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Natasha woke up with a heavyweight, bouncing up and down on her hip. When her eyes fully focused, she saw Sarah smiling back at her. It was unusually late in the afternoon and Steve wasn’t in bed. He wasn’t downstairs either, so he probably went on his run. She gave Sarah lunch and while she was eating, she had a gut feeling she was forgetting something about this day. They didn’t have any dentist or doctor appointments. It wasn’t anyone’s birthday, so what was it?
Steve was on his run for a little too long than usual. She was going to call him, but it would be a waste of time. I mean, Sarah was awake before she was so maybe she would know.
“Sarah, baby.”
“Yes, mummy?” Her eyes were glued to the TV, not bothering to turn her head
“Do you know where your Father went?”
Sarah just giggled, not answering the question properly. “Daddy said I can’t tell you.”
“You can tell me. He won’t know.”
“Nope.” She shook her head slowly. “I made a pinkie promise to not say anything and you can’t break a pinkie promise.”
Natasha was annoyed but proud that she was bringing up such a stubborn daughter. She anxiously waited for Steve’s arrival and when she heard the locks turn, she quickly ran into the kitchen and pretended to wash something up. “Hey, Steve. How was your run?” She turned around to face him and saw he was carrying a bottle of wine, a tray of chocolates, and balloons that said, ‘Happy Anniversary.’ Happy. Anniversary. She had forgotten her own wedding anniversary. How was that even possible? Steve was the one to always forget things.
“Happy anniversary, Natasha.” He put all the stuff down to kiss Natasha
“Happy anniversary to you too. I actually have your anniversary gift waiting for you at a friend’s house. I was just waiting for you to come back first, so I could go get it.” Why was she saying this? She didn’t have anything. Natasha quickly slipped on her trainers, put on a coat, grabbed the car keys, and left the house.
-
“So?”
“She definitely forgot.”
Steve, Sam, and Bucky had a bet on whether Natasha would forget the anniversary or not. He knew the minute he saw her face when he came in. The shocked, then happy face was Natasha’s ‘oh shit,’ face.
“Where has she gone now?” Sam asked through the phone while driving
“She said my anniversary gift was at a friend's house and that she’s needs to go get it.”
“She’s definitely going to get it. I wonder what she’s going to get you.” Bucky chipped in
“She better be getting you some T-shirts that actually fit you. It’s like you and Bucky love to wear extra-small T-shirts.”
“Shut up. You love it when I wear them. And anyway, you know the saying.”
“What saying? There is no saying. You just made that up.”
“Maybe.”
“You two need to stop flirting; I need you to hurry up over here and help me make carbonara.”
-
Natasha only had forty bucks in her purse and was wandering around town for what felt like forever, when in reality, it was only fifteen minutes. What would you buy a one-hundred-year-old man? It didn’t take much to satisfy Steve, which made buying him gifts a lot harder. She could buy him some clothes, but they were basic and not sentimental at all. She could get a pair of headphones for him while he runs, but he barely understood modern technology as it was. Just as she was about to give it, she came across this shop. She looked into the window and saw the perfect gift idea. She quickly bought it, along with cheap wrapping paper and a card.
She got home with a smug grin on her face while she basked in the smells that filled the house. “That smells wonderful. What are you cooking?”
“Carbonara. Here, try some.” He took a forkful and brought it up to Natasha’s mouth. “Holy shit.” She began to fan her mouth frantically. “How much cayenne did you put in this?”
“Barely any.” He got her a glass of water and watched her drink it.
“Barely any sounds a lot like not enough." She said with glassy eyes You shouldn’t have even put cayenne, you are supposed to use black pepper. You should add extra things to it to balance it out.” Natasha looked around the living room for Sarah. “Where’s Sarah?”
“She’s at Sam and Bucky’s. And should we just order pizza instead?”
“Yes, but later. I want you to open the present I got you.” She reached into her bag and pulled it out. “This already looks appealing,” Steve said as he looked at the poor wrapping skills.
“Just open it.” Steve tore away at the wrapping and saw what it was. A radio, exactly like the one he had in the 40s. “Nat, I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just press play.” Steve pressed play and It’s been a long, long time started to play.
“Is that?”
“Our wedding song? Yup.”
“Can I have this dance?” He asked while offering his hand
“Of course.”
They slow dance to the beat of the music for what felt like forever. It’s like time slowed down just for the two of them and it was bliss. Just the two of them, alone, in the kitchen, dancing to their wedding song.
“This is the best thing that you have ever gotten me. Apart from Sarah” Steve murmured on the top of her head
“Thank you. It was a pleasure buying it for you. Even though it took a lifetime to find. I may or may not have bought this an hour ago.”
“Oh, I know. You weren’t exactly subtle with it. I know you forgot about today.”
“I’m sorry. It just slipped my mind.”
“It’s okay. You made it up to me by getting me that radio. And besides, we’re still young. We have many years left.”
“You mean, I’m young. You like one hundred years old. Even though you don’t look it”