Heading back through the hall and into the bathroom she softly closed the door behind her, slipping out of the nightgown and turning on the shower. She stepped cautiously underneath the steady stream of hot water, enjoying the warmth against her skin. Natasha looked down at her bare body, noticing a couple of marks on her skin she didn't recognise. She smiled tenderly to herself, memories of the night before streaming back as she looked over each nick.

Picking up the soap with her fingers, she stretched out her arms before starting to wash herself slowly. A cloud of thin steam rose from the base of the shower, floating around the bathroom, filling up the air. It was humid, but not so humid that it was uncomfortable. Nat was being delicate. She carefully washed herself, massaging each bump and bruise as she passed over it. Closing her soft eyelids, she hummed quietly to herself as her mind wandered over what had happened in the bedroom just hours before.

Her expert hands worked skilfully on her luscious red locks, conditioning and shampooing them as she continued to play back in her head Maria's various actions of pleasure. Before she knew it, the water had gone cold. She had used up all the hot water. Finishing off with her hair as quick as she could, she tried to avoid getting too cold- to no prevail. A small sigh escaped Natasha's pursed lips as she turned off the water flow. She couldn't even remember how long she had been in the bathroom but she had suffered the consequences; she was now freezing.

Stepping out of the shower, Nat went to grab a towel from the rack. Her hand hit cool metal, a small, low sound reverbing from the surface. This caused the Russian to realise where she had left them all; in the kitchen. Small droplets of water were running down her naked body, forming a little personal puddle on the floor. Swiftly, she opened the door and ambled into the kitchen, leaving a trail of fluid behind.

"Maria… Can you pass me a towel?" Natasha pointed to the pile of fresh, neatly folded towels above the dryer. She stood in the doorway, her soaking hair plastered to the back of her neck.

Maria looked up at the redhead. "Sure." She grabbed the soft material, heading across the kitchen directly to the wet figure. Taking a second look at Natasha, she raised an eyebrow.

"You look freezing, Miss Romanoff." As she spoke, Hill tenderly wrapped the towel around Natasha's shivering frame, pulling her close into the American's warm chest.

The feeling of Maria's arms around Tasha's figure was amazing. She revelled in the moment, taking a deep breath, inhaling the luscious smell of the other women. A warm rush washed over Natasha's chilled body. It was love. Over the past 6 months, all building up to this very point in time, Natasha's love for Maria had been growing and developing into this. She wasn't in love with Hill, but she certainly loved her, loved her kindness, personality and her body. She loved everything possible about Maria and all that Natasha hoped now, was that Maria loved her back.

"The water went cold." Her tone was slightly childish as she leant on Maria's shoulder; her soft, wet cheek settling on the silky material of Maria's gown. She hadn't meant to sound needy, but Natasha's brain was craving Hill's attention.

Maria dragged a strand of saturated hair off Nat's upside cheek, resituating it with the rest of the Assassin's curls. "Do you want a towel for your hair, too?" There was a kind quality to her voice, like she was used to looking after a loved one.

Trickling beads of glistening liquid trailed down Natasha's forehead and neck, several droplets dropping off the tips of her curls, landing on Maria's once dry clothes. "That would be nice." She smiled up at Maria's façade softly.

Reluctantly, Agent Hill released her grip on Nat, padding back across the tiled kitchen to the pile of recently laundered towels. She picked up a smaller one, returning to Natasha. Maria used her hands to guide the Spy into turning around, back facing Maria.

Hands and fingertips working expertly, the brunette wrapped Natasha's gracious locks up in the comfortable towel. Clearing her throat, she spoke. "That's better. Now, come, sit down and get warm." She took the soft palm of Nat's in her own, guiding her into the living room and sitting down on the couch.

Maria and Natasha's fingers were still interlaced as they sat down and sank into the seat. Maria pulled Nat closer, playfully. Sunlight fought to pour into the room, streaming through the thin gaps in the dark blue curtains. Dust particles could be seen floating in the air arbitrarily, lacking purpose. It was silent, except for the clock hanging on the wall and the minute hum of engines going past in the distance.

Swiftly, Natasha was lifted into Maria's lap, the brunette's arms wrapping round Nat's waist from behind. Leaning back and mewling softly to herself, Natasha closed her eyes, enjoying the therapeutic embrace.

"You should be dry soon, then you'll warm up." The words left Maria's lips in a matter of fact manner. She carefully shut her delicate eyelids and exhaled happily.

Settling down into Agent Hill's slender figure, Natasha turned her head, resting it gently on the other's upper chest.

"You sound like a mother." The Russian said pointedly, a warm smile curving onto her delicious lips.

Opening her eyes again, looking down at the Agent perched in her lap, Maria reached up and gently caressed the other woman's warming cheek with the back of her fingers. Hill had a small, inquisitive frown knitted into her eyebrows.

"A mother?"

Natasha twisted her upper body so that their chests were pressed together. She loosely draped her arms around Maria's neck and buried her head against the soft skin. Murmuring against Maria's collar, she grinned to herself, relaxing. "Yes, a mother. Not my mother though, just a mother." Nat shut her beautiful green eyes as she reminisced.

As her gentle fingertips ran down the woman in her lap's jawline, Maria felt a profound feeling sprout deep in her chest. It was strange to see Natasha like this, so strange. It was a completely new side to her. Even Maria was acting different. Everything Shield had ever trained them to do with their emotions was being ignored. But isn't that life? Ignoring the rules, standing out from the crowd and self-discovery? Maybe Maria was thinking too far into it, but as she looked down and saw one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet, resting happily and smiling to herself in her lap, she knew that nothing else in the world mattered right now.