See Chapter 1 for disclaimer.

A/N: So, this is the last chapter of Adagio! I am currently working on the sequel (which will pick up literally five minutes after the end of this chapter) as well as a few one-shots set in the same timeline.

Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewed, read, alerted, favorited, etc.! I really appreciate it all and I'm glad you guys enjoyed the story! I had a lot of fun writing it and hopefully you'll all enjoy the sequel too once it's finished.

Chapter 14

Thursday arrived both too quickly and too slowly for Pepper. Things at the office had been slow allowing her far too much time to dwell on the events of Sunday. She really wasn't sure what was going on between her and Natasha. The other woman seemed to want to spend time with her but Pepper wasn't sure how much of that was wishful thinking and how much of that was true.

She was fairly positive that Natasha wasn't putting on a façade with her though. She knew, without a doubt, that should the spy want, Natasha could fool Pepper into thinking virtually anything about her; but she also knew that the other woman wouldn't do that. She had no idea what made her so certain though. She was positive about one thing, Natasha had been about to say something entirely different than a suggestion of a hot bath. Pepper hadn't really found the right time to confront the spy about it but she was determined to do so tonight.

Arriving at Stark Tower (recently dubbed 'Avengers Tower' by the general population once they realized the team at least operated out of there), Pepper took a deep breath and forced a smile at the cab driver. Paying him, she hurried into the building and past the security guards. The entire trip up to the Avengers' floors, Pepper sternly informed herself that she would not be awkward around Tony, Steve, or Natasha and that she would not push Natasha at all into talking about possible feelings… or lack thereof.

Stepping off the elevator was akin to stepping into chaos. Despite the fact that Pepper was fairly sure there were only the six Avengers plus Darcy, Jane, and Phil present, it felt like there were twice as many. She paused, watching the action for a moment with a half-grin. She could hear a football game blaring from the movie room while both Tony and Thor alternately ran from there to the kitchen. Several voices were arguing loudly over turkey and stuffing from the direction of the kitchen and Pepper could see Darcy and Jane sitting in the living room area trying not to die of laughter.

Pepper shook her head with a laugh and hung up her coat and scarf before making her way toward the kitchen, dodging a fast-moving Phil and then Clint on missions to who knew where. Peeking inside the kitchen she spotted Steve and Bruce tending various dishes while Tony hovered, offering bad advice and periodically expounding on the football scores of the various games (including ones that hadn't even been played yet). Ducking back out before Tony saw her, Pepper wandered the floor looking for Natasha.

The spy was nowhere to be found though Jane and Darcy thought they'd seen her earlier. Pepper frowned and then slipped back into the elevator, taking it down two floors and making her way to the gym set aside for martial arts. Sure enough, she found Natasha in the center of the boxing ring, sparring with what Pepper guessed was a Tony-built robot that was probably built for that express purpose. Pepper tried to ignore the fact that Natasha had opted for somewhat more revealing clothes than usual, clad in only a sports bra and a pair of tight fitting workout pants.

Pepper hovered silently at the door, not wanting to interrupt the other woman. But it only took moments for the agent to stop what she was doing (giving the robot a sharp command in Russian that caused it to freeze in place) and face the door. Natasha raised an eyebrow slightly and broke out into what Pepper was almost positive was an involuntary smile when she met Pepper's gaze, ducking through the cables and moving confidently towards Pepper.

As soon as she was close enough to speak at a normal volume, Natasha said, "Hey. What are you doing down here?"

Pepper smiled slightly and shrugged. "I was looking for you. Everyone else is upstairs acting as though Thanksgiving is the apocalypse."

Natasha laughed, pulling off her gloves. "That's why I'm here and not there."

Pepper glanced around, relishing the silence. "Good plan."

"I thought so." Natasha grinned briefly. "You get a feeling for how close they were to feeding everyone while you were up there?"

Pepper chuckled. "In a normal household I'd say 'soon.' With those guys running it? An hour maybe?"

Natasha nodded. "Kind of what I figured." She was studying Pepper speculatively and the taller woman glanced away after a moment.

Pepper indicated the boxing ring. "So, what were you practicing? And what is that thing?"

Natasha shrugged, glancing back towards the ring. "Nothing in particular. I work out at least once a day. Not necessarily a particular discipline though I can force myself into certain conventions if needed. And that thing is my personal sparring robot courtesy of Tony." She smiled wickedly. "I think it was his way of trying to keep from getting dumped on his ass again."

Pepper smiled ruefully. "Must be useful."

Natasha sobered, gazing absently at the punching bag off to the side. "It can be. Not always sure if it's worth it though."

Pepper frowned and reached out to touch Natasha's arm lightly. "Nat?" The nickname slipped out without conscious thought.

Natasha looked at her suddenly, clearly startled. "What did you call me?"

Pepper blinked. "Um… 'Nat'. Sorry, I won't do it again."

Natasha met her gaze for a long moment before smiling slightly. "No, it's fine." She paused but before Pepper could ask for clarification she continued quietly. "The only other person who has ever called me that is Clint."

"Really?"

Natasha smiled sadly. "Really. Honestly, I tend to insist on 'Tasha' if anyone's going to shorten my name."

"Why?" The question popped out before Pepper could stop it.

Natasha waved towards a bench sitting against the wall. "If we're going to have this conversation, let's sit."

Pepper followed the smaller woman to the bench, frowning in concern. Natasha seemed far more… broken wasn't quite the right word but Pepper couldn't come up with a better one. "Natasha?"

Natasha settled on the bench, leaning against the wall and gazing blankly at the opposite wall. After a long moment she began to speak. "They told me my name was Natalia Alianovna Romanova. I have no idea what my actual birth name is. Maybe that was it; I've never found out for certain. Natalia... became my name." She paused. "When Agent Barton made the choice not to kill me, instead bringing me into SHIELD, I told him my name was Natasha Romanoff. It's a um… diminutive of Natalia. First name I'd ever chosen myself." Natasha dropped her head back against the wall, shifting her gaze to the ceiling.

Pepper wasn't sure what to say but eventually Natasha continued, "Ever since, I've insisted people use 'Tasha' instead of 'Nat' if they're going to try using a nickname." She smiled briefly. "Of course, the only people that even try to use a shortened version of my name are Coulson, Clint, and you. Mostly people just call me 'Natasha' or 'Agent Romanoff' and that's that."

Quietly Pepper commented, "You told me to call you 'Tasha' when you introduced me as yourself instead of Natalie."

Natasha nodded slightly. "I did."

"Why?"

Natasha was silent for several minutes. Pepper had concluded that the other woman wasn't going to answer the question when Natasha spoke quietly, barely audible even in the dead silence of the gym, "I don't know."

"Yes, you do."

Natasha smiled briefly, still gazing at the ceiling though Pepper was certain she wasn't actually seeing it. "I do. I'm just… not sure I should tell you."

Pepper cocked her head slightly, studying her companion in silence for several seconds. "How about we go back to 'Nat' for a moment before addressing that topic further?"

Natasha let out a short laugh. "Sure. There's not much else to tell. 'Nat' is an abbreviation of both names and well, Coulson, Clint, and Fury are the only ones who know my name was Natalia. As much as I had a name before SHIELD." She was silent then added, "And now you. Generally, I prefer to avoid reminders of my training."

"Why let me use it then?"

"You're my friend."

Pepper raised an eyebrow skeptically. "The others are your friends too," she pointed out.

"They are."

"So why me?"

Natasha sighed. "And now we're back to the other question."

"Are we?"

"Yes." Natasha fell silent again.

"Nat?"

Taking a deep breath and still not looking at Pepper, Natasha said, "Because you're you."

"That… doesn't actually tell me anything, you know."

Natasha laughed softly for just a moment. "I know."

Pepper frowned, torn between laughing with Natasha and insisting she clarify.

Suddenly Natasha turned her head, fixing Pepper with an intense look. Pepper gazed back, transfixed by the intensity. Almost sub-vocally she asked, "Natasha?" It felt very much like being a deer caught in the headlights.

Natasha turned, facing Pepper more fully. Pepper sat stock still, certain that whatever happened next was going to change everything. Slowly, Natasha reached up and placed one hand on Pepper's cheek. Her gaze was still locked with Pepper's, searching. Pepper couldn't move, wasn't actually certain she was breathing.

Natasha quirked an eyebrow and Pepper was struck by the sudden uncertainty in her gaze. Unable to form words, Pepper simply watched silently, waiting. Natasha's smile was almost sad as she leaned forward and brushed her lips softly across Pepper's just once.

Quietly she whispered, "That's why."

Before Pepper could even process what had happened, Natasha suddenly let go and stood up, moving rapidly toward the locker room. She said over her shoulder, voice completely devoid of emotion, "Tell the others I won't be at dinner, please."

Pepper blinked, shaking her head rapidly. "What-? Nat!"

Natasha paused. Pepper could see the tension in her shoulders as she asked, "What?"

"Are you seriously going to just walk away after that?" Pepper blurted.

"I am."

"Why?" It wasn't a question, definitely a demand. Pepper stood, taking a few steps towards the other woman.

"Pepper, please…"

"Please what? Go away? Forget this happened? Not very likely, Natasha."

Natasha spun to face her, appearing almost anguished. "Don't."

Pepper stepped closer, moving slowly as if approaching a wild animal. "I'm not going to leave until we both understand what's going on here."

"Why?" The word sounded as if it was ripped from Natasha's chest and Pepper was suddenly struck by the fact that this was the most open she'd ever seen the spy. This was the real Natasha underneath.

Stepping into Natasha's personal space Pepper mimicked Natasha's action from earlier, resting her hand lightly on the other woman's cheek. Locking her gaze with the shorter woman's, she lowered her head, murmuring, "This is why."

Carefully, giving Natasha every opportunity to leave, Pepper pressed her lips to Natasha's lightly then more firmly. Slowly, she slid her hand further back, tunneling her fingers into Natasha's hair and pulling her closer with gentle pressure.

There was no response from Natasha and Pepper started to pull back, feeling like she'd been kicked in the gut, when Natasha's hands came up. Pepper felt the other woman move in, one hand gripping Pepper's bicep lightly while the other very tentatively rested on the side of her face.

Smiling against Natasha's lips, Pepper pulled her closer, tightening her grip and letting her other hand rest lightly on the smaller woman's waist. Natasha's touch firmed and Pepper could feel the answering smile. Pepper let herself get lost in the kiss for a long moment, eyes fluttering closed.

The only sound in the gym for several minutes was the soft click of the heater cycling on and their gradually increasing breathing. Finally Natasha pulled back slightly and Pepper loosened her grip just a little. Opening her eyes, she gazed quietly into the bright green ones only a few inches away. She could feel a smile edging her lips, matched by Natasha.

Tilting her forehead slightly to rest against Natasha's, Pepper murmured, "Did that answer your question?"

Natasha laughed softly, her breath ghosting across Pepper's lips. "It did."

"In a good way?"

"Very." Natasha was silent, her expression turning slightly confused.

"What is it?" Pepper felt a cold dread suddenly seeping into her stomach.

"Nothing important. I… well, I thought you were straight." Natasha gave her a wry grin.

Pepper shrugged slightly with a quiet laugh. The dread dissipated. "Yes, well, so did I. Then you suddenly left for that assignment and I was both furious and depressed that you were gone. Major overreaction. Among other things since then. I just didn't want to admit it. To you or myself."

Natasha blinked. "Oh."

Smiling gently, Pepper shifted her hand so she could brush her thumb lightly across Natasha's cheek. "Yes, oh. Why did you volunteer to be my bodyguard?" Pepper was charmed to see a faint blush spread across the spy's cheeks.

"Because you fascinated me. Pretty much since I first met you at Tony's house. And then I fought reassignment because I… just didn't want to leave."

Pepper blinked in surprise. She pulled her head back slightly, tilting it in question. "You fought reassignment?"

Natasha frowned slightly. "Yes. Fury tried to reassign me at least three times prior to Kelly. By that point he made it a flat order. It was let myself be reassigned or risk losing my assignment anyway by losing my field agent status." Her frown deepened, brow furrowing. "I assumed Kelly told you."

Pepper grimaced, laughing in self-deprecation. "No, she didn't, because I was too stubborn to ask."

"Why didn't you ask me after I got home?"

Pepper smiled, absently brushing a lock of Natasha's hair back before resting her forehead against the other woman's once more. "By that point I just didn't care. I was more concerned with the fact that you were home safe."

Natasha grinned, kissing her lightly and whispering, "Well, I'm grateful for your concern for my safety."

"Always." Pepper chuckled. "Even when you went after Vanko, I was terrified Happy would show up and tell me you'd gotten killed."

Natasha's nose crinkled slightly in amusement. "Vanko didn't have a chance. Especially if he'd actually been there."

"Yes well, beating Happy's ass notwithstanding… I'd never seen you in action before. I had a right to worry."

Natasha smirked. "You still haven't really seen me in action, Ms. Potts."

Pepper arched an eyebrow, lowering her voice, "I look forward to it, Ms. Romanoff."

Natasha's smirk transformed into a wicked grin. She'd just opened her mouth to respond when they both heard the sound of the door opening.

Pepper turned, stepping away slightly so she was more to Natasha's side. Though she dropped the hand that had been resting against the other woman's face, she left the one on Natasha's waist in place. Pepper could feel the tensing of Natasha's muscles beneath her hand. She suppressed a smile as she felt Natasha's hand slide down her arm to rest lightly on her hip.

Darcy poked her head inside the gym, looking between the two curiously. Her face took on a knowing expression but she merely smiled and said, "Food's ready, you two."

Pepper smiled. "Thanks, Darcy. We'll be up in a minute."

Darcy nodded, flashed them both a grin and thumbs up, and then vanished again.

Natasha laughed and leaned against Pepper's side for a moment. "Go on up. I need to shower really fast." The slight tension that Pepper had noticed when Darcy appeared had vanished once more.

"I'll wait."

"You don't have to."

Pepper turned to Natasha and grinned, brushing her lips gently across the other woman's forehead before looking her in the eye. "I'll wait."

Natasha gave her a wry look. "You are far more stubborn than Clint. You're not scared of me at all, are you?"

Pepper laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment. Now go. Shower. Before Tony sends a full-on search party instead of just Darcy."

Natasha winked at her, voice taking on a distinctly seductive tone as she murmured, "Yes, Ms. Potts."

Pepper shook her head with a laugh as the spy sashayed into the locker room, very obviously swaying her hips far more than was necessary. Idly, she commented to the empty room, "Well, this should certainly be an interesting relationship." Grinning to herself at the thought, Pepper settled back on the bench to wait for Natasha to reappear.