Natasha melted into the embrace, her breath stuttering at his words. She knew they were true, had known for years, but he was right: there were some things that couldn’t be said enough, and now the words held even more meaning than they used to. He didn’t just have her back, he had her heart, and she knew he would protect both with his every breath.

Moving her hands to his chest she shifted up his body, feeling him slowly slide out of her, until she could press her lips to his in a gentle, grateful kiss.