It had been months since the Winter Soldier incident. The Winter Soldier cannot be found, despite the efforts between Sam and Steve, and they agree to give the search a rest. Steve goes home to STARK Tower, which became his home after his old apartment was trashed (thanks to the Winter Soldier, again). It had been a long search, they had seen him in Normandy, nearly caught him in Paris, heard rumors of him in Bangladesh, and were minutes away from seeing him in Saigon. After spanning all the continents of the world (Seriously, what the hell is Bucky doing in Antarctica?, thought Steve) he found a letter from him, in all places, in New Jersey:

To Steve-

I'm trying to remember who I am. I remember recruiting offices, something about a Stark Expo, and that you used to be a really scrawny guy. I'll come to you when I remember myself. The only thing I remember is you.

Farewell, - (I don't remember my name)

"Capsicle! Nice to see you!" Tony greets, Pepper to his right, "I heard about your search for the Winter Soldier, so I made you this." A blue folder, marked STARK INDUSTRIES: FOR CAPSICLE ONLY is handed to Steve from Pepper. He greets her with a smile, comments on her figure.

"I don't know how to thank you." Steve says, a smile on his face. Inside the folder was a list of the Winter Soldier's habits, sightings, and activities. Sam walks in, carrying bags from the car. Cap points to the 76th floor, his own personal Stark Tower floor.

"Well, don't thank me just yet. I also have another surprise for you." Stark says, opening a maintenance closet behind him. Out steps Natasha, in her trademark Black Widow catsuit. She looks beautiful and I just want to- Whoa. My mind normally doesn't wander like that, Steve thought. Realizing that he was staring at Natasha, he looks up to meet her eyes. Finally, he speaks.

"Nat? Is that you?" Steve asks. "I haven't seen you since the cemetery."

"Hey Steve, got a date yet? Or are you still struggling with using the computer?" she quips.

He thinks it's flirting, in a way, that she keeps trying to set him up on dates. Oh, if only she knew how he felt about her. There would be no more talk about dates, no more trying to set him up with people.

He goes and hugs her, lips brushing against hers in the slightest way possible. Steve barely feels the slight impact between their lips, but Natasha turns beet red, composing herself before the hug ended. The hug lasted longer than most friends would have, but either thought nothing of it, they did have a close friendship, after all. Maybe closer than most, but still, just a close friendship, with each wanting more.

"Ten bucks says they get together in a month."

"Tony, they're just like us. It's probably take something major," Pepper says, "like what we had. Afghanistan, a kidnapping or something. I say it'll take a year, and I raise twenty bucks."

Tony can't but help think that she's right.

"You know I'm right." Pepper says, walking away from a staring Tony and two slightly-more-than-friends embracing.