Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

The compound felt colder than usual that morning. Maybe it was just Bucky. He stood in the corner of the common room, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, watching as Tony's car pulled into the driveway below. He could hear Steve's steady breathing beside him. But all of it blurred into static.

Because she was here. His Keira.

She stepped out of the car, wearing a white hoodie, black leggings, and sneakers. Her dark curls were tied in a high ponytail that bounced gently as she moved. Bucky's eyes stayed fixed on her, his heart thumping loud enough for Steve to hear it. When Keira's foot touched the pavement, it felt like the air left the room.

She looked different. The cheerful smile he used to see on her face had been replaced by a lost, uncertain expression, a look so out of place on the girl he knew. But her eyes were the same. Still green. Still beautiful. Still the eyes that had captured his heart years ago. Her gaze swept across the compound with cautious curiosity, like she was stepping into someone else's life. Maybe she was.

The last time Bucky saw her, she'd been laughing, covered in paint from helping Sam fix the training room wall. Now her skin was paler, her hair thinner at the ends, and those green eyes that once sparked like sunlight over water were searching faces she didn't recognize.

"Go easy," Tony had told everyone before he left to pick her up earlier that day. "She doesn't remember any of you, so let's skip the emotional reunions, alright?"

Bucky's chest tightened. Didn't remember... The words hit harder every time.

He watched her take her first few steps toward the compound, uncertain, hesitant. This wasn't his Keira. His Keira would have bounded up the steps, smiling, throwing her arms around him and telling him how much she'd missed him. He wanted to reach out, to rush downstairs, to pull her into his arms and never let go. He wanted to bury his face in her hair and breathe her in; the scent he thought he'd never smell again.

But he couldn't. She didn't know him. She didn't remember their life together. Steve placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, pulling Bucky back from his thoughts. The captain gave him a small, reassuring smile, like he could feel the pain Bucky was trying to hide.

"It'll be alright," Steve murmured, squeezing his shoulder. "She'll remember."

Bucky's jaw clenched. He wanted to believe it. More than anything.

Keira stepped inside, Tony at her side. It felt surreal, being in the Avengers compound. She remembered dreaming of this once, being a part of this world; only to be told that she had been. It was crazy. She half expected someone to pop out and tell her this was all an elaborate prank.

Her gaze drifted around the room, over The Black Widow, Captain America, The Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye. They greeted her with warm smiles. A young guy who introduced himself as Peter hugged her quickly, then stammered an apology as Tony glared at him.

Then her eyes landed on a man standing quietly in the corner. His presence filled the room, and something about the way he was looking at her made her chest tighten. Like he knew her, which apparently, everyone here did. She averted her gaze as he approached. He was wearing black jeans and a dark blue T-shirt that showed off the sculpted muscles of his arms. That's when she saw it, his metal arm, gleaming softly under the lights.

Bucky felt everyone's eyes on him as he crossed the room toward her.
This was it, the moment he'd been both longing for and dreading. But God, he didn't want this. He wanted her to know him. To smile at him. To throw herself into his arms, not stand there nervous and uncertain, eyes darting anywhere but his. His heart thudded wildly in his chest as he stopped in front of her. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Then Bucky did the only thing he could, he gave her a lopsided smirk, the one that used to make her blush and call him handsome.

"So," he drawled, crossing his arms over his chest, "Tony finally let you outta medical?"

His voice was teasing, light, like this wasn't tearing him apart. Like she wasn't looking at him as if he were a stranger.

Keira blinked up at him, studying him. Something flickered in those green eyes, just for a second; before it vanished again.

"Uh... yeah," she said slowly, shifting on her feet. "I'm sorry... who are you?"

Bucky almost laughed at how unfair that question was. Instead, he gave an exaggerated gasp and pressed a hand to his chest, pretending to be wounded. She had wounded him.

"Ouch." He shook his head with mock offense. "And here I thought we were friends."

Behind them, Sam snorted into his coffee cup loud enough to earn himself an elbow from Natasha. Keira just frowned slightly; confused, but not uncomfortable. That was something.

Bucky counted it as a win anyway. Maybe someday soon... she'd remember.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Tony led her upstairs to her room, a large space with its own en-suite bathroom.

"Wow," she muttered, glancing around. "This is... impressive."

Her eyes caught a framed photo of her with the team. So she really had known them. She looked at Tony, who was watching her carefully. Tears pricked her eyes. This all felt so strange.

"Was this my room before?" she asked softly.

Tony shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he rocked back on his heels. "Yeah," he said casually, though his tone was gentle. "You were here a lot."

He lied, not ready to tell her she'd shared a room with Bucky the whole time.

"I know Thor?" she asked, pointing to the photo.

Tony nodded, suppressing a smirk. "You do."

He watched her as she walked around the room, her fingers tracing over familiar things, the soft white blanket on the bed, the teddy bear she picked up and held to her chest. Bucky had bought that bear, won it for her to be exact, at a fair a couple of years ago. Their first date. Tony remembered the way she'd smiled that night, like a teenager falling in love for the first time.

"I'll let you settle back in," Tony said, pausing at the door. "Feel free to look around. After all, this was - I mean is, your home."

When he left, Keira sat on the edge of the bed, taking it all in. Her space. Her home. Only, it didn't feel like home. Not yet. She looked down at the teddy bear in her arms, a little brown bear with a lopsided grin, holding a red heart. Cute.

Her fingers brushed over the soft fur, and suddenly, an image flashed in her mind. An old fair, laughter, bright lights... Then it was gone. Another memory slipping through her fingers.

With a sigh, she leaned back against the pillows, clutching the bear close. Her gaze swept across the room, the photographs on the wall, the books on the shelves. Her eyes lingered on a framed black and white photo by her bedside. Her and the whole team, smiling.

Everyone was there, all the heroes she once idolized were now her friends... and the guy with the metal arm, standing right next to her. His arm around her waist. Her leaning into him. She looked away, tears spilling freely now. Why couldn't she remember? Curling up on the bed, she hugged the bear tight and cried until exhaustion finally pulled her under.

Outside her room, Bucky lingered long after Tony had gone. He could hear the muffled sound of her sobs, each one slicing through him like a knife. He should've gone in. Should've told her everything. But he couldn't. Not when she didn't even know who he was. Not when the sight of him might make it worse.

So instead, he slumped against the wall beside her door, sliding down to sit on the floor, metal arm resting on one knee, his other hand dragging through his hair.

You better remember soon, sweetheart, he thought bitterly. I miss you.

Inside that room was everything that mattered to him. And right now... he wasn't sure if she'd ever really come back home again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

The sun had long dipped below the trees outside her window when she woke up. The sky was painted in deep shades of violet and gold, giving her room a soft glow. The compound was quiet, save for the muffled hum of voices and distant footsteps. She could smell food cooking downstairs. Her stomach growled, but she couldn't bring herself to go down there. It felt strange, being surrounded by people who knew her, when to her; they were strangers.

She wandered into her bathroom, glancing over the shelves of products she apparently owned. A load of bath bombs sat in a basket; that, at least, felt familiar. She loved taking baths. Her eyes drifted towards the tub. It was huge and definitely inviting. Not a second more, she turned on the water and tossed in a bath bomb. It fizzed into a swirl of lavender and rose petals, the scent filling the air like a soft embrace. Familiar... but just out of reach.

She stripped out of her clothes and let herself sink deep into the water, letting herself enjoy the warmth and comfort it provided her. She felt herself nodding off after a while, she figured it was the drugs that were still in her system because she felt constantly tired. She let herself soak a little longer until she decided to get out. 

She drained the tub and dried herself off. Walking back into her room, she pulled open the wardrobe. A large hoodie immediately caught her eye, far too big to be hers. When she lifted it to her face, the faint scent of cologne clung to the fabric. It smelt... familiar. Comforting almost.

Did she have a boyfriend? She hadn't even thought to ask. Regardless, she slipped it on, pairing it with a pair of navy plaid pyjama shorts. A candle on the cupboard caught her attention next. She struck a match, the sweet smell of vanilla spreading through the room. 

She took in her surroundings, her books, her things; before her gaze landed on several stacked photo albums. She gathered them up and set them across her bed before sitting cross-legged in the middle on her comforter. Damp curls hung loosely around her shoulders as she flipped through the pages. She had several open at a time, going back and fourth from one to another. 

There were pictures of her smiling with people she didn't remember, faces that looked familiar but wrong, like seeing actors in a dream. But the photos from her childhood were clear, her handwriting in the corners, her mother's tired smile, the kitchen wallpaper she'd grown up staring at.

Then came the ones with the Avengers. Some were formal team pictures, group posed shots at the compound, or photos at what looked like a Christmas party. But there were others that felt more intimate, moments caught candidly on camera. 

Black Widow and The Scarlet Witch in the garden, laughing over a shared joke. The Falcon and Captain America in the training room, sweaty and battered. Bruce and Tony at their lab stations in a frenzy. 

And then there was her and the guy with the metal arm, lots of them both. Her head resting on his shoulder. Her laughing as he carried her on his back. They looked close. Effortlessly close.

She flicked to the next page and it was then she noticed the back of the book had a lot of empty pages which she found strange but shook it off thinking she probably just hadn't finished filling it up yet. 

A gentle knock sounded on her door which made her jump a little. She had been very on edge since returning from that place...Hydra. Luckily she didn't remember much, mostly from having her memories wiped. She wished she could say that was a good thing but, somehow if felt like the opposite. 

"Yeah?" she answered softly. 

The door creaked open, and the metal armed guy's broad frame filled the doorway. His eyes immediately found her among the scattered albums.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Mind if I come in?"

She hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded. "Sure."

He stepped inside, holding a pizza box in one hand and a can of Diet Coke in the other.

"Figured you might be hungry," he murmured, setting them down in front of her. "Seeing as you didn't come down for dinner."

She offered a small smile. "Thanks."

He nodded once and placed the can on her bedside table before stepping back, giving her space. She didn't eat yet, just kept turning the pages on the photo album. 

He sat carefully at the edge of her bed, trying not to startle her. He let out a soft sigh, his eyes taking in the sight of her wearing his hoodie. He tried and failed; to hide the way his heart skipped a beat. She used to love wearing that, he had left it in her wardrobe on purpose. Hoping it might trigger something. Clearly, it hadn't.

From the corner of her eye, she watched him. He was ridiculously handsome, broad shoulders, jaw cut sharp, blue eyes that looked like they'd seen too much. She couldn't understand how she'd ever been around him without melting every time he looked at her.

Her fingers hovered over a photograph. The two of them were inside what looked like a hospital room. Bucky was sitting on a gurney, smiling down at her as she was bandaging his flesh arm. She was also smiling and blushing from the looks of it...seemed about right. They both looked...happy.

Keira tilted her head, studying it. "So...we were pretty good friends then?"

Bucky tensed slightly, just for a second. Then gave a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah," he said. "We were."

He'd hidden the more intimate photos that showed them closer then this and there were plenty from over the years. Him kissing her, their anniversary's and birthdays. It had nearly killed him, but he didn't want to overwhelm her, she wasn't ready for that. Not yet. 

"Sam took that one," he added, nodding to the photo. "I'd been training with Steve and got a little too cocky. You lectured me for an hour, but..." a small grin tugged at his lips, "I still managed to make you smile."

Something flickered through Keira; a warmth, faint but familiar as she traced the picture's edges. 

He was watching her with an unreadable expression. His eyes held something tender and heavy all at once, like there was more he wanted to say but couldn't. Keira swallowed, suddenly feeling too aware of his proximity on the bed beside her. Too aware that this version of her had known things about him. Things nobody else knew...

"Did I lecture you a lot?"

Bucky grinned, his expression lighter. "Constantly. Like you were my damn mother." He nudged her knee gently with his metal hand, careful not to startle her. "You'd freak out every time I showed up with so much as a paper cut, even if I do heal faster then most."

She could hear the teasing in his voice, but beneath it was something softer. Something fond. And suddenly, like a whisper of a memory slipping through the cracks, a memory she didn't even know was there, she saw it. 

Her hands pressing a gauze pad to Bucky's split cheek after some reckless fight. Him rolling his eyes while she fussed over him. Him smiling anyway, his metal hand grazing her cheek sweetly, their eyes connecting. 

The image was gone as quickly as it came, leaving Keira blinking in it's wake. She wasn't sure if it was real or just wishful thinking...She stared down at the photo again, her smile fading. 

"I wish I could remember that."

Bucky felt his chest ache at her words. He fought the urge to reach out, to pull her into his arms and promise that one day she would. But the words got stuck in his throat. He had promised himself he wasn't going to push her. That he's let her set the pace, even if it about killed him. So he just nodded, eyes roaming over her face and memorising every inch like he had done a thousand times before. 

"You will," he said, with a ghost of a smile.

He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to tell her everything. The way her laughter used to ground him, how he'd carried her to their bedroom after that photo was taken and how he had loved her over and over. But he didn't. Not now.

They fell into a quiet rhythm, the soft rustle of turning pages filling the silence. Then she stopped at a photo from her childhood, her standing outside a small house beside her mother. Her smile faded.

"I remember this one," she whispered. "I'd just gotten accepted into Yale. All I wanted was for her to be proud of me. Instead, she told me I was wasting my time. Said I'd get bored of medical school."

Bucky stayed silent, watching her eyes flicker with old pain. Pain she had once shared with him.

"She told me I should just sleep with a rich man." Keira scoffed softly, shaking her head. "Because apparently that's the only way I'd pay the bills."

A muscle ticked in Bucky's jaw as he listened, hating that even back then her mother had been so dismissive. He wanted to tell her how incredible she was, how she was smart and strong. How much she had achieved and how she had done it all on her own. But again, he bit back his words.

"Did she ever come by here?" Keira asked, her eyes hopeful. 

Bucky hesitated for a beat too long, just enough for Keira to notice. He wanted to lie, but he was already lying about so much already, she deserved to know the truth about this. 

"No." His voice was quiet, careful. "She called sometimes. Usually asking for money."

Keira frowned slightly, processing that information before nodding once, almost to herself. "Yeah, that sounds like her..."

He watched her tuck a damp curl behind her ear, only for it to fall again. He nearly reached out to fix it, but stopped himself, curling his fingers into his palm instead.

The quiet returned, heavy with unsaid things. Her gaze dropped back to the photos and for a brief moment, Bucky could almost fool himself that she was his Keira again. That she knew him, could feel the way he looked at her like she used to. The illusion shattered when she suddenly let out a long weary sigh, her shoulders sagging as she looked at another photo.

"My birthday," she murmured. "We didn't have much, but she promised to cook me dinner. I was so excited, she barely spent any time with me. I waited all night but, she never came home." 

Her throat tightened as she gave a bitter laugh. "When she finally did, she was drunk. Brought some guy back with her that... well, let's just say I learned to keep my headphones close."

She looked at him once more as he continued to listen to her. "Im sorry," she blushed. "It's not like you asked for my life story." 

"I already know it Keira, but i'm happy to listen," he told her, happy that she was even talking to him.

Bucky shifted a little closer, resting a hand on the bed beside her leg, grounding her silently without crowding her. 

After a moment, she asked softly, "Was I... dating anyone?"

His body went still. Then, too casually, "No. Not really."

She studied him like she could see through the lie. "So whose sweater is this?" she asked, looking down at the hoodie. 

Bucky's throat tightened as his eyes dropped to the hoodie, his hoodie, hanging off her frame in a way that made his chest ache.

He hesitated before clearing his throat. "Uh, that's mine," he admitted finally. "You used to steal it all the time."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at his lips, like he was daring her to remember why. Like maybe if he teased her enough, she would. 

She blinked down at herself, fingers tracing the soft fabric as if testing its weight against some half buried memory. Then she lifted her gaze back to him, her eyes wide and searching. Something flickered behind them for just a second before vanishing again. 

 "Oh... sorry. It was in my wardrobe. I can give it bac -"

He cut her off. "No. Keep it." His voice softened. "Looks better on you anyway."

Her stomach fluttered at that for reasons she didn't understand.

"How good of friends were we?" she asked quietly, searching his face once more. 

Bucky drew in a slow breath, fingers tapping against his knee as he weighed his words. He could have said, we were everything. He could have said, you loved me and I still love you. 

But instead, he said, "Close enough that you trusted me with your coffee order." A pause. His voice softening. "Close enough that when you were sad, you came to me before anyone else."

The quiet between them wasn't uncomfortable, just heavy with things neither could say. Something in her chest ached. 

"That sounds nice."

Bucky nodded, his voice quiet. "It was."

Bucky lingered for a moment, watching her fingertips tracing the photo's edge like she was trying to touch a ghost. 

"You should eat," he murmured. "Pizza's getting cold."

She picked up a slice, more to please him than anything.

He stood to leave, lingering by the door. He wanted to say so much, something to help her remember; or at least make her smile again. Nothing felt right though, everything felt too small compared to what they had lost. 

"Thanks for the food," she said softly, her voice following him. 

He glanced over his shoulder, giving her a faint smile. "Anytime, doll."

The word slipped out before he could stop it. Her head lifted a little at the nickname, not in recognition, but in curiosity. 

"Doll?" she echoed under her breath, almost testing how it felt. 

Bucky tensed, silently cursing himself. He had been so careful, always using her name instead of one that was like muscle memory for him now. He had been so good at pushing it down, until now. He cleared his throat and shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets to hide the way they had curled into fists. Too late to back out now. 

"Force of habit," he muttered. "Don't worry about it."

He turned to leave but she called him back again. 

"Wait..."

He paused once more at the door, turning back to look at her, his eyes burning with an emotion she couldn't name. 

"Yeah?" His voice rough. 

Keira hesitated before shaking her head slightly, suddenly feeling silly for calling out to him when she didn't even know how to ask what she really wanted to say. 

"Did we ever fight? You and me?"

Bucky hesitated for a beat before reluctantly taking a few steps back towards her bed, his eyes never leaving hers. His jaw flexed as he thought of all the times they had butted heads over the years. 

He huffed softly, crossing his arms. "All the time. You were stubborn as hell." The truth, though there was never any heat behind it.

Her lips twitched and her brows lifted. "About what?"

"Everything," he said, smirking. "You hated when I skipped meals. Got pissy when I trained too hard. Not like you weren't doing the same damn thing on night shifts at the Medbay."

She smiled a little at that, her eyes flicking to his metal arm. "Was I ever scared of you?"

The question was quiet, barely more than a whisper, but it still punched straight through Bucky's chest all over again. 

Bucky's voice softened immediately. "No. Never. You were more curious then anything, always asking questions, kind of like now," he teased her, remembering all the questions she used to ask him when they first met. It had annoyed him at first but in the end he never wanted her to stop. 

She smiled faintly, then whispered, "Sounds like I annoyed you a lot."

"More than a lot," he teased, then, quieter, "But we always made up."

He caught himself before his mind went too far, clearing his throat. His mind reliving those memories, of him pushing her up against the wall. Both of them desperately craving one another, both apologising after an argument as they ripped each others clothes off before... 

Clearing his throat, he shifted his weight, forcing himself to look away from her. "Anyway uh...your pizza's getting cold," he said, moving towards the door again. 

"Goodnight...." she started, realising she still didn't know his name. 

"Bucky," he muttered, his voice low, almost like he had read her mind. "Night, Keira."

He almost turned back. Almost crossed the room and kissed her like he used to. Wanting to show her, make her remember how they used to say goodnight. Their bodies tangled together, his lips pressing against her temple, her breath warm against his neck. 

But instead, he walked away, leaving her with the ghost of what they'd been behind him. 

Chapter Text

Morning came with the smell of coffee and pancakes. Laughter carried through the halls. Real, easy laughter that didn't belong to her yet.

Keira lingered at the top of the stairs, listening. It sounded like a family she couldn't remember.

In the kitchen, the room buzzed with life. Tony stood at the stove in a pressed T-shirt that somehow still looked designer, flipping pancakes with an unnecessary flair. Wanda and Nat were perched on the counters, teasing Sam about his "dad-level" dancing. Steve moved between them, trying to make coffee. Hawkeye stealing food and being yelled at by Tony.

And then there was Bucky. He stood a little apart, mug in hand, eyes finding her the second she stepped into view.

She wore a black tank top, black jeans, and a cardigan to match. Her dark curls spilled freely down her back, a few strands catching the morning light. His lips curled around the rim of his mug, not quite a smile, but something close.

"Morning," he murmured when she finally stepped into the kitchen, voice low enough that only she could hear.

The others greeted her in waves. Tony flipping pancakes onto a plate. Sam complimenting her outfit which only earnt a glare from Bucky and a hand slapping the back of his head by Steve. Wanda walked up to her, handing her coffee without asking, sweetened and creamy, just how she liked it. Keira quietly thanked her and blinked down at the mug, fingers curling around its warmth. They all know me...

Bucky shifted beside her as if sensing the thought. "They're an annoyingly observant bunch," he muttered under his breath before taking another sip, his coffee black and bitter, like always. She smiled a little, taking a sip of her own. 

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Tony called without turning around. "We were about to send a search party. Pancakes?"

She nodded shyly, the noise and warmth pressing in all at once. Too many faces. Too many memories she didn't have.

Wanda smiled kindly. "We saved you a seat."

It was overwhelming, standing among people she both knew and didn't at all. But she gave Wanda another soft thank you and slid into the chair between her and Bucky.

Wanda's gaze slid easily over her, warm and sympathetic. "Sleep okay?"

Keira nodded, taking a small bite of her pancakes and humming in appreciation. "Yeah, great," she said, eyes flicking over the table. All eyes on her.

The conversation swirled around her in waves. Laughter, jokes, friendly jabs and a warm feeling of what she could only describe as a family, something she had never had before. 

Bucky ate quietly, eyes following her every movement. She was beautiful, she always had been, but there was something fragile in the way she held herself now. Her hair fell in messy waves around her shoulders in an all too familiar way. He noticed the way her fingers trembled slightly on her mug. The way she tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. He knew she wasn't ok. 

Under the table, Bucky nudged his knee lightly against hers, just enough to ground her without drawing attention. When she looked up, he offered a small smirk before pretending to focus back on his coffee.

Tony was mid-rant about something science related, waving a pancake covered spatula dangerously close to Steve's face. "Which is why it's called quantum tunnelling, you World War two fossil!"

Sam snorted orange juice out his nose. Natasha rolled her eyes and stole a piece of Steve's bacon with the precision of a trained assassin. Keira watched them all with quiet fascination.

Wanda leaned in again, whispering, "They're always like this. You'll get used to it," she whispered conspiratorially, as if sensing Keira's thoughts. 

Used to it. The words sat heavy in Keira's chest just as Bucky's arm brushed hers when he reached for the syrup. 

Her heart pounded. The room was suddenly too warm. Every glance felt like a question. Do you remember us? Her chest tightened. She muttered something about needing fresh air and slipped out before anyone could stop her.

Bucky started to follow, jaw tight, but Steve's hand caught his arm.

"Let her breathe," Steve said softly. "She just needs time."

Bucky sat back down, but his eyes stayed on the door long after it closed behind her.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The hallway was quieter than the kitchen but not silent. The hum of voices still carried faintly through the walls. Keira leaned against the cool glass, closing her eyes and breathing in slowly. She drifted towards the balcony. The city stretched below, sunlight glinting off the trees and the buildings in the far distance. She leaned on the railing and exhaled, the wind threading gently through her curls.

For a few precious seconds, it was just her heartbeat and the city's.

"Pretty view, huh?"

She turned to look at a guy who introduced himself to her yesterday as Peter. He stood in the doorway, hoodie rumpled, hair a chaotic mess.

"Sorry," he said quickly, hands up. "Didn't mean to startle you. I was, uh... avoiding dishes."

A laugh escaped before she could stop it. "Smart move."

He grinned, stepping out beside her, looking over the skyline. "You okay? You kinda bolted out of there."

She stared down at her hands on the railing and exhaled slowly before lifting one shoulder in a half shrug. "It's just... weird."

Peter nodded. "Yeah, I get that," he said easily. No pity. Just understanding.

They stood in silence for a moment before Peter cleared his throat slightly awkwardly but still trying anyway. "If you ever wanna talk about crappy TV shows or pizza joints that'll probably give you food poisoning, I'm your guy."

A genuine laugh bubbled out of Keira unexpectedly, something unforced for once since waking up that morning. 

"So...we were good friends?" she asked him.

Peter grinned down at her, rubbing the back of his neck a little. "I mean...best friends," he chuckled, though there was a warm sincerity to his voice. "Who else would I talk to after patrol at three AM for hours on end? Thor?"

He looked at her gently. "You helped me through some tough stuff," he said with a shrug. Then he added, only a little quieter. "You were always, so kind. I don't want you to forget that, you're a great person, Keira. I'm sorry this has happened to you."

Keira swallowed, fingers tightening around the railing. His words hit hard. She looked away, out at the view in front of them. "I feel so lost, Peter."

"That's okay," he said simply. "You're still you."

She smiled again, she could see why her and Peter were friends. 

"This one time I was trying to teach you how to skip pebbles off the balcony, we were aiming between those trees," he pointed, her head turning.

"But, we accidentally hit Tony's car," he said, which made her actually laugh. 

"We did?"

"Yeah." He nudged her playfully with his elbow, the movement effortless. "You were freaking out, you thought he would kill us but then he just ended up killing me, he always had a soft spot for you."

Keira's heart clenched at the thought that she had once been able to find joy in the little things and that she meant that much to Tony. To all of them from the sounds of things.

When she wiped the tears that fell down her face, Peter's smile dimmed a little. "Hey, hey. It's ok," he said soothingly.

He didn't touch her, he knew how to respect personal space, but he shifted closer on the railing, his shoulder a few inches from her own. Just close enough so she knew she wasn't alone. 

"You were good at making people feel like they belonged," he said. 

"If only I could convince myself."

Keira swiped at her face, feeling a little embarrassed. But then she looked over and caught the encouraging smile on Peter's face and felt a little less small. 

The silence stretched again, gentle this time. Finally, she turned to him with a teasing smirk. "So... what's your power?"

Peter blinked. "My power?"

"Yeah." She gave him a teasing smirk. "You're an Avenger, right? So what do you do? Turn invisible? Breathe fire?"

Peter looked adoringly taken aback by the question, cheeks blushing. It made her smile. 

"Uh...no," he said. "Nothing that cool. I just...stick to stuff and have a built in warning system."

Keira's eyebrows lifted amusingly. "Like a really loud internal alarm?"

Peter huffed out a laugh. "Basically, yeah." He rubbed his chin as if trying to find a better way to explain it. "My spidey senses tingles every time something's about to happen."

She raised a brow. "Your spidey sense?"

He grinned. "Promise you won't freak out?"

Her eyes narrowed playfully. "You're not gonna take your face off or something are you?"

He laughed. "No. Definitely not that."

And then, before she could blink, he raised one hand and flicked his wrist and a thin silver web shot clean across the balcony, sticking perfectly to the far wall.  

Keira's mouth dropped as her brain tried to keep up with what she just saw. 

"No way," she exclaimed, watching him tug experimentally on the webbing like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

"Way," he said proudly. "Friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man at your service."

She stared at the web again, her expression a mix between disbelief and fascination. "How are you doing that?"

Peter flexed his wrist with a little flourish. "Nanotech web shooters," he explained, though it was clear he loved the way her eyes widened in awe. "Tony - well, Mr Stark, helped me with the suit, you should see it, its awesome!" 

When she kept staring, he chuckled. "Don't tell Tony I told you this, but first time I swung with these? Face planted straight into a dumpster."

Keira burst out laughing, a real laugh that made Peter's grin widen. She wiped at her eyes again, this time from amusement rather than sadness, before shaking her head incredulously. 

"I can't believe I don't remember any of this."

Peter shrugged easily before retracting the web with another flick of his wrists. "Doesn't matter," he said simply as if it were obvious because to him? It was. "You will eventually."

"Yeah," she said, trying not to let him see just how much it ached. "I hope so."

"Wanna see something cooler?" he asked, offering his hand. "Trust me." 

Keira frowned, glancing at his open palm. "Define trust." 

Peter only smiled. "You'll like this."

She hesitated, but his grin was too damn convincing. She slipped her hand into his.

"Ok," she said slowly. "Now what -" A heartbeat later, the ground vanished beneath her. 

Keira let out a sharp scream, clutching him as the world tilted beneath them. The wind tore through her curls, the ground rushing up far too fast. Then just as quickly, they were weightless again. Peter's web snapped them forwards, swinging them in a wide, smooth arc around the compound. 

She screamed. Then laughed. Then screamed again, clutching him as they swung out into open air, the ground blurring below them in dizzying arcs of motion.

When they landed on the grass, Peter crouched gracefully, setting her down as if she weighed nothing. Keira stumbled, breathless, clutching at her chest before breaking into laughter again. 

"Are you insane?" she gasped. 

"Maybe a little," Peter responded, laughing at her reaction. 

He didn't seem out of breath at all, just stood there watching her struggle to catch her breath with a smug sort of satisfaction. 

"You could've warned me!"

"And miss that face? Not a chance." He grinned. "Don't worry, you screamed less than Tony did."

She blinked. "You took Tony Stark for a swing?"

"Oh yeah," he said proudly. "He screamed like he was auditioning for an action movie or something. Threatened to turn my suit pink if I ever did it again. Totally worth it."

Keira threw her head back with another laugh, her ribs already aching from the sheer absurdity of it all, before shaking her head in disbelief. 

High above, on the balcony, Bucky watched, jaw clenched. He hadn't heard her laugh like that since before Hydra captured her.

Later, when he found Peter in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge, his voice came out sharp. "Parker."

The sharp tone froze him mid-sandwich. "Uh... hey, Mr. Barnes," he said carefully. "You want a bite?" 

Bucky didn't acknowledge the sandwich. His gaze stayed locked on Peter, unwavering and icy. Bucky crossed his arms, metal fingers clinking against the countertop. 

"What the hell were you thinking?"

Peter blinked, confused. "About what?"

"About throwing her off the damn balcony."

Peter froze. "Oh. That."

"Yeah, that," Bucky snapped, taking a slow step closer. "She's just getting used to being here again and you decide to throw her off a building?"

"It wasn't -" Peter stuttered quickly. "It was like, three stories tops -" 

Bucky's glare made him stop mid sentence. 

Peter winced. "Okay. Yeah, maybe that sounds worse when you say it out loud."

Bucky leaned forwards slightly, his voice low and rough. "She's been through enough, kid. You don't get to scare her for fun."

Peter stared at him for a long second before sighing, running a hand through his hair. "I wasn't trying to scare her, Mr Barnes. I was just trying to remind her what it feels like to live again. I just wanted to cheer her up," he defended, weakly. 

Bucky's jaw clenched. He wanted to argue, wanted to tell the kid he didn't know what the hell he was talking about. 

"She laughed," Peter said softly. "You should've heard her. It wasn't forced or polite, it was...real." He looked up, meeting Bucky's stare without flinching. "I don't think she's done that since she woke up in the hospital."

That silenced him, the memory of that sound replaying in his head. Light and wild and so heartbreakingly familiar. 

Peter shifted awkwardly, his voice quieter now. "She's scared and everyone keeps treating her like glass. But she doesn't need a cage Mr Barnes. She needs to feel safe enough to fall without breaking."

For a long time, Bucky didn't answer. His expression softening just enough to show the exhaustion underneath. Rubbing the back of his neck, he let out a big sigh. "She used to laugh like that all the time."

Peter smiled faintly. "Then maybe it's starting to come back."

The silence that followed was softer now. Finally, Bucky sighed. The fight leaving his voice. "Just... don't pull anymore stunts like that again. Got it?"

"Got it." Peter grinned. "You want me to draw up an itinerary for next time?"

Bucky shot him a look that could kill, but the corner of his mouth twitched like he was holding back a reluctant smile. "Kid," he warned. 

Peter raised his hands in surrender. "Kidding. No itinerary. Got it."

"And stop calling me, Mr Barnes."

He shook his head. Sometimes he forgot just how much Peter reminded him of himself in his younger, more reckless years. The thought made something in his chest tighten, but he shook off the feeling and nodded before turning to leave. He sighed once more and paused, glancing back at the kid. 

"Hey, Parker."

Peter looked up, half expecting another lecture. 

"Thanks," Bucky said quietly. "For making her laugh."

Peter smiled, warmth flickering in his eyes. "Anytime, Mr. Barn -"

"Don't."

Peter laughed. "Right. Bucky. Got it."

Chapter Text

The hum of the treadmill was the only sound in the gym. The rest of the compound had gone quiet, the faint clatter of dinner plates replaced by the rhythmic pounding of Keira's footsteps against the belt. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, a few curls sticking to her temples. Sweat clinging to the back of her neck, the steady burn in her legs the only thing anchoring her thoughts.

Running was simple. Running didn't require remembering. She didn't notice when he walked in, not until his voice broke through the music in her headphones.

"You skipped dinner."

She startled, glancing over her shoulder to find Bucky standing beside her, arms folded, his expression unreadable. His T-shirt clung to his shoulders and his metal arm glinted faintly under the gym lights.

Keira slowed the treadmill slightly, tugging one earbud out. "Wasn't hungry."

He raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "You still need to eat."

Her jaw tightened. "I don't need to eat if I don't want to."

Bucky sighed, leaning against the treadmill controls and crossing his arms tighter. "Keira, don't argue with me. That's not how this works. You need fuel. You need rest. You need something that doesn't involve running a marathon at eleven p.m."

She gave him a look, a half glare, half challenge. "I'm not your responsibility, you know. You don't -"

The words were barely out before her foot slipped. The treadmill caught the edge of her shoe and she gasped, losing her balance.

Bucky lunged forward, metal fingers catching her arm and pulling her upright. She stumbled into him, breathless, palms flat against his chest. One hand wrapped instinctively around her hip, the other still holding her steady. His eyes darkening.

Keira's eyes were wide in surprise, a flush creeping up her neck. Her breathing coming hard and fast like she was still running, her pulse thrumming in her throat.

He didn't let go. The machine still whirred beside them, but Bucky reached past her, hitting the stop button with a sharp beep.

"You alright?" His voice was low, breath close against her temple.

She swallowed, trying to step back, to put space between them, but his hand stayed on her hip. She took a slow breath, gathering herself. She was almost dizzy with the nearness of him.

"I'm fine," she murmured, her pulse still roaring in her ears. "I just -"

His metal hand tightened infinitesimally, grounding her as she swayed.

His gaze met hers, sharp and searching. "You sure about that?"

She nodded, breathlessly. "Yeah. Just clumsy, I guess."

When he finally let go and stepped back, she caught sight of the glint of his arm, the way the dim light slid across its plates. Her eyes lingered.

"I read about what happened to you. I'm sorry," she said quietly, gaze tracing the black and gold patterns along his arm. "Does it ever hurt?"

Bucky flexed his fingers slightly, watching the plates shift with a quiet whir. "Sometimes," he admitted gruffly. "But not as much as it used to."

His eyes flicked up to hers again, something unreadable in his expression, like he wasn't sure if she was asking about pain, or something else entirely. A beat passed before Keira exhaled softly and nodded, not pressing further. She could tell it wasn't easy for him, even if neither of them understood exactly why that tension existed between them.

Keira took a slow step closer. "Can I...?" Her voice faltered.

He blinked. "You wanna touch it?"

She nodded, hesitating. "I mean, only if it's okay?"

His throat worked, a sharp swallow before he nodded, offering his left arm between them. The metal gleamed under the harsh gym lights, cool to the touch when she finally brushed tentative fingers along its surface.

Keira's breath hitched. It was smoother than she expected in some places, ridged in others, like parts of him had been welded together painstakingly over time. She traced one seam with her thumb before glancing up, finding Bucky watching her with an intensity that made heat flare across her cheeks and lower.

He cleared his throat roughly, and she pulled her hand back too quickly. Neither said a word, the silence stretching a few heartbeats too long.

"It's kind of beautiful," she murmured, half to herself.

He huffed a quiet laugh.

"What?" she asked, smiling curiously at his reaction.

"It's just... not the first time you've said that," he admitted, his eyes burning into hers.

Her brows lifted slightly. "I have?"

He nodded, nostalgia flickering across his face. "More than once. You used to tell me it was the prettiest arm you'd ever seen."

She blushed and looked away. Past her must have had a thing for him, because present her certainly did.

She paused as a memory flickered in her mind.

Her hand in his. The same metal against her skin. A whisper of his voice. "You're safe, I've got you."

Her breath caught. The gym blurred for a heartbeat.

"Keira?" Bucky's voice snapped her back.

She blinked, stumbling a step away, hand still hovering near his arm.

"You okay?"

She swallowed hard. "Yeah. I just... I saw something."

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated, pressing her fingers to her temple. "I keep having these flashes. Little things. Voices, faces, moments that feel real, but I can't tell when or where they happened."

She didn't tell him about the voice, his voice, low and sure in her mind. She didn't say how real it felt, or how her chest tightened like something vital had been ripped away before she even realized it was there to begin with.

Bucky's jaw tightened, a thousand thoughts flickering behind his eyes. He wanted to ask what she'd seen, if she'd remembered him, but he didn't.

Instead, he said softly, "That's good, Keira. It means your memories are trying to find its way back."

She looked up at him, eyes glassy. "But what if it doesn't? What if I never get it all back?"

He stepped closer again, voice low and certain. "Then we'll make new ones."

Something in her chest cracked open at that.

His gaze burned into hers like a brand. This close, Keira could see the faint specks of gold in his eyes, the stubble along his jaw. She wanted to reach out, to trace those lines, to see how his skin would feel against hers. Her hands itched for something, for him.

Bucky cleared his throat, shifting his weight and putting a few vital breaths between them again. Keira exhaled, suddenly aware of how close they still were, how her fingers had unconsciously curled toward him.

"I should... probably shower," she murmured, stepping back finally.

Bucky nodded stiffly, shoving his hands into his pockets like he didn't trust them either. "Right."

Neither moved for a moment too long before Keira turned away, the heat of his gaze lingering on her back as she left the gym and stepped into the cool hallway air, flushed and unsteady, her mind tangled in too many unanswered questions.

Bucky watched her go, chest tight. He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over his face. He couldn't shake the look in her eyes, that flicker of recognition, that spark that felt like hope and heartbreak all at once. A flame catching, then snuffed out, leaving only smoke... and memory.

Chapter Text

Keira spent the following day mostly to herself. The team had been called out on a mission somewhere and had only just returned. She walked up the stairs from her room, curls loose around her shoulders, still damp from her shower. Her pink pyjama pants brushed softly against her legs, the long sleeved black top hugging her frame just enough to keep her warm.

When she reached the kitchen, she found Natasha there. The redhead leaned casually against the counter, her hair in a low braid, still in mission gear but with her boots discarded near the door. A half empty glass sat in front of her, something creamy swirling in her glass.

"Hey, how was the mission?" Keira asked.

Natasha glanced up, lips curving into a half grin. Her clothes were dusty and torn in places, but the spark in her eyes hadn't dimmed at all.

"Just the usual," she said lightly, taking a sip of her drink. "Bad guys, explosions, Steve lecturing us like a mother hen, the works."

Keira laughed, leaning against the counter beside her. For a moment, silence lingered, companionable but strange.

Keira nodded toward Natasha's drink. "What's that?"

Nat smirked, lifting her glass. "A dirty soda. You've never had one?"

Keira shook her head, curious. "No... sounds questionable though."

That earned a quiet laugh. Natasha grabbed another glass, filling it halfway with Coke. Then she poured in a drizzle of vanilla syrup, followed by a generous splash of heavy cream. She stirred it with a spoon, the swirl turning a caramel colour.

"Alright," she said, sliding the glass across the counter. "Try it."

Keira eyed it suspiciously, then took a tentative sip. The sweetness hit first, followed by the cream, smooth, fizzy, and surprisingly addictive.

Her brows lifted in surprise. "That's actually really good."

Natasha's grin softened. "Told you."

Keira took another sip. "It's like dessert in a glass. There must be a thousand calories in this."

Natasha shrugged shamelessly. "Probably more. But sometimes you've got to let yourself be a little bad."

Keira smiled, humming in approval. "Who came up with this?"

For a moment, Natasha hesitated. Her eyes dropped to the counter, thumb tracing the rim of her glass.

"A friend used to make them for me," she said quietly, a faint smile ghosting across her lips. "Someone who swore it was the only good thing America had to offer."

Keira laughed softly. "Sounds like they were right."

"Yeah." Natasha's gaze flickered up at her again, something unreadable in her expression. "She was right about a lot of things."

The warmth in the room shifted, not uncomfortable, but heavy with something Keira couldn't name. She had a feeling she knew who she was talking about.

"So... this friend of yours, were you two close?" Keira asked.

Nat's lips curved faintly. "The closest."

Keira's throat tightened. She tried to lighten the mood. "Well, I'm glad you taught me her drink. It's nice... feels kind of comforting."

Natasha smirked, tension easing. "You always did like sweet things."

A few minutes passed in companionable quiet before Natasha glanced sideways. "So...any of the guys catch your eye yet?"

Keira choked on her drink, laughing.

Nat smirked, raising an eyebrow. "I'll take that as a no."

Keira rolled her eyes, cheeks warming. "I barely even know them," she said quickly.

A shadow of sadness crossed Nat's face.

"Sorry, I just meant -"

"Not even Bucky?" Natasha cut in.

Keira blinked. "What do you mean?"

Nat shrugged, swirling her drink. "Just an observation. The two of you were sitting awfully close the other day. I thought maybe there was a spark."

Keira blushed deeper, looking down at her drink. "It's not like that."

Nat's voice softened. "Yeah? Then what is it like?"

"We're..." Keira fidgeted with the spoon. "We're just friends, that's all."

Natasha tilted her head. "You sure about that?"

The question carried a weight that made Keira pause, her heart tightening. "I... yeah. Yes," she said too firmly. "We're just friends. Like we always were. Right?"

Natasha's gaze softened, though something knowing lingered in her eyes. She didn't push, just took another slow sip before setting her glass down.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "Just friends."

But the way her fingers tapped against the counter told a different story.

A beat passed before Nat added softly, "Don't force it, Keira. Memories have a way of finding their way home, whether you're ready or not."

Keira looked up, eyes soft. "Do you really think so?"

"I know so."

Keira smiled faintly, taking another sip. Maybe Natasha was right. Maybe forcing things would only make it harder.

They sat in silence for a moment, two women who didn't know how to say everything they wanted to, sipping something sweet and familiar under the soft glow of the kitchen lights.

Then came a heavy metallic clunk from the hallway, followed by slow, tired footsteps. Natasha glanced over her shoulder just as Bucky appeared in the doorway, hair damp with sweat, tactical suit scuffed and streaked with dirt. He looked exhausted, jaw tight, a small gash cutting across his cheek.

"Speak of the devil," Nat murmured with a smirk.

Bucky's gaze flicked between them, eyebrow raised. His eyes lingered on the glass in Keira's hand, a small smile before he looked away, rubbing a hand through his hair.

"What are you two gossiping about now?" he grumbled, heading towards the fridge and pulling out a beer.

Nat lifted her chin with a sly smile. "Oh, just girl talk. Like who's the hottest Avenger."

Bucky rolled his eyes and took a swig of his beer. "And who's the winner this week?"

Natasha made a show of thinking. "Hmm... I think Steve's looking pretty good these days."

Bucky shook his head with a huff. "You're biased."

Keira looked at her in surprise. Nat just rolled her eyes, then winked before leaving them alone.

Once she was out of earshot, Keira turned to him. "Nat and Steve? Really?"

Bucky snorted, taking another sip of his beer. "Yeah. Those two have been dancing around each other for years."

Keira blinked, then shook her head. "Huh. And here I thought Captain America was married to his shield."

That earned a surprised laugh from Bucky, rough and genuine. Then silence again, comfortable but weighted.

Keira's eyes drifted to the cut on his cheek. "You're hurt."

He shrugged, leaning against the counter. "Nothing I haven't had before."

She frowned, stepping closer. "That doesn't mean you shouldn't clean it."

He didn't argue, just watched her quietly as she started rummaging through drawers. He was glad to see that her caring heart was still the same.

"What are you looking for?"

"First aid kit," she muttered. "You guys must have one somewhere. Probably a hundred."

His lips twitched faintly. "Cabinet above the microwave."

She reached up and grabbed it before setting it on the counter. "Sit," she ordered, then softened. "Please?"

He raised an amused brow. "You giving orders now?"

"Only when someone's being stubborn," she shot back, tone light but steady.

That earned her a small smile. He obeyed and sat down, watching her quietly as she worked. When she stepped close, the air shifted, the quiet hum of the fridge suddenly loud against her heartbeat.

"Hold still," she murmured.

He did.

She dabbed the antiseptic over his cut, gentle but sure, like she was afraid of hurting him, like that was possible. He didn't flinch, just studied her face, memorizing the familiar little things, the faint crease in her brow, the way she bit her lip in concentration. She smelt like vanilla and something sweet, her shampoo probably. For half a second he almost forgot how to breathe normally because god he missed her, missed this.

He caught her eye for a moment, her gaze almost studying him. He could just watch her forever. She dropped her gaze and cleared her throat.

"So," she said after a moment, "is this the part where you tell me how tough you are for getting beat up on the mission?"

He huffed a laugh. "Something like that. You should see the other guy."

She grinned softly. "I have no doubt."

She finished up by taping his cut carefully. He smiled down at her, watching her take care of him, like she used to...

"There, all better," she smiled, clearing up.

Their eyes met, something quiet but electric flickering between them.

"Thanks," he said, his voice low and almost intimate in the empty space between them.

Keira looked at him, she could see the tried shadows in his eyes, the slight dip to his smile that made her heart ache without understanding why.

"Tony told me I used to work for Shield as a nurse," she said after a pause.

Bucky's gaze softened. "You did. You were one of the best."

"People keep talking about me like I was some kind of saint."

"Because it's true," he said simply.

Silence stretched, warm but heavy. His gaze traced over her face like he was afraid to miss something.

"There had to be bad things too, right?" she asked quietly.

He blinked, caught off guard by her question. "Everyone has some bad in them, Keira. But you... you always found the light in everything. In everyone."

He hesitated, voice rough. "You made me want to be better. You made me feel... worth something. Even when I was at my worst."

It slipped out before he could stop it and for a second Bucky almost wished he could take it back."

Her breath caught. "Bucky..."

He sighed, looking away. "Forget it. Just... forget I said that."

"I don't want to forget," she whispered. His head snapped up again, something blazing behind his eyes.

"I want to remember. Please, help me," she asked, tears in her eyes. "What was I like?"

Bucky swallowed hard, his eyes locked on hers. He hesitated, as if weighing each word before speaking, not wanting to overwhelm her but unable to stop himself from telling her the truth.

"You were fearless," he started quietly. "Stubborn as hell."

A flicker of amusement softening across his expression before fading again. "And kind. So damn kind it used to piss me off sometimes."

"Why?" she laughed slightly.

"Because you always saw the good in people, sometimes that wasn't always safe. You had your number of issues with guys thinking they had a chance with you. Steve and I would scare them away for you," he told her which again made her chuckle.

He looked past her, his voice softening again. "You'd bring Tony coffee when he was working in the lab at all hours, sometimes you would help him. You would also sit with Bruce for hours while he rambled on about god knows what. You stayed up with Wanda when she couldn't sleep or had nightmares Watching movie marathons just so she wouldn't be alone."

Then quieter, "And with me..." A beat passed where something vulnerable flashed across Bucky's face before vanishing behind another mask entirely just seconds later. "You never let me live in the past, you always found a way to bring me back..."

His voice broke off, his jaw tightening as if he had said too much. The weight of his words hung between them, heavy with emotions neither of them knew how to name.

Keira's breath caught in her throat. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, fingers curling into the fabric of her top as she tried to process it all. The fragments he had just handed back to her like broken pieces she didn't know how to fit together.

"I...i'm sorry," she swallowed hard, shaking her head slightly before meeting his gaze again with watery eyes. "I don't remember any of that."

Bucky exhaled sharply through his nose, almost like a butter laugh but not quite there yet, before shrugging stiffly. "Yeah, well... maybe one day you will." His voice lowered. "You're still that person, doll. She's in there. I see it every day."

She felt a lump in her throat at the quiet conviction in his voice, the way he still looked at her so patiently like he was waiting. Keira wiped away some tears that fell down her face. It was a lot to take in.

She looked up at him again with a broken, humourless smile. "I'm trying..."

His heart squeezed tightly in his chest at the sight of her tears, but his expression remained stoic, a mask of strength and patience even when he felt like he was falling apart inside.

"I know, Keira," he murmured, reaching out and brushing a tear from her cheek gently with his thumb. "I know you are."

Her breath hitched at the touch, the sudden closeness of him, the tender way he was looking at her, like she was something fragile. His fingers lingered a second too long on her skin before he pulled back, shoving his hands into his pockets again as if to stop himself from reaching for her.

"So I was stubborn, huh?" she asked, a faint smile on her face as she wiped more tears away.

He huffed a laugh, his mask lifting slightly. "Stubborn doesn't even cover it."

He leaned back against the counter again, watching her silently for a moment before adding quietly. "You'd argue about what colour the sky was if you thought you were right."

"Maybe I was," she shrugged.

He smirked. "Sometimes you were. But most times, you just liked arguing because you could."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Sounds like you're just a sore loser."

"I know when to pick my battles, sweetheart. Some things are easier when I just let you win," he smirked.

"Hey, be nice to me. I did fix your face, remember," she teased him.

His smirk turned into a crooked smile. "Yeah. I remember."

The words lingered, heavy with meaning neither dared to say. Then his gaze softened as he tested the waters, walking closer towards her before adding quietly, "You can save it again tomorrow if you want."

She blushed, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible."

"And you're still standing here."

Their eyes met again, the kitchen lights glinting off his metal arm and the faint smile tugging on both of their lips. The kind of silence that says everything words can't. The moment stretched, warm and quiet between them until the sound of footsteps down the hall broke the spell.

Bucky stepped back back slightly, clearing his throat. "You should get some rest," he murmured, his voice softer than before.

Keira hesitated for half a second before nodding. "Yeah... you too. That cut won't heal itself."

His lips quirked again at that. "Yes, ma'am."

He noticed her blush again, her lips catching his gaze before he dipped his head slightly and turned towards the hallway.

As he turned to go, she called out softly, "Bucky?"

He paused instantly, shoulders tensing for half a breath before turning back to look at her. "Yeah?"

She bit her lip briefly, suddenly unsure why she had even stopped him in the first place. So instead Keira offered a small smile over her shoulder as she moved past him towards the stairs that led up towards her bedroom.

"Sweet dreams."

He froze for a moment, there was something about the way she said those words. God help him, if her memories were intact he would be carrying her upstairs right now where neither of them would be getting much sleep. "You too, doll," he managed to say.

When she disappeared down the hall, Bucky stayed standing there under the dim kitchen light, hope and heartbreak tangled in his chest like shrapnel. For a moment, it almost felt like the old days again, the quiet flirting, the lingering looks. The early days where they had both wanted each other but were too shy to admit it or to make the first move.

He missed her. Her voice, her warmth, her laugh. The nights were the worst, knowing she was down the hall but not in the bed beside him like she used to always be. It killed him and he had yet to sleep through the night. It didn't feel right anymore...

Tonight, though, tonight gave him something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Hope.

Chapter Text

Keira sat curled on the couch the next morning, wearing a soft grey hoodie, faded jeans, and black ankle boots. Her long wavy hair spilled down her back, still slightly tousled from sleep. She absently traced the rim of her mug with one finger, lost in thought. The compound was quiet, too quiet and the silence only made her thoughts louder.

She didn't even hear Tony until his voice cut through the stillness.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty."

Startled, she looked up. He was leaning in the doorway, coffee in one hand, sunglasses still on despite being indoors.

"Morning," she said softly, taking a sip of her coffee.

He tilted his head, studying her. "You doing okay?"

Her heart jumped a little, but she managed a small shrug. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

Tony hummed, stepping into the room and settling across from her. "About what?"

Keira lifted one shoulder with a shrug, taking another sip. "Everything, I guess."

He smiled faintly. "I was gonna ask, you feel up for a little field trip today?"

Her brows furrowed. "Where to?"

"Shield headquarters."

Her fingers froze around her mug. "What?"

Tony took a sip of his own coffee before continuing, casual but deliberate. "I figured it might help jog some memories, seeing the place where you used to work. Your old office." He tried to sound offhand, but his eyes were sharp, watching her reaction.

Keira stared down into her coffee like the answer might be hiding there. "Will you be there too?"

He smirked fainty at that. "Like I'd let my favourite nurse go unsupervised in a building full of super spies and questionable cafeteria food."

It was a joke, but there was truth beneath it. He wasn't letting her out of his sight anytime soon.

A beat passed before Keira nodded slowly. She wasn't sure if this would help anything, or make everything worse, but she was willing to try.

"Okay."

Tony smiled faintly. "Atta girl. Let's go."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxox

The morning air was cool as they left the compound, the wind brushing against her skin like a thousand tiny pinpricks. The drive was mostly quiet, Tony weaving through traffic while the radio murmured softly in the background. Keira stared out the window, her thoughts a blur.

When they finally pulled up outside Shield headquarters, her chest tightened, a mix of nerves and anticipation.

As they walked through the busy lobby, Tony glanced over at her. "You okay?"

She swallowed and nodded. "Yeah... I'm fine."

Her voice was steady, but her hands were trembling. The building buzzed with life. Agents moving briskly, screens flashing, voices echoing. It felt familiar, and that scared her more than if it hadn't.

Tony placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "This way."

She followed him into the elevator, her pulse quickening. When the doors opened onto a quieter floor, Keira froze. The hallway was lined with framed mission photos and reports. Some faces she recognized. Others she didn't. They passed a few people who waved and smiled, some even came up to her and said it was so good to see her again but...she didn't remember a single person...it was overwhelming. 

"Your old office is around that corner," Tony said gently. "Take your time."

Her fingers brushed the wall as she walked, grounding herself, until her eyes caught on a nameplate near the end of the hall.

K. WATSON | MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Her stomach dropped. Something about seeing those letters etched into metal made her feel off, she felt like this was someone else's life, not hers. She didn't remember working here, but as she walked inside she looked around and a familiar feeling hit her. It felt like stepping back into a memory she hadn't lived yet. Every inch of the office screamed her.

A dusty coffee mug still sat on the desk. Files were stacked neatly beside sketches and doodles, anatomical drawings mixed with silly cartoons, like a tiny raccoon in scrubs next to an IV stand. A sweater hung over the chair back. Photos lined the shelves above the computer, snapshots of laughter and exhaustion in equal measure. But one photo caught her attention more than the rest, framed slightly apart, like it was meant to be seen.

Her and Bucky.

He was pressing a kiss to the top of her head mid-laugh, her smile wide, bright, alive. Her fingers trembled as she reached for it. 

"Told you this place would help."

She spun around to find Tony leaning against the doorway, arms folded but eyes soft as he watched realisation settle over her features. And then, before she could stop it, tears blurred her vision. He didn't say anything. Just stepped forwards and pulled her into a tight hug. She cried into his shoulder until her breathing steadied again.

When she finally pulled away, she swiped at her eyes with her sleeve. "I'm sorry."

Tony smirked gently. "Don't be. If anyone deserves to ugly cry in their old office, it's you."

That made her laugh, a wet sound that still managed to lift the heaviness a little. She turned back to the room. The corkboard behind her desk was cluttered with post-its. Grocery lists, mission notes, and inside jokes. One read "Stop stealing my pens – N." in bold black ink beside a frowning stick figure.

Tony watched her quietly. "So, remember anything yet?"

Before she could answer, a knock sounded at the door. A tall, imposing man stepped in, dark coat, eyepatch, gravel in his voice.

"Keira."

Her spine straightened instinctively.

"Nick Fury," he introduced, holding out a hand. "We've met before."

She hesitated before taking it. "I've been told."

His mouth twitched. "It's good to see you again."

He studied her a long moment. "Tony said you were back. It's good to see you again."

Keira shifted slightly under his piercing gaze, that single dark eye seeming to see right through her. There was something about him that felt familiar, but not in the warm way Bucky or Tony did. This was sharper, heavier.

"Uh, you too...I don't remember working for you," she admitted softly.

Fury smirked faintly before stepping over towards her desk and reaching into his coat pocket. "That's a damn shame." 

He pulled out a small key card and slid it across her desk. "Because I could really use my best medic back on rotation."

Her breath caught as she stared down at it, the Shield logo gleaming up at her. Her badge?

"Welcome home, Miss Watson," Fury said, over his shoulder as he turned towards the door. 

She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. 

"Stark. A word?" Fury asked. 

Then he vanished down the hallway without another word leaving behind only silence between herself and Stark now..."Walk around a little kid," Tony told her before walking out of her office.

They left her alone in the office, silence closing in like a weight. The air felt suddenly too thin. Keira walked out, suddenly desperate for space. For air. She barely made it to the elevator before a hand caught her wrist. She spun and came face to face with a man she didn't recognize.

"Keira," he said smoothly. "Hey, you're back."

She blinked at him, struggling to remember a name, anything. "I... I'm sorry, do I know you?"

He smiled easily. "It's me Nick, you really don't recognise me? I missed you, baby," he said, pulling her into a tight hug that felt more like an arm lock than a welcome home.

Keira tried to pull back but he held on tight, still talking quietly into her hair. She managed to push him back a little little. Something about his touch felt wrong. A warning flare ignited in the back of her mind. 

"Baby?" she questioned him, feeling confused.

He stepped closer, his smile faltering for half a second before sliding back into place like a mask. "Damn," he said, with an exaggerated sigh. "They really did wipe you clean, huh?"

Keira frowned and tried to walk away but he blocked her way. "You really don't remember me, do you?"

She frowned again. "Should I?" 

His grin widened. "You should, we used to date."

The words landed like a sucker punch, leaving Keira reeling. She took another step back, trying to sort through the haze in her mind for any trace of this man. But nothing came. 

"We...we dated?" she echoed weakly. 

He gave her a charming smile, his gaze roaming over her like he was sizing her up like a piece of property. "Yeah, for a couple of months."

Keira swallowed hard, trying to keep her breathing even despite the cold dread pooling in her stomach. "But, that's not possible..." 

Bucky had told her she hadn't been dating anybody and nobody else mentioned this to her either. Nick chuckled, but the sound was cold somehow. "Relax, babe," he said, taking another step closer. "Maybe this will help you remem -."

He didn't finish. She pushed him away once more this time more forceful. "You're lying."

"Lying?" he scoffed, the smirk twisting into something sharper. "You and I...we were good together. You used to drag me to your office, sit up on that desk of yours and -"

"Stop," she said sharply, backing up until she hit the wall.

"Oh come on, " he said, closing the distance between him, his hands on her waist. "Just let me -" 

In a blur of motion, a metal hand slammed him back against the wall with a sickening crack and twisting his arm behind his back.

"Bucky," she gasped.

His voice was low, dangerous. "Touch her again, and I'll break your fucking arm."

The man struggled, whining from the pain. "It's not what it looks like -"

"Really?" Bucky spun him around so his fist connected with his jaw, sending Nick sprawling to the ground.

"Enough," Steve's voice cut in as he grabbed hold of Nick and forcing him to his feet. "I've got him.

Bucky didn't argue. His chest was heaving, metal hand still curled into a fist as Steve dragged the man away down the hall.

Bucky stood there, chest heaving, eyes burning with barely contained fury before turning to Keira.

"You okay?" he asked roughly.

She nodded, breath shaky. "You didn't have to -"

"Yes, I did." His tone was like steel, but his expression softened. "That asshole always had a thing for you."

Keira exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as Bucky hovered protectively beside her, his body angled like he was still ready to lunge if that bastard so much as looked in their direction again

"I don't remember him at all," she whispered.

"Don't worry, you don't need to."

"So, I never dated him?"  

"No," Bucky muttered. "You never dated him. He tried, you said no, every time." 

A beat passed before he added quietly. "And if I ever catch him near you again, he won't be walking away next time."

His tone wasn't a threat, it was a promise. One that sent an involuntary shiver down Keira's spine despite the warmth spreading through her chest at his protectiveness. She exhaled slowly, glancing back towards where Steve had dragged Nick off before meeting Bucky's gaze again with a faint smile tugging at her lips.

She swallowed hard. "Thank you... for being there."

He gave her a grim half-smile. "Always."

There was something heavy in the air between them, something that went beyond gratitude. Keira knew he was still bristling with adrenaline, anger rolling off him in quiet waves despite his attempts to hide it. His gaze was intense, searching... and then his eyes dropped to the floor as Tony rounded the corner.

"What the hell happened?"

Bucky's jaw flexed. "Guy cornered her. It's handled."

Tony looked between them, reading the situation instantly. "You okay, kid?" he asked, his expression softening as he turned to face her. 

Keira nodded faintly, pushing off the wall, the adrenaline receding, leaving her feeling shaky. "I'm fine."

Tony studied her for a moment, his gaze flickering over her trembling frame. "Yeah," Tony muttered sarcastically. "You look fine." 

He turned to Bucky. "You take her home. I'll deal with that asshole."

Bucky's eyes flicked toward Tony, and after a moment, he gave a curt nod. Wordlessly, he stepped beside Keira, already guiding her toward the exit.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

They didn't speak much on the drive. The city slipped past in soft blurs of colour and noise, but inside the car, it was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt strangely safe. 

 At a red light, Bucky glanced over. "You hungry?"

She blinked, surprised by the question. "I could eat."

They ended up at a small diner, the kind with mismatched chairs and faded photographs on the wall and a warm, homey feel to it. Bucky ordered their usual and a strawberry milkshake for them both, earning him a confused look from Keira which only made him smile. A silence fell between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Keira fidgeted with her napkin, her gaze drifting to the street outside as Bucky watched her quietly. 

 After a moment, he leaned back in his chair, drumming his metal fingers against the wood table. "You ok?"

"Yeah," she replied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

He lifted his eyebrow, not buying her casual tone. "You always were a terrible liar."

She rolled her eyes, a familiar reaction that made his mouth twitch involuntarily at the edge. "I'm fine, really," she insisted, but her voice wavered slightly.

His eyes softened. "You don't seem fine." 

"Bucky..." she wanted to ask him, something about their friendship seemed wrong, like she was missing a very important part of their relationship. They weren't together, so what was it. 

"How did I end up at the compound? I mean, I know I get on with you all but, I'm not an Avenger. I used to have a place of my own right after university. It was an apartment but, I can't remember ever leaving..."

Bucky's expression tightened, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of his stomach as he considered her question. He knew the real answer, that she had moved into the compound to be closer to him, but he couldn't tell her that. He cleared his throat.

"You had a place, yeah... but it was a shitty apartment in a not-so-great part of town," he said gruffly, his gaze flickering away. "You ended up falling asleep on the couch in your office between shifts most nights. Tony took pity on you and offered you a place at the compound, considering it was only 10 mins away, you accepted." 

It wasn't a total lie, she had slept on that sofa in her office many times...with him, usually she would be directly on top of him after they had well and truly taken advantage of her private office after hours. The way he would bend her over, showing her just how fucking crazy she made him. Or the way she would ride him after her many orgasms, still aiming for another. 

The couch had been well and truly used, that was until he suggested she come back to the compound with him, convincing her that his bed was a much bigger playground for them. She had been nervous of people finding out about them at first, but eventually she didn't care and started treating the compound like her home, it didn't take long for everyone else to fall in love with her, just like he had. 

A moment passed as Keira absorbed his words, her expression shifting into one of hesitant relief at his explanation. "Makes sense, I guess," she muttered, rubbing her temple.

Bucky leaned one arm on the table, studying her curiously. "Feel better now?"

"Yeah," she said, relaxing a little but still wishing she had more answers.

The waitress came over with their drinks, he nodded and muttered a polite thank you as they both took a sip. Strawberry milkshakes were her favourite and by the way she closed her eyes after taking a sip, it made him smile. 

"Anything else you want to know?" he asked her, knowing her mind was full of questions. 

Keira hesitated, looking around. The diner was cozy. All warm lights, checkered floors, and the faint scent of coffee and bacon was lingering in the air. It felt, familiar. "I've been here before, haven't I?"

"Yeah," he said quietly. "We used to come here a lot."

"We?"

"Yeah," he confirmed, the corner of his mouth twitching up in a lopsided smile. 

"Me and you?" she asked. 

"And the rest of the team," he lied, hating that he had to, everything felt like he was misleading her, he didn't agree with not telling her the truth, not one bit. But he also knew too much information could cause her to spiral. 

 Bucky leaned back, studying her like he was committing the moment to memory. "You always used to order the same thing here," he said quietly. 

 She tilted her head. "Oh yeah? What was it?"

"Chicken club sandwich. Extra pickles. Strawberry milkshake." 

She laughed softly. "That... actually sounds like something I'd order."

Bucky grinned as the waitress came over with their food. "Told you."

Keira couldn't help but smile at how right he was. She thanked the waitress and then took a bite of her sandwich, her eyes lighting up. "Oh my god." She swallowed quickly and pointed at it with her finger as if Bucky hadn't already watched her eat this exact meal two dozen times before. "This is amazing."

Bucky just smirked into his burger, chewing slowly before muttering, "Knew you'd say that."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the grin tugging at her lips as she took another bite of her sandwich and for half a second it felt like nothing had changed at all. Especially when she mixed her mayonnaise and ketchup and sprinkled it with pepper before dipping the food into it, one of her little habits she did that he found adorable. 

She was still there, his Keira. Please remember me, remember us he begged her silently. 

Then Keira did something unexpected. She reached across the table and swiped one of Bucky's fries, popping it into her mouth with a playful smirk, just like she always used to do when they came here before.   

Bucky froze mid-bite, his eyes widening slightly at the gesture, so familiar, so her, that for a second he thought maybe... just maybe... But then Keira blinked and frowned slightly, like even she wasn't sure why she'd done that. She pulled her hand back slowly, clearing her throat awkwardly as she focused on her milkshake instead of meeting his gaze. 

Bucky swallowed hard and forced himself to look away as well, pretending not to notice how tightly his metal fingers were gripping his thigh under the table as hope twisted painfully in his chest again. 

Come back to me, sweetheart.

For a moment, they ate in comfortable silence, the only sound between them the clinking of silverware and the occasional rustle of wrappers. 

 Finally, she cleared her throat. "So, what else don't I know about myself?"

He glanced up, arching an eyebrow curiously. "What do you want to know?"

She took a sip of her milkshake. "I don't know, how much do you know about me?" 

He smiled faintly. "Pretty sure I know every little thing about you."

She laughed, shaking her head incredulously. "Every little thing? Seriously?" 

 He nodded, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin. "Every little thing." 

 She raised a doubtful eyebrow, almost playfully. "Ok," she challenged. "What's my favourite season?"

Bucky didn't hesitate. "Winter." 

Keira blinked, surprised. "Really? I thought I'd be more of a summer person." 

He chuckled low in his throat, eyes gleaming with mischief, like he knew something she didn't. "Nah. You love the summer for the dresses but the winter is what you really love, you said snow makes -" 

"Makes everything beautiful," she finished saying. 

Bucky nodded, his gaze locked on hers. "Yeah... that's exactly what you said." 

 She stared at him for a long moment, like she was searching his face for something. He stayed quiet, letting her look. Her eyes held a thousand questions, but when she finally spoke, her voice was soft, almost hushed. 

"Bet you can't guess my favourite snack."

Bucky chuckled, leaning forward on his forearms. "That one's easy. Cheesy Doritos, sometimes you dipped them in a shit ton of sour cream."

She groaned. "Oh my God, that is my favourite," she admitted, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "This is unfair, you know me too well." 

He smirked, his gaze never wavering. "I did say I know everything about you, didn't I?"

Her laughter faded, her smile dropping. She took another sip of her milkshake as she felt another wave of uncertainty wash over her "I'm sorry I don't remember you."

"Hey." His voice was firmer, more serious this time. "Don't apologize, this isn't your fault."

He reached out, gently taking her hand in his human one, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the cold metal of his left hand."None of this is your fault," he repeated softly. "You just need some time to remember." 

His throat felt tight but he managed a shaky smile as he added, "And I'll be here... when you do."

Her eyes softened at his words, something almost like vulnerability flickered across her expression as she looked at their intertwined fingers, his thumb gently tracing over her knuckles. Her gaze found his again. Hope, fear, confusion, all warring for dominance. 

"Bucky...will you be honest with me?" She breathed in a shaky breath before letting it out, her gaze on his. "I...I have questions."

He nodded, encouragingly. "Whatever you want to know...I'll tell you." 

She hesitated, her gaze drifting back to their hands before meeting his again. "We were close, weren't we?" 

Bucky tensed at that, but he didn't break eye contact, didn't let any of his heartbreak or desperation show. "Yeah," he said quietly. "Yeah, we were."  

"No, I don't mean...were we really just friends?" 

Bucky's pulse quickened at her words, a flicker of emotion flashing through his eyes before he could school his features. "What makes you ask that?" 

Her gaze dropped to their hands again, her fingers curling around his involuntarily. "I don't know... I just..." she trailed off, chewing her lip thoughtfully before finally looking up at him again. 

"There's something in the way you look at me, the way you talk to me. It's different from everyone else here. Like you..." She hesitated, looking down and breathing out a small laugh. "Nevermind, I'm sorry...I'm just trying to figure things out, that's all."

Bucky's heart ached at her words, his breath catching in his chest. He wanted to tell her the truth so badly, wanted to tell her everything, every detail. Every moment they shared. Every kiss. Every touch. Every time they made love. But he couldn't. He couldn't risk shocking her back to the beginning. So instead, he just swallowed hard, his fingers gently squeezing hers.  

"Don't apologize," he said hoarsely. "It's ok, I get it. Hydra wiped my memories more then I could count. It takes time." 

 She nodded, her expression still uncertain but her fingers still laced with his, grounding him to the moment, despite the ache in his chest. A beat passed before she whispered, "So, you remembered everything?"

Bucky nodded, his gaze still fixed on their intertwined fingers. "Eventually, yeah," he murmured. Her thumb traced the edge of his, almost unconsciously, the gesture achingly familiar. 

"How long?" she asked softly. 

Bucky forced himself to meet her gaze, his smile pained. "A while," he admitted. "Took some time to untangle all the bullshit Hydra did to my brain after all those years. There are still pockets of memories that never came back. Sometimes, I wished I never could remember. But what kind of punishment would that end up being..."

Keira's expression softened, her fingers tightening slightly around his. "Don't say that Bucky," she told him. "It must've been... awful. I'm so sorry you went through all that," she murmured.

Bucky shrugged one shoulder, a careful gesture to downplay the lingering horrors in his head. "You helped me through it." 

Her brow furrowed slightly at that, confusion warring with something else flickering behind her green eyes. "I did?"

His lips twitched into a faint smirk despite the storm in his chest threatening to break loose if he let himself think about just how much she had done for him, how badly he needed her now when she didn't even remember being his anchor anymore... 

But all he said was, "Yeah... If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be this version of myself."

She smiled softly, the lines around her eyes softening. "Well, you're welcome," she murmured. 

He returned her smile, trying and failing to keep the fondness and desire out of his gaze. It was a losing battle. The air around them felt electric. The diner was loud and busy around them, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the space, but all he could focus on was her. On the way the fading sunlight streaming though the window highlighted her skin, her eyes. Just on her. 

 When the check came Bucky took it and handled it. 

"I could've paid half," she said.

He scoffed, shaking his head as he tossed some cash onto the table. "Don't worry about it," he said, standing up and offering her his hand instinctively, just like he used to.

Keira hesitated for a split second before sliding her fingers into his grasp, warm, familiar, letting him help her up with effortless ease. 

Bucky forced himself to drop her hand once she was steady on her feet, shoving both of his hands into his jacket pockets before nodding toward the door. "C'mon... let's go home." 

"Next time, I'm paying," she said with a smirk.

He grinned. "Next time?"

She froze for half a second, realizing what she said, then shrugged. "Yeah. Why not?"

His grin widened, softening into something real. "I'll hold you to that, doll."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The walk back to the car was quiet, but comfortable. The crisp evening air carried the distant sounds of the city, car horns, laughter spilling out of a few bars they passed. It wasn't awkward though, the silence between them was easy. Comfortable.

As Bucky drove, Keira found herself stealing glances at him whenever she thought he wasn't looking.

How much of me is still in here? she wondered. And how much did Hydra take?

The radio played softly, an old Sam Cooke song, low and scratchy, like the world had slowed just for them. Keira looked out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

"I think I like him," she murmured.

"Cooke?" Bucky asked, glancing at her briefly.

She smiled. "Yeah. There's something... timeless about it."

Bucky nodded in agreement. "He's one of the greats," he said, eyes returning to the road.

She shifted in her seat, turning to face him, and his breath caught. She was watching him again, studying him, quietly peeling back the layers of a man she didn't remember but somehow trusted.

Her gaze lingered on his face, and he forced himself to keep his eyes on the road, fighting back the flood of memories clawing at him.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The city gave way to quieter roads until the compound lights came into view. He parked, but neither moved.

"You keep looking at me like you're trying to remember something," she said softly, turning even more in her seat.

He smiled faintly, eyes on the steering wheel. "Maybe I am."

Trying to lighten the air, she teased, "You've got a way with words, you know that?"

He smirked, leaning back. "Don't tell anyone. I've got a reputation to maintain."

That earned him a soft laugh, the sound he hadn't realized he'd been craving.

"You did good today," he said. "Standing up to that guy, keeping your head. The old you would've done the same."

"Guess some things stick," she said with a shrug, though pride flickered behind her tone.

Bucky glanced at her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice rough with something unspoken. "Some things do."

They sat there, caught between what was and what could be again, until she finally reached for the door handle. She hesitated, turning back to him with a small smile.

"Thank you... for today. For not letting me fall apart." Her fingers lingered on the handle, like she had more to say, something he couldn't quite read.

He nodded once, simple but sincere. "Anytime."

The air between them hummed with unspoken words until she finally stepped out. They both walked into the compound together where they found Steve in the living room, reading a book. He rose from his seat. 

"Everything okay?" he asked quietly, glancing toward Bucky while Keira slipped off her shoes behind him,

Bucky nodded once. "Guy who cornered her?"

Steve's jaw tightened. "Handled." Then his gaze softened as he turned to Keira who had now approached them. "You good?"

She smiled faintly. "Yeah, just full. Bucky treated me to lunch."

Steve's eyes flicked back to Bucky, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. "Of course he did."

Bucky shot him a warning look, but Steve only smirked. "He's very considerate," he added to Keira.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, he is." Her eyes met Bucky's briefly before she headed upstairs.

Once she was gone, Steve leaned against the wall, arms folded.

"What?" Bucky muttered, avoiding his friend's gaze. 

"I said nothing."

Bucky snorted, but the sound was hollow, his thoughts still echoing with every word Keira had spoken. "Didn't have to."

Steve chuckled and clapped a hand on Bucky's shoulder with that familiar steadiness that had seen him through hell and back. "Hey," he said quietly. 

"I'm on your side Buck. It does look like she's warming to you again, that's a good thing."

Bucky exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. "Yeah," he muttered. "But she still doesn't remember us." His voice was rough, like the words physically hurt to say out loud.

Steve squeezed his shoulder once before dropping his hand. "Give it time," he said firmly, a soldier's reassurance, steady and unwavering as always. 

For a moment Bucky didn't respond, just stood there staring at where Keira had disappeared up the stairs like if he willed it hard enough she might suddenly turn around and remember. But all that greeted him was silence and shadows stretching down empty hallways... So eventually he just nodded stiffly before turning away too, retreating towards his own room with nothing but ghosts trailing behind him tonight. 

Steve watched him go quietly; wishing like hell there was more than platitudes left to offer.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The compound was quiet when Keira reached her room. The hum of the air conditioning was steady, a heartbeat in the stillness. She dropped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling before turning toward the photo album, the one she couldn't stop opening. Her eyes lingering on faces she didn't remember. On him. Bucky Barnes.

Even his name sounded familiar, like a song she'd once loved but forgotten the lyrics to. She sighed and flipped the page, but no matter how long she stared, she couldn't shake the feeling that something, the best part, was missing. Her mind drifted to the diner. The sound of his voice. The way he'd looked at her, like every word she said was precious, even the small ones.

She'd felt... seen. Keira closed her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. Who were you to me, Bucky Barnes? 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Later that evening, Bucky sat on the couch, elbows on his knees, a half-empty glass of whiskey forgotten on the table.

He'd replayed the day a hundred times in his head. The way her laugh caught him off guard. The spark in her eyes when she teased him about his flirting. The way she'd looked at him when she asked what he saw in her, like she wanted to believe his answer but knew there was more.

He wanted to tell her everything. Every late-night mission she had patched him up after. Every sarcastic remark she'd thrown at him when he got too serious. Every morning she'd sat across from him, hair a mess, pretending she wasn't the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. But he couldn't. Not yet. So instead, he stood abruptly and knocked back the rest of his drink in one burning swallow before slamming the glass down harder than necessary.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Bucky looked up. Tony was standing a few feet away, drink in hand, studying him. 

"Just thinking," Bucky muttered.

"Yeah," Tony said, sipping his whiskey. "You seem to be doing a lot of that lately."

Bucky rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

Tony watched him for a moment before saying: "So, Keira?"

Something in Bucky tensed. "What about her?"

Tony smirked into his drink. "Relax, Terminator. I was just going to say, she's different today." His gaze flickered up toward the hallway where she'd disappeared earlier before settling back on Bucky with a knowing glint. "Good different."

Bucky's jaw clenched slightly, his fingers flexing against his knee as he sat down before stilling again as he forced himself to exhale through gritted teeth. "Yeah well... doesn't change anything yet does it?"

Stark shrugged, swirling the amber liquid in his glass thoughtfully for a beat longer than necessary before taking another slow sip and offering casually. "Might sooner than you think Barnes."

Bucky bristled, his fingers digging into his own legs to keep them from curling into fists. "And how would you know?" he snapped.

Tony just arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Hey, I pay attention. A skill you might wanna try sometime."

He refilled their glasses, handing it to him before adding, "She did good today. Despite that asshole, she handled herself well. You'd think she'd been doing this her whole life."

"She has," Bucky said quietly. "I wanna tell her, Stark. She deserves to know. I'm tired of hiding everything from her."

Tony raised his glass. "I get it, Barnes. But give it time. You push too hard, she might retreat." He took a slow sip, then added, "Do you really want to risk that?"

Bucky clenched his jaw before downing his drink. He knew Stark was right. He always was. But it hadn't stopped himself from wanting to burst into her room and beg her to remember.

"She was my person," he said finally. "And now she looks at me like I'm a stranger."

Tony watched him carefully, the smirk dropping from his face as something like sympathy flickered across his expression. "It'll come back. She's already remembering that she knows you, it'll just take time. And in the meantime, you gotta give yourself some hope. Otherwise you'll go crazy before she even remembers how to look at you at all." 

Bucky exhaled roughly, eyes still on the glass in his hand. It was easier said than done. When Tony left, the room fell quiet again.

Bucky sat for a while longer, his mind full of her laugh, her voice, her eyes when she almost remembered. When he finally stood to head upstairs, he paused by her door. He wanted her, needed her. One day, he would have her again, he had to believe that.

He smiled faintly. "Sweet dreams, doll," he whispered and then walked away.

Chapter Text

The compound was quiet that night. Keira lay awake, the ceiling above her lost in darkness, the hum of the air vents the only sound in the room. Sleep wouldn't come. Her mind wouldn't still. Every time she closed her eyes, memories, half formed and half false, rose up like ghosts she couldn't name.

She sat up with a sigh and slipped out of bed. She stood there in her red pyjama bottoms and white t-shirt, her slightly messy curls tumbling down her back. The corridor was dim, washed in moonlight. She didn't mean to wander. Not really. She just... walked. Her bare feet carried her past Steve's room, past the common area, until she stopped. Bucky's door was open. She hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek, but something in her made her step inside. Curiosity? Instinct? Maybe something deeper, pulled her forward.

The room smelled of leather, soap, and the faint scent of cologne. It was tidy, almost too tidy, except for the desk near the window. Papers. A few books. A small framed photo. She stepped closer. The picture caught the light just enough for her to see it clearly.

Her heart felt like it had stopped and goosebumps rose all over her body. Keira stared down at the picture, her arms around Bucky's neck, his hand cupping her jaw, both of them caught mid-kiss. Her stomach dropped and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. She touched the glass with trembling fingers, tracing her own face. They looked like a real couple. So happy.

"What...?" she whispered.

The door creaked behind her.

"Keira?"

She froze. Slowly, she turned.

Bucky stood in the doorway, hair mussed, t-shirt rumpled, eyes wide the moment he saw what she was holding. He moved toward her, but she backed away.

"Don't," she said before he could speak. Her voice was thin and shaking. "Just don't."

"Keira, listen -"

"Why?" she cut him off. "Why didn't you tell me?"

The words seemed to hit him harder than a punch ever could. He hesitated, his throat working to swallow. His gaze dropped to the photo on his desk before he exhaled slowly. "It wasn't the right time. You were still recovering, you -"

"Recovering?" she laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "You mean forgetting."

He winced at her tone. "It wasn't like that."

"It wasn't?" Her voice cracked. "Because from where I'm standing, you all decided what I could and couldn't handle! You, Tony, Steve. Every single one of you!"

"We were trying to protect you, Keira!" His voice rose despite himself. He took a breath, forcing himself to calm down but it only made her angrier.

It didn't work.

"Protect me?" she scoffed. "You kept everything from me, lying to me when I asked you to your face!"

His jaw clenched. "What would you have wanted me to do, huh? Throw everything at you at once and let you spiral? I was trying to give you time."

"Time? You think that's the problem? Time?" She laughed again, a broken sound.

Bucky ran a hand through his hair, jaw tight, desperate to stay calm. "Keira, please. Let's just talk about this -"

"No!" Tears burned her eyes as she stepped away from him. "You said you were my friend. You said you wanted to help me. And all this time..." She lifted the photo, her hands trembling. "All this time you were lying."

The accusation cut through him like a blade, and his voice came out rough. "Keira, if you think for one second that I didn't want to tell you from the very first day, then you don't know me at all! Do you have any idea how painful this has been? Watching you forget everything we had. Seeing you look at me like I was a stranger. You think hiding the truth was easy for me?"

He was shouting by the end, anger and heartbreak warring for dominance.

"Stop!" she cried, the sound echoing off the walls. Her breathing came fast and uneven. Flashes of memories sparked behind her eyes; laughter, a hand brushing her cheek, the taste of rain, his voice whispering I've got you, doll.

She staggered back, pressing her hands to her temples. "I can't -"

Bucky stepped forward, panic rising. "Keira, please. Just listen to me -"

She shook her head, backing away again. "No! I don't - I can't listen to this right now. How am I supposed to know what's real? How do I know any of this is real?"

"Keira -" He reached for her but she moved away.

"Don't touch me!" she cried, stumbling toward the hallway. "Everyone's lying to me. Everyone!" She turned her back on him, a tear falling down her face as she walked out of his room and down the hallway.

"Keira!"

He followed after her, panic tearing through his chest. "Hey, wait -!"

She was fast. He could see her disappearing down the hall ahead of him, her curls flying behind her as she reached the stairs, but he was faster. He caught her wrist but she yanked it out of his grasp and pushed him back only for him not to budge. It happened all too fast. Her foot slipped and the world tilted. Then nothing. The sound of her body hitting the floor ripped through the silence.

Bucky's heart stopped. "Keira!"

He lunged down the stairs, skidding to his knees beside her where she lay motionless on the floor. Blood matted her dark curls where her head had struck the edge of a step on the way down. Her breathing came out shallow and uneven beneath his shaking fingers that were pressed against her neck. And for one horrifying second, Bucky thought this was it. He cradled her in his arms and begged for her to wake up.

"Hey, hey, look at me, please doll. Come on baby, open your eyes." He moved the hair away from her face, blood on his hands. "Steve!" he roared, the sound tearing out of him like a wound.

Steve came running, skidding to a stop at the top of the stairs. He took in the scene, Bucky kneeling beside Keira's limp form, blood glinting in her hair and on the floor.

"Jesus," Steve breathed before snapping into action. "Get her to medbay. Now!"

Bucky didn't need telling twice. He gathered her carefully into his arms, her body terrifyingly light and ran.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

When her eyes finally opened, the lights above blurred into soft halos. She turned her head slowly and there he was. Bucky. Sitting beside her bed, elbows on his knees, head bowed. The metal of his arm caught the light, dull and cold. She shifted and his head immediately shot up.

"Hey..." He rose from his chair, his voice was quiet, rough. "You're okay, doll. You just took a nasty fall."

She blinked, her throat dry. "How long was I out?"

His shoulders sagged in relief when she spoke, but his voice stayed steady, gentle. "Couple of hours," he murmured, fingers twitching like he wanted to reach for her hand but thought better of it.

She swallowed, against the dryness in her throat, wincing at the throbbing pain radiating through her skull. "Feels like longer..."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at Bucky's mouth before vanishing again under the weight of everything else, everything unsaid. He grabbed the cup of water from the bedside table and carefully helped her take small sips without touching more than necessary, like she might break if held too tightly.

Keira studied him over the rim while drinking, really studied him this time. Exhaustion carved into every line across his forehead; shadows pooling beneath those blue eyes that seemed so much older than they should be.

"How long have you been awake?" she asked softly.

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. This is all my fault."

She set the cup down, voice trembling. "That picture... it was real, wasn't it? I didn't just imagine that, did I?"

Bucky inhaled sharply, his gaze dropping to the ground. He clenched the railing of the bed tightly with a sigh. His voice came out quiet, broken. "I should've told you sooner. I- I just didn't know how."

Keira searched his face, her own expression torn between hurt and anger as he sat back down. Her eyes filled before she could stop them. "So you lied to me," she whispered. "All this time, you let me believe -"

"I was trying to protect you," he cut in, his voice cracking. "You weren't ready to remember yet. It could've hurt you."

"It already did hurt," she snapped, tears slipping free. "You said I never dated anyone, Bucky. You looked me in the eye and lied." Her voice broke. "Was any of it even real? Did you really care?"

The word stung like a blade, care? A simple word for something so deeply real, it felt like something tearing apart at his heart.  He stood up so fast the chair slid backwards, metal hand curling tightly against the bed to keep from touching her and fuck, it took everything in him not to reach for her now.

"Of course I cared," he said, his voice angry and loud. "You were my whole fucking world, Keira."

Her chest tightened, her arms wrapping around herself. "Then how could you do this to me?"

Before he could answer, the door opened. Tony stepped inside, arms crossed, face etched with concern. "Hey, kid. You scared the hell out of us, you know that?"

She turned on him, raw emotion flashing in her eyes. "I trusted you."

Tony stiffened, the joking mask slipping for once. "Kid, listen -"

"No." She cut him off, her voice shaky, but it didn't waver. "All of you. You all knew and said nothing! You let me wander around like an idiot while you all kept secrets from me!"

Bucky took a step forward, but stopped when she flinched away from him, like she didn't trust him to come closer anymore. That hurt worse than any wound he'd ever taken.

Tony ran a hand down his face. "We thought we were doing the right thing, letting you recover first, Keira. Honest -"

"No," she said, cutting him off. "You were trying to control me. To keep me in the dark while you all played God with my life."

Tony opened his mouth but Keira didn't let him speak. "Just go," she whispered, wiping the tears that fell down her face. "Please, all of you. Just... go."

Bucky stepped closer. "Doll, please."

"Leave me alone!" she cried, turning her face away.

Bucky's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. He took a slow step back, then another, until he turned and walked out. Tony exhaled sharply, hesitating before turning on his heel and walking out without another word.

The door clicked shut behind them with a finality that made Keira's stomach twist.Silence settled over the room like fog, slow and thick, swallowing everything whole. Alone now, Keira pressed trembling fingers to her temple, feeling the dull pulse beneath her skin, and wondered how much of this hurt would ever really heal.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The first thing Keira registered was the dim light. Her head throbbed, her limbs felt heavy, and when she tried to move, a faint groan escaped her lips.

"Hey... easy," a voice said gently.

Her eyes flicked open to find Peter sat beside her, hands clasped between his knees, worry carved deep onto his face.

"You scared us," he said softly, offering a nervous smile. "I didn't know Bucky could break walls, but... he almost did when you fell."

She blinked, trying to process the words. Her brain felt fuzzy, like it was filled with cotton. She felt like she should remember something, something important. Peter noticed the expression on her face. He leaned forward, his brow knitting into a frown.

She turned her head away, eyes burning. "Where is he?"

The question seemed to catch Peter off guard. He sat back, hands fidgeting with his sleeves, avoiding her gaze as he replied carefully.

"He's in his room. He's worried about you. We all are. They're trying to give you space."

"Good," she muttered. "That's what I want."

Peter tilted his head. "You don't mean that."

She shot him a sharp glare. Her head pounding.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, sorry. Stupid comment. It's just..." he trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. "Bucky's hurting, you know? And I know you're upset, and you have every right to be. But he's not trying to hurt you, he was just -"

"He lied to me, Peter. He lied straight to my face. Even you."

Peter winced at the bitterness in her voice and sighed. "I know. God, believe me, I know. We all messed up, okay? We just didn't know how to tell you the truth. You were already dealing with so much."

She pushed herself up on shaky arms, ignoring the stabbing pain at her temple. Peter frowned. "Hey, you should be careful. You were knocked out for a while. You might not feel it now, but you've probably got a hell of a concussion -"

"I'm fine!"

Her sudden outburst startled him into silence, and for a split second she almost felt guilty. But then the memory of Bucky and everyone else  lying to her face came back, twisting in her gut like a knife.She closed her eyes, pressing her palms against her forehead.She just wanted it to stop.

Peter sighed, leaning forward in his chair again. His expression softened. "I know what it's like to feel like everyone's lying to you. Like you're the last person to figure out your own story."

That made her pause. She looked at him, curiosity flickering behind the anger.

"When I first joined the team," Peter said, his tone thoughtful, "Tony used to keep stuff from me too. Said it was for my protection. Drove me insane. But later... I realized he wasn't trying to control me. He was scared. Because once you know the truth, you can't un-know it."

Keira's hands clenched into fists against the sheets, the truth of Peter's words settling like lead in her chest. She exhaled sharply, eyes burning. "That doesn't make it okay," she whispered hoarsely.

Peter nodded slowly. "No," he agreed quietly, fiddling with a loose thread on his sleeve before meeting her gaze again with startling sincerity, young but far too wise for his age sometimes. "But is walking away from people who love you really gonna fix anything either?"

Silence stretched between them.She looked down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I don't understand why they couldn't trust me with it."

Peter hesitated before answering, his voice quiet but steady. "Because they did trust you," he said carefully.

"But they were also scared, of how it might affect you, of whether you'd be able to handle all of it at once." He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck like even he wasn't sure if that was the right answer.

Keira swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, anger and hurt warring with something else... something that felt dangerously close to understanding. She remembered Bucky's face when she'd seen him last, shattered in a way she didn't recognize until now. Like she had broken him too.

She squeezed her eyes shut tight against fresh tears as Peter gently nudged some water towards her across the bedside table without another word because sometimes, he best thing anyone could do was just to be there. And right now, that was enough.

Peter stood, giving her a faint smile. "Get some rest, Keira. I'm sorry we lied. But we do love you. Especially him."

She looked up at him, the question heavy in her voice. "Bucky?"

He nodded. "Especially Bucky."

Keira's eyes stung. She took a shuddering breath, the pain in her throat growing heavier.She stared out of the window instead, the stars glittering outside, the trees shifting faintly against a breeze. It was almost peaceful.

"I just... I just need some time, okay?" she managed finally.

Peter nodded softly. "Yeah. I get it."

He gave her one last smile and quietly slipped out, leaving her in the soft hum of silence, alone, but not quite as lost as before.

Chapter Text

The next evening the medbay felt too sterile, too quiet. Every heartbeat echoed in her ears. By the time the nurse checked her vitals and left, Keira could barely stand the sound of the machines she was wired up to, it was starting to annoy her to no end. She needed out and without a second thought she ripped the needle from her arm and slowly got out of bed, blood spilling down her arm.

The corridor outside was empty, the lights dimmed for the night shift. She moved slowly, one hand brushing the wall for balance, the other pressed against her aching temple. Her legs felt weak, but she didn't care. She just needed to feel normal for a minute, away from the stares and the pity every time anyone looked at her.

Her room was exactly as she left it; neat and untouched, the slight smell of vanilla from her candles. Keira shut the door behind her and pressed her forehead against it, exhaling shakily. The silence in here wasn't comforting anymore, it was suffocating. She stumbled towards the window, pushing it halfway open and letting the night air rush in before pulling herself up onto the windowsill.

Keira inhaled shakily, feeling the ache in her throat grow worse as she watched the city lights glitter in the distance. She leaned back, feeling the wind catch her hair. The sudden chill against her skin was almost a shock after the heat of that medbay room for so long. She closed her eyes, letting the breeze brush over her skin.

After a little while, Keira pushed off the windowsill and walked into her bathroom. She stripped out of the hospital gown and stepped under the shower. Warm water poured down her skin, washing away the faint scent of antiseptic and blood that clung to her. She stood there for a long time, eyes closed, letting the water hide the tears that had started to fall.

The sound drowned everything out, the machines, the lies, even her thoughts. For the first time since she'd woken up, she let herself feel.
Anger. Hurt. Confusion. Loss. It came in waves until she had nothing left to give. By the time she stepped out, her skin was pink, her curls hung damp against her neck. She pulled on a soft oversized hoodie and sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands.

The hoodie was warm, familiar, too big for her frame, the sleeves hanging past her wrists. She absently brought the fabric to her nose and inhaled. That scent, it all belonged to Bucky and it hit her like a punch to the chest. Keira had loved wearing it since she'd been here. Now, she couldn't bare to be near it. She pulled it off of her body and shoved it deep into her wardrobe and slammed the door shut.

She grabbed one of her own hoodies, a plain gray one, soft from too many washes and yanked it over her head. The leggings came next, pulled on with sharp tugs, like she was punishing them for existing. Her reflection in the mirror looked wrecked. Dark circles under puffy eyes, hair still damp and tangled from the shower. She dragged a hand through her curls roughly before turning away.

The bed creaked as she sat down hard, elbows propped on her knees, fists pressed against her forehead like she could physically push back all those damn memories trying to surface. Bucky's voice calling her doll, his metal hand brushing hers accidentally one too many times to be accidental at all...

A knock at the door startled her upright so fast spots danced in her vision. "Go away." Her voice came out hoarse but firm enough that whoever stood on the other side would get the message loud and clear.

"It's Steve."

Keira exhaled sharply through her nose before gritting out, "I said go away."

Silence stretched long enough that Keira thought maybe he'd actually listened, until the knob turned slowly anyway. The door swung open with a soft creak. Steve's gaze found her there, sitting cross-legged on the edge of her bed, looking like hell warmed over. For once, he seemed at a loss for words.

Keira kept her mouth tightly shut, refusing to look at him.

Steve cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Hey," he said softly. "Mind if I sit?"

She shrugged. "Do what you want. Everyone else does."

The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile, but not quite guilt either. He crossed the room and lowered himself into the armchair across from her, elbows resting on his knees.

"I'm not here to make excuses," he said finally. "But I am here to apologize."

Keira lifted her head slightly, just enough to meet his gaze with a sceptical arch of her brow.

He didn't flinch under it. "We should've told you the truth from the start," Steve admitted quietly. "You deserved better than half answers and white lies."

Her jaw tightened, but she didn't interrupt.

A beat passed before Steve added carefully, "Bucky wanted to tell you."

That made Keira stiffen, hands curling into fists against her knees. Hearing his name still felt like pressing on a bruise.

"Tony was convinced it could hurt your recovery," Steve continued. "That remembering too much too fast might do more damage than good." He dragged a hand down his face. "I should've fought harder for you, but I guess I believed the same thing."

Silence settled between them, heavy and thick, until finally, Keira let out a slow breath.

"Did he really love me?"

The question slipped out smaller than intended, raw in a way that made even Captain America's heart ache.

Steve looked at her then, really looked and answered simply. "Yes." No hesitation. No doubt. Just the truth.

She swallowed thickly, fresh tears stinging her eyes as her fingers unclenched from her bedsheets just slightly...

Steve's voice softened before he spoke again. "He blames himself for all of it. You getting hurt, the fight, the fall...everything."

Keira's hands trembled as she wiped at her eyes, the exhaustion hitting her all at once.

"You don't have to forgive any of us right now," Steve said gently. "But if you do want to talk to him, he's waiting."

She inhaled shakily, then gave the smallest nod, not an agreement, not a promise. Just an acknowledgment that she heard him.

Steve leaned back in the chair. "I've known Bucky my whole life," he said, voice steady. "And I've never seen him fight for something like he fought for you. Before everything happened, before Hydra took away your memories, you were the one person who could reach out to him when no one else could."

Keira listened quietly, the words sinking in slowly. She couldn't tell if they made her angry, sad or both. She had so many questions, so many thoughts and emotions churning inside her that she couldn't sort through them all. And the worst part? Part of her did want to see him. Even after everything, her heart ached at the thought of him sitting alone in his room, feeling guilty and maybe hating himself.

Her brows furrowed. "Reach him?"

"Yeah." Steve's gaze drifted towards the floor, remembering. "There were nights he couldn't sleep. Nights the nightmares got so bad I thought we'd lose him completely. And then you'd show up, a smile on your face, no fear behind it, coffee in your hands and somehow, he'd breathe again. You didn't just love him, Keira. You saved him."

Her throat tightened. She stared down at her hands, feeling the weight of his words settle deep inside her chest.

"He loved you," Steve said simply. "God, he still does. More than I've ever seen him love anyone. And when you woke up without remembering him, it broke him. But he followed orders, ours, because we told him it was safer to wait. To let your mind heal before throwing all that at you at once."

He leaned forward, gaze holding hers steadily. "I know none of this makes it right. But I thought you should know the whole truth."

Keira swallowed hard. The knot in her chest wouldn't loosen, but something in her face softened slightly. "I just...I need some time," she said quietly.

Steve nodded, standing with an exhausted sigh. "I know." He started toward the door.

Keira wiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of her hoodie. "He said I looked at him like a stranger," she whispered.

Steve turned and smiled sadly. "Yeah. That about broke him, too."

She looked up at him then, her eyes glassy and vulnerable. "What if I never remember?"

Steve held her gaze. "Then you start new memories. He doesn't care how, Keira. He just wants you, whatever version of you you can give him. I mean, you care about him, right? I'm no expert, but I see the way you look at him. There's something there, even if you won't admit it."

Keira clenched her jaw against the surge of emotion in her chest. She did care about him. Even now, after everything, she still cared. She felt it in her bones. She just wasn't sure what to do with it yet.

Her lips trembled. "I don't know if I can face him yet."

Steve nodded. "Then don't. Not until you're ready. But when you are..." He rested a hand on the door handle, glancing back at her. "Don't wait too long. Some people spend their whole lives looking for the kind of love you two had. Don't let fear be the thing that ruins it."

The door clicked shut softly behind him, leaving Keira in the quiet again, but this time, it didn't feel so heavy.

She sat there for a long time after that, staring into space. Her head still ached, her throat was sore. But for the first time since waking up in this room, something inside her felt a little lighter. Not better. Not yet.
But lighter. She pulled her knees up to her chest, burying her face against them. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this lost, this alone.

Chapter Text

Morning light spilled across the compound, soft and golden, cutting through the haze of another restless night. Keira hadn't slept much, her mind replaying every word Steve had said until her head throbbed. By the time she found herself standing outside Bucky's door, she wasn't even sure how she had gotten there. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought he might hear it through the door.

She hesitated before finally knocking. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a black sweater that hung slightly off her shoulder. Her hair fell long and wavy down her back. She had tried to look semi descent but she wasn't confident she had made enough effort. 

Bucky's eyes snapped open when he heard the knock. For a second, he thought he was imagining it, another fragment of some half remembered dream. Then another knock came. He swung off the bed, crossing the room in quick strides to open the door and found Keira standing there, looking like a ghost in the dim morning light.

Their eyes met, his wide, hers still slightly bloodshot from all the crying she had done. The air between them crackled with tension. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then hesitated, her gaze searching his face for any trace of the man she used to know. But all she found was someone who looked just as lost as she felt.

"Hey," he said quietly.

She swallowed. "Hey."

Silence stretched between them, thick and taut. Bucky shifted, resisting the urge to reach for her, to prove she was really standing there. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping either.

"Do you wanna come in?" His voice was rough, uncertain, like he wasn't sure if she'd run.

Keira hesitated, then nodded, stepping past him into the dimly lit room.

The space was so Bucky, neat but not sterile, traces of him everywhere. Dog tags draped off a dresser, black gloves tossed carelessly on a chair, the faint scent of pine and soap lingering in the air. Familiar, somehow, comforting, even when she didn't know why.

She crossed her arms over her chest as the door clicked shut behind them, suddenly aware of how close they stood. Bucky didn't move closer. Not yet. He just stood there, letting her breathe.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked softly.

Keira exhaled shakily, fingers twisting in the hem of her sweater. "Physically? Yes. But everything else..." She sighed. "I don't even know how to describe it." Her voice was quiet, not angry anymore, just tired.

Bucky nodded slowly, taking a step towards her, being careful not to crowd her. "That's fair," he murmured, his hands flexing at his sides like he wanted to reach for her but didn't dare try.

She looked up at him then, really looked and suddenly realised how wrecked he seemed. Dark circles, unshaven, exhaustion etched deep into every line of his face. It was a strange comfort, knowing they were both broken in the same place.

"I wanted to ask," she said finally, her voice small. "About us."

His throat tightened at the words. He didn't move. Didn't breathe. "Okay," he said, voice low. His gaze traced over her face, trying to read her expression. It took every ounce of restraint he had not to reach out, to cup the side her face, to brush those damn tears away.

Keira shifted her weight, eyes flicking up to meet his. "How did we meet?"

His lips twitched slightly. "At shield, you patched me up after a mission. I was being a pain in the ass and you told me to sit down and shut up before I bled out on the floor."

Her eyebrows lifted. "Sounds about right," she murmured, the smallest ghost of a smile forming across her lips.

"Yeah," he said softly. "You didn't take crap from anyone. Not even me."

Keira hesitated, then asked quietly. "How serious were we?"

Bucky clenched his jaw. Memories flickered, laughter, fights, stolen glances, mornings where she slept against his chest. He swallowed hard. "Serious enough I didn't want to let you go."

Her breath caught.

"Enough that I stopped running from the world," he added.

"How long?" she asked.

He hesitated, the words sticking in his throat. The answer seemed important somehow, too real, like it might cut through the delicate thread that tethered them together. But she needed honesty, not more half-truths. 

Bucky watched her carefully before letting out a breath. "Over two years."

Keira exhaled slowly, like the air had been knocked out of her. Two years? She tried to imagine it, a life she couldn't remember, a love she couldn't feel. Two years of his touch, his laugh, his body. Two years of waking up in his arms. Her stomach twisted painfully at the lack of memories.

He gave a faint smile. "You moved in here eventually. Used to steal my shirts, leave your books all over the place. Drove me insane."

He crossed to his wardrobe, pulling out a small brown bag and holding it out to her. "You might've noticed your photo album was missing a few pictures. They're all in here. Of us. If you want them."

Keira took the bag with trembling hands. It felt heavier than it should've. She peeked inside, photos stacked neatly, edges worn from being handled too many times. The first one she pulled out was of them at a party, his metal arm around her waist, her arms looped around his neck as they kissed. She blinked rapidly, shoving it back into the bag before the tears spilled.

Bucky's voice was rough. "I'm sorry," stepping slightly closer. "I'm so sorry, doll."

Keira looked up, startled by the nickname. It hit something deep inside her, something she didn't understand. He'd moved closer, though he still kept plenty of distance between them. The tears she tried to hold back fell down her face, she couldn't help it, she was completely overwhelmed. She clutched the photo against her chest, willing herself to speak, to ask him all the questions bubbling up inside of her.

"What else should I know?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bucky hesitated for only a second before reaching out, slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. He brushed his thumb along the side of her jaw. He traced her path of tears and wiped them away. His voice was rough with emotion.

"You hate the taste of coconut but love the smell of it," he murmured. "You always steal my fries no matter what you order. And you -" His thumb lingered just under her ear, right where she'd always shivered when he kissed it. "You scrunch your nose up when you laugh. It always embarrasses you but, I find it cute as hell."

Her breath caught. That small touch felt familiar, even if she couldn't place why. 

Bucky's hand dropped back to his side like he couldn't trust himself not to hold on too tight if he didn't let go now.

She gazed up at him through her eyelashes, voice trembling. "Why me? You could probably have anyone you wanted."

Bucky let out a low, rough laugh, part pain, part disbelief. He brushed his fingers against her cheek again, this time just brushing the back of his fingers against her skin so lightly it was barely there. "Because you looked at me like I wasn't broken," he said simply. "Like I was just... me. And after everything I'd been, that was the first real thing I'd ever had."

His thumb wiped away more tears before adding with painful honesty. "Still does."

Keira's heart twisted, it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest, she wanted to remember so bad but she could see why her past self had fallen for him...

"I wasn't looking for anyone Keira," he continued. "I didn't want anyone. Until I met you. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. You're sweet, kind, and feisty as hell when you want to be. I was the lucky one, Keira. You gave me a chance, why you did I don't know but i'm so fucking glad you did."

Keira swallowed hard, her fingers gripping the bag of photos tighter. His words sank into her heart, absorbing it all. She couldn't remember, but something in her body felt like she did. In the way her pulse jumped when he touched her cheek, in the way her breath hitched when he looked at her like that.

"You want to know what you liked?" he murmured, his voice dropping lower.

Her eyes flicked up, wary but curious. "What?"

He smiled faintly. "You liked when I brushed your hair out of your face. You liked when I called you doll." His voice softened even more. "And you loved when I kissed you right here..."

He lifted his hand, fingers barely grazing the side of her neck. Her skin burned where he touched her, a shiver running down her spine. The memory that wasn't hers sparking somewhere deep inside. 

Her eyes fluttered shut, heat creeping up her neck. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for her again, his metal thumb brushing the line of her jaw again as he leaned closer. 

"You used to shiver when I touched you with my arm," he said, his metal arm reaching for her waist, the cold metal touching her skin as he slipped his hand just under her top. "I didn't like it at first, too scared of hurting you but, you insisted."

Her breath hitched. The chill of the metal against her skin, tracing a path along her spine. They were so close now she could feel his breath ghosting over her cheek. Keira's heart was pounding, she gazed up at him, her eyes finding him watching her, his gaze dark in a way she almost recognized. He leaned down to kiss her but she turned her head away.

"Bucky..." she whispered.

Bucky's heart nearly thudded to a stop as she turned away, every part of his body screaming at him to reach for her, to pull her against him, to feel the soft press of her mouth against his. But he forced himself to be slow, patient. He dropped his hand to his side, taking a small step back to put some space between them.

"Sorry," he said roughly. "I shouldn't have -"

She shook her head quickly. "No, I just, I don't remember," she stammered. "It's weird. You know everything about me, what I like, what we've done. I feel like I don't even know you. You're a stranger to me, and yet you know what I look like naked!"

Her face burned, but Bucky didn't laugh. Didn't flinch.

Keira instantly regretted her words. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I didn't mean -"

"It's okay, doll," Bucky swallowed hard. "I'm not gonna force you to feel something you don't," he said quietly. "You fell in love with me once. Maybe you will again."

Keira looked up at him then, her heart twisting painfully at the vulnerability in his eyes. This was the man who'd loved her, once upon a time. The man who still did in a hundred little ways, even if she didn't know it yet.

"Bucky, what if I don't?"

"If you don't?" He gave her a faint, sad smile. "Then i'll leave you alone. I'll stop trying," he said, moving close once more. "But until then, I'm not giving up on us, Keira. What we had... I'll never find it again with anyone else. I'm here, Keira. Whenever you want me, I'm yours."

Her pulse hammered in her throat as he spoke, her mind spinning with a million thoughts and questions and emotions she couldn't even begin to untangle.She didn't know him, not yet anyway, but every part of her screamed that he was right.

Bucky stepped closer, his eyes fixed intently on her face, watching and searching for even the smallest sign that she'd pull away. She didn't. He was so close now she could smell the hint of coffee on his breath, feel the heat radiating from his skin. 

His flesh hand lifted to her chin again, so gentle that she had to fight the urge to lean into it as he murmured, "Promise me something, doll."

"What?" she whispered.

He traced his thumb over her bottom lip, the barest ghost of a touch. Like he was trying to remember the feel of her.His voice dropped almost to a whisper, his gaze burning into hers. "Promise me you'll give yourself a chance to remember."

The simple request hit her harder than she expected. It was soft, full of hope, and was completely disarming. She inhaled slowly, trying to find her voice as his thumb brushed her cheek, her skin burning under his touch even now. He was searching her face again, waiting for an answer. And she found herself giving it to him, her words coming out in a shaky whisper.

"Okay."

He exhaled slowly, searching her face for any sign of hesitation. Then, so gently she almost didn't feel it, he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Her eyes fluttered shut. The touch was brief, tender,  but it set something deep inside her alight.

Bucky lingered for a heartbeat, his forehead resting against hers before pulling back. "That's all I ask," he murmured, voice rough at the edges.

Then he stepped away, hands falling to his sides like it took everything in him not to reach for her again.

Keira stood frozen, fists clenched, every part of her aching to close that distance. But she stayed still, her breath uneven, her pulse hammering. She watched as Bucky turned towards the window.

He paused there just long enough to glance over his shoulder with something dangerously close to a smirk playing on his lips. "Next time? I won't stop at just your forehead."

And with that quiet promise hanging in the air, she left.

Chapter Text

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the compound's windows, throwing golden slants of light across the kitchen floor. Keira sat at the island, absently stirring sugar into her tea when she heard the soft click of heels behind her.

"Mind if we join you?" Natasha's voice was cautious, careful in a way it never usually was. Wanda followed close behind, both of them hovering by the counter like they weren't sure if they were welcome.

Keira glanced over her shoulder and smiled faintly. "You don't have to tiptoe around me, you know."

Wanda tilted her head. "You're... not mad?"

Keira sighed, looking down at her tea. "I was. For a while." Her fingers traced the rim of her cup. "But I've been thinking about it. I get why you all did it. You were trying to protect me."

Natasha exchanged a quick glance with Wanda before stepping closer. "Still, that doesn't mean it didn't hurt."

Keira nodded, eyes soft. "It did. I'm still confused, still trying to piece it all together. But I don't like holding grudges."

"It was a difficult situation," Natasha murmured, leaning against the counter with the same effortless grace she always carried. "We just wished that you could've had more time to heal."

A pause settled over them as both women watched her, unsure how to broach the next subject.

Finally, Wanda spoke up. "So... how did it go? With Bucky?"

Keira's heart thumped uncomfortably in her chest as she remembered the feel of his lips against her forehead, that quiet challenge still lingering.

"It was... a lot," she admitted. "I asked him about us. He told me everything. I agreed to give it a chance, to give myself time to remember."

Natasha's smirk was subtle but teasing. "He tell you how bad he had it for you?"

Keira looked up, one brow arched. "He might have... mentioned it."

Natasha snorted, exchanging an amused glance with Wanda. "Oh, he mentioned it? That's putting it mildly."

Wanda grinned into her coffee cup before adding helpfully, "He was obsessed."

Keira blinked, heat creeping up her neck. "Obsessed?"

Natasha nodded solemnly, or as solemnly as Natasha ever could. "Like abandon his own mission to bring you coffee, obsessed. Like get into a fight with Sam over who got patched up first after a mission, obsessed."

Wanda leaned in, eyes glinting. "Or spend hours practicing how to ask you out only to choke at the last second, obsessed."

They both giggled. "It was adorable," Wanda added. "You two used to orbit each other like magnets. You'd walk into a room and he'd stop breathing."

Keira sat frozen, staring between them. Those memories sounded like something out of a fairy tale the kind she'd always wanted for herself. And yet here was proof, sitting across from her, laughing about it like it had actually happened.

Finally, she let out a shaky breath. "You're exaggerating."

"Nope," Natasha said flatly, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "You were the only person who could make the Winter Soldier blush."

Wanda grinned. "She still can."

Keira groaned inwardly, burying her face in her hands. She never thought she'd feel both flustered and mortified at the same time, yet here she was. But before she could gather what little dignity she had left, Natasha spoke again.

"Look, I know you're scared. But maybe stop overthinking it. Go for it. Like ripping off a band-aid."

Keira lifted her eyes, still flushed but managing to glare at Natasha anyway. "I'm not overthinking anything."

Natasha raised a single, perfectly arched brow.

Keira rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the hint of a smile tugging at her mouth. "Okay... maybe I am a little. But can you blame me? It's not every day your ex-boyfriend, who you don't even remember, tells you he's been in love with you for years and that you've done all these things together..."

Natasha shrugged, feigning innocence. "Then skip the emotional part and just ask him to kindly fuck your brains out. Could help jog your memory."

Keira nearly choked on her tea, coughing violently as Natasha smirked into her cup. Wanda hid a giggle behind her hand, the glint in her eyes unmistakably mischievous.

"What?!" Natasha blinked innocently. "I'm just being practical."

Keira wiped the tea she'd spluttered onto the counter, face burning. "What kind of advice is that?"

Wanda leaned forwards conspiratorially. "The best kind," she murmured.

Natasha nodded sagely. "You can thank me later."

"Natasha!" Keira gasped, jaw dropping as Wanda burst out laughing.

Natasha smirked. "What? Scientifically speaking, endorphins help with memory."

Keira groaned, dropping her head into her hands. "I hate you."

Wanda patted her shoulder comfortingly. "No, you don't. You love us."

Natasha grinned. "That's probably why we're your favourite."

Keira giggled, covering her face with her hands, voice muffled through laughter.

"I'm just saying," Natasha smirked. "Man's built like he could ruin you in the best way possible."

Keira groaned again, face still hidden. "Natasha, please. I'm trying not to think about that and you're not helping."

Wanda grinned, resting her chin on her hands. "She's blushing again."

"I am not!" Keira protested, though the flush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her.

Natasha took another sip of coffee, utterly unbothered. "You absolutely are, and we both know it."

Keira groaned. "Can we not?"

"We could," Natasha said, lips twitching, "Or we could see how many shades darker that blush can get."

"You're so childish," Keira muttered.

"Maybe," Natasha replied with a shrug. "But you love us."

Keira sighed, smiling begrudgingly. "Unfortunately. You know, I'm not the only one with a thing for super soldiers," she teased.

Wanda's eyes went wide.

Natasha blinked. "Keira!"

Keira just smirked into her tea, enjoying the reversal.

Wanda was practically vibrating with curiosity. "Hold up, you and Steve? This is just like Friends!" she squealed.

Natasha nearly choked on her coffee. "It's nothing to tell," she said quickly, waving a hand. "Just... sex. That's all."

Wanda deflated, immediately, a disappointed pout on her face.

Keira bit back a snort. "Just sex, huh? Not a bit more... emotionally meaningful?"

Natasha glared. "Don't start," she warned, trying to hide a smile.

Keira smirked, sipping her tea. "I just find it interesting, that's all."

Natasha rolled her eyes, leaning back in her seat. "Well, don't read too much into it."

Wanda's eyes were sparkling with amusement as she watched the two of them banter. "But you do find Steve attractive?"  

"I'm not blind," Natasha admitted. "Sure. He's not hard to look at."

Keira and Wanda exchanged a knowing glance before bursting into laughter. Natasha narrowed her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched despite herself.

"What?"

Wanda wiped a tear from her eye. "Not hard to look at? That's how you describe America's golden boy?"

Natasha took another sip, deadpan. "I stand by my statement."

Keira smirked over the rim of her mug. "So you admit it."

Natasha sighed dramatically, but she was fighting a smile now too. "Fine," she conceded with an eye roll. "He's hot. There. Happy?"

Wanda clapped excitedly while Keira grinned triumphantly into her tea like this was some kind of grand victory they'd just achieved against an impossible opponent.

Before Natasha could reply, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. Both women froze as Bucky and Steve appeared in the doorway. The air shifted instantly.

Bucky's eyes landed on Keira first, softening almost imperceptibly. Steve stopped beside him, raising an eyebrow when he caught the guilty expressions on their faces.

"What are you three up to?" Steve asked, suspicion creeping in.

"Nothing," they all said at once.

"Just... girl talk," Natasha added smoothly.

Bucky raised an eyebrow and Keira tried and failed to keep her gaze from flicking to him for just a fraction of a second. Steve's eyes narrowed, scanning all their faces like he knew exactly what they'd been discussing.

"Very educational girl talk," Wanda added, lips twitching.

"Do I even want to know?" Steve asked warily.

"Definitely not," Natasha said quickly.

Keira tried to hide her smile but failed miserably as Bucky's gaze found hers again, a faint knowing smirk tugging at his mouth. Whatever he saw, her pink cheeks, her nervous fidgeting, it made his eyes darken slightly.

Natasha caught the look, exchanged a smug glance with Wanda, and muttered, "Told you so."

The tension between Keira and Bucky was electric now, quiet, unspoken, impossible to ignore.

"Well," Natasha said casually, setting her mug down, "I should check in with Fury about the mission reports."

"Yeah," Wanda added quickly. "And I promised Vision I'd help recalibrate something or other."

Within seconds, both women had slipped out, leaving Keira alone with Bucky and Steve.

Steve gave her an apologetic smile before turning to Bucky. "I have to... be somewhere else."

Keira blinked. "Steve, you don't have to -"

But he was already gone, leaving the faint echo of his footsteps behind. Now, only silence.

Bucky leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching her. The quiet between them wasn't awkward, more like the air before a storm. Calm. Heavy and waiting.

Keira could feel his gaze on her, steady and intense. It made her skin prickle and her heart beat faster. She tried to ignore it, busying herself with rinsing her mug, but the air between them thrummed. Finally, she turned, facing him. Their eyes met and held.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

"Me? Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

He shrugged, still watching her carefully. He didn't believe her.

She rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the way her skin tingled every time he looked at her like that. Like he knew her somehow, like he could read her every thought.She set the cup down, leaning against the counter to give herself something to do with her hands. 

"I'm fine."

He studied her for a moment, memorizing her, it seemed. The light caught in her hair, and his shoulders relaxed just slightly. "How's your head?" he asked quietly.

She blinked, touching a hand to the fading bruise on her forehead. "Oh...fine. It's fine," she stuttered nervously. 

Bucky frowned, gaze flicking to the mark. She quickly moved her hand to cover it.

He let out a soft sigh, a muscle flexing in his jaw as he looked away. It was quiet again. The air felt heavier between them. "You should rest," he said. "You're still recovering."

Keira huffed a laugh. "You sound like Tony."

"Tony doesn't look at you like I do," he said simply. The words slipped out low, rough, and unguarded.

Keira froze. Her breath hitched. She stared at him, really looked at him for the first time since he walked into the room and something warm settled deep inside her chest. Something familiar and terrifying all at once.

Because here was Bucky Barnes. Steady. Strong. Unflinching. Looking at her like she was his whole damn world. And god help her, if that didn't make every inch of her skin feel like it was on fire with a memory she couldn't quite grasp but ached for anyway...

Keira tried to deflect with a shaky laugh. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

His mouth curved slightly, eyes still on her. "Not with you. No use pretending, is there?"

That blunt honesty, delivered in such a quiet, matter-of fact tone. It was so Bucky that Keira had the insane urge to laugh out loud or cry or throw her arms around him and hang on for dear life. Instead, she just stood there staring at that jaw, the way two days worth of stubble made him look just a little rougher than usual. 

He stepped closer, slow, deliberate, until he stood just in front of her. Not close enough to touch, but close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him.

"You've been through hell, Keira," he murmured. "You don't have to keep proving you're fine when you're not."

Keira swallowed hard, fighting the tears suddenly burning in her eyes. His voice was warm, it wrapped around her like a balm, soft and steady. She wanted nothing more than to fall against him. To have him hold her like he used to, and let herself remember what safety, home felt like, even if it wouldn't quite be the same as before...

But instead, she just looked up at him, at his eyes, so dark and sincere and achingly familiar and said softly, "Neither do you."

Bucky was caught off guard by that. He blinked, not expecting her to throw his own words back at him. Then he let out a low exhale, his expression softening. He lifted his hand slowly, like he couldn't quite believe he could touch her again. He hovered just inches from her cheek. Keira didn't move. Her eyes fluttered closed as his rough fingertips just brushed the underside of her jaw.  

"I never thought about how hard this must be for you," she whispered. "I'm sorry."

Bucky shook his head, "It's not on you to feel sorry, sweetheart. You were the one who got hurt. I'm just... glad you're alive, Keira. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here."

Keira's eyes met his gaze once more. She knew he meant that. She leaned in slightly, barely thinking. "I may not remember, but... I can see why I liked you."

A slow, relieved smirk tugged at his lips. "Liked me, huh?" His thumb brushed lightly over her cheekbone. "That's a start." 

His tone was teasing but his eyes were soft, so damn soft, as he searched her face like he was memorizing every detail all over again.

Keira smiled back, warmth spreading through her chest. He tucked a loose curl behind her ear, his fingers lingering just long enough to make her shiver.

"I'm not asking you to remember everything," he said quietly. "I just need you to remember that you're not alone in this."

"I know," Keira murmured, her voice steadier now as she held his gaze. "You don't make it easy to forget that," she whispered.

The silence between them wasn't awkward anymore, just full, like something unspoken was settling into place. Bucky exhaled, tension bleeding from his shoulders for the first time in weeks. 

"Good," he said roughly. 

Keira looked away, his hand dropping from her face. "I can't ask you to wait for me Bucky. That's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, doll," he replied bluntly. "I don't care. You've had my heart since the day we met and it hasn't changed. I'm not giving up on you."

She swallowed and shook her head. "What if it takes a while?"

He smirked, that lopsided grin that made her knees weak. "I'm a patient man."

His breath ghosted across her skin, making her shiver again. She swallowed hard, her heart hammering against her ribs. He wasn't flirting now, not really. It was more than that. 

Her voice trembled as she spoke this time. "You make it sound so easy."

Bucky let out a slow breath, his fingers flexing at his sides like he wanted to reach for her but wasn't sure if he should

"Nothing about this is easy," he admitted, roughly. "But loving you? That part always was."

Bucky's eyes held hers, dark, steady, completely unguarded and for the first time since she woke up with no memory of him, Keira felt something click into place deep in her chest. Like a puzzle piece she hadn't even known was missing.She didn't remember him yet... but maybe, just maybe, she remembered this feeling. 

Keira blushed a little when she remembered Nat's advice. Then skip the emotional part and just ask him to kindly fuck your brains out. Could help jog your memory.

Bucky tilted his head, watching her with that faint, knowing smile. "Something on your mind, sweetheart?"

Her heart skipped. God, she hated how good it felt to hear him call her that. "It's... stupid," she said. "I was just wondering, what was our first kiss like?"

Bucky raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting her to ask that question, but he didn't look annoyed. In fact, a hint of a smirk played at the corner of his mouth again.Bucky huffed a quiet laugh, half amusement, half fondness. His metal hand flexed absently at his side like he was stopping himself from reaching for her right then and there.

"You were nervous as hell," he said. "Kept rambling on about how bad you were at it."

His eyes dropped to her lips briefly. His fingers twitched towards her again before he shoved them in his pocket instead, but not before Keira caught the way his eyes dropped to her mouth just for a second more like he was remembering. 

He exhaled through his nose before continuing gruffly. "Didn't stop you from grabbing me by the collar and yanking me down anyway."

The corner of Bucky's mouth tugged higher, raw affection melting over all those sharp edges again as added softly. "Best damn kiss I ever had."

Warmth flooded her chest at that, a sudden and overwhelming feeling taking over her.Nat might've been onto something after all...

"I kissed you?" she asked. That was a surprise...she couldn't imagine making the first move. 

Bucky nodded, the smirk softening into something warmer as he added. "You did."

Keira swallowed hard, imagining what it must have been like, leaning up on her toes and pulling him towards her, her heart racing and voice probably shaking, but her lips so soft against his.It was a little dizzying how much she suddenly wanted to know what it would feel like to kiss the man in front of her now. 

Bucky cleared his throat, a muscle feathering in his jaw in a way she knew meant he was fighting the urge to take control. The silence that followed was charged, the kind that made time feel slower. 

Keira didn't step back. Didn't want to.And then he did what he always did when things got too intense, he gave her space instead of taking it.

"I'll be in the training room later," he said quietly, stepping further away from her. "If you feel like talking. Or... not talking."

Keira's breath caught. Her mouth suddenly felt dry, her stomach twisting itself into knots.The thought of doing anything with Bucky right now, without her memory, just... felt wrong. But a small part of her, one she couldn't quite admit out loud, wanted to say yes anyway to his invitation.

She smiled faintly, eyes flicking down. "You mean if I feel like watching you punch things?"

Bucky chuckled, the sound low and warm. "Yeah, or that." His gaze lingered on her for a heartbeat too long before he took another deliberate step back. 

Keira bit her lip, nodding slowly as she watched him turn towards the door. A flicker of something, disappointment? Longing? It twisted in her chest as he walked away. But then Bucky paused in the doorway, glancing over his shoulder with that same damn smirk that always made her pulse jump.

"You could always try pulling my collar again," he teased lightly, voice rough around the edges like it was taking everything in him not to close the distance between them right then and there. "For old time's sake."

Keira's face flushed hot all over again. God, she was going to kill Natasha later. Then he left, his footsteps fading down the hall, leaving her pulse racing and his warmth still lingering in the air and on her skin. And maybe, just maybe, the beginning of something familiar flickered back to life in her chest.

Chapter Text

After her shower that evening, she slipped into a pair of black and white plaid pyjama bottoms and a white cropped vest. She threw on a beige jumper that hung slightly baggy on her frame. After blow-drying her hair, the soft waves cascaded down her back.

She was in two minds about going to the training room, just like Bucky had insinuated earlier, his vague invitation, but there was a big problem. She didn't know if he had been serious. What if she showed up and completely embarrassed herself? And even then, did she really want to go? Going meant she was interested, right? Which, obviously, she was... but god, did that make her seem desperate? Things should not be this complicated...

She made her way downstairs to the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a can of Sprite. She hopped up onto the counter, sipping quietly as her thoughts ran wild. Spotting a bag of marshmallows in the cupboard, she tore it open and began snacking on them absently.

Her reflection caught in the microwave door beside her, and she sighed. What am I doing? This is ridiculous. So she goes down there, so what? It doesn't mean anything has to happen. And anyway, for all she knew, he was done already. Maybe even be in the shower. Ok, no, that thought was worse...

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The gym was quiet that evening, lit only by the low hum of the overhead lights. The steady thud of a punching bag echoed faintly through the space, until it stopped the moment Keira appeared in the doorway. Bucky froze mid-motion, gloved fists still raised. Sweat glistened on his chest, the thin tank clinging to him in a way that made her throat go dry. For a moment, neither of them said a word, the silence was thick, almost heavy. 

His gaze tracked over her slowly, taking in the pyjamas, the bare feet, the loose curls he was itching to touch, before darting back up to meet her eyes. He dropped his arms, chest still heaving slightly from the workout. For the first time that night, he seemed at a loss for words, as if he hadn't actually expected to see her standing there, like she hadn't just been the only thing on his mind since earlier today. His blue eyes locked on her instantly, searching and waiting for her to do or say something. 

Keira swallowed, nerves betraying her as her voice came out softer than she intended. "I... I don't even know why I came."

Bucky watched her take a few steps toward the boxing ring, avoiding his gaze. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he tugged one glove off slowly, tossing it aside as he stepped closer, measured and quiet, like he didn't want to spook her.

"Sure you do," he murmured, eyes never leaving hers.

Keira let out a shaky breath, taking a small step back until she felt the cool metal of the ring press against her spine. Her fingers gripped the edge behind her, trying to anchor herself. 

"I feel, so confused," she admitted, softly.

Bucky stopped in front of her, close enough that she could see the faint scar cutting through his bottom lip. 

"Confusing's fine," he said, voice low. "Means you care enough to think about it."

Her breath caught in her throat. How did he do that? How did he always know exactly what to say? 

Keira locked eyes with him, watching the way his hair fell into his face, the way those blue eyes darkened in the half-light, the way his shirt clung to every plane of his chest and arms. She wanted to touch him, to feel his skin under her fingers. To feel anything besides the ache in her chest.

Her grip tightened on the edge of the ring. She couldn't bring herself to step away. "I just - I don't want to make things harder for you..." She quickly realized how that sounded and laughed nervously. "Sorry, I didn't mean -"

Before she could finish, his hand caught her wrist gently, drawing her forward. In one smooth motion, he lifted her up to sit on the edge of the ring. Her gasp was soft and startled, her hands instinctively finding his shoulders for balance. His hands lingered at her waist, warm and sure, keeping her steady while her back pressed against the ropes.

Now he was between her legs, close enough that she could feel his breath ghost against her throat. Bucky's gaze flickered down to her lips for the briefest second before meeting her eyes again. His thumbs traced slow, absent circles against her hips, teasing and driving her crazy. 

"Say stop," he murmured, voice rough with restraint. "And I will."

Keira's pulse hammered in her throat as she studied his face, the way his jaw clenched like he was barely holding himself back. Like she was something fragile and precious that could break if he moved too fast.

She didn't say stop.

Instead, she hesitantly lifted a hand to brush the damp strands of hair from his forehead, her fingers lingering against his temple before sliding into the soft waves at the nape of his neck. The quiet sound Bucky made at her touch was nearly enough to undo her completely. Her head tilted slightly back, eyes fluttering shut as his breath brushed the side of her neck, the faintest whisper of a kiss right where her pulse beat fast and wild. Her lips parted, a trembling sigh escaping before she even realized it.

His lips hovered just above her skin, so close she could feel the warmth of them. "Should I stop?" he asked again, his mouth so close she could feel every word against her skin.

Keira tried to answer, but nothing came out. Only the shaky exhale of someone fighting the pull and losing.

He smiled faintly against her neck, a knowing, heart-aching kind of smile. His nose grazed her jawline, his hand tightening slightly at her waist, grounding her. For a moment, the world outside that gym didn't exist. Just the sound of her breath and the faint hum of the lights above them. Bucky finally closed that last fraction of distance, his lips brushing feather light against her pulse point. Not quite a kiss, just the barest press of warmth, testing her. 

Keira's fingers tightened in his hair instinctively as a shiver ran through her. Her other hand gripped the front of his shirt like she needed an anchor, like if she didn't hold on, she might dissolve into nothing under that touch alone. Her breath hitched when he pressed another lingering kiss just below her ear, right where she'd always been weak for him. She was sinking fast and they both knew it.

Then, a soft cough. They both froze.

Wanda stood at the doorway, arms crossed but her smirk barely contained. "Sorry to interrupt," she said, voice laced with amusement. "Keira, you've got someone upstairs asking for you."

Keira's face was burning red. She quickly shifted, her hands pushing lightly at Bucky's shoulders as she tried to collect herself. "Oh, uh, yeah...okay. Thanks, Wanda."

Bucky stepped back immediately, his hands dropping from her waist, though the warmth of his touch still lingered like a brand.

"Yeah, thanks, Wanda," he repeated, his tone deceptively calm even as his jaw tightened.

Wanda nodded, lips twitching. "Anytime," she said with a knowing glance before disappearing down the hall.

The moment Wanda was gone, Keira exhaled sharply, half relief, half frustration. She slid off the edge of the ring, her bare feet hitting the cool mat.

"I should..." she started awkwardly, gesturing toward the door. Bucky just nodded once, his expression unreadable, though his pulse jumped visibly at his throat.

"Yeah," he murmured. "You should."

But his eyes said something else entirely, something that made her heart ache all over again. As she turned to leave, he couldn't help himself. His hand shot out, catching her wrist and spinning her back to face him.

She gasped slightly, their eyes locking and she couldn't deny it. The chemistry between them was on fire, the lust in his gaze was practically screaming for her.

He released her hand. Without looking back, she walked out of the gym, pulse still racing, wondering how far they would have gone if they hadn't been interrupted.

Bucky watched her until the sound of her footsteps faded. He let out an unsteady breath, running a hand through his hair. He could still taste her on his tongue, still remembered the way it felt to have her pressed against him again, god he had missed that, missed her. His chest was tight with something he didn't want to name. The urge to follow her, to stop her. It had taken a lot of restraint to not rip those little pyjama bottoms off that she wore, wanting nothing more then to bury himself inside of her. 

But he didn't, instead he'd let her go. Again.

Chapter Text

Keira had barely made it back upstairs before she realised her hands were still trembling. Her heart hadn't quite calmed down from the gym, from him. Every step down the corridor echoed like a heartbeat she couldn't quieten. 

As she reached the common room, Tony was stood near the door with his arms folded, expression unreadable but his stance protective. That quiet, heavy kind of authority that made people think twice before crossing him. Across from him sat a man in his late forties, grey streaking through dark hair, dressed in a well fitted suit that had clearly seen way too many long hours. He rose politely when she entered.

"Miss Watson," he greeted, voice calm but weighted with something that sounded like sadness. "I'm very sorry to come unannounced. My name is Charles Danner, I'm your father's solicitor."

The words hit her like a slow punch to the chest. She blinked, caught off guard. "My father?"

"Yes," the man said gently. "I'm afraid I have some sad news," he announced as they both took a seat opposite each other. 

"Your father passed away two nights ago. I've been trying to reach you since, but given your, association with the Avengers, it wasn't easy getting through the security protocols." He gave a polite nod toward Tony. "Mr. Stark was kind enough to let me in."

Tony's arms tightened across his chest. "After I verified he wasn't Hydra," he muttered.

Bucky appeared from the hallway but stayed back, staying silent and just listening.

There was a moment of stillness as Keira processed the information, the weight of it settling slowly. There had been a time when hearing something like this would have broken her. Now... she just felt tired.

Her hand brushed almost absent-mindedly against the fabric of her cardigan and her gaze dropped. "How did it happen?"

The lawyer sighed softly, a regretful expression crossing his face. "Natural causes. He'd had heart trouble for some time, though it was still sudden."

"I see. Um... thank you for letting me know."

He nodded. "Again, I'm very sorry for your loss. I realise this may not be the best time, but I'm here to discuss the terms of his will. There are some personal effects he left to you, as well as -"

Keira shook her head quickly. "No. I don't want anything."

Bucky's eyes flickered between her and the lawyer, sensing the tension in her stance. He took a small step forward, his presence solid, close enough to ground her, but giving her space if she needed it.

Danner cleared his throat. "Miss Watson, I understand this is difficult, but your father was -"

"A man who left when I was six," she interrupted quietly. Her voice didn't waver, but her eyes did. "He didn't look back. I barely remember his face. So forgive me if I don't feel much loss."

Tony shifted slightly beside her, proud, protective and ready to step in if she needed him, as was Bucky.

The solicitor's expression softened. "Your father, he... mentioned you often," he said, almost to himself. "In his later years, I think he regretted many things."

Keira's throat tightened despite herself. Regret was such a hollow word. Yet, it didn't undo anything.

She drew a breath. "What exactly did he leave me?"

"Just a letter," Charles said, opening his briefcase and handing it to her.

"That's it? A letter? You couldn't have just sent this in the post?" 

"Your father asked me to deliver it to you personally," Charles explained.

Keira took the envelope, running her fingers over the words. 

My dearest Keira.

Her gaze hardened as she felt Bucky shift slightly behind her, a faint rustle of fabric, almost like he wanted to reach for her.

"I'll leave you to it," Charles said quietly as he rose from the sofa. "And again, my condolences."

When he left, silence filled the room. Only the faint hum of the compound's fireplace crackling away remained.

Tony shared a look with Bucky before turning to her, his voice softer now. "You okay, kid?"

Keira took a shaky breath. "Yeah, I... I will be." She could feel both Tony and Bucky watching as she stood up.

"Doll," Bucky said, stepping towards her, but she backed away with a small smile.

"I'm okay," she assured him. "Excuse me."

She walked up to her room and placed the letter on her nightstand. Sitting on the side of her bed, she stared into space for what felt like the longest time.

She didn't hear him at first, the quiet knock on her door. Then, softly,
"Keira?"

Her head lifted. Bucky stood in the doorway, half shadowed by the dim hallway light. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes said everything. He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. He crossed the room slowly, like he was afraid to push too far.

"You don't have to go through this alone."

"I'm fine," she said quickly, too quickly.

He sat beside her on the bed. Close enough that she could feel the warmth of him against her side, but he didn't touch her. Just sat there. A solid, quiet presence in the dark.

When she glanced over, his gaze was fixed on her. There was no judgment in his silence, no pressure for her to talk. No expectations at all. It was the closest to peace she'd felt in weeks. Her shoulders sagged. 

"I feel so stupid. He left me, Bucky. He didn't care. Not once. And now..." She looked at the letter, tears gathering in her eyes. "Now he decides to write to me, to make an effort? It's probably just full of excuses. Trying to make himself feel better before he died."

Her voice cracked on the last word.

His hand lifted gently to her chin, turning her face toward him. "Don't do that," he said softly. "Don't make yourself feel bad for someone who didn't know what he had."

Her lips trembled. "He was my father, Bucky. I was just a kid. I waited for him to come back, and he never did. And now I'm supposed to, what? Forgive him because he wrote me a letter before he died?"

Bucky exhaled slowly, his fingers brushing her cheek before dropping away. "No," he said firmly. "You don't owe him anything, Keira."

His eyes burned with quiet intensity. "You don't have to read that letter if you don't want to. You don't have to forgive him just because he's gone and you sure as hell shouldn't feel guilty for being angry about it, either."

The words settled between them like an oath, something unshakable and true in a world full of half-truths and broken promises. A single tear slipped free as she searched his face, wondering how someone who'd suffered so much could be here, comforting her like this.

Keira swallowed hard. "I hate that it still hurts," she whispered.

"Means you've got a heart," he murmured. "That's not something to hate."

She shook her head, covering her face with her hands. A quiet sob escaped her, and before she could stop it, he pulled her gently against his side. She buried her face in his shoulder, her body shaking softly with each breath.

He held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head as he murmured softly against her hair. "I've got you, sweetheart. You're okay. You're gonna be okay."

Keira leaned into him, letting his warmth and solidity anchor her. Slowly, the tears subsided, leaving her feeling heavy and strangely hollow.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, brushing tears that had fallen down her cheeks.

"Sorry," she sniffled, feeling embarrassed. "I didn't mean to completely fall apart on you."

Bucky huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he wiped another stray tear with his thumb. 

"Don't ever apologize for that," he murmured, voice rough with something deeper than comfort. His palm lingered on her cheek before he forced it away.

"Sweetheart, after everything you've been through, i'm pretty sure you're allowed to fall apart once in a while."

That earned a soft laugh from her, wet, shaky, but real. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

His expression softened. "Not always," he said quietly. "God knows I've messed that up before." He looked away, his jaw tense like he was reliving something.

Keira reached for him without thinking, her fingers brushing his wrist. "Bucky."

He shook his head gently. "You don't have to say anything. Not tonight."

For a moment, neither of them moved. The letter sat forgotten in front of them, and when he finally stood, his hand lingered on her shoulder a beat too long.

"Try to get some rest," he said softly. "I'll be right down the hall if you need me."

She nodded, watching him as he turned to leave. 

Just before he reached the door, her voice stopped him. "Bucky?"

He froze, half turning back to her.

Something tightened in his chest at the sight of her, sitting on the side of her bed in the dark, eyes still wet but looking stronger somehow. His hand flexed on the doorknob, trying to ignore the wave of emotion and desire rushing through him just seeing her like that.

"Yeah?" he asked softly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

It was just two words, but the look on her face, the sincerity in her voice, it hit him differently. His heart stuttered, a hundred replies dying on his tongue.

Don't thank me. 

I'd do anything for you. 

I love you.

Bucky forced a faint smile, ignoring the ache in his chest. "Anytime, doll."

And then he was gone, leaving her in the quiet, the unopened still staring at her from her bedside table and the echo of his touch lingering long after the door closed.

Chapter Text

The morning sunlight streamed through her bedroom window as Keira slipped into a simple black sweater and jeans, feeling lighter than she had in days. Wanda and Natasha had insisted she take the day for herself. Hair, nails, and a little shopping, anything to remind her that life could still have small pleasures.

The salon smelled of lavender and warm vanilla as she settled into the chair. Wanda chatted animatedly beside her while Natasha leaned back, pretending to be unimpressed, though her smirk betrayed her amusement. The day passed faster than she expected. Keira left the salon with her hair falling over her shoulders and her nails painted a delicate pink.

Wanda and Natasha dragged her around town, stopping at cafés and shops neither of them would ever admit to liking on their own. They even managed to convince Keira to buy a few things for herself, little pieces of her old self she hadn't realized she'd missed.

As they headed back to the compound, Keira ran her fingers through her freshly styled hair, still getting used to it, her usual curls now completely straightened. The scent of vanilla lingered on her skin from the perfume she had tried and bought, it mixed well with the crisp autumn air.

Natasha nudged her shoulder playfully. "See? This was just what you needed."

Wanda grinned, holding up their shopping bags like trophies. "Sometimes retail therapy is the best kind of medicine."

Keira laughed, actually laughed and for a brief moment in that car ride home with the wind whipping through the open windows and her friends beside her. She almost felt like herself again.  

Then reality settled back in as they pulled up to the compound gates, because no matter how much she tried to ignore it... there was still one person inside who looked at her like she hung the stars in his sky, while she couldn't even remember why he mattered so damn much.

Keira's room was quiet when she stepped inside. She placed her bags onto her bed when something caught her eye. On her chest of drawers was a small vase of flowers. Her breath caught. Lilies. Her favourite. She walked over to them and picked up the vase carefully, fingertips tracing the delicate petals. A small note was tucked between the stems. She unfolded it, recognizing his handwriting instantly.

Doll, I hate seeing you cry. Seeing as lilies always made you smile, I thought this would help. -B.

Simple. Thoughtful. So him.

Her chest tightened as she looked back at the lilies. He remembered her favourite flower... She frowned and looked away, her gaze drifting off as she felt herself remembering something. It was a memory she hadn't fully realized was still tucked in her heart.

The medbay. A wounded Bucky. Blood loss, exhaustion, stubbornness. She remembered rolling her eyes when he insisted he was fine.

"Sit down like a good boy and take your shirt off." 

That glare he gave her had made her smirk. When she'd cleaned his wound, he'd flinched as her hand brushed his metal arm. He muttered an apology, his voice quiet and almost ashamed. Like a man used to being punished.

She'd said softly, "You don't have to apologize, Bucky."

Later, he'd noticed the vase of wilted flowers and she'd distracted him with a story of how they used to be lilies, her favourite. 

"They make me think of peace," she'd said, "And second chances."

The next morning, fresh lilies were waiting on her desk. She hadn't needed to ask who brought them.

The memory faded. Her throat tightened as she blinked back tears. A drop smudged the ink of his note.

Wiping at her cheeks roughly with one hand, Keira sucked in a shaky breath and reached into one of the shopping bags from earlier, pulling out the vintage book she'd found, something from the 1940s, something she hoped he'd like. She walked over to her desk and grabbed a pen, opening the book cover and writing a little message inside.

To the man who always knows what to say. -K

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

For a moment Keira just stood there, heart hammering as she stood in the hallway. Then she took a breath and walked up to Bucky's door. She took in another breath and when she let it out she gently knocked on his door.

She heard a muffled "Yeah?" from inside, followed by the sound of footsteps. 

The door opened to reveal Bucky in a worn t-shirt and sweatpants, hair tousled, eyes widening slightly at the sight of her.

"Hey," she said softly, suddenly feeling nervous under his gaze. "Bucky, the flowers are beautiful. You didn't have to do that."

A slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, that same damn smile that made her stomach flip in ways she couldn't quite grasp. 

"Yeah, I did," he said, his voice low. "I like seeing you smile."

Her cheeks warmed instantly.

He tilted his head. "New haircut?" His fingers brushed the ends of her now straight hair. "It suits you."

Bucky's touch sent a subtle shiver through her, but she managed to find her voice, forcing a small laugh.

 "Yeah, Wanda insisted," she laughed. "Said I needed pampering."

He nodded, gaze lingering a beat too long. 

Keira suddenly felt a little too seen, like he was searching for something. She fidgeted under his stare, breaking eye contact to glance down at the book in her hands.

 "I, uh... got you something. I saw it and it reminded me of you. I thought you might like it."

"For me?" He took it, surprised, turning it over in his hands. When he saw the inscription, something flickered in his expression, soft, grateful, and she could have sworn he was blushing a little.

Keira watched him as she held her breath. She felt ridiculous all a sudden, like a nervous teenager giving their first crush a Valentine. 

 "Do you like it?" she asked nervously, watching him read the inscription she had written. 

He looked up, meeting her gaze with a soft smile. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I do." 

There was an intensity in his expression, like the book meant more than just words on a page. She swallowed, fighting the urge to fidget as Bucky studied the gift a moment longer. And maybe she was imagining it, but his gaze seemed to linger on her name, his thumb brushing against the letters.  

"Thank you, Keira," he murmured, voice low. "It means a lot."

She shrugged, trying to seem casual, even though her heart was racing. "It's nothing, really," she said, biting her lip.  

He didn't seem to buy it though. His gaze was still fixed on her, those blue eyes studying her with a quiet intensity that made her stomach flutter again.  

"Come in?" He asked her, stepping to the side and holding the door open.

The invitation hung in the air between them. Keira hesitated, just for a second, but the warmth in his voice made her step forwards without thinking. His room smelled faintly of leather and cedar, it was warm, and almost familiar. Her fingers twisted together nervously as she glanced around at the neatly made bed, the stack of books on his nightstand. 

The next thing to catch her eye was the photo sitting on his dresser, the two of them mid kiss, laughing, her hands tangled in his hair.

Bucky cleared his throat slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Wanda took that. It was always your favourite." He trailed off, not sure how to explain it without making it more awkward than it already was. 

Keira swallowed hard, her fingers twitching at her sides like she wanted to reach for it but didn't dare. She turned to face him. "Bucky, do you remember giving me lilies once, after I patched you up? Because I -"

He froze. His breathing hitched in his chest and his expression turned serious. He took a step closer, his gaze searching her face.

"You remember that?" He asked quietly, something like desperate hope filling those blue eyes.

She nodded slowly. "Sort of...I guess the lilies triggered something." 

A muscle feathered in his jaw. "Do you remember anything else?"

She shook her head. "It's like trying to grab smoke. It's there, then it's gone."

Without thinking, he reached for her hands. Metal fingers laced with hers, cool against warmth and something deep inside her recognized it.

Her voice was a whisper. "We weren't together then, right?"

"No." He cleared his throat again, his gaze fixed on their hands, on the way their fingers were pressed together. "We, uh...We were friends at that point." 

He was close, so close she could make out the tiny flecks of darker blue in his eyes. She tilted her head slightly, trying not to focus on the way his thumb was rubbing gently against her skin.

"Only friends?"

Something flashed across Bucky's face for a split second before it vanished.  "Yeah. But deep down, I wanted you from the moment I met you."

Another beat passed between them, his grip on her hands tightening slightly. 

Her gaze flickered to his lips, her eyes darkening with something that felt both familiar and terrifying. 

 He seemed to notice too, and he suddenly realized how close they were now. Standing a breath away, their chests nearly brushing.Bucky's breath hitched as her gaze lingered on his mouth. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out all rational thought. The air between them crackled with tension, heavy and electric.

Keira bit her lip unconsciously, her heart hammering so loud she was sure he could hear it. Some part of her knew this closeness wasn't new, that once upon a time, they had been here before.His voice came out rough when he finally spoke.  

"Keira..."

Keira didn't look away, she couldn't.

"You shouldn't look at me like that," he rasped.

"Like what?"

Bucky hesitated for a moment,  his jaw clenching like he was trying to find the words. His thumb brushed against her jaw and down the side of her neck. "Like you want me."

The honesty in his voice nearly undid her. "Isn't that what you want?" 

Bucky smirked at that. "You have no idea, but it's taking everything in me not to take you right now." His voice was low, rough, achingly vulnerable in a way that made Keira's heart ache.

Keira swallowed, her words caught in her throat. She couldn't deny it, she wanted him more than she could say, more than she wanted to admit. But she didn't know how to give voice to the feelings twisting in her chest, to the ache in her heart when she looked at him, the desperate need to touch him again without overthinking it. She took a half step forward, barely a whisper of space between them now.

 "I -" 

"Bucky!" Steve's voice came through as he stepped into the bedroom, his eyes widening when he saw that he had interrupted them. "Oh, sorry I - sorry," Steve said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Bucky's gaze snapped towards Steve, annoyance written all over his face. He forced himself to take a step back from Keira, severing the electricity that had been crackling between them yet again.  

"What?" Bucky basically barked at Steve, his voice rough.

"It's ok, I'll just go," Keira said quietly, her cheeks flushed. "I - um, I'll see you later," she chuckled nervously, rolling her eyes at herself once she left his room.  

Bucky watched Keira go, a mix of frustration on his face. "Jesus, you couldn't have had worse timing?" He snapped, running a hand through his hair. Steve winced, clearly realizing he'd interrupted a moment. 

"Sorry, Buck. I didn't know you had company. I just wanted to ask if you wanted to go for a run -"

Bucky let out a slow breath through his nose, fingers flexing at his sides as he wrestled down the irritation. "Later," he muttered, still staring at the door where Keira had just disappeared.  

Steve shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck again. "Look man, I really didn't mean to -"

"Yeah." Bucky cut him off sharply before softening slightly when Steve's expression fell further. He exhaled hard through gritted teeth and forced himself to add, "Just... knock next time."  

Steve hesitated before nodding once and backing towards the hallway with hands raised in surrender before turning back to face him. "For what it's worth...she looks at you like she used to."

Then he was gone, leaving Bucky standing there with nothing but silence and that fragile bit of hope lodged deep in his ribs like shrapnel refusing to let go. 

Maybe Steve was right, she did seem to be growing closer towards him lately, almost like she wanted him to react, wanted him to just take her and show her just how good he used to make her fell, how he used to make her scream his name and forget her own. Maybe a part of her deep down still loved him, still remembered what they used to be...

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Keira closed her door behind her and slid down to sit on the floor, chest still heaving with the weight of what had almost happened once again. Her heart was thrumming so fast she felt dizzy with it. It wasn't just wanting him that was overwhelming. It was the certainty of it, the bone deep knowledge that this was right. That this was what her soul had been yearning for.

She got to her feet and walked over to her bookcase and grabbed the bag of photos Bucky had given her the other day. She took them over to her bed and after taking a deep breath, she pulled them out. They were full of evidence that they once used to be a couple, so many of them kissing or looking at one another longingly. It really made her heart beat faster. 

Even though she was kissing him in the pictures, she couldn't remember what it felt like. But god did she want to, she sometimes spent hours just fantasising about him, about how it would feel, how he would touch her, how he would take control and maybe have her begging him for more...get a hold of yourself, Keira!

Keira's fingers traced the edges of the photos, each one a moment frozen in time, proof of something her mind refused to remember. Her stomach twisted as she stared at a particular image. 

Bucky's arms were wrapped around her waist from behind, his lips pressed against her temple while she grinned at the camera like there was nowhere else in the world she'd rather be. That girl, her before Hydra, she looked so happy. Her throat tightened. 

Why can't I feel that?  

Keira flipped to another photo. Bucky pinning her against a kitchen counter mid laugh, his metal hand tangled possessively in her curls while she clung to his shoulders like he was oxygen and she was drowning. The intimacy burned through paper and ink and straight into her chest, raw and real despite being just an image.

Then came another one, softer this time. Taken when they clearly hadn't noticed someone snapping it. Them tangled together on a couch asleep with his head resting over hers protectively; both looking more peaceful than either had any right being, given their lives now...

Something about that last picture made Keira's breath catch painfully because here were two people who loved each other deeply...yet only one remembered it now.A tear hit the glossy surface before realizing they'd even started falling again. 

"Damn it," she whispered wetly into her empty room as she wiped angrily at her face with her sleeve because how unfair was all this? How cruel can the universe be, to give back half your heart, but take away every reason why you ever gave it?

Chapter Text

The next day, the compound felt lighter. For once, laughter filled the kitchen instead of briefing chatter or mission reports. Keira stood at the counter, a dusting of flour on her cheek and a glass of wine in hand. Wanda sat beside her, sipping from her own glass, while Peter was perched up on the counter beside the mixing bowl, sneakily trying to eat the raw cookie dough.

"Peter!" Keira laughed, swatting at his hand. "You're going to eat it all and get sick."

He grinned, licking his finger unapologetically. "Worth it. You're like... the Michelangelo of cookies."

"Please," Wanda teased, "More like Picasso. That batch looks like it melted in the oven."

Keira gasped in mock outrage. "I'll have you know these are artisan cookies. Deconstructed, experimental... whatever the word is."

They all laughed, and Wanda topped off their glasses. "We deserve this," she declared. "It's the afternoon, it's peaceful, and for once, no one's trying to destroy the world. Cheers to that."

"Cheers!" Peter and Keira echoed, clinking their glasses together.

The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the kitchen, warm, sweet and comforting. It was one of those moments that made Keira forget about the weight in her chest, the holes in her memory, and the ache that still lingered whenever she looked at a certain someone. For a few minutes, it was just the three of them, laughing, drinking wine, and stealing bites of gooey cookie dough when the other two weren't looking. It felt like a stolen moment, a few hours untethered from their complicated lives, where everything was easy.

Keira leaned back against the counter, closing her eyes when a breeze drifted through the open window. It was nice. She didn't want to move. She didn't want to think. She just wanted it to feel like this forever. The elevator dinged before the doors opened and Bucky stepped inside. He stood silently for a moment, watching the three of them laugh and tease each other. Something in his chest ached, sharp and sudden at the sight of her smiling.

Wanda noticed him first, and Keira's head whipped around. "Bucky," she said softly, a smile tugging at her lips before she could stop it.

He pushed off the doorframe and walked over, that familiar, calm confidence in his stride. "What's all this?"

"Baking therapy," Wanda said, grabbing her wine. "And Peter's learning self control."

Peter snorted, eating more cookie dough. "Failing self control."

Bucky's eyes never left Keira. "Looks like you're enjoying yourself," he murmured.

Her heart fluttered at the way he said it, like seeing her happy was something rare and precious. She reached for the cooling rack and handed him a cookie. "Try it."

He took it from her, his fingers brushing hers briefly before biting into the cookie. His eyes closed when the warmth and sweetness melted on his tongue. God, it tasted incredible. Not just because it was a good cookie, but because she had made it. For a second, he allowed himself to savour the feeling. The domesticity of it all. When his eyes opened again, she was watching him, waiting for his reaction. 

"Good?" she asked.

"You always did make good cookies," he said quietly, his gaze holding hers.

A shiver ran down her spine at the intensity in his eyes, the way he said it, the way he said anything...his voice was becoming an addiction, one she could happily listen to all day. It was like a punch to the gut, making her feel both homesick and lost all at once. She swallowed, stepping back as Wanda refilled her glass again, she took a big sip and hoped it would steady the pounding in her chest.

When Keira turned to look at him again, he was still watching. The smile that had just started to bloom on her face faltered. Because over Bucky's shoulder, she saw him. Tony. And beside him...Her mother.

The world narrowed to a single point. Her mother looked tired, but beautiful. Tall, elegant, with dark hair and familiar green eyes, her eyes. Tears filled them now as she took in her daughter.

Keira froze. "Mom?" she whispered.

Her mother smiled nervously, clutching her purse. "Hi, sweetheart."

The room fell silent. Wanda's laughter died, Peter went still, and even Bucky's shoulders tensed.

"We need to talk," her mother said.

Wanda was the first to move. "Come on, Peter," she murmured, tugging him toward the door. "Let's, um... take these to the rec room."

Peter hesitated, glancing back at Keira before following Wanda.

Tony stayed, arms crossed. Bucky started to move towards the door, but Keira's voice stopped him. "Please... stay."

He nodded silently and leaned against the counter, staying close but giving her space.

They all moved into the living room. Keira sat opposite her mother, Tony in a chair beside them, Bucky against the wall behind her, remaining watchful. Her mother took a shuddering breath, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

Maria's eyes flicked between them. "I see you're both still together?"

Keira let out a sharp laugh, full of disbelief. "That's none of your business."

"Keira, I didn't come here to fight," her mother said softly. "I just -"

"What do you want?" Keira cut in, voice trembling.

She stood abruptly and grabbed her purse. "Is this what you came for?" Keira emptied it, the few notes she had, falling into her mother's lap. "Then take it," Keira hissed, walking away. 

"Wait!" Maria said quickly. "Please, just sit down."

Keira scoffed but did as she asked, arms crossed tightly as she sat opposite her again.

Her mother didn't react, just looked down at her lap, shaking her head. "I know about your father's death," Maria said quietly.

Keira's throat went dry. "Yeah. What about it?"

Bucky could practically see the thoughts racing through Tony's head as they shared a look and for once he and Tony were in complete agreement. Maria Watson should have stayed gone.

"Did he... leave you anything?"

Tony's jaw tensed, but Bucky moved first, pushing off the wall and taking a seat next to Keira. His voice was calm, but there was steel in it. "Keira doesn't have any money in an inheritance if that's what you're after and even if she did, she doesn't owe you a damn thing."

Maria shook her head. "I'm not asking for money. I'm asking if he gave you anything at all that...might have meant something!"

Keira frowned. "He left me a letter. Not that I expected much."

Maria exhaled shakily. "I take it you haven't read it yet, then..."

Keira's eyes narrowed. "Why does that matter to you?"

Her mother hesitated before looking up, eyes glistening. "Because there's something you don't know. About your father. About me."

The silence grew thick. Tony said nothing, but his eyes were sharp. Bucky didn't move. He clenched his jaw tight, fighting the urge to snap at her, he didn't trust her, she had never been there for Keira. The amount of times he had held her while she told him stories of neglect and trauma. She had poured her heart out to him several times and he vowed for her to never feel that way again, not ever.

"When I was younger," Maria began, "I was with someone... he was not a good man. Controlling. Violent. I ended up in the hospital on several occasions. That's how I met your father, he was a nurse. Kind. Patient. He helped me through it."

That made Keira pause. "He was a nurse?"

Maria nodded, smiling faintly. "He was the most caring man I'd ever met. We started talking and he made me laugh again. He listened to me. After awhile...I thought, god, this must be what it's like to be happy. And I fell in love. I left my boyfriend and your father and I, we got married."

She looked down at her hands. "For a while, it was good. We were happy."

Maria went silent for a moment before continuing. "He saved me. But he couldn't save himself."

Bucky's voice was low, steady. "Why did he leave?"

Maria's jaw tightened. "He was unhappy. Turned to drugs. Met someone else. Then... well, you know the rest."

"Bullshit," Bucky snapped before he could stop himself.

"Barnes," Tony warned sharply.

But Bucky didn't stop. His voice rose, raw and fierce. "No. I'm not letting her off the hook," he growled. 

"You and her father let her down when she needed you the most. You should've been there, both of you," he shouted, making Maria quiver a little. "You should've protected her, helped her when she lost her memories instead of vanishing. You had a chance to do right by her and you didn't."

Maria's eyes narrowed into a glare, just as fierce. "You don't know me. You don't get to tell me how to parent my own daughter," she snapped. 

"Parent?" Bucky's voice cracked like a whip. "You don't even know what that word means."

Tony straightened in his chair now, watching them both carefully. Bucky didn't care. His shoulders tensed. He'd never wanted to strangle someone more than he did right then. Especially when she started again.

"My husband was an addict. He was sick in a way I couldn't fix. I didn't have the resources to keep Keira safe."

Bucky scoffed and shook his head. 

"Enough, Barnes," Tony cut in, but Bucky didn't move. His fury simmered, restrained only by Keira's soft voice.

"Bucky, it's okay," she murmured.

"No, it's not." His glare burned into her mother. "She needs to hear it," he said, rising from his seat but Maria's gaze didn't follow. "You have no idea how much your mind games and silence have hurt her over the years. Do you know how many nights she cried for you? How much she prayed you'd just... notice her, love her?"

Maria lifted her head to finally look at him, her voice was thick and composed, "You don't get to come in here, Soldier and lecture me about Keira or what she's been through. I'm her mother. She is my daughter. I..."

Maria's expression flickered. She looked away, just for a second, but it was enough for Bucky to see. For a split second, there was guilt. Shame. 

Bucky's voice softened, but stayed sharp. "You want to know something?" he started, sitting back down next to Keira who looked like a scared little animal. "She'd forgive you. Even after everything. That's how big her heart is. But if you really love her, then for once in your damn life, tell her the truth." 

Keira's breath hitched. No one had ever defended her like that before. She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently, his eyes rested on hers, giving hers a gentle squeeze back. 

Maria stiffened, looking down at their joined hands. The muscle in her jaw ticked. She closed her eyes briefly before her tears finally spilled over. 

"You're right. I wasn't there. I was scared, Keira. But you're right," she sniffled. "I don't know how much or... what you've been through. And I know I haven't been there for you, but I was scared."

Keira blinked back tears of her own, trying to keep strong and focus on Bucky's grip. 

"I'm a terrible mother," she whispered. "I always have been. I wasn't ready for any of it. I had no one. I struggled. I thought I was doing my best, but I... I didn't. I failed you."

"She's the best thing that ever happened to you," Tony said sharply. "If you're here to hurt her again, you can leave right now."

Her mother looked down, tears spilling freely now. "I was in rehab when you were in the hospital," she said quietly. "I've only been out a couple of weeks days. I'm going back soon though because...I can't keep my life together, Keira. Not without falling apart again."

Keira said nothing, her face blank, but her hands trembling, tears still threatening to fall but she didn't let them.

"I didn't think you'd want to see me," her mother continued. "So I stayed away. But before I go back, there's something you deserve to know. Something I should've told you a long time ago."

Keira's stomach twisted. "What is it?"

Maria hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I met your father... I was already pregnant."

Keira froze. "What do you mean? I have a sib-"

"I was pregnant with you."

The words hit like a gunshot. Keira felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. Her breath caught, sharp and ragged as she stared at her mother. 

"What?" Her voice came out smaller than she intended, trembling with something raw and vulnerable.

Bucky stiffened beside her, his grip tightening on her hand like an anchor before he could stop himself. 

Maria swallowed hard, twisting the tissue between her fingers into shreds as she forced herself to continue. "Your father... wasn't your biological father."

Keira let go of Bucky's hand as she stood up abruptly, shaking her head. "You're lying."

"I'm sorry, Keira," Maria whispered, sobbing now. "You want to know why he left? It's because you were never his."

The world spun around them, everything tilting off balance with the weight of that confession.No.No, this wasn't happening. This wasn't real. It was a nightmare she was going to wake up from.Her mother couldn't be telling her this. Her mother wouldn't. 

A strangled sound tore out of Keira. She stumbled back two steps, almost falling. The world tilted. Keira stumbled back, barely catching herself before Bucky's arms wrapped around her.

"No... you're lying." She turned away, tears streaming down her face. "Get her out of here," her eyes on Tony, begging him to do as she asked. 

"Keira, please don't walk away!"

Tony moved immediately, guiding Maria to the door. Her mother reached out, but Keira stepped back like the touch would burn her. 

"Please, just... go."

Tony gently guided her mother towards the elevator, not saying a word.The doors shut behind them, but Keira barely registered it.

Everything was falling apart. What she thought, who she was... it was all a lie. It was all wrong. She wanted to hit something. To scream. To punch her fists into the wall until her knuckles split. 

Bucky felt her shaking, every muscle in her body coiled tight like she was one breath away from shattering. His heart ached for her, ached to hold her. But she was pulling back from him like she couldn't stand the thought of him touching her. He'd never felt more helpless.

"Keira -" But she walked past him, her arms wrapped around herself. 

He watched her disappear up the stairs, every muscle in his body tense. When the door to her room closed, he swore under his breath. He went directly towards the bar and made himself something strong. He downed it straight away and breathed deeply, feeling too much all at once. Anger, pain and confusion and god, a part of him wanted to break something too. To hit something, hard. This was not what Keira needed right now. 

His fist clenched at his side, wanting so badly to break her door down and tell her everything would be okay. To hold her until she felt safe again. He knew it was for the best though, she needed time, space, to process. She needed to be alone. But the thought of her curled up in her room, in pain and hurting all by herself... it made the room feel like it was spinning. Like he was going to be sick. 

He gave her a few more minutes until he couldn't wait any longer. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Keira sat cross-legged on the bed, the letter from her father trembling slightly in her hands. The paper was yellowed, the ink faded, the handwriting slanted and rushed, desperate, like a man trying to make peace with ghosts that had haunted him for too long.

Keira,

I don't know where to begin. Maybe with the only thing that ever mattered, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed a father. The truth is, I wasn't happy. Your mother and I were both broken in different ways, and instead of fixing it, we dragged each other down. I lost my job, turned to drugs, and became someone I didn't even recognize.

You were just a little girl. You didn't deserve to see the worst of us, so I ran. Cowardly, I know. By the time I got my head straight, it was too late. You had grown up without me, and I didn't think I had the right to come back.

There's something else... something I should've told you a long time ago. I wasn't your father by blood. But I loved you like you were mine, maybe more than I ever should've allowed myself to. You were better off without me, Keira. You always were.

I hope you find peace. I hope you find love, the kind that makes life worth fighting for. Go after it, because life's too damn short, and if you wait too long, regret will eat you alive. I should know. 

Be happy, kid.
– M.

Her throat burned as she finished reading. She stared at the last line until it blurred. He hadn't even signed his full name, just M. Like even in the end, he didn't think he had the right to be called dad. Keira should have been angry, furious even, but all she felt was a deep, hollow ache. An old wound splitting open again.

Tears welled, the words swimming before her eyes. He was gone now, for good this time and there would never be another chance to say all the things they both should have said years ago. Regret settled heavy in her stomach.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Bucky hesitated outside before finally knocking gently on her door.

"Hey," he murmured when he opened it slightly, taking in her pale, broken face. "You okay?"

Keira let out a shaky breath and shook her head silently, because no, she wasn't okay. Not right now. But maybe one day soon... she would be. She didn't answer. The silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile. Then she stood, walked toward him and before he could speak again. 

With trembling fingers, she grabbed his shirt collar. Her hand slid behind his neck, pulling him down. The kiss that followed was fierce, desperate, tasting of salt and sorrow. She kissed him like she needed him to breathe.

Bucky froze for half a second, caught off guard by her intensity, but when she deepened the kiss, pulling him closer, he forgot how to breathe altogether. His hands fisted in her hair, rough, hungry and he kissed her back just as hard.

He would've forgotten the rest of the world if he could. Her skin was soft and burning, her heart thudding against his chest like it was about to burst out of her. She was just how he remembered.

When he finally managed to tear away, they were both breathing heavily, eyes wild. "Keira..." he whispered against her lips, voice rough. "Hey, look at me."

She shook her head, trying to kiss him again, but he caught her wrists and held them gently between their chests. "I want this," he said, eyes locked on hers. "More than you can imagine. But not like this. Not when you're hurting."

She stared at him, chest heaving, her silence breaking apart in small breaths as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. Keira opened her mouth to argue, but his fingers tightened gently around her wrists, keeping her still. His gaze was unflinching, his expression almost stern.

"Not like this," he repeated quietly. "I won't be the one you fall into bed with to forget, okay? I'm not that guy. Not even for you."

The words hit her like a wave. And as soon as his grip relaxed, she stepped back, dizzy from the distance suddenly between them. She knew he was right. She wanted him. God, she wanted him, but he was right, not like this. She let out a shaky breath, running a trembling hand through her hair. 

Her eyes flickered up to meet his again. "I'm sorry..."

"I know," he murmured, taking her in his arms again, forehead pressed to hers. "But if we do this now, you'll wake up tomorrow and hate yourself for it. You deserve more than a distraction, sweetheart. You deserve something real."

Every inch of her body ached to deny it. To pull him closer again until she was drunk on the taste of his skin. But his words were too real, too raw. Somehow, even in her worst moments, he was still protecting her. Still putting her first. He was right though. If she did this now, she'd hate herself in the morning, they still had so much to talk about. Bucky deserved better than that. 

Keira had to admire him though, most men would have jumped at the chance to get back with an ex they've been chasing after but, Bucky was different. If anything, she realised just how lucky she had been to have him, to have him now. No wonder she had loved him once upon a time. He was a true gentleman.

Slowly, Keira reached up to touch his cheek, tracing her thumb over his cheekbone. He watched her silently, his expression unreadable. The tears came harder now, silent and heavy. He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her as if he could shield her from the world. She cried into his chest, but he didn't say a word. Just held her, one hand stroking her hair in slow, steady motions until her sobs began to fade. His eyes found the opened letter on her bed and suddenly her behaviour made more sense now. 

Keira wasn't sure how long they stood there, lost in the silent comfort of each other's embrace. The soft sound of his breath against her ear, the steady beat of his heart. She felt safe in a way she hadn't in what felt like ages. 

After a while, when her breathing evened out and her body grew heavier against him, he scooped her up effortlessly. He laid her down onto her bed, brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, and covered her with the blanket.

Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Sleep, doll," he whispered. "I've got you."

His touch was so gentle, so tender, it almost broke her heart again. Her fingers caught his wrist weakly. 

"Stay," she whispered, her voice soft and trembling.

His eyes flickered to hers, searching. "Keira..." he murmured, but she tightened her grip, pulling him closer. 

"Please," she whispered. "Just for a while." 

He hesitated for a moment, the rational part of him urging him to walk away, to not to let himself get carried away. But then he looked at her, vulnerable and tired and beautiful. How was he supposed to say no to her when she looked at him like that? 

"Scoot over, doll," he murmured, sliding onto the bed beside her. He shifted her onto her side, pulling her against him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face into the crook of his neck. His chest was solid against her cheek, his heartbeat steady. He smelled like soap and something so purely him, it was dizzying. She could feel the tension in his body slowly unravelling, his hands running over her back in slow, soothing circles. 

Bucky stayed silent, his fingers tracing patterns along her spine, as if he were mapping out every vertebrae. He could feel the rise and fall of her chest in time with his own, the press of her body against his. He'd almost  forgotten what this felt like, holding her like this, having her close, something in him finally feeling whole again. 

The weight of her in his arms was both familiar and heart breaking at the same time. This used to be his everyday; Keira curled against him, her head tucked under his chin, her breath warm on his skin. He'd missed it so much he almost didn't know what to do with himself. His fingers traced small circles into her hip, his gaze on the ceiling. His chest ached with a thousand unspoken words.

"Bucky?"

Keira tilted her head up slightly, her breath warm against his throat. Her fingers toyed with his dog tags absently as she hesitated before speaking again.  

"Thank you..." She swallowed hard. "Thank you, for fighting my corner. It meant a lot."

Bucky's hand stilled on her back for half a second before continuing its slow path along her hips, like he needed to touch her to just remind himself this was real.A shiver went through him at her words. He tightened his arms, pulled her flush against him like he was trying to get closer. 

"You never have to thank me for that, doll. Nobody will ever treat you like that again, even if you never love me again. I'll always protect you, Keira." The words came out rougher than he meant, thick with unspoken feelings. 

Keira's breath hitched at the intensity in his voice, at the way his fingers clenched against her hip, like the thought of something happening to her was physically painful. She knew he meant it, that he would do anything to keep her safe. It scared her how much that knowledge made her feel safe too, how much it made her want him all over again, even if she didn't remember wanting him before. She wanted him now.

Bucky's fingers flexed against her hip again, the movement almost involuntary. He could feel her breath against his throat, hear the faint tremble in her every exhale. He had to force himself not to pull her tighter against him. 

There were so many things he wanted to say to her, so many memories he wanted to share with her again. He wanted to pin her underneath him and remind her of how much he used to make her scream out his name. But he swallowed them all down, knowing they weren't meant for right now, and instead focused on the feel of her body, warm and alive and here, against his own.

They lay in silence, their breaths falling into synchrony. Bucky traced invisible lines along her spine, slow, soothing motions that felt so familiar, yet somehow new. He could feel the tension in her muscles easing, her body sinking into his as her breathing grew heavier with sleep. 

He felt himself relaxing too, finally able to just...be. Not the Winter Soldier, not a weapon, just Bucky. Just the man who used to love the girl in his arms more than anything. He stayed a while longer until he reluctantly removed his hands and got up from the bed, leaving her to sleep.

Bucky's hand lingered on her shoulder, reluctant to leave her. He wanted to stay, hold her all night and wake up to her in his arms. But he knew she needed space to process everything that had happened, and he didn't want to make things more complicated. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Sweet dreams, doll," he murmured, his voice rough with a million unspoken emotions. 

Chapter Text

The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, pale gold against the sheets. For a moment, Keira didn't move, just listened to the quiet hum of the compound beyond her door. The world felt still, heavy in a way that wasn't painful anymore, just... different. When she finally sat up, the faint scent of Bucky's cologne lingered in the air. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and let the memory of the night before steady her.

A hot shower helped clear the fog in her head. The water ran over her shoulders, grounding her, washing away the ache that had lived there for years. She still felt tired, but lighter, like she could finally breathe again without breaking. She dressed slowly, black leggings, a white hoodie, and a pair of socks. After drying her hair, she tied it up into a high ponytail. 

Exhaling softly, Keira made her way downstairs toward the kitchen. The others were already scattered about, the usual morning chaos muted by the calm hum of the coffee machine and quiet conversation.

Tony glanced up from his tablet as she entered, offering her a small, uncharacteristically gentle smile. "Morning, kiddo," he said. "You might want to finish that coffee before you head outside."

Keira frowned, pouring herself a cup. "Outside?"

He hesitated, then nodded towards the window. "Your mother's here. She... asked to see you before she leaves."

For a second, Keira froze, the mug trembling slightly in her hands. Her stomach twisted painfully. Before she could respond, she heard footsteps behind her, that slow, steady stride she knew anywhere.

Bucky appeared in the doorway, that protective storm already brewing behind his eyes. "You don't have to," he said softly, stepping closer. "If it's too much, I'll tell her to go."

Keira swallowed hard, the coffee suddenly tasting bitter in her mouth. She set the mug down carefully before turning towards Bucky, meeting his gaze. His expression was unreadable, eyes dark, unwavering. There was no judgement there, just quiet resolve.

She exhaled shakily before nodding once. "No... I think I need to see her."

Bucky's jaw tensed briefly, but he didn't argue, just reached out to brush his fingers lightly against hers in silent support before stepping back slightly.

Tony cleared his throat awkwardly from where he leaned against the counter, watching their exchange with a raised brow. "Just say the word and I'll escort her off the premises immediately," he offered casually, though his tone held no real malice.

The corner of Keira's mouth twitched faintly at Tony's attempt to lighten the mood. She squared her shoulders, took another sip of coffee and exhaled slowly before turning to head upstairs to grab something before heading out.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Outside, the air was crisp and cool, the sky brushed with pale blue. Her mother sat alone on a bench near the gardens, hands clasped tightly together. She looked smaller somehow, not the angry, chaotic presence Keira had known for so long, but a woman hollowed out by regret.

Keira hesitated only a moment before walking over and sitting beside her. Neither spoke at first. The silence between them wasn't cruel this time, it was tired and heavy, but honest.

Keira reached into her pocket and pulled out the folded letter from her father. "Thought you might want to read this," she said quietly, placing it in her mother's trembling hands.

Maria stared down at it. Her face crumpled, years of guilt and anger twisting her features. There were so many things she wanted to say, so many apologies clawing their way up her throat, but she said nothing as her gaze fixed on the words Keira had already memorised in her head.

When Maria finally opened it, the tears came fast. Silent at first, then breaking into quiet sobs.

Keira felt her own eyes burn. Watching her mother break like that hurt in ways she hadn't expected. She didn't want to forgive her, not yet, but she didn't want to hate her either. That realization hit like a sucker punch. After so many years of carrying the weight of her mother's choices, the sudden absence of rage was almost disorienting.

"I don't blame you for hating me," her mother managed through the tears.

Keira clenched her jaw, watching the woman who had haunted her memories for so long crumble in front of her. "I don't hate you," she admitted quietly, more to herself than to anyone else. "Not anymore."

Her mother lifted her tear filled eyes, stunned into silence by those words. 

But Keira wasn't done yet. Her voice steadied as she exhaled. "But that doesn't mean I forgive you."

And it was the truth, raw and simple. Yet painful and necessary. For the first time in years, Keira didn't feel like a daughter defined by anger, just someone finally free of its weight.

"I'm glad you're getting help," she added softly. "That's a good thing. I just wish you'd done it sooner."

Her mother nodded, shoulders trembling, eyes red rimmed but focused.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so terribly sorry for everything."

A moment of silence stretched before she spoke again.  "Do you... think we could start again?" her mother asked hesitantly. "Someday?"

Keira looked away, her gaze falling on the edge of the garden where the lilies swayed gently in the breeze. 

"Mum... it's gonna take time," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "You hurt me. A lot. But all I ever wanted was for you to look at me, to really see me."

Her mother nodded, guilt carved deep into her face.

"I need to know..." Keira said after a long pause. "My real dad, is he dead?"

Her mother hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yes. He died in prison a year after being sentenced. Even if he'd survived, I'm glad you never met him. He wasn't the man I thought he was, sweetheart. He would've just hurt you."

Keira swallowed hard, staring down at her hands. "Then maybe it's better this way."

They sat together in silence again, the weight of years hanging between them. For once, it wasn't angry or resentful, it was almost peaceful.

After a few minutes, her mother stood, wiping her eyes. "I should go," she said quietly, slowly walking away until she turned back around. "Keira... I'm so proud of you. Of the person you've become. I always have been. I love you, sweetheart."

Keira stood too, her voice breaking softly as she whispered, "I love you too, Mum." As much as she hated her over the years, she was still her mother and hearing her say those words meant more to her then anything. She was all she had left in ways of family, not counting the family she had up in the compound. 

They hugged, tentative at first, then tighter. Both clung to the fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be a beginning instead of another ending.

When her mother finally pulled away, her eyes were red but steady. She gave Keira one last smile, sad, hopeful, and a little broken before turning and walking down the path, disappearing from sight. The weight of that moment lingered long after she was gone.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

When Keira finally walked back inside, Bucky was leaning against the wall near the door, waiting. He didn't say anything, just straightened when he saw her.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, voice low and rough with concern.

Keira exhaled shakily, her mother's words still echoing in her head, before nodding once. "Yeah," she murmured, stepping closer until there were only inches between them. "Just... glad it's over."

His metal hand twitched at his side, like he wanted to reach for her but stopped himself, always so careful not to push too far, even now after everything.

So Keira closed the distance herself, resting her forehead briefly against his chest. "Can we talk later?" she asked softly.

Bucky's breath caught, wrapping his arms around her, but yet he didn't hesitate. "Anytime." 

His flesh hand lifting to brush a loose curl behind her ear, his fingertips grazing the line of her jaw before dropping away again. "I'm not going anywhere."

The promise hung between them, fragile and sacred, something that felt familiar, even if she couldn't remember why yet. She exhaled slowly, leaning into him for another heartbeat before pulling back with a small nod, not trusting her voice when her throat still burned with too many unsaid things.

But later? Later they would talk. And maybe... maybe that would be enough to start stitching some of the broken pieces back together again.

Chapter Text

The compound was quiet when the team returned from a mission that day, exhaustion hanging in the air. The hum of engines faded, boots echoing down the hall before each Avenger disappeared to their rooms. It had been a long mission, one that left more bruises than anyone wanted to admit.

Bucky paused at the living room doorway.Keira was asleep on the sofa, curled beneath a thin blanket, the soft glow of the television painting her in flickering lights. There was an empty mug beside her, a book half open on the floor. She looked peaceful, something he didn't see often enough. 

He crouched beside her, something about the way her hair had fallen over her cheek made his chest tighten before he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. "Hey, sweetheart," he murmured, but she didn't stir. 

He sighed, looking at her face, the soft curve of her jaw, the freckles dusted across her nose, the way her lashes cast a shadow over her cheeks... He could stay here like this all night; just watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, the gentle flutter of her eyelashes, the warmth of her skin so close to his.

His metal fingers itched to reach out, to touch her skin, to feel her,  to know she was real and alive and still breathing the same air as him. Instead, he just smiled faintly and tugged the blanket up over her shoulders, and stood for a moment, watching the only good thing he had left to live for. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Upstairs, the shower steamed the mirror as he washed off the day, rather than the blood or dirt. Bucky stepped out of the shower, towel slung low on his hips as he wiped the steam from the mirror. His reflection stared back, tired eyes, still healing cuts from tonight's mission, and that constant tension in his jaw that never really left anymore.  

He exhaled sharply through his nose before changing into a pair of sweatpants. He reached for a shirt but paused when a soft knock sounded on his door.He opened it and there she was. His Keira.

Her hair was a little messy from sleep, wearing a grey t-shirt with one of those funny looking smurfs on it, a matching pair of pyjama bottoms, her expression unsure but warm. Fuck she looked cute as hell.

"Hey," Keira's voice was quiet. "I know it's late... I can go if you're tired?"

Bucky leaned against the edge of the doorframe, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Never tired, sweetheart."

She raised an eyebrow at that, the corners of her mouth twitching just a little in that familiar way."Good to know," she said, and dammit if that didn't make his heart clench.  

She cleared her throat, fidgeting with her sleeve the way she always did when she was nervous. "Mind if I come in?" 

Bucky shook his head, stepping aside with a wave of his metal hand.  

"Are you ok?" she asked, her eyes finding a few cuts on his face before her gaze lingered down to his chest that was bare, his metal arm exposed, something she used to love especially when he would use it on her, god the sounds she would make... 

His breathing hitched just a fraction as their eyes met again, trying to focus on her words instead of the memories that flooded back at the sight of her in their room again. 

"Yeah," he said finally, voice rough in a way that didn't sound entirely convincing. "Just a couple of cuts. They'll heal."

She hesitated before stepping closer, like she was afraid to touch him for a moment as her eyes ran over the small cuts and bruises across his face and chest. "How fast do they heal?" 

"A few days," he replied, watching her closely as she continued to stand in the middle of his room, looking too small and vulnerable in the large space. 

They'd stood like this hundreds of times before; him just watching her as she took her sweet time studying every inch of him, making him wait until she was finished before saying what was on her mind.It was torturous. He wanted to kiss her, pull her into his arms, hold her so tight he'd never have to let go.

He reached for her hand, fingers brushing hers as he guided her further inside. The air between them was charged, not loud, not obvious, just there. He led her towards the bed, but sat down on the chair opposite, giving her space. 

Keira hesitated for a moment before sitting on the side of his bed, fingers twisting in the fabric of her long sleeved top. The room smelled like him, clean soap and something warm, comforting. It felt familiar in a way she couldn't quite place.

Bucky leaned forwards slightly, elbows resting on his knees. "You okay?" he asked softly.

She swallowed hard before blurting out, "I dreamed about you, about us." 

His breath caught just slightly before he cleared his throat. "Good dream?" And god help him if part of him hoped it was one from before. One where they were happy and whole and everything made sense again without having to explain why this hurt so much every time they had moments like these lately...   

Keira exhaled shakily through her nose suddenly looking everywhere except directly at him when answering with quiet honesty. "Yeah...it was." 

She pulled her sleeves over her hands nervously before continuing. "I don't know if it was a dream or a memory? But, we were in front of a lake somewhere, you were holding me and we were talking about the future. You said, one day we'll walk away from all of this, start over, away from all the danger..." 

Bucky went very still. That was a memory, one of his most treasured ones. They'd been at a lake house upstate that Tony owned, it was just the two of them for three whole days after months of back to back missions. He'd held her against his chest as the sun set over the water, whispering promises he wasn't sure he could keep but damn if he hadn't wanted to try.

"It wasn't a dream," he said finally, voice rough with emotion. "That happened." 

Keira inhaled sharply, fingers uncurling slightly, like she didn't know what to do with that information now that it was out there. A part of her heart felt warm, especially over the fact that he had really said those words to her once upon a time.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then she sighed, pulling her sleeves over her hands again. 

"I'm a little scared, Bucky," she admitted. 

He frowned. "Of me?"

"No. Of... this," she said, her hand moving in a line between them. "I know I once loved you, that we had something real and I wish so badly I could remember that. But in my head, it feels like a whole new relationship...and that makes me nervous. I don't know how to do that with you."

Bucky nodded, his jaw softening as he leaned forwards, resting his forearms on his knees. 

"Keira," he said quietly. "You don't have to remember everything to start again. I don't expect anything from you. And I'll never push you into something you don't want."  

She laughed a little, finding him unlike anyone she has ever met before. 

"How are you so patient? You must be so...I don't know..." she blushed, super soldier or not he was still a man with needs, it must be a lot for him knowing what they used to get up to together. 

Bucky smirked, a flicker of that old mischief in his eyes. "Oh, trust me doll, I'm suffering." He ran a hand through his hair with a rough exhale. "But i've always been a patient man." 

His voice dropped lower, rough around the edges as he added, "Even if it is killing me slowly." 

Keira's lips parted slightly at that, cheeks flushing darker as she ducked her head to hide the way her breath stuttered. The air between them felt charged suddenly, like static before lightning strikes.

God, she was still so affected by him even now without memories and Bucky knew exactly what that look meant. What that little hitch in her breathing always led to before... 

He forced himself to lean back again before things crossed lines neither were ready for tonight, despite how badly he wanted to close the distance between them right now. Because god help him, but one touch from those small, dainty hands might just ruin every ounce of restraint left inside of him. 

"So, we were pretty bad huh?" she asked, and he knew exactly what she was asking. 

Bucky let out a low, rough chuckle and god, the sound alone sent heat crawling up her neck. 

"We were very bad, sweetheart," he admitted, voice thick with memory. 

His thumb traced absently over the edge of his knee like he was imagining all the ways they used to be tangled together before, how she used to gasp when his metal hand found that spot in between her legs. Then suddenly he stilled again, catching himself before going too far down that path tonight 

Even though he was trying to behave he couldn't resist teasing her a little, wanting to see how she would react. He smirked lazily back at where she sat wide eyed on his bed.

"You learnt a lot about yourself while we were together." 

"I did?" she asked curiously. "Like what?"

"Like how much you liked being held all the time, how if I started stroking your back I wasn't allowed to stop." 

She giggled at that, but he wasn't done. 

"How you used to like it rough," he continued, watching her carefully. "Begging me to stop being too much of a gentleman."

A beat passed where neither of them moved, just staring at each other in heavy silence until finally Keira swallowed hard enough for him hear it across the room. He was thoroughly enjoying her reaction, the way he cheeks blushed and her eyes flickered away from his, not knowing where to look.    

"Other times we would go slow, but it didn't last long, we couldn't get enough of each other." 

He grinned shamelessly watching the colour bloom higher every second, but made sure not to push any further tonight despite how badly her, wanting nothing more than to show her exactly what else once drove her crazy about him between the sheets, or up against the walls or floors or anywhere for that matter. 

But patience won out once more as he cleared his throat instead, shifting slightly in his chair beneath them both. If only that gave himself the space to breathe normally again. 

Keira coughed lightly, trying to ignore the way her pulse jumped traitorously in her lower stomach. Hearing words like that come out of his mouth was a surprise and something she hadn't been prepared for.  She couldn't remember any of their intimate moments together, but her body apparently hadn't forgotten, especially with how she reacted to him which was in equal parts thrilling yet also mortifying at the same time. 

Keira felt her cheeks redding despite trying to keep herself calm and composed. "You make it sound like we were teenagers." 

Bucky's expression softened at that. "We were worse," he confessed, voice rough. "We never could keep our hands off each other. I don't think I ever wanted something as much as I wanted you. It was crazy." 

He let out a rough exhale, running a hand through his hair. "Don't get me wrong. You were always more than just sex. I loved you with everything I had Keira. Always. And that part never changed. But the things we did... I can't remember ever feeling like that with anyone else before." 

Her heart felt like it was overwhelmed, how could she have been this lucky to have found and given herself to a man like this, it didn't feel real. She didn't know how to answer him so instead she tried to mask her feelings with humour.

 "Wow, I must've been good," she teased, trying to hide her blush. 

Bucky simply grinned. "Doll, you couldn't walk straight for a whole day the first time I touched you."

Keira's heart skipped at that. She'd never thought of herself as the kind of woman who was very sexual. Apart from Bucky, she had only ever been with two guys. Her first time was prom night and the other guy was someone from University, but they only slept together a handful of times and to be honest she couldn't even remember it that well, not because of her memory loss but because that was how mundane it was. 

She chewed on her lower lip, trying to imagine what it was like, being with Bucky. She could only imagine...The look he gave her was enough to still the air between them. It was reverent, hungry, full of memories he didn't dare speak aloud. 

"You were beautiful," he said simply. "You are beautiful."

She couldn't hold his gaze, her cheeks colouring further. She knew he was watching her closely, no doubt cataloguing every small reaction, the hitch in her breath, the flutter of her eyelashes, the way her lips parted ever so slightly. Something inside of her suddenly flickered to life. 

A flash of a touch, a sound, a breath. Their bodies moving together. Half formed memories, but strong enough to make her heart race. 

Keira stood abruptly, needing to move, to breathe."I want to...give us a chance," she said, her voice trembling. "I like you, Bucky. I really do. I'm just... nervous."

Bucky stood slowly, careful not to crowd her. His voice was soft, impossibly gentle, like she was something precious he might scare away. 

 "We go at your pace," he promised. "Always yours." 

He reached out hesitantly, brushing his thumb over the back of her hand just once before pulling away again like even that much contact might be too much too soon. 

The corner of his mouth lifted in that lopsided smirk that made her stomach flip. "And for the record? You still look at me the exact same way you did when we first met."

Her brow furrowed slightly as if trying to place what that meant before Bucky leaned in just close enough for his next words to whisper against her ear. 

"I just want to hold you again, Keira. I've missed you." 

Her throat tightened. "Then hold me." 

Bucky's breath caught in his chest. For a moment, he just stared at her, like he was afraid she'd vanish if he blinked. Then slowly, carefully, he closed the distance between them. His arms slid around her waist like they were meant to be there, pulling her against him with all the gentleness of someone handling something infinitely precious. His nose brushed the crown of her hair as he exhaled shakily into her dark curls, like finally letting go of a breath held in for too long.

"I missed this," he murmured roughly against her temple. 

Keira melted into him without thinking about it, hands gliding over his skin, like muscle memory guiding fingers that didn't remember, but still knew. The solid warmth of his chest under her palms felt familiar somehow... right in ways nothing had since waking up in that hospital bed all those weeks ago, lost inside of herself... 

She buried her face deeper against his chest with a quiet sigh while Bucky pressed his lips softly to the top of her head. She pulled back a little to look up into his eyes. God he was so handsome and he wanted her, loved her even...

Bucky's gaze searched her face, like he was trying to memorize every detail all over again. He couldn't stop touching her, fingers skimming the curve of her cheek, tracing soft patterns against her back. It was like he was desperate for proof this was real. 

His thumb brushed her lower lip, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You still bite your lip when you're nervous," he murmured. 

A faint flush spread over her cheeks, he remembered everything about her. "What else?" 

Bucky's fingers traced idle patterns along her back, voice dropping into that rough, intimate timbre that sent shivers down her spine. 

"You still curl your fingers into fists when you're trying not to cry," he murmured. "And you hum under your breath when you're cooking, off key by the way." 

Keira chuckled and a fond smirk tugged at his lips. "Still can't pick a movie to save your life either, you scroll for ages and then we never even make it through half of it without...getting distracted." 

His thumb brushed the inside of her wrist where her pulse fluttered wildly against his touch. Like even after all their time apart, her body still remembered him. Keira swallowed hard, suddenly hyper aware of every point where their skin met, his calloused hands mapping familiar territory without permission while hers clutched at the fabric of her pyjama bottoms, like she might float away if she let go. 

She didn't realize she'd stopped breathing until Bucky ducked down slightly, just enough for his warm breath to ghost over the shell of her ear as he added quietly. "And God help me...you still smell exactly the same too. 

A full body shudder wracked through her right then because god, if the way he growled those words didn't unravel something deep inside of her chest all over again...He was so close, he practically towered over her. 

Just like before, another flash of a memory passed over her. 

Thrown onto the bed, clothes torn, hands everywhere, her moaning his name. Bucky's hand skimmed down her back, fingers tracing her spine like it was his favourite book, every freckle and dip, every perfect angle of her body committed to memory beneath the palms of his hands. 

Keira blinked at the memory, just as he leaned in, close enough for his lips to just brush the side of her neck. Then, so softly it was barely there, he placed a kiss against her skin. It was such a small thing but it sent goosebumps all the way down her body. 

"Still sensitive in all the same places," he murmured lowly. 

Heat flooded Keira's skin, her breath catching in her throat, her whole body felt like it was floating at the moment, her heart was beating so fast and she had the urge to squeeze her legs together at the sensations he was making her experience right now. 

Bucky inhaled sharply, fingers gripping tighter into her hip. The sound made her heart stutter even more, her body reacting instinctively as she felt the warm press of his bare chest against her. She wanted to stay here forever, wrapped in his arms again and safe from everything. His breath washed over her neck as he nuzzled there again gently.

Keira lifted her hands to touch him but in hesitation she lowered them again. Bucky grabbed hold of them and placed them onto his chest, guiding them slowly down, her palms gliding across his skin. His muscular physique made her blush, he was built so beautifully, so strong. Their hands stopped when they reached the top of his sweatpants. 

Keira's fingers hesitated for just a second at the waistband of his sweats as he continued to hold onto them. Her heart was pounding loud enough that Bucky could probably feel it. She noticed how his breath hitched and his muscles tensed under her touch like he was holding himself back by sheer force of will. 

His voice was ragged when he finally spoke. "Do you wanna stop?"

A challenge and a question all at once, like he needed her permission as much as air right now. His pupils were blown wide with want, chest rising and falling too fast against hers... but his hands stayed gentle on her hips despite how badly they were shaking with restraint. 

Keira swallowed hard, suddenly hyper aware of every inch where their bodies pressed together and how little she actually wanted him to stop.She didn't say anything, just curled her trembling fingers into his sweatpants, this time without his guidance and tugged him closer instead. 

Bucky groaned low in his throat before crashing their mouths together. When their lips met, it wasn't gentle, it was a rush of everything unspoken, a promise, a release. Weeks of tension melted into that single moment.

Every nerve ending in her body lit up, sparks shooting down her spine as Bucky pressed her against him hard enough that she gasped into his mouth. His kiss was as overwhelming as it was familiar, and every part of her reacted, from the way her fingers clenched to hold onto him tighter, to the way her hips moved on their own to arch into his touch. 

Bucky swore brokenly into the kiss, his tongue sweeping across hers, like he was trying to claim every inch of her all over again. And god, she wanted to let him... but she pulled back and so did he. 

Their foreheads touched as they tried to catch their breaths, his metal palm still warm against the small of her back, fingers drumming lightly over her skin through her shirt like it was the only thing letting him hold himself together. He let out a shaky exhale before opening his eyes, his gaze finding hers again with a raw intensity that almost made her knees give out. Bucky's jaw clenched hard enough to make the muscles jump under his skin. Like he was fighting every instinct he had just to pull away from her. 

"I'm sorry..." he said, letting go of her body. 

Keira's breath caught in her throat when his hands dropped away, like every last bit of warmth went with them. All she wanted was to pull him back again, but she didn't want to push him either. She forced a smile and stepped away carefully, rubbing her arms self consciously to stop the chills that made it feel like she was burning up. Her voice came out steadier than she felt. 

"No, don't be sorry," she said softly. "This...it's a lot to process. For both of us." 

Bucky nodded, though he looked like he wanted to reach out for her again. "Yeah, it is." His gaze travelled back up to her face, searching as if trying to understand what happened here just then. 

His expression turned thoughtful for a moment before adding quietly, "We should... probably go slow." 

She gave him a small smile. "Slow," she repeated, trying to mask the ache in her own heart with forced casualness. "Slow sounds good." 

"Yeah," Bucky said quietly. "Slow." His eyes lingered on her face again, like he was trying to commit every angle to memory. 

Keira cleared her throat and nodded, her cheeks burning. "I should...goodnight Bucky," she said, turning towards the door. 

Bucky's hands clenched at his sides as she turned away. The air between them still felt charged, fragile, like one wrong move might shatter whatever tentative peace they'd just found. 

"Keira." His voice was rough with unspent emotion, stopping her before she could take another step. 

She turned back slightly, just enough to see the tension in his jaw, the way his metal fingers flexed like he was holding himself back from reaching for her again. 

A beat of silence stretched between them, heavy with everything left unsaid, before Bucky finally managed. "Sweet dreams." 

Keira smiled and turned again, her hand on the doorknob. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath before facing him again. Her back rested against the door. She couldn't leave, she didn't want to. 

Keira hesitated, her fingers tightening around the doorknob as if it might anchor her. The air between them was thick with words unsaid, with memories half remembered. Her eyes were searching his, she didn't know what to say or how to say it, but she knew she couldn't ignore this anymore. 

"I don't want slow," she admitted quietly. "Not if it means walking away right now." 

Bucky's breath hitched at the confession, something raw flashing across his face before he schooled it back into careful neutrality, though his hands betrayed him, already reaching out of their own accord before he caught himself and forced them still again.He swallowed hard.Then took one deliberate step forwards, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him but not touching yet, leaving just enough space for her to close the gap if she wanted to. 

His voice was barely above a whisper when he finally spoke again. "Are you sure?" 

Keira nodded, never once looking away. Because she was sure about this... about him. Even if she didn't understand how or why. 

Her heart pounded in her ears as she closed the space between them. Their bodies touching once more as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her lips found his again. 

There was a moment of hesitation, then Bucky's hands slid over her hips, holding her tightly against him. His mouth parted under hers, hungry and desperate as he kissed her back like he couldn't get enough. 

She gasped into his mouth as he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively and then they were moving, stumbling back towards the bed. 

"Are you sure, Keira?" he asked, again. His voice rough, barely a whisper, needing to hear an answer.

Keira's answer came without hesitation, a quiet plea that carried all the weight of everything she'd been holding back."Yes." 

Bucky laid her gently down onto the pillows, his hands still gripped tightly at her hips as he settled between her thighs, his body fitting perfectly against hers. The mattress dipped under their combined weight. His mouth moved down the arch of her throat, his hands sliding up under her shirt to trace along her ribs and the soft curve of her breasts, fingers finding every line and dip of her skin like he was re-learning a favourite story line by line. 

His touch lingered, warm and heavy on her chest, his voice ragged as he tried to catch his breath. "God I missed you." 

Keira's breath hitched as his touch reignited forgotten sparks, her body arching into him with a soft gasp. The way he mapped her skin, so reverent and familiar, sent shivers down her spine. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer until his lips crashed against hers again, hot and insistent this time. 

Bucky's hands slid lower, then bunching the fabric of that ridiculous Smurf shirt impatiently before tugging it over her head messily, their lips barely parting long enough to not break contact entirely, his hands cupping her right breast before he worked on taking her pyjama bottoms off, leaving her in just her white lacy undies. His gaze darkened as he looked down at her in the lamplight, eyes roaming over every inch of newly bared flesh like he was starving for her. 

His hands skimmed across her skin reverently, tracing a path from her hip to the edge of her underwear before gently brushing her stomach, his touch making her shiver involuntarily. "So...beautiful," he whispered hoarsely. "Even more perfect than I remembered." 

The raw ache in his voice nearly undid her, her breath catching in her chest as he worshipped her like she was something precious,  fragile and adored. Her hips bucked involuntarily, seeking relief from the sudden ache between them. 

Bucky groaned, his own body responding instantly as he ground against her, hands gripping her hips tightly to keep her still. He bit back a curse, forehead dropping to rest against her shoulder as he fought for control. "You have no idea what you do to me, doll." 

He kissed her again, his hand massaging her breast again, his thumb rolling over her nipple which made her moan into his mouth.Bucky couldn't get enough, his lips finding her jaw then skimming down her neck to press hot, open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone. He felt like he was drowning in her, her heat, her scent, the soft whimpers that escaped her with each kiss and touch. 

His hand trailed lower, fingers skimming under the edge of her underwear almost teasingly. "Can I?" he rasped, barely lifting his head to meet her eyes. 

Her breath caught, green eyes darkening with desire and an edge of something more. Without hesitation, she nodded, her fingers threading through his hair and tugging him back up, her own mouth searing against his. 

"Yes," she gasped against his lips, "Please..." 

Bucky groaned and moved lower, his breath hot against the skin of her stomach. He hooked his fingers into her underwear, slowly dragging them down her hips and tossing them onto the floor. The heat of his gaze left goosebumps in its wake, his fingers trailing feather light along her inner thigh. 

"Always so beautiful. So perfect." he murmured, his lips following the path his fingers had taken. "Every inch." 

Keira whimpered helplessly, hands fisting into the bedsheets. He could feel how much she wanted him, it was almost overwhelming. 

"Bucky," she moaned. 

Hearing her breathless, needy voice say his name was almost more than he could bear, his heart swelling in his chest like it might burst. He had dreamed of this, dreamed of her soft, desperate gasps, the way her body arched into him, the way she cried out and now, having her back here in his arms, in their bed they once shared, wanting him just as intensely as she always did...it was almost too much. 

"God, Keira," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I've got you. I've got you." 

Bucky kissed her once more, his hand cupping her ass as he pressed himself against her.His touch was everywhere, soft, reverent, worshipful. It was driving her crazy, her body arching shamelessly against his. His eyes raked up and down her body slowly, his gaze filled with a tender hunger. 

He swallowed hard at the sight of her stretched out beneath him, flushed and wanting. "God I missed your body," he growled softly, his thumb tracing her lip. "Can I taste you? Let me show you how much I missed you?' 

Keira's cheeks flushed and Bucky didn't wait for an answer, his mouth was already descending down to her right breast, his tongue flicking over her nipple in slow, torturous circles until she gasped. His name fell from her lips like a prayer as he lavished attention on every inch of skin within reach.Her hands clenched in the sheets when his teeth grazed her sensitive flesh. 

"Bucky..." The word cracked around a moan as he moved lower still, pressing hot kisses down her trembling stomach. 

"Spread your legs for me sweetheart," he ordered her and she quickly and obediently obeyed. "That's it, let me see how ready you are for me." 

By the time his lips reached the apex of her thighs she was writhing beneath him, but one firm grip on each hip held Keira exactly where he wanted her. 

He smirked against her needy skin before finally letting his tongue trace one long, devastating stroke through her slick heat.Her back arched off the mattress with a choked cry that Bucky swallowed greedily, relearning every gasp and shiver like they were brand new again despite knowing damn well how many times he'd had this woman screaming into pillows before Hydra stole those memories away from them both...

"Still taste just as sweet," he rasped against her feverish flesh between strokes designed solely to ruin whatever composure she had left.And judging by how tightly wound around him those thighs were squeezing?Mission more than accomplished already. 

He took his time, making sure to keep her hanging on the edge of release, teasing, tasting, worshipping her like he'd die if he didn't get to touch her like this again.And maybe he would. 

Bucky had learnt over the years how to please her with his tongue, he made sure to only focus on her clit, each time she reached her high he would slow it down and then increase his rhythm again once it passed, having her on edge for over an hour sometimes. He loved it, but he didn't have the patience for that tonight, he had gone so long without her and he was done waiting. He teased her pussy entrance with the tip of his metal finger before entering her, all while still flicking her clit with his tongue which very quickly awarded her with her first orgasm of the night. God he had missed the way she screamed his name. 

Bucky pulled back to look up at where she lay, flushed and panting beneath him as he withdrew his hand, the pleasure on her face and the way he naked body was laid out for him, legs wide open, wet and ready for more...fuck he could cum at just the sight of her. 

"Ready for more, sweetheart?"

Keira nodded enthusiastically, biting her lip and smiling. "Yes, please Bucky."  

 He stopped for a moment, looking up into her eyes as he climbed his way up her body. "Are you sure you want this, Keira?" he whispered, his gaze heated. "We don't have to go any further." 

Keira propped herself up on shaky elbows, her gaze meeting his with a fire he hadn't seen since before Hydra, maybe never. "Stop asking me that," she replied breathlessly. "I want you inside of me, now." 

Bucky's eyes darkened, a wolfish grin tugging at the edge of his mouth. He lowered his sweatpants, throwing them down onto the floor with the rest of her clothes before he moved up over her again, his body pinning hers to the mattress. 

"Bossy as ever," he murmured huskily, kissing his way up her neck. "Just how I like you, doll." 

His hands skimmed reverently over her body like he was rediscovering it all over again, his thumb skimming down the side of her face tenderly before he tangled his hands in her hair, tilting her head back to expose her throat. 

He nipped gently at her skin before he pulled back slightly, meeting her eyes again."You should know something, doll." 

She gave him a slightly quizzical look, breath still coming fast. "What?" 

"I love you."The words surprised even him, but it was as if a weight was lifted from his chest when he said them aloud. 

Bucky watched her reaction carefully, every muscle taut with anticipation. He didn't know what he expected, fear, confusion, maybe even anger. But the way her gaze softened in an instant, her expression filling with something that looked a lot like relief was the most beautiful sight he'd seen in a long time. He knew she wasn't even there yet, but he couldn't wait to hear her say those words back to him again one day. 

Bucky kissed her again, taking his time as he settled between her legs and with one gentle thrust he was inside of her, just like she wanted.A shiver raced down her spine from the sheer intensity of the pleasure coiling through her. Keira let out a shaky breath as she adjusted to the feeling of him filling her so perfectly, her hands gripping onto his shoulders tightly, her nails digging into his skin. 

His lips found hers again, his tongue sweeping into her mouth as he kissed her deep and thorough, like he was trying to pour all the emotions he'd been holding back into her and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Keira felt like she could finally breathe again. 

"Is this ok?," he asked against her lips. 

Keira arched against him with a shuddering gasp, her fingers clutching his shoulders as she nodded desperately. "More than okay," she panted, rocking her hips up to meet his slow, deep thrusts. 

Bucky groaned low in his throat at the sensation of her tightening around him, so familiar yet brand new all at once. His breath was ragged as he buried himself inside her again and again, savouring every sigh and whimper that fell from those perfect lips beneath his own. 

"You feel so fucking good," he growled roughly against the shell of her ear, before nipping at it lightly, knowing just how sensitive she was there. 

The way she trembled beneath him sent fire straight through his veins.He kissed down the column of her throat while one hand slid between their bodies to where they were joined, his thumb circling gently over that spot guaranteed to make her lose whatever composure she had left. 

Her legs wrapped around his waist tighter, pulling an even deeper moan that rumbled out of his own chest in response as the pace became less controlled and more needy. 

"Keira..." Bucky's voice was raw, strained. His thrusts grew deeper, more frantic as he felt her tightening around him. The pleasure was overwhelming, but it was the way she looked up at him, eyes dark with need and something dangerously close to love, that threatened to undo him completely. 

He reached down to grasp her thigh and hitched it over his hip, pulling her even closer as his rhythm turned almost desperate. "Look at me," he choked out between gritted teeth. "I wanna see you when you come." 

And when she did, when that familiar tremble ripped through her with a broken cry of his name,  Bucky followed right after with a groan so deep it hurt, burying himself inside her one last time as the world dissolved into nothing but heat and her, his Keira. 

Collapsing onto his forearms above her moments later, still panting like he'd run for miles, he pressed his forehead against hers in exhausted disbelief. He had her back, even if it wasn't entirely the same as before, it was her, his Keira, his girl, his doll. 

Bucky stayed there like that for a moment, just breathing in the scent of her hair. His fingers traced through the mess of curls spilling across the pillow, his touch almost reverent. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest, her chest still heaving with each ragged breath. He knew he should move, clean them both up, say something, anything, but he couldn't bring himself to move away just yet. Not when she was wrapped so tightly around him, her body still trembling from the aftershock. 

After a few quiet moments, Bucky finally pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before reluctantly shifting to pull out. As he did she gasped, the fullness now leaving her. He quickly stood and grabbed a towel from his shower earlier. He approached her again and knelt down to clean her but she stopped him and took the towel, cleaning herself up instead. He knew she was feeling shy now, she had been the same way when they had first slept together two years ago. So sweet and innocent. 

With a faint smile, he watched as she cleaned herself up, his heart swelling with a mix of tenderness and sadness. She was still the same, his sweet Keira. Innocent. Vulnerable. His. 

She blushed a deep shade of red as she handed him the towel with a quiet thank you. She looked so small in that moment, and something protective flared deep within him. He wanted to reach out and wrap her up in his arms again, to keep her there safe and warm. And and soon as he cleaned himself off he did. He slid back onto the bed and tugged her closer, his arms enveloping her tightly as he pulled her against his chest. 

Bucky buried his face in her hair, breathing in the familiar scent of sweet shampoo and something unique that belonged to Keira and Keira only. He felt her melt into him, her head resting in the crook of his neck, her soft breath tickling his skin. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, savouring the way it felt to have her so close again. 

"Are you ok?" 

She let out a shaky sigh, nodding her head. "I'm fine," she murmured, her voice a little raspy. 

He pulled back slightly to look down at her. He took in her mussed hair, the flush still lingering on her cheeks, the faint traces of mascara smudged beneath her eyes. She looked beautiful, all wild and dishevelled. Something tightened in his chest as he studied her. His hand skimmed down her arm, coming to rest on her hip, his thumb gently tracing small circles against the sensitive skin there. 

"You sure? You can tell me." 

Keira chewed on the inside of her cheek, her eyes wandering over his face, the hard lines of his jaw, the sharp cut of his cheekbones, the fullness of his lips, the way his hair fell into his eyes. His gaze was steady, unflinching as he looked down at her, and she felt a small flutter in her stomach that had nothing at all to do with the pleasure from earlier. 

She found herself speaking before she could stop herself. "Was it ok for you?" 

Bucky's eyebrows rose in surprise at the question. Was it ok for him? It had been amazing, mind-blowing, even. But that wasn't what he'd been expecting her to ask. 

He chuckled softly, a lopsided smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Doll, that was more than ok," he replied, his voice low and rough. "It was... incredible. You never disappointed me before. That hasn't changed." 

Keira studied his expression for a moment, as if searching for a trace of uncertainty in his eyes. But all she saw was that same steady, unwavering gaze, steady and calm as he looked at her. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, a tension she hadn't even realized she'd been holding in now relaxing. 

Her fingers traced a path along his collarbone, the soft skin warm under her touch. "Good," she murmured, her heart fluttering as she added quietly. "I don't want to disappoint you." 

Bucky's fingers gently curled around her wrist, stilling her hand against his chest. He brought her knuckles to his lips, pressing a tender kiss against them. "You don't," he promised softly. He could see the doubt still lingering in her eyes and he hated it. He hated that she even had doubts. "Trust me." 

He studied her face for a long moment before finally letting out a slow breath. His thumb brushed over the inside of her wrist where he could feel her pulse racing. "You never could," he said quietly, voice rough with sincerity. "Not once." 

Keira searched his eyes, that same steady blue that always seemed to see right through her and something in her chest loosened just slightly at what she found there.No lies. No hesitation.Just Bucky. Her fingers curled against his chest unconsciously, like they wanted to cling but weren't sure if they were allowed yet. 

After another beat of quiet, she finally nodded, a small movement, but enough that the tension in Bucky's shoulders eased slightly too as he pulled her closer again with a relieved exhale against her hair. 

Bucky tightened his arms around her, pressing his lips to the crown of her head in a lingering kiss. His voice was low, rough with emotion when he finally spoke. "Get some sleep, sweetheart." 

Keira burrowed deeper against him, nose pressed to the hollow of his throat, before murmuring something unintelligible into his skin. The adrenaline and exertion had left her boneless; she was already half gone. He stayed awake long after her breathing evened out though, fingers tracing idle patterns along the bare slope of her shoulder just because he could again now. Because finally Keira was where she belonged. She was here in his arms. And he was never letting her go again.

Chapter Text

Morning light slipped through the blinds, painting the room in soft gold.
Bucky stirred first. For a long moment, he just laid there, watching her sleep, the rise and fall of her breath, the way her hand rested on his chest like she belonged there.

He smiled. He didn't want to leave her, but he'd lost a bet with Steve last night over how many guys he could take down on the mission. Steve had beaten him by one, and now he had to pay up, an early run. As much as he wanted to stay wrapped around her, he'd never hear the end of it if he didn't go.

Leaning down, he brushed his lips over her temple. "Morning, doll," he whispered.

Keira stirred with a soft grumble, burying her face against his chest. He chuckled, the sound a low vibration beneath her ear. She inhaled deeply, the scent of him familiar, grounding, home.

A lazy smile tugged at his mouth as his hand skimmed the smooth curve of her back. "Go back to sleep, sweetheart. I gotta run with Steve. Lost a damn bet last night. Just didn't want you thinking I'd disappeared."

Keira lifted her head, peering at him through hooded eyes. Her hair was mussed, her cheeks flushed, she looked soft and dishevelled and beautiful, and it made Bucky's chest ache.

His fingers traced her jaw, a tender caress before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Sleep," he murmured, voice rough. "I'll be back soon."

Bucky forced himself to move, sitting up and reaching for a shirt, boxers, and sweatpants. Before leaving, he glanced back. She was watching him with heavy lidded eyes and a sleepy smile, her hand twitching like she wanted to pull him back down again. He couldn't resist. Bucky leaned over and kissed her, meant to be quick, but he couldn't stop himself when she was this warm and soft and perfect.

Keira's hand slipped under his shirt, palm against his bare chest. He slid his fingers into her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. She gasped softly, fingers curling against his skin. God, it was too easy to get lost in her.

When he finally broke the kiss, his forehead rested against hers, breath unsteady. "No regrets from last night?" he asked quietly.

Keira's eyes fluttered open. She could still taste his lips and her pulse stumbled. She shook her head faintly, voice barely a whisper. "None. Not one."

Something tightened in Bucky's chest. His hand skimmed over her hip, pulling her closer. His voice was a low rumble when he murmured, "Good, because I'm yours, sweetheart. Don't ever forget that."

He captured her lips again and he felt her shiver against him, fingers fisting in his shirt as she let out a soft gasp. His arm tightened around her waist. "God, doll, you have no idea what you do to me." 

"I think I do," she chuckled, feeling his arousal growing. "You're gonna be late."

Bucky groaned as her fingers traced the waistband of his sweatpants. His entire body tensed, breath hitching in his throat as he bit back a curse. "Steve can wait," he growled, already shifting to cover her body with his again. 

Keira's answering laugh was breathless, cut off when his mouth crashed against hers in another searing kiss.

Steve did wait. For almost an hour.

When Bucky finally did show up, Steve just smirked. "About damn time."

Bucky flipped him off and took off down the trail without looking back. He paid for it later running longer then expected, but honestly? He didn't care. Every time he thought of her, of Keira, safe and warm back in his bed, their bed, The ache in his chest eased. That was enough.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

After half an hour of running they took a short break. Steve slowed next to him, watching him carefully.  "What's up with you this morning?"

Bucky was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Just had a good night," he shrugged.

Steve's brows lifted in disbelief. "That kind of night?"

Bucky gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah. That kind of night."

Steve whistled low. "I'm guessing a good morning too. No wonder you were late," he said, grinning.

Bucky rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide the smile.

Steve nudged him with an elbow, smirk widening. "Took you long enough."  

Bucky huffed out a laugh, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't go spreading it around, I don't want her feeling uncomfortable or anything, they will just tease her and you know how Stark can be."

Steve laughed, giving him a shove . "I'm happy for you, man. Perfect timing too, with Thor back and all."

Bucky frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know Thor," Steve said with a smirk. "Big charm, big smile. He's always had a soft spot for her."

A muscle ticked in Bucky's jaw at the thought. He didn't like the idea of Thor and Keira together, the god of thunder flirting with the woman he loved? Yeah, that sounded wonderful. 

He clenched his jaw before forcing out a casual, "She's not interested in him."

Steve chuckled at his friend's jealousy. "And you know that for a fact?"

Bucky shot him a glare. "I've seen Thor flirt. Trust me, I know."

Steve held up his hands up in surrender. "Relax man. I was just messing with you." His expression softened. "I'm glad you're happy again. Both of you deserve it."

Bucky let out a breath, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. Steve was right. He and Keira deserved this, after everything they had been through.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Back at the compound, sunlight poured through the windows. Keira woke smiling, the memory of Bucky's voice still in her head. The way his body felt against hers, over hers, inside of her. She stretched, slipped out of bed, and quietly gathered her clothes from where Bucky had folded them on the chair for her. She put them back on and slipped quietly out of his room and back to hers. 

Keira took her time in the shower, washing the sweat and sex from her skin as she tried to remember every detail from last night and this morning. Her fingers ghosted over her body, tracing the faint marks his fingers had left behind on her hips, her thighs, her neck... Oh God... A hot shiver ran through her as she closed her eyes, remembering the way he'd kissed her. Like he was a man that knew exactly what he was doing and what he wanted. 

She had to bite her lip from smiling too much. When she finally stepped out of the bathroom, still half damp, she looked at herself in the mirror and blushed when she saw the love marks Bucky had left behind on her neck. She walked into her room and rubbed vanilla lotion into her skin, the sweet scent wrapped around her like comfort. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, pulled on a red sweater and black leggings, and headed downstairs.

Voices and laughter drifted from the dining area.

"Keira!" Thor's booming voice filled the space. Before she could react, he'd swept her up in a bear hug, lifting her clean off the ground.

Keira blushed and couldn't believe it. Thor obviously knew her but she had no memory of him, she did know him though from the tv and obviously it's Thor, everyone knew who he was and...wow she used to have such a crush on him

"It's so good to see you again," he said, letting her go and kissing the back of her hand. "Beautiful, as always." 

Keira blushed and laughed in surprise. "Thor, hi! Wow, it's... good to see you too."

That's when Bucky walked in, hair damp and his clothes clinging to his skin, she couldn't help but remember what he looked like without any on. 

Bucky froze. His eyes locked onto the way Thor's massive hand lingered near her waist, just a fraction too long to be friendly. His jaw tightened.

"Thor," he said flatly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Didn't know you were staying."

Thor grinned, oblivious. "Indeed I am! And it seems much has changed since I was last here!" His gaze flickered between Bucky and Keira, too knowingly for Bucky's liking.

Keira glanced between them, sensing the shift but not quite understanding it yet, until Natasha smirked from across the table and muttered. "Oh boy."

Keira's cheeks flushed as she realized what was happening. Bucky was jealous. Before she could react, Thor, who either didn't notice or didn't care about the tension, slung a friendly arm around her shoulders with a booming laugh.

"You must tell me all that I've missed, Keira!" His thumb brushed lightly against her cheek, casual for him but intimate enough to make Bucky's metal hand twitch at his side. 

Bucky's eyes darkened as he took a step forward, his voice dangerously calm. "Back off Goldilocks." 

That one word held enough warning to make even the god of thunder pause mid-laugh. Thor blinked, finally picking up on the lethal edge in Bucky's tone and slowly removed his arm from Keira's shoulders with an amused smirk.  

"Ah, Captain Metal, do not look so grim. Merely greeting an old friend!"

"Yeah, well, greet from a distance," Bucky muttered.

Wanda and Nat exchanged amused looks. "Someone's jealous," Wanda murmured under her breath.

Peter walked in with Sam just then, both of them confused. 

"What'd I miss?" Sam asked.

Bucky clenched his jaw, struggling to rein in his temper. He wasn't going to lose his cool in front of everyone, but god he wanted to do something, punch Thor, shove him away from her. Anything that said, back the fuck off, in no uncertain terms.

Keira beat him to it. "Bucky," she said sharply, putting a hand on his wrist and leading him out of the kitchen and down the hall so they were out of sight.  

"Hey. What was that?" she asked him. 

"Nothing," he muttered, avoiding her gaze.

"Didn't seem like nothing," she countered, arms crossed and brow raised. "You looked like you were about to punch him."

Bucky's jaw tightened. "That wasn't - I just... he was too close." The words came out more strangled than he meant. He sounded like a possessive ass, and he hated it. 

Keira smiled up at him, heart fluttering at the edge in his tone. She tugged him closer by his shirt and pressed her lips to his, just enough to quiet the storm in his eyes. 

When she pulled back, she whispered, "You've got nothing to worry about, soldier." 

Bucky's eyes locked on hers, searching for any hint of hesitation or doubt. When he found none, some of the tension finally left his shoulders. He exhaled slowly, raking a hand through his messy hair. 

"I know," he said finally, voice ragged. "I know you wouldn't...I just..." 

He looked away, raking a hand through his hair again. "I didn't like the way he was looking at you."

Keira let out a small laugh, shaking her head as she stepped closer to him. 

"You're ridiculous," she murmured, pressing another kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Although, it is kind of cute that you're jealous."

Bucky rolled his eyes but he couldn't suppress the slight upturn of his lips. "Well, can you blame me? I mean, have you seen yourself?"

His hands slid down to her hips, pulling her hips into his own. His eyes darkened as he pressed his mouth against the curve of her neck, the stubble along his jaw grazing her skin. "You drive me crazy, doll," he murmured against her ear.

"Careful," she teased, tugging her sweater down to reveal the faint love bites he had left on her neck. "I think you've marked me enough for one day."

Bucky's lips curved into a satisfied smirk at the sight of his marks on her skin. His fingers traced one of the faint bruises gently, possessiveness flickering in his eyes before he met her gaze again.  

"Hmm," he grumbled, voice low and rough against her ear. "Pretty sure I could mark you up a little more."

Then, just to prove it, he nipped the same spot again, making Keira gasp, just as heat shot straight through her.

The possessive part of him loved this, loved knowing everyone would see what they were now. Loved that for once in his goddamn life, something good was his again. They both froze when they heard someone clearing their throat, and when they looked over they saw the whole team standing there watching them. 

Steve had his arms crossed, looking amused. Natasha was grinning like the cat that got the cream. Sam just shook his head with a smirk, while Wanda muttered finally under her breath. Tony raised an eyebrow and took a slow sip of coffee, like he'd been expecting this all along. Peter was smiling but also blushing like he didn't know where to look. Thor, however, looked absolutely delighted.

"Ah! So this is why Captain Metal scowled so fiercely!" He boomed out a laugh before clapping Bucky on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble forward slightly. "You should have simply said she was yours again!"

Keira's face burned crimson as she buried it against Bucky's shoulder in embarrassment, while Bucky just glared at Thor like he wanted to strangle him with his own cape. But beneath it all? He couldn't stop the warmth spreading through his chest at those words, She was yours again. 

Damn right she was.

Chapter Text

Later that night, they were curled up together on the sofa, a bowl of popcorn between them and Shrek playing on the TV. Keira laughed at Donkey's latest outburst, her laughter soft and warm against Bucky's chest. He wasn't really watching the movie though, he was watching her. He couldn't help it, he loved seeing her happy and she always did love this film.

"I love Donkey, he's so cute," she chuckled.

Bucky smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Can't argue with that."

He shifted slightly, his arm resting along the back of the sofa, his fingers absently toying with her hair. He'd seen this movie dozens of times, but he didn't mind it. It was worth sitting through it again if it made her smile.

"Not as cute as you though, doll."

Her nose scrunched up in that adorable way he loved, and she playfully nudged him with her elbow. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Barnes."  

Bucky grinned, that rare, unguarded smile that only ever came out around her. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper as Donkey's loud antics played in the background. 

"Good. Cause I've got plans for everywhere, later.

The way she bit her lip to hide a smile told him she absolutely caught his meaning and wasn’t opposed to it either. 

God, he loved this woman. 

Keira suddenly looked up him and pressed her lips against his.

Bucky's lips curved into a slow smile against hers, his hand coming up to cup her cheek as he kissed her back. 

Keira knew exactly what he was hinting at, and god was he enjoying the way it made her cheeks flush…how it made her voice a little breathless when she spoke. 

He pulled back slightly to look at her, fingers drifting down to toy with the edge of her sweater. 

"You know, I just had a thought," he said, pretending to be casual. "We could always turn off the movie and find something else to do."

Keira arched a brow, biting back a smile. "Something else, huh? Like what?" 

Bucky feigned nonchalance, shrugging his shoulders like his mind hadn't immediately gone to all the ways he wanted to touch her, taste her. But he kept his tone light, teasing. 

"Oh, I dunno." His eyes darkened as they flicked down to her mouth. "Could find some ways to have fun... keep ourselves occupied until morning." 

Keira tried hard to keep her breath steady, her skin already growing hot at his words. The way he looked at her, like he wanted to eat her alive. It wasn't fair, the power he had over her with just a glance. 

Her hand slid up his chest, fingers playing lightly with the top button of his henley shirt he was wearing. "Keep ourselves occupied, huh?" 

She pulled the button free slowly, watching his gaze darken at the smallest reveal of skin. "Are you saying that’s how long you can go?" she teased him. 

Bucky's eyes followed her fingers carefully as she teased each button open, until she lifted his top off. He'd been fighting to control himself all night, trying to take things slow, to give her however much time she needed. But the last of his patience was fraying at the edges fast. 

He leaned closer, his lips skimming the curve of her ear. "Doll, I could last all night," he muttered gruffly, his hand slipping under her sweater to brush the curve of her hip. "And all day. And probably the day after too." 

Keira shivered as his fingers teased under the fabric of her sweater, her breath hitching when his lips grazed her ear. 

"Oh really?" she murmured, voice already a little unsteady and not really believing him. "Guess we’ll have to test that theory." 

Bucky smirked against her skin before nipping lightly at her pulse point, just hard enough to make her gasp, then pulled back just slightly to meet her gaze with a look that was pure challenge. 

“Try me. I’m not kidding sweetheart.”

 A thrill shot through her at the look in his eyes, a mixture of lust and something deeper, more possessive. Like maybe part of him wanted to prove just how long he could keep her in his bed until she couldn't walk straight anymore. The mere thought had her clenching her thighs together as heat licked up her spine and hell, if that didn't make her want to take his hand, drag him straight back to his room and test him. 

So when she spoke, her voice was half-teasing, half breathless. "Are you serious?." 

Bucky let out a low, rough chuckle, that sound that always sent a shudder through her body.

"Doll, you have no idea how serious I am." 

He tugged her onto his lap, hands gripping her hips tightly to keep her in place as he shifted. His eyes never left hers, darkened with barely restrained want. 

"You really wanna find out how long I can keep it up?" he murmured against her neck, his thumb drawing circles on her bare hip. 

“Bucky,” she gasped. Playfully smacking his chest, her cheeks flushed. 

Bucky caught her wrist effortlessly, pressing her hand flat against his chest, right over his pounding heart. “Say the word,” he murmured, lips brushing the shell of her ear. “And I’ll show you exactly how serious I am.” 

His other hand slid up her spine possessively, fingers tangling in her hair to tilt her head forwards just enough for him to claim that stubborn mouth of hers all over again, harder this time. Because if she wanted proof? He was more than happy to demonstrate. 

Bucky's kiss was rough, bordering on desperate and it shot straight through her, igniting something in Keira that wanted to throw caution to the wind and give into every instinct. Her hands tangled in his hair, her fingernails scraping lightly at the back of his neck and dragging a low groan from his throat that only made her want more.  

Keira rolled her hips just slightly, grinding down against the hard length of him through his jeans, and he swore softly into her skin, gripping her tighter like he was holding onto the edge of something far too good to be true. Keira pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she searched his face. His pupils were blown wide with want, lips parted, breath uneven. 

For a second, the playful teasing between them gave way to something heavier. Raw need simmering just under the surface. 

“How many times did we...I mean…” she was too shy to ask just how many times they had sex in one night, it couldn’t have been more then twice, surely.

Bucky smiled, that smug, knowing smirk that made her stomach flip as he trailed his fingers down the curve of her spine. 

"Depended on the night," he murmured, voice rough with amusement and something far less innocent. 

"Sometimes once was enough to leave you breathless. Other times?" His thumb brushed over the rapid pulse at her throat. "You couldn’t get enough." 

The way she bit her lip told him exactly how bad she wanted to remember those nights and how much she wanted a repeat performance now. 

“So…more then twice?” 

Bucky let out a dark chuckle, his hands sliding around to grip her waist as he leaned in close enough for his lips to brush the shell of her ear. "Try four." 

The way Keira stiffened against him, the sharp little inhale that caught in her throat told him she hadn’t been expecting that. Bucky's smirk deepened as he pulled back just enough to watch realization dawn across her face, pink flooding her cheeks all over again. 

"You're lying," Keira breathed, fingers tightening against his shoulders like she couldn’t decide whether to shove him away or test that claim right there and now. 

Bucky simply arched a brow, challenging, completely unrepentant as he dragged the pad of his thumb slowly across her lower lip. "Guess you'll have to take my word for it, or we could always find out if your body remembers."

Keira's breath caught at the heated promise hanging in the air between them. His eyes were practically smouldering and she could feel the warmth of his touch everywhere, like sparks dancing across her skin. She wanted him again, god, how she needed him. Especially if it was anything like yesterday or this morning for that matter. 

But even more so, she wanted to remember him like she used to. She'd never felt more frustrated at being the only one who didn't know those things…would she ever? 

Bucky's eyes darkened at her shuddering exhale, his touch going impossibly gentle as he brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. 

"Hey," his voice was soft now. Almost tender. "I shouldn't have - I'm not trying to push you. I just…fuck, Keira, I miss you. I miss this. We don't have to do anything tonight, I don't want you thinking it's always about having sex."  

As much as his body ached for her again, ached to feel her body move against his, he knew there was more than one way to be close. 

“No I…it’s just I want to remember everything. It must make you sad, all those memories together. I know it would make me sad if you ever forgot this,” she said, her eyes teary. 

Bucky swallowed hard, his thumb wiping away the first tear that slipped down her cheek with surprising gentleness. "Yeah," he admitted roughly. 

"It kills me sometimes, doll." His fingers lingered against her skin like he couldn’t bear to pull away completely yet. "But you're still here. That's what matters."

He exhaled slowly before offering her a crooked smile, the kind that always made her stomach flip even when she didn’t remember why. 

"And for the record?" He leaned in close enough for his breath to brush warm against her ear as he murmured. “I plan on making sure you never forget this again.” 

The way she shivered told him. that, at least hadn't changed one damn bit. There was something dangerous in the way his lips grazed her throat then, a barely restrained need that made her body hum with anticipation. 

Keira's eyes drifted closed, head tipping back unconsciously to give him better access and Bucky bit back a choked groan, the grip on her hips turning bruising as he struggled to stay in control.  

“God, Keira," he muttered, hands trailing higher until his thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts. "You've always been so beautiful. You make me so desperate for you." 

His thumbs traced tantalizing circles over her shirt, slow and torturous, just grazing the underside of her breasts with a feather light pressure. His head dipped, breath warm against the sensitive column of her throat as he murmured low and rough, "Your skin is so soft." 

Keira's shiver was almost his undoing, his name leaving her lips in a trembling plea as her nails dug into his shoulders, and he knew this slow, teasing torture was going to kill her.  

She tugged at the bottom of her jumper and pulled it off to reveal her white lacy bra. Her hands were either side of his face as she leaned down and kissed him, hard and desperate. 

Bucky answered her kiss in kind, his tongue parting her lips as he pulled her closer, so close he could feel every shudder of her body against his. His hands splayed across the bare skin of her back, leaving goosebumps in their wake and drawing a gasp from her lips, a sound that shot straight through him like a bolt of lightning. 

More. He needed more. One hand curled into her hair, tilted her head back just far enough that he could kiss and nip a path down her neck, leaving a trail of sharp, possessive bites in his wake. 

“Oh shit!” Peter exclaimed, as he rounded the corner. “I didn’t see anything,” he yelled, covering his face and running straight into the wall. 

Bucky groaned, half frustrated, half amused as Keira burst into laughter, burying her face against the crook of his shoulder to muffle the sound. She was actually laughing and god, how Bucky had missed that sound. He was about to tease her about it when Tony's voice came echoing from the hall, sounding more than a little annoyed.

"What the hell is all the noise?!" His eyes widened when he saw them in a very compromising position, both of them half undressed. “What did I say about the sofa. Get a room!” Tony yelled, also covering his eyes. 

Keira was still laughing when she looked up at Bucky, whose expression had shifted somewhere between exasperation and pure mischief.

One thing he did know was that if he had to spend one more second with her legs around his waist, he might just explode. Bucky caught her eye, silently asking permission to continue and when she bit her lip in response, he knew she was more than a little tempted. 

"Shall we?" he asked, one brow raised.

Her eyes sparkled as she nodded.

Bucky's smirk was downright sinful as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her down the hall. His heart felt dangerously close to bursting as she curled against him, her legs winding around his waist and her arms linking behind his neck. She still fit so perfectly there. Like she should always be there. 

He stumbled up the stairs, his mouth finding hers again for another kiss that was all passion, heat and need. He walked into her room and kissed her up against the door, his hands immediately working on her bra.

Keira's breath hitched at the feel of his fingers unhooking the clasp, her head tilting back against the door with a soft thunk. 

Bucky's hands were warm and needy, his rough fingers grazing the sides of her breasts. He groaned against her neck as her hips rocked against his, already desperate for more than just a tease.

“God Keira,” he murmured roughly, the pads of his thumbs finding her nipples and rolling them between his fingers. “You’re so fucking, sexy.” 

Keira's breath stuttered, her thighs tightening around his waist as he pressed against her. She could feel how hard he was through his jeans, and her underwear was already soaked. She'd never been so needy before. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, her mouth greedy as it sought out more of that heat. His teeth scraped a trail down her neck to her chest, leaving more marks in her skin that she was absolutely sure she was going to feel tomorrow. 

Bucky settled her down on the ground and pulled her leggings down, along with her underwear. His eyes darkened as she kicked them off, leaving her bare before him. His hands slipped back up her legs and settled possessively onto her hips, like he was afraid she might disappear again if he let go. His fingers dug into her skin possessively, and he couldn’t help but trace patterns against her inner thighs. 

“Look at you.” He murmured, voice rough and heavy with desire. "You’re so beautiful.” 

Keira's whole body shivered at the roughness of his fingertips on her skin, goosebumps rising in their wake as he continued exploring her like he was mapping every inch. 

Bucky's mouth followed the path his fingers had taken, hot and hungry, finding the sensitive skin of her inner thighs and biting down just hard enough to make her gasp. 

Her hands flew to his shoulders in response, nails scratching against the fabric of his shirt. “Bucky…” she moaned his name and, god, he’d never heard anything sweeter. 

Bucky groaned at the sound of his name on her lips, a sound that sent sparks down his spine and straight to his cock. 

His hands curled around her hips, fingers digging into her skin possessively. “I love hearing you say my name like that,” he murmured, pressing a bruising kiss to the inside of her thigh. “It sounds so good." 

His tongue lapped at the wetness gathering between her legs, sending shivers through Keira's whole body. He grabbed her leg and placed it over his shoulder. He wanted to go slow, tease her and make this last a while longer, but the taste of her on his tongue was driving him mad. He pressed a wet, open-mouthed kiss to her clit before sucking on it lightly, and her hips jerked wildly against him, hands threading into his hair and twisting as she tried to find something to hold on to. 

Keira moaned his name again and he moaned against her, the vibrations sending her into goosebumps. His fingers slid into her needy core, curving and twisting as he looked up to watch her face. 

“Bucky…” her head fell back with a loud moan. “Oh…” she gripped his hair. "Oh god, please.” 

Her gasps and moans filled the room, and Bucky’s body thrummed with each one. The way she said his name sent hot spirals of heat through his veins that settled right in his groin. He needed more too. He slipped another finger inside her, savouring the way her body clenched around him. He curled his fingers again, his tongue circling her clit and drawing another gasp from her lips. 

Keira could feel her end building, her moans growing louder, hands pulling at his hair. 

He moaned against her again, his fingers reaching deeper, his tongue working faster. He needed more. He needed all of her. He'd never get enough. 

“Bucky…oh god.” Her legs were shaking now, her whole body trembling against him. 

“Are you close, baby?” he murmured, still working his fingers in and out of her. 

All Keira could do was nod, a needy, breathless nod, her head still thrown back. Her grip in his hair got even tighter, her body clenching around him. “Yes… oh god, Bucky, I’m -“ 

She was completely taken off guard when he rose, lifting her up against the door once more, her legs wrapped around him once more. He had quickly removed his trousers and boxers before pushing inside of her. Keira gasped at the sensation of being full by him, so full it made her eyes water. 

Bucky groaned loudly, the tight heat of her body squeezing around him felt incredible. 

Her nails scraped down his back, and she could feel him shaking with restraint, trying to go slow. 

“So perfect,” he murmured, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to bruise as he started to move. “You feel so good.” He thrust into her slowly, each movement sending shivers up her spine. 

Keira moaned against his shoulder, hips rolling against him, his hands gripping her ass. His pace was too slow, the pleasure building too slow. She wanted more. 

“Faster,” she moaned, her nails digging into his back. “Please, Buck, I need you to - please.” 

He was only too happy to oblige. He growled at that, his hands holding her tighter as he picked up the pace. Every thrust sent a spark of pleasure through him, her moans and gasps driving him crazy. 

“You want me to go faster, baby?” He groaned, voice rough against the shell of her ear. His hands gripped her even tighter, his fingers almost digging into her skin, and she nodded eagerly. 

Keira could feel him getting faster, his thrusts deeper, and her name became a mantra on his lips as he found her mouth again and lead her over to the bed. 

Bucky dropped her onto the bed, her back hitting the mattress with a soft thump. He leaned down over her, his hands pinning her wrists against the sheets. He shifted his hips, angling himself deeper inside her. She moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist as he bottomed out. 

“Fuck, Keira,” he choked out, her name on his lips like a prayer. “So fucking good.” 

Keira's eyes fluttered shut as he filled her again, the slow burn of pleasure building inside her. She wanted more, needed more. She bucked her hips up against him, her body craving the pleasure he was building inside of her. 

“Bucky…” her voice was breathless, desperate. “Please... don’t stop.” 

Bucky's hips stuttered at the sound of her plea, and he leaned down, claiming her mouth in a bruising kiss that was all teeth and tongue. She moaned against him, hands running up and down his back and digging into the skin there. He groaned at the slight pain, thrusting into her with long, deep strokes. But he wouldn’t rush this. He wanted to savour every moment. 

His hand found her clit again, fingers circling and pressing against her. He watched her face, loving the way she bit her lip to try and hold back her moans. 

"Don't." Bucky murmured huskily, his fingers pressing harder against her clit. "Let me hear you." 

Keira moaned again, louder now. “Oh god, Bucky, oh god.” 

The sound of his name from her lips was like music to him, and he worked her clit even faster, his teeth sinking into the sensitive skin of her neck. “That’s it,” he growled. “Let me hear you. Let me hear how good you feel.” 

His fingers pressed her clit again, and her breath hitched. “Oh… god.” She moaned. “Yes, Bucky.” 

“You’re close, aren’t you?” He murmured, his voice barely holding together. 

“Come for me, sweetheart.” The fingers circling her clit became faster, more insistent. “I need to feel you come.” 

Keira's legs were shaking, her hands grabbing at his shoulders. “Oh god…Bucky… I’m -” Her voice failed entirely, and she arched against him as pleasure shook through her body. 

Bucky moaned against her skin, his rhythm faltering as he chased his own release. 

“That’s right,” he whispered. “That’s my girl.” 

Keira was boneless now, her body limp against the sheets. He grunted his approval, still driving into her, the feeling of her orgasm too incredible to bear. Her hands were running down his back, her nails scratching, her lips finding his. 

Bucky groaned into her mouth, his rhythm becoming erratic. So close. He was so close. “Keira,” he panted, his hand gripping her hip hard enough to bruise. 

“God, I need you.” And then he was coming, his orgasm rippling through him with an intensity that left him breathless. 

He thrust into her a few more times, prolonging the pleasure for as long as possible.  

His forehead dropped onto her shoulder, his body shuddering as the aftershocks rolled through him. He was heavy, too heavy to put his full weight on her, but he couldn't bring himself to move. He just rested his head against her chest, listening to the steady thud of her heartbeat under his ear.

Keira let him stay there, her fingers carding through his hair before letting out a shaky breath, her fingers sliding through his hair, soft and slow. "I don't remember much," she murmured, voice drowsy but laced with a smile. "But I think my body remembers you."

Bucky chuckled against her skin, the sound low and satisfied, before lifting his head just enough to meet her gaze. His eyes softened, that dangerous, wild edge replaced by something entirely different.

"Good," he said simply, before stealing another kiss, slow and lingering this time, because god knew he'd never get tired of that either.

Bucky collapsed next to her on the bed with a groan, pulling her to him until she was snuggled against his side. 

His arm closed around her tightly, his thumb brushing her back. He held her like she might disappear if he didn't keep her tethered to him, and as the afterglow faded, so did the reality of their situation. His fingers traced the fading mark he'd left on her neck earlier, the proof that they'd shared the most intimate moment, like a secret only for his eyes to see.

"And you're telling me we've done that four times in a row?" she asked finally, still breathless, the disbelief in her tone making him grin.

Bucky rolled onto his side, propping his head on his hand as his metal fingers trailed idly along her hip beneath the sheets.

"You calling me a liar, doll?" he teased, voice rough but smug. "'Cause I've got the stamina to prove it."

Keira snorted, shoving at his shoulder weakly. "That's not -ugh!" She buried her flaming face in the pillow as he laughed low and rich against her ear.

His nose nudged along the shell of it before murmuring, "Tell you what... we'll test your theory again in an hour."

Bucky chuckled again as she swatted at him, pulling her closer so their bodies were flush. He loved her like this, flushed and breathless from pleasure, their skin still sticky with the scent of sex. The possessive part of him liked knowing he was the only one who got her this way. 

He pressed a kiss to the edge of her jaw before asking with amusement, "Feeling okay, doll?" 

As she nodded, a slow grin spread across his face, and he said a little sheepishly, "Good, 'cause I'm not done with you yet." 

They make love again and maybe once more, proving to her that he really was capable of making her orgasm more then just once or twice, each one more intense then the last. 

Bucky lazily traced circles along her bare back as they lay tangled together in the afterglow. His other hand toyed with a curl that had stuck to her damp forehead, tucking it behind her ear with surprising tenderness for someone who'd just wrecked her so thoroughly minutes ago. 

Keira nuzzled against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat under her cheek. A quiet hum of contentment escaped her before she could stop it, which made Bucky chuckle low in his throat.

Satisfied?" he teased, fingers squeezing lightly around her waist where his flesh arm still draped possessively.

She swatted at him half heartedly but didn't deny it, too boneless and sated from earlier rounds to muster much fight.

Instead, Keira shifted just enough to lift her head slightly meeting his eyes suddenly more serious than playful despite her exhaustion weighing heavy on her limbs. "So this is what I've been missing huh?”  

Bucky went still beneath her, except for his fingers curling reflexively tighter around her hip, as if afraid she might vanish if he let go.

His answer came out rough but honest all the same. "Every damn day."

Her throat tightened unexpectedly, the sudden ache in her chest catching him off guard. "I'm sorry," she murmured, fingers curling against his chest. 

Bucky stiffened, his brow furrowing like he'd just been sucker punched. Before he could ask what for though she continued quickly, needing him to understand because the guilt was clawing at her. 

"I wish I did remember. I wish I remembered every single moment with you."

Bucky's breath caught, his grip on her tightening reflexively, like he couldn’t bear the thought of letting go now that she was here.

"Keira," he said roughly, voice raw around her name. "You have nothing to be sorry for." His thumb traced slow, soothing circles over her hip, steadying both himself and her.

A beat passed where neither spoke, just the quiet sound of their breathing mingling in the dim light before Bucky exhaled shakily and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. 

"We've got time," he murmured against her hair, quiet but fierce with conviction now despite how wrecked his voice still sounded moments ago. "However long it takes, we’ll make new memories." 

Keira smiled at that, and that night she fell asleep happy and satisfied. 

Chapter Text

Keira was sat with a steaming mug of coffee in her hands that next morning, her mind was reliving her evening with Bucky last night, she could still feel him, slightly sore but definitely not complaining. Wanda and Natasha were perched on either side, leaning in like hawks eyes bright with curiosity.

"So... spill," Natasha started, her tone playful but sharp. "How was last night? Give us every little detail."

Keira's cheeks dusted with a faint pink blush as she brought the cup to her lips, taking a long sip to buy herself time. She knew exactly where this conversation was going the second Wanda and Natasha sat down with her.

"Oh, you know," she began, trying to sound casual, "It was... nice."

Natasha's grin widened, and she exchanged a knowing glance with Wanda. "Nice? That's it? Just nice?"

"Yeah, come on, Keira. It's just us girls. Was he dominating? I can only imagine, especially after all that time apart," Wanda giggled.

Keira nearly choked on her coffee, her face turning scarlet. She should've seen this coming from a mile away, but the question still caught her completely off guard.

She took a moment to set the cup down, taking a deep breath to compose herself, before finally answering, "Fine. It was... incredible, okay? He’s definitely dominating, in more ways than one.”

Wanda and Natasha exchanged identical smirks, clearly enjoying themselves as they watched Keira squirm.

"How many times?" Natasha asked without missing a beat.

Keira practically melted into her chair, hiding behind her mug before peeking over the rim with a sheepish grin. 

"Three times," she confessed, exhaling dramatically. "And he was all sweet after, pulling me closer when I tried to roll away, whispering things in my ear like... god, he just has this way of making me feel like I never have before."

Natasha leaned back in her chair with a triumphant grin. "Called it. I knew he'd be relentless after all that time apart."

Wanda leaned forward eagerly. "Okay but did he -"

Slam

The kitchen door swung open. Thor strolled in like he owned the place. His hair shone like spun gold in the morning light, and his grin was impossibly charming.

"Well, well, if it isn't the most captivating women in the world," he said, leaning lazily against the counter before locking his gaze on Keira. "I heard you had a very productive evening," he added with a smirk.

Keira froze, eyes darting to Wanda and Natasha who were failing miserably to hide their laughter.

"Thor, you know you shouldn't listen in on other people's conversations," she retorted, still struggling to maintain her composure.

Thor just grinned wider, utterly unbothered. "Ah, but the walls have ears, my lady. I never took you for being loud," he winked.

Keira buried her face in her hands, begging for the floor to swallow her whole. "Good god..." she muttered under her breath, completely mortified.

Natasha and Wanda snorted with laughter, shoulders shaking as Thor kept going. He pushed off the counter, his eyes still fixed on Keira with unabashed admiration as he closed the distance between them. His gaze roamed over her appreciatively, taking in the way her flushed cheeks contrasted. His cologne mixed with the scent of coffee and cinnamon in the air.

"It's not too late, you know," he said, his voice low and teasing. "If you fancy a change of scenery, I could show you worlds beyond your imagination. Any galaxy, any realm. All yours, if you pick me. Nobody would hear you there either."

Keira's eyes widened, torn between the urge to laugh and to smack that smug smirk off Thor's face. She couldn't believe he was being this brazen, especially with Natasha and Wanda right there to witness his shameless flirting.

"Thor, you're terrible," she managed, trying to sound stern , but there was a hint of amusement in her tone.

She glared at both girls who were enjoying her discomfort way too much, but before she could say anything, Bucky’s heavy footsteps filled the room. He appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, brow furrowed. His eyes caught Thor’s, and he let out a low growl.

"Still flirting with her, huh?" he muttered, voice low and laced with jealousy.

The tension shifted instantly as Bucky's voice cut through the banter, and Thor finally tore his gaze away from Keira to meet Bucky's disapproving glare. He let out a chuckle, not at all bothered by Bucky's obvious disapproval.

"Ah, Barnes, ever the vigilant guardian I see. Just having a bit of harmless fun, no need to throw a tantrum," Thor replied, feigning innocence. 

Bucky took a step forward, his eyes narrow. "Harmless fun, huh? More like you constantly trying to poach her like some kind of prized game." 

Thor laughed, clapping a hand on Bucky's shoulder. "Relax, friend! I am but a humble suitor offering wonders."

Bucky's jaw clenched as Thor's hand landed on his shoulder, but he didn't shake it off, just levelled him with a glare that could melt vibranium. Meanwhile, Keira was watching the whole exchange with a mix of amusement and exasperation. 

Keira stepped in quickly before things could escalate any further. 

"Okay," she said, hands raised. "Thor, appreciate the offer, but I'm not going galaxy hopping with you, sorry." She patted his arm lightly.

Thor sighed dramatically. "A shame. But the offer stands!" He winked at her making her chuckle.

Bucky muttered something under his breath before sliding an arm around Keira's waist possessively and pulling her to the side, away from the others. 

"Come on," he murmured. "I'm taking you out today. You've been cooped up in here long enough."

Keira's eyes lit up at the mention of going out, her playful smirk returning as she glanced between Bucky and the others. "Oh? And where exactly are you whisking me away to, Sergeant Barnes?"*

"It's a surprise," he said.

"I'll just go change then."

Bucky's smirk mirrored her own as he tightened his grip around her waist, feeling a familiar thrill of excitement at how easily she'd agreed. He leaned in, his voice lowered for only her to hear.

"You're already beautiful, sweetheart. Just wear your prettiest smile for me."

His fingers lingered at her waist, his thumb tracing lazy circles on her hip, as if already savouring the moment of the upcoming date. 

Keira felt a shiver run down her spine as Bucky whispered those words in her ear, his touch igniting a familiar spark of desire within her. 

She leaned into his touch, the playful glint in her eyes turning softer, more intimate. "I suppose I can manage that for you," she teased, her voice just as quiet, as if their moment belonged only to them.

Keira's hand slid up to caress his chest, before leaning in to kiss him. Bucky met her kiss eagerly, his arms wrapping around her waist tightly, pulling her close. He knew his friends were watching them, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He deepened the kiss, his fingers tangling in her hair, as if desperate to hold onto the moment. As they finally pulled away, there was a collective whistle from Natasha and Wanda, and a hearty chuckle from Thor. 

"Get a room already!" Natasha called out, making Wanda laugh even harder. Bucky merely flipped them off with a smirk.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The crisp air hit Keira's face as Bucky led her out to the ice skating rink. The world was quiet, blanketed in snow, and the ice gleamed under the overhead lights.

"You used to love ice skating," he said, handing her a pair of skates. "Remember? You took me here once on a date. Thought I'd return the favour."

Keira  accepted the pair of skates gratefully, her gaze admiring the pristine ice rink. His words caught her off guard though, a flicker of confusion passing through her eyes. But it was quickly masked by a warm smile as she looked up at him.

"I... I did?" she asked softly, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

Keira remembered loving the feeling of gliding across the ice, but she couldn't quite remember the specifics. Not yet, anyway. 

Bucky noticed the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, the slight furrow of her brow, and he knew she was trying to remember. He tried to ignore the pang of pain in his chest as he realized she didn't remember their shared past, their memories together.

He forced a smile as he nodded, "Yeah, you did. You loved skating.…" he trailed off. He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Come on."

Keira didn't quite understand why there was a hint of sadness in his voice, but she brushed it aside, trusting him completely. She followed as he led her onto the ice, her blades gliding effortlessly over the smooth surface. 

Keira closed her eyes momentarily, the feeling of gliding across the ice familiar and comforting. She moved effortlessly across the rink, almost as if her body remembered even if her mind didn't. 

She opened her eyes again, meeting Bucky's gaze. God he was so handsome. They glided across the ice together, Bucky holding her hands, spinning her around, and stealing kisses as they went. Laughter spilled freely, echoing across the empty rink.

The world around them blurred into a soft, dreamy haze, just the crisp scrape of blades on ice, their mingled breaths in the cold air, and Bucky’s warm hands steadying her. Every so often, he’d pull her close to press kisses against her wind chilled cheeks or whisper something in her ear that made her laugh. 

At one point, Keira wobbled slightly, not from lack of skill but from sheer distraction as Bucky spun her towards him again. His grip tightened instantly. It felt right. Like some quiet part of herself recognized him even if some memories still danced just out of reach. 

 After a few rounds, she suddenly froze mid stride, a memory striking her like lightning and the world shifted. 

Keira remembered being cold, blinding lights in her face. Hydra agents all around her. Her wrists bound as they dragged her across the snow covered ground. She screamed as they hauled her inside a stark, cold building. 

Her body trembled and she collapsed onto the ice. Bucky was instantly at her side, supporting her as she shook.

"Keira?"

Bucky's heart lurched as he watched her freeze mid stride, her eyes fixed on some distant horror only she could see. He was at her side in an instant, his strong frame shielding her from nothing but the cold air. She collapsed, trembling, and he caught her, holding her against his chest.

"Hey, hey, look at me," he ordered, voice firm but gentle. "Breathe, sweetheart. You're safe. I've got you."

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she tried to explain. “I -I just remembered, Hydra. They captured me. It was - it was awful. Snow everywhere, screaming… I thought I was going to die.”

Bucky's heart shattered as he listened to her. His arms tightened around her, not just to steady her physically but to offer her a sense of security, a lifeline. 

"Shhh... it's okay," he reassured her, his voice a gentle hush against her ear. "You're safe now. You're here with me."

Bucky tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his hands lingering against her cheek. 

She cried against him for a while, letting the memory wash out, and he whispered over and over, “I’m here. You’re safe. I’ve got you.” 

The crisp wind whipped around them as Bucky carefully lifted her in his arms, cradling her close against his chest. The ice forgotten, he carried her to a nearby bench and sat down with her still wrapped tightly in his embrace.

"I shouldn't have brought you here," he murmured, voice thick with regret. "I just wanted - I thought maybe it would help..." His jaw clenched, metal fingers flexing against the small of her back as if he could physically shield her from the past.  

"No, I had a great time Bucky. Despite it being a bad memory, it’s still a memory, that’s good…right?” 

Bucky looked down at her, her words cutting through the guilt coiled in his chest. "Yeah," he murmured, his grip on her tightening just a bit. "It's a memory. It's still... progress. 

His hand slid beneath her chin, lifting her face gently so he could look into her eyes. His gaze was intense, conflicted. A maelstrom of emotions swirled in the depths of his eyes: fear, grief, anger, love… and an unshakeable hope. 

"I just... hate seeing you remember you that way." 

Keira's heart ached as she gazed up at Bucky, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. His words, spoken in that rough whisper tinged with emotion, hit her deep. 

She raised her hand, her fingers caressing his cheek, tenderly tracing the lines of his face. "I know," she murmured, her voice trembling just a bit. "But I want to remember... everything. Even the painful parts. Especially the painful parts.”

His throat worked as he swallowed hard, his eyes searching hers. The way she touched him, so familiar, so tender, it nearly unravelled him. He wanted to give her everything back, every laugh, every fight they'd ever had, even the silly ones that they had over the thermostat, she always won. Or about whether or not pineapple belonged on pizza. But this? This memory was one he wished could stay buried forever. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Later, they were parked outside Starbucks. Bucky had ordered her favourite drink and a warm pastry. They sat together in the car, sharing bites and sips.

"You didn't have to," Keira said, smiling softly.

Bucky shrugged nonchalantly, though his eyes softened as he looked over to her and smiled. His hand moved to rest on her thigh, fingers tracing small circles against the fabric of her jeans. 

"I wanted to," he murmured. The words were simple, but they carried a weight that spoke of everything he was unable to say. It was an apology, a promise, a silent declaration. 

Keira leaned back against the headrest, sipping her drink thoughtfully as he watched her. The way the sunlight glinted through the window, casting a golden hue upon her skin. 

Bucky reached across the console, his thumb brushing a crumb from the corner of her lips, so casually intimate it made her stomach flutter. His voice was low, rough with amusement and something deeper.

"You always did make a mess with these." The words slipped out before he could catch them. 

Keira's breath hitched slightly at his tone, not teasing, but knowing. Like he'd watched her do this a hundred times before. Her fingers tightened around the cup as she turned to study him, searching his face for clues to moments she couldn't recall but somehow felt. The air between them crackled with unspoken history weighted and warm as the steam curling from their drinks. 

Bucky couldn’t help himself when he leaned forwards and captured her lips again. 

Her heart skipped a beat as he leaned forward, capturing her lips with unexpected tenderness. There was a sense of urgency in the way he kissed her, as if he were trying to press all the memories into her, to transfer them through touch. She returned the kiss, her body reacting instinctively, her arms snaking around his neck. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him deeper into the kiss. 

He tasted like coffee and the sweetness of the pastry, and the combination made her head spin. When they finally pulled apart, both gasping for breath, his eyes locked with hers. 

Another memory hit her. 

Keira was back at Hydra, she thrown into her cell when she tried to escape but two men surrounded her. One slapped her hard across the face and she fell to the ground. Keira begged them to stop and held her stomach. They simply smiled and started kicking her, making her cry and scream. 

Keira blinked and leaned back in her seat slightly, she looked down and touched her stomach with a frown. 

"What is it?" he asked her, looking concerned. 

“Did they…did I get stabbed in my stomach? I don’t remember having anything…” she asked confused. 

Bucky's heart clenched at her question, pain and guilt coursing through him. Every instinct screamed at him to be honest, to tell her the truth, but the fear of shattering her any further held him back. 

He took a deep breath, schooling his face, his voice calm and smooth as he replied, "Not stabbed. You took a pretty hard fall…among a number of beatings." 

Keira nodded but continued to hold her stomach.

The lie tasted like ash on his tongue. “Don’t think about it sweetheart," he said, taking her hand away from her stomach and placing it into his gentle grasp. "They will never hurt you again, I promise you.” 

Keira studied his face, trying to figure out if he was lying. She could see the hesitation in his eyes, the flicker of uncertainty, but her trust in him, a trust rooted in a bond she couldn't fully recall, won out over her doubts. 

She nodded, slowly, her hand in his, tracing circles over his skin. She knew he wouldn't lie to her, not if he could help it. He had always been fiercely protective. That much she knew for certain. Keira leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder and let out a contented sigh.

Chapter Text

The steady hum of machinery filled the space of the lab that afternoon. Keira stepped in, black jeans hugging her legs, grey baggy sweater on. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back. She leaned against the counter, fingers brushing the smooth surface, watching Banner hunched over his desk, adjusting some holographic readings on his tablet, glasses perched halfway down his nose.

"Morning, Keira," he said, without looking up. "Need something?"

Keira leaned against the counter, watching as he busied himself with the screen. For a moment, she was lost in the rhythmic tapping of keys, the faint whirring of machines. She took in the sight of him, a walking contradiction of genius and awkwardness. A part of her had grown fond of the mad scientist in the weeks that had passed. 

Keira folded her arms, shifted her weight nervously before finding her voice."Yeah, actually. I wanted to ask you something."

Banner finally looked up, lifting an eyebrow as he adjusted his glasses. He could sense the hesitance in her voice.

"Shoot." 

He leaned back in his chair, giving her his undivided attention. There was something about her stance, the subtle signs of nervousness in her body language, that made his curiosity pique. 

She hesitated, then met his eyes. 

"I know what happened with Hydra," she admitted, quietly. "At least... what Bucky told me. But I think there's more, isn't there?"

His brow furrowed, the gears visibly turning in his head. Banner knew the truth, and he knew that Bucky had been intentionally vague in his retelling. But he also knew the danger in exposing too much too soon. He sighed, pushing his glasses up

"It's... it's complicated," Banner said carefully, choosing each word with precision. "Memories have a way of... distorting things, even twisting them. Bucky only wanted to protect you from unnecessary pain. We all did."

"I just want to understand," she pressed. "What exactly did they do to me?"

There was a pause, weighted with a million unspoken explanations. Banner's grip on the tablet tightened, the screen casting a cold light over his face, highlighting the lines of worry etched into his brow.  

"Hydra experimented on you," he began, his voice low. "In every way possible. They tested your limits, your endurance, your... resilience. They tried to break you, mold you into something you're not."

His gaze flicked up to her, the sadness in his eyes echoing her unspoken pain. "But you have to remember, Keira... you didn't break. You survived." 

Banner sighed, pulling off his glasses and setting them on the table. "Keira, you've been through so much. Some memories... they surface when you're ready. Forcing them -" 

"I'm not asking about memories," she interrupted, voice sharpening. She folded her arms tighter. "I'm asking for the truth. You were the one who ran my tests when I got back, right?"

Banner exhaled sharply through his nose, rubbing the bridge where his glasses had sat. The lab's ambient hum filled the silence as he weighed his next words with scientific precision, but also as a friend. 

"Yes." He met her gaze directly. "Your bloodwork showed traces of advanced neural inhibitors, chemical amnesia, tailored to target specific memories. Hydra didn't just erase you; they sculpted what remained." 

A beat, then, quieter, "And there were... physical markers of trauma beyond standard interrogation." 

Banner's throat worked. You lost more than time in that base. But he couldn't say it, not like this. Not without Bucky there to catch her when the ground fell away.

Keira looked a little lost for a moment before shifting a little. "Can I see my medical file?"

Banner's expression was unreadable, a mask of clinical detachment that betrayed none of the turmoil churning within. He considered her request, the internal war clear as he fought against his better judgement. 

And suddenly, she understood. He wasn't going to tell her. Keira's chest tightened. "You're hiding something." 

Banner's fingers hovered over the tablet, his breath stuttering slightly before he let it drop to the counter with a quiet click. The truth pressed against his ribs like a live wire, but so did the image of Bucky's face if he were the one to shatter her all over again.

"Not hiding," he corrected gently. "Some things... they should come from him. Not a damn spreadsheet." His voice cracked on the last word, the closest thing to pleading she'd ever heard from him. 

Keira swallowed hard, her eyes glazing with unshed tears as frustration and fear coiled in her stomach. "So there is more." 

She turned, scanning the rows of filing drawers. He got up and tried to stop her. But it was too late; Keira was already at the filing cabinet, her hand wrapping around the handle. The cold metal mocked her, a barrier between her and the knowledge she sought. Banner stepped closer, his shadow falling over her.

"Please, Keira," he said firmly. "It's not my place to -" 

"Like hell it isn't!" she snapped, spinning around to face him. "I deserve to know what happened to me! I have a right to know."

Banner flinched as though she'd slapped him. The rebuke in her eyes stung more than any physical blow. He pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration warring with guilt. "I never said you didn't. But there are things you aren't ready for...." 

"Is that what Bucky says?" Her voice was a razor's edge. "That I'm fragile? That I need to be protected? Is that it?" 

The moment hung heavy, tension crackling in the air. Keira turned away and found her file.

"Keira, don't -" Banner started, but she'd already opened it. 

Keira's eyes darted down the page, reading fast, medical jargon, test results, data and then her gaze landed on one line that made her entire body go still. 

Subject presented elevated HCG levels. Pregnancy confirmed at early stage prior to retrieval. Subsequent to the confirmed early pregnancy, the patient experienced a miscarriage. Clinical evaluation indicates that severe psychological stress and sustained physical trauma were contributing factors to the pregnancy loss.

Keira's heart stopped. 

Banner cursed under his breath, his usually sharp eyes pained as he watched her. Her knuckles were white against the edge of the file drawer as she read. He wanted to snatch it from her hands, rewind time, take it all back. 

"Keira..."

A tear slipped down her cheek. Her throat felt like it had closed up. "Is this..." She swallowed hard. "Is this true?" 

He could see the exact moment her world shifted, the subtle crumbling of her defences as the words registered. She didn't have to say it out loud. The look in her eyes was all the evidence he needed. 

Banner nodded once, slowly, as if afraid speaking would shatter her further. "Yes."

The room spun. Keira slumped back against the cabinets, fingers clenching the file still crumpled in her fist. The edges of the paper, once crisp, were creasing under the strain. 

Her fingers tightened on the paper until it crumpled. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Banner took a step closer, torn between the need to comfort her and the fear of making everything worse. He carefully approached her, his hand hovering over her shoulder. 

"I'm so sorry, Keira," he said, quietly. 

Banner's voice was soft, heavy with guilt. "We... we wanted to protect you. When we found you, you were barely conscious. The doctors didn't think you'd survive the night, Keira. You'd lost so much blood, and your body was shutting down. We didn't think it was the right time to tell you. Not when you were fighting just to breathe. Not when you didn't even remember anything."

"So you all decided for me?" she shot back, voice cracking. "You, Tony...Bucky. All of you just decided what I could and couldn't handle?" 

"Keira -" 

"Don't," she snapped, the word coming out sharper than she meant it to. Keira stepped back, clutching the folder to her chest like it might stop her from breaking. "You should've told me." 

The door hissed open and Tony stepped inside holding a coffee mug. "Hey, Banner, you got that data -"He stopped mid sentence when he saw her face, then glanced at the folder in her hands."Oh fuck."

Keira scoffed, tears stinging her eyes. She shoved past him before either of them could say another word. 

"Keira, wait -" Tony started, but she didn't stop. The sound of Banner calling her name faded behind her as she ran down the hallway, the folder slipping from her grip and scattering papers behind her like broken pieces of truth. 

Keira walked into her room and slammed the door shut behind her, her chest heaving, tears blurring her vision. They had all lied to her. Again.

Bucky's voice echoed in her head, his promises, his reassurances that he'd told her everything. And maybe he thought he was protecting her too. But right now, all she could feel was betrayal. 

Keira grabbed her bag and started throwing clothes into it, her hands shaking so badly she could barely fold anything properly. 

Her door opened and Bucky stepped in, he looked like he had run here, Tony or Bruce must have told him.

 "Keira..."

She didn't look up, her hands still trembling as she shoved another sweater into the bag. The air between them was thick, charged with hurt and unsaid things that weighed heavier than any lie

Bucky stepped closer, his voice rough. "Stop. Just look at me."

"Go away, Bucky."

His jaw tightened at her words. Every instinct in him screamed to pull her into his arms and hold her until all of the hurt melted away. He took another step closer, his eyes burning with a mix of desperation and defiance.

"No," he said sharply. "I'm not leaving until you look at me and talk to me."

Keira continued to ignore him, tears falling down her face. 

Bucky grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. "Don't," he said quietly, stepping closer. "Don't walk away."

Her jaw was set, eyes still fixed stubbornly on the floor. Keira yanked her arm out of reach, but he caught her again, his grip firm, yet gentle. 

He grabbed her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Look at me, damn it." 

Slowly, her gaze lifted. Pain cut through her eyes like a knife.

Her throat tightened. "You lied to me, Bucky."

His fingers loosened slightly at the raw hurt in her voice. The guilt was a crushing weight in his chest, he could feel it, pressing down on him like a physical force.

"I didn't lie," he rasped. "I just... couldn't tell you something that would break you all over again." His thumb brushed away a falling tear. "You were already fighting so hard just to remember us. How was I supposed to -"

Keira wrenched away, shaking her head violently as fresh tears spilled down her face once again. "It wasn't your choice to make!"

Bucky stood frozen for half a second before surging forward and wrapping her in his arms, whether she fought him or not. He buried his face against her hair, voice breaking into the crown of her head.

"I know."

"No -" she pushed him away. "Don't touch me!"

The words were a punch to the gut. Bucky took a step back, hands hovering in the air to show he was abiding by her wishes.

"Please, sweetheart," he begged her. "Can you just hear me out?" 

"Why?" she snapped, eyes glittering with fresh tears. "So you can justify why you lied to me?"

His throat tightened, but he met her gaze without flinching. "I was trying to protect you."

"You said you told me everything, but you didn't. You kept the biggest thing hidden from me. All of you did."

Bucky clenched his fists at his sides, the pain in her voice tearing through him like shrapnel. He had weeks years carrying this secret, weeks of watching her rebuild herself, terrified that one misplaced word would send her spiralling back into grief she couldn't even remember but would hurt her nonetheless.

"I wanted to tell you," he ground out, his voice raw. "Every damn day. But I couldn't -" His jaw worked before he forced out the rest. "You weren't ready, Keira."

She recoiled like he'd struck her. "That wasn't your call!" 

The words ripped from her throat, jagged and furious. Keira swiped at the tears on her cheeks with a vicious jerk of her hand before grabbing her bag and shoving past him toward the door.  

Bucky moved without thinking. A single step blocked her path as his hands found either side of the doorframe, caging her in. Every muscle in him begged to pull her closer; instead he just held her there, wild eyed and completely wrecked, until their breathing synced ragged between them. 

"I know." A whisper this time, broken. "God help me... I know it wasn't."

"Stop saying that!" she snapped, her voice trembling. "Everyone keeps saying that like it makes it okay! You don't get to decide what I can and can't handle."

Bucky raked a hand through his hair, moving away from her and pacing once, his voice rough. "You think it was easy for me? Watching you come back half alive, not knowing if you'd ever wake up again? You wanted the truth when you couldn't even remember your own name?" 

The silence that followed was sharp, painful. Bucky's breathing was heavy now, his composure cracking. He stepped closer until she could see the storm in his eyes. 

"You think I liked keeping that from you? That I slept easy knowing what they did? What we had? You have no idea what it did to me, Keira. None. It was my fucking baby too!"

Keira swallowed hard, tears streaming down her face. He was right. She knew that deep down. They had both lost something precious, something that could never be replaced. But still... It didn't change the fact that they'd all made that choice for her. Let her forget. And the sting of betrayal seethed beneath her skin like poison.

She wiped angrily at her cheeks. "It's my body." Her chest heaved. "You should've trusted me enough to let me carry that burden."

Bucky flinched like she'd struck him, the raw truth in her words carving into him deeper than any blade. His breath came shallow now, fists trembling at his sides, not from anger but the sheer weight of knowing she was right. 

"You're right," he whispered, broken glass in his voice. "I should've... I just..."

His metal hand flexed uselessly at his side, how do you explain that kind of fear? The terror of watching her break all over again when she'd already lost so much? That he'd rather burn alive than see pain like that in her eyes one more time? But none of that mattered now. Not when she was looking at him like that.  

Bucky's shoulders slumped. The fight in his voice faded. "I didn't want you to look at me and see all that pain again."

Keira was quiet for a moment before she quietly spoke, "I already do," she whispered.

Her words sliced straight through him, leaving a hollow ache in his chest. He closed his eyes, exhaling a ragged breath before looking back at her, broken and vulnerable. There was no more running. No more hiding. 

Bucky crossed the room towards her, slowly. His hands cupped her face in a gentle touch, his thumb brushing away the tears on her cheek. He searched her eyes, his gaze desperate, almost pleading. "Let me fix this, please." 

Keira shook her head and looked away before reaching for her bag again.

"Keira -"

"I need some space," she said softly. "I can't breathe in this compound right now."

Bucky swallowed hard. "I'm not letting you walk out that door."

He stepped in front of the door, blocking her path. He had never felt so desperate, and it took everything in him not to pull her closer, to hold her and never let go. But she needed space. She needed to breathe and he needed to let her. 

Bucky still didn't move though, his eyes locked on hers as he spoke softly. "Take all the space you need. But I'm not losing you again, sweetheart."

Keira met his gaze, a storm of conflicting sensations churning behind her eyes. Pain, anger, love and above all, hurt. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw things. She wanted to kiss him like she needed oxygen. But right now? All she knew was that she needed some air. So, she tried to sidestep around him, only to find his arm blocking her again.

"Bucky, move."

His brow furrowed, his heart thundering against his chest, but he didn't move. His voice was gravel, rough, torn and pleading. "I can't let you leave."

The stubborn set to his jaw made it clear it wasn't just a suggestion. He would stand here until doomsday if that's what it took. 

A sharp breath escaped her, tension coiling tight in her shoulders. He could be so damn stubborn if he wanted to be. Keira wanted to push and shove, to fight him, scream until he was just as angry. But the pain in his eyes made her throat go tight instead. So she tried a different approach, voice softer now.

"I can't think here, Bucky. I need to be alone...please."

Bucky's gaze flickered, the fight draining from him at the crack in her voice, leaving him raw and vulnerable. His shoulders sagged, fists unclenching. He exhaled, the breath a weary confession. "And what then? You walk outta here, off the compound, to God knows where? You expect me to just let you do that?"

"Let me? You don't own me, Bucky!" she said, trying to get past him, her bag digging into her shoulder.

Keira's anger flared again, sharp and hot, but he wouldn't budge. His voice was a low growl now, all the pain and frustration he was desperately trying to keep locked down spilling out between them. 

"I know I don't," he snapped, his hand gripping her wrist to keep her from leaving. "But I sure as hell won't let you run off alone, not after everything that's happened." 

"For once, I'm gonna do what I want to do. Without you!" she shouted, walking past him and out of the door.

Keira stormed down the hall, wiping at her face furiously. Voices echoed behind her, Natasha calling her name, Wanda's footsteps catching up, but she didn't look back. She couldn't. 

"Keira, wait!" 

"Please, talk to us!" 

She ignored them, the sound of her heartbeat pounding in her ears louder than the thunder and rain that had started outside. 

By the time Keira reached the underground garage, she was shaking. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead as she scanned the rows of vehicles. Her eyes landed on a set of car keys hanging on the wall, she grabbed them without thinking. The engine roared to life, echoing through the vast concrete space. 

Keira drove out of the compound, rain splattering across the windshield like shards of glass. The wipers struggled to keep up as the rain fell, the sky darkened even more, lightning cracking across the clouds. She didn't know where she was going. She just needed to go. Away from the lies. Away from the heartbreak. Away from him.

Bucky burst through the stairwell doors a moment later, breath ragged, eyes scanning wildly until he saw the empty spot where the car had been. 

"Damn it," he muttered, snatching his helmet from the bench. The bike engine screamed to life, and he tore out into the storm. 

The road blurred. Wind howled through the cracks in the window. Keira's hands were tight around the wheel, knuckles white, when suddenly the world tilted, not outside, but inside her mind. The flash hit her so hard she gasped.

Keira was sitting on the edge of her bed, tears streaking her cheeks. Her hands shook as she held a small white test. It was Positive. 

The door opened. Bucky froze in the doorway, reading the fear on her face instantly. "Doll, what's wrong?" 

Her voice cracked. "I -Bucky, I don't know if I can do this." 

He crossed the room in two strides, kneeling in front of her, hands steady on her knees. "Hey. Look at me. "When she did, his eyes softened. "You're not alone in this. Not ever. We'll figure it out together."

Keira's breath hitched. "You're - you're not mad?"

Bucky shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Mad? Sweetheart... I'm happy. We made this together. And I already love both of you more than I can say."

Keira's tears turned to laughter, and she threw her arms around him. 

The memory snapped away like someone cutting a cord.

"Bucky..." she whispered, tears spilling freely down her face.

Keira's foot eased off the accelerator as she tried to blink the tears away, but the road ahead vanished in a blur of headlights and rain. 

A horn blared. A flash of headlights. Metal screamed against metal.

Her car spun, the world a blur of chaos and rain. Keira slammed through the guardrail, tumbling down the embankment before crashing hard against a tree.

Silence swallowed everything.

Chapter Text

Bucky’s bike skidded as he braked, heart seizing when he saw the broken railing and the faint glow of taillights below.

"Keira!" 

The bike tipped on the slick road but he didn't care. He sprinted down the hill. The rain was relentless, soaking him through his clothes, lightening brightening up his surroundings for a moment. The car that had collided into her was still on the road, a man climbing out, a bloody cut on his head but he seemed fine, just dazed a little. But right now his only concern was Keira and making sure she was safe. 

He reached her car, running over to the drivers seat he ripped the door open and his heart could have fallen out of his chest at the sight of her. She was laying on the wheel, her head to the side and blood everywhere. 

"Keira?" he called out to her but she didn't move. 

Bucky carefully undid her seatbelt and gently carried her out of the vehicle, her head falling back like a ragdoll, her eyes closed and blood pouring down her face from the injury on her head. He got down on his knees, his body was so close to collapsing as he settled her down in his lap, moving hair away from her face, watching as the rain dropped against it. He wiped her cheek and checked her pulse on her neck, it was faint, but there. 

"Keira, hey," he called out to her, gently shaking her. "Hey, look at me, sweetheart. Can you hear me? Open your eyes baby."

Bucky wiped the rain from her face, panic rising in his throat and clawing at his heart.

"Please," he whispered, voice broken. "Don't do this to me," he begged, brushing her wet hair from her face as a tear fell down his face.

The roar of repulsors filled the night air and a moment later Tony landed beside them, face pale behind the mask.

"No - " Tony started but his voice failed him. 

"She's still breathing," Bucky said, his voice ragged and still fixed on her. "But it's faint." 

Bucky stood with her in his arms and started to walk away. 

"Where are you going?" Tony demanded, grabbing his arm but Bucky carried on walking. 

"The hospital, where else? I'm not waiting for a fucking ambulance!"

Tony's jaw tightened as he pulled him back again. “Let me take her,” he said firmly. “I’ll get her to the hospital a lot faster then you.”

Bucky frowned and shook his head but Tony's grip tightened. 

"Let me help her Barnes, I swear on my life I will take care of her."

Bucky hesitated only a second before nodding, hands shaking as he laid her carefully in Tony’s arms. Her head rested against his chest, her eyes never once opening and fear clawed deep in his chest. 

"Please...I can't, she -"

"Buck, it's all gonna be ok," he assured him but Bucky was afraid, this might be the last time he would see her alive. 

Tony gave him a nod before taking off into the storm, leaving a broken and tearful Bucky, standing there and watching them disappear off into the night sky. He felt so fucking helpless he could scream. 

 Suddenly, he remembered the other guy that was involved in the accident and in a flash he picked the guy up from the floor and shoved him up against his car. The guy cried out in pain, already injured from the accident and now in total shock at the brutality of Bucky's anger. 

"If something happens to her, I swear to fucking god i'll -" 

"It -it wasn't me I swear!" The man begged him, holding onto Bucky's metal arm that kept him up against his vehicle. "She swerved into me, I swear to god! Plea -please don't hurt me my -my wife she -she needs me." 

Bucky was so angry he wanted to kill the man standing right in front of him, but he knew when someone was scared, when someone was telling the truth. He let the man go and caught him before he fell to the floor before grabbing his phone and calling an ambulance. He told the man to stay clear of the road and wait for the ambulance before he ran for his bike and took off.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The hospital waiting room was too bright, too sterile. Bucky hated hospitals, the noises and the machines in the background, waiting around and feeling completely helpless. It was torture and he knew torture, but this seemed worse somehow. The rain was still heavy outside, the sound of the raindrops lashing against the windows and the steady clock ticking away on the wall was driving him crazy. 

Bucky hunched forward in the chair, his elbows on his knees, eyes tracing the faint streaks of mud and blood on his hands, her blood...

Tony was pacing the far wall, still in his suit but without the helmet. The waiting game was getting to him too, he had desperately tried to go in with her, but even despite his popularity he was told to wait. 

The others had arrived one by one. Steve was first, his jaw set tight. He sat next to Bucky and placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to anchor his best friend once again, just like he had months ago when Keira had been taken and tortured by Hydra. Bucky remained stoic but Steve knew he was dying inside. He was scared too, they all were. 

Wanda was stood crying, her hand over her mouth when Tony recalled what had happened. Natasha held her, a tear also falling down her face. Banner on the other hand walked straight back out of the room, guilt written all over his face. Natasha followed him out and gripped his arm gently. 

"It's my fault," he said, rubbing a hand over his face. 

Natasha shook her head and punched him in the arm. 

"Ow- hey! Are you craz -"

"Shut up Banner. Don't do that, blaming yourself like that. Keira was determined, hell I would have probably done the same. Nothing you could have done would have stopped her from finding out the truth." 

She tugged on his arm and made him look at her, "Do you understand me?" 

Banner looked away with a sigh but nodded, he knew Natasha was right, Keira was never one to back down. 

Their attention was cut short when they spotted a doctor walk into the room, they joined the others and listened to what he had to say. 

Bucky and Steve rose from their seats as they all gathered around the doctor who seemed exhausted. Bucky's breath stuck in his lungs as he waited to hear the news. They were all frozen, like none of them could muster up the courage to ask what they all wanted to know. 

Tony stepped forwards, his voice sharp but full of fear. "Is she okay?"

The doctor hesitated, just a fraction of a second, but it was enough to make Bucky's stomach drop. 

"She's stable," the doctor said finally, adjusting his glasses. "The surgery went as well as we could’ve hoped for. We were able to control the internal bleeding and relieve the pressure caused by her head injury. Given her history of previous head trauma and amnesia, we’re going to keep a close eye on her neurological responses over the next 24 to 48 hours." 

"But she's gonna be ok?" Bucky asked, needing to hear once more that everything was alright. 

"Yes, she will stay in ICU for monitoring and once we’re confident everything is progressing normally, we’ll move her to a regular room."

Bucky’s voice was rough with exhaustion and fear but he felt like he could finally breathe again. “Can I see her?”

The doctor studied him for a long moment before nodding once. "I'm afraid she's not awake yet, but you can visit her. She's in room 9G."

Bucky didn’t wait a second longer, he just strode past the man,  rushing down the hall toward Keira’s room without another word from anyone else in that waiting area. He spotted her room and stepped inside, only for his breath to leave him once again. 

Bucky slowly walked towards her, she looked so small in that bed, pale as a ghost under the dim hospital light next to her. He was wrapped up in guilt, if only he had been straight with her, told her the truth, if only he had stopped her harder from leaving. It was all his fault. If even she didn't remember his once again, he would make sure he spent the rest of his life making it up to her. 

He reached for her hand and placed it into his large one, watching her carefully. Wires were hooked up to her, a gas mask over her face, a bandage around her head and a large gauze that had been stitched on the side of her forehead. Somehow, she was still the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, reminding himself of just how fragile life could be when you you loved someone this much and what he would do or sacrifice just to make sure she was safe. 

The steady rhythmic beep of the machines that she was hooked up to was the only sound in the room. His thumb skimmed the pulse point on her wrist, counting the faint beat of her pulse, slow and even. Bucky exhaled, shoulders finally relaxing as he sunk into the chair next the bed.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart" he whispered softly, bringing her hand up to his lips where he placed a gentle kiss. "I'm here, baby. I'm right here."

Bucky watched the slow rise and fall of her chest, every breath like a miracle. His hand tightened on hers, eyes burning as he leaned forward. Despite the nurses telling him he couldn't stay long he remained seated next to her, there was no way in hell he was ever leaving her again. The nurses eventually gave up and decided to let him stay. 

Hours passed and Bucky had closed his eyes, his hand never leaving hers. He thought he imagined it at first, but when he felt her twitch for a second time his eyes flew open and he stood above her. 

"Keira?"

Keira's eyes slowly fluttered open before closing again, her brow creasing slightly as she moved her head to the side. 

Bucky leaned in closer, hovering above her. His thumb brushed over her hand again, applying a smaller amount of pressure. "C'mon... let me see those pretty eyes."

A little gasp, escaped her lips, just a whisper of sound. Then her eyes opened, unfocused and half lidded. 

"Bucky?" Her voice was rough, disoriented. "What -“

Bucky swallowed hard, his voice raw. "That's right, babygirl, I'm right here. Can you hear me?"

Keira's eyes cleared slightly, landing on him hovering above her. Confusion faded into a hint of disbelief, as if she needed tangible proof that he was actually here. 

"Bucky," she breathed again, fingers flexing in his grip.

Bucky tightened his grip, his eyes burning and his heart full, she still remembered his name. "Yeah... it's me, doll. I'm right here." His thumb brushed against her knuckled again as relief settled over him. 

Keira looked at their hands, the hospital sheets, and then back to him, struggling to remember what happened. 

Bucky moved closer, squeezing her hand. "It's ok, you're safe." Her gaze finally focused, and in that moment, every emotion he'd been trying to hold back broke. 

"I almost lost you, Keira," his voice cracked now, raw and unguarded as a tear fell down his face. "When I saw you in that car…" He shook his head, unable to put the terror that had torn through him into words. "Fuck, doll. For a second, I..."

"You came after me?" she asked, her voice small and quiet.

Bucky smiled and wiped away his his tears before taking her hand in both of his hands and kissing the back of it. 

"Of course I did," he answered her, cradling her hand against his heart. 

"Don't ever scare me like that again," he managed a strangled half laugh. "I don't know if my heart can take losing you." 

Keira's fingers tightened weakly around his, her gaze searching his face. The raw emotion in Bucky's voice, the way he was looking at her like she might vanish if he blinked, it made something deep inside of her chest twist painfully. 

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her throat a little sore.  

Bucky leaned in closer again, bringing his free hand up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Don't apologize, sweetheart. Fuck, I'm just… I'm just glad you're awake. I'm glad you're alive. I'm glad you...remember my name this time." 

His voice broke on the last word, something that might have sounded like a laugh if it weren't mixed with a broken exhale. He brought her hand to his face, pressing his lips to her palm again. 

“We were gonna name her Rebecca." 

Bucky blinked, frowning in confusion as he stared down at her. 

“What?” 

Keira's hand drifted slowly to her stomach, and her eyes glistened as she looked at him. “The baby, we were gonna call her Rebecca. After your sister.”

Her hand drifted to her stomach. "After your sister," she whispered.

Bucky's breath caught in his throat like a knife. His entire world narrowed to that one movement, her hand resting against her stomach, her words slicing through him with perfect, painful clarity. 

"You..." He swallowed hard. "You remember that?" 

Keira's lips started to tremble as she nodded slowly, tears slipping free now. "I remember everything."

The air left Bucky's lungs in a rush as those words hit him. His hand trembled around hers, the room spinning. She remembered everything?  Every painful, broken thing they'd been through together? Every kiss? Every promise? Every moment of joy and every broken piece of them they'd rebuilt over the last couple of months together? 

His heart was like thunder in his chest, her face swam in his vision before he cleared his throat. "You -you really remember all of it?" 

Keira nodded again, tears streaming silently down her face. "Everything." 

Bucky's hand caressed her face, still going slow, because he didn't know yet if he was allowed to touch her like that. Then she looked at him, so damn vulnerable and beautiful. 

“I love you Bucky.” 

The ache in his chest gave way to something raw. The world narrowed to a sharp point around them, and all he could see was her. Her eyes. Her face. Her body and the genuine love behind her eyes. His girl, his Keira was back. He smiled and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he could breathe, like the world felt less heavy. 

"I love you, sweetheart. So damn much." With that he leaned down and gently covered her mouth with his, kissing her until she needed to breathe again.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Six months later 

The compound was glowing with fairy lights, laughter spilling through the living room and music in the background and everyone looked lighter than they had in months. At the centre of it all, Keira stood with a diamond ring on her finger, its sparkle catching every bit of light in the room. 

Bucky was beside her, his hand never leaving hers, as if he still couldn’t quite believe she’d said yes. His thumb traced over her ring every few seconds like a habit he’d never shake.

Tony raised a glass. "To the happy couple!" he announced grandly, grinning ear to ear. “Barnes, I didn’t think I’d live to see the day someone would voluntarily put up with you forever, but I guess miracles do happen.”

Laughter rippled through the room. Bucky rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth lifted in a rare, unguarded smirk as he squeezed Keira’s hand again. "Careful, Stark," Bucky shot back, but a smirk still tugged at his lips. "Might have to rescind your invite."

The room erupted into laughter again, Natasha’s amused snort the loudest among them, while Steve clapped Bucky on the shoulder with an approving grin. 

But when Bucky turned back toward Keira, his gaze softened instantly. That quiet intensity reserved only for her as she leaned into him, that beautiful smile on her face. 

Tony noticed Keira’s empty hand and offered her a glass of the expensive champagne he had picked out for tonight. “Here, sweetheart. You’ve earned it. Stark Industries’ finest.” 

Keira smiled and shook her head gently. “No, thank you, Tony. I’ll pass.”

Sam, ever the opportunist, leaned back on the sofa with a teasing grin. “What, you pregnant or something?” 

The room went dead silent. Wanda smacked him on the back of the head. “Samuel Wilson!” she hissed. 

Sam’s eyes widened. “I -what -I was joking!” 

But Keira just laughed softly, turning toward Bucky. He was already watching her, like he knew what she was about to say before anyone else did. Her eyes met his, full of quiet joy. 

“Actually…” she said, voice warm and sure, "I am.”

Keira caught his gaze. "...I am," she said softly.

The room went silent again, until chaos erupted. 

Tony spat out his drink; Steve choked on his; Nat and Wanda’s mouths dropped open. Then the entire room erupted, shouting, laughter, tears, Wanda squealing, Natasha hugging her so tightly she could barely breathe. 

Even Tony stood there, dumbfounded before muttering, “Well, I’ll be damned,” and raising his glass again. 

Bucky just stood there behind her, arms wrapping around her waist, his metal hand resting protectively over her stomach. He kissed her temple, whispering something that only she could hear. 

Keira tilted her head back slightly, catching Bucky's lips in a soft kiss, her fingers tangling gently in his hair as she turned, the cheers around them fading into background noise. 

“Guess the universe finally decided to give us a second chance,” she murmured. 

Bucky leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. “No, doll,” he whispered back, “You did.” 

The room blurred around them, friends laughing, music swelling, Tony pretending not to cry, but all she could feel was Bucky's heartbeat against her back, steady and certain. And for the first time, it didn’t feel like the end of something. It felt like the beginning.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

A/N: Thank you so much for reading this story all the way to the end!

Every comment, every theory, every moment you worried over the characters or cheered them on, it meant more to me than I can put into words.

Writing this felt like sharing a little world with all of you and seeing you care about these characters the way I do has been the best part of the whole journey. Your support, kindness and excitement truly kept me going.

Thank you for every chapter you clicked, every message you sent, and every bit of love you gave this story. I’m incredibly grateful for you, and I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I loved creating it. ❤️

I am working on a new story and will start posting soon but I do also want to take some time as Christmas is here and I have so much to do. But I promise another story is on the way but please do be patient if the uploads are a tad slow. Once again thank you! ❤️