The D in Apartment 23

“How do I look?” Bucky asked the room that Natasha, Steve and Tony were sat in. He was wearing a grey button up shirt, a pair of navy slacks and black dress shoes he borrowed from Sam. He had swept his hair back, styled in his classic 40’s look.
“Like you’re trying to kill me.” He heard from behind him, spinning on his heels he saw her stood there in a floral wrap dress showing her perfect figure off, T-bar heels meaning she were only an inch or so short than him, her make up subtle as ever as her hair waved down her back. “You ready?” She smiled stepping forward towards him as he grabbed her hand in his leading her out with a ‘bye’ from them. “Why are you so nervous?” She asked once they were alone in the car, her hand resting on his knee as he set off down the drive.
“We are going out in public in your hometown.” He spoke out as though it should be obvious, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as he exhaled loudly.
“We are going to an ice cream parlour that was once owned by a friend’s family. It’s going to be pretty dead.” She informed him, her thumb stroking slightly to ease his nerves. He glanced over at her to notice no hesitation or reluctance; she was telling the truth. “How about I run in, get them to go and we eat them in the car?” She asked, her smile never faltering. “Bucky, I honestly couldn’t care what we do I just want you to feel okay about it.” She told honestly as he smiled at her, pulling the car to a stop in the carpark.
“I love you.” He told her truthfully stroking her cheek softly before pecking her lipstick covered lips before exiting the car and running around to open her door.
“Such a gentleman.” She chuckled up at him as he smirked taking her hand in his once again and allowed himself to be led in the little building. His nerves grew once again when the bell rang out and a couple of the diners looked over at them before returning to their conversations.
“Harriet is that you?” An elderly lady asked from the coffee machine, wiping her hands on the front of her apron as Harry smiled and nodded, rushing to meet the lady in a bone crunching hug. “We didn’t think we would ever see you again! How are you doing my dear? Oh, Alexander will be ever so thrilled!” Bucky could see the happiness covering the lady’s face, a pang of guilt shooting through him when he remembered the reason she left.
“I didn’t think I would ever come back Ma.” She laughed before pulling away and remembering Bucky. “This is James, Ma.” She introduced him formally stepping back and taking his hand in hers. “Bucky this is Ma. She is the mother of one of my childhood friends.” She smiled as they both exchanged a smile and nod of the head.
“Nice to meet you James.” Ma smiled, the twinkle in her eye threatening to become tears. “You take your usual booth and I’ll bring over your order shortly.” She smiled stroking Harry’s arm softly causing the younger woman to nod and pull Bucky off into the emptier side of the diner.

“Why do you call her Ma?” Bucky asked once they were sat down facing each other, the little candle flickering away in the dimly lit area. Her hands were messing with his flesh hand whilst he was sure to hide his metal one.
“She was my mother’s best friend and like a second mother to me. I always used to stay over at Alex’s and he used to stay at mine. My god I ran across his lawn butt naked when I was a kid.” She laughed with a blush as Bucky’s eyes crinkled with a smile at her memory. “We both went to University together so we flat shared and she used to send us these cartons of homemade ice cream and we would just binge on them through finals.” She laughed swiping her thumb over his knuckles. “Wow it seems so long ago now.” Bucky noticed her smile drop slightly and was about to say something when he noticed a strange man approaching his finger raised to his lips as he carefully balanced the two tubs of ice cream in one hand.
“Coffee ice cream, with extra sprinkles and extra sauce for the ever-weird doctor.” His smooth voice came out as Harry frowned before following the muscular arm up to the owner, her eyes going wide and her mouth gaping. “Fitzpatrick.” He nodded quickly catching Harry in his arms as she threw herself in his embrace.
“Alex.” She cried gripping at his shirt tightly as Bucky studied the new male. He was tall and well-built with short blond hair that fell all over the place. He noticed how the grip on the small of Harry’s back tightened before loosening up slightly and for a moment Bucky felt a hint of jealous that they had a long past. “Alex this is Bucky, Bucky this is whose lawn I ran ass naked across.” She introduced with a laugh that was filled with tears.
“Nice to meet you man.” Alex shook the soldiers hand with a smile following Harry into the booth sitting next to her. “What are you doing here?” He asked turning his attention to the young doctor who smiled.
“I’m checking out a new medical facility in the area.” She hesitated, looking over at Bucky who nodded that that was about as much information she could give. “It’s our last night and we go back tomorrow and I wanted to show Bucky the best damn ice cream in town.” She smiled taking Bucky’s nervous fidgeting hand in hers, looking straight into his eyes with a smile that told him everything was okay. He felt his nerves calm at her touch and she winked over at him with a smile. “How are you? What’s new? What’s not?” She asked turning her attention over to Alex.
“Well I’m going to be a dad now.” Alex told her as the shock took over her face again. “I know, right? Alex the Great being a dad. I was just as shocked, but, she’s due in about 2
and honestly I’ve never been more in love.” He filled her in, pausing to let her chuckle at his old nickname. “What about you guys? How long have you both been together? How did you meet?” He turned his attention to the silent Bucky.
“Oh um” Bucky stumbled, caught off guard by the questions. “We’re neighbours and for about nearly a year?” Bucky asked as Harry nodded.
“Bucky actually helped me out when I had an unwanted guest hanging around.” Harry offered a bit more detail, nodding when Alex asked if she meant a spider.

They spent the next few hours talking with Alex and Ma when she popped over to check if they needed a refill. The longer they stayed there the more relaxed Bucky was becoming, laughing along at the stories that they told of something stupid they did in school or university. It was soon time for them to leave though when Harry noticed it was 1:20 in the morning. They left with promises of phone calls and emails being exchanged from time to time and Bucky couldn’t help the smile spread across his face when he noticed the glint in Harry’s eyes. He started off on the road back home when a chuckle filled the otherwise silent car causing Harry to look at him questioningly. “Did you really do that on your coffee table?” He asked with amusement, Harry allowing her laugh to fill the car too.
“Yeah, I told you I wasn’t waiting in A&E for hours on end, I was a doctor I was gonna doctor the crap out of it.” She laughed.
“That’s how you knew Whiskey would help Clint with his pain?” Bucky asked. “Steve told me that was what you gave him.”
“Yeah, I went through a lot of spirits and stitches to find that one out.” She chuckled, “half of the scars on my body are my own stitching. The one on my thigh, I thought I would attempt to flick a knife, you know superhero style, and it ended up getting stuck in my leg.” She allowed herself to remember looking down to where the all too familiar scar was.
“Maybe someday I’ll teach you how to do it properly.” Bucky commented with a smile pulling up at the facility, cutting off the engine meaning the garage was in darkness.
“Can I ask you something?” Her voice filled the darkness and Bucky could hear the playfulness in it. “How mad do you think Tony would be if we were to slip into the back seat of his shiny car?” She tried not to giggle as Bucky practically dived over his seat.
“What he doesn’t know, won’t kill him.” His dark voice came out and that was all Harry needed.

Notes