Natasha tried her best to sleep or at least rest. At least she was able to remain laying down, the night was very cold, but Steve's body and the duvet helped keep her body warm.

Natasha nodded slightly to watch Steve, he is sleeping heavily.

Natasha knows the weight on his back at the moment. If Steve could take it any longer, before deciding anything. It's not about her life, it's her children's lives.

If he saves her, the children will be lost in the midst of a war. Steve can't choose between her and the kids, but if he has to choose, he will make the decision she would make. The children. The children need a future.

Natasha was more relieved when she came to this conclusion. Steve will come to the same conclusion and understand that it is necessary to preserve peace, no matter what happens to her.

When Steve awoke, Natasha closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Steve tried to stretch himself without moving too much of Natasha's body, so as not to wake her. He yawned and brought his hand up to Natasha's shoulder.

Steve was staring at her, and he stroked her face gently.

And, as Natasha was already expecting, he began to think about everything that was happening and came to the same conclusion as she did. War means losing his children, destroying their home.

Steve sighed and Natasha yawned, pretending to be waking up just now.

N: You must have slept very badly.

Natasha said coming out of Steve's body and lying next to him. Steve smiled a little.

S: I slept well.

N: I know you're going to do the best you can.

S: Nat, what if you...

N: Break the door and leave? Then I would be a dead woman. I can dominate a group of guards at once, but not all of them. One hour they would hit me and they would hit you as well.

Steve looked at her in disappointment.

S: Maybe the two of us together.

N: Steve... I'm sorry, but you don't even have your shield, we have no guns, I can't risk it. You have to go back to them.

Steve looked at her, already understanding that she was referring to their children.

S: I'm getting us out of here. I swear!

N: I know you will try.

Natasha sat on the mattress and laid her hand on Steve's chest, smiling. Steve sat too, but a little further back. He watched Natasha's back and rested his hand on the mattress behind her. Natasha felt Steve's movement but she didn't move. Steve has tried something with her the night before and he is stupid enough to try again.

Steve leaned closer and brought his face to Natasha's shoulder, and she was looking forward, trying to avoid eye contact with him.

Steve put his face between Natasha's hair and pulled the air to smell her scent. He let his face move through her hair forward until his lips touched Natasha's ear. Steve kissed her ear and Natasha immediately closed her eyes and let out a sigh.

Steve was testing the terrain, seeing if he tamed the beast.

Natasha reacted well to the first approaching attempt. Steve brought his other hand up to Natasha's belly and leaned gently on it, making her belly have a little spasm at his touch.

Steve watched her, while Natasha kept her eyes closed. He kissed her ear again and slid his nose lightly to her cheek, placing another kiss, but on her cheek this time.

Steve felt more confident to approach his mouth to Natasha's mouth and he kissed the corner of her mouth. Steve now tried to kiss her lips, but Natasha lowered her head, making the kiss catch on the side of her forehead.

She won't take that from him. Not now. Steve wants and he will have that kiss.

Steve didn't know if he was crazy, but he didn't give up, he hold Natasha's chin and made her lift her face. Steve made her turn her face to him and at that time, Natasha opened her eyes and everything she didn't want to see, she was seeing now... All this desperate love in Steve's eyes.

Natasha likes that, she can't deny it, but It feels weird for her because she has never felt anything like this before.

Steve lowered his hand to Natasha's neck and made her tilt her head back a little. He took a good time just staring at her face with love. When Natasha couldn't stand his gaze, and stared to somewhere else, Steve stroked her face, until she looked back at him.

Steve knows why she tries so much to not look into his eyes, it's because he's reaching her, he's reaching her heart and she's doing everything to prevent it.

And it was with open eyes that Steve approached Natasha's face again. He brushed his lips over hers lightly, and he could feel the hot air from her mouth on his lips.

Natasha was also looking at Steve and then she looked at his lips, closing her eyes.

Natasha's slightly parted lips was assuring for Steve that she was giving herself to him in that moment. Finally.

Steve gave Natasha a slight suck on her lower lip and released it, looking back in her eyes, he sucked her lower lip again, and Natasha joined her upper lip to his, sealing the kiss, she herself had the initiative to introduce the tongue on that kiss, squeezing it against Steve's lips and making him catch her tongue with his mouth and suck gently.

Natasha lifted her hand up to Steve's face and let it rest on his face as Steve quickened the rhythm of the kiss, which started hyper-calm, but Steve felt a bit insecure, a fear of not being able to kiss her again and he wanted to the kiss to last forever, he pressed his lips to hers and ran his tongue over hers, as if it were the first time. So intense, so hungry, that Natasha's body didn't react, her body softened completely, as Steve owned her lips.

Natasha and Steve were pulling air through their nostrils and it wasn't enough to breathe. Natasha had to push Steve's chest so she could breathe a little, just a little because he kissed her again with all his might.

The kiss didn't last longer, just because they heard somebody knocking the door.

- Breakfast!

The two stopped and stared at their lips, now super red lips, then they stared at the door being opened. The guard looked at them, already judging that the two of them were actually fucking and smirked. He dropped 2 plates of porridge again and before leaving he announced...

- The chief wants to talk to you, Captain. As soon as you finish the breakfast or whatever you two were doing here...

Steve nodded.

The door was closed and the two looked at each other, feeling a little awkward. Natasha wiped the corner of her mouth and took the plate and she ate only 3 spoonful.

Steve looked at her.

S: Aren't you hungry?

Natasha now had a serious countenance, she made negate with her head, she got up and walked inside the cell, trying to empty her head. Steve was surprised by her behavior, he would say something about it, but they knocked on the door again and opened it.

- Captain.

S: I'm not even finished.

- It's time.

Steve sighed and set the plate on the floor, standing up. He looked at Natasha coming toward him and hugging him tightly. Steve thought it was strange, because she was shaking a little, but it must have been just an impression. Steve stroked her face and gave a peck on her lips, before leaving.

Steve was taken back to the leader's presence.

- So, Mr. Rogers...

S: I need to say I don't agree with this, but I'll try...

- Try?

S: I am not a man of false promises. I'll do my best.

- You're a smart man, Mr. Rogers, I'm going to put you in touch with the Avengers base, but don't try to fool me.

S: I'll have to fake other reasons for you to get what you want.

- How you're going to get your country into it, it's your business. I only want the results.

...

Natasha was leaning against the wall, her feet crossed, just waiting, until they finally opened the door.

Three guards entered.

- Bath time, princess.

Natasha didn't change her expression, she showed no fear, no courage, no sarcasm. She was no longer present, because she knew what was coming.

The guards took Natasha to a room with a warmer temperature than where she was. The manager was facing two large metal tubs, he turned and looked at Natasha.

- The dreaded Black Widow.

He moved closer to Natasha and touched her chin.

- They say that the training of Russian spies are the most efficient. I suppose you've been through a lot of tests, but let's see how much you can handle.

N: You can't break me.

The manager smiled.

- Let's find out. Remove her clothes.

The guards ripped off Natasha's clothes, and she didn't resist, they grabbed her arms and put her close to the first bathtub. Natasha barely had time to prepare, they shoved her into the tub, holding her wrists and ankles as the manager sat on the edge of the tub and slowly sank her head into the water.

He looked into her eyes and Natasha stared at him underwater still with a defiant look, which faded the manager's smile.

Natasha blinked her eyes, trying to clear her eyes and felt the air drain from her lungs. When the air was over, she bounced with her body, trying to get back to the surface, but the general kept her head in the water and he could smile again as she struggled to breathe.

Natasha was losing her body movements and her eyes rolled up and the last little bubble of air escaped from her nostril. She was fainting, at which point he pulled her out of the water, Natasha was taken out of water for only a few seconds, he put her head back on the water, causing her to choke on the water as she tried to breathe.

The manager repeated that several times, until Natasha fainted for good.

They removed her body from the water, but she was still unconscious.

- She resisted more than I expected. Hand me the electric cable.

The guards stretched out an electric cable and the manager grabbed the tip and pressed the cable on Natasha's rib, causing a huge electric shock in her body. Natasha woke up right away with the shock. He removed the cable for a few seconds and put it back into her belly, making her shake like crazy again.

When the manager finally got tired of playing electrician, Natasha bowed to the floor, the tears that fell were involuntary. She looked at the manager, her body still spasming.

N: Y-you... You d-didn't... You didn't ask.

The manager looked at her, not understanding.

N: You didn't ask anything. You didn't try to take any information from me...

The manager smiled.

- I know. I'm not interested in information, I'm interested in your pain.

Natasha closed her eyes with the tiredness she was feeling.

- Put her in the second tub.

The guards held Natasha's body and she did not see that she was being placed in a tub filled with ice. She tried to get up in vain because her body was weak. This time nobody had to sink her, the weakness did not allow her to try to stay on the surface. She tried her best to keep her head up for breath, but the manager leaned her forefinger on Natasha's forehead and made her sink.

Natasha's body clashed with the icy water and she had a hypothermic crisis. They took her out and as soon as she recovered she was put back, and shocked her belly again.

...

Sarah: MOMMY! MOMMYYYY!!!!

Cindy: Sarah? Sarah!

Sarah was calling out loudly for Natasha in the middle of the night. Cindy laid her hand on Sarah's face and shook her lightly until she woke.

Sarah opened her eyes in fear and she was completely sweaty.

Cindy: Sarah, you were dreaming. It was just a nightmare.

Sarah: Mama!

Cindy: Oh my God, you're shaking so much and you're cold. Come here.

Cindy hugged Sarah who cried for almost half an hour, until she went to sleep again.

When Cindy tried to put Sarah back in the bed, she woke up again and started crying desperately, this time calling for Steve. Cindy tried to calm her down anyway, but it only got worse. Sarah was getting hysterical. James, who was asleep on the couch, awoke and he got scared.

J: Sarah, what is that? What is going on?

Sarah: Daddy.

Sarah was sobbing.

Cindy: Sarah, calm down, please. You know, he's coming back soon, he was supposed to be here today, but he must be late, but tomorrow he will be back, you will see.

No use, Sarah screamed even more. Cindy's grandmother appeared in the living room, leaning on the walker.

Cindy: Grandma, what are you doing standing up? You know it's dangerous.

- The little girl is crying. What is it, sweetie? Come here with Grandma.

Mrs. Johnson sat in the chair and Sarah climbed on her lap, still crying a lot. Cindy had already called Steve earlier but she could not get in touch with him and Steve always calls to hear from the kids and to warn that he will be late.

Cindy's grandmother calmed Sarah and she slept again. James slept sitting up, not understanding what was happening. Cindy laid him down on the couch and put Sarah on the mattress.

...

Steve had no idea what was going on with Natasha, in the morning, the leader put his technicians to connect him with the United States, but the signal was very bad. Only in the middle of the afternoon, Steve got a direct connection with the Avengers Base. JARVIS reported that Stark was asleep and if he should wake him up. Steve said yes and waited.

T: I hope you have a good reason to wake me up.

S: Stark, listen to me, there was a problem. Not here, at a place called Hassam. Can you locate it?

T: I'm in bed, but... JARVIS. Put it on the screen for me.

JARVIS designed a screen, showing the place.

T: What's in there?

S: I need you to send a team there. And end the conflict in that region.

T: What? Conflict?

The signal started to fail and the call was ended. Tony was confused and asked JARVIS to gather information about the city that Steve quoted. Tony saw that the place was at war with Russia and didn't quite understand why Steve wants them to get into a war that is not theirs, but being Captain America, there must be a good reason.

...

The guards dressed Natasha in another dress and took her back to the cell late in the afternoon. She was fainted when Steve returned to the cell.

Steve saw her lying down and thought she was asleep. He was surprised that she changed her clothes.

Steve wondered if Tony was really going to do what Steve asked, he was intending to say something for him understand that this is a trap, but the call was ended too early, but if Tony thinks about it, he'll see that Steve has barely passed information and will be suspicious of anything, but if Tony relies blindly on Steve, he'll move his sticks to send more avengers and the US Army into this isolated war.

Steve sat on the floor so as not to disturb Natasha and he couldn't stop thinking about what he did, if he causes a war, he will never forgive himself.

A few hours later, Natasha regained consciousness and woke up startled, sitting up abruptly and letting out a kind of muffled cry. Steve looked at her in surprise.

S: Natasha?

Natasha looked at Steve in a frightened way, but she tried to disguise so she wouldn't worry Steve.

S: Are you all right?

Steve frowned.

Natasha now felt a severe pain in her belly caused by the shocks she received, she frowned but didn't show more than that.

N: I'm fine.

S: Are you sure?

N: Y-yes... I had a nightmare.

Steve got up and approached Natasha, sitting on the mattress beside her.

Natasha looked away.

S: Do you want to tell me about it?

N: No... It was just a dream. It's silly.

Natasha tried to smile.

N: Anyway, how was there today?

S: I talked to Tony.

N: And?

S: I told him I had a problem in that city and that he needs to solve.

N: Oh, God, Steve! He's going to send people there and...

Natasha felt a terrible pain as she exclaimed and she showed on her face. Steve looked at her, concerned and leaned against her back, causing Natasha to back away.

S: What is that?

N: Nothing! I just ate something that didn't do me good.

S: Natasha ...

N: I'm fine, Steve!

Natasha looked him in the eye and repeated that she was fine.

S: I hope Tony understands that something is wrong, I didn't mention the mission here and I expect it to pop into him.

N: If Clint comes the day after tomorrow, he's going to be cornered.

S: Let's hope he will not and Tony sends reinforcements here.

Natasha tried to move on the mattress to be more comfortable, but the pain was really bothering her. She lay down again and Steve sat, looking at her.

S: You seem to be in pain.

N: I told you. My belly hurts.

Steve sighed looking at Natasha.

N: Come and lie with me.

Natasha looked into his eyes and she never ask something like that.

N: Please.

Steve lay on his side and watched Natasha looking back at him trying to hide the pain she was feeling at all costs.

N: I have to ask you something.

S: What is it?

N: Kiss me again like you kissed me this morning...

Steve stared her.

N: I need to feel something. I need to feel anything.

Steve looked at her a little confused, why is she so emotional? Looks like he's saying goodbye to her.

I won't let her die. Steve thought, as he brought his lips closer to Natasha's, kissing her as she wanted.

This time there was no one to interrupt the kiss, causing the intensity to increase rapidly, causing sighs and small groans of satisfaction and pain, in Natasha's case.

Steve instinctively leaned his body over Natasha's and grabbed her waist.

Natasha saw stars with the pain she felt, she choked on the kiss and Steve interrupted the kiss to look at her worriedly.

This is not a simple bellyache. Steve realized.

Natasha returned to herself in seconds and Steve looked at her inquiringly. Steve frowned and looked at Natasha's belly, he put his hand on her dress to lift, but Natasha put her hand over his.

Steve looked into her eyes.

S: You lied to me.

Natasha just sighed.

S: Let me see.

N: Steve, don't...

Steve pulled Natasha's hand away and lifted her dress, watching the marks that the electric cable left through her belly. Steve felt his throat dry and his heart break. He turned her slowly to see how far the bruises went, and saw that even her back was bruised.

Natasha looked at him worriedly.

N: Steve...

Steve couldn't answer, he was in shock, how could he be so dumb to have left her alone there. He will never forgive himself for it.

N: There was nothing you could do.

Natasha justified.

Steve clenched his fist, he looked at the cell door and sat up, staring at the door with hate. Natasha sat up and laid her hands on his face.

N: Steve! Steve, please. Look at me. Don't do anything. Don't do anything stupid.

Steve didn't look at Natasha, his breathing was altered and all he thought was to kill everyone in that environment. Steve got up and Natasha tried to hold his legs and his hand.

N: Steve, please don't!

Steve started pounding on the door and shouting for the guards. Natasha struggled to get to her feet, and when she managed to stand, the door opened. The first guard Steve saw, Steve grabbed him by the throat and others came aiming guns.

Natasha walked with difficulty until she reached Steve.

N: Steve, listen to me, don't do this. Don't face them. They will kill you!

S: I don't care.

N: But I do!

Steve stopped and looked at Natasha's eyes.

N: I care about you. Please... Think about the kids, let him go, please.

Steve took three deep breaths to loosen the neck of the guard who was carried out. The door was closed and Natasha nearly collapsed, Steve took her in his lap and laid her back on the mattress.

S: I'm sorry.

N: It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. I can handle this. You have to trust me.

S: I can't allow this to happen again.

N: It's not in your hands.

Steve lay next to Natasha again.

S: I don't know how to make your pain go away.

N: I just need to distract myself. Tell me anything... Tell me about the kids.

S: I...

N: Please.

S: Okay.

Steve reached into his uniform pocket and pulled out a folded photo from inside his pocket. Steve unfolded the photo and showed Natasha who held the picture and smiled.

S: That was in the camping. James was only 3 years old and Sarah was about 5 months old, I guess. You took this picture, you were the only one who could make James smile...

Steve smiled as he remembered that day. Natasha stopped looking at the photo to look at Steve's expression as he spoke of her children. Love was too obvious.

S: James looks so much like me, you know, though redheaded and Sarah reminds me a lot of my mother. Her name is in honor of my mother.

N: I didn't know that... Or rather, I didn't remember.

S: James was named in honor of Bucky. James was so jealous of Sarah at the time, when she came home for the first time. Not of me, but of you with her. He couldn't see you nursing that he'd get some bruise to get your attention.

N: So he's pretty dramatic... like his father.

Steve looked away from the photo at Natasha and smiled.

S: I'm getting us out of here.

N: I know.

Steve kissed Natasha's forehead and laced his fingers in hers before they both fell asleep.

**Nat is about to suffer a little more =[**