The Captain walked outside to find Ava stood not very far from the door with her back to it. She was looking out at a field that lead to the busy streets of Brooklyn, arms wrapped around herself in a protective way. Taking a deep breath Steve made his way over to her, scared to make any rash moves in case it scared her; he knew her emotions were high so her guard would be even higher.
“I’m sorry. I just needed to get away, from him.” She whispered when she knew he was close enough to hear her. Steve finally reached her side as he looked out at the field that had random patches of flowers growing up in it. “He used to walk this way and pick me flowers from the field. He knew I hated flowers but he still picked them. He used to say he wasn’t going to stop until I started to like them.” She laughed a sad chuckle at the cheesiness of the memory, a smile creeping up on Steve’s lips as a new softer side of Bucky was relayed to him.
“I’m sorry.” Steve spoke, still staring straight ahead. “I was so wrapped up in enlisting that I pushed him away. I thought we was so close that we could tell anything to each other, but, he got married in secret.” He whispered as sadness washed over him that he had missed his best friend’s wedding.
“He never blamed you. He knew why you wanted to do it and to some extent he wanted you with him on the field Steve.” She told the Captain the truth to try and ease his mind. “I came to find you once he’d gone MIA, I was going to tell you the truth but I heard you’d been sent out to camps and I just couldn’t face myself going there.” They both stood there in silence as they looked back on all the decisions they could have made differently to choose a different direction of their life; both knowing the ending would have still been the same.
“He remembers it all now.” Steve broke the silence as he noticed her soundless tears falling. “I think it’s a sharp blow for him.” He added as she nodded.
“Hey Steve can I ask you a favour?” She asked nervously looking up at him slowly to see him nod. “Think you can offer a distraction whilst I sneak upstairs? I’m exhausted and can’t face anymore tonight.” She told him truthfully as he smiled slowly.
“Of course I can.” He nodded at her as she turned around reading herself to leave stopping when she felt his hand grab her hand softly before he pulled her into a tight hug. “You seemed like you needed that.” He whispered once they’d pulled away just as quick.
“Thank you.” She smiled sadly walking off around the front of the house.

Ava had managed to sneak upstairs without anyone noticing, she heard Steve say that she’d gone for a walk to clear her head and as far as she knows they bought it. She heard the muffled talking from downstairs as she looked around the room that she hadn’t been in for 70+ years and it hadn’t changed one bit, dust had collected around the dresser and bedside tables, thin layers on the pictures that were scattered around. Although she never visited she had someone come in to keep the place in a liveable condition, just in case. The old fashioned wallpaper took her back to the memory of their wedding night. Bucky was dressed in his soldier uniform and had decided to carry her over the threshold, she had his hat resting on her head which fell down covering her eyes when he bumped her head on the door frame causing them both to burst into a fit of giggles. He dropped her on the bed following her down quickly as she laughed pushing the hat up off her eyes as she winked at him. He leant down placing a heated kiss on her lips which she quickly reciprocated as he slid her hands above her head. “Oh Hot Shot,” She whispered as he looked up at her with heated eyes. Shaking her head to stop the memory she stripped herself of the jacket, sweats and v neck and climbed under the covers of the bed with her phone and headphones. It took Ava sometime to adjust to new technology but she could safely say she was grateful that this had been invented. She slipped on her usual playlist as she lay facing the door, eyes wide open as James Bays’ Hold Back the River started playing. She let all the memories of Bucky and her flood her thoughts, she thought to when they had their first argument. They’d been dating for over a year and they were in the dance hall, all the girls surrounding Bucky as she kept her glances limited throughout the night. She’d been sat on the bench like normal when another soldier came over offering her his hand and asking her for a dance, she didn’t see the harm in it as she allowed herself to be led around the small dancefloor. One dance and she excused herself from his company walking out and heading off home, she heard footsteps coming from behind her and she felt her breath catch in her throat. It was Bucky he wasn’t happy about the little fiasco, they argued all the way back to her house where a vase was thrown narrowly missing his head. That was the first time he stayed over, she’d stormed off to bed and slammed the door in his face, instead of leaving her alone he got himself comfortable against the wall facing the door and fell asleep there.

Ava didn’t know how long she had been asleep for, her eyes not able to focus as the door of the bedroom creaked open. She saw his blue eyes full of sorrow look over at her, but, in her sleep fuelled mind she couldn’t remember what had happened earlier on. “You came home.” She whispered smiling softly as the assassin tensed at her voice.
“Yeah I’m here doll, I told you I’d be back.” He whispered remembering the nickname he used to call only her and the promise he made all those years ago.
“You going to stand there all night or you going to come keep me warm Sergeant.” She smiled as he hesitated before slipping in to the room quietly closing the door before making his way around the bed. Quickly stripping out of his jeans and jacket, he was unsure if he should take his top off like he normally does when he’s alone. Deciding he wouldn’t be able to be comfortable in it anyway he yanked the top over his head before pulling the cover up slightly to slip in. He noticed she was just in black lace underwear as his breath hitched, instantly regretting not leaving his top on. He settled down in the bed so that he was close enough for her to feel the warmth radiate off him but not to close as to they were touching. She quickly changed that though by shimmering backwards until she felt his skin on hers. “Missed you Buck.” She whispered as she moved her arm to squeeze affectionately at any part of his skin she could reach. He smiled when he felt her hand on his thigh, he raised his arm to wrap it over her instantly putting it down when he realised it was his metal arm.

“I missed you too doll.” He whispered as he slid his flesh arm under her pillow joining her hand in his, smiling at the contact and her satisfied sigh, she slowly fell back to sleep.

Notes