“Don’t think of it as bribery so much as an incentive,” Natasha replied, smiling wider at the chuckle in his voice. She knew things couldn’t be smoothed over so easily every time, that there would be times when the darkness was harder to banish, but for now she wasn’t going to argue and just accept this blessing.

“I will,” she promised. Turning her head she settled it against his shoulder again, one hand drifting lazily up and down his arm. She had always loved his arms; even before, even in the beginning she had been able to appreciate them, and now they were definitely one of her favourite attributes.

Listening carefully to his breathing, even if he drifted off she was content to stay awake, to make sure she kept her promise. It would take some time to get used to sleeping like this, but it was a pleasant prospect that she was looking forward to.