"And I'd like another crack at that Hammer this time around. Good ol' M-jo and I have this understanding now." Tony was yapping and yapping. His talking with Nat had become talking to hear himself talk. Natasha leaned her chin against the palm of her hand. He was what delusions of grandeur meant, but Nat was hooked. He was also what love meant, always would, for her. The sugary sound of his voice endeared him to her, but too much of a good thing wasn't always good. She had stopped saying, "Yeah." She was seconds away from tuning out, thinking about Clint and his whereabouts. The impulse struck and she blurted, "Tony, take a breath. You're starting to turn blue. Your tongue sounds like it needs a rest." The redhead with blond balayage rolled her eyes. Yeah, I said it. She . "I know of a muzzle you might like."

Ouch, snarky much? Tony masked his hurt by shooting her his best Stark grin, and left the room. Off by himself, he messed with a newly-made gadget.

Natasha by her lonesome exhaled. The ringing in her ears softened as a legion of thoughts flooded her mind. Had she been to hard on him? Talking a blue streak was his way of letting off steam. So he liked to talk about himself. Was that an unforgiveable crime? She told herself to fix it, and make it quick. She wasted no time going to where she knew he was. "Tony? Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I was being mean. And thoughtless. Forgive me?" Silence on the other side of the door was her answer. Well, okay...he's upset, and not thrilled with me at the moment...I can't force him to cut me some slack. Coming at Tony was the wrong approach. She turned to walk away.

Tony slipped himself off the bed. When he got to the door, he cracked it open. "We're fine." He shut the door and returned to his tinkering. Nat looked at the closed door, feeling sentimental.

She raised her voice to ask, "Can I get you anything? Water? A snack? Whatever you want." Her arms were crossed over her chest as she waited expectantly. Tony wrote what he had to say in a note and slid it under the door. Nat took up his slip of communication eager to read what he'd written.

'No, thanks. Nice of you to ask.'

My, how formal you're being. "I'll get you water anyway, Babe." Her tone firm, she folded the note, keeping it instead of tearing it in two. "I love you."

Tony tinkered on, pausing long enough to give a thumbs up in the empty room. Natasha snagged a bottle of water from the fridge. Back at Tony's room, she knocked on the door before opening it to enter. Tony carelessly glanced at her, then shrugged.

"I deserve that." Nat hesitated, indecisive. He needs space, but what I want to give him is a hug...I shouldn't have insulted him. "I love you."

"I heard you the first time."

"I deserve that too." Hearing his cold comeback was like a knife in her back. She made a face she hid from him. I want to smother you with kisses, but how can I if this is how you're acting?

Tony ignored her, continuing to fiddle to distraction. Losing himself in work was his solace. Nat listened to her instincts, leaving him to what he did best, innovate. He didn't tire until the wee hours of the morning. He lay down, but couldn't sleep, exactly what he'd dreaded. Sunlight seeped into his room, causing him to realize that it was the dawn of a new day. Rising from his bed, he opened the door, startled. Natasha was there, camped outside his door, fast asleep, curled in the fetal position. Her light snores melted his heart. Tony's deliberate smile lit up his face. Sleeping beauty, and she loves me... His instinct took over, picking her up. Nat slept on in his arms, never stirring. He laid her down in her bed, content to let her sleep.

Tony went to the kitchen and got busy preparing breakfast. His preparation of eggs, bacon and French toast brought Nat to the table. It was just them. The other Avengers were away on sundry missions. She got up from where she sat, going to Tony so she could throw her arms around his neck. Through a cute yawn, she asked, "Still pissed?"

Tony shook his head. "Nope." He popped the p. "Don't think so." He tweaked his eyebrows. "Made ya hot cocoa."

Natasha's nose twitched. Her lips had a mind of their own, dragging her face to his cheek for a kiss. "Hot cocoa...yum, yum." Her giggling erupted. When Black Widow sounded like that, it blew Tony away.

He hugged her with an iron grip. "Love you Nat. There's nothing to forgive. I'm an old windbag, and you have every right to tell me so when I run off at the mouth." Natasha kissed his mouth as hard as she could, giggling against it, rejoicing at the sound of his deep, rich voice.

"You are so the best," she said, breathing passion into each word.

Tony rubbed circles against her belly, her firm body his constant delight. "Sorry for reverting into that bete noire I hate. What I promised you you'd never have to put up with. Liar, that's me."

"I wasn't very nice to you." She leaned into him, delighting herself. His arms around her was better than hot cocoa. "I won't say what I said to you ever again from now on. I love you too much to risk alienating you. I'd rather go back to the Red Room."

"Don't kid about the Red Room. After what you told me about it, we won't bring it up ever again."

She kissed him hard again, not letting him go until he begged for her to let him breathe. "See what you can come up with to increase your lung capacity," she teased, tangling her fingers in his highlighted hair.

"I'll get right on that, Boss," Tony obliged with a gigantic smirk controlling his face.