The pesky Russians could never leave it alone could they? They ruined our moment and now they were keeping us later that desired in the situation room. Stupid War Games. Most of the staff had left again except Steve, Clint, and me again and a few generals. The Russians developed this special cloaking material and our boys finally cracked it. Turns out the sub had nuclear warheads on it and now the staff was dying from radiation poisoning. The Russians weren't playing ball. They wouldn't let us go the help the crew. The crew and ship was declared MIA and crew dead according to the Russians. It was depressing. And after enough hush, hush talk and deals the U.S. was still not allowed to fish out the boat and did not get involved officially. Of course that wasn't the truth. We sent in rescue and gave full immunity and autonomy to all of the crewmembers, new identities the whole nine yards. Everything slowly was winding down.

"Madam Secretary, thank you for working so hard to day." Natasha nodded at Steve and looked around before walking a little closer to him.

"Always a pleasure Mr. President."

"Natasha, how does tonight and a home cooked meal sound?"

"Mmh really good."

"Good."

"My place?"

"It's a date." Natasha kissed his cheek and then started to walk away with a little more sway in her hips.

"Well what are you waiting for solider, come on."

"I'll meet you there, I just have to grab something first." She left the white house and arrived home. She got inside and began cooking. She returned to the front of the house when she heard the doorbell go off.

"Hey you."

"Hey. So you live here?"

"What not what you expected?"

"No no I just, I remember your time at the CIA this place is a little ways off and a little bit more upscale than where a passing spy might stay."

"Well you know I, redecorated once I transferred over to justice for those few months before state."

"Well it definitely looks more like you." He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. He would never get enough of her soft lips.

"Come on I've food on the stove." She lead him to the kitchen with one hand, never really breaking contact. They were both dressed casually in jeans and plaid shirts. As Natasha continued to work on food she gave Steve small nods and directions on where to go for different dishes and materials. They seemed so perfectly matched.

"All set, come sit." Natasha served food and took her seat across from Steve. They stared at each other as they took what they wanted.

"Natasha I know this isn't my place but I would like to ask you say a prayer with me."

"Of course Steve." He recited a prayer holding Natasha's hand it all felt overly domestic for them and it felt really good.

"Natasha, this is really good. Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"My mother."

"Wow, she must be really talented."

"Was."

"Oh I'm really sorry Natasha, I didn't even know. When?"

"It's okay Steve, really. It was about two years ago now."

"Did she know?"

"About the spy thing. Yeah she knew."

"I'm sorry for you Natasha."

"It's okay. What about your ma?"

"She's doing better. It helps now that I'm president, she gets the best care out there."

"That's good."

"Yeah. Listen this was supposed to be romantic and intimate. I'm sorry. How about we dance a little."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He lead her to the family walk in with some room and he turned on his phone to a slow song, he dimmed the lights and placed a hand on her waist and grabbed her other hand. He hummed along and they danced softly. Eventually her hands shifted up to his neck and both of his wrapped around her waist. After several songs he spoke up.

"Nat?"

"Mmh?"

"I want to ask you something?"

"Yeah?" He pulled apart from her and started fishing in his pocket.

"Nat I know that this is still new, but I want to ask you a very important question."

"Steve please don't be doing that."

"No I'm not asking you to marry me. Maybe hopefully someday but today I want to give you this ring a simple promise to us, to not let politics and any work get in between us."

"Yes Steve. I want this to work more that anything." He stood up and placed the simple band with a small jewel, her birthstone, on her right hand. They continued to dance softly to the music. It was sweet and nice and simple and domestic. She leaned up to kiss him and he responded easily. Things quickly became heated and slowly her moved her towards the stairs.

"Natasha" he wined.

"Steve?" He kissed her carefully judging her reactions, she relaxed completely in his arms and he backed her up against the stair wall. His hand drifted lower to just above her kneecaps. He pushed upwards slightly and she wrapped her legs around him in response. He moved up the stairs carefully and once at the top he broke the kiss and leaned her against the wall. His lips found her neck on the same spot of the hickey and he continued to kiss her. She clearly was enjoying this as she squeezed her legs tighter in response.

"Bedroom?"

"Down the at the end." She replied in ragged breaths. He picked her up putting his lips on hers again and walked them down the hall. Her door was open and he took a second to slam it shut with his hand. Her bed was extravagant. As he approached the bed her turned to right around the bedposts. He laid her down and positioned himself atop of her. Slowly things continued to heat up. He pressed her down into the mattress as he laid his full weight on top of her. He was worried about crushing her but it was hard not to lay on top of her when she pulled on his collar trying to bring them closer. He was situated with her legs wrapped around him still. His one hand was braced on her hips the other was tangled in her hair.

"God Natasha you are so beautiful, so beautiful." Steve ran a hand up her side and back down across her thigh. He shifted slightly eliciting a moan from her. Their breathing was getting heavy. He moved up slightly and began to undo his shirt she ran a hand across his white shirt underneath feeling his prominent abs. He started to make work of her buttons and she reached up to kiss him. He pushed the shirt off her shoulders and then moved down to her tank top. His fingers started to pull at the edge of her shirt and suddenly she grunted and pulled away.

"Steve stop… I can't do this…please stop." She pleaded in ragged breaths. He rolled off of her. He was painfully aware of his arousal. He turned on his side to look at her.

"Natasha? Are you okay? What did I do? What's wrong?"

"No, it wasn't you?"

"Babe?"

"I'm sorry."

"No, No it's okay. What's going on?"

"I just I can't do this. I'm sorry, maybe…maybe you should just go, take this back." She turned over to give him the promise ring.

"I won't do that. I won't leave you. Not now, not until I know that you are okay, no matter the cost to me."

"Steve please I don't want anything to happen to you, I can't weigh you down."

"Come here." He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her and let her burrow her head into his chest. They spent hours like that just together. He patted her back slowly running his hand across her back to sooth her. When her breathing stabilized and she started drawing random patterns on his chest he nudged her slightly. "Want to talk about it?" She shook her head no. "Can I still spend the night here, even if you want to end things, as least as a friend let me comfort you."

"Yeah, okay that's fine." He moved around and pulled the covers up over them up and they just lay there. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her close and slowly she fell asleep. She turned from him pulling his arm across her midsection, causing them to cuddle on their sides.

When she woke up the next morning she felt at piece. She felt safe and warm and welcome for the first time in a very long time. Her dreams were peaceful and pleasant. She didn't dream of that night or any of her CIA missions. She turned to see Steve still sound a sleep. He looked so relaxed compared to all those times she'd seen him under duress as president. Suddenly last night flooded back into her memory. Oh god she broke last night. What had she done?

"Stop thinking so hard so early in the morning Natasha."

"Hey you, I didn't know you were awake."

"I just woke up and I could feel how tense you were." She turned to look at him and she remembered all of the reasons she had fallen in love with him all of those years ago, the reasons she was still madly in love with him.

"Sorry."

"Hey its okay, no reason to be sorry." He rubbed her shoulder lightly. He pulled her into him and continued to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, I understand if you want to leave Steve, I mean who would want a broken girl like me anyway."

"Natasha I'm not just going to leave because of last night. Listen if we go to being friends not whatever this is, then so be it, but it has to be because that's what we both want. Not you or me pushing the other away. And certainly not because of stopped intimacy and a few bad dreams."

"I appreciate that Steve, I do really but…"

"No buts. I have a brilliant idea. How about we have breakfast down stairs. We have a mess to clean up from last night and right now nothing seems to be causing Clint to come barging through to get me or Pepper to get you."

"That sounds good."

He quickly walked out of bed to the bathroom and rinsed his face before pulling on his plaid from yesterday and leaving her to get ready. She walked into the bathroom and washed her face. She took a quick shower and then joined Steve down stairs.

"Mmh that smells good."

"Well I might have picked a few things up from my ma and the chef."

"I would say so." Natasha said, as she tasted several bites. After a quite breakfast and cleaning up they settled into the couch with soft music playing the background. It was mindless and entirely peaceful.

"Steve?"

"Mmh?"

"I want to talk about last night."

"Nat it's okay, I don't need an explanation as long as you are okay and willing to let this keep developing."

"But Steve, as my friend you should know, even if we are lovers for now."

"Only if you are certain Natasha."

"Yeah I am." They shifted out of their position to face each other.

"Take your time Natasha." She grabbed his hand in a thanking manor and squeezed it lightly.

"Last night…when we were…and I pushed you away and broke. It…that moment with you brought back a few bad memories. But believe me it wasn't you, it was more so the act. Look I…I promised myself to my future husband or serious relationship. When we were intimate in law school I thought that we were finally taking that step, that three years of teasing and longing glances and late nights were finally becoming something so I gave in. I gave myself to you. That morning when you were dazed and didn't seem to remember what had happened between us, I blamed my girlish attitudes and false hope."

"Natasha I am so sorry, I never meant anything like that. I, that night was everything I wanted for years and well part of me was dazed because I so content but then you left and put space between us and I thought it was a sign."

"I don't blame you or me, ultimately it was the best night of my life. But I was hurt and I promised myself that I wouldn't not until I was in a committed long-term relationship, one I was certain of. Of course that didn't last long. In the CIA, my charm became a field tool that they wanted to employ more than my mental skills. Part of me was so happy to be making a difference I was okay with being so flirty but I was sure to never let it go that far, I've had my fair share of close calls."

"Oh god Natasha, I can't believe that they would do that. I swear that I will do all in my power to stop this from happening to other girls."

"Thank you Steve it means a lot to me. But that's not really the brunt of the story. My real fear to intimacy came with my previous engagement. I started getting the attention of my coworker and immediate case helper Alexei. Eventually I accepted his advances, even if I was still in part in love with you. I made it clear to him that I wasn't going to go that far until I was certain of our relationship. He accepted that in part. For two years we dated and got closer and closer. Then he proposed. I said yes and I was thrilled that I was finally getting everything I wanted." She let out a shaky breath.

"What happened Nat?"

"He showed up at my door step, at my old apartment that night drunk, so badly drunk. I opened the door and immediately he pushed his way in. I tried to get him water and calm him down but when I came back from the kitchen he was all over me demanding me to physical that it was his to take as my soon to be husband. I resisted him and his slammed me into the stairs and took me upstairs kicking and screaming. He threw me onto the bed and…and…just as he was about to take me, I was so certain that he was, and part of me prayed that we could overcome this that there was some logical explanation."

"Nat oh god, don't tell me that he? I'll kill him myself."

"No, Steve, it was much worse. He sensed my resistance, guess I'm not any good at acting, he threw me aside and pulled something out. He said that if I wasn't going to be good to him that I didn't deserve him or anyone else. He said that I was too damaged for anyone. He took out a pocketknife and stabbed me. That scar last night when…when you went to remove my tank, you touched it and I started to relive the moment and I couldn't anymore. I'm sorry."

"No, don't ever apologize for something like that. If anything I'm sorry for pushing."

"But that's the thing, I've wanted you for so long that the other night at the White House I couldn't resist and then last night I was okay with giving in because I knew you would treat me right, that you would love me for me. I was certain that you would be in this for the long game and I was okay with breaking that vow."

"Nat we take it slow, I promise. We will do things right, I'll make an honest woman out of you I swear, otherwise my mother might hang me."

"Thank you Steve, it means a lot to me. It's men like you who revive women's faith that chivalry is not dead."

"I promise to always do right by you and the moment I'm not I want you to tell me so. (Natasha nodded in response) Natasha, what happened next if you don't mind me asking."

"I felt like I was dying but I was able to push him off. I scrambled for my phone; I landed a few good punches on him. I dialed 911 as quickly as possible. I was losing blood fast. But he came back after me and he twisted the knife several times in me. I passed out after that, next thing I knew I was waking up in the hospital and they told me the police arrived and got into a gunfight with Alexei. I recovered and retired from the CIA I went reached out to Wanda and she offered me a job at Justice. Then months later you were back in my life and asking me to be secretary of state and then these 18 months with you as my boss did nothing to quell the fire in my, in fact it only fueled my love and desire for you. Seeing you lead the country almost effortlessly and so morally it was inspiring and it reminded me why I fell in love with you during law school."

"Natasha, I'm so sorry that you had to under go all of those horrible moments and that you have to live with physical scars of it. I promise to only do right by you if you'll give me the chance. I know that it's been a tiresome 48 hours in this relationship but I hope that we can still give this a go."

"Yeah, I would like that very much."

"Good me too." He leaned across the couch and kissed her passionately.

"Steve, don't you have to go in to the office, back to the white house now?"

"Uhh no, perks of being the boss and all. I'll go back if they call me, otherwise I can presume that the country is safe. It's Saturday so its more so family day than anything. I mean I planned on visiting my ma soon."

"Sounds good to be the boss."

"Yeah it is. Plus if they really needed me, I'm already with my number one foreign policy advisor so they would kill two birds with one stone by coming to your place to get me."

"You really have this all planned out don't you?"

"Yup, I'm never leaving you side Natasha, you won't be able to get rid of me, you'll be so sick of me."

"Never Steve Rogers. Never." They stayed like that for a great while just in each others company.

"Natasha, since you opened up today and shared a big part of yourself with me, I want to share something with you even if its not really by any measures as impactful or meaningful as what you shared with me."

"Steve?"

"I uhh, I…when we were in law school, I knew, I knew that I wanted you and it took me six months after meeting you to realize that I was in love with you. And while nothing came of that till the end, albeit only for one night, it was my first and it was everything I ever imagined. You were my first. My first kiss, my first love and my first…And between our gap I just kept thinking about you and the passing catch ups just fueled my fantasy that maybe one day I'd get the guts to say something to you, to ask you out. I never will another woman since you in law school because no one would compare to your beauty, and the one serious girlfriend I had, she was just clearly not there for me, but for my fame and the politics. But I promised myself like you, to my future spouse. But then the other night at the White House I couldn't help myself. I'm not sorry though because I love you. I understand if we can't be intimate for a while and I'm okay with that, but hopefully one day we will be comfortable with ourselves and our relationship, enough so that we can trust ourselves and each other to get lost in passion."

"I would like that one day Steve, really I would." She turned around to kiss him passionately. They broke apart and suddenly everything looked bright, there were no secrets between them their feelings were completely exposed.

"Natasha, would you like to come with me, to see my ma today. I don't know how long she has and I want her to meet you, to meet this important girl in my life that I'm in love with and have been for so long."

"Yes Steve, I'd be honored."