Returning Home

Part 2

Steve reached Russia and set off for his search. He searched everywhere he could. Wandering in the cities like a crazy guy, holding Natasha's picture in hand. He went from street to street, town to town and then even city to city. It was difficult, very difficult, an almost impossible task when the authorities couldn't locate her, how would he on bare foot. But his heart knew he could, and he would. They didn't get their happy family to loose it. She didn't give birth to five children to leave them motherless. She was there, and he would find her.

After 2 weeks, he was tired and worn out, but still roaming around in the streets, struggling to talk with people, with the help of Tony's translator device. He went on and on, even though it became hopeless, he didn't loose hope.

And it was on the 17th day of his visit, when a lady he had showed the picture of Natasha to, responded.

"This... " she said confused.

"Have.. Have you seen her? " Steve asked, breathlessly.

The woman looked up to him, then back to the picture.

"I.. Have.. Oh.. There she is" she said, pointing towards a girl. Steve looked in the direction he pointed, and his heart skipped a beat.

A girl stood there, in a very casual T-shirt, and pyjamas, a bag hanging at her side. She had blonde curls hanging at her back.

"Yelena! " the woman called out, "this man is looking for you".

And as she turned, Steve was shocked. It was... Her... The exact same face, the very eyes, the very lips. She was exactly Natasha, except for her platinum blonde curly hair.

"Me? " she asked in Russian, and walked towards Steve. Her voice was the same too. She was Natasha, or was she?

"Yes? " she asked, as she stood in front of Steve, with a smile on her face.

"Na... Natasha? " he said, raising his hand to touch.

"Sorry" she said in Russian, "you are mistaking me for someone else. I am Yelena.. Yelena Belova" she said.

Steve's heart sank, no this could not be, he cannot loose her now. She was Natasha, his heart knew, he could feel her. But she didn't remember, she didn't know.

"Natasha!! Look this " he tried to say, but then he had another thought. He grabbed her arm and pulled.

"Hey, what are you doing? Leave me" she struggled, but his hold was tight. He pulled her under a bridge, where there were less people, pinned her to the wall and pulled her shirt up.

Although the hideous scar of the Soviet slug had faded after James's birth, their was still a mark left, a prominent mark, and Steve knew every mark on her body.

"What are you doing you pervert?! " she yell in Russian.

But Steve sighed in relief, she was Natasha. The scar mark was there, exactly there. She was his wife, the mother of his children.

"Do you have a tiny mole in your left inner thigh? " he asked, in English.

"What?? " she was shocked at his questions.

"Do you understand English? " he asked.

She nodded, "then answer me! " he said with gritted teeth.

"Yes,... I do.. But how do you know? " she asked confused. Steve thanked God looking at the sky.

"Who are you and why are you asking me this? How do you know? No one knows my secrets, I haven't ever been in a sexual relationship, how do you know? " she asked.

Steve smiled, she didn't know she was married, yet she didn't let anyone touch her. His gaze went to her left hand, and he was surprised, their wedding ring was still there.

"This ring? " he asked.

"I don't know, it just ... I had an accident few months back, I forgot some stuff, but somehow I don't feel like removing this ring" she said, not understanding why she was discussing all this with a stranger.

Steve got tears in his eyes, and he pulled her into a hug.

'Hey hey.. Leave me.. Ugh! Who are you.. Leave me" she protested.

He got back, "I am sorry" he said, and cupped her face, "you.. I.... I am Captain Steve Rogers... And this is you " he showed her the picture he had. Natasha was confused to see the picture. It was her, only with different hair.

"Me? Yes.. But..  I never dyed my hair red" she said, confused.

"No, no you don't understand " he said, "this is your natural hair color, you are a red head, not blonde... Someone has played a very dirty game with us" he looked down.

"What do you mean? " she asked, "what game? Look I am a simple girl, I had an accident and lost some memory, but I know who I am, I am Yelena Belova, I grew up here. I was always here, and I never dyed my hair"

"No, you are not Yelena. Someone has altered your memory, you were here on a mission." He tried to explain, "you... You are Natasha.. Natasha Romanoff Rogers.. My wife.. And the mother of my five kids"

Natasha was shocked, her eyes opened wide, her jaw dropped.

"Look at this! " he opened a family picture of theirs and showed it to her, and she stared at it in disbelief.

*****
Will Natasha believe him? Will she go with him? I am sorry if its rushed but I want them to go home and start the story properly. Natasha please go back. Your kids need you. Do give your reviews.