After Natasha went into her room, she slipped out of the black dress she was wearing, took a shower, and dried off her long, fiery red hair. She put on a silk tank top and some pajama shorts and sat on the edge of her bed, thinking. What was going on with her and Hawkeye? It had only been 3 weeks since they first met and he had spared her life. Instead of killing her, he gave her the option of becoming his S.H.I.E.L.D Partner. So here they were, three weeks later, and she was completely enamored by him; his body, his personality, his skill, everything about him, she loved.

'Love is for children' she had always told herself. How could she be foolish enough to fall for her own partner?

Natasha looked over to the digital alarm clock on her nightstand; 1:27 a.m.. She had to get some sleep for the next day. She laid down on her bed, pulled the covers over her, closed her eyes and drifted slowly into a deep sleep.

Hawkeye laid awake on his bed. He liked staying up late; it gave him time to think things over. He looked over at his alarm clock; 2:56 a.m.

Natasha was submerged in a terrible nightmare; she was trapped in a fire, watching her mother and father slowly, painfully dying in front of her, calling out for her to kill them and end it.

Sweat beads rolled down Natasha's forehead and neck. She thrashed violently under the sheets; tossing and turning restlessly, like she was trying to run away from the anguish.

Natasha's nightmare changed from the fire to her standing before of a pile of dead bodies; the bodies of all the people she had killed. Crimson streaks streamed from the limp, lifeless bodies. Natasha bent down to examine the bodies. Suddenly, a hand shot out of the pile of bodies and grabbed Natasha's, pulling her closer to the bodies. The corpse's bloody face was revealed.

Natasha bolted upright and screamed, awakening herself from her nightmare.

Clint heard Natasha's scream from across the hallway. He rushed out of his room, grabbing her spare room key, and ran across the hall to Natasha's room. He quickly slid the room key through the swipper and entered her room, rushing to Natasha's bed side.

"T-the fire… Mom, Dad… bodies, blood…," Natasha blubbered as she wept.

"Nat! Nat! Nat," he said embracing her, "You're okay… it's okay! I'm here, I'm here!"

Clint cradled and rocked her back and forth like a child, softly talking to her to get her to calm down.

"It's alright, Tasha! The nightmare is over, you're gonna be okay!"

Natasha wrapped her arms around Clint's waist and sobbed against his hard chest. Clint continued to rock her, stroking her hair and gently whispering in her ear.

"Tasha," Clint said quietly once she was composed, "What was your nightmare about?"

Tears were still streaming from Natasha's cheeks as she answered.

"I-I was in the fire t-that killed my mom and d-dad," she cried, trying to keep herself together, "Then there was a pile of bodies; bodies of people that I killed…," she cried even harder.

Clint looked at her worryingly, "What's the matter, Tasha?"

Natasha couldn't look him in the face.

"You were one of them," she sobbed.

Clint brought Natasha in for another hug, caressing her head and rubbing her back.

"Please don't leave me… stay in here tonight Clint! I don't want you to go," Natasha whimpered, gripping Clint into a tighter hug and crying on his shoulder.

"Nat, I'm not going anywhere… I'm gonna stay with you tonight," Clint promised, caressing her face.

He helped Natasha get under the covers of the bed again, and he did the same. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she snuggled closer to him, nuzzling her head on his shoulder.

"Sleep Tasha," he whispered to her as he gently kissed her forehead and stroked her soft hair.

Natasha breathed a sigh of relief, and slowly her body stopped trembling and began to relax. She and Hawkeye fell asleep together; they had a long day ahead of them.