It's the punch the wakes him, not Natasha breaking into his motel room or approaching his bed, not her reaching out to touch him, foolish, so foolish, her fingertips brushing against the hair that sticks to his forehead as he dreams, not even when his arm darts out and seizes her hand.

Slightly AU: The battle is over. Shield won; so did Hydra, but not without casualties. Like the destruction of one cryogenic coffin. No more memory wipes. For the first time in a long time, the Winter Soldier is unchained- free to make his own memories, free to invoke his past. Hydra pushes on, and the Winter Soldier with it. Yet, the woman with the red hair haunts him. [COMPLETE].

Operation INSIGHT went off without a hitch, much to Steve Roger's displeasure. Unfortunately for everyone, it targeted and ultimately unleashed several nuclear weapons. Now any city with a claim to its name is gone, and the world has been plunged into a permanent winter of toxic radiation and almost no electricity. And through it all, Steve's just trying to keep his family safe.

While Steve's just trying to be a good friend and help Bucky get reacquainted with the world, he finds out that Bucky's not nearly as alone as he thought he was.