Going Back Home

The slow music played in the background as me and Natasha swayed back and forth. I closed my eyes, trying to capture this memory and hold onto it forever. It was moments like this that made me feel like the luckiest person in the world.

Natasha looked up at me, her eyes sparkling.

I looked at her, my heart skipping a beat. She was so...unreal, like something from a dream. I bent down, kissing her lips softly.

It was moments like these that made me feel at home.

I pulled away, a smile on my face. "I wish we could stay like this forever.."

"Me too.." she smiled back, leaning her head on my chest.

"I was thinking maybe we could go out tonight?" I suggested.

"That would be amazing." She wrapped her arms around my neck, looking up at me. "Steve's visiting Peggy and he was going to hang out with Sam today so we'll have the whole day to ourselves."

"Perfect." I grinned.

A few moments passed, everything was going perfectly fine until-

The glass shattered in the living room window, I quickly pulled Natasha towards me, protecting her from the glass. I could feel the stinging pain all over my body as the glass pierced me, but I didn't care.

For the first time in a year I had a mission.

To get away the hell away from here.

"Are you okay?" I asked, letting go of her.

"Yeah. I'm fine." She stepped back.

I took her hand in mine and ran to my room, grabbing my pistol from under my pillow. I walked back to the window and looked down.

There was no one there.

"That was weird.." I muttered and looked back at Natasha. "We need to go."

She nodded. "Let me call Steve and let him know."

I walked towards the front door, removing the loose floorboard and taking out a backpack. I put it on and looked at Natasha.

"He said he's coming to pick us up." She walked towards me.

"Good." I opened the door, my eyes widening as I saw something fly into the room.

It was a grenade.

I grabbed Natasha by the arm and we ran out the door and down the stairs. I could hear a loud 'bang!'

My ears were ringing and my head was pounding, I was still holding onto Natasha's hand tightly, running out of the apartment.

We were outside, I gave a breath of relief when I saw Steve's car.

We ran to the car, quickly getting inside. I sat in the back next to Natasha.

"Are you guys okay?" Steve asked as he started the car.

"Still in one piece." Was all that Natasha said, she looked at me. "You okay?"

My hands began shaking, I was still holding on tightly to the pistol.

She took the pistol from me and put it on the seat next to her. She looked at me. "We'll be okay..they won't get to us."

I closed my eyes and nodded. This was just a dream. It was a dream. Everything's okay. Everything's okay-

I opened my eyes, still in Steve's car. "Where are we going?"

"To a friend. We'll lay low there for a while." Steve responded.

I looked at my shaking hands and bit my lip. I knew this wasn't going to end well. I could feel it. H.Y.D.R.A. was going to find us. "Guys...if they find us.. I want you to know-"

"They won't." Steve said sternly. "They can't."

My stomach churned, I looked over at Natasha. "I love you so much.." I whispered.

"James don't talk like that." She warned and avoided making eye contact with me. "We will be-"

"Don't say it." I interrupted. After a moment I spoke. "I remember the day I fell in love with you.."

Natasha looked at me, tears pricked her eyes.

"I remember you telling me you wanted to make it work one day. You and me. I'm so happy it did..." I smiled softly.

"Me too..." she smiled back.

"And considering we might die today..." I paused, taking in a shaky breath. "Will you-" I swallowed the lump in my throat as I felt a tear rolling down my cheek. "Will you marry me?"

Natasha looked at me, tears streaming down her face. She covered her mouth in shock. "James I-" she took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"You can ask me when this is over."

I nodded and took her hand in mine. "Do you forgive me?"

She looked at me and nodded. "We aren't going to die. We'll be okay. We'll live happily and have a huge wedding and-.." she stopped, burying her face in my chest.

I ran my hands through her hair. "I'm so so sorry..."

"It's okay." She pressed her lips to mine, when she pulled away she stroked my cheek, wiping away my tears. "I love you."

"I love you too." I whispered. I sat up and took in a shaky breath, holding onto Natasha's hand, holding onto like it was the last time I ever would.

Which was probably the case.

Things were quiet until suddenly, the car began spinning, out if instinct I pulled Natasha towards me, protecting her from anything that would hit her.

My breathing became more demanding, I opened my eyes slowly.

Natasha.

Blood covered her face, her eyes were closed.

"Natasha.." I said weakly, reaching my metal hand out to her. My head throbbed, I held my hand to my head feeling something wet. I looked at my hand. It was blood.

I struggled to keep my eyes open. I tried to reach Natasha but then I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, the world began spinning until everything went black.

I opened my eyes, suddenly remembering what just happened. "Natasha?!" I tried standing but I couldn't...

I was sitting in a chair, restraints wrapped tightly around my wrists and ankles, the metal digging into my skin. The room I was in was pitch black except for the light that hung over my head.

"No. No. No. No!" I kept trying to get free but it was no use.

"Steve! Natasha!" I wished desperately that I could see them. To know that they were okay.

But they weren't going to be. Not anymore.

I looked around the room, there were five other lights hanging above the cryo chambers surrounding me, each of them holding the five Winter Soldiers. To my surprise the Soldiers were dead..

All of them had holes in their foreheads, blood dripping out of them.

And that's how I knew where I was.

H.Y.D.R.A.