summary: "captain." felicity remembered natasha well as the russian slid forth a folder, "we have news for you that you'll be interested in." after going into hiding after the battle of new york, felicity rogers took the name smoak and tries to forget her past when natasha romanoff returns with news of james buchanon barnes. wintersmoak; past romangers and howard/felicity

Chapter One

Sitting across from her, Felicity tried to remember why she agreed to this meeting. Natasha Romanoff, a well known spy and assassin, wasn't her friend. They may have fought together (may have slept together) but they WERE NOT friends. Right?

The folder in front of Felicity was yellow and simple. It was thin, barely any material in it, and yet it brought up her hopes as she touched it was her hand. She felt Natasha's gaze on her face, looking for her emotions. Felicity had always been emotional. Howard knew that and he loved that. Bucky knew that and he worshiped that. Oh...Bucky.

"If you do this, Captain, you'll be in the game." Natasha said. Felicity glanced up, blue eyes meeting bright green, "HYDRA will be looking at you. Your cover will be blown."

Felicity flipped open the folder and was immediately without breath.

Bucky.

Her best friend, her ally, stared up at her, frozen in time. What a coincident that both she and Bucky were frozen, though while she had no options, he was forced. A flash of anger hit her and her fingers dented into the metal table. Natasha didn't flinch.

"He found Peggy after the whole "SHIELD Collapse" issue went down." Natasha leaned back in her chair. "She told him about you."

"Yeah?" Peggy was Felicity's best friend in the forties. She encouraged Felicity to tame Howard and it worked for the most part. Felicity said goodbye to her when she was leaving for Starling and while Peggy didn't initially remember her, she was ecstatic when she saw Felicity.

"I think I know where he's going but we don't want the Arrow involved, do we, Captain?" Natasha murmured.

Felicity thought about how Oliver would take it. Even though they weren't dating (and with how he was acting, she didn't want anything to do with him), he was still possessive. Back in her day, when men acted like she was a prize to be one or something to protect, Bucky would clock them out and grumble that HE was the one to protect her. It didn't change when Howard got involved.

"No we don't." Felicity stood, stretching out her bones and took the folder. She nodded at Natasha, her face as serious as it had ever been and said, "Until we meet again, ma'am." Natasha's eyes seemed to twinkle, stretching over Felicity's short skirt.

"Always the lady, Rogers." Natasha stood as well, sliding on her sunglasses. "I'll catch ya later, fossil." Faint irritation flickered over her face. With a final wave, Natasha left and through the window of the coffee shop, Felicity saw Natasha climb into the drivers side of a sleek sports car.

Felicity shook her head slightly and sighed. She settled down in the chair again and pulled out her wallet from her purse. From her wallet came an old, yellowed picture which had thankfully survived the plane crash and icing. It was a picture before the serum with Felicity's hair pinned up gracefully and Bucky's nose nuzzled into her neck.

She loved this picture.

Felicity wrapped a hand around her chin, blue eyes narrowed as she expressed a low sigh. Bucky might not be Bucky anymore but she was sure he was still protective. She couldn't see Bucky as anything but protective.

She remembered the last time she talked to Bucky. It was before the damned train mission. She and Howard had gotten into a fight and she was soaking away her irritations with the crappy 40's beer. Shame she couldn't get drunk, though.

"What'd the idiot do now?" Felicity paused, the beer posed at her lips and she loosened her shoulders when a familiar, handsome man settled next to her. Bucky offered her a smile, pressing a squeeze to her shoulder before turning back to the bar.

"Nothing." Felicity replied. "It's on me."

"I doubt it." Bucky laughed. He nudged her lightly, danger flickering in his eyes as his gaze flashed through the bar. Whatever had happened in that lab had fucked him up.

"I've drank nine of these." Felicity lifted her bottle. He rose an eyebrow, laughing at her with his eyes. "And yet, I'm still not drunk."

"That serum does wonders." He teased, poking at her stomach. She drew a pout, turning away from him. After a second, she felt his breath on her throat, hot and wispy. "No more drunk Felicity trying to get in my pants." Her cheeks turned red and she elbowed his stomach. A clear, loud laugh echoed in the room and mixing with the other drunks.

"One time and you never let it go." Felicity whined.

"Nope." Bucky poked her side with a bright grin before kicking back a shot. Felicity returned her gaze to the dance floor where the other Commandos were swinging women around playfully to the music. She even saw Peggy out there with a man on her arm.

"Remember last time I danced?" Felicity spoke up.

"Yeah." Bucky laughed. "You tripped on my toes and we ended up sprawled on the ground in the middle of Club Bingo." Felicity snorted loudly sending Bucky into a new fit of laughter. She took another gulp of the beer.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Felicity asked. "Are you ready to follow Captain America to war?"

"No." Bucky chuckled. "I'm going to follow that stupid little girl who won't take for an answer to war. I'm gonna follow you. Punk."

"Jerk." Felicity replied.

The memory pressed tight against her throat, nearly making tears ball up in her eyes but she straightened up. She took a final drink of her coffee and stood up, wiping off imaginary dust from her dress. She began to make it outside, wandering if this was worth it.

Natasha was right. If she found Bucky; if she PROTECTED Bucky...she would have to take up the shield of Captain America. She would have to be a superhero again. This was choice and when it all boiled down, she always chose Bucky.