''Baby, wake up.'' Natasha gently nudged Katya awake, smiling at the peaceful sight. ''I think I hear some tiny feet on the stairs and I don't want you to die from a heart attack.''
''So thoughtful,'' Katya managed to whisper sleepily right before the door opened softly, Morgan peeking in carefully and abandoning all plans to be silent when she saw the people inside the small bedroom were awake.
''Wake up! You got to wake up! Daddy made pancakes for us!'' Morgan jumped up and down on the bed before falling down and nestling herself between the two Russians. They had only been at Tony's cabin for two days, but Morgan acted like they had been there their whole lives. Tony had probably told her stories.
Natasha brushed the long hair out of Morgan's joyful face, eyeing the brunette next to her who had closed her eyes again. ''I think Kat is still asleep,'' she smugly whispered to Morgan. ''Should we wake her up?''
Katya's eyes shot open, knowing what would come next. ''No. No, don't. I'm awake. I'm awake!'' Morgan had launched herself on top of Katya carelessly, crushing her. Katya playfully groaned from the knee she got in her stomach, but could only laugh at Morgan's wide smile. She was simply adorable.
Morgan giggled and jumped off, taking Katya's wrist and tugging on it. ''Come on or they are going to get cold!''
Katya didn't budge, simply smiling while Morgan hung on her wrist with all her body weight. Katya raised an eyebrow. ''Am I allowed to brush my teeth and put on some clothes first?''
Morgan let go and narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as if she had to think about it. The theatrics, she got that from her dad. ''Okay, but you have to hurry. Daddy says you need to help with the party.''
''We will be right down,'' Katya urged her, waiting patiently for Morgan to nod and pull the door closed, returning the silence to the room.
Natasha chuckled when Katya fell back into her pillows, pulling the covers over her face. ''Good morning, I guess.'' With her head propped up on her hand, she watched the sprayed out brown hair on the pillow next to her, the only part of Katya besides her fingers that was visible.
''She's a lot,'' Katya replied with a muffled voice, wishing she could go back to sleep. It got kind of late yesterday.
''She's young, unlike you and me,'' Natasha corrected with a smile. ''But she is right, we should get out of bed, it's almost ten.'' She lifted the covers and swung her legs off the side, glancing at Katya over her shoulder. ''I'm gonna take a shower.''
Katya threw the covers from her face and openly stared at Natasha's bare legs; the big t-shirt Tony had given her as a pajama barely covering her butt. Of course, she sensed this and turned around in the bathroom doorway. ''Are you coming?'' she smirked, laughing when Katya scrambled out of bed quickly and rushed after her.
~~~~
''Look who finally decided to get out of bed,'' Tony smirked, flipping a pancake in the pan. ''You're lucky, breakfast is still hot.''
The wounds on his body had started to heal, the cuts on his face most prominent. He had been in the center of the fight a lot, taking on Thanos and getting hit by the Stones' power at first. His energy had slowly returned, rest had done him good.
Natasha snatched a plate from the counter, sitting down at the dinner table, Morgan nowhere to be seen. ''Thank you, Tony. Not only for the food but also for letting us stay here until we find something else.''
He tried to wave it off, handing Katya her own food. ''Could hardly let you sleep on the streets now, could I? Or with Cap,'' he joked. ''Is Wanda still okay there?''
Katya nodded, placing her food on the table and making herself some coffee. ''We spoke again yesterday evening. Steve's watching her closely. Her magic can be unstable when her emotions are powerful.''
Despite the handle Wanda got on her powers, nobody had forgotten Sokovia. Katya barely knew anything about powers, but from all she had seen and heard in her lifetime, they could get unstable when mixed with emotions.
Tony only had one spare bedroom, so Katya had reluctantly let Wanda go with Steve, to his apartment in the city. Maybe it was better this way. Wanda around Morgan might not be the best idea right now. Not while she was mourning and needed some space. Besides, all of it was temporary.
Natasha and Katya were trying hard to find an apartment in the city to get out of Tony and Pepper's hair. It proved incredibly hard, because at first, half the apartments were empty, but since everyone came back, all those apartments were sorely needed. Maybe they should take a page out of Tony's book and build themselves a cabin outside the city. Katya didn't mind the drive into the city.
''So when is everyone arriving tonight?'' Natasha asked, smiling at Katya when she placed the coffee in front of her. Katya took a seat across from her, starting on her own breakfast while her hair dried.
Tony professionally flipped another pancake. ''I said seven, but we'll see.'' Everyone was dying to see each other again, so some would probably be early. ''Food's coming at six, DJ at five-''
''Wait, wait, you hired a DJ?'' Katya asked shocked. He said it would be a small party. ''Where did you find one this fast?''
''You know me, connections everywhere,'' Tony smirked mysteriously, very proud of his work. ''Anyway, DJ at five, decorations will be here by noon, so we have enough time to decorate everything.''
Katya laughed, the birds outside joining her with their chirping. ''You really went all out, didn't you?''
Tony hummed, sliding the last pancake onto a plate and turning the gas off. ''Let's see how good you are with fairy lights, Petrova.''
''Fairy- what?'' She asked confused, turning in her chair when he made way to the door, but he had disappeared outside.
''He really turned into a dad,'' Natasha chuckled. She kept talking about something, but Katya zoned out, stabbing her pancake absentmindedly. It didn't take long for Natasha to catch on. She wove her hand in front of Katya's face to snap her out of it. ''Earth to Kat. Penny for your thoughts?''
Katya sighed, dropping her fork and leaning back in her chair. She knew she could talk to Natasha about it, but she didn't want to ruin the happy mood like this. ''I'm just sad, I guess. This feels like the end of something, of the Avengers.''
Natasha's smile fell and she nodded softly. She felt it too, they were living on borrowed time. ''It is. But the family we gained, that doesn't go away.'' Because this family had stuck by them for years, through it all. All the adventures they had, it bound them together for life.
''Certainly feels like that.'' Katya wasn't good with endings. She liked steadiness and security and things staying the way they are.
Natasha's eyes scanned the woman on the other side of the table. She didn't like this either, but it could also be a fresh start for them. They had been stuck the past five years with no way out. She wanted to see what they could be without obligations. ''Maybe a change will do us some good. Maybe we finally need to move on.''
Katya studied her wife's face to see if she meant it. Because not even a week ago, she said she couldn't move on. But now, maybe they could, the problem fixed. ''I just don't know what I want. I've never thought about life after the Avengers. Do we just retire and sit on the porch like old people?''
Natasha had to smother a laugh at Katya's disgusted face. She didn't like the idea of retiring. ''We don't have to figure it out right now. Let's just find a place first and go from there. If life gets boring, we just pick up some work again,'' she proposed. ''Maybe SWORD could use our help.''
Katya scrunched up her nose, tapping her fingers on the wooden tabletop. ''The government?''
Natasha shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. ''Or independent agents. They can hire us if they need us. I heard Sam talk about that, at least.''
''I might need some more convincing for that,'' Katya chuckled. And with that, the conversation was over. Natasha was right, they didn't have to figure this out right now. Go step by step, day by day. And today, she didn't want to think about this.
After a small dinner at six, Katya balanced on a ladder with a string of lights in her hand, Morgan directing her strictly. ''A little bit to the right. No, the right!''
Katya raised an eyebrow, staring down at the little girl by her feet. ''This is right.''
''My right, not your right!'' Morgan clarified as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
''Can't believe I'm arguing with a five-year-old,'' Katya growled under her breath, moving her hands more to the left until Morgan started smiling and nodding. Carefully, she wrapped the fairy lights around the tree and stepped down, admiring her handywork.
The garden started to come together. Tony hadn't gone too big, but he had enough alcohol and food in the coolers inside. Fairy lights hung overhead, crisscrossing through the garden. The DJ had set up her small station. It wouldn't be a banging party, just soft and easy, but good music could make or break it.
Natasha busied herself with the small lanterns that would be placed around the premises, placing the candles inside and choosing the right spots. She looked adorable, carefully choosing the nicest places with the most concentrated expression on her face. As if she assembled her weapons and wasn't placing party decorations down.
She looked absolutely stunning too, in her green button-down summer dress with short puffy sleeves that ended at her knees. They matched her eyes perfectly. Tony had lent both of them his credit card to buy new clothes and stuff, since everything they owned got blown up with the Compound.
Katya wasn't going to lie, some of the pieces she had were special, collected from special places, other continents or gotten from special people. But in the end, they were just fabrics.
She herself wore some wide beige pants, the warm weather continuing the whole night. And Morgan, well she looked absolutely adorable in her purple dress, running around happily. Yeah, she would be tired in an hour or two.
''What more tasks do you have for me, Miss Stark?''
Morgan had a list in her hand with all the tasks, crossing off the ones complete. She stared at it intently, running her pencil over it to see what had yet to be done.
''Are they listening?'' Tony walked up to the two of them, his usual jeans and t-shirt on. ''Cause if they aren't, you have my permission to put them in line. Aka kicking their butts.''
''They are listening,'' Morgan giggled, swatting Tony's hands away from her messy hair. He tried to fix it but she didn't care.
Tony playfully narrowed his eyes. ''Yeah? Okay then what is her next assignment,'' he smiled, really enjoying all the torment Morgan put Katya through with her terror behavior.
Morgan hummed softly, her dark eyes flying over the paper in her hand. ''Nothing.''
''Nothing? That doesn't sound right. Let me see.'' Tony took the paper from her, ignoring her protests. Morgan tried to get it back by jumping up, Tony only holding it higher each time, out of her reach. ''Yep, you completed the list, congratulations. Drink?''
Katya hesitated. It had been a while. She glanced over her shoulder to Natasha who sat crouched by a lantern next to the lake. ''I don't drink anymore.''
Tony saw her hesitate, understanding the problem without her having to explain. He didn't make a big deal out of it, which she appreciated. ''Right, got it. One alcohol-free beer for you.''
Morgan skipped after him. That girl had energy for ten.
Finally able to enjoy a break, Katya wandered to the lake, stopping behind Natasha. ''If I push you in, do I have to sleep on the couch tonight?'' she joked, squinting her eyes against the reflection of the sunlight in the water.
''I won't talk to you for a week,'' Natasha said dead serious, standing and turning around after shutting the lantern door. Katya's frown didn't sit right with her. Despite the peace around here, she had been tense constantly. ''You can relax, Kat, he's not coming back.''
Katya sighed, sliding her hands into the pockets of her pants. The grass tickled her feet through her open shoes. ''I know, but I feel so on edge, like something is bound to happen any second.''
The corner of Natasha's mouth pulled up, her eyes shining. ''The only thing that can happen is Morgan going all Fury on our asses again.''
Katya chuckled. ''Tell me about it. I am convinced she gave you the easy tasks just to bully me.''
''Well, she is a Stark,'' Natasha laughed. Happiness looked good on her, real happiness. Katya missed that sparkle and the wide smile.
Despite Katya's tension, Natasha had truly relaxed here, away from the world. When they had to get back, a lot of press waited for them, people who needed to talk, governments, agencies, all that. But here, they were alone, like in the Compound but now with inner peace. They could finally rest.
The sound of an engine swelled, cutting their conversation short. Not surprisingly, Steve and Wanda stepped out of the car. The Captain was always first to everything, even bringing some flowers for what Katya assumed would be Pepper.
Before Katya or Natasha could say anything, Tony ran down the porch stairs. ''Ah, friends, welcome! DJ, turn the music up!'' he yelled over his shoulder. ''We're having a party not a funeral!''
The woman behind the table smiled and did as he asked, a soft song blasting from the speakers placed around the garden.
''Wanda,'' Katya smiled, rushing to the witch and hugging her tightly. Without hearing her talk, she knew she wasn't good. Her body tense, head somewhere else completely and expression pained. Losing Vision had been too much of a blow and Wanda refused any help they tried giving her.
Wanda smiled a weak smile which was far from convincing. Katya wished she could do more to help her, take some of her pain, but she had to get through this herself. Grief can be a lonely process. But Wanda was strong.
Steve looked nicely healed, but he cringed a little bit when Natasha hugged him. His muscles were still sore, like everyone's. He looked happy enough though, he got his best friend back after all. Bucky promised he'd be here, but between the Snap and his already existing PTSD, Katya didn't know if he would show his face. But who blamed him?
One after the other pulled up at the property, the garden filling with happy and relaxed people. All the people who fought in Wakanda and at the Compound were there. Even T'Challa showed up with Okoye and his sister. Laughs all around, jokes and alcohol all around. Katya felt herself relax as the hours passed, clutching her alcohol-free beer in her hands. This must be what peace felt like.
The guests shook Morgan's hand, the girl taking all of it really well. She wasn't shy in any way, happily running around and playing with people who were willing. Pepper made her go to bed around eleven, when she couldn't stand on her legs anymore.
''But wait, you knew from the time we tried to lift the hammer during that party, you were worthy? And you kept it a secret all those years?'' Sam exclaimed. He could hardly believe Steve managed to keep it a secret for so long.
A small group had gathered around a campfire Tony had lit, sipping their drinks on the flimsy garden chairs. The moon stood high in the sky, people having lost track of time hours ago. Probably wouldn't be long until the sun came up again. But nobody thought about leaving yet, because they knew this would be the end, at least for a while.
The Avengers would split, looking for their own places in the world. And every single guest felt that sadness wash over them in waves.
''How didn't you accidentally call it to you though?'' Natasha asked, looking to Steve on the other side of the fire. She had her foot on a log and rocked back and forth nonchalantly. The shadows from the flames danced over her face and the half smirk she always wore.
Steve raised his hands, smiling smugly. ''Don't ask me. I guess it doesn't like me like it likes Thor.'' He had volunteered to go back to the past and place the Stones back tomorrow. He offered to go a bit too quickly if you asked Katya. She couldn't help but feel like he had more plans than that.
Katya nudged Natasha softly. ''Nat, you didn't try it back then. Are you sure you don't want to do it right now? You might be in for a surprise,'' she challenged, smiling widely. Some people chuckled at the memory most of them were at least tipsy by now.
''No thanks. I'm not going to embarrass myself in front of you all.'' She eyed a laughing Sam. ''Maybe Sam would like to try though.''
He narrowed his eyes at her, not happy with the attention put on him. ''I don't need to lift that thing to know I'm worthy, I know I am.'' He shrugged and brought his beer to his lips.
The group laughed, Rhodey scoffing loudly and slapping him on his shoulder so hard Sam almost choked on his drink. ''Sure, Wilson, keep dreaming.''
The conversation continued lightly and full of jokes. Katya had zoned out again, vaguely listening to the people speaking. But most of all, she got distracted by her own nostalgia.
To her left, a quiet Wanda sat, fiddling with her hands impatiently. How she had grown in the time Katya knew her, and how much their relationship had grown. The first time Katya saw her, she wanted to put a bullet in her head. But after the death of her brother, that changed. Because Wanda needed a friend, family. And no way Katya would have left her alone there and then.
No, Wanda grew out to be more of a sister than a friend and she was more than happy to have her back. No matter what would happen next.
Next to her, Scott with Hope. Katya hadn't met Hope before today, but she seemed cool. Scott though, she had huge respect for. Not only because he essentially saved the world with his time travel Quantum stuff, but also because he followed Steve's ass in Leipzig with the whole airport fight without blinking. Katya had huge respect for people who did the right thing, even if it comes back to bite them in the ass, like with Scott.
Banner sat next to them. Not on a flimsy garden chair, because that would break, but on a log, which could apparently handle his weight. Katya considered him to be one of the OG Avengers, the ones from the battle in New York. His journey from awkward scientist to Hulk hybrid was impressive, but she'd always see him as the kind man with his heart in the right place. With him, others always came first. His kindness and gentleness never faltered.
On his left side, Rhodey. Rhodey and Katya hadn't always seen eye to eye, but he had always been a true friend. Katya couldn't actually recall when she had ''officially'' met him for the first time. He was just there one time, wandering around Stark Tower. But when Katya marched into the Compound with Steve's small group after being on the run for two years, he'd been the only one to welcome them there with open arms.
On the chair next to him, Tony lazily drank his alcohol, a relaxed smile on his lips. Now Tony, Katya could consider one of the best friends she'd ever had. It would be going too far to call him a father-figure, he was more of a brother, someone she'd always understood on a deeper level. She couldn't be more thrilled he had found happiness and the life he always wanted, out of the spotlights, with his beautiful daughter.
Peter sat next to Tony, way too young to be here this late, but he enjoyed himself too much to leave. Because his childhood heroes sat around him. The young boy who had been dragged everywhere already, saving the world in his red suit. Katya hoped the world would go easy on him; he deserved a childhood.
Steve separated him from Sam and Bucky, who had thrown jabs at each other the whole night. Katya sensed some sort of rivalry, superficial hate they would probably get over quickly. But Steve, he had clashed with Katya sometimes, his ideals much different than hers. But with the Sokovia Accords, they'd been on the same side until they kind of lost touch after the Snap. But Katya always considered him a real friend.
The same was the case with Sam. They'd met him during the fall of SHIELD, when he'd given them a place to lay low. Like Scott, he dived into the adventure without a second thought, following the team to the ends of the Earth. Loyal, that was the right way to describe him. Together with his big heart and dry humor, Katya felt drawn to him immediately. Like Wanda, he felt more like a brother than a friend, a teammate. And since he would stay in the business, she would probably see him most.
Bucky didn't look too glad to be here, but he hadn't left either. With his gloved hands, he brought his bottle to his lips every now and then. He hadn't talked much, listening quietly to what the group had to say. Katya couldn't help but feel that he separated himself from the group, like he didn't deserve it. She felt sorry for him, not that he wanted to hear that, but she did. He deserved so much more than the shitty life he had until now and really hoped he'd get it.
Clint didn't pay attention to him either way. Like Sam, he joked around a lot tonight. His eyes were a bit fuzzy, too much to drink. Speaking about brothers; Clint didn't bear the same last name as Katya, but he might as well have. From the beginning, he saw more in her than she did herself, always hyping her up and pushing her to be the best version of herself. He trusted her before she trusted herself. And his children were Katya's family too, her nieces and nephews.
Thor had fallen asleep again and snored softly next to Clint on the tiny chair. Out of all the OG Avengers, Katya had the least of a connection with him. Mostly because he wasn't human, was absent a lot and they didn't have much to bond over. Still, he was always nice, always fought with them and had weaseled his way into the Avengers, since he kinda crashed the party. He was very lovable though.
Next to Natasha sat Carol, who had pulled one leg under her body and smiled widely at the stories of the people around her. Carol who, like almost everyone here, had an awful thing happening in her past that shaped her. But she found her way home and her way into the Avengers. They all loved her, especially after she beat Sam in an arm-wrestling match without breaking a sweat. Like everyone here, she had such a big heart.
And finally, Natasha. Natasha who had literally saved Katya's life. Exactly sixteen years ago, they re-met, looking into each other's trusted eyes in a small SHIELD cell. How much has changed over the years. SHIELD didn't exist anymore, Katya wasn't a monster anymore, and Natasha, Natasha was no longer a stranger but her wife. The one person who has been with her though it all.
Despite their arguments now and then, all the mental struggles they had gone through, and the insecurity of this life, they'd always been together, always. Simply because they were stronger together than apart. Not two parts of a whole, but two complimenting parts, two parts that fit together perfectly, like the Universe had made them for each other.
Natasha who challenged Katya to be better, Katya who challenged Natasha to open up, to trust her. Their journey had been long, but would never end. If something like the afterlife existed, they'd be together there too. Or in the next life, when they were both different people, they'd find each other again, their souls linked forever.
Katya hadn't realized she'd been staring until Natasha snapped her out of her daydreaming.
''You okay?'' Her eyes were slightly concerned but mostly amused. The conversation went on without them, Natasha whispering the words softly.
Katya blinked a couple times to focus on her face. ''Hmm? Oh, yeah.''
Natasha smiled knowingly, reaching over to take one of Katya's hands and playing with her fingers mindlessly. ''Kinda lost you there for a second.''
''No, I'm good.'' Katya smiled, scooting her chair a bit closer to Natasha's and laying her head on her shoulder. Staring into the fire, she sighed contently. ''I'm perfect.''
~~~~~~~~
A/N: I am so emotional right now, because this is the last ''official chapter''. There will be an epilogue which I think is definitely worth reading ;) (will be up tomorrow!) After that we have the alternative endings and that'll be it for this book :(
This ride has been crazy, I can't believe it's been a year on May 8th that I started this. I can't believe how invested you all are, and how many of you are interested in what I have to say. I can't possibly thank every single one of you, but I wish I could. All the love on these last couple chapters have been overwhelming and I love all of you.
I will be doing the BW movie when it comes out as a separate book, and I will also do TFATWS as a separate book, which will be out somewhere next month I guess? Also the prequel is still on my list, but that's on hold for now, since I really want to do one thing at a time haha.
Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart <3