Natasha melted into his arms, wanting nothing more at that moment that to just be close to him. She wasn’t sure where the sudden neediness had sprung from, but it was only with reluctance and great willpower that she detached herself from him to get in the car.

“Don’t ever change,” she said. “That immaturity is a good part of your charm.” She said it teasingly, but there was definite truth to it. The fact that Clint had been able to retain his boyish glee after all these years was part of what she loved so much about him. She’d never had a childhood, never had an opportunity to be childish, but with Clint she could, and it felt good to be able to be that free with another person.

She located the market easily and found someplace a little bit of a walk away to park so they wouldn’t have to navigate through the people when they were ready to leave. Taking Clint’s hand as they moved through the crowds, Natasha took in the wares of each stall they passed, making a mental list of items to take a closer look at. When he spoke, though, her list was forgotten.

Turning to look at Clint, she tried to read him, but she wasn’t sure she was reading him right. Usually she could tell when he was joking, but this time she wasn’t sure. “I don’t know... are we?” she asked. Did he really want to adopt the cat, or was he suggesting it just because he thought she wanted to? And if that was the case... did she want to? She thought of that little ball of fur from her early days in the red room, and her dream from last night came rushing back. “I don’t know...” she said again, lowering her eyes, her brow furrowed. It wouldn’t be like that but... she had never had anything depend on her before for its well being. What if she failed?