I'm finally back and I'm so happy to have returned to civilization. I am also happy to have wifi and good cell service. Gotta love middle of no where Kansas. There was a bright side to that trip thoug, I did get to legally make my own firework show.

I DO NOT own Avengers or Marvel!

"I can't believe I have to wear a dress again tonight," Natasha grumbled to Clint. His arm was draped over her shoulder as they walked into the convention center together. They were far closer than what Natasha was comfortable with, but she easily stifled her discomfort. The charity event was in California and being the rich people they were –pretending to be –there was no problem to travel internationally.

"You look fine," Clint whispered back eyeing her carefully. The dress she had on was a cocktail dress that lacked the security of straps or sleeves. It was light pink and didn't quite reach her knees. At the end of the bodice, it flared out slightly and a darker pink belt had been wrapped around the seam. Natasha had convinced Coulson to allow her a black leather jacket. And again to her dismay, she wore black pumps on her feet that were making it almost impossible to walk.

"I feel like a girl," Natasha whined.

"You are a girl," Clint replied. "Trust me, I know from personal experience that you, are in fact, a girl."

Natasha elbowed him in the stomach and the quiet laughter stopped. "I thought I made it clear that we would never speak of that again," Natasha growled.

Before Clint could respond, the Doctor approached them smiling.

"It's nice to see you guys again," he greeted shaking hands with Clint. Natasha smiled at his wife who returned it with a snotty glare. Natasha stuck her tongue out making a mocking face and the woman gasped incredulously. Stifling a laugh, Natasha smiled innocently at the doctor as he kissed her hand. However, when his wandering eyes roamed her body hungrily, Natasha had to swallow the desire to lunge at him and break is neck.

"Cool it, Romanoff," Phil said into her ear piece.

Clint led Natasha away from the couple and they faked interest in the pieces of artwork that were in the silent auction. They remained silent for the remainder of the time the silent auction was open. When the dinner was served, Natasha was thankful for the excuse to sit down. Like the night prior, Natasha did not engage herself in conversation, nor did she eat a whole lot. She was surprised by the fact that she was surrounded by people who had enough money in their wallets to feed a whole village and the food they were serving was about as good quality wise as the muck that was served in SHIELD cafeterias.

By the end of the night, Natasha had acquired several new blisters and had met the doctor's daughter who, was in fact, older than her and significantly older than her step mother.

"This is hopeless," Natasha sighed flopping on the bed. She had shed the dress and replaced it with a pair of oversized sweatpants and one of Clint's t-shirts.

"You don't know that," Clint replied dropping onto the bed next to her. He too had shed his attire and was now wearing his boxers and a t-shirt. This hotel, like the one in Rome, had only one bed.

"Yes I do," Natasha said running a hand through her flaming curls.

"You just have to be patient," Clint said.

Natasha scoffed. "Me, patient. Oh, please," Natasha laughed.

"Just go to sleep, we have breakfast with the doctor and his wife tomorrow morning at their country club," Clint yawned.

"What would I even wear to something like that?" Natasha asked.

"Phil said he would have something sent over from the headquarters that's in Sacramento," Clint replied with his eyes closed.

Rolling her eyes, Natasha reached over to turn off the light. Yawning, she pulled the thick blanket up to her chin and prayed silently that she would –for once –have a peaceful sleep.

She did. However, Clint did not. With his past, there was no doubts that his dreams were often haunted by demons he had pushed under the rug. Natasha awoke suddenly by the sounds of Clint's screams bouncing off of the walls in the hotel room. She was sure other people had heard them too, but that was the least of her concern. Desperately, Natasha tried to pull Clint away from the nightmare.

"Clint," she said. "Clint, wake up."

He didn't, but continued to thrash around. Natasha shook his body trying to wake him, but sweat was still beading on his body and his face was contorted into an image of fear. Out of ideas, Natasha slapped Clint across the face and his eyes shot open. Next thing Natasha knew, Clint was straddling her and her own dagger was pressed against her throat. Completely unfazed, Natasha remained frozen waiting for him to recognize her.

When he realized it was her, the dagger was left forgotten on the floor and he pulled the small girl to his body burying his face in her curls. At first, Natasha was stiff in his arms, but recovered quickly. She hugged him back softly and rubbed his back until the shaking subsided and he sat there still holding her.

Hours later, they returned their heads to their pillows with their limbs still entangled. Natasha reached for the remote for the TV and turned it on. Clint watched it and she watched him. Slowly, he returned to sleep and she continued to watch him once he had. Clint's expression was soft when he slept undisturbed. There was no sign of his work on his face except for the pale scar just barely missing his left eye. When Clint slept, every worry dissipated from his face and was replaced with a childish innocence. Natasha smiled to herself as she too, lost herself into the darkness of sleep.

I'm not exactly happy with the way that chapter turned out, but I don't have any other ideas of how it should've gone, so that's what it is. Please reveiw!

With lots of love,

Kaylie

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