Clint walked into their office. It was late in the evening but Ethan was sitting at his desk pushing a pencil back and forth. It had been four days since they had gotten back from Russia and Ethan barely felt sane anymore. He had tried to kill the closest thing he had to a sister and it had left him deeply scarred. He could barely bring himself to go home at night, let alone do anything in the day.

Clint sat down opposite him at the desk. Slamming his hand down onto the pencil he spoke, "You haven't spoken to either of them have you?" Ethan shook his head. "Well it's good that you have me then, I spoke to Nat. She doesn't blame you, she knows better than anyone that those people can get into your head. Amy is your problem though. Nat explained to me how you feel and you have to go talk to her." Ethan just sat motionless.

"Fine then, at least get out of the office, your spreading your negative energy around. Go down to the gym and work something out with a punching bag." Ethan silently got up and left the room.

He did take Clint's advice though and went to the gym. He went over to the chin up bar though, remembering his first day and how he had proved himself here. It felt like a lifetime ago now. Since then he had met a billionaire and a God and saved the world twice. He had been given medals by the president and had moved into his own apartment. He had found someone he loved and gone to save her life.

He jumped up onto the top bar and started pulling himself up.

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He thought about her eyes. How blue they were

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He thought about her blond hair. How it fell down perfectly framing her face.

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He thought about her kissing him, how it felt perfect to link himself to her.

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He thought of her voice calling out to him.

"You've barely broken a sweat." Her voice was so soft and sweet and close... Wait close.

Ethan dropped of the bar and turned around to see her, standing close behind him. She was wearing blue jeans and a fluffy hoodie with Culver University written across the front. She looked beautiful standing there but Ethan didn't move towards her.

"You didn't come to see me, not after we got off the jet. Not after Doc Hope had gotten through with me, not even when I came to your office. Where were you Ethan?" She had hurt and pain in her voice but Ethan still couldn't move towards her.

"I couldn't do that to you, not after you saw me. You saw who I am. Who I really am, just some monster made to kill. I would have killed Nat if you didn't stop me. You are better off without me" Ethan wished for anything but to say those words but knew that they were true.

Amy took two steps forward and slapped him. Hard. "Don't you dare, don't you bloody dare tell me to stay away from you. I saw you Ethan, who you are. And you know what, I love you Ethan. We were together for less than an hour and you already made me feel like I've never felt before. I love you and I know you love me back. I can feel it in here." She pointed at his chest. "And I won't stop loving you ever."

Ethan pressed his hands against her shoulders, pushing his head down the two inches between them before locking lips with her again. They kissed and became one again only like two people in love could. Ethan felt almost like their souls were knitting themselves together.

He heard the elevator doors open but didn't break away from Amy. Even Clint's sarcastic tone couldn't spoil the mood. "Well this take office romance to a whole new level." Ethan turned to him just in time to see Nat who was standing next to him slap him harm on the arm. "Hey that hurt, I'm just saying it's sweet. Come on love birds, we are going to go grab food."

Ethan and Amy just laughed, holding hands as they walked to the elevator.

They ended up in a little Italian restaurant where Amy and Ethan slid into a booth together, sitting opposite Nat and Clint. Their hands never stopped grasping holding eachother all through the meal. They made light conversation. Clint told them about Cooper's science project and Amy said about told them about her parents who lived in LA. It felt so nice to be close to his family, no awkwardness between any off them. They managed to pretend that they were just four normal people who all had normal lives for two whole hours.

After the meal, Nat and Clint had gotten in their cars to go home. Ethan would have to pick his up the next day as it was still at work and he knew that Amy's was there as well. They stood on the sidewalk out side the restaurant, holding eachothers hands as they gazed at eachother. After a long time of just standing there Amy finally broke apart from him and turned to hail a cab.

She turned back to him as she opened the door of the cab. "You know where I live, pick me up tomorrow at eight, we can have our first proper date."

Ethan smiled at her. "On the dot." She laughed as she shut the door of the cab. Ethan felt sad as it felt like a part of him had left him, moving away from him in a bright yellow car. He hailed his own car and was soon home in bed.

He woke the next morning feeling fresh and happy for the first time in a week. He had found his girl and was going on his first date that evening. Then his stomach dropped out. He was going on a date that evening.

He pulled out his communicator from his bedside draw and phoned Coulson.

"Yeah, I'm feeling very sick *cough* I can't come in today so see you on Monday bye." Ethan said quickly before Coulson could stop him. He then got out of bed and got ready for his day. Half an hour later he knocked on Clint's door, knowing that he wouldn't be home. Laura opened the door.

"Oh hey Ethan, how are you. I'm afraid you already missed Clint." She was wearing her pyjamas still as Ethan knew she would. Clint had mentioned that she had today off.

"No I actually wanted to talk to you if I could Laura." She looked surprised but motioned for him to come through into the living room. "Did Clint tell you about Amy?" Laura smiled at him.

"I feel so happy for you, it's good that you found someone." The genuine happiness in her voice seemed to wash over him.

"Yeah well today is going to be our first date you see and, well I've-"

Laura cut across him speaking quickly. "Your totally freaking out because this is the girl you love with all your heart and you don't want to mess this up in any way especially considering that you grew up away from normal society so have no idea what a proper date it and how to make a girl happy?" How had she managed to say all that without breathing.

"Well, yeah."

Laura smiled at him. "Well honey, we've got work to do then."

They went to work. They found a place to eat close to her house which was a small romantic eatery where they booked a table for two. They then went out shopping and bought Ethan a new outfit. A smart dark blue shirt with black chinos that would go with his dark shoes. They also bought flowers and chocolate along with a rug and blanket. The restaurant had a small park opposite and the plan was to go outside after dinner and watch the stars. They then sat down in a coffee shop where Ethan went through his worst fears.

"What if she doesn't like the food?"

"They have different options so that will be fine."

"What if she doesn't want to go out in the end?"

"Then you two stay in and watch a movie together."

"What if she can't stand to be alone with me?" .

"Now you are just being stupid Ethan, you both love eachother and you haven't even gone out on a date yet. Just remember, ask her how she is. Compliment her on how she looks and the evening will go by fine."

Ethan still felt panicky as he paced his flat. He had managed to get back home and had showered and gotten himself ready for the evening. All he had to do now was wait one hour, five minutes and thirty three seconds.

He alternated between standing and sitting, flicking the TV on and off and on and off. He even got out his father's knife that he had left in the apartment, putting it into his pocket knowing that it would keep him safe. He walked out of his flat and down to his car, knowing that it would take him exactly twelve minutes to driver to her flat.

He arrived outside at exactly eight o'clock, he got out of the car and looked up to see a flash of Amy as she was standing at the third floor window holding an iPad up before she quickly pulled the curtain closed. Ethan pulled out the flowers and chocolate and little box as he walked up to the door. It was unlocked and he walked up to her apartment, lightly knocking on the door.

It immediately opened and Amy stood in her doorway wearing a the most beautiful dress Ethan had ever seen. It was a light shade of blue that matched her eyes and it wrapped around her to fit her perfectly as it reached down to just above her knees.

Ethan felt the breath leave him as he couldn't believe how stunning she was. "Well? What do you think?" She gave him a little twirl.

"I think anyone has ever looked more beautiful than you tonight." Ethan walked forward and pulled her close, hugging her and giving her a quick kiss. He showed her the flowers which she took from him before taking a long sniff.

"Mom, these smell so good, and you know that purple is one of my favourite colours, along with your emerald green of course." She smiled at him before taking the roses and putting them in an empty vase.

Ethan put the chocolates down on a table whilst having a look around the apartment. It was smaller than his but still spacious, with a cozy living room and a kitchenette attached. He saw a door of the back which must lead to her bedroom. "Don't you worry though, Laura helped me plan the whole evening."

She laughed at him, "that's good to know, she probably won't starve tonight then."

Ethan pulled out the little box from his pocket. "Though I did pick this by myself." Ethan opened the box to show her a little necklace. It had a small metal Angel made of silver on the chain which had two little eyes that were inlaid with emeralds.

"Oh my god Ethan, it's so beautiful, I love it so much." She turned around and lifted her hair to allow Ethan to slip it around her neck. She turn back to him after he had fastened it and they kissed again.

They made their way down to Ethan's Ferrari where he opened the door to let her in the passenger seat. They drove through the town making light conversation.

"So what were you doing out the window when I arrived?"

"Oh I hoped you hadn't noticed. I was face timing my mum. I told her all about you, well almost. I just said that you worked with me. They know I work for SHIELD so they didn't pry. Anyway mum wanted to see you. They also invited us over for thanksgiving next weekend. You know when in Rome and all that so you've got to come with me just so I can grin and bear it." Ethan laughed and nodded, he was looking forward to spending the weekend with her family.

He pulled up outside the restaurant, getting an approving nod from the waiter who stood just inside after the ma had looked at both his car and at his girlfriend. He showed them to their table and the two of them sat opposite though their hands were linked across the table. There was an old couple sitting next to him and the lady smiled at him and the old man gave him an approving nod.

They ordered their meal, Amy turned out to love the menu, and finally got down to learning everything about eachother. Amy was at an advantage having read his file but hey still told eachother everything, though Ethan just glossed over his training. He didn't want to talk about that here and spoil their evening.

He learnt that Amy had been born in Westminster where her parents both worked. Her father owned a technology firm and her mother was a lead programmer there. They had moved to LA after Stark industries had incorporated their business ten years ago and that's where Amy and grown up properly. She had skipped several grades before going to study psychology at Culver a few years early where she excelled and got her doctorate in a record time. Her parents were apparently very proud in her.

It was almost the exact life Ethan could have wished for. A loving family, a good education though he would have preferred weapon physics and that hot British accent to top it off.

They whiled away the evening talking about their favourite colours and their favourite animals. How Amy liked her tea and how Ethan couldn't stand the stuff. Their food was delicious and the waiter brought out his special desert that he wouldn't charge for after he found out that it was their first date.

After their full meal, Ethan payed the Cheque and they left, grabbing a bag out of the car before crossing the road into the little park opposite. Ethan spread out a rug and lay down on it with Amy, pulling a blanket around them as they looked up at the stars that were amazingly clear even with all the lights around. They held eachother close, Amy snuggled closed into Ethan's arm.

Ethan asked the question that had been on his mind for a week now. "What did you think, after you saw me almost kill Nat. After you saw me for the first time"

"I thought that you were the reason I became a psychologist. I want to help people Ethan, people that are messed up inside. People who think they are monsters when they are good people inside," she poked him with the last sentence.

After awhile Amy took her turn to ask him a question. "How do you do it, I can still barely sleep at night after Russia and they just kidnapped me for one day. You were raised and tortured there and made into a perfect assassin but you still are able to sit here and be happy and love me. I don't understand you Ethan, any normal person would be a train wreck or would've been killed right now."

Ethan looked down into her eyes, "I don't know. I suppose I just always felt better around the people I've met now and they help me to calm me down. Like whenever I have a nightmare now I have my beautiful girlfriend to think of to calm me down."

She punched him in the arm, "ugh you charmer you. Still you are only sixteen so maybe it's all about that child mentality with you adapting to new circumstances."

"Now look who's talking calling me a child, I seem to remember that it was me stopping the bad guy." He rolled his eyes at her.

"And I remember that it was me who snapped you out of her control."

He hugged her closer and they lay back. They lay there for long time, almost falling asleep before they got back up and Ethan drove them back to her house. He walked her inside, surprised at how late it had gotten since it was almost one. They both felt sleepy standing at her door.

She leaned in and kissed him for what felt like the hundredth time that evening. "This was great Ethan, tell Laura she plans a great date." She leaned in pressing her head against his chest. "I love you, you know that Ethan don't you?"

He heard doubt in her voice, he looked at her. "Amy I love you more that I thought it was possible to ever love someone and I literally didn't know what love was until a week ago." They kissed again before she turned away and went into her own apartment closing the door behind her. Ethan felt like a part of him was missing again with Amy not being near him but he had to get his act together if he wanted to make it home before the morning.

Amy and Ethan spent most of the weekend together apart from a few counselling trips Amy had to make. They went around Central Park and went to the zoo. They went out for dinner again and also stayed in to watch movies late into the night. They had surprisingly similar taste in films even if Amy did love a trashy RomCom every now and again.

They never stayed over though, both of them deciding to leave at the last minute before it became to late to go. Ethan still felt a little awkward around Amy. He had been taught that to love someone was to ruin their life and he didn't feel that he was quite ready to go any further with her yet.