They walked back to the base hand in hand. At the edge of the compound, Steve wrapped her in his arms once more and kissed her.

"I'm going to miss you, Sweetheart, more than I can say."

"I love you, Steve. No matter what occurs, please remember that I loved you for yourself and always will." Natasha's green eyes bored into his blue ones.

"I love you, too, Natalie. I don't want anyone else. You are perfect for me and always will be."

Steve cupped her face and dragged his thumb across her mouth. "I hope I can make you proud of me."

That cut her like a knife. "I am always proud of you, Captain Rogers. Remember that."

"I'll see you across the Pond." He reluctantly turned from her and walked quickly back to his barracks. Natalie watched him until he disappeared into the evening fog then went to her own bed and fell almost instantly asleep.

In the morning Nat, Peggy and Howard went to see Steve off on his USO tour before they boarded their own plane for England. Steve was sporting a new set of dog tags, apparently his had gotten lost somewhere. He and Nat managed to remain cool and not cry during their 'official' good-bye but his eyes and hers were suspiciously damp as he boarded the train with his new entourage.

Natasha mouthed, "I love you," as the train pulled out. Steve gave an almost imperceptible nod and waved at the three of them. No matter what else happened, Nat knew that she had been privileged to see Steve Rogers in his most pure and undamaged form. Hopefully the rest of her plan would come together and he could have at least part of his life back.

There were a lot of questions surrounding the disappearance of Dr. Erskine from the lab during the assassin's attempt and subsequent explosion. No one could remember anything other than it appeared he had been shot and had simply vanished into thin air. Natasha was questioned along with everyone else but pointed out she'd been injured and unconscious by the time everything went down. Howard backed her up, describing how he had revived her and tended to her head wound. Peggy had gone after the assassin and killed his driver so she was cleared. Steve had given a statement to Colonel Phillips before he left. He'd been chasing the assassin down the street at the time; he was cleared as well. No one appeared to be lying or covering up so the matter was closed.

Nat, Peggy and Howard flew to London in Howard's private jet. They checked in with their SSR liaison and got settled in. For their first mission Peggy took them both to scope out some Pubs then to the USO. They were looking for a specific group of men who were rumored to be selling secrets to German spies. Natasha was in her element and grateful to have something to do besides miss Steve.

Nat insisted on going out alone after the first sweep of the area. Peggy refused, saying that she and Steve would be furious if anything happened to Natalie. Howard was simply a jackass who had to tag along and got under everyone's feet. Nat managed to not roll her eyes and murmured a 'thank you for your concern' with a smile then ditched them both at the earliest opportunity.

Using her own instincts honed by years of successful espionage, Natasha checked some of the seedier Pubs on the East End of London. She was wearing her Black Widow cat suit under a tear away blouse and slacks. That way if she had to fight, she could without being hindered by non-stretchy fabric. Even with her bright red hair, she was able to move unobtrusively in the shadows, listening for any foreign accent or dialect.

Eventually she wound up tailing a dark haired Royal Air Force (RAF) officer as he made his way down alleyways and streets. There was a white church on a corner and her target slipped inside. She recognized the area as being Spitalfields; an area once haunted by Jack the Ripper in 1888.

Natasha glided around the perimeter of the church, looking for another way in. The gate to the tombs beneath the church did not remain locked for long. Slipping inside, she made her way through the untidy stacks of coffins until she found stairs going up. Testing each step before putting weight on it, she eased up and opened the door at the top. There were two men sitting in a pew near the front.

She could just make out what they were saying in German. Her target, the RAF officer was telling the other man about some supply routes and shipments. Money changed hands and the two men parted. Nat flipped one of her Widow's Bites onto the second man and he dropped without a sound. After cuffing him and gagging him, she went after the RAF officer. She found him quickly enough, darting through the same alleyways he'd come through earlier. Stun, cuff and gag and she had her second man. She made certain to collect the spent Bites so they wouldn't question the technology then found a cop and had him get word to Peggy to send transport for her prisoners.

"Well done, darling!" Peggy was absolutely jubilant. "I was very cross with you for leaving Howard and me but you do have some skill!"

"Thanks, Peggy." Natasha said. She looked like the cat who ate the cream.

As a result of her arrest of the two spies, an entire network was brought down and ally supplies and weaponry were saved. Nat was given a distinguished service medal for her trouble and treated to a drink by Colonel Phillips and Peggy.

With the SSR unit being everyone's darling of the moment, Steve was recalled and sent over to meet up with Colonel Phillips regiment. He'd been doing his Captain America song and dance routine, resulting in bond sales exploding. He wound up at a base camp in Germany about thirty miles from the enemy front lines. It was pouring down rain as he sat alone under a shelter, drawing with his sketch book.

Peggy and Natasha were walking through the camp, when they spotted the tall, lonely looking figure. Peggy called out, "Steve?"

He half turned toward her, "Oh, hello Peggy."

"Captain Rogers." That voice brought him to his feet.

"Nat..Agent Rushman!" It took all of his willpower not to scoop her up and shower her with kisses.

She slowly raised a hand to her neck and showed him she still wore his dog tags. That brought a shy smile that warmed her against the damp chill.

The women joined him under the awning to chat for awhile. Peggy couldn't wait to brag on Nat's spying skills and that she had brought down an infiltration ring single handed. Steve's eyebrows shot up and he stared at Natasha.

"You took down two spies by yourself?"

Nat blushed and nodded. "I have many skills," she said with a smirk.

"You weren't hurt were you?" Steve's blue gaze became decidedly less friendly and his tone more stern.

"Goodness no," Peggy said. "She didn't have a scratch or even a speck of dust on her."

His relief was apparent. The thought of his petite girlfriend risking her life rattled him more than he cared to admit. Peggy glanced down at his drawing tablet. He'd drawn a flag and a dancing monkey.

"Is that what you think you are? A symbol for the war or a dancing monkey?"

"I'm serving my country, just not the way I figured since I'm wearing tights." Steve said unhappily.

"You have the ability to change your destiny, Steve." Peggy scolded him. "Be more than what they're asking of you."

Just then a convoy of wounded rolled up into the compound. "They look like they've been through hell," Steve said.

"That's the remainder of the 107th," Peggy said. "The survivors were the ones you entertained today. The rest are dead or captured."

"The 107th?" Steve ran toward the commander's tent with Peggy and Natasha right behind him.

"Sir," Steve saluted Colonel Phillips, "Could you please let me know if Sergeant James Barnes with the 107th is accounted for?"

"Son, I've filled out a lot of these condolence letters today. That name does sound familiar. I'm very sorry." Phillips looked tired and worn.

"Are you going to rescue the rest of the men that have been captured?" Steve asked.

"No," Phillips said flatly. "I'd lose more men than I would save. Of course you can't understand that because you're a chorus girl."

Natasha's eyebrows rose and she drew a sharp intake of breath. Peggy kicked her in the ankle and shook her head. Steve turned and marched out without waiting to be dismissed. He headed straight for his quarters and started packing a duffle bag. Natasha finally noticed that he was still in his Captain America uniform.

"What are you going to do?" Peggy asked him, standing in his way so he had to stop and listen to her.

"I can't just sit here and let those men die," Steve told her.

"Those men are thirty miles behind the enemy front, Steve," Natasha interjected. "Are you going to just walk into Germany and get them?"

Steve stopped and stared at both of them. He looked at Peggy first. "Did you mean what you said when you told me I could be more than what I am?"

"Every word," Peggy said.

He turned to Nat, "Would you still be proud if I did nothing and let those men die?"

"Steve, I told you I am always proud of you." Nat said.

"Natalie, I can't just sit there when there is a chance for them. You have to let me go." Steve's eyes were pleading for her understanding.

"I can do better than that," Peggy said. "Howard will take you."

"And I will go with you since you are so determined to pull this off," Natasha said definitely.

"I can't let you do that, Natalie." Steve took her gently by the shoulders.

"You're not letting me do anything, Captain Rogers. I'm going whether you 'let me' or not." Her face took on a stubborn look that he'd never seen before.

"I can order you to stay." Steve warned her.

"You can order all you want. Doesn't mean that I'm going to comply." Nat told him just as strongly.

Steve's brows knitted into a frown, "You are asking for trouble, Agent Rushman."

Peggy chuckled behind her hand. It turned into a snort-cough when Natasha and Steve both glared at her. "Come on, if you're going to do this, you have to get going right now."

Ten minutes later they were all seated in Howard's plane. Steve and Natasha were still arguing as they took off.

As soon as they were in the air, Howard was flirting with Peggy and Natasha. "How about we stop in Lucerne for a little fondue?" His tone was smarmy and Steve's mouth fell open.

Steve was aghast. He looked at Peggy and Natasha, "Fondue? You call it fondue?" Both women ignored him and told Howard to shut up.

Natasha was trying very hard not to get mad. Steve was new to this whole man-woman thing, he'd been raised to be a gentleman, but he was also raised during an era when men told women what they could and couldn't do regardless if they outranked them or not. He wasn't really trying to bully her, he was trying his level best to protect her from his point of view. He was wholly unfamiliar with her ability to fight or her skill set. Since she obviously was outright defying him, he was growing more frustrated with her.

"You are staying on this plane, Agent Rushman and returning to base with Agent Carter and Mr. Stark. That's final." Steve was indeed angry.

"You can't give me orders, Rogers." Natasha finally said, hands on her hips, glaring at him as he prepared to jump out of the plane.

"The hell I can't," Steve told her, "I'm a Captain."

"Bullshit." Nat snapped. She grabbed a parachute, secured the straps around her waist, checked her sidearms, and leaped over Steve out of the airplane, into the darkness just as anti-aircraft guns started firing on the plane.

"Damn it!" Steve swore and turned back to Peggy. "When I get clear, you turn this thing around and get the hell out of here."

"You can't order me either," Peggy said smugly.

"The hell I can't. Do it." Steve snapped at her.

"Godspeed, Captain," Howard yelled back.