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Bucky reaches for his phone. His fingers stumbling along his nightstand as it rings. But he doesn’t find it in time and the ringtone silences. He’s too sleepy to make any effort to check who or what it was. He’ll call them back.
———-
“He didn’t answer.”
“You say that as if you’re a man headed for the gallows.”
“I can’t tell him that I’m staying in London over a voicemail!”
She laughs, leaning towards him and placing a tender kiss on the sensitive skin on the back of his neck. “I’m sure he’ll call back. It’s very early in New York right now.”
Steve sighs and nods. Peggy’s walking towards the kitchen sink when he reaches out and snags her hand. He pulls her back, depositing her on his lap and causing her to make a sound of surprise. But then she’s smiling at him. And he kisses her. Just as fiercely and passionately as he did at the airport just an hour ago. Her hands find the way under his shirt and he shivers.
“What was that?”
He frowns, “what, a grown man can’t be ticklish?” She tests it again, raking her nails up one of his sides and he shivers, unceremoniously pushing her off his lap and hopping up. “Don’t.” He says, trying to stay serious.
A smile creeps on her lips, “or else, what?”
“I can absolutely pin you to the floor.” He says confidently, “don’t test me.”
She scoffs, “you say that like that’s something I wouldn’t want you to do.”
And she watches a full blush creep from his neck to his cheeks. And oh she just wants to capture that look. “I gave Bucky a black eye the last time he tried to sneak up on me.” His words are serious but his eyes are dancing with mirth, “so be warned.”
“You think he’ll be terribly angry?”
He frowns, “what’s worse is that he’ll be happy for me.”
Peggy tilts her head, “and that’s so awful?”
“No, it’s just—“ Steve settles back onto his stool and reaches out his hand. She grasps it and allows herself to be pulled against him, standing between his legs, “the longest we’ve ever been apart really is this past year. And now I’m making that permanent. But Buck and I have always been like brothers. I hate to think of him all alone in Brooklyn.”
“He has his family there, right?”
“Yeah,” Steve nods, “he does, and he’ll visit often and I’ll have to take you to visit, would you like to?”
“Of course!” She replies eagerly, “I haven’t been to America much, but I’d like to see your home and where you grew up.”
He smiles softly at her and kisses her cheek so gently she wants to sigh in contentment.
“Would he ever…” she knows it’s selfish to be the one keeping Steve London… so an idea forms in her mind, a tiny seed planting itself in the folds of her mind, “consider moving here?”
He looks at her, “what?”
“Well, you’re here… would he consider moving here?”
“I don’t know. He’d have to have a bigger reason than just me I think.” He laughs, “I mean, his family and job is there in Brooklyn, and I’m just me, so he’d probably have to have more than that.”
She grins at him, raising a cheeky eyebrow, “would he fall for the same trap as you, perhaps? The trap of true love?”
His eyes positively light up at the mention of true love, as if she’d just said his very most favorite thing in the whole world, “I’ve already got the most amazing woman in the world.” He says, pulling her closer, “don’t know who we could find to ensure it’s a good match.”
And as she revels in the way his strong arms hold her tightly, her mind meanders to a certain red-head who is due back from Russia in just over a week.
——————
When Bucky finally wakes up, he showers and eats before grabbing his phone. He has a few hours before Steve’s flight is supposed to get in.
When he decides to get some groceries in case Steve is hungry when he lands, he grabs his phone and remembers the missed call from early that morning.
Steve
3 missed calls
He furrows his brow for one minute before something like suspicion sits in his chest. He clicks ‘call back’ and waits.
“Hey Buck.”
“You better be calling me from a damned tin can in the sky.” Bucky grits his teeth as there’s an awkward silence.
“I‘m not on my flight, Buck.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I’m, uh…”
Bucky lets out a long suffering sigh, “Carter?”
And maybe it’s the most sickeningly in love sounding “yeah” that comes from the phone, or the fact that he can hear her fretting in the background and Steve sounding so happy he could burst that breaks Bucky’s resolve.
“You’re a punk, you know that?
“I’m so sorry to be dropping this on you.” Steve says earnestly, “I don’t even have a plan yet, but Peggy’s career is here and I’m going to call the museum and see if they would be willing to keep me on, and I really like London—“
“You don’t have to give me a list of reasons, Steve. You’re an adult, unfortunately you can make your own decisions.”
Steve laughs and then Bucky hears furtive whispering. “What?” He hears Steve ask, then more whispering, and an “uh, okay,” before Steve’s back to talking into the phone, “Peggy was wondering if you’d come visit soon, like this upcoming week? And bring some of my stuff? I’d pay for your flight of course and the luggage, if you don’t mind?”
“Why so fast?”
And Peggy must walk away because Steve’s voice gets quiet and he sounds confused himself, “I don’t know. I think it has something to do with the living situation and the roommate who is coming back. I’ve never met her though…” Steve trails off and Bucky thinks of his schedule. Yeah, he can figure it out.
“Sure, Steve. Just give me a list and I’ll bring it.”
“Great. And I’m probably going to keep the apartment for now, I don’t want to go through the hassle of selling it just yet.”
Bucky laughs, “So there’s a chance you may come back?”
And Steve is grinning on the other side of the phone, “If I’m coming back, she’ll be with me. But who knows what the future holds, huh?”
Not me, Bucky thinks wryly.
—————-
Peggy gets called in that Sunday and Steve sets about making food for when she gets home. He has his headphones on, and he’s turning around to set the dish on the counter when he startles back.
A woman, with striking red hair stands across the counter from him, a duffle in one hand and a set of keys in the other.
They stare at each other for a long minute. Her eyes narrow at him, “what the hell are you still doing here?”
He swallows, “um, you must be Natasha?” He’s pretty sure he’s seen her picture a few times.
“And you are?”
Steve’s pretty sure she knows his name, but it doesn't matter. He sets the dish down and then takes off the oven mitts. “I’m Steve.” He extends a hand and she slowly shakes it.
“Natasha.”
She doesn’t say anything else and he isn’t sure what else to say. Then it hits him. “Right after this I’ll clear off the bed. My stuff is all still packed, so I’ll be out of your room in 5 minutes. And I’ll clean it too. Sorry, we thought you were coming in next week.”
“We?”
He closes his mouth and realizes that maybe Peggy hadn’t said anything. “Peggy didn’t think you were coming till next Tuesday.”
Natasha stares at him as she makes her way to the stairs, and only then does she relinquish him from her gaze. He sighs and grabs his cell, sending a text.
S: Natasha’s here, did you tell her about us?
A few minutes later,
P: oh really? Hmm. Okay, I’ll be back soon.
Steve doesn't miss the fact that Peggy hadn’t answered his question or that she seems completely nonchalant about the update.
———-
“So, Steve.”
He turns around, finding her behind him again. Man, she’s quiet. “Why are you still here?”
“I’m looking to extend my contract at the museum.” He says easily, having thought up a good reason while she was upstairs. Presumably judging the contents of her room that were his.
“Oh yeah? And where will you be living?”
And this he can give a real answer too, “I don’t know yet. I’m looking for a place.”
This answer seems to appease her. Then she eyes the food, “what are you making?”
And this he can tell might be a doorway behind her chilly exterior, as food tends to be, “a favorite of mine, you hungry?”
She looks at him, studying him before sitting at the counter, “I might be.”
He dishes up a plate, knowing Peggy will be back within the hour, “here, dig in.”
———-
Peggy walks into the door and then stops, shocked at the sight before her.
Steve has Natasha wrapped up in a chokehold while the woman fights to get free. Then there’s a flurry of movement and suddenly they’re facing each other, glaring with amused grins.
“See?” Steve says, oblivious to her arrival, “having known your size makes things easier, but most people will still underestimate.”
“I just wish all men could take direction this well, when—“
“What the devil is going on?” Peggy asks, and for the first time in her life she sees Natasha jump out of her skin. They both turn to see her and Natasha smirks,
“Carter!”
“Yeah, it’s bloody me, what the blazes you two doing?”
“Figured out we have a mutual friend, and then got to talking shop.”
Peggy blinks, “you what?”
Steve steps forward and Peggy wants to almost gasp at the friendly way he nudges Natasha with his elbow. “Turns out a guy I worked with on specialty missions, one of the six men on my team, started out early with Natasha when he was abroad.”
And there’s so many questions she wants to ask about that. But two words stick out to her, “specialty missions?”
He swallows and looks down, nervousness exuding from him. “Uh, yeah.”
Natasha walks forward, embracing her and then jutting her hip against Peggy’s, “this guy has done more field work than a tractor. Hell, Clint used to tell me stories. What a small world, huh?”
Peggy eyes Steve in a new light, “indeed.” He smiles sheepishly at her and she grins back, then looks at Natasha, “you’re early.”
Natasha smirks, “yeah, well, I missed home.”
“Well you’ll have to bunk with me.” Peggy says, turning towards the kitchen, “I didn’t know you were coming early and we have a guest coming this week to help Steve move and that’s your fault for not letting us know.” She turns. Hand on her hip and eyebrow raised, expecting a challenge.
Natasha frowns at her and then rolls her eyes, “fine! But to be fair I thought Steve was already supposed to be gone.”
“And I thought you were going to call before coming home. So we’re both out of sorts.” They glare at each other for a moment before breaking down into laughter. Natasha gracefully sits on the counter and pushes Peggy with her foot, “I missed you, roomie.”
Peggy laughs, dishing up a plate of whatever glorious smelling thing Steve has created, “I missed you too.”
————-
“Hey Buck, guess what?”
“What?” Bucky asks, his head peering beneath the bed looking for the case Steve promised was there.
“You remember Barton? Code name: Hawkeye?”
Bucky pauses, “yeah, yeah, blonde guy? Total goofball, right?”
“Yeah, that’s him, you remember he’d tell us old stories when he was partnered up with that young Russian agent when he was taking down that trafficking ring?”
Bucky sits up, wiping the dust off his knees with the back of his hands, “yeah? Where are you going with this, Steve?”
“Guess what Russian girl is Peggy’s roommate?”
He stops, “what? You’re lying.”
Steve laughs, “I’m not! We were talking and she mentioned how she used to do fieldwork in Chersky and I was like, I had a friend who did stuff there and then we discovered the connection. It’s wild. Small world.”
“Wow,” he breathes out, “that’s crazy. Didn’t Clint always say she was like high key terrifying?”
“Yeah totally, and she is, but I think only if you’re a bad guy you know? And I don’t think she does that type of work anymore.”
“Well, I’ll look forward to meeting her, isn’t Clint like the director of some crazy big kids camp now?”
Steve laughs, and Bucky hears him walking down stairs, “yeah, in North Carolina or something like that. I should call him, he'll be thrilled.”
“I’ll be on the flight tomorrow. I’m here in your apartment, you’re sure there’s nothing else I should grab?”
“I think that’s it. I really appreciate you doing this for me.”
“Maybe I’m still planning on dragging your ass back to Brooklyn and knocking some sense into your head.”
“You could try.” Steve jokes, “or maybe you’ll actually figure out what it is you want to do and stop whining about the shop. Hell, Rebecca’s better at mechanics and business than you are.”
Bucky groans and sits on Steve’s bed, dust flying up at the motion, “I am not moving to London.”
Another chuckle from Steve, “that’s not what I was trying to say. But who knows your dream job doesn’t have to be in Brooklyn, it could be in Bucharest, or Budapest, or Bangladesh—“
“Or a place that starts with a different letter of the alphabet?”
“There’s a whole world of possibilities, Buck.”
He looks around, the few belongings left are impersonal and unnecessary to bring, and he thinks of his own tiny apartment. “Maybe it is time to try something new. I never thought you’d leave Brooklyn, now here you are, living outside the United States.”
“Wild right? I never would have—“ Bucky hears voices in the background and he speaks back, “okay, we’re going grocery shopping to prep for your arrival, any requests?”
“I want those cookies, the biscuits or whatever with the gross sounding name—“
“Digestives?”
“Yeah, yuck gross, those ones.”
“You got it.”
“And tell Carter not to buy me any British candy, that stuff is garbage.”
Steve laughs, “oh, can you bring a couple bottles of ranch?”
“Oh yeah, for sure. Anything else?”
“Not that I can think of, but I’ll text if something pops up, and you?”
“Nothing, I’ll see you late tomorrow!”
“See you then!”
————-
Peggy watches as Steve grows more excited as the day grows closer to the evening. She hadn’t told him her plot. Reserving it for herself in case things went awry, but the more she thought about it, the more she was sure. She’d only known Barnes for just over a week, but his personality was perfectly suited to Natasha’s. She could see them getting on like a house on fire.
“Yeah,” Natasha was saying to Steve, “I always worked best in pairs, but they literally can’t find someone to keep up with me.” She rolls her eyes, “Clint was the best partner I’d had, but he went stateside and never came back.”
Steve leaned back, “what exactly is it you do?”
“I work in the private sector. When things go wrong, they call me in. Mostly with contract disputes, business mergers, and other legal problems that people want kept quiet.”
“What did your partner do?”
She smirked, “we worked in tandem researching and making sure we had our bases covered, but when it came face to face it wasn’t good cop, bad cop but it was more one-two punch. If there’s a lot of people yelling in a room, it’s easier for two people to be heard than just one. Don’t get me wrong, I do fine on my own, but—“ she flips her braid over her shoulder and shrugs, “it gets lonely too. Clint and I would joke around and explore and it was nice having a friend in a foreign city. Hell, I just spent a year in Russia bored out of my ever loving mind. Like yes, you make friends while you’re there, but Clint came along. He got references and details that no other people could because he’d been with me since the beginning and on previous assignments. I mean…” she wrinkles her nose, “he was more the muscle for show, and I would work my way in between their expectations, but either way, having a partner would change the game. I’m getting older—“
“You're barely 30,” Peggy snaps.
“Yeah, I'm not saying I’m old, I'm saying that having someone I trust along on these assignments would be nice. But they’re refusing to hire someone unless they go through a trial phase successfully and no one has made it through one. They all fail out.”
Steve shakes his head, “really? All of them? Why?”
Natasha shrugs, “it’s a stressful job. It’s high stress and high stakes at all times. The people applying are young. They think it’s easy. ‘Oh just go in and convince people to listen, no big deal’ but they don’t understand the grueling hours of getting idiots to agree.” She laughs, “oh well, it pays really well.”
Steve stands as they head out to the airport, “well, I hope you find someone.”
“Me too.” She says with a shrug.
————
“Bucky!” Steve calls, waving towards the man as he walks through baggage claim.
He walks over and the two men hug before turning to the girls.
“Barnes,” Peggy says with a grin, “good to see you again.”
He looks at her through narrowed eyes and points, “I’m mad at you.”
“Steve can make his own decisions—“
Barnes laughs, “don’t worry I’m mad at him too.”
“And this—“ Peggy turns, stepping to the side to point, “is my roommate Natasha. Natasha, this is James.”
Peggy studies his face as his eyes land on her, and the tiny widening in surprise and the way his pupils dilate at the sight make her smirk internally. Gotcha.
“Nice to meet you, James.” Natasha says, her eyes doing their own studying of his face.
“You too.” He responds with a smile, and Peggy is reminded how different Barnes and Steve are in regards to women. “I hear you know one of our old teammates.”
Natasha smirks, “technically he was my teammate first.”
And they start talking, moving and walking towards the baggage carousel and Steve grabs her shoulder, “what just happened?”
Peggy grins at him, raising an eyebrow, “I thought we agreed? Operation True Love?”
And it takes him less than a millisecond before he understands. His eyes widen and his face lights up, “really? The two of them? You think??”
And she’s nodding as he sweeps her up. Hugging her to his chest and kissing quite affectionately at her neck in a way that makes heat in her stomach grow all too fast. “Steven, we’re in public darling.”
He stops and slowly lowers her to the ground, “you’re a genius.” He says softly, before kissing her gently.
“So I’ve been told.” She responds with a wink, dragging him towards the two.
—————-
And she’s right. Barnes and Natasha fall instantly in step. They talk and joke and flirt heavily through the evening. James’ belongings get packed in the boot and they make their way to dinner before heading home.
Natasha and Barnes are passing back and forth previous experiences with Clint and laughing at his antics when Steve leans over, gently kissing behind her ear and whispering, “this is dangerously exciting.”
She grins at him and whispers back, “imagine the trouble they would cause.”
And Steve laughs, causing the other two to look up.
“Are they always this disgustingly in love?” Barnes asks, obviously trying to get a reaction by using that word. But her and Steve are already on the same page.
“Yes.” Natasha says with an eye roll. “I’ve only been here two days and it’s sickening.”
Peggy reaches over and tugs Steve down, kissing his neck very publicly and then glaring at Natasha, “you could move out.”
Steve’s smiling and blushing. And Natasha glares at them, but then smiles.
“No, it’s cute seeing you actually relaxed for once. Maybe ‘drama’ was all you really needed.”
The reference goes over Steve and Barnes’ head, but she rolls her eyes. “There has been no ‘drama’ thank you very much.” And that’s when Natasha’s eyes widen in actual surprise. And Peggy can see the question forming on her lips, “not the time, hmm?” She says with an eyebrow raise as both men look at them in confusion.
Natasha nods but her eyes stay curious.
“So James,” Natasha asks, “were you on missions with Steve?”
And Peggy listens in. This is something Steve talks very little about but Barnes is much more free flowing.
But Barnes looks over at Steve before answering. And Steve looks stiff.
Natasha catches the tension. “What?”
Barnes stares at Steve, “have you told her yet?”
Steve sighs, “it doesn’t matter,”
“She’s a government aide! Maybe it does matter!”
Steve groans and looks at Peggy, “my position in the army doesn’t matter to you right? Like, your job doesn’t forbid you from dating American soldiers?”
She looks at him curiously, “not that I’m aware of, but the way you’re behaving does not instill confidence, what do I not know?”
Steve wrinkles his nose and Barnes gestures for him to tell her.
“I was a Captain.” He says simply.
“You are a Captain. On reserve. In the marine corps.” Barnes emphasizes, “and that’s because he wouldn’t let them promote him out of that level. He should have been Brigadier Gener—“
“I should have been nothing,” Steve says with a glare towards Barnes.
Peggy feels a sense of unease, but not from lack of trust, but from lack of knowledge, “Captain’s aren’t too high up… right?“ she says, not actually very certain.
“There’s only 7 ranks higher than him.” Barnes says with a look towards Steve, “and if he’d accepted the promotions along the way then there would have only been—“
“Buck, stop.” Steve snaps. And it is a rare show of anger. Enough to pull them all up short. And Peggy looks at the two men who are glaring at each other. Steve takes a deep breath and lays his hands flat on the table. “That’s enough.”
“She should know,” Barnes says, “I stayed quiet on my last visit because you said you guys weren’t going to go anywhere. But now you’re moving here. She has the right to know!”
“It’s not that I don’t want her to know. It’s just not important—“
“Not important!”
“Gentlemen,” Peggy interjects. “Both Natasha and I are now incredibly curious. So stop dawdling and tell us.”
Steve looks ready to protest but Barnes starts, ignoring him. “Do you remember about 2 years ago, when that psychopath Johaan Schmidt was going around terrorizing different countries around the world? Bombing them and pushing his Neo-Nazi agenda?”
Peggy can sense Natasha lean forward, and she feels her own head nodding, “yes…”
Steve’s face is impassive as he sits there.
“And you heard how the UN selected a few elite members from the militaries around the world to work in a joint task force to bring him down?”
Her throat goes dry, and Natasha’s eyes are widening. “Yes…”
“Buck—“ Steve tries one more time, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Steve led that team.”
Her mind reels, positively floored, “what?” She gasps.
Natasha makes a choked disbelieving sound, “you what?!”
“There was a whole team.” Steve says firmly, “not just me—“
“Yeah, that’s true, I was selected for my sniping abilities but got shot beforehand and couldn’t go.”
Peggy can’t quite grasp what she’s been told, “Why am I just finding out about this now!?”
Steve looks at her helplessly, “how does one go about even bringing that up?” He shrugs and glares at Bucky, “It’s not a good topic of conversation—“
“Stop hiding!”
“I’m not hiding, it’s classified!”
At this, Barnes pauses, then he shrugs, “I mean sure yeah, but I doubt these ladies are gonna go blab. And Carter deserves to know.”
“You weren’t going to tell me?” She asks, getting Steve’s attention.
“I was, I think. Probably.” He winces, “It’s not something I love talking about. It’s not like chasing down a psycho—“
“And taking down his last few planes of bombs—“
“Yes—“ Steve cuts him off, “that too, it’s not something I want to talk about. I am glad that I was part of the team that brought him down. To help make the world more safe. But that’s that. I don’t have anything else to say.”
The table falls quiet and Peggy looks at him. Really studies the angular tense planes of his face. And the man who has been so kind, and so polite and respectful, who has never once made her feel anything but safe, is truly as dangerous as they come.
“How many people were on the team?” Natasha asks, curiosity clear in her voice.
“Six of them.” Barnes says, sounding excited to talk about it. “Steve was the leader. Then there were two guys and three other girls, so three and three.”
Steve’s eyes are on the table, and she reaches over and places a hand on his leg. He looks over at her and she can almost see the apology on his lips.
“Don’t.” She whispers as the other two continue talking. “I understand perfectly. Although I hope at some point you would have told me yourself.”
“Probably.” Steve says, looking at her earnestly, “it's not exactly something I know how to bring up. But I’m sure eventually it would have come up.”
“Why were you chosen?” She asks, truly curious.
He shrugs, “I don’t know.”
“Bullshit.” They glance over to see Barnes glaring at him. “Steve was chosen because along with being a brilliant strategist and excellent leader, he’s the best hand to hand fighter and his kill record is—“
“Okay.” Steve says standing up. “I’m done talking about this now. And so are you.” And Peggy watches in awe as he hauls Barnes up with no effort and shoves him out of the booth and towards the exit. Pushing open the door and disappearing.
Natasha looks at her and raises an eyebrow. “You, aiming for a seat on the cabinet and you’re dating that guy?”
Peggy winces. “I had no idea. Literally. And we only started this relationship less than a week ago.”
And Natasha bites the inside of her cheek, “what do you think about that? I mean… you knew he was military right?”
“Yes.” She says firmly, then she hesitates, “but I did think he was former military. I didn’t realize he was in reserve.”
“I didn’t know he could live overseas as a reserve.”
Peggy looks at Natasha and frowns, “I have a feeling the rules may not apply to him.”
Natasha grins, “that’s hot.”
Peggy rolls her eyes, “you’re impossible.”
Natasha grows serious, “you guys haven’t…” she raises her eyebrow and Peggy scoffs.
“No! We just started dating. And I think…” she tries to stop the amused smile that crosses her lips, “I think he’d want to wait.”
The wide eyes across the table make her laugh, “excuse me?’
“He’s mentioned a few times how he’s old-school. So I get the sense that we’d be waiting for that. And I…” She smiles, “I don’t mind.”
“Damn.” Natasha says with a grin, “I bet he’ll be killer in bed.”
Peggy picks up a bread roll and throws it at the woman, who barely dodges it and laughs.
————-
“Steve—“
“Bucky, what the hell. You have no right—“
“I have every right!”
“It’s not your life!”
“No! It’s yours! And you’re keeping the part hidden that everyone should know!”
“No—“
“Yes, Steve! I watched you get pummeled into the ground over and over, and you never gave up. And look where you are now! What you’ve accomplished! Why can’t you be proud of that!? You helped save the world and you’re acting ashamed—“
“You want me to go around crowing about it? Huh? Shouting it from rooftops that I blew out a man’s brains?!”
Steve stops abruptly, glancing around at the quiet street.
Bucky turns his face down towards the street. “No. I'm just saying that you’ve done and accomplished amazing things. And the woman who you love, and who loves you, should get to know about them.”
“I would have told her.”
Bucky glares at him, “Oh yeah? You would have?”
“Yeah—“
“Oh yeah? You’re absolutely 100% positive you would have told her? Do you swear?”
And this question. The one they used over and over in their childhoods. The one that solidified the truth. Jokes and antics and fights aside.
Do you swear?
Bucky, you can’t tell my mom about this, do you swear?
Steve, you better come back from this mission. Do you swear you will?
It means that only the truth is an option.
So Steve stops and thinks. Then he sighs.
And Bucky throws up his hands. “See?”
“Once people know that about me…” Steve says softly, knowing Bucky can still hear him, “I don’t ever get to be just Steve again.” Surprised wide eyes turn to him and he can’t meet them. “She’ll never look at me the same.”
Bucky looks ready to respond but the door opens and out steps the two girls. They walk over and Peggy eyes them both, “everything alright?”
She extends her hand for him to grab and he does. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
He can feel Bucky’s eyes on him but he ignores it and they walk home.
————
Steve puts his toothbrush in the holder and looks in the mirror.
He hasn’t talked about it much since he came back and had to do the official debriefing. And of course Sam offered to talk and he did. He’s worked through it, he didn’t even have nightmares or any of the usual stuff after a strange mission. He’d felt confident in how it had happened. So he moved on. And he did what he’s always wanted to do. Work with art restoration and making sure it got back where it belonged.
But people change how they behave around him when they find out. It was such a public mission but such a private team. No one wanted their name released when the option was given after the mission was over. So he, Maria, Carol, Okoye, Morita, and Marc had all agreed they’d rather keep their identities a secret.
But Bucky just couldn’t shut the hell up.
Now Peggy knows, and he doesn’t want to look and see the shift in her eyes. The one that reads fear, or disgust, or worse: awe.
A soft knock brings him out of his reverie and he wipes at his mouth. “Sorry, out in a minute.” He rinses his mouth, and washes his face and exits. Natasha leans against the opposite wall. “Sorry,” he says, “didn’t mean to take too long.”
She rolls her eyes at him, “you’ve been in there for like 3 minutes. I didn’t knock to kick you out.” Steve tilts his head in question and she steps forward, “she’s up on the balcony on the third floor.” Then she walks past him into the bathroom and shuts the door.
He sighs and takes the hint, walking to the small staircase and winding up it. The moon illuminates her and the upcoming winter air leaves a chill in the air with the doors opened. But she sits quietly, her back towards him, and even though he’s sure she’s heard him, she doesn’t turn, waiting.
He settles beside her, reminded of the last time they were both up here together.
“My brother gave his life for his country, and while I am all for someone being a patriot for their country…” she pauses and he tilts his head towards her, not expecting this line of discussion, “I’d really appreciate not having to worry about losing you the same way.” She finally turns to him and he’s surprised to see there’s no change in her eyes. She’s looking at him like she always does. “You’re in reserve, which I suppose I understand, but I—“ her voice gets quiet, “I suppose I’m wondering how likely you are to be called back.”
His chest relaxes and he takes a deep breath, “I told them that I’d only come back for life ending events. Or you know… the worst of the worst.”
Her sharp eyes find him, “so the most dangerous missions.”
He nods, conceding the point, “yes, but they’re much more rare and…” he tries to think of how to word it, “I’m very difficult to kill. If it makes you feel better.”
“What does that mean? Difficult to kill?”
“I’m not anything special,” he says, “it’s just…” he smiles a bit helplessly. “I’m very good at what I do.” He sees her blink in surprise. Probably because he’s never spoken of himself in that way. Never complimented himself. And he grimaces, “honestly taking down Schmidt was easy.”
And then she’s kissing him. Pressing him back against the balcony door frame and overwhelming him in the best way possible. Her hands roam his hair and back and her lips capture his. His brain kicks into gear a second later and he’s kissing her back, running his fingers through her soft curls and holding her close.
Eventually she pulls back, turning so her back is resting against his chest and she’s wrapped in his arms.
And his curiosity can’t be helped, “what was that about?”
She angles her head up and gives him a cheeky grin, “it’s incredibly attractive when you speak confidently about yourself.”
At this he smiles and tips his head back, “I’ll have to remember that.”
————
Peggy dozes in his arms that evening, a blanket somehow finding a way around her, and she feels lulled into safety by his consistent breathing and the steady pound of his heartbeat.
Taking down Schmidt was easy—
Just the way he said that, made her shiver. The palpable power that he exuded in that statement. She had seen it before. When he’s punched Fred, or when he’d hauled Barnes away. But it made her realize how often he shutters that power behind closed doors. How that part of him that could rip people to shreds is hidden until necessary to do what’s right.
And that makes him practically irresistible. Instead of using and lording that power, which he could easily, he hides it. Uses it for good.
And when she feels a kiss pressed to her hair she practically melts into his arms.
“I love you.” She says. Whispering out into the darkness of her little street. The small glow of the lamplights makes the evening fog feel mystical.
She can feel the way his heartbeat speeds up and then she’s being turned, easily twirled to face him. He searches her face, trying to see if she’s teasing him. But she keeps her face completely serious and eyes on his.
A smile brightens his whole face and he pulls her forward, kissing her once again, making her nerves fire and the feeling of excitement pool in her chest. “I love you too.” He says in a rush, “before you loved me. Just in case we’re keeping track.”
She pushes back against his chest, “I beg your pardon?” Peggy crosses her arms over her chest. “You did not.”
Mischievousness builds in his expression, “oh, I absolutely did.”
“I can guarantee you did not.”
He looks at her in surprise and then gets huffy, but in a teasing way, “oh yeah? And when did you know you loved me?”
It only takes her a moment. “Do you remember when I came down to find you making Macaroni and Cheese for the first time?”
And his eyes go wide, clearly not expecting something so early.
“You talked about your mum and how you guys kept your apartment clean and I just—-“ she looks at him, feeling soft and endeared to the look of disbelief on his face, “it started then.”
He frowns, “but that was nothing, I didn’t even do anything—“
“And you have to do something to earn my love?”
The moonlight illuminates the way his throat bobs tightly. And she lays her head against his chest, “everything you are on your own is more than enough from me. I don’t need anything from you. I want everything from you. Those are not the same thing.” His arms are holding her tightly. “And you? When did you know you loved me?”
She can feel his smile, “when I watched you beat that idiot at pool.”
“Ah, I will say that day solidified you for me as well.” She admits, “watching you deck him and then just leave—“ she laughs, “all my work friends were in a flurry over you.”
He chuckles, his chest rumbling beneath her, “I was so worried you’d be mad at me for stepping in. I’ve had plenty of women rip me to shreds because I stepped in where I wasn’t needed or wanted.” He shakes his head.
And then Peggy wiggles, getting her body in the right position where she’s resting against his arm and looking up at his face, as he cradles her, “I’m not a jealous woman.”
He blinks at her, unsure where that comment is supposed to lead, “okay…?”
“But you’ve mentioned quite a few times about the myriad of women you’ve worked with and interacted with. And it makes a girl wonder—“
“I’ve already told you I haven’t really dated—“
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been fawning over you, or as you Americans put it, ‘crushing’ on you.”
And the look of complete disbelief makes her realize how unobservant he is towards females. “Trust me,” he says firmly, “they’re not.”
She laughs, knowing he’s absolutely wrong and so sure in his incorrect line of thinking. “You’re adorable, you know that?”
“Why does that sound like you’re actually calling me an idiot?”
And her laugh echoes loudly through the quiet street. And when she has the ability to open her eyes and look at him again his face is alight and his eyes sparkling so much with mirth and love that she feels her breath leave her in a whoosh.
“Your laugh is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.” He says, looking at her tenderly, “I can’t wait to make you laugh as often as I can.”
Her left hand sneaks out of the blanket and tugs him down by his shirt, kissing him senseless.
—————
They’re descending the stairs to return to bed when Steve stops. His head turns to her suddenly and a silent laugh escapes him. He tugs her forward and then puts a finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet. They creep down the stairs just until a view of the living room is visible.
Peggy almost laughs in surprise at the sight. Natasha and Barnes wrapped around each other and making out heavily on the couch in the small living area. Her hands have mused his hair spectacularly and he seems to be enjoying himself thoroughly.
Steve pulls her back up the stairs quickly and he shakes his head, whispering, “that was quick.”
But Peggy just shrugs, “when it’s the right person, you just know.”
Steve’s eyes find hers and the words from that balcony ring clear.
I’ll know
And he reaches out, tugging her against his chest and holding her tightly. “And I was right.”
—————
“So,” Natasha starts, “you guys work it out?”
Peggy looks to the woman as she slips into bed beside her, saying nothing about her dalliance with Barnes.
Not that Peggy expected her too. But she can smell Barnes’ cologne on her.
“There was nothing to work out. I could tell he was nervous about me knowing. But that wasn’t my concern, and I let him know that.”
“That’s good.” Then Natasha surprises her, “he seems like a really good guy.”
Peggy pokes her arm, “what? A compliment from you? Shocking!”
Natasha laughs softly, “it’s like you can’t not see it. Both of them really, they just are good.”
“Good at making out on a couch?”
Natasha’s face whips to hers and Peggy laughs, “oh you two are not subtle.”
In the dim light coming through the window Peggy sees Natasha roll her eyes and then a soft smile plays on the usually impassive woman’s face.
And Peggy feels her own triumphant smile across her face, first Barnes, now Natasha. Gotcha.
————-
Peggy and Natasha are at work and Steve has an appointment with the museum director that morning, so Bucky tags along.
They stop at Denier’s.
The man’s eyes bug out at the sight, “Steven! You are still here! And Barnes, you’re back!”
Steve nods and Bucky greets the over zealous man, “I’m thinking of moving here.” Steve says, causing the man to bounce excitedly.
“Of course, you are! How can you leave such a beautiful city and an even more beautiful woman?”
Bucky laughs and Steve just nods, “you’re right, Denier, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Here, here—“ The man disappears behind the counter and shuffles things into a box, “take this today.”
Steve goes to hand his card over when Denier waves him away, giving him dejavu to their first meeting. “No!” The man cries in mock outrage, “no, when you have your wedding, you have Denier do the dessert. That is my bargain. You understand? This is what you will do. Try those—“ he points to the box, “and you will know I am the right choice.”
Bucky is laughing but Steve accepts the box and pockets his card, “okay. Deal.”
Denier waves him off cheerily and Bucky nudges his elbow, “wedding? We’re that far along?”
And Steve walks in silence for a few steps before he turns and catches Bucky’s eye. “Honestly, I think if I proposed today she’d say yes.” Even the thought has him floating off the ground, but he doesn’t stop there. “But like Erskine said, you don’t rush greatness. I want to date her and treat her as she deserves to be treated. But yeah, there’s going to be a wedding.”
Bucky smiles as he looks ahead, the museum coming into view, “it’s crazy. It’s like your life changed overnight.”
“Multiple times I’ve felt that way.” Steve agrees, “everytime it’s been for the better.”
“You deserve it. After the way your life started.”
Steve shrugs, “it wasn’t so bad.”
Bucky glares at him but he doesn’t say anything. Then a few minutes later, Steve has to keep the smile off his face when Bucky tries for a nonchalant tone, “so what’s the deal with Natasha?”
“Deal?”
“Yeah, like… what does she do and why is she in London if her job was in Russia?”
Steve knows these are leading questions. As great as Bucky is, he’s only subtle when he’s in a sniper's perch.
“Oh, no, her job is here. Or the parent company is at least. She works in the private business sector. She’s basically the one who cleans up and fixes everyone’s messes. Russia was a longer assignment from what I gathered. But she’s based here in London. I think I heard her tell Peggy that she doesn’t want to take those longer posts anymore. Prefers to work more local.” Then Steve segues naturally into what he thinks Bucky is actually wanting to know, as he walks up the steps, “she’s really cool. I’ve had a lot of conversations with her once we figured out we both know Clint. They never dated or anything, I think he was already with Laura at that point. But they worked together and she says she’s never had a better partner at her firm. She’s looking for one though.” Steve waves at the security guard, who waves back, a surprised to see him again expression on his face.
Bucky is oddly silent. But in a curious way. So Steve gladly keeps talking, “I wish that room on the third floor was big enough for me.” He sighs as if sad, “but since I want to take my time, and I’m definitely not going to move into Peggy’s room. That’s way too fast. You know me, the snail.” He laughs, briefly peeking over at Bucky who is listening, “so I guess I need to find a new place, but man it’s going to be expensive living alone.” He yawns and leads Bucky down to his old work station. “Monty!”
The Brit looks up and then gasps, “Steve! Bloody hell you’re back!”
“Technically I haven’t left yet.”
“What’s got you stuck in London?”
“Well, I’m meeting with Frigga today actually, kind of hoping she’ll extend my contract—“
“Hoping?! She begged you to stay in the first place!”
Steve laughs, scrubbing at the back of his neck, “yeah, but I turned her down, may have burned that bridge.”
“Nah, she’ll be glad to have your skills. But…” he looks at Bucky and then back, “if it’s not the job keeping you here?”
Steve fees heat creep into his cheeks and Monty splutters, “surely not the country’s magnificent Government aide!”
Bucky laughs and is nodding and they’re both teasing him but he just smiles. Nothing could take away the joy he feels at knowing she’s his, and he’s hers.
————
“Steven, really, you’re welcome here for as long as we can keep you! You want to stay in the same sector?”
“I’d love to help keep restoring pieces, my specialty is paints but I can do charcoal or sketching or other mediums as well.”
“Of course. Well! We will get all the details and your contract worked out tomorrow, how does that sound?”
“Amazing.” He breathes out, “thank you so much. Really.”
Frigga stands and extends her hand, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulder, “you remind me of my own son, Steven. A golden, gentle, giant and I’m proud to have someone as skilled and respectable as you here with us.”
He nods, feeling honored at the comparison, “thank you. I’ll do my best.”
“You always do.” She says with a kind smile, “see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” he smiles back, “see you tomorrow.”
————-
“See!” Monty says with a slap to his back, “not even a second guess.”
“I'm very lucky.” Steve says, “okay let’s head home and I’ll be in tomorrow. See you then, Monty!”
“Bring me something from Denier’s!”
Steve laughs, “I will!”
————
He can tell Bucky is thinking. A lot. And quietly. Which is unusual for Bucky unless it’s something very serious.
He can’t decide if this a good sign or a bad one.
He hopes good.
———
“Bastard!”
Steve and Bucky stop at the door, a pen going flying right by them, clattering to the wall and breaking into pieces.
Steve’s eyes find Natasha sitting on the kitchen island, her feet gracefully propped on the stool seat and a computer on her lap. He wonders just who is the aforementioned ‘bastard’.
“Nat?”
And Steve barely processes the nickname before it rolls off his tongue. And as she looks up, her eyes catching his, she sighs and laughs, “Clint used to call me that. Wow, haven’t heard that in a long time.” Then she frowns, “I miss that.”
Steve’s about to walk forward a desire to comfort her, but Bucky’s already moving, “what’s wrong?” He asks, genuine concern in his tone, “who’s pissing you off?”
She laughs and shoves the laptop off her lap onto the counter. “Just idiots who see me as a little girl, and won’t even hire me even though my reputation says I’m the best in this fucking business! ” She shouts at the laptop. Then Steve watches as she takes a deep breath and shove those feelings down. “It’s fine. I make a ton of money whether they underestimate me or not.” She points to them, “you’re back before I thought you’d be.”
“Steve got his job back, but he starts tomorrow, so we just came back. I thought you were working?”
“They’re recarpeting my office.” She says idly, “I forgot to tell them I was coming back early.” She looks up and grins at Steve and he laughs.
“I know the feeling.”
She hops down and walks towards them. “So, we get to go have fun without Carter? She’ll be pissed. Where should we go?”
And Steve’s something of a genius himself. “Actually, there’s some stuff I’d like to prep before tomorrow.” He lies, coming up with an excuse on the spot, “Frigga put me on some new art eras for restoration and I want to be familiar with their paint types and color availabilities and modes so I want to do some research. But you guys go, and then when Peggy gets home we can all go out to eat, maybe?”
He turns, making it seem like it’s a nonchalant thing, he’s pretending to search through his jacket pockets as they have a silent eye conversation.
“Sound okay?” He asks, looking up again, “sorry to ditch and be the art nerd.” He says with a self-deprecating chuckle, “unless you guys wanted to do something specific?”
Shut up, Steve, he thinks, stop pushing.
“Yeah,” Natasha says lightly, “maybe I can show Barnes around the city since I’m sure he’ll be visiting more with you here.”
Steve smiles, “yeah, that sounds perfect. Thanks, Nat.” He says it as if she’s doing him a favor.
And Bucky just nods, “yeah cool, can we go to Abbey Road?”
Natasha laughs, slugging his arm, “it’s famous because of the music studio idiot, not the actual road.”
“But it’s on that street!”
And Steve doesn’t have to say anything else as they bicker all the way out the front door. Bucky doesn’t even look back.
Steve grins as he walks up the stairs.
—————-
Peggy comes in through the back door, having parked her car in the small spot behind her home.
She walks in and Steve is standing on the stairs, beckoning for her to come. She moves forward, following up the stairs and up to the third floor.
He walks her to the balcony door which is already open and gestures for her to be quiet, before making the motion for her to look over the edge.
She lays on her stomach and peers over, her eyes catching the figures in the street lights. Barnes and Natasha sit on her front steps, looking like they’ve been kissing, but at the moment are just talking. And she sees Natasha tip her head back and laugh, her face calm and more at ease than Peggy can remember her being after a day of work. Then Barnes leans forward and kisses her exposed neck briefly before pulling away when Natasha swats at him.
They continue talking and she feels Steve gently grasp her waist and pull her upright.
“How long have they been out there?” She whispers.
And he smiles, “hours. I heard them come back and thought they’d walk in the house, but then they didn’t and I got curious. Then I came up here and they were kissing again. So I let them be, then I heard her laughing over an hour ago and realized they were talking.” He pulls Peggy close and kisses her, “he’s got it bad.”
She raises an eyebrow at him, “how do you know?”
Steve shakes his head, leading her further into the house. They settle on the second set of stairs and she rests her feet in his lap, as he draws soft circles on her ankles with his pointer finger.
“Bucky has always been a chick magnet.” Peggy grimaces and he chuckles softly, “he was good looking and tall and really smooth. Never stumbled over his words like I always did. But I never saw him take anyone seriously. He’d always date pretty quick and then they’d break up. It’s like he knew they weren’t right pretty quickly and as much as he enjoys the chase, he’s not about to waste his own time or hers when it won’t work out. Only with this one girl, this girl back home named Angie did I ever see him consider. Before we both joined up, he really thought about marrying her. And she was great actually. A real spitfire and could match him easily. But something kept him from doing that. And I don’t know what that was, but she’s in Hollywood now, acting or something, so they both got what they wanted. But now—“ he leans over and places a soft kiss on her knee, gently brushing his nose against her skin. “He’s like how he was with Angie a year in, but it’s been less than 3 days. He’s like me I guess. He knows she’s the right one. He’s been quiet today. I can tell he’s been thinking. And he’s terrified like I was because it means so much change. But—“ he smiles at her, “hopefully he’s smarter than me and doesn’t let it get to the point where he’s running back from the airport ticket counter like a mad man.”
She laughs and leans down, kissing him and leaning her forehead against his, “I’ve never seen Natasha like this with a man either. It’s like her guard is down immediately. A rare thing indeed.”
He’s calculating. “Peggy?”
She tilts her head, waiting, “do you think Bucky would be good for the job Natasha was talking about? She said she needed a partner. Someone like Clint and… I actually think Bucky would fit into that role perfectly.”
“I thought he ran his father’s shop in Brooklyn?”
“He does. But Becca, his little sister, has been begging to take over. She loves it and he doesn’t. So this would be a great reason for that to happen.”
“I mean…” she thinks about it, “would he mind Natasha being in charge?”
Steve laughs, “Bucky couldn’t care less. He was my second in command every mission he was on. He has no problem taking orders.”
Peggy smiles, “then I don’t see why he wouldn’t be a good asset to her. He seems very smooth like you said with his words and with Natasha to train him, he’d probably be quite the weapon. And his military experience would probably be a good thing. Experience in high pressure situations.”
Steve smiles, “I think so, and he’s taken a lot of business classes to help him run the shop when the military was paying for our stuff. I think—“ he smiles at her, “it just feels like everything is lining up really nicely.”
She laughs, “now we just need to find a place for you two to live for the foreseeable future.”
————-
When Bucky and Natasha finally do come inside. Steve and Peggy pretend like they haven’t noticed a thing and begin talking dinner plans immediately.
And as they walk to dinner, Peggy pulls Natasha in front of the two men and begins asking her thoughts on a new political angle that one of the younger members is trying, seeing what she thinks.
Steve walks quietly beside Bucky, wondering what’s going through his mind.
“Steve?”
He looks over at Bucky and is surprised to see that he seems nervous. “Yeah?”
“What do you think of Natasha?”
“What do you mean?” But Steve knows exactly what Bucky means.
“Like… what do you think about her?”
Steve looks over and raises an eyebrow, “where you going with this Bucky?”
The man sighs and looks out at the river Seine as they walk along downtown towards one of Peggy’s favorite restaurants. “I’m—“
And Steve, knowing Bucky better than anyone else, knows that Bucky needs pushback. He needs to work things out and talk about it, argue about it even, to settle it in his mind. “Buck, no.”
And there it is, the snap of the head and the glare in his eyes, “what do you mean, no?”
“You just met her. And yeah, she’s pretty and nice and smart but there’s plenty of girls like her—“
“No.” Bucky snaps, “there’s no girls like her. Except maybe Carter and you already called dibs.”
Steve laughs, “wow, dibs? What are they crayons and we’re in kindergarten?”
“I’m just saying.” Bucky says with a sigh, “I’ve never met anyone like her before. And she’s—“
And Steve smirks, “perfect?”
Bucky nods, “geez, I sound like you.”
That makes him laugh louder which causes the two women to turn around. But Steve waves them off. “What are we talking about Bucky? You were just pissed at me for moving here, but I have a job. You don’t. You can’t move here, and this sort of long distance… I don’t know, man.”
It’s all a carefully strategized structure to see if Bucky can figure out the potential that Steve’s already figured out.
“Natasha says there’s this opening—“
Oh, Steve could crush stone with his bare hands if he needed too. The adrenaline shooting through him makes him want shiver but he uses his entirety of willpower to stay calm. “Opening?”
“Yeah, at her firm. And I won’t lie, I never pictured myself in that sort of job, but she described it to me when I asked her what happened today, you know, when she was mad? And she told me all about what she and Clint used to do, and how she’s been missing having that sort of battle partner in her job. And I just…” he looks up at Steve, “I think I could do that.”
“I’m reeling a bit, Bucky. It all seems rather fast.”
This is it. The final check.
“I know.” Bucky admits, “but—“
“But what?”
A strange look crosses Bucky’s face and he pulls Steve to a stop, the girls walking further ahead, not noticing they’ve halted. “Do you remember what you used to say? That you wouldn’t date till you know? That when the right one came along you would just know?”
Does he ever.
“Yes…”
“Well…” Bucky says slowly, and Steve’s heart starts to beat faster, knowing what his best friend is about to say but in complete disbelief that he’s about to say it. “I think I know.”
“Know what…?” Steve asks slowly.
“That she’s the right one.”
And that’s when a Steve shoves him in the chest, “of course she’s the right one you idiot! What do you think we’ve been trying to do this whole time!”
He laughs loudly and Bucky stumbles back from the force, “what?!”
“Peggy has been scheming since the day I called saying I wasn’t coming.”
“Scheming what?”
Steve points to Natasha, who is far enough away to have started to get blurry, so they start walking to catch up. “Peggy knew Natasha was coming back early. Checked her schedule and saw the flight change. But she didn’t tell me. Which is why I didn’t know what the purpose was when I asked you to come right away. But she planned it all. But then she told me about it and you guys walked into our trap perfectly.” Bucky’s gaping at him, “I even hinted at the job thing this morning. You guys didn’t even see us coming.” He smiles and nudges Bucky’s arm, “all that aside. I think it’s great. As someone who just found the best thing in the world for himself, I’m stoked that you’re finding it too.”
“Damn.” Bucky says slowly, not looking angry but just surprised, then impressed, “Damn, Carter played us good.”
Steve laughs, “yeah, just don’t tell Natasha yet. She’d be mad.”
“Should I be mad?”
“I dunno, are you mad?”
And Bucky looks at him and then up to the women, and then back at Steve, “I feel like… I should be? Getting manipulated and stuff but…” he shrugs and smiles, “when it’s by you and Carter I don’t really mind. I know you’d never do anything hurtful. That’s just not either of you. So… I guess I’m not mad.” Then he looks surprised at himself, “I think I’m kind of grateful.”
Steve blinks, and then breaks out into a grin. “She’s great right? She’s good at sparring too. I think you’ll only fall harder the more you get to know her. Just like me and Peggy.”
“How did this happen?” Bucky asks quietly, “we’re best friends, they’re best friends. What are the odds?”
And Steve looks up at the sky, the moon shining brightly against the sidewalk. “Cosmic.”
—————-
And there’s no denying it the next morning.
“Steven Grant Rogers!”
He sits up and rubs blearily at his eyes. Bucky is sitting up too, and he looks over, “what happened?”
“I don’t know.”
“Steve, come here this instant!!”
Her voice is a strange mix of disbelief and joy and something else, so he stumbles out of bed, shirtless and sockless and walks out his door and across the hall. He enters the open doorway of Peggy’s room and hears Bucky behind him. Natasha’s sitting up in Peggy’s bed, a large shirt as her pajamas.
“What’s going on?” He asks.
“Beats me,” she yawns. “I was sleeping and suddenly she’s yelling like a pregnant cat.”
Bucky laughs and sits on the bed next to her, kissing her good morning. Her eyes flit to Steve but Bucky waves at him. “He already knows.”
Steve winks at her and then heads to where Peggy must be in her bathroom. He walks through the door and stops. She’s in a silk robe and her curls are still pinned up. And there’s only mascara on one eyelash but she’s not looking towards him. She’s looking out the little window that faces the street. “Peggy? What is it?”
She points and he moves to stand behind her, looking out in the direction she’s pointing him towards.
And that’s when he sees it. An older man and his wife are outside their home, watching as a young woman dressed smartly is securing a ‘For Sale’ sign in their front yard.
The house directly across from Peggy’s.
She turns to him and she smiles, her face radiating mirth and excitement and joy at how everything seems to be falling into place.
And he can’t even help himself. He lifts her up and spins her around and then gently sets her on the tile, leaning down to kiss her.
—————-