Hello Lovelies! I'm sorry for not updating soon but I have now started school and it's going to get a lot harder to find time to write. Nonetheless, my hope (emphasis on hope) is that I will have time to write on Sundays. Hopefully that means an update every Sunday or at least every other Sunday. I don't want to get your hopes up so don't rely on those words too much but if that does happen, that would be amazing! Anyways, I hope you like this next chapter! Oh and I've been switching between p.o.v's in the last few chapters, do you guys like that or would you prefer one p.o.v. each chapter? Let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy! :D

"You…you call that a…a run?" Sam panted, gasping for air. Steve smirked and stretched his arms up.

"Well it was more of a light jog but I'm more than happy to entertain another run," Steve replied. Sam gave him a deadpan look. Steve chuckled and slapped Sam on the shoulder. Sam shook his head and straightened with a groan.

"Why did I agree to run with you?"

"You never did. We just showed up at the same time."

"Oh, right. Well, I'm going home and taking a nice shower. Hmm…eggs sound good too," Sam trailed off. Steve chuckled and turned in the direction of his apartment building.

"See you later, Sam."

"Next time I'm beating you Cap!"

"I look forward to it," Steve laughed, waving. Sam waved in return and walked in the opposite direction. Steve sighed, enjoying the banter. The world looked immensely better this morning. Maybe it was the fact he was no longer in pain when he moved or maybe it was the exercise or maybe it was the phone call. Steve was relieved that he and Charlie were back on speaking terms, that everything had been cleared up. The conversation last night had been difficult to say the least. Steve had felt terrible for putting Charlie through so much and he still felt guilty and torn. What was so surprising to him was that she understood why he'd questioned her and given him another chance. He had the feeling she didn't do that often, let alone give anyone a chance.

The more he talked to Charlie the more he realized how alone she was, how alone she had been for her whole life. It hurt him to think that someone as bright and kind as Charlie had experienced such abandonment. No wonder she had such a strong wall up. So why had she let him in, not just once, but twice? Had he just asked the right questions at the right time?

Steve didn't expect to get an answer to those questions anytime soon but he didn't mind. He was just happy he had his friend back. Friend. It had been a long time since he could honestly admit he had a friend. Back in the 1940s, there had of course been Bucky and a few others. After joining the army there was the Howling Commandoes and the men and Peggy, though she was something more. But now…Peggy was gone, his men were gone, the Howling Commandoes were gone. And Bucky. Steve inhaled deeply, pain still slicing through him at the thought that Bucky had been alive but in HYDRA's grasp. He wasn't entirely gone but he wasn't entirely here either. Bucky had disappeared like a breath on the wind. There had been no sign, no hint as to where he had gone after saving Steve. Sam and the others were still skeptical that it had been Bucky but Steve was insistent. He knew what he'd seen. And the file on Bucky. Steve's stomach turned at the memory of what was in that file. What he'd gone through, what he'd survived, were horrific. The fact that Bucky was still walking gave Steve hope that he could remember who he was.

Steve set his keys on the counter, locking the door behind him and pushing away his worry over Bucky. Now that he wasn't running for his life, everything he'd held back was beginning to crash in. Peggy's death. HYDRA's infiltration. SHIELD's fall. And Bucky, always Bucky. Steve didn't know where to start. Was he supposed to be grieving or trying to find Bucky? He still needed to go after HYDRA but should he try to rebuild SHIELD? Did he break down and cry or scream in frustration? Steve ran his hands through his hair and decided a shower might help to clear his thoughts. At least for a little while.

But the moments of peace Steve had been hoping for were shattered by the buzzing coming from his phone as soon as he stepped out of the shower. He slipped into his clothes quickly, answering the phone after the next vibration.

"Hello?"

"Steve? I think you need to come over to my place. I got a present," Sam's voice said through the phone. He didn't sound like he was in danger but more confused and apprehensive.

"I'm on my way." Steve was out the door in less than five minutes, his bike roaring down the road. He pulled up to Sam's house and parked the bike in the front. Sam opened the door before he could knock, looking both impressed and skeptical.

"So a present?"

"Yeah…you could call it that." Sam led Steve into his living room where he stopped. In the middle of the room stood a table with so many new, technological instruments and computers, it left Steve's head reeling. He whistled, circling the table. He knew there was a computer and a hard drive. But after that, everything else was foreign to him.

"And it just showed up in your house? Did it come with anything?" Steve asked. Sam's arms were crossed looking at the tech with interest but also annoyance. His house was becoming more than just a house. He took out a piece of paper from his back pocket and handed it to Steve.

"Came with this." Steve took the paper and opened it up. In chicken scratch writing the note read:

Use this to take those HYDRA ba****** down. Call me if you need more.

–Stark

Steve shook his head in disbelief. So Tony was finally getting involved. That had been a question he'd been wondering since he'd gotten out of the hospital. Why hadn't Tony known about HYDRA? He'd stolen SHILED's files before so why didn't he see the irregularities? Was HYDRA that well hidden? Steve flipped the paper over and found another note written in elegant handwriting.

Captain Rogers, Tony obviously sends his regard and help. He wishes to apologize for not coming to your aid sooner but by the time he realized HYDRA was in SHIELD, it was too late. And he is incapable of writing "I'm sorry" so I do it for him. Please let us know if there is any way we can help. You, Agent Romanoff, and the "man with wings" (Tony's words) are welcome at STARK Tower anytime.

My regards,

Pepper Potts

Steve looked up and took a deep breath. This is what he needed. He needed resources and now he had them. Though Tony was kind of late to the game, he was generous. He wasn't as much of a jerk as he wanted people to think he was. Steve looked to Sam who raised an eyebrow.

"It's a pretty nice present."

"Late present."

"Do you know how this stuff works?"

"Maybe half but some of this stuff I've never seen." Steve looked around the tech again and shook his head.

"I don't even know how to set this stuff up…I'm calling Tony."

"Iron Man? You're just gonna hit Iron Man up?"

"Yeah, is that weird?" Steve asked, confused.

"You're entire world's weird, man," Sam answered but he was smiling. As Steve got out his phone, he heard Sam mutter something about coffee.

After an hour of arguing and being called a range of names from "Capsicle" to "Elder," the equipment was set up and ready to go.

"Jarvis is embedded in everything so you can ask him the questions instead of me. Now I have s*** to do so goodbye Capsicle," Tony said.

"Thank you, Tony," Steve replied wearily but sincerely.

"Sure thing, old man." The line clicked and Steve put his phone away. He gladly took the coffee Sam offered him.

"Thank you, Sam, for letting this be set up in your house."

"Didn't really have a choice did I?" Steve looked at him guiltily but he just rolled his eyes.

"Let's get started. What first, you're psycho-friend-who-tried-to-kill-me or the rest of HYDRA's heads?" Sam asked.

"Bucky," Steve answered, without a second thought.

"Psycho killer it is."

Charlie hummed to the music in the kitchen, gently kneading the dough. The smell of baking cookies and brownies filled the small room, making everything better. The day was sunny, the house warm, and she still had her friend. Friend. It still felt foreign in her mind but she was looking forward to getting used to it. Charlie had enjoyed talking to Steve yesterday, seeing him through Skype. Of course, she'd imagined the worse even when she'd been planning on never talking to him again but it was good to see he was okay nonetheless. And their conversation, difficult and heavy but uplifting at the same time. Charlie felt liberated almost by what they'd talked about. Sure it was stuff she never thought she'd tell anyone but it felt good to talk. It felt good not to hide.

"Well someone's looking better!" Betty said as he swept into the kitchen.

"Hi Nana," Charlie chuckled.

"Oh and she's even smiling! Nathan, her talk with Steve must have gone really well!"

"Yes I talked to Steve and we figured things out but what do you mean-"

"And the kitchen smells wonderful!" Betty interrupted. She kissed Charlie on the cheek and then spun away, singing to the radio. Nathan chuckled from the doorway, arms loosely crossed.

"I'm glad you two fixed things," Nathan said, smiling softly.

"Me too. And thank you for your advice, Nattie," Charlie replied.

"Anytime."

Before long, the little kitchen was bustling with activity as Charlie rushed to get everything ready for the customers. The diner was just as busy and stayed busy for the entire day. By the time Charlie had a time to rest, her feet were aching, limbs sore, but she couldn't have been happier. She loved serving the town and making people smile with her food. She was able to meet so many people, catch up with others, make someone laugh. She loved that. And her day got even better when she saw that Steve had texted her.

Can I call?

Charlie replied back quickly and waited for him to call. Five minutes later her phone was ringing and she set it up on the table.

"Hi Steve!"

"Hey Charlie," Steve said, smiling. His smile was quite charming. But he looked tired, more tired than yesterday.

"Don't take this the wrong way but you look exhausted. Were you trying to find Bucky today?" Charlie asked. Steve sighed, running his hand first through his hair and then over his face.

"Yeah, you could say that. I got a present today from…" Steve launched into an explanation of his day detailing his gift and what they'd done. Steve and Sam had searched for hours for any information on Bucky. They'd scoured the Internet, looked at facial recognition software, asked Jarvis for help. Nothing. It was like Bucky had disappeared into thin air and Charlie could see the frustration on Steve's face.

"When I saw all the computers and stuff, I thought it would be easy to find Bucky but it makes sense that he's avoided any technology. He has been awake longer than I have, he knows what he's doing," Steve rambled. Charlie frowned, her mind catching on that one phrase.

"He's been awake for seventy years?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah. Well-most of the time. His file said they put him cryofreeze a couple time. It kept saying "wiped" too and I really hope that doesn't mean what I think it does." Steve looked off to the side, his lips pursed in anger.

"Do you think he's trying to regain his memories? Maybe visit places he used to know?"

"I thought so but I don't think he even remembers where he grew up. I don't know what he remembers or who, I just know he's out there."

"Could he come looking for you?" Charlie asked. That would be a good thing, it meant Bucky remembered Steve. But it could also be bad. Bucky did try to kill Steve.

"Maybe," Steve replied, shrugging. "My worry is that if I don't get to him soon, HYDRA will. I don't know if he'll be able to fight them if he's been working for them for so long."

"How do you know he's not with HYDRA now?" That made Steve frown.

"I don't. It's just…if he saved me, something must be coming back or at least he's rebelled against HYDRA. I don't think he's going back willingly." That made sense. Charlie nodded her agreement, trying to think of how to help. But there was nothing she could do all the way out in Wyoming.

"What was your relationship with Bucky like?" Charlie asked. She was curious to know about the man that affected Steve so deeply. What was it about him that made Steve so desperate to find him?

"My relationship with him?" Steve hummed. "He was my best friend. Well, actually he was more like the brother I never had. He always got me out of fights or fought with me. He would sit next to my bed when I was sick and tell me stories. He did that a lot actually. He basically kept me alive when I could have died from a cold, let alone a beating."

"He sounds pretty incredible."

"He was. He is." Steve paused, looking at his hands. It hurt Charlie to see Steve so torn. Maybe if she changed the subject…

"So you didn't have any brothers?"

"Hmm? No. No siblings. I was an only child."

"What was your family like?" Charlie asked, leaning forward. A moment too late, she realized that maybe talking about Steve's dead family wasn't the best change of subject. Before she could apologize, a nostalgic grin spread across Steve's face.

"My family consisted of me and my mom, Sarah. My dad, Joseph, died before I was born. I think it was an accident at where he worked. Mom never talked about it much. She was the sweetest, fieriest Irish woman you would ever meet. She would've liked you," Steve reminisced.

"Me?"

"Yeah. She respected hard work and would always hit Bucky and I upside the head when we were slacking off with our homework. But then she made the best pancakes in the world and that would be my reward for doing good in school. I think she adopted Bucky as another son and Bucky's mom adopted me as another child."

"It sounds like Bucky's family was yours too and vice versa," Charlie noted.

"Yeah that sounds about right. I swear our mothers must have complained about us behind our backs," Steve laughed.

"There was this one time I found a recipe for a stink bomb. I showed Bucky and we had this grand plan to leave it in his sisters' bedroom but unfortunately it exploded in my kitchen. My mom was so furious, she forced us to eat in the room which smelled like rotten eggs. I couldn't help but gag and then she sent us outside with a swift kick. It was Bucky's idea to bring her flowers as an apology."

"So you were the one getting into trouble and Bucky fished you out of it."

"All the time." Charlie laughed and Steve joined in with a chuckle. He didn't seem to mind thinking about his family. It seemed a nice distraction compared to the present problem with Bucky. Steve launched into another story and Charlie listened with a small smile on her face. She wondered if he'd told anyone else these stories. Had anyone ever asked?

"Steve, do you know what happened to your mother?" Charlie asked softly, after the fifth story. His face fell slightly but it wasn't like when he talked about Peggy or Bucky.

"My mom died about a year before the war started from tuberculosis. It happened so fast, took everyone by surprise. We always thought it would me to die young, not her," Steve explained sadly.

"Steve, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. She's with dad and honestly, it was probably better this way. If she had still been alive I don't think she would have let me take the serum or go off to war. And I would have left her too when I drove the plane into the ice. I wouldn't want to do that to her." Steve shook his head, sighing. His eyebrows scrunched and he looked up at Charlie.

"What was your mom like, Charlie? You've talked about your dad, but not your mom…"

"Oh, my mom," Charlie mumbled. "Well, she was nothing like yours. She…she didn't do much. She must have taken care of me when I was little but after that…nothing. My dad was alcoholic but my mom was on drugs the entire time. I think it was pain medication but what for, I still have no idea. All I know is that if she ever stopped taking her meds it was…bad." Charlie knew there was a lot more she could say but that was too much too soon. Plus, she really didn't like thinking about her parents. She clutched her hands together to make them stop trembling.

"No one was there to protect you? What about your brothers?"

"They were at military school. And they didn't know I existed until later when I contacted them." Charlie looked up to see the reaction on Steve's face. His brows were furrowed and his lips were turned down in a frown. Wanting to change the subject quickly, very quickly, Charlie cleared her throat.

"Tell me more stories about your mom. Or Bucky. What were his sisters like?"

Steve looked like he wanted to protest but thought differently. His face morphed into one of nostalgia and he began telling more stories. He continued telling stories until the clock on Charlie's wall chimed midnight. She jumped at the sound, realizing that they'd been talking for hours. Hours! They said their goodbyes and well wishes for tomorrow, turning off their phones. That night, Charlie dreamt of a little blonde boy being chased by three brunette girls. There was another boy hiding and he jumped out to scare the girls. They squealed, running off as the boys teamed up and ran after them.

Btw, did everyone see the new Civil War TV spot? Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh! My heart is going to be ripped in two but I can't wait for that movie! Let me know what Marvel movie your most looking forward to this year in the comments! Mine is, obviously, Captain America: Civil War ;)