I don't know how Bucky navigated through the city so quickly. We made it to the tower in record time. As we went through security and approached the elevator Nat and Tony were waiting for us. Nat glanced between us, it wasn't hard to tell what she was thinking. Tony, however, was angry. He was leaning against the wall, his arm crossed.

"You're coming with me, Bucks," Tony demanded. Bucky hesitated, glancing at me, but I just shrugged. They left back through the front door. I looked at Nat, who gestured for me to follow her into the elevator.

"So… you and Bucky?" She started, turning to select the floor.

"No, absolutely not."

Her head tilted slightly but with her back turned I couldn't see her expression

"Really? He's so protective around you. Seems like a dream come true," she turned back to face me.

"Nat…" I said quietly, a hint of a warning in my voice.

"Why not?"

"Huh?"

"Well, obviously it's not about how he's been at your side nearly constantly, or that he listens to every word you say, or that he respects your boundaries so much you don't even need to state them. Not to mention he did stay at your place last night."

I thought for a moment before replying. "Everyone has stayed at my place before. Why are we talking about this?"

"I saw the way you looked at him just now."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She shrugged. The elevator dinged as the door opened. We stepped out into the large room that housed the cradle.

"I just… don't know if I'm ready yet."

Nat looked confused as she led me over to Dr. Cho. I greeted her before Nat continued our conversation.

"Are you getting over someone else?"

"I'm mortal now," I whispered. Saying it out loud seemed weird. My entire being shied away from the idea that I would never wake up again if I died.

"Wouldn't that be the right time to date? You can grow old with someone now… plan matching coffins for your funerals?"

I snickered at the thought, appreciating her humor.

"Maybe I saw incorrectly," she continued. "You might not be interested in him."

"That's not it at all. It's been a very long time since I've seen anyone romantically…"

"But?" She seemed more confused now. I wished I knew how to better explain what I was feeling.

"But I never wanted to be the settle down type. I only owned a house for a short time and it felt wrong. I'm a creature of the sky meant to be free and roam as I please."

"And Bucky doesn't fit in there," she stated. Dr. Cho was giving me a thorough examination. Temperature, blood pressure, checking ears, eyes, and throat. I waited until she turned to set the instruments down.

"That's not it either. I've been on my own for so long now, you all taking care of me is… awkward at best. I don't know how to be with someone anymore. And… what if he doesn't feel the same?"

Nat laughed then. I frowned, confused. "You always seem so alien and then you say something so human. You're scared of rejection," she finished simply.

"I am?"

"Can you step on the scale?" The Dr. asked.

I didn't look at the number knowing that I'd lost a lot while in captivity.

"What is all this about anyway?" I gestured at the medical equipment.

Nat shrugged. "We're going to heal you."

"And you couldn't do that before?"

Dr. Cho spoke up. "You're blood results came back. We can use the cradle without causing any other changes."

"I'm not sure why I couldn't sit in the meeting when you all decided this," I muttered.

Nat rolled her eyes. "It's never easy with the board, you know that."

I narrowed my eyes at her. To anyone else, she was just having a normal conversation. But to me, I knew when I was being placated.

"What's really going on, Agent."

Nat hated when I called her that. It meant I knew she was using her skills on me. "All I know is, it's a bad time to be developing feelings for Sleeper."

"Why?" I asked, wincing slightly at the nickname.

"I wish I could tell you, Aoife. But you know why I can't."

"I know. But I will find out."

She nodded and the doc sat me in a chair to start peeling the cast off. I understood where Nat was coming from. We'd kept information from each other in the past. Either because of orders or for protection. If she was refusing to answer me, it would be better to approach Fury directly.

It only took about an hour for the cradle to repair my bones. I felt better immediately, my pain melting away.

"Thanks, doc," I grinned as I hopped up.

"You're going to need to be eating right and training steadily to get back your lost muscles. Unfortunately, that's something that I can't speed up."

"I just appreciate you coming over to help me with this."

"Anytime for you. You did save my life."

"All in a day's work," I quipped, feeling a blush rising into my cheeks. I still wasn't used to the praise from people I'd saved.

Nat and I left then, making our way to the dining room where brunch was being prepared. I watched Tony's robots cook. They moved smoothly now. It was obvious he'd been working on them the few months I'd been gone.

"So what is Tony talking to Bucky about?" I'd tried not to think about him, but my mind wouldn't stop.

"I honestly don't know."

We ate in silence after that. I breathed deeply between bites, grateful for the painless experience.

"I think you should ask him out," Nat stated after we cleared our plates. I stared at her.

"What happened to it being a bad time for developing feelings?" I asked confused.

"That was me speaking to you as a coworker. Now I'm telling you as a friend. You deserve to be happy. This is your last life after all. Enjoy it."

"I wish you all would stop reminding me," I replied.

Nat looked away for a moment. "You've been with Shield for so long, and now with the Avengers. A lot has happened to each one of us. If Barton can," She hesitated. His whole family was secret. We couldn't risk saying anything out loud. "You can too."

"But what if he isn't interested?" I couldn't stop the heartache that immediately started when I thought about Bucky not being interested.

She nodded. "I understand. But the worst he'll say is no. He doesn't seem the type to make fun."

Her phone pinged and she glanced at it. "Well, I gotta go."

I looked at my phone which had remained silent. "I'll probably start training. I'll see you later."