[ It's one thing they've always tried to be with each other, after all. After a while, anyway. At the start... well, she'd had other issues back then.

Now, though. Now she pauses to give his question serious thought and making sure she gives him the most genuine answer she can.

Because there's something here she's not telling him yet. Can't. But that doesn't mean she can't give him an answer to the question he is asking.

Natasha meets his gaze, resolution in her own eyes, a stubborn lift to her chin - an expression no doubt familiar to him after all this time. ]

I think we're going to do whatever it takes to make sure it does. None of us will accept an alternative.

Besides, [ she pauses, adding a hint of levity with a twist of her lips. ] who in their right mind would suspect we're coming at them from the future?