'Hey!' Natasha shouted after him again, 'what the hell Steve!' She put a hand on his shoulder and he wheeled around.

'What do you want Natasha?' He asked furiously.

'I want to know why you've been avoiding me.'

'I was taking your advice, getting out there, going on dates.' He replied snarkily.

'That doesn't mean you can't make time for me and the rest of the team.'

'What's it to you anyway? You seem to have been doing fine without me.'

'If you'd been spending time with us you would know that's not true.' She folded her arms across her chest.

'Just because you're dating the whole of SHIELD doesn't mean you ignore your best friend.' She took a step towards him.

'Well it's not like you've been around lately.'

'You're one to talk!'

'Well you made it pretty clear you didn't need me anymore by running around with Banner.'

'So that's what you're really pissed about? God you're childish!' Their faces were mere centimetres apart now.

'So what if I am? You know what, I don't need to explain myself to you. You disappeared off the face of the earth for a whole year Natasha. A whole damned year. And when you get back, everything that went on between us before the fall of SHIELD is nothing to you. We're just pals, nothing more. Did you just expect me to forget everything? Forget you? Forget the fact that we could have been an "us"? How could you do that to me?'

'I did what I had to do to survive.'

'You don't think I could have helped? We could have all helped? I was there for you. Don't you remember?'

'Dammit, Steve, why can't you just accept that what happened was over the minute I left that cemetery.'

'Because it didn't have to be.' He murmured.

'Steve you're naïve if you think anything that happened was going to work.'

'But I am naïve, 'Tasha and I did think things could work and then I get back from a mission one day and there you are, with Banner and I just-' he stopped, realising he was in way too deep for his own good. There's no way anything could happen now.

'You're out of your goddamned mind, Rogers.'

'I'm out my mind? You're the one who kept setting me up with different people. You know how I felt about you. The fact that all of those dates you suggested didn't stop me from falling for you is proof. You're the one that's out of your mind. Why couldn't you just accept the inevitable?'

'What are you saying Steve?' she sighed, exasperated.

'I should've fought harder for you, that's all.' He turned to leave.

'Steve wait!' She called after him. He looked back at her expectantly. She just closed the distance between them, stood up on her tip-toes and crushed her lips to his. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. She pulled away from him but kept her face close to his, her lip was quivering, her eyes shined with tears threatening to fall.

'You damn well should've fought harder but if I'd known that you still felt like this I-' Steve hushed her,

'I understand Nat. I'm sorry, I understand.' One tear rolled down her cheek and Steve brushed it away.

'Good, because I've wanted to kiss you again since that time on the escalator in DC.' She replied before kissing Steve more passionately than before.

'But what about Bruce?' Steve pulled away to ask.

'He was my rebound,' Natasha struggled to keep her lips from Steve's, 'I was trying to get over you but it really wasn't working.' She kissed him again.

'Does he know that?' Steve interrupted again.

'Yes, now are you just going to bombard me with questions or are we going to go home so we can pick up where we left off last year?'

Steve and Natasha lay in his bed, gazing at each other and it was a long time before either of them spoke.

'Why didn't you try and tell me before I left?' Natasha murmured as she traced circles on Steve's hand that was interlocked with hers.

'I didn't think you wanted me to. I wanted what was best for you.'

'You chose wisely,' she smirked, 'but I think I would have been happier staying in DC with you.'

'I would've been much happier too.' Steve chuckled. Natasha propped herself on her elbow.

'So why be so selfless?'

'Because I'd do anything to keep you safe – even if it meant that you weren't with me.' Natasha hummed to herself.

'Urgh, why did I fall for such a softie.'

'Let me remind you.' Steve leaned up to kiss her gently before pulling her down to lie on top of his bare chest and Natasha moaned softly into his mouth.

'Oh yeah,' she said into his mouth, 'that's why.' And Steve chuckled before completely wrapping his arms around her albeit small but powerful frame. 'I love you Steve.' She whispered.

'I love you, 'Tasha.'

That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed it! Do let me know what your thoughts are. I thought I'd let you guys fill in the blanks as to what happens in that page break. I'm sure you'd all come up with a better make up/angry sex scene than I could ever write so... sorry about that. If people want one I'd be happy to oblige and try...and I mean try - I'm not very good at it. Anyway, hope you enjoyed! x