Sharon was ecstatic when he she heard the news. She didn't tell Bucky, but she knew her plan wasn't going to work. So when it all happened naturally, she couldn't help but be excited that her boyfriend's two best friends were working things out. Two weeks later, her final year on her Master's degree started, and it coincided with the grand opening of Mack's Bed and Breakfast Museum. During that time frame, if they weren't working, Steve and Nat spent all their free time together. She would come by the museum and take him to lunch. He had started spending a few nights at her apartment and would leave sketches around the house for her to find. Most of them were of her, and there were a few of the two of them together. Each one went into the scrapbook. The day of the grand opening, she invited him along. As she is getting ready, she can't decide what the best look is for the event.

"Nat, I know you're nervous. But I promise, it doesn't matter what you wear to this. You're going to look beautiful."

"That's easy for you to say. All you had to do was shave and put on a suit. This is the biggest consultation Carol and I have ever done. And we didn't just consult on it, we actually did all of the decorating."

"Is that what's bothering you? Sweetheart, you decorated our apartment, and this one. You've always had the perfect eye for design. I can't wait to see the work you did."

Steve's words helped to comfort her. When she stepped out of the bathroom, he was stunned. She had clearly gone all out for this. He found the black dress she had on to be the right mix of sophistication and class. She was only wearing minimal make-up. But she never wore a lot of it anyway. To his eyes, she looked perfect.

"So, what do you think?"

"You look just as beautiful today as you did when I first met you."

Natasha blushes at his comment. He's the only guy she's ever met who could say things like that and not have it sound corny.

"Well Mr. Rogers, shall we?"

He takes her arm in his and escorts her to the waiting limo. Mack was already at the site, so he made arrangements for his personal driver to pick up both her and Carol. As they walk towards the car, her partner is waiting with her fiancé, Peter. He had just recently returned from France.

"Hey Peter, when did you get back?"

"I got in a couple of days ago, Natasha. Carol called me to tell me about the opportunity you two were given."

"We were fortunate. It has to be the best one so far. But from the look of things, Carol seems to have been presented with an even better opportunity, am I right?"

Carol was hiding her left hand in Peter's right, but she could never hide anything from her friend and business partner.

"How do you do that? I did everything I could to keep this a secret."

"It's easy. I am highly trained in espionage, after all."

The joke goes over both of the guys' heads. And when Carol and Nat break out in laughter, they still don't get it.

"So yeah, Peter proposed to me this morning. I was just coming out my bedroom, and there he was down on one knee."

"Well, I'm happy for the both of you. It wasn't that long ago that I was Bobbi's Maid of Honor. Should I guess that you've already chosen a date?"

"Not yet, but we both want it to be soon."

"So now that the cat's out of the bag, why don't you introduce me to your friend, Natasha."

"Of course, Peter this is my boyfriend, Steve."

When she pauses, Steve walks up and offers a handshake.

"Steve Rogers, it's nice to meet you…,"

"Peter Parker. You know I do some freelance photojournalism. And you look familiar. Did you serve in Iraq?"

"I did, it's actually Captain Steve Rogers. I was honorably discharged two months ago."

"I knew it. I was in the press corps when you came back from the front, after you saved your whole platoon."

"That was a team effort Peter. The attempt wouldn't have been successful without the help of Dum-Dum Dugan."

"I met him. Good soldier, Great man."

"Yeah, better friend."

"You know guys, we could stand here talking all day, but Nat and I do have somewhere to be."

"Of course, I apologize Carol. It's not every day I get to meet a war hero."

As Mack's driver opens the door, Peter helps his new fiancée in. But before getting to the other door, Steve has already taken care of opening the door for, and then helping Nat in, by himself. When they arrive the festivities get under way. As they are led through the building, Peter and Steve are both impressed with the work that was done. The art that was chosen matches the feel of the environment perfectly. Mack was pleased at how everything turned out. The only person not present is Sharon, and they wonder where she is.

"Natasha, Carol, I have to say that the both of you did an amazing job. The place looks exactly as I hoped it would. I'm glad Sharon told me about your business. And the reviews I read before hiring you were spot on."

"Thank you, Mack. But you know, I didn't see Sharon when we arrived. I would have thought she would be here for this."

"She wanted too, but her pursuit of her Masters' degree has left her little time for much else. I'm proud of her for taking on clinical psych. It's not an easy task to work with veterans and P.T.S.D.

"No doubt, my friend Sam does the same thing. He gave me some advice recently that helped with that."

"Then he's a good friend. But I don't believe we've met, Mr.…,"

"Steve Rogers, recently returned from the war."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Steve. And thanks for coming. Natasha, if you and Carol will come by my office tomorrow morning, I'll have your payment ready. My driver is also waiting to take you all home for the night."

"We'll see you in the morning then. Carol seems to be occupied, but I know she's as grateful for this opportunity as I was."

After the limo drops the two couples off at their respective apartments, Nat and Steve have changed out of their dress clothes, and are relaxing on the couch.

"They make a great couple, you know."

"They do, Nat. They kind of remind me of Clint and Bobbi back when you introduced me to them."

"Yeah, I'm happy for them. Even though they haven't chosen a date yet, I think I'm about to be a Maid of Honor again."

"And I'll be there with you, if you want me too."

"There's no one else I'd rather have there with me."

Sitting there, they both fall silent for a moment. They're comfortable, but they both know the question is hanging between them as she leans her head on his shoulder.

"Steve?"

"Yes?"

"Do you ever think about it? I mean, I know we've only just recently gotten back together, but have you ever wanted what our friends have?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it. And the truth is that I do want it all, the house in the suburbs, the dog, and the kids. But somehow I wasn't sure that I would ever get to have this conversation."

"With me?"

"Yes. You know I watched a lot of my brothers in arms die in battle. I even delivered several eulogies. Colonel Phillips was right, writing and sending those letters were the hardest part of the war. And there were a lot of times I didn't know if I'd be coming back."

As she listens to his story, she begins to feel tense. She knows how much he loves her. His letters never said any of what he's saying now.

"Nat, you know I'll always be honest with you. I know you've been down this road before, and you turned him down. I don't want you to feel pressured, so take your time. Think about what you really want. And when the time is right, we'll get there."

Here lately, Steve always seems to surprise her. His confession is heartfelt. She now knows they're on the same page. So when the time is right and he asks, her answer will be yes.