Chapter 3: Fun in the sun

Dawn broke over the horizon in Kalokiri along with one red headed spy. Natasha was finally able to have a more than decent night's worth of sleep. It's been ages since the last time she could remember the last time she went a night without demons invading her slumber, she was pretty certain that America's golden boy had something to do with it. Never had she spent so much time with a man that didn't either, A wanted to kill her, B wanted to screw her till the cows came home, or C was Clint Barton. But Steve on the other hand was something else all together, and last night's events proved it. He was just so genuine, kind, and for god's sake his eyes never left her, as if she became the only thing in the room that mattered. Maybe, it was the fact that the restaurant did set a very romantic feel or maybe it was because they were incognito. But whatever it was it felt amazing and she couldn't shake the desire for more of it. More of Steve Rogers? God no he's your friend, your commanding officer of all things. Get it together Natasha. She sighed to herself while hopping out of bed. I'm already up might as well make the most of it. Natasha decided to take a morning jog around the island before everyone got up to get things started.

Likewise, Steve had the same idea in mind about starting the day off early. He needed to sort some thing out in his head. All night he kept thinking about Nikko's words and his outing with Natasha. Was it possible that everything was real, feelings and all? The more he thought about it the more he had his doubts. How sure was he about his own feelings at this point. Maybe a swim would help sort things out.

That should be about eight miles, Natasha was lightly panting as she kept her pace, two more and I should be good. Along the way she noticed someone emerging from the water. That can't be right, either someone else is up or someone unexpected is here. She immediately went on high alert while watching the mysterious man coming to shore. He was carrying a small harpoon gun in one hand and a mesh bag in the other. Natasha brought out a ballistic knife she always carried on hand; she readied herself to take action. The man set down his mesh bag and began to take off his snorkeling gear. Low and behold, Steve was the mysterious culprit; she let out a sigh relief before stashing away her knife.

"Someone is any early bird," Natasha emerged into Steve's view.

Steve looked up startled to see Natasha. "And you, can never stop being so sneaky, Nat you gotta stop doing this to me, one of these days I might forget it's you and then what?"

"Oh so you think I can't take you on solider." She teased.

"No, no, it's just I don't know what I'd do if I accidentally hurt you", he was becoming flustered again.

"Once we get back home, me and you are gonna figure out whose better." He wanted to make a retort at her but kept it to himself. Natasha noticed the mesh bag moving next to their feet, "holy crap Rogers what the fuck is in there!?"

"I went spear fishing, I found a small harpoon gun in Tony's boat house and well I tried it out, I was able to catch a couple of lobsters, clams, and even some fish." He held up his catch proudly.

"When did Captain America learn spear fishing?"

"Honolulu, Hawaii."

"So what do you plan on doing with such a bountiful catch."

"Cook it of course."

"You know how to cook?"

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Ms. Romanoff." He bent down to grab the rest of his gear and began to walk away from her. Is it me or does Steve seem different in a way today. She noticed that he had more spring in his step that usual. She waved off the thought and quickly caught up with Steve. It was around 8:00 when the rest of their friends joined Natasha and Steve's quite morning.

"Oh my goodness what smells so good down here?" Pepper was the first one to come down the stairs as the aroma of French toast filled the villa. It wasn't the fact that Steve was cooking on the griddle in swim trunks and an apron but that Natasha was helping alongside him.

"Good morning Pepper, hope you like French toast." Steve said while passing an empty bowl to Natasha.

"Well it looks like you two have had a busy morning, how long have you guys been up?" She couldn't help but tease.

"Hmm let's see I went for a run about 5ish so roughly 2 and a half hours." Natasha replied. Soon the rest of the team emerged from their quarters to join in on some breakfast.

"Oh, Pepper I hope you don't mind but I'm using your cooler." Steve began to hand out the plates. Tony grabbed a plate, "For what?"

"I went spear fishing this morning and caught a few things, I didn't want them to spoil nor did I want to clog up your fridge so I found a cooler and filled it with ice instead."

"Spear fishing? Did you look in my boat house, Capsicle?"

"Yea sorry about that I just didn't feel like running this morning so I took advantage of being close to the sea." The subject was soon dropped once Steve started to pass out the French toast and all the fixings.

"God Cap I think I'm gonna start dating you instead of Clint here, these are thee best French toast I have ever had." Clint looked at Bobbie with his mouth slightly open and his eyes brows furrowed.

"Calm down Clint you know I wouldn't do that you but it would definitely be a bonus if you learn" she gave him a wink while taking another bite.

"I shouldn't take all the credit I did have a lovely assistant." Steve gestured to Natasha.

"You can cook Nat?"

"Yes I can Clinton and this time it's my recipe your eating." Once breakfast was over everyone got ready to spend some time soaking up some sun and enjoy the cool waters of the Aegean Sea.

"Hey have you noticed Steve and Natasha have gotten quite close especially that little adventure with Nikko they had yesterday?" Tony and pepper were lounging in the cabana watching the rest of their friends play on the beach. She noticed that Steve was keeping Natasha quite close to his side.

Tony set down his tablet and looked at Pepper, "Yea I thought that was kinda suspicious, I mean I always had a feeling Cap had some attraction to her but wasn't so sure about Red."

"Oh Tony did you see that, they are so adorable together." Pepper pointed at Steve who was now twirling Natasha on his hip trying to get the volleyball from her. One didn't need super powers to see the attraction between these two.

"Pep I think your right, maybe it's about time that Cap has a little love in his life and we are in the perfect place for it."

Back on the beach side Clint, Bobbi, Steve, and Natasha were having a fierce beach volleyball match with Bruce and Betty as the spectators. They were neck and neck; the next point would decide the victors. The stakes were high, the loser had to do the bidding of the winner and when your playing against the Black Widow you better hope that she is merciful. It was Bobbi's turn to serve.

"You're so going down Birdbrain."

"In your dreams grandma."

"Oh so that's how you want to play ok let's see how you like it when your eating sand."

Bobbi made a hard serve to the back left hand courtside but Steve was easily able to get the ball back into the air. Natasha immediately got under it to set it up for Steve who high jumped in the air and smacked it back to the earth. However, Clint was able to save it by making a last ditch effort to dig it out. With the ball still in play Bobbi set it to Clint who did a feint over the net but Natasha was too quick for that old trick. She made quick work by sending it backwards to Steve.

"Let's soar Cap." Steve took the signal and quickly set it high in the air. In the same fluid motion he was able to catch Natasha and toss her in the air precisely at the ball. She took the finishing blow by sending the ball straight down the middle between Clint and Bobbi. The whole action of it all was down so fast and so flawless that everyone was awestruck. When Natasha returned back down to Earth Steve caught her and to his surprise she hugged his head in victory, pointing one finger in the air.

"Winner, Cap and Natasha" Bruce announced.

"Dammit! Dude was that even allowed."

"It still follows the three touch regulation and it was in bounds so I see no problem with it."

"Haha whose the best now you little shit, I have a long list of things for you to do when we get back Clint." Natasha celebrated not realizing she was still cradling Steve's head against her breast. After a few moments she loosened her grip and Steve was able to set her down on the ground.

"Girl please be merciful to my soul" Bobbi begged Natasha.

"Oh no I'm not going to torment you Bobbi, just Clint." Bobbi reactively let out a sigh of relief, she felt bad for anyone on the receiving end of the Black Widow's wrath.

"Babe?!"

"You provoked her, not me."

After the intense volleyball match the group dispersed back into their own pairings. Bruce and Betty were enjoying a walk along the shore while Clint and Bobbi decided to go for a little snorkeling adventure, which left Steve and Natasha to entertain themselves. In all honesty Natasha secretly loved having Steve to herself. She felt almost whole again whenever Steve was around her. When everyone decided to split Steve was kind enough to set up some beach towels and a big beach umbrella for them to lie under. Natasha decided to do something devious, she first made sure the umbrella covered the back; she didn't want Tony and Pepper's preying eyes on them. She reached over in the bag she brought along with her to reveal a bottle of sun block.

"Steve could you help me with something?"

"Sure what is it?"

"I can't get my back, can you do it for me?"

Steve's eyes went wide at her request. When she handed him the small bottle of sun block he had to stop himself from using it as a stress ball. You can do this; nothing is wrong about giving a friend a little help with some sun block. He watched as she laid down on her tummy and undid the knot of her bikini top. His hands hovered over her back hesitantly. She shuddered under the coolness of the lotion. His touch was so gentle and shy like. His hands are so big. She felt the movement of his hands rubbing in a circular motion simultaneously kneading out some knots in her muscles. It became troublesome to resist the urge to moan whenever he touched a sensitive part of her back. He on the other hand was having a very difficult time keeping his composer. His face was burning red and he could feel the slight tremble in his hands as he rubbed the lotion in. Focus. Think of something else, anything else. Unfortunately, the moment of bliss only lasted a few more minutes. Steve quickly tied off her bathing suit top and returned the small bottle. Natasha slowly turned to the side that was facing him.

"Thanks for your help Steve." When she touched his leg he jumped a little.

"I think I'm gonna go for a swim now." He got up abruptly but stopped right before he made off to the water. He looked back, "You don't look half bad in a bikini by the way." Leaving Natasha dumbfounded while unknowingly a light tint creeping across her cheeks.

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