Basically, I have had this idea ever since I wrote my previous Endgame oneshot. I was thinking how they would make a Black Widow movie now that *SPOILERS* we know what happened to Natasha. So, I just couldn't let this idea of mines die out and had to at least write some of it down. Otherwise, this is how I would think a Black Widow centered movie/tv show should be like.

This is definitely going to pair Steve and Natasha together because they are my ship. This is an AU where Clint dies, and Cap stays in the present. Enjoy, and if you want more give me some feedback or a like.

Thanks a lot.

xxxx

The ringing of a phone could be heard, it's an outgoing call. Five, ten, fifteen second go by, the red -haired assassin began to think it might have been a bad idea to call so late at night. She looked at her clock which was hanging on an empty wall to the right of her bed. It's a little passed 11:20 PM.

"We're sorry, the person you are—" Natasha groaned and put the cellphone off her shoulder. As she was about to shut the device, a frantic shuffle could be heard. "Hi! Sorry, who's this?" The phone suddenly answered.

"Hi, hi, hey, it's me Nat…" the assassin answered.

"Oh! Hi Nat, how are you? I was just putting the kids to sleep, they were really hyper tonight, we just finished watching a movie." The voice on the other end said extatically and at the same time there was a hint of relief in her voice.

"Hey Laura, I am doing fine. I am just checking up to see how everyone's doing since I have been busy these last couple of weeks." Natasha said, trying her best not to sound needy.

"We are doing fine, I-I am still trying my best to keep things on the low. W-we are trying our best, sticking together you know." The woman replied shakily on the other end.

It's been half a year since the battle with Thanos, half a year since Clint throw himself off the cliff; sacrificing himself so that the Avengers could pull off their time heist and bring half the universe back.

"That's good to hear." Natasha said, there was a quiver in her voice as she tried her best to hold back the tears forming around her eyes. An awkward silence fell dead silent on the phone until Laura began to speak again.

"Nat, you should come over when you have time. Stick around for a few days, the kids would love to have you around." Laura practically pleaded.

"Of course, anything. I – ah, I have some things planned before the weekend, but I should be free after. Will that work?" Natasha was quick to reply, she secretly hoped that Laura would ask her such as simple request. She wanted nothing more than to have a few days of relaxation, and to put her mind off "work."

"You know us, we welcome you to come any time." The woman answered back.

"Okay, I'll see you then?" The assassin said.

"Of course. Good night Nat. It was good to hear from you."

"You too, good night."

Both women were hesitant to close the call, but Laura was the first one to do so as there was some ruffling in the background, one of the kids call for her. Natasha let the phone call go one for a few seconds before the line finally went dead. The assassin, slowly leaned into the corner of her bed, setting he back on the wall and bringing her knees to her face where she rested her head.

"It was supposed to be me…" She mouths with a breathy sigh; it was the last of her efforts to hold back her emotions before letting a few tears shed.

xxxx

Down in a Hydra lab, several scientist work on a what appears to be a platform. Wires hanged unorganized all over the walls, some dangling from the ceiling hooked into the circular stage. Two Hydra agents dressed in high grade military wear and make their way up a few stairs before stopping in the middle. The head scientist typed furiously on his keyboard, testing the final calculations and running risk simulations. A few seconds later he paused and gave the two agents a nod.

"Three, two, one."

With a flash of light, the platform began to light up and the relay panels began to spin. The two agents both presses a button on their suits and disappeared.

The Hydra scientists stopped and stared at each other for a moment.

One more bright flash rippled the room, the machine temporarily overloaded and sent hundreds of sparks flying across the room. No one was phases as they looked at the agents who have completed their mission and brought back the asset.

xxxx

The sound of water filled the bathroom, Natasha was in the shower having a moment of bliss. She stood as the water came pouring down her back, the warmth made her shutter but in a good way.

Ding* Dong*

Ruined.

Natasha sighed. Who is it now? She questioned as she turned off the water. The red-haired woman made her way out of the shower, grabbing a towel to cover her body. She quickly made her way to the door. The agent was currently living in a small apartment in the middle of Manhattan, not really an incognito location but it wasn't like that many people knew where she lived, mostly just the Avengers.

Her stealthy footsteps made no noise as she made it across the hallway. Slowly, she moved her head to the peephole to take a look at her morning visitor. "Speak of the devil." Amusement in her voice.

She opened the door, purposefully still wrapped in the semi-soaked towel.

"Hey Nat—" Steve stopped when he realized what his eyes laid upon. Natasha gave the super soldier a sly smirk, and then crossed her arms as if she was trying to cover her top. Not that she needed to as Steve's gaze never fell below her neck, in fact his cheeks flushes just the smallest amount as he turned around to avoid eye contact.

"Maybe I should come back in a few minutes?" He enquires.

"You're no fun. Come in, the shows already over." Natasha joked.

Steve didn't have a comeback for that one, instead he just opted for walking in and closing the door as he kept his eyes glued passed the woman and on anything other than her nearly naked form.

"I thought we were pass the door ringing; you know I gave you a spare key for a reason?" she said seductively, but Steve knew it was just sarcasm.

"You know in my time; this would be considered scandalous." The soldier said blandly.

"But we're not in your time Cap." The woman said walking back into the bathroom to get dressed, but not before letting her towel drop right in front of the door. She knew Steve wouldn't dare take a look, it was quite charming actually, the whole old gentleman thing, however Natasha did it anyway for the sake of teasing.

Steve found his way to the living room an pulled out a chair to sit in. He had been to the assassin's apartment many times, in a way it reminded him of his own little complex. Nothing really to express that an individual lived there, only the necessary utensils and technology to live with. "Man, we really need to get a life." He breathed.

"As I said before, you first." It wasn't meant to be a response, she just liked butting in. Natasha made her way into the room, this time dressed in a black tank top and blue tight-fitting jeans.

Steve made a small smile directed at her. "How was your morning?"

"Noneventful." Natasha returned the smile.

""I should have known."" They both said in unison.

"How many times have you asked me that questions?" She jested, harkening back to the past five years they've spent with each other doing nothing at the Avenger Facility.

"642 times now I think." Steve answered.

"Wow, you were actually keeping track." Natasha took a seat

"No, but that sounds about right." In one swift motion, Steve slid a folder over to Natasha.

"What's it this time?" Natasha didn't want to sound mission-fatigued but couldn't help but make it appear that way.

"Our old friend Hydra is up to something. Our intel picked up on a large power surge less than 48 hours days ago in Mexico. We don't know what it is, but we can assume the worst since the energy signature is similar to that of the time machine Banner and Tony made."

Natasha furrowed her eyebrows; this was a big concern. It didn't matter that changing the past doesn't affect the future, terrible things could still come from this. "How is this possible? We destroyed the machine, no one knows how to make the Pym Particles besides Hank."

"Hydra has been trying to recreate the Pym Particles for decades now, it seems that they have finally found a similar substitute. The machine itself was probably scrapped together in the pass five years during the… snap." Steve had to pause for a moment, the past was still to fresh to be talked about lightly. "They probably raided Hank's old research, found a way to build a machine."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Natasha stood up, but her stomach made a small growl.

Steve held back a chuckle, he was eager to go and find out whatever Hydra was planning also, but no one should fight hungry.

"I could make you something or we can go buy something, your choice."

"Watch it their Rogers, if I didn't know any better, I would think you are asking me out." Natasha semi-joke, but a little voice inside her didn't think it was such a bad idea. Quickly though, she suppressed the thought. There have been several times in the past decade where they had moments that hinted of something more between them then friends, but she wanted to remain professional. Something as good as their relationship shouldn't be ruined because of naturalistic needs.

"Maybe I am." Steve countered; Natasha raised an eyebrow.

"See, you are getting the hand of 21st century flirting after all." She walked past Steve and over to the kitchen counter.

The Captain turned his head and gave the assassin a smirk, "I try."

"Oooo, almost had me there Mr. Worthy." Though she made the attempt to keep her sights down to not get caught up in the golden boy's smile. It was only partially successful.

xxxx

In the dead of night, a stealth jet made its way into the Sonoran Desert passed the boarder of Arizona and into Mexico.

"What's the plan Cap?" James "Rhodey" Rhodes, also known as War Machine, asked Steve.

The super soldier pulled up a holographic monitor with images of the Hydra base. The picture showed a canyon area with a platform and fortification built into the slide of the rock walls. "It looks like the base is highly fortified. They have reflectors scattered throughout the area that is keeping the base hidden, the outer part of the base looks the most heavily armored. Rhodey should be able to handle most of the enemies outside." Steve tapped on the hologram and the images changed into an underground bunker hidden under the fortress. "Me and Romanoff will be sneaking in here, our main goal is to find the machine, destroy it if necessary."

Rhodey nodded his head in acknowledgement. He brought the scans up in his helmet hud and reviewed all the possible risks and enemy threats. "I'd thought Sam and Bucky would be joining us."

"They have their own mission going on." Steve replied while putting a communication device in his ear.

"I though those two hated each other?" Natasha spoke.

"Still do, but if we are all working together, we need everyone to be on good terms." Steve smirked and placed the shield that T'Challa had Shuri make him on his back.

"That's cold." Rhodey laughed.

Natasha clearly though the idea of those two working together to be something out of comedy skit. They would probably spend more time bickering with eachother than fighting the enemy. The assassin sent the Captain a playful but questionable look. Steve just gave her a small shrug.

xxxx

The stealth jet let Steve and Natasha off several hundred yards from the cliff of the canyon where their security was light. The two crept their way to the end of the valley and took out their enhanced binoculars to make a last-minute reconnaissance of the base. "As expect, most of the infantry is in the front. Most heavy artillery and guns are scattered around the perimeter, those will need to be taken out first. Copy?"

"Copy." Rhodey answered as he waited out in the distance.

Natasha pulled a grapple gun out of a bag and aimed down the sights. She found a good spot several dozen yards from the entrance of the base that looked like a good spot to climb into the fortification without getting noticed.

A small hiss broke through the air as wire attached itself to the wall in front of them.

The duo made their way across the line and onto the massive rock wall. Climbing on the slide, the two stopped short of the entrance and Steve pointed at a small open entrance about a hundred yards deep into the stronghold. "Rhodey, draw the action away from us."

On cue, explosions began to rain down on the base destroying a major portion of the enemy's automated weapons. The silver and black exoskeleton flew into action, blasting at the Hydra personnel with impressive firepower. Captain America and Black Widow in the middle of the frenzy began making their way to the door now that only a few guards stood in their way.

Steve kicked a Hydra soldier with enough force to send him flying dozens of feet right into the side of vehicle creating a noticeable dent. Spinning around he knocks out another guard with a hard bash of his shield. Natasha pulled out her pistol and with deadly precision took aim, pulled the trigger and put down the four more guards. "Steve the door!"

The super soldier spotted the metal wall rapidly closing, quickly, he throws his shield which flew right in between the falling door and the floor, allowing for a sizable gap. The assassin slid under the crack and in one swift motion got back up onto her feet. Aiming down her weapon she took three quick bursts and down went another three unsuspecting troops.

Suddenly, she felt the wind get knocked out of her as a Hydra soldier sprinted out from the doorway and tackled the assassin into the wall. The blunt force made the assassin drop her gun, recovering fast, she punched the man in the stomach with made him wobble back a few feet. Natasha had to take a quick second to catch her breath, while the soldier pulled out a sharp blade. Natasha got her fists up and ready for a scramble.

Just as the Hydra agent got ready to make his move, a flash of red, white, and blue hit the man in the head with a loud "ping" which even made Black Widow wince. She turned to her left and found the super soldier sliding his shield back onto his left arm.

"Great timing." She quipped while recovering her gun.

"As always." Steve returned as the two continued their way through the hallway and he pressed the button to the elevator.

"Any signs of enemies?" Steve asked.

Natasha put on a pair of glasses and looked down. "We have explosives built into the walls of the elevator. About a hundred feet down I read at least ten guys ready to shoot anything that makes it down there."

Steve pulled open the door and with a powerful spin, directed all of the energy into a cutting force with his shield, separating the cables that pulled up the elevator. There was a quick two second screeching noise and then a loud explosion shook their feet.

Natasha took off the glasses with a small smirk. "That's a strike."

The duo made their way down the elevator structure and onto the bottom floor. Steve was the first to trek down the pathway leading up to the lab room. Natasha held out her gun ready for any uncertain ambush. "Clear on my end"

"No sign of activity." Natasha reassured.

Steve looked at the hinges of the metal door, backing up a few steps he brought his shield up in front of him and made a quick dash. In impact of the super soldier hitting the door pulled the metal out of its frame and skidding across the lab floor. The sound of something flying towards the super soldier made him raise his shield.

Ping*

The clash of the two shields rang around the deserted laboratory. The metal disk bounced and returned to the owner. Out of the shadows the dark covered figure walked out into the light.

"You've got to be kidding me." Steve breathed, as he looked in horror. The man in front of him was non other than himself dressed in a black Hydra quantum realm suit.

Natasha appeared besides Steve; her eyes widened in shock at the slightly younger Captain America. "This is awkward."

The two Steves eyed each other, the older Cap could tell that Hydra had done something to his younger self. There was a murderous look in the man from the past.

The younger Cap smirked and clicked a button on a device connected to his right-hand glove.

The older Steve could tell where this was going and quickly through his shield at the younger Steve, but it was too late. A quick flash of light blinded him and Natasha as the machine roared to life and sucked the younger Cap into the quantum realm.

"Oh no…" Abruptly, Steve felt his entire body shake. A headache ripped through his brain as if a large rubber hand was tightly squeezing his skull. The soldier fell to his knees and crashed onto the floor.

"Steve!?" Natasha rushed over to her friend. "Steve! Steve!?" She called his name, shaking the man's body rigorously. "Rhodey?!" Natasha yelled into her communicator.

"Nat! What's the problem?" Rhodey replied, concern in his voice.

"Steve is down, bring in back up now!"

xxxx

"No, no, no, this shouldn't be right." Bruce said as he paced back in forth with his right-hand brushing through his hair.

Natasha looked at the green giant and furrowed her eyebrows. "What's wrong with him?" her question came out in a whimper as she looked over the unconscious Steve lying on the table.

"I think he may be experiencing a temporal-stroke." Bruce massaged his chin, a deep stern expression painted on his face.

"What does that mean?" Rhodey asked.

"The Steve that you guys encountered must have went back in time and altered something that is affecting our Steve's consciousness."

"How?" Rhodey looked confused. "You said that altering the past doesn't affect our future?"

Bruce shook his head, "Yes, but that was with the stones. We had to place them back after the heist. Likewise, it wasn't like we did anything drastic that would throw our present off it's course."

"Then what would cause this?" Natasha wondered.

A grave looked dawned upon Banner that made his teammates uneasy. He quickly, pulled up some recovered Hydra reports that we salvaged from the raid and fleeing scientists. "Clearly, Hydra intercepted the Steve you saw from the past. The only way I can see them being able to do this is if they went back in time anywhere between him crashing into the icecaps and before being found by Coulson. They must have used some machine similar to what they used on Bucky before he woke up to make him believe that he's been part of Hydra."

"Those fucking bastards!" Natasha slammed her fist into the counter.

The emotional response slightly surprised her teammates. Bruce didn't know how to break it to them lightly. "That's not it. If I am piecing this together correctly. They sent the old Cap back in time to kill himself…"

""What!?"" Natasha and Rhodey shouted in unison.

"This would effectively make his past-self his future." Bruce finished.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait…" Rhodey had to stop Bruce. "But Nebula Killed herself from the past and she's still alive and unaffected."

"Yes, but that's because our Nebula was already on our side, and her future self is also her past self. However, if this Steve went back in time is Hydra, and he kills our Steve. Then this would cause catastrophic alternate realities or even changes in our present."

"Then why are we here? Like, shouldn't Hydra be ruling the planet right now if evil Steve is successful in completing his mission?" Rhodey scratched his head.

"Who knows, it could be that Hydra Steve hasn't killed good Steve yet, or that the affects are happening right now and at any minute we will being fading out of existence or even losing our memories."

Natasha looked at the unconscious Steve, the thought of losing him and everything to Hydra loomed over her mind with fear. "What do we need to do?"

xxxx

Bruce finished typing code into the Hydra system and gave the assassin a nod.

"Are you sure about this Nat?" Rhodey placed a comforting hand on Natasha's back.

"I am the only one here that can do it." She gave him a small smile.

Rhodey returned the smile and nodded his head. "Good luck."

Natasha attached a nanotech unit to her glove and pressed the button, quickly a black Hydra uniform wrapped around her body. The suits had a more militaristic designs to that of the red and white ones she used before, mainly due to the armor padding and tactical black color choice. The assassin walked closer to the Captain and brushed the messy blond hair off his face and back to its usual cut. "You better wake up when I get back." She then made her way up to the platform. "I am ready."

"Find our Steve and make sure so stick to him like glue." Rhodey tried to make light of the situation.

"When I am I ever not." She mused.

"The only sure time and place I can send you back to where you can easily find him is May 1st, 1943 at the Stark Expo. According to this log though the Hydra Steve arrive soon after the Rebirth Program, so until then you have to make sure to lay low." Bruce pressed some buttons "This device is a little different than ours, so a few months for you will be may a few hours for us… Stay safe Nat." Bruce said sincerely.

Natasha nodded, she let out a deep breath. Her finger twanged a little as she closed all thoughts out of her mind, and with a tap - vanishing into the vortex.

xxxx

Natasha came out of the Quantum Realm and landed on her feet. She felt a little queasy but that began to fade almost immediately. She looked around to take in her environment, the streets were wider and more covered in litter. The building made mostly out of brick and mortar, none of them looked like they had proper building regulations. Natasha made her way out of the ally and turned the corner, several people gave her a stare and just as quickly hurried away.

There was major traffic clogging the road as she looked several blocks in front of her. The lightshow and fireworks in the sky was a dead giveaway that an event was being held nearby.

Luckily for her, when she kept the helmet and suit on most people still gave her a curious gaze but must have thought it was for the show. The event seemed to have started not long ago, the sun was now fully gone, and the array of blue and red explosions filled the center of the area where Howard Stark was said to be show off his new inventions.

"If I was a Steve, where would I go?" Natasha questioned as she walked around the giant stadium housing thousands of displays. "Of course," The assassin smirked looking at an adjacent enlistment office.

More stares were shot her direction as she walked up the stairs into the main entrance of the recruitment center. Entering the building she definitely felt like touring a museum. There was patriotic posters plastered across the wall asking for citizens to help with the war effort or men to voluntarily enter.

'I want you' she turned to look at the classic Uncle Sam poster.

"Bucky, Bucky! Come on, there are men laying down their lives. I have no right to do any less then them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."

Natasha paused in her tracks. Her head slowly turned to the direction of that voice. She skimmed the people in front of her and nearly had her jaw hit the inside of her helmet when her eyes laid upon the skinny man several yards away. She had seen all the pictures that ever existed of him in his pre-serum state. But, to now be able to capture the full view of the short, nearly anorexic looking man made her feel an uneasy sensation build up inside her core.

"Hey, the Expo is that way." An officer chimed at her.

Natasha broke her trance and acknowledged the man, giving him a slight apologetic nod. She turned to leave but caught a glance of a man wearing a brown suit looking at Rogers. He looked like the scientist type, with the disheveled hair and circular glasses. The assassin made a quick hunch, this was Abraham Erskine, the creator of the super soldier himself.

xxxx

Doctor Erskine walked with glee as he headed upstairs to his apartment complex. The U.S government provided housing for him in exchange for his work and help to defeat the Nazis. The Doctor was put under protection and given his own little division to work with code name "Rebirth" to pick candidates for his serum which would change the tides of war.

A small smile made its way onto his face as he remembered the young man he met earlier today and help pass a physical examination.

"Steven Rogers." He shook his head to confirm his own thoughts.

So far, out of all the candidates that were chosen up to this point- there had yet to be someone with the spirit or values that the kid had. Though the kid lacked physical presence, Erskine knew Rogers would make up in heart.

He too a few seconds to fumble with his keys before inserting it into the lock and pushing open the door. The dead of night darkened his vision as only the hallway lights made it through the door. He took two steps into the complex and closed the door, when a clicking noise made him shudder a cold sweat.

The first thing that came in mind was his old capturers, Hydra.

"You can kill me if you want, but you will not get my work." He spoke with confidence, trying to not show any sign of fear.

"I don't want your work doctor." The assassin calmly stated.

Erskine raised his right eyebrow in confusion, he knew Hydra, but had yet to hear of them allowing females into the ranks. "I am going to turn around, don't shoot." Gradually, he began to take small steps in a circular direction until he found the source of the voice.

Natasha sat in a chair, legs and arms crossed, and still in the quantum realm suit but without the helmet.

Erskine adjusted his glasses to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him. "Who are you?"

"I am Agent Romanoff, and I've come here for your help."