Wanted to put this convo as a separate chapter. Hope you enjoy. Warning for sappy-ish chapter ahead.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Avengers.

Natasha found him in the pre-dawn hours. She sat down next to him on the parapet atop the tower. They gazed out at the city in silence for along time.

"How are you?" she asked him finally.

"I…" Clint took a deep breath. "I'm okay."

Natasha looked at him.

"Mostly," he amended. "Sometimes it just creeps back up you know?"

"Being dead isn't something anyone would handle easily," Natasha said. "Gosh Clint I'm so happy you're here but I don't want you to feel trapped. If…If you need to go…."

"No!" Clint said sharply. "Shit Natasha no!" He shifted and griped her shoulders. "I don't want to go. I don't need to go! I..I want to be here." She gripped his wrists in return and Clint could see how much it had hurt for her to say that, to offer that, to him.

He leaned forward and rested his head against hers. "I don't want to leave you without someone to watch your back," He whispered. He leaned back and then said more steadily. " I, I've got things to do. Red in my leger still that I've got to wipe out 'Tasha." He gave a self-depreciating smile. "And this hero thing has gotten under my skin. I want to do more 'Tasha. I want to help. I can't do that if I'm dead."

She gives a little huff of laughter but he sees her eyes lighten. "Defy death to save lives," she murmurs back to him. She leans her forehead against his. "I've missed you Clint."

"I missed you too," he said. "I missed everyone." He rubbed at his chest. "I didn't think they'd gotten under my skin like that. I didn't think I'd hurt because they were hurting you know? I've never had that with anyone else but you."

Natasha laughed. It was lighter, brighter. Clint's heart soared to hear it.

"It's a curse we're privileged to bear," she said. "Not all monsters like us find asylum but we have. The avengers for all their faults are a place we can call home."

It's not often Natasha admits her feelings to the open air.

"Yeah," he said, "They are, aren't they?" He looked back out at the sleeping city. "I'm glad to be able to come home, even when I'm dead."

"Home is where the heart is," Natasha said softly. She gripped his hand and together they watched the sun come up.

Hope you enjoyed!