Right here we go, second last chapter!
Chapter 17 – Homecoming
Natasha watched as Bruce started running around the lab frantically muttering things to Tony. Suddenly he cried out and took a remote out his pocket. They all stood in front of the machine Tony and Bruce had built. Apparently (though Natasha had objected to the idea) they were going with her as Bruce was confidant the devise could get them back again. Bruce lifted up the remote and pressed one of the buttons. As soon as he did Natasha turned away and screwed her eyes closed. Once again she felt something strong grab her and drag her towards the portal.
When Natasha opened her eyes again she found herself sitting on a pile of rubble with a blue sky above her. It worked! Or is she in another dimension again? She looked around to see everyone else around her. At lease they were all in one place. Next to her Clinton held out his hand to help her up whilst holding a finger to his mouth motioning to be quiet. Natasha took his hand and he pulled her up before pulling her back into the shadows as the rest of the group did the same. Natasha looked out into the daylight and her eyes widened.
"Rosie?" she gasped. In the middle of the rubble was the redheaded 14 years old who was on the ground clearing rubble. Eventually she stopped as she'd reached the ground before sweeping her hand across the burn mark on the floor before looking up and away from the group.
Rosie sighed as she looked up to where the machine had been but now all she could see was the sea just over the cliff the base had been built on. So after two days of going through rubble she'd finally found the location of the weapon. Now she finally had a starting point. Yes this would be easier if she had some equipment but that costs money and money (at the moment) is something she doesn't have. Going rogue means she had to cut herself off from S.H.I.E.L.D. and the family supply of money. Groaning she started to clear the rubble again. Her hands ached from the constant work but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She had to find Natasha even if it killed her, she owed her that. Rosie nearly jumped out her skin when she felt her hand come into contact with something that defiantly wasn't brick. Slowly she pulled it out to see a dead snake. Rosie held it in her hand moving it from side to side assessing if it was poisons, which she guessed it was.
"Aw poor little guy, got squashed in the explosion," Rosie pouted. Just as she did she heard something behind her. Snapping round to the source of the noise she saw a group of ten AIM Agents.
"Aw shit…" she cursed before diving behind a nearby and partly intact wall. Quickly she pulled out one of her guns and fired at the Agents taking out five but earning a shot to the shoulder for her efforts. Wincing she went to fire again but had run out of bullets. Quickly she pulled out her other gun and carried on firing until she'd ran out once again but managed to take out another three Agents. Looking around desperately for something to use as a weapon the Agents started shouting for her to surrender. Her eyes landed on the snake in her hand.
"WHY THE FUCK AM I STILL HOLDING THIS!?" she cried shaking the snake before freezing. Her eyes widened and lips pursed she looked to the snake in her hands before looking to the Agents. She smirked before getting up and walking over to the two hands in the air. Immediately they trained their guns at her.
"Em… drop the… snake," one of them muttered.
"Oh c'mon guys it's a dead snake what's the worst that can happen?" she cocked an eyebrow as she walked towards them. She waited until she was in between the two Agents before opening the snake's mouth and plunging it into the one on her lefts neck. The man cried in pain whilst clutching his neck causing the other man to look at him confused. Using the moment of confusion to her advantage she grabbed a Katana off her back and stabbed the man before spinning round and stabbing the other. With her Katana back in its hold on her back she brought her hand to the wound in her shoulder and moved it slowly. Ouch that hurt. Looking up again she squeaked in surprise.
"Oh my god…" she whispered as she noticed the people in the shadows but one in particular, "OH MY GOD 'NOTHER ME!"
At Rosie's outburst they moved out the shadows. Natasha watched as Rosie scanned the group Rosie's eyes eventually landing on her. She gasped before whispering.
"Oh my god, Natasha!?" she whispered, "No… Natasha's not here!" clenching her fists she continued, "What kind of sick AIM bastards made you lot? Robots are you? I bet it was MODOK." Natasha pinched her forehead. Great it's her. She's in the right dimension but now she has to convince Rosie she's Natasha. When no one replied Rosie threw her arms out to the side and looked up to the sky then.
"Where are you MODOK? Come out and face me you glorified baby head!" she screamed to no one.
"Is she crazy?" Clinton whispered. Natasha shook her head.
"Not when I left." Carefully she walked over the rubble towards her freaking out 'apprentice'. As soon as she reached her Rosie span round to face her and her hand twitched for her knife.
"Rosie, calm down. It's me," Natasha told her firmly. Rosie backed up slightly fists clenched and eyebrow knitted together.
"Prove it." she hissed. Natasha sighed before thinking of something that would prove it was really her.
"The first time we met was just after you got reactor and I helped you through it and for a couple of months you came to me for every piece of advice you need or concern you had. You have a heart shaped birthmark on your shoulder blade. The second time Clint and I went to Budapest and you came with us. On the second night after we killed Jayden's Mum and Hydra Agents came for us you got Jayden out of there even though Clint was telling you not to. You also protected him twice whilst we were all separated. Oh and you called Clint cheesy for saying 'Never fear, Hawkeye is here'," Natasha started to list things about her. Just after she listed fifth thing Rosie's eyes softened and her hand moved away from her knife. Right then she knew Rosie believed her.
"Natasha? It's really you?" she whispered. Natasha smiled at her.
"Yes Bright Spark, took you long enough!" she teased. Rosie rushed forward and threw her uninjured arm around her. Natasha wrapped her arms around Rosie and hugged her back, a very rare thing for the Widow to do. Rosie buried her face in her shoulder and smiled happily.
"Don't you ever do that again! We were all so worried Natasha!" Rosie whispered. When Natasha felt a tear fall against her shoulder she hugged Rosie tighter.
"I won't, I promise," she whispered. At that Rosie pulled away and whipped away the tears once again her cheeky smiled returning. Carefully she peered round Natasha to the group behind her.
"So… who the hell are they? Why is there another me? Oh and how the hell did he get his hands on Dad's suit?" she pointed to Tony. At that everyone's eyebrows shot up.
"DAD?!" Rose and Tony cried looking at each other. Rosie looked to Natasha confused with a look that said what'd I miss? Natasha just shook her head and mouthed that she'd explain later. Rosie nodded and watched as the pair looked at each other. Rose grabbed onto Clinton's arm for support.
"Oh my god…" she whispered before fainting. Clinton quickly caught her before looking up at Coulson wide-eyed. Rosie scratched her head before turning back to Natasha.
"Em I've stashed the jet not far from here, your… friends can come too if they want," Rosie offered. Natasha shouted over to them the offer and they gladly took it. With Rose in Clinton's arms Rosie lead them to the S.H.I.E.L.D. jet.
They hadn't been in the sky for long when Rose finally came to. When she did Clinton helped her sit up. She just sat there staring at Tony who stared back. Natasha looked out the window behind her at the Pacific Ocean below. She was nearly home.
"Right ok I'm sorry to ask but by any chance does anyone have any food?" Rosie asked as she came into the main cabin. Everyone looked up at her and Natasha sighed.
"When was the last time you eat? You know you have low blood sugar you need to eat!" Natasha rolled her eyes.
"Yeah I now but going rogue left me with no money and I kind of left without planning and I've not eaten in around two day," Rosie smiled nervously. Natasha pinched her temple causing Rosie to laugh nervously. A nutrient bar was chucked at Rosie and she quickly thanked Hill, who had chucked it at her before running back to the pilot seat. As soon as she went back to flying Natasha turned her attention back to Tony and Rose.
"You're – you're my Dad?" Rose whimpered. Clinton continued to hold her for support which she really needed.
"Pepper was right… she's not going to believe this… we thought you were dead. You were snatched from my arms when you were only months old!" Tony spluttered. Natasha looked to the billionaire in one of hid rate moments of shock. Laughing quietly and shaking her head she looked back out the window before going to sit in the co-pilot seat next to Rose.