#bucky x winnie

[imtryingbuck]

His Flower.

~ gif not mine credit to owner ~

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader

Summary: Bucky and Y/n have known each other since they were babies, they love each other but don’t say anything until Bucky goes to war.

Word count: 11,963

Warnings: angst. fluff. mentions of cheating (not Bucky) mentions of domestic abuse. Swearing. Steve never visits Peggy when she’s old. Bucky knew about Steve getting the serum. Pregnancy. Sad Bucky (that’s a warning in itself) Bucky was accused of the bombing in Vienna in 2015 in this. Blip happens but none of the avengers get blipped nor do any of them die. There’s a lot…so if I’ve missed anything please let me know

Masterlist

May 21st 1922

“Y/n stop running!”

“No”

“Why?”

“You have the lurgy”

Winnie and Y/m/n was standing in the shared courtyard laughing at the two five year olds as James ran after Y/n, the latter running as fast as her little legs could move.

The two women became friends rather quickly after Y/n, her mom and dad moved in next door just when Y/n was a year old. Baby James and Y/n spent everyday since they were introduced to each other, together.

“Those two…” Winnie laughed with a shake of her head as James finally grabs ahold of Y/n, her screams of laughter makes both mothers laugh along.

That was until the screams of laughter turns in to screams of pain.

James tripped over a loose concrete slab, in turn knocking into Y/n causing her to fall face first on the ground. Smacking her face and cracking her tooth.

“I-I-I’m sor-sorry Y/n I’m sorry” James cried backing up as their mothers came rushing over. His tiny hands shook as tears streamed down his puffy cheeks, he could see the blood flowing from her lips when her mom picked her up.

“Mo-momma it wa-was acciden-t I promise”

“I know sweetie, it’s okay” Winnie said after she helped her friend. Seeing her son shaking and crying as he backs up to the wall furthest away from them broke her heart, she and Y/m/n knew it was an accident and they both knew that James would never hurt his friend.

“I-it was accident” he hiccuped.

“Wan’ Jamie, mama wan’ Jamie”

Hearing her teary voice he pushed himself off the wall and ran around his ma going straight to Y/n. “I got you” whispering in to her hair as he wraps his arms around her.

December 24th 1922

As the fire crackled next to James and Y/n as they played with his toy trains and cars Y/n’s parents argued in the kitchen, from what Y/n could tell from this latest argument was that her dad had been fucking another woman. Again.

“Jamie what fucking mean?”

“I don’t know. I think it makes you cry”

“Mama always cries when dada fucking other women”

James shrugs, honestly feeling a little bit scared because of the raised voices and things being slammed down on the counters though he was just five years old he was trying to be brave in front of his friend.

The voices got louder as Y/n’s mom was pushing her dad into the hallway, screaming at him that this was the last time and for him to never come back. A photo frame that hung up on the wall falls and smashes loudly on the floor causing James to flinch, Y/n notices and takes his hand in hers smiling - she’s grown accustomed to the bangs, screaming matches and things being broken that it doesn’t bother her anymore.

James flinched once again when the front door opens and slams shut with a deafening bang. His scared wide eyes looked at Y/n’s, she gets up and moves to sit next to him as her mom screams once more and stomps up the stairs no doubt to chuck all of her fathers clothes out of the window.

“I got you”

She promised as she wraps her small arms around his body.

March 10th 1923

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE”

Y/n screamed as she ran over to him, she was so excited for his birthday she had made him a card and got him a new wooden train.

“Ahhh who are you little monster?” He screamed when she jumped on his back.

“‘M not a monster”

“You are”

“Not”

“Are”

“Kids stop arguing, you’re both monsters” Winnie laughed hugging Y/m/n.

“It’s my birthday Flower”

“No it’s my birthday”

“No it isn’t”

Both moms roll their eyes as the kids continue to argue, heading into the kitchen leaving both of them to stand in the hallway arguing.

Y/m/n was sipping the coffee that Winnie had made her, Winnie expressed how happy she was for her friend for not taking back her husband, though finding it sad that he hadn’t been around to see Y/n. Luckily George stepped up and had even brought the five year old a present for Christmas.

“Mama where is present?” Y/n asked running up to her mom.

“Here sweetie and here’s the card you made” handing over the present and card, Y/n smiled and thanked her.

“Here you go Jamie. I made the card all by myself!”

“Thank you Flower” opening the card he smiles at her messy handwriting and the drawing of him and her that she drew. James gave her a kiss on her cheek before handing the card over to Winnie, then he opened the brown paper wrapping. “Flower…”

“It’s a train Jamie”

“I-thank you so much!” James had his other one stolen from Jimmy who lived across the street, mean kid who loved to bully younger kids.

“It’s okay. Do you like it?”

“I love it Flower”

June 2nd 1930

James and Y/n were walking down the street talking about how school went when James grabbed her hand causing her to pull it away and blush, giggling when he tried to grab her again.

“Flower stop, listen do you hear that?”

“No-wait now I do, what is it? Do you think it’s an animal? Can we keep it?”

“Yeah because animals can speak” he rolls his eyes, moving towards the entrance of the alleyway where the noise was coming from he turned to Y/n “stay here-“

“No I’m coming with you!”

“No you’re not. Just stay here”

Nodding in defeat Y/n watched him walk down the alleyway, a few minutes later she sees Jimmy and his goons running out and down the street. Running in the direction that James went she came to a halt when she saw him picking up a guy who was a lot smaller than him.

“Jamie who’s that?”

“Flower I told you stay where I told you to”

“Who is that?”

“M-my names Steve” the blonde said fixing his shirt.

“Hello Steve my names Y/n and this is James” moving closer to them she held her hand out to the blonde, turning to James “can we keep him?”

“Y/n he’s not an animal”

“But can we? We can be best friends forever and ever and ever and-“

“I’m sorry about her, she gets a bit excited sometimes” James said to Steve both watching Y/n go bright red as she continued to say ‘and ever’. “Flower breath”

“And ever and ever, please Jamie can we keep him I’ll be good forever and ever and ever-“

“Do you want to be our friend? Please say yes just to shut this one up”

Steve looked at both of them debating whether or not this was a prank, he’d gotten so use to being alone that the prospect of having two new friends scared him. But he could see the hopeful look in Y/n’s and James’s eyes, maybe just maybe this wasn’t a prank and maybe they genuinely want to be his friend.

“So…” Y/n asked getting impatient.

“O-ok, yes I’ll be your friend”

“Amazing! Come on we’re going to Mollys to get a burger-“

“And a milkshake! Have you ever been to Mollys? They make the best milkshake ever don’t they Jamie, they do so Stevie I swear”

“I apologise for her” James started.

Steve just smiled and shook his head “it’s okay bu-but I don’t have any money so I can’t come with you”

“Don’t worry about it Stevie I’ll pay for you. My father’s dead so we got money” Steve’s eyes went wide at how nonchalantly Y/n said that her father was dead.

“I-I’m sorry-“

“Don’t be I didn’t like him, so what milkshake do you want? They have vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. My favourite is strawberry and chocolate and Jamies is chocolate”

“Oh I-I’ve never had-“

James rolled his eyes as he knew what was coming. Steve looked at him wondering what he had said wrong when Y/n loudly gasped and threw herself on the ground.

“Flower-“

“He. Has. Never. Had. Milkshake. Before. Jamie”

“I know-“

“I-how, how does this even happen?”

“You going to get off the floor?”

“I can’t”

James leans over to take her hand in his and helped her stand. “Next time don’t throw yourself on the ground, your ma will get mad at you for ruining your skirt again”

“Come on Steve I’m going to blow your mind with the best milkshake in the world” ignoring James’s words she grabbed Steve’s hand and started to drag him to Mollys.

“Flower stop dragging him and be careful!”

To be truthful Steve didn’t honestly mind that she was dragging him along the pavement, he was quite excited about trying something new.

“Sooo whatcha think?” Y/n asked as soon as the glass was put in front of him.

“Flower he hasn’t even tried it yet” James laughed though he did have to admit that he was also wondering what his new friend was going to think of the drink.

Taking the straw in his mouth he took slow sips, liking the way it tasted straight away. “It’s good, I like it”

“Yes!” Y/n screamed causing some of the customers to look at her, not like she cared.

Luanne came over to serve them, she was an older lady who had grown use to the antics that James and Y/n liked to cause. As soon as she saw the two coming down the street she always had their milkshakes at the ready, knowing that on Monday, Tuesday and Friday Y/n had strawberry and the other days chocolate.

“Your usual darlings?”

“Yes please, Stevie what do you want?”

“I-I don’t have mo-“

“It’s on me I told you. We get burger and fries and they are the best”

“I-are you sure?”

“The best ever I promise”

“N-no about buying me food…you’ve already brought me a drink”

“Don’t be silly, do you want the same at us?”

“Okay, thank you”

Luanne smiled and walked away back to behind the counter. Steve watched as James or Bucky as he told him to call him, put his arm around Y/n’s shoulder and point at someone walking down the street. He couldn’t help but smile when Y/n laughed at whatever Bucky had said.

The food had come and true to her word it was amazing, Luanne came back over to hand them new drinks winking at Y/n who winked back, he found out that the second milkshakes were free. For the first time in Steve’s life he laughed and smiled genuinely, he had no idea that being beat up in some dingy alleyway would lead him to be making two new friends who actually seemed like they cared about him already.

Steve knew he had made two friends for life.

14th February 1931

“Hey Stevie” Y/n sang as she skipped up to him.

“Hey Y/n/n you still doing that?” Referring to her skipping, it was a new phase she was going through. Every where she went she skipped.

“Of course” she giggled.

“Where’s Bucky?”

“With his girlfriend” she grumbled. Poor James thought his best friend liked his girlfriend but Steve observant as always knew that this was indeed not the case.

“Yo-you still don’t like her I guess?”

“No. Are you okay? Is your eczema play-“

“Asthma, Y/n I have asthma”

“Oh yeah ah, is it playing up today?” Receiving a nod she nods too. “How about we walk super slow so you can catch your breath”

“I-I need to g-get back to home, n-need to help ma cle-clean up”

“That’s okay I’ll help you and your mom I don’t mind”

“A-ar-are you sure?”

“Of course, plus I’ve missed your mom”

Arriving at the Rogers’s residence Sarah greeted Y/n with a tight hug and a kiss to her cheek happy to see the young girl again. Ten minutes into cleaning Y/n told Steve to sit down as his asthma was getting worse, Sarah tried to help out but Y/n just shook her head and told her that it was fine.

She truly didn’t mind helping in cleaning up, she had grown use to having to do it at home since her mom was always working and her step father was too lazy and drunk most of the time to do it.

A year after kicking her father out of the house for the last time her mom got divorced from him as he was wanting to marry the woman he had been cheating on her with. Unfortunately her mom married another lazy man who only thought of himself.

But her mom was happy so Y/n was happy for her.

When her father died for some reason her mom received all his money. Which it had annoyed his new wife tremendously.

“It’s getting late darling, you should head home-oh just before you go here’s some mon-“

“No need to Mrs Sarah, I’ll see you tomorrow Stevie”

Waving goodbye and leaving the house before Sarah could argue about giving her money, skipping down the street she didn’t realise how dark it was when she was in the warm home that belonged to the Rogers.

As she got closer to home she came to a stop when she heard strange noises come from an alleyway, choosing to inspect the sounds she crept down the dark path, furrowing her eyebrows at hearing two different voices she was about to pop her head around before freezing.

“Oh Bucky” a girl moaned.

Slapping her hand across her mouth she started to stumble back. Of course she knew that James was going to be having sex, he was handsome and every girl wanted him, and of course she knew what they was doing she wasn’t stupid but hearing what followed after the girl moaned broke her heart.

He called his girlfriend Flower.

The name that he had always called her he was now calling someone else it. It was her nickname that he gave her since they was four and now he was calling some girl he had been dating for two months her name.

It broke her heart.

For three weeks she had managed to successfully avoid James she knew it was silly for not talking to her best friend over a nickname that he had every right to call someone else but she just couldn’t help but feel down knowing that she wasn’t his flower anymore.

“Y/n, Bucky and Steve’s here for you” her mom shouted from the door, she could hear her talking to them from where she was stood at from the top of the stairs.

Her heart dropped when her mom told both boys just to head up to her room. Scrambling and knocking over her little brother she ran into her room, shutting the door quietly before jumping on the springy mattress causing the metal bed frame to squeak loudly.

“Knock knock little monster” she could hear the smile in his voice.

“Come in” and she also knew that he would be frowning at her response, it wasn’t the usual one she gave him.

“Hi Flower” if he noticed her tensing he didn’t say anything about it.

“Hi Y/n/n”

“Hi boys. What are you doing here?”

“Missed you, you haven’t been around much” James said watching her reaction.

“I’ve been busy” she shrugged. It wasn’t a total lie but wasn’t the whole truth either.

“Doing?” James knew that she was lying, whenever she did she could never look him in the eyes.

“Things”

“What kind of things?”

“Things James! I do not understand why you are so nosey”

“Because I miss my Flower” stating it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He frowned when she flinched at his nickname for her. “W-what was that for? Why did you flinch”

“I-I don’t know what your talking about”

“You flinched when I called you Flower”

“You did Y/n” Steve interrupted, he did hate having to come in between his best friends but he knew that if he didn’t it would probably go on and on.

“I-“ sighing with a huff she shrugged her shoulders. She knew James better than anyone she knew he wasn’t going to give up any time soon. “I heard you”

“Heard me? What are you talking about?”

“Calling your girlfriend Flower”

“I-I’ve never-”

“In the alleyway when you were having sex”

Steve shifted awkwardly on his feet whilst James stood still like a statue. He couldn’t understand what the problem was, so what he was having sex at least it was with his girlfriend, why would his best friend be upset about that?

“You called her Flower James.”

Oh. Oh shit.

“I-you-it-“

“Whatever it’s just a nickname right? I’m sorry that I haven’t spoken to you in weeks but it hurt Jamie, but she’s your girlfriend-“

“I broke up with her”

“Right…so can we be friends again?”

“Aren’t you going to ask me why I broke up with her?”

“No. I just want to be your flower again”

“You’ve always have been Y/n, nobody will take that away from you”

Sliding off the bed she jumped on James, wrapping her arms and legs around him hugging him like she had never done before.

Yes it hurt because he had called someone else the name he had given her but she realised she was being silly for not talking to him over it, he was her best friend as well as Steve and that’s all that mattered.

December 10th 1941

The Second World War had been going on for three years and now America was getting involved after the attack on Pearl Harbour, it’s all everyone spoke about, before there was young men leaving their homes and families to go over to Britain to help fight, a fight they had no reason to be apart off other than to help beat the bad guys, now no one had a choice but to fight.

When James told Y/n that he too enlisted in the army it crushed her heart, she knew he was doing it to help defend his country but that didn’t stop her from being scared. Scared of losing him.

“I can do this all day” Steve panted as the guy tried to get closer to him and Y/n. Y/n couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Steve’s confidence, she knew that he could not in fact do this all day. His asthma was getting the better of him.

Just as Steve was about to leap forward to defend himself and Y/n the guy was pulled away by the scruff of his jacket.

“Pick on someone your own size” James kicked the guy away, watching as the bully scramble away.

Y/n and Steve stood there frozen on the spot at seeing James dressed in his uniform.

It was really happening. She was going to lose her best friend.

“Why are you wearing that?”

“Because I’m a pirate. I’ve been recruited Flower, I ship out tomorrow” though James had a smile on his face his stomach churned at reminding himself of when he was going to fight, churned at not knowing when he was going to see his Flower or Steve again or if he ever would.

“Tomorrow? T-that’s not enough time-no Jamie you can’t-“

“I have to Y/n-“

“Tell them no.”

“You want me to tell the US Army no?”

“Yes”

“Flower”

“Or I’ll do it if your to chicken”

“Chicken? Really?”

“Guys stop arguing.” Steve tried to intervene but it was too late. He watched as his two best friends argued back and forth, feeling annoyed at the fact that he had been rejected once again no matter what name he used or what area he said he was from. And yet his best friend had been accepted by the Army and was allowed to go and fight against the bad guys.

“Anyway come on, we’re going to the Stark Expo”

What James failed to mention to the pair that he had a date with Connie or was it Bonnie? He couldn’t actually remember but whoever he was going on a date with the other girl was for Steve, he felt slightly bad that Y/n would have to be fifth wheeling even if he knew that she would end up leaving under the arm of some guy.

“-so I told him that he had to look after his own children you know? And guess what he said to me-Stevie? Ste-not again” Y/n muttered when she realised that not only had she been talking to herself for god knows how long, but when she turned around she saw the small frame of her best friend going into a recruiting tent that was set up at the Expo.

Following after him she watched as he went into a small makeshift room, entering she laughed when Steve tried to cover his naked chest.

“Steve seriously? You can’t keep doing this-“

“Why not? I can fight, just because I’m smaller then everyone including you doesn’t mean that I can’t help“

“You’d be killed straight away Steven!”

“So what?”

“So what? Steve-“

“I’ve agreed to be part of a science project for a doctor-“

“A science project? Steve what the hell are you talking about?”

“I-it doesn’t matter what does matter is that I’ve been accepted and I’m going to war”

“No. I forbid you from going”

“Forbid me?” Steve scoffed finding her behaviour stupid. He wanted to do that right thing and she was forbidding it. Ridiculous. “You can’t stop me Y/n”

“I-I don’t want to lose you too”

“What are you talking about? Buck will be fine”

“He might not Steve you don’t know this. I can’t-don’t want to lose my best friends please just stay with me here an-and wait for Ja-“

“No Y/n I’m doing this! Stop being selfish”

Being called selfish had whatever response she was going to reply back with to die on her tongue. Y/n was called selfish time and time again by her step father when she wouldn’t look after her siblings, his children. She had grown to detest that word, hated to be called it which James and Steve knew.

Steve instantly knew that he had messed up but before he could apologise he watched his best friend nod, spin on her heels and walked out.

James looked around with a smile on his lips when the flying car got higher off the ground frowning when he didn’t see Flower or Steve, his eyes darted around to find them, his left eye twitched slightly when he saw Y/n coming out of the recruiting tent he knew she had probably tried to talk to Steve out of signing up. 

Ever since the war was declared Steve had become slightly obsessed with going on the front lines along with the rest of the hero’s and fight. James and Y/n took it in turns to get Steve away from the recruiting centres, took it in turns comforting him when he got turned down because of his health problems.

Leaving the girls where they were he went to find Steve to see what had happened. “Steve seriously man just give up”

“Don’t start Buck I’ve had enough of Y/n trying to stop me.” Steve told Bucky how Dr Erskine had given him the opportunity of joining the war to the whole conversation between him and Y/n, he quietly told his best friend that he had called their friend selfish.

“You called her selfish? Steve!”

“I know okay I know I messed up but-“

“Did she say where she was going?”

“No, I thought she was going to find you”

Bucky goes to reply when he gets interrupted by the two girls that he and Steve were meant to be on a date with, asking if they were still going dancing, James sighed before telling them no he had other plans. The girls wasn’t happy but James didn’t care, he needed to find his Flower.

Saying his goodbyes to Steve he turned on his heels to go to Y/n’s house.

Knocking on the door he waited patiently for someone to open, Y/n’s little sister opened and smiled instantly showing Bucky her missing front teeth. “Y/ns in her room”

“Thanks little one”

“‘M not little anymore!” She pouted, the same pout that reminded him of Y/n’s when she was younger.

“No, no you’re not” ruffling her hair he laughed when she tried to hit him, he’s always had a habit of winding up their younger siblings.

Bounding up the stairs nearly tripping over the toy train that belonged to her younger brother he turned the corner and knocked on Y/n’s bedroom door.

“Go away”

“Wow that’s rude Flower”

“Jamie?”

“Who else is calling you flower?”

“No one”

“Are you going let me in or we going to keep talking with a door in between us?”

“You may enter”

Entering her bedroom his heart clenched in his chest at seeing her eyes and cheeks red, tear strained track marks on her puffy cheeks. Ever since they were young he’s always hated seeing her cry.

His stomach dropping when he sees the photograph in her hands, knowing exactly which one it was. James had dragged Y/n and Steve to Coney Island for the day, James made Steve go on the Cyclone which was absolutely terrifying yet amazing at the same time. Steve didn’t quite enjoy it like Bucky or Y/n as he vomited pretty much everywhere.

Winnie, had taken the photo that morning they were standing outside the home James grew up in, smiling at the camera. Y/n in the middle of the two guys, Bucky had his arm around her shoulder and she had hers around Steve.

It was the only photo she had of the three of them.

“Flower…”

“He’s leaving me too, a doctor-a scientist has told him that he can join if he takes part in an experiment James. I-I don’t want to lose you both Jamie”

“Hey-hey your not losing either one of us doll-“

“But I am. This war is dangerous and if I lose either one of you I-I-“

“I promise you that I’ll come back-“

“You can’t promise me that Buck”

“I’m with you ‘til the end of the line, you know this. And I’ll always come back to you Y/n, always. Especially if you let me make an honest woman out of you” his voice went quieter, serious, hopeful that she would hear the genuine words that he spoke.

“You…want to-after going on a date with someone else on your last night of freedom-want to make an honest woman out of me?”

“I, yes. Y/n flower it’s always been you”

“I should be the one making an honest woman out of you-wait-what?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her facial expression when she finally registers his words “I’ve been in love with you for so long Y/n”

“And you’re telling me this the night before you ship off to god knows where?”

“You know me Flower, I’ve always been good with timing”

“You really aren’t” she laughed.

“Am too. But what do you say? When I get back I’ll marry you, get us a nice house maybe on a farm? We can have all the animals you want-yes even a dinosaur even though they don’t exist-and we’ll have children, and we can be happy forever”

“Y-you really want that with me?”

“There’s no one else in this world that I want that life with Flower”

Instead of verbally answering she threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and nodding so fast Bucky thought her head might fall off. Bucky held her face in between his hands just staring at her, he knew that she would never see herself in the same way he has always seen her, he lent in pressing his lips to hers hopefully being able to show her how much he loved her without saying those words out loud.

That night they slept arm in arm with one another both equally dreading for the sun to come up.

When the sun finally made an appearance, he left with the promise that he would be back in an hour so that their families could walk him to the docks, and not without stealing another kiss from her.

Hand in hand an hour later with Winnie, Rebecca, Y/m/n, Y/n’s stepdad and siblings met up with Steve who was waiting outside Mollys with three milkshakes. Everyone walked ahead whilst the three best friends walked slowly behind them, wanting to try and delay the inevitable.

“My promise still stands Flower, I’ll come home and we’ll have the perfect life together. I promise”

“You best come home to me then Jamie or I’ll beat you up”

“Wouldn’t doubt that for a second” he chuckled, everyone else joins in. “I promise to be safe and come home to you Flower. And I’ll write to you when I can okay?”

“I’ll write back to you I promise.”

When the last signal called for all soldiers to get on the ship, Bucky swallowed the sob that tried to make its way out of his plumb lips. Hugging his ma and sister one last time, and his best friends mom and siblings before making his way to Steve, hugging Steve he asked the blonde to look after Y/n which Steve promised he would. Standing in front of Y/n he smiled sadly and wiped her tears away before kissing her one last time, he’d already grown addicted to the way she tasted and the way her lips fit perfectly against his.

He couldn’t wait until he got back so he could spend the rest of his life kissing her.

March 15th 1942

“Y/n there’s a letter here for you!” Her little sister shouted from the bottom of the stairs, there was only one person that would be writing to her, hearing her sister she fell out of the bed with how fast she was trying to get out of it, running down the stairs she grabbed the letter out of her sisters hand.

“Y/n slow down” her mom tried to warn her but it was no use she was already running back upstairs. The excitement getting the better of her. Ripping open the envelope she settled back on her bed.

***

Dear Flower,

It’s been three months since I last saw you and I’m missing you more and more everyday, how are you? Have you been missing me? How’s Steve been? I’ve wrote to him too but I know you’ll tell me the truth.

I’m still holding on to my promise I made so don’t be finding any other man, please.

I’m sorry it’s not the longest letter but I don’t have much time, I’m sorry.

I love you Flower, I should have told you that the last time I saw you but just know I do with all my heart, I’ll see you soon.

All my love

Your Jamie.

***

“So…what did he say?” Y/n was so engrossed in the letter she didn’t hear her bedroom door squeak open or see her mom and sister standing in the doorway.

“H-he said he loves me, momma he loves me”

“Have you only just noticed?”

“What?”

“That boy has been in love with you for as long as I can recall” her mom said as matter of factly.

“I-I need paper a-an-and a pen I need to tell him that I love him too”

Her mom smiled before handing her a piece of paper and a pen that she hid behind her back, she even gave her money so she could get a stamp to put on the letter.

***

Dear Jamie,

I love you.

I’ve been doing good, helping down at the factory with the rest of the women it’s good, I’ve made a friend her names Dot her husband is also fighting, she’s got two kids and Jamie they are the cutest little kids I’ve seen! Of course I have been missing you Jamie! Steve’s doing okay, he’s got a crush on a British woman names Peggy (but don’t tell him I told you that) she’s pretty, smart and really nice. I think she likes him too!

No other man will take me away from you Jamie I promise, I can’t wait to marry you and be able to wind you up for the rest of our lives together, I’m joking. Or am I?

Don’t apologise for your letter being short, anything is better than not having any from you, as long as you are okay and safe that’s all that matters to me.

I love you with all my heart to Jamie, honestly and truly.

Be safe and come home to me.

All my love

Your Flower.

***

Folding the letter and sliding it in an envelope her mom had given her when she was writing, she slipped her letter into the envelope sealing it off she ran downstairs slipping her shoes on she ran out of the house and down the street to the post office.

“A-a s-stamp pl-please” she panted at the worker.

The second the stamp was sealed securely on her envelope she posted it. Her heart raising rapidly, the temptation to just stand there and wait for the mailman to collect all the letters was there until someone cleared their throat from behind her.

“Sorry, I’m sorry” she muttered before leaving, now she just had to wait now until Bucky wrote her back. Shouldn’t be too long. Hopefully.

June 21st 1943

She last received a letter from James three months ago, he told her where he was and how he was doing, told her all about his comrades, told her that he’d come back to her. Ended that letter like the rest, with him telling her how much he loved her. Writing back as quickly as possible she told him how things were going, telling him about her news friends from the factory, and like all the others she ended it with telling him how much she loved him.

Everyday for three months she waited patiently for a letter to come, sighing deeply when she never received one. She was starting to get nervous at the prospect of something bad happening to him, but she kept pushing that thought away as she saw Rebecca everyday at the factory and she hadn’t said anything to her.

Six months after James left for war Y/n moved to a small apartment above the post office, it was small but enough for just her. One night after finishing her shift at the factory, Mary who worked at the post office came running out to her handing her a letter, Y/n ran up the stairs struggled to open her front door like always before she managed to get it to open, quickly closing and locking the door - keeping her promise to James who had made her promise to keep her front door locked at all times.

***

Dear Flower,

I’ve missed you terribly. How are you? I hope you’re okay and safe.

How’s Steve doing? He’s not been really responding to my letters. I’m a bit worried about him.

I’m sorry my letters are getting shorter, it’s just things have been hectic lately.

You’re in my thoughts and prayers every day and night, I’ll come home soon and I’m all yours forever I promise.

I love you more than anything Y/n.

All my love

Your Jamie.

***

Wiping her tears she moved to get her paper and pen, settling on her couch she started to write.

***

Dear Jamie,

I’m missing you more and more every day, I’m doing okay and I’m safe, you do not need to worry about me just as long as you are safe and sound that’s all that matters to me.

Steve will be getting the serum tomorrow (22nd June) I’m scared for him but Peggy has told me that everything will be okay. She’s even said I can come along too, Rebecca has said she will cover my shift because she’s an angel. Steve’s been busy but he’s okay I promise, oh…he jumped on a grenade BUT don’t worry it wasn’t a real one! I screamed and cried when Peggy told me, then I smacked Steve…he deserved it.

I’ve already told you not to worry about the shortness of your letters, I reread every single one of them over and over again.

You’re in my thoughts and prayers day in and day out.

I love you more and more than you’ll ever know. 

All my love

Your Flower.

***

Sealing the letter in the envelope she unlocked the door and skipped downstairs where Mary unlocked the door and handed her a stamp, Mary knew the routine that Y/n had every time she got a letter that she waited long after closing so her new friend could post it that same day.

“Thanks Mary”

“Don’t need to thank me, how is he?”

“He didn’t say…but he said he misses me, it’s hectic over there so”

“It’s understandable, are you meeting Steve and that Brit tomorrow?”

“Peggy-“ Y/n laughed “-and yes, it’s a very big day tomorrow”

“What’s happened again?”

“H-he has a special operation and I’m just going for emotional support” she smiled, Peggy told her not to say anything to anyone but Mary had overheard Y/n talking to Steve about it. So she told her Mary that it was an operation he was having.

“Well I hope it goes well. I’ll see you tomorrow, goodnight darling”

The next morning Y/n waited outside for Steve and Peggy to show up, nearly ten minutes later a sleek black car pulled up and Peggy got out greeting her. Instantly regretting sitting in the middle of two people who were flirting, made worse by Steve as he didn’t realise that Peggy was in fact flirting.

Just like the car ride Y/n blanked out most of what Dr Erskine was waffling on about, her eyes kept going to the bed where Steve lay strapped in to Howard Stark, still slightly star struck.

Everything happened next was lost on her. Her heart raced when she heard Steve screaming in the chamber, a beast of a man was released from said chamber it looked like Steve, her best friend Stevie but this guy was huge. Strong. Muscly. Taller.

Before Steve had to look up to her and now it was the other way around. He said her name and smiled, he pulled her into his arms as she gaped at her best friend’s transformation. Steve released her to look at Peggy as she moved closer.

The unmistakable bang of a gun firing sounded in the room, Steve wasted no time in knocking Y/n on the ground covering her body with his. Dr Erskine had been shot, Steve took off barefoot after the gunman, Y/n’s hands were drenched in blood as she tried to put pressure on the wound, Howard Stark helping her by covering his hands over hers.

It all happened in a blur.

It all happened to fast.

She didn’t like it, she was scared.

She wanted Jamie.

She was always safe with her Jamie.

“Y/n? Y/n look at me love, it’s Peggy. I need you to concentrate”

But she couldn’t. There was too much blood. There was chaos in the background and the only thing she could focus on was the shaking of her hands covered in someone else’s blood.

“Y/n please darling snap out of it” that sounded a lot like Howard she thought to herself.

She could hear them talking then she saw Howard standing and moving away slowly. Then everything came into focus. The look of distress in Peggy’s eyes, the destruction of the room, the white sheet covering a body.

“S-Steve?”

“He’s, he’s okay. We need to go love”

“I-I-I want Jamie”

“I know but he isn’t here right now an-and he will be rather mad at me if I don’t get you out of here, so please follow me”

Despite the blood on Y/n’s hands Peggy still took them in hers and helped her stand, although Peggy didn’t really know Y/n all that well she knew that Steve cared deeply for her, making her care about the woman. Her main focus was getting Y/n to safety and then she could worry about everything else.

December 10th 1944

It’s been well over a year since Y/n watched Dr Erskine get shot and killed, in that year she went back to work in the factory. Nothing really changed for her in that year that had gone by, months would go by without a letter from Bucky she knew that he was still alive as his family wasn’t informed to state that he was dead.

It brought her some relief. But that didn’t stop the sadness from sinking in when she didn’t get a letter.

Steve had become a circus monkey for America, gaining himself the name Captain America. When she saw one of his shows for the very first time she couldn’t stop laughing. The outfit. The way he looked so unsure and uncomfortable. The music. The acting. It was laughable.

“Stop laughing Y/n” Steve said walking into the tent as she followed behind him.

“I-god you look ridiculous Stevie”

“Stop laughing!” He tried to act mad but her laugh had his lips turning upwards. For Steve it had been a long time since he heard her laugh like that. He missed it.

In October of 1943 Steve showed up at her apartment acting different, he was quieter, avoided talking about Bucky. Y/n had asked him if there was something wrong but all he did was give her a tight lipped smile and shook his head.

He wanted to tell her that he was told that Bucky and his unit had been captured as POWs, he wanted to reassure her that he was going to do everything in his power to get him back, to bring him home to her so they could get the life he’s knows they’ve always wanted with each other. 

But he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t bring himself to say them words and see her smile fade, tears gather in her eyes so he remained silent and listened to her rambling about something one of the girls said at work.

He couldn’t fail her, he was going to bring Bucky back no matter what it took.

Unbeknownst to Y/n not only was Bucky captured and then saved by their once scrawny little friend but that in ten minutes there was going to be a knock at the door and she’d be taken by two soldiers to go somewhere.

“It’s like I’m invisible” Bucky mutters when Peggy doesn’t even give him a second glance, he found it funny that Peggy had to practically spell it out for the blonde to understand what she was trying to hint. He knew that if Y/n was here and saw the exchange she would have been smiling so wide with her hands clasped together against her heart.

A small smile made its way to his lips as he thought about Y/n, his Flower. As soon as he got back to camp from being saved by Steve he went straight to his tent and wrote a letter to her, sealing it up in an envelope he got from one of the soldiers, giving it to the person he needed to for it to be sent off. Already excited for her letter. He missed her more than anything.

“You thinking about her Buck?” Steve’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Of course, she’s always on my mind-what?”

“Who’s always on your mind?”

“Ms Potts from down the street-“ he rolled his eyes “-Y/n, you’re an idiot sometimes Steve I swear”

“I’m always on your mind Jamie?”

Bucky’s eyes went wide looking Steve in the eyes, the blonde just smiled at him. Slowly turning around, his heart thumped loudly in his chest, blood rushing in his ears he turned to find the source of the voice he has missed hearing.

Well aware that his unit, his team, strangers that became friends were standing around, he didn’t care if they saw their Sergeant with tears gathering in his eyes.

He didn’t care about anything other than Y/n who was currently standing in front of him. Her flower print dress fit perfectly, lightly moving as she stands there. Her eyes focused on him as he took her in, god she was so beautiful.

“F-Flower?”

“Hi Jamie”

“Wha-how-your really here? I’m not dreaming again am I?”

“No” she giggled, the sound making his heart tingle.

“If you don’t kiss her I will” Dum Dum shouted making everyone laugh. But not Bucky. No it made him move quicker than he’d ever moved before, cupping her face in his hands he smiled before placing his lips to hers. Steve joined in with everyone else as they cheered and clapped. 

“You’re really here” Bucky whispered against her lips, resting his forehead against hers breathing in her scent.

“I’m really here”

That night he took her to his hotel room that they had been allowed to stay at, and made love to her for the first time. Three times that night. One more time before they had to say goodbye to each other again.

Just as she was about to get into the car Bucky kissed her one last time, and got down on one knee, proposing to her with a metal nut - that he had found in the room they shared - asking her to marry him before she could answer he promised that once he was back he’d buy her a ring.

Kissing him she held out her hand for him to slid the nut onto her finger.

“I’m getting married to my Flower” he said as the car that carried his love away. Steve smiled at his best friend’s happiness.

January 28th 1945

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Dot asked Y/n as she threw up for the second time that day.

“I’m okay. Must have been something I ate”

“You sure? Didn’t you say you saw James last month?”

“Yes…why?”

“Did you two…you know”

“Wha-oh, yes, a few times” she admitted, her cheeks going bright red.

“Do you think? Maybe? Right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You might be pregnant” Dot whispered.

Her head spun as the words from her friend settled in. She hadn’t had her period she realised. No. Surely not, right?

“Go and see the doctor after your shift and check” Dot continued.

“I have half an hour off before I start back up again”

“I’ll cover you”

“You’ve got kids you need to-“

“My mom’s here to help me, I’ll be fine”

“But-“

“No buts missy, you need to find out if you are.”

After twenty minutes of arguing back and forth with Dot, Y/n finally caved. Going to the hospital she waited patiently for her bloods to be taken. Completely unaware that across town two families were receiving the worst news.

Getting her keys out of her bag she froze when she saw Steve standing outside her apartment dressed in civilian clothing as Bucky called it now.

“Steve? Hey! What are you doing here?”

“Y/n, I need to talk to you”

“Is it Jamie? Steve? Where’s Bucky?”

But Steve didn’t answer instead he took her keys from her shaking hands and unlocked the door, pushing it open he turned to grasp her arm and guided her in to her apartment. His heart sinking further into his stomach than it already was before coming to her apartment, when he saw the metal nut still sitting on her finger.

“Steve…”

“I failed you Y/n/n I-I’m so sorry”

“He’s okay. He is. I know it”

Shaking his head the scene replying over and over in his head like it had for the past week since he watched his best friend fall to his death “H-he-he’s gone Y/n, I’m so-sorry” He jumps up just in time to catch her as she falls to her knees, a painful sob leaving her lips.

Sadly Steve wasn’t done.

“Y/n…there’s something else, Michael…he’s been killed”

Michael was her half brother. She was close with him, closer to him than she was with her younger siblings. Michael never failed to make her laugh, he always acted like he was the oldest one of the two though there was eight years between them. Y/n was the first person he told when he got his orders from the Army, she hugged him as he cried. It’s not that he didn’t want to fight and help it was that he was terrified.

“No! No you’re lying.”

Helping her stand he took her home where her mom’s screams and cries could be heard from outside the home. Watching as mom and daughter cling together from the doorway Steve let a few tears fall.

Two days after finding out that her best friend turned fiancé and her sweet younger brother were killed Y/n found out she was pregnant. A few weeks later they buried Michael.

On the second of March 1945 Peggy arrived at Y/n’s apartment, eyes red and swollen. They held each other as they cried. Y/n gathered that Steve never got his letter to let him know he was going to be an uncle.

When Peggy noticed the small prodding bump her heart ached. She knew she had to keep the promise that she gave Steve, that she would look after Y/n. Steve had told Peggy that just before Bucky fell he told the blonde to look after his fiancée, the two best friend’s last thoughts were on their best friend and fiancée. Neither one knowing that she pregnant.

A month later Y/n and her family, Winnie and Rebecca were at the cemetery, she smiled sadly when she felt her baby kick for the first time when the preacher said James Buchanan Barnes, they watched as two empty coffins were put into the ground.

She knew that the baby she was growing inside of her would have been so loved and spoiled by its father and uncle Stevie, it broke her heart knowing that her unborn baby would never meet the two greatest men she had ever known.

Five years passed after she lost three men closest to her. After she gave birth to a healthy beautiful baby girl that she named Hope Jamie Barnes, she moved out of the tiny little apartment she had and moved into a farm house that had acres of land.

Just because her Jamie wasn’t with her anymore didn’t mean she was going to give up on the life that he had planned for them. She still wore that metal nut, everyone thought it was strange but luckily for her they never asked about it. However it no longer sat on her finger but around her neck on a silver chain.

A wedding ring sat there now instead.

Two years after Hope was born her mom made her get married. “You’re twenty nine now Y/n you need a husband” her mom told her, reluctantly she agreed and married a man named Frank. At first Frank was okay, nice even but things changed only after a few months of marriage. It started with small things such as telling her what to wear, how to act. Then it turned nasty, the abuse was mental, verbal and physical.

Three years into their marriage she had become numb and use to it all. Became use to the women talking and giggling like school girls when they saw her in the store or on the streets, the same women who were sleeping with her husband. It didn’t bother her anymore that her husband was cheating on her, the more women he had to satisfy him the more he was away from her home, the less she got beaten and berated.

It didn’t even bother her that he had gotten one of his mistresses pregnant or when the mistress’s husband found out and beat Frank to within an inch of his life. In fact she smiled.

Y/n and Peggy’s friendship became non existent after Y/n got married and Peggy married Daniel Sousa, when Peggy and Daniel started dating Peggy had asked Y/n if she was wrong for it but Y/n told her that she deserved to be happy and if he gave that to her then she should have that happiness.

Peggy worried if Steve would have been mad, Y/n had to remind her that he wouldn’t have wanted her to live a life of loneliness.

When Hope was five she was wise for her age, she knew Frank wasn’t her father, she knew her daddy had passed away when he protected the country from the bad guys. Hope enjoyed her nighttime stories where her mama would tell her all about her father, hearing about how funny, kind and loving her father was always made the little girl smile. One night Y/n showed Hope the few photographs she had of James, Hope giggled and pointed at her eyes and then at James’s “same mommy same”. It was true, Hope had the same colour eyes as Bucky and like Bucky’s eyes they changed lighter when she was happy or giggling, turned darker when she was sad or when she was poorly.

Every Sunday Y/n and Hope had a routine, they would go to the cemetery to put flowers down on the graves of James and Steve. They would sit on a blanket and eat the sandwiches that Y/n would take with them, they would sit, eat and talk for hours - depending on the weather. Hope would show the headstones all her drawings and tell them all about her schooling and friends, told them her favourite colour - the rainbow that’s her favourite colour.

Y/n knew that there was no bodies in the coffins but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t sit there with her daughter in her lap and tell the two empty graves that she loved and missed them. Every time.

It was still a tradition that they both did even as Y/n got older and weaker.

In 1970 her husband was killed, Franks brother Robert was arrested and charged with his murder. Robert found out that his wife was having an affair with his brother. Y/n went to see him in prison after Robert sent her a letter begging her to see him, he swore that he didn’t do it. That it was a man with a silver arm. Y/n believed him when he said he didn’t do it, he was with his sister, her husband and their children, along with Robert’s children. But she didn’t believe him about a man with a silver arm, that was a bit far fetched.

At Franks funeral Y/n stood there with Hope on her left side and the nine children he had with nine different women. She tried to comfort the children he had with the women he had cheated on her with, they allowed it until everyone left and it was just them standing at the grave. His oldest started laughing causing the others to join in, Hope looked at her mom with a raised eyebrow that reminded her so much of Bucky, she just shrugged.

They told Y/n that they were happy he was finally gone. Told her that they hated him and was glad he was dead.

It surprised her but they were at the age where they realised that their parents marriages broke up when their mom cheated on their dad, or when they saw Frank hit their mom. It was nine teenagers/young adults who knew that what the preacher was saying as the coffin was lowered in the ground that it was all lies, he wasn’t a good man, he wasn’t a good husband or father, he was everything they hated. He was everything the five boys had promised that they would never turn in to. He was everything the four girls promised that they would never end up with.

They all kept in touch throughout the years, it was nice. And through them years all nine of his offspring kept their promises.

As the years went on Y/n became more and more proud of Hope and the woman she had become. Hope got married and had children, her first born son was named James, her second son was named Steve.

“M-mom there’s someone here to see you” Hope stuttered from the doorway.

“W-who i-is it darling?”

“I-he-hold on”

Hope appeared at the door with a nervous smile on her face, her fingers twisting together as a man walked slowly towards her. His eyes going to the woman and then to the man behind him, he was scared.

“Hope?”

“Mom-“

Y/n slowly turned to face the doorway, her eyes widening as she sees the ghost of her best friend towering over her daughter.

“S-Stevie? You’ve come to take me to Jamie?”

Steve frowned looking at the woman who was the last person on his mind before the plane crashed in to the water, his best friend who had aged yet her eyes remained the same. Then he looked at Hope confusion written on his face, she looked up at him and smiled sadly.

“Mom I’m just going to get you a drink.” Nodding her head to Steve and Sam to follow her she went into the kitchen. “She thinks your taking her to heaven to see my dad”

“Dad?”

“James? He’s my father”

Steve’s heart thumped painfully in his chest. When Hope answered the door telling him that she was Y/n’s daughter he assumed that she had married and had children, he did not expect the woman in front of him to be the daughter of his best friend who he watched fall to his death.

“What?”

“Bucky Barnes is my father…you’re my uncle, well that’s what my mom always called you.”

“Oh. Now I see it, it’s your eyes”

“Mom always said I had the same eyes as him” she laughed.

Steve goes to open his mouth when there’s a sound of a cane hitting the floor, all three turn to face the doorway where Y/n stood.

“Are you re-really alive and not just m-my imagination?”

“I’m really here Y/n/n”

“H-how?”

“When I crashed the plane-ow stop hitting me” he cries out when she hits him with her walking cane, Sam and Hope laugh.

“Still mad at you for crashing that plane”

“I’m sorry. I was frozen and they found me a few years ago” Steve finished his explanation. Y/n nodded and sat down, being ninety five years old her legs weren’t as strong as they once were.

“This is my daughter, she’s beautiful isn’t she?”

“She is, she’s got Bucky’s eyes”

“Yes she has. Who’s your friend?”

“This is Sam, he’s the one that helped me track you down”

“I-it’s nice to meet you Sam.” When Y/n reached out to shake Sam’s hand Steve noticed a glint of a necklace. He watched as her free hand went to the necklace and started lightly tugging on it, he wasn’t the only one.

“Mom? Mom your alright, your safe don’t worry” Hope says softly, moving closer slowly. Sam looked at Steve worriedly.

“I-I don’t-don’t let him hurt me anymore”

“Mom he’s dead, he can’t hurt you anymore I promise” Hope helped pull the necklace out, handing her the thing she knew her mom was trying to hold.

Steve’s breath get caught in his throat at seeing the metal nut Bucky gave her all those years ago.

“S-Steve? Your dead. Hope wh-who is he? I-it’s not Stevie, he’s dead”

“It’s okay mom, he’s a friend. Let’s get you back to bed okay?” Turning to Steve and Sam telling them she’d be back in a few, they both nod.

Waiting patiently in the kitchen Steve can hear Hope calm Y/n down, his heart breaking when Y/n asks for Jamie. When Hope comes downstairs she offers the two a drink, both declines politely.

“Mom keeps forgetting things, she’s been like this for a while now.”

“The thing on her necklace, what is it?” Though he knew he just couldn’t see it lasting this long or that she even kept it.

“My dad proposed to her with it, it’s a nut. She’s kept it on her chain ever since-well, she’s wore it since he gave it her”

“Did she ever marry? Have other kids?”

“Yes, he died in 1970 and no I’m her only child”

“I’m sor-“

“Don’t apologise, bastard deserved it”

After an hour or so the men take their leave, the blonde asking if he was able to come back and see Y/n again, Hope said yes.

The year was now 2016, Y/n’s health declining as she was nearing one hundred. The doctors told Hope that it would be better to keep her in hospital for the rest of her time on earth, Hope told them that, that wasn’t going to happen. Y/n had told Hope that when she was going to die that she wanted to go when she was at home. No matter what.

Steve had showed up one day to talk to Hope, to tell her that her father was alive after all this time. Hope begged him not to tell Y/n. Y/n struggled to understand and come to terms with the fact that Steve was alive, she had grown so confused that she started to tug on her necklace. Hope didn’t want to imagine how her mom would react to the news that the love of her life was alive, not when she spent so long mourning him.

At first Steve was confused but understood at the same time. He told Hope that he and Bucky fought and the only way he could get him to snap out of whatever Hydra had done to him was by saying Y/ns name, Hope smiled at that. Hope asked Steve if he had told James all about her and how her mom was still alive, Steve said no but with her permission he would. And he did.

After seventy years of going without a father it was strange when she met Bucky for the first time, a man who didn’t look a day over thirty was her father when she looked like his mother, it was strange.

Bucky cried. Cried for never knowing Y/n was pregnant in the first place. Cried for never being there throughout Hope growing in her mother’s stomach. Cried for never being there for either one of them for nearly seventy years. Hugging his daughter for the first time ever Bucky crumbled.

Hope was very honest about hers and Y/n’s life, told Bucky how Y/n’s husband was a cheating abusive arsehole. Both Bucky and Steve clenched their fists at hearing that. Shocked when Hope told them that apparently a man with a silver arm had killed Frank, and because Bucky had his arm covered and gloves on Hope didn’t realise that it was her father that did it.

Bucky was open and honest about what had happened to him, expecting his daughter to look at him differently so when she threw her arms around him and cried he was shocked.

It took Bucky exactly twenty three minutes and fourteen seconds for him to ask when he could see Y/n. Having to think it over she agreed but on the condition that she was the one that would tell Y/n the truth.

Telling her mom that the man she had still been in love with after all those years since she had lost him, that he was still alive was the hardest conversation she had to have with her mom. Y/n didn’t believe her, of course she didn’t she’s spent seventy years mourning him. Seventy years wishing she saw him again, hoping and praying that he would still love her the way she still loved him.

Hope told Y/n that she had met him, hugged him, laughed with him but she still didn’t believe her.

A week after telling Y/n that Bucky was still alive her health deteriorated. Hope had to tell Bucky and Steve that Y/n didn’t have long left. Bucky was determined to see his love for the last time.

James stood in front of the house that Y/n had made a home since she left Brooklyn, the two floored farm house stood proudly in front of acres of land, due to his enhanced senses he could smell the lingering smell of animal food and waste. Hope had told him all about the animals Y/n rescued over the years, told him that when she was seven they had three horses, cows and goats, that in recent years Y/n had been rescuing cats and dogs from the streets or abusive homes rehoming them to those she trusted. Bucky smiled at hearing that she had lived the life he wanted for the both of them, smiled at hearing that Y/n’s kindness and love for animals never stopped.

Checking his hair was fine for the umpteenth time in the two hours it took them to get there he turned to face Steve.

“You ready Buck?”

“Y-yeah” Steve knocks on the door and they both wait patiently for Hope to answer. 

“Hi, come on in-oh”

“T-they wanted to come, hope that’s okay” Bucky explained. Behind him and Steve stood the rest of the Avengers.

“We’ve heard all about your mom ever since blondie came out of ice, wanted to meet her” Tony spoke leaning in between the two super soldiers to hold his hand out.

“Oh right, come in.” Leading them all upstairs where Y/n was, Bucky’s nerves sky rocketed the closer he got to the bedroom. “You ready?” Hope asked.

“Yeah. She knows I’m here right?”

“She does, if it helps she’s nervous too”

Nodding his head he watched with a steady breath as his daughter - which he still found weird saying - twisted the door knob and opened the door.

Though older and frail Bucky thought she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. His eyes stayed on her face as he moved closer, with every step he took his heart started to beat slower.

“J-Jamie?”

Wetting his lips and gulping he nodded “hi Flower”

“Took you long enough to come and get me”

“I know my love b-but I’m here now”

“Are we going to see Stevie?”

“Stevie’s right here darling”

“Is my mama going to be there too?”

Frowning he looked back to Hope as she stands at the doorway with everyone behind her. Hope shook her head and mouthed “she thinks you’re taking her to heaven”.  His frown deepened, looking back at Y/n whose eyes didn’t move away from him.

“I’ve missed you Flower”

“I’ve missed you too Jamie. Ha-have you met Hope? She’s your daughter Jamie”

“I have met her, beautiful isn’t she?”

“She is. The best thing I’ve ever done”

“I’m so proud of you, you’ve raised our daughter amazingly”

“Sit down silly” sitting on bed next to her he took his gloves off and held both her hands when she reached for him. Y/n didn’t flinch when his silver hand touched her. “Don’t let Frank hurt Hope okay? Y-you have to promise me Jamie th-that you’ll lo-look after her”

“Doll he’s-I promise that no one will ever hurt her”

“Good. He’s mean. He hurts me Jamie”

“I know doll I know, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you from him”

“Not your fa-wh-who are they Jamie?”

“They’re Stevies friends Flower”

Hope nudged Steve further into the room and nods to the others letting them know it’s okay for them to go in too. Steve says hello and introduces the team to her, each giving her a smile.

For three hours Steve and Y/n talked about growing up together and all the things they use to get up to, everyone laughed and asked Y/n questions about the two super soldiers, she answered them as best as she could sometimes she repeated herself or looked panicked when she saw strangers standing in her room.

Bucky though held her hand with the both of his, his eyes on her the whole time. Tracing over each line with his eyes, his heart clenching when he saw the unmistakable sight of a scar that ran down the side of her face.

His breath got caught in his throat when she took out the metal nut around the necklace. “Y-you kept it?” He asked interrupting when Sam was talking about.

“My Jamie gave it me during the war, he proposed to me” she smiled “you look like him”

“Do I?”

“Yes, but my Jamie was more handsome”

“Was he now?”

“Oh yes-“ a yawn cuts her off. Hope tells everyone that it was best if they left now so she could get some rest, and they do. Each say their goodbyes and waits for Steve and Bucky downstairs.

“We’ll come and see you tomorrow okay?” Steve says after he pulls away from giving her a hug and a kiss to her forehead. Y/n nods and smiles. “I’ll wait for downstairs Buck”

Bucky nods, then looks at Hope who understands without being verbally told that Bucky wanted a few minutes alone, she follows behind Steve.

“I have always loved you, you know? I still love you. I’m sorry that I didn’t come home to you when I promised you over and over that I would, I’m sorry I let you down Flower”

“Y-you didn’t let me down Jamie, never.”

Bucky smiles softly at her, watching as her eyes start to droop. “I’ll let you get some rest my love. I’ll see you tomorrow, I promise”

“O-okay Jamie. S-see you tom-tomorrow” Giving her a kiss to her forehead he stands and moves to the door, taking one last look at his first and only love.

“Thank you for the best years of my life”

He says before shutting the door and heads slowly down the stairs.

After Hope says her goodbyes and gives her dad a hug she busies herself cleaning the kitchen, she smiles happily to herself seeing her parents together something she had always wanted to experience.

She doesn’t know that her mom is in her bed with her hand wrapped around the piece of metal that she had wore and cherished from the moment James gave it her, she doesn’t know her mom is thinking about meeting her Jamie again.

She doesn’t know that her mom takes her last breath with a small smile on her lips.

A year after loosing the love of his life Bucky had to bury his only daughter, heart attack took her. In 2023 Tony had perfected his father’s Time Machine with the help from Bruce. Steve was going to be returning the stones, they all gathered together in the empty space and watched as Steve vanished.

“4…3…2…1” Bruce counted down for Steve’s arrival.

Once the smoke cleared Bucky had his eyes down as he knew that Steve wasn’t going to be coming back, he knew he was going to go back to live a life with Peggy. His head snapped up when he heard the voice that he always heard in his sleep.

There stood on the platform was Steve, Y/n and a two year old Hope.

“Fl-Flower”

“You died Jamie. You promised me you would be safe but-“

Bucky cuts her off by pressing his lips against hers, holding both of his flowers tightly.

One month after Steve brought Y/n and Hope to the future, Bucky and Y/n got married. A month after that she finds out that baby Barnes number two would be arriving.

“I love you Flower”

“I love you Jamie”

Tags: @imcinnamoons | @pigeonmama | @capsbestgirl77

[the-winter-spider]

Yours, Always | Part Eight

Steve x reader, Bucky x reader AU

Word Count: 6.1k

Warnings: Angst, fluff, little bit of this little bit of that

A/N: Only like 2 more parts of Bucky in the hospital, I just want him home so we can get to the good stuff 😅🤪

Masterpost

---

The door clicks shut, the sound hanging in the silence like an aftershock.

Bucky stares at it for a long moment, like maybe if he looks hard enough, it’ll open again. Like maybe you’ll come back, but you don’t.

His chest feels hollow, his hand still tingling from where yours had been just minutes ago. He swallows hard, then drags his free hand over his face, his fingers trembling against his skin.

Winnie watches him, her gentle, knowing eyes never leaving his face.

She saw it the moment you walked out of the room the way something inside her son cracked. Bucky lets out a slow, shaky breath and in a voice that’s so small, so quiet, he asks “Who’s Steve?”

Winnie’s brows pull together slightly, her lips parting. “What did she tell you?” she asks softly.

“Not much,” Bucky murmurs, his voice tired, strained. He leans back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling as his jaw clenches, unclenches.

On an exhale, barely above a whisper “Not much about anything.” His throat bobs, his brows knitting together as his lip quivers, just barely. “Her life isn’t anything like I hoped for,” he admits, the words stinging his tongue like acid.

Winnie’s expression softens, something deep and heartbroken settling in her gaze. “Oh, James,” she whispers, shaking her head. “What did you expect?”

Bucky says nothing. Because he truly doesn't know what he expected but it didn't feel like this.

His jaw tightens, his eyes still glued to the ceiling like if he blinks, if he moves, the pain will swallow him whole.

Winnie lets out a breath, sitting down beside his bed, her hand covering his forearm, grounding him.

“That girl loves you so much,” she says softly. “Her whole world stopped when you were gone.”

Bucky flinches, because he knows he heard it in your voice. Felt it in the way you held him like he might disappear again. Saw it in the way you couldn’t even look at him when you talked about your life.

“She said there was a funeral for me...” he murmurs, his voice barely holding together. Winnie closes her eyes for a moment, as if she can still see it the way you stood at that funeral, hands curled into fists, face vacant, lost, broken beyond words.

“She never really believed it,” Winnie admits. “Not completely. Even when we had to bury an empty casket. Even when they handed me that folded flag. A part of her always thought maybe just maybe you’d find your way home.”

Bucky presses the heel of his hand against his eyes, inhaling sharply. “Who’s Steve?” he asks again, his voice raw this time.

Winnie sighs, her heart aching for him, for you, for all the years that were stolen. “Her husband.”

The air leaves Bucky’s lungs all at once. For a second, he doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink, then, he exhales through his nose, sharply, his hand dragging down his face.

“Right.” His voice is flat, unreadable, but Winnie can see it the devastation in his eyes, the way his fingers twitch like he’s trying not to clench his fists.

“He’s a good man,” she continues softly. “He loves her and Y/N, she loves him and Lily too. Maybe not the way she loved…loves you but its there.”

Bucky’s brows pull together slightly. “Lily?”

Winnie hesitates for half a second, gently. “Her daughter.”

Bucky closes his eyes.

And for the first time since he’s been back, since he’s been rescued, since he’s been breathing, since he’s been staring at the ceiling in this goddamn hospital bed, he wishes he hadn’t made it home at all.

Bucky’s entire body goes still. Not just still, paralyzed. His fingers twitch, then curl into the thin hospital blanket, his grip tight like it’s the only thing tethering him to this moment.

“She has a daughter?” The words barely make it out. His voice is hoarse, strangled, like they were ripped from somewhere deep in his chest.

Winnie watches him carefully, her lips pressing together before she gives the softest nod. “Not in the way you think, sweetheart.”

Bucky’s throat bobs, his breath uneven.

Winnie’s voice is quiet, steady, filled with something he can’t quite name. “She’s her daughter legally, on paper and in her heart. But she didn’t birth her, that’s all I’m saying. The rest… she’ll tell you when she’s ready.”

Bucky just stares at her, the words should mean something but they don’t sink in.

Not yet, all he can hear…all he can feel is the ache in his chest, the one expanding, consuming, suffocating.

“A daughter,” he repeats, like if he says it enough times, maybe it’ll start making sense.

But it doesn’t.

Because how the fuck is he supposed to make sense of any of this?

Of years stolen, of an empty casket, of a love that never got to be anything more, of a life that kept going without him?

His heart is hammering, his breath is short and vision blurs.

He presses his fingers against his eyes, hard, inhaling sharply, forcing the lump in his throat to stay down, forcing his grief into the cracks of his ribs where no one can see it.

“James.” Winnie’s voice is gentle, but firm.

Like she already knows exactly what’s going through his head, like she knows that in the seconds since she spoke those words, he’s already convinced himself that he should have never come back at all.

“Look at me, baby.”

He doesn’t want to. He knows if he does, he’ll break. Slowly, reluctantly, his eyes meet hers.

They’re the same eyes that used to look at him across the dinner table when he was sixteen.

The same eyes that welcomed you into their family like you were always meant to be there because you were.

The same eyes that had to bury an empty casket and pretend it was enough.

“What did you expect?” Winnie says softly. Her voice isn’t harsh, isn’t cruel but it still feels like a knife between his ribs.

Because he doesn’t know, he doesn’t know what he expected.

That you’d be waiting? That time would have frozen in his absence, just like he did? That you’d still be his, in some way, any way, even after all this time?

“I…” His voice cracks.

He looks away, shaking his head, running a hand down his face again like it might wake him up from this nightmare.

Winnie sighs, squeezing his arm. “That girl loves you so much, James,” she says. “Her whole world stopped when you were gone.”

Bucky flinches.

“And when she had to start it again, she did the best she could.”

Bucky swallows, staring at the ceiling, blinking rapidly. A broken sound leaves Bucky’s throat.

A breath, a sob, a fucking plea for something he doesn’t even know how to name. He shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut. “She deserved better.”

“She deserved you.”

His breath stutters and his jaw clenches.

“James,” Winnie murmurs, rubbing slow circles on his arm. “She made a life for herself. She did what she had to do to keep moving forward but don’t think for a second that it didn’t cost her everything. She lost you, baby. She lost herself right along with you.”

He felt it the second he saw you. The way you looked at him like you’d seen a ghost, the way your hands shook when you held him.

The way your voice cracked when you spoke his name, the way you couldn’t even look him in the eye when you talked about your life, because somewhere deep down, you knew it was never supposed to be like this. None of it was.

Bucky swallows then clears his throat. He tells himself not to ask but he does anyway. “Do you think she’s happy?”

Winnie watches him for a long time.

So long that his stomach twists, turns, knots itself into something unrecognizable. She sighs. “I think she tries to be.”

Bucky nods once. Slowly and quieter than ever. “Does she love him?”

Winnie pauses.

She doesn’t answer right away, like she’s choosing her words carefully. “She loves him the best she can,” she finally says. “And he loves her and she loves that little girl with everything in her.”

Bucky stares at the ceiling, silent and suffocating.

“But,” Winnie continues gently, her voice so soft he almost doesn’t hear it “Not the way she loved you.”

His chest caves in. It doesn’t feel like victory, it doesn’t feel like hope. It feels like a slow, agonizing death, like mourning something that’s still standing right in front of you, like grieving a love that was never given the chance to grow.

“Get some rest, baby,” Winnie whispers, brushing his hair back like she did when he was a kid. “Goodnight my sweet boy.”

He nods absently. “Goodnight Ma.”

---

The night air was cool, wrapping around you like a soft whisper. The sky stretched endlessly above, a dark canvas splattered with stars, the moon casting a soft glow over the riverbank.

You and Bucky lay side by side on an old plaid blanket, the fabric rough against your skin, the scent of pine and damp earth grounding you.

This had been your thing for as long as you could remember. Escaping the noise, the weight of the world, and just… being.

Bucky sighed beside you, his hands resting behind his head, eyes locked on the constellations above.

“Do you ever think about love?” His voice was quiet, but it cut through the stillness.

You turned your head slightly, studying his profile. His features were relaxed, but there was something behind his voice, something careful, hesitant.

“Yeah,” you admitted, turning your gaze back to the stars. “I think about it.”

“What do you think about it?”

You breathed in deeply, the scent of cedar and the lingering smoke from your small fire filling your lungs.

“I don’t know,” you said, voice softer now. “I think it’s rare, especially true love…I think when it’s real, it’s the most powerful thing in the world but I also think it’s messy and complicated.”

Bucky hummed beside you. “Yeah.”

A beat of silence. “Have you ever been in love?”

You froze.

Your fingers curled into the fabric of the blanket, your heart hammering against your ribs. You kept your eyes fixed on the sky, but suddenly, the stars didn’t seem so captivating anymore because how do you tell your best friend, your only friend that you’re pretty sure you’re in love with him and you have been since you were eight? You don’t.

You could feel Bucky watching you. “Y/N?”

You wet your lips, swallowing hard. “I…”

And blessedly, cruelly he kept talking. “I am.”

Your breath hitched.

Your stomach twisted, a dull ache spreading through your chest. You forced yourself to breathe, to keep your face neutral, to not let it show.

“Oh?” You managed, your voice painfully even.

He let out a breath, something like a laugh, but it was softer, like he wasn’t sure if it was funny or not. “Yeah. I have been for a while, I thought it would go away if i ignored it but it's not, it's just....stronger."

Your throat tightened as you swallowed the lump caught in your throat.

You thought of Stacy. She was pretty, she was sweet, kind, popular pretty much everything you weren’t and would never be.

She had been hanging off his arm for weeks now, giggling at his jokes, showing up at his locker, touching his shoulder whenever she spoke to him.

You had told yourself it didn’t bother you. That it didn’t matter and you didn’t care.

You inhaled sharply, forcing a small smile. “She’s lucky, then.”

Bucky turned his head to look at you, his brows pulling together slightly. “Huh?”

“Whoever she is.” You swallowed around the lump in your throat. “She’s lucky to have you.”

Bucky didn’t say anything for a moment.

Until quietly, carefully he did. “Do you think anybody could ever love me?”

Your chest ached.

You turned your head, meeting his gaze in the dark. He looked so vulnerable, so open, like he didn’t even realize it.

“Bucky,” you murmured, your voice trembling. “Any girl would be stupid not to love you.”

Something flickered in his expression. Something unreadable.

“Yeah?”

You nodded. “Yeah.”

He looked at you for a long time, too long and he turned back to the stars. “What about unrequited love?”

Your stomach dropped.

“What about it?” you whispered.

“Do you think it’s worse than never loving at all?”

You licked your lips, feeling like you were unraveling.

“Maybe,” you said carefully. “I think it depends.”

“On what?”

You hesitated, your fingers digging into the blanket. “On whether or not the person you love ever really sees you.”

Bucky let out a shaky breath.

“Yeah.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I think you’re right.”

The air between you was too heavy now, too thick, filled with words neither of you had the courage to say.

Bucky sat up abruptly, stretching his arms above his head. “C’mon,” he said, his voice suddenly lighter, different. “It’s getting late.”

Just like that, the conversation was over, it was buried.

You let out a breath, blinking up at the sky one last time. The stars were still there but they didn’t look the same anymore.

---

You don’t remember walking through the hospital.

You don’t remember saying goodbye to Winnie, don’t remember the quiet hum of nurses and the faint beeping of machines as you moved through the halls.

It’s all a blur, a haze, a dream that refuses to make sense.

All you know is that one moment, you were in his hospital room, holding onto him like you’d lose him all over again, and the next you’re outside. The cool night air wraps around you, but you barely feel it. Your legs move forward, autopilot taking over, and then you see blonde hair.

Steve, he’s there, he’s always been there, leaning against the rental car, arms crossed, waiting. His eyes land on you immediately, and whatever tension he had melts away when he sees you.

He pushes off the car, his expression softening. Before you even realize what you’re doing, you walk right up to him, straight into his chest. His arms are instantly around you, wrapping you up, pulling you flush against him.

Your breath comes ragged, uneven, as you grip onto the front of his jacket like he’s the only thing keeping you upright and barely above a whisper. “It’s him.”

Steve’s hold tightens.

“It’s really him, Steve. This is real.”

His lips press against your hair, lingering there, warm, reassuring. “It’s real, baby.” His voice is gentle, steady, the kind of calm you desperately need.

He pulls back just enough to look at you, his thumb brushing against your cheek, and for the first time since you walked out of Bucky’s room, you exhale.

Steve presses a soft kiss to your forehead, then moves to open the car door for you. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”

You nod numbly, stepping into the car, your fingers curling into your lap as Steve shuts the door behind you.

A moment later, he’s in the driver’s seat, keys in the ignition, but he doesn’t start the car right away. He just watches you. You stare straight ahead, completely still, completely silent.

The hospital entrance glows behind the windshield, the weight of it all sinking in, pressing into your ribs, your throat, your lungs.

“Sweetheart.” Steve’s voice pulls you back, but barely.

You blink, finally turning your head to look at him, and the moment your eyes meet his, the dam breaks.

Tears well up, spilling over, and a sob tears through you before you can stop it.

Steve doesn’t hesitate. He reaches for you, his palm cradling your cheek, his thumb swiping away the tears just as fast as they fall.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs, his forehead pressing against yours.

“I don’t…”Your breath stumbles. “I don’t know how to feel, I feel, its so much Steve, I...”

Steve exhales slowly, his free hand finding yours, gripping it tight. “You don’t have to figure it all out tonight, okay?” he says, his voice calm, certain. “You’re allowed to just… feel it. Process it.”

You nod shakily.

“I was so scared,” you whisper.

“I know.”

“I thought…” Your voice breaks. “I thought if I ever saw him again, it wouldn’t be him. That it would be some version of him I wouldn’t recognize.”

Steve nods.

“But it’s him.” You suck in a sharp breath. “It’s Bucky. It’s really him.”

Steve doesn’t speak for a second, softer than ever. “I know.”

He squeezes your hand gently. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

You hesitate, because you don’t know what to say. You don’t know where to start, where to end but you do know one thing. “I don’t want to go back to the hotel yet.”

Steve studies you for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”

He pulls away, his hand leaving yours just long enough to put the car in drive and as he pulls out of the parking lot, the city lights stretching out ahead of you, you close your eyes.

The city lights flicker past the windows in soft blurs of gold and white as Steve drives, the hum of the engine filling the silence between you.

Your mind is somewhere else.

Somewhere back in that hospital room, somewhere between the past and the present, trying to find a place where they can coexist without breaking you.

Steve’s voice pulls you back. “Lily says she misses you.”

You blink, turning to him. “You talked to her today?”

He nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I did, she kept asking to see you.”

Something in you softens. “Do you think she’s still awake?”

Steve glances at the clock on the dashboard before huffing a quiet laugh. “Of course, it’s Saturday. She’s probably still watching movies with my mom.”

You hesitate for half a second before reaching for your phone, your fingers trembling just slightly as you hit FaceTime.

It rings once.

Twice.

“Mommy!”

Lily’s beaming face fills the screen, her strawberry blonde curls a wild mess, her little pink pajamas slightly wrinkled. The sight of her is an instant balm to the chaos in your chest.

“Hey, baby.” You smile, your grip on the phone tightening like somehow it’ll bring her closer.

“I miss you,” she pouts, eyes wide, sweet, so full of love.

“I miss you too.”

“Are you coming home tomorrow?”

Your breath catches, because home, your true home is wherever he is, wherever Bucky is and now you have her too and suddenly you don’t even know what that means anymore. “Soon, angel,” you say softly. “I’ll be home soon.”

She tilts her head, studying you the way only a child can. Then, her brows pull together. “Why do you look sad? Why are you crying?”

You exhale slowly, forcing a small smile. “They’re happy tears, Lil. I’m happy.”

She frowns, unconvinced. “Good, you always look sad.”

Your heart clenches.

A sharp, aching twist in your chest. You swallow hard, nodding quickly. “You make me happy.”

She watches you for another second before nodding, her expression softening into something so small, so knowing. “I’m happy that you’re finally happy.”

You feel it like a punch to the gut.

Because when had she noticed? When had she learned to read the sadness on your face like it was written in ink?

Your throat tightens, but you keep your smile steady. “I love you, Lily.”

“I love you more!” she grins.

“Not possible.”

She giggles, covering her face with her hands before peeking out between her fingers. “Good night, Mommy. Good night, Daddy!”

“Good night, baby girl,” Steve says, smiling.

The call ends.

The car is quiet again, but it’s a different kind of quiet now.

You stare down at your phone, your mind circling back to her words, over and over again.

“You always look sad.”

Steve must see the shift in your face because he reaches across the console, taking your hand in his, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. Softer than ever. “Things are gonna change, aren’t they?”

“I'm not sure how much more change I can take.” Your voice, quiet, broken.

---

The air was still warm from the afternoon sun, golden light spilling in through the open kitchen window as the sound of Lily’s laughter echoed from the backyard. She and Sarah were out in the garden, something about finding the “biggest, most beautiful flower ever” to bring inside.

You were standing by the counter, drying dishes while Steve put them away, the two of you working in perfect sync, like you had been doing this forever, in a way, you had.

Steve leaned back against the counter, watching you, his eyes filled with something soft, something warm. “So, I was thinking…”

“That's never good.” You smiled, glancing over at him, wiping your hands on a dish towel. “About?”

“Ha ha, funny.” He breathed out, then he hesitated for a second, running his fingers over the edge of the counter, almost nervous. “About Lily.”

Your stomach did that little flip it always did when he talked about his daughter. “What about her?”

He inhaled deeply, steady, certain. “I want you to adopt her.”

You froze, the dish towel slipped from your hands. “You….what?”

Steve pushed off the counter, stepping closer, close enough that you could feel his warmth, the steady presence that had held you together for so long. “I want you to be her mom, officially. If…if you want to.”

Your chest tightened, your heart slamming against your ribs. “Steve…” Your voice was barely above a whisper.

“I mean, you already are,” he continued, rushing now, like he wanted to say everything before you could stop him. “She calls you Mom. You tuck her in at night. You make her lunches and hold her when she cries and tell her stories about mermaids and astronauts and whatever else she’s obsessed with that week.”

His voice is quieter now. “You love her, she loves you..” he swallowed “And if anything happened to me, you’re the only one I’d trust to take care of her.”

Your eyes burned. You did. You loved her so much it terrified you sometimes. “I just…” You wet your lips, blinking fast. “I just don’t know if I have the right…”

Steve’s hands found your arms, gentle but firm, grounding you. “You have every right, Y/N. If you want it.”

You exhaled sharply. “But Natasha…”

“What about her?” His voice was soft, sure.

“She’s her mother, she always will be.”

Steve nodded. “She will and you know what? She would’ve loved you.” His lips curled slightly. “She would’ve been happy knowing Lily had someone like you in her life. That she had you to love her.”

Your breath caught, your throat tightening as you blinked up at him. “You really think that?”

He smiled, warm and certain. “I know it.”

You stared at him, at the way he looked at you like you were the only thing that mattered, at the quiet confidence in his voice, like there was no doubt in his mind.

Suddenly, there wasn’t any in yours either. You let out a shaky breath, nodding once, then again, stronger this time. “Okay.”

Steve’s brows lifted slightly, his breath catching. “Yeah?”

A small laugh slipped from you, wet and disbelieving. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s do it.”

Before you could say anything else, Steve had you in his arms.

His grip was tight, almost desperate, like he wanted to hold on forever. You felt his breath against your hair, his heartbeat steady against yours.

“I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you too.”

When Lily ran inside a moment later, dirt-streaked and breathless, holding up a flower that was much too big for her little hands, Steve knelt beside her, his eyes shining.

“Hey, baby girl. How do you feel about making it official?”

“You asked her daddy?! She said yes?!” She squealed and threw her arms around you, burying her face in your neck. You knew you’d never be able to live without her being your daughter ever again.

---

The morning air is cool, crisp, the sky a dull gray, mirroring the weight in your chest. Steve pulls the rental car to a stop outside the hospital entrance, shifting into park but not moving to unbuckle just yet.

You exhale, smoothing your hands over your jeans, the fabric cool beneath your palms. Neither of you rush to speak because this is it.

Not forever, not yet, at least but for now. You decided your stay till Bucky heads home, Steve’s heading today.

You finally turn to him, your lips parting slightly, but he’s already looking at you and you see something in his eyes that you don’t quite recognize.

You don’t know what it is but he does. He’s been coming to grips with it for the last few days, and now, sitting here with you, he feels it down to his bones.

He knows how this ends, how you two end because if it were Natasha, if she had somehow come back to him after all these years, after all the mourning, after all the grief he knows exactly what he would do and he knows exactly what you’re going to do. He doesn’t know when it will happen, or if it’ll even be you to do it. He hasn’t decided yet, but for right now he’s going to keep you as long as you’ll let him.

“I don’t have a flight booked yet,” you murmur, forcing a small smile. “But Bucky said he should be getting released soon, so I should be home in a couple of days.”

Steve nods, you don’t notice the flicker of something behind his gaze. The way he’s memorizing this moment, committing it to memory because he knows, this is the last time you’ll say it like that, the last time you’ll consider him…home.

“Take as long as you need,” he says instead, his voice gentle, steady, warm. “Lily and I will be waiting when you’re ready to come home.”

You nod, reaching for his hand, squeezing it. “Thank you,” you whisper.

You wanna say more, say thank you for everything, for understanding, for never holding you back, for never demanding more than what you could give.

He swallows, then lifts his hand to your face, brushing his thumb along your cheek and he looks at you like he’s already mourning you. Like he’s saying goodbye without saying it, like he’s letting you go, even before you’ve made the decision to leave.

But you don’t see it because you still think that maybe, somehow, you can hold both pieces of your life together.

That somehow, this doesn’t have to be a choice, but Steve knows better.

So, he just smiles. “I love you.” He says it like It’s not a question, not a plea, just a fact…one that will always be true, even after this.

You smile back “I love you too.”

Steve nods once, then pulls away, his hand leaving your cheek, his warmth fading as he reaches for the gear shift.

You step out of the car, the door closing softly behind you and as he pulls away, you watch him go, lingering in front of the hospital doors longer than you should.

You step through the hospital doors, the cool air inside a stark contrast to the warmth of the morning sun outside.

You move down the hallway, rounding the corner just as Winnie is walking out of Bucky’s room.

She spots you immediately, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Just in time,” she says, giving your cheek a quick kiss as she passes. “I was just heading to grab some breakfast. I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”

You nod, offering a small, tight smile. “See you later, Winnie.”

She squeezes your arm before continuing down the hall, disappearing around the corner.

You take a breath, then another and it still somehow doesn’t feel like enough but you knock lightly on the door before pushing it open.

Bucky is sitting by the window, his good arm resting on the windowsill, staring outside. “Ma, I told you, I’m not hungry.”

You smirk, leaning against the doorway. “Jeez, Buck, it’s only been ten years. Didn’t think I aged that much.”

His body stiffens and faster than you can even register he spins around, eyes wide, disbelieving. “You’re back.”

He’s on you again, his sling is gone now, his left arm still wrapped at the shoulder, but it doesn’t stop him from wrapping both arms around you and you feel it.

His hands, both of them pressing against your back, pulling you flush against him.

You swallow hard, your fingers clutching the back of his shirt. “Of course I’m back,” you murmured into his shoulder. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Bucky doesn’t answer right away. His arms just tighten, holding onto you like he’s afraid you’ll disappear. “I don’t know,” he finally whispers.

You don’t say anything to that, you just let yourself sink into the feeling of him, a feeling that will never be enough, not after all this time apart.

After a moment, the two of you sit down by the window, you pulling another chair beside his. The view outside is nothing special, just the distant skyline, the tops of trees swaying in the breeze, the occasional car moving down the street.

But Bucky stares at it like it’s everything. “One of the things that kept me going,” he says after a moment, voice quiet, distant, “was looking up at the sky.”

You turn to him, watching the way the morning light touches his face.

“No matter where I was, no matter how far away it felt, I kept thinking…” he pauses, swallowing, ”that you were under the same sky. That we weren’t really that far apart after all.”

You squeeze your hands together in your lap, swallowing back the lump in your throat.

You don’t say anything, you don’t think you can.

Bucky turns to you. “Tell me about Steve.”

You freeze, your stomach tightens.

“You mentioned him a couple of times yesterday,” Bucky continues, watching you closely. “And I heard Ma say he was waiting outside for you.”

You nod slowly, your fingers fidgeting with your left hand, the one that should have your ring on it. “He’s my husband.”

Bucky goes still, he knows of course he knows, his Mom already told him but it feels different hearing you say it. It was something he thought maybe, just maybe if he played his cards right you would call him some day but he doesn’t say anything.

You keep going. “He’s… amazing, really. He anchored me, I don’t know where I’d be if he hadn’t…” You shake your head, trying to find the right words.

“Where did you meet?” Bucky asks, his voice calm, steady, unreadable.

“A grief support group.” His brows furrow slightly.

You exhale, looking down at your lap. “He was the first person who really tried with me after I lost you. He didn’t have anybody for the first little bit, either. It was just… us.”

Bucky nods slowly.

He’s trying to picture it. Trying to imagine you, his girl, showing up to a grief support group because of him. Because he left, because he felt like he had something to prove because he felt he would have it all figured out if he just did a couple of tours. Because you thought he was dead, he should have been.

“Steve lost his fiancée,” you continue. “Natasha, she died giving birth to their daughter, Lily.”

Bucky’s head tilts slightly. “Lily?”

You smile softly. “She brought out a kind of joy in me that I hadn’t felt since you.”

Bucky’s chest tightens.

“After a couple of years together, we eloped.”

Bucky stares at you. “Really?”

“Yeah.” You nod, your smile turning a little sad, distant. “Nothing crazy. Nothing big.”

“But you always wanted some big wedding,” he says, almost like he’s confused.

You meet his eyes then and you see the realization settle over him before you even say it. “That was before I lost you.”

Bucky’s mouth opens, then closes and nothing comes out.

Because what the hell is he supposed to say to that?

What is there to say?

You clear your throat, breaking the silence. “After we got married, I legally adopted Lily.”

His brows pull together again.

“She knows about Natasha,” you assure him. “We keep pictures of her all over the house. She knows who her mom is.”

Bucky nods slowly. “You have a family,” he says after a moment.

You nod. “I have a family.”

Bucky inhales deeply, running his hands over his thighs before exhaling slowly.

“Are you happy?”

And without hesitation, it slips out before you have the chance to even think it through. “No.”

Bucky flinches, like the answer actually hurts him. Hewas expecting you to say yes, to tell him that you were fine, that you had moved on, that you had found happiness again.

But you didn’t and he doesn’t know what to do with that. “No?” he echoes, his voice almost uncertain, like maybe he heard you wrong.

You just stare at him. “No.” You take a deep shaky breath looking back at the buildings surrounding the hospital watching the car drive by, you can feel Bucky staring at you waiting “I tried to be, I really did. I have moments where I feel joy but they always get dimmed. I just, my life isn’t what I dreamed it would be, I think that's why.” You pause and in a low voice “I thought about it y'know.”

“Thought about what?” Bucky's voice is soft, gravely, his eyes never left you.

You finally turned to him making eye contact “Ending it all, I almost did it once but I just thought what if you were still out there.”

“Y/N…”

“I know it's heavy and you have enough going on I just, I’m so happy you're here.”

He reached out taking your hand in his squeezing “If you ever, ever think like that again please, I beg you please talk to me.”

You nod, deciding to change the subject your eyes go to his shoulder, the one wrapped up. “What happened Buck? Your Mom says you wont talk.”

Bucky inhales sharply, his fingers twitching where they grip yours, he doesn’t say anything not right away he just stares down at your intertwined hands like maybe if he focuses hard enough, the past ten years will disappear.

Maybe you’ll be kids again, sitting in the back of his truck, dreaming about the future that never came.

He sighs. “Because there’s nothing to say.”

You narrow your eyes. “That’s bullshit.”

He smiles slightly at that, the you from before never letting him off the hook that easily.

He watches your eyes drift to his shoulder, wrapped in thick gauze, the skin underneath bruised, raw, healing. “What happened?”

His gaze flickers away for a second and he exhales hard through his nose, his free hand dragging over his face, quietly, reluctantly. “They almost took it.”

Your stomach twists violently. “Took what?”

His lips press into a thin line before he finally looks at you. “My arm.”

A chill crawls down your spine. “Bucky…”

“It happened right before they found us,” he continues, voice flat, almost detached. “We didn’t know help was coming. We thought that was it. We thought we were gonna die in that fucking basement.”

You stiffen, your fingers tightening around his.

“They must have figured out a rescue was close,” Bucky goes on, staring at some invisible spot on the wall. “Because they started executing us. One by one, taking us out before anyone could get to us.”

You stop breathing.

“It was my turn, they went to drag me out,” he says, his voice eerily even.

He huffs a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Carlos tried to stop them. I told him not to, told him it was too late.”

His throat bobs. “He didn’t listen.”

You can barely keep yourself together.

“Carlos tackled one of them before they could pull the trigger and in the chaos, I got loose… but one of them had a machete.”

Your stomach drops.

“He just started swinging the thing, tried to take my whole arm off. Got through most of my shoulder before the blast happened.”

Your lips part, but no words come out.

“I thought I was dead,” he admits, voice rough, raw. “I thought…I felt myself slipping and then the whole place shook. I woke up in a helicopter with a medic shoving a needle in my neck.”

Your hand flies to your mouth, trying to stifle the sob that’s rising in your throat. “Bucky.”

He finally looks at you. “They saved it,” he says, glancing at his shoulder, at the thick gauze covering the mangled skin beneath. “It’ll never be the same, and it hurts a lot, the nerve damage is irreversible.”

You shake your head, tears burning in your eyes. “But you’re here,” you whisper.

His expression softens, he nods. “I'm here.”

[world-of-aus]

The Arrangement - Prologue

Pairing: Mobboss!Bucky x Reader

Chapter Warnings: None.

Authors Note: Any and all writing errors are my own. Am I going to attempt a mobboss, arranged marriage series? Yes. Will I give this series my all? Also yes! I hope yall enjoy this prologue, more to come soon 🤍

Your sister called off the wedding. Come home now.

“Mother please sit down,” you plead, watching her pace the carpet in your fathers office, “you’re going to worry yourself sick, surely she just caught a case of cold feet its going to be alright, she’ll come around you'll see, she’s done this before – she knows how important this union is for both our families.”

Your mother stops in her stride head snapping to you her eyes turned to slits, desperation hidden behind the anger in her eyes. “Your sister went to Winnifred Barnes herself this morning, told her she could no longer marry her son didn’t even give a valid reason as to why, no actual explanation and then what does she do? She up and leaves town, hasn’t answered a single call or text from me or your father even her ex-fiancé cant get a ahold of her. And what’s worse is we didn’t even find out from her, this information came from Winnifred and let me just say – she wasn’t pleased this isn’t just a case of cold feet.”

Trying to be the voice of reason you go to reassure your mother, “this a big event in her life mother, she’s to be handed off in less than a week for a merger that’s been written in the stars for years now between two families ours and the Barnes. You must give her some grace, she’s overwhelmed, she’s probably scared, her life is going to change drastically in less than a weeks a time. She knew – no she knows how important this merger is for both families, she wouldn’t do this she loves him.”

“But she did sweetheart,” your father speaks up a weak and tired smile on his lips, “and as much as you want to come to her aide, there is no defending your sisters actions. We’re even lucky that Winnifred has agreed to give us a chance to right her wrongs.”

“That’s great, we can buy ourselves time! I’ll change her mind, make her come home.”

Your father shakes his head, “we’re out of time sweetheart.”

“No, just give me a chance to talk to her, talk her off the ledge, I’ll even reach out to Winnie.”

Your dads shaking his head again, your mothers pacing stopped as she moves over to you, “there is no more time sweetheart,” your mother murmurs as she takes the seat next to you, her hands reaching for yours, “they no longer see your sister as an option for this marriage.”

You suck in a breath, “but that means –“ your fathers expression is enough to confirm your suspicion.

“You’re to be married to James Barnes in a weeks time.”

You forget how to breath, “No. No. We can – I can.”

“I’m sorry sweetheart.”

Those words are the nail in the coffin, neither your mom or your dad stopping you as you bolt from the room. As you race down the hallway you rip your phone from the confines of your coat getting your sisters contact open.

“Tell me where you are, I can come to you – we can fix this.”

“I can’t do this. I love you all so much, but I just can’t. I’m sorry, please understand.”

“I know you’re scared, but you won’t be alone I promise, please just tell me where you are lets talk about this.”

Free MSG: Unable to send message—message blocking active.

“No. No. No.” You breathe pressing the call icon bringing the phone up to your ear. Your curse when you’re automatically forwarded to her inbox .

“Please don’t do this, they want me to marry him, I cant do that to you, to him, please!”

Free MSG: Unable to send message—message blocking active.

No. No. No.

This couldn’t be happening, this wasn’t part of the plan, this wasn’t part of the plan.

It was supposed to be her, not you.

He wanted her, not you.

[pahtoosh]

tiny ride

[image ID: Winnie the Pooh saying “It’s the first day of autumn!” and tossing orange leaves in the air. /.end ID]

masterlist

18+

wc: ~500 words

warnings: baby space, daddies playfully negotiating

a/n: just a little something i wrote on my phone! i just love daddies being silly with their baby

pairing: daddy!stucky x gn!little!reader

summary: you’re super tiny during the drive to the fall festival

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

There was a time when Steve and Bucky didn’t care for novel seasonal activities. They’d celebrate big holidays with each other and the team, but they didn’t get excited about pumpkin flavored goods or decorate for anything besides Christmas.

When you came in to the picture, however, your daddies found themselves partaking in every special event that came along with the changing weather. They wanted to give you as many fun experiences as they could. One of the traditions they started was a visit to the farm’s fall festival.

This time, you were so little that Baba had to sit in the back with you while Dada drove to the farm. Whenever this happened, you’d spend the whole ride giggling and cooing at whichever daddy was with you. Your eyes would never leave their face. Their loving gazes were better than anything you could see outside the window.

While he had your attention, Bucky would talk to you. He loved seeing your reactions and relaying them to Dada.

“When we get to the farm, there’s gonna be all sorts of activities for you, baby. We’ll go on a hayride, get some warm apple cider in that cute belly,” he gently ticked your stomach, making you squeal. “And then we’ll pick pumpkins! What do you think, angel?”

You squealed once more and clapped your hands. your tiny brain didn’t understand what Baba was saying, but he seemed excited and you loved responding to questions.

Bucky laughed, knowing that you had no idea what he meant.

“How’d we get the cutest baby in the world, Stevie?”

“They get that from me,” Steve boasted. “Isn’t that right, sweetie?”

You babbled instead of squealing, excited to be in on the conversation but wanting to sound grown up.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Bucky scoffed. “Alright, punk. But I get to sit with baby on my lap for the hayride. Isn’t that right, bubba? Don’t you wanna sit on Baba’s lap for the hayride?”

You giggled and babbled once more.

Bucky held out his pointer finger to you, letting you wrap your hand around it. He brought your tiny fist to his lips, kissing the back of your hand to keep your giggles going.

The envy from the driver’s seat was nearly suffocating.

“You can sit with them for the hayride as long as I get the backseat on the way home,” Steve proposed.

“I also wanna ride the big slide with them,” Bucky said.

Baba made silly faces at you, joining in on your laughter when you tried copying his expressions. Steve caught a glimpse of this adorable interaction through the rearview mirror. He began to rethink his aversion towards self-driving cars.

“There’s no way I’m giving up the hayride and the slide. What if I get the slide and you get to feed them their first apple cider doughnut?”

“Deal.”

Your daddies smiled as you continued babbling to to them. They couldn’t wait to enjoy this new season with you.

[itsonlyjoseph]

Port Valley | Bucky Barnes x Reader - Chapter 2

Synopsis: Winnie forces James to walk you home, leading you to the realisation that you might like him...

Warnings: none

Word Count: 2.1k

.

.

.

On Monday morning, you’d gotten yourself as presentable as you’d cared to. You had some concealer under your eyes and a little Clinique black honey on your lips. With your hair tied up in a loose bun at the nape of your neck, you decided it’d be good enough. Your eyes were still slightly red from all the crying you'd been doing this past week.

The walk to the bookstore only took about 5 minutes, considering the size of the town but it was a brisk morning. You’d be happy to get inside.

The bookstore was empty when you arrived, and still cold. It was clear the heating had only just been turned on if at all.

“Winnie?” You called out. You seemed to be the only person in the store. You put your bag down and took off your coat, leaving you in just your sweater. The skintight fabric prevented any cold air from sneaking in to kiss your skin.

Winnie was no where to be found when you’d looked through the aisles and called out a few more times. You had no idea what you were meant to be doing. You'd never had a job like this before.

The doorbell chimed, and you quickly raced around to greet who you thought would be Winnie, but were instead met with James, Winnie’s son.

“Winnie is that- oh, hi.” You mumbled, your voice getting softer when you realised you weren’t talking to Winnie.

“Hi.”

There was an awkward silence that filled the air.

“Uh- is there-“

“Do you know where-“

You’d both tried to speak at the same time.

“Sorry, you go.” You offered.

James didn’t seem to be able to hold eye contact for very long, often looking at the ground or anywhere else. But he wasn’t nervous. You could tell that much. He seemed to be either completely emotionless or very stoic. Either way it was… daunting.

“Uh, is Ma- uh, i mean Winnie here?” He asked.

“Uh, I don’t think so. I actually thought it was her coming through the door.”

“Okay.. bye.” He muttered and turned towards the door. You didn’t really say anything else before it left. It was a strange interaction but what you'd taken away from it was that he probably wasn't a fan of you.

****

James had wondered up to the book store, looking for his mother to fix the radiator in the shop. She’d complained that it was broken and that the shop was always cold so he said he’d fix for her.

But of course, in true Winnie style, she wasn’t in the shop when he turned up at the time she told him to. You were. He should’ve known that this was a ploy by his well meaning, if not overbearing, mother.

Sure, you were pretty and whatever but he wasn’t looking for anything. He was set in his ways and he didn’t think that was going to change. Plus, he didn't think any woman would want to be with him once all the baggage revealed itself.

He didn’t think you’d be interested in anything either. After all, he knew all about your rough breakup. Winnie blabbed to him about it every chance she got. Not in a gossipy way, but in a “hint hint nudge nudge” kind of way.

Bucky opened the door to his truck and hopped inside, pulling out his phone to text his mom.

Very clever but it won’t work

It took a few second before Winnie texted him back.

Oh the radiator! I forgot! :)

Bucky grumbled, putting his phone back into his pocket and driving off towards the lumberyard.

****

About 5 minutes after James had left, Winnie walked back through the door with two coffees, a bag of donuts and a wide smile.

“Hi dear! I got us coffee for your first day!”

“Oh, thank you, Winnie.” I smiled softly, taking the cup from her.

“My pleasure. Did James drop by?” She asked. She wasn’t even trying to be subtle. But you didn’t really pick up on it.

“Uh, yeah. He just left though.”

“Oh, did he say much?” She pressed.

“Not really. Not really at all.”

“He means well.”

You didn’t say anything to that, just sort of raised your eyebrows in a yeah, I’m sure kind of way.

“He’s always been quiet. Even with me. Even with his friends. He’s been a bit more moody though, since he came from Afghanistan.”

Your eyes flitted up to Winnie’s back as she worked around the shop, still talking.

“He’s a soldier?” You asked without really thinking.

“He was. Not anymore. But that’s okay, because he’s safe now.”

“I guess that’s why he’s so… big.. strong, I mean- I.. I've noticed that.. never mind.” You stammered out, embarrassing yourself. But Winnie didn’t seem to mind, smiling at your flushed face.

The day moved quickly after that. Winnie took you through the shelves and the filing system and talked you through ordering and delivering. Basically everything you needed to know.

Before you knew it, it was 5 o’clock and the sun had almost set, signally home time.

****

After a particularly gruelling shift at the lumberyard, Bucky wanted nothing more than to go home, have a shower and collapse onto his bed. He had splinters in his hands and a dull ache in his neck.

It was almost 8pm and the rest of the guys were heading to the break room to collect their belongings, chatting away amongst each other. Bucky was almost never involved in the chatter. It didn’t mind though, they were his friends, he just never had anything to contribute.

“Hey Buck, what do you say we go for a couple beers?” Sam asked as Bucky slung his pack over his shoulder.

“Nah, another time.” He mumbled.

“No, no. Not another time. This time. Come on, Steve’s driving!” Sam chuckled.

That’s how Bucky found himself sitting in a booth at the pub, surrounded by his work buddies. He’d lost the jacket and the hat, now just sporting his tight red shirt and long hair tucked behind his ears.

“Hey Bucky, who’s that fine little thing that hangs around your mom lately?” Steve asked after a lull.

Bucky’s eyes slowly came up to meet Steve’s and saw the rest of the guys looking at him with smirks.

“Yeah! Haven’t seen her around before.” Sam cut in, taking a sip of his beer.

“Uh, Y/N, I think. Works with ma now.”

“Y/N.” The guys mused in unison.

Bucky felt a little uncomfortable now that the conversation had turned to you. He knew that the guys only brought you up because of the way you looked but it made him think about his mother insistent pestering.

“Lucky man, Buck! Gettin' to be around all that.” John said slyly.

“I’m not really around her much.” James said, pulling his eyebrows together.

“Hmm, then you won’t mind if I have a crack?” John smirked.

“Knock yourself out.” Bucky said gruffly, taking a small gulp of his whiskey.

“Oh come on, John doesn’t stand a chance with a girl like that.” Sam started cackling.

“I’m not looking to marry her, just fuck her a few times. See what she’s got under the hood.” John shrugged.

Bucky loved his friends, he really did, but something he didn’t necessarily like was the way they spoke about women. Like they were stuck in the 50s.

Bucky rolled his eyes at John.

“Well, good luck!” Steve said sarcastically, making the rest of the guys laugh at John. Besides Bucky of course.

“Another round, boys?” Nat’s voice called out as she walked up them, rag over her shoulder.

“Please.” Sam smiled up at her.

Nat came back with four beers on her tray a few moments later.

“Nat, have you met Y/N yet?” John asked, sipping his new beer.

“The woman that works with Buck’s mom? Nah, why?”

“John thinks he can fuck her.” Sam mused.

“Oh please, John couldn’t fuck her even if he paid her.” Steve chipped.

“Can we not?” Bucky grumbled.

“Sorry, Buck. Didn’t realise you cared so much.” Steve poked.

Bucky just glared at his friend. He knew he didn’t care, he just preferred to keep the conversations about women respectful. His mom taught him well.

“Maybe I’ll go introduce myself to her. Make buddy buddy and tell her to steer clear of John Walker.” Nat joked, which garnered laughs from Sam and Steve.

The night was finally winding down, much to Bucky’s delight, as he made his way to his truck. The snow was lightly falling around him as he found himself thinking about you.

He hoped that if John did try to make a move on you, you’d shoot him down. Not because he was jealous or anything, but because he knew that John was a pig when it came to women and he knew that you didn’t need that right now.

****

It was almost 9pm on the quiet Thursday. The patrons became less and less frequent as the hours wore on and the snow came down harder.

“Okay, I’ve unloaded that order of Destiny’s Desire and put it on the website as well. Is there anything else you need from me, Winnie?” You asked her. It’s been close to one week working with her and two weeks in Port Valley. You did have to admit, the sleepiness of the town was starting to grow on you.

“You can take off, Y/N. I’ll stay back for a bit.” She smiled.

“Okay, I better call my dad. I still don’t have a car here.” You said, reaching for your phone.

“Oh, that’s okay! No need to bother him. James can walk you back! He should be hear in a minute”

“Oh he doesn’t have to do that.”

“Nonsense, I won’t let you walk alone in the dark!” She mused.

And then almost like clockwork, James came through the door. You could tell by the look on his face that he thought you would have already left by now, his demeanour immediately turning shy.

“Speak of devil! James, honey, walk Y/N home please.” Winnie smiled.

Bucky’s jaw clenched and unclenched as he stared daggers at his mother.

“Oh, no, Its okay, really-“ You started.

“It’s dark, Y/N.” Winnie said.

You felt a little awkward, making James walk you back without a say.

“It’s fine, I’ll walk you.” You heard James mutter, already turning towards the door. His voice was once again as gruff as the last time you'd heard him talk. He didn't particularly want to walk you home but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep if he knew you walked alone in the dark. He also would never live it down with his mom.

You turned to see Winnie already holding your bag and coat out to you.

“Thanks.” You mumbled to her.

“My pleasure, see you tomorrow!”

The walk started out very awkward. Neither of you said a word and the tension could be cut with a knife but you couldn’t work out why.

You been here in Port Valley for almost two weeks and yet you’d barely spoken more than a few words to James.

“So...” you started.

“So…” you matched your tone, just several octaves deeper. You were both looking forward as you walked side by side.

“What do you do for work, James?” Yikes, here comes the small talk. Your nose scrunched up at the cringey question.

“I work at the lumberyard.”

“Wow, you must be pretty strong.”

“I guess so…” He said with furrowed brows, not looking at her.

God he was bad at this. But honestly, you weren’t much better right now.

“Your mom’s been very nice to me. She’s a great woman.”

“Yeah.”

“She actually reminds me of my mom, sometimes.”

Your comment made Bucky glance over at you, his face still hard.

“Sorry, about that.”

“It’s okay.“ you smiled over at him and found him already looking at you.

Before your little moment could even turn into any type of anything, you’d arrive at the steps of your dad’s house.

“Thanks for walking me back, James. I feel bad that you have to walk back to the store by yourself now.”

“It’s fine.” He said, arms stiff by his side.

“Thanks, though.” You managed out a little smile.

He squeezed one out himself which surprised you. It was an awkward, tight lipped, no teeth smile that didn’t really reach his eyes but it was still a smile. Especially for him.

You took a moment to look at him before retreating inside your dad’s house. James was handsome. Very handsome. You’d noticed it the first time you saw him at Winnie’s store last week. He was handsome in a burly, manly hallmark movie kind of way and he had the brightest, bluest eyes you’d ever seen.

It made you gulp.

You got inside and leant up against the closed front door, taking a deep breath, before sliding down to the floor.

“Uh, oh..”

[sergeantbarnessdoll]

My Best Friend’s Brother Is The One For Me » 40s Bucky Barnes

Pairings: Best Friend’s Brother!40s Bucky Barnes x Female Reader with Rebecca Barnes and Steve Rogers

Summary: Y/N’s best friend’s brother is the one for her.

Warnings: Fluff, language, flirting, kissing, use of pet names

Written on my phone. I’m sorry for any mistakes and typos.

Header made by @buckys-wintersoldier

GIF IS NOT MINE! Credit goes to the creators.

“Y/N!” Rebecca squeals, practically pulling you in the house. “It’s been so long!” She hugs you. “How are you?” She asks.

“I’m good. I’m happy to be home.” You say with a smile.

You followed Rebecca to the living room and sat down on the couch next to her. Her mom walks in the living room to give you guys tea and snacks.

“Thank you, Mrs. Barnes.” You say politely.

“You’re welcome, sweetie. I told you to call me Winnie.” She says with a smile before leaving the room to give you and Rebecca time to catch up.

You told her about your 2 week trip New Jersey that you just got home from. You told her about the scenery, the stores, everything. You were in the middle of telling her a story from your trip when her older brother, James Buchanan Barnes, walked in the living room. You couldn’t help but blush when you seen him. You have a huge crush on him. Even Rebecca knows that you have a crush on her brother.

“Hi, doll.” Bucky smiles, making you blush. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?” He asks, taking a seat in a chair across from you and Rebecca.

“I’m good. I just got back from my trip to New Jersey. I was just telling Rebecca about it.” You tell him.

“Don’t mind me then. I’ll just sit here and listen. I love listening to you talk.” He says, sitting back in the chair.

You picked up from where you left off with your story. Bucky was staring at you the whole time as you were talking. You were currently telling Rebecca about a really cute dress.

“So did you buy the dress?” Rebecca asks.

“Of course I did.” You say.

“I bet you’re going to look drop dead gorgeous in it, doll.” Bucky says with a flirty smile.

You felt blush creep up on your cheeks. You went back to telling them about your trip.

“Sorry to interrupt you, doll, but I got to meet up with Steve. I’ll see you later.” Bucky says.

Bucky walked towards you and gave you a kiss on your cheek before he left, making you blush like crazy. Rebecca caught the way you were blushing.

“You should tell him how you feel about him.” Rebecca says.

“What?” You say.

“My brother is obviously the one for you. You two need to date. You two would make a cute couple. Also, imagine how amazing it would be if you to got married! We would be sisters!” She says.

“Becca, him and I aren’t even dating yet and you’re talking about us getting married.” You giggled. “Besides, I don’t think Bucky feels the same way about me.” You say.

“Trust me, he does.” She says.

“Really?” You asked.

“Of course! I hear him talking to Steve about you all the time. You’re the perfect girl for him, Y/N.” She says.

You looked down and blushed, thinking about what it would be like if you and Bucky were a couple. You opened your mouth to say something, but caught a glimpse of the clock.

“It’s late already?” You say, looking at the clock.

Rebecca turned her head to look at the clock and turned back towards you.

“I guess it is. Time flies when we’re talking.” Rebecca says.

You two stood up from the couch and she walked you to the door.

“We should go out to lunch tomorrow.” She suggests, giving you a hug.

“Sounds good to me. I’ll see you tomorrow.” You say with a smile before walking out the door.

You were about halfway down the street when you heard a familiar voice say your name. You stopped in your tracks and turned around to see Bucky walking towards you.

“You shouldn’t be walking home by yourself, doll. It’s dangerous.” Bucky says.

“Mind walking me home then?” You asked with a smile.

“Of course!” He says with a smile.

Bucky wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you closer to him. You couldn’t help but smile when you felt his warmth.

“So I was thinking…” Bucky starts. “You and I should go on a date Friday night.” He says.

“Of course I would love to go on a date with you!” You say too fast. “Oh god, I didn’t mean to say it like that! What I mean-” Bucky silenced you with a kiss.

You were caught by surprise, but kissed him back. Bucky’s hands gently caressed your cheeks. Yours and his lips moved in sync. It felt like everything around you guys was moving in slow motion. Bucky slowly pulled away from your lips, looking deep in your eyes.

“Holy shit…” You say breathlessly and speechlessly.

“A lady shouldn’t use language like that.” Bucky says teasingly.

“I’m sorry!” You apologized nervously. “You’re just a really good kisser.” You say.

“You’re a good kisser too, doll.” He smiles. “Friday at 7pm sound good to you?” He asked.

“Yes.” You say with a smile.

Bucky smiles and kisses you one more time.

“Wear that new dress you were talking about.” He says against your lips.

“Will do.” You say with a giggle.

“Let’s get you home before your ma starts worrying about where you are.” He says.

🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

-Bucky’s Doll

[waywardcrow]

This is a request from @tianalsworld and I loved it so much! Hope you like it!

Pairing: Mob!Bucky x f!reader.

TW: Very light talk about the mob, sexual innuendos, suggestive comments, a little of angst and threaths from reader, no use of y/n, minors dni. English is not my first language so let me know if I make any grammar mistakes.

Graphics by @ firefly-graphics so all the credits to the creator.

“Hello, doll, you look astonishing today” you rolled your eyes at Bucky’s greeting, ignoring the jump your heart gave in your ribcage, you hated this man.

“Don’t call me doll, Barnes” you hissed, focused in getting the right amount of glass sugar in your mix “save that for the rich ladies attending your party tonight.”

Without giving him a glance you moved around your kitchen, the sun was barely up and your staff would not be there for another half an hour, still you couldn’t sleep. This was your first big event, you were working for a criminal family, yes but you were finally being recognized for your abilities, no longer shoved aside by stupid snobs who believed they were better than you for attending international schools and a manwhore like James Buchanan Barnes would not ruin this for you, no matter how hot he was.

“It’s jealousy what I hear?” he asked and got hit in the hand by you when he went to touch a hot tray.

“In your dreams, Barnes” his mother, the one who hired you, gave you full permission to deal with her son’s antics, knowing damn well his Casanova attitude.

“In my dreams you are sweeter with me, love”

“Well, in reality I have very sharp knives so go and bother someone else” you ordered and his laugh echoed in the empty fancy walls.

“Always making me smile, doll. Keep up with this and we’re going to end up married” Bucky stole a sugar cookie before you could react and walking backwards to the door, he blew you a kiss.

“When hell freezes over!” still, you didn’t believed a word.

Hours later, your kitchen was the complete opposite of what it was in the morning.

Chaos reigned everywhere but you controlled it, disappointing Winnifred Barnes wasn’t an option. Your hands ached, your feet were numb but the adrenaline running through your veins was enough to keep going shouting orders and prepping dishes, your brain going faster that your body and before you could notice, it was over.

The waiters were bringing everything back; the guests went home and your boss went to kiss you twice in the cheeks, beaming with happiness.

“It was perfect, dear, I knew since I saw you that you could do great things” Mrs. Barnes was like the classy ladies you used to see in magazines but she was always so nice to you, you couldn’t help but smile at her, happy for having her approval.

“I’m glad you liked it, Mrs. Barnes”

“I loved it but now, it’s time for you to rest a little, you earned it, we can talk about this and everything else in the morning” with a soft touch to your cheek, she left the kitchen, thanking the staff one more time.

You did the same minutes after, excusing yourself to go for some air you made your way to the garden.

It was only your first month in the Barnes mansion but it felt like a whole life, this could give you a lot of trouble but it was the best job you had so far and if you were totally honest with yourself, you were too enamored with the Barnes family to leave them.

Winnie was so sweet to you, so was the youngest daughter Rebecca and Mr. Barnes was always so polite, asking about your day and if you needed something, then there was Bucky.

The first time you saw him, you thought he was the most beautiful man you ever met and you still thought that way but being familiar with the endless list of women he slept with, it was the safest choice to stay away.

“There she is” Bucky’s voice broke through the night and then he was standing next to you “come, sweetheart, I have something for you.”

He pulled you by the hand and took you inside the house again with little effort, you were so tired.

“Barnes let go, I’m not going anywhere with you” making him stop you tried to pull your hand from his but he didn’t listened.

“Relax, doll, here is not where I go on my knees for you” the lack of food was playing with your mind, did he said what you heard he said?

He made you go in the balcony where a table was set with dishes of your food, candles and wine.

“What- what are you doing?” was your only question when he led you to your chair to pull it and help you take a seat.

“I figure you haven’t eaten all day so I picked your favorites” he explained like if he did this every day while pouring some wine for you.

It was true all your favorite foods were there, even the wine you were dying to try since you saw it in the mansion’s cellar.

“I mean, why are you doing this?” you asked taking a sip of your glass, it would hurt when he finally give up on you and go to the next conquer but it would be for the better.

“Because you take care of everyone here, I thought someone should take care of you for once” Bucky explained unfolding his napkin with something that looked like a nervous attitude but that wasn’t impossible, he was a fuckboy, a manwhore, the type of man that sleeps in a different bed every night and you were… you, there was no way you made him nervous.

“That’s very kind, Bucky” you admitted and his smile was shiny enough to dare the stars in the sky.

“Maybe this way you would see I’m a good guy and go out with me” he winked and maybe it was how tired you were or the wine but you laughed.

“When hell freezes over, Barnes.”

Here I am, obssesing over one more mob!Bucky and it feels great! Let me know what you think.

Love, Lily.

[amathslutsguidetofandom]

Heyyy I absolutely love your work!! Could I request a drabble of Bucky being completely smitten with the reader or a headcanon when the reader is sick??? Merci beaucoup mademoiselle🫶💖

Two Floors

PAIRINGS: 40's!James "Bucky" Barnes x Reader

WARNINGS: FLUFF, angst (if you squint), mentions of not haveing enough money

WORD COUNT: 1,759 (got carried away lol)

*not proof-read*

ENJOY!

“Oh c’mon doll, can’t leave a poor man hangin’,” he says as he runs to catch up with you. You roll your eyes as he comes to walk along side you.

“Buchanan, I told you to go annoy Rogers instead. I have much more important things to do,” you bite in his direction as you make your way through the streets of Brooklyn.

Graduating high school, a month ago with your best friends, Bucky and Steve, was something your dreamed of when you met the two boys the first time your moved into the old apartment complex.

Since then, the three of you have become inseparable.

But something eats away at your heart, a painful piece of emotion that just slowly chews away at your peace.

“You got a job already?” Bucky asks as he slides his hands into his pockets. You adjust the strap of your purse on your shoulder and nod your head, “just a small secretary job at the library. Enough to earn something until I finally decided what I wanna do with my life.”

Bucky laughs and lets out a low whistle, “still that ‘always need to know whay my future is’ type o’ girl, yeah?” You shake your head and slap his arm, “quit it, Buchanan. Or I’m telling Winnie your being an ass.”

Bucky rubs his arm, a little sore from your slap. “My ma trusts you more than the Lord himself,” Bucky comments, the loosely swinging his arm over your shoulder.

You doesn’t push it away.

“That’s because I don’t go bring random girls back home and make them scream my name in the middle of the night,” you smirk as you reveal you know of his nightly activities.

Bucky stops, forcing her stop. The look on his face is horrific and you snort and slap his chest at his reaction. “How’d you-,” he starts, but you continue to laugh.

“Becca tells me everything, Buchanan,” you wink at him before you start walking again. He breaks out of his reverie and jogs to catch up with you, “doll, it ain’t like that.”

You laugh and shake your head, “do I look like I care who you mess around with, Buchanan?” He pauses and shakes his head, it looks like to you he’s a bit upset, “no, you don’t”

You were about to say something else, but something caught your eye.

You stop and gasp as you walk towards the window of the shop.

The great glass pane with the large painted letters on it does not stop you from viewing the contents inside of the store.

The dainty little locket sits at the back of the display, hiding behind all the extravagant jewels. You know that the owner would’ve expected people to look at the jewels.

But the locket, it hangs lovingly from a thin gold chain. The oval case rests just in between the collarbone.

You think it’s the most beautiful piece you’ve ever seen.

Bucky see’s you view the locket and how in awe you are in as you frame a picture of it in your mind.

“Why don’t you get it,” Bucky suggests, nodding at the piece of jewellry. You let out a sad laugh, “because it costs more than our parents’ rent combined, Buchanan.”

You bite your lip while still looking at the necklace, “a girl could dream.”

You sigh and pull away, “let’s go.”

------- The Rogers’, the Barnes’ and your parents all stand in front of you as they sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for the eighteenth time in your life.

After they finish the song, out of key, you drag the simple knife down the cake, and they start cheering.

Your mother cuts up slices and hands it to everyone, you get up from the dining table and smooth out the wrinkles of the emerald green cotton dress your mother sewed for you.

The dad’s gather as they converse about the lastest sports, the mom’s are in the kitchen laughing as the cook dinner. Steve, Bucky, Rebecca and you sit in the living room.

You go against the opinions of Steve’s and Bucky’s as they complain about how high school was the worst time of their life.

“Look guys, you can’t say that,” you chastise them softly, “Becca, you’re in your junior year. It’s one of the best times you’ll ever experience.”

Becca nods, as Steve shakes his head to Bucky and Bucky mouths a ‘No’ in Becca’s direction.

“Buchanan,” you throw the couch pillow at him.

-------

“Hey, can I come in?” Bucky knocks on the window of your bedroom.

The party was over, and you’re parents went out to have a quick little dinner. They were upset because they didn’t want to leave you on your special day, but you knew how hard they’ve been working, and they didn’t have time to themselves. So you pushed them out the door and yelled a ‘have a great time’.

Bucky crouches on metal ridges that is your fire escape, waiting for your permission to enter your room.

You jump out of bed and raise your window a bit higher so he can fit in. “Are you out of your mind, Buchanan?” You whisper-yell at him.

He shrugs, “what? I live two floors above your doll, nothing to be worried about.” The wink he throws you way, makes you roll your eyes.

But there’s a place in your heart where it instantly becomes warm.

Because, even if Bucky was a player at times, he still caught your heart.

You did roll your eyes at his antics. But your smile was true from how playful he is.

You’d say ‘Quit it, Buchanan’, but in your mind you’d always whisper a ‘Don’t ever stop’.

You knew you were falling for Bucky, but you always forced those feelings down.

Because you knew, he won’t feel the same.

“What needed my attention so badly, that you had climb down to get here,” you cross your arms and narrow you’re eyes at him.

He smirks and sits on your bed, “well, I haven’t given you my present yet.”

You freeze.

You’re also confused.

“What? Of course you did, your family gifted me the Aesop Fable set,” you say as you walk to stand in front of him.

You vividly remember getting the gift, because it was something you have been telling Becca about for so long. And you squealed when you opened their present

But Bucky shakes his head, “no doll. They gave you, their gift. I haven’t given you mine.”

You pause, and you swear your heart starts beating a little faster.

“What”? You whisper, because you know you voice will crack if you spoke louder.

He pats the space next to him, “sit down, doll.”

You gulp and go sit down next to him, you obediently place you hands on your thighs as you wait for the next part.

Bucky gives a smile. But it’s different, you have never seen this look on Bucky before. The softness of his eyes, the way his cheeks are slightly flushed, the little crinkles at the corners of his lips as he maintains that smile.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tiny box.

The box looked like it was originally used to store a single chocolate ball, but the lettering on it worn out and the edges are a bit jagged.

You look at bucky with confusion, “what is thi-.”

He interrupts you, “just open it f’me, doll.”

And you do.

“Bucky, no.”

The locket stares back up at you, the gold glints under the light of your room.

“You-you can’t be serious, thi-this has to be a joke,” you turn to face him with tears lining your eyes. You heart has never beaten so fast in your entire life.

Bucky’s grin widens and nods, “got it this morning, just for you.” He says your name so softly that you think it might break if he said it to harshly.

You wrap your arms around his neck and push your head against his shoulder as you whisper your million ‘thank you’s’.

Bucky chuckles and rubs your back, “anything for you, doll.”

“Why, why me? Why this?” you shake your head against him.

“Because I gotta tell the girl, who lives two floors below me, that I’m in love with her,” Bucky pulls back and cups the back of your neck.

You gasp softly and furrow your brows at him, your shock so evident on your face.

“Gotta tell her that I’ve been after her since the day she moved into this building,” Bucky leans in and you follow.

How have you been so daft to not see this?

You close your eyes and stop until you’re a hair width’s away from Bucky’s lips.

“Gotta tell her how much I’ve been dreamin’ about her, and how she’s the only thing on my mind,” Bucky whispers, and you feel his breath hits your lips.

He softly places his lips on yours, and you move your hands to cup his face. You both move your lips in tandem to the other, as you try to feel more of one another.

He pulls away breathlessly and you follow suit.

“I’ve been meaning to do that for a long time, doll,” he chuckles and leans in to place soft kisses on your jaw.

You giggle and whisper a ‘me too’.

Bucky takes the locket from your hands and starts to put it on for you.

He soon as he done, he leans back and sees how beautifully the necklace sits just above the dip of your collarbone.

“Open it up,” he nods at the locket. You smile and follow his orders, you gasp as you see a picture of your seventeenth birthday, with the Rogers’ and Barnes’, at Coney Island. And the other side had a picture of you and Bucky at Prom.

You didn’t have a date, well you did but he stood you up. So Bucky stepped in and became your man for the night.

You look up at him and have no words to say.

“I-,” you start but can’t finish your sentence.

“I know, doll. I know,” he smiles. “Been saving those tiny pictures for a while, but it was worth it,” he leans in and presses his forehead against yours.

You close your eyes and relish this feeling that hangs in the air.

The feeling that you have been wanting to feel for so long now, it feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

“Bucky?” you whisper.

“Hmm, doll,” he whispers back.

“I love you.”

“I love you, doll.”

💌💌💌

OMG! MY FIRST EVER ANON!!

HELLO NONNIE!!!

Love this ask, I've always had this idea in mind, but never really knew how to write it.

I guess this is just a messy way of writing it lol.

I hope this is what you were looking for nonnie!!!

Lemme know what you lovelies think!!

Till' then,

Stay Coquette-y,

Anya 🫶🏽🕊️🎀

[blackwood4stucky]

do you trust me with your scars, enough to show me your heart

author: aspen blackwood

series: wonder if it's room in heaven for savages

james “bucky” barnes x steve rogers | mcu | fic playlist

masterpost | 🅴 | 🔞 | word count: 11,037 | multichapter fic

read ch 1: a maze you love getting lost in

tags: blood, creature!stucky, gore, non traditional omegaverse, sexual content, violence

Steve hesitated by the entryway to the kitchen. Just being around Ma Winnie made him nervous given how he felt about her son. - a dark and twisted fairytale

bingo fills + event prompts

@afgomegaversebingo | confession of feelings

@anyfandomangstbingo | hurt/comfort

@anyfandomgoesbingo | confession of feelings

@ao3tagbingo | scent kink

au challenge | fae au

@augustwritingchallenge: april showers brings m-au flowers | fairies/fair folk

@avengers-assemble-bingo: [aa002] | anal play

@badsexbingo | free space

@bloodyheartsbingo: twilightdreams' card [bloody hearts bingo i] | all mine [nsfw: bloody] | kissing/biting their partner so hard during sex that they draw blood

@buckybarnesbingo: round 6 | u4: friends to lovers

@buckyboybingo | fae

@character-a-character-b:

emotions | finding comfort in each other's arms & bodies holiday | free space spooky | a night of passion beneath a blood moon romance | rough passion winter | body heat under a shared blanket

crossover bingo | multiple orgasms

@darkspicyevanstan | unseelie

@dark-stucky: bucky's birthday bash 2025 | jealousy

@deaddovedec: 2024 | week 1: day 7 | free day

@deaddovekink:

august heat | mating cycles: heats + marking: scents frisky feb | groping monsterfcking march '23 | beasts of myth: fae monsterfcking march '24 | bizarre biology: abnormal body parts

@eclipsingbingo

card 1 | soulmate au card 2 | alternate universe

@fairytalebingo | court of night

@fandombingo

the little prince | moonlight wonderland | loss of innocence

@fandom-free-bingo

august chaos | friends to lovers dream | free space gingerbread | falling asleep on one another, moving closer in bed july | blushing maritime may | best friends to lovers, fae au medical | omegaverse au october | tentative smile wild | childhood friends world book night | fairy circle

@fictionaldelightsbingo: under the sea bingo | their heart stops

@halcyonianlove | fae

@herohardshipsbingo | road trip

@hurtcomfort-bingo:

hurt and comfort | first love pick your poison | fever, swallowing

@julybreakbingo: post july 24 | soulmates

@marvelousyahtzee | 2s: kneeling, flowers, fight, holding hands, jealous

marvel-smash-bingo | best friends to lovers

@multifandom-flash: here there be monsters bingo | mystery monster

@seasonaldelightsbingo:

cozy feels | dark academia card: shadows types of love | card 1: free space

@sebastianstanbingo | sharing a bed

@secretcrypticevents: into the wilds bingo | unseelie

@stuckybingo | huddling for warmth + music [march prompt]

@sweetspicybingo:

beginning | first "i love you" hurt/comfort | deep conversations lyrical | sweet touch / you've given me too much to feel winter | fairy lights

@thebo3bingo | cock warming

@thefairytalebingo | the fair folk

@winterbreakadvent 24 | just the tip' leads to full penetration leads to feelings realization

@wintershieldbingo | canon divergence

@writersmonth | fairy

@yearoftheotpevent | february: bed sharing

read ch 2: heart made of glass, my mind of stone

ao3 | sqwa

[mrs-barnes-rogers-writes]

The Feral Princess - Part 6

Marvel AU

Pairing: Stucky x Reader

Theme: Soulmate AU / Medieval / Fantasy / Soulmate Marks

Summary: Bucky and Steve have known they were soulmates since they were children. Fate bringing a then sickly Steve and the future King together. War takes them apart and throws them back together over and over, in and out of each other lives, arms and beds. But something is missing and throughout, they know they are missing their third and final piece. The kingdom is now Bucky's and Steve's, the latter now a leader and no longer a sickly child. Both are war heroes, with the respect of their country and those that surround it. They are a force to be reconned with, admired and respected within the other royal houses. They could have any maiden or princess they wanted, but they don't want just anyone. They want their soulmate. They want their princess. Even if she is known as The Feral Princess.

Chapter Summary: Bucky contemplates his conversation with Richard.

Chapter Warning: Childhood trauma.

Bucky was still processing Richard’s words as they made camp for the night a few days later. He had set himself apart from the others as they huddled around the fire, as a mist began to gather around the camp. As his mark for you began to feel warm his mind wandered and thoughts of you as a child, scared and helpless ran through his mind.

When Steve had told him and his mother, Winnie, of his father’s abuse, Bucky had to be physically restrained. He had been fourteen at the time, Steve thirteen.

Winnie had sent guards to fetch Steve’s mother Sarah, along with his father. Sarah had been given quarters with a view of the lake and her own maids. His father had never seen the light of day again. It seemed that the other Royal households had rallied to protect you but not until the damage had been done.

Bucky sat in silence as he tried to piece together the timeline of Richard’s words and his own upbringing. The time of your childhoods was full of war and it wasn’t often that Royal households mixed. Too much betrayal and cross words. A common cause of defeating Hydra and Lord Piece, and a few others along the way had kept people connected.

A long awaited peace had come, along with a mutual respect of each other. But you had stayed hidden, although your reputation proceeded you. Plenty of Royal houses near and far had sent suitors your way, as well as the families of good standing. All in a bid to seek an alliance and a connection to the Royal house of Lionheart or one of the most formidable house know, The House of Loxley, along with the others you were connected too.

For those that had managed to pass the gates of Lionheart or through the woods of Loxley, they had been stabbed, shot and poisoned. He also suspected a few may have been dragon food. But you continued to stay hidden. The balls and events you did attend were those of Lionheart, Loxley and occasionally Odinson. You had no connection by blood to the latter and he wonders where the alliance comes from. He is sure that it must be Thor’s mother. Odin and Richard were far too a like with their tempers, so he is sure it Frigga.

A woman gifted in magic, fierce but kind. When Bucky had returned from war missing an arm she had sent baskets of oils and herbs to aid his recovery with clear written instructions to Wanda and how to use them. He expects she’s tried to aid you at some point, maybe even hidden you there in Asgard.

He begins to piece together certain memories from his childhood. Letters coming and going, and his mother’s voice. A memory slips through of his mother smiling at breakfast as she is passed the mornings letters. Bucky remembers her smile as if he still sees it everyday. Even during the many battles and wars, his father away, she gifted him with a smile every morning. But in this memory his mother’s smile is snatched away as she reads one of her many letters, she gasps and places her hand over her mouth as she rises suddenly from her seat.

The voices of her maids and the guard asking if something is wrong echo around the breakfast room.

“Matywka?”

“It’s ok Yasha.” She replies softly, sensing his worry. When she speaks again she is very much the commanding queen she was known to be.

“Prepare a guest room immediately. Make sure it is warm and ready for a little one. A girl of three. A room close to my own.”

A realisation washes over him. Was that girl you? Thinking back he had never known anyone take a guest room near to his mother, even Sarah’s wasn’t that close. So whoever it was was of good standing, important, and in his mother’s eyes, needed to be close by.

His thoughts are stopped by an approaching Natasha.

“What now Natalia?”

“I’m just checking on you Yasha, that is all.”

“I’m fine.”

“Try saying that without gritting your teeth.”

Bucky huffed. An awkward silence sat between them.

“Did you know?” He asked.

“Know what?” Natasha replied.

“Do not make me seem an idiot Natalia!” He snapped. “You know exactly what I am referencing.”

“I do not know the full story. Just whispers of court ladies and knights.”

“But you know her, you’ve met her. You have spent time together so intimately that you have seen her marks. Do not lie to me!”

“She only speaks of her time running in the woods, she mentioned her upbringing was different, that she doesn’t speak to her mother, and Lady Dawn, one of her ladies will tell jokes of her feral behaviour and chasing off the governesses, but nothing more.”

“And what do they say? The whispers?"

“The knights, well they will not have a word said against her. I heard that one of Stark’s men once joked if she took lovers and one of Lionheart’s took his head clean off. They will not have a word said against her, when they say a whole kingdom protects her it is true. And the ladies well, they whisper about a lot of things but the oldest whispers are of how she was found in a field. That she was asked to pick their punishment. He told you didn’t he? Of why they call her Tulip.”

Bucky nodded.

“And that is why you want to speak to Castle?”

Bucky nodded again.

“She chose to let them live Yasha.”

“Well I do not.”

Meanwhile hidden in the mist............

You placed a hand over your mouth to stop a gasp reaching out. John reached out and squeezed your hand.

“He knows Tulip. He knows and he still comes.”

You shook your head in disbelief.

“I don’t understand.”

“He knows, your James knows and he still wants you to be his. To be Steven’s too.”

It had been a grand scheme you’d thought. Let Richard tell him of your childhood, the way you are admittedly a little feral and probably not an ideal candidate for a queen and let King James make his choice. He would trot off back to his kingdom and your shared soulmate and leave you alone. But he was here. In the woods. The Loxley woods. A place that people were scared to enter and many never did.

Yet he had still come to the woods to find you. Sure he had walked straight into your trap but he had come. He still wanted you.

But you were of Loxley, not just Lionheart, and well, he’s in your woods, and had even had the nerve to camp in them.

It wouldn’t be right to just let him wander around without a little upset now would it and you certainly weren’t going to go easily.

Fancy a cuppa? My Ko-Fi.

TAGLIST

@animegirlgeeky @mrsevans90 @sebastians-love @salvatoreitmeanssaviour

[world-of-aus]

The Arrangement - Chapter 2

Pairing: Mobboss!Bucky x Reader

Chapter Warnings: Feels, Angsty Dialogue.

Author's Note: Any and all writing errors are my own. Chapter 2 is here and I hope it is portraying enough story for you all! I haven't done a series in a hot minute so I am trying to get my bearings and make this content enjoyable for all you that are excited for this. I hope this chapter is good for you all. As always Happy Readings.

“Sign here.” 

You look at the open spot next to Bucky’s name, his signature already signed and sealed. Flashes of your sister appear in your mind as you reach a shaky hand towards the awaiting pen. 

Were you really going to do this, could you stoop to your sisters level and just take what was right in front of you? 

Your signature glides across the paper signed and sealed, you’d blame it on the stars. 

There’s sincerity in Winnies eyes as she looks at the two of you, “it’s done, welcome to the family sweetheart, we’ll celebrate the two of you properly at the reception in a week’s time.” 

You manage to pull a smile on, albeit shaky as the room congratulates the two of you, his hand still resting on your lower back. Your dad must notice the uneasiness in your eyes, “it really was a pleasure to do business with you as always and we look forward to bringing two families together the day of the wedding,” he directs to the Barnes family, “y/n sweetheart are you ready to go,” he questions his eyes on you now “surely your mom is going stir crazy waiting for us to get back.” 

You snap out of your revere eyes zoning in on your father, your lips part to speak but Bucky beats you to it, “actually Mr. Y/l/n if it’s alright with you I’d like to take y/n out to lunch,” he pulls you closer into his side, “she and I have some catching up to do.” 

You did? 

You did. 

You can feel his eyes on you as you scan the menu, a menu you don’t even need to look over – you always managed to get the same thing every time you came here though it had been some time since the two of you had been here together. You can vividly remember when this was your place, it was quickly replaced by a newer, not so hole in the wall Diner that had become their place. 

It had been replaced just as quickly as you had. 

“Is this what’s become of us?” You bring the menu down slightly to meet his stormy cerulean eyes, brow raised in question he continues, “we’ve become strangers to one another.”  

You bring the menu down placing it upon the table, hands crossing above it, “Strangers,” you question “is that what you think we are? I was certain we were more.” 

“It’s what we’ve become. I don’t see you anymore, we don’t hang out, you’re not around, I feel like I barely know who you are, you’ve become a shell of my best friend.”  

And whose fault is that? 

Anger simmers in your chest as you look at the man before you, “you must forgive me,” you grit, “but like you, I have a job to do, I promised my father I’d live up to the family name just as you promised your father, and up until yesterday I’ve been helping my sister plan your wedding, every last detail, I’ve barely had time for myself so please give me some grace, there’s only so much of myself I can give.” 

Only so much hurt I can take. 

You catch the subtle shake of his head, “what happened to us?” 

My sister. 

“We grew up James.”  

You catch the tick in his jaw, “oh so it’s James now? I’m no longer Bucky, Buck, Bee.” 

You sigh shaking your head, “Bucky please.” 

“No y/n,  what happened to us, you can’t tell me nothing has changed its -” 

“You chose her,” you almost yell, “you chose my sister, I was all but discarded by you and your family without another thought the night you decided to end our contract because and I quote ‘I can’t do that to your sister’. You scoff, but he could do it to you, “Rebecca was the only one who cared what happened to me after you made it abundantly clear that it was my sister you loved. I was embarrassed,” you continue, “I was hurt, I thought I had everything I could ever want only to have it all torn away.” You tilt your head to the sky willing away the tears, you would shed no more for the man before you. “I needed time, and even that I couldn’t get because I was planning YOUR wedding to MY sister, a wedding that should have been mine. So forgive me for skipping out on our visits, family dinners, Diner hangouts, I just couldn’t Bucky, I couldn’t because every time I was reminded of what no longer was mine.” 

You didn’t think it possible to ever get the man before you speechless but you had managed. Your waitress pops in then a cheery smile on her lips as she asks the two of you if you’re ready to order. You meet her eyes rattling off your usual, you look back at Bucky who still seems frozen, “I’ll have the same thing.” he manages. Before she can skip away you say, “can we get this to go please.” 

“Of course doll, I’ll get it out in a jiffy, have your ticket out front!” 

You move to exit the side of the booth you took, the weight of what you got off your chest crushing you once more. Bucky’s reaching for you, there’s a pleading look in his eyes, “please don’t go, sit down, talk to me.” 

You shake your head, softly removing the hold he has on you, “I’ve said enough for one evening Bucky, I need time, please.” 

And he lets you go, just like he let you go that night, you don’t know what hurts more. 

He’s sat at his father’s old desk, the one that has become his since his old man passed. His eyes are trained on a single contract the one you thought had been discarded, his name and your name signed and sealed at the bottom, this one was much older though years in the making like the two of you. He remembers the night your parents took the two of you aside, sat you down and had the conversation with you.  

He thinks how the two of you then hadn’t hesitated to sign your names. He thought it was just two best friends doing a job, stepping up to the plate for their family.  

Had you really loved him that long? 

How could he have not seen it. 

There’s a soft knock on the office door, his mother enters slowly a tired smile on her lips. “My boy, what are you still doing up, it’s late.” 

“How long?” 

Winnifred looks at her son in question, “how long what James?” 

“How long did she love me for?” 

His mother lets out a quiet noise as she moves over to her son, her arm landing on his shoulder rubbing his clothed skin. “I think she’s loved you for longer than she even knows, there’s always been an adoration in her eyes for you, she’d have done just about anything for you.” 

Bucky shakes his head, “Why didn’t I see it, why couldn’t I tell?” 

Winnie laughs now, hand squeezing “oh my boy, you Barnes men are always a little slow.” He laughs but there’s no actual amusement behind it, “you let me discard this contract like nothing that night, why? Why didn’t you stop me?” 

His mother sighs, “we all saw how encompassed you had become with her sister, and while it gradually occurred, we all saw it, the one who saw it most was y/n. Before you came to us yourself, she had come to me first, she held me to a promise that should you ask for the contract to be reconsidered to please do so.” She smiles sadly, “she just wanted you to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her, but I know that night, she was hoping it would be.” 

“Why,” he breathes, “why didn’t you stop me?” 

“We believed this is what you wanted son.” 

He’s shaking his head more vigorously now, “I thought all this time she didn’t feel the same, I never saw the signs, I never -” he's like a lost boy meeting his mother's eyes for the first time, “what do I do ma?” 

“You do what you should have done then, choose her.” 

The Arrangement Taglist: Kindly reminder if at any point you'd like your tag removed please message me, Thanks!

@learisa @greatenthusiasttidalwave @barnesxstan @calwitch @h0nestly-though @wintrsoldrluvr @esposadomd @roofwitty779 @pattiemac1 @sebastians-love @scott-loki-barnes @mrsnikstan @metanoiablxxm @lostyx @missvelvetsstuff @casa-boiardi @shoutingcardinal @tiedyedghoulette @littleeuphoriaelf @polireader

@armystay89 @cjand10 @railmesebstan @agardenflower25 @brckenmemories

[itsanerdlife]

Wicked Intentions 9

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Stark!Reader // (Seriously close) Steve Rogers x Reader // Clint Barton x Reader // T’Challa x Reader.

Warning: Violence. Language. Bullying. Girl Fights. Name Calling. Degrading Comments. Angst. Degrade of Woman (to a point). Criminal Life. Illegal Shit. Fights. Alpha Males. Stalking.

Characters: Peter Stark. Howie Stark. Bucky Barnes. Steve Rogers. Clint Barton. TC (T’Challa). Ben Reilly. Cledus Kasady (CK). Brock Rumlow. Gwen Stacy. Wanda Maximoff. Becca Barnes. Amore Lorelei. Kitty Pryde. Frank Castle. George Barnes. Joe Rogers. Winni Barnes. Pepper Stark. Wade Wilson. Eddie Brock. Warner Strucker. Barney Barton. Bobbi Morse. Pietro Maximoff. Logan.

A/N: This is a Bully Romance. High School setting. Mafia Family Life. Woman are on a lower level than males in their world. Just a heads up. This is the third installment of the series. Bad Intentions, Cruel Intentions, and Wicked Intentions.

Credit: Huge shout out to @ml7010 for all the help, pushing, hyping up, putting up with my changes midway through. If it wasn't for this peach, y'all never would have gotten this series or nearly as far as I am now.

He sits, glaring.

Pietro is twirling his fiancée around the dance floor. The two of them laughing close together.

“Don’t do it.” Peter chuckles sitting down next to him.

“Give me one good reason.” He cuts his glare to his soon to be brother-in-law.

Peter sighs. “Pietro is a big cat in the game. You don’t need that smoke. We don’t need it with all we have going on with our sisters.”

Bucky cuts his eyes towards the two.

“Not enough of a reason.” Bucky shrugs, standing up.

“Oh. Oh!” Peter jumps up with him. Hurrying after him.

He closes in on the two. Pietro stops dancing, hand on the small of Y/N’s back, she looks almost smug. Pietro cuts his eyes between the two of them.

“Oh!” Peter cuts between Bucky and Pietro. “Hey now.” Peter pats him on the chest, a little out of breath.

“Problem?” Pietro asks in his stupid Russian accent.

Peter cuts him off before he can speak. “Buck here, was just hoping to get a moment of your time, have a small conversation.” Peter fast talks.

Y/N rolls her eyes. He glares at her.

“Of course.” Pietro removes his hand from Y/N stepping away. Peter stays between them till Pietro is a few steps away.

“Problem?” Y/N sasses him, folding her arms over her chest.

He chuckles. “You’re next.” Following Pietro.

Peter sighs, dropping his head back. “Come on, you can’t just not do this to me?”

“You act like I don’t know how Gwen got pregnant.” Y/N laughs, hearing her heels walking away.

“It’s different you’re my baby sister!” Peter calls after her, before hurrying after him. Once they’re through the side doors to the sitting room, something like a lobby or waiting room, off the ballroom the reception is being held in.

He unbuttons his suit jacket, pulling it off, he tosses it at Steve. Pietro meets the center of the room, turning to face him. Bucky’s fist follows through, decking Pietro in the jaw.

“Really?!” Peter huffs behind him. Bucky shakes his hand out, adjusting his button-down sleeves.

“He had his hands on my fiancée.” He glances at Peter.

Pietro rubs his jaw, opening and closing his mouth for a moment, working his jaw. “Hella, swing you got there Barnes.” He nods.

“Can you imagine what their kids will get?” Clint’s brows jump up.

Steve and Peter stop, staring into space.

“Oh fuck.” Steve whispers.

“People are going to die.” Peter breathes.

The door opens and Howie steps in, late to the party.

“What did I miss?” He looks around.

“We’re having nightmares about the swing our nieces or nephews will get between their parents.” Steve catches him up.

Howie stops in his tracks thinking about that. “Oh fuck.” He spoke softly.

“Apparently people are going to die.” Bucky rolls his eyes.

Howie shrugs, joining the others on the side. “Smalls, right hook, your follow through, yeah they might actually kill someone.”

“Barneys going to love your family.” Clint chuckles softly.

“He already does.” Peter, Howie and Bucky comment together.

“So, you’re the one.” Pietro smirks, turning their attention to him.

“Marrying the woman you just had your hands on? You’re fucking right.” Bucky replies with irritation.

“Oh shit, I missed a lot.” Howie mumbles.

Pietro chuckles softly for a moment. “I meant the one Satan will be tormenting to death for life.”

Bucky’s head tips. The guys next to them all slowly nod in agreement.

“Does she still run around beating people up?” Pietro wonders.

“She starts before nine in the morning some days.” Clint sighs.

Pietro chuckles.

“How do you know that?” Bucky asks.

“She has been my twin sisters’ best friend since they were little.” He explains. Bucky looks from Pietro to the twins.

“Don’t worry they barely know me.” Pietro sighs. “Wanda has been kept from the business, unlike your Satan.” He waves his hand to the side.

“Wanda is a wife?” The three of them gap at him for a moment.

Pietro chuckles. “Shocking, yes. For best in our line of business.”

“What line?” Steve wonders.

“Drugs.”

“How is she married to Sam?” Clint’s brow drops down.

“That was a conversation I was hoping to have with some Stark’s.” Pietro looks to her brothers.

“We work for Smalls.” Peter shrugs.

“And she’s going to be a Barnes.” Bucky corrects.

Pietro nods slowly. “Perhaps we can talk?”

Buck looks from him to the guys. They nod.

“Fine.”

Together they all take a seat settling in.

“Wilson was not the first pick for my sister.” Pietro starts. “Someone else showed interest and pushed hard for her.”

“Who?” Peter asks.

“Someone you boys know and dislike. Eddie Brock.”

Its silent for a moment.

“Eddie put a bid in on Wanda?” Steve leans forward.

Pietro nods.

“How does Eddie know your sister?” Clint wonders.

“Maximoff’s run drugs, Eddie is a seller.” Howie explains for them.

“Oh shit.” Steve whispers.

“Wait, wait.” Buck puts his hands up. “The story, from when your sister and I started out. You messed up a deal for a pipeline, for Eddie. That got Gwen’s dad killed, and you guys sent to reform.”

“See Eddie wants to be a big cat.” Peter sighs. “He needs a line, to funnel more drugs, to be a top supplier to smaller dealers. He gets from the Maximoff’s and wants to hold over the smaller timers.”

“He needs a line to do that. That connects him to smaller dealers, in other areas.” Steve nods slowly.

“To make good without the line, he would have to marry your sister.” Clint connects.

“I denied his bid.” Pietro nods. “I picked Wilson, because of his tie to The Brothers.”

The three of them look to the twins.

“You know Sam from before?” He asks.

They nod. “We do business with Sam’s father, and now Sam.”

“Now Sam? He’s already taken over?” Clint wonders.

Howie nods. “His father passed just after his promising to Wanda.”

“Shit.” Bucky breathes, unable to imagine.

“We had no idea.” Steve shakes his head.

“Not many know.” Peter assures them. “He doesn’t talk about it. That’s just how his father was. We do shipments with the Wilson's.”

“Shipments?” Bucky wonders.

“Heavy weapons.” Howie replies.

“Is there anything the Stark’s aren’t involved in?” Steve smirks.

“Weapons, drugs, underground fights, laundering, money, the table.” Clint grins.

“Been busy boys?” Pietro smirks.

“Smalls created her own mafia.” Peter grins. “We got into bed with The Saintz. Opened a lot of channels.”

“Perhaps there’s room for another?” Pietro glances around.

The four look over at him. He takes a breath, nodding slowly. “Touch my fiancée again, and your body will be in a shipment back to homeland.” He settles a look on Pietro.

Pietro grins at him. “No wonder she picked you. You two will make a ruthless couple.”

“Make? They already are one.” Peter sighs.

“Literally.” Steve shakes his head.

Bucky smirks, shrugging. “We’re not that bad.”

“We’ve seen our baby sister lick you, over a girl watching you.” Howie points out.

“I broke John Walkers arm for touching her for you.” Clint comments.

“You killed CK, for trying to take her.” Steve snorts.

“She smashed up Sina for touching you.” Peter nods slowly.

Bucky grins as they stand up, licking his lips he chuckles. “And you wonder why I won her in the bid?”

“Like anyone else had a chance.” Clint laughs.

“We would have burned the town down if she didn’t get her way.” Howie sighs.

“It worked out for more than her though, you’re marrying his sister are you not?” Pietro looks to Howie as they head for the doors.

“Yeah of course, we just, we were talking about them.” He splutters.

“Howard.” Bucky pauses, but Howie is out the door hurrying away from them.

“Did I say something?” Pietro wonders.

Peter sighs. “No, he’s going through something.” Hurrying after his brother.

“Another promise broken.” Y/N sasses as she walks past them.

The four of them exchange a look, three laugh.

“Excuse me boys, I have Chaos to wrangle.” He takes his suit jacket from Steve, heading for his fiancée.

“Oh no you don’t.” He chuckles, catching up to her, he grabs her waist, shifting her and tossing her over his shoulder.

“Boss man!” She gasps.

“You’re going to yell at me and I’m going to kiss you till you shut up.” He chuckles, walking out the of the reception with her over his shoulder. He passes Tony and his father, together they laugh.

“No take backs. She’s yours.” Tony calls after him.

“Hey!” She huffs loudly. He laughs harder, heading into the hotel hall.

---------- Everything Peaches 12/8/22 @mo320 @ml7010 @babizza @kmc1989 @joannie95 @coley0823 @rileyloves5 @sexyvixen7 @duckestylez @abschaffer2 @drayshadow @shirukitsune @xoxabs88xox @carostar2020 @rosalynshields @hookslove1592 @royal-sunflower @iwillbeinmynest @bellamy-barnes @geeksareunique @happydeanpotter @fanfic-n-tabulous @steel-blue-eyess @mariekoukie6661 @bless-my-demons @notyourtypicalrose @lets-talk-about-xyz @loving-life-my-way @shinycupcakebaker @also-fangirlinsweden @stupendous-science @daughterofthenight117 @dandelionsmarkthegrave @physically-a-cheesecake @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked

Bucky 'Fuck Me Up' Barnes: @nickyl316h @jbbarnesgirl @lets-roggerthat @this-is-mycrisis @kaylaphantomhive

Series tags: @sebastians-love @otterlycanadian

[crowsofdarkness]

Time: Chapter Four

-gif not mine. credit to owner.-

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Content Warnings: fluff, angst, language, violence, and mentions of death.

Summary: Your relationship with Bucky could withstand anything, even time itself.

Authors Note: This series will have twenty one chapters, some of which will be short and quick, and takes place throughout the forties. I did my best to line up the days along with Captain America: The First Avenger. Tags are open if anyone is interested!

Tags: @that-blonde-girl @bookofriverr @starfly-nicole @ell0ra-br3kk3r @baw1066

Time Masterlist

December 25, 1941

Snow fell around the two of us, bringing a smile to my face, and I linked fingers with Bucky as we continued our walk towards his house. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I questioned. 

Bucky grazed a kiss over my knuckles. “My ma is going to love you, doll. You have nothing to worry about.” 

His words did nothing to ease the dreaded fear of meeting his mom and sister. Bucky thought it would be a great idea to invite me over for Christmas and for his family to finally meet me. I, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a bad idea. 

We had been dating exclusively the last couple of months, seeing each other almost every other day. After Bucky talked to his mom about me countless times, she wanted to meet me. From what I heard, she is the biggest sweetheart and would do anything for her kids, but that still did nothing to stop my hammering heart. 

A sudden cold breeze blew past us causing Bucky to pull me closer to his warm chest, his typical scent weighing heavily on his suit. 

“Are you going to tell me what my present is?” I asked, looking up to Bucky. 

He shook his head. “Not yet. 

I gave him my best pouty lip which did nothing to phase him. He merely gripped onto my shoulder and turned our bodies down a corner, a lone house coming into view. It wasn’t one of the bigger ones I’ve seen but it also wasn’t small by any means. 

“I don’t know, Bucky,” I said, coming to a stop. 

“Doll,” Bucky started. 

“What if she finds something she doesn’t like about me? What if she thinks I’m not good enough for you?” 

Words kept rambling from my mouth so Bucky pressed his lips to mine, hushing my doubts immediately. 

“She is going to love you, Y/N. Please stop worrying about nothing.” 

His blue eyes pleaded for me to trust his words so with a soft sigh, I nodded and allowed him to link our fingers together, leading me inside. The house was filled with loud voices, laughing and yelling, and my nerves relaxed only briefly. 

“Ma? Rebecca?” 

Bucky walked with me into the kitchen where two women were standing in front of the stove, working hard on dinner. Hearing Bucky's voice, their actions halted and once they saw me holding onto his arm, they broke out in huge smiles. 

“Y/N!” 

His sister, Rebecca, darted around the counter and over towards me, pulling me away from Bucky and into her arms, a bone crushing hug followed. 

“Oh, hi,” I giggled, my own arms wrapping around her. 

“You are way too beautiful to be with my brother,” Rebecca joked with a smirk towards her brother. 

I raised my brow to him. “Hear that, Buck?” 

“Alright, that’s enough,” Bucky gently pulled me away from his sister and led me towards his mom. “Ma, this is Y/N. Doll, this is my mom Winifred.” 

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Barnes,” I extended my hand towards her. 

She eyed it with an unreadable expression and the nerves wrecked my body once more the longer I stood in front of her, with my hand extended. 

A smile broke out on her tired face before pushing my hand away and pulling me into yet another bone crushing hug. 

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, sweetheart. James has talked about you so much, I was starting to think he was making you up.” 

“I can assure you, Mrs. Barnes, I'm real,” I laughed. 

She waved me off. “Please call me Winnie.” 

I handed my jacket and purse to Bucky before nodding towards the multiple pots and pans that cluttered around the kitchen. 

“Would you like any help?” 

Winnie nodded with a smile. “That would be lovely dear, thank you.” 

For the next while, I helped Winnie and Rebecca prepare Christmas dinner while Bucky sat at the table in the middle of the kitchen, a warm smile spread wide across his face. I would catch his eye every so often and felt the butterflies spring to life when I noticed how lovingly he was watching me. 

The table was filled with a large spread of food and as I was about to mention how much food there was, a knock sounded at the front door. Bucky excused himself for a moment before returning to the kitchen, Steve following in toe. 

“Merry Christmas, Stevie,” I smiled while giving him a hug. 

“Merry christmas, Y/N. I hope you guys don’t mind me crashing,” Steve said. 

Winnie shook her head. “You know you’re always welcome here, Steve.” 

Dinner was an absolute dream, all of us talking and joking about God knows what. It had been so long since I sat down at a family dinner and I hadn’t realized how bad I missed it. My parents died right after I turned eighteen so I had been on my own the last handful of years. That’s what made Steve and I so close and Bucky could also relate, losing his father at a young age. 

Bucky’s hand gently rested on my thigh under the table and with the warmth that spread from the tip of my toes to the cheeks of my face, I tried to remain calm as the thought of the present I was giving him tonight came to mind. 

“Oh goodness, who let me wear heels and walk two blocks home?” I groaned as I stepped through the threshold of my apartment. 

Bucky chuckled before picking me up bridal style and carrying me into my room. He gently laid me on my bed and slowly worked at taking off my shoes. 

“Thank you, Bucky.” 

“Anything for you, doll.” 

With a quick toss of my shoes into my closet, Bucky sat on the bed next to me and traced shapes on my exposed thigh. 

After dinner, we walked Steve home and it took a little convincing of my lips on his to convince Bucky to spend the night. 

“Oh, before I forget,” Bucky leaned his body over mine as he reached for something in his jacket pocket that lay in a mess on the floor. “Merry Christmas, Y/N.” 

With a giddy smile, I propped myself up on my knees and slowly unwrapped the small present. The velvet of the black box tickled my fingers and I took off the tip, a gasp falling from my lips. 

“Bucky,” I breathed. “This is-.” 

Inside the box was a gorgeous gold necklace with a shiny black pendant in the middle. It was a large oval shape and when I flipped it over, the inscription on the back brought tears to my eyes. 

‘All the time in the world isn’t enough with you, doll. I love you. J.B.B.’ 

I had to read the words a few more times for the words to really sink into my brain. 

I love you. 

My eyes snapped from the necklace to Bucky, who was watching me with an intense gaze.

“You love me?” The words came out quiet 

He nodded. “I knew the moment you spilled my coffee on me that I was in love with you.” 

Cupping his cheek with one hand and the other clutching tightly to the necklace, I gave Bucky a quick but firm kiss. 

“I love you too,” I mumbled to them. 

His eyes shone with the love he had just professed while he moved a strand of hair out of my face. 

“With this war going on, I don’t know what the future holds so I didn’t want another day to go by without telling you how I feel,” Bucky professed while helping me put on the necklace. 

The war overseas had been a looming fear in the back of our minds, wondering how it would affect our relationship. Men were either enlisting or getting drafted. The last thing on Bucky’s mind was enlisting, not wanting to leave me behind alone. 

I shook the thoughts of war out of my mind, not wanting to ruin the rest of Christmas with those sad thoughts. Stadling Bucky’s hips, I ran my hands through his hair causing his eyes to flutter shut. 

“Ready for your present now?” I questioned, leaving small love marks over his neck. 

Bucky’s hands gripped my hips tightly as he let out a low hiss. Our hips started to slowly move in sync, grinding over the fabric of our clothes. His hands moved from my hips to my thighs, slowly lifting the bottom of my dress up over my ass. 

“Are you sure about this, doll?” Bucky asked after pulling away from a heated kiss we shared. “I don’t want to pressure you into anything.” 

I lifted his chin with my finger. “I’ve thought about nothing but this for a while now. I want you, Bucky.” 

With my final words, Bucky turned me onto my back causing a playful giggle to fall from my lips. We spent that night together, connected more than ever before and we ignored the worries of the world past the walls of my bedroom even if it would finally catch up to us. 

[itsonlyjoseph]

Port Valley | Bucky Barnes x reader - Chapter 3

Synopsis: Nat convinces your to a night on the town that quickly turns sour because of John Walker, but Bucky is always there to help...

Warning: fluff, bad grabby hands (not bucky)

Word count: 2k

.

.

.

This is was bad. This was very bad.

You were supposed to be healing. Suppose to be focusing on yourself, yet you went to sleep last night with James’ broad shoulders and gigantic biceps on your mind.

Very bad indeed.

You had been so caught up in your thoughts you didn’t realise you’d run into someone.

Bright red hair flew everywhere as you collided, followed by the sound of laughter.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” You stuttered.

“It’s okay, hey wait- you’re Y/N, right?” The woman asked.

“Oh, uh, yeah.” You responded, somewhat awkwardly.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, I’m Natasha. I bartend at O’Malleys most nights.”

“Oh, I haven’t really had a chance to check it out yet…”

“That’s okay. Where are you headed? I’ll walk with you.”

“I was headed to work, but I’m a little early…”

“Perfect! Let’s get breakfast!”

“Uh, okay. Sure.”

You walked along side the fiery redhead, chatting about work and life and how she knew about you until you’d arrived at the diner.

She suggested you take a corner booth and then you ordered, she said you’d love the French toast. Your food arrived shortly after and you began to eat.

“So, I hear you’re from New York. What’s that like?”

“It’s okay. Expensive. I’m glad I left though.” You said truthfully.

“Yeah, I heard about what happened…” She said, eyebrows turning up.

“Does everyone in this town know?”

“No! Not at all. I just hear a lot.” She laughed.

“God, I was so shocked. I thought we’d be together forever. You know, the kind of couple that’s better than everyone else, nobody has a connection like us kind of thing.”

“I got cheated on when I was in high school. Asshole went after my best friend at the time.”

“God, men are such asshole.”

“Oh, most of em’ are, yeah.” She laughed, in turn making you chuckle.

“Hey, why don’t you come out tonight. You can meet a bunch of people and have fun! I’ll stick by you the whole night.”

“I don’t know…”

“I promise it’ll be fun. I’ll introduce you to my friends so they can become your friends too.”

“Uh, okay. You know what, sure.” You shrugged.

Back in New York, you use to love going bar hopping and clubbing with your friends. Nowadays, you preferred the comfort and safety of your own bedroom where you can wallow in self pity without prying eyes. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

After a short beat of silence, Natasha swallowed her mouthful of food and looked back at you.

“Any guys you’ve seen around that you like?”

“Absolutely not. I’ve sworn off men forever.”

“Honestly, I don’t blame you.” She laughed.

“What about you? Are you seeing anyone?” You asked, and found yourself suddenly praying to god that she wasn’t seeing James.

You frowned and quickly shook the thought away.

“Oh, god no! The men here are like brothers to me! We all went to high school together and have seen each others worst times. It’d be too weird!”

“That really leaves slim pickings for a potential candidate.”

“Eh, someone will roll into town and sweep me away eventually.” She shrugged.

After that, you both got back to eating until your plates were empty and it was time to go.

“I’ll admit, that was pretty delicious.” You said, your feet crunching on the snow as the two of you walked back towards Winnie’s book store.

“Told ya! Now listen, I’ll text you when we decide to meet up, okay.” She said, shaking her phone in her hand, signifying that number you just gave her.

“Okay, uh, what should I wear?”

“Trying to impress someone?” She smirked.

“No! No, not at all, I just figured that bar etiquette is different here than it is in New York.”

“Just wear jeans and maybe a nice top that shows off the girls. That’s what I always do.”

“Okay.” You laughed.

****

It was 9:30pm and Nat had texted you to meet them in 20 minutes. You were kind of nervous, you must admit. You changed your outfit about 5 times until you just decided on a pair of blue jeans and a tight, fitted black top that was low cut around the chest area. Just like Nat said.

“You’re going out?” Your dad asked when he saw you putting on your coat, his eyebrows raised as if he was surprised.

“Yeah, I met the bartender at O’Malleys and she invited me out tonight.”

“Oh, that’s great! Natasha’s great. Have fun sweetie.”

“Thanks dad.”

You admit it would take some getting use to with everyone knowing everyone in this town. That meant everyone knowing everyone’s business.

****

The bar was surprisingly busy considering the small population of the town. It seemed to be mostly younger people and people around your age which was nice. You took your coat off and hung up by the door, before smoothing over your freshly done hair and making your way through the crowd to find Nat.

“Y/N! Over here!” You heard.

You looked over to see Nat sitting in a big group of men and women. The only one you seemed to recognise was her and… James. You should’ve guessed they’d be friends.

“Y/N, these are my friends. This is Steve, John, Sam, Wanda and of course, you know Bucky.”

“Bucky?”

“It’s a nickname.” Nat added. “Only his mom gets to call him James.” He joked.

You decided not to tell her that you’d called him James a number of times without repercussions. James seemed to also take notice of this.

Everyone in the booth shuffled along slightly to make room for you. You sat down next to Nat and the conversation began immediately. Although it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to you.

“So, Y/N, how’s working with Bucks mom?” Sam asked you.

“Uh, it’s great. She’s a great woman.”

“Yeah, Bucky told us she employed someone from outta’ town.” Steve smirked.

You briefly looked over to see the tips of James’ ears burning red. He talked about you?

“Uh, yeah, came from the city.”

****

You’d been at the pub for almost 2 hours, chatting to Nat and her friend Wanda, occasionally chatting to the guys as well. You hadn’t really said anything to James though.

You’d learned that Wanda worked at the post office and that you’d both liked romcoms and other girly things enough to become fast friends.

“I’ll get us more drinks.” You smiled at Wanda and Nat before scooting out of the booth.

You were standing by the bar, waiting to be served when you felt a presence behind you.

“Hey.”

You turned to see John standing too close for comfort.

“Oh, hi.” You mumbled out awkwardly.

“Having fun?” He smirked.

“Yeah, totally. Lots of fun.” You went to take a step back but quickly realised you were already against the bar

“Listen, maybe we should go somewhere quieter.” He said in a sultry voice.

“Quieter?”

“Yeah, like my truck.” He said, bringing his hand up your thigh.

Your eyes widened in realisation and tried to laugh it off.

“I’m okay here.”

“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun.”

“No really, I’d rather stay here.”

“Don’t make me beg.”

You were about to respond when a large hand clamped down on John’s shoulder and pulled him back slightly.

“She said no, man.” It was James. You didn’t even notice him stand and walk over to you.

“What do you care?”

“Come on, you’re drunk.” He said, calmly.

“I knew you wanted to fuck her.” John slurred out, glaring at James and pointing an accusatory finger.

“Just leave her alone.”

“Jealous that I’ll get there first?” John said as he sloppily put an arm around your waist and pulled you roughly into his side. “You can have her after m-“

Before John could even finish what he was going to say, James grabbed both his lapels and shoved him away from you.

“I said leave her alone.”

“What, you think you have some claim over this slu-“ John once again didn’t get to finish his sentence because James’ fist connected with his cheek in a deafening crack.

It made you gasp and raise your hand to your mouth in shock.

The punch garnered the attention of the rest of the group and lots of other patrons.

“What the fuck, Barnes?” John seethed.

John wiped his lip and stormed off, out of the bar. You were still in shock at what had happened, you didn’t realise that Nat had ran up to you.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

Finally, you looked up to see James was leaving without looking back. Sam and Steve rushed after him.

“Uh, yeah.” You muttered.

“Come on, let’s go.” Nat ushered.

“Jeez, we’re sorry Y/N, John’s never behaved like that before.” Wanda apologised.

“It’s fine guys, really.”

****

Two days later, you were in the book store alone when the doorbell chimed.

You didn’t look up, thinking it was just another customer but froze once you heard the voice.

“Hey.”

Your eyes shot up to see James sheepishly standing there. His eyes were hard and unreadable, as usual, but he’d taken his hat off and tucked his hair behind his ears.

“James. Hi.” You said, surprised.

“How you doin’?”

“I’m fine.”

James shifted in his feet.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay after the other night.”

“I’m okay. Thank you for... coming to my rescue.” You said, trying to lighten the mood a little.

“John’s an asshole. Always has been.” James said, just as hard as always.

“Yeah, I’m not surprised.”

Your eyes travelled down to James’ hand to see the torn up skin of his knuckles.

“God, look at your hand.”

He looked down but didn’t say anything.

“Come on, I’ll clean it for you.”

“It’s fine.”

“Please, It’s the least I can do.”

James stiffly nodded after a moment of hesitation. You smiled and locked the front door and put up the closed sign and wandered to the back, James following sheepishly behind.

The first aid skin probably hadn’t been used in years but that was okay.

You and James sat facing each other with your knees touching. He was so much bigger than you’d thought up close. You could see the muscles in his arms and shoulder moving under his shirt every time he did anything.

The broken skin looked red and sore but James never moved a muscle when you dabbed and wiped at the dried blood.

“There. That should be good.” You muttered, before looking up.

James was very close to you. Closer than you thought. His pale blue eyes were so bright and locked right on yours. Your gaze moved all over his face until they landed on his pink, pillowy lips.

James must have noticed your gaze linger on his mouth because his lips parted ever so slightly and he released a shallow breath.

Your eyes moved back up to his before you felt yourself start to lean in. James followed suit, just as slowly.

You were about 3 inches away from each other when a voice interrupted you.

“Y/N dear, the door was locked is everything ok-“

Winnie started, stopping when she saw the state you and her son were in. She had to force herself not to jump for joy at the sight in front of her.

You and James had jumped away from each other, but clearly not far enough due to the sly grin that spread across Winnie’s face.

“What’s going on?” She asked, smiling.

“We were just talking-“

“I was fixing his hand-“

You and James both tried to answer at the same time.

Winnie didn’t say anything more. She just smirked and turned to walk away, making the air tense.

There was another moment of silence between you and James, neither of you really knowing what to say. And not really having the courage to look at each other.

He stood up and was awkwardly shuffling to the door to leave.

“Uh, thanks.” He mumbled, eyes on the ground and then he was gone.

[sergeantbarnessdoll]

Ladybug » Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier

Pairings: Husband/Dad!Bucky Barnes x Wife/Mom/Pregnant!Reader with daughter Winnie

Summary: Bucky’s and the reader’s daughter discovers what ladybugs are.

Warnings: Fluff, language, nothing but cuteness, hugs and kisses, nicknames for daughter (ladybug), pet names for reader (doll)

Written on my phone so sorry if there’s any mistakes or typos.

GIF IS NOT MINE! Credit goes to the creators.

You and Bucky smiled as you two watched your 4 year old daughter play in the backyard. Bucky had his right hand on your 6 month baby bump, his thumb was rubbing it. You glanced at Bucky and noticed that he had a big smile on his face.

“What’s got you all smiley?” You asked curiously.

“You and our daughter.” He looks at you. “I never thought I’d have anything like this.” Bucky says.

“Aww Buck.” You smiled.

Bucky leaned over and kissed you passionately. You two were interrupted when your daughter came running over to you guys.

“Mommy! Daddy! Look at what I found!” Winnie says as she held her hand up.

Winnie had a big smile on her face as she showed you guys the ladybug in her hand.

“What is it?” She asked as she looked at it.

“It’s a ladybug.” Bucky says.

“Ladybug? What’s a ladybug?” She asks, looking up at her daddy.

“It’s a cute little bug that wants to be your friend.” He says.

Winnie looked at it and smiled.

“I’m going to make more ladybug friends!” She says excitedly, running away.

You and Bucky smiled at her cuteness. Bucky wrapped his arm around your shoulder. You snuggled into his side.

“She’s my little ladybug and so is this little one.” He says softly as he rubbed his hand on your baby bump.

“What does that make me?” You asked with a playful pout and looked up at him.

“You’re my doll.” He says with a smile.

You smiled and leaned up to kiss him softly.

“I found another ladybug!” Winnie shouts with excitement.

You and Bucky laughed softly and looked at her.

“I love you guys.” He says.

“We love you too, Buck.” You say softly.

-Bucky’s Doll

[welldonebeca]

a bittersweetness**

Summary: When the war came, everything changed. It was inevitable that you would be pulled apart by it – you’d seen it happen when the first one came, this one wasn’t going to be any different. Bucky enlisted as a soldier, you enlisted as a nurse, and Steve… Steve’s health didn’t allow him to go anywhere beyond his own backyard. And yet, on the 31st of December, camped in Europe, you three reunite again. Pairing: Hints of Steve x Reader. Cousins Reader & Bucky. WC: 4.3k words Warnings: Set in the 1940s. Canon divergence. Platonic relationships. Angst. Tension. Fluff. Emotional hurt/comfort. World War II. New Year’s Day. Some PTSD hints. Patreon promo.

New Year's Day - 2025: Collection

“I’m fine,” Bucky insisted as you adjusted the pillow behind him on the cot, doing your best to make him comfortable. His voice was firm, but the weariness in his eyes betrayed him. “I’ve been through worse.”

You ignored his protests, carefully straightening his arm to keep the IV in place.

“You were gone for a long time,” you countered, keeping your voice steady. “You’re dehydrated and probably exhausted.”

‘A long time away’—a gross understatement for what had actually happened.

Bucky had been kidnapped by the enemy, tortured for God knows how long. It took Steve — Captain America now, apparently — to get him back.

Not the scrawny, sickly kid you used to patch up after scraps in Brooklyn alleyways. He was tall now, impossibly strong, and wielding a shield. It felt like something coming out of a moving picture!

“I can recover from exhaustion by sleeping,” Bucky argued, his tone tinged with exasperation.

You shot him an unamused glare, your patience thinning.

“You can’t replace electrolytes and water by sleeping, Bucky. You need care. And if you think I’m going to sit back and do nothing while you recover from this, you don’t know me at all.”

It was strange, seeing him like this—hollowed out by what the war had done to him. Your thoughts flickered to a simpler time, when the three of you—Bucky, Steve, and you—were inseparable.

Aunt Winnie had raised you like her own after your mother passed. She was your father’s sister, stepping in when he struggled to raise a daughter on his own. She treated you with the same love she gave Bucky and Stevie. It was always the three of you against the world.

The boys were over the moon when you decided to go to nursing school. They even volunteered as practice patients, though Steve usually needed the care more than Bucky.

And then the war came, and everything changed.

It was inevitable that you would be pulled apart by the it– you’d seen it happen when the first one came, this one wasn’t going to be any different.

Bucky enlisted as a soldier, you enlisted as a nurse, and Steve… Steve’s health didn’t allow him to go anywhere beyond his own backyard.

In a matter of days, the three of you had gone from inseparable childhood friends to adults burdened with unimaginable responsibilities. The war had pulled you apart, as it always did.

You adjusted the blanket over Bucky, your jaw tightening.

“You don’t get to brush this off, Buck. Not after what you’ve been through,” you warned him. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you’re okay.”

Steve had done the hard part, rescuing Bucky from the enemy’s grasp. Now it was your turn.

Pulling up a chair, you grabbed the jacket you’d left resting on the nearest table. You knew better than to leave him unattended—if you knew Bucky at all, he’d be on his feet the moment your back was turned.

“And what’s that?” he asked, watching you with curious eyes.

You didn’t answer right away, threading the needle with practised precision.

“A jacket,” you said finally, turning the fabric over and running your fingers along the seams, trying to find the spot. “For you.”

He had lost his somewhere in the fight; you were sure of it. The supply shipments with new uniforms hadn’t arrived yet, so you had to make do with what you could find. One of the soldiers had handed it over when you asked around for anything that might fit Bucky and keep him warm.

One of the boys had offered it to you when you asked if anyone had something Bucky could wear to protect himself from the cold.

“It’s cold,” you reminded him, pulling the lamp closer on the doctor’s desk where you worked. “You need something while we wait for the new uniforms to come in.”

Bucky frowned.

“So they gave you a ripped one?”

You turned to him, raising an eyebrow in silent rebuke before refocusing on the task at hand.

The lamp’s warm light cast a soft glow over the small room, catching the faint outlines of makeshift decorations someone had strung up earlier in the day— bits of tinsel and a paper banner that read Happy New Year!

Stitches weren’t your best skills – not with clothes, at least. On people, sure. But clothes… clothes needed to look pretty, not just be fixed quickly.

“Don’t complain,” you added, softening your tone. “At least someone cared enough to offer it. Better than sitting through another freezing midnight.”

It wasn’t much, but it was something – and right now, every small comfort mattered.

Bucky exhaled, his shoulders sinking slightly, and the two of you settled into a fragile quiet. The distant sounds of the camp — the murmurs of soldiers, the faint clinking of bottles and distant music from the makeshift party you hadn’t even thought of stepping into loud enough that you could hear it from where you were.

You finished stitching the tear and ran your thumb over the seam, testing its strength. Maybe you should go back over it, just to make sure it held.

But when you looked up to ask Bucky what he thought, he was already asleep.

His head rested against the makeshift pillow, his features finally soft, no longer hardened by pain or exhaustion. The IV bag beside him was halfway to empty, and you clung to the fragile hope that it was helping.

You exhaled slowly, the relief mingling with a sharp ache in your chest. Tears you’d held back for weeks began to well up, unstoppable now that the moment had settled. Pressing Bucky’s worn jacket to your face, you muffled the sound of your quiet sobs.

Dead. You thought he was dead.

You had written to Aunt Winnie, Uncle George, Rebecca, and the kids. You had written those words: “James is missing in action.” You had tried to prepare them for the worst, for the near-certainty that he was gone.

Dead.

For weeks, there had been no news. Not a single search party went out to look for him or the others. One hundred and fifty men, vanished into nothing!

For an entire month, you’d poured yourself into your work, trying to keep the men in your division alive while the boy you’d grown up with — your cousin, your brother in all but name — was gone.

And now he was here—alive, breathing, safe. Recovering from pneumonia, God knows how many pounds lighter, but alive.

Your tears soaked into the worn fabric of the jacket as the weight of it all crashed down. You clenched it tightly, pressing it to your chest as you tried to stifle the sobs threatening to grow louder. He needed rest; he needed to heal. You couldn’t wake him now.

You were so caught up in your grief and relief that you didn’t hear the soft sound of someone stepping into your tent. It wasn’t until a hand brushed your arm that you jolted to your feet, your heart racing with readiness for action.

Blinking through your tears, you froze when your gaze landed on the baby-blue eyes you’d grown up with — eyes that used to match yours, back when you were all the same height.

Steve.

Except now, he wasn’t the same. The last time you’d stood face-to-face, you’d been equals in stature. Now, he loomed over you, two heads taller and broader than you could have imagined.

“Steve…” you whispered, but the word dissolved into another choked sob as your body curled in on itself, unable to contain the flood of emotions.

Steve didn’t hesitate. He moved to you quickly, his strong arms wrapping around you in a way that was both familiar and unfamiliar. You clung to his shoulders, as you’d done countless times before.

But this time, it was different.

This time, he lifted you clean off the ground, holding you close like you weighed nothing at all.

How had he changed so much? How had he grown not just up, but out? If you had the presence of mind, you’d ask him. But in that moment, all you could do was cry, your tears soaking into his shoulder as you sobbed like a child.

And Steve, ever the same at heart, simply held you, murmuring soft reassurances as if he’d done this a thousand times before.

. . .

"a bittersweetness" is a Patreon one-shot, part of my 2025 New Years Collection! To read it now and have early access to everything I write, consider subscribing to my page! It's just $2 a month and I promise you won't regret it.