Steve accidentally confesses his love for Natasha and they don't talk for a while.

The words had slipped out of Steve's mouth before he could even think about what he was really saying. 

One minute he and Natasha had been watching a movie together and laughing at the terrible plot, and the next he had found himself gazing into her eyes and wondering what it would be like to kiss her. 

"What?" She had asked, a smirk playing on her lips, "Do I have something on my face?"

Steve shook his head with a quiet chuckle, "No."

Natasha raised an eyebrow, her smirk growing, "Then what is it?" 

Steve blushed a deep shade of red and the words slipped out of his mouth before he could even think about how she would respond, "I think I love you." 

Natasha's eyes widened and she stood up, "What?" 

Steve cursed, that was not how he wanted her to find out, "Shit, Natasha, I didn't mean to say that." 

She slowly backed away from him, "So you didn't mean it?" 

Steve sighed, of course he had meant it. How could he not love her? "I did, but I don't expect you to feel the same Natasha, it just slipped out." 

He had never seen her so pale...was him being in love with her really that bad? 

"Steve you can't be in love with me. I'll ruin you. You should be in love with someone like Sharon, not me," Natasha said, her voice quiet as she stood a few feet away from him. 

Steve shook his head, "I tried to go out with Sharon Nat. I couldn't do it, because every time I looked at her, all I could think about was the fact that she isn't you." 

Natasha grabbed her coat from the chair she had draped it over, "I have to go. I'm sorry." 

Steve frowned, "Nat please don't go."

She shook her head, looking back at him with glistening eyes, "I have to."

With that, she grabbed her phone and was gone from his apartment in a mere second. 

Her head was spinning as she walked into her room, how could he be in love with her? She was Russia's greatest weapon and he was literally an American icon.

It didn't matter if she felt the same. He was too good for her, and if she were to give whatever was between them a shot, she'd only taunt his reputation and drag him down with her.

"Fuck," She muttered, throwing the nearest kitchen utensil into the wall across from her. 

Everything had been so good with him lately. They had been growing closer and she liked being around him. He made her laugh...not many people could do that. There was just something about Steve Rogers that seemed to bring the best out in her. Maybe what she felt for him was love, maybe it wasn't. 

It didn't matter though, because she wouldn't...no, couldn't, let herself be with him. 

Not when she thought there were so many women much better suited to be with him. 

She locked herself in her room for hours and decided that things would just have to go back to the way they were before they had become best friends. She would be civil with him during training, follow his orders during missions, and do her best to keep her distance at all other times.  

She was a world class spy...how hard could it be to stay away from one person for a while?

As it turned out, it was very difficult. 

Not because Steve was trying to talk to her, but because she was overwhelmed with guilt at how miserable he seemed over the next few weeks. 

It made her want to just admit she felt something for him. The look on his face was one of pure regret and agony but she still had managed to avoid all non-work related contact with him.

Everything was fine until they were sent on a mission together. 

Boarding the quin-jet, she could hardly look at him in fear of locking eye contact with him and seeing just how much pain she was causing him. 

"Morning Nat-asha," He corrected, probably feeling as though he no longer had the right to use her nickname. The small slip-up hurt Natasha more then she cared to admit. She loved when he called her Nat. 

She nodded in his direction, focusing on double checking that all her weapons were ready, "Morning Rogers." 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him flinch at the coldness of her voice and she instantly regretted it. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes as the jet took off and she could tell Steve wanted to say something. He was watching her carefully, as though he were afraid speaking would somehow offend her. 

She desperately wanted things to return to normal, but she knew that wasn't possible now. She couldn't let herself fall for him. Even if it was killing her to be this cold towards him. 

"What's our plan?" She asked, finally breaking the silence. 

Steve cleared his throat, "The base we're infiltrating has about fifty people working in it so you and I will take the front entrance and work our way to the lab so you can download their files and then wipe the system. While we do that the team with go through the back and take out whoever fights."

Natasha nodded and stood up as they approached their drop site. 

"Ready?" She asked, strapping on her parachute. 

Steve nodded and dived out of the plane without a parachute, like always. 

Natasha followed and landed shortly after he did, rolling her eyes a bit at the amount of people already laying unconscious. She was tempted to say something witty about it but didn't  considering the tense atmosphere between them.

She started helping Steve fight and in no time, they were moving in sync through the building as though nothing had happened between them. 

Steve still pulled her to his chest and covered them both with his shield if there was a sudden shower of bullets, and Natasha still fought side by side with him, watching his back and taking out anyone who even raised their gun to shoot him. 

For a few minutes during the fight, things felt almost normal between them, and when Steve did pull her to his chest to protect her, she couldn't help but long for the moment to last just a minute longer...even if they were being shot at. 

They continued on and eventually made it to the lab, where Natasha quickly hacked into the building's security system so she could download the files they had stored there. 

Steve guarded the door and soon, Natasha had the information. 

"Alright, I got it. Let's get out of here," Natasha said, sticking her flash-drive into her belt and joining Steve at the door. 

Steve nodded and they ran down the hall, taking out whoever met them. 

They had almost reached the main entrance and it seemed like the building had been pretty much evacuated of the people still alive. 

Natasha let her guard down and lowered her gun as they got closer, not noticing the man on the ground who was reaching for his gun as they ran past them. 

Steve however, did notice, and was quick to jump in front of Natasha the moment the gun was fired, not even having time to raise his shield. 

Natasha's eyes widened ass the bullet hit Steve in the center of his chest, her breath hitched and she quickly shot the man before kneeling down and putting pressure on Steve's chest. 

"Fuck, Steve. Why would you do that?" Natasha asked, her vision blurring with tears as she pressed a finger to her coms, "I need immediate extraction. Captain Rogers is shot." 

Steve reached up to grab her hand and she couldn't stop the tears building in her eyes. 

"I'm sorry about what I said Nat. I never meant to hurt you," He whispered, his breathing unsteady. 

  She shook her head, "Don't talk like you're going to die Steve. You're going to be fine." 

Steve coughed and blood dribbled down his chin, "You don't know that. If I do, I just want you to know how sorry I am. You have every right to hate me for saying it like that." 

Natasha cupped Steve's head in her hands, "I don't hate you Steve. I could never hate you."

Steve managed a small smile as his eyes began to flutter shut. 

Natasha shook her head, calling for help again before putting pressure on Steve's chest again, "Damn it Steve stay with me. You can't die because I love you too."

The medics finally arrived but Steve was unresponsive. Natasha grabbed his hand as they rushed over to them and brushed some of the hair from his face, "I love you too Steve."

He was pulled from her arms a second later and Natasha followed behind them, refusing to leave his side for even a second as they raced him back to Shield headquarters. 

Steve was rushed to the operation room and as Natasha stood outside the window watching, Clint walked in. 

"What happened out there?" He asked. 

Natasha shook her head, "He took a bullet for me. I didn't see that one of the guys we had taken out earlier was still alive. He took a shot at me and Steve jumped in front of me before he could even raise his shield."

Clint frowned, "It's not like you to not notice someone trying to shoot you." 

Natasha stared at Steve, "I was distracted. Steve...a few weeks ago he told me that he loved me and I freaked out."

"You feel the same though don't you?" Clint asked.

Natasha nodded, "I didn't tell him until he was passed out though. Clint he thought I hated him. If he dies...I don't know what I'm going to do."

Clint sighed, "He's a fighter Natasha. He'll be okay."

Natasha managed a small nod, trying to convince herself that Clint was right. 

Hours passed and Steve was finally out of surgery. The bullet had pierced his lungs and if it weren't for his serum, the doctors wouldn't have been able to do anything. 

She had been sitting besides his bed since they let her into the room and nothing was going to get her to leave until she was sure Steve was okay. 

He didn't wake up for another four hours, and when he finally did, Natasha wasn't even sure she should be there. 

"Hey," She whispered quietly when his eyes landed on her. 

Steve smiled, "Hi."

Natasha stood up and grabbed him a glass of water, "How do you feel?" 

Steve shrugged and winced, realizing that the small movement was enough to cause him pain, "Never better."

Natasha offered him a small smile and sat down besides him again, looking down at her hands as she thought about what to say.

Steve watched her silently and reached out, taking Natasha's hand in his. 

She looked up at him and sighed, "I'm sorry I was so cold to you the last few weeks. It was never because I hated you. I think it was the opposite actually..."

She paused and looked up at Steve, who was listening carefully to every word she said. 

"You know I'm not good with emotion, I've never been in love and I've certainly never had anyone tell me that they loved me. So when you said it, I was afraid to admit to myself and to you that I feel the same."

Steve's eyes brightened but he still stayed silent, knowing Natasha wasn't done talking yet. 

She gave his hand a light squeeze and shook her head, "Because I do Steve. I love you more then I ever thought possible but it feels so wrong for me to feel this way because I don't deserve you. You deserve someone so much better then me...someone who doesn't ignore you for weeks after you confess how you feel."

Steve shook his head, "I don't want anyone but you Nat. I love you and only you, and if you really feel the same then don't fight it because of your past. I don't care what you've done. Right now, you're an Avenger. A hero."

Natasha's eyes teared up and she laughed quietly, "I really don't deserve you." 

"You deserve the world," Steve said, pressing a light kiss to Natasha's hand. 

Shaking her head again, Natasha moved forward and gently captured Steve's lips with her own. She couldn't do much more then that in fear of hurting him, but she hoped a simple kiss would be enough to show him how she felt for now. 

Steve grinned when she pulled away, "Maybe I should get shot more often." 

Natasha glared at him with a playful smirk, "Next time I won't be as forgiving towards your stupidity."

Steve laughed and with that, everything was normal again. With the exception of their now expressed feelings for one another...but Natasha certainly wasn't complaining about that change in their relationship.

Hey guys, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. If you did, please vote and comment!