The sun was streaming through the gap in the curtain and Ava at that moment could have killed somebody. She knew she had to wake up at some point in the day, but she didn’t really feel like doing it just now. In her mind she figured the later she woke up the less she’d have to talk or deal with the realisation that all her cards were on the table. She hoped that Bucky was still an early riser like he used to be so they’d already be busying themselves so she wouldn’t have to see as much of him. She loved Bucky with all her heart, but, she didn’t want to see his eyes full of the emotions that were fuelling them last night, Steve could tell her 9 ways till Sunday that Bucky remembered; just because he’s saying it doesn’t make it true and she’d know. She’d been so wrapped up in her mind that she hadn’t noticed the extra warmth on her back, or the fact she had seemingly grown a bigger hand from her neck; in fact she only realised she wasn’t alone when a unusually heavy breath come from the side of her. Snapping her neck to the side as quick as she could was her first mistake, the sudden movement juddering the sleeping soldier into quickly waking up, the second mistake was closing her eyes and pretending to be asleep. He stared at her for a while as she restraint herself from biting her lip whilst she internally panicked, avoiding Bucky was no longer an option. “I know you’re not asleep. You used to pretend you were so I’d cook breakfast.” He whispered the memory to her and ever so slowly a small smile found its way onto her lips breaking her cover.
“James, I” She paused keeping her eyes closed was her best option now. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what’s happened to you, I’m sorry for not being honest with you and I’m sorry but I can’t open my eyes.” She whispered, the cold blue eyes of her husband studying her face.
“Don’t do this to yourself Ava. You did what was right; I dread to think what he would have made of the news. I was conditioned to have no emotions, no attachments and you coming along telling him something like that would have made him weak in their eyes. They’d have tortured him so he would have gone for her to ensure that he didn’t get hurt.” He whispered truthfully as Ava bit her lip. “Why can’t you open your eyes?” He whispered as he snuck his arm from under her neck to stroke the hair from her face, causing her to flinch from the surprise.
“I don’t want to see the hurt I’ve caused.” She whispered truthfully, there was so much emotion in the whisper that it took everything in the man to not break down.
“I’m not hurt, relieved really. I mean I had this beautiful girl chasing after me and now I found out she’s actually already mine. At least one side of me was smart.” He whispered, his own smile matching hers. “On 3 open your eyes.” He whispered close to her lips. He started the countdown as her eyes flickered open on 1 and a half. She saw her husband for the first time in 70 years, normally he’d be frowning or trying to kill her, but, not now; now he was smiling at her.

They lay there for a few minutes just staring at each other. “I have a request.” Bucky spoke up, her eyebrows knitting together. “You have to start sleeping on this side.” He whispered as she shook her head.
“I’ve always slept on this side. It’s my comfy side.” She whined a little as he shook his head.
“I can’t hold you though. Not properly.” He reasoned with her as she looked confused, the metal then glistening in the light.
“Yes you can.” She told him as her hand came from under the cover to lock fingers with his metal one. She saw him snatch it away but she was quicker, she saw him close his eyes as she moved it to the middle of them as she kissed it. “Bucky what do you see?” She whispered as he opened his eyes tears forming.
“Pain, misery, suffering.” He started to list instantly shutting up when she placed her finger over his lips.
“I see protection, survivor, you.” She whispered. “My powers can kill but you never let me shy away from touching you. I could have had one bad dream and your heart could have been beating a mile a minute but you never let me not touch you.”
“Its strong and I can’t always control it. I could strangle you, I could probably rip your spine out.” He spoke louder.
“You could always hold me and cool me down in summer with it.” She smiled as he shook his head at her little joke. “Look I promise if you ever trying to kill me in your sleep I’ll stop you.” She told him holding her pinky finger up. He looked at her for what seemed like ever holding his flesh hand pinky up as she shook her head. The contact of the metal against her clammy hand felt nice as they made their promise.

“I am not opening that door.” The Captain’s voice could be heard from outside the couple’s wooden door.
“Why not?” Sam asked back in his usual tone.
“They are still a married couple after all what if they are” he hesitated, “busy.” Busy was the word he’d decided to use.
“Captain you’re so polite. If they’re doing it then we interrupt them, we need to check they haven’t killed each other.” Sam told him just as he reached for the handle, Steve slapping his hand away.
“How do you want to play this?” Ava whispered to a smirking Bucky.
“Like this.” He whispered sliding on top of her, his metal arm supporting his weight at the side of her head as he kissed her deeply. Swiping her hand whilst she slid it up his back, the door opened with ease.
“Oh damn.” Sam shouted as he spun around putting his back to the view.
“I didn’t open that.” Steve shouted, his hands slapping over his eyes to shield them as the couple burst out laughing.
“You are both asses.” Sam glared at them once they’d both realised they’d been played. Ava waving her hand at them, Bucky smirking. “Team meeting downstairs.” He huffed out heading towards the staircase leaving Steve and the couple.
“You ok Steve?” Bucky asked as he rolled himself off his wife and reaching over to throw her her top.
“Yeah, just it’s good to see you happy. It’s like having the old Bucky back.” He smiled over at his best friend, who gave him his honest ‘Steve’ smile.

“Thanks punk.” He laughed as the Captain shook his head walking away.

Notes