
After a while, I turned around to the others. They were waiting there expectantly apart from Clint, whose expression was unreadable.
"I owe you an explanation." I said.
"Yeah, maybe." Stark said sarcastically.