2013 Rio De Janiero, Brazil. Age 29.

What had started as a much-needed vacation with the Barton's turned into nearly a year long stay for Natasha. She liked Rio, it was warm, busy and full of life. Fury had lessened his hold on them after the invasion and let them take the time they needed to regroup. He necessarily didn't need to regroup, more so she needed to get away. Turning 29 had flipped a switch in her. Suddenly, the memories of the Red Room sterilizing her weighed more heavily on her. The longer she hung around the Barton's the more she felt suffocated by what had been done to her.

She supposed maybe it was time to try again. Find someone maybe who could love her. In Brazil she had no difficulty finding men to entertain herself with. Clint teased her mercilessly when she parted ways from the family one day on the beach and showed up at the hotel a day later. A year in and living with a boyfriend, she hoped she could change things around. She met him in a club that he happened to own. A rich man who developed buildings in Rio. Asher Wyatt. She had done her research on him. Born in England. Studied at Oxford, then made his first million developing hotels before he turned towards the real estate market.

Asher rolled over in bed, pulling her close to him. "Good morning, Natalie." He breathed against her neck.

He was sweet, and affectionate. Natasha hated that every time he touched her or when they slept together that images of James flooded her mind. No matter how hard she tried to push James away, he snuck back in.

She sat up and brushed the dark brown hair from his face. "Morning.." She kissed his shoulder. The sun tinted the early morning sky a luminous orange. From the penthouse of his building, the view was magnificent.

His hands traced her bare spine as she stretched. He'd have to leave for work soon. Rio had been good to her, she had a healthy tan and the sun had bleached her scarlet locks into warm coppery red. "I'm going to shower. Send for breakfast?" She asked softly.

He nodded as she gathered his discarded shirt and shrugged it on while she walked to the bathroom. She knew everything about him and he knew very little of her. She wanted to be honest, but when he asked her name after she went home with him one night, Natalie was the name that came out. She told him she was American, not a total lie, but not exactly the truth either. She said she was taking a year off post master's degree to travel the world and that he had interrupted her plans. She did like him. She suspected he liked her a lot more.

While in the shower she soaked in the warm spray, waking up slowly when a hand slipped around her waist and secured her back against his chest. His hand brushed her wet hair away from her neck and kissed her skin.

"Hey.. You're supposed to be ordering breakfast." She sighed and clasped her hand over his on her hip.

Clearly he had other things on his mind beside breakfast. His fingers skimmed over her breast and she bit her lip. "Room service knows how to bring food in and leave it." He reminded and turned her towards him.

"Ash… What are we doing?" She breathed and wrapped her arms around him.

He laughed and pressed her back against the wall of the shower. "You're a smart girl, Natalie. Do I have to tell you?" His hands urged her legs around his hips.

"You're going to be late." She gasped as he slid into her.

His lips pressed against hers briefly, "I'm the boss, I'm allowed to be late."

She let her head fall back and her eyes flutter shut as he thrust urgently into her. This was the first time she was with him sober. Most nights with him she had enough wine to be buzzed enough to not think of James when she was with him. But Asher's dark hair and mannerisms reminded her of James.

Asher nipped at her neck while her hands clung tighter to him. James' face flashed in her mind with each drag of his teeth on her skin.

"Harder." She panted wanting him to drive James from her mind. She wanted to be fair. Asher deserved her to try harder.

"Mmm… Natalie." He gasped obliging her request. His hands gripped her thighs harder, her body rocking against the wall with each sharp thrust of his hips. She whimpered against his lips. The dirty Russian words she used to whispered into James' ear rung in her ears. She was desperate to get away from the memory of him. The scar on her hip from the gunshot wound was memory enough now.

Natasha stared into his eyes, forcing her brain to see who it really was. It was high time that her brain caught up. "Ash… Yes!…" She felt herself tip over the edge and find her release. Asher's hips stuttered against her moments later.

Asher gently set her back down, kissing her deeply. His hand curled under her chin and tipped her head up. His lips pressed against her forehead. "I love you." He said with a smile.

She looked up at him, floored. Her stomach coiled tightly. She didn't know what to say. "Ash…" She breathed worriedly.

He cupped her face, "I just want you to know where I'm at with us… You're so hard to read, Natalie. You don't have to say anything right now. I hope you know I'd never hurt you. You can be yourself with me." He looked with a reassuring expression.

That didn't help her quell the sick feeling in her stomach. He loved her, and he didn't know her real name or anything about her. "It's not that I don't care… I do care… I just…I was hurt by someone else.." It was the easiest way to explain it to him. Any other details of her dramatic, painful past with James would just be confusing.

"He was stupid to let you go." Asher said quickly. His lips pressed against hers again for a long kiss.

Once out of the shower Natasha found her bikini and pulled on a sundress. Her only plan for the day was to lay by the beach. The sounds of the waves seemed to help keep the demons at bay. She sat on the bed and used her towel to dry her hair numbly. Her mind reeling through the events of the morning. It was just too much. Maybe she needed to go back to the Red Room and beg them to wipe her memory. Her stomach hurt at the thought of battling James' memory for the rest of her life. 10 years was a long time ago. His memory, and the memory of them shouldn't be crippling her chance at happiness now. Maybe her inability to get James out of her mind was the universes way of telling her Asher wasn't right for her. How could Asher not be right for anyone? He was kind, handsome and attentive. He tried perhaps a little too hard sometimes with her, but it was endearing.

After a few more minutes of being lost in her head she got up. She was fixing herself coffee when Asher emerged in a fine suit. They ate breakfast quietly while he dodged several phone calls before he even got to taste his food.

"I told you." She commented as he hung up from one call and three emails chimed in.

He sighed loudly, "Every minute I get to spend with you is worth digging myself out of a paperwork hole later." He finished up his food quickly before the phone could ring again and set his napkin down.

She raised an eyebrow, "Tell me how that goes then." She teased knowing how often he complained about paperwork.

He stood up and called for a car to take him to his office. He leaned down towards her and kissed her hard. "I set up something for you downstairs. Go to the front desk. They'll know what to do."

Natasha hated surprises. The spy and assassin in her didn't like things she couldn't control. She gasped, "No…What did you do?" She worried with a dramatic grimace.

He laughed, "Nothing bad, Natalie. You'll like it. I promise."

"I'm holding you to your word then." She finished her fruit and watched him grab his things to go.

"My word is always good. Have fun today." He smiled and left the penthouse.

Asher was right. She did like the surprise. He had set up a spa day for her the rivaled the relaxation she felt at the beach. Massage, facial, and long luxurious soaks in tubs. Two girls painted her nails and did the same to her toes. Another woman styled her hair and did her makeup. When they were all done she looked completely different.

She was no stranger to getting made over. Some of her more detailed missions called for it. But in everyday life she usually only wore mascara and spy work for S.H.I.E.L.D. made it hard to keep a manicure looking nice. Her hair was curled in large voluminous waves down her back. Her green eyes were framed with smokey eyeshadows and a dusty rose color painted her lips.

She had lost all track of time when the ladies escorted her to the door. She had been in there all day. It had barely felt like an hour. She did remember she fell asleep on the massage table and suspected that they just let her rest before continuing.

"Mr. Wyatt called a while ago for you Miss." The woman at the front desk said as she walked by.

"Oh, thank you. Did he leave a message?" She didn't often carry her phone because she knew if she looked at it she'd be sucked back into agent work. If they really needed her they would easily find her.

"Yes, he said a car will be picking you up shortly. At 5."

She glanced at the clock, 5 would be in 15 minutes. She thanked the woman again and hurried to the elevator. Asher was always doing this sort of thing. The spontaneity of it all left her on edge. She liked plans and schedules. She liked being in the loop with information. She tried to tell Asher she hated surprised but he always played it off as her trying to be coy.

Not knowing anything about the plans posed a whole new problem. How did she dress? According to her makeover it was probably dinner somewhere. She approached the door and let herself in with the key card. On the table by the door was a large white box. It would seem that Asher planned something for her to wear. She carried the box to the bedroom and opened it.

A sleek black dress, heels and even jewelry. Asher was thorough. She smiled softly and started to change. The dress had a plunging neckline and fit like a glove. In her hurry to change and be on time she dropped her earrings. She got down to the floor and flung the comforter off the bed up to find the small diamond stud. She reached under and felt around when her hand connected with a bag.

"What…" She huffed. Asher was a clean person and she was a neurotic sort of clean. Nothing was ever on the floor. Certainly not bags.

She pulled the bag out and examined the printing on the stiff paper that composed it. A store she didn't recognize. She peeked inside and found nothing in it except a receipt. The receipt was telling. Natasha's heart thudded as she scanned it and then shoved it and the bag back under the bed.

Asher's name was on the bottom of the receipt, he having paid in full for a $10,000 diamond ring. The receipt was dated for yesterday. The only types of rings men spent that sum of money on were the types of rings that came with big questions. If the ring wasn't in the bag then he definitely had it with him.

Asher was going to propose. This is what the whole spa and dress things were about. She was not ready for this. She didn't know what to say if he asked her. She hurried to a drawer on her left and dug out her phone. She turned it on and wasted no time dialing a number.

"Pick up…" she breathed hastily as she fanned her face and tried to keep her breathing under control.

The call went straight to voicemail. She dialed the same number again. And again. By the fourth time she gave up and sent the same number a text.

-Clint, I need you to pick up the phone. Hurry!-

She mentally did the math in her head and knew that he's be up still, it wasn't that late in New York.

Two minutes passed and she started calling again. Clint never answered as 5 o'clock rolled around. She stuffed her phone into her purse and walked to the elevator. Inside the car Asher had sent for her she texted again.

-Clint… Seriously. I need to talk you!-

She called again and when prompted for a voicemail she sighed and started talking.

"Clint… I know it's been a while since we've talked. That's my fault. I think I'm in over my head out here…" Her voice trembled as she voiced what had been irking her for a while. "I thought I was okay.. Turns out I can't beat this ghost. I've dug myself a hole that I don't think I can get out of. I need you to tell me what to do... Please call me back. Okay?" She feared he wouldn't. That maybe her year out here to find herself just distanced her from her friend.

The car stopped near a pier that she loved walking at night. It was decorated with thousands of lights and it made the water glitter in the right lights. The driver opened the door for her as she desperately checked her phone one last time. She got out and the man shut the door. "Mr. Wyatt is at the end of the pier Miss."

Natasha walked down the pier. All manners of people mingling around and eating at the small restaurants that inhabited the pier. She spotted Asher leaning against the railing that looked out over the ocean. She peeked at her phone again, nothing notifying her that Clint had gotten any of her messages. She was stuck. Asher spotted her and smiled, taking her hands in his and kissing her softly.

"You look breath-taking." He smiled and kissed her again.

She was trembling slightly already. She had no plan, no idea how to swing this situation which was so very unlike her. Clint could have told her how to handle this.

Asher's fingers brushed against her cheek, "What is it, you look terrified."

Natasha sighed, "You know I hate surprises, Ash."

He smiled and shook his head, "I think you're going to like what I've set up tonight."

"Oh." She said softly and looked out over the ocean.

His hand brushed down her back, "I know how much you like it here. It made sense to come here tonight." Out of the corner of her eye she watched him slip his hand into his pocket.

A chill washed over her skin. He dropped to his knee and suddenly she felt hundreds of eyes on her. The people in the restaurant watching them a few feet away. She panicked, "Asher…" She breathed her mouth going dry.

"Natalie, I think I speak for both of us when I say this past year has been amazing. You've taken over my whole world. I know you're figuring out your life, but let me figure it out with you. I love you, Natalie. Will you marry me?" He opened a small black box, and the ring glittered in the moonlight.

Her chest was heaving, her scalp tingled. Her feelings didn't match his. They answer he wanted to hear was one she couldn't give. She couldn't spend the rest of her life closing her eyes or drinking to hide from James. Asher deserved better. Her inability to give an answer caused Asher to shift a little on his knee.

"Natalie…" He half laughed his hand squeezing hers gently. "You really do hate surprises.." People were starting to get uncomfortable and started looking away.

She felt like she couldn't breathe. She shook and ducked her head. Asher stood up after a few moments longer. She could feel the disappointment coming off him.

"Did I do this wrong?" He asked quietly.

She shook her head, "It's me, I did this wrong. You did everything right."

He frowned, "If I've done everything right, why are you saying no."

Natasha curled her arms around herself and breathed quickly. He deserved the truth now even if it would hurt her to admit it. "I haven't been fair to you."

Asher shut the ring box and closed his hand around it. "There's someone else?" The accusation in his voice was sharp.

"Yes… and no." She said finally looked at him. He was heartbroken already, it was in his eyes. The way he looked at her with disbelief.

"I've lied to you from the start. Natalie isn't my name. I'm not taking a year off after school. I'm an ex-Russian assassin running away from her past." She laid the truth out for him, "I love a man who I can seem to shake despite the most messed up history I have with him."

Asher scoffed, "At least tell me the truth. Who would believe anything you just said." Anger didn't suit him, but she deserved every bit of it.

"I'm not lying anymore." She said quickly.

"Goodbye, Natalie." He said firmly and gave her one last broken look before leaving her standing alone on the pier.

Natasha numbly walked away from the pier feeling more and more like the monster she denied she was. She hurried toward the street, having no other plan but to figure out how to get out of Brazil. She dug for her phone when a red corvette pulled up beside her.

"Need a ride, kid?" Tony asked from inside the car. Natasha frowned and double checked her phone just to make sure she actually tried to contact Clint and not Tony by accident.

She slid into the passenger's seat, "What are you doing here?"

Tony sped off down the street. "Building another Stark Tower in Rio, surprised your friend didn't mention it." He turned down a road and accelerated towards a highway. "Saw that little show on the pier, what happened?"

She frowned at the word friend. Guilt made her stomach churn again. "I don't want to talk about it, Stark."

He was less Tony-ish than normal, Natasha glanced at him. "You're like what.. 25?" He commented, "You should be sleeping your way through this city, not trying to pin someone down."

"29.." She raised an eyebrow, "Don't you remember, you read my file?"

"I read Natalie's file." He quipped. "How is she by the way?"

"Leading a man on, and breaking his heart on a pier." She commented.

Tony made a noncommittal noise, "Never liked Natalie anyway, can't trust someone who speaks Latin. I think you did the right thing. I don't know the whole picture but guys like him are usually just looking for a trophy wife. I don't see you as the stay at home and look pretty kind of girl."

Natasha laughed a little. Tony was trying to cheer her up. "You don't have to do this." He was right. The type of girl Asher wanted her to be would have made her miserable.

"But I do." He nodded, "As much as you scare me, Natasha, if that's even your real name. No one deserves to be unhappy. So once we get to the jet, you're having at least 2 drinks before we land in D.C. Plus Barton called me, said you needed help. He knew I was in the area."

"Why D.C.?" She asked quickly. "Clint called you? Where is he?"

"Europe, I think." Tony shrugged. "Fury needs you in D.C. I hope you're ready to get back to work."