Hey Guys, so direct continuation. I'll try to update Asap. Please R&R I'd Love to hear what you have to say, even if its negative.

Others realized that they were close again. He had returned six months ago. They had been together for a year now and it was hard for Steve to not just grab her and kiss her at every moment. For their one year anniversary the two parted ways and met up at Steve's house for a quite meal. Tony was at the facility and cornered Nat in one of the work offices that the Avengers use, well more like her and Steve use as team leaders.

"Little Red, how's it going?"

"Stark, don't start with me."

"What I'm just asking how you are." She set down her files and pen.

"I'm fine Tony, why are you asking?"

"Nah, I'm just trying to make friendly conversation."

"Tony really?"

"Okay, okay, listen I'm asking because I've been keeping tabs on your trips to town for Grant. I can see that they are becoming less and less frequent, almost non-existent, and I'm just wondering if it has to do with the return of a certain Avenger."

"Stark be careful of the waters you are treading."

"All I'm saying Red is that, if you still care for him, don't play with his heart, tell him how you feel, let go of this Grant crap, and be with a man that loves you and that you love." Tony turned to leave. "I'm sorry Red…for treating you so bad when he left. I shouldn't have blamed you for him leaving."

"No it was in part my fault Tony…Thank you." Tony walked away from the room feeling good and Nat was dying on the inside. She turned it in early and went to her room to find the good Captain waiting for her. She crawled into bed and Steve wrapped his arms around her. What Tony said hit her, it was a little unnerving, but she had to wrestle with it and make peace with it.

She loved Steve, with an undying passion, but that doesn't mean that she and he weren't hurt in some way by their mutual actions. Steve could feel that she was tense and really contemplating something.

"What's wrong baby?"

"Nothing honey."

"I know when you are telling half truths. Come on, open up to me, what's going on?"

"I…I just I…"

"What happened, did I upset you Nat. Look I'm sorry, I'm just really new to all of this relationship stuff, I really am sorry if I did something wrong."

"No its not you. You have been the best boyfriend I or any girl could have or ever could ask for."

"Then what happened Nat?"

"I just…Tony he said something to me and well it brought back some painful memories. I just know that I hurt you, and that's why you left, and I want you to know that you hurt me and it took us time, and a lot of talking to get us to where we are and I know how hard I can be but I need you to know that I love you and that you mean the world to me and I don't know if I could live if anything every happened to you, or if you left me again."

"I'm never going to leave you Nat, you are my world. I love you and everything that has happened has brought us to this point, to this moment."

"Thank you for everything Steve, I really love you and I really appreciate that you are always there for me."

"I want to and I need you to know that I love you no matter what, that I am past what happened because the end result is still the same, we love each other and we are happy together."

"Steve, I love you, and I am happy with you, so thank you for everything." As they fell asleep in each other's arms that night, they knew in their hearts and minds that their passion, love, and devotion for each other, to each other was undying and that they had overcome a huge obstacle in their relationship today.

When they woke up early, they looked at each other and they had an understanding.

"Nat let me ask you out."

"What Steve I think we are way past that, I mean we've been doing this for a year now."

"No, I mean let me ask you out publicly, let the team in on us."

"Steve Rogers you want to ask me out? I don't know I kind of have this boyfriend and he can be very possessive of what's his. I don't think that he would be okay with you asking me out."

"Mmh, I think he could make an exception for me."

"Yeah? You really want to do this?"

"Yes. I really want people to know that you are mine. That I love you and that you love me and that we are together in everything."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you Nat. I better get going now, because we haven't officially started dating."

"Steve we are not telling them everything right. We are going to just start dating right?"

"Yeah why?"

"I am a very private person is all, and I don't think I am just yet ready to spill everything about us."

"Yeah, okay I get it. Hey I'll see you later. I have to plan how to ask a smoking girl out."

"Really? Should I be worried?"

"Nah I have her wrapped around my finger."

"See you later Steve." He kissed her goodbye before walking out the door to his own room to shower and get ready for the day. He ran into Sam at breakfast.

"Hey Steve."

"Hey Sam, how are you?"

"Good and you?"

"Alright. Hey can I ask you for advice?"

"Yeah sure, on what?"

"I think I want to ask Natasha out." Sam almost choked on his food.

"Really? And what makes you want to move in now?"

"Well I have been back about six months now, our relationship is back on track and I don't know, I feel like it's now or never. You know act on those feelings or turn back."

"That's good for you Steve, I'm happy for you and I really hope it will work out."

"Thanks Sam."

"So what exactly do you need help with?"

"Well we are going to be off tomorrow, seeing as its Sunday, so maybe I take her out tomorrow, but how do I ask her?"

"Well I sense that Romanoff is a very private person—No kidding Steve thought—So maybe after dinner today or after breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Okay but how?"

"Maybe a poem or a drawing or something, that's right up your alley."

"Thanks Sam, I'll see you at training in a few." Steve got up and walked to her room. He knocked then entered when no one was looking. He kissed her repeatedly and murmured against her lips something that wasn't shocking but still pleasing to hear.

"Why do we have to do this in secret?"

"I know babe, but think, we are there now, as soon as you ask me out."

"Mmh…We…should…get…going now." There kisses were sweet and short.

"Yeah." Steve left first quickly before others saw, and went right to the training room, Nat showed up about 15 min later. They worked all day and Steve held lingering glances that the whole team started to acknowledge.