Steve hasn't seen Natasha in a year and his search for Bucky has been a fruitless dead-end. Luckily, tonight, things will change.

It had been a year. A whole year had passed and Steve was no closer to finding Bucky than right after the fall of SHIELD. Not only that, but it had also been a year since he'd last seen Natasha.

"I should have asked her to stay with me," he lamented to Sam one night while they were both in Istanbul, having a drink and feeling a bit frustrated over, yet another dead-end in their search for Bucky. "I should have told her how I felt."

Sam had put his hand on Steve's shoulder encouragingly. "Hey, man, don't think about what you should have done. Those kind of regrets will only make you more miserable. Natasha said she needed to leave for a while, so you have to respect that decision, even if it hurts. I may not have known her very long, but I know for sure that she's not the kind of woman who will stay no matter how much you ask her."

He was right, too. Natasha Romanov was a woman who was used to living life looking out for herself. She had a mind of her own and she wouldn't let herself be compelled to do something unless she allowed it. Looking back, though, Steve couldn't help but feel like slamming his head on a table for letting her slip through his fingers.

The only thing that kept him going was knowing that Natasha had freely worn his dog tags around her neck and promised that she would come back. Other people would probably find it hard to believe her, but not Steve. There had been a significant change in he and Natasha's relationship during the few days they exposed HYDRA.

Natasha had opened up to him more than he expected. For the first time, she let her walls down with him and let him see the real Natasha Romanov. Steve thought about the moment they shared in Sam's house. If Sam hadn't interrupted them, Steve was certain that he would have made love to her right there. A rush of longing ran through him at the memory and he rubbed his forehead tiredly.

Many of his nights had been filled with Natasha, and lately, he felt like he just might be driven insane from them. At this point, he just hoped that she'd show up soon because he really missed having her around. He missed having his arms on her waist, his lips on hers.

Walking up the stairs and crossing the floor to his apartment, Steve pulled out his keys to unlock the door. "It's not like it matters anyway." He opened the door, walked inside and closed it, locking it as he spoke. "All the wishing in the world won't bring her back any sooner."

"Oh, you should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about," came a female voice behind him.

Startled, Steve turned around, in shock from hearing that voice. Natasha. Her hair was short again, similar to the way it looked when he first met her three and a half years ago. She was wearing a pair of jeans, a jacket and a blue t shirt that had the familiar symbol of his shield on it.

"Nat...is that really you?" He croaked out, unsure if what he was seeing was real or an apparition.

The redhead smiled and came towards him, pulling his body to hers and wrapping her arms around him. "Yes, it's me. You can rest easy, soldier."

Steve's shoulders shook and his fingers gripped her waist, holding her as if he were afraid that she'd leave. His lips trembled and he squeezed his eyes shut. "I missed you so much." He pulled back for a moment and pressed his lips to hers urgently, like a man dying for air and she was all the oxygen he could get.

Natasha kissed him with equal fervor and clung to him. She could tell by the desperation in his voice and the way he latched on to her, that he needed this. So she continued to kiss him and hold him to her. To be honest, she needed this as much as he did. The last year had been so rough without Steve by her side, and yes, they did call each other every now and then, but it wasn't the same as being face to face.

Eventually, they had to pull themselves apart to breathe and after a few panting breaths, Steve held his forehead to hers. "If I have to handcuff you to the bed, I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

A raspy chuckle came from her lips and she nudged him with her arm. "Handcuffs, Steve? I had no idea you were so kinky." A smirk spread across her lips and she raised an eyebrow at him playfully.

"I never said I was a saint."

"Mm, well, that's just another reason to make me like you more."

Steve grinned and kissed her nose.

Natasha bit her lip and looked away for a moment. "Steve...did you really mean what you said after you came into the apartment?"

He barely hesitated to respond. "Yes, I did. You have no idea how tough it's been without you around, Nat. Sam is a good friend and I can always rely on him, but with you, it's different. You're just...you."

"I could never be anyone else, Steve."

A serious look crossed his features and that familiar chastising tone crept into his voice. "Why didn't you give me a heads-up? The last time we talked was a week ago and you never said anything about coming back."

Natasha pulled away from Steve's embrace and went to the window, looking at the moon through the glass. "I wanted to surprise you, but that's not all of it. There's something I need to tell you. Something that I couldn't just say over the phone or in a text. I needed to see you up close and personal."

The words began to spill out of her like a fountain. "Steve, I spent so much time by myself over the years. I always worked alone and that suited me, but then, SHIELD started partnering us together for missions and I just knew things were going to be different. Over time, I got used to being around you. You gave me little glimpses into who Steve Rogers really is and I liked what I saw. I began to look forward to our missions, to seeing your face. It didn't take long before I realised that I had feelings for you."

"The more I got to know you, the more I thought that I could never be with you. I believed that you needed a woman who wasn't tainted like me and done so many horrible things like I have. Someone like...Sharon. Or if not her, then someone better."

It was difficult for Natasha to say this, but she had to get it off her chest. The more she spoke, the freer she felt. "That's why I kept trying to find you a date for so long. It was my way of coping, because if I couldn't have you, the least I could do was find you the perfect partner."

Steve wanted to interrupt and tell her that he didn't need her to find him the perfect partner because he'd already found one in her. However, he bit his tongue and let her finish what she was saying. It was important for him to listen to her right now.

Natasha walked over to him and took his hand in hers, her eyes locked on his. "I've been gone for a year, but it feels so much longer. You've filled up my life, Steve. Without you around, I felt like there was something missing. You make me feel complete and I can't go back to the way things were. Because...being alone means being without you and I won't do that. I can't. Not anymore, and I know you feel the same way because I felt it every time we kissed."

She touched his cheek with her hand. "That's why I'm here, now. You're my light, Steve. You're the one person on this earth who doesn't judge me for my mistakes or hold my past against me. You make me want to be a better woman, believe that I am a better woman. I don't care if I don't deserve you. I don't care what the world says about us being together because I love you."

Steve covered her hand with his. He was sure that she could feel the pounding of his heart. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to hear you say those words. You know you never have to prove anything to me. I'll always take you as you are, no matter what kind of life you used to live. I'm with you right now and this..." - he touched her heart with his warm palm - "...is the real Natasha Romanov. And I love her. I love you, Nat."

"Thank God," she whispered and a few tears slid down her cheeks as she smiled at him before burying her face in his chest again.

They just stood there for a while, holding each other until Steve felt Natasha slump in his arms. He looked down at her and chuckled, realising that she had fallen asleep in his embrace. "Well, that doesn't happen every day." He scooped her up in his arms and carried her, bridal style, to his bedroom.

Once they reached the bed, he tugged off her jacket and boots, setting them on the chair across from the bed. After that, he made a quick work of his own jacket and shoes, then climbed into the bed with her. Steve pulled the comforter over both of their bodies and pulled Natasha close to him so she fit against him like a glove.

The smell of her vanilla shampoo soothed him and he was on the edge of sleep until he heard her speak. "Steve...?"

The blond blinked and kissed the back of her neck. "Yeah?"

She turned around, facing him with a perplexed look on her face. "What happened?"

"You fell asleep."

"I did?"

"Mmhm."

"Oh, and you carried me to bed." The way she said it wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Yes."

She groaned and moved around a bit. "I love that you're such a gentleman, but you could have taken off my bra."

Steve stilled, wondering if she meant that as a joke or if she were serious. "Uh, you wanted me to take off your bra?"

"It would have been nice, yes." Natasha sat up momentarily and reached under her shirt, unhooking her bra swiftly. She sighed in content as she pulled the fabric off her bosom.

Steve clenched his hands, imagining how soft and warm her breasts would feel beneath his fingers.

"That's much better. Just a tip for you, for a woman, sleeping with a bra on is no fun. Sometimes, you wake up, feeling sore after having it on all night. Breasts need to breathe, sometimes."

"Could you not talk to me about your breasts, Nat?"

She blinked at him and then, she giggled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to arouse you; I promise. I just wanted to give you some advice, is all."

Steve shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I'm about to fall back asleep anyway."

Natasha gave him a saucy grin. "I think we've both had pretty long days, so a good night's sleep is just what we need, right?"

He yawned. "Right."

"I'll see you in the morning, Steve. And then, after we're both refreshed and well-rested, we can pick up where we left off at Sam's house. Deal?"

A light shone in Steve's eyes and he gave her a kiss that was so intense, it made her toes curl. He moved back and winked at her. "Sounds good to me." Then he pulled her close to him again, so they could cuddle once more.

I hope you guys caught the Willy Wonka reference in this chapter! ;)