moonlessnight14

[moonlessnight14]

[moonlessnight14]

Mafia Bucky ran after Malyshka after 2 seconds 😂 his ass would be miserable in a long distance relationship

Bucky is obsessed with his wife, and for good reason. He is down bad for her, he knows it, he damn sure makes sure she knows it.

He's nonchalant and stoic in every aspect of his life except when it comes to her.

You know that game where a group of friends call their men at the same time and hang up to see who calls back first? Bucky always wins.

He would hate being in a long distance relationship. So much so that he would just fly out to see her every single chance he got while figuring out a way to get her back him. This man would literally buy out whatever company she was working for and have them relocate to NYC if he had to.

[moonlessnight14]

This is unbelievably sweet 😍

Подарок. | W.S

summary: You give the soldier a present for Christmas.

warnings: Fluff & Angst | Winter Soldier!Bucky | Post!CA:TWS | PTSD mentions | Mention of medical treatments | Recovery | Brief talk of nightmares

a/n: Sort of unofficial part two to Sugar Plums since I had a few people asking for a part two. Same universe I guess, with some time between. Uhh probably rushed idk. To be edited later. ;; wc: 3.3k

Recovery.

Fickle, fragile, exhausting.

He gradually accepted being called Bucky, though the name stirred something uncomfortable within him each time it reached his ears. Steve, ever persistent and hopeful, would use various versions of the name - Bucky, Buck, or sometimes James - in his unwavering attempts to resurrect the friend he once knew, unable to accept that the Bucky from his memories had faded away like footprints in snow.

Winter had completely erased the old Bucky.

While these names would trigger a subtle internal struggle, he maintained an almost perfect mask of indifference, with only the slightest furrowing of his brow betraying any sign of his inner turmoil.

You, however, carefully navigated between calling him Bucky and Soldat, aware that using his old code name might reinforce programming you wished to help him break free from. Yet there was a slight relaxation in his shoulders when you used the familiar designation, the way it seemed to ease the constant tension he carried made it impossible to completely abandon - his comfort, however small, had become your priority.

Even if that comfort stemmed from a dehumanizing name.

It required negotiation and persistent discussions to convince Tony to finally allow the soldier access to the medbay wing for his necessary medical treatments. Despite the soldier's extended stay in the tower passing without any concerning incidents, Tony maintained a strong hesitation about providing medical assistance. His deeply-rooted skepticism and apparent distrust were sources of frustration for you, though you consciously chose to avoid escalating the situation into a full-blown argument, knowing it would only make matters more complicated.

You had already gotten into intense scuffles with Tony over the soldier’s stay, how he needed to be looked over, physically and internally. The dislocated arm Steve caused never healed, and he had been carrying his arm awkwardly close to his body. Other physical injuries on top of the apparent dehydration and malnourishment, he was constantly under a veil of sickness.

The situation was particularly delicate because Soldat struggled with being in the presence of the other tower residents. He was acutely aware of how everyone seemed to cautiously moderate their behavior around him, treating each interaction as if they were navigating through a minefield of potential triggers. Like they were walking along eggshells every time they were near him.

It felt like he was walking on glass.

You were his only source of comfort, though traces of caution still lingered in his demeanor. He knew you posed no threat to his wellbeing. You had been patient and gentle the entire time, regardless of his panic or prone sense to lash out if he got stressed enough.

Long nights stretched endlessly in the sterile medbay rooms, where you faithfully maintained your vigil in the uncomfortable chair positioned beside the standard-issue medical bed. The soldier’s bed remained empty, as he consistently chose to rest on the cold floor instead. Sleep was an elusive companion for him, a nightly battle he rarely won. More often than not, his rest was violently interrupted by his own terrified screams or desperate shouts, his body jerking upright with defensive movements, arms swinging at invisible threats.

You would spend countless minutes trying everything in your power to bring him back to reality and calm his frantic state. Sometimes, despite your best efforts and gentle words, the situation would escalate beyond your ability to manage, forcing the medical staff on standby to intervene with sedatives to prevent him from unintentionally causing harm during these episodes.

Luckily his recovery progressed slowly but surely, transitioning from those intensive IV treatments in the clinical environment of the medbay to the more comfortable setting of your personal quarters. His sleeping arrangements evolved as gradually as his treatment; first from the hard floor, then to the modest couch tucked against the far wall, and finally to your bed.

These days, he found his rest beside you each night, his body instinctively seeking comfort by curling close to yours, desperately trying to make up for all those decades of disturbed sleep and haunted dreams.

Over time, his attachment to you had grown increasingly intense, and he began experiencing waves of jealousy whenever your attention was directed elsewhere. You helped around the tower a lot, so you tended to be distracted with tasks or aiding in another’s need. The soldier didn’t like it, so he began leaving his mark on you. It started subtly at first, he would rub your clothes on himself, in his mind it was good enough that you smelled like him. He saw it in a documentary once, of animals, but he had been in such a dehumanized state for so long, it made sense to him. His body’s scent on you, others would back off. That would work.

But, no, it wasn’t enough.

One day, crossing an unspoken boundary between you, he started placing love bites along your skin, positioning these tender marks from your neck down to your shoulders, eventually becoming bold enough to venture lower, marking your chest with these plum bruises.

The possessive displays sent warmth coursing through your body, and you willingly accepted his territorial behavior. After all, you had become his sole source of comfort and security in this world, making it perfectly natural for him to want to claim you in some way - whether through his distinctive scent (you knew about him rubbing your clothes on his body) or these carefully placed marks. His need to establish this connection, to make his claim visible, he was terrified you’d be taken from him.

Progress was being made in your relationship.

While he was still cautious with physical contact, he had begun to allow gentle touches and brief moments of closeness, though always within carefully maintained boundaries. He was like a cat, deciding when he wanted physical attention and when he wanted it to stop. The challenge of memory recovery remained a significant hurdle in his healing process. You had to help him remember specific things, he often mixed Russian and English, or plainly forgot the simplest of words.

He couldn’t for the life of him remember what a pillow was.

When Steve would speak to him, sharing stories and memories of their past, Bucky would often find himself lost in confusion, unable to connect with the vivid recollections that Steve so enthusiastically shared. The determination in Steve's eyes was evident as he tried desperately to help his lost friend remember the bond they once shared, but for Bucky, these memories remained frustratingly out of reach.

Steve's enthusiasm was well-intentioned, but sometimes, it manifested as an overwhelming flood of information and expectations. You could sense Bucky's growing distress during these interactions, the way his shoulders would tense, how his eyes would dart anxiously around the room. The stark reality was that Bucky's memories of Steve were minimal at best, yet Steve continued to share detailed accounts of their past experiences with increasing intensity.

Your became a careful mediator, providing emotional support to Bucky while gently helping Steve understand that his passionate approach was more hindering rather than helping the delicate process of memory recovery.

Bucky would get frustrated with himself during his journey of recovery. His collection of journals became a sanctuary for his fragmented memories, filled with carefully preserved photographs (provided by Steve), detailed notes written in an unsteady hand, and hastily scrawled thoughts or recollections that would suddenly surface from the depths of his consciousness throughout all hours of the day and night. These journals became both a source of comfort and torment, evidence of his struggle to piece himself back together like a puzzle without a photo.

Even with help from you or Steve, he maintained strict control over his recovery process. He deliberately chose not to document anything that Steve mentioned or tried to convince him of, instead focusing solely on recording memories that emerged organically from within his own mind.

Having experienced decades of mental manipulation, he didn’t want anyone influencing his thoughts or memories ever again. He couldn't bring himself to simply accept Steve's version of events without questioning them, needing to verify everything through his own recollections.

You knew it hurt Steve to see Bucky this way, how he refused to listen or believe him, but you couldn’t blame the man. Either of them, really. It was delicate, it took a lot of patience on everyone’s part.

Bucky’s dedication to recovering his past manifested in sleepless marathons that would stretch on for days at a time. The soldier within him approached the task with military precision, attempting to reconstruct his shattered memories in a specific manner. Yet despite his efforts, the majority of his recollections remained disjointed and fractured, with memories of his time with HYDRA dominating his consciousness more than anything else.

While Bucky was trying to recall his elusive past, you dedicated yourself to helping him build new neural pathways and retain more recent experiences, hoping to make his daily life more manageable and give him a sense of independence. The simplest tasks had become foreign territory for him - the muscle memory and basic understanding of everyday activities having slipped away like water through cupped hands. Modern appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, or the oven had become objects that he approached with confusion.

His relationship with food had become particularly concerning. Unable to prepare proper meals, you would find him furtively consuming makeshift sandwiches, but only when he believed he could finish them before being discovered. His posture during meals was hunched, protectively positioning himself over his plate or bowl, shoveling food into his mouth at an alarming pace, his entire body tense as though preparing to defend his meal from unseen threats.

Food aggression, apparently, wasn't restrictive to just animals.

Among the numerous concerns, his recurring nightmares stood out as the most troubling and pressing issue. The frequency and intensity of these night terrors had become increasingly worrisome, regardless of how well he had progressed otherwise.

Night after night, his anguished screams would pierce the darkness, and these episodes gradually evolved into extended periods where sleep became completely impossible for him to achieve. Bucky would remain awake for days and nights at a stretch, fighting against his own exhaustion, scribbling nonsense into his journals until his body would finally surrender and he would collapse into a brief, troubled slumber.

This cycle would repeat, each time more severe than the last.

Your began looking into different methods that might help ease his troubled sleep so that Bucky could experience the simple luxury of peaceful rest. Your research led you through a wide array of options; from various herbal teas and natural sleep remedies to more conventional medical interventions. However, given his strong aversion to pharmaceutical solutions, you deliberately steered clear of medication-based approaches, knowing they would likely be met with resistance.

Over time, you discovered that a soothing routine of warm herbal tea and gentle companionship proved to be an effective remedy for his nightmares. The nightly ritual of sharing your sleeping space had become second nature, and you observed how this consistent presence brought him the comfort and stability his life lacked for seven decades. His sleep patterns were delicately intertwined with his emotional state, thus during periods of anxiety or perceived threat, his rest would become noticeably disturbed and fitful.

However, your unwavering presence served as a constant source of reassurance, creating a safe haven where he could finally find peaceful rest. Plus, it helped him regain new memories to write down and you could see how proud he was every time he recounted something from his past.

Christmas morning.

Every corner and crevice of the tower sparkled with festive décor, tinsel draped from every available surface, and twinkling lights illuminated the halls in a dazzling display. It was an extravagant winter wonderland that bordered on excessive, but that was exactly Tony's style - he approached every holiday with unbridled enthusiasm, and Christmas was undoubtedly his crowning achievement.

With his seemingly limitless resources at his disposal, there was nothing holding him back from creating the most elaborate celebrations possible.

Aka…he was rich so he could.

In contrast to Tony's lavish approach, you took a more modest approach when it came to gift-giving. The act of receiving presents always made you somewhat uncomfortable, as you found far more joy in being the one doing the giving. You selected meaningful presents for each team member, carefully considering their individual interests and preferences. You couldn't match Tony's extravagant spending (something he never failed to remind everyone of that morning), but you firmly believed that the genuine thought and personal consideration behind a gift carried far more significance than its monetary value (Tony disagrees).

Bucky perched uncomfortably at the far end of the plush couch, his posture tense and rigid while the other team members enthusiastically tore through their wrapped presents with childlike excitement. Your general annoyance with Tony's characteristic swagger and showmanship failed you this morning, a warmth spread through your chest at the genuine joy radiating from Pepper's face when she discovered the exquisite diamond ring he had carefully selected for her and presented after she freed it from the tight wrapping paper.

You stayed by Bucky all morning, carefully observing his reactions to the bustling holiday atmosphere. It was clear he was struggling to process the overwhelming sensory experience and you didn’t blame him. The twinkling lights and shimmering tinsel to the constant chatter and laughter of the group, on top of holiday music and the smells of breakfast and baked goods from the kitchen, were surely a lot to process. His discomfort grew and you recognized the telltale signs of sensory overload in his slightly widened eyes and shallow breathing. The social expectations was clearly taking its toll.

He had wanted to try, he wanted to sit down with you that morning, but he had been struggling.

Your gift pile was modest, exactly as you had requested. You insisted that presents weren't necessary, you found yourself the recipient of a generously stuffed Christmas stocking and an assortment of small, meaningful items carefully chosen by your teammates in a way that made it impossible for you to object to their kindness.

When Steve presented Bucky with a collection of carefully preserved mementos from their past, but the soldier's response wasn’t what he wanted. His eyes fixed on the items that should have sparked recognition, should have ignited memories of happier times, but instead were met with blank confusion and growing distress. You sensed the uncomfortable scene and noticed the mounting anxiety in Bucky's expression, you decided to intervene with a present you got for him.

"Here, I got this for you." You handed him a carefully wrapped bag with delicate tissue paper peeking out from the top, rustling softly with each movement. "Nothing all that special but...I figured it might be nice to have something like this." You replied gently, your voice carrying a hint of nervousness as you watched him, waiting with anticipation for him to open the gift.

Bucky held the bag tentatively, his eyes fixed on the festive baby blue packaging adorned with an intricate pattern of darker blue ornaments. The glitter-coated decorations caught the light as they spiraled across the surface of the bag. He had to blink a few times to refocus his eyes, his hand slowly reached up and grasped the white tissue paper that had been carefully arranged at the top, concealing the gift. He pulled it free, soft crinkling sounded as he removed it.

He reached into the depths of the bag, his fingers brushing against something soft before grasping it. As he drew it out, his hand revealed a charming stuffed elephant, its plush grey body soft to the touch. The toy was perfectly proportioned, with endearing fat limbs that dangled naturally from its tear-shaped body. Its oversized ears flopped gently and its trunk curved in a friendly manner that seemed to welcome embrace. The stuffed animal sat comfortably in his hands, sized just right for holding close and cuddling.

"Elephants are known for their memories, you know." You gave him a gentle, encouraging nudge, your voice soft and hopeful. "Who knows? Maybe having this elephant around will help spark some of those lost memories of yours. They say elephants never forget, after all."

Bucky turned to face you, his expression one of confusion and curiosity. His eyes held that familiar, guarded look the soldier usually carried - a careful blend of wariness and interest that never quite revealed his inner thoughts. He examined the stuffed toy with an almost childlike fascination, as if encountering one for the first time.

His flesh hand explored every detail of the plush elephant with careful attention, fingers trailing along the soft fabric. He wrapped them around the trunk, testing its flexibility, then moved to rub the floppy ears between his thumb and forefinger, then squeezing the body gently as if checking its softness.

"There's something else too." You smiled warmly, gesturing toward the bag with enthusiasm. "Go ahead, take another look." He complied, reaching in until his hand emerged clutching a brand new journal. Following the theme, the journal was decorated in a soothing light blue shade, its cover stamped with a delicately printed elephant in the center. "I noticed your other journals were getting pretty full, so I thought you might need a fresh start. This one's got plenty of space, lots of room for all those thoughts and memories you want to keep safe."

His hands gently set the items down after examining each one carefully, his eyes lingering on every detail as if trying to memorize them. Then he turned to you, his expression unreadable. "You...got these...for me." Bucky spoke slowly, each word carefully chosen, as if he was having trouble processing the simple act of kindness. "To help me remember?"

"And, the elephant will be a nice cuddle buddy for those long nights you tend to have," you explained softly, watching his reaction. "It has special infusions of lavender and bergamot oils that I picked specifically to help you sleep better. The aromatherapy might even help soothe away those bad dreams you've been having. Well, at least according to the sales clerk." You reached out and lifted the soft plush elephant, bringing it to your nose and inhaling deeply. "See? It's really calming, isn't it?"

He took the toy back and smelled it deeply, letting out a contented sigh as the aroma filled his nose and sent waves of comfort through his body, making him feel warm and fuzzy inside. He carefully lowered the elephant into his lap, treating it as if it were made of delicate porcelain. His throat tightened with emotion as he swallowed hard and looked back at you, his eyes wide with disbelief and gratitude.

"All this for me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible as he struggled to process the reality that someone would think to get him anything at all (Steve didn’t count). The concept of receiving gifts was so foreign to him, so far removed from his perception of what he deserved, that he could barely wrap his mind around it.

You thought maybe it looked sill to some people, but it was more about why you got it, not what you got him.

You nodded, offering a warm smile, "Yes...I got this just for you."

The soldier's gaze slowly drifted back to his lap, his fingers lingering momentarily on the thoughtful gifts before carefully pushing the journal and elephant to rest beside him. He then leaned forward quickly, closing the distance between you and wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace. The display caught you off guard, given his usual hesitance to initiate any form of contact beyond nightly cuddling or his possessive love-bites.

After you recovered from the sudden gesture, your arms encircled him in return. You drew him closer as he nestled himself against your body, seeking comfort in your warmth and smell. It was one of the only things he could consistently rely on.

A knowing smile played across your lips as you whispered against his ear, "I take it you like it?"

"...Да."

Thanks for reading. -em 🌿

Dividers by @/strangergraphics | Images found on Pinterest.

[moonlessnight14]

Sugar Plums. | W.S

summary: The soldier has an attachment to you.

warnings: Suggestive 18+ MDNI & Fluff | Winter Soldier!Bucky | Brief mentions of PTSD | Brief talk of HYDRA | Heavy petting | Love biting/hickeys

a/n: This came to me randomly but thought it was cute and somewhat spicy. I added some fluff to balance it all out and tried to keep the sexy scenes sweet too. I see so many fics of him being super aggressive in bed and those are great, but for me I think he'd be a little more like this. Takes place after the events of CA:TWS. Contains roughly translated Russian, native speakers can correct me if anything was translated wrong. Ty. ;; wc: 5.5k

It was so awkward.

Everyone sat frozen in place, their eyes locked on the imposing figure of the Winter Soldier as he towered behind you, his piercing blue eyes methodically scanning the room and studying each occupant with an intensity that made them shift uncomfortably in their seats.

"Absolutely not!" Tony was the first to break the suffocating silence, his voice sharp and decisive as he beat Steve to speaking by a mere second. There was absolutely no way he would even consider allowing the fist of HYDRA to take up residence in his tower, treating him like he was nothing more than some lost stray that needed sheltering. "He's not staying here, no way in hell - this isn't a halfway house for reformed assassins."

"Tony, come on. HYDRA is gone, their control over him is broken," you reasoned desperately, your voice taking on a pleading tone as you gestured toward the silent figure behind you, "He's been surviving on his own for weeks, barely getting by. Just look at him...he's exhausted, malnourished, and clearly needs somewhere safe to stay and recover."

"Uh, how about no?" Tony fired back, staring at you like you had grown a second head...or like you had a towering sleeper soldier looming behind you.

Tony wasn't your favorite person in the world, but he was usually somewhat reasonable.

"There's absolutely no way that he's staying here. Have you completely lost your mind? What if he suddenly snaps or loses control and goes completely berserk, hm? What if one night those sleeper triggers buried in his brain suddenly activate and he systematically takes us out one by one in our sleep?" Tony added emphatically, his hands gesturing wildly in the air as he attempted to visualize the gruesome scenarios playing out in his mind.

"Your state-of-the-art security cameras can't give us a heads up before that happens?" You asked with dry sarcasm, your tone deliberately flat and unimpressed, clearly making a joke while you tried to find some kind of middle ground that would get the agitated, self-proclaimed playboy to calm down and think rationally.

"No chance in hell, sweet cheeks," he folded his arms and glared at you with sternness that etched across his features. "Too dangerous."

"He's staying, whether you like it or not," you replied in the same unwavering tone, standing your ground with resolute conviction. "He's hurt, weak, completely vulnerable. There's absolutely nothing he could possibly do in this state. He needs somewhere warm and safe to stay, especially since he's been struggling to survive out on the streets for weeks now. Besides, winter is coming fast and there’s no way he won’t get hypothermia or something." You added with concern, knowing full well that while the soldier hadn't been entirely helpless during his ordeal, he certainly hadn't managed to secure any kind of stable shelter.

His temporary refuges consisted only of cold spaces beneath bridges, dark corners tucked away in forgotten alleys, or the remains of abandoned buildings - not a single place where he could truly let his guard down or feel protected from the harsh elements. With winter's rapid approach and already light dustings of snow, the temperatures would only get more brutal as the nights went on.

You continued to argue with Tony, Steve butting in every so often, luckily siding with you, desperate to have his old friend somewhere safe. It was a long, frustrating argument that lasted much longer than need be.

Earlier that day, while you had been making your way down the frost-covered street of New York's downtown district, his eyes had caught sight of your familiar form. Something deep within him told him to follow you, a magnetic pull that he couldn't explain. He obeyed the instinct, trailing silently behind you all the way back to the tower. When you finally became aware of his presence, he was thoroughly drenched from the steadily falling snow, his cheeks and nose having turned a bright, rosy color from the biting cold as he tried to suppress his constant shivering.

The moment you made your sudden turn to approach him, he visibly startled, immediately taking a defensive step backward as his mind raced through all the possible scenarios and potential threats. His eyes darted across your face with obvious wariness as you fully turned to face him, his entire body subtly shifting its weight from foot to foot, muscles tensed and ready to bolt away.

"It's okay...you look cold..." You spoke softly, your voice barely above a whisper, trying not to startle him as you took in his disheveled appearance. The soldier, the one whose face had practically been plastered across every news channel, the same one Steve had spoken about with such raw emotion in his voice.

You remembered how Steve had mourned his best friend, utterly confused and devastated about why he had saved from the river, while Bucky fell to what should have been his death. Steve held onto that grief, that guilt, like a lifeline. He held onto it so desperately, clinging to the faintest hope that a sliver of Bucky was still somewhere deep inside the persona of the Winter Soldier.

Looking at him now, you couldn't see any trace of the man from Steve's stories - the soldier's eyes were too wild and wide, filled with fear and confusion.

But despite everything you'd heard, despite the destruction you'd witnessed on the news, despite the intense warnings from everyone in the tower, there was something about his presence that didn't trigger your fight or flight response.

He didn't make you feel unsafe.

He looked absolutely beat down, exhausted to his very core, his shoulders slumped in a way that made you wonder when he'd last had a moment's rest. You weren't even sure he could take you down if he tried in this state, though you knew his reputation suggested otherwise. He was shaking from the cold air as it blew in a stinging breeze, his metal arm gleaming dully in what little light remained, while the incoming winter storm brought with it a thick haze and countless tiny pinpricks of needle-like snowflakes that seemed to cut through the air.

"Come inside with me, I'll take care of you." You offered quietly, your voice gentle and reassuring as you extended your hand towards him. Your body language remained open and non-threatening, shoulders relaxed and posture deliberately casual to help put him at ease and to show him you felt no fear.

After a few silent moments where his piercing blue eyes studied you through the thick haze, he finally shifted his weight forward and took a step in your direction.

The water in the shower had set a steady steam in the bathroom, the mirror had fogged and the tiles sweat below your bare feet.

You could hear the gentle splashing of water against the bathtub as he cleaned himself. The mechanical whirring of his metal arm caught your attention, hopefully that thing was waterproof, but it must be, right?

After setting out a fresh towel and clean clothes for his use, you quietly excused yourself to provide him with privacy. The state of his current attire was awful, every piece was thoroughly saturated and carried an unmistakable stench that made you wrinkle your nose. The clothes were in such poor condition that you couldn't help but wonder if they had been scavenged from someone who no longer needed them.

You wouldn’t put it past the soldier to steal from a cadaver.

His shower routine was notably brief, years of conditioning taught him to minimize the time spent on his personal care. Upon finishing, he emerged from behind the curtain and efficiently dried himself with the provided towel. His gaze fell upon the fresh clothes you had thoughtfully placed by the sink, while his previous garments had been discreetly removed.

The soldier hesitated momentarily before donning the clean outfit. It wasn’t anything fancy, a pair of grey sweatpants emblazoned with the Avenger's logo along the side and a simple yet comfortable black tank top. When he finally emerged from the bathroom to face you, his body language betrayed his uncertainty as he stood there, not sure what to do now. Comfort was completely foreign to him, and care was a dream away.

"Tony finally gave in," you replied softly, your voice sounded in the quiet stillness of the bedroom. "He said you could stay here with us."

He remained motionless, his expression blank and unreadable as he stood there, offering neither response nor the slightest hint of acknowledgement to your words. You weren’t sure what to expect but that seemed pretty in character for him at the moment.

"You'll be staying in my quarters since no one else is comfortable having you in their space just yet...but don't worry too much about that," you reassured gently, though you could tell from his demeanor that others' opinions held little weight in his mind. "They'll come around after some time, I'm sure of it."

His gaze fixed upon you then, his brow creasing ever so slightly with an unspoken question as he began to move. Each step was deliberate and measured as he crossed the room, closing the distance between you until he stood directly in front of you, close enough that you could see the water droplets from his freshly washed hair beading at the ends and falling onto the fabric of your top, leaving dark spots where they landed.

"Everything's going to be fine," you said with gentle reassurance, trying to ease the tension in the air. "Why don't we head to the kitchen and get you something to eat? You must be hungry." You offered, hoping to bring some normalcy to the situation.

The soldier shadowed your every movement, following closely behind like a faithful companion who refused to stray from their master's side.

Upon entering the expansive kitchen, you immediately made your way to the industrial-sized refrigerator, searching through its contents for something suitable to offer him. The kitchen was perpetually stocked to the brim with an array of foods, snacks, and ingredients, practically anything one could imagine or desire. It was like having a private, fully-stocked grocery store.

Though with a the ravenous super soldier with enhanced metabolism, the mighty Asgardian god whose appetite matched his status, and Banner's surprisingly hulk-ish consumption…the team still depleted their food with an efficiency that would put a pack of famished wolves to shame.

"Hm...what should you have...do you want anything specific?" You turned over your shoulder to address him, but he maintained his characteristic silence. Unmoving, and completely stoic, like a statue carved from marble.

"Нет [No]," came his quiet response, the Russian word rolling off his tongue deeply. He remained perfectly still, observing with careful attention as you continued your search through the refrigerator's contents, trying to determine what would be most appropriate for him to eat. Your mind was working quickly, knowing you wanted to avoid anything too time-consuming to prepare. You wanted to get some food into him sooner rather than later.

"How about...I could make some soup real quick? Tomato and grilled cheese might be a safe option for you. Shouldn't upset your stomach too much if you haven’t been eating a lot, and it will warm you up if you're still feeling cold." You turned back toward him once more, studying his features carefully for any hint of reaction or preference to your suggestion, any subtle change in his expression.

But, he didn't provide even the slightest indication of his feelings.

You decided on tomato soup and a grilled cheese anyway, you figured it was best and immediately set to work in the kitchen.

Although you typically prided yourself on preparing meals completely from scratch, this particular circumstance called for something different. You assembled the sandwich, buttering the bread before placing it in a heated pan to get a golden-brown crust while keeping a watchful eye on the pot of soup simmering beside it, occasionally stirring for even heating.

Once everything reached the perfect temperature and consistency, you transferred the meal onto clean dishes, relieved it didn’t take too long. You presented him with the steaming bowl of soup and perfectly grilled sandwich, watching as the soldier deliberately took his place at the counter, his eyes fixed intently on the rising steam from the bowl before him.

You watched him, noting how his entire body remained unnaturally rigid and motionless, as though every muscle was locked in place and braced for something. His lips bore a slight sheen of moisture, like he had licked them at some point when you weren't watching. Yet despite his obvious hunger, he hadn't made even the slightest attempt to reach for the food. His eyes held intense longing and hesitation, briefly meeting yours before quickly darting away, as if making eye contact was somehow forbidden.

"What's wrong?" You asked with growing concern etched across your features, "You're hungry aren't you? I can tell you haven't eaten in a while. Especially not anything warm, at least. I know it can be hard out there, all by yourself…"

His response came in the form of an almost imperceptible nod, his gaze remaining firmly fixed on the bowl and sandwich before him, as though they were the most important and most dangerous objects in the room.

"So why aren't you eating? The food's getting cold, it won’t be as good if it cools too much."

"Я не могу совершить действие без приказа. [I cannot perform an action without an order]," the soldier responded in barely more than a whisper, his voice carrying the weight of years of conditioning.

You stood there, completely lost in the language barrier between you. Your limited knowledge of Russian extended only to the most basic words - 'да' and 'нет' - leaving you clueless by his response and worried about the implications of his behavior.

You didn't want to wake Natasha, even though she would certainly understand what he was saying in Russian, but disturbing her sleep for something as simple as a quick translation seemed unnecessary and might put her in a bad mood. Instead, an idea popped into your head that would avoid an angry widow. You reached for your phone and placed it on the smooth counter surface, navigating to a translator app before looking up at him again. "Can you repeat that?"

The soldier's eyes flickered briefly to the phone screen, taking in the sight of the translation app with what seemed like recognition, before his gaze deliberately returned to the untouched food laid out before him. "I cannot perform an action without an order," he stated in perfect, albeit mechanical English this time.

You blinked in surprise, thoroughly caught off guard by the sudden switch to English when he had been persistently speaking Russian up until this point. "Okay...well...eat then, you can eat freely here, you don't need an order to do that." You slowly tucked your phone away into your pocket as his right hand gradually lifted from where it had been resting in his lap, reaching out to pick up the sandwich.

You weren't sure what you were expecting, but he wolfed down his food within a minute, that sandwich was gone within maybe three bites. The soup swallowed just as fast.

God, he was starving, and the realization made your heart ache.

"Better?" You asked gently, to which he only nodded, swallowing the last of the food in his mouth.

This became routine, the soldier stuck by your side like a duckling imprinting on its mother.

He followed you diligently around every corner of the tower, his protective instincts activated as he positioned himself like an ever-vigilant guardian. His eyes constantly scanned the surroundings, noting how others would cast uncertain and sometimes suspicious glances in his direction.

These looks made him increasingly self-conscious and anxious, as though he were some exotic creature put on display at a zoo for others to gawk at. But in your presence, he seemed a bit more at ease. He genuinely liked being around you.

Gradually, the rigid tension that had defined his existence began to melt away, and he started allowing more intimate gestures of care. He let you gently brush his unruly hair into place, carefully wash his face with warm water, or trim his growing stubble for him.

He accepted these tender ministrations without the slightest resistance or complaint, though a nagging worry lingered in your mind that his compliance stemmed from years of conditioning to submit to others' wishes. Each time you worried about that, you’d see a genuine warmth and contentment in his gaze rather than submission, showing you that he truly found comfort and pleasure in your gentle touch.

It was evening, the room reflected the warm glow of festive holiday lights emanating from a miniature Christmas tree nestled in the corner. The soldier found himself transfixed by the small decorated tree, his eyes lingering on each twinkling light as their vibrant colors danced and shimmered. The sterile, monotonous walls he had grown accustomed to during his confinement were nothing compared to the colorful lights. The gentle play of red, green, and gold seemed to awaken something long dormant within him, he almost wanted to plant himself in front of the tree and just stare at it.

Tony may have allowed his stay, but that didn’t mean there weren’t restrictions. He was stern about where and when the soldier could go anywhere with you, and he demanded that he not leave your room afterhours. It wasn’t hard to follow, the solider showed reluctance to leave your room at all, having been so accustomed to being kept in one room. You didn’t push him, but you felt bad for him because he was missing how the tower had been decorated for the holidays. So, you got a smaller tree for the bedroom to provide some kind of festive look for him to take in.

You emerged from the bathroom, wisps of steam following in your wake, your damp hair leaving little droplets on your shoulders as you continued to towel it dry with scrunches. He remained motionless on the edge of your bed, his attention immediately shifting as he turned and blinked up at your approaching figure.

His icy eyes traced a deliberate path across your form, which was barely concealed beneath the thin fabric of your sleep shirt, the hem teasingly brushing against your mid-thigh with each movement. "I am beat," you sighed heavily, your voice carrying the weight of the day's festivities. The marathon of holiday activities had clearly taken its toll, leaving you thoroughly drained. The tower often held an array of things to do because Tony loved to show off what he could afford, and it wasn’t like anyone else would object.

He observed with rapt attention as you made your way onto the bed and settled back against the pillows, releasing a deep exhale that seemed to melt away the day's tension. His unwavering gaze remained fixed on the rhythmic, hypnotic motion of your chest rising and falling with each breath.

You felt the bed shift beneath you as he moved, his weight causing the mattress to dip and creak softly. He crawled over to where you lay, his arms positioning themselves on either side of your body, caging you in. Your eyes fluttered open to find him hovering directly above you, his presence overwhelming in its proximity. This was something new…he had always maintained somewhat of a distance before, never daring to position himself so intimately over top of you.

"Я скомпрометирован. [I'm compromised]," the soldier spoke in a hushed tone, his voice carrying that distinctive gravelly pitch that made you feel tingly. The tension between you had become damned near impossible to ignore. What had started as a subtle pull had grown into an overwhelming force of attraction that seemed to draw you both together like magnets.

Still, you forced yourself to hold back, maintaining that last thread of restraint. You had no way of knowing the depth of his emotional capacity, if he was even capable of genuine feelings, or wanted to experience them at all after everything he endured.

"Soldat...?" The whispered word escaped your lips as you noticed the subtle shift in his demeanor, the way his muscles tensed as he remained suspended above you, perfectly still. "You know I don't understand-"

"I am compromised," he repeated, switching to English this time. His voice had dropped even lower, carrying an edge of frustration that vibrated through the minimal space between your bodies.

"Comprom..." You sat up slowly on your elbows and shook your head in confusion, your brow furrowed as you tried to process his words. That’s what you’d say about a machine or computer, not a man. "What are you talking about?" Your eyes wandered downward, suddenly drawn to an unmistakable tent in his fitted briefs that became obvious from your new viewing angle, causing you to freeze in place as your breath caught in your throat.

So, he could feel things.

"Oh..." You felt a wave of embarrassment wash over you as you remained frozen in place, your cheeks growing warm. "I think I understand now...you're feeling a bit pent up, aren't you?"

His metal arm whirred softly, the sophisticated machinery humming as he moved to adjust his hand placement. "Да. [Yes]," he responded in a low voice, his gleaming titanium fingertips delicately ghosted across the bare skin of your thigh, just barely grazing beneath the hem of your thin sleep shirt. Goosebumps erupted along your body in response to the contact, the cool metal sudden against your flushed skin.

"Мне не нравится делиться вашим вниманием. [I don't like sharing your attention]," he muttered with an undertone of possession, his lips curling into a slight frown as he gradually leaned closer to you. His silken hair delicately tickled your face as he slowly lowered himself, the tips of your noses barely grazing against each other in an intimate gesture. His lips parted ever so slightly, revealing a glimpse of anticipation before he dipped his head down, warm lips pressing a tender, lingering kiss to your jawline.

You swallowed reflexively, your breath catching in your throat as you felt his warm, steady breath caress your sensitive skin, sending a visible shudder of growing excitement through your body.

He continued his gentle exploration, encouraged by your acceptance and the absence of any resistance. He pressed a trail of soft, purposeful kisses along the curve of your jaw, each one more intimate than the last, before gradually working his way down to your neck. His lips carefully followed the rhythmic flutter of your pulse beneath your skin, his tongue peeking out shyly to touch against you.

"Ah-" You voiced softly, feeling him settle on a particularly sensitive spot, right against the delicate side of your neck. It was nestled perfectly between the graceful junction where your neck connected to your collarbone, the skin there warm and inviting, holding a faint trace of blood flow from the intricate network of smaller veins positioned just beneath the surface.

He kissed many times with increasing intensity, clearly finding this spot ideal for his attentions. The soft, tentative pecks gradually became more passionate, open-mouthed kisses as each one was placed. His tongue began gently pressing against your skin with each lingering kiss, the pressure slowly growing in need. You felt your cheeks flush with warmth when he finally latched on, your eyes widening in surprise as the soldier's strong arms held you a little tighter.

Soldat began to suckle a mark, his ministrations gentle and teasing at first, but quickly growing in force and intensity as his skilled tongue swirled expertly around the trapped skin between his lips and teeth. The sensation drew a breathy moan from deep within you, making your entire body feel as though it were engulfed in flames of desire. Though you were completely helpless beneath the assassin, you had absolutely no intention or desire to push him away.

This felt too damned good.

Without thinking, your leg came up and hooked around his hips, drawing him closer until your bodies were flush against each other. The heat between you grew and you felt his painful erection trapped in his briefs, straining against the fabric as his arousal was staining them. Soldat exhaled sharply through his nose, his grip tightening possessively, but he did not let go.

His suckling grew increasingly intense, the sensitive skin tingling and starting to sting and burn with each passing moment. Still, he didn't release the bruised skin just yet.

Instead, he just bit down harder, ensuring the mark he left would last for days. You moaned loudly, your fingers gently tangling in his thick hair as your pleasured sounds encouraged his attention. He became more attentive when your little sounds of pleasure turned into sharp, quiet hisses - clearly indicating that the sensation had crossed from pleasure into discomfort, silently telling him to ease off.

When he did finally relent, he pulled back to admire his handiwork, looking down at the deep purple mark blooming on your neck. His breath came in heavy pants through his parted lips as he stayed quiet, watching intently as you struggled to catch your own breath too. The sight of you beneath him, disheveled and vulnerable, with flushed skin and labored breathing, was enough to draw him right back in.

He dipped back down with renewed hunger, his metal hand slowly threading through your hair before gently fisting it at the base of your skull, though his careful control ensured it wasn’t painful, just firm. He tugged just enough to guide your movement, encouraging you to expose more of your neck to his hungry gaze.

"E-easy..." You whispered, a note of anxious anticipation in your voice. You wanted more, god you wanted more, but his sudden change of behavior was a bit surprising for you.

"Понял. [Understood]," he whispered against your skin, pressing a soft kiss of reassurance to your jaw before returning his attention to your neck. Those soft kisses began again, trailing along your skin, but his restraint didn't last long as he quickly sought a new canvas for another mark. He latched onto a spot just a little bit higher on your neck, alternating between sucking and carefully controlled bites to gradually darken and bruise the sensitive flesh.

You felt bite after delicious bite, hickey after possessive hickey.

He marked the tender flesh of your neck in several deep, purple marks that bloomed like violent flowers across your skin...each one throbbing with a sweet ache when he pulled away. His tongue always swirled over the mark with care to soothe the sting of it, making you arch into his touch as you fell into a complete daze.

"S-Soldat," you muttered breathlessly, cheeks flushed crimson and eyelids heavy with desire. Your pupils matched his own - completely blown with hunger and desperate need. Those bermuda swirls meeting yours as he continued a torturously slow trail of hot kisses down your chest, nipping your collarbone with just enough pressure to make you gasp before following the gentle dip of your sternum.

He paused deliberately, pulling up so he could lift the thin sleep shirt over you and expose more of your bare chest to his hungry gaze, giving him better access for his heated kisses and teasing nips. Once your top was discarded somewhere on the floor, his hands gently but firmly held your sides, trailing up with reverent touches until settling against your ribcage. His larger hands completely encompassed your torso, making you feel small but protected.

The soldier was absolutely transfixed at the sight of your breasts, eyeing the soft mounds and peaked nipples as they hardened in the cool air, growing increasingly sensitive and rosy with your mounting arousal. It was like he was completely mesmerized by the sight before him, the fucking Winter Soldier, the most dangerous assassin in history, stopped dead in his tracks at the mere sight of your bare breasts.

You felt in charge now.

"What is it? Do you like them?" you purred softly to the soldier, your body swaying in a deliberately teasing motion that made them gently move. His eyes remained fixed, drinking in the sight before him as his lips parted ever so slightly. Slowly, his head tilted down again, surrendering to the moment. He let his face nestle against your chest, his lips trailing a constellation of unhurried kisses across your skin.

He began to nip and suckle the tender skin of your breasts, his mouth working to create deep, purple love bites on that delicate flesh. The bruising blossomed easily beneath his ministrations, almost like they were eager to show themselves.

His lips would find a promising spot, then he would begin lapping at the skin with gentle strokes of his tongue until he felt you squirming. The soldier took the sensitized flesh carefully between his teeth, rolling the captured skin while his talented muscle swirled and sucked.

Your chest displayed his passionate handiwork when he finally drew back to admire his creation. The plum-colored bruises created an intimate pattern across your skin, their rich hues made even more striking by the soft glow of the holiday lights that danced through the room, highlighting each carefully placed love bite until they seemed to shimmer like twilight stars against your flesh.

"Soldat...I think you covered enough surface area," you breathed, feeling overwhelmed by the intense throbbing that radiated from each mark he'd left. The sensation pulsed in waves across your skin, making it difficult to focus. Your neck was thoroughly covered in the passionate marks, and now your chest bore an equally impressive collection.

The soldier gazed down at you with intensely, his eyes taking in each little sugar plum bruise that decorated your skin like a masterpiece. Though they were scattered without any deliberate pattern, the overall effect clearly pleased him. You lay there looking thoroughly affected by his attention, hair mussed and breathing uneven, cheeks beautifully darkened with a dust of blush, just from his careful application of bites alone. The sight of you in such a state, marked so thoroughly, brought deep set satisfaction in his gut.

"Моя сейчас. [Mine now]," he muttered softly, his warm breath ghosting across your skin as his lips hovered mere millimeters from your own. The almost-kiss was delicate, just the faintest brush of contact that sent electricity dancing through your nerves. He almost seemed nervous to close that final distance, his confidence faltering despite the passionate trail of marks he had already left scattered across your skin.

He drew back slightly, seemingly snapping out of a trance, and you could see the vulnerability written plainly across his features as that nervousness flickered in his eyes. Shifting his weight, he settled back onto the bed, his right hand finding your knee and tracing gentle, soothing circles there with his thumb. The tender gesture matched his hushed voice as he spoke, "Я не хочу идти дальше. [I don't want to go any further]," the words carrying both certainty and a hint of apology.

Your brow furrowed deeply as you struggled to understand what he was trying to stay, the confusion evident in the slight crease between your eyebrows and the questioning tilt of your head. You really needed to study Russian. "Do you not want to continue?" you asked slowly and carefully, focusing more on interpreting the subtle nuances in his tone rather than trying to parse the exact words he was using.

His facial expression held hesitance and uncertainty, the slight downturn of his lips and the way his eyes wouldn't quite meet yours telling you what you needed to know. Body language was his primary mode of genuine communication, and you had become very good at reading these silent signals he unconsciously broadcast.

"It's okay, we can stop," you replied with a reassuring tone, making sure to keep your voice soft to help dissipate any lingering tension he might be feeling. "Let's just lay here, okay? We can cuddle without any kind of pressure to do anything else, if you want." You offered with a warm smile, wanting him to feel that his comfort and boundaries were completely respected and that there was no expectation or obligation to continue.

This was a lot of good progress with him, you typically just cuddled or he kept to his side of the bed but he had shown you a lot of sweet affection tonight, and you loved it, it meant he was growing more confident in himself and your relationship. The evidence of his passionate yet tender attention remained visible in the form of gentle, plum-colored marks that decorated your neck and chest as you lay beside him, watching as his silent form trembled slightly beneath the heavy warmth of the thick blankets that enveloped you both.

You opened your arms, offering him a warmer space, and he quickly scooted forward, tucking himself against you. Prone to being cold, he liked being under many layers of blankets, so you made sure to provide plenty for him to not only feel warm but secure. Plus...having you to hold him always helped.

Without the worry of being a soldier, he could rest easy like this.

Thanks for reading. -em 🌿

Dividers by @/strangergraphics | Images found on Pinterest.

[moonlessnight14]

That build up was deliciously good 🫠

Lovestruck

Pairing: Javier Peña x female reader

Word Count: 4.2K

Summary: Little do you know, after being in the wrong place at the wrong time- that you've gotten yourself on the radar of some very bad men. Thankfully, you now have the protection of one very good man (and Steve, also good) but when Javi first lays eyes on you he knows he wants so much more than just to protect you.

Author's Note: Again, I apologize for deleting this post a second time. The tags are just not cooperating. I really hope things work this time! Thank you again to those who gave me notes, hope you can enjoy again! No reason for more Javi other than I can't seem to get over him and I don't want to so yay! He's been on my mind extra lately. Wishing you all a very happy New Year filled with love, health and happiness! Thank you for all the support and much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the lovely @firefly-graphics thank you Daisy! 🥰

Warnings: lots of tension and flirting, some soft sweetness too, Javi is forward but not in a bad way, he saves the day in more ways than one and might be in a little over his head (which he's not used to), fingering, smut (unprotected p in v- but just for fanfic folks lol)

Pedro Pascal Character Masterlist

“Keep staring like that and you’re gonna blow our cover man.”

Steve’s comment goes unnoticed as Javi continues to do just that. Stare.

You’re standing against the bar, drink in hand and talking with your friend, unaware of the pair of dark chocolate eyes glued to you.

“Hey,” Steve says again.

Javi tears his eyes away from you and pins Steve with a glare.

“What?”

Steve gives him an exasperated look. “You’re not supposed to fuck her. Just protect her.”

Javi grunts before finishing off his drink, his eyes sliding back to you as you saunter over to the juke box.

He’s been watching you for days now, his infatuation only growing the more he learns the little nuances of your body and the brightness of your smile. Barely conscious of his feet moving and Steve’s disgruntled objections, he starts toward you, unsure of his intention but at this point, unable to stop himself.

You shuffle through the songs on the screen, chewing your lip with indecision. His teeth sink into his own bottom lip in response, wishing it were yours. As he gets closer, your startled gaze flies up to meet his.

Lightning rockets through his system. If he thought you were beautiful in the photos and from across the room, it’s nothing compared to what he sees standing in front of him now.

He takes a step closer. Talking to women is like second nature to him, yet he finds himself stranded in silence, second-guessing everything that pops into his head.

And if he doesn’t speak soon, his closeness will begin to alarm you. Exactly the opposite of what he should be doing.

“I can’t let you do that,” he blurts out.

“Can’t let me do what, exactly?” you retort, turning to face him with a raised brow.

Your voice slides like silk across his skin and it takes him a minute to recapture his train of thought. He tilts his head toward the song on the screen of the juke box.

“Not that song.”

You smirk. “Elaborate.”

“Everyone picks that song. Aren’t you tired of it?”

You peek up at him, a laugh flirting around the edges of your mouth.

“Do you have a better suggestion?”

“Of course,” he replies. He tries not to stare at your lips. “I like to dance so for me, something like…”

He leans in and starts to scroll through the song list, his warmth and scent sweeping over you in a magnetic wave.

He stops on a song you don’t recognize but when it begins to play the beat is lively and makes you want to move.

Your eyes meet his once more, humor lurking in their depths. “I like it.”

“Oh yeah?”

You nod and with a sultry smile over your shoulder you head back toward the bar and your friend, an extra sway to your hips that matches the music.

“I can’t believe you just did that,” Steve says when Javi returns with a smug grin. “You could blow our cover.”

“How?” Javi asks before he motions for the bartender.

“I’m surprised you let a woman get to you like this.”

“Like what?”

“Are you just going to answer all my questions with more questions?”

The corner of Steve’s mouth lifts with his last string of words and he waits as Javi just looks at him blankly.

When the song ends Javi turns his attention back to you and he finds you watching him. Without a second thought he walks over.

He smiles at your friend then asks you, “what did you think?”  

“I liked it,” you tell him. “I’ve never heard it before.”

“I should definitely play another one then. And you should dance with me.”

He catches your sharp intake of breath and realizes you might be waiting for a significant other. He feels a sharp jolt of jealousy that surprises him.

“Are you here with someone?” he asks.

Your brow quirks at his growled-out question, but you answer anyway.

“Just my friend here,” and you motion to Samantha.

Relief washes over his expression.

“So why not dance with me?”

“I’m here to spend time with Sam,” you explain, even though you can tell she wants you to go dance with him.

“She can hang out with Steve,” Javi says, throwing a thumb over his shoulder in Steve’s direction. “He’s loads of fun.”

“He’s cute,” Sam chimes in, giving Steve a little wave.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Javi says, earning a chuckle from both you and Sam.

“So, is that a yes?”

You look incredulous. “No. The only thing I know about you is that you like to dance.”

“What would you like to know about me?” he shoots back as he leans against the bar, looking more than comfortable.

“Nothing. I’m not dancing with you. In fact, how do I know you’re not some creep trying to abduct me.”

At your unintentionally keen words Javi gives up the battle with a smile. “I’ll get you dancing sweetheart.”

“We’ll see about that…”

“Javi,” he finishes and holds out his hand. “Javier Peña”

You hesitate a moment but then hold out your hand and give him your name-even though he already knows it.

“Pleasure,” he croons as he lifts your hand to his lips and kisses your knuckles.

Warmth tingles up your arm and down your spine, rendering you speechless for a moment. Samantha pulls you from your stupor when she nudges you in the side.

“Enjoy your night ladies,” he says but not before looking you straight in the eye and adding, “I’ll be seeing you again.”

When Javi is back at Steve’s side he sighs.

“What happened? She tell you to fuck off?”

Javi practically rolls his eyes. “Not exactly.”

“Well, hope you didn’t freak her out too much because we have a job to do.”

As the night goes on you catch Javi looking your way more than once and you find it hard not to look back. He doesn’t approach you again though and the disappointment you feel is unexpected.

By eleven pm Sam is ready to go so you say goodbye and go to use the restroom before heading out. The night air is damp with impending rain, and you jog quickly to your car, hopping in and setting your bag down on the seat.

You put the key in the ignition and turn it. Nothing happens. No lights. No sound. Nothing.

“SHIT!” you shout and hit the steering wheel. Is it your battery? A faulty starter?

You’re just about to dial Sam when you hear a light rap at your window. You jump but quickly see that it’s Javi and let out a relieved breath.

You press the button to roll down the window.

“Problem?” he asks with a sideways smile.

“My car won’t start,” you sigh.

His lips turn downward. “Shit.”

“That’s what I said.”

“I can try to jump it if you want,” Javi offers.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Javi pulls his car up close and starts to fiddle around in the trunk for the cables. Once he has everything ready you meet him by the hood.

“How come you were out here anyway?” you ask, watching as his long fingers make easy work of the clamps and wires.

“Just a feeling,” he says nonchalantly.

After following his directions and trying to start your car again you realize it must be more than the battery and let out a string of curses.

“Sorry sweetheart,” Javi says. “I’ll give you a ride home and you can deal with in the daylight.”

“I can just call Samantha.”

“You can, but it’s after midnight,” Javi says, looking at his watch. “I’m already here.”

You study him. His strong jaw, the dark hair that falls boyishly over his forehead, and the way the open collar of his shirt frames his long neck, the tempting hint of collarbone peeking out just enough to make you want to kiss it.

“Ok,” you say without further thought.

He opens your door and helps you out then waits for you to lock it before he opens the passenger door to his car.

“What about Steve?” you ask suddenly.

“Steve?” Javi repeats. “Oh, yeah. He’s fine. Has his own car.”

When he pulls up to your building he frowns when you don’t wait for him to open your door. You ride up the elevator in silence, the atmosphere between you feels charged.

You’d been more than willing to go up to your apartment yourself, but Javi insisted on walking you.

So, when the elevator opens you breeze out and past him, taking quick steps to your door.

“This is me,” you say without turning around.

You unlock the door and open it, stepping inside and setting your bag down. When you turn, Javi is filling the doorway, one hand on his hip and the other casually resting above his head on the frame like he owns the place.

“I don’t live far. If you need anything…” He holds out a card, his name and number printed on it under the Police Department symbol.

“You’re a cop? You could have told me this earlier. I would have been less worried about you murdering me.”

“DEA agent,” he corrects. “And that was never my intention.”

Your eyes meet and you feel a frisson of heat at the intensity there.

“Well, thank you for the ride.”

“Anytime sweetheart. I’ll see you around.”

He throws you a wink and pushes away from the doorframe, his long legs taking him easily down the hall before he rounds the corner and disappears.

The next morning you drag yourself out of bed and get ready to go about your day. Your thoughts are mostly occupied by Javi, and you’re almost done with your coffee before your brain registers the rest of the night and how your car failed to start.

“Shit,” you grit out. “Ughhhh.”

You think about calling Javi and asking him to take you back to the bar to get your car but then you think it might be asking too much after what he did last night. Instead, you call Sam, who is happy to come get you.

Your car is just where you left it and so is an unmarked cop car, parked right next to yours.

Javi steps out into the sunshine, a sleek pair of aviators perched on his nose and a smile on his face.

“There you are sunshine. I was wondering when you’d be back to get your car.”

He walks close and nods a greeting to Samantha.

You stand there like a fish out of water, your mouth hanging open in shock.

“What are you doing here?” you finally ask.

He shrugs with a devious grin. “Working.”

“The bar is closed.”

Ignoring your comment he continues with, “you have someone to fix this?”

“You mean like a mechanic?”

“Yeah sweetheart.”

“I was just going to call the closest shop.”

He shakes his head, clearly not liking your idea. “I got a guy. Come on.”                 

Samantha leaves you with Javi and he takes you to the shop, helping you settle everything and getting you a good price.

“I hope it doesn’t take too long to fix,” you sigh. “But thank you for helping me out.”

“Anytime gorgeous…now how about that dance?”

“You’re still hung up on that?”

He raises his brows with a tilt of his head, his smile devious.

“Fine, but how am I getting back to the bar tonight. No car. Remember.”

“I’ll pick you up. Seven.”

With that he pulls up to your place and practically jumps out of the car before it stops, rushing around the hood to get your door before you can open it.

You step out and he reaches over you to shut it, trapping you against the car.

“Thanks again,” you whisper as you lean into him.

He dips his head, but you can’t see his eyes, so you reach up to pull the sunglasses off his face. He smiles, lifting his eyes from your mouth to meet your gaze.

You hang them on his shirt, the collar open like it always seems to be, and smooth your hand down his chest. He watches you intently, one hand sliding off the car to settle on your waist. He tugs you forward, lining your body up with his using his other hand to cup your cheek and brush a calloused thumb across your soft skin.

“I told you sweetheart,” he murmurs. “Anytime.”

With one final glance at your lips he slowly moves away and you’re thankful for the strong metal of the car at your back, keeping you upright.

With a steadying breath you peel yourself away and head toward your building, looking over your shoulder to find him leaning against the car, long legs crossed at the ankle and his arms crossed along his chest.

His glasses are still hanging from his shirt, and his hair is slightly messy from the breeze. Your eyes linger and he smiles, pointing his long finger in your direction when he says, “you’re mine tonight.”

The knock at your door makes your breath catch in your throat.

“Be right there,” you shout.

You open the door and his hot gaze sweeps over you from head to toe.

“Hi Javi…”

Before the words are completely out of your mouth, he has you spun around and backed against the wall.

“Did you get all dressed up for me sweetheart?”

Biting your lip, you nod, loving the way your answer makes his eyelids lower; his breath quicken.

He dips his head and runs his nose along your neck with a deep inhale, then places a soft kiss just under your ear. His lips move across your cheek and stop just above your mouth.

“Ready to dance?”

Your knees nearly buckle underneath you, but his weight keeps you upright and you manage a nod.

The bar is crowded but you and Javi find yourself an open space at the bar and order drinks. He stays close. A hand always at your back or on your waist and when he sits on the stool, placing his feet on the bottom bar, he pulls you between his spread legs.

Your hands land on his thighs and you dig your nails in.

He growls into your ear and smooths his hand up your spine, grabbing the back of your neck to drag your face closer.

Right when you think he’s going to kiss you, he stands and pulls you toward the juke box, scrolling through the songs until he finds the one he wants. He presses play and holds his hand out.

You place your fingers in his palm, and he closes his hand around yours. With an ease that steals your breath he tucks you against him as the music starts, slow and sultry. The way he moves his hips so sensually borders on inappropriate, but you can’t find it in you to care.

Instead, you lose yourself in the way he moves and the way he feels. It’s the best kind of foreplay and when the song ends you cling to him, wishing the music could go on forever.

You tuck your head against his chest, but he presses two fingers under your chin, lifting your face to his. He’s grinning, and the way it exaggerates the lines around his eyes and softens the angles of his face makes a flutter erupt in your stomach.

A haze of electricity settles around you and you’re unable to look away. His eyes drop to your mouth and his warm breath fans your cheek as he bends, brushing his lips lightly across yours.

His moustache is soft but still tickles your skin and you want nothing more than to feel it along every inch of your body. Your fingernails dig into his shoulders, and you whisper his name just before your lips meet.

But then his mouth is gone, and a rush of cool air fills the space between your bodies.

“Steve,” you say with confusion.

Steve stands next to you with a tight grip on Javi’s arm.

“We have to go. Now,” Steve says.

“Javi?” Your stomach is fluttering for a whole different reason now, nervousness and fear taking over.

“I’m sorry sunshine,” he says, wrapping you up in his arms. “I need you to go home. Right now.”

“But…” you start, clinging to him.

“Please,” he begs. “Just trust me. I’ll come to you as soon as I can.”

“I don’t have a car,” you sputter out.

“Here,” he says and reaches into his back pocket to retrieve his keys before dropping them into your hand. “Right home ok?”

“Ok,” you say while nodding your head vigorously. “But I don’t understand…”

“I know,” he says, grabbing your face with his hands. “I promise I’ll explain later.”

He stares at you, clearly torn between wanting to kiss you and having to leave. You make the decision for him and press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, lingering long enough that when you pull away his eyes are still closed.

“Be careful,” you whisper.

“You too,” he says before jogging off with Steve, but not without looking back one last time.

Back at your apartment you wait and pace the floor. There isn’t much more you can do and it’s driving you nuts.

By the time you hear the knock on your door it’s past midnight and you’ve fallen asleep on the couch. You wake with a start and stand on shaky legs. Thankfully, you have enough sense to check the peephole before opening the door.

On the other side stands Javi. His leather jacket hangs open and his hair is messy and hanging loosely in front of his forehead. He looks tired but otherwise ok.

“It’s me sweetheart,” he says quietly.

Your door flies open, and you throw yourself at him. He catches you and lets out a huffed laugh that quickly dies off when you slide down his body and move back, a clear invitation.

 His eyes rake down your body, lingering on the way your dress is rumpled and sitting high on your hips, exposing the soft skin of your legs. With an audible swallow he takes a step inside, and you shut the door with a definitive slam.

“Are you ok?” he asks.

“I’m fine. Are you?”

“Yeah,” he says quietly.

You can’t blink away from his steady gaze and your blood seems to vibrate. After a calming breath you point to the couch.

“I want to know what’s going on.”

He moves past you and takes your hand in his, tugging you toward the couch before he sits. You stand at the edge, waiting.

His head drops and he presses the palm of his hand to his forehead.

“I…you already know I’m a DEA agent.”

You nod.

“And Steve and I work together…we’ve been trying to bust this drug trafficking group for a while now and somehow you got on their list…”

“List?” you repeat, feeling your palms sweat.

He stands again and takes a tentative step closer.

“Yeah, wrong place wrong time type of thing and it got you on their radar. We got tipped off from one of our informants and Steve and I were put in place for protection.”

“So, all the flirting, the dancing…you’re only here because you’re protecting me? Not because…”

He holds up a hand to stop you.

“No sweetheart,” he says. “Well, I mean yes initially that’s all it was but then I saw you and like a dick couldn’t stay away and…I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”

He looks up at you with pleading brown eyes.

“Actually, that’s a lie. I wanted to take you home from the moment I first saw you and it took everything in me not to.”

You can see he’s starting to ramble, and you soften at the way he seems desperate to make you understand.

“I promise this has nothing to do with work…I want to be here…”

“Javi.”

“And you’re safe. I promise that too. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Javi.”

He opens his mouth to speak again but you press a firm finger to his lips. He goes silent and with your gentle push falls to the couch again.

Slowly, you climb over him, settling in his lap on top of his thighs. He stares at you, eyes shadowed, and adjusts his posture to set two large hands on your waist, warm and strong.

You lean in but he meets you halfway, crashing his lips to yours. His mouth is soft but commanding and he tilts his head, coming at you better somehow, and deeper, his lips parting, one hand wrapping around your hip to pull you flush against him, the other sliding up your neck, cupping your face.

You’re undone by the way his breath shakes against your lips and the quiet groans he strangles down when you sweep your tongue across his.

You roll your hips against him, but instead of bringing relief it only makes you wilder. His mouth chases your kiss, swallowing the sound you make when he rocks up, the thick line of his cock pressing exactly where you need him.

His hand roams up your back, around your ribs, cupping your breast while the other drags you down again, pinning you to his body. You’re rewarded with another groan, and another when you grind against him.

He doesn’t stop you as you reach for his jacket, pushing it off his shoulders before going for his shirt, one by one undoing the buttons until you feel the warmth of his skin along your palms.

His mouth is on your neck, his fingers curling around the strap of your dress, dragging it down your shoulder and lower, until your bra goes with it, and you’re bare to his mouth. He sucks and kisses and your fingers find purchase in his soft hair, pulling and tugging when he continues and his lips close around your nipple in a delicate bite.

With soft grunts into your skin, he encourages you to pull harder, moving with the gesture to where you want him. Rough and desperate hands sneak under your dress to slide your panties down.

“Sweetheart?” he asks into your neck, and you nod, because frankly, he has permission to do whatever he wants.

Long fingers wrap imposingly around your thighs and his palm slides back up, teasingly slow, his kiss still rough, and then his fingertips graze over you, slippery and hot for him. His mouth goes soft and overcome against yours before he pulls away a fraction, watching your face as he fucks you with one finger, and then two, achingly slow.

And you stare at his mouth, the way it shapes the groaned curses and then tilts upward in a smug grin when he presses a thumb to your clit, and you let out a low moan.

Under your impatient fingers, his pants are soon loose and down his hips and you slide yourself over him, coating him and teasing you both until you’re a fevered mess, kisses sloppy and biting, the head of him pressing into you.

It’s a slow, perfect torture. His focus is on your expression and the sounds you’re making. But then it goes from careful to starving the second he’s all the way inside you. His grip on you is bruising, the sharp, rhythmic gasps he makes making you feel out of control.

He stares down between your bodies, slowing to watch, moving to touch you, his thumb stroking.

“That’s it gorgeous,” he murmurs. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

You want to hold back, make it last forever, but it’s too good. The pleasure hits you in a wave, his name falling from your parted lips and your body clenching around him until he captures your mouth and finishes with a lewd groan, slowing and holding you against his chest.

Your face falls to his sweaty neck and your fingers curl around his open shirt. After catching your breath, he gently brings your face to his, pressing his lips softly to the corner of your mouth and then running the pad of his thumb across your lower lip.

He lifts you off him, reaching for the tissues on the side table and helping you clean up. His actions are careful and gentle and once you’re settled he takes the blanket off the couch and drapes it over you before he wraps you in his arms and lays down.

You tuck yourself closer and kiss his neck.

“Javi?” you whisper.

“Yeah sunshine.”

“Will you stay?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says, kissing your cheek.

His lips tease along your jaw and you shift to give him better access, feeling his cock stir against your stomach. When his mouth reaches your ear he tugs on the soft flesh, running a hand along the curve of your spine to pull you closer and whisper, “I didn’t even get to use my tongue on you. I hate not knowing how you taste.”

Your little gasp makes him smile and his kisses continue.

“But lucky for me,” he murmurs with a brush of his lips, “we have all night.”

[moonlessnight14]

Best kind of weekend!

Ficlet friday sounds cool!

Bucky Barnes (or any other character you feel like writing it) + gently kissing the forehead or top of the head

Have a wonderful weekend! 😊

I hope you enjoy this, Rai!

Weekend Plans

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Word Count: Over 440

Warnings: Semi-dramatic reader, but it's sweet

Collapsing on the couch, you let out an unrefined groan. Work was too much today; it had been all week. You were exhausted and content to stare into the abyss that was your ceiling and not move unless you absolutely had to.

“Should I even ask how your day was?” Bucky asked, hanging up his leather jacket.

Lifting your head to smile at your boyfriend, you nodded. “You should always ask how my day was.”

“How was your day?”

“Exhausting!” You heard him chuckle when you dramatically draped an arm over your eyes. He knew how you got when you were tired. Or hungry. “Please tell me we have no weekend plans.”

He winced, lifting up your legs so he could take a seat and keeping them in his lap. “I’m afraid we do,” he said, lightly rubbing one of your calves. You don’t recall making plans. “Not gonna ask about my day?” he teased.

“How was your day?” you mumbled.

“It was fine,” he answered. “But about those plans, we-”

The unrefined groan came out again.

He waited until you finished before he said, “We’re spending the weekend in.”

You removed your arm from your eyes. “Really?”

“Yep. Pizza tonight, blankets, binging whatever you want, staying in bed if that’s what you want,” he replied, giving you a lopsided smile. “We can do takeout tomorrow, too, so we won’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning dishes.”

“You make a good point about the dishes,” you smiled, your exhausted body and mind excited at the idea. “You sure that’s okay?” you asked. If he wanted to go out or do something, you’d suck it up. Sleep and relaxation could happen another day.

“You’ve had a long week. You’re worn out. I don’t want you to have any stress this weekend, okay?” Maneuvering so he was hovering over you, he gently kissed your forehead. “Besides, spending time with you alone is my favorite activity.”

Your heart felt so full. “You’re too good to me,” you whispered, pulling him on top of you. He was the best kind of blanket. “I think spending time along with you is my favorite activity, too.”

“You think?” he asked

“Yeah, I think,” you smiled, tucking some of his hair back. “But you have an entire weekend to convince me that it should be my number one favorite activity.”

Something mischievous sparkled in his blue eyes. “Well, I haven’t ordered the pizza yet, so I think I should start convincing you now,” he said, smothering your giggle when his lips met yours.

He convinced you, and you thanked him more than once for the wonderful weekend plans.

Love and thanks for participating in Ficlet Friday! ❤️

[moonlessnight14]

Ficlet Friday?

A slightly buzzed Bucky just being the cutest or in love or both. Definitely a fluff-ficlet. Your choice on which Bucky 😉

I tried to make it fluffy, nonnie, but it does have a touch of angst. Sorry!

Pretty Girl

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Word Count: Over 700

Warnings: Tipsy Bucky, encouraging friends, slight angst

You were reading a book in the lounge when laughter rang out through the hall, a smile touching your lips. The guys decided to do a “boys' night out” and it sounded like they had a good time. Between being heroes and the trials and tribulations they all went through, they deserved it.

“Hey! Pretty girl!”

You didn't turn toward the sound of Bucky’s voice immediately as much as you wanted to. Glancing around, you were the only one in the lounge, so who was he talking to? It would mean everything for him to call you pretty, but you were just… you.

“Steeeeve. I don’t think she heard me,” Bucky loudly whispered.

“Then say it again with feeling,” Steve loudly whispered back.

“Got it.” Bucky sucked in breath which gave you enough time to cover your ears. “HEY! PRETTY GIRL!”

“Jesus Christ, I can hear you guys,” you confirmed, shutting your book. There went your quiet evening. “I guess stealth isn’t your strong suit tonight.”

You shrieked when Bucky suddenly sat beside you, casually throwing an arm over your shoulders. Okay, he was still stealthy, and he looked amazing in his jeans and henley. “There’s my pretty girl. I missed you,” he smiled.

“Um…” You looked around to find Steve, Thor, Sam, Joaquin, and Clint hovering by with expectant looks on their faces. You tried to come up with something witty, but all you said was, “What?”

Bucky chuckled, his cheeks a bit more pink than usual. “My pretty girl is adorable, isn’t she?” he said over his shoulder before looking at you with hearts in his eyes.

You leaned in to get a closer look at him, catching a small whiff of liquor mixed with his cologne. “You’re tipsy,” you said. How was that possible?

“No, I’m Bucky. And you’re pretty,” he smiled, the dreamy look still in his eyes. “Pretty eyes, pretty smile, pretty voice. Even your name’s pretty.”

As happy as you were to hear those things, even as your heart pounded, you looked to the guys for help because Bucky couldn’t be serious. “How?”

“My apologies,” Thor spoke even louder than usual. “I shared some of my Asgardian liquor with Barnes and Rogers and… Well-”

“Bucky hasn’t shut about you,” Sam cut in, rolling his eyes. “‘My girl is the prettiest girl there is.’”

“‘Isn’t my girl brilliant? And so kind!’” Clint mocked.

“‘Her smile just lights up the room’,” Joaquin added.

“Guys, c’mon. It’s sweet,” Steve smiled before he said, “‘I’ll bet her kisses even taste pretty.’”

Heat filled your cheeks. Bucky didn’t deny a thing, so they were telling the truth, weren’t they? “But I’m not-”

The former Winter Soldier placed a hand on your cheek, drawing your attention back to him. “Don’t look at them, pretty girl. Look at me.”

You did, and it made you want to cry. Because you weren’t his girl. He was only saying these things because he was tipsy. “Okay. You had your fun, so why don’t you get some sleep?”

His smile fell away. “No,” he muttered, pulling you into his lap in the blink of an eye and putting his face in your neck. “I’m fine right here.”

His lips against your skin had you shivering, and it wasn’t possible to break from his hold. Being this close felt like a dream, but he was tipsy and you had to be the responsible one. “Um… a little help?” you asked.

“Of course.” Thor stepped forward. “Allow me.”

You smiled at the God of Thunder. “Thanks, I…” You stopped when he draped a blanket over you and Bucky. Where did that even come from? “That wasn’t what I-”

“And some water,” he smiled as Bucky nuzzled your neck with a happy moan. You tried not to let that moan turn you on. You had to be good. “Men, let us take our leave.”

“Behave, jerk,” Steve said as Thor shuffled everyone from the room.

“Shut up, punk,” Bucky snarled, nuzzling you again. The lights dimmed, too. It was almost romantic. “Not you, pretty girl. You can say whatever you want.”

You had to laugh. Laughter was better than worrying about what would happen in the morning. “So, I’m your pretty girl?”

“Yep,” he said with a smile. “All mine.”

“Okay, Sarge,” you smiled sadly. “I’m your pretty girl.”

Relaxing in his hold, you could pretend until he was sober that you were.

Love and thanks for participating in Ficlet Friday! ❤️ And this one may be fun to continue.

[moonlessnight14]

catching flights and snowflakes

616 words / pairing: frankie morales x f!reader

← masterlist | notifications blog | seasons of life challenge masterlist

word: snow

warnings/information: established relationship, pure fluff

a/n: this is me re-writing my author's note because my queue failed me! so I'm just getting around to seeing this and properly posting my seasons of life challenge masterlist and my first post ((now a day late >:[)) - my banners are by @saradika-graphics <3 shoutout to @berryispunk and @lady-bess for putting this together on @fanfictionoverload!

“You’re going to freeze your ass off,” you warn your Florida-born and-raised boyfriend Frankie, whose half-packed suitcase consists of breezy button-ups and cargo shorts. 

His adorably confused expression glances from his open suitcase to your dubious look. “How cold can it be? Thirty degrees sounds like nothin’.” He sassily retorts, pinching your chin between his fingers and thumb as he angles your chin upward so that he can place a soft kiss on your lips. 

It’s his first Christmas visiting your side of the family. You were leaving palm trees behind for Castleton green pines, and his wardrobe was drastically underprepared. 

“Let’s see. Christmas in the Midwest will consist of thirty-degree temperatures, colder if there’s a windchill. You have no warm hat, gloves, or jeans without holes in the knees. The only type of boots you own are hiking boots, and those won’t keep you warm if we have to walk through the snow.” 

There’s a glimmer in his eyes, something mischievous and almost kid-like. “You think there’s gonna be snow? A white Christmas?” 

Frankie has always been devoted to the warmth that central Florida offers, never tempted to swap it for a colder climate. Snow is a rarity in his world—he's only experienced the occasional fleeting flurry. By the time those delicate flakes touched the ground, the warmth quickly melted them away, leaving no trace behind.

You didn’t promise him anything, especially with climate change and all, but as soon as your plane had touched down, fat white snowflakes passed by your airplane window with no agenda or intent. They were weightless, the reminder you needed to hold with you as the end of the year approached.  

“Looks like you’re getting your wish,” you whisper to Frankie, interlocking your fingers with his as he joins you in staring out at the midnight blue velvet sky where snow begins to fall steadily. 

Your heart soars as your boyfriend’s gaze lingers on every window you pass, from deboarding the plane to the grand floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the planes landing and departing on the tarmac. He couldn’t resist the excitement of his first real snowfall. 

Having grown up with snow days that shut down schools and heavy flakes piling up inches at a time, you had almost forgotten how magical snow could be.

Frankie’s smile is unwavering, a grin stretched wide across his face as you exit the airport’s main entrance, scanning the lot for your dad’s truck.

“Baby,” he murmurs, his breath swirling in the icy air, visible like a fleeting ghost in front of his face. “I can finally do it, just like in the movies.” Frankie’s excitement spills over as he drops his duffel bag on the sidewalk with a thud, stepping boldly out from the shelter of the airport canopy into the falling snow. He tugs his jacket tighter around him, the cold air making his cheeks rosy. “We had snow once,” Frankie says, staring at the flakes. “Didn’t even stick. Mom made us cocoa just to celebrate.” He grins at the memory and looks down at you. “This? This is a whole other level.”

You giggle as Frankie sticks out his tongue and dives his head from side to side in search of a flake to land on his tongue. “You’re doin’ this with me,” He holds your hands and twirls you under the night sky, both of you chasing snowflakes and cheering when they eventually melt on your warm tongue. 

“We should build a snowman tomorrow. This is perfect packing snow,” you remark casually, pressing your shoe into the thick, powdery layer already blanketing the ground.

Frankie’s eyes damn near bulge out of his head. “We can build a fucking snowman?!”

[moonlessnight14]

Absolutely beautiful 😍❤️

My Little Love

Chapter 40

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader

word count: 7.2K

Warnings: Fluff city baby, happy tears, Henry and Charlotte being cuties

A/N: My lovely people we have made it to the wedding and Chapter 40.. isn't that insane??????? I thought this series would be at least 20-25 chapters tops. So to make such an important event we have the wedding chapter. I really hope you guys like it. I researched wedding ceremonies and everything hahahahah

Series Masterlist

“Mama no mo seeping.” Charlotte whispered in her usual sing-songy way. “We gets mawwied today.” 

You knew she was standing right in front of you on the edge of the bed. But you opened one eye and took a peek at her smiling face before groaning and turning around. Lottie giggles before climbing on the bed and over you. Her foot slips on the bedsheet and she falls with a soft ‘oof’.

“Mama no mo seeping.” 

“Just five more minutes.” You mumble while covering her with the blanket and pulling her in. Lottie is all giggles as she wiggles her way out of your hold. 

“Wake up mama.” 

“Ok, ok. I’m up.” You sit up as Lottie straddles your thighs and leans into your chest for a hug. “Good morning my sweet Angel. Are you ready to be the cutest flower girl ever?” 

“Mmhmm. Gonna do the bestest job.” 

“That’s my girl. Let’s get ready for the morning.” You give Lottie a big hug and some kisses on her cheek before you head into the bathroom. 

You can’t wipe the smile off your face. It’s your wedding day and you’re so excited. When you get downstairs Nat, Wanda and Sofia are dressed comfortably and ready to go. They all have matching shirts that say ‘I do crew’. Nat held up a white shirt for you that said ‘bride or die’ and you couldn’t help but laugh as you put it on. 

“I’M GETTING MARRIED TODAY.” You screamed as you all jumped for joy. 

“Ok, we have to go or we’ll be late.” Wanda starts pushing you towards the door. “Sam already told me the guys were getting ready to leave.” 

“We have everything packed, all you have to do is get your butt in the car, Mrs. Barnes.” 

Your smile gets bigger when Sofia calls you Mrs. Barnes. All this giddiness has you floating on air. 

“One more thing.” Wanda stops you and hands you a pair of white heart shaped glasses that have been bejeweled. The top of the glasses say ‘wife of the party’. Lottie is wearing flower shaped glasses that say ‘flower girl’ and her name. Each of the bridesmaids have matching bejeweled glasses as well. 

“Now we can go.” 

The drive to the venue is fast, but that’s what happens with Nat at the wheel. You have music on blast and you’re singing along without a care in the world. Everything starts to feel more real as you stop in front of the mansion. 

“Alright, now let’s get you married.” 

As soon as you open the car door Olivia is waiting for you. She has a clipboard and a headset as she gives you an initial report. Everything was going according to plan. The photographer and videographer are also there waiting for you to get started, their partners are already off with Bucky and the guys. 

Olivia ushers you in and up to the room where you’ll be getting ready. Lottie is a little ball of excitement as she chatters happily about how she can’t wait to wear her dress and look like a princess. When you get to your room it’s already set up with breakfast and the hair and makeup stylists are ready to go. You all change into robes so it’s easier to get dressed later.

“Who’s going first?” The makeup stylist asks with a smile. 

“I will.” Sofia says as she walks out of the bathroom in a blue bathrobe. 

“Ok ladies, let’s get this party started.” 

There’s more music as you chat with Nat. Lottie plays with some toys you had packed the night before. You all watch as Sofia gets her makeup done and Wanda gets her hair done. Everything is according to plan, the day is beautiful and you couldn’t be happier. 

“You’re sure you want to do this?” Steve sits on the couch in the room the groomsmen are all getting ready in. It’s just on the other side of the mansion. 

“Yes, I want to look my best.” 

“But she loves the look.” Sam adds as he joins Steve. “As best man I advise against it.” 

Bucky looks at himself in the mirror and sighs. “I’m sure.” 

“Do I have to do that too?” Henry asks.

“Not at all.” 

“Ok.” 

While Bucky gets a haircut and cleans up his beard the rest of the guys sit around and relax. Clint gave Bucky advice while Steve, Sam and Joshua joked around. Bucky was the most relaxed he’d ever been. He knew you were down the hallway getting ready too. Excitement bubbled in his chest the closer it got to the actual ceremony. 

“Gentlemen, you should start getting dressed.” Olivia says as she walks in. “We will be starting to get some group photographs soon.”

Everyone started gathering their clothing while Olivia walked up to Bucky. 

“Are you ready for today?” She asks with a smile.

“More than ready. Could you do me a favor though?” 

“Of course.” 

“Could you give this,” Bucky pulls out a small black velvet box from his bag and gives it to Olivia. “To Y/N?” 

“Interesting, she asked me if I could give you this.” Olivia gives Bucky a box too. 

“Thanks.” 

“You have 45 minutes gentlemen.” Olivia calls out before leaving. 

Bucky looks down at the box, curious as to what it could be that you have given him. He takes the top off to find a vintage watch but it’s the note underneath that gets his attention. It’s a simple ‘for your eyes only’ scribbled in your handwriting. Bucky looks around before pulling out the other gift you’d sent him. 

His jaw dropped when he saw the polaroids you’d sent him. You were in several different stages of undress. Bucky had to look around again to make sure no one would sneak up on him. He flipped through what you had sent him until he got to his favorite. You were dressed in red lacy lingerie and the jacket of his military uniform from the 40s. 

Bucky couldn’t wait until he got you alone.

****

“Your love has sent you this.” Olivia gives you a black velvet box. 

“Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome. Now ladies please start getting dressed, there's only 45 minutes left before you are needed downstairs.”

You were sitting and getting the last touch up on your hair when you decided to open the gift Bucky sent you. It’s a beautiful gold bracelet. By the looks of it, it’s been well loved. There’s a simple note in his handwriting, explaining that it used to belong to his mother. That she wore it on her wedding day and so did his sisters. Now that you were becoming a Barnes, the bracelet was yours and one day you would pass it down to Charlotte. He also told you there was no pressure in you wearing it, he just wanted you to have it. 

“Mrs. Barnes, are you ready to get dressed?” Sofia called out. When you looked up she was holding the garment bag your dress was in. 

“I’m more than ready.” 

The guests had arrived. Everyone was moving through the venue to the garden. The wedding party was dressed to perfection. You were nervous but excited.

 In one of the many large rooms Eddie stood in the middle. At the direction of the photographer he had his back turned to the entrance. You walked in and stood just behind him. 

“Ok dad, turn around.” The photographer instructed while taking many photographs. Eddie did as he was told. 

“Oh wow.” Eddie choked out when he saw you in your wedding dress. His eyes immediately filled with tears as he looked at you. He had to take a deep breath before he could say a word. “You look beautiful, kitten.” 

“Thanks dad.” 

He held his hands out for you and you two stood there for a moment, enjoying each other’s comforting presence before Eddie pulled you in for a hug. You were both smiles, completely forgetting the presence of anyone else in the room. 

“I can’t believe my little girl is getting married.” He murmurs, trying his best to not cry. 

“Me either.”

“You’re happy right?” 

“So happy, dad.” You say while wiping away a stray tear from his cheek. 

“That’s all I want for you.” 

“Me too.” 

Olivia walks in, telling you that Henry is just out in the hallway. She gives you a moment before she lets him in. 

“Wow mama, you look so beautiful. Like a princess.” Henry says as he gives you a hug. 

“Thank you my sweet boy. You look so handsome. Are you ready for today?” 

“I’m a little nervous but I think I can do it.” 

You smile down at him. “You’re so brave bubs. I love you so much.” 

“I love you too.” 

“Bubba!” Lottie calls out excitedly. They hadn't seen each other since the night before so they were more than happy to reunite. 

“Hi baby. You look like a princess too.” 

“Thank you bubba. You wook so nice.” Lottie compliments her brother as they hug. 

“Alright everyone, places. We are starting in just a few minutes. Charlotte here is your basket full of flowers. Henry, here are the rings.” Olive gives them each what they’ll be taking down the aisle.

“Ready?” Eddie walks up next to you and offers you his arm. 

“More than anything.” 

He escorts you down the hallway where you can see the wedding party. The groomsmen hoop and holler as they see you walking down. 

“Damn Y/N, you look amazing.” Clint says with a cheeky smile. 

“Thank you Clint.” 

“Places everyone.” Olivia says as she walks up. There are assistants moving around while you wait to walk down the aisle. 

The music starts and you feel the butterflies in your tummy. You watch as Sofia and Joshua walk out first. Then it’s Wanda and Clint. After them it’s Nat. At the door Henry hesitates as all eyes fall on him. He starts to become invisible before he turns to look at you. 

“It’s ok sweet boy.” You tell him. “Do you want to walk out with Lottie?” 

“Yeah we can do it.” Lottie is already moving to stand beside her brother. 

You watch as Henry takes a deep breath. “I can do it.” 

You smile at him. He turns back around and takes a few tentative steps outside. You can’t see him anymore but you’re confident that he’s doing ok. 

Henry keeps his eyes on Bucky who is giving him an encouraging smile. With every step he takes, Henry feels more comfortable. When he gets to the front Bucky gives him a hug and the groomsmen give him pats on the back. 

Lottie smiles at you before she walks out of the double doors. She takes a few petals and tosses them in the air with a flourish. She’s all smiles until she gets halfway down the aisle. When Lottie looks up she sees Steve and Bucky and she couldn’t be more excited.

“Hi daddy. Hi Steebie.” She yells from her spot. “Wook at my dwess.” 

“You look beautiful, Doll.” Bucky says with an easy smile and tears in his eyes. 

“Steebie you wike my dwess?” 

Her innocent questions had the guest laughing.

“Of course I do. You look beautiful, sweetheart.” 

Lottie giggles before she starts throwing more flower petals around and waving at the guests. When she finally gets to the front she walks straight up to Bucky and they hug. 

“You did great, Doll.” 

“Tank you daddy.” 

“Now we get to see mama walk out here.” 

“Kay.”

At the back you laugh as Olivia tells you what’s happening. 

“That girl is a riot.” Eddie comments.

“You know she didn’t let Bucky see her dress because she said it was bad luck.”

Eddie shakes his head and chuckles. 

“Ok, you’re next.” Olivia comments with a smile. “Here is your bouquet.”

You take the flowers and wait for the music to change. Eddie places a hand over yours on his arm. The smile he gives you is warm and soft and you can’t help but give him one back. 

“Hey guys.”

You heard Wanda’s voice in your head. 

“Wanda?” You thought, not knowing Bucky was doing the same.

“Yes, I’m talking to both of you at the same time.”

“Is something wrong?” Bucky asked as he looked over at Wanda standing just behind Nat.

“Nothing is wrong. Do you remember the day that Charlotte started walking? She had a vision that day.”

“Yes.” You both think in unison.

“She saw you getting married. In fact her vision was this exact moment.” Wanda says and you can hear the smile in her voice. “You were always meant to be together.” 

Bucky had been fighting back tears but this revelation breaks his resolve as the music changes.

You take the first step towards the rest of your life. The garden is decorated beautifully. Flowers in different hues of blue with pops of white line the aisle. Vases in different shapes and sizes fill the space as well. The sun is shining brightly, there is not a single cloud in the sky. As you get to the top of the aisle all the guests stand. 

Your eyes immediately fall on Bucky. He’s smiling and shedding tears freely. You feel your heart beating wildly in your chest the closer you get to him. Out of the corner of your eyes you see your friends and family looking at you lovingly. 

This feels like the longest and the shortest walk at the same time. 

“Edward, do you support the marriage between Y/N and James today?” Steve asks.

“I do.” 

Bucky steps forward and shakes Eddie’s hand before the latter pulls him in for a hug. 

“You keep taking care of her for me like you have, son. And make her happy. That’s all I ask.” 

“Yes sir.” 

Eddie pulls back and turns to you. He’s on the brink of crying which makes you want to cry, but happy tears. Eddie gives you a quick kiss on the cheek and tells you how much he loves you before taking a seat. 

Bucky offers you his hand and you take it happily. He brings your hand up to his lips and places a kiss on your knuckles. As he pulls away Bucky notices that you’re wearing the bracelet that once belonged to his mother. He can’t help but run a finger over the gold bracelet.

“You look breathtaking, Sugar.” 

“You look so handsome. And you cut your hair.” You whisper as you look at him in his dark blue suit. Somehow it made his eyes pop even more. 

“You didn’t have to wear it.” Bucky says as he looks at the bracelet again.

“I wanted to wear it. Now she’s here in some way.” 

You smile at each other as you take your place in front of Steve. He sends a wink your way as he stands taller. Nat steps forward and takes your bouquet.

“Dear family and friends, don’t worry this isn’t a mission briefing.” Steve starts.  

You and Bucky as well as the guest laugh. 

“We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of James Buchanan Barnes and Y/N Y/L/N.” Steve continues his speech. “If you’ve ever doubted the existence of soulmates I’d like you to take a moment and look at this man and woman standing before us. Two people that should have never met have come together against all odds. I believe that James and Y/N were made for each other and nothing could stand in their way. Not time or war or enemies. Maybe a little bit of stubbornness because they don’t like to listen to advice. But we’re here now so I guess it all worked itself out in the end.” 

You and Bucky smile at Steve as he continues.

“I’ve known Bucky since childhood. He’s been an extraordinary friend. He’s someone you want in your corner when things get tough. Bucky is a great example of what a good man is. He’s loyal to a fault and will always put the people he loves first.” 

Steve looks over at Buck with a smile before turning to you. 

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting Y/N shortly after waking up in this new world. She is one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. Y/N doesn’t give up on people. When Bucky was able to join the team she was the first one there to welcome him. They are two of the most caring, loving and wonderful people I know. It’s been an honor to watch them go from strangers to friends to partners. They would do anything for each other. A love like that is not easy to find but definitely worth fighting for. And their closest friends and family have seen them fight for each other, for their family and for their love.” 

Bucky gently squeezes your hand. The two of you lovingly gaze into each other’s eyes as Steve transitions to the next part. 

“Do you James, take Y/N to be your wife? To live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Bucky replies immediately and then Steve turns to you.

“Do you Y/N, take James to be your husband? To live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” You reply just as quickly.

“James and Y/N have decided to write their own vows. James will go first.” 

You could see how nervous he was. Bucky takes a deep breath but looks into your eyes. 

“When I was younger I knew I wanted to be a husband and a father. When the war started that dream was ripped away from me. After I was saved I thought that I didn’t deserve those things. But then I met you, Y/N.” Bucky starts. You know that it’s not easy for him to talk about his emotions like this in front of so many people, which makes it so much more special. “I was still in a very dark place when I met you the night I arrived at the compound. You were caring and compassionate. From the first moment my heart was yours. It still amazes me that you love me the way you do.” 

You smile at him as he takes a moment to calm his nerves. 

“You always saw the best in me even when I was at my lowest. You didn’t think twice about stepping up and taking care of Charlotte when we first found her. Or risking your life to get Henry to safety. Seeing you become a mother to our kids has been the greatest gift. Being able to be by your side has been my biggest joy. I promise to work hard every day to be the man that you and our kids deserve. I promise to love you with all that I am and to protect you and our kids with my life. I love you more than words can express and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life by your side.” 

Both you and Bucky were blinking back tears by the time he was done. You even saw Steve get a bit teary eyed. 

“Y/N, you’re next.” 

“How am I supposed to follow that?” You ask no one in particular. Bucky chuckles and sends a wink your way. “I love you so much. Being with you has been the happiest I’ve ever been. I never thought that I’d find someone that would accept me completely until I met you. You make me feel safe and loved and seen. Being by your side as you stepped into the role of fatherhood has been the most special experience. I promise to be there for you in the good times and the bad. I promise to remind you how good you are even when you don’t think you are. I love you so much and I can’t wait to experience the rest of my life next to you.” 

Bucky couldn’t help the tear that rolled down his cheek. One you were quick to wipe away.

“Henry, please bring the rings forward.” Steve says. Henry steps up with one ring in hand and two small metal beads, one black and one gold. “A ring has no beginning and no end. It is two sides joined in an endless path. These rings represent your unconditional love and respect for one another. James, take the ring, place it on Y/N’s finger and repeat after me.”

Bucky takes the ring from Henry and slides it on your finger. He smiles when he sees the set he bought you complete. Then he repeats what Steve is saying.

“Y/N, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity. I promise to love you today, tomorrow and forever.” 

“Y/N, now it’s your turn.” 

You turn to Henry and take the two small vibranium beads, one black and one gold. In your palm you manipulate them, creating an intricate design of gold within the black. On Bucky’s left hand, you make a small indentation. You place the ring on Bucky’s left finger and it falls perfectly into the groove you created and then you fuse it together. It had been Bucky’s idea that his ring should be incorporated into his finger. He never wanted to take it off. 

“James, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and fidelity. I promise to love you today, tomorrow and forever.” 

You look up into his eyes. Both of you with smiles that were brighter than the sun. 

“By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Steve announced proudly. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Bucky had been fighting the urge to pull you in for a kiss the moment you stood in front of him. Before Steve even finished the sentence he was already pulling you in by your waist. Neither of you can help but smile into the kiss as your arms wrap around his neck. The sound of your guests clapping and cheering fade as your lips meet in your first kiss as a married couple. It was familiar but different, new. Maybe it was just the excitement of finally getting married that made the kiss so much sweeter. The thought of spending your life next to Bucky and getting to see the kids grow up made you pull Bucky in just a little bit tighter. You didn’t want to let him go.

“Yay, we mawwied now!” Lottie announced loudly as she clapped. Her excitement had people chuckling and you and Bucky finally pulling away. 

“I’d like to present to you for the first time, Mr. And Mrs. Barnes.” Steve said as music started playing. 

Nat gave you back your bouquet and you took Bucky’s arm. The two of you started walking back down the aisle. Eddie was in tears as he watched you walk by but so was Molly and Luke. Behind you, Henry escorted Lottie out. They were followed by the rest of the bridal party. 

“Congratulations.” Olivia says as you meet her just inside the hallway. “Come this way. I prepared a room just for the four of you so that you have some time together.” 

“Thank you.” 

Bucky opens the door for you. Inside there’s a couch and some refreshments. You sit as Bucky ushers Lottie and Henry in. 

“Would you like a drink, Mrs. Barnes?” Bucky smiles cheekily at you.

“I would love one Mr. Barnes.” You smile before turning to the kids. “Henry, I'm so proud of you, sweet boy.” 

“Thank you mama.” 

“And you did great my sweet angel.” 

“Tank you mama.” Lottie smiles before turning to look at Bucky as he hands you some champagne and hands the kids a plate with something to snack on, then something to drink. “Oh tank you daddy.” 

“You’re welcome, doll. You looked so beautiful, baby. Just like a princess.” 

Lottie giggled and hid her face behind her hands.

“And our sweet boy looks so handsome. Just like a prince.” You add with a smile.

Bucky sits next to you, holding his own glass of champagne. An arm rests on the back of the couch behind you and you lean into him. 

“Hi Sugar.” 

“Hi baby.” You lean up to give him a quick kiss. “We’re married.” You whisper against his lips. 

“You’re stuck with me now.” 

“I wouldn’t want anyone else.”  You raise your glass and Bucky does the same. Henry and Lottie, not wanting to be left out, raise their juice boxes to ‘clink’  them together with you and Bucky.

“To the Barnes family and our future.” 

You take a sip of champagne, cringing slightly at the taste. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I don’t know, it tastes weird.” 

“It tastes fine to me.”

You just shrug. “It’s no big deal. We have something different picked out for the reception.” 

Bucky finishes his drink and takes yours as you lean against him. The kids are sharing their snacks and having their own conversation. You were sure this was heaven. 

“Did you look at your watch?” You ask.

“Yeah, it’s great. I love it.” 

“You have to look at it again.” 

Bucky shifts and pulls up the sleeve of his suit and shirt to look down at the watch. His eyes widen in surprise when he sees a small ‘I do’ carved on the bezel, next to the time you’d both said those words. 

“You’re amazing, you know that?” Bucky says while still looking down at the watch. 

You smile while accepting another kiss from him. After about fifteen minutes of your alone time, Olivia knocks on the door to inform you that you’re needed for pictures. The four of you head out to meet the wedding party and your family. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Mr. And Mrs. Barnes.” The DJ announces and all the guests cheer as you and Bucky walk hand in hand to the reception. 

The room was decorated beautifully. Just like the ceremony there were flowers and cases all over. Candles were lit along the tables and the lights above were very soft to give the room a romantic feel. Everything was perfect.

“The lovely couple will share their first dance as husband and wife.” 

Music slowly started to play once Bucky escorted you to the center of the dance floor. He pulls you by your waist and leaves his hands there. 

🎶 I met you in the dark, you lit me up.🎶

“I love this song.” You tell Bucky as he leads you around the dance floor.

🎶then you smiled over your shoulder. For a minute I was stone cold sober. I pulled you closer to my chest. 🎶

“And I love you.” Bucky whispers into your ear. You smile as he pushes you away and spins you before pulling you back.

🎶 and I’ll take the kids to school, wave them goodbye.🎶

As those lyrics ring out you and Bucky can’t help but turn your heads at the same time to find the kids. Henry and Charlotte are at the edge of the dance floor, both of them with bright smiles and stars in their eyes as they watch their parents dance. 

While you kept looking at the kids Bucky turned to look at you again. He was sure his heart was going to give out at any moment. There was just no way that he could be so happy, most of the time he thought he never deserved it. But you were always there to drive the doubt away. 

“I wanna live with you even when we’re ghosts.” He sings just for you. “‘Cause you were always there when I needed you most.” 

“I’m gonna love you ‘til my lungs give out. I promise ‘til death we part like in our vows.” You sang back. 

This time you couldn’t help the few tears that escaped. This was so much more than you could have ever dreamed of. 

🎶now everybody knows, that it just you and me until we’re gray and old. Just say you won’t let go.🎶 

The final notes of the song played as Bucky dipped you and then met you halfway to give you a sweet kiss. When he pulled you back up, his lips still connected to yours, the room filled with cheers and applause from your guests. You only pulled apart when you heard Henry and Lottie running across the hardwood floor towards you. 

The four of you move to your table and sit down. Dinner is served almost immediately and you enjoy your time next to your husband.

****

Bucky leads you around the room, making sure to stop at every table. His family, well your family now too, all congratulate you and wish you years of happiness. Bucky’s nieces and nephews start to call you aunt Y/N and you can’t help but giggle. 

You’re almost done with the tables so you head to the next one. 

“You look absolutely radiant.” Ramonda says with a huge smile on her face. She opens her arms, inviting you into a hug before moving on to Bucky. “I am so happy for both of you. May you have many wonderful years together.” 

“Thank you Ramonda.” 

“My second favorite white boy.” Shuri moves to stand right beside her mother.  “Congratulations to the happy couple.” 

“Second favorite?” Bucky looked offended.

“Of course. Henry has the top honor.” 

“It was a beautiful ceremony and we are honored that you invited us.” T’Challa congratulated both of you. “A gift from us.” He holds out an envelope out to you and you take it. “Please open it now.” 

Bucky looks over your shoulder as you read the note. “A house? In Wakanda?” You look up at T’Challa with wide eyes. 

“You are family now. We want you to have a place to come visit whenever you like.” 

“And it can always be expanded if the family grows.” Ramonda adds with a sly smile. 

“Thank you so much T’Challa.” You give him a quick hug. 

“Oh and we made sure to include a goat pen. I hear Charlotte loves goats.” 

“We might have to move to Wakanda permanently when she finds out about the goats.” 

You chuckle because you can already imagine her trying to sneak goats into her bed or her sneaking out to play with them. After a few minutes of conversation you move on to the last table. Tony, Pepper, Bruce, Duckie, Thor and Loki are all sitting together. You go around the table greeting everyone before heading back to your own table. 

****

The speeches had started. Sam was currently speaking and he had everyone in stitches. As the crowd quiets down he turns to Bucky. 

“In all honesty I was surprised but touched when Bucky asked me to be his best man. There is a genuinely good man under all the scowling and glaring. I’m proud to be his friend and to be able to watch him become a father and a husband. To the happy couple.” Sam raises his glass and everyone follows.

Nat and Wanda decided to work together on a speech. You had been surprised at how touching it was. They spoke about the friendship the three of you had created. The good, the bad and the ugly the three of you had faced not only as avengers but as friends. 

“We love you both very much.” Wanda says, ending their joint speech. 

In a surprising move you saw Henry get up from his chair and extend his hand to Lottie. They walk hand in hand towards Wanda and Nat. Henry takes the microphone but hesitates as everyone keeps their eyes on him. You turn to look at Bucky but he’s just as surprised as you are. 

“Hello everyone.” Henry’s voice is small as he addresses the room. “I’m Henry.” 

“An am Wottie.” Lottie adds when Henry holds out the mic for her. “Am so happy we gots mawwied today.” 

“Daddy and Mama, you are our favorite people ever.” 

“You awe-ways so nice.” 

“Mama and daddy saved baby and me from the bad men. They showed me and baby kindness. They are always patient and show us lo-” Henry fails to blink back tears of his own. “Love.” Lottie reaches up and wipes a few tears away. “I promise I’m crying because I’m happy.” 

Henry’s confession received a chorus of ‘awws’ from the guests. You and Bucky stood and went to your kids. 

“My sweet boy.” You whisper as you hug Henry, pulling away just enough to wipe his tears away with a handkerchief Bucky had given you. 

“They love us and I want us to be a family forever.” Henry says into the microphone.

“We will be bubs. No one will ever get in between us ever again. I promise.” 

“I promise too.” You look at Lottie who was tucked into Bucky’s shoulder. “What about you? What do you want?” 

Without missing a beat Lottie takes the microphone from Henry and announces, “I want a baby sissy.”

Again Lottie caused all the guests to laugh while you hid your face behind your hands. With Henry and Lottie the speeches come to an end it’s time for some more dancing. 

“And now ladies and gentlemen it’s time for the father/daughter dance.” The DJ announces.

Eddie comes up to your table and offers you his hand. You follow him to the middle of the dance floor. Eddie moves with you and you can’t help but laugh as you follow his lead. Halfway through the DJ announces that all fathers should join you and Eddie on the dance floor. Bucky and Lottie are first. Then you slowly see Clint and his daughter join. Luke twirls Olivia with one hand while keeping his other hand over Molly’s growing belly as he dances with his three girls. T’Challa even pulls Shuri out of her chair. Even if she protests you see a little hint of a smile on her lips. 

The song ends and the DJ then announces the mother/son dance. The dance floor clears out quickly. The plan was that you would share a dance with Henry so he wouldn’t be left out. What Bucky didn’t expect was for Ramonda to walk up to him and hold her hand out. Bucky took it without question and they started to dance, just the two of them on the floor. 

“I know I am not your mother but I am very fond of you.” Ramonda says as they sway from side to side. “Your mother would be very proud of you, James.”  

“Thank you Ramonda.”  Bucky takes Ramonda’s hand and places a kiss on her knuckles. “I don’t think I’ll ever have the words to explain how much it means that you would dance with me. But I believe you have another dance partner.” Bucky steps away as T’Challa takes his place. 

As the song plays on, Bucky looks over to see you pulling Henry so that you can dance with him. You’re leaning down so that he can give you a kiss on the cheek. Other mothers and sons joined the dance. It was lovely to see Sarah take turns with A.J. and Cass. Laura dances with Cooper and Nathaniel. Even Peter dances with his aunt May. 

“Having fun?” Bucky asks when you make your way over to him after the dance is over. 

“Absolutely, but I’m gonna grab Lottie and change our dresses.”

“Why?” Bucky looks you up and down. “You look perfect.”

“Thank you, babe. But I have a more comfortable dress so that we can dance more and it feels so tight around my chest now. If I stay in this dress any longer my boobs going to hurt a lot.” 

“I can help with that.” Bucky smirks.

You roll your eyes before leaning in to kiss him. Bucky wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you in. 

“I’ll be back.” 

****

You were back about half an hour later. First Sofia helped you get changed into your second dress. It was something easier to move in. Then you helped get Lottie changed. She had chosen a champagne colored sequin jumpsuit, mostly because she liked the way it sparkled. 

The two of you made your way back to the reception just as the DJ was announcing that the dance floor was open for everyone. Lottie excuses herself and makes her way to Steve in order to share a dance with him. 

Sofia takes your hand and pulls you towards your bridesmaids, Molly, Laura, Sarah, Maria and Pepper. You all dance and laugh together. 

“May I steal my wife?” Bucky comes in just as one of the songs ends. He’d taken off his suit jacket, bow tie and rolled up the sleeves of his button down shirt.

“Certainly.” Laura pushes you gently towards him. 

With one hand Bucky takes yours with the other he offers you a glass of wine but you shake your head. Bucky downs the wine in one gulp and leaves the glass behind on a table. 

A slower song starts to play and Bucky pulls you in close. His hands sit at your waist while you wrap your arms around his neck. You gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes, not needing to exchange words to know you both are overwhelmingly happy and so in love. 

“Oh my god.” You gasp as you and Bucky turn slowly. 

“What? What is it?” Bucky went to turn his head but you stopped him. 

“Ok, slowly turn me around and then look over my left shoulder. I can’t believe this.” 

Bucky does as you ask. He lets out a small gasp too as he sees what you saw. It then sports a proud smirk. Across the room Steve is holding his hand out for Duckie to take. There seems to be a little hesitation on her part but she ultimately takes his hand. Steve stays at the edge of the dance floor. Duckie awkwardly holds onto Steve’s biceps and looks everywhere but at Steve. 

“Now it will only take another year before he asks her out.” Bucky murmurs.

“But hey, it’s progress.” You reply with a smile. “Besides, it’s not like you can talk. We had a kid before we even dated and then another before you proposed.” 

“Do you want a third before our one year wedding anniversary? Because I can make that happen.” 

You laugh. “Shut up.” 

“That wasn’t a no.” Bucky smiles before he kisses you again. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“One dance Woki Poki.” Lottie held up one finger.

“I will not dance with you or anyone else for that matter.” 

“Pwease.” 

��No.” 

Lottie pouts as she looks up at him. Her big blue eyes silently pleading that he would do as she asked. Loki crossed his arms over his chest and rolled his eyes. 

“Fine. Just one dance.” 

“Yay.” Lottie claps and takes Loki’s hand, pulling him up from his chair. 

One by one Lottie would dance with the whole team and a few other people.

Across the room Henry was hanging out with Clint’s and Sarah’s boys. All of them eying the dessert table. They were planning a little heist in order to get some treats before they were served to everyone else. 

“I have to go alone.” Henry says as he looks around to make sure no one is listening. “If one of you goes with me then I won’t have my hands free to carry the plate.” 

“Fine, we’ll wait by the door and we can go out to the garden.” 

“Ok, I’ll be back.” Henry says and turns invisible. 

The boys watch the table, seeing a plate disappear. They ran towards the door, yelling to their parents that they were going to go play outside. 

Henry meets them just outside with the plate of sweet treats held high. The group of boys laugh as they move away from the reception. Cass congratulates Henry on doing a good job. They sit together and joke while sharing the desserts.  

The reception is almost over. You stand with Bucky and the kids in front of the cake Henry chose. Bucky holds up the knife and together you cut two small pieces of cake. You and Bucky feed each other a small piece while Lottie swipes some frosting and smears it on Henry’s cheek. She lets out a full belly laugh before running away with her brother following close behind with frosting on his finger. 

****

There’s time for one last dance. So you and Bucky choose to dance together with the kids as the guest exit to give you some privacy. This is it. Just the four of you, ready to face the rest of your lives together.  Nothing could be better than that. 

You exit the mansion through the main doorway. All your guests are lined up, cheering and waving sparklers as you, Bucky and the kids make your way down towards the waiting car. At the end of the makeshift aisle you stop and hug your dad and closest friends. Lottie and Henry go with Steve since he offered to watch them during the honeymoon. 

“We’ll be back before you know it, doll. And we’ll call everyday.” Bucky kisses Lottie’s cheek. 

“Habe fun daddy.” 

“I will, you have fun and behave.” Bucky squints his eyes making Lottie let out a sleepy giggle. “You too bubs.” Bucky turns his attention to Henry who is leaning into you. 

“I will. I’ll miss you.” 

“We’ll miss you both, sweet boy.” 

After a few more hugs for the kids, Nat and Sam push you towards the waiting car. Bucky opens the door to the passenger’s side and helps you in. Bucky doesn’t waste time as he gets in and turns the car on. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other on your thigh Bucky speeds away. 

Bucky still wouldn’t tell you where you were going. Even as you climbed the stairs to Tony’s private jet. Your luggage was already put away and there was an overnight bag with everything you’d need during your flight. Bucky had made sure to pack comfortable clothes for you to change into. 

It really didn’t matter what Bucky had planned. He could take you to the most boring place ever and you’d be ok with it just because you were by his side. You snuggle up to him after take off. The excitement of the day was finally catching up to you.

“C’mon Sugar,” Bucky pulls you into his chest. “I’ll wake you up when we get there.” 

“Love you, Mr. Barnes.” 

“I love you too Mrs. Barnes.” 

You smile, Mrs. Barnes had a nice ring to it.

Ch. 41

The wedding outfits:

The picture of the wedding dress is just to show the dress not what I think Sugar looks like!!!!

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[moonlessnight14]

Loved the entire pool scene! The kids are too cute

But a secret mission? 👀 Bucky's gonna freak

My little love

Chapter 37

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x enhanced!Reader

word count: 3.5K

Warnings: fluff, scare prank, talks about a wedding, nightmares, briefly implied smut, little bit of angst at the end I guess,

A/N: Alright my lovelies were we are with another chapter of our favorite family. We are getting closer to the slight end of the series there are about 4-5 chapters left. Like I said before I still have more things planned but it will mostly likely be fluff fun check ins and maybe Bucky and Sugar's point of view for Steve and Honey's story. So lots still to come but my focus will soon be on A love as sweet as Honey

Series Masterlist

“Daddy, you catch me?” 

“Of course I will, doll.” Bucky smiled up at Lottie. 

“You stay wight the-uh?”  

“I’ll stay right here. All you gotta do is jump.” 

“Kay.” Lottie says as she shimmies backwards. 

Bucky sees her peering back down at him and can’t help but chuckle. Her furrowed brows and concerned blue eyes peek over the ledge. She crouches down and wraps her arms around her knees. 

“You don’t have to do it, doll, it's ok.” 

“No, I do it. Am big girl.” 

“Ok. How about if I count and then you jump?” Bucky suggests. 

“Kay.” 

“1…” Bucky says and he watches as Lottie stands up straight. “2…” her little toes and fingers wiggle around in anticipation. “3…” she giggles nervously. “Jump!” 

Lottie jumps when she’s told to and she splashes into the water. Bucky’s right there to catch her. She’s all giggles as Bucky wipes away the water from her face. It was Lottie’s first time jumping off of a diving board but she did it. 

“You did it, doll. I’m so proud of you. Do you want to do it again?” 

“Yeah.” Lottie nods and Bucky swims to the edge of the pool with her.

With how hectic your lives have been lately you and Bucky had decided to have a pool day with the kids. You wanted to do something fun with them before you continued your wedding planning. The closer the wedding got the less time you would have to do fun things like this. 

Bucky got to the pool before you did since you had to work at the medbay in the morning. You walked into the pool area an hour after Bucky got there. In the pool you first saw Charlotte in her red and gold bathing suit, mini arc reactor painted on the front, swimming. She didn’t have on her life vest or anything else that could help her afloat, she was going it all on her own. The way her legs and arms moved she looked like a little frog. Bucky was right beside her making sure she was ok as she learned to swim. 

“Wook it, mama.” Lottie yelled. “Am swimming wike a big girl.” 

“When did you get so big?” 

You could see her kicking her feet and moving her arms really fast as she treaded water. Her little head bobbed up and down as she looked at you with a smile, some strands of her hair sticking to her face. You got closer to the edge of the pool to talk for a moment. 

“On my biwthday.” She starts to slowly swim in a circle around her dad.

You and Bucky laugh at her very matter of fact answer. 

“Your swimsuit is in that green bag.” Bucky points to a chair. 

“Thanks, babe.” You turn to grab your things before looking back at the pool. “Where’s Henry?” 

“AAAHHH!” Henry yells as he turns himself visible again. He leaped over the edge of the pool and grabbed your leg. 

The scream you let out echoed through the large room. Henry was laughing so hard he was turning red. Half of his body was still in the water.  Bucky and Lottie had joined in on the laughter but you had a hand over your heart. It was definitely unexpected. 

“Henry Grant Barnes. Just wait until I get out here, you’re going to pay for that.” You said playfully before running to get changed. 

**** 

You changed as quickly as you could and thought about how to get Henry back. At the door of the changing room you peek out to see where he was. You saw that Sam and Nat had joined. As quickly and quietly as possible you open the door and slip out. 

Lottie was currently being balanced on Bucky’s hand. She had her arms stretched over her head in a circle and one leg kicked back, like a ballerina would. Sam was both cheering her on and making sure he could catch her if she fell. Henry had his back to you. He was hanging on the edge of the pool while talking to Nat and sharing grapes. You tiptoed to the edge of the pool and when Bucky brought Lottie down with a splash you jumped in and immediately submerged yourself. In a few quick strokes you were across the pool and grabbed Henry by his midsection and lifted him out of the water. Now it was his turn to scream.

“Gotcha.” You said as you pulled his back towards your chest. 

“Mama!” Henry started laughing so hard he could barely breathe. Soon everyone else was also laughing. His head was resting against your shoulder while he calmed down. You turned your head to give him a few kisses on the cheek.

“Told you you’d pay for that.” 

Henry giggled again as you let him go and he took his place by Nat again. 

“I’m watching you mister.” You narrow your eyes in his direction before swimming away. 

For the rest of the afternoon you lounged in the pool and played games with the kids. Wanda and Vision joined soon enough. Finally Steve showed up and was pushed into the pool by an invisible Henry. 

After the day in the pool, dinner and bedtime for the kids, you and Bucky were laying in bed cuddling. You yawn and your eyelids get heavier with how Bucky is rubbing his hand up and down your back. 

“Are you gonna tell me where we are going for our honeymoon?” You ask for the hundredth time. 

Bucky had told you he’d take care of the song for the first dance and the honeymoon since you were already taking most of the wedding planning. He had decided to keep his plans a secret.

“Nope.” 

“But how am I supposed to know what to pack?” You were so excited for this trip you just wanted to try and get any information any way possible.

“Nice try, Sugar but I already have that figured out.” Bucky chuckles as you groan. “Just let me surprise you.” 

“Fine, but it’s a trip you’ll enjoy too, right?” 

“Sugar, you know that I could go to the most boring place in the world with you and I’ll enjoy it. But yes I’m choosing something fun for both of us.” 

“Good.” You say and then break the silence again by asking, “But what is it?” 

Bucky laughed at your insistence. “You’re not getting a word out of me.” 

You pull back and narrow your eyes at him. Bucky gives you a smug grin and raises his eyebrows. He didn’t expect you to straddle him and take both his hands in yours and pinning them above his head. 

“I bet I could get a lot out of you.” You said before leaning in and pressing your lips to his. 

Bucky smirks up at you. “I’ll give you everything I got, Sugar.” 

Bucky walked into your shared home mid afternoon. He was done with his briefing and he knew there were some things that needed to be talked about concerning the wedding and kids. You had taken most of the responsibility even though he offered many times to take some things off your plate. From the wedding to getting the kids into a normal routine, you wanted to handle it all. So it was no surprise that you were more exhausted than usual. Bucky found you napping on the couch with papers and folders sitting on the coffee table. Alpine was curled up on top of your chest, keeping you company. 

Just as Bucky started to smile at the sight, you flinched. Alpine shot up and moved away quickly, annoyed she’d been awakened. Bucky watched for a second as your face contorted with fear and pain. A whimper escapes your lips followed by a small ‘no, please.’. 

“Hey Sugar, it’s ok, it's just a dream.” Bucky whispers. His hands trail up and down your arms. “C’mon you gotta wake up.” 

And you do, with a start. You almost head butt Bucky in the face. He holds you at arms length for a moment until your eyes aren’t glazed over. Your lower lip trembles and he finally pulls you into his chest.

“It was just a dream. You’re safe. They can’t hurt you anymore.” Bucky reassures you gently. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

You shake your head and press yourself deeper into his chest. After a moment of calming yourself down you pull away.

“We have a wedding to finish planning.” 

“Are you sure?” Bucky asks. His concern was evident on his face. 

“I’m sure. I’d rather focus on one of the happiest days of our lives.” You smile. 

Bucky nods, letting the subject drop and following you to the dining room to lay out everything you have to go over. You first go over the final guest list making sure you didn’t forget anyone important. Then it was on to seating arrangements at the reception. You were grateful that Bucky was giving so much input and opinions. It was his wedding too after all. He’d been the one to suggest the sweetheart table should include the kids. You smiled warmly at him. 

Once the wedding topics were done, it was on to the kids. Mostly what you wanted to do about school. Tony had offered to get private tutors for them but it was the socializing aspect that worried you. 

“Well the results for the tests Tony and Bruce have done came in. They say that Henry and Lottie could skip a couple of grades.” You say while reading the IQ results from the tablet you had. 

“But do we really want to set them up for that? It could be hard on them being so much younger than the other kids.” Bucky points out. 

“How about if we keep them with their regular age group and appropriate grade and put them in some extracurriculars?” 

“That sounds good. Balance it out so they won’t be bored?” Bucky nods as he says it. 

“Daddy. You home.” Lottie makes her way to Bucky. 

“Hi doll.” He kisses the top of her head. 

“Is doing wedding stuff?” She asks as Henry sneaks his way onto Bucky’s lap, too. 

You smile as you watch each kid settle on one of his thighs as he answers her question. The kids ask a couple more questions about the wedding before Bucky mentions school. 

“I stay with mama.” Lottie says.

“Me too. I don’t want to go to school.” 

“I would love for you to stay with me all the time but you have to go to school.” You say.

“But I already know a bunch of stuff.” 

“Bubs, there's a lot of things you still have to learn. That’s what school is for.” bucky adds. “Besides you would get to meet new people and make friends.” 

“And we were talking about you guys choosing something fun to do after school.”

“Like what?” Henry asks, turning more to look at you better. 

“Like playing a sport on a team or learning to play an instrument.” 

“Oh dancing? Can wearn that?” Lottie asks excitedly.

“Of course, there’s all types of dancing you can learn. Is that what you want?” You smile as you ask her.

“Yeah, I dance wike Auntie Nat.” 

“You want to be a ballerina?” 

“Mhm, and dance on my tippy toes.” Lottie sticks her foot up in the air and wiggles her toes. 

“You’ll be the prettiest ballerina, doll.” Bucky says before turning to Henry. “What about you? What do you think you’ll want to try?” 

“I don’t know, yet.”

“It’s ok my sweet boy, you can think about it and we can find something you’ll like later.” 

“Ok.” 

“Now, the real question is, who is going to help me with the cake tasting that’s in a few days?”

“Me!” Both kids yell at the same time and you can’t help but laugh. 

This is what you focus on as you fight to keep the nightmares at bay. All you wanted to think about was your family and your future. 

You woke up again with a start. Tears streaming down your face and a scream caught in your throat. Nightmares were starting to plague you more the closer you got to the day you were taken. It was always the same thing. Just as you were going to say I do, the sky turned black. There were gunshots and fire. Bucky would grab Lottie while you took Henry’s hand. As you ran away from the darkness that was crawling towards you, you pushed Henry away towards the safety Bucky provided. When he turned to reach for you, you found yourself strapped to a table with people hovering over you. A voice taunted you and told you how they were going to get Bucky and the kids this time. That you’d never have a chance to be happy or see the kids grow up or even grow old with Bucky.

Bucky would almost always be by your side and managed to calm you down but this particular night he was out on a mission. So you sat in your room in the dark, taking deep breaths until you managed to calm down. The same dark thoughts running through your mind over and over again. Knowing you won’t be able to go back to sleep again, you go into your closet and search until you find a small box that holds only one thing in it. You pull out the small thumb drive, get your laptop and sit down. You’d had this information for months and were unsure of what to do but now you knew you had to act. There was no way you could continue to live your life without making sure all of hydra was gone.

After your decision has been made you paced around your room for a bit. The truth was this scared you to death. Things could go right but they could go wrong too. But this was your mess to clean up. If you told anyone on the team, especially Bucky, someone else would handle it. This was your responsibility and you were willing to do anything to keep them safe. You had to make sure this ended.

Before getting dressed you stopped by the kid’s rooms. Although you shouldn’t be surprised to find Henry and Lottie cuddled up in his bed with Alpine curled up at the foot of the bed. You smiled as you watched over them for a few minutes. 

****

You were standing in the living room looking out through the large double doors that faced the backyard. It would only be a few minutes before your dad showed up to stay with the kids since everyone else was on a mission and they would try to stop or want to go with you if they knew. 

“Mama?” Henry’s sleepy voice startles you out of your deep thoughts. 

You turn to see Henry leading a sleepy Charlotte down the steps. 

“Sweet boy what are you doing up?” 

“Lottie had a bad dream.” He yawns. “We couldn’t find you in your room.”

“C’mere sweet Angel.” You pick Charlotte up and sit down on the couch with Henry sitting beside you. “What was your dream about?” 

“Mama was cwying. And I see bad woman. She so mean, mama.” 

“Are you going on a mission?” Henry asks as he finally takes in your clothing. 

“I am. But I’ll be back soon.” 

“I thought you said you weren’t going on any more missions.” 

“I know,” you caress his cheek. “But this is really important. I have to do it to keep all of us safe.”

“What about dad? Is he going with you?” 

You could see how anxious he was getting. 

“Baby, your dad is on a mission right now ok? But I promise everything will be alright. If he comes back before I do, don’t worry him about my mission. Can you do that for me?” 

Henry studied you, he had the same look Bucky did when he was concerned. Fortunately he nodded although he did so reluctantly. There wasn’t much more time since Eddie had just gotten to your house.  You put the kids back into bed and promise them that everything will be ok. 

“Is everything ok, kitten?” Eddie asks as he walks you to the door. 

“Everything is fine. I’m just needed for a mission.” 

“Be careful and come back to us in one piece ok?” 

“I will, dad. I love you.” You give him a quick hug.

“I love you too.” He says as he watches you go.” 

It was early morning when you landed in the empty field. You had some knowledge on flying the jet so it was a bit rocky. Thankfully there was autopilot and assisted landing. You stood at the top of the ramp and wondered if this was the right move. Deep down you know it was but it wouldn’t be easy for you. 

Checking your gear one last time you finally leave the jet. You’re looking down at a small town in a valley. From that vantage point you could see everything. It’s a small community, no more than a few hundred people. But you didn’t come here for any of them. The person you’re looking for is hiding up a mountain in a small cabin. Hiding like a coward.

Before you went there you had to make another stop. Another cabin about a mile away. So you turn away from the town and head into the forest. 

****

You stand just behind the tree line. A single cabin sitting in the middle of a small field. You watch and wait until four men head out. Once it’s clear, you move fast around the small two bedroom cabin. It’s bare, there’s no warmth to any room. As you suspected, this was just a safe house. But you were sure there was information you could use. Being careful to not move things out of place too much. 

In the small living room there was a desk pushed up against a wall just under a window. There were all kinds of files spread across the desk. Some open with pictures and detailed reports. You rifle through them and your blood runs cold. These weren’t just random reports but information about you, your dad, Luke, Sophia and Joshua. Even Molly and Olivia are included. Their schedules and pictures are in there too and they all seem recent.  

The hair on the back of your neck stands up and your eyes snap up to the window. You can just make out a silhouette right behind you. Everything happened slowly but somehow fast at the same time. You threw a kick backwards, sending your opponent crashing through the opposing wall. As soon as you turned around three more were coming at you. 

“We were told you’d be coming by. Didn’t think it’d take you this long.” One of them said as he lunged at you. 

They all had knives in their hands and it’s the first time you realize there was very limited metal in the cabin. These people had been waiting for you. Now you’d show them what you could do. Fortunately you had your metal bracers and used them to your advantage. It wasn’t difficult for you to fight them off and leave them where they fell. The only thing you did was take their dog tags off and stuff them in your pocket, then grab the documents with your family’s information. With one final look around you head up the mountain. 

**** 

This cabin was larger than the first one. It had a large porch with a porch swing. The curtains were open to allow the sunlight in but there was no one home. With a flick of your wrist you unlock the door and slip inside. This place was prepared for someone more important. Paintings on the wall were expensive originals from famed artists. Everything you’d ever need to live in a remote location was available. Nothing was out of place as you walked through the hallway and into the living room, the kitchen, then the dining room and the bedrooms in the back. 

After a thorough inspection you remove all hidden weapons and find more documents on your family. This time Bucky, Henry and Charlotte are included. You’d read something similar before, a list of experiments and procedures they had to endure. Your own file was to the side, all of them with neatly written notes on the margins. It made you uncomfortable reading what had been done to you but you grabbed everything and headed towards the living room where you laid everything out. 

Then you waited. 

**** 

The sun was high in the sky when steps on the porch finally broke the silence. A jingle of keys echo through the hallway, followed by the soft click of the door closing again and more steps. From the shadows emerges the one person you weren’t ready to face but had to. 

“Mother.” 

Ch. 38

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[moonlessnight14]

My little love

Chapter 36

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader

Word count: 3.0K

Warnings: Fluff city, wedding planning, pregnancy announcement, Lottie's growing up.

A/N: I am so excited about this chapter. It's just a bunch of fluff and fun. I also had the idea with Steve in mind for a while now. I'd love to know what you think about it!!

Series Masterlist

“A dance m’lady?” 

“Of couwse.” Lottie takes Henry’s hands and they start to twirl around. She’s giggling as they dance around.

The ballroom you were looking at for a potential venue was huge. A bit too big for the small wedding you wanted to have but it was beautiful. 

“Thoughts?” The wedding planner you’d hired, Olivia, asked. 

“It’s beautiful.” 

“But?”

“It’s maybe too big?” Bucky says as he looks around before looking at you.

“Yes, this looks like we could fit 3 or 400 people. Our wedding is going to be so much smaller. And we’d like to have the ceremony outside.” 

“The ceremony space is why I picked this one out. Let me show you what I had in mind.” Olivia waves for you to follow her through long hallways. It’s almost a maze to get from the ballroom to the other side of the venue. 

“What do you think?” Olivia says as she opens the door.

It’s a huge greenhouse and while the flowers and foliage are beautiful, it’s not what you wanted. 

“Mama.” Lottie tugs at your shirt. 

“Yes, sweet Angel?”

“Not this one. I no see it.” 

That reassured you that this in fact was not the place where you would marry Bucky. You hadn’t really liked it to begin with but it was spacious.

“I agree. Buck?” 

“We’d like something different.” 

“Ok.” Olivia says. “I have three more venues we can look at today. What do you say?” 

“Of course.”

****

You drive all around looking at some possible venues but none of them seem to fit what you want for the wedding. This is the last one and if it doesn’t work you’ll have to go into the city which you don’t want to do. Henry and Lottie are also getting a bit restless.

“We’ll look at one more place and then we can do something fun.” You say as you unbuckle Charlotte and help her out of the car. 

She gasps as you set her down. “Oh mama, is so pwetty.” She says as she takes in the mansion in front of you. 

“It is so pretty.”

“This place looks great.” Bucky stands beside you, his hand coming to rest on your lower back. “It’s really nice.” He smiles.

Suddenly you’re starting to feel really hopeful that this place could be it. Olivia steps out of her car and calls you to follow her. 

“You know, most couples don’t bring their kids to these kinds of things. Are you wanting to make them part of the whole process?” She asks as you head up the front steps. 

“Yes, we would love for them to be involved anyway they can be.” 

“I’m sure we can find some other things they can be a part of, maybe cake tasting?” Olivia turns to watch Henry and Lottie nod eagerly.  

The five of you walk around the large home as Olivia points out areas that she would use and how. 

“Now, I know you want an outdoor ceremony but in case of bad weather we could use this space. What do you think?” 

She says as she leads you to a large living room. It’s free of furniture so Olivia explains the seating arrangement, where the aisle would go. 

“It’s a nice space if we had to do the ceremony inside.” Bucky murmured as he looked around.

 The room, while simple in color, was a great canvas to decorate however you wanted. A huge chandelier was the main feature of the room. Bucky takes your hand and pulls you to the front of the room. 

“This is where we would be standing as we say our vows. What do you think?” He asks with a loving smile.

“I really really like it.” 

“Well this is only the backup space. I’d like to show you the outdoor option.” Olivia chimes in. “It’s being updated but it will be ready way before your wedding date. Follow me.” 

“Mama.” Lottie gasps, wide eyed as she stops in the hallway.

“What is it, sweet Angel?” 

“I see it mama, is this one.”  She says bouncing on the ball of her feet. 

You beam at her and then Bucky who’s also sporting an excited smile. He takes your hand and the four of you walk out to the most beautiful garden you’d ever seen.

Your breath hitches as you step out to the garden. While some maintenance was being done, the garden was in full bloom with a variety of white flowers. The hedges were trimmed to perfection. It looked heavenly.

“I absolutely love this space.” Olivia says excitedly. “They only keep white flowers so we can bring in flowers in the color scheme you gave me to fill in the area. We could have an arch at the end with flowers and fabric draped down. The chairs would obviously go here.” Olivia explains with a smile. “Some rooms are also included in the contract so you could get ready here.”

“That would be great.” You turn to Bucky. “It would be less hassle getting the kids ready here too.” 

“So far this seems like the best option.” 

“Good because I want to show you where you’ll have the reception.” 

“Daddy, what's a reception?” Henry asks as you follow Olivia. 

“It’s like a dinner and a party to celebrate that your mama and I got married.” 

“Oh, can I go to the reception with baby?” 

“Of course bubs. You’re going to have a really important job at the wedding.” 

“Really?” Henry looks up, eyes wide with excitement. 

“Yup. You’re going to be the ring bearer. That means you will hold the ring mama puts on my finger and the one I put on hers.” 

“What about baby? Is she a ring bearer too?” 

“I take wings?” Lottie asks.

“No sweet Angel, you’re going to be the flower girl.”

“Sounds so pwetty. Can be flowe-uh girl.” 

Olivia shows you the huge ballroom. Like the rest of the venue, it’s perfect. 

“Now we have to test it out. Are you ready?” Bucky asks as he walks you back to the French doors that lead to the garden. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Just picture it. I’m in my tux, the room is decorated beautifully. You’re standing there as beautiful as ever, especially in your dress. Ladies and gentleman,” Bucky announces. “I’d like to present for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Barnes.” 

Olivia has the kids clapping and cheering so that you can get the full effect. Then Bucky leads you back toward the center of the room and pulls you into his chest. Butterflies took flight in your belly listening to Bucky calling you Mrs. Barnes.

“Now this would be our first dance.” He murmurs before he starts humming a slow tune. 

You’re looking at each other lovingly as you sway from side to side. Two sets of arms wrap around you and Bucky. When you look down Lottie and Henry are swaying with you. It couldn’t be more perfect. 

You both agree that this is the place you want. Olivia smiles again and heads out to make a few calls to get a contract for you to sign. 

“I can’t wait to marry you.” You look up at Bucky. 

“Neither can I.” 

In between planning the wedding there was regular family life and work. The shifts at the medbay and Bucky going on missions weren’t slowing down just yet. Lottie's birthday was coming up. This time she requested a tea party which you and Bucky happily agreed too. 

The truth was Charlotte was growing up so fast. Just a year before she was learning how to walk and talk. Now she’s more popular throughout the compound than even the Avengers. And just as a growing child does she changes all the time. From mannerisms to vocabulary, some of the latter really showing how much she’s grown. 

“I’m weady.” Lottie calls out from the top of the stairs. She’d chosen a pretty pink dress for her tea party. “Wook at my dwess daddy.” 

You and Bucky had been talking about the wedding when Lottie had called out and both your heads snapped in her direction. 

“What did you say, doll?” Bucky was in disbelief. 

“I said am weady.” 

“After that.” 

“Oh I says wook at my dwess daddy.” She says as she stops in front of the two of you and does a little twirl. 

When you look at Bucky you see tears in his eyes. 

“You can’t call me that.” He whispers.

“But you is my daddy.” 

“I’m your dada. You always call me dada.” Bucky says. 

“But am a big girl an big girls says daddy. An bubba says daddy too.” She defends herself. 

“I know doll.” Bucky picks her up and presses a few kisses to her temple and cheek. “But you’re my baby, you can’t be a big girl.”

“Daddy, I wanna be a big girl.” 

You chuckle as Lottie wrapped her arms loosely around Bucky’s neck. She gives him a beaming smile and Bucky’s too weak to say no. 

“Alright, I guess you can be a big girl and call me daddy.” He relents. “You look beautiful in your dress, doll.” 

“Tank you daddy.” 

Bucky puts Lottie down so that she can find Henry and show him the dress she has on. You hug Bucky as soon as you can. 

“I hate that so much. She’s growing up way too fast.” He says with a pout. 

“Next thing you know, she’s gonna come home from school talking about a boyfriend.” 

“That’s not funny.” 

You laugh at his scowl. “Let’s go celebrate our not so little girl’s birthday.” 

“This turned out great.” Molly compliments as she sits next to you on the couch. 

“Thanks. Charlotte is very into tea parties now. It just made sense to make her birthday this.” 

“Well you’re turning into a whole party planner, between this and the wedding. How is that going?” 

“It’s going well. We found the venue not long ago. Oh, now that we’re talking about it. How would you feel about being a bridesmaid?” 

“I would love to.” Molly gives you a half smile, half grimace. 

“But?” 

“We haven’t told anyone yet but it’s only fair you know. I’m pregnant.” She says in a whisper. 

“Molly, oh my god.” You exclaim. 

“Sshhh. You can’t tell anyone.” 

“I can’t believe this. I’m so excited. But why can’t you be a bridesmaid?” 

“My doctor wants me to be as stress free as possible.” She frowns a bit. “I would have loved to be up there with you.” 

“And weddings can be very stressful. Don’t worry about it. As long as you’re there and taking care of yourself.” You lean in and give her a quick hug. “Is there anything you need?” 

“No, I'm good right now.”

“Ok, I’m going to check in on the kids.” You smile.

“You’re going to tell Luke that you know?” 

“Maybe.” You giggle. 

“Go, it was his idea for us to tell you first.” 

You’re beaming as you get up and check in on how the others are doing. Eddie is playing a card game with Sam and Henry. Sophie and Josh are hanging out with Nat and Clint. You walked by and saw Charlotte with Olivia and Steve, talking to Duckie. 

“She started calling me daddy today instead of dada and I don’t think I’ll ever get over that.” You hear Bucky say. 

“Wait until she starts calling you by your first name. That was a fun stage with Liv.” 

“No way. I couldn’t handle that.” 

Luke chuckles. “Just imagine, ‘Luke, can I have a popsicle?’ Or ‘Luke read me a bedtime story.’” 

Bucky chuckles and shakes his head.

“Hey you two.” You walk up beside Bucky, letting him pull you into his side. “So…” 

“So?” Luke is looking at you amusedly.

You couldn’t help the excited smile on your face. Luke chuckles. 

“She told you.” 

“Who told what?” Bucky looks between both of you. 

“Molly’s pregnant.” 

“I’m so excited for you guys. Congratulations.” You pull your big brother in for a hug. 

“Thank you. We’re really excited too. Liv is over the moon knowing she’s going to be a big sister.” 

“Congrats man.” Bucky shakes Luke’s hand. 

“Hopefully you’ll be giving us the same news soon.” 

“Maybe after the wedding.” You say. 

**** 

The party continues for a while. You and Bucky both go around and make sure everyone is doing ok and have whatever they need before cutting the cake. 

Everyone gathers around the beautiful birthday cake Henry made for his sister. The room erupts in a loud rendition of happy birthday before Lottie blows out her candles. There’s clapping and cheering and Charlotte giggling at the attention. 

“Have another bite.” Bucky holds up the spoon for Charlotte. 

“Mmm, so yummy.” She murmurs before she walks away to where Olivia is playing. She goes back and forth until the cake is all gone. 

After gifts and some more games the party dies down. It happens just in time since Charlotte was losing her fight to sleep. You take her from Duckie, who Charlotte was sitting with, and start heading back to the house. Olivia comes with you since you had promised the girls a sleepover. 

Bucky had just slipped under the sheets of your shared bed and gotten comfortable. He was flipping through the pages of the book he was currently reading while you were thinking over the bridal party. 

“Did you ask any of the guys to be your groomsmen yet?” You turned to look at him.

“Not yet. I was going to do it tomorrow, why?” 

“Well Molly isn’t going to be a bridesmaid so now I have three bridesmaids to your four groomsmen.” You sigh. “I don’t know what to do.”

“What if I just ask three of the guys instead of the four I had planned?” 

“Maybe.” 

Bucky shakes his head. “We aren’t having this conversation again.” 

“Please let me have Steve on my side.” 

“He’s my best friend.” Bucky replied. “I’ve known him the longest. He’s literally my best man.” 

“But I’m his favorite best friend. It only makes sense if you think about it.” 

Bucky laughs. “It’s not happening. The only way it will work is if we cut him down the middle and share.” 

You huff a laugh before you get an idea. Bucky can see it with the way your eyes light up. 

“What are you thinking?” 

You had invited Steve over for coffee. The day was beautiful so you were out in the backyard watching the kids play. You and Bucky were working on the seating chart when Steve showed up. 

“So how’s the wedding planning going?” He asked as he took a seat. 

“It’s good. We have a lot figured out already.”

“Especially the wedding party.” You say with a smile. “But we need your opinion.” 

“Sure, whatever I can help with.” 

“I decided to pick Nat as my maid of honor with Wanda and Sophia as my two other bridesmaids. It was hard though, I wanted to pick both Nat and Wanda as maids of honor.” 

“I knew it.” Steve chuckles. “I knew you’d have a hard time choosing between them.” 

“Well I picked Clint and Josh as groomsmen but the best man was between you and Sam.” 

“Oh.” Steve’s smile falters a little.

You feel kind of bad for doing this to Steve but in the end it will be better. 

“After talking about it with Y/N I’m going to ask Sam to be my best man.”

“Yeah we kept arguing over who’s side you would stand on.” You start to explain.

“No, I get it.” Steve looks a bit dejected. 

“So we thought that you could stand between us instead.” 

“What?” Steve’s face scrunched up in confusion.

“You’re one of the big reasons we’re together.” You start to explain. 

“Since the moment you realized I was still alive you did everything possible to save me. And because of that I met the love of my life.” Bucky looks at you with a loving gaze.

“You’re our best friend and biggest supporter. We wouldn’t be here without you.” You add. “So we thought that instead of you being the best man, you could officiate the wedding instead. What do you think?” 

“You want me to marry you?”

“Yes. I think you’re the perfect choice. You know both of us so well and you’ve always been there to support us. We want you to have a special role on our wedding day.” Bucky says with a smile. 

“How would I even do that?” Steve asks. 

“I already looked it up and you can become an officiant online. So what do you say? Please say yes. It would mean so much to us.” 

“I would love to.” 

You jump out of your seat in order to hug Steve. There’s a delighted giggle that bubbles up as the two of you embrace. 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. The wedding is going to be so perfect.” 

“I’m just happy to be part of it and help you guys celebrate. After everything you’ve been through, this past year alone.” 

“I don’t think we could get married without you, punk.” Bucky is the next to hug Steve. “Seriously, this means a lot to us. Once Y/N said it, it made so much sense. Having you just as my best man wasn’t enough. You’re an important part of both our lives and having you officiate the wedding feels right.”

“Ok you’ve got to stop.” Steve blushes. 

“Just accept the compliments, Rogers. Now c’mon I’m gonna help you register and then we can go over a few things for the ceremony.” 

You sat back down at the table with Steve by your side. The three of you went over ideas and how the ceremony should go. The more you got done for the wedding the more excited you got. There were still a few things left to do of course but you were so happy at that moment. When you looked over at Bucky you could tell he shared your feelings. 

You were getting ready to marry your best friend and the love of your life. Nothing could be better than that. 

Ch. 37

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[moonlessnight14]

My Little Love

Chapter 35

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader

Word Count: 3.0k

Warnings: fluff, Lottie being a cute, Henry being sweet,

A/N: This is just a filler chapter and I'm not super in love with it. I wanted to set up Sugar and Honey's future friendship. Also because Honey and Steve are not a thing yet in this series Lottie gives Honey a nickname of her own...

Series masterlist

The new house was almost completely furnished so it was a no-brainer that you’d moved in already. The master bedroom was a dream come true with a giant walk-in closet, en-suite bathroom and a private balcony that looked out to the back yard. You loved that it was still on the compound grounds but separate. The best part was that Tony was having one made for everyone on the team so it would be like a little community with just your friends. Most of the houses were halfway finished too.

You had been surprised when Tony offered your father a position as a part time instructor for the agents in training. Eddie had been in the military and had the knowledge so he accepted, he even took your old apartment. He’d decided to rent out the family home since it was just him now. Luke and Molly of course had their own place. Josh and Sofia were still in college and living in the dorm rooms. Living at the compound made more sense to Eddie and now he was closer to all of his kids. It would be best for him since he wouldn’t be as lonely anymore. Not since Lorraine disappeared, to them at least. You knew the truth and you couldn’t stop thinking about how you’d tell your family or how you would handle the situation once she was found. 

There’s a dip at the end of the bed that pulls you out of your thoughts. You close the book you stopped reading a while ago and look up to see Bucky crawling his way up towards you. He smiles before giving you a quick kiss and then settling down over your lower half. Bucky snakes his arms around your hips, his head rests over your midsection and his eyes close as he sighs peacefully. You run your fingers through his hair, down his shoulders and back up. Bucky groans at the sensation. The engagement ring catches your eyes for the thousandth time that day and you can’t help but smile. 

“We should get married.” You say after a moment of silence. 

“What do you think the ring was for?” 

You giggle. “I mean we should start planning.” 

“Sugar, as long as it’s me and you in front of an officiant I don’t care where or when we do it. We can have a big wedding or we can elope. The final choice is up to you as long as you become my wife and no one objects because I really don’t want to murder anyone on our wedding day.” 

“You can’t murder anyone on our wedding day.” 

“I can’t make any promises. But what I can do is help plan. Just say the word and I’ll do whatever you want.” Bucky says confidently. 

“What about the rest of our lives?” 

“I’ll definitely help with that. Let’s see, we have jobs and a house.” Bucky starts saying.

“What about kids? We have two already.” 

Bucky shifts slightly so that he can look at you. “Do you want more kids?” 

“Maybe.” 

“I’d love more kids.” 

“How many is ‘more’ to you?” You tilt your head to the side. 

The conversation gets put on hold when Lottie stops in the hallway.

“Hey.” Lottie calls out from the doorway with a little pout on her lips. “Wanna cuddle too.” 

“Then come up here.” 

She jumps on the bed and you point at Bucky’s back. Lottie giggles before throwing herself on top of Bucky. He grunts when she lands on his back. Her little arms fall around his sides and she even tickles him. You can’t help but chuckle as Bucky pretends to feel ticklish for his daughter's sake. Henry steps into your bedroom a few seconds later with Alpine in his arms. He takes one look at whatever is happening on the bed and furrows his brows in confusion. 

“Bubba help.” Lottie yells with a laugh when Bucky flips her off his back and tries to grab her. 

Henry places Alpine down and  jumps on the bed and then on Bucky. 

“Aren’t you gonna help, Sugar? I’m being attacked from all sides.” Bucky says from under the two kids who have now overpowered him, supposedly. 

As you reach for Henry he turns invisible and takes Charlotte with him. All you hear is the echo of their footsteps and laughter. They even taunt Bucky from somewhere in the house that he can’t get them. Bucky props himself up on his elbows and looks at you with a dreamy look in his eyes. 

“I want more of that with as many kids as you’ll give me.” Bucky answers the question you’d asked him before Lottie walked in. “I don’t care if it’s one or four or ten.” 

“Not ten.” 

Bucky chuckles. “The point is that whatever happens, however many kids we have, I’ll be more than happy to share all of that with you.” 

You smile softly at him then lean forward and kiss him. 

“We have some kids to catch.” You say against his lips.

Bucky huffs a laugh, his eyes and nose wrinkling. He gets up and holds a hand out for you. 

“Ready or not, here we come.” You announce loudly, receiving a scream from Lottie. 

You were panting, hands on your hips and sweaty. Even though you weren’t an active member of the Avengers anymore you still kept up with your training, just in case. It was a beautiful day outside so you opted for a run. You’d just finished and were catching your breath when Bruce’s lab assistant walked up to you. She played with the pearl necklace she was wearing as she moved closer. 

“Hey.” 

“Hey.” You say her name and smile.

“So I hate to do this but I was wondering if I could get your help.” She states.

“Well I can try. What’s going on? Are Bruce and Tony up to something?” 

She shakes her head before placing her hands in the pockets of her lab coat. 

“There’s this piece of equipment that was brought from the tower but they couldn’t get it into the building the normal way. It doesn’t fit through the hallways. Tony was able to get a window off the building but it’s getting complicated.” She sighs in frustration. “I was wondering if you could, you know.” She brings a hand up and wiggles her fingers. 

You chuckle but nod your head. 

“Lead the way.” You turn to see that Henry and Lottie are standing beside Bucky while he’s putting the recruits through some training. The kids are cheering them on and even handing out water bottles to some. 

**** 

You stood at the far end of the lab where Tony had the glass pane removed. Outside on the lawn sat a pretty big machine wrapped up in a tarp. With your hands on your hip you consider how to best move this thing. 

“Where do you want this?” You turn back and look at Bruce’s assistant. 

“Here would be fine. If it’s not too much trouble.” She answers while pointing towards a corner of the room. 

“Ok.” 

You take a deep breath and close your eyes while concentrating on the machine below. Slowly and evenly the machine starts to levitate and then move higher until it’s at your level. Then you manipulate it to move toward the building. 

“Does it look like I can actually pull it in?” You ask as you survey the entry point. 

“You have enough space to bring it in without hitting the other windows.” 

You nod and walk backwards, pulling the machine in your direction until it’s in the room.

“Can you take the cover off before I set it down?” 

She rushes over and removes the tarp with a small smile. It’s obvious she’s excited about this because you don’t see her smiling that much. With whatever this machine is in place you finally set it down. She inspects it and nods in approval.

“Thank you. Tony was taking forever in getting his bots to fly this up.” 

“You’re welcome.” You smile at her. “Listen, I was if I were to invite you for dinner-“ 

“No.” She said way too quickly it almost made you chuckle. “Sorry I just- I’m not good with the whole friend thing.” 

“It’s ok. I was just going to invite you to dinner on Friday night at my place. Steve will be there too, if it makes you feel more comfortable. Don’t feel pressured to go but the invitation stands. Not just for Friday but any day.”

“I uh-“ 

“Mama.” Lottie calls out for you with a sing songy lilt to her voice. The double doors slide open and in walks your daughter with a smile on her face. “Oh hi mama.” She turns and greets Bruce’s assistant. 

“Hello Charlotte. I saw you training the recruits.” 

Charlotte’s smile grew brighter. “Am helping dada.” 

“Well you’re doing a good job.” 

“Tank you.”

“Well the offer stands.” You said softly. “Even if it’s just for coffee or if you need anything at all.” 

She gives you a small nod and thanks you again for your help. 

“Alright sweet Angel, say goodbye to doc.” 

“Duck?” Lottie looks confused. “Mama is no duck.” 

“I said doc like doctor, sweet Angel.” 

“Oh, duck is cute, wike a duckie. Can be my duckie?” She looks up hopefully at the other woman. 

She puts her hand on her chin like she’s thinking about it for a moment. Lottie is practically holding her breath.

“Ok you can call me Duckie. But only you.” 

“An bubba?” 

She smiles. “Sure and bubba but no one else ok?” 

“Ok, Duckie.”

“Alright sweet Angel let’s go. I need a shower.” 

“Yeah, mama you gots stinky butt.” 

“How. Dare. You?” You said, acting shocked. 

Charlotte’s eyes grew wide before she started laughing. You moved to grab her but she ran. 

“I’m gonna get you and make you all stinky.” 

Charlotte lets out what sounds like a mixture between a shriek and a laugh before running toward the sliding doors. You smile and say your goodbyes before leaving. Charlotte runs back into the lab.

“See you Fwiday. I see it, bye.” She calls out before leaving again.

The newly nicknamed Duckie stands there amused at Lottie’s behavior. 

Friday had arrived rather quickly. Bucky has kissed you goodbye about ten times already and he jogged up the porch steps one more time and gave you two more just to keep the kisses even. You laughed and pushed him toward the car you used to get to and from the compound. 

“Dada wait!” Lottie ran out of the house and stopped him as he started to reverse. 

Bucky parked and got out of the car to meet her. 

“What’s up, Doll?” 

“One mo’ hug.” She stretched her arms out in order for Bucky to hold her. 

“There’s always time for one more hug.” 

He kisses her all over her cheeks and forehead before letting her down. 

“Good wuck dada. Lobe you.” Lottie waved him off from the porch. 

Just as you were about to turn to head into the house the sound of a golf cart got your attention. 

“Duckie!” Lottie cheered as Bruce’s assistant got out and stood at the bottom of the steps.

You said her name with a smile, “I’m glad you came by.” 

She had her hands in her pockets and she looked at the floor before giving a small nod. 

“Well Charlotte said she saw it and Steve encouraged me to come over.”

“That’s good, come on in.” 

She walked up the steps and let Lottie take her hand. Lottie pulled her into the house while you reminded your daughter to be gentle. After leading her newest friend with you Lottie disappears into her playroom. 

“Want anything to drink? We have water, soda, beer, wine and juice boxes.” 

She smiled before asking for water. You placed a glass in front of her. 

“So…” you both say at the same time. 

“Go ahead.” 

“How did you and Steve become friends?” She asked. 

“I called him out on his bullshit immediately and will continue to do so happily.” 

She nods in agreement. “Good plan.” 

“How about you? How did you two meet?”

“I walked into my lab and found him alone. It was about a month after you had been taken. He was really upset about it.”

You nod and give her a tight lipped smile.  “Thank you for being there for him.” 

Henry walks in and stops when he sees there’s a guest. While he’s now used to having people around he still gets shy around unexpected guests. He smiles shyly before taking his place beside you and asking how he can help. You have him set the table and then get himself and Lottie cleaned up.

**** 

You sat at the dinner table with Henry and Duckie. Lottie was on your lap but you didn’t mind. Since you came back whenever Bucky had to go on a mission she would cling to you whenever possible. That didn’t stop her from playing little hostess though. She made sure to ask Duckie questions and even extended an invitation to a tea party later. 

“Habe some mama.” Lottie holds up her spoon, offering some dessert to you. 

“Mmm, that’s so yummy. Thank you for making dessert bubs.” 

“Henry, you made this?” Duckie asks. 

“Yeah. Mama taught me how to make a lot of things.” 

“He’s a natural in the kitchen. I just taught him the basics. He’s learned a lot on his own.” You smile proudly at your sweet boy.

“Amazing. You should be really proud of yourself. I can’t cook to save my life. So thank you both for feeding me.” 

“Well you can always come here to eat, right mama?” Henry looks at you for confirmation.

“Absolutely. Especially for Henry’s pastries they’re to die for.” 

“Yeah, is so yummy.” Lottie adds before spooning more dessert into her mouth. 

****

Once everyone was done you cleaned up the table, being joined at the kitchen sink by Duckie. She was glad to help with washing dishes.

“You’re a good mom.” She says quietly.

“Thank you.”

“I mean it.” She says and it makes you stop to look at her. “I know it must’ve been difficult at the beginning but I see that you truly love them and they love you.”

You could tell there was something behind the statement but you didn’t want to push her. 

“The beginning wasn’t easy but they just needed some patience and love and I do love them so much.” 

She gives you a small smile and you both turn to finish washing up. Just as the last dish is done you offer some wine which she accepts surprisingly. The two of you talk for a little longer, keeping the conversation light. You both share more about your jobs and how you got started. 

There are quick steps down the stairs, which you now know is Charlotte. You turn just as she stops in front of the door. A few seconds later Bucky is walking in with Steve following behind. 

“Dada.” Charlotte launches herself into Bucky’s arms. 

“Hi doll. How did you know I was going to walk in just now?” He asks in almost a joking manner.

“I see it.” She smiles proudly. “Hi Steebie.” 

Bucky gives Lottie a kiss on her forehead before handing her over to Steve. Henry surprise attacked Bucky by jumping on his back while invisible. 

“I thought you had a three day mission. What happened?”

“Halfway there we were informed that local authorities had raided the warehouses. Apparently they had been doing an undercover investigation for about a year.” Bucky shrugs before making his way to you and giving you a quick kiss.

“Good, we missed you already.” 

Bucky greeted your guest before excusing himself to change into something more comfortable. 

“We have leftovers, I’ll make you a plate. Steve, are you staying?” You tell him.

“If it’s not too much trouble.” He smiles at you before turning to his newest friend. “I’m glad you came over.”

“Yeah, it was nice.” 

You smile and give them a moment alone by heading into the kitchen. Lottie follows you and offers to help somehow. She’s just happy that Bucky and Steve are back. 

Just as the microwave is done Bucky makes his way back out. He’s dressed in a black t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He takes a seat at the table and Lottie makes herself comfortable in his lap. She rested her head against his chest while he and Steve ate. 

The four adults and Henry are talking and joking around. You’re happy to see Duckie opening up around you a bit more. Although you know it has to do with Steve being here. 

“She’s asleep.” Bucky says softly while looking down at his daughter. “I’ll be back. I’m going to put her down.”

“I should be going. Thank you for having me.” 

“Of course,” you say to Duckie as you walk her out. “Remember you’re always welcomed here, for whatever you need.” 

“Thanks. Good night.” 

“I’m going to go back home too.” Steve says before giving you a kiss on the cheek. 

“How convenient.” You murmur loud enough for Steve to hear.

He rolls his eyes but heads out anyway and offers to accompany Duckie back toward the main compound building. 

Upstairs, Bucky sets Charlotte down and then helps Henry get settled for the night. 

You’re writing something down in your notebook as Bucky walks into your room and settles down next to you . He’s watching as you continue your writing with a smile.

“What’s that smile for?” You ask without looking up.

“I’m glad that I could be home instead of out on that mission.” 

“We’re glad you’re home safe too.” You finally finish writing and set the notebook down before turning all of your attention to him. “What do you think about the end of August?” 

“For what?” 

“For the wedding. It would be before school starts and warm enough that we could have an outdoor weddingng.” 

Bucky smiles and nods. “That would be great.” 

“How about a small wedding?” 

“That could work.” 

“Alright,” you lean in and kiss him. “Let’s plan a wedding.” 

Ch. 36

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[moonlessnight14]

Adventures at the grocery store

Pairing: CEO!Ari x Wife Reader x Daughter! Marie Levinson

Summary: Ari is in charge of getting you some ingredients you need and heads to the grocery store with Marie...He thinks it will be easy...

Warnings: None. Pure love. Fluff. Cute.

Tag list is open!! Let me know in the comments!!

Asks and requests for this series are open.

The Levinson's Masterlist

No proofread. All mistakes my own. Let me know your thoughts about this after reading. Enjoy!!

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

“We only need to get what’s on the list mommy gave us, Okay?” Ari reminds to his daughter as he sits her on the child’s sit on the cart. 

Lil Marie laughs—almost mischievously, thinks Ari as he steps inside the store. He remembers your words from earlier:

“Only get what’s on the list Ari, nothing more, nothing less.”

But as he sees his daughter claps her hands happily, he shakes off the words from his mind. 

It won’t be that hard…

Usually, it’s you who gets in charge of getting the groceries for the house, you don’t mind it, you like to spend hours in the store, viewing each aisle. You actually came here so often that the employees at the store already know you and Marie. 

You already did the big grocery shopping of the month to stock the house, but today you wanted to bake some cookies—chocolate cookies—but you ran out of some ingredients. Kind of a lazy day, you sent Ari to get them for you—your sweet daughter tagging along. 

“Now, let's see what mommy wants” reads the first ingredient. “Chocolate chips”

Marie claps her hands and giggles “yay!”  

Ari grins. “See? This is going to be easy.” 

He wheels the cart toward the baking aisle, and after grabbing the chocolate chips, they make their way down the next aisle. Marie’s eyes immediately light up.but Marie’s eyes catch something on the way—a display of peanut butter of all brands and kinds. 

“Daddy! Pea’butt’r!” she squeals, pointing at the peanut butter

Ari hesitates. “That’s not on Mommy’s list.”

Marie looks at him with wide eyes, pouting slightly. “Pea’butt’r on ‘poons!”

Ari can’t resist her pleading expression. “Alright,” he sighs, grabbing one and adding it to the cart. “But don’t tell Mommy, okay?”

Marie giggles. “pea’butt’r!”

They move on, but as they pass another display, Marie gasps and points again.

“Daddy! Look! Unic’orn cere’al!”

Ari looks at the colorful box with a skeptical smile. “Unicorn cereal?”

“Yesss! Pwetty col’rs!” Marie insists.

Ari raises an eyebrow, but before he can say anything, she’s already bouncing in her seat, excitedly holding up her hands. “Pwease, Daddy!”

“Okay, okay,” Ari says, shaking his head. “One box of unicorn cereal. But that’s it.” He adds it to the cart, and they move on to the next aisle.

As they continue through the store, every aisle seems to spark another request from Marie.

“Daddy, we need more crack’rs!” she says, pointing to a shelf full of boxes.

Ari glances at the list. “We’ve got crackers at home…”

“Pwease! Da fun shapes!” Marie begs.

Ari looks at the box with fish-shaped crackers and finally gives in. “Fine.”

Finally, as they near the checkout, Marie spots the last thing on her list: a big, fluffy teddy bear on a nearby shelf.

“Daddy! Bear! Mine!” she exclaims, her hands reaching out to grab it.

Ari looks at the bear, and then at the cart full of goodies he didn’t exactly plan on buying. He feels a pang of guilt.

“We don’t need a bear, sweetie,” he says gently.

Marie’s bottom lip quivers, and she looks up at him with those big, pleading eyes. “Pwease, Daddy?”

Ari looks down at her, sighs, and with a defeated grin, grabs the bear off the shelf. “Okay, okay. You win. One bear.”

Marie cheers, her arms hugging the bear tightly as they make their way to the checkout.

When they finally get home, you’re waiting in the kitchen, apron on, and mixing bowl in hand.

“How’d it go?” you ask, trying to sound casual as you watch Ari struggle to carry in all the bags.

“Got everything you needed,” he says confidently, setting the bags on the counter. “And—”

Marie immediately holds up the teddy bear and shouts, “Wook, Mommy! Daddy got bear!”

You raise an eyebrow, then glance at the overflowing counter. “really? What happened to ‘just the list’ ?”

Ari shrugs sheepishly. “Well, she had a few requests…”

You can’t help but laugh as you look at the snacks and peanut butter. “I’m not sure whether to thank you or send you back for the things you forgot to get.”

“I swear, we just went to get what you needed baby,” Ari says, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “But she’s a tough negotiator.”

You shake your head, still smiling. “Well, at least she’s well-stocked for the month."

[moonlessnight14]

Will you be my valentine Daddy?

Pairing: CEO!Ari x Wife Reader x Daughter! Marie Levinson

Summary: Ari has a new Valentine's this year

Warnings: None. Pure love. Fluff. Cute.

Author's note: Happy Valentine's Day!! 💕 Thought on making a quick (and cute) one for today. I made Marie's drawing, since I thought it would be cute to see it.

No proofread. All mistakes my own. Let me know your thoughts about this after reading. Enjoy!!

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

“More pink mommy. Please.”

Your beautiful four-year old, Marie, demands nicely while focusing on her creation. Smiling, you carefully make more pink hearts with glitter on her drawing, mentally giggling at her determination on finishing it.

It’s currently 10:00 PM , and although she tends to be sleeping at this hour, you decided to let her stay awake a bit more since she insisted on it. And everything is because she wants to surprise her Daddy, AKA your husband, Ari.

Now for being four-years old she is very confident and determinated on getting something done (wanting too). She got that from your lover, ha. But also like him, when it comes to special people that she loves, she stops the world to give them everything.

And Ari Levinson can be the most exigent and cold CEO when it comes to work, but all that fades when he steps inside his house. His home. He is not only the best, most-caring lover that you are grateful to call husband (and grateful to everyday wake up in his arms), but the best Dad for Marie.

“Dis’ for daddy!” She proudly exclaims, showing you the drawing, which consists of small pink glitter hearts that fill the piece of paper and a big pink hand-painted heart that has inside two small drawings. One is Ari, the other is her. How cute.

“Aww baby, it’s beautiful! Daddy will love it” You encourage her as you take a pen a write on the paper a phrase that she asked you to write. But truth is, your husband will indeed love it. Both have a small album filled with nothing more than the drawings and painting your daughter made for you and him.

Marie jumps excited, clapping her hands together, “yay!” She picks the drawing and writes her name on it too. Her handwriting a bit messy, since she is still learning.

“What’s all this noise?” A masculine voice interrupts the short celebration.

“Daddy, no!” Your little girl exclaims running to prevent of your husband coming inside the room. Ari is standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, smiling.

“Close your eyes Daddy!” Marie says

“Okay! Okay! They are closed.” Ari says lowering to his daughters height, so she can see that her daddy is not lying.

She turns to you and smiles to which you nod. She takes the drawing and save it under her pillow. You make a mental note to take it out of there and place it on her pink nightstand, or else tomorrow morning the bed will be filled with pink glitter.

“You open now!” She approaches Ari, who opens his eyes and picks Marie up, tickling her with his beard.

“Daddy no! Tickles! Daddy!” She laughs and giggles. Ari smiles and stops, kissing her forehead gently. Marie lays her head on Ari’s chest as you approach.

“Ready to go to sleep baby?” You ask her while moving strands of her hair out of her face. Marie nods.

“What was all that noise about? What were you two doing huh?” Your husband asks curious as he lays in bed. Cuddling you from behind, sweetly kissing your neck. Marie fell asleep easily and after you and Ari’s nighttime routine (And after putting your daughter’s drawing on her nightstand) you two finally managed to get inside the bed.

You giggle, “Something that Marie wanted to do for you. But you will have to wait for tomorrow”

Ari shakes his head. “That girl, she’s sassy”

“She got that from you. Told you” You tease him.

He raises his eyebrows, “I’m not–”

But you quickly turn around, facing him and stops him from finishing.

He laughs. “Okay, yeah, you are right.”

You smile victoriously and kiss him briefly on the lips. Snuggling your head on his chest.

“Goodnight handsome” You close your eyes

“Goodnight sweetheart” He kisses the top of your head.

Both drift to sleep.

The sunlight makes presence on your room. You hear the door opening, small steps making presence. You open your eyes and see Marie, about to wake you up. You smile at her, she has Ari’s gift in hand. You nod and pick her up, placing her in the middle, between you and Ari. At the feeling of movement, Ari slowly opens his eyes and smiles when he sees his daughter.

“Morning babygirl. What are you doing here?” He moves up, enough to have a better view at his daughter.

Marie smiles and hands him the gift. “Happy Vaeentine’s Day, Daddy!” She exclaims and kiss his cheek. Ari blushes and hugs her. Seeing the drawing.

“Will you be my vaeentine’s?” She asks him.

Ari takes a moment to look at the drawing and smiles. It’s clearly that you were the one who wrote that prase on the drawing, but the fact that her daughter made it for him, melt his heart. He couldn’t have asked for a better family than Marie and you.

You know he won’t stop smiling for a couple of months. You mentally chuckle at that.

Your husbands look at you, then back to his little girl and nods, placing the drawing on his bedside table to pick her little girl and tickle her with kisses.

“Daddy!”

“Yes babygirl, I will be your valentine today. Today and always. Daddy loves you.”

Soon, the room is filled with giggles, tickles and love. Lots of love.

(Marie's drawing)

[moonlessnight14]

You are a person who covers your counter space in clutter and inadvertently makes a shrine to a long forgotten god who shows up to thank you.

[moonlessnight14]

What Was I Made For?

3.1K / Frankenstein AU Tim Rockford x fem!reader

Summary: Left on his own, Tim learns a new way to live.

Warnings: None! Age gap cause Tim’s like hundreds of years old 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 Semi-sentient woodland creatures that meddle, I guess 🤭

A/N: Inspired by @almostfoxglove’s beautiful AU moodboard below - if you haven't already, check out that post and the tags, along with all her other AU moodboards! Thank you so much for sharing them with us 🥹🥰

Title by Billie Eilish / Dividers by @saradika-graphics as always 🥰

For a very long time, Tim did not go outside during the daytime.

Father said not to.

And even though Father has been gone for many years, Tim still heeded his words.  His being the only voice Tim had ever heard.

He still doesn’t know why Father left.  He’s even less sure of why he never returned.

Merge Mansion remains dark, even during the day.  Its halls empty, its candelabras unlit.  If anyone was to pass through the ivy choked iron gates and listen at its door, and no one ever did, they would hear only the skittering of mice and the occasional heavy footstep, so slow and deliberate it could be mistaken for the heartbeat of a slowly dying house.

Only ever at night, Tim goes out to the woods behind the now dusty and crumbling mansion.  Those same woods where Father would have him lift, throw, break - repeatedly.  And Father would write furiously in his notebooks.  Tim thinks maybe that’s what he was made for.

For more years than can be counted, enough so that he passes into legend, Tim continues to do what he knows.  He uproots trees and plants and heaves them over knolls and into streams.  He rolls boulders and smashes rocks.  He haunts the forest alone until the dawn threatens to pierce through the thick overhang of the old growth trees; hiding within the moss-covered stone walls of the only home he’s ever known until night brings cover once again.

Until one night after so many nights, he just… doesn’t.  Instead of his nightly exertion to prove something to the darkness, Tim just sits and bathes in the pureness of the moonlight.  He breathes in the earthy musk of the forest’s damp soil and the sweet scent of pine mixed with bark sap.  Instead of his own laboured breathing, Tim finally hears the babbling of the brooks, the hooting of the owls, and soft breeze whistling between the low berry bushes and the high tree tops.  Tim doesn’t know if he was made to be at peace, but he finds that he can do it all the same.

He teaches himself to read.  At first using words Father would say and the signs he would point to in the room Tim lived in: Lock.  Unlock.  Hot.  Cold.  On.  Off.  Danger.  Stop.

Then from books about nature that he finds in the library, remembering words that Father would use to describe their surroundings when in the woods that Tim now knows so well.

Tree.  Rock.  Hill.  Hole.

It takes a very, very long time.  But Tim has nothing but time.

He’s not even sure if he’s doing it right - he has no one to ask.  Not that he could even if there was.  He says the words in his head the way he thinks they sound, but with no voice, never out loud.  He wasn’t made for that.

It’s no matter.  Even if he isn’t sure he’s sounding them out properly, Tim thinks he’s assigned the words to the pictures in the books of animals and landscapes correctly.  There are other books, as well.  Ones with illustrations that are foreign to him and where the words denote meaning that he doesn’t think he will ever understand, but he learns them anyways:  Music.  Dance.  Laugh.  Feast.  Love.

In his woods, Tim no longer destroys: he clears, builds, tends.  Tim carves out paths that feel softer on the bottoms of his lumbering feet.  He removes dead branches from healthy trunks and uses them to sweep the forest floor.  He rolls away dead trees, some fell by age or disease, others by his own hand in the olden days when he thought that was what he was made for.

He still only does these things under the cover of night.  Father had said to be afraid of the village at the bottom of the looming hill upon which Merge Mansion perched.  He warned Tim that if he was discovered, the villagers would come and hurt them both.  Tim wishes that he had known the words or had the voice to tell Father that he would have protected him.  That perhaps it was the villagers who should have been afraid of him. Father’s notebooks say that he was built to be fierce. 

The bunnies in the woods do not seem to think so.  Nor the foxes, or the badgers, or the mice.  The deer do not find Tim to be fearsome, and the birds readily to flock to him.

He supposes it’s because he starts to help them build their nests; his long legs easily carry him to the farthest corners of the woods where the best nesting materials can be gathered.  He volunteers his big, pawlike hands to dig their burrows and holes.  His strength he uses to drag logs and branches to where whole furry families reside, breaking the thick wood into smaller pieces to help them expand and fortify their homes for their growing broods and the incoming weather.  He’s tall enough to lift baby birds back into their nests when they fall out before they’re ready to fly.  He forages and shares all his bounty, himself having no need for sustenance. 

Tim would not mind if this is what he was made for.

The years continue to pass.  The village at the bottom of the hill gets less busy, smaller, and is eventually gone.  Tim only knows because he witnesses the number of tiny square windows illuminated by bright candles during the night, dwindle until there is only darkness.

From the now dilapidated walls of Merge Mansion, Tim watches as what remains of the village rots and is reclaimed by the Earth.  It looks less frightening to him the way it stands now, wild and lush - much more like his beloved forest where he’s only ever known friendly creatures.

It’s the bunnies who convince him to come out in the daytime. 

It had been an especially abundant year for the rabbits, with baby bunnies almost overrunning the forest floor.  The mamas plead with Tim using their big brown eyes to help round up their little ones and keep them safe, making sure none of them strayed too far from the safety of the woods.

Little bunnies are hard to see in the dark.

The first time Tim steps outside during the day, he’s so blinded by the sky’s brightness that he thinks perhaps his eyes were not made for sunlight.  His forest is so green in the daytime.  A richness of browns with the occasional pop of red, blue, even lavender.  In the winters, the snow is so white during the day it appears almost clear.  Once the snow has melted, the streams splash with fish that jump during the day – something that never happens at night.  The sun’s beams warm Tim’s rough skin in a way the moon’s cold, comfortable ambiance never has.  The sounds of the forest are so much louder, cheerier in the day than they are at night – it strikes Tim as odd given it’s the same forest but he supposes he feels more alive during the day as well.

The deer are the ones that lead him out of the forest and to the front of the house.  The overgrown grass on the Merge Mansion hill begs to be grazed on, and with the village gone, Tim and the deer while away many days unseen and unbothered amongst the soft green blades – looking out to a splendid view of rolling plains and sprawling forests stretching all the way to the horizon.  He never strays far from the house - still heeding Father’s words of caution even though the dangers he warned against look to be long gone.

Tim doesn’t even know that another village has sprung up somewhere on the other side of a low mountain that he considers to be more than a fair distance away until you.  The first time he sees you, you’re but a little girl and you come with your own father to the cemetery that rests at the bottom of his hill, where it once bordered the old village.  The same cemetery from which Father gathered the parts that make up Tim as he is, if Father’s notebooks are to be believed.  The deer scamper away before you or your father see them, but Tim stays and hides, watches.

He hears your father tell you that these graves belong to your ancestors who once lived in the old village that’s now gone and that even though you live on the other side of the mountain, you should still pay your respects.  Tim listens to your cheery chatter and the hum of your father’s merry tunes as the two of you clean the gravestones, pull the weeds, plant fresh gardens.

You and your father come every week and Tim begins to look forward to it.  He watches you grow into a beautiful woman and your father into an old man.  He listens to the musical lilt of your voice and the gentle teasing of your father as the two of you care for and nurture the plot of land at the base of the Merge Mansion Hill so that it grows vibrant and fragrant with flowers that he’s only ever seen in Father’s books.  He hears your father tell you stories he heard as a child about the house that Tim lives in – the legend of a mad scientist and a terrible monster.  Tim doesn’t know why, but he feels relief when you laugh at these stories and call them ridiculous.

When your father stops coming with you, Tim watches over you in his stead.  You continue to do your duty in the cemetery joyfully and your sweetness is like an invitation.  The bunnies and the foxes and the mice and the deer all come down to join you.  You laugh and share your food with them and they enjoy your company as much as you do theirs.  Music.  Dance.  Laugh.  Feast.  He thinks he finally understands.  When his furry friends turn their soulful eyes up to the house, Tim knows they’re looking to him to come down but he shakes his head no.  He’s not made for this.

He doesn’t know that you see him anyways.

You’ve known he was there since the days you would come to this cemetery with your father as a little girl.  Most times as just a shadow on the Merge Mansion grounds, but once or twice you had seen Tim’s handsome, haunted face in one of the cracked windows.

You don’t know who he is or what he is, but some how you know that you have to pretend that you’re unaware of his presence.  As if for some laughable reason, he finds you to be frightening.

So, you try to make yourself to be as nonintimidating as possible.  You wear soft flowing fabrics that lie prettily over your equally soft skin in pleasing colours that compliment the hue of your hair and the brightness of your eyes.  You keep your voice gentle and the sound of your notes harmonious when you sing or hum your favourite songs of love and fantasy.  When your father tells you the old stories of the Merge Mansion Monster, you make sure to loudly decry this characterization.  Your unseen friend is not a monster, and you want to make sure that he knows you know that.

Your woodland friends who proclaim to know him best seem to say, give him time.  So you do, waiting patiently for a sign.  For what?  You don’t know.  Just a sign for more.

It comes one summer day, many, many years after your weekly trips to the cemetery became solo trips.  For two weeks, you’ve been in a state of mild panic, unable to find the delicate gold chain necklace that your father gave you - his last gift to you before he passed.  A part of you fears that it may have come unclasped and dropped onto the path some time during your weekly trip to the Merge Mansion cemetery; your heart clenches – if that was the case, your treasured necklace is surely lost.

Your surprise when you find your necklace waiting for you on top of a gravestone next to a small tied bundle of lavender is palpable.  Your eyes threaten to overflow with tears as you look up the hill to the house and mouth, thank you.

You don’t know that you had actually lost your necklace next to this very gravestone and that one of your bluebird friends had carried it up to Tim in its beak.  Tim spends two weeks practicing making the small bouquet of lavender – his large and clumsy hands unused to the precise and delicate movements required.  He refers to the instructions in the book he found so many times he can see the diagrams in his sleep.  But he keeps trying until he gets it right – wanting to offer you something more than just your returned necklace as a token of his appreciation for all the work you do.  Holding the delicate chain in his oversized hand, he can’t stop looking at it glittering in the moonlight and admiring its intricate craftsmanship.  It’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.  Well, second.

The next week, Tim discovers a large and fragrant bouquet of the cemetery’s best and biggest blooms laid outside of his iron gates.

Three weeks later, on the same gravestone, you find those flowers dried and pressed, then laced together in a pretty flower crown.

You weave your own from new fresh flowers and leave it in place of the dried one you take home.  The following week, the crown you made is gone, and in its place, a large pile of fresh wild berries that must come from the forest behind the mansion.

The squirrels had objected, but Tim promised that the reduction of berries from their weekly hoard would be for a good cause.  You helped prove him right the following week when he returned from the hill with a jar of wild berry jam which he happily shared.

This continues for months.  Each week a small, thoughtful trinket exchanged - neither you or Tim having much to offer except your consideration and time.  The giddy anticipation and resulting awe a gift in itself.

The day you bring a blanket that took you six weeks to knit, you’re imbued with a bravery (the source of which is unknown even to you) that brings you all the way to Tim’s doorstep.  The heavy door opens when you push against it, but no one answers when you call out.

While Tim is in the woods assisting with the birth of a newborn deer, you’re wandering the dark, musty halls of Merge Mansion.  You find where you think Tim must sleep: in a room that looks like a lab - electrical wire equipment, gurneys, restraints and medical utensils long since pushed against the walls of the room and abandoned.

You read the notebooks left behind by the scientist and seethe on Tim’s behalf.  To call him a Creature!  To experiment on him and put him through trials of endurance and strength as if he was merely an instrument for violence!  You’re grateful that Tim’s creator must be long dead by now, else he might not be able to escape the vitriol you feel rising in your chest at the mistreatment Tim endured at his hand.

You leave the blanket and the mansion in a hurry.

When Tim comes back into the house, he knows immediately that you were there.  He smells you.  The sweet floral perfume from your garden and the sticky scent of fruit from your jams hangs in the air.  Nothing in this house or the forest smells quite so lovely.  You were here. 

With growing distress, he finds your thoughtful gift in the room where he sleeps and knows that you’ve read Father’s notebooks.  You know the truth of what he is now.  He’ll never see you again.

But you come back.

You leave him a letter and for three weeks, he reads it every day. 

It’s a letter that tells him about yourself and your family, and how you came to be his weekly visitor.  You tell him how you’ve always known he’s been there but you were afraid to scare him away so you never let on that you saw him.  You tell him that now that you’ve calmed down a bit, you’re not quite so angry at Father but you do think that he didn’t understand Tim’s true nature, or perhaps, you concede, he simply wasn’t gifted enough time to understand. 

You tell him what you think of his nature.  In your experience, men who are strong are rarely gentle and those who harness power are hardly ever giving.  But Tim is.  His hands, arms and muscles may be sewn together from much lesser men, but he, Tim, wields his strength to protect and look after others.  His heart may not be able to pull down trees or break rock, but it’s tender and pure – and where his true power lies.

You write that even though you’ve never met him face to face, you only ever feel safe and cared for knowing he’s around.  And you hope that even if he never forgives you for trespassing in his home and going through his personal belongings without his permission, he will take your words to heart.

Every week you come back to the doors of Merge Mansion bearing a small gift and a big apology, but Tim is nowhere to be found.  You’re starting to fear that you’ve crossed an unforgiveable boundary and ruined your indescribable but cherished connection, when the most wonderous sight awaits you as you near the top of the hill nearly a month after you left your letter.

Tim. 

Impossibly large and broad, a hulk of a man is sitting on the front steps waiting for you.  His face is hard, lined from time and worry, but his eyes are soft and vulnerable.  You see some trace of old scars along his forehead and neck, and down the worn skin that stretches over the corded muscles of his forearms.  His clothes are outdated and entirely the wrong size, but somehow it works on him.  He looks formidable.  Wild, yet tame.  Handsome.

You run to him, beaming.  Tim stands when you come to a stop in front of him, towering over you as he holds out a bouquet of wildflowers picked from the forest lands behind his home that he tends to so carefully.

When you reach out to accept, your small fingers brush his larger calloused ones, and the jolt of electricity that passes between the two of you feels like pure joy.  And although Tim can only offer a quiet grunt, unable to say the words that he wishes he could sing with his whole chest, you understand him perfectly.  Your incandescent smile and hopeful expression reassure him that you too, recognize the simple, unspoken truth: Tim was made for you.

🎶Obligatory Billie Eilish, What Was I Made For lyrics🎶:

'Cause I, 'cause I I don't know how to feel But I wanna try I don't know how to feel But someday I might Someday I might

Think I forgot how to be happy Something I'm not, but something I can be Something I wait for Something I'm made for Something I'm made for

[moonlessnight14]

𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐣𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫

Paring Joel Miller x Reader  

Summary The tenderness and nerves of spending the night at Joel’s for the first time, and the sweet moments that follow in the morning light [1.2k]

A/N This is a snippet into the lives of Joel and reader from the moments in between. Reading that fic is not a necessity because you’ll get the vibes either way. But fun news—right after this fic is posted, they will be receiving their own masterlist where I will post more glimpses into their lives in Jackson!

When yellowed lamplight no longer fills Joel’s room, there’s a brief period of rustling as the two of you settle beneath striped linen sheets in the dark. His bed is small enough that you can feel each other’s proximity, but spacious enough that you don’t have to touch. But you want to. It was your first time spending the night, and enjoying his company in the hours prior had awakened a selfishness you’d never known.

Maybe it was because he gave to you so freely nowadays. His presence, his thoughts, those smiles he no longer fought so hard to hide. It was hardly your fault that all you wanted to do was take, and take, and take. His supply never seemed to dwindle when it came to you. 

As a stillness settles, you extend a hand his way that no sooner meets the softness of his bare stomach. Caught off guard, Joel briefly sucks it in before relaxing again. He’d peeled off his shirt before climbing into bed, claiming to run hot during the night. Your touch is just light enough to tickle as your fingers drift upwards, catching the dusting of hair splayed across his chest. 

Swallowing, Joel takes hold of your hand and brings it to his lips to kiss, his facial hair scratching gently against your skin. 

“Sorry,” you murmur, worried it was his way of asking you to stop. 

“You’re okay, sweetheart.” He sounds gruff. “Just trying not to lose my mind.” He huffs out an amused sound that’s a little breathless. 

There’s a flutter in your chest as you laugh a little. “Just wanted to feel you.”

Joel guides your palm to rest over his heart. “You feel that?”

It beats steadily, elevated just so. You’re glad it’s too dark for him to see the smile that pulls across your face. He scoots closer, his own hand reaching down to grace the skin of your thigh just beneath the hem of your shorts. There’s always a sureness to his touch. Everything Joel does carries a sense of intentionality. From picking up the cool steel of a rifle to caressing the delicateness of your skin. 

As his fingers continue their gentle passes, it’s more dizzying than you’d expected, and you understand what he meant about losing his mind. Leaning in, he presses a kiss to the bridge of your nose, then your forehead, letting his lips linger as if to leave their invisible mark. An overwhelming sense of comfort melts down your body as he pulls away, so thick and heavy that you exhale and let your eyes slip closed. 

•••

The press of your lips is so soft that Joel almost doesn’t feel them. Almost thinks it’s something sweet he’s dreaming up, especially now that he doesn't have nightmares anymore. His eyes open in an eventual flutter, blinking slowly until it becomes clear that you’re really laying by his side. Your lips peppering pert kisses over his freckled shoulder. Being seen in the morning light makes you pull away as if you’d been caught doing something wrong. Joel just continues blinking at you with the softest look in his dark eyes. Like he’d let you get away with anything forever. 

You study him, the way his cheek looks pressed into the pillow, how his hair looks fluffier and disheveled from a good night’s rest. Both his hands are tucked beneath his pillow as he lays on his stomach. The nervous air of excitement that clouded the room last night has lifted, leaving behind a quiet sense of ease. It’s in the steadiness of your breathing, the quiet acknowledgement of the other that doesn’t need the help of words. 

When you shift, a golden ray of sunlight hits Joel’s eyes, making it clear that it’s later in the morning and that you hadn’t shut the curtains all the way. His eyes appear as more of a caramel brown as he squints with a small disgruntled sound. You settle back into your original position with an apologetic smile. 

No matter how much he tried, Joel still couldn’t grasp the luck that brought you to him. It sprung up out of nowhere at a time he least expected. A time when he’d grown to accept the possibility that the rest of his life would largely revolve around Ellie and being whoever she needed him to be. He’d already let too many people slip from between his fingers to welcome another. 

Back in Spring when they arrived in Jackson, and Tommy introduced you two at the Tipsy Bison, he was terrified because he’d never met someone as kind and intriguing as you. Not before the world fell and certainly not afterward. He convinced himself that if he never opened up or let you in, it would at least mean getting to experience you in bits and pieces. This was before he realized how torturous it was to keep restricting and denying himself. 

When the sound of Ellie’s footsteps arises from downstairs, Joel stretches his legs with a groan. “Kid’s got us beat this morning,” he says. The two of you are usually the early risers.

“Mmmm,” you hum, more interested in the rasp of his low drawl. “And what else?” Joel chuckles as you comb a loving hand through his hair. 

He gets a shy look about him, but indulges you. “Means we gotta get up,” he says. “Breakfast’s started at the pavilion by now.” 

Scooting closer, you hook a leg over his. There’s something about the warmth of him, the musky scent of his skin that makes your eyes close all over again as you inhale. Joel just lays there and lets you. Breakfast could wait a little while longer. 

Later, there’s a weight to your gaze as he stands at the sink brushing his teeth. You don’t mean for him to feel it, but he does, peeking back at you from over his broad shoulders. Freckles and moles alike are dotted across his back, but it’s the scars that evoke that deeper sense of wonder.

As he finishes up, there’s something so painfully intimate about watching the way he wipes his mouth with a towel and begins running his hands through his hair to fix it. Your window of opportunity comes as his arms are lifted, and he doesn’t complain as you hug him from behind. 

“She lives,” he lightly teases, hands coming to rest over yours. In the mirror, he can hardly see you from around his strong frame. 

“You left me cold and alone,” you accuse in a murmur against his skin. He shivers when you deliver a punishing nip along his spine and follow it up with a few lazy kisses. 

“I know. That was real awful of me.” 

You tuck your nose into his warmth, murmuring, “Unforgivable." Then you’re quiet for a moment, enjoying the feel of him. “Maybe a kiss could change my mind.” 

Joel can’t help a fond chuckle as he turns around in your arms.

-

Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know what you think. 

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