Hi guys! So I still have a few plot bunnies running around and because of the amazing support that I get from all of you guys I will get them out eventually when they begin to take shape. I just want to let you guys know that you are all amazing and the feedback really does push me to do more. Anyways I had this small idea in my head and thought I would test it out. If you guys like it, then I will continue it. Just let me know. I will warn you that this is an AU. There are no super powers and some of the characters may have different backstories so I'm sorry if they seem a little OOC at times. Also this may contain some characters from Agents of SHIELD. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in Marvel or the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Natasha Romanoff was sitting on the couch of her parents' house after a long day of classes. Well technically it was her adopted parents' house. She had become an orphan after witnessing the death of her parents at the age of 5. She was then kidnapped by her parents' murderers and it had taken about a year until she was found. It wasn't long before she was adopted and moving her things from Russia to the United States. Washington DC to be exact.

Her transition wasn't easy considering that her kidnappers were basically monsters. They were harsh and horrible people who sometimes beat her just for the hell of it. Because of this, Natasha had learned at a very young age how to be a survivor. When she first came into this new home, she was very cautious and flinched sometimes when her new parents came too close or tried to touch her. Despite being a little kid, she had been able to perfect an expressionless mask. At her old home, if she cried out in pain, they would beat her more. If she got angry and tried to retaliate, they would beat her more. Because of this she had to learn to endure the pain and keep a neutral face.

Her new parents, Phil Coulson and Melinda May, were very patient and understanding of this situation. Melinda, an ex-CIA agent was actually the one to find Natasha. May was tipped some information that a couple in Russia was selling high-tech weapons to U.S. enemies and were considered a serious threat as they had stolen the weapons from a U.S. shipment. When May went in to take care of the threat, she had found Natasha. She had taken the little girl with her and when the government had planned to send her to an orphanage after acquiring all the information that Natasha had, May had said that she would take her.

It wasn't hard for May to convince her husband, Phil, into taking the little girl under their wing. He was a bit hesitant but understood how much it meant to May to make sure that this girl was in a safe environment and what better home for her than theirs. May was already retiring from the agency seeing as that mission was her last, and that was the deciding factor for Phil. He knew that May would be a good mother and without a job where she had to constantly lie and leave often, she would be a great mother. She would be the mother that this girl needs.

With the support of these two people, Natasha began to slowly recover. The little girl became attached to her mother and in her father's arms she felt safe. It was a long and hard journey for them all, but they were able to make it together as a family.

Now here she was. Despite the horrors that plagued her throughout her childhood, she turned out alright. She did get flashbacks or had an episode here and there, but they didn't control her life. Here she was, a twenty-year-old lady going to college with two loving parents. She turned into a strong, independent woman with a slightly pessimistic view on the world who also knew to treasure the good moments when they did come along.

She was currently relaxing on the living room couch, surfing through the channels, in hopes that she would pass by something that would capture her interest. She still hadn't found something to watch when the doorbell rang. Annoyed that she had to get up from her very comfortable spot, she gave a huff and went to the door. When she opened the door, she was met with the back of a tall, blonde man.

Natasha smirked when she recognized who it was considering that she had known him almost her whole life. "If you're here to try and sell me something, I'm going to have to ask you to get off my property."

The man turned around, slightly surprised that he hadn't heard the door open. He turned to see Natasha with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. "Nice to see you too, Romanoff."

In one second, Natasha's smirk turned into a small smile. "It's good to see you, Rogers." She stepped forward to wrap her arms around Steve Rogers, her old next-door neighbor and one of her best friends. Not to mention her first crush.

Steve Rogers was two years older than Natasha. He had grown up in Brooklyn and later moved to DC when he was only eight years old. The Rogers' family had moved into the house next to her only a few months after she moved in herself. When they had first met, there was an almost instant connection.

Before Steve had arrived, Natasha was almost mute. She nodded her head, shook her head, and made other gestures to indicate what she meant. She rarely ever spoke, and when she did it was a whisper so quiet that one had to be standing right next to her to hear it. The first person to draw out any real words out of her was Steve Rogers.

"Come on Natasha. Let's go say hi to our new neighbors." Phil had said to her as he grabbed her hand in his and led her down the steps of their house. Little Natasha, just nodded her head and followed his lead with her adopted mother behind her. They walked up to the door and Phil lifted her up so that she could ring the doorbell. Not too long after, the door opened with a boy only a few years older than Natasha poking his head out. "Hello. Are your parents home?"

"Mom!" The young boy called. He could not have been more than ten.

"Steve, what is it?" A lady came from behind the boy, looking exhausted from moving their things into the house.

"These people are asking for you." Steve said pointing to the family in front of him.

"Hi. I'm Phil." He introduced himself, waving to the the woman and the little boy. "This is wife, Melinda. And this is Natasha. We just wanted to come and meet our new neighbors."

"Hello, I'm Sarah. Sarah Rogers." The woman smiled and then gestured to her son. "And this is my son, Steve. It's nice to meet you."

Natasha remained behind Phil's leg as the adults continued to talk. From where she was standing, she looked up to the boy in front of her to find him staring at her. She stared back, not knowing what else to do. She continued to stare Steve down until she heard her name and Steve's come up in the adult's conversation. She looked up from the staring contest to see her parents looking down at her.

"Steve why don't you show Natasha around, while Mr. Coulson and Mrs. May help me move things into the house?" His mother recommended.

"Okay." Steve held out his hand for Natasha to take.

She stared at his outstretched hand for a bit before looking up to her parents. Phil and Melinda nodded their head, so Natasha took it allowing Steve to give her a tour.

"This is the living room. This is the kitchen and that's the dining room. We have a game room here and my mom's office right here." He led her around the house and she never spoke a word. Steve then took her upstairs to show her his room. "And this is my room." He let her sit on his bed and pulled an unpacked box over so that he could sit in front of her. "You don't talk much do you?"

Natasha shook her head.

"Why not?"

She just shrugged.

"It's okay. I don't like to talk sometimes either."

She didn't say anything to that.

"You're name is Natasha right?"

She nodded.

"Well Natasha, even though you don't talk, I like you. I don't know anyone here and I miss my friends. Will you be my friend?"

She looked up a bit surprised that this boy she hardly knew wanted to be her friend. After the shock wore off, she nodded her head.

"Cool. My old friends used to say that girls were weird, but I don't think you're weird. I think you're pretty cool. How old are you?"

Natasha held up six fingers.

"You're six? I'm eight. I don't care though, we'll be best friends. And because we're best friends, I'll be there for you. I'm going to protect you from all the mean people because I don't like bullies."

"Promise?" She's not sure what made her ask that. It just came out. She wasn't sure what it was but around Steve she felt like things would be okay. Somehow even though she just met him, she felt safe.

"Promise." He moved from his box to sit next to her. From there they started a small conversation about their likes and dislikes. And thus a beautiful friendship formed.

Natasha stepped out of her best friend's arms and took a good look at him. She began searching whatever exposed skin for any signs of injuries. When she found none, she smacked him in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" He demanded as he began rubbing the spot where she hit him.

"For being gone for so long." She said before hugging him again. "You're not allowed to leave again." Natasha was being half-serious. She knew he had to go back. She just wasn't sure what she would do if he got hurt while in the field. He was her rock. He had broken her out of her shell. He helped her become the woman she was today. She would never admit it out loud, but she didn't have to because he already knew how important he was to her.

"Aww, did you miss me, Nat?" He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her gently. "You're going soft."

"Me, miss you? That's a good one, Steve." She teased him. After this long greeting, she finally pulled him into the house. "Now, come on. We have a lot of catching up to do. Plus, I'm sure my parents are dying to see you again."