They wound up back in the Avenger's Tower since that was where Natasha started from. Steve ordered a car from J.A.R.V.I.S. since he only had his motorcycle there. Bucky was amazed by how much the city had changed. Steve and Natasha answered some of his questions but waited until they got to Steve's place to show him cable TV and the Internet.

Natasha was exhausted and as much as she wanted to be with Steve, she was trembling as she sat on the end of his bed. Evidently his perception was right. She hadn't felt this emotionally fragile since The Red Room. It had to be a side effect of the time travel. Steve noticed and started taking off her boots. She was so tired that she let him. Once Steve got her out of her catsuit, into a hot bath then into bed wearing his t-shirt, Natasha fell instantly asleep.

He watched her for awhile, stroking her hair and giving her a kiss on her forehead before going out to join Bucky who was trying to figure out the microwave.

Steve swiftly put the frozen dinner in and set the timer. Bucky watched everything with great interest. Steve poured coffee and the two friends sat down to reminisce.

"Bucky, I can't tell you how much it means to me to have you here in our time. It feels like I got a big chunk of my life back." Steve said earnestly.

"That little gal in there did all the heavy lifting for this to be possible. I'm grateful she had the guts and the grit to make this happen." Bucky said between bites of food.

Bucky told him everything. From meeting Natasha at Stark's Expo, to how she treated Steve in his 'before' phase; her announcement to the rescued troops about his prowess in bed. Everything.

Steve wavered from astonishment to red-faced embarrassment to laughter as Bucky described everything he'd personally seen or that Natasha and 1945 Steve had told him.

"I think she was willing to sacrifice herself if it came to that, Steve. The last thing she told me before the train was a message to you. I'll never forget it. She said: '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 that he gave me hope and I always believed in him.' It was like she was telling me to tell you good-bye in case things went sideways." Bucky said.

Steve had a grim set to his jaw after Bucky told him that. It was intolerable that Natasha felt her life was expendable or that she was replaceable. That was something he intended to address with her.

"Steve, she thought you were in love with Peggy and she wanted you to have the life you were cheated out of. I told her about the picture in your compass – the one you showed me when we were marching back after you rescued all of us. I told her then it wasn't Peggy you were in love with but Natasha felt you at least were entitled to have the choice that you never had." Bucky told him.

Steve rose and went to his bookshelf, retrieving the compass from the cigar box before returning to the table. He opened it and laid it out for Bucky. It was a grainy black and white of Natasha in her uniform.

"I clipped it from the article about her receiving a medal."

"You need to show that to her. Honestly, Steve, she is so loyal and so brave. She never gave any guy a single look even though she got plenty of them herself. Every conversation was about you in some way. She really loves you. She just feels like she doesn't deserve you for some reason."

"Natasha is a master assassin, Buck. Her code name is Black Widow. She was recruited as a child in Russia and trained in a place called The Red Room. It was horrendous training which included all forms of torture. The handlers sterilized them as part of a twisted graduation ceremony. She feels that she is damaged so she is undeserving of happiness and love. I want to change that. I love her. I don't want Peggy or anyone else. Just Natasha." Steve's eyes pleaded with his friend to understand what he was saying.

"Then be her hero, Steve. Be that guy who is too stubborn to back down from a fight. Natasha is used to relying on just herself because she's had to. Be the man she can rely on, no matter what. Give her the confidence that you can take the reins once in awhile. You can be dependable without making her feel dependent." Bucky was earnest. He hoped Steve would be her partner in every sense of the word.

"You haven't been here a day and you seem to have a better handle on this than I do after a year," Steve said ruefully.

"Nah, I've just had more practice with women. Plus, Natasha and Peggy would have kicked my ass if I didn't learn to grow a little, you know?" Bucky grinned.

"I think I do know, actually," Steve said. "And you're right, I need to take a more assertive stand with Natasha on a few things."

Natasha slept for a full twenty-four hours. Steve never left the apartment and barely left her side. Bruce and Tony came by to take Bucky out for a couple of days and show him all the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities so he'd have an idea of what he was getting into. Pepper brought over a bunch of Nat's clothes from her apartment so she'd have something to change into when she woke up and several days worth of food from one of Stark Industries' caterers so Steve didn't have to worry about cooking or shopping. Thor even dropped by to fill in the rest of the blanks for Steve about Nat's little quest.

When Natasha finally woke up, she discovered Steve curled protectively around her, still fully dressed. Quietly so she wouldn't wake him, she eased out of bed and into the bathroom. She made use of the facilities and showered. She discovered Pepper's thoughtfulness and got dressed in some scandalously tight jeans and a deep purple skin tight shirred top. Her thigh high boots were in her bag so she fished those out as well. After putting some make up on, she discovered Steve was out of coffee. Swearing under her breath, she found the key he'd given her, stuck a credit card in her back pocket and went to get caffeine sustenance.

Stepping out into the familiar surroundings of Brooklyn as she knew it made her a little nostalgic for the Brooklyn she'd seen through pre-serum Steve's eyes. She remembered a market nearby so she hurried over to get some Ethiopian coffee to surprise Steve with. She picked up sugar and cream as well since she couldn't remember if Steve was out or not. On her way back, she saw a flower stand and gathered a bouquet of lavender and yellow roses: Lavender for love and yellow for joy.

She managed to get back into the apartment without damaging the flowers or dropping anything. The flowers went into a pitcher of water since she couldn't locate a vase and the coffee into the fancy machine that Tony had apparently gifted Steve with while she was away.

Bucky wasn't there and there wasn't a note so Nat assumed he was with one of the team. She poured herself some coffee and flicked on the TV. Steve must have heard her because he came out of the bedroom and straight to her on the couch. Natasha set the coffee down and opened her arms to him. He picked her up and sat down with her in his lap.

"I went out and got coffee, cream and sugar since you were out and some flowers too." Nat pointed at the table.

"They're beautiful, Sweetheart, thank you." Steve didn't mention having a moment of panic when he woke up to find her gone. This was also not the time to scold her about going out alone. She was obviously feeling better and was capable. He should just appreciate her being here with him and get on with the next step in their relationship.

Natasha kissed him and he responded instantly. "God, Steve, I've missed you...I mean the real you."

"You have no idea how much I missed you, honey." Just having her in his arms meant everything to him.

"Listen," she said, sitting up a little straighter on his lap, "I need to tell you some things and I don't know if it's going to upset you or not but you want me to be open and honest, so here goes."

"Mind if I get coffee while we talk?" Steve asked her.

"Oh, sure...of course." She hopped off his lap and let him retrieve his coffee. When he came back, he settled next to her and draped his arm over the back of the couch so he could touch her beautiful red curls.

"I...I slept with you...um...before the serum." She paused to let him digest that.

"That may explain why I had some very provocative dreams while you were away." Steve smiled at her.

"Did Bucky tell you all this already?" Nat paled a little.

"He did, but you should know that he is one hundred per cent on your side and wanted me to know that every single thing you did was so that I could have the life you thought I was cheated out of." Steve's warm baritone was calm and surprisingly mild as he conveyed this to her.

"Are you mad at me?" Nat squirmed a little because he was just that close and looking at her just that intently. He also looked very sexy. Steve always managed to roll out of bed looking presentable. He had on one of his plaid shirts with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of Levis that fit like a glove and his brown boots.

"I was, at first, Natasha. Then I realized I was more hurt and afraid. I was hurt because you didn't feel as though you could talk to me about any of this and I was afraid because I know what it was actually like during WWII. While I know that you are capable, there were so many things that could have gone wrong. When time dragged by and there was no word from you at all, I was more and more worried. Thor explained to me that Heimdall was under orders to bring you back if you were in life threatening danger but that didn't ease my mind much." God, she loved his voice; a silky baritone timbre that sent delicious shivers down her spine.

"I'm sorry, Steve. Hurting you was the last thing on my mind." Nat looked contrite and couldn't meet his eyes.

"I understand that. I also understand why you wanted to surprise me with Bucky and Dr. Erskine and I'm grateful, Natasha. More grateful than you can possibly imagine to feel as though I have a big piece of my life back." He stroked her hair back from her face.

She nodded and looked away. He put his coffee down and reached over to turn her face back towards him. "I love you for what you did. That you loved me so much that you did something so impulsive and so potentially dangerous because you truly believed that I deserved a second chance."

Green eyes looked at him with tears threatening to spill and he took her hand in his. "I want you to see something." He led her to the bookcase and got the cigar box out. He took out his old compass and handed it to her. "Look inside."

Her hands shook as she did as he asked. When she saw her own picture in it; a picture of her in her SSR uniform, she gasped and her tears did overflow then. "It's me...but Steve, it was Peggy before..."

"It may have been but what you did back there...loving me as I was, before I became what I am now...I dreamed about you, Nat. I dreamed about you doing what you said. You told me right here that if you had known me before the serum you still would have gone to bed with me because you knew what kind of man I was in my heart. You made that come true." He stroked his hands down her shoulders because he had to touch her.

He gently took the compass from her and put it back in the box and gathered her to him. "Now knowing what kind of a wonderful woman you are to have done all of this, why would you possibly think that I would want any kind of choice but the one I'd already made?"

Her arms tightened around him. She was trembling with pent up emotion. "Because I thought I had fucked everything up for you and now you won't have Peggy like you wanted all along. Thor told me that you knew your own mind and heart and that you'd made the right choice for yourself by choosing me. I should have listened to him, but I had to bring Bucky and Dr. Erskine at least."

"We need to have a long overdue talk." Steve walked her back to the couch and sat her down, then sat far enough away so he was close but could see her face and she could see his.

"What I have learned, Natasha, is that I over-romanticized my relationship with Peggy. She loved me I think, in her own way; more like a favored pet than a man. You have always seen me as a man, even knowing my history. You didn't need to but you proved that when you made love with me prior to the serum. You treated me kindly, you were a true friend to me then and you loved me then; just as I was with no enhancement."

Natasha was getting decidedly uncomfortable. She liked his praise but she wasn't used to being showered with approval and wasn't sure how to handle it. "Steve, I want you to know, I felt like I was making love with you the whole time. I want you to know the whole truth."

"You were hardly cheating on me, with me, honey." Steve chuckled.

That got a small smile from her. "Thank you for understanding that. He smelled like you, touched me like you do...I just wanted to make certain he knew he had value above and beyond the serum or Captain America."

"And you have made me feel all of those things and more, sweetheart. You changed my history and you've changed ours. I am not complaining about either of those things; do you understand?"

She nodded and this time she looked at him. Steve met her gaze with a smile. "I do not want Peggy, Natasha. I am not in love with Peggy and I have no desire to go back to when I thought I was in love with her. I am in love with you. You are the woman I fantasize about. You are the woman I dream about. I want you. No one else. Is that clear enough?"

She nodded and smiled through the tears that were threatening to fall. "Okay."

She moved to hug him but he held her back. "Wait...a couple of things first." His tone decidedly changed to a sterner one.

Nat frowned, she wasn't sure she liked this turn of events. "What things?"

"For one thing, you scared every single person here who loves you when you took off like you did. Thor did his best to reassure me but believe me, he did not divulge any of your secrets so it was less than comforting."

"Steve, I said I was so sorry for all of that. I'm also sorry for dragging Thor into everything. And for worrying everyone."

"Also, I believe you disobeyed a direct order given to you by a superior officer in a combat situation." His mouth quirked on one side.

"Wait a minute, Phillips already addressed that." Nat looked a little affronted. "Besides, that was then, we are in the here and now."

"Natasha, do you love me?"

"What kind of question is that? You know I do."

"Do you want to be a couple, move in together, start thinking about marriage someday?"

She blushed then. "Yes, of course I do. I think spending all that time with you before you had your heart broken made me realize just how much I do love you and how much I want us to work out."

"I want that too, very much," Steve took her hand.

"Good, then what's the problem?" Nat said.

"The problem Natasha, is that you were too willing to sacrifice yourself to save Bucky. He gave me your message to me." Steve's voice had gone into Stern Steve territory.

"H-he did?" Natasha gulped.

"Word for word." One eyebrow raised, that was never a good sign. "And what exactly did you say to Thor? The part about me deserving so much more than you?" Steve asked her.

"Thunder god, my ass. He's a narc." Nat groused.

Steve laughed, "No, honey, he kept your secrets and waited until you were home safely so that he wasn't violating your agreement with him."

"Fuck. I can't talk to anybody without being ratted out." Natasha slouched back against the couch.

Steve chuckled, "Sweetheart, everyone loves you. They apparently think highly enough of me to believe that I'm good enough for their red haired princess. Particularly your best friend, Clint."

"I'm a spy. No one's supposed to love me. And Clint just wants you to bust my ass so he can have a turn." Nat argued.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to be disappointed then because all of them love you. Almost as much as I do; including Clint." Steve held out his hand to her.

After a moment, she put her hand in his. "Are you sure you're not mad at me?"

"No, I'm not mad at you. I am going to make sure you never, ever take off again like you did...no matter what the reason. That you never, ever disobey an order and jump out of an airplane directly into anti-aircraft fire like you did...and most importantly, that you completely understand me when I tell you that you are not expendable, Natasha. That's what bothers me the most; that you would think that you don't matter. I am going to make sure you know how much you do matter."

"What are you going to do? Nat looked at him suspiciously.

"I'm going to give you a choice." Steve said in a "I Am Going To Own Your Cute Little Butt One Way Or Another" tone of voice.

"What fucking choice?" Nat said, her mouth suddenly going dry.

"Either I'm going to turn you over my knee and give you that spanking you've been pushing for, both in 1945 and here, or we are not going to see each other for a month and Clint will keep an eye on you during that time." Steve said flatly.

Natasha was stunned. "A spanking or we break up? What the hell, Steve?"

"We're not breaking up. I said a month apart." Steve kept his voice level.

"Why? I apologized!"

"You did, and I appreciate it."

"I don't want to be apart for a month!" Nat looked unhappy.

"You'll take the spanking then?" Steve waited for her response.

She looked at him with wide eyes. Steve's eyes narrowed slightly, "When you were back in 1945, did I tell you I was going to spank you or not?"

"Y-yes, you did. Several times. But you never got around to it."

"Well, I am now." Steve's voice had that thread of command that always made her shiver.

"This is just between us?" Nat asked.

"Absolutely. I give you my word." Steve radiated honesty as always. One thing she'd learned, he was always honest. Damn it.

"Natasha..." Her name was delivered in the same tone of voice that had scared that kid on the flight deck. Shit. Natasha went to him.

Steve put her over his knee. He tempered his hand but he took his time with the spanking. If he'd used any measure of his real strength he could have injured her so he was careful but firm. This was a lesson in temperance, in wisdom and to impress upon her that she was loved and valued. It was his lecture that got to her. He never raised his voice but he got his point across very well.

"You will not take unnecessary risks to your life and safety. That ends now. Risks in the line of duty are different. That comes with the job. You had no way of controlling where you ended up experimenting with time travel like that. Every one of your teammates lost sleep and were worried, even after Dr. Erskine showed up and we figured out part of what you were attempting. That's because we love you, all of us. I am sorry that I didn't impress on you before that you were and are the most important woman in my life. Also, more than one person has told me that you seem to think your life is expendable. That you are somehow damaged goods and don't deserve love and happiness. All of us have done things we are not proud of, Natasha. You love someone for who they are, not their past. And believe me, sweetheart, you are loved. I will never give up on you or on us."

That last part of his lecture cut her to the bone. To have this particular man, this symbol for everything good, true, and ethically right, want her, love her; he made her want to be a better person...and definitely a better girlfriend.

"Steve...I'm not giving up either." she choked on her words, fighting tears at this point.

He lifted her up into his arms and held her. "Nat, if you do anything like that ever again...I promise you..."

"And we're right back here. I understand." Natasha acknowledged, blinking back her tears. She knew he was right. She'd screwed up. He'd hurt her feelings more than anything. But she'd hurt him too, she realized. "I promise to always put us first."

"And I promise I will be a man you can depend on without feeling dependent. You have been my friend and now you are much, much more than my lover. I want us to know that everything about each other is true." His silky baritone wrapped around her. She still felt safe with him, despite him warming her bottom.

"Are we okay now?" She had her head on his shoulder, her hand on his chest, feeling the powerful beat of her hero's heart.

"We were never not okay, Natasha. But yes, we are okay. We always will be okay." He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.

"Steve, I'm so sorry."

"Sweetheart, I know you are. For what it's worth though, I'm sorry too."

"I know." She said in her smokey voice.

He tightened his hold on her and she reciprocated, holding him tightly; everything felt right again.

"Are you okay if I put you down?" Steve asked after awhile.

She nodded and he slid her off his lap and onto the couch. "I'll be right back."

He disappeared into his bedroom then came back to drop to one knee in front of her and take her hands in his. "Natasha, since I met you, then and now, you have been the friend I needed...and also the lover, the woman I dreamed of. You risked everything to try to make my life even better than it was. Your face was the last thing I saw when I ditched the plane. Now, your face is the first thing I want to see in the morning when I wake up next to you and the last thing at night before I sleep with you in my arms."

She hung on his every word, meeting his beautiful blue eyes and smiling at him.

Steve reached into his pocket and brought out a small box. He opened it to reveal a ring with a central diamond and two rubies flanking it in a yellow gold setting which he presented to her. "Natasha Romanoff, will you do me the honor..."

Her green eyes were wide and her mouth opened in surprise.

"...and marry me?"

She shrieked in pure happiness and nearly flattened him on the floor as she came off the couch into his arms. "Yes!"

Steve caught her and pulled her close. "I love you, Sweetheart."

She kissed him then. When she pulled back her answer was absolutely clear, "I love you, Steve; I. Love. You."

He took the ring out and before he slipped it on her finger, showed her the engraving on the inside: "SR The Right Partner NR".

"You remembered?" Nat gasped, finally grasping all that he'd said.

"Everything." Steve smiled. "I dreamed a lot while you were gone and again last night. I dreamed of Brooklyn, my old apartment, the first time we made love, before the serum...the second time in the forest after the conversion, the plane, the lumber mill, the hotel, Bucky falling...and a flash of what looked like another body going out of the train with him. Through all of it, you were there...and we loved each other."

"Oh god, Steve."

"You were my first love back then and you're my first love now. You are the true love of my life and I wouldn't have it any other way." Steve cupped her cheek in his hand and pressed his forehead to hers.

After that, she was crying again, this time from happiness and hugging him so tightly she nearly cracked his ribs. Once he got the ring on her, she tackled him on the floor and wouldn't stop kissing him, which suited him just fine.