"Hey, Steve."

Steve turned around to see the redhead come towards him, her curls bobbing. He smiled. "What brings you here, Natasha?"

"I have an idea."

"What would that be?" He closed the file he was looking at.

"Let's go find some World War II veterans."

Steve furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

"I thought maybe… you would like that."

His eyes were following a passing intern in the SHIELD hallway. He wanted to say yes, but he was so nervous. What if he saw someone that he knew? How was he going to react? What would he say and do?

"Steve?"

He turned back to Natasha. "Hm?"

"Are you okay?" Concern flashed through her eyes.

"Um, yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, we can do this."

"Are you sure about that, Steve?" she asked. "I mean, if it bothers you then we don't have too."

"No, I want too." He gave her a reassuring smile.

Natasha dropped her doubting thoughts. She would figure it out soon enough.

Steve would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous standing outside of the retirement home. They were here as volunteers in the kitchen. "You ready?"

Thoughts racing through his head made him doubt his people and cooking skills even more than he already did. "Yep."

They headed inside. The receptionist smiled at them as they entered. "Hi, are you here as volunteers?"

"Yeah. Natasha Romanoff and Steve Rogers."

The receptionist checked her computer. "Sure thing. Go through that hallway and go through the second hallway on the right." She unlocked the door to the hallway.

"Thank you," Natasha said. Steve gave a smile to the receptionist. She gave a smitten smile in return.

After they received their instructions, they went out to help the elderly. Steve took a breath as took his place behind the food bar. It was strange watching Natasha smile like a chirpy, upbeat girl instead of being the silent killer she always was. Steve tried his best to imitate her.

As he shoveled some of the food on a man's plate, the man froze and stared at him. "Steve Rogers, is that you?"

Steve froze. "Ken?"

"It is you, Steve!" he exclaimed. "They found you! They really found you!"

Steve felt the corner of his eyes get warm. He quickly scratched his eye to make sure no tears fell over. "Ken, how's life been?"

"Too long," he sighed. He looked over at the line behind him. "Can you join me at the table over there?"

Steve looked over at Natasha. Natasha nodded. "I'll cover for you."

Taking off his apron and gloves, he exited the kitchen and followed Ken as he hobbled over to his table. "Need any help?" Steve asked.

"No, I'm fine." He gave a raspy laugh as he sat down. "Well, Steve Rogers," he started as he picked up his fork, "it is good to see you."

"And it's great to see you too," Steve responded. "You seem like you're in great condition."

"I do, don't I?" Ken responded. "I can dress myself—except for shoes—and I can feed myself and walk by myself and do all sorts of things. Yet for some reason I've been stuck in here."

"How long have you been here for?"

"Three years," Ken responded, putting food in his mouth. He chewed it for a while before continuing. "My family decided they didn't want me to living around by myself and they put me in here."

"Oh," Steve said. "I'm sorry."

"Eh, don't be. My daughter never liked me much anyways."

"Why is that, if you don't mind me asking?"

Ken swallowed his food. "I was an alcoholic. She didn't like that I was always drunk. Then she got into drugs herself for a little while." He shrugged. "I learned to get over it. I had three wives in over fifty-three years, and when my last one died my daughter decided to move me with all the rest of the geezers."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay," Ken said again. "I'm more interested to hear about you."

Steve sighed and leaned back. "There's not much to say. I landed a plane in ice to keep it from blowing up New York and I froze for seventy years. I woke up in New York, was told I was out of my time, saved Manhattan from an alien attack, and now I'm here."

"Who's the redhead?"

Steve looked over at Natasha, still smiling and giving food. "Her? That's Natasha."

"Woo wee," Ken said. "That is one nice-looking doll." He looked over at Steve mischievously. "You two…?"

Steve looked at Ken. "No, no," he said quickly. "We're nothing."

"Steve, you're a bad liar."

"But I'm not lying."

Ken looked back at Natasha. "Having hundreds of girls myself, I can tell when a girl likes you as a friend, and then genuinely feels something. And that, my friend, is a look no man can deny."

Natasha looked over at Steve, her smile growing. Steve's heart leapt.

"And you, my friend, look like a lovesick puppy."

Steve jumped out of his thoughts, clearing his throat. "What?"

Ken smiled. "Make your move. I'm sure she's a one-of-a-kind gal."

"That's an understatement," Steve said. "She's… so much more."

Ken looked back down at his food. "Steve, it was nice talking to you," he said, the same smile on his face. "Come back some time, will you?"

"Of course." Steve shook his hand. "I miss you guys so much."

"And you too, Captain." Ken gave a small salute. "Until then, go capture that gal's heart."

"Yes, sir." Steve caught Natasha's smile at another veteran and he knew his mission.