Joshua couldn't be found for quite some time after he last saw his mother. Everyone'd given up and decided that he'd come back when he was ready except for Natasha. She finally pushed through a thornbush and found him, skipping rocks onto the oasis behind the palace. She spoke, "Joshua…?"
He looked at her, eyes red and puffy. "Well, I had to go for a while. If I'm going to cry, I'm not about to let people see it."
Natasha ran over to him and embraced him, kissing him on the forehead. "Joshua… If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart."
He hugged her close to him and smiled. "I know, 'Tash…"
"Give me a moment, please, just to tell you that I'll be there for you… at your worst, and your best. We made a bet, didn't we?" She stroked his hair softly, eyes closed, as he tried not to look as if he was about to cry again.
He pried her away and held her hands. "Natasha… Thanks." Then he kissed her, a soft, quick touch. She blushed and mumbled, "J-joshua, now you've gone and made me blush!"
"You look pretty when you blush," he observed, and kissed her again.
When he pulled away, Natasha spoke. "After that, I can't say anything but that I promise, I will always be here when you need me. To pick you up if you're down, or to heal you if you're hurt... If I can, Joshua, I will. I promise you that."
And that time, she kissed him.