Promptober!

Carol is working on her latest project, a campaign of advertisements for the company she works for. Over the last year, she has gained the confidence of the CEO who now gives her the most important drawings and designs over Steve, Natasha's best friend and the person who gave her the job interview.

She is seated on her couch, her tablet on her lap and she is sketching the few ideas that come to her mind. Her favourite songs in her headphones, Carol mumbles the lyrics as she draws, and she is so focused in her job that she doesn't hear her phone ringing the first time.

When it rings a second time, it's the bright light from the screen that makes her notice the call, and she barely misses it, "Hey babe!" she greets her girlfriend, the name on the caller ID impossible not to recognise.

"Carol, could you join me at the theatre?"

The blonde chuckles, "Baby, it's kinda late, is it that important?"

"Yes, it is," Natasha replies firmly, Carol can even imagine her face through the phone, "Please, I haven't seen you in weeks, it won't take long," she adds with a much nicer, kind of pleading voice.

Carol sighs, she doesn't feel like getting out of her apartment right now, she is doing great with her work and want to continue it but it is true that she hasn't seen her girlfriend for three weeks and meeting her would be nice, "Okay, I should be there in fifteen minutes."

"Thank you," are Natasha's last relieved words before she hangs up the call.

Before leaving, Carol saves her sketches and turns off her tablet. She takes her denim jacket from the coat rack and leaves her apartment in direction of the theatre.

On the way, she wonders why Natasha asked her to meet up at almost midnight, but she knows that she and her dance company are training at the theatre, so maybe she stayed late. It still sounds weird that she would want to see Carol in the middle of the night when the blonde told her numerous times that she can come to her apartment when she wants, she could have come to her place unannounced and spend the night there.

Carol enters the theatre by the side door, knowing that the building has been closed for the public while Natasha's dance group is training here. She doesn't know her way around inside though, she has only been here once, thus she calls out for Natasha until the other woman tells her to come on the stage.

With some struggle, Carol eventually finds the way to the stage and sees Natasha standing there, facing the empty seats of the audience, her hands in her back like she always does when she is nervous.

"Hey," Carol says softly to get Natasha's attention as she steps towards her.

The redhead looks in her direction, and as she starts walking to meet her half way, smiles like she never did before, "Hey," she whispers as they both stop, only a step separating them.

After a few moments of staring and smiling in silence, Natasha closes the gap between them, throwing herself in Carol's arms, the blonde at first surprised by this sudden motion.

"I missed you so much," Natasha says, her face buried in Carol's golden hair.

There is something in Natasha's voice that intrigues Carol even more than the moment she chose for this meeting or the affectionate hug they are still in. Nevertheless, Carol has missed Natasha too and can't deny that having the smaller woman in her arms feels extremely good.

For as long as Natasha wants, Carol holds her tightly, stroking her back and kissing her forehead from time to time as they rocks slightly. The redhead is gripped at Carol's jacket and doesn't seem to want to let go, her eyes are closed and her head comfortably resting on Carol's chest, only the small motions of her thumb on Carol's lower back telling the designer that she isn't falling asleep in her arms.

It is definitely past midnight when Natasha finally decides to pull out of the hug to look at Carol in the eyes, "You look tired," she begins as her hand reaches Carol's face to caress her cheekbone.

"I've been working late on some sketches lately, nothing I can't handle," Carol reassures as she leans into Natasha's touch.

"I'll be away for a month," Natasha says all of a sudden, as if she needed to get it out of her chest.

"Oh!" Carol exclaims, louder than she wanted to, "Um… okay. Where are you going?" she forces herself to ask, trying her best not to show that the news saddens her.

"Europe, we have a few shows scheduled there and then I'll be back."

Carol is happy for Natasha, genuinely. She knows how much the other woman loves her job and to perform in front of an audience but since the beginning of their relationship it has always been her job first, the shows and training over Carol, and it started to bother the blonde a few weeks ago when Natasha cancelled a weekend Carol had prepared for them.

"Right, so I guess I'm not taking you to New Orleans any time soon, huh?" Carol rhetorically asks, quite aggressively too.

"Are you really mad at me right now?" Natasha replies as she takes a short step back and crosses her arms.

Carol scoffs, "You call me at 11:30 and asks me to join you here to tell me I'm not seeing you for another month, yes, I'm mad."

"And what was I supposed to do?"

"I don't know," Carol shrugs nonchalantly, "tell me earlier, come to my place to tell me-"

"I've been told about the tour an hour ago and I called you right away after that."

"But why here? You never come to my pl-" Carol is interrupted by Natasha crashing her lips on hers.

Carol knows she shouldn't kiss her back, she shouldn't because she is upset and Natasha is just doing damage control with this kiss, but the blonde can't help it, the taste of Natasha's lips is her weakness. And her hands pulling Carol closer doesn't help, even if she wanted she couldn't pull away.

When Natasha breaks the kiss, Carol pulls her back in and captures her lips again, her tongue teasing the redhead who lightly moans in reaction. This time, Carol is the one cupping the other woman's cheeks and uses it at her advantage to make Natasha yearn for more, to remind her of what she will miss and crave while she will be away.

"I'm so sorry," Natasha pants as Carol finally releases her, "I love you."

The blonde chuckles, astonished that Natasha choose this moment to say this for the first time, "Really? We're doing this now?" she asks.

Natasha looks at her with a smirk as she fidgets with the buttons of Carol's jacket and speaks up with an amused tone, "Well, considering now is probably the only time we're gonna have, yes. We're doing this now. Can I finish confessing my love or-"

Carol can't stop herself from laughing as she cuts Natasha off, "Just- just go ahead."

The redhead smiles before her features turn into a more serious expression that Carol has never seen before, "These six months with you have been the best of my life. I know I haven't been showing it, but Carol, I love you so much and I couldn't leave without telling you."

Carol suddenly feels emotional, Natasha wasn't the kind of person to talk about feelings, she never even once dreamt to hear this from her, "I love you too," she whispers back, tears threatening to fall off her eyes, "Can you come to me place, please? I need to have you in my arms for a night."

"We are leaving in the morning," Natasha tells Carol who closes her eyes, a first tear running down her cheek,"I knew I wouldn't have time to come to your place while I packed all the stuff that I have here, that's why I asked you to come."

Carol tries her best not to cry more but the idea of not seeing Natasha for another month is too hard to handle and her sobs escapes her mouth uncontrollably.

Softly stroking her cheeks, Natasha wipes Carol's tears away as she tries to soothe her, "When I come back, I want us to think about moving together. Do you think we can do that?"

Carol opens her eyes wide and nods ecstatically, incredibly happy that Natasha would want to live with her.

"Okay…" Natasha breaths, "I have to go to my place and, no, you can't come with me because if you do I know I won't pack," The blonde giggles, it was exactly what she had in mind, "you go home and get some rest, okay? I'll text you before we take off and I'll call the second we land."

Before she can reply, Natasha pulls Carol into a soft kiss, "I love you, baby," she can finally say as Natasha pulls away, "I love you too."