⧗⍟ Romanogers Scenes We All Need ⍟⧗

A Visit to the Past

Before CA: CW. I read a theory that Peggy had actually been involved in Natasha's recruitment, as Peggy did with Dottie Underwood. This doesn't have Romanogers but it will be discussed.

Natasha walked swiftly on the lively streets of New York, checking her phone. She was frantically panting. They had never texted her that Peggy wanted to see her urgently.  She reached the retirement house, checked in, and rushed to Margaret Carter's room.

'Hi Peggy,' she said apprehensively, closing the door behind her. 'What's with the rush?'

'Hello dear,' Peggy said smiling, gesturing to an empty chair. 'Please sit here.'

'OK.' She sat beside Peggy, her heart still racing. 'Sorry.'

'Are you alright?' Peggy said, sounding concerned, seeing her rosy cheeks, sweaty forehead and stiff breathing. 'Sorry for the scare, darling. I just needed to see you soon.'

'Yeah, no,' she said shaking her head, filling two glasses with water from the jug on the bedside table. 'It's fine. Sorry I stopped visiting, Peg. I just, I had too much to handle. Including your best friend's son, and your old war boyfriend.' She drank her glass, setting it down, her heart slowing down to normal.

'Ah, Steve,' Peggy said, smiling misty-eyed. 'How's he?'

'He's fine,' Natasha replied, the corner of her lips twitching. 'I'll see him tomorrow. Still a tad rusty about the 21st Century, but catching up. I teach him everything, training him better moves in hand-to-hand combat, setting him up on dates, some just for my own amusement, most out of pity--'

She stopped when she saw Peggy's smug smile. 'Why are you smiling like I am wearing Captain America's costume?'

'Sounds like you're taking care of him,' she said wistfully. 'And Steve is very lucky to have you.'
'Peg— '
'You heard me, lady,'
'You don't understand, Peggy,'
'Look again who you're speaking to,'
'He doesn't see me like that,'
'The last time he visited, he spent 15 minutes talking to you, and that was yesterday,'

Natasha was astounded. 'R-r-really?'

Peggy chuckled. 'Yes Natasha.'

Natasha's smile faltered. She held Peggy's hand. 'Peggy, you know my past. How can I let him suffer like this?'

'You are not your pasts, dear.' She squeezed Natasha's hand reassuringly. 

'Life is unfair and amazing at the same time, Peg,' Natasha said gravely. Peggy looked at her curiously.

'Bad things happen to those who don't deserve it, and good things happen to those who aren't. I have always wondered: What is possibly the worst thing I had ever done, to deserve this amazing thing, a second chance in life?'

Peggy looked at her sadly. 'You are indeed a good person, who doesn't deserve the bad things that had happened to you. You deserve happiness, as you put other's happiness before yours.'

Natasha nodded her head, looking down. 'What are you saying, Peggy?'

'I think you already know dear.'

Natasha nodded her head. She looked at Peggy again with doubtful eyes.

'All those years ago, before I dumped sh*t about SHIELD on the internet,' she said. 'When I was brought here to be arrested— '

Peggy flinched. Natasha jumped in fright and instinctively grabbed the second glass of water.  'Peggy! Are you— '

'I needed to do that,' Peggy said cheekily. 'You were beating yourself up for nothing.'

'Alright,' Natasha said, snickering. 'When I first came to SHEILD, I was already a criminal, but you saw something in me. What did you see that made you let me start a new life?'

Peggy thought about for a moment before unhesitatingly answering. 'Your courage and selflessness reminded me of two people you and I both know by our own ways. But more importantly, your nerve.'

Natasha scoffed. 'Not sure whether I should be flattered or offended.'

'No, no, dear,' Peggy said, shaking her head. 'I meant, as in, someone who doesn't take, pardon my language, sh*t, from anyone. You had the guts to tell off that man who said I was a airheaded, sissy whor— '

Natasha looked visibly furious. 'Peggy, no,'

'You threw your chair at him and beat the living daylights out of him. You are your own self. You were hanging from a loosely tied thread there. And still risked your own reputation for mine.'

Natasha sighed, remembering the day, SHEILD had recruited her.

'I know many people here, want to see my soulless body. But, I'm done being a puppet. I'm done telling other people's lies, and I no longer want to live my life doing wrong. If you let me go, I will never be a traitor for SHIELD. Choose to kill me, I will finally balance the red in my ledger-- Hey! Have some respect for ladies, you jack-ass. I'll show you just how airheaded we can BE!'

'But going back to Steve,' Peggy said. 'You made your decision?'

'Yes, Peggy,'

'Promise me dear,' Peggy said, beckoning Natasha closer. 'When I will go— '

'Peggy— '

'— promise me you will do whatever it takes to keep Steve safe. Never let him be alone.'

Tears flooded both women's eyes. 'Peggy, I promise. But— '

'Natasha,' Peggy said coaxingly. 'I will go someday. You aren't taking anything from me. I want you to be there for him when I am not. Please.'

'Yes, Peggy.'

'Onto a much more brighter subject,' Peggy said. 'You are leaving for Lagos tomorrow, dear?'

'Yeah,' Natasha said, clearing her throat, wiping her tears away with her free hand, taking her glass of water. 'We finally got that traitor son of a bitch. Me, Wilson, Maximoff and Steve are going.'

'Sounds like one hell of a mission,' Peggy said. 'Now, will you finally take Steve's innocence?'

Natasha spat out her water, coughing on her own arm. 'What?' Natasha said, spluttering. 

'You heard me,' Peggy was smirking. 'Why are you acting like Steve when I asked him the same question about you?'

'Ew, Peg,' Natasha said, her eyes watering. 'Beside— wait. Is he's still— Wow.'

'I know dear,' Peggy said, smiling. 'Many women left those theatre seats completely drenched. Even some men.'

'God, Carter,' Natasha said blithely. 'You are so nasty.'

Both of them sighed merrily.

'Well, uh,' Natasha began awkwardly. 'I think my time's up.'

'Alright, Natasha,' Peggy said, reaching for Natasha's face and kissing her forehead. 'Take care of yourself and your family.'

Natasha's smile grew wider. 'I will.'

Natasha got up, kissed Peggy's cheek, brushed some of her hair from Peggy's forehead, and turned the doorknob open, but stopped.

'Peg?'
'Hmm,'
'Do you actually think Steve's a virgin?'
'Well, he still can't look me in the eyes whenever I talk about sex, so he hasn't done it yet.'
'Good to know.'

Natasha looked at Peggy with respect and admiration. 'Goodbye, Peggy. I love you.'

Peggy placed a hand on her heart. 'Aww, thank you, dear. I love you too.' 

Natasha felt her phone buzz. She opened it and saw numerous messages, all saying the same things.

'Uh oh,'
'What?'
'Oh nothing. Steve forgot how to open his computer. Sam just texted me 24 times.'
'Well, can you blame him?'
'Guess I can't,'

Natasha smiled at her, for the last time, and walked out of the door, smiling widely.