Chapter One

Clint's POV

We had just finished a mission, we as in the Avengers. The heli-carrier was about to arrive to take us back to the Avengers tower, formerly Stark tower, when an escaped alien thing crept up behind us with two guns. Someone shouted "Turn around!" and we all saw it. I thought that it was aiming at Tasha but in the second it took me to get a arrow ready, she jumped in front of me and took two bullets.

"Robin Hood, she will be ok she's Natasha Romanoff." Stark says and I can't be bothered to respond, or just attack him. I know if it was Pepper none of us would be doing this to him except maybe Tasha but she isn't here and he's just trying to get a reaction, I think. Also the Avengers don't know about us. "Robin Hood? Aliens take your tongue?" I get up ready to attack him when Steve says "Clint, calm down and Tony, Natasha was-is his partner and she just took two bullets, one apparently quite near the heart, she's not in a stable condition, yet, and your out here not even caring?"

"So Barton and Romanoff are in love, or is it you, Rogers, and Romanoff?"

"Steve," I say, quite calmly, "Do you give me permission to kick him off the heli-carrier?" asking him, only because he is the unofficial head of the Avengers.

"NO! But if he says another word about Romanoff I will personally escort him to his own room." He then lowers his voice and mutters to me "I would say yes but I don't think it's too good for the baby if Pepper kills one of us when she's about to give birth." Stark shuts up after that and we sit in the small room in silence.

LATER IN THE AVENGERS TOWER

I am in the hospital, this tower has everything. Thor has gone to see Jane in New Mexico and will probably be back later with her because "She will probably be just as worried about Lady Natasha as I am." Bruce has gone to bed for a bit as he is always tired after being the Hulk. I think Tony went to find Pepper and Steve went to get a drink. I am thinking this when Pepper comes to see Nat and brings me back to reality. "Hey Clint," She says "She will be ok, you know, she promised me she would be around when the baby comes." Pepper is heavily pregnant and since Natasha and Pepper are the only two females that are permanent residents here in the tower, it is understandable that Pepper misses her, she is now surrounded by men. And apparently the baby's a boy.

"She promised me as well."

"What exactly did she promise you?"

"Before each mission either of uas goes on, single or Strike team Delta or of course the Avengers now, that as Strike Team Delta we will both make it back to each other, alive."

"Oh, Ok." Pepper looks like she's turning white, ghost white, with a green tint. I half help half a force Pepper in to a chair, whilst saying "Pepper what's up, come on Pepper tell me?" Then I shout "J.A.R.V.I.S tell Tony to get here now! Tell him it's Pepper!" I'm in full panic mode but ten seconds later, Stark walks in "Legolas! Why did Pepper say Romanoff ne- Peps? What's the matter?"

"Tony," she gasps.

"Legolas," Stark says "get some hospital staff, they'll know what to do." I run down the hallway, not believing that Tony Stark, of all people, has convinced me to leave my precious Natasha. I suppose it was some of Pepper's input as well and you kind of had to do stuff for pregnant women. Finally some body. "Excuse me, can you come down to room 007 I think that Pepper Potts is about to give birth." I say to the woman who rushes off in the direction I have just come in. I walk slowly back not wanting to invade their privacy if Pepper is really giving birth but when I get there Tony is leading Pepper in to the room next door. I go back to staring at Natasha in peace.

After a few minutes I say "Tasha don't die on me, I love you." And it is only then I notice Bruce Banner in the doorway.

"Don't worry," He says taking the chair had previously forced Pepper in to, " I won't tell anyone," and I know he won't.I feel like I can really trust him, Steve and of course Tasha, "But everyone already knows." He continues leaving me to say

"How?"

"For one you call her Tasha or Nat, and the rest of us can barely say Natasha and keep our heads. Two, you two can sleep in in the same room without getting shot by the other, no one else can even get the door half open without a gun or arrow pointed at then. Three-"

"Ok I get it," I say "But you know the couple act that we sometime play on missions? That stopped being an act just before Budapest."

"One, that's a long time to keep it from us and two, what actually happened in Budapest?"

"For one, one of the skills that you need most to be an assassin is acting and two, the night before we had to attack, Tasha and I kissed properly for the first time. The next day, we took out about twenty-five guards in this room and the last one had two guns both aiming at Tasha. He pulled both triggers just as I jumped...Where did she get shot?" I ask another man attending to her whilst ripping off my shirt.

"Here," He says pointing to the left side of of her neck, "And here." He says pointing not too far right of her heart.

"Gosh!" Bruce says "Strike Team Delta has matching scars."

"Thanks," I say to the man "Anyway Tasha remembers the waiting for me to heal part and I remember the kiss."

"Thanks Clint," Bruce says " Get better soon Natasha. I'm gonna see Pepper now, are you coming, Clint?"

"No, but tell me if the baby comes." I say and Bruce leaves me to my thoughts and to, well, Tasha.

"I love you, Tasha. I miss you. Please come back to me." I say quietly.