Steve's body was filled with fright. Not only because it could possibly take hours to find Tasha's body in this frenzy filled basin, but also because it's brisk water was so close to reminding him of...

"Bringing back memories, Capsicle?" Stark was also wading through the murky water. Of course it was a lot easier for him to see, but a lot colder and heavier. Steve grunted, they were almost certain Nat had fallen here, but not completely so Wilson, Banner and Thor were on shore, searching the woods. But Barton, Rogers and Stark were up to their necks in the dingy tears of darkness.

"Stark quit adding to your wit list and get under the water! Tasha's been under here for at least 8 minutes." Barton hissed from the right of Rogers.

Stark began to retaliate. "Well if somebody hadn't made a big fuss about not coming in then..." Barton was not in the mood and quite frankly neither was Steve, but Stark's snarks of sarcasm were somewhat relaxing. They made things feel hopeful and normal.

"STARK GET UNDER THE WATER!" Clint screamed.

Although he'd been in the process of being bandaged whilst Nat catapulted herself from the quinjet Clint had made it pretty visible that if he wasn't allowed in the water somebody would end up with a bow up their ass and everybody agreed they were wasting time arguing.

Something in Hawkeye's voice had hit home for Stark and he instantly threw himself under the water, in a fairly dramatic fake faint way but at least he was under water. Rogers wasn't sure how much help it would be given the amount of algae he was swimming through. Stark bounded up again, without saying anything but pointed below him. "You found her!" Both the boys raced to Stark, he was panting "She's...too...deep, for...my oxygen...levels." Before anyone could counter him Rogers inhaled and dived deeper and deeper, he knew he could hold his breath for at least 7 minutes, he wasn't sure about Natasha on the other hand.

Cap had definitely swam at least 60 feet down before his hand wrapped around a silky piece of material, he rubbed it between his fingers and suddenly a light appeared above Rogers head, Stark was flashing his thrusters so Steve could see. The material was a coppery red. He moved downwards, and felt his heart skip a beat as Natasha's form was cast in the spotlight. Forgetting he was under water, he had to fight the urge to inhale a big gulp of water. His fingers laced themselves around her waist and with all his might he lifted her up. The journey up took too long for Cap's liking. He also didn't like the tightness of her lips or how her eyelids looked like they wouldn't open again. In a moment of terror Steve tried to imagine his life without Romanoff. He felt like the strings to his heart were wand deeply within her, he couldn't live without her. He just kept thinking what if we're too late? What if he couldn't save her?

What felt like a millennium later he descended, gasping for air. He threw Romanoff's body above his head, making sure she was above the poisonous chemical. In the distance he heard Barton yelling something to him, but Rogers couldn't comprehend. He needed to get her to shore. Cradling her body, he swifter her on his back, and swam for his life. When he finally reached the sloppy uneven grass he placed her down, and got a proper look at her. Tasha's skin was touching blue and her red hair looked like blood in comparison to her ghostly complexion.

Abruptly Rogers started giving Romanoff CPR, he wasn't sure how long he'd been giving it. It had obviously been a long time because at several points his team mates were patting him on the back. He didn't give up! Steve Rogers doesn't give up, instead of his energy levels weakening Cap felt them growing stronger. More determined as resilience circled through his veins, his energy passing through his hands and lips into Natasha. He kept going, still feeling no response. It had been a good 20 minutes and he felt the happiness and hope draining from his friends as the heat drained from the air, it was well into the night now. Tears spilled from his eyes, he couldn't loose her. He physically wouldn't be able to deal with the pain.

Sam came to step forward, Steve wasn't sure what he was going to say though because out of the blue Natasha jumped out of her slumber, terrifying everybody. She rolled on her side, coughing up water and a little blood. Then she looked up, her eyes exhausted.

Rogers suddenly felt the mood lightening up as Thor whooped and cheered, running forwards and swinging Natasha in his arms. Everybody started to object but Romanoff's laughter of pure pleasure silenced them all. Everybody stared at the red head as Thor gently stood her on her feet, like she was a China doll. For a moment she was left alone and then Banner grabbed her in a tight hug, still holding back, being careful not to harm her. Then Wilson joined in "Damn gurl! I was almost shitting my eyes out back there!" After their hug, Nat turned to Stark who was slowly stepping backwards, retreating into the forest.

She stopped him with her cold stare and then she smirked, opening her arms. For the slightest fraction of time Tony stared in awe and then pulled her in close "Red you scared the living daylights out of us, and not in the usual good way! I swear I thought Barton was gonna murder me." Nat rolled her eyes, glancing at her smug partner. She stayed awkwardly hugging Tony in his iron man suit though, they were intently whispering in each other's ears. And when they finally pulled away Cap knew things would go back to the way they were.

Wordlessly Tasha spun on her heal, grabbed her knife, in unison Barton did the same. They held them to each other's throats and not a wind of breath passed the onlooking avengers who were too shocked to do anything. Then Clint growled "If you ever jump out of a quinjet into the darkness in a Russian forest into a freezing cold lake again..." Nat snarled "And if you ever get hit in the chest by a laser beam and squeal like a girl in my ear piece again..." They chanted "I will kill you myself Agent.

"Romamoff!

"Barton!"

They instantly leap to each other, nobody could tell if they were going to get met with blades or bear hugs. And they too speculated but the latter won out, the hug was long and lasting filled with all too familiar situations and a Bible of unushered words that were transported through touch.

Slowly Natasha Romanoff moved from Clint and walked straight up to Steve Rogers, unlike all the others she didn't look happy. She looked hurt and small and everything they'd said or done to each other over the past 24 hours passed before them in a whirlwind of numb fingers, squashed bodies, silent tears, sweaty skin, exhausted stares and sticky hair as they gripped onto each other as if their lives depended on it. Steve knew this hug was the longest and it felt more private, even though his face was an open book to the avengers (it always had been) Nat's was sealed shut behind a steal wall with laser beams, the best security guards, master disguises and a bunch of wild dogs with a bite and only he had the key. She positioned herself so no one else could see her expression. Nat could see it on his face, how real this had been for him, how close he had come to loosing her and that crushed any brick of caution for her feelings into dust, which was soon washed away with hot tears. She couldn't decipher whose they were, it was only when she went to pull away that she realised the whole team had joined in on their intermit moment. That's when Natasha Romanoff decided she'd try to let them in.

The flight home was bitter sweet, yes everybody was happy that Romanoff was alive, and after the nerve racking hugs had been dissed out the familiar feeling of isolation seemed to intensify. For one thing Barton had made his injury a whole lot worse, it was possible it would now be infected and Bruce had to thoroughly clean it. Which caused Hawkeye a whole lot of pain and therefore everybody particularly Natasha was tense, you didn't need to have known the Black Widow long to know she was blaming herself. Honestly Rogers' didn't think it was that bad a thing for her to do; he is not saying he blamed Natasha for Clint's condition or anybody else does for that matter. But it was a lot healthier for her to blame herself and focus all her negative energy on Barton then it is for her to focus on darker and more depressing thoughts.

Secondly, nobody not even Tasha could explain how her body had magically fallen into the pool of ice and not fought her way free, because at the end of the day it was a immensely cold lake, but easily swim able. It wasn't until we were half an hour from Avengers Tower and Barton's injury had been bandaged did we have an idea as to what happened.

Thor was helping Natasha with her equipment, she'd seemed to damage her back in the water, when he began screaming blood murder. His yelp could have been heard from Asgard, terrified of what she did Nat stepped back, keeping people away with her eyes. Everybody glanced Widow over, "It was my Widow Bites!" Realisation took over her features, masking the chaos of fear that she'd hurt her friend. She gingerly pulled them all out, and Banner pulled one from a limping Thor, whose face looked like it had melted as he tried to hide the sting.

"I thought you were joking when you said..." Nat placed them all out in front of her. "I was, but I guess it was sour humour. Don't touch!" She smacked Falcon's hand away. He forged a tantrum and stalked over to Barton. Thor had recovered from his blow and said "Is that what stopped you from swimming?" All was quiet and Nat's stillness intensified. "No...that was something else, uh...right." She resumed playing with her bites. Stark returned from the front of the quinjet, having put Jarvis on auto-pilot.

"Do you mind telling us? Or are we not worthy of that as well?" Nat smirked and Stark folded his arms "Great, first Mjolnir and now this. I swear you wouldn't think I've saved the world at least...a zillion times!" Banner chuckled "No you would not."

Romanoff grimaced as she sat down, "When I...felt his presence I didn't want to alarm anybody. Partly because I wasn't sure if it was a trick of my imagination or. . . ." Steve stepped forward, and Nat stared at him as he moved to sit next to her. "Natasha" she heard so much in her name that it was hard to concentrate. She needed him, physically needed him to be close. Bravely she caught his fingers and began playing with them. "There was no man." She looked scared, startled that her imagination had been that good at creating such a real image.

Her eyes flew to Clint's he leant forward, "No...I was sure...I thought...?" Bells rang in her ears, as the mans face flashed before her eyes again. It was the man. The man. "Are you ready to comply?" Her scream deafened her and her eyes stung holding back tears. "Natalia it's been too long." A bullet rounded the glass window separating them, she dogded and returned the fire.

"So" Sam was eyeing Steve, leaning against the island table in the centre of the quinjet. "You say you saw..." Nat kept her head down, but her eyes rolled up. "I did see." The snark wasn't threatening but seeds of caution hit the wind, blowing across the room due to the heavy and harsh breathing in the confined space. Steve interjected "You saw this man and what? Tackled him?" She held her breath. "Yes, I think so. He was from my past, one of my old instructors, he looked...dangerous, I felt like he was going to hurt you." Even though she was talking to everybody, Rogers felt like that "you" had his territory marked on it.

"I then grabbed him, but he was too heavy. We rolled backwards, my weight wasn't strong enough to stop and then we hit the air." Clint held his chin in a cage of fingers, "Where did the man go? The imaginary one, I mean." Romanoff tried to fight off a smile as Barton's feet rested on her lap, she hit them off and they collided with the floor causing a big thump. "I don't know, he had been wearing a para shoot, he aimed for the right and left me there alone. Then I hit the water, I wasn't aware of anything. Not of the darkness, lack of oxygen or even the cold. I just sank." Thor and Banner listened carefully, Stark was lightly tapping his fingers to a rhythmless drum beat. The falcon shut his eyes, he wasn't asleep, just resting as Clint and Steve watched Nat. "You didn't feel like not drowning?" The falcon's lips twitched at a smile, he knew Natasha long enough to know she was glaring him down. "No, I felt like not living. No matter how hard my body was fighting, my brain seemed to have. . . . Retired. I thought I was dying, but I didn't feel a mad panic to save myself."

Simultaneously Bruce mumbled an understanding, he himself had tried to take his own life but failed. "I didn't think there was much to be saved. At the time I didn't feel like this, it's kind of like when you're having a nightmare, but you can only remember why it's so scary afterwards when you're awake. During the dream all you think about it the terror. Whilst I was drowning I could only think about not being able to fight, I didn't wonder why. Not really anyway." On that depressing note Jarvis retrieved everybody from their own reveries to say we were home. Natasha was the first to leave the ship, leaving everybody staring after her limping body.

Once everybody was inside they seemed to disappear. Stark went to find Pepper, Bruce immediately retreated to his lab, Wilson had some debriefing to do with Hill, Thor and Jane evacuated to a more private location and Barton settled in his nest. Leaving Steve on his own. He decided to get an early night. He entered his room saddened that it would be another lonely evening. He shut the door behind him, placed his shield down and saw the figure of Natasha Romanoff sat on his bed. "Nat?" She ran to him, embracing him. Suddenly the covers were pulled back and everything they had wanted to say to each other poured out like blood from a bullet wound.

Rogers found himself trapped between wanting to hug and touch and caress her shattered surface and needing to confront her. Reluctance pored through his veins, but he pushed himself away "Natasha, why did you do that today? You could have killed yourself!" She stalked away, but he was having none of it. He grabbed her arms, trying to be gentle but firm. "I thought after the fight, after the explosion with you and me. . . . . I just assumed, did I do anything? Put you in a uncomfortable situation?" Natasha pleaded with her eyes, her hands tickling his fingers on her toned arms "No Steve! Well, uh yes. You did everything, you made me feel alive. I felt like I'd seen the sun set for the first time! You showed me the good. That's what I saw. When I was drowning, I mean, I saw you! You holding me and letting me cry. You telling me what was happening, you gave me another perspective on a one way street I'd been taking for years!" She beamed at him, but he needed to know "Then why did..." She interrupted, her hands chasing his arms, encircling his strong and toned muscles.

"I thought I had to prove myself, show off my new skin. I really did see the man and I was worried he'd hurt you, but I just leaped for it." Suddenly she was pressed against the door, their breaths were quick as their eyes invaded each other. Seeing the passion, the desire, the need, the lust. She reached for him, her lips capturing him. Their tongues thought vivaciously for dominance, Steve won. But Natasha didn't hold back on her wondering fingers, her nails digging into his back, clawing away at the material. His lips moved to her neck and a moan passed before her lips, she grinded against him making him groan for her. Her legs lifted easily, lacing around his waist. His hands burned like irons against her skin, his finger prints leaving momentary marks that felt like they'd be permanent. The ghost of his touch, a constant warning for future stray men who would eye up Tasha.

Their movements became rougher and he threw her to the bed, embedding himself into her. Their suits were quickly removed and the excitement of new skin was overwhelming. Steve made sure there wasn't a centre metre of pale skin untouched. They found new places were either would squeal with delight of burst into nervous giggles. When she whispered his name he responded with quicker movements, their lips leaving bruises from place to place. Rogers' fingers traced patterns and swirls on her thighs, her stomach. She clung to him, weak for it. Needing it. Her nails left imprinted lines of lust. Suddenly their hands found the hem of each other's underwear, Natasha was desperate to explore this whole new world, dimension of Steve Rogers he had always kept logged off. But a crack in his voice kept her at bay "Natasha..." She looked up at him, seeing the embarrassment and hesitation in his crystal blue orbs pained her. She felt a knife to her throat, and slowly removed her uncontrollable hands, they reached for his chin as he said "I...er...I haven't done...huh" he chuckled with humiliation that was immensely endearing. "You're my first." Honestly, she wasn't surprised. Not because Steve hadn't had a chance, considering how many girls threw themselves at him, she thought bitterly, but he was so sweet and so friendly and naive she doubted whether he'd understood the overly used hints. Or maybe he just ignored them. She placed her index finger on his trembeling lips. "It's okay Steve, you're okay. I'm here, and I'm fairly certain you'll pick it rather quickly." She glanced down at his crotch, making him blush and laugh. She then placed a tentative, secure kiss on his lips. Making them both shiver and return for more.

In the early hours of the morning Steve woke with Natasha's head resting on his stomach, her legs were between his. He felt peaceful, when he'd kissed her last night he wasn't sure what had come over him. Or how she was going to act. But she had recuperated effective immediately and before he'd known it they'd had their first night, proper night, together. He placed his fingers in her curly tassels, feeding them through and playing with loose strands, he felt peaceful and for the first time at the avengers tower he didn't feel the tiniest bit alone.

Natasha was roused with the feeling of somebody playing with her hair, she liked how she knew Steve's touch instantly. She also enjoyed the rise and fall of his chest, she felt his heart beat in her ears. She sighed breathing hot air on his abs, making him shiver. She rolled on his chest, so her breasts were pressing against him, grinding against his crotch and making him groan Tasha moved up his chest until their lips met. The kiss was seductive and dirty, Natasha flashed her killer smile at Steve making him lean in for another. "You should probably return this mattress, get a refund or something?" Her graceful fingers creep along his bicep making him tingle as his hands traced her spine, making her arch her back as he traced her lower back. "Why, seems pretty comfy to me. And does that mean that you're planing to spend more time in it with me?"

Romanoff's grin set off sparks in Steve's heart, "Maybe" she teased, pressing her lips to his but pulling away before he could actually kiss her. It was very annoying, he concluded. "And I think it's a bad mattress simply because Captain America's abs are a lot nicer to sleep on. I might invest in my own set." He chuckled, "Why would you need to when this set already has your name on it?" He declared and sucked in a breath as Nat kissed each individual one, also stopping for the ocasional lick. "Well I can tell you, it would definitely put any mattress company out of business. Might wanna look into it." She began crawling back up his chest, about to tease him again. Steve grinned "I'll mention the idea to Stark!" Then before she could pull away, enjoying the frustration on her face he leaped at her, fully absorbing her in the kiss. He grabbed her legs around his waist and stood up, not swaying from her petite form in his hands. Without breaking the tunnel between their joined mouths they moved as one to the bathroom and turned on the water for a steamy shower. Gingerly Cap's hand grabbed Widow's ass causing her to do a double take, she shoved him against the wall at which point he muttered into her mouth "Whose's being forward now!"

As the weeks went on and their relationship grew stronger and deeper Nat became more open, not just with the team but with Steve too; there were still many things she held back, things only she and Rogers discussed but it was a big stepping stone. That obviously displayed her trust not only in him, but in herself. This tightened the teams strings and brought them a lot closer. It wasn't long before the others found out about Steve and Natasha and truthfully they weren't that surprised, well maybe Barton was a little too naive for his own good, but they were vividly happy for the unlikely couple. After all, who else was going to put up with them?

Natasha still struggled on her birthday, but she no longer had hallucinations or wildly attacked her friends, she avoided all alcholo (just for that day) and surrounded herself in Steve's arms when the nightmares came. Any monsters crawling out from under her bed was knocked out cold by Steve's heart shaped shield which he wore on his sleeve, it wasn't long until he'd officially handed that over to Natasha as well.

Several years later, Natasha jumped with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt her blood roaring in her ears but what terrified her the most was the lack of the regular sonic boom of an extra heart beat pounding so loudly it scared off any deadly copwebs. "Steve! Steve...Ste..." She searched madly for him, fear and chaos and terror building within her bones. Her instincts kicking in as she reached for the gun (she was no longer allowed to keep under her pillow, no matter how many times she told Rogers the safety was always on he wasn't comfortable sharing the bed with a loaded 22.) hot hands wrapped around her waist, cooling her down and allowing her heart beat to descend back to normal. Steve pulled her whimpering body close, their noses touching as he whispered in her ear "Nat I'm here, I'm not going to leave you." She nodded, but needed a passionate kiss for confirmation. His hand protectively cradled her head, brushing the sweaty curls away from her watery eyes. "Don't you ever leave me! I need you more than you know Rogers." He breathed her in, once again captivating her scent which had mixed with his over the years. "Believe me I know." She lightly elbowed him. "Don't get cocky on me now, not when I've finally fallen in love with you."

He gulped, the words catching in his throat before he finally choked them out. Disappointed he hadn't been the one to say them first. "I love you too, Natasha Romanoff. Now come here." She fought back a giggle, fighting his seeking arms. "You'll have to catch me first!" She dives from his arms, running for the bathroom when his arms lock around her waist. Using his unbelievable strength to lure her back to bed. "My Tasha!" He claimed as they made love into the night.

Romanoff cast her mind back to a few years ago when anybody describing her as theirs would have earned themselves to be gutted like a fish, now she liked hearing him being possessive over her. It was endearing and oddly arousing. She was his, Natasha Romanoff, who now also wore her heart on her sleeve, and hastily gave it to Steve Rogers. She was his.