Steve had no idea what Bucky was currently thinking, he usually always knew what was going through his best friend's head, but he couldn't read his facial expression right now. Did he know about Natasha? Had he seen her? Had he been here this whole time, waiting for Steve to leave so he could confront him?

"I don't wanna talk here in the middle of nowhere. There's a roadhouse not far from here. Let's drive there and get some coffee and pancakes, okay?" Bucky suggested, his tone was kind.

"I can't." Steve said, only one thought on his mind. "We can't be spotted anywhere-" He paused and looked straight at Bucky, his eyes pleading. "Anywhere near her."

Bucky watched him for a moment. "Okay, let's drive home. That way no one will see us."

Steve felt anxious during the drive back to Brooklyn. He knew that Bucky would have his back and not tell a soul about Natasha, and a part of him was relieved that he had someone to talk to now, but another part of him feared that Bucky would judge him. Fury had told him not to trigger any memories and now Steve was practically dating Natasha. He knew that he would be back in that village before the week was over. He couldn't stay away from her, and she wanted to see him. He wanted to hold her in his arms and be there for her. It broke his heart that she was feeling lonely, and he couldn't let her feel that way. He wasn't ruling out moving out there so he could be with her more often and look after her. What if someone with bad intentions found out that she was alive and defenseless?

Bucky parked right behind him in front of his apartment building and didn't say much when they walked up the stairs to his place. He unlocked the door and Liho came towards them, ignoring Steve and going straight to Bucky who bent down to pet her. Yeah, she was mad that he'd been gone for so long. He felt guilty about that, if he could just tell her who he'd seen, maybe then she would understand. He figured she'd give him the cold shoulder until midday.

"I'll make us coffee. And I've got some bagels in the freezer that we can toast."

Bucky nodded and followed him into his kitchen. Breakfast was ready in no time and they sat down at his kitchen table.

"I'm listening." Bucky said and took a sip from his coffee.

"When I asked you to check on Liho because I had to get out out of here, I stopped in that village to get something to eat. I have no idea why I stopped there, I kinda believe now fate led me there...I walked to the local bakery and I saw something that couldn't be real. Natasha or someone who looked exactly like her was working in that bakery. I thought I was imagining things, but then Fury suddenly appeared behind me and told me everything." He looked at Bucky whose face didn't give away what he was currently thinking.

"Natasha was brought back to life when I returned the Soul Stone. Stephen Strange somehow sensed it and brought her back home. She doesn't remember who she is and her memories can't be triggered because they fear it could harm her. She almost had a seizure when she was in a bigger town. Fury set her up in that village. The people owe him and they keep her safe and in the unknown."

"That's a lot to unpack." Bucky stared at him. "To be honest, I couldn't explain to myself what was going on. You suddenly seemed happier and were taking trips to some random ass town. And when I thought that I saw you with Romanoff, I thought I was losing it. Again."

"So you decided to spy on me?"

"I was really fucking worried. I have been since I came back, I know you're grieving, but when you were happier for no reason I was scared to be honest. I had no explanation for it. It even crossed my mind that you were taking drugs. And they had to be really fucking strong to have an effect on you."

Steve looked at his cup of coffee. He was feeling guilty, he didn't want Buck to worry about him. "I'm okay. I'm great, actually. She's...she's back. I have her back."

"Steve..." Bucky looked at him with something in his eyes that he couldn't decipher. "She's not really back, is she? Who does she even think you are? Does she know you're Steve Rogers?"

"No. I told her my name is Grant. And it is!" He defended himself. He wasn't lying to her. Grant was his name, he just never used it.

"How long do you think you'll be able to hide this?"

"As long as I have to." Steve said without any room for objections. "She'll remember and then the others can see her. I know she'll want to see them."

"Can you live with that secret? You're not the only one in pain. You think I don't see the pain on Sam's face whenever Torres mentions Romanoff or asks about her? How do think her best friend Barton is feeling? I couldn't imagine losing you, Steve."

"They can't know. Not yet." It was already dangerous that Steve was visiting her, he knew that. But he just couldn't stay away. He needed her and it looked like she needed him too.

Bucky sighed. "You know I won't tell anyone about her." Yeah, Steve did know that. "But what if...What if she never remembers? What if that part of her is gone? What if the Soul Stone took that from her?"

"No! That's not...She will remember. She will remember me!" Steve was agitated. She had to remember! Life couldn't be so cruel to her, she had already been through so much. She deserved to get her memories back and to live her life the way she wanted.

"I don't want to upset you, Steve. I just...I think you need to keep that in mind. No one else has ever gone through what she has. I just don't want you to get hurt even more."

He knew that Bucky had a point. And if it had been someone else, he might have agreed.

"She will remember. I know her. And...and I think she loves me." His best friend looked at him curiously. "I think her heart recognizes me. We're basically dating, Buck. She slept in my arms last night. She says that she doesn't feel lost any more with me by her side."

"I just don't want you to get hurt. I know that you love her and I want you to be happy. I pray to God that everything works out for the two of you."

The conversation with Bucky was still on his mind and he had to be honest, a part of him was indeed worried that she would never regain her memories. But he just couldn't believe it. Natasha was too stubborn not to remember her life, she would remember eventually. There was no way that she wouldn't. Steve was still desperate to talk to Strange and waiting for his call. He'd left his number with Wong who'd promised to give it to Strange. He wondered if Wong knew about Natasha and if he should have just asked him instead of Strange. Wasn't Wong the Sorcerer Supreme? Or something like that? Did that make him Strange's boss? God, Steve had no clue how their world of magic worked.

The weather was warm and sunny today and Steve wanted to take Natasha on a tour with his bike. He knew that they had to stay away from big places because of her seizure risk and people possibly recognizing her. He found a route that would lead them through a wooded area. He took care of Liho and Bucky promised to check on her when he was visiting Natasha. Steve knew that Bucky wasn't really happy that Steve kept seeing her, but he also knew that his best friend wouldn't stop him. Steve knew that Bucky's worries came from a place of love.

Steve arrived after noon and Natasha was already outside of the bakery, waiting for him. She was talking to a man and Steve only recognized him after a second glance. It was Strange! He just looked so different in civilian clothes and without his magical cloak.

"Grant!" Natasha smiled brightly at him and gave him a hug after he got off his bike. Steve closed his eyes for a moment and breathed in the smell of her hair. He never felt this kind of love before. He thought he had loved Peggy, but he knew now that it had been an infatuation that had never had the chance to turn into more. And he was okay with that. The love of his life was someone else. Someone who had always been by his side and had returned from the dead to him.

She let go of him, her cheeks a bit flushed. Her eyes lingered on him and they were so soft and open. Strange cleared his throat next to them, ruining the moment.

"Oh, right." She turned to Strange. "This is Dr. Stephen Vincent, my neurologist! He is so kind to do house calls! This is my boy- this is my friend Grant."

Strange gave him a tight smile. "Hello, Grant. Nice to meet you."

"Dr. Vincent." Steve clenched his jaw. Strange was back and hadn't fucking called him. Why? Steve had so many questions and Strange was the only one who could answer them.

"I have to get back to the city." He nodded at Steve and then smiled at Natasha. "I see you in two weeks, Lena. Take care and don't overdo it. I know you're frustrated but it takes time. You will be able to go into big cities one day. And you'll remember."

Natasha nodded. "I know, I guess I'm just not very patient. Have a safe drive, Stephen. And thank you for coming here."

"Of course. No need to thank me for that." He seemed to like Natasha. Not that Steve could blame him. They watched him cross the street to get into a car. Steve wondered how much it had taken of Strange to get back into a car after his crash and if he would even drive all the way back or if his cloak was somewhere near and he would fly back to New York.

Natasha waved at Strange who gave her a smile in return, and then drove off. She turned to face Steve and she smiled softly at him. Her smile towards him was so different from the way she had smiled at Strange. Her eyes were sparkling and she just seemed so fucking happy to see him. It wasn't a mistake to keep seeing her, not when she was so happy. And so was he.

"Hi." She smiled, biting her lip.

"Hi, sweetheart." He grinned back, overjoyed that he was with her again. Forgotten was his talk with Bucky and the question why Strange hadn't called him. None of it mattered. The only thing that mattered was her. She was his world. No, she was his whole universe. "Ready for our tour?"

"Yes!" She beamed and picked up a backpack, that had been sitting by her feet. "I packed us some snacks and drinks."

He took the backpack from her and put it into the bag on the side of his Harley after he'd pulled out a helmet for Natasha. He had one himself since he was unable to explain to Natasha why he didn't really need one.

"I also packed us some snacks." He laughed and Natasha grinned. "We'll definitely won't run out of food!"

Steve helped Natasha get her helmet on, brushing his fingers along her jaw, and he saw out of the corner of his eye that Betty and two customers were watching them through the bakery's windows. Natasha followed his gaze and they quickly looked away.

Natasha chuckled and shook her head. "They'd make terrible spies."

"Haha, yes." Steve managed to laugh, but it sounded fake to his ears.

Natasha waved at them and Betty waved back, a worried look on her face. Steve nodded at her and to his surprise he got a nod in return. Steve got back on his bike and Natasha sat down behind him.

"Hold on tight, sweetheart." He told her and started the engine.

"I definitely have no problems with that." She quipped and wrapped her arms around his middle. He rested his hand on hers for a moment before he started the engine.

It felt different and somehow the same to be on a motorcycle with Natasha. It hadn't been the first time that they'd been on the same bike, but Natasha hadn't hold onto him so tightly then. He wondered briefly if she was scared but her heartbeat sounded normal. He could still hear it over the roaring of the bike's engine. Maybe she just liked to hold him. He liked it, too.

They stopped by a trail that would lead them to a little lake. It was the middle of the week, so Steve thought that there wouldn't be any people around. He shouldered Natasha's backpack after putting his snacks in it as well. Natasha had offered to carry it, but he'd waved her off. His ma had raised a gentleman.

"I'd like to hear about your mother." Natasha said and reached for his hand. She laced her fingers with his. She gave him a cheeky grin and he squeezed her hand. This was the first time they were holding hands. He loved the feeling of her hand in his. He never wanted to let go.

"My Ma was amazing. She was kind, hardworking and stubborn. She raised me all on her own and she was my hero. She still is. She would have really liked you."

"Is she the one you lost recently?" Natasha asked softly.

"No, she died when I was 19." He hoped she wasn't going to ask about his most recent lost.

"I'm so sorry, Grant. Losing your mother so young is terrible." She gave his hand a squeeze.

"She's with Dad. And my best friend helped me a lot during that time."

"I'm glad for that. Did you...did you tell your best friend about me?"

"I did." He told her and Natasha smiled. It wasn't a lie.

They walked through the woods, talking about anything and everything. He was very careful, but he tried to tell her about him as much as possible. He told her that he'd been in the Army, that he liked to draw and had always secretly dreamed about being a famous artist, and that he had been sick a lot as a kid.

Natasha in return told him about her dreams, that she wanted to see the world when she was feeling better, and that she wanted to take over more responsibility at the bakery so that Betty could take off more time. And she would like for him to draw her something. He was worried that it could trigger her, so he said that he was too self conscious to show his work.

Steve heard a crack and suddenly a big tree was crashing towards Natasha, threatening to strike her dead. He acted without thinking. Natasha was in danger and he had to protect her. He thrust his arm out and caught the tree with his hand. Natasha hadn't noticed anything until he stopped the tree.

She stared at him and then at the tree. He shoved the tree into the direction it had come from and it went to the ground with a loud thud. She looked at him with wide eyes. Fuck, he should have just shoved her out of harm's way.

"How did you do that?! That tree looks like it weighs a 1000 pounds! And you just caught it with one hand and tossed it back like it was some little twig. Who are you? What are you?"

Shit.