Stepping out of the car, Natasha carefully carried the pizza with her even though Clint seemed a little less concerned now about coddling the thing and more interested in getting upstairs as soon as possible. She wore a small smile, a secret smile, but inside it was much bigger.

“They must have underestimated my skills,” she replied coyly as he herded her into the lift. This was a much more pleasant ride than the last time she had been in it, burdened with the impending separation and Clint’s sudden confession of love. She had been so thrown, so confused then, but it seemed so long ago now. “I was just glad they hadn’t sent you anywhere in my absence.” It would have been like the universe’s cruel joke if she would have risked everything to get home early only to find him gone.