Hi guys, thanks for all the awesome reviews! Just reading over my story summary and wanted to clarify something. This isn't an AU, it's still set in the MCU that we all know and love. Just my take on where things could have gone. Hope you enjoy!

"Steve? Steve. Steve!"

Steve snapped out of the memory as he looked up to see Lucky staring at him from behind the bar, a concerned look on the older man's face. He was a short, stocky man of about sixty with curly black hair that was greying by the temples. His nose was slightly crooked from having been broken so many times in bar fights, his large eyes a sharp green, and he had a narrow mouth that was slightly pursed at the moment.

He was both owner, had been running the place for thirty years now, and bartender and had gotten to know both Steve and Natasha fairly well over the last few years.

"You okay kid?" Lucky asked as Steve nodded his head and forced a smile.

"Yeah, yeah. Just. . .uh. . ." He trailed off as the bartender clasped a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look.

"I miss her too kid. Especially on nights like these. Every time there was trouble, she really knew how to clear out the place. Dumb bozo's would follow her around like love sick puppies and before they knew it, they'd end up out on the street on their asses." Lucky said as Steve chuckled.

"Nat was always good at making you think you had the upper hand, just before she'd take it away." he said, taking another sip of his drink before looking back at Lucky.

"And you do remember that I'm older than you right? The whole calling me kid. .. " Steve began.

". . .is going to keep happening until you start looking older than me. Get some grey hair's and then we'll talk." Lucky interrupted.

"So, anything in particular got you thinking about Nat?" Lucky asked as Steve shrugged.

"Just this time of the year. We spent so many New Year's together during the snap. It's hard not having her here now. I thought last year would be the worst one but for some reason this year. ..it's hitting even harder." he admitted as Lucky nodded his head.

"It's because it's been almost a year and a half now and isn't so fresh. It's really setting in that she's gone." Lucky said gently as Steve took another swig of his drink, the burning sensation feeling good as Lucky continued.

"And this " time heals all wounds" thing is a piece of crock. There is no set time for getting over someone you lost. That grief can last weeks, months, years. You are allowed to grieve them for however long you want. Hell, you could never get over it and that's okay if you don't. Don't let anyone tell you how to grieve. You do what's best for you. So many times we're told "we need to move on" but there's no moving on from a loss like this. There's only moving forward. Of carrying their memories with us and honouring them by continuing to live life how they'd want us to live." Lucky finished as Steve looked at him, slightly taken aback by the insight coming from the bartender.

"Lost my wife to cancer twenty years ago. I know a thing or two about the grieving process." Lucky replied as Steve could still see the pain in Lucky's eyes at the mere mention of her.

"I'm sorry Lucky . . .and thank you. Really. That really helped." Steve said, giving him an appreciative smile as Lucky nodded.

Before they could continue their conversation Steve's phone, that was lying on the bar, began to buzz as Steve saw he had an incoming call from. . .

"Bucky?" He said quizzically, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. It had been a while since they'd talked, 11pm on New Year's Eve seemed like a bit of an odd time to reconnect.

"I'll leave you to it. Might want to pick that up though." Lucky advised as Steve grabbed his phone and brought it to his ear.

"Hey Bucky. What's going on? Calling pretty late on New Years, is everything okay?" he asked.

"Couldn't be better." Bucky replied but his voice wasn't coming from the phone as Steve turned around in his seat to see Bucky standing behind him. He had a smirk on his face, phone pressed against his ear, as Steve couldn't help but grin broadly at him.

"Bucky!" He got up from his seat as the two men embraced before pulling away, Steve getting a better look at his friend.

Bucky's black hair was cut short as he was wearing a black leather jacket that concealed his arm, along with a dark green t-shirt, jeans, and boots. He had on black leather gloves as well which also helped in the concealment of his metal arm/hand.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked as the two of them took a seat at the bar.

"Thought I'd check in on my old pal. You know, drinking in a bar by yourself on New Years is typically a move I would pull. You got Sam's invite right?" Bucky asked as Steve nodded.

"Yeah, just. . .wasn't in the mood for a big gathering. How's he doing, by the way? Finally embraced being the new Cap?" Steve asked as Bucky nodded his head.

"Took him awhile but he finally got it together." Bucky replied.

"And that John Walker guy?" Steve asked as Bucky snorted.

"That wannabe you? Yeah he just kinda disappeared once the government disowned him last year, not sure where he's at right now but I'm sure he'll pop up again." Bucky said as he flagged down Lucky and ordered a beer.

"Sorry, you had to see that by the way. Him using your shield to. . .you know." Bucky trailed off as Steve let out a deep breath.

"Wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I turned my shield over to Sam but the important thing is it got back into his hands and he's been using it for good." Steve said as Bucky's beer arrived, Bucky looking it at appreciatively.

"I like Louisiana but boy do I miss grabbing drinks at a bar in New York. Nothing like it." Bucky said as the two of them clinked drinks.

"Cheers to that." Steve replied, both of them taking sips of their prospective drinks.

They continued to catch up, filling each other in on what had been happening in their lives over the past year or so and before they knew it, it was reaching midnight as Lucky climbed on top of his bar and let out a two fingered whistle, getting the attention of everyone as they all looked up at him.

"Alright, I'm switching the TV's over to the countdown! Five minutes to go!" he announced as the buzz of the crowd immediately picked back up and he hopped down off the bar, turning the TV's over to the Times Square countdown.

"Ten. . "
"Nine. . ."
"Eight. . ."
"Seven. . ."
"Six. . ."
"Five. . ."
"Four. . ."
"Three. . ."
"Two. . ."
"One. . ."
"

HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Shouts rang throughout the bar as Auld Lang Syne played on the TV as the two men turned to face each other, once again clinking drinks.

"Happy New Year Bucky." Steve said.

"Happy New Year Steve." Bucky replied as they both finished their drinks and a comfortable silence fell over them, watching others around them celebrating and carrying on.

"Hey, is it okay if I stay at your place tonight?" Bucky asked him as Steve turned to face him, a grin on his face.

"No, I'm going to make you get on the next flight to Louisiana. Of course you can. Stay as long as you like. I have to warn you though, my place is. . .a bit rough." He admitted as Bucky scoffed.

"Can't be any worse than the barracks we stayed in." He said as Steve didn't reply right away, Bucky narrowing his eyes at him.

"It's not worse than the barracks we stayed in." He repeated as Steve rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Well. . ."

Steve's apartment. . .

"Steve, there's like nothing to your place." Bucky said as the two of them walked into the apartment. Steve was renting a fifth story, single room apartment that was clearly meant for one person as Bucky walked through it, examine each room.

The kitchen was tiny, with a small fridge and not even an oven, just a hot plate, sitting out on the counter. There as a small kitchen table in the centre of the room with two chairs on opposite ends.

The living room consisted of a small flat screen tv, DVD player underneath it and a couch and a coffee table.

"It's a pullout couch though, so that counts for something right?" Steve asked as Bucky looked at him.

"Surprised it wasn't a single chair." He said dryly as they continued the tour and Bucky peeked into Steve's room.

"A single bed Steve? Didn't you get enough of that in the army?" Bucky asked him.

"I'm one person. I don't need all that extra space." Steve protested as Bucky just tsked and shook his head.

"Well my room was a bit better when I was living in the Avengers compound but that kinda got blown up in the fight." Steve reminded him as the two of them headed towards the living room.

"No one's worked on replacing it?" Bucky asked as Steve shrugged.

"No one's really taken up point on being the leader. With Tony and Nat.. .with them dying and Thor going off to who knows where, we just kinda drifted apart. Next time you see Sam, maybe give him a reminder that since he's the new Cap, he's in charge. Tell him to rebuild it and give you a nice room." Steve said, the two of them grinning at each other.

"Now we're talking." Bucky replied, rubbing his hands together as they stopped in the living room.

"Oh, wait here.. ." Steve walked back to his bedroom before emerging with a pillow, tossing it at Bucky.

"There you go. Plenty of sheets on the bed, just pulls out like this. . ." Steve walked over, knelling down as he gave the bottom a good tug and the couch expanded into a double bed.

"I feel bad taking the bigger bed." Bucky said dryly as Steve just rolled his eyes.

"I'll sleep just fine thanks. If there's anything else you need. . ." he asked as Bucky shook his head sideways.

"Should be good." he replied as Steve nodded his head.

"Thanks for being here. Talking with me tonight. I really needed it." he admitted as Bucky placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Anytime man. You've done so much to help me Steve, it's beyond time I started helping you." Bucky said as Steve gave him an appreciative look.

"Thanks Bucky. See you in the morning." Steve replied as Bucky nodded and Steve headed off towards his room as the two of them turned in for the night.