Disclaimer: Don't own them. Characters and such belong to Marvel.

Author's Note: This pairing kind of just got stuck in my brain so I had to write this. As always, many, many thanks to sithwitch for being my beta and also a huge thanks to Prof and Suaine for helping me out on this. You guys all rock. :D

Will be going up a chapter a day (14 chapters total) and then the sequel (currently being written).

Chapter 1

Natasha waited in Pepper's office at Stark Industries headquarters, ostensibly studying a picture hung on one wall. She stood out of sight of the door but with a clear line of sight to it. The fight against Loki had ended the previous day and Natasha had to admit, the last thing she had expected was to be back at Stark Industries trying to get her "job" back. Currently dressed comfortably in jeans, tank top, leather jacket, and boots, Natasha wasn't particularly looking forward to having to wear suits and heels again every day if this worked.

Faint footsteps reached her ears and Natasha turned, leaning comfortably against the wall as she waited for the office's owner to arrive. She heard Pepper give a few orders to her staff outside before the other woman entered, engrossed in a report and still absently listing off people her secretary needed to call. Natasha watched the secretary nod then scurry out of the office while Pepper continued to her desk. Neither woman so much as glanced in Natasha's direction.

Once Natasha was certain the door was closed completely, she spoke quietly, "Hello, Pepper." She felt a flicker of amusement when Pepper jumped and whipped around, papers flying to the ground.

Pepper stared at her for a moment but regained her composure quickly, studying Natasha in silence for several seconds. Natasha didn't move but her muscles tensed slightly in preparation for a possible getaway should Pepper decide to call the cops instead of speak to her. Finally Pepper replied, voice calm and not particularly welcoming, "Natalie. What are you doing here?"

"It's Natasha actually." Natasha cocked her head slightly. "But then, you'd already guessed Natalie wasn't my real name."

Pepper arched an eyebrow at her. "The fact that you're apparently some kind of ninja did tend to indicate you weren't who you claimed to be."

Natasha smiled faintly and tilted her head slightly in acknowledgement.

Pepper sighed and began to collect her scattered papers while she spoke, "So what are you doing in my office, Natasha?"

Natasha considered the question for a moment then pushed off the wall and strode over to help Pepper clean up. Once the papers were set on the desk she turned to the taller woman. "Perhaps I should start over. Agent Natasha Romanoff, SHIELD. I'm here to be your bodyguard."

Pepper blinked at her. "Excuse me?"

Natasha sighed and waved for Pepper to sit down, settling herself into another chair after automatically ensuring she would still have line of sight with the doorway. "You know about the Avengers. Director Fury thinks that with you as CEO of Stark Industries and with Iron Man a very visible part of the Avengers, you're likely to become a target. Well, more of one." She paused. "Particularly once your actual relationship with Stark becomes known."

"I see. And you're here to what? Follow me around and look intimidating?"

Natasha did smile at that, briefly. "Not exactly. I'm a ninja, as you put it, not a super-soldier. I would resume my cover as Natalie Rushman. As your personal assistant no one would question my presence and I would be able to protect you quickly should something happen."

"I thought you were a SHIELD agent."

"And assigned to the Avengers, yes." Natasha shrugged slightly. "It's this or being sent to God knows where every time I turn around. I'd rather stay in New York for a while, personally."

"And if I say no?"

"Then Fury will just assign someone else. Someone you don't already know and won't be able to detect."

Pepper was silent for a long moment as she considered. When she spoke, her words surprised Natasha though the spy didn't make any external indication of that fact. "Assign? As opposed to you who volunteered, huh?"

Natasha had actually half-forgotten how good at reading people Pepper was. She supposed it was a necessary skill if one was going to babysit Tony Stark. Natasha gave Pepper a grim look and stated quietly, "Better the devil you know, Pepper. You know that."

Pepper sighed and looked away. For a brief moment Natasha was afraid she was going to say no and take her chances with a different agent but the CEO of Stark Industries nodded and met her gaze again. "Fair enough, Agent Romanoff."

Natasha rose gracefully. "You can call me Tasha. Just remember to use Natalie in public at least."

Pepper nodded. She did not look happy and privately, Natasha couldn't really blame her. "I'll see you Monday, Ms. Rushman."

Inwardly Natasha winced. Oh yeah, this was going to be a fun assignment. Outwardly she cocked her head to the side curiously. "You won't be there tomorrow then?"

Pepper frowned, the ice leaving her eyes for an instant. "What's tomorrow?"

It was Natasha's turn to frown. "Coulson's surgery."

Pepper looked stunned. Her voice was faint when she asked, "What surgery?"

Natasha's eyes widened slightly. Oh, shit. Carefully she replied, "To replace his lung. He's been in ICU since yesterday morning."

Pepper sat back heavily, just staring at her in clear shock.

"Didn't Stark tell you?" Natasha knew it was a stupid question as soon as it left her mouth. Mentally she cursed at herself; normally she was much better at not asking stupid things.

"What happened?" The words were shaky but distinct.

Natasha hesitated for a split second before holding up a finger. "Hold on just a moment and I'll tell you." Not waiting for an acknowledgement she spun and strode to the door. Yanking it open she stalked over to the secretary's desk. Resting both hands on the top she pinned the woman with a glare.

"You will call Tony Stark right now. You will continue to call until you get through to him and you will tell him to get to Ms. Potts' office as fast as he possibly can. I don't care what he's in the middle of doing. I don't care what you're in the middle of doing. If anyone but Stark comes through that door I will personally ensure that you will regret it. Do you understand me?"

The woman nodded frantically, already reaching for the phone to dial. Natasha glared for a moment more before re-entering Pepper's office, closing the door firmly.

A quick glance showed Pepper still sitting in stunned silence, staring at Natasha like she'd never seen her before. Natasha sighed and ran a hand through her hair quickly before stepping around Pepper's desk and perching on the edge. "Pepper, look at me."

Pepper's head whipped around and she glared at Natasha. Her voice was low and angry, "What happened to Phil?"

"Loki stabbed him. Left lung," Natasha stated simply. "It was touch and go for a while, the paramedics thought they'd lost him several times. He's been on life support in an ICU ever since. They're keeping him in an artificial coma."

Pepper looked stricken, her head dropping with a soft sob, and Natasha leaned forward, consciously gentling her voice, "The docs are pretty confident they can save him, Pepper. They already have a donor lung and the best surgeons in the country will be performing the operation." She wasn't sure when her hands had ended up in Pepper's but the sudden pressure as Pepper's hands clenched convulsively startled her.

Carefully, Natasha squeezed back, unsure of what else to do. This was so far out of her realm of expertise. Damnit, Stark, this is your job, not mine. Still forcing herself to speak softly, Natasha said, "Pepper? Pepper, look at me." Once the other woman met her eyes, Natasha forced a small smile. "He's going to be ok. They're going to do everything they can."

The sudden crash startled them both and Natasha found herself instinctively drawing her pistols from under her jacket even as she spun to face the door.

"Natasha, it's me!"

The distinctive voice of Iron Man stopped her before she pulled the triggers. Freezing in place for a moment she let out an annoyed sigh and dropped her arms. "Next time, I'm going to shoot you, Stark." Replacing the pistols in their holsters she assessed the now splintered door. "Good thing you own this place."

Stark flipped his faceplate back, giving her a dirty look. "The secretary said it was an emergency. What's going on?"

Natasha stepped to the side, indicating Pepper with a tilt of her head. "I told her about Coulson."

"Shit. I forgot."

"So I noticed. How about you remedy the situation?"

They both looked at the upset woman still sitting at her desk only now she was glaring at Stark through her tears. "Tony, how could you forget to tell me about Phil?"

Right, on that note… Natasha started for the door. She had no desire to be involved in a lovers' quarrel. Or to be around for the inevitable making up afterward.

"Natasha."

She sighed, stopping and pivoting slowly at Stark's voice. Raising an eyebrow at him questioningly, she crossed her arms and waited for him to continue.

Stark grimaced slightly but continued, "Can you bring Pepper to Stark Tower?"

"What? Why?"

Now he looked annoyed. "Because I can't get out of the suit here and I think regular clothes would be more comfortable for all involved. So, please."

So Tony Stark does know how to say please. Natasha nodded. "Fine. We'll meet you there."

Stark nodded and his faceplate slipped back into place. "Oh, and tell the secretary to call the cleaning and building crews."

Natasha waved a hand at him dismissively, already refocused on Pepper. To her credit the other woman had already risen and was shoving a stack of papers into her briefcase. Natasha knew better than to argue with her and so just stood quietly, waiting. She kept an eye on the door, giving anyone who looked inside too curiously a dark glare.

It only took a few minutes before Pepper indicated she was ready to leave. Natasha paced a half step behind her, automatically assessing their surroundings as they walked. As they passed the secretary's desk she paused briefly. "Call the cleaners. Call the builders. Ms. Potts is out of the office until Monday, rearrange her schedule accordingly." Once more not waiting for an acknowledgement, Natasha turned and caught back up with Pepper, following the other woman in silence the rest of the way to the garage.

After ensuring that Stark hadn't managed to get himself side-tracked on the way home or by his lab once he reached the tower and was in fact waiting for Pepper, Natasha slipped away. She paused outside the building and glanced up to where the solitary "A" still hung on the side. She shook her head with a slight smile and started to make her way back to her own apartment.