See end of chapter for Author's Notes and review responses.

August 27th,

I let the team in on a secret of mine today.

Typically, if anyone asked me questions, I would just groan and walk away, like when Stark would pester me about my past. How many people have you killed? Have you killed people with that arm? Can I tinker with your arm? Honestly, I don't know how anyone hasn't killed him yet. This time, though, he got an answer out of me.

Steve came in to wake me up, but I was already up. I tried sleeping, but even after everything was over, I couldn't do it. All of my strength, and I am not strong enough to give my body a rest. Of course not. "C'mon, Buck. Team meeting," he said, earning a groan from me.

"Yeah," I started, walking out the door with him. "I'm beginning to wish I wasn't a part of the team so I could sit these out."

He clapped a hand on my shoulder, which he does often now (something tells me it's because now he can reach my shoulder now), and laughed, promising that it would be worth it.

When we were all gathered in the room, Tony inserted himself in the center of everyone. This usually would make sense, since he's a narcissistic control freak that has to be in the middle of everything, but he had more to say today.

"I'm proposing to Pepper," he announced.

I smiled at this. Good for him, I thought. Everyone else was voicing their congratulations, but I just smirked and nodded. I couldn't let them think I was anything but an assassin. The day that happened, I would lose all the advantage. And I just couldn't have that.

"And you need our help," Steve offered, nodding slowly in understanding. Still, he seemed to enjoy that for once, Tony needed /his/ help. I could see it in his smug smile.

"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have to," Tony shot back, as if to remind Steve that he was still below him.

Thankfully, Maria stepped in before they got into yet another argument. "We would be happy to help," she interjected, looking at Tony with a smile. To be honest, that was the only time I think I had ever seen her do anything but scowl at him. "What do you need us to do?"

Tony scratched the back of his head, looking at the ground. "You see, that's the thing. I'm fresh out of ideas."

The room erupted into many different suggestions, like dancing - offered by Steve, obviously -, a nice dinner, a romantic stroll, but none of these were proper. Tony was a man who was all about the big production, and he either went big, or went home. I used to be the same way, especially with women. If you love someone a lot, I reasoned, you ought to show them in a big way.

"I have an idea," I said, earning the attention of everyone in the room. They were shocked, but they were about to be much more surprised. "I'm not really sure if it's what you're looking for, but it's more your style," I added, taking a deep breath. "If you take her out and act differently, she's going to suspect you right away, which takes the surprise out of it. You have to act normal, and.. I think I have a way that you'll like."

Once I pitched to him my idea, Tony actually smiled at me, and for a moment, I figured he would hug me. I was actually afraid he would. Everyone stared at me with their mouths open, including Natalia, who looked at me as if I was a completely different person. I just smirked and looked around, shrugging slowly. "I did get quite a few ladies back in the day," I said. Honestly, I would fine with just one, now.

As the hours passed and we had it planned out by the second, the plan was in motion. I was to be on the thirty-first floor, and I already had the small statue in my hand. Everyone was on their way to their stations, but we all had earpieces in. "Alright," Bruce spoke into the earpiece. "Operation Salt Shaker is now in commission."

I grimaced, looking to the side as I walked to my station. "What the hell kind of name is this," I groaned, but I knew exactly who came up with it. The same moron who chose all of our mission names when we were the Howling Commandos. I can't even admit to how many times my code name was Buckaroo. What a moron.

"I thought it was creative," Steve said through the earpiece, and I just scoffed.

"You're stupid," I shot back. "Why would you let him pick the operation name?" I asked to no one in particular, and I could practically hear his eye roll.

"Thanks, Buck," he said, and again, Maria interrupted with information regarding Pepper's whereabouts. I tuned it out after a while and got into position, sitting down on a ledge high above the ground with my legs dangling below me. I made a note of this place. It was cold, much colder than the rest of the tower, and I was alone. It was a nice place for me to think.

That's what I did as I waited for my turn. I had a lot on my mind, but most of it boiled down to Natalia. While she seemed to forget, I remembered kissing her pretty vividly. I should have felt guilty, given that she was Clint's girl now, but I didn't, and I don't now. Still, I promised I would back off, and I know I will. Still, I couldn't get her out of my head.

My thoughts were interrupted by Steve mentioning my name while talking to Pepper - er, Speckle. "Bucky and Clint may have gotten into a brawl after you two left," he said quickly, as if to cover up for the unlikely story. I growled over the earpiece, and I could hear Clint as well. Great, now Clint and I were a cover story for this. As if I needed reason for him to be angry at me..

This got me thinking about someone else: Sarah. I knew ignoring Natalia, when I still had fresh and strong feelings for her, would be impossible, but I had to do it. If I had to, I reasoned, why not get help? Besides, it could be good for me to talk to someone who had no idea who I am, or who I was. That was more reason than anything. I pulled out the cell phone Stark gave me, trying to figure it out. I had three contacts, Steve, Tony (who put his name as The Iron Lord, of course), and Sarah, whose number I had Steve put in before I washed her number off of my arm. He showed me how to work said phone, or at least how to send a text. I personally agreed that just talking to a person was better, but I'm old-fashioned now, I guess.

I sent a text to her, asking about dinner, and I even included a restaurant. I was prepared. She responded with a simple, 'What, like a date?', and I responded with a yes. I typed with one hand, even now, too afraid to show the metal arm. What would she say when she saw that? What would she do when she found out what I was? This, to me, was more nerve-wracking than some of the missions I had been on. And that's saying something.

This went on until it was my turn. "Valley clear. Tin Man, you're next," I heard Maria say, and I groaned yet again. Of course, now I was Tin Man. At least it's not Buckaroo, I thought. I let myself drop to the floor just as Steve started walking towards me. I put on a nonchalant expression and tried to look busy, just according to plan.

"Yeah, major problems here, but nothing I can't handle," I acted flawlessly, only meeting Steve's eyes once. He was like my old man, looking at me as if I was making him proud with every little thing I did. Sometimes, though it was nice of him, it was suffocating.

"Such as?" Pepper asked, making me slightly nervous, but I was trained for these situations. I could get myself out of trouble.

"Oh, you know, the usual water main breakage and pipelines collapsing," I said, but to be honest, I was just saying random words and phrases. "Luckily for this," I lifted my metal arm slightly. "We got this all sorted out."

"Thank you, Bucky," Pepper said, smiling at me. "I'm really glad you stuck around, you know, and not just because you can fix up this tower like no other." I could only stare at her for a bit. I didn't know what to say. Everyone was so nice to me, and I didn't understand why. I never did anything to deserve this. I glanced at my metal arm, letting it remind me of what I am. Still, metal and all, they accepted all of me, even the Winter Soldier side of me.

"Pepper," I eventually managed out, holding out my flesh hand, which held the statue of Mother Mary. This part was odd, but I was still proud of my plan. "I want you to have this." She stared at it for a bit, her eyebrow raised.

"I didn't know you were religious," she said, and I looked away in fear of ruining the plan.

"Neither did I," I mumbled, mostly to everyone listening. I cleared my throat as Steve coughed to get me back on track, shaking my head a bit. "With all of us crazies around here, it seems you're the only normal one, and.. You need it more than I do." She took it and said a few things, but I looked away as she turned, taking a deep breath. Steve motioned for me to go, and so I walked off as I was told.

"Tin Man out," I mumbled, trying to ignore Steve's obvious eye roll. Again, I could hear it through the ear piece. He's a punk.

I grabbed my phone and smiled at the single text that read, 'Sure, let's do it.' Maybe this whole Sarah idea would be more fruitful than I thought.

I made my way to the roof the long way around, listening to the plan unfold while Tony explained to Pepper. Will, our first prop. Tony left his will out for her to find. You, the laptop, and Maria's words. Mary, the stone statue I gave to her, and mii, the.. Video.. Game thing. Will, you, Mary, and mii. As he asked, I smiled to myself. Yes, I let the team know I was a romantic, but most of them already knew that anyways. Besides, I was still mysterious in my own ways.

Pepper said yes, by the way.

When I got up there, I was immediately welcomed by a few silent congratulations my way, due to the succeeding plan, but that wasn't what stood out to me. Natalia walked over, smiling at me. I couldn't do this, not after what I told Clint. "So, tell me, how long have you had that plan in your mind?" She asked, sitting beside me.

"About eighty years now," I admitted. "When I was a kid, I always imagined I'd propose this way," I continued.

"So why let Stark have your plan?" I shrugged, taking a deep breath.

"I don't think I'll be doing any of this for a while, if at all. I knew it was his style, and I couldn't let it go to waste."

She placed a hand on my thigh, and I moved away at her touch. She was confused, but given the look Clint was sending her direction, I couldn't do that to her. I let out a sigh, looking down.

"Clint loves you, you know that?" I said, and she nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, I do," she finally said, and it was silent after that. I didn't mention how I loved her too, as much as I wanted to. Instead, I looked out at the New York skyline, heaving a sigh.

"You were right about one thing," I said, earning a confused look from her. "New York is the prettiest at night."

After things died down and Tony and Pepper went their own way, I walked over to Steve with a small smile. "You did good, Buck," he said, putting his arm on my shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, just because you're my size now, doesn't mean you can shove it in my face," I chuckled with him.

"Actually, I think I'm taller," he said, and though he was, I rolled my eyes. "Guess you have to look up to me now, huh?" He teased, but I just shrugged, shaking my head.

"I always looked up to you, pal," I answered, leaving him speechless. It was true, every moment of every day, I try to be just a bit more like him. I don't try to be him anymore, but I figure, if everyone in the world were like Steve Rogers, I don't think there would be any trouble at all. I walked away, chuckling under my breath.

I stopped though, at the door. "Can I borrow a suit?" I asked randomly, earning a raised eyebrow from him.

"Why?" He asked.

"I have a date tonight."

He smirked and walked toward me, wrapping his arm over my shoulder. "I'm sure I've got something," he nodded, enjoying my embarrassment a bit too much. "The girl from the bar?" He asked, walking into the elevator with me.

"Yeah."

He seemed more excited for me than I was. "You taking her dancing?" He nudged my side, and I could have rolled my eyes.

"I might," I answered, taking a deep breath.

"Good."

Just like old times, I thought to myself.

-James 'Bucky' Barnes.

A/N: What's this? A wedding? A new love interest? We gettin' busyyyy!

Shout out to my beloved Zenna, for co-writing this and the rest of the chapters with me!

Credit to the 'I-always-looked-up-to-you' line is Tumblr, though I wish it was my idea haha.

(Sorry for short Author's Notes. I don't trust myself not to give things away. ;) )

Review Responses:

Zenna: Lol, nope. I seriously feel like I can't respond to anything in fear of giving things away. It's so annoying lol. LOVE YOU.

Bucky Barnes: Dear Bucky,

I guess we are pretty loved, huh? You too, I.. think.

Sincerely,

Bucky

Thanks to all for reading! x