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Title: Ordinary Morning
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Clint/Natasha
notes and summary: See part one

For Hawkeye going back to work was harder than he expected. It wasn't as if he hadn't done solo missions before. He'd done many. However this time going back into the field without Nat by his side felt wrong. It was a cold reminder of how close solo missions could've come to being a permanent reality. Not that Clint needed a reminder. What little sleep he'd had over the past three weeks had been plagued with nightmares. The normal ones with Loki were intermixed with Nat dying in his arms in Monaco.

Hawkeye had only agreed to go back when Jamison had shown him the test results.. Numerous test results. Stark had been right. Nat was recovering with flying colors. Impressing the medical staff with each passing day. Jamison told Clint that if she continued on this path they'd be releasing Nat in another week. Now at midnight Clint sat in the pilots seat of an F16. Steve was strapped in behind him. They were being elevated out of the underground hanger at S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Hey, you sure you don't want me to pilot?"Rogers asked over the radio.

Clint shook his head. "I'm not that rusty."

"Didn't say you were."Steve replied quietly.

Barton smiled at his friend. "Have to shake the dust off sometime. I'm good."

"Glad Natasha's doing so much better that you're back."Rogers stated. "Stark's driving me nuts."

"He's good at that."Hawkeye replied as they got to ground level and began to taxi. "Let's get this over with and get back home."

"Sounds like a plan."Rogers agreed.

As he took off Clint was grateful this was an easy op. Not that any op was routine or should be taken that way. But Fury was apparently easing him back into things which at the moment Clint didn't mind. He wanted to get back to Nat. He needed to show her what he'd been planning.

The first day back in her own quarters Natasha had a visitor. Some how she wasn't surprised it was Stark. Clint had told her everyone had come by and sat with her at some point. Tony had only once. It was just before three in the afternoon and Natasha was camped out on the sofa in the living room. Bed rest didn't necessarily mean bed. Never mind the fact the Black Widow was tired of lying around. But she knew the more she followed Jamison's orders the quicker she'd be back in the field. So here Natasha sat stretched out on the sofa. A dvd of a martial arts video played on the flat screen tv.

Romanoff had the door unlocked so she wouldn't have to get up if anybody did visit. Stark had already stepped through the door and crossed to the living room and was hovering by the foot of the sofa. It was a saturday so Tony was dressed in khaki's and a black t-shirt. He held a pair of sunglasses rocking them absently from one hand to the other.

"For someone that was nearly blown to bits on a boat you look great."Stark complimented with a smile.

"Thanks."Natasha replied her gaze on the tv.

Tony glanced at the tv. "Interesting choice of viewing material for someone on bed rest. I'm not going to have to babysit you, am I?"

"I'm a big girl, Stark."Romanoff responded. "It was either this or daytime tv."

"Point."Tony acknowledged with an amused smirk.

"You're itching to say something, Tony."Natasha observed as she met his gaze. "So just say it."

Stark sighed and sat in a nearby chair. He contemplated the folded sunglasses for several minutes before speaking.

"I'm glad you're okay, Natasha. I really am."Tony began quietly. "We've never gotten along but you're a hell of an asset to S.H.E.I.L.D. They can't afford to lose people like you."

Natasha remained silent watching the billionaire curiously. Stark wasn't afraid to speak his mind but today he seemed uncomfortable.

"Your personal life is none of my business."Tony continued meeting the Black Widow's gaze. "It doesn't seem to bother Fury that you and Barton are sleeping together."

"Tony..."

"I know you both are professionals."Stark stated as he stood."But I think this is going to be an issue for the team."

"It won't be."Natasha promised.

"I think you believe that."Stark replied with a shake of his head. "But I don't want to be killed on a mission if you two are having an argument."

"Won't happen."Romanoff snapped tired of the conversation.

"Maybe."Tony acknowledged with a shrug. "Another question could you leave him behind? Could he leave you?"

"If we had to."Natasha replied quietly.

Tony nodded and turned to leave.

"Stark."The Black Widow called halting him.

"Yeah?"Tony replied as he looked back.

"Thanks for coming by."Natasha commented.

"Get well quick."Stark replied with a grin as he left. "We need you back kicking ass."

After IronMan left Natasha tried to return her attention back to the tv. Stark as crude as he could sometimes be had only voiced what had she had been thinking about since Monaco. Natasha sighed and pulled the blanket up around her. It was something she and Clint would talk about...along with many other things. The Black Widow felt her eyes drift close and minutes later she was asleep.

After his first successful mission back Hawkeye returned to what he was calling home these days. He had his own quarters on the new base but more often than not Clint found himself at Nat's. It was late almost two in the morning when Clint let himself in. He quietly closed the door and was surprised to find the light still on in the living room. Natasha was sound asleep on the sofa a blue blanket half on her and half on the floor. The flat screen tv was on but was a dark screen. Either the station she'd been watching was off the air or the dvd player had stopped. Smiling Hawkeye approached the sofa and stopped by the right found the remote and clicked off the tv. Despite Steve's offers to help with his plan to surprise Nat he had decided to go with something simple and not so much of a surprise. Moving in front of Nat's sleeping form Hawkeye crouched down and gently shook the Black Widow.

"Nat...sleeping beauty...need to get you to the bed."Clint stated.

After a few minutes Romanoff blearily opened her eyes and blinked. "Clint? What time is it?"

"After two."Barton replied as he sat on the coffee table. "Need to get you to bed. Jamison's orders."

Natasha glowered as she slowly sat up. "He said bed rest he didn't specify where."

Clint yawned as he slipped an arm around his partner's waist easing Nat to her feet. "Come on, you won't have a sore neck. Bed is much more comfortable."

"How was the mission?"Natasha asked more awake as they walked through the living room.

"Short, successful."Barton replied. "I'll tell you more later."

Pausing in the bedroom doorway Natasha leaned up to kiss Clint. "Glad you're home."

It wasn't the first time since Monaco that Clint realized how fortunate he was. Staring down into Nat's green eyes knowing that she could've easily been taken from him made Clint's heart clench. Too close this time...too damn close. Clint pulled Nat against his side as they walked into the bedroom. He couldn't resist telling her a little of his plan.

"You're going to like today."Barton promised.

"Am I being reinstated?"Natasha asked sleepily as she crawled under the covers.

Clint slid into bed next to her wrapping her in his arms. "Nope but I have a present for you."

Natasha turned to face him a smile crossing her face. "Really? What is it?"

Clint kissed her. "Later."

"Tease."Natasha pouted as she snuggled back against her partner.

Clint laughed and soon they were both asleep.