Sorry this chapter took so long to post, I just couldn't get happy with the way the "talk" went, and since it's a pivotal point in the story I wanted to take my time with it, it still isn't perfect so I may come back later and tweak it.

Chapter 9

Bruce came awake slowly, becoming aware of two main things. His legs were cold, and there was a stick under his knee, but his waist on up was warm, and comfortable, and he felt, good. He blinked his eyes open, realizing that there were fingers lightly running through his hair.

And then he realized he was lying between Natasha's legs, and he was naked.

Bruce pushed off her and stumbled back, luckily landing against a tree with the blanket still around him, he stared in shock at Natasha, who slowly sat up, pushing her skirt down and shifting over slightly, pulling a rock out from underneath her. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"So, how do you feel?" Bruce kept staring at her, she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, dislodging leaves and twigs. "Okay, let's try again, what do you remember?" It was an old question, in the beginning, when they first started learning to harness the Hulk, she would ask him that after he changed back, but it started upsetting him, so she stopped asking.

Bruce closed his eyes, as much to avoid staring as to concentrate. "I, remember coming home, you weren't in the house so I went back outside, I heard men laughing from by the river." Natasha noticed his hands balling into fists and she stood up, moving closer to him.

"I remember seeing your eyes, I guessed you were drugged, then I saw the bl-blood on your thigh, and saw the man undoing his belt." He opened his eyes then, seeming unsurprised to see her standing near.

"So I killed him." He said flatly. "I killed two men, and chased after the third, once I caught him, things got a little fuzzy, I was so angry at him… but after that it felt like a dream."

"Do you remember it at all?"

Bruce blushed and looked down. "Um, no, nothing."

Natasha knelt in front of him, "Hey, it's me, look at me please."

Bruce looked up, "I, um, what happened?"

Natasha smiled. "Well, you seemed rather agitated until you'd reassured yourself I was ok, and then you were ready to put the past behind us and move forward, as quickly as possible."

Bruce paled a little, "Um, how, uh, forward, did he, we move."

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "I believe the term is "all the way"."

Bruce groaned and hung his head. "I, he, we raped you then." He said it as if a statement.

Natasha was so surprised she said nothing for several seconds, then she took his face in her hands and made him look at her.

"Bruce," she said quietly, "it wasn't rape, it wasn't even close."

Bruce didn't seem to know what to say about that.

"But, you couldn't have possibly wanted that could you?"

"It's rather a natural thing Bruce, people do it every day."

"But him, I, we…"

"We had sex Bruce, is that okay with you?"

Bruce just stared at Natasha, after a moment she started to feel a little panicked, had she misjudged him? was it just the Hulk that desired her? Just before she started to move away he blurted out "Are YOU okay with that?" Relief filled her as she looked at him and considered her next words.

"If I hadn't been, he would have stopped."

Bruce started at that, "He would, what? How do you know that."

"Because I was startled by the sudden movement, and he stopped and didn't move until I said okay." Natasha explained, "Bruce I know he would have stopped if I'd wanted to, I know it."

Bruce kept staring.

"Bruce? Are you, are you okay?" A horrible occurred to her, "Did, did you not want to? Did he force you?"

Slowly his hands came up and cupped her face, then moving slowly he kissed her. Several seconds later he rested his forehead against hers and breathed deeply.

"I've dreamed about it nearly every night since you found me, how could I not? You're such an incredible woman Natasha, any guy would want, would think... " His voice trailed off, unsure what to say.

Natasha took one of his hands in hers, "We can talk about it later if you want, right now, think you could help me back to the cabin and look at my thigh?"

For a moment Bruce blushed scarlet, then he recalled the blood he'd seen and froze a moment, then shot to his feet, reaching down to help Natasha to hers. As he stood the blanket fell off completely, and he blushed harder as he tried to both catch the blanket and cover himself and help Natasha.

Natasha laughed, "You've nothing to hide you know, and no reason to, you're a very attractive man."

Still blushing Bruce clumsily knotted the blanket around his waist before picking Natasha up and cradling her in his arms. "Habit." He mumbled as he walked toward the cabin.