Shit always comes back to haunt you. Especially after the death of someone you've grown close to. All the bullshit you took for granted, didn't think held any real significance, just shrugged off as unimportant. All the things you said or did. All the wrongs you promised to make right.

All of it a reminder of what you lost.

Of that person no longer with you.

As Clint Barton stared down at the stone marker he and his boys made to honor the woman who gave her life so they could be reunited, he recalled each of the moments that led to him standing beneath the tall tree that sat right next to the house.

"Don't," he told her, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't give me hope."

"I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you sooner."

She had taken his hand in her smaller one, offering him silent comfort, and desperately needed support. That one simple act also worked as a subtle reminder. He wasn't alone. He'd never be alone.

Not so long as he still had her.

Natasha hadn't offered him any false promises. She hadn't fed him any bullshit. When she told him there was a chance, a slim one, she meant it.

"If there's even a small chance we can undo this," she said shortly, simply. "We owe it to everyone not here in this room with us to try."

Try. A small, humorless laugh escaped him. As if either of them wasn't willing to do more than try. Especially if it meant bringing everyone lost in the snap back.

"Whatever it takes," she said, looking at him. "Right?"

"Whatever it takes," he agreed with a short nod.

He hadn't cared about the cost to himself. If there was any shot at bringing his wife and kids back, he was taking it. He never intended for Natasha to make the sacrifice. It never even crossed his mind to have her pay the blood price demanded. He'd told her as much as they discussed what Red Skull said.

"We both know who it's got to be."

Natasha nodded, her expression solemn, but no less determined.

"I guess we do."

Clint frowned.

"I'm starting to think we mean different people here, Natasha."

He always planned to sacrifice himself. It was only right that he pay the price. He was doing it for his family, after all. For her.

"Tell my family I love them."

A small, sad smile briefly curved her lips.

"You tell them yourself."

She sacrificed her life, her soul. And for what? A goddamned stone. She bet her life on it being the only thing that'd bring everyone back.

Of course, she was right. They did bring everyone back. Laura, his kids, everyone.

Everyone but her.

"We can't get her back."

Thor frowned his confusion.

"What?"

"It can't be undone." He ignored Stark's derisive snort. "It can't."

Natasha understood that when she made her choice. She made it knowing there'd be no undoing it. There'd be no coming back. Not for her. It was the end of the line for her. She wouldn't be with them when they confronted Thanos for the final time. She wouldn't know for sure that her sacrifice made victory possible.

"I'm trying to save your life, you idiot."

She did save his life. More times than he could count. More ways than he remembered. More than he deserved.

"We couldn't have brought them back without you, Tasha." He crouched to run his fingers across the words he personally etched into the stone. Placed the flowers Laura picked out in the vase Lila made. "So, thank you," he said thickly as he rose to his feet. "For everything."


A/N: Hello, all, and welcome! I hope this finds you well. This is just a little idea I got after seeing an image on Pinterest that showed the friendship between Natasha and Clint. I own nothing but my general idea.

Please, if you like this piece, favorite it. Take care everyone!