A/N: Don't have too much time today but I just wanted to thank my dedicated fan-base who I love so much; *RFK22, *Nova Fearnewood, *Bumblebey, *ecotiger, *Irishbrneyes as well as all my silent readers for the support. :)

Please Read and Review. :D

. . . . .

"Alisa darling? Can you get the door?"

She nods, pinning her hair back into a ponytail when she answers, already two steps ahead of her;

"Yes Mama."

Mrs. Karev smirks, taking in the quiet in the house without Alexei around to boss her poor family around with his big mouth. Natasha gives her smile when she walks into the kitchen and past her hired help, stealing the towel from her hands to toss it onto the counter;

"You must've wiped this stupid table a hundred times by now."

She sighs, watching the red-head stuff her face with a strawberry left out on the table. Natasha couldn't remember the last time she had one, especially since Pepper Potts/Stark was allergic to them. And Tony had practically forbid anyone to even use a candle that smelled like a strawberry let alone bring the fruit into the house. Mrs. Karev shakes her head over her lack of class, seeing her hair was less than put together to match the rest of her comfortable appearance;

"How are you Mrs. Shostakova?"

She shrugs, pulling a chair over towards the table with her foot while she talks with her mouth full and her dog at her heels;

"Fine. And yourself?"

"Oh fine."

She nods, reaching for something else to put in her mouth before she's finished, not sure what to do with herself;

"Where's your husband?"

"He ran out to pick up a few things."

"Oh."

The older woman glances over her shoulder, watching Romanoff swipe at her phone;

"It's...none of my business, but who are you texting this early in the morning?"

Her eyes flick upwards, "I'm not texting, I'm playing a game with Clint...My friend."

"From your old home?"

"Yes."

She smiles, giving Natasha more of her attention;

"It's none of my business my dear, but how come you seem so solitary? I mean you talk on the phone a lot to someone but don't you have a few friends you can just, go out and spend the day with? You're always stuck inside the house-"

Natasha scoffs almost coldly;

"Have you met Alexei?"

She nods with another sigh, turning around to wipe down the counter-top;

"I understand dear, but. I um...nevermind. It's not my place."

"You can say it."

Mrs. Karev shrugs her shoulders;

"No its just. It's just that you seem like an odd match, that's all."

Alisa tip-toes into the kitchen, afraid to say too much in front of her mother when she holds her hands behind her back. She speaks up meekly, trying not to make her smirk look so obvious;

"Miss Natasha?"

Romanoff smirks, mouth full with another strawberry;

"Morning Alisa. What's up."

She tilts her head;

"Someone's at the door for you...but you might not want to answer looking the way you do."

Natasha lifts her eyebrows, frozen while she processes the information. She jumps up after a moment, scrambling to spit her mouth full into her palm before throwing her opposite hand through her hair. She mumbles;

"Damn...Mrs. Karev do I smell like liquor?"

She widens her eyes, afraid to say 'yes';

"No not at all."

Natasha shakes her head, glancing in every mirror or reflection she passes before she gets to the door, not at all surprised to see her Vrach when she cracks it open. Romanoff sighs, quick to walk outside and close the door behind her;

"What are you doing here?!"

He sighs, clearly worried about her when he looks dead into her eyes with his arms crossed;

"I just wanted to check up on you."

She smirks, crossing her own arms as if to poke fun at him;

"I'm fine."

He nods, almost sarcastically;

"Fine? Slurring in your speech when you call me at 6 in the morning...? That's 'fine'? I doubt you were just tired Miss Romanoff."

Natasha scoffs, head lowering when she feels a lump in her throat and she's not sure why she feels like crying; Hiding in his arms for the rest of her life while she melts in his mysterious and tender brown eyes. She looks back up at him, shifting her weight when she's about to stumble backwards with a tone that's as rough as her inital greeting;

"It's fine. I'm fine."

He rolls his tongue over his inner cheek, not appreciating the smell of alcohol on her this early in the morning;

"Well I'm not about to let you sit home and drink all day. Looks like you've already had one too many Miss Romanoff."

"It's 5 o'clock somewhere...Jeez Bruce, chill. I've only had one...maybe two...or three."

He shakes his head with his eyebrows lifted. He knew her better than that, worry slipping through his tone no matter how he tries to hide it;

"You've had more than that Natasha, don't lie to me."

She loses her composure seemingly out of nowhere, bursting out into laughter just when he thought she was about to cry. She throws her hand over her mouth, still laughing hysterical;

"You're so annoying."

He sighs, taking her comment for what it is knowing she wasn't all put together at the moment. He shakes his head with a smirk;

"Thanks, that's exactly what I drove to Brooklyn for."

She scoffs coldly, rolling her eyes when she reopens the door behind her;

"And that's exactly the kind of sarcasm I was hoping to wake up to this early in the morning. So are you coming inside or are you just going to stand out here and scold me?"

"Doesn't matter, you won't listen to me anyways."

"Want to bet?"

He huffs out a laugh, "I don't have to."

Natasha opens her door a little wider;

"Coming Vrach?"

He rolls his eyes, not comfortable with her suggestion, completely startled when she grabs his arm and drags him along.

Mrs. Karev widens her eyes when she sees Natasha walks in with Bruce behind her. The woman raises her voice with her eyes wide;

"Mrs. Shostakova! You and I both know what Alexei would say!"

She smirks, ignoring the tone in her comment;

"This is Dr. Banner, Dr. Banner this is Mrs. Karev. He's my guest and no one's going to know about this are we clear?"

The woman swallows hard, dropping her arms to her sides when she looks at Natasha. Her eyes flick politely up towards Bruce with a straight face;

"It's nice to meet you."

The doctor nods politely, picking up on her uneasiness as he gently and subtly urges Natasha to head towards the nearest couch before she lost her balance or stumbles face first;

"You too. I won't stay long Mrs. Karev I promise."

He follows her when she heads for her living room. She smirks when Alex starts to whimper, carrying on the instant he sees Banner. She crosses her arms, watching Bruce getting down to his level to give him some attention. Natasha plops onto the sofa behind her;

"He missed you Doc. Alex! Easy boy, calm down. You act like I ignore you. Bruce is playing with you sweetie, stop crying so much,' she smirks, tapping the empty space next to her, 'You going to relax a while Doc?"

He sighs, letting Alex jump on the couch in the spot Natasha initially intended for her Vrach. She pushes him over, leaving enough room for him if he wanted. Bruce gently lifts his hand, waiting for her permission now that he's currently more concerned with her health;

"Can I touch your forehead or are you going to freak out on me."

She contorts her mouth, thinking it over. It wasn't so much that she currently hated his contact as much as she was trying to convince herself she was perfectly fine without him. Just one look from him still got her heart pounding. And his touch wasn't going to soothe that urge she's been having to snuggle up in his arms, with her head right up against his heartbeat. Or tug at his thick head of hair while she tickled his side...But there was nothing between them. Natasha lowers her head with a shrug, slightly too intoxicated to form her thoughts into a completely coherent sentence;

"I'm okay Bruce, really"

She looks up pointing to the younger maid as she walks by, eyes roaming in his direction;

"Did you meet Alisa Vrach?"

The young girl pauses in her tracks, slowly heading over towards them when Bruce gives her a gentle greeting;

"Hi Alisa, how are you?"

She tries not to bite her cheek;

"I'm good how are you Dr. Banner?"

She smirks towards Natasha, when she calls the young girl over into their conversation;

"Alisa's a huge fan of Iron Man."

The young girl blushes;

"Well, I like his uniform."

Natasha smirks;

"Bruce spends a lot of time with Iron Man Alisa."

Banner gives her a crooked smirk when her eyes get a little bigger. Alisa shifts in her seat excitedly;

"Is he like, really hard to deal with?"

He lifts his eyebrows, trying to stay diplomatic;

"It depends on his mood,' he glances towards Natasha, 'When he's not drunk or intoxicated he's fine."

Natasha lifts her eyebrows in return, rolling her eyes before extending her feet over the spot where she initially wanted him to sit to currently prevent him from doing so as payback for his remark indirectly spoken for her. Alisa nods sitting on the opposite end of the couch while she looks up at him;

"Does Pepper Potts still work for Mr. Stark?"

"Yes she does."

Alisa leans back in her spot;

"She is so lucky to be working with Iron Man all day."

He chuckles over the smile on her face with his hands clasped in front of him, nervously playing with his fingers. Alisa jumps up from her spot;

"Oh! Can you wait one second Dr. Banner? Please?"

He nods. She walks backwards, running the instant she turns around;

"I'll be right back."

Bruce lowers his focus, watching Natasha idly pet her dog when her eyes flick up towards his. She flushes a pinkish color, hoping to be able to hide her blushing from him

He smirks playfully, tilting his to line up with hers the more she pulls away;

"You alright? You're cheeks are red Miss Romanoff."

Natasha can't hide her smirk, irritated that she can never hide anything from him. She was Black Widow for heaven's sake! She throws her head back, eyes closed when she swallows hard;

"I'm fine,' she nods towards the spot next to her dog, 'Sit, stay a while. You like my hell of a home?"

He scoffs, sitting next to her once she pulls her knees in;

"Your hired help seem decent."

She nods, holding her head while she turns the rest of her body to face him;

"They are. I haven't quite finished feeling out the parents but the girls are sweet."

"Two of them?"

Natasha smirks, "Alina hides upstairs most of the time. She's 16, and Alisa is 12."

He smirks with a chuckle hiding his face in his palms;

"I thought she was closer to 10; I was wondering why she's answering the door all the time."

"I know. They're sweet. Nice, polite young girls."

"They seem like it,' he nods towards the fireplace in the corner, looking back at her face, 'You're okay with that?"

She sighs with an eye roll, laughing it off;

"No. I hate it when he uses that thing. I hide upstairs, in my room...with Alex. I hate the smell, I hate the noise...but you know that already."

"Have you told him?"

She shrugs, "He knows. He just doesn't care. I have to tell you something actually. I need your medical expertise."

"Uh oh."

She leans forward, sitting more upright then she had been. She whispers, double checking her surrounding before she continues;

"I uh, Alexei-He doesn't understand that I can't, you know, conceive."

Bruce doesn't cut her off, though his eyes narrow as if he's about to kill someone.

Natasha can't help but smirk, giving his knee a gentle tap;

"Alright, calm down. I haven't even said anything yet and your eyes already look like their about to change colors."

He sighs, trying to soften his focus so he doesn't startled her, resting his forehead against his clasped hands with his elbows on his knees;

"I'm listening Natasha."

She nods, trying to keep eye contact with him;

"So, Alexei wants me to take this medication...But, it's like the Clomid I was taking when we were trying. It's just a lot stronger and I'm not too keen on the idea to be honest. And he wants me to go for treatments, like today he wanted me to go with Mrs. Karev. And if that doesn't work, he's already talking about the reconstructive surgery you didn't want me to have."

He takes a deep breath, trying to calm down before he answers her. His voice stays calm and controlled;

"Ultimately, this is your choice. No one can force you to say 'yes' or 'no' alright?"

She nods. He copies her;

"Okay, with that said; Even putting aside my own reservations and personal opinions; The reconstructive surgery would most likely, and I'm %99.9 positive, not work in your case."

"Because of the shape of my womb."

"Yes. It's-...Nevermind."

"Tell me."

He can't bite his tongue and ignore a oppertunity to protect someone he still loves so much;

"It's way too dangerous for you to even try Miss Romanoff. Promise me you won't. Please."

She nods, understanding how serious he looked about the ordeal;

"Alright. I just thought I'd ask."

He contorts his mouth, "Will you listen to me on this one Natasha?"

She tilts her head, almost sarcastically;

"Just so you're aware, you're about the only person I do listen to anymore and willingly. Let that go to your head and I will have to hit you."

Alisa comes running back, small pamphlet in her hand with a sharpie pen she intends to hand the doctor;

"I'm sorry Miss Natasha, I hate to interrupt. Dr. Banner? Do you think Mr. Stark could sign this for me? If it's not too much trouble."

He smirks, "No of course not. Actually, I'll put it in the car so I don't lose it."

She smiles excitedly, "Oh would you?! Could you!? Thank you so much Dr. Banner. Please thank him for me, if it's not a problem. Thank you."

Bruce can't help but chuckle over her response, digging into his pocket for his keys;

"You're welcome, it's not a problem."

Natasha lifts her eyebrows, snatching his phone from his pocket without asking and with him barely feeling her quick snag. She curls up with it against her knees, already swiping her finger over the screen;

"Let's see who Dr. Banner has been contacting as of late."

He gives her a sarcastic look, standing up to put Alisa's paper in the car;

"Let me think."

She smirks, giving him a wink as she scrolls through her own name over and over again;

"You spend a lot of time talking to this...woman. Hmm. I think I know her."

"Yeah? Be careful, she's a trouble-maker."

Natasha tilts her head, "Oh is she?"

"She can be. I'll be right back Natasha."

"Take your time, you won't be missed."

Alisa narrows her focus, misunderstanding Natasha's playful sarcasm;

"I'll miss him!"

Romanoff nudges her young friend;

"I'm just kidding Alisa."

Her mother walks in once Bruce walks out the front door with her eyes wide and her hands on her hips;

"Mrs. Shostakova, you realize I could get in trouble for letting you talk to him. And if my husband comes home-"

Alisa lowers her eyebrows, "Daddy won't say anything to Ivan. I'll make sure of it."

Mrs. Karev breathes a heavy sigh, "I just don't want to lose this job sweetheart."

Natasha contorts her mouth, "You're not going to lose your job so just relax. No one's going to find out about his little visit. And if word gets out it's on me and you guys know nothing of it alright?"

"Will you get into trouble Miss Natasha?"

She scoffs, "Do you think I care?"

The older woman shakes her head;

"Whatever you do just leave me out of it. Please."

Alina comes running down the stairs next, smile on her face when she heads directly for Romanoff;

"He's here isn't he?"

Alisa nods, clapping her hands quietly;

"Did you see him? Did you see the hulk?"

"Just through my window. I heard voices and Miss Natasha was laughing so I just assumed it was Vrach Banner."

Natasha smirks;

"Come sit with us, there's room. Just move Alex over."

Alina shakes her head, somewhat embarrassed to ask;

"Can I get a picture with him? Would he let me take one?"

Natasha nods, "Yeah. He hates the camera but if you ask him he'll do it for you."

"Oh that would be amazing. I would love that so much. Would he sign my newspaper cut-out too?"

The red-head smirks, "Is it a picture of the hulk?"

"Yes."

"You could try. Ask him before you show it to him."

Alina can't help but giggle, "Why? He doesn't like himself all big and green?"

She shakes her head, still playing with his phone when she mumbles;

"No. But if you ask super sweetly I'm sure he'll do it for you."

Romanoff looks up when she hears the front door reopen, sticking her tongue out at her friend when he gives her a smirk. She nods towards the older of the two girls next to her;

"This is Alina."

He smiles politely, "Hello Alina. How are you?"

She smirks, nervously brushing her hair behind her ear;

"I'm great. It's so cool to meet you Dr. Banner."

Alisa leans forward, "She's obsessed with you and Hawkeye."

The girl blushes, "I am not! Oh my gosh, I'm sorry she tends to embarrass me. Oh, that didn't come out right. I must sound like some silly fan-girl right now. I just think you are a super genius and you know all this stuff. And you're really nice and you seem like, super sweet it's just...You're amazing-"

Bruce waits with his head down for her to stop, uncomfortable the more she talks about him. He glances at Natasha, with a look as if he's about to be murdered, begging for her to make it stop. She tilts her head, as if she's letting Alina rant for his own good. Bruce swallows hard when he realizes the red-head has no intention of helping him on this one, mumbling before Alina is finished;

"I'm not but thanks."

Natasha scoffs from her spot, lifting her foot up to nudge him and get him too look up. She knew he was uncomfortable but she also knew he was going to hear that whether he liked it or not;

"He's human girls, you can relax around him. He's not going to bite you. And he's not going to cut you off anymore."

He gives her a look, head lowering immediately, "Sorry."

Romanoff smirks, "It's okay."

Bruce shakes his head, sitting on the floor in front of them. Alex jumps from off the couch to be with him, nuzzling Banner's cheek to beg for attention. He whimpers when Bruce is a little too slow to acknowledge him, resting his head on Bruce's knee when he gets what he wants. The doctor smirks when Alina leans forward, visibly excited;

"Dr. Banner, I know this sounds completely strange, but I have a newspaper cut-out of the hulk. Would you be able to sign that for me?"

He widens his eyes, completely shocked, "Wha- Um. You want, me? Are you sure about that?"

"Please? It would mean so much to me."

Natasha sticks out her bottom lip from behind the girl, batting her eyelashes dramatically when she looks at her friend. Bruce gives her a look, narrowing his focus over her 'puppy-eyed' look before he softens his look for the girl;

"If you want, I don't mind."

Alina jumps, huge smile on her face;

"Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! I'll be right back."

Alisa chuckles, hand over her mouth, "She's so weird."

Natasha contorts her mouth, trying hard to hide her smirk. Bruce leans forward with every intent of nudging her, calculating the distance with his eyes before he settles for a crumpled post-it left in his pocket. Romanoff chuckles when it's thrown at her, ready to throw it back at him;

"What? I didn't say anything."

He huffs out a laugh, "I would've said 'yes' even without the pitiful look on your face Miss Romanoff."

She defends herself, scrolling through his text messages;

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't break that poor girl's heart by telling her 'no'."

Natasha lays his phone on her lap, opening his crumpled note;

"Shopping list for Pepper? Did you go yet?"

"Yesterday."

"Oh."

He sighs, afraid to ask, "When does Alexei get back Natasha?"

She sighs, picking his phone back up;

"Friday. So I have four more days to enjoy my temporary liberation. It's a beautiful thing."

He nods, thinking it over before he asks, "Ever been to Prospect Park?"

She shakes her head 'no', eyes back on him;

"Is that an invitation?"

He smirks, "It is if you want it to be."

Natasha inhales a gentle breath, giving Alisa a quick look before she can't help but smirk, tossing the paper back at him;

"I do. Can we go now? After you give Alina her autograph."

"If that's what you would like Miss Romanoff. If you're coherent enough for a quick walk."

She smirks, swinging her feet off the couch;

"I am. Can we bring Alex."

He looks down, scratching the shepherd's favorite spot right behind his left ear;

"Why not?"

Alisa covers her mouth with a pillow, snickering quietly. Romanoff nudges her after she realizes she's laughing;

"What are you laughing at Missy."

She jumps, lowering her pillow on her lap;

"Nothing. Alina and I will cover for you Miss Natasha, if anyone asks."

"Awesome. Thanks hon."

"Anytime Miss Natasha."

Alina's footsteps catch their attention, listening to her breathing change when she hands him her cut-out;

"I'm sorry Dr. Banner, I'm just super excited. Am I overwhelming you? I'm sorry."

He smirks before he starts to sign for her, watching her chuckle with her hands clasped behind her back;

"Don't apologize, it's alright."

Natasha holds out a hand to Alina, giving her a quick high-five before she stands up to snatch Alex's leash. She tilts her head when she stands beside Banner, shamelessly resting her elbow on his shoulder;

"Ready Vrach?"

Alina contorts her mouth, taking her cut-out back from;

"Where are you guys going?"

Alisa tries to hide her smirk;

"Prospect Park. And we're on watch to make sure she doesn't get in trouble."

The older sister nods with a suspicious look;

"Right. Well you have fun Miss Romanoff."

Natasha nods, grabbing her friend's arm while she drags him behind her;

"Good, let's go. I'll be back soon."

Alisa waves with her sister copying behind her;

"Come again soon Vrach Banner!"

Alina smirks, "Ne toropites Miss Natasha."

She glances over her shoulder with a wink, flushing with a little more red over her cheeks;

"Ha! Ya budu."

"Priyatnogo vechera."

"Thanks Alina."

Her mom gives her a look, breathing a heavy sigh when the couple walk past her;

"Mrs. Shostakova..."

Natasha gives her a wink;

"Medical purposes Mrs. Karev. I call it therapy. Have a nice day."

The older woman can't help but smile once Romanoff is far enough away, shaking her head before she goes back to her cleaning. Alisa comes running in after her mother eyes wide when she pleads;

"Please don't tell Daddy about Miss Natasha. He'd tell Ivan. And then Ivan would tell Alexei. They don't like Dr. Banner."

Karev lowers her eyebrows, waving her cloth expressively;

"Of course not. Because he's a gentlemen and those two men that live here don't even know what that word means!"

"So you won't tell Daddy?"

Alina chimes in quick, "Honestly Mama. He wouldn't understand. And if something ever happened to Dr. Bruce, or if Natasha couldn't see him anymore, it would break her heart."

She sighs, "Don't underestimate your father girls, he has a heart...but I won't tell him."

Alisa wraps her arms around her mother's waist, smile on her face;

"Thank you Mama! Miss Natasha would thank you too."

The woman chuckles, giving her daughter a gentle squeeze;

"Yes I'm sure. Now go do your chores Dear. Please."

"Yes Mama."

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Bruce gives the red-head a look when they walk outside;

"Why all the Russian to what's her name? The older one. I know Alisa's the 12 year old..."

She smirks, almost business oriented;

"The older one is 'Alina' and to answer your question, I felt like it."

He opens his mouth with his eyebrows lowered, feeling his heart in his mouth until she walks ahead of him with a sarcastic tone;

"I'd like to get going; preferably before Antonia Stark starts college."

Bruce returns her look once he catches up with her, watching her wrinkle up her nose before she loses her composure. She chuckles, switching her hands to hold onto Alex's leash with the idea in the back of her mind to walk a little closer to her Vrach.

She closes her eyes, inhaling a breath of fresh air. Her heart pounds just feeling his warmth from a distance, breathing a little more unsteady when she picks up on his light cologne. She moves a little closer, smiling when he looks at her;

"You alright?"

Natasha nods almost mechanically, chill rolling down her spine. Her hand trembles subtly when she goes to brush her hair behind her ear, exhaling an exasperated sigh when she finally lowers her head to break her contact;

"I was just thinking...Alex hasn't had a decent walk since we left the tower,"

She smirks when her dog loops around the doctor walk with him. Romanoff shoves the leash in Banner's grip, shoving her own hands into her pockets;

"It's kind of chilly. He misses you anyway."

Bruce rolls his eyes, gently catching onto her hand closer to him before rubbing her skin over. She tilts her head, eyes fixed on his warming up her fingers. She huffs out a laugh, nervously lowering her focus back down when she feels his hands rub over her bands.

He looks for her eyes, knowing she's hiding from him when he finally opens his mouth, rolling her engagement ring in between his fingers;

"This one looks familiar."

Her eyes stay big when she looks up at him, trying to come up with some sort of excuse;

"I uh...Well. I lost the one Al got me. I didn't want to tell him and he hasn't figured it out yet so...I'm pressing my luck I know."

Bruce keeps his gentle look, still rubbing over her slender fingers;

"You're hand is freezing Miss Romanoff."

She swallows hard, giving him her other hand when she pauses in her walking to turn and face him. Natasha knows she wants some sort of excuse to keep their contact, forgetting how much she misses his tender touch;

"Well, I have two."

He sighs once he takes up both of her hands, debating on planting a gentle kiss over one before he thinks better of it, not wanting to give her the wrong impression. He chuckles instead;

"Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

Romanoff gives him that broken smirk no matter how hard she tries to hide it, wishing he'd kiss her hand like he had done before, or at least just keep holding onto it;

"Only if I can get a cup of tea for you Doc. Herbal, no sugar."

"It's on me."

She sighs, continuing to walk when he does;

"Really Vrach?! You can't even let me get you a cup of tea?"

He smirks when she nudges him, knowing he has no intention of answering her;

"Don't worry about it Natasha. Is it supposed to rain?"

"I hate to tell you Doc, but I don't really care."

"Me neither, but...I just thought I'd ask."

She pokes him a second time, trailing her fingertips down a sensitive part on his neck. She laughs when she gets a chuckle out of him;

"Miss Romanoff...!"

The red-head takes advantage of the opportunity, playfully tugging down on his ear and brushing the pesky lock from his forehead. She walks ahead of him before he can even process her manuever and overwhelming contact, not sure why he suddenly feels his heart pounding. She picks up her pace when she glances over her shoulder;

"Come on Vrach. You know Alex likes to run a little faster than that."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Englishman can't help but roll his eyes, throwing his cigarette onto the ground while he listens to Ivan talk. He snarls through a laugh;

"And you think I care about your personal problems with this, 'son of a bitch'?"

Petrovich lowers his eyebrows, crossing his arms while he leans into the wall;

"Are you deaf? I thought you were power-hungry? I thought you were a military man, a fighter-"

"I am a fighter but I don't go up against someone elses enemies at random. I'm already a wanted man and I don't plan on making any more problems for myself. I also am aware we had a brief conflict with each other."

Ivan snickers, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"Right."

He leans forward from his chair in the darker corner, contorting his mouth after he gives his own imput;

"Even if we paid you half a million..."

"Whose 'we'?"

"My son-in-law."

The man scoffs, "Sir, if you gave me all of New York I wouldn't do it. I have better things to do then chase around mad-men."

Ivan lays a hand on his shoulder once he starts to walk away;

"So there's nothing about my proposal that sparks your interest..."

He pulls from his grip;

"I'll admit that's interesting but at the moment it doesn't help my current living situation."

Petrovich narrows his focus;

"You want to get out of an abandoned ally, come out of hiding, take revenge over one person you've held a grudge with for years and help humanity out in the process?"

He shrugs, curiosity peeked, "Sure. But what do you know. How can you help me."

The older man smirks, "I work for SHIELD. Me being here and conversing with you is technically wrong. I could lose my job for this so I'd listen if I were you because all of this works out in your favor as well as mine."

"Why me there are plenty of other murderers I'm sure you could contact. Others who, as you say are just as 'capable' of confronting him."

Ivan smirks, "Almost none of them have had experience with gamma radiation."

The man widens his eyes, making the connection almost instantly;

"Well now you've peaked my interest."

He drops his arms, reaching into his pocket;

"Good. So you'll do it?"

"I must admit you have a very different strategy then General Ross had. Go straight for the kill. I have to admit the equipment alone is going to cost you. We haven't even gotten to man-power."

Petrovich widens his eyes;

"I don't care how you do it Blonsky. I don't care if it takes half a military base to bring him down, I want him out of my life."

He smirks, "Don't we all?"

Ivan narrows his focus, "Everyone but my daughter."

Blonsky can't help but laugh;

"Oh?"

He shifts his glance between the Russian and the floor, still smirking when he lowers his focus;

"Yes, I'll do it. But I have a stipulation that it will be done my way, on my time. Are we in agreement?"

He nods, "Good. I'll pay you half a million up front and the other half after the deed is done. Thank you."

The Englishman nods, holding out his hand for the check Ivan is already in the middle of filling out;

"It's my pleasure. Just give me the word when you want this done. We'll be in touch?"

"I know where to find you."

Ivan sneaks his way back out onto the sidewalk, urging Alexei to come closer. He wraps his arm around his shoulder once they make their way out. Shostakov narrows his focus;

"Alright Ivan, what now?"

He smirks, "Do you know who I was talking to?"

"Not a clue. Care to enlighten me?"

Ivan nods, tilting his head playfully;

"Someone by the name of Emil Blonsky."

Alexei gives him a look, eyes as wide as his mouth;

"What for?!"

"To take care of Banner."

He sighs, "I thought you said we were blackmailing him?"

"We are, before we kill him-"

"We?! Ivan I don't want a part in this-!"

Ivan lowers his eyebrows, quickly removing his arm;

"Why? I'm paying Blonsky with your money. Be a man Alexei, where is your backbone? It was just yesterday you said he's a threat to humanity."

"I know."

"And you want to risk losing your wife to some aggressive green giant?"

He shakes his head, "No."

"Then listen to me."

"I am. I'm listening to you. But, what about Tash? I can't Ivan. I can't do this to her. He's like her best friend-"

"Clint Barton is her best friend. Banner is her borderline obsession. There's a difference Alex. Trust me."

Alexei shakes his head, eyes focused directly in front of him;

"No Ivan, I have to draw the line someplace. You're going way to far."

Ivan huffs out an exhale, shoving a piece of paper into his pocket with Blonsky's number;

"Then you call him when you want it done. I guarantee you'll change your mind eventually. And don't blame me when she tries to up and leave you."

Shostakov tilts his head;

"Look, Ivan, it's not that I'm disagreeing with you. I know you know better but I just don't feel right about this. I'm cold but I'm not that cold."

"Well you have his number if and when you need it. I just hope you appreciate all that I've done for you."

He nods in all honesty;

"I do Ivan. Thanks, for all your help. I know you stick your neck out for me and I thank you for it."

He smirks, wrapping his arm around Alexei's shoulders one more time;

"For you, it's worth it."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Sometimes I wonder if he cares. Like, he called me the other night but I couldn't be bothered. It's not like he said he missed me, or asked me how my day was. He was too busy prying and asking when I went to bed and if I took my pills...it's just annoying. I hung up on him actually. Because I told him I had three minutes, he was pushing for five but I ended the call at three on the dot."

She brushes her foot along the pavement, fingers wrapped around her plastic coffee cup while her dog chases the rock tossed in his direction. Bruce lets Alex have a little more freedom, loosening up on the leash to let him sniff around and play with the rock Natasha caught his attention with.

Bruce can't help but smirk over her comment;

"That's the Natasha I know. The one that doesn't put up with nonsense."

Romanoff looks up with a smile, blushing when he makes eye contact with her;

"Seriously Miss Romanoff, don't let him get away with anything you're not comfortable with. Stand up for yourself Natasha."

She nods, rolling her finger along the rim of her cup;

"I will. I guess. I don't know."

He softens his focus, "You can tell me."

She shrugs, taking slower steps forward;

"I don't know. Sometimes I wonder if I can handle it- I mean when Alexei is in front of me I feel intimated sometimes. And I know I shouldn't...I mean, Black Widow isn't afraid of anything, but Natasha?...She's not that strong."

Bruce watches her fall into a bench behind her, hand under her chin while she stares off into the distance. He sighs, sitting beside her with Alex at their feet. He keeps an eye on her, watching Natasha lower her focus, swallowing hard as if she's about to cry. He leans forward, eyes and tone just as compassionate as he always is when he nervously starts wringing his fingers;

"Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow; They've, always been the same person to me, two halves that make you who you are. Sometimes you think you have to be, who everyone else wants you to be. But you don't have to live up to other people expectations. And you don't have to hide who you are and what you're thinking. You're a strong and brave woman Miss Romanoff. Don't let Alexei, or Ivan, or anyone else for that matter make you believe otherwise! They've got you trapped and they sound like-...They're just bullies who get a thrill out of bothering you. I'm not going to tell you what to do even though personally I'd love for you to get out of there...But. You're stronger than that. Be confident, don't doubt yourself. I know it's hard Miss Romanoff, but you've got to hold on...Don't let them bring you down Natasha."

She inhales a shuddering breath, letting her head fall onto his shoulder before she exhales slowly. Natasha knows she won't be able to say what she wants to say, summing it up as best she can before she even thinks about opening her mouth. She sighs at least twice before she's able to whisper through her rough breathing and cracking voice. She rolls her forefinger underneath the corner of her eye;

"Thanks."

He sighs after she does, laying his head over hers when he whispers;

"Hang in there, don't give up Natasha. It's going to be alright. I'm here for you."

"I know. That's why I call you...all the time. 5 AM, 3 AM..."

She releases another more exasperated sigh when she hears her phone go off, hesitant to reach her hand into her pocket and read his message. She rests her elbow on Banner's shoulder, mouth contorted with her eyebrows lowered;

"Look at this Doc, and I quote; Hi baby; Lonely here. What are you wearing? Did you go to the doctor like I told you? I know you're home by now like I told you to be so answer me."

Bruce widens his eyes completely dumbfounded and sick to his stomach. He snatches the phone from her when she goes to reply;

"Don't answer him-"

She sighs, "Bruce! I have to or he'll get suspicious-"

"That's how he talks to you? He's a jerk! Let me answer him, verbally!"

"Bruce, calm down-Don't! I thought you were kidding!"

"I'm not kidding! If he thinks he can get away with that-What else does he tell you?"

"Bruce, please just give it to me..."

He complies when she struggles hard enough, pleading with tears in her eyes. He claspes his fingers, eyes closed while he tries to calm down, mumbling under his breath;

"He's an idiot! Stay away from him Natasha."

She shakes her head, satisfied with her texted reply to the person Banner currently wants to turn into a punching bag;

"Relax Bruce, I've got it under control. I'm going to stand up for myself."

Banner shakes his head;

"You better. Don't let him get away with that Natasha, I'll back you up..."

She gently rubs his upper back, picking up on a hint of color over his typical brown;

"Easy Vrach, your eyes are going green on me. Breathe. I'm alright, we're alright."

Bruce can't help but scoff over her comment;

"You're not alright that's the point! Ugh...You were ready to cry a minute ago. You've got tears in your eyes and you look completely exasperated...Look at your neck Natasha. Look at how you have to sneak around everywhere- Deal with his harassment- This is not 'alright'. I'm not trying to tell you what to do-I just.-Forget it. Do what you feel is right, just...be careful Natasha. And don't let that...idiot boss you around."

She sighs, tilting her head with a gentle expression over her face;

"Shh, just calm down and count down from one hundred because honestly, you're a little scary right now."

"I'm sorry. I just want you to be okay. I don't doubt you Natasha, you can handle yourself. But you've got to work up enough nerve to do it."

Romanoff smirks, "I know. Just breathe for now and let me know when your heart stops pounding so much."

He softens almost instantly over her touch and tender reassurance. His muscles loosen up a little underneath her hand, less tense than when she initially tried to touch him. He can't help but release a sigh, hands over his forehead while he tries to breathe. She smirks, realizing she's calmed him back down even if it took her longer now then it did in the past. Natasha's tempted to search for a few knots on his back to rub for him...a subconcious excuse to keep her hand where it is. She removes her hand once his phone starts to go off, nervously rubbing over her own elbow, trying to ignore those butterflies she gets every time he looks at her. Natasha leans her elbows over her knees, unable to make eye contact with him for as long as she feels the way she does;

"Phone Bruce."

He lets out a light moan, irritated when he has to hold it at a distance to read anything on it. She chuckles, biting the side of her fingernail;

"Who is it?"

He lowers his eyebrows, "Clint."

"Is he alright?"

Bruce leans forward, reaching into his pocket to slip on his glasses with one hand;

"He's fine but I missed two of his calls...? One text message...two texts. He's mad I didn't answer."

She sits up nervously, looking over his shoulder;

"What's wrong?"

He gives her a look, opening the first message, a typical 'Avengers Assemble';

"Did your phone go off?"

She widens her eyes when he shows her, frantic to double-check;

"I don't, think so. I mean I didn't feel anything...No Bruce, I got nothing. Weird."

"Usually you hear before I do-."

She laughs nervously;

"I know, Fury usually sends me all the damn information. Have I been bumped?"

He shakes his head, "No, why would you even talk like that?"

"I don't know. Have I been replaced?"

"By who?! That's ridiculous Natasha, no. Don't worry about it, there must've just been an oversight on SHIELD's part. Maybe Fury put someone else in charge of issuing the assignments and whatever."

She shrugs, "Because I haven't had a job with Barton in a while either. And he and I were talking about it this morning...it's a little strange."

He stands up, snatching up Alex's leash;

"Well, whatever's going on, Clint made this job sound important. You ready?"

Natasha lifts her eyebrows, "Ready? I wasn't invited."

He shrugs with a smirk as he states matter-of-factly;

"If the whole team was called in that includes you whether or not you were told personally...right?"

"I guess."

"Okay. Because, we wouldn't get very far without you."

She smirks playfully, standing up to walk beside him;

"You'd do just fine."

"Not really."

"Oh please! Admit it, you're just saying that because 'the other guy' would miss his shoulder angel."

Banner gives her a sarcastic look, causing her to stick her tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes;

"I don't really care about what he wants or what he likes. I know we, as a team, wouldn't function without you,' he stutters, hand around the back of his neck, 'It's...just-not the same when you're not around. Everyone says so."

He lowers his head, when he shoves his hands into his pockets. She makes eye contact with him when he looks up and instantly regrets it. Her heart aches just over looking at him and his tender eyes, coughing in the back of her throat before she shifts her focus down, mumbling with a smirk as she takes off;

"I'll race you back Vrach."