/Hey guys! So before you read this chapter, I'd like to mention that I spent over a week going back to the other chapters of this fic and making them longer and in my opinion, a whole lot better. I'm literally so happy with it now, when before I wasn't super impressed with it. Anyway, it's probably a good idea to go back and read the 3 chapters because they are pretty drastically different and have a lot more information regarding the characters etc. So yeah, thanks for your support! And also, because I'm taking my time and making these chapter 3 times the size they were before, updating may be a little more sporadic so please bear with me. I'm doing the best that I can. Okay, thanks!

Also the park bit came from something that happened this weekend. I spontaneously agreed to go to the park with a friend and I had such a nice time and smiled and laughed and looked at the ducks and played on the swings and stuff and yeah I'm suffering for it now, but I don't regret it at all./

When lunch was mainly eaten, and they'd gotten through two episodes of the show without Natasha falling asleep, Clint beamed at her as he reached for his phone.

"Hey, so Wanda sent a fuck-ton of messages. Turns out that Bucky couldn't wait to contact her and messaged her the same night and they met yesterday afternoon for Bear's first session." He pulled his arm from around her, but moved closer still so they could share the screen.

'Guys the new guy you sent me is frigging BEAUTIFUL what the heck?'

'Seriously guys how does someone so hot exist? It's really not fair'

'turns out he gets flustered a lot, I wish you could see it's adorable'

'GUYS'

'I mentioned how he got the number and like obvs I already knew but he said he met this couple and they were super nice to him even when his dog went crazy and that he would've been at a loss for what to do with Bear if YOU GUYS HADN'T HELPED'

'that's so sweet I'm gonna frigging cry like? Cute'

'he's a super quick learner even if he gets super embarrassed trying to get Bear to walk with him instead of away from him haha'

'actually embarrassed is still a good look on him'

'he seems so happy! Like we've got a lot of work to do but he's very sweet and looks like he's looking forward to it'

'HEY'

'I'm a genius. And it's not unprofessional or anything cause I arrange this sort of thing all the time'

'are you ready for my amazing idea?'

'we arrange a play date for Lucky and Bear!'

'you bring the dog to the park, we help socialise his dog, Bear gets to make a friend and follow Lucky's behaviour and becomes a super duper therapy dog…'

'you get to see angel eyes again'

'good right? Lemme know what you want to do and I'll arrange it! Love ya'

Clint chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I think the session went well."

Natasha hummed, a smirk crossing her face as she flicked back through the last couple of messages.

"What do you think?" She asked, tilting her head as she looked up from the phone.

"I think that Wanda is a genius, and it's the perfect way to get to know him without overwhelming the poor guy." Clint grinned, sliding an arm back around her shoulders.

"I'll message Wanda then." Natasha laughed, head settling against his shoulder.

"This is gonna be good."

…

Another couple of hours passed as Natasha internally fought the exhaustion constantly warring at her brain.

Those two hours were spent thinking of what she wanted to do for the rest of the day, and figuring out if she would be able to do it or not.

"Clint?" Natasha sat up, fiddling with the sleeve of her borrowed (stolen from Clint) sweater.

"Yeah, babe?" Clint shuffled up against the sofa cushions. "Everything okay?"

The redhead paused for a moment before nodding slowly. "Can we…I'd like to go to the park. I'm not entirely sure if I'll be able to do much once I'm there but even…even if we just sit for a while."

"I think that's a great idea." Clint grinned, sitting up. "We can definitely do that. Are you sure though?"

Natasha nodded again. "I miss just sitting outside. It was really nice this morning on the balcony but…I want trees and to see the ducks and just…enjoy it. I'll take my stick and Lucky and I'll sit down as much as I have to but I need this."

Clint smiled and ran his thumb over her cheek. "Then that's what we'll do." He said softly.

"But first, you're gonna need to put some pants on. Not that I'm complaining, like…at all, but the people at the park might have something to say." Clint winked and stood, holding out his hand to her.

Natasha rolled her eyes. "You're incorrigible."

"And you love me for it."

…

It was just getting into Fall, arguably the best season of them all, so the pair wrapped up warm.

Once sweaters, boots, scarves and coats were on, they headed down to the parking garage.

The park was only about a ten minute walk but they didn't know how much walking they'd do once they got there, and if Natasha used all her energy walking there and then literally couldn't walk home, there would be problems.

So it was just easier to take the car, and then they didn't have to worry about taking it super easy around the park just so they could get home.

After the very short journey was complete, the pair clambered out the car.

Clint headed around to the back and pulled open the back doors so Lucky could hop out.

Securing the bandana around his neck, and the lead to the harness, Clint brought him around to Natasha.

It was better if Clint held the dog when Natasha had her stick, since it would make walking even more difficult.

Natasha slid her free hand into Clint's and the man gave it a soft squeeze as they walked through the gates.

The park was pretty empty, since it was past the time the kids played there after school, but before the time the adults tended to come out after work to have a nice stroll or walk their dogs too.

They first made a beeline for the duck pond.

Natasha loved watching the ducks and could stay there for actual hours just enjoying them.

The park had a ton of benches so they both sat down (pacing was very very important and even if they sat for only half a minute every five minutes, that was better on her joints than Natasha staying standing for the whole five minutes).

After a brief sit down, Natasha stood and moved over to the smaller gate surrounding the pond and the ducks.

She smiled as she watched them swim, or push their heads under the water, or chase each other around.

She patted her pockets and grinned when she felt the packet of bird feed there.

They got it from the same pet store they got Lucky's food and there would often be half used bags or random seeds in all her coats.

She pulled out the bag, her smile wide as she scattered some of the feed over the grassy banks and over the rocks by the waters' edge.

Soon, a good collection of all the different ducks were congregating by Natasha, some even squishing their bodies down and shuffling under the gate to sit around at her feet.

Natasha laughed as that happened. "Oh my god, did you see that?" She span around to find Clint, who was watching her with watery eyes and a big smile.

"I didn't think that big guy would make it under, kudos to him." Clint chuckled, standing and coming over to her, careful to keep Lucky away from the ones closest to them.

He picked up a handful of the feed, throwing it over to the side, so the ducks that were smaller or less boisterous could get some too.

Clint also carefully slid out his phone, and took a couple of pictures from behind Natasha; her smiling and laughing as the ducks pushed forward.

It had become quite an unusual thing to see Natasha looking quite so carefree, and the expression on her face was pure delight and happiness and humour and absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful.

The pictures were for his eyes only, though he would of course show them to Natasha.

He knew she would get bashful and embarrassed, but would love to see the expression that he got to see.

Sometimes it was the little things that were the absolute best.

When they ran out of the feed and the ducks waddled back to the water, Natasha took Clint's hand again and they made a couple of slow, leisurely circles around the pond.

Natasha's eyes wandered over to the actual play park section, eyes lighting up and instantly she was tugging Clint over there when she realised there were no more kids about.

"Swings?" The man grinned, carefully tying Lucky to the entry gate as they headed over there.

"Swings." Natasha beamed, plopping down on one of the seats after placing her stick on the floor, wasting no time in kicking off from the ground.

Clint sat on the swing next to her, head tilted just a little so that when they passed each other, he could see her face, cheeks flushed from the wind, and her hair shining like flames in the sun.

It soon became a competition; who could get the highest and though it was impossible to really tell, it didn't stop them from trying to beat the other.

Natasha laughed, head tilted back as she watched the sky every time she swung back.

Clint grinned and as he reached the highest point of his swing, he jumped off.

He landed it almost perfectly, but stumbled just a little as his feet touched the floor.

Natasha jumped next, smirking as she landed, crouched a little but not wavering once.

"Fine, you win." Clint stuck his tongue out, but really wasn't mad in the slightest.

Before the chronic fatigue had become so…debilitating , Natasha had been the queen of balance and poise; she'd done ballet for years when she was little, and apparently it was something that carried on into adulthood.

But then the illness had come, and Natasha lost her balance even taking a couple of steps or getting up from her seat.

Somehow, he'd completely forgotten that when he'd issued the silent challenge and jumped from his seat.

But also, it looked like Natasha had forgotten that too.

She looked happy and her smirk at having won remained, but she didn't look shocked that she'd kept her balance.

Clint leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips, cupping her jaw with one hand. "You're amazing." He said softly, reverently, meaning it in every fibre of his being.

Natasha's smirk dropped and that shy smile replaced it, though her eyes were still full of humour.

"I know." The redhead grinned, stealing another quick kiss. "Now c'mon, I wanna play on the roundabout."

She all but ran over to the bright yellow thing, hopping on and placing herself firmly on one of the four seats.

Clint grabbed the rails, "hold on tight, doll."

He pushed the bar and it immediately began to spin around in a circle.

Laughter bubbled up in Natasha's chest as Clint started to run with the bar in his grip, so he could make it go faster.

Both of them were laughing like idiots in seconds as Clint let go, stumbling and breathless as he watched Natasha's form blur past him.

"Oh my god, oh my god okay!" Natasha shouted. "This is fast, okay I'm done!"

Clint re-took the bar and pulled it to a stop, feet digging into the floor.

As Natasha tried to clamber off, she fell and Clint grabbed her.

They both toppled to the floor, Natasha on top of Clint.

Amusement quickly took over the shock as they both giggled, Clint's arms winding around her waist.

"Oh man, everything is spinning." Natasha groaned, grin on her face as she pressed her face to his shoulder.

"Well, I am an expert at roundabout spinning." Clint quipped, chuckling as he sat them both up.

"Hey, you could do that for a job." Natasha grinned, getting up onto her feet with Clint quickly following.

The man bent and picked up her stick, handing it over and going over to untie Lucky.

Natasha headed to the gate and craned her head around to look down the path.

"Hey, the ice cream van is still here!"

…

When they both had ice creams in hand, the pair sat down on a small grassy bank overlooking most of the park.

Clint laid his coat down and they both snuggled up close to each other, neither one caring that it was probably way too cold for ice-cream as they tucked in.

Natasha had finally decided on a vanilla cone with strawberry sauce and sprinkles and it was relatively tame compared to Clint's; vanilla and chocolate with at least three different sauces and a fuck-ton of sprinkles and chocolate.

"You're a child." Natasha hummed fondly.

Clint pouted and reached over, dabbing the end of his ice cream against the top of her nose.

"Clint!" Natasha batted at his hand, "you're disgusting."

Clint laughed and leaned over again, delicately licking the drop of ice cream off.

"Ew c'mon!" Natasha pulled a face, giggling and swiping at her nose with her scarf.

Clint only beamed innocently at her, more preoccupied with trying not to spill any of the insane amount of toppings all over himself and his clothes.

Literal child.

Once the ice creams were gone, Natasha leaned her head against Clint's shoulder, enjoying the last of the sunshine as she watched people play and the ducks swim across the water.

"This was just what I needed, Clint." She smiled, closing her eyes and just relaxing into the feel of fresh air against her face, and her boyfriends' warm body beside her.

"I'm glad you suggested it, Nat." Clint said softly, pressing a kiss to her hair. "It's been lovely."

It had been more than lovely, and Natasha knew her body would pay for it tomorrow.

But in that moment, with the sun setting and creating the most beautiful sky, with Clint next to her and the sounds of ducks and life surrounding her, she couldn't find it in herself to care.