I woke up to a shaking and murmuring Natasha. She stirred and fear contorted her normally peaceful sleeping features. I went to put my hand on her shoulder and her eyes snapped open. Looking at my face, she seemed to grow increasingly afraid. "No!" She rasped out, scrambling out of bed.

I sat up and held my hands up, showing her surrender. "Tasha, baby, it's me. It's Clint."

"Stop!" Terror burned in her eyes as she attacked and pinned me under her, ready to fight.

Then it hit me. She was having nightmares about me under Loki's spell. He told her the same thing he told me. He was going to force me to kill her, slowly, intimately and the way I know she fears. I knew because I have nightmares about that too. Reaching into the bedside cabinet, she seemed to freak out, so I stopped.

"Tasha," I said carefully. "There's cordage in there." I flicked my eyes down to my wrists and held them out to her, presses together.

She seemed to take the hint and grabbed the rope, twisting it so my hands were unable to move. She looked carefully at me the whole time, expecting me to strike.

"I'm not gonna hurt you Tasha. It's me. You broke me out of Loki's grasp. I love you. I'm not gonna hurt you."

The rope was tight, cutting into my circulation. But I ignored it, I needed her to be calm right now.

She seemed to realize that I wasn't going to kill her because her muscles relaxed, and she moved to straddle my hips, Leaning forward, resting her elbows on my chest and burying her face in her hands. I was lucky she was so petite, otherwise I would be extremely uncomfortable right now.

"I'm so sorry Clint." She was embarrassed and when she moved her hands, tears ran down her cheeks. With my hands up bound, I reached up to wipe the tears away with some difficulty. Then I moved to put my bounds hands behind her neck, pulling her head towards me, and joining our mouths together. Passion, trust and love flowed between us.

We separated to breathe.

"I love you Tasha. I would never hurt you."

She smiled down at my through thick lashes.

"I know. I love you too."