Chapter 3

Location: Volgograd, Russia

Date: April 24th, 1999

Sitting on a bench overlooking the city of Volgograd, a beautiful redhead woman can be seen watching a young boy with silvery white hair with patches of black running around and playing in the grass, in the distance, not to far off is a giant statue of a woman holding a sword. A memorial for the battle that was fought here in 1942-1943.

(Image)

As the woman is watching the boy enjoy himself; she couldn't help a small smile form on her otherwise stoic face. She knows there is not much time left before she has to leave and so she is making every second count.

As time passes, a man with blonde hair sits next to her on the bench, not to close but close enough to talk and not be obvious.

"It's been a long time since you've contacted me. What's this all about?" The man asked while his eyes roam around the area. Keeping a look out for anything amiss.

"I needed someone I could trust." She says, never taking her eyes off the boy, but also paying attention to the surroundings.

"Trust? Really? Since when have we ever trusted each other?" He asked in a carefree mocking tone. She just hummed and said nothing. Knowing how'd the man would respond to what she said.

Taking a quick glance at her. He noticed the soft look in her eyes, following her line of sight, he noticed the kid. He saw him when he was walking over but payed the boy no mind till now.

After a moment of silence, the man broke it asking, "who's the kid?"

"He's mine." The woman said gaining a blissful smile. Shocking the man a bit since he's never known her to show emotion like this. Nor did he ever imagine her having a child in her line of work.

He just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that she would do something like this. Her line of work is extremely dangerous, more so than his own, and having a kid for someone like her is a major weakness just waiting to be exposed and exploited. To bring someone in on this, him of all people, confused him for a moment before he slowly started to come to a realization.

Taking another look at the kid, a real hard look, he couldnt help but think. He looks to be around 5 or 6 years of age. It couldn't be, could it?

"Is he…?" He asked with some hesitation. Hoping it wasn't what he was imagining. But also a minuscule part of him wanted it to be true. He always wanted a son. Especially after having two daughters.

"Indeed."

"But when? The last time we were together was that job in-"

He was cut off as she finished his sentence for him.

"Romania, back in '92. We celebrate quite a lot after that job if you recall." She said as she finally turned to look him in the eyes.

His mind was racing at that point. Yes, he remembers celebrating, but after that everything is blank. Just him waking up naked and alone in the hotel room. Yeah, a lot could be inferred from how the night start to how he woke up the next morning but nothing was ever concrete. And now it turns out that in fact, something did happen between them, and he's had a son he never knew existed for the past 6 years. Saying he was furious would be an understatement.

Looking her back, dead in the eyes, he responds with a bit of venom in is voice, "why the hell did you never tell me? No phone call, no letter? Hell a simple post card with 'it's a boy!' would of sufficed!" He whispered yelled to her face.

"I simply couldn't take that risk. After I found out I was pregnant, I ran. You can imagine how those from on high felt about that." She replied with the same stoic face she always wore in front of him.

He took a deep breath to calm himself. Her running away from Them definitely would of made any contact a death sentence. Especially if they found out about the child. Worst case, They would kill them both and be done with it. Best case, ripping him from her arms, killing her, and putting him through that hellish training he's heard rumors of.

"Must of been a real kick in the teeth for Them when they realized you went of the grid." He couldn't help but make a joke in this serious situation, trying to lighten the mood for her. He can tell, from the look in her eyes and the way she's acting, this is probably the last time they'll ever meet. Let alone ever see her son again.

"Must have been." She replied, in a melancholy tone, standing up and walking forward a bit and whistles. Catching the boy's attention. As he looks over and starts running towards her with the biggest smile she says, "You are right about earlier. We never truly trusted each other, but I'm hoping I can entrust him, our son, with you. I refuse to let him be raised in an orphanage, on the streets, or God forbid with Them."

"You know what I'm going to put him through right? I'm not gonna have one of my kids, especially my son, be a weakling." He replied, standing up, walking to her side.

"I expect nothing less from you, I even encourage it actually. I have already started his stealth training last year, turns out he is quite the prodigy. Takes forever finding him when we play hide and seek." She responded and while saying the last half she even chuckled a bit. Earning a raised eyebrow from him.

"Don't give me that look. You will understand when you start teaching him just like I did."

As they finished talking the young boy arrived in front of the two.

"пора идти, мама?"

(Is it time to go, mom?)

"Да, пора уходить. Но сначала я хочу познакомить тебя с кем-то."

(Yes, it is time to leave. But first I want to introduce you to someone.)

She said as she crouched down in front of her son and gesture to the man next to her. Speaking in English, she looked at her son and said, "Pietro, this man here is your father, and you are going to be living with him from now on."

After saying that, the boy, now known as Pietro, looked confused.

"Вы не-"

(Are you not-)

"English Pietro." His mother corrected him.

"Are you not coming with?" Pietro asked while looking at his mother in the eyes. Looking for a reason as to why he has to go with this strange man that turns out to be his father.

"I am not my dear, this is for your safety above all else." She says as she cups his cheek with her hand.

"But-"

Once again he was cut off before finishing what he wanted to say.

"No buts, you are going, end of discussion."

She leans in and kisses Pietro on the forehead before pulling him into a long, tight, hug.

"I love you so much Pietro, never for get that." She whispers in his ear. She can feel tears running down his face, wetting her shoulder.

"I love you to mama, always and forever." He whispered back to her while sniffling and trying to hold back his tears.

Pulling back, looking him in his beautiful blue eyes, she took a moment to imprint his face in her memories.

"Yes, always and forever." She responded with a smile and a single tear running down her cheek.

Standing up she gave a light push, moving Pietro toward the man, as she walked back to the bench and grabbed a black backpack. Walking back to the two she handed it to the man.

"This has everything from his birth certificate and passport to his medical files."

The man reach for it and before he could pull back she grabbed his wrist in a vice grip.

"I'm entrusting you with my everything here Lawrence. Do you understand me." She stated while giving him a death glare. Making sure he knew the magnitude of this situation. She wasn't just giving him their son, but her entire heart as well.

"Of course I understand, Natasha, and I'll make sure he's ready for the future." He replied as serious as she was.

Before the two could continue any further, the pager in Natasha's back pocket goes off. Pulling it out to check, her face drops for a split second before regaining her impassiveness.

"It's time for you to go." She said to the two of them while scanning the area. Catching one person who was eyeing their location. Not obviously of course but still noticeable for the trained spy.

"I'll buy you as much time as I can." Natasha says as she starts walking away.

Lawrence slings the backpack over his shoulder and picks up Pietro with his other arm and walks off in the other direction.

They make it to the stairs before they start hearing gun shots going off. Pietro clings to his arm with all the strength he has while looking back but not making a single sound.

"Eyes forward kid. That's not something you want to witness." Lawrence tells him as he picks up his pace. Not even taking a glance back already knowing how that fire fight is going to end. Pietro looks at his face before turning forward, not saying a word.

5 minutes later they make it to a car he rented and sat Pietro in the front while he made his way to the driver side. Once in, he placed the backpack on the passenger side floorboard, made sure his son was strapped in before starting the car, and peeling out of there before anyone had time to look.