As predicted, Bucky was angry when Steve hung up on him. When he walked back into the apartment he was promptly greeted with a hard punch to the shoulder.

"You punk! When I left you that note with her address, I didn't expect you to be gone all day. You were supposed to come right back and tell me how everything went! Not leave me hanging. I notice that you're alone too. Did you already screw this up again?"

Listening quietly as his best friend vented, Steve knew he had made the right decision when he asked Nat to wait outside. With the door cracked just a bit, she can hear the exchange, and is trying to suppress her laughter at what is coming next.

"Look man, you know it's been fourteen years. We can't just rush right back into this. We may not even be right for each other now. People do change."

"Oh no, not you two. You two were always the most stubborn, strong-willed, independent people I've ever met. It just wouldn't make sense if you didn't get back together. You don't know it, but I worked really hard to make this happen!"

"I'm sorry, you worked really hard? Please don't tell me that you forced this."

As he feigns being upset, Nat has to clamp her hand over her mouth to prevent the snorting laughter. She doesn't want to tip Bucky off too soon. The next part she hears is the beginning of her cue to enter.

"You're right I worked hard for this! I had to sneak around behind your back, which wasn't easy you know. I had to get in contact with old classmates from college. If you had just admitted you wanted me to find her in the first place, we could have avoided all of this!

"You mean you really were upset because I was moping? I wanted to move on, but no, you had to keep bringing her up! Why couldn't you just let me try and find someone new? If you tell me Sam was in on this too…, he wasn't, was he?"

Before he can reply the door is pushed open, and both of them are stunned to see her. She walks right past Steve, and slaps Bucky in the face.

"What the hell were you thinking, Barnes? Why couldn't you just let Steve and I get back together because we wanted to? No, you're still the same selfish brat you always were. Have to have everything your way!"

Immediately, he starts to back pedal.

"Natasha, where is this coming from? You wanted me to give that note to Steve with your address. I only thought I was helping. I just wanted my friend to be happy again."

"Does he look happy? To find out that this was all a set-up? Yes I wanted you to give him my address. But when I asked you to do that, I didn't know you already had an underlying, ulterior motive!"

Nat then turns around and storms out of the apartment, with Steve right behind her, begging her to come back. After a moment, still stunned, Bucky chases after them trying to apologize. When he gets outside of the apartment, his two friends are taking pictures of his reaction, and laughing as loud as they can.

"Man, you should see your face. You fell for it. This is just too good."

"Wait a minute, you two planned this? You really are getting back together?"

"Come on, Buck. On the way over here, Nat told me that she wanted you to give me her address. She went back to The Falcon an hour after running off on the night of my birthday. She also told me it was Carol who got her to see clearly that she still has feelings for me. I have to say, you played your part perfectly."

"I can't believe it, you took the plan I was working on and turned it around on me. I'm impressed, Stevie. But I have to know, this isn't payback for something I did, is it?"

"No, but you did make this happen. You always felt like you owed me for pulling you off the battlefield, and saving your life. Now we're even."

"How so?"

"If you hadn't left me that note with her address, Nat and I would never have seen each other again. Now we've talked and resolved everything that happened. We both want to thank you. You really are the best friend a guy could ever ask for."

"Steve's right, Bucky. If not for you and Carol, we wouldn't be getting back together. But I have to ask, are you really afraid of me?"

His answer is straightforward, probably the first time in his life he answers a question with one word.

"Terrified."

When his friends break into laughter, Bucky can't help but join in. Of the two of them, Steve was always the more serious one. To see that his best friend actually planned out a prank on him with his girlfriend made him realize that he was somewhat of a good influence. After all these years, they can all move forward.

"So, now that you two are back together. We need to go celebrate. And I know just where to go. We're going to Coney Island."

"I'm not riding the Cyclone again Buck."

"Now why would I make you do that again?"

"Because you liked seeing the look on my face before I threw up."

"Yeah, I still have the photo too."

"Sorry, but I'm going to have to disappoint you, Bucky. Steve and I already have plans for tonight. And he told me you already have a date for tonight. We'll go and celebrate another time."

Bucky had forgotten he had a date with Sharon. Looking at his phone, he realized he was going to be late. Before he can get away, Nat grabs hold of his arm, pulling him back and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you for this."

He runs off, and knows he can't wait to tell Sharon what happened.

"You think he's going to be okay, Steve?"

"Oh yeah, he needed some real laughter. I know he didn't want me to be moping around. But I haven't seen him laugh like that since before he lost the arm. He's going to be just fine."