Natasha was gone. It had been 4 months and there was no news of her. No phone calls, no text, no message about her from anywhere. The people that had accompanied her were lost too, no one had any idea where they all were.
Steve was broken, he could never believe she died. Because he was alive, and he knew his heart would stop beating if hers had. Fury had send his men all over Russia to look for her but they couldn't find any trace of her even being there. Shield believed otherwise, Clint was trying hard to convince him. But Steve refused and Tony supported him. Natasha Romanoff wasn't that easy to kill and get rid off.
But how should he convince his children. They were son small. James, the eldest being 7, was aware his mother was busy with work, and tried not to ask about her, since he knew it hurt Steve as much as it hurt him. But the rest were very small to understand. Anthony, the second child of Natasha and Steve, 4 years and few months, was very attached to his mother, and couldn't cope with her absence. He kept asking about her, but when the response wasn't favorable, he grew silent, and started getting frequently ill.
Margaret, their only daughter, almost 3, wasn't taking it as hard as Anthony but still it was too hard on her. She wanted her mother, and she kept asking.
Then came the twins, who had barely completed their first year of life. Joseph, a quiet and somber kid, Steve Jr. as Natasha called him, cried and became restless too, as days without his mother passed. And Thomas, the youngest member of the Rogers family, was in the worst condition.
Steve tried all in his will to console him but he didn't stop once he started crying, all ideas were failing one by one and he was so ill, he had to be hospitalized twice. The doctors found nothing, except the fact that he missed his mother, and so didn't eat well, and his functions deteriorated.
"I can't take this" Steve said to Tony, as they brought Thomas ad Anthony back from the hospital, "my kids are getting sicker by the day, and I can't take care of them because I want their mother as much as they do. We cannot function without her Tony. I will loose them, and myself if she didn't return sooner"
Tony rubbed his back, "I am trying my best to locate her, but its so disturbing, she has just.. Vanished" he said.
"Steve you have to hold yourself, your kids need you, you are their only support" Sam said.
"I can't do that when I am in no better condition then they are. She is my wife. I love her more then anything Sam. I want her back" Steve broke down and cried.
Maria came out with Wanda by her side, "They are asleep, for now" Wanda said. Being like an elder sister, she bonded well with the kids.
"For now! What about later? Anthony would get another stomachache, or Tommy would start vomiting again. Even James is getting sick now, he doesn't say but he wants his mother too. She is his life" Steve said, his voice heavy with the crying.
"I can make them all forget it" Wanda said hesitantly, "for some time"
"Forget their mother? Are you out of your mind Wanda? " Steve yell.
"Its a good alternative Cap, for some time its good" Tony tried to convince.
"No, they won't forgive me ever if I did that. She is their mother!!!! Would you want to forget yours? " Steve shouted.
Tony lowered his head and so did Wanda.
"I can create an illusion then" Tony said, "for them to sleep peacefully "
Steve gave him a death stare, "I won't convince my children with illusions Tony. They want their mother, healthy and smiling, cuddling them to sleep"
Steve hid his face in his hands and cried. He was a total mess. He didn't shave, forgot to bath often, had taken up drinking. He needed rehab himself, but who would look after his kids then. He had grown up without his mother too. And he couldn't imagine the same for his innocent kids.
"Where are you Natasha? " he spoke inside, because she would listen the words of his heart, "Please come back. We need you" he said.
Everyone was trying to think of solution, Fury had even suggested to put Steve back into his coma and make the kids forget, but Tony forbade it. He didn't want this for his friend or the kids he loved like his own.
"There's only one way" Steve said, finally stopping to cry and standing up, everyone following suit.
"What? " Tony asked.
"I need to go and look for her myself " Steve said.
"No" Sam yell, "You aren't in the position to go anywhere"
"Yes, Cap, I will go for you, I would search for her and I promise I won't return till I find her" Tony said.
"No, no Tony I have to go, she is my wife, I will search for her. She will answer only my call. She is my destiny, our strings would pull us together " Steve said. He turned to look at his kids, behind the glass in Tony's large room, "I promise my kids I would search for her and bring her back within one month, and if I didn't, I would go where ever she has happily" he said with heavy breaths, determined.
"You all have to look after my kids till then" he said to them, "and after if we didn't make it" he swallowed in pain.
"No, don't say that Cap" Wanda cried.
Steve hugged her, and then turned to Tony, "You are their godfather. Take good care of them" he said.
"I promise, they are my own kids" he said.
Steve went inside and got ready, packing for his stuff and then kissed all of his children good bye.
"I won't be able to go if I see you eye to eye" he said, "I will bring her back, forgive me if we don't return" he said.
Taking his backpack he left, leaving his kids with his friends.
"I hope he makes it" Wanda prayed.
"He will " Tony said, "Cap never fails a battle, and this one is for his family "
****
Poor kids😭 and poor Steve. Please find her soon and bring her back. How was the first chapter? I hope you guys like it. The response for the preview itself as surprised me. Thank you for all the love guys. Do give your reviews.