The next day, you woke up to see Natasha sleeping with her head resting on the side of your bed. You winced at the sight, knowing she must be suffering from neck pain after spending the night in such an uncomfortable position.

A smile tugged at your lips as you reached for a strand of her hair, twirling it gently around your fingers. She stirred, a crease forming on her forehead that softened when her eyes met yours.

"Good morning," she croaked, her voice thick with sleep. "How are you doing, Y/n?"

"I've been better," you replied, offering her a small, reassuring smile.

She nodded, accepting your answer, but her expression turned somber. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, her eyes avoiding yours.

"Hey," you began softly, waiting for her to meet your gaze. When she did, you continued, "None of this is your fault."

She looked away, her guilt evident. "If I hadn't insisted on seeing you, he wouldn't have touched you."

You stared at her, both of you avoiding the deeper truth between you. For years, you had danced around your feelings, too afraid to confront them head-on. You understood the complexities of Natasha's life, the dangers and the secrets. You had accepted it, even though it meant living in a constant state of uncertainty and longing.

"You know I love you, right?" Natasha said suddenly, her voice trembling slightly. It was the first time she had said those words, and you could see the sincerity in her eyes.

Your heart skipped a beat. "What?" you whispered, barely daring to believe it.

"I love you, Y/n," she repeated, more firmly this time, her eyes shining with genuine emotion.

It was surreal. You had told Natasha you loved her countless times, never expecting her to say it back. You had wanted her to mean it, to truly feel it, because Natasha saying those words would change everything. Now that she had, you felt a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy.

"Natasha," you murmured, tears welling up in your eyes. "I've always loved you. More than anything."

She reached out, her hand trembling as it took yours. "I'm sorry it took me so long to say it. But I mean it, Y/n. I love you. And I promise, I'll never let anyone hurt you again."

You squeezed her hand, feeling the weight of her words. It was a promise you knew she would keep because Natasha Romanoff never made promises she couldn't fulfill.

"I believe you," you said softly, your heart full. "And I love you too. Always."

Natasha leaned in, her lips brushing against yours in a tender, heartfelt kiss. The kiss lingered, a soft yet powerful connection that conveyed everything words couldn't. When Natasha finally pulled back, her eyes held a mixture of relief and resolve.

"We'll get through this together," she said firmly, her voice steady now.

You nodded, feeling a renewed strength. "I know we will."

The days that followed were a whirlwind of recovery. Natasha was by your side through every step of your healing process, her presence a constant reassurance. You could see the weight of her guilt slowly lifting as you regained your strength.

One evening, as the sun set outside your hospital window, casting a warm glow over the room, Natasha sat beside you, her hand intertwined with yours.

"I have to tell you something," Natasha began slowly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. You leaned in, giving her your full attention. "Tomorrow, I'm ending things with Dreykov's company. I'll have to find another way to keep mine running without depending on his alliance-whatever my father and he talked about."

You pulled your hand from hers, worry creasing your brow. This was never what you wanted for her. "Natasha... you can't do that. I know how much your company means to you. I can't be the reason-"

"You are more important than my job, Y/n," Natasha interrupted firmly. "Dreykov did something terrible to you. I can't keep working with him when I want things between us to continue."

You frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. "What about your wife, Haley?"

"We've talked about it," Natasha replied. "As we speak, she's filing for divorce. She even broke it off with her dad, told him she wanted to pursue fashion and not be married just to keep a peace treaty."

"She's not mad at me?" you asked, searching her eyes for the truth. Natasha's expression softened, tinged with apology.

"A bit," she admitted.

"But she doesn't hate you," Natasha added quickly, trying to reassure you. You rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at your lips despite the situation.

"You always manage to find a silver lining," you said, shaking your head with a small laugh.

"Only because of you," Natasha replied, her voice warm with affection. "You give me hope, Y/n. And that's worth more than any business alliance."

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