Over the next weeks, Ara and Bruce worked closely together on all of her cases while she continued to make sure the US was nowhere closer to locating him.

"Bruce, I'm home!" she said as she walked into her home and didn't see him on the couch, reading.

He popped his head out of the door of his room, his hair wet, "I was just taking a shower. How was your day?" he asked casually. They'd fallen into a very comfortable rhythm over the time.

"John gave me an excellent bottle of whiskey and I have the ingredients for an excellent baked chicken. Want a drink?" she asked.

Bruce nodded as he disappeared back into his room and Ara walked into the kitchen to preheat the oven and pour their drinks before she got to work on the food.

"Thanks for all your help on my cases!" she shouted, "A second set of eyes, especially brilliant ones, really helps."

"I love having something to focus on so it's no problem," he replied as he walked in, rocking a tight t-shirt with his hair still wet.

As the weeks had passed, Ara's attraction to him had only grown stronger and she had to look away to keep some of the thoughts from crossing her mind. She handed him his whiskey, "Dinner shouldn't take too long if you'll be in tonight," she added at the end so he wouldn't feel obligated to eat with her.

Bruce smiled as he placed his hand gently on her forearm, "There's nowhere else I'd rather be," he admitted, looking away almost instantly from his revelation.

Ara didn't respond as she took a large sip of her drink and began mixing the sauce ingredients together for her chicken.

Bruce was uncomfortable from her silence at his comment and he felt that he might know now how Natasha had felt but he also felt very sure, Ara felt the same thing, "Are you ok? You're never this quiet after work? They're not on to me are they?" he asked, knowing that would be another reason for her to be quiet.

Ara looked up as she opened the package of chicken, "No, they aren't even close but I've gotten a lot of fake tips ready to put into the system if they ever do get close. I'm just lost in thought is all," she replied, picking up the chicken to roll into the sauce before placing it in the oven.

Bruce moved closer to her, as close as he could without physically touching her, "Is it what I said? We've come a long way since you found me in that coffee shop. I understand now that the desire for companionship is stronger then my desire to hide. I never felt for anyone strong enough to entertain the idea at all but you are different," he admitted. He was putting himself out there while Ara remained silent.

She was afraid to leap because he was so likely to get spooked and disappear again and she wasn't just helping him for a possible relationship but because it was right. If she was selfish and lost him because of failed love, she couldn't forgive herself. "Bruce, you're so very right about me," she replied, turning away from her cooking to face him, "I realized that I wanted to be more than just friends with you the second time I saw you but I can't risk you leaving from something relationship related when I am trying to keep you safe from my government. There's too many lines crossing. Do you get it?"

Bruce raised his arm and placed his fingers around her chin, "You think we're destined to fail before we even begin?" he asked, his voice soft and tender causing her heart to melt along with her resolve.

She shook her head, "No, I don't think that but you finally trust me and I don't want to mess that up. Love is a very messy thing and I am afraid to risk it when it comes to us. We don't need to cross the line and ruin our friendship when it's going so well," she protested with the best of her strength.

Bruce's lips curled into a small smile as he leaned forward, "Let me try one thing before you decide," he whispered before he closed the gap and placed his lips against hers. This kiss was the first Bruce had experienced in a very long time and it was everything he'd hoped it would be since he'd first met Ara. Ara tried to resist the feelings growing inside her as his lips touched hers but her defenses were broken down as she placed her whiskey on the counter and ran her hands up his chest until she had her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer.

He moved forward and lifted her onto the counter, knocking her ingredients across the counter but not spilling a drop. "Can I get our dinner in the oven first?" she asked between kisses causing him to laugh.

"A moment ago you were worried about kissing me at all," he pulled back, "And now you want to make dinner."

"I mean, we're going to work up an appetite so I might as well have it cooking for when we're done but I am also fine with walking back to my bedroom right now," she said, catching her breath.

Bruce smiled at her, "Go ahead and finish your work," he said as she hopped off the counter and turned away to resume her finishing touches. He snuck up behind her and whispered, "I have never been brave enough to try anything like this before so you don't have to be so afraid of me running away. I promise," he began, "I would never risk this unless I was absolutely sure that it was the right thing."

His words sent chills down her spine as she nodded and placed her food on her baking sheet to put it in the oven and set the timer. Once she was done, she washed her hands and turned back to him, gesturing for him to walk to her bedroom.

Bruce turned to walk that way, reaching for her hand as they walked. Once they were in her room, he turned to face her and she shoved him onto the bed, pulling off her dress before straddling him on the bed and resuming the kiss they'd begun in the kitchen.

Moments passed before Ara pulled off his t-shirt and running her hands over his bare chest, "The other guy keeps you in good shape," she quipped gaining a playful nip on her earlobe. He then stood, picking her up from her bed before turning and laying her down on the bed, placing himself on top of her.

"I'm not on anything," she realized as she began to panic, "Do you have a condom?" she asked.

Bruce pulled back just enough to look at her, a small laugh escaping his lips, "I can't get you pregnant thanks to the serum so you don't have to worry."

"You're not the first guy to use the sterile serum excuse before," she joked before he leaned back down and placed kisses across her chest and up to her jaw line before attacking her lips once more.