The two of them settled into a nice routine. She would wake up in the morning, head down to the gym. She knew that after the first day away they wouldn't have time to check in on her so she could go wild. After her workout she would make them both coffee before showering and working in the lab. She would force herself to join Loki in the kitchen at lunch time eating whatever he put in front of her before she would disappear back to the lab and he would rest or go for a walk around the compound. Without fail she had dinner ready for 7pm and would join him in the living room her bowl 'half eaten', his full. They'd watch a movie until the early hours of the morning until she fell asleep next to him and he would put her to bed. He knew about her nightmares, they had plagued him when she had first moved back into her room and he had been forced to listen to her screams, unable to move and comfort her. If she fell asleep next to him, he knew she would feel safe in her dreams so he always waited for however long it took.

A month had gone by since The Avengers had left and Tony could rarely check in. Katarina heard her phone ring as she stepped off the treadmill, out of breath she answered it.

"Tony" she said slightly wheezing.

"You okay kid"

"Yeah i'm fine, hows everything going with the mission?"

"Not bad, we should be back soon."

"Do you need me to do something?" she was confused as to why he was calling, normally he just texted.

"Just wanted to check in" he sounded exhausted.

"Yeah everything is all good here" she gripped the edge of the treadmill as her head started to swim.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure" she gritted her teeth.

"Because you don't look so good on the camera" she swore under her breath.

"Well I just tried running for the first time in a while and it was harder than I thought" she lied.

"Take it easy kid, okay" he hung up. Not wanting to risk doing anything else she slowly made her way out of the gym. Loki was waiting for her in the kitchen.

"You're up" she said looking surprised as he handed her a coffee.

"I thought it might be my turn to make you a coffee". His eyes studied her, a look of concern settling in.

"Are you alright?"

"Uh yeah, I think I just hit it too hard in the gym this morning" stars were starting to form in front of her eyes, she sat herself down trying to shake the feeling. He carried on around the kitchen, opening up the fridge,

"So I read on google about pancakes that have blueberries in them and you put bacon on them, which sounds wild" she could hear Loki speaking but she couldn't focus on him.

"Loki" she whispered as she felt the floor rush up to meet her.

"Katarina" she felt his cool hands on her cheeks, his face swam into her vision.

"I don't feel so good" she managed to say. He caught her as she slumped forward off the stool.

"Oh princess, I knew you could keep the pretence up" he murmured, picking her up and taking her to his room.

She came round, her head aching. She frowned. This wasn't her room. She tried to get up but gentle hands pushed her back into the sheets.

"Loki?" she whispered.

"You're alright my love you just need to rest" he purred from where he sat at the end of the bed.

"What happened?"

"You fainted," he explained.

"I'm just going to get you some water and some food, I'll be right back"

"I'm fine"

"You are not fine" he growled, she tensed at his change in tone.

"You are sick"

"No I am not" she forced herself up from where she lay.

"Oh yes, because lying about what food your eating day after day is normal. Trying to trick me every evening that you've miraculously eaten half your food in the kitchen before you bring me mine is normal, running on a treadmill for an hour when three months ago you were practically dead because someone punctured your lung is normal. The list goes on Katarina"

"Loki stop"

"Why, so you can go back to pretending"

"Please. I'll try harder this time"

"Don't lie to me" his voice filled with sadness.

"Bring me anything and I'll eat it. No complaints, no tricks. I promise" she took his hand as she promised, forcing herself to look into his eyes so he would believe her. He stole his hand away and left the room. It didn't take him long to return with a microwave porridge pot, he handed it over without saying anything and watched as she ate it. She forced a smile as she finished the last spoonful. He let the silence linger before asking her.

"How do you feel?"

"Exhausted, but less sick" she admitted.

"Just rest princess" he said moving himself so he was beside her in the bed. She sighed and settled herself, closing her eyes. He stroked the face out of her hair, twirling it in his fingers.

She was sitting tied to a chair, blood running down her cheek mixing with the saltiness of the tears as it dribbled over her lip.

"They aren't coming for you sweetheart" a voice said from the darkness.

"Clearly you're not that special to your precious avengers" a kick landed square in her stomach and the chair fell backwards.

"And seeing as you've got no powers your not very useful to us either"

"But you're a pretty little thing and I reckon someone would pay a nice little sum to have you as their pet" he snarled in her ear. Another kick let a whimper escape from her lips.

"Their upstairs bidding for you now" his hands closed around her throat and she struggled to breathe.

"Katarina, Katarina. Princess" the grip on her neck loosened and she felt cool hands on her cheeks as she struggled to pull herself out of the nightmare.

"Shhh. I know my dear, I know. It's alright i'm here with you now" a thumb stroked her cheek bone and her eyes snapped open, her body still shaking from the sobs she didn't even know had started. Loki held her in his arms, one hand around her waist the other wiping the tears away. He whispered in her ear as he held her tight.

"I promise. I promise I'm not letting go until I've made you forget everything that troubles you" A fresh wave of sobs erupted from her.

"I'm sorry" she managed to choke out between sobs.

"Don't apologise my love" he whispered as he held her tighter.

"You're safe now, nothing can hurt you" he kept whispering to her until her frightened eyes started to flutter closed again.

"I'm scared"

"I'm right here, no harm will come to you I promise" her breathing evened out as she let her eyes close.

"I won't leave your side". He watched her chest rise and fall, he slid his arm out from under her, so she was laying back in the bed, his hand gently stroking her hair. The door flew open and Steve stood in the doorway, his face like thunder. Loki slowly placed a finger on his lips.

"Shhhh. I just got her back to sleep. Steve, it's not what you think, just let me explain" he carefully got out of the bed and walked towards the door, forcing Steve out of the room and closing the door behind him.

"Explain" Steve growled.

"She had a nightmare" he lounged against the wall.

"And she was in your bed in the first place because?"

"She's sick". Steve's face fell.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I think it's best if she explains that to you herself"

"If you have done something to her, regardless of the fact that you are Thor's brother I will kill you"

"I would never hurt her," Loki snapped. He pushed the door open and waved Steve in.

"The room is all yours". Steve hesitated before striding in.