After Winter Soldier, Natasha goes away to figure some stuff out. When it's been two years and she still hasn't returned.

Steve sat silently on the couch. It had been two years now. He knew that Natasha would be gone for a while but he missed her.

He missed her so much.

It hadn't taken him long to realize that he was in love with Natasha.

He hated himself for for not telling her when he had the chance.

Now he just lived in a world of waiting.

Every night and early every morning, he sat on the couch by the door to see if maybe Natasha would return.

She never did.

Yet he still waited. He waited so that he could finally tell her how he felt.

Everyone kept telling Steve to let her have some time. They could all tell that he had feelings for her.

Steve hadn't been the same since Natasha left. He had spent all of his time either training or waiting for her.

Even during team training he rushed through it so that he could make sure Natasha hadn't come back.

Jarvis had been given specific instructions to alert Steve the second she was seen on the premises, and yet he still checked the building for her every other hour.

Clint and Tony had searched for her. They hoped that they could find her and make everything go back to normal. The entire team was a mess without Natasha, especially Steve.

No one could track her down.

Steve didn't even try. As much as it hurt him, he didn't want to ruin her chance at finding a new cover.

He just hoped she would be back soon.

"Captain?" Wanda asked, coming into the living room. "What are you doing down here?"

Steve looked up from the doorway and shook his head. "Nothing, I just feel like sitting for a while."

"It's nearly midnight." Wanda said, confused. She hadn't ever seen Steve while he was waiting and it concerned her.

Steve shrugged. "I don't sleep much."

Wanda looked from him to the door and understood. "You're waiting on her..." She said cautiously.

Steve sighed. "I don't want her to arrive and no one be around to welcome her."

Wanda saw right through his lie and shrugged. "I can take over for you if you want."

Steve shook his head. "That's ok. I don't mind."

Wanda sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to change his mind.

She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and started to walk back upstairs. "If you need something we are all here." She told Steve, who didn't take his gaze from the door.

The next six months went by and Natasha was still missing. Steve was starting to worry that something bad had happened.

She finally came back on a Tuesday morning at 2 am, bruised and tired but alive.

Steve had been sitting on the couch, trying not to drift off when the door creaked open.

His eyes had shot open and he stood up.

Natasha limped into the room quietly, still not noticing Steve. She placed a hand on the wall and took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

She felt good knowing she was finally home.

Steve watched her with wide eyes. He blinked twice to make sure he wasn't dreaming and slowly opened his mouth to speak. "Nat?"

Natasha turned towards him quickly, drawing her gun.

Steve put his hands in the air and stepped back. "Nat, it's me."

Natasha sighed and put her gun away. "Steve? What the hell are you doing awake?"

Steve stuttered. "I was waiting on you."

Natasha's eyebrows furrowed. "How'd you know I was gonna be back today?"

"I didn't." Steve admitted.

Natasha's eyes softened as she realized what he had done. "So what? You've been waiting every night for me?"

Steve nodded. "I didn't want you to get here and not be greeted by anyone."

Natasha smiled softly at Steve and walked towards him. "How are you?" She asked, looking at how dark the circles under his eyes were.

"Fine. I missed you though." He admitted softly.

Natasha frowned. "I missed you too. I would have been back sooner but I got into a little trouble with my past."

A worried look passed over Steve's face. "What happened? Are you ok?"

Natasha nodded. "Yeah, it's over now. Just a few people from the KGB trying to kill me. I'm fine though." She paused. "How are things around here?"

"Everyone missed you. It's not the same without you around here."

She forced a smile, feeling guilty about leaving. "Well I'm here now."

Steve nodded, "About that, I really need to talk to you about something."

Natasha walked around Steve and sat down on the couch. Steve joined her. "What is it? Did something happen?"

Steve shook his head. "No, no. I've just had something on my chest since you left and I've been waiting to tell you since that day in the graveyard."

"What is it?"

Steve fumbled over his thoughts. He had been planning this moment for two and a half years, but now that he was in the moment he couldn't find any words to tell her how he felt.

"Steve? Is everything ok?"

Steve sighed. "Do you remember when you asked me what I wanted you to be?"

Natasha nodded. "You said a friend."

Steve nodded, wincing at his past self for saying such a thing. He wanted to be much more then friends.

"I lied. I don't want to be friends Natasha. I want to be more then that because honestly Nat, the past two years without you have been torture. I've been a mess. Because as soon as you left, I realized that I'm in love with you." He admitted.

Steve looked down and closed his eyes, hoping that he didn't just ruin everything.

After a few seconds he heard Natasha talk. "Steve, I thought about you every day while I was gone. I was always taught that love is for children, but you make it seem worth it."

She daintily grabbed his face and brought his head up so he was looking into her searching green eyes. "But are you sure you want to involve yourself with someone like me?" She asked.

"I'm not like you Steve. I've killed people. Innocent people. My past is red and there's no way I can wipe everything out. But I love you too, and if you're willing to overlook my past then I want nothing more then to be with you."

Steve placed his hand over hers and shook his head. "I don't care what you did in your past. Right now. You're a hero, and I love you."

Natasha sighed in relief and closed her eyes as Steve leaned in for a kiss.

She didn't try and make the kiss any deeper. She had spent her entire life rushing through things. With Steve, she would take a second to enjoy the moment.

Steve pulled apart and rested his forehead on hers. "Don't ever leave again Nat. My heart can't take it."

"I won't." She promised.

They started to kiss again but a loud announcement came through on the towers intercoms.

"Agent Romanoff has been traced in the living room." Jarvis said.

Steve sighed. "A little late Jarvis."

There were several footsteps coming down the stairs and then Tony, Clint, and the others appeared in the living room.

They all took one look at Natasha sitting in Steve's lap with swollen lips and her arms wrapped around his neck and their eyes widened.

Clint pursued his lips. "That was quick." He mumbled.

Natasha glared at him but stood up with a smile. "Hey guys. Did you miss me?"

Tony shrugged. "Obviously not as much as you two missed each other."

Clint nodded in agreement. "Yeah, where's my kiss?"

Natasha hit them both in the arm and scowled.

"Kidding." Clint said, stepping back in fear.

Steve laughed from the couch.

Natasha greeted everyone and they all talked and watched movies. Natasha and Steve fell asleep on the couch, still in each other's arms. The other avengers couldn't help but smile.

They had their two leaders back, and now they would both be happier then ever.

Wow two updates in like 4 hours. Shows how much of a life I have😂

Well, I hope y'all enjoyed this and if you did make sure to comment and vote!

Once again, Happy Sunday!