It was still dark when Natasha awoke, but it often was, so she didn't mind. They were leaving early anyway, having been here for ten days. Maria, Scott and Wanda had returned to the States, and Natasha, Clint and Sam would go back this morning, and Steve tomorrow. Both Natasha and Sam and offered to wait for him, but Steve wanted to be alone. Natasha understood. She'd find him once he was back in New York. Utilising Maria's endless contacts and list of those who owed her favours, they were all able to return home. Natasha had called Matt to say she wouldn't need any further assistance on this case. He seemed pleased.

The week had been amazing, with daily guided hikes through the jungle to water falls or looking for wildlife, swimming in perfectly clear pools, or canoeing along the river, or getting up before dawn to watch the sunrise over the jungle. One day they'd been taken to the zip-wire and high-ropes course, or 'ultimate-jungle grown-ups playground' as Scott had called it. No one had disagreed. After a good sleep, and a bit of time getting to know the others, Scott had relaxed, and the constant stream of words had slowed. Wanda had seen the psychiatrist, and after a couple of quiet days in the compound, she had started joining the others on their adventures, and by the end of the week, had been the first one ready in the morning, waiting for the others in her hiking boots, her arms shining with sunscreen. Bucky had been properly patched-up when they'd arrived, and had only left the compound once, as the doctor's wanted to keep him under supervision. He'd had a full psychiatric evaluation before they decided to let him go ahead with the freeze, but he'd had to wait until the specialists had declared him fit enough. T'Challa had made sure that they never felt like prisoners, despite the tight security and the fact that they weren't allowed into any populated areas. Once he'd even had them sent McDonald's. They had only seen him twice, but he'd be here today. Natasha was sure of that.

She tossed and turned for a few minutes, hoping that maybe she'd fall back asleep, but quickly gave up and sat up in the dark. After a minute or so, her eyes began to adjust. She went and opened the curtains to see the stairs. There were so many stars in Wakanda. Natasha hadn't realised how much she'd missed the stars. There were a lot of stars out in the wilds of Russia, too.

Today, this morning, Bucky was going under. Natasha leant against the window ledge. She didn't agree with his decision. She understood it, of course, but she didn't agree. The stars shimmered, indifferent and unchanging from year to year, but always there, and always beautiful. She didn't want to be alone. Clint was far from a morning person. Steve was too uptight. She wasn't close enough to Sam to wake him at this hour of the morning, and it would already be too late in New York to call Matt, which meant that Natasha had to go and do what she'd been putting off since they'd arrived.

The facility was out in the middle of no where, surrounded by jungle, with the most amazing medical and engineering facilities she had seen outside of Stark Towers. When they weren't out hiking or exploring, Scott was like a kid in a candy store, following the engineers, asking all manner of questions, which made Natasha realise quite how bright he really was. They had all been assigned rooms in the one wing, and Natasha had noticed how easily their bedrooms could be turned into private medical wards if need be. The wing had twelve such rooms, but now only five were still in use. She, Maria and Wanda had been positioned down one end, and the guys at the other.

Natasha tip-toed down the hall, the security lights not nearly as pleasant as the darkness of her bedroom. She stopped outside of Bucky's room, and tapped on the door. There was no response, so Natasha let herself in.

"Hey," she whispered, shutting the door. Sure enough the curtains were wide open and Bucky was sitting on the side of the bed, staring out at the stars. Natasha went and sat next to him on his right. He didn't look at her or make any sign to acknowledge her. Natasha made herself comfortable and took his hand. Bucky closed his fingers around hers. They sat in silence for a moment, watching the universe move slowly above them.

"I'm going to find it," Natasha said after a while. Bucky didn't respond. "That book. And destroy it. And everything else connected to the Winter Soldier program. Anything they used. Anything that could be used. Anything that looks to be related. Hell, I'll destroy its entire history. And anyone who might still know… well, I'll make sure they forget. Most are probably dead or almost by now anyway."

"What?" Bucky asked, finally turning to her.

"I knew where you were," Natasha said, changing the subject, "In Bucharest. I dropped information to SHIELD, which Agent 13 slipped to Steve, who found you."

"How did you know?"

"Because," Natasha said, "I'm better at hiding than you. I'm better at hiding than anyone. I'll teach you a trick or two one day."

"Why didn't you tell Steve?"

Natasha shrugged, "You didn't want to be found. I get that. So, I decided to let you stay hidden unless something came up. And then something came up, so I guessed it was time to bring you back."

"How did you find me? Steve said he was looking for years…"

"Steve would stand out at a Patriot's game. He's never had to go undercover. Not like that. A couple of times when we have… well, one time I had to pash him in a mall to detract attention."

"You - kissed Steve?"

"Yeah, it was weird. He's an ok kisser, but still, we were on an escalator."

"I'd bet."

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Bucky spoke.

"Why are you helping me?"

Natasha shrugged. "When I first came to America, came over to the 'Good Guys' as it were, I needed someone to help me. Not - not quite like you, but having 'former Soviet assassin' as your former job doesn't look great on your immigration papers. I got help from folks at SHIELD. Folks who didn't need to trust me, who didn't have to, but they did anyway. I'd lie awake wondering why. Some noble belief than I could be better than my past? Charity? Hope? All of the above? I don't know. I still don't. But they did, and here I am, and my actual passport has a nice big picture of an eagle in it, the same as everyone else's."

"Actual?"

"I might have a few fakes."

Bucky gave a small smile, and they went back to staring out the window. A feint grey glow was beginning to come from the east, but the stars still shone overhead.

"And if you don't?" Bucky asked quietly.

"Don't what?"

"Find everything."

"I will."

"But..."

"I will," Natasha asserted. "You'll be awake by 2020."

"Natasha..."

"Trust me."

Bucky allowed himself a moment to collect his thoughts. "Does Steve know?"

"What I plan to do? No. I'll tell him if he asks, but otherwise… he'll want to help. And I love him, and he is an excellent leader, but when it comes to that sort of spy work, well, it's not really Steve's calling."

They sat in silence for a few more minutes.

"I - should probably go. I want to have a swim before breakfast. Our flight leaves at 0930 hours," Natasha said, standing up.

"I'm not afraid," Bucky said, not letting go of Natasha's hand.

"I know," Natasha said. "See you in 2019?"

"Natasha…"

"2018? I'll make that booking at Claridge's."

"Are - are you asking me out?"

"Are you saying no?"

"No," Bucky said, "I mean - I… Natasha I…"

"I gotta go," Natasha said. She leant over a gave Bucky a peck on the cheek. "See you in a couple years."

Reluctantly, Bucky let go of Natasha's hand. He watched her as she left.

"Room with a view?" he asked.

Natasha stopped and turned back, her hand on the door, "I'll book the whole penthouse if you want."

"So long as it has a bath… and one of those big beds."

"Oh Sergeant Barnes, we're gunna need it. Sleep well."

"See you," Bucky said, not turning back to the window until the door was shut, and he could no longer hear Natasha's footsteps disappearing down the hall. And unless he was very much mistaken, he had heard her skip.