Welcome Home

Chapter 1

*4 YEARS LATER*

NATASHAS POV

The other Avengers and I have been searching for any sign of trouble or any remains of Thanos' attack since the day we came home, 5 years ago. Tony retired after he came home and everyone else pretty much went to where their home was due to the overwhelming need of help...everywhere. We used holographic channels to contact everyone whenever they or we needed. The slightest movement, ANY sign of trouble, it was reported back to me. I was now chatting with Nebula, Rocket, Okoye, Carol and Rhodes.

"Yeah, we boarded that highly suspect warship Danvers pinged-" Rocket started.

"It was an infectious garbage scow." Nebula said.

"So thanks for the hot tip."

"Well, you were closer." Carol stated.

"Yeah, and now we smell like garbage!" Rocket complained, which I ignored.

"You get a reading on those tremors?" I asked Okoye.

"Twas a mild subduction under the African plate." She told me.

"Do we have a visual? How are we handling it?" I asked.

"Nat, it was an earthquake under the ocean. We handle it, by not handling it." She said, maybe I was being a little paranoid.

"Carol, are we seeing you here next month?" I asked her.

"Not likely." She stated.

"What? Are you getting another haircut?" Rocket teased.

"Listen fur face. I'm covering a lot of territory. The things that are happening on Earth are happening everywhere. On thousands of planets." She said.

"All right, all right...that's a good point." Rocket replied.

"So you may not see me for a long time." She told me.

"Alright, uh, well...This channel's always active. So, if anything goes sideways...anyones making trouble where they shouldn't..comes through me." I told them, to which they all agreed.

"Okoye-..before you go.." I said, making her stay but everyone else leave.

"Yes?"

"How's Y/N she hasn't... she hasn't been in touch in a while." I asked.

"Um...I bet she is fine." She smiled.

"You bet? Is she not with you?" I asked, concerned.

"Miss Y/N asked me not to share her whereabouts."

"...With me?"

"With anyone." She stated. Rhodes, who was still there, looked just as confused as me.

"She is still in Wakanda though, right?" I asked her. She took a deep breath and looked between Rhodes and I.

"Right?" I asked again.

"I must go." She said before leaving the channel. I tried to get her back but it didn't work.

"Y/N's gone? Just like that?" Rhodes asked me.

"I know just as much as you." I told him.

"You don't think she..." Rhodes began.

"Don't even put that in my head, Rhodey. She wouldn't." I said.

"You saw how she was when Bucky and JJ got dusted...it wouldn't surprise me if it took a toll on her and she couldn't go on-"

"Where are you?" I asked, making him change the subject.

"Mexico." He sighed.

"The federales found a room with a bunch of bodies...a bunch of cartel guys, never had a chance to get their guns off.." he continued.

"Uh it's..probably just a rival gang.." I said, propping my feet up.

" 'Cept it isn't...It's definitely Barton. What he's done here...What he's been doing for the last few years...I mean the scene that he left..I gotta tell ya there's a part of me that doesn't even wanna find him." He said. I was trying my hardest to process and hold back my tears. I know what he's been doing and I haven't even tried to stop him.

"Well, you find out where he's going next." I said, plainly, taking a bite of my peanut butter sandwich.

"Nat.." He warned.

"Please." I asked, as the tears brimmed my eyes. He reluctantly agreed and then left the channel, leaving me alone. I let the tears and my head fall into my hands.

"Ya know I'd offer to cook you dinner...but you seem pretty miserable already." I heard a familiar voice say. It was Steve.

"You here to do your laundry?" I joked.

"And to see a friend." He stated. I leaned back in my seat and sighed.

"Clearly your friend is fine." I said, smiling at him.

"You know I saw a pod of whales when I was coming over the bridge-"

"In the Hudson?" I entertained.

"Fewer ships, clearer water." He told me.

"Ya know if you're about to tell me to look on the bright side....uhm.. I'm about to hit you in the head with a peanut butter sandwich." I said, with my tears obviously streaming.

"Sorry...force of habit." He said, coming over to the table and sitting with me. I offered him my sandwich as he sat down.

"Ya know I keep telling everyone they should move on and ....grow. Some do....but not us." He told me.

"If I move on who does this?" I asked him.

"Maybe it doesn't need to be done." He said.

"I used to have nothing....and then I got this...this job...this family...and I was...I was better because of it.....and even though they're gone...I'm still trying to be better." I said, smiling through my tears.

"I think we both need to get a life." Steve said.

"You first." I teased. 

"Any word from Y/N yet?" He asked me.

"No...and I don't think she's in Wakanda anymore." I told him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"She told Okoye not to tell anyone where she was...I don't think she wants anything to do with us anymore, Steve."