I love Natasha's analytical mind at work here. That's so much how I see her. Very measured, checking all the exits and possible ways it could play out, making sure she has an escape plan in place... all of which leads to the epic levels of rationalization going on. It's brilliant and fabulously executed. I love how over the course of this fic she slowly realizes that she's getting in too deep, but still she won't concede the high ground. I love the stubbornness with which she maintains she could still walk away if she needed to. Both of those aspects (the grit/the rationalization) are such a part of who she is.

Just an awesomely realized evolution of their relationship. Huzzah! :D