Clint winced again, louder this time, when one of Natasha's strong fingers hit just the right spot and a sharp burn shot through his neck, followed by a relieving prickle. Well, now he could at least lift his head again, and turn it enough for a short kiss on her hand. When she started talking, he reached back, ignoring the pain from over-strained muscles this time and held her hand right there, with his lips pressed against it. It was okay, his kiss was supposed to tell her, she could say it, whatever her feelings on this, the worst part, were. He had her like he had her hand.

And then she said it, the hardest part, and while the fear remained, that voice of panic wanted to start fluttering in his head again, that painful clench in his stomach was gone. He hadn't dared to hope so, but they were on the same page here. And this was the point where he could let her know. He would still be with her if she changed her mind, but right now this was the better solution for them. Maybe not the right one but the best.

"You don't have to."

He turned to her as fast as he could right now and wrapped his arms around her stomach, searching her gaze firmly.

"Okay? No one can make you. Not S.H.I.E.L.D., not anyone who might think to know what's good for us and what not and certainly not me. And I'm glad you feel that way. I mean, I could... We both could do it if you wanted it. But maybe we should leave this to chance. It will still hurt as fuck if... you know."

He pressed his lips against her forehead, let her feel the tremble going through his body that wasn't pulled muscles this time.

"But at least it's not our responsibility then. And maybe, I mean... We have a few months, right? We can prepare and..."

He shrugged, helplessly, still terrified to the bones just by the thought of it. But if it really did happen, if they were lucky... Then there was no way out. Then they would have to learn what they didn't know yet.

"We can learn how to do this, I think. How to have a kid and stuff. I mean, together..."