Trust has never been an easy thing for her to give. Doubly so when she's emotionally vulnerable and needs a safe place to take whatever time to get through whatever struggle she's trying to overcome. He's that for her. Has always been for as far back as she can remember. They were a team. Partners in every sense of the word.

Natasha holds on tighter like her life depends on it yet again. Only this time instead of telling him 'it's okay' and to 'let go', she conveys the opposite now; to not let go now or ever again for that matter. The City is fickle and she knows nothing lasts for any length of time. He's here now, but she's lost too many friends to know that he might one day leave, too.

After what feels like too long, she finally pulls away enough to look at his face and without putting thought into it, she reaches up a hand and presses it to his cheek warmly, leaving it there to remind herself that he's really here.

"When did you arrive?" she asks, slipping her hand to his shoulder.