Season 4 Episode 29

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"What you seek is right in front of you," the stranger announced gravely. "So is what you fear." Natasha stepped to the edge of the tower and looked down. A bottomless abyss opened up before her. "The stone is down there," she begrimed. "For one of you," the stranger corrected her, "For the other..." Abigail knew what was about to follow and switched off from the conversation. She thought of all the past moments she would miss. Somehow it was easier to think about jumping than actually facing the abyss now. "A soul for a soul."

"Whatever it takes," Natasha repeated Steve's words. She knew what had to be done. Abigail looked down over the edge one last time before taking a few steps back. "Whatever it takes," she muttered. She knew what had to be done. Natasha stood up, walked over to her and looked her in the eye. A twitch in the younger girl's muscles made Natasha react just in time as Abigail was about to run toward the end. She didn't want to give Nat time to overpower her and eventually jump herself as she witnessed in her vision. "What are you doing?" screamed Romanoff as she caught hold of her daughter's petite body just in time. "Are you insane?" Tears gathered in Abi's eyes, and she wrapped her small arms around her mother's body. "One of us must sacrifice her life."

They disengaged again and the younger one reached for Nat's hand. "I think you know I won't let you!"

"If you die and I live, I have nothing. No one else is as important to me as you are," Abigail interrupted herself as sobs rippled through her body. "Abigail please stop," Nat breathed, tears now gathering in Black Widow's eyes as well. "It's different for you your family needs you," Abigail continued. "You need to live. For them."

"No one needs me," Natasha rebutted but opposite her shook her head just as quickly as it had taken her to give that answer. She was wrong. She had done so much for so many people over the years. And there was so much more she could do. "I do. I need you," Abi contradicted her. "Let me do this. Then you can come home and see the others."

"Home?" asked Abigail as if she hadn't come along for that very reason, to get Nat home. "Home," Natasha repeated. "How can I get home when my home is wherever you are." Natasha was not prone to sentimentality, but her words broke all walls and made her tears flow as if from streams. She was probably the only one she was close enough to allow vulnerability. "You know I love you, right?" asked Abigail unnecessarily. There were few people in her life Natasha Romanoff loved as much as her foster daughter. "I know and I love you too.... Abigail Romanoff."

The younger stared at her mother-figure with large red under-rimmed eyes. That she already looked at her like her own daughter and even gave her her last name meant the world to the redhead. She drew new strength from this. "That's why I have to do this. I'm sorry mom..." Apologetically, she looked at Natasha as she yanked her legs out from under her and pinned her to the ground. Abigail would not, no could not allow her versions to become reality. Never again did she want to fight her, but Natasha gave her no choice. "What are you doing," the one on the ground croaked in shock and fear. "I'm doing this for you, for us.... for all these people..." 

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