Saving Natasha

PART 80: OUR BIG CRAZY FAMILY

NATASHAS POV

When Ava walked into the restaurant everyone saw the big bruise covering most of her cheekbone. She had tried to cover it up with make up, but the bright crimson on her cheek shone through.

I rushed up to her, "Who the fuck did that?" I felt dangerous, if she gave me a name, they'd be dead within the hour. Keyword being if.

"How do you know it was a person?" She chuckled lightly.

It's a stupid question, I glare at her, she was trying to protect them, after what they did to her "Well, you're most definitely not clumsy. I can't see you tripping over your own feet, or running into a street light and those marks trace out a hand. So, who?"

"I was on my way home and these three guys jumped me when I got out of the car. They landed a few hits, caught me off-guard, but they got the worst of it, " she says. She lies. I almost laughed, "you! Caught off-guard. That's rare," I place a hand on her cheek and she leans into it, i pull her head into my chest, wrapping her in a hug, never waning to let her go. Wanting to keep her safe.

"As long as you're okay, " I push her back to monitor her expression "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, always, " she says and smiles, it wasn't a real smile. I wanted to know more, but I didnt want to pressure her or question her in front of every one else, I mirror the curve of her lips and walk over to the table, pulling her onto the bench beside me, shooting Steve a worried expression which he returns.

I pull her hand onto my lap and trace patterns onto the back of her hand to calm her, and me.

"Where's lover boy Ava?" Tony shouts down the length of the table.

I feel her tense beside me, her palms get sweaty and she yanks her hand out of my grasp. I pick up my glass to fill the emptiness in my hands where Avas hand was.

"He's, uh, um he's sorry he couldn't come. He's....working?"

Before I knew what was happening everyone's attention jumped to me. "What! What's wrong?"

"What do you mean what's wrong! You just smashed your glass" I looked to my hand, where the remnants of my glass were clutched in my hand, there was a puddle of water on the table and chunks of glass littered around my plate.

"O....sorry" I opened my hand and shook it slightly to try unstick the glass. There were a few small cuts in my hand but nothing serious. I grabbed a napkin and brushed the rest of the glass off my hand. I grabbed a new one and held it tightly so i didnt get blood on anything. A waiter came over to help clean up the glass and water. I noticed steve sitting quietly in the corner, his gaze locked on my hand. His face went pale and his eyes clouded over.

Once everything was sorted out, everyone started chatting away. I looked back to steve, he was talking to Bucky, a big smile plastered over his face. Ava was sitting quietly, her hands in her lap, fidgeting. Her hand darted out and grabbed mine she placed it in between hers. She didnt say anything, she just held my hand tightly.

"Ok everyone. All attention on me. So, this big announcement, I mean its not really that big, I just wanted an excuse to get everyone together again, you guys are like a family to me, and I miss you when you're not here. Ahhh shit......That sounded really sappy didnt it. Well anyways this 'announcement' is that I'm renovating the tower. Ok thats all" he sat back down again and started chatting with Pepper.

I looked across the table to Steve and smiled fondly at him. I looked over to Ava, at our clasped hands, and smiled again. Tony was right, we were one big family. I cleared my throat slightly.

"Steve and I actually have something we'd like to say. Its not as exciting as a tower Reno, its on a more...personal note." I looked across to him and he smiled reassuringly and nodded.

"Its about our wedding, now you all know that your obviously invited, but we'd like you to come, not as friends.....as family, because, just like Tony said, you are our family. Neither of us have any 'blood' relatives coming, but you guys are much more of a family than I ever imagined I could have. Our big crazy family" Ava squeezed my hand tighter and steve smiled wider, a tear creeped down my cheek but I brushed it away quickly.

Wanda wrapped me in a side hug and I looked across to Steve and smiled at him. He looked back at me and I could see such love in his eyes. I looked around the table and saw more faces filled with love and affection, all smiling at either me or Steve, a couple stray tears falling down cheeks, hastily wiped away.