"Morning, Tash," Clint said as Natasha stumbled into the kitchen.
Blinking sleepily, Natasha sat at the table and rested her head on her hand. "Morning."
Clint washed the last dish in the sink and then took a seat beside Natasha. "Did you sleep ok?" he asked, concerned.
Natasha smiled at Clint's genuine concern for her wellbeing. "I guess so. My back was hurting a little, and that made it a bit hard to get comfortable, but I don't feel so bad this morning."
Clint took Natasha's free hand in his own. "I'm sure my back would hurt too if I'd been knocked over by a giant German Shepard."
Natasha nodded, still embarrassed that she'd been defeated by a dog. Clint had tried consoling her the night before, but Natasha couldn't shake the feeling that she'd been too weak to hold off the dog.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," Clint murmured, sounding genuine again. Natasha had never really had anyone in her life that had cared so much about her. It was nice.
"Have you heard anything from the guys?" Natasha asked, referring to the friends they'd left behind in Manhattan.
"Not yet," Clint replied. "But I have a feeling we'll be hearing from them soon. You know Stark's got his heart set on having a big Christmas thing back at the tower."
Natasha grimaced. She knew it would be fun to begin with, until everyone got drunk and started destroying the place. She hadn't forgotten Stark's birthday party.
Clint noticed her grimace and decided to change the subject. "What do you want for breakfast?" he asked, getting up and going to the cupboard. "There isn't really much in there."
"I wouldn't say no to a cup of cocoa," Natasha said, standing and following Clint to the cupboard.
Clint was rummaging through the various tins and packets in the cupboard. "I know we bought some on our way up here. It's gotta be in here somewhere."
Natasha smiled at Clint's adorable concentrated look. Clint reached deeper into the cupboard, and in the process his elbow knocked a packet of biscuits off the shelf. Natasha's lightning fast reflexes worked well and she caught the biscuits before they hit the ground, but the sudden movement caused a sharp stab of pain to shoot through her back. Natasha let out a cry of pain and suddenly Clint's arms were around her. He took the biscuits from her and placed them back on the shelf.
"Are you alright?" Clint asked.
Natasha nodded and tried to walk away, but her back hurt too much and she gasped again.
Clint carefully helped Natasha to the couch, but each step was becoming more bearable.
"I think I'm ok now," Natasha said, trying to get back up, but Clint's hands pushed her back down.
"Just stay seated, and I'll make you some cocoa. I don't want you to hurt your back more."
Realising there was no point in arguing, Natasha nodded and got comfortable on the couch, wincing at the slight pain still left in her back.
"Found it!" Clint called, turning from the cupboard holding a can of cocoa powder in one hand and a packet of marshmallows in the other.
Clint boiled the kettle and Natasha watched from the couch as he hummed to himself while making the cocoa. Clint added two spoons of cocoa to each cup, along with three marshmallows.
"Three marshmallows Clint?" Natasha giggled. "Isn't that a bit many?"
"You can never have enough marshmallows," Clint said, turning around to stick his tongue out at Natasha.
He poured the boiling water into the mugs and added the milk. Walking carefully, Clint brought the two cups over to Natasha and handed her one. Natasha took a small sip and felt the delicious cocoa warm her up.
Clint took a seat beside her and drank some of his own. "Do you like it?"
"It's great," Natasha answered, taking another sip. "Thanks Clint."
Clint looked so relieved when Natasha said she liked it, almost as if he'd been expecting her to hate it.
Natasha took another sip and swallowed a melted marshmallow. It felt weird sliding down her throat, but it tasted phenomenal.
Clint put his cup on the coffee table and stood up. "Now I hope you're comfortable, Natasha, because we have to make a Christmas list."
Natasha pulled a face and groaned. Clint came back to the couch with a pen and notebook. "We need to work out presents and food," he said.
"We sound like a married couple," Natasha laughed, drinking more cocoa.
"You owe me this," Clint said. "I made you cocoa."
"Okay," Natasha said, shuffling closer to Clint and ignoring her back. "But we made need a few more cups."
A/N: I thought it would be fun to mention Tony's disaster of a birthday party because who doesn't like to remember that :D I hope you guys like Day 4.