A/N: Since I have now joined the ranks of the employed I am not getting as much chance to write - so please be patient with me!


"I can't believe I did that!" Tilly whispered as they put the boxes containing the lingerie in the trunk with the shoes.

"You ok? You look pale."

"I am so embarrassed."

"Why don't we do food and a drink before moving onto the last shop I want to go to?" Romanov suggested, closing the trunk and heading to the drivers door.

Tilly couldn't speak so she nodded her agreement and climbed in next to Romanov.

They were sat in a secluded booth in an Italian restaurant. Romanov had ordered a glass of wine for each of them and they were now looking over the menu.

"I quite fancy the rosemary foccia followed by the tortellonni." Tilly said, putting her menu down and studying Romanov.

"I think I'm going to have the watercress soup and the lasagne."

Romanov collared their waitress and they placed their food orders.

"Spill." Tilly demanded, still watching Romanov.

"Spill what?"

"Lasagne, soup? That's Natasha comfort food if ever I saw it, not to mention you had me try on an entire lingerie shop and didn't try on anything yourself and considering you tell me every detail of your sex life I find that a little out of character for you."

"I can't have an off day?"

"No. Something happened and it's clouding your mind."

"It's nothing."

"That's why you're playing with your ring finger? Did he propose?" Tilly asked excited.

"No, yes. I don't know."

"I think you'd know Nat. What happened?"

"Well, and I shouldn't be telling you this. It's classified. But we were undercover as an engaged couple since just after New Year. It lasted until last week and I forgot to take the ring off. He caught me playing with it, when I noticed his eyeline I went to take the ring off and he told me to keep it on. I kind of blew him off and took the ring off"

"That sounds like a proposal to me. So what's the problem?"

"I haven't told him about Graduation."

"And you think when you tell him he'll flip and not want you anymore?"

"Of course not. I think he'll be supportive and sexy as hell but be torn to pieces inside."

"Nat, you have to tell him and soon, he's proposed once, he's going to try again."

"He wants kids Til."

"I'm sure he knows you and him wouldn't be nearly as effective with kids, I mean, you're not like Grant and Skye who live together, work together and never spend more than an hour without talking. I know she's training in the field, but she can stay on the plane and look after the kids. And can I point out that with a niece and two nephews at least you can give them back."

"You're right. I guess I've had years to get used to the idea. But what if he doesn't want me?"

"If he doesn't want you you'd be better off without him."

"But..."

"No buts Natasha. You're making excuses. I know as well as you do that it's a difficult conversation to have, but it has to be said and if he loves you he will understand."


Romanov pulled the car up outside Phys Acc just after dark.

"Erm, Nat, how the Hell am I supposed to smuggle all these bags in? There's like 20!"

"I would suggest very carefully, try the same way we got the cake out."

"The cake was one box, this is half an underwear store."

"Stop moaning."

"Hark who's talking. You haven't stopped freaking out since dinner! Please will you help me carry them at the very least? You did buy all this for me."

"Fine."

"I love you."

"Bite me."

Tilly opened the door and climbed out of the car, racing Romanov to the trunk where all the boxes were being stored, getting there a split second after her.

"So how do we do this?" Tilly asked, looking up at the illuminated building.

"Training exercise, you tell me."

"Do I have to?" Tilly pouted.

"Do you want my help?"

"Fine. Ok, so we go in through the front door. Stick to the shadows and look around every corner keeping an eye out for students and guards."

"Why the students?"

"If they see I've been out shopping, especially with you, they'll freak out."

"Good point. Solid plan, except what do you propose to do about the cameras?"

"Get caught?"

"If this were an actual mission that plan would get us killed."

"Well, if I knew how to hack, I would suggest hacking the cameras and putting them on a loop, but we would need to know the guards movements."

"I taught you how to hack."

"No, you didn't. Gramz put her foot down, just like she did with Grant when he wanted to find my breaking point."

"Oh yeah. Wasn't that the summer we blew up the kitchen?"

"And blamed it on me? Yes. It was."

"And I thought I taught you better than that Natasha?"

Tilly and Romanov looked up to see Principal Dockerty striding towards them.

"What exactly are you two planning to hack my security system for anyway?" he asked them looking at Tilly and getting no reaction from her.

"I took Tilly shopping to spend some girl time together after that incident with Anthony and we were just discussing sneaking the shopping back to her room." Romanov told him without missing a beat.

"And to do that you need to hack my cameras?"

"It's a teaching moment."

"You mean you didn't teach it already?"

"Was forbidden." Tilly interjected.

"That doesn't stop you and Ward now does it?"

"You obviously never met Gramz and Pops." Tilly chuckled.

"I would like to if they can control Ward and Romanov together."

"I'd have to shoot you dead." Tilly warned him.

"Moving on. Very well Natasha. Teach Tilly how to hack my system and loop a feed before getting her back to her room."

Romanov looked at Tilly as Principal Dockerty walked away before reaching into the boot and pulling out a laptop.

She opened it, logged in and handed it to Tilly.

Romanov directed as Tilly typed and within ten minutes the two of them had access to Phys Acc's security cameras. Tilly recorded a loop and linked it into the main feed and handed the laptop back to Romanov who typed something, closed the computer and tossed it back into the boot.

"What did you do?" Tilly asked, picking up half of the bags.

"Set a timer. The cameras will go back to normal in ten minutes."

"We better hurry then!" Tilly told her, heading towards the door.

"So your plan if we meet someone?"

"Ignore them and maybe they'll go away." Tilly told her with a smile, repeating the words Romanov had uttered to her often enough as a child.

"Why?"

"No casualties. It's better know one knows your here or you'll get mobbed like Grant."

Tilly and Romanov crept quietly down the corridors, stopping and waiting when they ran the risk of bumping into someone, before stealthily running up the stairs to Tilly's room.

Romanov dumped all of the bags on Tilly's bed, pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple.

"You take care. If you need me I'm a phone call away."

"I know. Same goes for you." Tilly replied, hugging back.

Tilly watched Romanov close the door behind her before she started on the bags containing boxes that were the product of the days shopping trip.

Tilly froze as there was a soft knock on her door. Thinking it was Romanov hitting difficulty getting off the corridor, she bounced over to the door and opened it wide.

"Don't tell me you miss me al..."

"I have been looking for you everywhere!" Harvey exclaimed as he pushed past her into the room.

He eyed up the boxes on the bed and ran his fingers over one of the bra's Tilly had exposed from its wrapping. Silently she vowed never to wear that bra, which was fortunate as it was not one of her favourites.

"At least now I know why I couldn't find you. Who'd you go with?"

"My sister. What do you want Harvey?"

"I wanted to show you my Russian make up test result." He chirrped happily, handing a piece of paper to Tilly.

"Congratulations. You are now at the midway point between first year and second." She replied sarcastically.

"I know – isn't it great!"