A/N: Wow thanks for the love for this story! That took me by complete surprise as this is my first Avengers fic and most likely last! I feel really bad that I am giving you guys this crappy chapter but it needed to be written because 75% will be brought up again later on and its part of the plotline for some crazy chizz. The juicy starts in Chapter 3 so I hope you hang out until then.
Happy Readings!
II. Ria
Time was no concept to her it was not like Vormir had day and night. She stumbled across some stones and collapsed to her knees by a cave. After Red Skull announced she had nine months to live she ran, she ran and didn't look back. However, she felt it was a cruel game, she had no food, no water and she was terrified to fall asleep.
Thrust back onto her feet Natasha scrambled through the cave to see a distant light across from her and she walked towards it. Her breathing had begun to shallow with each step and she could feel exhaustion as it crept into her. She stopped by the opening of the cave and looked out. It was still Vormir, fewer clouds but still she was trapped. She reached for the vial on her hip to see the shattered glass that once held the Pym particles. Her one chance of return shattered along with her hope. Furious she flung the glass across the void and heard it shatter completely.
Defeated she sobbed on the edge of the opening and thought of everything she was going to lose. Motherhood was never an option for her. Red Room took care of that years ago but here she was carrying a child, and not any child, hers and Steve's. It was unfair that Red Skull pulled her out of her realm, she couldn't fathom why he had to torture her like this. She knew the game he was playing that if she just died naturally so would her child, and she could return back to her realm. Her sobs stopped as she pushed herself off the wall and continued her pace.
If she was going to die she would at least attempt to escape this planet. She looked out the cave's opening and looked out into the voids. Sand and rocks that was her going to be her dying view. She continued her walk, when she spotted something in the distance, small but dark. She picked up her pace and the dark object grew within her vision. Close enough she noticed it was a ship, but not the one Clint and she rode in. She wasn't alone, she knew it could not have been Red Skull so she had to be on guard. She crept around the ship trying to find an opening when she spotted a small hatch with buttons. She went to touch one when she felt a cold object touch the back of her neck.
"Turn," The voice commanded and Natasha did slowly, but carefully.
Natasha looked at the tall woman in front of her with black and magenta hair. Her skin was green and she held a sword to Natasha's throat. It was Gamora, although Natasha was not aware of who she was or her relationships to some of the others in her life. Natasha watched the sword aimed at her and tried to decipher which move she could use to disarm the woman.
"Who are you?"
Natasha did not answer but instead kicked Gamora in the stomach and knocking the sword to the side of the ground. Gamora bewildered by the action went for the sword and Natasha kicked it away from Gamora. Gamora jabbed out her right fist to collide with Natasha's face. Shook by the action Natasha went to kick once more. Natasha kicked Gamora but her foot was caught by her. Gamora spun Natasha into the ground and then placed her knee onto Natasha's neck. Natasha weakened from her time on Vormir couldn't push off the assassin.
"Who are you? I won't ask you again!" Gamora growled.
As Natasha struggled to breathe she grasped a hand full of maroon sand and tossed it into Gamora's eyes. Gamora screamed as she was blinded by the sand. Natasha scrambled to her feet and pushed through her weakness as she ran through the dip of the rocks. Gamora growled as she cleared her vision and began to chase after Natasha. Gamora pulled out Nebula's electric blaster and shot at the redhead who ducked. Terrified of something happen to her or worse her child made Natasha honed in her last bit of energy. She climbed to the top of a rock and hid until Gamora appeared.
With the last bit of strength, Natasha dropped kicked Gamora. One swift kick and Natasha placed Gamora into a sambo leg lock and applied the same pressure that Gamora did. Gamora wiggled as she tried to grab Nebula's electric blaster from the side and Natasha did a hammer fist to Gamora's face. As Gamora groaned but not pass out Natasha knew this was only going to get worse. Natasha applied another hammer fist and Gamora screamed as she threw Natasha off of her. As she flew into the ground Natasha groaned and Gamora snatched Nebula's blaster. Gamora stood to her feet and pointed it at Natasha.
"No!" Gamora turned to the harsh voice and saw Nebula with wide eyes.
As long as Gamora knew Nebula she had never seen this look in her eyes. It was emotional, it had a history, it had … fear?
"No stop Gamora! Stop!" Nebula yelled and ran past Gamora to Natasha.
"Natasha? What are you doing here? Clint … he said you … died?" Nebula asked as she helped Natasha to her feet.
"Nebula?" Natasha groaned and blinked a few times. She wobbled on her feet and could feel the blood dripping from her lips.
"Natasha?" Nebula questioned as Natasha tried covering her face.
"Who's Greenie?" Natasha asked as she nodded her head towards Gamora.
"My sister, Gamora" Nebula said as Natasha sighed.
"But I thought she … you know?" Natasha said.
"She's from the past it's very complicated but I guess you have your own story," Nebula said and grabbed Natasha's elbow and directed her towards her ship.
Gamora picked up Nebula's blaster from the ground and aimed it, Natasha.
"Gamora … don't," Nebula spat and helped Natasha onto the ship.
Nebula opened the ship and guided Natasha inside. Gamora followed close behind with the blaster tightly in her hand. She leaned against the doorway as Nebula grabbed some cloth from a duffle bag.
"So Nebula you want to explain what the hell is going on?" Gamora asked as she had never seen her sister behave this way.
Gamora watched Nebula care for the redhead and pushed aside her anger for a moment. She was intrigued to see Nebula behave with compassion. Nebula sat Natasha in a seat and opened a packet of food. Natasha looked at Gamora before back to Nebula who did not say a word.
"Nebula!" Gamora snapped.
"She's an avenger, one of the heroes I told you about, from Earth, she sacrificed herself for the soul stone to stop father," Nebula replied monotonously and stared at Natasha.
"An Avenger? Like those people from Earth?" Gamora asked.
"Yes," Nebula responded and handed Natasha the food.
Natasha poured the packet into her mouth and grimaced. However beggars could not be choosers, she had to take what she could get. Natasha finished the food and looked at Gamora who was staring at her.
"You fight well," Natasha grumbled.
"You do too," Gamora said with a smirk.
"Do you need us to take you to Earth Natasha?" Nebula asked as Gamora made a face.
"Nebula may I have a word?" Gamora asked.
"Gamora … a lot has changed but … Natasha was the one who kept us together the last five years … wherever she needs to go … we will go," Nebula announced.
Gamora opened her mouth and then shut it once more.
"I'm getting Godslayer," Gamora snapped and walked off the ship in a huff.
"Did I do something or is she always a Ms. Grinch?" Natasha asked and wiped the blood from her lips.
"I don't … I don't understand the question," Nebula said and Natasha held back a laugh.
"It's an Earth reference, I am sorry but um to answer your question, no I do not need to go to Earth," Natasha said and looked at her lap.
She was not going to explain her situation to anyone, the fewer people knew the better for and her child. Furthermore, she couldn't see Steve and walk away from him. It was all too complicated and staying dead in their minds was the best way to suffice.
"Natasha, you would never survive out here on your own," Nebula said as Natasha snorted.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Natasha reply dripped with sarcasm.
"I do not understand once again but I do understand that you're human and Space isn't a place for you to go gallivanting because … why don't you want to come back?" Nebula pushed.
"No reason," Natasha said and stared at her lap.
"Natasha the Avengers need you … Tony … he didn't make it," Nebula said.
"I know," Natasha whispered.
"The Avengers need a leader," Nebula pushed.
"They have Rogers," Natasha snapped.
"Natasha why don't you want to go back! You escaped an infinity stone, you should go back to Earth," Nebula continued.
"I just can't ok, look I have a few things I need to figure out," Natasha snapped.
"Like what!" Nebula yelled.
"Stuff, Nebula, okay!" Natasha said and stood to her feet.
"Get off the ship!" Nebula said and pointed to the opening.
"What?" Natasha asked.
"You're not Natasha, Natasha took care of us for five years, she kept us in order, you're not her, and you're a coward!" Nebula spat.
"I am not a coward!" Natasha said and Nebula jumped up to her own feet.
"So then why!" Nebula yelled.
"Because I'm pregnant!" Natasha cried.
Saying the words aloud sounded foreign to her ears. She never thought she would say those three words, let alone to someone like Nebula.
"What?" Nebula said but the two heard an echo.
They turned to see Gamora standing in the doorway placing Godslayer back into her hilt.
"I'm pregnant," Natasha repeated as the words foreign on her tongue.
"That's impossible, you're dead," Gamora commented.
"Well things are weird I guess on the soul plane because I'm pregnant," Natasha snapped.
"Who?" Nebula asked and Natasha's eyes widen.
"I don't know," Natasha lied.
"You're lying," Gamora teased as Natasha blinked back the tears.
"Steve?" Nebula asked and Natasha's face contorted in confusion.
"It's obvious Natasha, the way you two are with one another, it can be a room of us but you two address one another. He looks for you to be his approval and you pull on his morality to replace your own" Nebula said.
"No it is not," Natasha snapped.
"My sister may be many things, but the one thing she is good at reading people," Gamora said and walked further into the ship.
"Yes," Natasha confessed.
Before Nebula could ask another question, Natasha began her tale of what had happened on Vormir. The two sisters listened with glances one in a while to question the validity of her story.
"So he just kicked you off?" Gamora asked.
"Yeah with a nine-month sentence," Natasha grumbled.
"That makes more sense," Gamora said and nodded her head as she put the pieces together.
"So earth?" Nebula questioned and began to close the doorway.
"No!" Natasha said.
"Natasha!" Nebula scolded.
"Neb … let her stay with us, she doesn't want to go, and I could really go without you to scolding one another, it's annoying, plus she can fight," Gamora said and walked over to the pilot seat.
"Gamora you do not understand, she will never survive here," Nebula said.
"She almost kicked my ass out there, I am pretty sure she can survive," Gamora said with a slight smirk.
Natasha held back her own smirk as Nebula nodded in agreement. She would give Natasha time to come to her senses but right now she would follow Gamora's advice.
"So where are we going?" Natasha asked from her seat.
"Ria," Gamora answered and started to pilot the ship.
Natasha stared at the ceiling of the ship as she lay on her back. She couldn't believe she of all people were in this predicament but her she was. She could see the two sisters glance at her, with concern? Natasha couldn't tell not with those two but she knew it wasn't just her making the situation tense.
"Whats on Ria?" Natasha asked as she sat up.
"A weapon," Gamora answered.
"Okay for what?" Natasha pushed.
"Are you always this chatty?" Gamora questioned.
"No actually I'm not, it's just … I am not myself right now, this is all new and now I am flying on a ship with the weird sisters," Natasha said and laughed.
Nebula and Gamora shared a look before turning back to the view. Gamora flicked a switch and the ship began to descend. Natasha gripped the bench and let out a slow breath. She shuddered as the ship landed and Gamora opened the hatch. She stood to her feet and gave Natasha a pointed look before stalking off the ship.
"So does she like me or … no?" Natasha asked Nebula who picked up her batons.
"Stay on the ship Natasha," Nebula said as Natasha sighed.
Nebula stalked off the ship after her sister and Natasha rolled her eyes. She was Natasha Romanoff and now she was reduced to someone being bossed around. It irked her soul and Natasha stood to her feet. As she leaned in the doorway she could hear footsteps coming towards the ship.
"That was quick?" Natasha said.
Instead, she was met with a masked man and Natasha stepped back into the ship looking for a weapon when a blast hit her feet.
The masked man snapped his mask and she was faced with Peter Quill.
"Where is Gamora?" He questioned and Natasha grabbed a baton.
She activated it and swung at Quill who jumped back from the hatch. He aimed his blaster at her again as Natasha swung the baton at him shocking his hand. She kicked the blaster away from him before kicking him in the face. He flew back onto the ground and Natasha went for the blaster. Quill disoriented grabbed her ankle as Natasha fell to the ground. She yelped in pain as her head collided with the ground. Quill crawled towards the blaster when he felt cold metal touch his neck.
"Get. Away. From. Her." Gamora growled as Quill turned to her.
"Gamora it's - me," Peter gulped as she pressed the blade onto his windpipe.
"Get up," Gamora said to Quill as Natasha struggled to her feet as well.
"Gamora … it's me Quill, and you need to-" Quill stopped as she pushed the blade into him.
"I don't need anything," Gamora growled and nodded to Natasha.
Natasha punched Quill knocking him out. Gamora raised an eyebrow and Natasha shrugged with a smirk. Gamora shook back the smile on her face and swung Godslayer back to its hilt. Natasha wipes her face and Gamora leaned down to check Quill's pocket.
"What are we looking for?" Natasha asked.
"A weapon," Gamora said.
Before Natasha could react she flew across the void into the ground. She groaned as Drax growled at her and Gamora. Gamora looked back at Natasha who waved her off that she would be fine. Drax ran towards Gamora and threw a punch which Gamora deflected with her arm. She released Godslayer when she heard her name.
"Gamora! Stop!" Rocket screamed as he scrambled over to the two.
Gamora stupified by Rocket's call to her and was punched by Drax.
"Drax we said subdue not knock her out!" Rocket scolded.
Rocket stooped down to Gamora when she grabbed him by his throat. She placed Godslayer against his throat which made Drax and Groot back away.
"Gamora … you need to remember us," Rocket struggled.
"Rocket?" Natasha called as he struggled to turn to her.
Natasha scrambled to her feet and ran over to the small Racoon. Natasha maneuvered for Gamora to drop Rocket. The two enveloped into a tight embrace and then pulled away.
"Kid what the hell … Clint, he said you … died, everyone, we won kid but …" Rocket struggled.
"I know Rocket, Steve told me," Natasha whispered.
"You saw Cap? What the hell are you doing here on Ria? With Gamora of all people?" Rocket who glanced over to the assassin.
Gamora had Godslayer displayed out with her arms crossed. She would give Natasha her moment with the crew but she had her own solo mission. She had met them prior but she could not believe what Nebula had said. That these people were her "family", that was a different person, not her.
"I can't go back Rocket," Natasha announced.
"Why?" Rocket asked.
Gamora annoyed with the interaction and wanting to get away from these people cracked.
"She said she can't, now I hate to mess up this cute moment but we need to go, Natasha," Gamora sneered.
"Rocket if you ever go back to Earth, check on Steve," Natasha asked.
Rocket opened his mouth to respond but couldn't. Natasha stood to her feet and walked over to Gamora who glared at the crew. Both were going to find Nebula and leave before anyone else could try to talk to either of them.
"Thor!" Rocket screamed.
Natasha ducked as lightning struck around her. Out stepped Thor with Stormbreaker clutched in his palm. His eyes focused on Rocket, Groot, and Drax before he spotted Quill on the ground.
"Quill?" Thor leaned down to the unconscious man and shook him.
"Yeah we don't care about him, look," Rocket said and pointed to behind Thor.
Quill stirred out of his stupor and sat up looking passed Thor. Thor glances over his shoulder with a quick look but did a double-take when he saw Natasha. Quick to his feet he took a few steps towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Natasha?"
"Hey big fella," Natasha said as Thor pulled her into a tight embrace.
He lifted her clear off the ground and then placed her back down. He held his hand against her face and tried to see if she was real. As he could feel that she was solid he let out a sigh of relief and he smiled brightly.
"You're alive, I knew the stones would bring you back," Thor said and chuckled.
"Gamora, Natasha … Rocket?" Nebula announces as she walked over with a black knapsack.
"Ah angry blue one," Thor greeted.
Natasha chuckled as Rocket covered his face in the annoyance of Thor's nicknames.
"Tell him, kid," Rocket said as Gamora rolled her eyes.
"Tell me what? You obviously can get on my ship," Thor said and pointed Stormbreaker at the Benatar.
"My ship," Quill exasperated and earned eye rolls from everyone around him.
"I am not going," Natasha said and began to walk backward.
She stood in between Gamora and Nebula who stared back at the Guardians and Thor. Gamora tilted her head towards Natasha, and she responded with a nod. They turned away.
"Natasha!" Thor yelled as Natasha stopped midstep.
"Natasha … maybe go for a few days, and Gamora and I promise to come back for you," Nebula whispered and earned an incredulous look from Gamora.
"Nebula you don't understand-" Natasha began.
"She doesn't want to go, why are you pushing this so hard Nebula?" Gamora snapped.
"Because she doesn't belong with us, she needs to lead the others, and she needs to ... deal with the impending issue at hand" Nebula said.
Quill had gotten to his feet and began to walk over to the whispering three. Gamora swung out Godslayer and pointed the blade at Quill. She could see the pain in his eyes but she could not help him, she was not who he wanted.
"We need to go," Gamora said and looked at the two.
"Natasha … what's going on?" Thor asked as Natasha closed her eyes.
It was beginning, the destruction she brought to others around her and she tried so hard to not be that person. She knew that, and no one could change her mind. The least she could do was allow the two assassins leave without a giant fight.
"Go," Natasha whispered to Gamora.
Gamora opened her mouth but did not question it. She gave Nebula a look, and the two stalked off as Quill began to walk after them calling out to Gamora. Natasha held her arm out as she stopped him.
"Don't" Natasha popped and walked over to Thor.
"We need to talk," She whispered and he nodded in agreement.
Natasha now in another ship started at her feet tried her best to avoid the others. Quill had complained about Gamora leaving and how they had to follow her. However, Thor won the argument with Rocket and Groot on his side that they had to go to Earth.
Natasha sat in the back of the Benatar as Thor sat across from her. The two sat in awkward silence as Natasha placed her face in her hands. She felt as it was hours has passed not weeks and sure as hell not months. She looked at Thor his hair cut short once more and he had lost some of the weight he gained.
"What an amazing what forty-eight hours?" Natasha chuckled.
"Natasha its been over two months," Thor whispered.
"Two months?" Natasha whispered,
"Time moves differently in space but especially in Vormir it could have been hours but for us it was days, Natasha are you-" Thor was cut off by Natasha.
"How is everyone?" Natasha asked and hoped to avoid an emotional talk.
She couldn't fathom that what felt like a few hours to her was weeks on Earth. They thought she had been dead for over two months and now she was just going to appear.
"I do not know I haven't been back much, barely but Rogers is running the compound after Stark-" Thor trailed off.
"I know …" Natasha said as Thor raised an eyebrow.
Steve hadn't told any of them what happened, and she wasn't sure if she should. She could shrug it off but she already had told Rocket that she saw Steve so she was going to continue that.
"Steve … returned the soul stone … we … talked," Natasha stumbled.
"Well, Rogers kept that to himself," Thor chuckled but she could hear the bitterness in his voice.
"We should be back at the compound soon, and we can celebrate the rebirth of the mighty Black Widow," Thor announced and stood to his feet.
"I don't want to see them," Natasha confessed.
Thor sighed dejectedly and sat next to Natasha with his gaze on the floor.
"Why not Natasha?" Thor asked.
She tried to think of all the lies she could tell about damaging their psyches or that her being back can disrupt the balance they have as a team. Hell, she can even say it was a chance to start a new life which wasn't a complete lie. However, she didn't expect the next words to come out of her mouth.
"I'm pregnant and its Steve's" Natasha confessed.