Truth is, she didn't. She didn't know a thing about what Steve was about to say to her about Dr. Cho. It couldn't be that important, she thought. But what if it is?

She took her time to think about it but she finally decided something; she had to see Helen Cho herself.

Dressed in a beige coat that hugged her waist perfectly and a pair of jeans with brown boots she strolled down the Avengers Facility, right to Dr. Cho's laboratory, where she found the doctor seemingly trying to concentrate pouring a purple liquid into a vial. Natasha simply waited outside the glass door until Helen Cho noticed her presence and exited her laboratory to see her.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Agent Romanoff?" The doctor asked politely. She looked tired, as if she hasn't slept in a while. She still looks gorgeous, though.

Natasha nodded. "Is there a chance that Steve asked you something recently?"

Dr. Cho's mouth formed an 'O' in understanding. "This is about the potion, isn't it?"

Natasha replied with a nervous nod.

looked around the halls, making sure it was empty. "You were right. I did lie to you two that day but I only did so because you both needed a save. I was on my way on entering my office when I saw the four of you, seemingly arguing. I entered the room, the file I had in my hand was actually not the result I had of you two; it was Vision's medical record. "

"So what is the truth?"

Dr. Cho bit her lip. "It was true that the effect was only going to last two more days from that day, but the reason why you both wouldn't stop having sex with one another wasn't because you were mutually affected by it; it was because you were attracted to each other to begin with. So what you both have been doing while being under it was on mutual consent, too."

Natasha looked away. That's why Steve looked so betrayed, she thought. It was because he knew. He knew how she felt towards him too.

Not wanting to disrupt her privacy by asking her what was bothering her, Helen Cho decided to just say what's in her mind; "Look, I know it's none of my business but you two have always had this insane chemistry around each other. That's why I was baffled when I saw you getting closer to Doctor Banner, and when Steve started seeing Sharon Carter. Before you even started sleeping together people talked about how it was just a matter of time before you two take it a step further. Now, I don't know what's going on between you two right now, but whatever it is, just don't lose him; because never in my life I've seen a chemistry that strong between two people."

It took Natasha a while before she replied, "thank you for your time, ." and with that she walked away cooly, not giving away her real emotions to the slightest bit. She thought about what the doctor just said to her along the way. Was it all true? Did everyone else feel it? Did anyone else notice this? Did Clint? Boy, she wanted to ask him now. She did remember how Steve was staring at her and Banner when they were flirting on the bar at Tony's victory party that day. And after she'd climb the stairs she saw Steve saying something to Banner before leaving. She didn't think it was anything major at that time, but she kind of wonders what he might have said to Banner.

She was heading back to her room when she passed Steve. He kept on walking; seemingly on his way to his own quarter, too. Completely ignoring her on purpose, of course. But she stopped, and watched his back as he walked past her, unknowing that she was watching him.

She walked up to him and turned him around with her whole strength, pushed him to his door with a thump and kissed him hard.

"I miss you so much. So.fucking.much, Nat." His words were jumbled and choked out, in line with his thrusts. He got her bent over his study desk, both almost still fully clothed except for her jeans, which was lying on the floor somewhere by now. Both of them panting and moaning with him ramming into her in a rapid speed and brutal force.

"Shut the hell up and kiss me, Rogers." She reached her arm to the back and pulled his head, twisted her neck so their lips could meet, mashing into a hungry kiss that ended the moment they ran out of air. The rest of the way the room was only filled with gasps and moans, swear words and dirty talks, guilty pleasure masking guilt, as they thrived to their climaxes that miraculously arrived simultaneously.

When he pulled out of her, they were on the floor, hazy minds clearing out and conscience kicking in, making them feel guiltier than ever.

Natasha was the one who said it first. " . ."

He scoffed. "You know, sex feels so much better without condoms."

"Good thing you don't need them when you're with me." She turned with a smile, and found him looking right at her. But she went quiet at the realization that he just indirectly told her something important; he has had have sex with condoms on, which he had never done when he's with her, also meaning he's already been with someone else. She couldn't blame him, not entirely. She did kick him out of her room about three weeks ago, saying she didn't want to be with him. Yes, it has been three weeks since that day they argued.

He let silence grew between them before he continued, "Natasha, what are we?"

"A mess." She muttered, swallowing the harsh realization that they just committed another scandal.

"I'm sorry for what I said that day− about you not having a heart."

"It's okay. I don't blame you. I was being a bitch anyway."

His lips quirked up a half smile and he reached over, shifting to his side and touched her hair, giving light strokes with just the tips of his fingers. Careful and slow. Meanwhile she looked at him, wondering what goes on in his mind.

"Why do I feel so good when I'm with you?" He asked rhetorically.

She scoffed. "I have to tell you something, Steve." He looked at her intently, listening. "I lied to you that day. I didn't know what you were going to say to me about Helen Cho. But I know now. I asked her just about an hour ago."

He didn't say anything for a moment and it made her anxious. But she didn't say anything back; she simply buried her face on the crook of his neck as he stared onto the white ceiling of his quarter.

"I slept with−"

"Sharon." She cut him off. "I know. You kinda just told me."

"I'm sorry." He murmured.

"No, I'm sorry. I made you believe that I didn't want you. That was stupid of me."

"I'm still sorry." He planted a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes with a breathy sigh.

"Was it just one time?"

"Yeah. Took me about fifteen minutes to figure out it didn't feel right. But it feels right when I'm with you, though."

"Are you kissing my ass, captain?"

"Only if you want me to." He joked, earning a chuckle from her.

She looked up and found his eyes staring right onto hers, a thin smile displayed on his kind face. "Are you still seeing her, though?"

He sighed. "I am."

"Okay."

"So what happens now?" He frowned, feeling the warmth of Natasha's breath against his neck as she started nipping on his skin.

"I honestly don't know."

She fell asleep on his bed that night, lightly snoring from exhaustion and naked under the covers. It took Steve time to fall asleep but even after he did he woke up some point during the night and found it very hard to go back to sleep again. He looked to his side and saw her still sleeping peacefully; so beautiful and graceful and delicate. So perfect. He couldn't sleep because of the burden of thoughts that rummaged through his head. He felt as if he was the worst person in the world, knowing that when it comes to the question of whether he wanted to be with Natasha or Sharon, he wouldn't choose the latter. He remembered how he suddenly felt this jolt of unexplainable feeling when he saw her and Bruce flirting at the bar, and some point after he walked up to them, wanting to hear the conversation but also still keeping distance. When Natasha left and he made eye contact with Bruce the first line that came up to his mind was; "It's nice. You and Romanoff," complete with a very fake smile on his face. Deep down he wondered if the feeling would be described as threatened, or perhaps worried. Worrying that Natasha, possibly the Avenger he cares the most about is getting too close with the most unstable person on earth. But his heart was beating faster at that time and he remembered fighting the urge to walk up to Banner and pull him by the collar and say to him harshly about what he would do if Banner ever hurts her.

"I've seen her flirt, up close." He just had to say that, didn't he? He just had to. He wanted to feel special. He was special to her, right? He wanted to keep it that way, no matter how he didn't want to admit it to anyone at that time. Then he quickly realized how fiery he must've sounded so he quickly added, "this ain't that." Followed with a barrage of empty nonchalant speech about how they deserved each other before he finally left Banner alone, gladly. After that, he chugged two bottles of vodka and wished that he could get drunk just for once. But at that time, he couldn't register the feeling that he had. Couldn't rationalize on why exactly he was feeling like a wreck. He still played the masquerade, though, smiling kindly to everyone and playing along with the others' banter and games.

Then there came along the moment when he found out she would be sharing a room with Banner at Clint's farm; that, plus Stark's annoying attitude just made him feel even more disturbed. Still, at that time, he didn't know what he really was feeling. How to describe it. He just knew he felt angry at her, but he let it go. When Ultron had taken her there came the moment he had to choose; so he chose to save Vision. It wasn't that he didn't care about her, but because he knew she would be okay. There was this weird feeling that told him that she's going to be okay, plus, he was still slightly angry at her for the Banner thing.

In the end, at that final battle he remembered staring onto the sky from the edge of the flying city with her, and he remembered her exact words: "I'm not saying we should leave. Where else would I get a view like this?"

And that just hit him. He looked at her, contemplating on whether he had to say something. That was the moment where he wanted to say something to her but doesn't know what, or how to begin it. At that time he felt if there was going to be the last view he should see before he dies, it would be her; her face, and that's it. And then Fury came to the rescue with the Helicarrier and he quit his thoughts. The moment's over, he didn't say anything. He didn't know how to. He was too afraid.

But now here they are, lying on the same bed, with her sleeping by his side, both of them having fully acknowledged the fact that they do and have wanted to be with each other for a long time but never said it to one another. It's funny how life works. How one thing led to another, how everything would seem so random at a time but in the end it'll all piece together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Leading them somewhere. He secretly thanked the potion for what it did to them.

When he felt the sun's warmth hit his skin through the window, he carefully slid himself off the bed. Natasha weakly caught his wrist, whimpering sleepily; "don't go."

Steve placed a kiss on her forehead. "There's somewhere I need to be right now."

She didn't reply, simply curled herself back to a fetal position and hogged the blanket on the bed.

When Steve was about to enter the bathroom to take a shower she finally said something: "Just be back soon, okay?"

Steve stepped down from his Harley with a deep sigh and heavy steps. He kept looking down to the pale gray pavements as he strolled under the pale morning sky. He dressed himself nicely; always wanting to look modest but decent at best as always, and he only looked up when he heard someone call his name.

"How are you?" Sharon made her way from the park bench to his direction and welcomed him with a hug. When he didn't hug her back she pulled away, and realized the look on his face, "oh."

"We need to talk." He said; serious and firm, but still gentle. He cares about her, too; but it's nothing compared to the kind of love he has for the other woman. Natasha.

Sharon looked away, to the almost empty park, only filled with a couple joggers. They did promise each other to meet here so they could jog together. No, correct that. It was her idea. Every time they go out it almost always was her idea. She knew this day would come eventually. She just had that feeling in her gut. "It's fine, really."

"I don't know how to say it, though." He looked down to his feet with shame.

"No, I knew it was coming. I should've listened to my intuition more, I guess. Some people are just not...you know?"

"Meant to be together?"

She nodded, pursing her lips together awkwardly. "The sex was awful."

He looked up at her and found her giggling. He laughed with her, too. It was true. It really was. "It felt so wrong. No offense. I think you're very beautiful−"

"None taken. Fire away, Rogers."

When he stopped laughing, he looked at her with his blue eyes, searching onto her baby blues. "I feel bad for making you seem like some runaway. But I do care about you and I mean it."

"We all trip and fall sometimes, doesn't mean we can't go back up." She stared at him too, with a kind smile. "We're cool, though, right?"

"Cool. Yes, yes we are, I hope." He frowned, not used to using the twentieth century slang.

"Say hi to Natasha for me. Have a good life, Steve." She leaned closer and placed a kiss on his cheek before she walked away.

"You too, Sharon."

Just as Steve turned around and was about to walk back to his motorcycle, he stopped where he stood and crooked up a smile, watching his favorite red headed arachnid leaning on his Harley with a cunning smirk.

"You followed me here?" He walked up to her, judging her mood from the way she looked at him right now. She was smiling sneakily.

"Heard everything, saw everything."

"How did you even get here?"

"You'd be surprised." She shrugged carelessly.

Steve reached her and placed his hands on her waist. "You sneaky spider."

She playfully rolled her eyes. "Everything okay with Sharon?"

He nodded slowly. "I know I'm not the purest person ever, but−"

"Hey. None of us are innocents, Steve. But she's letting go. And you are, too. It's just... I don't know. Life is complicated. But what matters is we're here now, okay?"

"Okay." He leaned down to place a kiss on her lips. "I love you."

"I love you too, Steve Rogers."

-THE END-