"Tasha!" He shouted. His voice sounded strained and far away and she wanted to get to him, but there was something heavy on her chest and she couldn't move. She pushed hard against the object with all her might, her head jerking from one side to another and her arms flailing even though they felt heavy too.

"Tash, it's me!"

Her eyes shot open and she tried to pull her arms back, but two metal fists were encircled around her wrists, restraining her movements.

"Easy," he murmured, still holding her down as her chest heaved with aching breaths. "Don't fight me."

"Tony," she croaked, her body stilling as she looked into his eyes, illuminated in the glow from the arc reactor.

"You were having another nightmare," he said, slowly loosening his grip on her and backing away even slower, keeping his hands where she could see them as the Iron Man gauntlets faded until it was just him and he was sitting on his knees in front of her as she sat up.

Her eyes widened and she gasped loudly, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh my God," she said, her eyes teary. "Did I… did I attack you?" She whispered in horror.

"It's fine," he said, finally letting out a breath. "All that matters is you're okay."

She shook her head. "No…no…no…. "

"How often do you have dreams like that?" He wondered.

"Not very often. I'm sorry. Are you alright?" She sank back against the headboard, studying him carefully.

"I'm fine. Are you okay?" His hands hovered in the space between them but he stayed back, clearly caught between wanting to comfort her and not wanting to crowd her.

She nodded. "Are you sure you're not hurt?"

"Maybe just my ego."

She raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You were calling Steve's name," he explained, a little tentatively.

She put her hand over her mouth. "Tony… I can't. I can't choose between you and Cap," she whispered tearily.

He sighed in understanding. "That's what all this is about? You're worried about The Avengers?"

She didn't say anything, her eyes still trained on his.

"Look, Nat, I get it. And I promise I won't be mad if you work with him. But you have to know that I can't follow when you do."

"Tony…"

"He killed my parents!"

She shrank back, her eyes widening at the painful expression in his face as she silently waited for him to continue.

" Steve knew that Barnes…. that Barnes killed my parents. He-he watched the video with me and he still left. They just left and I- I know that he's still your friend and he's still Captain America and believe me, darling, I get it, I really really do. But Godammit, Tasha. At some point, I am going to need somebody to choose me."

A single tear slipped down her cheek as she watched him catch his breath after his emotional outburst and then in one, quick motion she pushed herself forward, arms wrapping around his shoulders, knees straddling his hips and thighs pressed against his as she was practically sitting on him. Her lips pressed fiercely against his, nearly forcing his mouth open as she pushed her tongue in, her arms pulling his upper body flush against hers as she kissed him passionately.

He couldn't help letting a moan escape from his throat as her mouth devoured his and his arms went around her waist even as her hands were tugging roughly at his hair.

They were both panting heavily when they finally had to pull apart for air and she leaned her forehead against his, her fingers stroking his neck on either side.

"I choose you," she whispered, sliding her hands down his bare chest as she ducked her head to place heated kisses all along his neck. "Baby. I choose you. And I want you."

"Yeah?" He murmured, nipping at her bottom lip.

"Yeah," she breathed, reaching for the hem of her shirt and pulling it off over her head.

"I want you," he groaned in between kisses. "So bad."

She moved her hands deliberately down his stomach as she kissed him, feeling a quiver in his belly that made her want to get her hands all over the rest of him and see what else his body would give her.

He gripped her hips, grinding his own up into her and letting her feel him through the thin fabric of both of their pajama pants.

"Tony," she breathed, her eyes closing as she pushed back against him.

"That's my girl," he said huskily, rolling his hips in a way that caused her to moan deeply. "Okay?" He whispered and she nodded.

He lowered his head, kissing her neck as he slowly lowered her into the mattress, one hand cradling her head while the other removed clothing and touched her in her most secret places.

Her back pressed against the bed, his skin warm and soft as he lay on top of her, and they were kissing and touching each other and it was so close, so personal, and so intimate, more intimate than she'd ever been with a man before and she rolled him over onto his back, straddling him and kissing down his chest as she took control.

"Tasha," he moaned, his hands in her hair as they kissed heatedly and the way he was moving under her had her questioning how much longer she could maintain any pretense of control .

"I choose you," she repeated against his mouth.

"Here, c'mere," he murmured as he slowly started to switch their positions.

She pressed her hands against his chest, her mouth nibbling at his neck.

"Hey, hey trust me," he whispered, raising one hand up to place over hers where it lay over his heart as he looked up at her.

She nodded wordlessly, her eyes wide as her gaze held his and he gently rolled them over.

"I've never been this close to another person before," she said, her voice catching.

"Me neither," he murmured, pushing her hair back with his hand as he leaned over her.

He leaned down to kiss her and she closed her eyes, her arms wrapped firmly around him, pulling him against her. He moved his hips and she reached into his pants, her mouth swallowing his deep moan as she stroked him.

His hand trailed from her hair, down her arm, her side and then he pushed it into her panties, moving his fingers until she came before he pulled his own pants down.

"It's okay, it's just us. Just you and me," he whispered with his mouth pressed against hers.

She kept her eyes locked on his, her mouth on his and then she spread her legs for him, at last giving in to his push and pull.