Learning to Love - Natasha Romanoff and Maria Hill

Sixteen

Two weeks later.
Things went on with Natasha barely remembering who Maria was and Maria constantly avoiding her. The only time they saw each other was when Maria came home and Natasha was still awake, which only happened occasionally. Natasha had regained some of her memory, but she was hesitant to tell Maria. She didn't want to get her hopes up. She only remembered a few things like that Maria had been her guard and that they had sex a few times. She also remembered Maria asking her to be her girlfriend and their first date. She knew that she still had feelings for Maria, but she didn't know if Maria still felt the same way.

Stark was throwing another party, and she decided to go. The redhead finished applying her lipstick before grabbing her phone and heading over to the party. She didn't know whether Maria was going, but she knew she'd be smoking a lot of cigarettes either way. Natasha kept finding her ashtray on the table with cigarettes that she didn't smoke in it. She hadn't remembered Maria being a smoker, but maybe she was smoking because she was stressed. When Natasha made it to the party and started down the stairs, she saw Maria staring at her with a mixture of sadness and something that seemed like longing in her eyes. She smiled back, allowing her teeth to show. When she got down the stairs, she headed over to the bar.

"Nice dress, Romanoff," she heard from behind her.

She turned to see Steve. He was holding a whiskey, his favorite.

"Thanks, Rogers. You don't look too bad yourself," the redhead smirked.

She was wearing a short, blue dress that fit her like a glove. She usually hated blue on herself, but she had always liked the way this dress brought out her eyes.

Her head suddenly started to hurt. She felt dizzy. Steve caught her when she was about to fall. Her head was spinning as everything came back to her. The last thing she saw was Maria telling her she loved her for the first time. She felt tears well up in her eyes.

She pulled away from Steve,"Maria..I- I have to find Maria."

The brunette was nowhere to be found. She checked everywhere, every place where she could possibly be. That was when she remembered Maria's favorite hiding spot: the roof. Of course.

When Natasha opened the door, she saw Maria sitting on the edge and staring down at the street below her. She turned and immediately stood up when she saw Natasha.

"Maria," Natasha ran to the brunette, pulling her into her arms.

"You remember?" Maria hesitantly wrapped her arms around the redhead.

Natasha nodded,"I remember."

Maria began to cry, sobbing softly. She was overwhelmed with happiness. She didn't lose her. She had been blaming herself the entire time for ever sending Natasha on that mission.

Natasha rubbed her back gently, placing soft kisses all over her neck.

"I'm here, Masha. You didn't lose me. I'm right here," Natasha whispered.

Maria inhaled the scent of Natasha's hair, placing a kiss on her head. She never wanted to let go of her.

"Hey, wanna go watch Grey's?" Natasha smiled.

Maria smiled,"Lead the way," she sniffled, wiping her eyes.

Natasha kissed the taller woman, her fingers playing with the baby hairs on the back of Maria's neck. Maria involuntarily whimpered into the kiss. She had missed the way Natasha's lips felt against hers.

"C'mon," Natasha grabbed Maria's hand, pulling her toward the door that led to the roof.

"Can we drink wine and eat popcorn?"

"Well, obviously. What would we even be doing if we didn't have snacks?"

Maria and Natasha cuddled up on the couch together, Maria's head resting on Natasha's chest. Natasha was absent mindedly playing with Maria's hair, and the brunette was staring up at the smaller woman.

Natasha took a sip of her wine,"If you wanted to watch me instead of the show, you could have said that."

"You're just really nice to look at."

"So I've been told," Natasha chuckled softly.

"By who?" Maria acted offended,"Is there someone else?"

"Oh, yeah. She's tall and she has these really beautiful blue eyes and such a charming laugh. And perfect tits."

"I guess I'll have to meet her," Maria grinned.

Natasha yawned, running a hand over her face.

"Tired?"

"No, I'm rallying. I'm so awake that I'd put the city at rush hour to shame."

"Alright, we're going to bed. You only say shit like that when you're tired."

"You got me there, commander."

Natasha opened her eyes, scanning the room around her. First, the sun peeking in through the curtains, next, the ceiling fan spinning in quick circles, and finally, Maria fast asleep beside her.

Maria felt the redhead move, and she stirred awake, smiling,"Hey, you."

"Hey, yourself."

Natasha ran her thumb over Maria's lips,"I have a question."

"Hm?"

"Why did you tell me that you were just a friend instead of telling me the truth?"

Maria looked away,"I just..I didn't want you to feel bad about it or think that you were somehow obligated to me if you didn't regain your memory. I thought it would be too overwhelming, and I wanted you to remember on your own."

Natasha ran her fingers through Maria's short hair. She had recently gotten highlights in it, and Natasha loved it.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Don't be sorry, Maria. You were trying to protect me..I just wish that you hadn't hurt yourself in the process."

"I tend to do that," Maria sighed.

Natasha nodded,"Yeah, I know, baby."

"I missed you," Maria wrapped her arms around the redhead, pulling her closer to herself.

Natasha didn't respond. She didn't know what to say. She hadn't missed her because she didn't even know who she was. Part of her felt guilty about it, but part of her knew it wasn't her fault.

"Are you okay?" Maria looked up at her.

Natasha nodded,"Yeah, I'm good. I just..missed you too."