When Clint looked at her she could see that he was practically asleep on his feet, and if she were honest she wasn’t far from it. It had been a tiring day, both physically and emotionally, but finally they could relax. There were no meetings to get up for in the morning, they could stay in bed as long as they wanted. There were no training sessions to go to, so they could spend the whole day on the beach. They could explore the village, or not even leave the house; whatever they wanted to do. Whatever they wanted. Whatever they wanted. For the next few weeks, at least, their time was entirely their own.

Following him back inside, Natasha finished her water and set the glass aside before her eyes fell on the chocolates on the pillow and she gave a light laugh. “Is it improper us being here, unwed?” she asked. She was unsure of the customs and beliefs of this particular village, so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think so.

There were a lot of things she never considered on the rare occasions she thought about her future, and marriage was one of them. She had been married once, and ‘widow’ was not simply just part of her codename. The marriage had been arranged, but she had grown to love him, and his death had devastated her. It was what had caused her deflect, to strike out on her own and make her own way in the world. She had sworn never again, that she would never let herself be so vulnerable again, never let herself feel so deeply for another.

She hadn’t counted on Clint Barton.