Risk

Thirty Four

Natasha heard him awaken in the middle of the night, but she kept her eyes shut in pretence that she was still asleep. She felt him shift out of bed, and the dread gripped at her chest as he moved towards the door. She was right, he'd sober up and regret it just like she said he would. Though she did have a little hope she was wrong, but that was shattering with each step he took away from the bed.

He moved out the bedroom door, and she sighed quietly to herself in the silence, feeling her eyes burn with tears until she stopped them. She was done crying, she knew this would happen so she wouldn't let it bother her since she should have been prepared. She sniffed once and curled into the blankets tightly, ready to fall back into sleep.

Then she heard the soft thud in the distance as the fridge door closed. James yawned as he returned along the hall, ice clinking softly against the glass of water he must have brought with him back to the bedroom and chugging on route. He paused at the end of the bed, leaving a beat of silence until he placed the glass on her beside. She felt the bed shift behind her, one hand moving under her hips and the other under her shoulders carefully so as not to wake her. He slid her forward sleepily into what was his side of the bed and climbed in behind her, nuzzling into her back. "That's better," He murmured to himself and drifted off to sleep as the big spoon. She fell asleep too with a grin on her lips.

***

James woke just before nine, stretching out a little as he opened his eyes to find Natasha still curled up in his embrace. She didn't stir, and her breathing was soft and steady as she slept. He didn't want to move in case it woke her, but more importantly, he just didn't want to move.

He closed his eyes again, thinking over their conversation last night with a frown, thinking what he'd want to talk to her about and how to word it. He sighed softly, milling it over until she stirred sometime later with a soft groan.

"Good morning." He murmured when he heard her yawn.

"You've woken up on the wrong side of the bed." She smiled without looking back at him, but stroking her fingertips along one of his forearms.

"I'd have to disagree." He replied, moving his hand and giving her hip a small squeeze. "I slept better on this side and have woken up in a good mood. No wrong side of the bed vibes at all."

"Hmm," she turned onto her back, looking over at him. "No hangover?"

"Not at all,"

She narrowed her eyes up at him. "Still drunk?"

James chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm fine. What about you?"

Natasha gave a small shrug. "I feel fine, I had planned to go a run but I really can't be bothered."

"We could go a walk? Get some fresh air before it gets too hot?" He suggested, watching her close her eyes again.

She shook her head a little, and he smiled softly at her silent want to stay in bed. "I'd rather just stay here then eventually move for breakfast in the hot tub?"

James had to agree that sounded much better and lightly stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.  "I'll make breakfast, while you get it working."

"Deal." She turned to face him, still with her eyes closed as she ran her fingers up through his hair and dropped her forehead to rest on his shoulder. He eased her closer as she cuddled up, both silently agreeing that for now, this was needed.