Requested by GiuliaWidow, Natasha takes Steve's place leading the final battle

It was a miracle that Natasha had made it without him.

Five years...that's how long it had been since his body had dissolved into a million particles of dust.

Steve had faded away into one of millions of people who had been lost in the war that they failed to win.

He was nothing more then a memory. And Natasha felt as though she was the only one trying to bring them all back.

Clint had disappeared after his family was dusted. He had been on a killing spree, taking out gang leaders all over the world. Leaving nothing but a trail of death behind, which made tracking him down very difficult.

Bruce had gone off god knows where, probably somewhere peaceful where he could do science in peace. Natasha hadn't been surprised with that, Bruce never stuck around to help clean up the mess he helped cause.

Thor had taken residence in "New Asguard" with the remaining subjects he had. She hadn't heard from him in a while, but Natasha knew he was struggling.

Even Tony had moved on. He started a family. Finally settled down with Pepper and had a daughter who Natasha adored.

But despite her happiness for Tony, she couldn't help but feel like they should've tried harder.

She knew that if Steve was still there...if it had been her instead of him...that he would be working his ass off to get everyone back.

But he wasn't there, and she felt completely hopeless knowing that no one would be able to help her.

Or at least she thought.

Then Scott had showed up. It was unannounced, sudden, and a little bit strange, but she was glad he came when she learned he had an idea of how to bring everyone back.

She had spent the next few hours desperately trying to get everyone to help her.

Natasha found Clint in the pouring rain in a city in Japan. His most recent kills littered the ground around them but she was in no position to judge.

She had done far worse things.

"Don't, don't give me hope," He pleaded with her.

Natasha felt like a terrible friend knowing she had waited so long to do so, "I'm sorry I couldn't do it sooner."

Clint still seemed doubtful, but he was at least willing to help.

Next, Natasha had gone to Bruce...who had changed significantly since they last saw each other.

"Nat! How are you?" He yelled when he saw her, looking much greener and larger then when he had left.

"Um, I'm fine I guess. You look different...new haircut?" Natasha joked, cracking a small smile as Clint rolled his eyes besides her.

"Oh yeah, well, turns out there's a way to be Dr. Banner and the Hulk at the same time. Pretty sweet right?"

Natasha wasn't sure but she nodded anyways, "Look, we need your help. We might have a way to bring everyone back, but we need the team back."

"Back? What do you mean bring them back?"

Scott inturrupted and gave Bruce the long winded explanation.

Natasha tuned most of it out, she was still a little resentful of Bruce for walking away from her without as much as a goodbye.

But they were successful and Bruce agreed to return with them and help finish the plan.

Now they just needed Tony.

Natasha knew he would be the hardest to convince.

Sure he wanted everyone back just as much as everyone else, maybe more then some, but he had started a family.

He had Morgan to live for and she didn't think he would be as willing to dive head first into another uncertain mission.

Deciding it would be better if she went on her own, Natasha drove out to their cabin in the forest and knocked on Tony's door.

Tony opened it with a confused look on his face, "Natasha? I didn't know you were coming by today."

"Sorry to drop in suddenly, there's something you need to know though."

Tony opened the door wider to invite Natasha in and was about to ask her what it was when there was a loud squeal from the top of the steps, "Auntie Nat!"

Natasha looked up and saw Morgan sliding down the steps on a matress before jumping off of it and into Natasha's arms.

Natasha laughed and hugged the girl, "Hey there little Stark."

Morgan wrapped her arms around Natasha's neck and giggled. Tony rolled his eyes, "I really don't understand why she likes you so much." He joked.

Natasha glared at Tony, "I guess I'm just more fun than you. Right Morgan?"

Morgan nodded, "She teaches me how to throw knives."

Natasha's eyes widened and she nudged Morgan with her shoulder, "Hey, that was our secret."

Tony frowned, "Natasha she's five."

Natasha shrugged as Morgan giggled again, "You can never be too young to learn how to defend yourself."

Tony shook his head as Morgan nodded, "I can kick ass now."

Natasha smirked slightly and shrugged at Stark, "She's very impressionable."

Tony rolled his eyes and walked into the living room as Natasha followed with Morgan, "So you taught my daughter to say 'kick ass' and how to throw knives? Anything else she learned with Auntie Nat?"

Morgan nodded, "I learned fu-"

Natasha clasped her hand over Morgan's mouth, "How to make fudge."

"You know sometimes I think you're a worse influence on her then I am."

Natasha was about to insult him but Pepper inturrupted, "Natasha! I didn't know you were coming by today."

Natasha stood up to greet Pepper, "Sorry to drop in like this. I just have something I need to talk to Tony about."

Pepper smiled, "It's not a problem, do you want to stay for lunch?"

Natasha shook her head, "I don't think I'll be able to stay long, thank you though."

Pepper nodded, "Let me get Morgan out of your way and you two can talk."

"Thank you."

Pepper ushered Morgan into the kitchen and Tony looked back at Natasha, "So what's going on."

Natasha sighed, "There might be a way to bring them back."

Tony frowned, "What do you mean there might be a way to bring them back? Thanos destroyed the stones. That was our last chance."

Natasha shook her head, "Scott, he was stuck in a quantum realm the past five years, he thinks there may be a way to travel back in time to get the stones before Thanos does. I know it sounds crazy-"

"It doesn't just sound crazy Natasha, it sounds insane. Time travel? This isn't back to the Future, we can't just go back in time and fix our problems. It doesn't work like that."

Natasha frowned, "If we do it right then we save millions of people."

"And if we fail then we risk losing what's left."

Natasha shook her head, "I know you've got a family here Tony, and I know you can't lose them. But can you seriously go on knowing you could bring them back and you didn't try?"

Tony looked at the ground, "In that room over there, I have everything I need. Pepper and Morgan. I can't drop everything and try and figure out time travel just so we can be disappointed again when it doesn't work."

Natasha frowned, "What about the people we lost Tony? What about Steve and Peter and Wanda? If they were here, you know damn well that they'd do this for us."

"Too bad they aren't here."

"You're really not even going to try?" Natasha asked in disbelief, not understanding why he was so against it.

Tony shook his head, "I can't Natasha. There's too much at stake for me."

Natasha sighed and stood up, "If you change your mind you know where to find me."

She walked into the kitchen and forced a smile at Pepper and Morgan, "Sorry again to drop in unannounced."

Morgan hugged her again and Pepper smiled, "You're fine, it was good to see you."

Natasha nodded, "Next time I come by I'll let you know ahead of time."

Morgan looked up at Natasha, "Will you stay longer next time?"

Natasha nodded, "Yeah, next time we can have a lot more fun."

Morgan giggled and glanced at her mother, who was distracted with the stove, "Like throwing knives?"

Natasha nodded with a smirk, "Exactly."

Morgan grinned and hugged Natasha goodbye.

Natasha made her way back to the car and cursed. They really needed Tony's help.

Luckily, after a few failed attempts Tony changed his mind.

They figured it out and went back in time.

Natasha and Clint had been sent to Vormir. It was the most unknown area and gave Natasha a bad feeling.

She soon realized why when the red skull told them that one of them would have to die in order for the other to obtain the soul.

"It has to be me Clint." She argued.

Clint shook his head, "No Natasha, it can't be you. You're the glue that holds the team together. They all need you alive and I need you to stay alive."

Natasha shook her head too, "You have a family Clint. They'll be devastated."

Clint frowned, "And if you died, Steve would be devistated."

Natasha paused, not wanting to think about how Steve would feel if he was brought back only to find out she was dead.

"You have three kids Clint."

Clint shook his head, "They'll have each other, Laura, you."

"I can't let you do this Clint," Natasha said, shaking her head.

"I wasn't asking permission," Clint said, slamming Natasha's body to the ground, "Tell my family I love them."

Natasha flipped them over, "Tell them yourself."

She was halfway to the cliff when Clint's arrow blew up besides her, sending her flying to the side as Clint sprinting towards the cliff.

Natasha sat up in sheer panic, "Clint!" She screamed, watching in horror as he jumped from the cliff.

Minutes later, she was back at the base, in her knees and in complete shock.

"Nat? Where's Clint?" Bruce asked.

Natasha shook her head, "He's gone."

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Natasha had left the men to bud the gauntlet, using that time to mourn her oldest friend.

They had to be able to bring everyone back.

Because if Clint had died in vain, she wouldn't be able to live with herself. She'd be alone and heartbroken.

At least if if worked, she would have Steve to help get her through it. He was good at that kind of thing.

"Natasha, we're ready," Tony said, taking her out of her trance.

She nodded and silently followed him to where the gauntlet had been set up.

Bruce snapped his fingers and all the sudden, Clint's phone rang.

Natasha inhaled sharply and walked towards it, it was Laura. They did it.

"It worked. We did it." Natasha said quietly, tears building in her eyes as she thought of seeing Steve again.

She reached for her own phone to call him but was inturrupted by an explosion.

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After escaping the rubble, Natasha, Tony, and Thor fought Thanos until they could barely stand.

Natasha was sure she had several broke ribs, a concussion, and probably more injuries that she hadn't noticed.

And to make it worse, Thor and Tony had gotten diverted, leaving her standing alone in front of Thanos' huge army.

She raised her weapons but knew that if they attacked, she was done for.

"Save some for the rest of us," She heard someone say through her comm.

Natasha turned around ands saw Sam fly out of a portal. She smiled and watched as hundreds of others opened.

She scanned them each for the familiar sea blue eyes she had missed but couldn't find them.

But now she had a whole army behind her.

Tony and Thor were back and now, they actually had a shot at winning this thing.

There was a moment of silence before Natasha heard a voice next to her, "Avengers!"

She turned her head and saw Steve look over at her with a small smile.

"Assemble," He said quieter, his eyes not leaving hers as they all charges into the battle.

She was eventually pulled away from Steve's side by the fighting but she knew he would be alright.

Everyonw fought until finally, Tony was able to snap and then Thanos and his army to dust. While Dr. Strange and Shuri took him back to Wakanda to be healed, Natasha scanned the battle scene for Steve, wanting to have a proper reunion.

"Natasha!" She heard him tell from behind her.

She whipped around and ran towards him, crashing into him and wrapping her arms around his stomach while he hugged her back just as tightly.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked her, stroking her hair lightly.

Natasha shook her head, "I lost Clint. He's gone."

Steve frowned, "Nat I'm so sorry."

She looked up at Steve with teary eyes, "He did it so that we could have our chance Steve. Our chance to make each other happy."

Steve frowned and pulled Natasha to him even more, "Natasha you already make me happy. I love you."

"I love you too." Natasha said, surging forward to kiss Steve passionately.

Right now, nothing else mattered.

Not Thanos, not the world, just each other.

Because five years was a long damn time to wait just for a kiss.

Hi guys. Once again, I'm very sorry I can't upload at a frequent time but I am very busy and very tired so it doesn't make for a good combo😂

Anyways, like always, if you enjoyed this, which I hope you did, please comment and vote!