You are everything ⴵ [Natasha Romanoff]

Chapter 37

Chapter 37
Nat's POV

I woke up a little breathless from a nightmare. It had been a few nights since my last nightmare and I had been enjoying the peaceful nights lately.

I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Sighing when I realised it was a waste of time. I reached out to the other side of the bed for Claire only to find the spot next to me empty and cold.

"Claire?" I said into the darkness.

I checked my phone and noticed it was 2:11am. I knew exactly where Claire would be at this time.

I made my way down stairs. I could see the light on through the cracks of the door. As I walked in Claire turned and looked at me. She was making herself a cup of tea but pulled out a second cup to make me one as I approached her.

"I woke up to an empty bed"
"Sorry I couldn't sleep" Claire replied.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked.
"I wanted to let you get some sleep. I was just going to be quick and then i was coming straight back to bed with you"  Claire explained. "Why are you awake?".
"When I noticed you weren't in my bed I had to come find you" I answered.
"You had a nightmare?" She questioned.
"Yeah I did".
"Are you ok?" Claire asked as she took a sip of her tea and passed me mine.

She stayed standing on the other side of the bench looking at her drink.

"Yeah nothing new, same old same old. I'm fine" I said taking a drink of my own tea.

The longer we were there the more obvious it became that something was worrying Claire, like she had something in her mind. When Claire sat Down beside me I put my hand on her thigh.

I noticed that she was more subdued than usual. I dismissed it at first attributing the quietness to her lack of sleep. I quietly observed her as she sat there silently. The subtle frown on her face and concentrated overthinking look didn't slip past me. It was a stark contrast to her typical lively demeanour. I knew her well enough to know something was troubling her.

"Is everything ok? I asked.

Claire looked up from her mug that she had been staring at. I could tell there was so much going on in her head, it almost seemed like she had something she wanted to say. Her eyes darted between mine and then settled back on her mug. She was avoiding eye contact. I didn't need good perception skills to tell she was not her normal self.

"Whatever it is you can tell me Claire" I prompted trying to bring her attention back to me.

Whatever it was that was troubling her I wanted to be able to help. I wanted to make sure everything was ok, to be certain that Claire knew no matter what it was that I would there for her. She meant so much to me and it was hard to see her not as her happy self.

She fidgeted with her hands looking back down. I put one hand over hers and with my other hand I lifted her chin so she would meet my gaze. I leant in and softly kissed her on the lips. She leant into the kiss and I then pulled away slowly.

"Talk to me sweetheart" I said gently.

"There's something I've been wanting to talk to you about but I'm scared of what you might think" Claire said vaguely.
"You can trust me, you won't scare me away" I promise.

Why am I so nervous!

I watched Claire as she bit the inside of her cheek clearly thinking of what to say.

"I don't know why I'm so nervous, I just don't want to stuff anything up" Claire added. I've known this for a little bit but I don't think I fully realised the extent of it until lately".
"Sweetheart you won't stuff anything up I promise. You don't have to be nervous. It's just you and me here". I soothed.