When Sam gave Steve that advice, things started to change. He still had a few sleepless nights, but they started to come more from trying to find a job and a place of his own. All he had to do was remember that Nat was no longer a factor in his life. When he did that, his dreams also began to change. During the day he spent more time searching for an apartment, and made a more positive impression at each interview he had. Even Bucky noticed, especially when Steve willingly accompanied him on his first date with Sharon. Granted, Steve felt like he was going to be a third wheel at first, but he couldn't say no. Even Sharon was okay with it, because she was secretly going through her list of friends to set Steve up on a date with.

"You know Steve; I think you and my friend Skye would get along great. I know that she's a big fan of Monet. She writes poetry as a hobby. Why don't you let me set you up with her?"

He is hesitant about being set up on a blind date, and this is third girl Sharon has mentioned to him in the last twenty minutes. He politely refuses, and changes the subject.

"To be honest Sharon, I still think I need to get settled in with a career and a place of my own before dating. But tell me, why did you choose clinical psych for your Masters? I know Sam says it's because you want to help people."

"Well, I changed it because when I was younger my friends all came to me for advice. The subject didn't matter, they knew I would be honest, and non-judgmental. It was when I accompanied Sam on a session. I saw how he helped the soldiers, and I knew I could do more good helping people readjust to a civilian life. Maybe it was just my calling all along."

"That's an honest answer. Now I see why Bucky was so flustered when we first met you. And was giving you all the 'puppy dog eyes' as Sam put it."

Sharon and Bucky both get embarrassed when Steve mentions that Sam talked about them. When Bucky was in the hospital after the firefight, Steve just wanted his friend to find someone who could make him happy. When he sees his friend smile at her, he thinks it has finally happened.

"So Steve," Sharon continues after a moment, "When you came to the V.A. two days ago, I could see that you were troubled. Sam gave you some good advice. But I don't know the whole story, what happened between you and…"

Bucky cuts Sharon off quickly, he's seen Steve happier over the past few days and he's worried that bringing Natasha up again, may cause him to regress.

"Sharon, how about we go get more drinks, we've all finished ours, and I don't think right now is the best time to bring up the past."

Steve knows Bucky is trying to help, and appreciates the gesture.

"No, it's okay Buck. Talking about it is part of the process of moving on. For a lot of years I've kept it bottled up."

Bucky is surprised that his friend is willing to talk, and Sharon shoots him an 'I told you so' look.

"So what did happen between you and Natasha?"

"After our first date at the Met, we just hit it off. We had a lot of the same interests. We had similar majors. We just connected on a level that, I guess neither of us had ever experienced before. We had been together for a year on my 21st birthday. Things would start to change just after our junior year."

"Between you and Natasha?"

"No, things were still great between us. But Bucky had become her friend as well."

As Steve continues telling the story, Bucky steps away to go refill their drinks. He lived this so he doesn't need to hear it.

"Anyway, six months after Nat and I officially became a couple, I introduced them to each other. And Bucky just has this way of growing on you. They became friends quickly. A month later she set him up on a date. It was a double date, but he was going into it blind. It didn't matter; it seemed as if he and Maria were meant for each other. Everything started great and for that year they dated, he was happy. Then she graduated early, and was given the opportunity to run a company in Europe. To make a long story short, Bucky didn't want her to leave. She did. After that, Nat and I barely ever saw him. When we did, he was always getting drunk. We tried to help him, but he just couldn't let go. So he enlisted."

"Serving your country is a great responsibility. Weren't you proud of him?"

"I was proud of him. I still am. Even if his reason for doing so was to leave his problems here behind. We grew up together, and when we weren't hanging out he was always a loner. It's how he dealt with situations, sometimes."

"Understandable. So what about you and Natasha?"

"After the break up, she still felt guilty about how things turned out for Buck. Even though the break up seemed amicable, there were fights in the weeks leading up to when Maria left him. It was when I decided to enlist that the other shoe dropped."

"Go on."

At her urging Steve realizes he has been talking for almost twenty minutes. Looking up for the first time, he notices Bucky is still at the bar trying to get refills.

"Listen, maybe we shouldn't be talking about this. I mean, you and Bucky are on a date. I feel like I might be bringing you down. I think I'm going to head home."

As he walks out, Sharon is confused again. She thought she was breaking through. Whatever happened between him and Natasha went far deeper than any of them could possibly know. When Bucky finally returned to the table, he wasn't sure why his date was now alone.

"What happened? Where's Steve?"

"He left. I thought I was getting him to open up. Then he just closed off. Said he felt like he was bringing me down on my date with you. I know this may be a bad idea, but I think we need to find Natasha."

"That's not going to be easy. She's basically been off the grid since she graduated college."

The odds could be insurmountable, but Bucky learned one thing about Sharon when they first met at the bar. When she sets her mind to something, success is the only outcome.