Hey everyone! Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I got slammed with both 8-4 shifts at my job this weekend so I was too tired to do anything by the time I got home afterwards. But I finally finished this chapter! Hooray! Clint and Natasha have some escapades in New York City for the next couple chapters, and this is the first one. So, here it is, chapter 19. Enjoy!

Natasha's knee injury was minor, a sprain to say the least. Over the course of the long weekend for Thanksgiving break, Natasha spent her time on either her living room couch or her bed. Despite her many protests, Clint and her father would not have her walking around and injuring her knee any further.

With the exception of Thanksgiving, Clint went to Natasha's house every day to spend time with her. She almost always complained about how bored she was with being cooped up in the house, and hated being confined to either her bedroom or the living room.

By Monday evening, the night before they were to return to school after Thanksgiving break, Natasha's knee still hadn't healed well, so Mr. Romanoff took her to the family doctor to get it checked out. Clint hadn't gone with them to the doctor but told Natasha that she should call him when she got home to tell him what was wrong with her knee.

Natasha called Clint around 9:00, as soon as she left the doctor with her father. Natasha told Clint that the doctor had given her a set of crutches just so she could get around school during the day. Otherwise, she had to stay off of her knee. The fact that Natasha was going to be hobbling around school like a cripple didn't please her but Clint chuckled at her comment and promised her he would help her get anywhere she needed to go, even if it meant he had to leave his classes early and go all the way to the other end of the school for her.

Natasha was greeted with cheers on Tuesday morning when she arrived at her homeroom. Many of her classmates were impressed that she had managed to win the game on an injured knee and that she helped the junior class win the very first Powderpuff football game. The majority of her classmates in her homeroom also believed that Bobbi was completely out of line throughout the entire game. They weren't siding with Natasha because she was in their class; they were siding with her because they knew Natasha was right and Bobbi was wrong.

Natasha was practically treated like royalty in the remaining weeks of school before Christmas break. Even after Natasha's knee had healed, her classmates were still treating her well and saying hi to her in the hallways.

"It's like I'm dating a celebrity," Clint joked as he walked Natasha to her calculus class hand in hand.

"Oh shut up," Natasha said, playfully hitting him in the arm with her free hand.

They had stopped outside of her calculus class and she turned to face him, her fingers still laced through his.

"So, I've got to ask you something," she said, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

"Sure," Clint said.

"So, you know how I'm supposed to practically spend all of Christmas break in New York City at my grandparents'?" she asked, and he nodded. Natasha took it as a sign to continue.

"Well, my grandparents usually go to Connecticut after Christmas, and my dad will be working, so I realized I would be all alone in the big city. So, I asked my grandparents if it would be okay if…you could stay at their apartment with me."

"What?" Clint asked.

"After Christmas of course," Natasha added. "I wouldn't ask you to spend Christmas away from your family."

"So you're asking me if I would…"

"Come stay in New York with me after Christmas, yes," she said, finishing his sentence.

Clint was taken off guard. Of course he wanted to spend every waking second he had with her, but Clint wasn't sure how his parents were going to take it. Right now, he was finding it incredibly hard to restrain himself from telling her yes.

"My grandparents won't be there so you won't have to face them," Natasha said quickly. She was almost putting too much pressure on him.

"Talk it over with your parents. I don't want them to be mad at me. But please Clint, I want you to come. We can spend New Year's in Times Square, or somewhere else. And I can take you to all of my favorite places. Just…please," she begged, practically taunting him.

She was begging for Christ's sake and all he wanted to do was tell her yes, but Clint knew that if he told her yes on the spot and then his parents told him he couldn't go, he didn't want to see the disappointment in her face, in those beautiful green eyes of hers. The bell rang from over the speaker system, and Natasha jumped at the noise.

"Sorry, sorry," she said frantically and apologetically. "I made you late. But, just think it over and ask your parents please?"

"Y-yeah," Clint stammered and he kissed her fingers that were still laced between his and then felt the emptiness as she let go to enter her calculus classroom.

Clint had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach when he approached his parents to ask about the trip to New York City. He knew they wouldn't agree to let him go. The first thing that would pop into their heads was that it was a way for Natasha and Clint to have sex without someone bothering them. Admittedly, Clint and Natasha hadn't talked about having sex since that night following the homecoming game, and part of Clint was convinced that Natasha wanted to stay with her in New York because she was finally ready.

Clint immediately pushed that thought to the back of his mind because he thought it made him a horrible person to think that. He didn't need sex. He wasn't like normal teenage boys in which sex was on their minds every seven seconds. He loved Natasha with all of his heart and he was perfectly fine with spending a night cuddled up with her on the couch.

Clint cleared his throat when he approached his parents, who were seated at the kitchen table drinking coffee. His parents looked up at him with concern.

"Hey, umm, can I ask you something?" Clint said when he had his parents' attention. His parents muttered their responses and Clint continued.

"So, Natasha is spending her entire Christmas break in New York City at her grandparents' apartment like she usually does and she was wondering if it would be okay if the day after Christmas I could go stay with her for the rest of the break?"

Clint wanted to make it seem as innocent as possible. Maybe if he mentioned Natasha a lot, such as the fact that she really wanted him to stay with her, it would soften up his parents' decision.

"Just her?" Clint's father asked.

"Yes. Well, no. Her grandparents will be in Connecticut but her dad will be in the city since he works there," Clint said, shrugging. He tried to seem as calm, cool, and collect as possible.

"And for how long?" Clint's mother chimed in.

"We would come back the day after New Year's Day, so it would be the last day of Christmas break, the day before we go back to school," Clint explained.

"How are you going to get there?" Mrs. Barton asked, narrowing her eyes to slits.

Clint gulped. "Her grandparents have some chauffeurs. Natasha said they would be nice enough to send one out for me."

Mr. and Mrs. Barton turned to one another and communicated silently. The silence was deafening for Clint and he wanted an answer. They turned back to him and Clint stiffened, ready to receive the denial.

"You can go Clint," Mrs. Barton said, and before Clint could celebrate, she continued, "On one condition. That condition is that you remember our little talk we had."

Of course, Clint thought. Sex. That was the first thing that popped into their minds.

"I promise," Clint said as he internally celebrated. "Natasha said she wanted to take me to tons of places in the city so there won't be any time for…that."

"Okay, good," Mr. Barton said, but Mrs. Barton wasn't finished.

"Be careful when you cross the road. Use the crosswalks," Mrs. Barton demanded.

"Yes Mom."

"Don't go down any strange alleyways."

"Yes Mom."

"And stick with Natasha. She's been there enough times so she knows her way around."

"Okay Mom."

"Honey," Mr. Barton chimed in. "I think he got the message."

Clint awoke with a start the day after Christmas. Today was the day he would be heading to New York City to spend practically a week with Natasha. They would be free to do whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want, without their parents telling them what to do. Clint got ready in a rush, throwing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and hastily gathering his belongings to drag down the stairs.

Clint didn't have to wait long until the car that Natasha's grandparents had sent had arrived to pick him up. Eleven o'clock on the dot. Clint practically threw his bag into the trunk of the car – clearly in a rush to get going – but his mom obviously wanted to give him one final lecture on staying safe in the city. Clint reassured his mom that Natasha's grandparents lived on Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side; there was no possible way they would run into trouble.

Before Clint knew it they were on their way. Clint knew that even if they didn't hit traffic going into the city, the car ride would still seem like an eternity. Clint hadn't seen Natasha since the last day of school before Christmas break and the absence was killing him. Sure they had talked on the phone every night since then, and Natasha had called him Christmas morning to wish him a Merry Christmas, but hearing her voice was never the same as seeing her.

Of course they hit traffic as soon as they entered the Lincoln Tunnel but when they finally emerged, Clint was mesmerized by the bustling metropolis. He had apparently been to the city when he was younger, but Clint didn't remember it one bit so seeing his surroundings was completely new to him.

Natasha's grandparents lived in the famed apartment building located at 834 Fifth Avenue, on the corner of East 64th Street and directly across from the Central Park Zoo. The building has been regarded as one of the most prestigious apartment houses in the city, which made Clint nervous to even set foot in it.

Clint was astounded when they pulled up to the curb in front of the apartment building. The Romanoff's driver politely opened the car door for him and grabbed his bag from the trunk of the car while Clint stared at the towering building. Clint realized how rude he was being and apologized, to which the driver replied, "It's quite alright Mr. Barton. It's my job."

The Romanoff apartment, which was apparently the penthouse, was located on the top floor and Clint and the Romanoff's chauffeur rode the private elevator to the top floor. Clint was excited to see Natasha, but nervous as well. It wasn't because he hadn't seen Natasha in a couple days; it was because he wasn't sure what to expect when the elevator doors opened.

When the doors slid open, all Clint saw was a wide foyer which led to an equally vast living room. From what he could tell, the furniture was modern and there were at least two hallways that forked off from the living room which most likely led to the bedrooms or the kitchen.

Clint was in awe as he stepped out of the elevator and stood in the middle of the foyer as the chauffeur carried his bag into the entrance of the living room and set it down on the perfectly polished hardwood floor.

"Miss Romanoff. Mr. Barton has arrived!" the chauffeur announced.

Clint could hear the sound of feet pounding on the hardwood floors, and before he knew it, Natasha was standing at the other end of the foyer, her curls wild from running down the hall. She ran towards him, closing the space between them, and jumped up and hugged him, wrapping her legs around him.

He hugged her as tight as he possibly could, making up for nearly three days worth of absence.

"Oh I missed you. I'm so glad you're here," she said, her voice muffled from being buried in his neck. They stood like that in the foyer for a couple minutes until the chauffeur cleared his throat. Natasha turned her head and flushed a deep shade of red.

"Oh sorry," Natasha said as Clint set her down on the floor. She walked over to a table up against the wall in the foyer and picked up a slip of paper and handed it to the chauffeur.

"This is from my grandparents," Natasha said as the chauffeur took the slip of paper and tucked it in his jacket. "And thank you so much for picking up Clint and bringing him here."

The chauffeur chuckled. "Anything for the sweetest out of all the Romanoffs." With that, he brushed past Natasha and Clint and got back onto the elevator. He offered up a brief wave as the elevator doors closed, leaving Natasha and Clint by themselves.

Natasha bent down to pick up Clint's bag then grabbed his hand and pulled him throughout the apartment. She pointed out the various rooms as they passed by them, and then led him into a room that blinded him with light. The curtains were pulled open to reveal the cityscape and it brightened up the room significantly. The room was done in all white, with a few gold accents. There was a giant plasma screen TV bolted to the wall above an electric fireplace to Clint's left, and a king-sized bed to Clint's right that was a mess of white blankets and pillows. There was also a white arm chair in the corner of the room with an ottoman to match, and the bedroom had its own private bathroom.

Natasha jumped up onto the bed and grabbed one of the pillows, resting her head on it. "And this is our room."

"Our room?" Clint asked inquisitively.

"You didn't seriously think I'd let you sleep in another room than me, did you? If so, I'm hurt," she said, jutting out her lower lip into a pout.

Clint crossed the room and climbed onto the bed on top of Natasha, bracing his arms on both sides of her. He lowered himself down and brushed his lips against hers.

"I could get used to this," Clint breathed.

Natasha giggled, brushing her fingertips against his jaw line. "Get used to what?"

"Just you and me. It sucks that it's only for a week."

Natasha giggled again. "So," she said, pushing herself up onto her elbows. "Where should we go first?"

Clint really had no idea where to start when it came to New York City. There was so much to see in so little time. He had suggested Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and 30 Rockefeller Center, but Natasha had other ideas. She wanted to avoid all the tourist traps, and show Clint the real New York City. She wanted to show him the small restaurants and cafés she had discovered over the years in her adventures. She wanted to take him to the most secluded spot in Central Park so it could be just them.

When they stepped out of the apartment building, Clint and Natasha started walking down Fifth Avenue, not an idea as to where they were going. Clint couldn't help but look like a tourist as he stared around him at the cityscape. He was in complete awe.

Natasha couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked as he glanced around with his mouth hanging open. If he was this amused by Fifth Avenue, Natasha wasn't sure how he would be able to handle the rest of the city.

When they reached The Plaza, Natasha realized where she wanted to go. To hell with Clint if he didn't, but of all places she wanted to go, she wanted to go to Tiffany's. She didn't even need to set foot in the building. All she wanted to do – like she had done several times before all by her lonesome – is stand right where Audrey Hepburn had once did in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Natasha told Clint where she wanted to go, and he told her to lead the way. He didn't care where they went to be completely honest, just as long as he was with her.

Before he knew it, they were standing in front of Tiffany's. It was a simple storefront with a granite door frame and stereotypical revolving door. Natasha was standing on her tip toes to look into one of the outside display cases.

"It's so pretty," Natasha said, practically touching her nose to the glass to look at the diamond necklace on display.

"Let's go inside," Clint suggested.

Natasha froze. "No, I can't go in there. I'll get distracted. You might not be able to get me to come out," she said.

Clint waved off her comment and grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. The interior of the store was bustling with shoppers. Natasha pulled Clint's hand, as if to tell him this was far enough into the store, but Clint led the way.

Though she liked that Clint was taking an interest in her fascination with Tiffany's, Natasha hoped he wouldn't ask her favorite things to look at. If she did, she was sure it would scare him. Natasha liked to look at the engagement rings. It wasn't something she had been looking at since she started dating Clint, it was something she always looked at. Ever since she was little, the engagement rings were her favorite things to look at because she hoped she would own one someday. Now that she had Clint, she was afraid that if she told him, he would get scared that she had something else on her mind.

Clint dragged her throughout the store and they stopped at a display case and leaned over it to look at its contents. Natasha didn't want to get dragged in. It wasn't just the fabulous engagement rings that kept her attention; everything in the store that sparkled just captivated her.

"I'm going to make you a deal," Clint said.

Natasha turned to him in a trance and looked at him with a confused expression.

"I will buy you one thing from this store, if you promise to walk out of here without a problem."

"No, Clint," Natasha said firmly. "This store is just a fantasy for me, even though it's quite real. I don't need anything from here, and I don't need you spending a fortune on me."

"I promised you when you got that necklace from your mom's boss that I would buy you something from Tiffany's. I'm keeping that promise."

"There's no way you can afford even the cheapest thing in this store."

Clint pointed to the case of jewelry they were looking at. "That necklace right there is $125. That has got to be the cheapest thing in this store."

"It's still expensive Clint. I'm not going to have you shell out $125 for a necklace for me," Natasha protested.

Clint turned and put his hands on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes, his blue-grey eyes connecting with her green ones.

"You are worth much more than a $125 necklace to me, so the least you can do is let me buy you something."

Natasha sighed because she knew she couldn't fight that, so she turned back to the case and wandered along the side of it. Everything she glanced at she wanted, and she could buy it with her grandparents' credit card that they also left in her possession, but she knew Clint couldn't afford it all. She wasn't even sure how he would be able to afford the one thing he was going to buy her. Whatever that one thing may be.

It felt like they had been in the store for hours and Natasha was having no luck. She and Clint had somewhat drifted apart from one another at one point but never far away. Natasha was staring at a case of diamond necklaces that she knew Clint would never be able to afford in a million years when he appeared beside her.

"Since you're obviously making no effort, I found something," he said with that ridiculously stupid grin on his face that Natasha loved so much.

He led her across the room to another display case of sterling silver jewelry. A store attendant was pulling out one of the all-too-familiar blue boxes and slipping a blue pouch into the box.

"Did you already buy it?" Natasha asked.

Clint nodded, and Natasha watched as the store attendant wrapped the box up in the white bow and slipped it into a bag, handing it to Clint.

"Do I get to see it?" Natasha asked incredulously.

Clint chuckled. "Yeah, hang on."

They slipped out of the store and were hit with a gust of cold air as they walked out onto Fifth Avenue. The sky had become overcast in the amount of time they spent in the store and a couple snowflakes had begun to flutter to the ground. Natasha turned to face Clint and she waited for him to hand over the bag. For someone who didn't even want him to buy anything for her, she couldn't bear the anticipation of finding out what was in the little blue box.

"Well…" she coaxed.

Clint chuckled. "So impatient," he said reaching into the bag and pulling out the box. He handed it to her and told her to open it. She gently pulled at the white bow and slid off the lid. She tucked the box in her coat pocket and opened the blue pouch.

She wasn't quite sure what she was going to find but she definitely wasn't prepared to find this. She tipped the pouch upside down and a sterling silver ring fell into the palm of her hand. It was a simple sterling silver band with "I love you" scripture repeatedly circling around the ring. Before she could grab it, Clint did, holding it between his thumb and forefinger.

"I promise you it didn't cost a fortune, but I told you that you are worth so much more to me," he said. "You already know that I love you, but I want to make sure you know that even when I'm not around you. So when you're sitting in calculus class, or working, or sleeping in your own bed at night, you'll know that I'll always love you even when I'm not around you.

"And," he continued. "That I promise to always love you. I think, deep down, I always have."

"Is this a promise ring?" she asked with a shy smile.

"Yeah, I guess it is then," he said with a laugh. Natasha didn't want to wait any longer. She wanted it on her finger and she wanted it there now. Forget all of those Tiffany's engagement rings that Natasha had been so entranced with her entire life. This ring would suffice. No, it would do more than just suffice. It just went above and beyond any expectation she had for any ring she had ever wanted. It had meaning and that's all that mattered.

Natasha watched as Clint slipped it on her left ring finger – where Natasha felt it properly belonged – and then she reached up on her tip toes and kissed Clint. Snow had begun to fall, and Natasha's legs were cold despite the fact that she was wearing tights with her skirt, but she had Clint, and that's all that she needed to stay warm.

Awww Clint! Isn't he such a sweetheart? Anyways, I've got a pretty busy week coming up. My second summer class is wrapping up this week so I have to write a paper (boooo!) on the relation between the President and Congress, and then I'm going to see Dave Matthews Band in Hershey on Friday (my first time seeing them live in 6 years; my fourth time seeing them live total). I'll try not to go more than two days without a new chapter. If I go more than 2 days, I grant you guys the right to bombard me with angry messages in my inbox haha.

As always, thank you for signing up for alerts, adding this to your favorites, and reviewing. Therefore, review away! I want to know if you guys are still alive after all of that romance overload haha.