The house was quieter than she ever remembered it to be. There wasn't ever a time when she visited that she didn't at least hear the television going.

On any other day, Lila would usually be helping Clint with whatever house project he had going and they would be singing along to the radio. Laura would be either in the kitchen or in her office, loudly typing away at something. Cooper would be outside the house but even his childish laughter could still be heard from inside.

The soft thuds of Melinda's footsteps around the kitchen provided as the only soundtrack while Natasha had gotten dressed.

"I figured I'd set the table for us since I'm not allowed anywhere near preparing the food."

The scene was painfully domestic but Natasha was no stranger to it. Melinda was meticulously placing the cutlery next to the plates that she had set earlier, making sure that they were in order. She grinned to herself and shook her head at how some things really never changed no matter how much time had passed.

She then noticed that the dirt-crusted floor had been cleaned spotless. Laura would never know that she had tracked dried mud into the house, which honestly kimd of disappointed her a little bit.

"Glad to see you haven't forgotten where everything was."

Melinda chuckled at this. "It's been a long time but it hasn't been that long, has it?"

She shrugged. "Long enough that a lot of stuff has happened."

She watched as the other woman paused for a response but instead, silently pulled up a chair and gestured for her to take her seat. She could barely take in the warm, reassuring smile on Melinda's face, the openness in her eyes even though her body told Natasha a completely different story. She could tell that she was trying her best to relax, to make Natasha feel at ease, but Melinda had never been able to hide anything from her

And knowing that strangely made her feel better.

Natasha wondered whether in a different lifetime, if this life could have been hers. In a different lifetime, if she and Melinda could have been something more than what they were.

In a different lifetime.

She then decided to just stop thinking for now, walked over and completely bypassing the chair before she pulled Melinda right into her arms.

It was awkward.

Melinda was so obviously surprised that her body tensed before the tightness in her shoulders eventually loosened and Natasha stepped even closer.

It was familiar and yet, not so familiar at the same time. She had forgotten what this felt like, to have somebody close, somebody that you cared for, that cared for you too, somebody that you knew you could trust completely. It seemed that they both had forgotten.

Trust really was such a fragile thing in their line of business.

It had been a long time. Far too long, she had thought as Natasha's body firmly pressed against hers, her arms tight around her waist. Melinda sighed as steady, warm breaths ghosted over her neck and she raised her arms to wrap around the redhead's shoulders, pulling her impossibly closer. She closed her eyes when Natasha rested her forehead against her jaw and she slid her hands up, finally twining her fingers in those silky red curls.

As soon as Melinda's fingers were in her hair, her eyes fell shut and she released a shuddering breath.

Comfort was such a strange experience.

"You okay?" she asked quietly and she waited patiently until she felt Natasha nod. "You want to talk about it?"

Melinda wasn't surprised though when Natasha shook her head. She wasn't even surprised when Natasha tried to burrow deeper into her embrace before pulling away completely. She was surprised though when Natasha suddenly took her hand and squeezed it.

The instinct to pull her hand away was strong, but Natasha held on with a firm grip. She wasn't going to let go and the longer her hold stayed, sure and warm, Melinda slowly began to give in and allowed herself this touch. It suddenly hit her then that the last person that had held her hand like this had been Andrew. Her stare fixated at the way their fingers intertwined comfortably, before trailing up to meet Natasha's deep blue eyes.

They kept her grounded.

"We should eat before Laura's food goes to waste."

She nodded shakily at Natasha's suggestion. Melinda began to ask herself then whether this visit really had just been for Natasha, or maybe it could just be for herself too.