A/N: I don't own Cap or any of the characters, but I do like to take them for a spin every now and again…

This is it, the final chapter! Please note - I don't own any of the dialogue in the final section, I'm just using it to wrap this baby up and bring us back into the continuity line at the end of the movie – with my own little spin on it, of course.

"Natasha..." he breathed between kisses as he laid her back against the covers.

"Yes?"

"Do you think you could say that thing where you love me again?"

It made her thrill that he felt the need to hear it, and only too happy to oblige, she punctuated each word with a kiss. "I... love... you."

His smile was dazzling as he covered her body with his. "And I'll always love you, come what may."

"You make it sound like you're expecting something bad."

"Like you said, bad stuff happens all the time."

Natasha wrapped her limbs around him, pulling him close. "Not tonight."

~ Steve ~

It was late, nearly dawn when Steve reluctantly climbed from her bed. After that night they'd have to be more careful of the time they spent together if they expected to keep their connection a secret. Knowing that fact didn't make it any easier for either of them, but there was no denying the fact that he had to be on his way.

Natasha sat up to watch him dress, her arms wrapped around her knees. "I still want to help you find your friend," she said, her voice hushed in the faint light.

"And I still think that's a bad idea."

"Why? We can keep it professional while we're on the job. In fact, it might be a good test run before we get called to assemble again."

Steve sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his shoes. "Why the change of heart? I seem to recall you thinking it was a terrible idea to go after Bucky."

"Seeing him here tonight was an eye opener."

His head came up sharply. "Why? Is there something you're not telling me about what happened?"

"It's not what he did or even said..." He heard the hesitation in her voice and stopped to watch her carefully. "I saw it in his eyes, he's lost. If you don't help him now, I'm not sure you'll ever get him back."

"Which is exactly why I don't want you in the line of fire," he insisted, leaning back to steal a kiss. "Don't make me give you an order."

Natasha arched a single brow, and he gave her a cheeky grin to let her know it wasn't a serious order before she cracked him over the head. "Pulling rank on me? That's a low blow, Rogers."

"If that's what it takes to keep you safe."

"You know I can help keep you safe, right?"

He knew better than most what she was capable of. That wasn't the issue at all. "I'm definitely aware of your skills. But it'll help me stay focused if I know you're in the clear."

Letting out a long sigh, she leaned against the headboard. "Alright, I'll stay away if that puts your mind at ease. But let me see what I can dig up behind the scenes. I might be able to call in a favor or two and get you pointed in the right direction. Would that be helpful?"

"Very," he smiled, glad she'd dropped the desire to jump into the fray. Still giddy over her admission that she loved him, he'd meant it when he said he didn't think he could take it if he was responsible for anything bad happening to her. If his heart broke one more time, he didn't think it'd ever be whole again. On that train of thought, he leaned down to give her a slow, lingering kiss, putting all of his yearning into it before he reluctantly pulled away. "I should go."

"Yes, you probably should get out of here before first light," she agreed, though she kept him there for another few minutes, stealing another deep kiss, until he broke away, putting the bed between them or he'd never get out of there.

"I'll call you later, okay?" Sure, he knew texting was all the rage, but he liked hearing her voice.

"Okay." He was almost to the door when she called him back. "Steve?"

"Yeah?" He could just make out her face in the deep shadows of the room.

"Be careful. Even if he remembers who he was, that doesn't mean he'll ever be the man you once knew. He's been through too much."

"Haven't we all."

~ Natasha ~

Sneaking around was her bread and butter, but Natasha started to feel like the other woman, only able to snatch a few hours here and there before they had to go back to their separate lives. Still, it was a smart move, at least for now. Besides, it made the sex smoking hot, or maybe that was just Steve. All that pent up longing... When they said absence makes the heart grow fonder, it did wonders for the rest of him as well.

Her phone rang, drawing her out of a heated memory. She couldn't hold back the smile at seeing Steve's name on the screen, but her tone was crisp and cool. "Hey, what's up?"

"Hi. I was just calling to check if you're going to Nick's memorial service."

"Of course, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I didn't want to assume."

"No, I'll be there, but I'll take my own car. We don't want..."

"I get it." He cut her off, ever worried about someone listening in.

"I have something for you," she remembered, glad he'd called. She would've ended up sending a text, but this was better.

"Oh?" She could tell from that single word that he was thinking of something a lot more personal than what she had in mind. "Nothing too, ah... indiscreet, I hope. Sam said he'd be there too."

Oh goody, an audience. Ah well, it was as fine a time as any to try out their performance. "No, it's nothing like that. Though I do have something to share the next time we meet for a midnight snack." Midnight snack was code for a tryst, no matter the time of day.

"I can't wait," he rumbled, his low voice sending a ripple of awareness over her skin. "I'll see you later then."

"Be careful." That was code for I love you, and she could hear it in his voice as he replied.

"You too."

~ Natasha ~

She hung back while Nick was saying his goodbyes. She'd already turned him down for a job and didn't want things to get any more awkward between them than they already were. Her loyalties were different now. Yes, she owed Nick her life many times over, but she also owed herself the chance at a new one. And for the moment, that meant keeping her options open so she could be there to assist the one who meant the most to her – whether he wanted her to or not. Besides, how weird was it that the guy crashed his own memorial service? At least he hadn't shown his face until everyone else had left.

Finally, Nick turned away, and she approached, unable to resist a little dig, knowing Nick could probably still hear her as she called out, "You should be honored, that's about as close as he gets to saying thank you." Sam was there too, but she only had eyes for Steve.

"Not going with him?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"No."

"Not staying here."

They'd already discussed her moving to a new city. Nothing too far away, but off the grid, away from prying eyes. For all intents and purposes, she was off the SHIELD roster. Not that there was much left of SHIELD anymore. That left her options wide open for the first time in forever. "I blew all my covers, I gotta go figure out a new one."

"That might take a while."

"I'm counting on it," she smiled, not particularly caring how long it took. But she was there to give him something, and she wiped the grin off of her face. "That thing you asked for. I called in a few favors from Kiev." Handing over the file, she lost all trepidation at seeing how much it meant to him. Sam was interested too, hanging on their every word, and she added a bit for his benefit. "Will you do me a favor? Call that nurse."

Steve's restrained smile let her know he was particularly amused by the suggestion. "She's not a nurse."

"And you're not a SHIELD agent."

"What was her name again?" As if he didn't know.

"Sharon. She's nice."

But she's not you, his eyes told her, and it warmed her heart.

Leaning in, she risked a kiss to his cheek. Friends, did that, right? "Love you," she breathed against his cheek, and he shot her a sharp look as she turned away. "Be careful, Steve. You might not want to pull on that thread," she added, knowing Sam still thought she was against finding Bucky.

It didn't require much acting to look concerned for his wellbeing as she walked away, but Natasha trusted Steve to take care of himself. She knew he'd move Heaven and Earth to come back to her.

It was hard to watch him ride away on his cycle, harder still to keep from following him. For the first time in her life, Natasha needed someone else, and it didn't make her feel weak, it made her feel human. She'd honor Steve's wishes for the time being. But if she had to, she'd go to Hell and back to bring him home if that's what it took. It wasn't every day you found the right partner, and she wasn't about to let him go without a fight.

A/N: Well that's it, the end of the story. I wish I had the time to take them on an epic hunt for Bucky, but it's not in the cards for now. Plus, I kind of want to see what they do with it in Civil War, especially after seeing the after credits scene at the end of Ant Man. Maybe I'll continue this one in a sequel after I finish the next book? Send me a review if that's something you'd be interested in reading. Thanks to everyone who stuck with me on this story, I'm glad you came on this journey with me.

~ Feedback is Love ~