Natasha sat curled up on the common's couch most of the day. She had started the day slightly late, letting herself sleep in an extra hour after losing a night of sleep. She then went through her memory box, a yearly tradition, sighing the entire time. Once she packed everything back in the box and polished off a bottle of vodka, she went out for a late morning workout. After that, she filled her water bottle with vodka, threw on a sweat pants she stole from Steve and a baggy shirt she had stolen from Tony as well as Clint's slippers before she settled down in the corner of the couch with book, her water bottle, and a plush blanket she stole from Wanda. Natasha truly hated her birthday.

However, she couldn't figure out what was worse, having everyone force her to celebrate or have everyone forget. Throughout the day everyone had wandered in and out of the commons all asking of her day and what seemed to be wrong but nothing more. Even when she poked and prodded Clint and Sam during their lunch… no plans for a surprise party.

Now at late - for them considering how early they all wake up - eight at night, the commons were full. Tony taking over a love seat closest to her at her side of the couch while Clint took up the other love seat across from him. Her feet nudged Steve's thigh under her blanket, slowly pushing him more and more into Sam, much to their annoyance. Peter sat on the floor with his back to her, Wanda next to him and her brother at her other side. Peter worked on homework while Wanda did an adult coloring book, something she found helped calm her as well as her emotions. Petiro was currently getting the world's highest score in whatever silly phone game.

Tony looked up from his computer. "Are we all off today?"

Steve looked up from his book, looking around before back towards tony. "Yeah, I guess."

"Huh," Tony narrowed his eyes. "Why? How?"

Clint shrugged from his lounging spot, eyes still glued to the TV. "I dunno, why?"

"This never happens. Why are we all off together?" Tony looked up to the ceiling. "Baby Girl?"

"I was instructed five years ago to have this day cleared every year," Friday answered. "However, I was not told why."

"Ya know," Clint looked over to them. "I do feel like I'm forgetting something. Something important. Felt it all day. Anyone else."

"Yeah actually," Steve nodded, putting the book down. "Thought it was just me."

"Anniversary of something?" Wanda asked. "You and Laura? Some battle?"

"No," Clint shook his head. "Cap?"

"Not that I can remember anyway," Steve shrugged.

"A birthday?" Peter asked.

"No," Clint shook his head. "I remember birthdays."

Natasha fought off a scoff by taking a sip of her drink. "It's probably nothing, don't worry about it, worry about where White Wolf ran off too."

"Bucky?" Steve perked up. "Haven't seen him for a few hours."

"Sargent Barnes left the tower at noon in quite a hurry, muttering in Russian," Friday replyed. "Under strict instructions from Agent Romanoff and Sargent Barnes himself, I am not allowed to translate them"

"What did he say?" Natasha smirked.

"Recording loading," Friday answered. "Isus Khristos, ona sobirayetsya menya potroshit'. YA takoy zabyvchivyy trakh."

Natasha cocked her head to the side. "He said 'Jesus Christ, she's going to gut me. I'm such a forgetful fuck.'."

"Wonder who is gonna gut him," Sam muttered. "Hope it's soon."

"Wonder what he forgot," Steve leaned back. "This is going to bug me."

"You'll remember in the middle of the night," Natasha replied. "Just don't let it bother you."

"Do you know what we're all forgetting?" Peter asked, turning to look at her.

"No clue," She took another long swig. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not important."

They sat once more in silence for another episode of How I Met Your Mother until an elevator ding had them all turning around. Out stumbled a Winter Soldier arms full of gifts, his hair back in a bun with dress slacks and white button-up. He walked up to Natasha, who regarded him with suspicion. Before anyone could question him, he began to ramble.

"So before you say anything, I'm sorry, second," He pulled out a box of chocolates. "I went down to Little Russia today and found your favorite chocolates," He held the box out to her, resting it on her lap. "I also got your favorite Vodka, which I put in your fridge upstairs. I also got you your favorite flowers." He set the bouquet of blue scented flowers on the coffee table. "Believe it or not I got all those at the same place. There's this little shop that I stopped at to get directions at and there was a little old lady in there who goes by Babushka Toya. She's really sweet, her grandson Anatoly is high up in the Russian Mob, which I'm pretty sure I joined by the way."

"What?" Sam's head whirled.

"You joined the mob?" Steve asked, trying to clarify how much trouble they were in.

"We leave you alone for one afternoon and you join the mob?" Sam shook his head.

"Yeah," Bucky nodded. "Anyway, I also got you some ballons, I know you hate them but they're fun to shoot and stab. Speaking off, Anatoly gave me a deal on some knives, both practical and specialty. I know you like finding things, so I broke into your room and hid fifty knives in it. Also his three guns, new Glocks."

Natasha blinked at him, mouth hanging open and eyes wide. "I-"

"Oh, and before you say anything, Babushka Toya told me about a toy shop her ex-fiance runs. He goes by Dedushka Endi. Actually they have a very touching and heartbreaking romance story and I think when we have free time we need to set them up. Anyway, Little Russia really loves you and I. Well they love us now anyway, Dedushka Endi makes homemade stuff animals and I had to get the stuffed bears." He held out a stuffed teddy bear with an all-black uniform and a red hourglass. A red wig of soft fake hair was sewed onto her as well as a small wooden batton. She accepted it, mouth still agape holding it.

"He's also one of the only people making Bucky Bears anymore and I got one of those too so that Black Widow Bear wouldn't be lonely but if you don't want him…" He held out the little bear, wearing all black except for its silver arm with its bright red star. He smiled as she quickly took it from his hand looking at it as she held it close to her chest as well as her Widow Bear. James cleared his throat. "I also saw this bar down in Little Russia, Anatoly owns it and said we should stop by." He inhaled deeply sending her a money winning smile. "So if you'd let me, I'd like to take the Birthday girl out on a dinner date. What do you say?" He forced himself not to squirm as she continued to stare up at him in shock. "I might have taken the liberty of getting you a dress also that's on your bed. Babuska Toya helped pick it out."

He was about to pull back completely and change the subject, saying she wouldn't have to and that honestly he really did go overboard when Natasha jumped up and off the couch throwing herself into James' arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, propping her legs up on his hips as she peppered his cheeks with kisses. "Thank you, James. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'll go get changed, don't leave without me." And just as soon as she was in his arms she was back out running up the stairs since that would be faster than the elevator. He smiled largely at the door she ran through, noting that she had taken the bears of all things, with her.

Clint's hands were fisted in his hair. "It's her birthday."

"And we all forgot." Steve shook his head.

"Not Buck," Sam pointed out. "He remembered then put us all to shame with those damn gifts."

Bucky only shrugged. "We don't know when her real birthday is, I found the file that said her age and when she was taken in then did some math for her. We both guessed the day and then she picked it. We always celebrated, well I did. I get her something small, made her something to eat or snuck out with her. You know little things I could do. Now though, now I can finally do everything I wanted to do for her. Besides, last time I forgot her birthday in the Red Room she shot me in my good shoulder."

Natasha came bouncing into the room the next second, having spead through her getting ready. A knee-length red dress with matching heels. Her hair down in large curls. She was a sight. "I'm ready, James. You?"

"Always," He smiled. "Let's get going, lyubov'."