DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, but my storyline.

"It took me 5 days to know you,

182 days to love you,

365 days to loose you,

and 730 days to miss you."

They had only been partners for five days before Barton was sent on a deep solo mission. Natasha couldn't lie, she felt about uneasy being left alone at S.H.I.E.L.D. Clint had rescued her from the Red Room and protected her ever since; though she was more than capable of caring for herself she did share a profound emotional bond with him. He had been the first human to treat her like a human, not a chess piece to play with and manipulate, and she was grateful for that.

"How long?" Natasha tightened her jaw, feeling her stomach twist. She was standing at his door with her arms crossed hard against her chest, feeling slightly saddened at the sight of Clint packing his things. He was leaving today.

"I don't know, a year, maybe two." Clint raised his eyebrows and sighed, showing strong reluctance to leaving her as well. He hesitated as he placed each item in his bag.

"Damn it, don't do this to me Barton." It almost sounded like a threat, there was nothing needy in the way she said it, it was as if she thought he could just reject the mission.

"Shit Nat, you know I didn't choose to leave you, and I can't just walk away from this." Clint swallowed, he felt his throat choking up and heat rise to his ears.

He leaned forward, placing both hands around her jawline as he roughly kissed her forehead. Natasha met his gentle blue eyes with her own intense green ones, his eyes were always something that stood out about him. He was average in looks compared to other men, but his eyes were always something completely different. The ocean was in his blue orbs, you could always see if the waves were calm or rough, his emotions were told through his eyes. She scrunched her eyebrows together, "That's not allow Barton." Her voice was slowing rising.

"I'm leaving for over a year, I'm sure they don't care about a kiss on the forehead." He chuckled at her loyalty to the policies. Clint felt his face loose expression, "So you're on your own...until I get back." An emptiness was felt in his stomach as he said those words, he didn't want her to be alone again, like before.

"Is this our goodbye Barton?" Natasha asked with a neutral expression, she didn't let it show that her chest was tightening with each word.

Clint look at her helplessly, his eyes desperately said 'don't do this to me Nat', "No, this is 'see you later'" He corrected.

"Damn you're sappy..." She shook her head and laughed at her partner, "But i guess I'll see you later Barton."

"Hopefully sooner than later," Clint replied, "though, probably later."

"It's likely that's the way thing will turn out." Natasha said plainly.

"Why don't you get a new partner until I return?" He suggested, though he didn't like the idea of her partnering with another agent.

"I refuse." She said seriously. Clint was taken aback at the quickness of her response, he wondered how she could become so attached to him in such a short time, but then he thought of how quickly he did to her.

"You'll be able to write me." He said, trying to figure a solution to their predicament, "If you ever need to tell me anything then leave a letter in Coulson's office."

"What are we in the 1940's?" Natasha scoffed.

"Apparently so, but I'm not kidding, write me." Clint said slinging his bag around his shoulder, "Just no Dear John letters..." He snickered at his joke.

"That was horrible," Natasha said, yet still found herself smile.

"No," Clint said intently, then added, "It was hilarious."

"Shut up," She rolled her eyes at her stupid partner.

"Hell no." He said as her wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her out.

A/N: Hey guys! This is just the prologue to the story, the rest is mainly going to be written as letters to and from Clint and Natasha, as a warning, this is going to be sad, and might not have a happy ending.