Majestic motions of magical happiness paced between the cheerful giggles and teases, the friends shared. The Midgardians were treated with equal respect and a little more interest, telling funny tales of their future King, Thor.
Smiles, grins, grimaces, beams, smirks, occasional frown; were all worn that evening.
Most of which passed between Tony and Thor as the pair tried to ignore the constant teases they received; Thor because he was with his family and friends, Stark because he was not with his family and friends.

Finally desert was served, despite the galloons of food that keep crawling off her plate and entering her filling body, Natasha was not going to pass up the opportunity to eat as much as possible. Sparkling sponges, curling chocolate, smooth sundaes, jiggling jellies, flamboyant flares...you name it, Asgard had it.

The constant laughter circling the feasting friends like the sun, slowly sunk into a shadow. Soon most of the Asgardian's had excused themselves and headed off to their quarters, left remaining was: the avengers, Thor's family - including the cousins - and Thor's friends.
Natasha, Steve and Volstagg were in a deep drinking game - one of which Natasha rarely lost, however when going up against an Asgardian warrior and an America hero who couldn't get drunk the odds were not in her favour (Tony had proudly stated and then proceeded to pestering Barton about his resemblance of Katniss from THG) - when that shadow of laughter drifted over their game, like a fog over the mores. Romanoff looked up and saw Henderson staring intently down at her, after apprehensive seconds, during which Steve had begun to clench his tender hands into fists of steel, the daunting stranger said, directing Natasha and nobody else. "I believe we haven't been introduced, I care for your name?"

Romanoff didn't act out at the sudden impulse tightening around her heart and beginning to squeeze; she had actually been scared that as soon as she would have met this guy she would have been attracted to him. However the powerful signal that drifted through her veins wasn't lust for Henderson, but a need to prove to Steve her fondness and loyalty. Obediently she held her hand out for Thor's cousin and said, a little louder than intended. "Natasha Romanoff."

Henderson stared down at her and then his dark features broke into a spotlight of warmth and happiness at her somewhat friendly response, there was something about this guy...that made Natasha feel like she knew him. Despite the visible vibes of familiarity passing like electrical currents through the stand-out bodies, Nat wasn't oblivious to Steve's furrowing brow or grinding teeth. Slowly she pulled away, shutting out the now falling face of Henderson. Natasha's fingers played with the hard flesh of Roger's tense fingers, it could several minutes before they relaxed and allowed her to interlace the curling claws with her delicate touch.

After ushered goodbyes, the couple left for their room. Widow hoped that he'd perk up without the massive God strutting around every corner.
Once inside Steve's mood did not pecker up, the bags of his damped mood clung to his eyes. Dark circles, forming underneath them.

Natasha shut the door behind her and turned to see Steve's back, her arms drew like a coat around his shoulders. Trying to desperately break past the barrier he was building up. For a moment she just stood there, leaning into him and feeling his heart pound inside his chest. Trying to break free, she could tell he wanted to let her in, but he almost couldn't trust himself to do it. For a while they stood like this and for a small infinity it was a painful pleasure. To be this close and this warm to him, but also so far away.

Finally she whispered, "Steve..." like it was secret, a desperate message conveyed between lovers. She needed him, the pleasure of the moment chased the sun away, until it was late into the evening and the unbearable pain that she may have hurt him beat her, again and again. Suddenly Steve swirled in her arms, this time lifting her up, being a support.
Steve's lips pressed into her neck and Natasha strained to not laugh at the tickling sensation as he said "Sorry Nat, it's just..."
Forcefully pushing her feet to the ground and resting her hands on his broad shoulders she proclaimed "Why are you apologising? I have no clue what just happened." The dark shadows under his eyes enclosed the soldier entirely, he sank into the bed. "Henderson happened, he just introduced himself and, I wanted to rip his throat out!" Rogers' spoke with such anger Romanoff couldn't help but take an involuntary step backwards. She then flinched at the pained glance he sent her, hurry to admen herself she softly stammered "Steve...it's not your fault. Remember he intensifies a person's emotions, influences them. That's why I felt"

"You felt?" Steve rose to stand before her, his fingers digging into her arms to the point where Natasha began shaking; but either Steve didn't care or was too absorbed in the possibility that he could be losing his girl to notice. His girl. That's what Natasha Romanoff was and despite the judgemental opinions and stares that was the nicest label she had and ever would be given. Not for the first time Natasha doubted her reasoning to keep her relationship with the Captain a secret.

She shoved the gowns of thoughts and possibilities back into their draws and locked up, that discussion was designed for another moment. Now, she had to sort out...this.
Natasha let out an exhausted moan and ignoring the numbing feeling in her arms she fell into his touch; due to his strength though she didn't waver and stayed in the exact same stance. "He made me feel, calm. I didn't feel any attraction, just a warm welcoming. I felt like he wanted and needed a friend and after Sif's firm warning I knew I'd be the only one to offer one."
Steve's reply was non-existent as his weight lacked and he toppled backwards into a crouch on the edge of the ocean of comfort, without any way of stopping herself Nat went down with him. Her face was now a lot closer to his than it had been previously, otherwise she wouldn't have had any complaints, but now she just got a better view of the doubt and apprehension swimming around in the azure sea of unanswered questions.

Finally discovering the movement in her body her fingers crept to his chin, drawing his eyes to her. "Steve, I want you. No one but you, I don't think Henderson is anything to worry about. If anything, I got the vibe that he wants Sif." Steve's painted forlorn canvas didn't shift, but the darkness in his eyes found some light. "Really?" Natasha nodded "The way she described him and the feelings I felt within his presence, made me feel that they were both holding something back. And you may not have noticed, but when he was talking to me he was eyeing Sif the whole time." Steve sighed a million shudders of relief and his stone like structure melted to the warmth his own pumping heart was producing and he embraced Natasha like never before.

Soon their kissed became long, draining and passionate embraces. Clothing was being unassembled and skin was being caressed. Just before things were going to be unstoppable Steve pulled away and whispered as if a thousand strangers were ease dropping on their intermit moment, the thought made Natasha glance to the shut balcony doors again; checking Barton wasn't out there with binoculars. "Natasha I'm really sorry for..." Desperate to move past this and make it transparently clear that there was nothing to worry about Nat locked his lips in a equally passionate recuperation of numbing lips and wondering hands.

Natasha felt a string of her heart pluck in the orchestra of love. "Steve, I promise nothing is going to separate us. And..." she gulped and Steve's clinging hand smoothed the small of her back, soft skin shivering as sparks swam across the silkily surface. "And?" He repeated, out of breath slightly.
Natasha closed her eyes and the draws unlocked, doubts and conclusions crashed what would this mean?
what if he didn't feel the same way?
does this mean we have to become 'official'?

A tsunami of inquiries and questions flooded her brain, everything was washed away; her feels, her history, future, friends, family, enemies, everything was gone. Except the words.

"I love you."

Boom!

Her heart suddenly grew into a giant, the beats swallowing all noise and eating her whole. Abruptly it shrank in the exaggerated silence that followed her declaration, she felt her breathing quicken and she became desperate for air. He was her air. As a rushed, bittersweet response formed from his tentative lips "I love you too, Natalia." Her smile could have fixed the broken, it completely absorbed her face.

Steve felt like he was staring into the sun, the heat she gave off was burning. But it was a pleasurable pain, more of a numbing sensation as he took her in him.

The rest of the inhabitants of Asgard were none the wiser, all innocent bodies sleep like angels that night, only Heimdall and the loving pair stayed up till early the next morning. Heimdall promised he wouldn't look, but couldn't stop the smile enchanting his small glance at the open display of love. Natasha really had changed and it was all down to Steve.