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Chapter 7: Home

The weeks turned into months. Things were going great except..Natasha would not stop asking me to cut my hair...

"Please James! You would look amazing! Please.." she begged, like a little girl asking her mother for a toy.

"For the last time. I said no. Why is this so important to you?" I asked, annoyed.

"Because I think it would look amazing." She said with a smile. "Come on James please..."

I rolled my eyes and put my dinner plate in the sink. "If I say yes you have to let me..." I paused. What could I do? What-? I smirked. "You have to let me take you out on a date."

"A date huh?" She pondered for a moment but then smiled brightly. "Deal." She bit her lip and put her plate into the sink. "I'll make an appointment for tomorrow." She said as she turned the faucet on to wash the dishes.

I stood there, realizing what just happened.

I asked Natasha..Natasha Romanoff on a date. I just asked her out.

And she said "yes."

I huge smiled spread across my face, I couldn't believe this just happened.

"James?"

I looked at Natasha. "Sorry..did you say something?"

She shrugged. "It wasn't important." She finished washing the dishes and looked at me. "You should get some sleep. You didn't sleep at all last night remember?"

"Oh yeah.." I mumbled. Last night I had a horrible nightmare and I didn't want to go back to sleep. Natasha stayed up all night with me. I hated when she saw me so vulnerable..

I walked to my room, laying down next to Natasha. We were facing each other. "When you said yes...to go on a date with me..you were being serious right?" I had to make sure she didn't think this was joke. If she did I would be humiliated.

"Of course I was.." she laughed softly. "I'm very excited actually." She admitted, her cheeks turning pink.

I smiled, amused by her nervousness. "Did I just get Black Widow, a spy and former assassin to blush?"

She rolled her eyes and turned around. "Go to sleep Barnes."

"I don't want too." I said, sitting up. "You know what I have an idea." I got out of the bed, grabbing a jacket. "Come on."

"What are you doing?" She asked getting up.

"I wanna do something." I grabbed a few blankets. "Grab a pillow."

Natasha shrugged and grabbed two pillows and we quietly made our way out of the apartment and up to the roof.

When we got to the roof I laid down the blankets and pillows. I then laid down, looking at the night sky. There were so many stars..I wondered how many were really up there.

Natasha laid down next to me and looked up at the sky. "It's beautiful.." she said with a smile. "This wasn't a bad idea.."

I smiled back. "I told you so.."

"Hush." She warned and laid her head on my chest. "Look!" She pointed to the sky, it was a shooting star. "Make a wish." She said before closing her eyes.

I closed my eyes and made my wish. When I opened them I found Natasha looking at me. "What did you wish for?" I asked.

"I can't tell you or else it won't come true." She said as if that was something I should've known. "Are you really that old? Everyone knows that." She teased.

I rolled my eyes and slid my arm around her waist and pulled her closer. The wind blew harder and it was getting colder and colder.

Natasha huddled against me, her eyes became heavy and she soon drifted off to sleep.

I was going to get up and take her back inside but my exhaustion gave in and I fell asleep as well.

I woke up on the roof, Natasha was gone..

My heart raced. Where'd she go? Is she okay? I stood up quickly and opened the door that led to the stairs, running to my apartment. I entered the apartment. "Natasha?" I asked, panic in my voice. "Natasha are you here?"

No answer.

She wouldn't just leave like that..not without telling me. I looked around for a clue and that's when I found a note taped to the fridge.

'I left early to get groceries and I have to meet up with Steve. I'll be back in a few hours. Can't wait for out date!'

I laughed softly as I read the note, there was a winking face at the end. I folded the note and put it in my pocket, I then realized..

Our date.

I had no idea what to do. The idea was completely improvised and I have no plan. On top of that the last time I went on a date was...

Did I even go on dates back then?

I pretty much have no experience. That's great. Just great.

I sat on the couch and pondered on what I was going to do.

We could go to dinner? I was definitely NOT going to make dinner, last time Natasha tried to teach me to cook...

It didn't go well.

We could go to the movies? Go to an amusement park? Go for a walk-?

And that's when it hit me.

I had an idea.

Natasha said she was going to be gone for a few hours so I had time to prepare..

It was 6:00pm when she got back, her expression tired and stressed.

I took the grocery bags from her and placed them on the kitchen counter. "You okay?"

"Yeah..just a little tired." She gave me a small smile. "You need a hair cut remember?"

"Oh yeah..that." I sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Natasha drove me to the barber shop and by the time he finished I was in shock.

My hair was pretty much identical to the hair I had back then. It was short and the barber shaved my beard and honestly..

I liked it a lot. I felt like a new person. We were in the car and I was looking at my reflection. I hadn't said anything to her at all.

"So? Are you going to tell me what you think?" She asked as we began driving back to the apartment.

I looked at her. "I love it. I love it so much..thank you." I smiled brightly.

"Thank god.." she gave breath of relief. "You look.." she smiled and studied me with out shame. "Handsome."

"Oh really?" I looked at her with a sly smile. "I don't believe I've seen this side of you before Ms. Romanoff."

"Get used to it." She said before stopping the car. "So about our date-?"

"You don't have to worry about anything. Just put on something nice to wear and I'll take care of the rest." I explained and got out of the car. I entered the apartment and quickly walked into my room.

"Note to self: remember to thank Steve after this." I said to myself as I looked at the box that was on top of my bed. I closed the door to my room and opened the box, taking out a white button down shirt and black dress pants. I changed and put on a black jacket and tie, which took me a while to figure out but I did it. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled, happy with my appearance.

I grabbed the bouquet of flowers that was also on my bed and walked out of my room. I waited outside of Natasha's room for a few moments.

The door opened, revealing Natasha in a slim, red dress, her hair was in waves, the lighting made her eyes sparkle.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw her...I almost forgot what I was supposed to be doing. I held out the flowers to her. "T-these are for you.." I said nervously.

She took the flowers and smiled. "Thank you.." she went back into her room for a moment and then came back. "I think I'm ready to go."

"You look beautiful.." I looked at her in awe.

She blushed furiously and she walked out of her room. "You don't look bad yourself."

I took her hand and we walked back to the car but this time I was going to drive. It felt like forever until we finally got to the restaurant. We didn't speak at all in the car, mostly because we didn't know what to say. I got out of the car and walked to the passenger side, opening the door for her. I held out my hand.

Natasha took my hand and closed the door. "Thank you...I have to admit I'm a little nervous."

"That makes two of us". I said before entering the restaurant.

Steve really did it this time.

The restaurant was beautiful, it was probably very expensive and now I actually felt bad since Steve said he was paying for everything. A server came up to me and motioned for me to follow her.

Me and Natasha sat down at a table and when the server left I looked at Natasha. "What do you think?"

"It's amazing." She said, still studying the place. "How were able to get a reservation and all that?"

"I have my ways.." I winked at her and opened the menu. There were so many options I didn't know what to pick.

A waitress came to our table and we ordered our drinks and our food.

The food was amazing. It was like nothing I've ever eaten before in my life. Natasha seemed to enjoy it as well thankfully.

"So are you still going to keep in touch with Steve?" Natasha asked.

"As of now I am." I nodded to the waiter and gave her the check.

"I have done the impossible." She said proudly.

"Yes you have.." I smiled back and stood up.

Me and Natasha walked hand in hand to the car and I sat in the drivers seat.

Natasha sat down in the passengers seat. "Thank you for doing this."

"We're not done yet." I said as I began driving.

I kept driving until it seemed as if we were in the middle of nowhere.

"Where are we going?" Natasha asked.

"Just wait. Be patient." I noticed a small cottage and parked in front of it. We got out of the car.

"What is going on?" Natasha crossed her arms.

I walked to the cottage and opened the front door. I took her hand and led her inside. There were candles everywhere, rose petals along the floor leading to the living room which was cleared out. There was slow jazz music playing in the background.

Natasha's hand was over her mouth in shock. She let go of my hand, taking in her surroundings. "You did all this?"

"Yup." I smiled proudly and closed the front door.

"Oh my god I love you." She said with a laugh and pressed her lips to mine.

In that moment I realized how much I needed her and how lost I was without her. But I always was, just some soldier who forgot he ever had a home. Until she gave me one.