Natasha fished a piece of paper out of her pocket that had one word in block letters: "Heimdall". Then she took out a gold token the size of a quarter and a deep breath to calm her nerves. She handed both to Bucky with the admonishment not to say the word out loud.

Next she got out her driver's license, S.H.I.E.L.D. ID, a picture of her, Steve and Tony Stark in front of the Avengers Tower; and a picture of Bucky on a pamphlet from the Smithsonian at the Captain America exhibit. It included his bio and date of death.

Slowly, methodically, she showed Bucky all the evidence. To his credit, he didn't interrupt her, just listened intently but she could feel his pulse jump beneath her hand when she touched his arm. This was a lot of information and it was terrifying.

"Bucky, I am completely aware of how crazy this all sounds. I am only telling you this because when you two wind up on that train to stop Arnim Zola with only two commandos for backup, I can't be there. If I am there and I interfere the wrong way, I could get myself, Steve, or all three of us killed accidentally. Things have to happen the way they're supposed to. The only thing that changes is you don't die, you get to see the future and you will be with Steve in that future."

Bucky didn't say anything for a long time. He lit another cigarette, offered her another and paced for a few minutes. Natasha waited, letting him ruminate over the terrible knowledge she had given him.

He turned to her suddenly. "Baby doll...er...Natasha, I have heard a lot of crazy shit in my life but this takes the cake."

Nat's heart sunk. He didn't believe her. She'd have to risk being on the train with them.

Then he surprised her. "If you are willing to have Steve's best friend think you're a lunatic, there must be something to this."

"Do you?" Nat asked him.

"Do I what?"

"Think I'm a lunatic."

Bucky looked her square in the eyes and cupped her face with his hand, "No, baby, I honestly do not. This is a lot for me to swallow right now but I believe you. You are absolutely right that we can't tell Steve any of this. If he thought my life or yours were in danger you know he'd go alone and get himself killed trying to protect us."

Natasha was so grateful to him for being perceptive and believing her that she hugged him. He hugged her back tightly.

"Honey, I hope Steve knows what a treasure he has in you." Bucky kissed the top of her head.

"Steve! Shit, I have to go. I promised to meet him." Nat grabbed another cigarette and Bucky lit it for her.

"Bucky, remember: Don't call that name until you are on the train about to go out the gaping hole in it's side. Keep that token on you at all times. I will be on a mission elsewhere so when I disappear, it will be in the line of duty."

"Seventy years in the ice..." Bucky paled a bit.

"I know, that part is killing me too but remember he survives and literally saves the world many times over. You will return to the here and now that I left. Steve and I are together then as well."

"And what about you, Natalie..uh...Natasha? When will you appear?"

"Just tell Steve that I loved him, no matter what happens. That he gave me back my life, my heart and hope. Tell him specifically he gave me hope and I will always believe in him."

She started off then turned back, "Bucky...Peggy might be there too. I just want him to have everything he's longed for. I don't want him to have any heartache."

"Peggy? Agent Carter? What does she have to do with Steve?" He looked at her with confusion in his eyes, then she saw the thought click into place. "Do you honestly think he wants Peggy Carter instead of you?"

"In my time, he was still in love with her. He couldn't have her except as a memory. I don't mind being second fiddle but if I can fix this, give him who he is supposed to have then it's worth it." Tears sprang into her eyes at the thought of Steve's unhappiness.

Bucky walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders, "Oh, darlin', you are selling yourself short. You are forgetting that this Steve who is going to become your Steve is totally and completely in love with you. I'll tell you how I know that. When you hopped on that truck after you told me and everyone else that my best friend is hung like a horse, Steve showed me his compass. Do you know whose picture is in it? Not Peggy Carter's."

"Me? He has a picture of me?" Now she really was crying. She hadn't mentioned the compass with Peggy's picture when she told Bucky the story.

"Oh baby," Bucky hugged her. "How could you not know? He said it was from a newspaper article about how you stopped a hijacking ring. Natasha, he is so proud of you. Don't take that away from him."

Suddenly, Natasha felt very ashamed of herself. She was trying to mold Steve's life into the image she had for him. That made her cry harder on Bucky's shoulder.

"Shhh, it's okay baby doll. It will be fine as soon as we're all together in your time. Now stop your crying and go meet Steve. And don't worry, not a word from me. Train, token, name, and into the future. I'll remember."

Nat looked up to find him smiling down at her. "Thanks Bucky."

"Anytime, hon." He scooted her along with a swat. These forties men, Jesus.

She hot-wired a jeep to drive to the lumber mill. On the way, she stopped and cleaned her face up so Steve wouldn't see that she'd been crying and ask questions. When she pulled up, Steve was waiting outside the main building. She set the brake, jumped out and ran to him. He caught her and swung her around.

"Steve, you know I'd do anything to make you happy, right?"

"Natalie, you already do make me happy. What's this all about?"

"Do you think Peggy's pretty?"

"Wha...Peggy? Agent Carter? I guess she is, I never thought about it." Steve looked sternly at her. "Natalie, what's going on?"

"Nothing. Come on, I want to be with you." Nat picked the lock swiftly and ran inside.

He shook his head and followed her. When he got inside, she was almost completely naked laying on a bed. His jaw fell open.

"Come here, handsome."

Steve dropped the rifle and shield. Nat got up, locked the door and helped him quickly remove his clothes. It was dusk so everything was a little shadowy. A piercing ray of the fading sun was coming through the window and set Natasha's hair to flame.

When she had him naked, she removed her bra and panties but left his dogs tags on. It didn't pass her notice that he was enjoying the view. "Lie down on your back, Steve."

Wordlessly he obeyed her. She straddled him and leaned in for a kiss.

Steve's arms came around and he held her tightly. His tongue swept her mouth, stoking the embers and fanning their need for each other.

Nat moved his hand down between them. When he felt how wet she was, he groaned from deep in his chest. "Sweetheart..." he breathed against her neck.

She raised up, taking his length in hand then eased down over him. Steve drew a sharp breath between his teeth and his hands grabbed her hips. "God, honey...oh Natalie."

Watching her ride him nearly short circuited his thoughts. He reached up to pull her mouth down to his and slung his other arm over her hips, pinning her against him, locking him as deep as he could go. Natalie began rocking her hips; moving him inside her in short hard strokes, while he kissed her.

He rolled them then, keeping an arm under her bottom and lengthening her line for deeper purchase. They were both panting, needing release but unwilling to give up this moment. Nat brought her legs up and around his waist causing him to sink to the hilt.

Steve hadn't thought being inside her could feel any better. She met every thrust, held nothing back as he loved her and she loved him. Too soon, much too soon, he could feel her begin to tighten and a guttural moan come from her throat. "Steve...I love you."

She bucked hard under him and he came an instant later, emptying into her with a gasp. "I love you, honey."

They held each other in the dying light of the day. Steve couldn't stop looking at her face, kissing her, stroking her hair as their bodies finished pulsing together. Natasha let him love on her. After awhile he reluctantly rolled off of her. She sat up, retrieved her bra and panties and put them on. Steve followed suit with his boxers, socks, pants and boots. She shimmied into her clothes and boots then adjusted her sidearm while Steve put his shirt and jacket back on.

They got back in the jeep and Nat let Steve drive them back. He parked it sort of where she'd commandeered it from.

"You stole this?" Steve's disapproval radiated in his voice.

"Yeah, you want to know how?" Natasha's sparkling green eyes and sultry voice told him that she was skirting the edge of being very naughty.

"I may have to rethink my policy of not spanking you." He cocked an eyebrow at her and she laughed.

"So, you take this wire here and this wire here..." She spent the next ten minutes showing him how to hot wire a vehicle in Nazi Germany until he could do it confidently by himself.

Steve walked her to the SSR tent and kissed her good-night. He didn't care who knew anymore. Natalie was his girl and that was that. He ran into Bucky who still looked a little pale. Steve suggested getting some food in the officer's mess, Bucky was all for it.

After they got their food and sat down, Steve had a helluva opening line for his friend. "Do you like Natalie, Buck?"

Bucky choked on his coffee and Steve had to pound him on the back.