Keep it

"I just don't want anything to cause disagreements between us, and that includes this." he said. "If me being friends with Chloe really affects you so much, then I can distance myself away from her and your business." 

Natasha looked up at him surprised, did she just hear right? Did he just say that he would stay away?

"You would do that?" she asked sarcastically.

"Of course I would do that, the last thing I want is for us to be in a bad place, so I would do anything you want just to make sure we don't fight." he said sincerely.

"No, that can't be the only thing." she said doubtfully.

"You're right, it's not, because the less we fight, the more Joy gets used to seeing us get along, and the more we get along, the happier she is, and the happier she is, the more she will understand that the love we have for her is greater than any hurt we've both been through." he said clearly.

Natasha had to admit, he made a fair point, at the end of the day, they both wanted the same thing, which was for Joy to be happy. Unfortunately in order for her to be happy their relationship had to improve.

"I agree with you." she replied.

"Thank you, so what do you want me to do so you can stop feeling like I'll steal away all your female friends?" he asked seriously as she scoffed, coming from his mouth her reasoning sounded really stupid.

"Do you really want to know what you can do to make me feel better?" she asked as he nodded.

"Then stop being yourself." she replied as he laughed, why did he think that she was actually going to be honest and open with him completely.

"You're too charming, way too charming and you don't know it."

"Wow, thank you for the compliment, I am flattered." he laughed.

"I'm not joking, I'm being serious." she said.

"I know you are, then what would you have me do?" he asked.

"Nothing, unfortunately you can do nothing, I guess that I just have to change the way I think about you." she said as he smiled.

"Thank you, at least try to, I'm not that bad." he smiled.

"I know, and that's the problem." she replied, if only he was wicked, the most vile man she had ever met, she would have found it easier to carry Joy and run away, far away to a place he would never find them.

She would not like, she had thought of the possibility of starting her life over again in a different place many times, but Joy was old, she would definitely not leave without a fight and the last thing Natasha wanted to do was cause her baby heartache.

"How so?" Dom asked confused, her statement sounded like it came from a place of regret.

"You wouldn't understand." she replied.

"Anyway, since we're on the topic of being at peace with each other, I want to express something I don't like about you as well." she replied.

"Okay." he said listening attentively.

"Firstly, I want you to stop pretending to be so nice all the time." she said, it was kind of making her feel guilty that he was always apologizing and trying to be understanding.

"What do you mean pretending to be nice? That is just how I am." he said incredulously, was she really being serious right now? How could she think that he was just pretending to be nice.

"Oh I know what I mean, you're always so extra, just tone it down a bit, you don't have to sound like a dejected puppy every single time I don't talk to you, or don't look at you." she said.

"Alright fine, if that's what you want." he said shaking his head, he felt like this was unfair, but oh well, whatever would make her accepting of his presence, he would try his best to do.

"You see, that's what I mean, you don't really mean that, you don't have to agree to every single thing I say." she said.

"So you want me to argue with you?" he asked.

"No, I don't want that." she replied.

"Then what exactly do you want Natasha?!" he asked confused, she was messing with his head, one moment she said not to agree to every single thing she said, and yet she didn't want him to argue with her.

In the midst of his frustration, he suddenly heard her laughing. It made him even more confused as he looked at her.

"What's so funny? Why are you laughing?" he asked as she continued in her laughter.

"Look, you don't have to please everyone, it's about time you learn that." she said as she stopped laughing.

"I know that, however, if it is possible for me to do so, then I will do it." he replied.

"That's why things are the way they are between us." she replied as he frowned.

"Anyway, it's so easy to make you annoyed." she replied.

"Thank you, for being considerate." she said surprising him yet again. One moment she was being difficult and the next she was being grateful, Dom was convinced that she was being so hard to please on purpose.

"You don't have to stop being nice to Chloe, it's perfectly alright for you two to be friends, she enjoys your company and you enjoy hers." she said.

"I already expressed my feelings to Chloe, and she understands, and I hope you understand as well." she said as he nodded.

"It would be unfair of me to dictate to your life when you don't dictate to mine." 

"It's a me problem, not a you problem." she added.

"I get that, but I can do my best to make sure I don't do anything that would cause you to feel that way again." he said.

"Well, now that's settled, goodnight." she said as she turned around and left.

"Goodnight." he replied, he sat down and closed his laptop. 

That had to be the calmest conversation they had had in such a long time. He had to admit, he missed being able to talk to her about anything, like they used to, back when they were friends.

He smiled to himself, this was progress, a few months ago, neither of them would be able to stay in the same room without breaking out into a severe argument.

They just needed time, and he was prepared to wait during that time. 

The next day.

"Good morning my darling." Natasha said as she walked into Joy's bedroom and peppered the sleepy girl with kisses.

Joy groaned, she was still very much asleep, she did not want to wake up just yet.

"My darling, if you don't wake up now you're not going to see me when you finally do." she laughed.

Joy still groaned, not ready to wake up.

"Oh, alright then my darling, I tried my best to wake you up, I'll see you at lunchtime, have a wonderful day." Natasha said smiling as she gave her one last kiss before leaving her room and walking down the stairs only to meet Dom in the living room having breakfast.

"Good morning." he smiled.

"Good morning." she replied annoyed, she thought he would be gone by now.

"You're going out?" he asked noticed that she was dressed up.

"Yes, I am going to check on the store and make sure everything is going on swiftly." she replied.

"Oh I see, good luck with that." he replied.

"Thanks, and I see that you have finally returned to work."

"Correction, I never left work, I just needed a break, now I am well rested and ready to go back." he smiled.

"I see that Joy's still not awake yet." he said.

"Oh, I don't know, this summer break is making her lazy, it's been less than a week and she's already not used to waking up early again, I am a little bit worried that she won't be used to waking up early again once school starts." said Natasha as Dom laughed.

"I'm sure she'll acclimatize when it's time." he smiled.

"But, since you're going out, and I'm going out, who is going to watch Joy the entire day?" he asked.

"You don't have to worry about that, Alfred said he would watch her, and I'll be back by lunchtime." she said.

"I see, but poor Alfred, do you think he'll be able to keep up with her high amounts of energy? Even I can't keep up sometimes, how much more him?" he asked.

"He'll have to find some way to." she laughed as Dom laughed and got up. She had no other choice, she had to go out today, or else she would have just stayed home with Joy.

"I'm heading out now, see you later Natasha." he said smiling.

"See you." she replied as he left.