HAPPY MARIECHEN

“Ok I don’t get it” Sam finally relents.

“You don’t get what?” Steve replies to his friend without taking his eyes off you. You're across the bar headed to the pool table with some guy Steve doesn’t recognize. He’s pretty sure the top you're wearing is new. You look gorgeous, but then again you always do. 

“What is the deal with you two? And don’t tell me it’s not nothing cause there's clearly some history there.” Sam insists. 

“Ohh wow, this is a new low punk, even for you.” Bucky chimes in.

Steve clears his throat and uses his only excuse. “It’s not a big deal.” 

“You never even told him? Seriously!?”  Bucky snapped, his voice low and tight in an attempt to restrain himself from reaching across the table and pummeling his best friend. 

“Told me what?” Sam asks, his patience wearing thin. 

“You are looking at the former Mrs. Rogers.” Bucky takes a long pull from his beer as he watches Sam’s eyes practically pop out of his head. 

“You two were married!?”

“Yup” Bucky says emphasizing the P.

“Damn it’s worse than I thought” Sam scoffs.

Despite what his two best friends are about to say he never lied to Sam. Technically he was single when he and Sam met. Besides, Steve didn’t like to talk about it, didn’t even like to think about it. When he did think about you, which was about every 45 seconds or so, he tried to only focus on the good things.

The way you light up when you laugh. The way you always insist on taking a million photos to commemorate any and every occasion. How doing the dishes somehow always turned into a dance party. The way you would curl up on him at the end of a long day. 

Knowing he doesn’t need to sit through this next part he makes his way to the bar to grab another round of drinks.

“So what happened?” Sam asks Bucky.

“They got married young, really young. Which probably wasn’t the best idea, but they were in love and Steve was headed off to war and you know how it is.” Sam nods in agreement, letting Bucky continue.

“We enlisted together. She made us both promise we’d bring each other home. The first tour was hard on her I could tell even on video chat it was like she was just holding her breath till we came back. The next couple times were a little easier, we came home once before why wouldn’t we come home again? We were on our 3rd tour, about a month out from coming home when,” Bucky places his metal arm on the table he inspects it carefully opening and closing his fist. 

“We got hit. I got blown from the Humvee and ended up losing my arm. Steve was ok, physically but..we lost a couple of good men that day.” The brunette sighs. “After the accident her and Steve took care of me. They visited me at the hospital everyday and eventually took me in when I got out. I had been out of the hospital for a few weeks when Steve told us he was going back.

"She just couldn’t do it anymore. The waiting, the worry, the distance, especially with me having been hurt she was convinced Steve would come back in a casket, and I wasn’t so sure she was wrong. But you know Steve. They fought… a lot and eventually she laid out an ultimatum. If he enlisted again she wouldn’t be there when he got back.“

“Damn.” Sam said, shaking his head, “That must have been hard for her to admit.” Bucky nodded in agreement. “And he really just left?”

“Yeah. Looking back on it now, I realize nothing was going to stop him from going. Everyone told him to stay, me, his mom, the whole damn town tried to convince him but he wouldn’t hear any of it. I kept hoping he would change his mind, you know, that he’d stop being so pig headed, but no, he just had to go. The day after he left she contacted a lawyer.” Bucky stops to take a long swing of beer. 

“But the former Mrs. Rogers is nothing if not a saint, even with her heart broken she still put all her energy into helping me heal. She let me live with her even after Steve left, took me to all my physical therapy and Dr. appointments, helped me get the hang of the prosthetic” He says flexing his fist on his metal arm. “I owe her everything. That punks lucky I didn’t leave him too.” scoffed Bucky.

“Ohh yeah why didn’t you?” Sam asks

“Because” Bucky said as he leaned back in his chair, “she wouldn’t let me.”

Steve is sitting at the bar, he could go back to the table with Bucky and Sam but he figures he’ll give them a few minutes to cool off and change the subject before he ventures back. He keeps his eye practically glued on the bartenders, watching them work helps him resist the urge to turn around and look at you. He knows you’re over by the pool table. He can picture you taking your time, totally focused, biting your lip as you  line up your shot. He can imagine it perfectly; the only thing better than his imagination would be turning around and seeing it in real time. 

He sees you land at the bar a couple stools down from him and watches as Pepper approaches you. 

“So it looks like the date is going well” Pepper says while starting on your drink.

“I don’t know if it’s a date per say. ” You say with a playful glare “But yes, Scott and I are having a good time.” 

Steve looks up just in time to see you shoot him a wave and a small smile before thanking Pepper and heading back to your game.

His jaw is so tight he’s worried he might actually crack a tooth and it’s like the entire world’s gone quiet. He’s not sure if what he’s feeling right now is rage or heartbreak, it’s probably both. Pepper is the one that breaks him out of his stupor.

“Loosen the grip on that will ya?” She says pointing at the beer bottle in his hand, “I’ll have to clean it up if you break it.”  

Steve puts the bottle down flexing his fists, before he can even ask she places a double shot of whiskey in front of him.

He tosses it back, then slaps some cash on the bar before heading for the door.

Steve isn’t a complete prick. At least he doesn’t mean to be, but it’s hard. As much as he wants you as much as his body wants yours that is not an option, and he’s still human. So every once in a while he sates his urges with an actual woman and not just his hand.  It’s a small town, people talk, so when he does need relief he heads up the highway. Making sure to avoid any place that you or anyone from town may decide to venture to. 

It’s never anything serious, usually just a night. There was Sharon last summer. He saw her for a couple weeks but he made it very clear it was never going to turn into anything and she was perfectly happy to get his late night booty calls. 

It’s been a few days since that night at the bar, Bucky has been on Steve’s case more than ever and now he has Sam as back up. Plus the vision of you on your date, is permanently etched into his brain. Where you looked so beautiful. Christ all he wanted to do was bend you over the pool table and….

Needless to say, jacking off was not going to be enough. 

So here he is. In some back alley behind some trendy bar in the city with what he assumes is probably a perfectly lovely lady on her knees sucking him off. But it’s hard to picture you when it’s clearly not you staring back at him. Before he can lose his hard on, he yanks her up and pushes her against the brick. He would apologize for being so rough but she moans out a yes at the manhandling so clearly she's into it. 

Facing away from him, ass up, he never preferred this position until he lost you. When he was with you all he wanted was to see your face. To kiss every inch of you, feel your sweat slicked skin against his, and look into your eyes as you came undone. He always wanted to be close to you, touching you. But he can’t have that so he settles for this. 

In all honesty this girl isn’t bad, she's just not you. She’s moaning and grinding against him in a way that's too performative, but when he hears a sigh a real sigh it almost sounds like yours and that's all he needs. He keeps hitting her sweet spot and rubbing her clit and he's so lost in his vision of you he actually calls out your name.

Now he’s not going to say this has never happened before, because it has. In 5 years of missing you and pretending to move on he has, on more than one occasion called out your name while another woman rides his cock. He’s not particularly proud of this fact, but it’s true. But this time the worst part is, he didn’t even notice. He turned to dump the used condom in the dumpster in that and when he turned around his face slams into a fist. He wasn’t entirely sure what happened cradling his face; he tries to get his bearings when he hears.

“You piece of shit my name is Kristy!!!” 

Damn. She knew how to throw a punch. In a moment of complete and utter shame Steve slides to the ground completely defeated.

Steve opens the door of his apartment to find Bucky sitting on his couch drinking his beer. Great, exactly what he needs to top this night off.

“What happened to you?” Bucky asks as Steve heads to the kitchen to grab a bag of frozen peas for his soon to be black eye. 

“Got punched in the face” 

“Obviously punk. Who’d you piss off this time.”

"Girl at a bar.” He mumbles then winces as he adjusts the bag on his face.

“Damn, bet she has brothers. Good ones too since she landed a solid hit” Bucky muses.

Steve doesn't bother acknowledging his friend. He simply grabs a glass and a bottle of whiskey before taking a seat on the couch. They sit quietly for a bit, when finally Bucky breaks the silence.

“So, what’s your plan here?”

“What the hell are you talking about Buck?”

“What am I…” Bucky takes a deep breath and stands calming himself  before he gives his friend a second black eye. “I’m talking about the fact that it’s been 5 years Steve. Five long years of you pining and making those sad puppy dog eyes when you think no one is paying attention. Which we all are by the way. You’re constantly pouting, until God forbid a guy shows any interest in her at which point you become absolutely unbearable.” Bucky is pacing now the pressure of keeping quiet all these year has finally come to an end and he's decided to finally air his grievances.

“You sit by the phone waiting for her to have a flat tire or for her furnace to bust, all so you can ride in like her knight in shining armor. Whatever she needs you’re always there. You’ve had every opportunity but instead of telling her how you feel you go out and fuck other girls pretending they’re her. All the while knowing you’d both be a lot fucking happier if you were together.” Finally Bucky stops his pacing and instead grabs a seat on the coffee table looking his friend right in the eyes. 

“So I ask again -  What. Is. Your. Plan?” 

Steve drains his glass then watches as his best friend pours him a refill. He drains that too, tosses the frozen bag down as he throws his head back and stares at the ceiling. 

“I don’t know Buck. All I know is I don’t want to live without her.”

“Ok then.” Bucky pours Steve one last refill “That’s a start.”  He says getting up to take the bottle back to the kitchen. “Word of advice, you better figure out a plan. And soon, because no one has the time or the patience to wait around for you to get your head out of your ass.” Bucky goes to grab his coat when he stops.

“Ohh and make sure you clean yourself up for tomorrow. Arm’s been acting up. I gotta go see the doc. You’ll have to handle all the morning appointments.“

“You couldn’t have just called to tell me?” Steve scoffs at his friend. “You had to come here and harass me and drink all my beer?”

“Yeah well, it’s more fun for me this way.” He chuckles as he heads out “See you tomorrow punk.”

Steve gets ready to head downstairs to Twin Tires, the shop he and Bucky opened after Steve finally left the army. Luckily for him he lives in the apartment right above the shop so he doesn’t have to rush to get down there. Which is good cause on this particular morning he feels like shit. 

After Bucky left he kept drowning his sorrows in whiskey imagining what life would be like if you had stayed together. Between the what ifs, his hangover and his black eye this day is off to an awful start. And now he has to deal with the shop himself cause Bucky’s not coming in till noon. Needless to say when he heads downstairs he’s in a shit mood, but then he hears you. 

He’s not sure what you’re saying or who you’re talking to but he’s sure it’s you. Fuck Bucky. In an instant Steve realizes Bucky knew you were coming by the shop today. All that ‘look good tomorrow shit’, he knew Bucky was up to something. You’re probably picking him up for his Dr’s appointment damn it. 

Steve curses under his breath, stepping out into the Lobby where you’re with Bucky. He was so focused on you he completely forgot about how rough he looks until you look up at him shocked.

Abandoning your conversation with Bucky you rush towards Steve without a second thought. 

“Omigod Steve! What happened?” You cup his face in your hands gently coaxing him to bend down so you can take a look.

“Aww he’s fine doll. He’s seen worse” Bucky chuckles as he takes a smug sip of his coffee.

Bucky isn’t wrong Steve has seen much worse, but at this moment he is not fine because your hands are on him. They’re so warm and soft, and he can smell that hand cream you use. In a split second you envelope all his senses and take him back to a time when the two of you always had your hands on each other. 

Steve’s breath fans across your wrists and realizing how close you are you take a step back. .“Well it doesn’t look too bad” You say as you begin to bite your lip, a nervous tick Steve immediately picks up on, it takes all his strength not to stare at your mouth like a horny tennager, so instead he moves behind the desk. 

“It’s fine. It’ll heal soon I promise.” Steve says in an attempt to reassure you, even if he knows it won’t work. He clears his throat as he opens the appointment book. 

"You two should get going, you don’t want to be late."

“You’re right Stevie I don’t.” Buck says with a wink as he heads to the door unaccompanied. “You two have fun, don’t get into too much trouble.”

“Bye Buck!” You wave him off.

“You’re not going with him?” Steve asks.

“What? No Clint is taking him, he didn’t tell you?” There you go biting your lip again, has it always been this distracting?

He knows he’s been starting too long when you gently call his name again.  Shaking his head out of his stupor he tries to actually focus on the conversation at hand. “Tell me what?” 

You look like a deer caught in headlights before you grab a coffee cup out of the tray on the counter and hand it to him. 

“This is for you. I made it myself with those beans you like at the shop just before coming over here.”

Steve stares at the coffee, then at you. He’s perplexed by the coffee, he knows it will be exactly how he likes it. He still goes to the bakery for coffee and it’s always perfect. But he’s confused as to why you would bring it to him on this particular morning. 

“Sweetheart…what’s going on?”

"Well I was hoping I could ask you for a favor…."

“Christ.”

“OK, Look I know this is a lot to ask but he’s a good kid Steve, a great kid! And this way not only will he have a car but he will also be learning practical life skills and an honest work ethic!"

“He already works with you. I am positive you instill plenty of work ethic in him.” Steve chugs the last of his coffee before tossing the cup in the trash behind him.

 “How on earth did you let May talk you into something like this?” He asks.

“She didn’t talk me into anything” You scoff, “it was my idea.“Look it's an old car, with good bones it just needs to be fixed up a bit. Besides, I mean don’t get me wrong I love having Peter at the shop but he’s a tinkerer ya know?” Now you're all worked up, Steve knows how much you love May and her nephew Peter, not to mention he knows how passionate you get about these collaborations you come up with. 

“He likes taking things apart and putting them back together, and working with his hands,” Steve cuts you off.

“Last time I checked baking is done with your hands.” He simply shrugs at the glare you give him.

“Where’d this car come from anyway?” He asks in an attempt to make peace. 

“One of May’s old boyfriends. He didn't know a socket wrench from an open wrench, but apparently he was convinced he could put it back together. He left it and hasn’t been back since. It’s just been collecting dust.” 

“Look,” You insist, planting your hands on the counter. “I know this is a big ask but when you think about it it’s a win, win scenario.” 

“Ohh yeah” Steve scoffs “How so?”

“Well Pete is a young man, who needs more positive male influences in his life. He’ll get that,” You say ticking off your fingers, “practical life experience, plus a new car.” 

“This sounds like a lot of wins for Peter and none for me.”

“And you” You say poking him in the chest “You get an apprentice!” 

“I don’t need an apprentice.” He protests rolling his eyes  before turning and heading back to the shop to get set up for the day. 

“Come on," You inevitably follow him. Just like you knew you would, " everyone needs an apprentice. Someone you can groom to take over the business when you’re ready to pass it on, just like Sarah did with me.”

“Look at Johnny Hunt , he had no one to take over for him so when he got hurt his store just closed. It was tragic. I don’t want that to happen to you Steve, could you imagine everything you worked for just gone.” 

“You spend a lot of time thinking about my business doll?” He has to hold back his smirk as you get visibly embarrassed by his question. Deciding to put you out of your misery before you have to answer he immediately gets back to the topic.

“What about Buck? It’s his business too, I can’t just hire an apprentice with his input.”

“Well I already asked him. He thinks it’s a great idea.”

“You asked him about fixing up the car, or about your plans to hand our business over to some smartass kid?”

“He said, and I quote ‘the sooner Steve teaches this kid to do the books the sooner I can retire to Palm Springs.'" 

Steve hangs his head. He knows he’s going to give in, not only is it you asking but his soon to be former best friend has already agreed. But mostly it’s you. He can never say no to you, not anymore, not after all he did. But he knows you will will sit here and argue with him till the sun goes down only to come back tomorrow and start again.  So he decides to drag his heels for a little longer if only to extend his time with you. 

But when he turns around to look up at you he completely loses his train of thought. The light from the window surrounds you making you look even brighter and more beautiful. Your eyes are boring into his with a pleading look when you say “Will you at least  take a look at the car please? For me?”

And that’s when Steve knows he’s a goner. 

Steve throws a towel at Bucky as he waltz back into the shop. Bucky easily catches it and settles himself on the stool next to Steve's station. He says nothing, taking a sip from his drink.

“You could've told me.” Steve huffs before diving back under the hood in an attempt to ignore his friend. 

“And why would I tell you, when you are much more apt to say yes if she asked you?” Bucky smirks as Steve's scowl deepens. “Besides it’s her project, why should I ask you?”

“More important question is why would you say yes!?” Steve practically shouts as he tosses down his tools and heads back into the office. The other guys working in the shop pretend to look busy as the bosses pass them. 

“Look there's no downside ok. We get to help out a good kid.” Bucky shakes his head at Steve's look of disbelief. “Look Parker can be annoying but he is a good kid ok? No one has a bad thing to say about him. And the guys are great with cars, but not with business. They can fix shit sure but no one out there can do the books, or even wants to learn but maybe one day Parker actually could and then we’d have someone to take all this over so I can finally take a vacation.” The brunette makes himself comfortable in Steve’s desk chair, putting his feet up and his arms behind his head. “Besides, now you’ve got some extra sweet brownie points with your girl and that sure as shit can’t hurt.”

That last comment makes Steve deflate “She’s not..” Bucky waves his hand cutting him off,

“Yeah, yeah save me the speech.” Electing to ignore his friend he continues  “So when does Parker start?”

Steve has been ruminating over it for days, and he has come to the irrevocable conclusion that having Peter Parker work in his shop is a terrible idea. He was ready to call the whole thing off. But then this morning he came downstairs and found you leaning on the side of your car with a box from your shop sitting on the hood. Seeing you standing there, glowing in the morning sun  in what happens to be his favorite dress of yours, he knew this was a done deal. No matter what he previously thought now he was going to  follow through on this crazy plan of yours.  

“Good morning!” You cheer, already holding out Steve’s coffee cup as he walks towards you. 

“Morning Doll, what's all this?”

“This is just a little thank you.” You say as Steve takes a sip of the coffee. He’d never tell his Ma, but your coffee is a million times better. “I just wanted to thank you again. I really think this will be so good for Peter and… “ Steve cuts you off. 

“Sweetheart, you already thanked me about a thousand times. Besides, you weren’t wrong, it could be good to have some extra hands around here.” Steve concedes with a shrug. While he ignores how hypocritical he is considering he was singing a different tune 2 min ago.

“Steven Grant Rogers, did you just admit I was right?” You’re smirking at him and you’ve got a mischievous twinkle in your eye and damn it if that doesn’t make his heart speed up. 

“Well, possibly. I mean for all we know Parker could be a disaster who should never step foot near an engine, only time will tell.” Steve chuckles as you lightly slap him on the arm.

“You just wait, Rogers, you’ll be eating your words soon enough!”

The two of you are standing less than a foot apart. Steve decides this is not close enough. It dawns on him, you are standing a foot apart in a parking lot, that is the set up for a brief conversation before the two of you run off in your separate directions. But that is not what he wants. All Steve wants is more time with you. So he quickly asks. 

“Are there enough in there to share?”

The two of you head back to the office and settle in over your makeshift breakfast. You take a bite of the scone and your eyes roll back in your head as you quietly moan at the taste.

“You’re acting like you’ve never tried any doll, you made ‘em” Steve chuckles before taking a bite.

“I mean I did” you laugh softly as you dust crumbs from your dress, “But I decided to tweak the recipe and this is my first time trying it” you bashfully admit.

“Man that's what I get as a thank you? New recipe scones? What if they had been a flop?” 

You laugh at his faux scolding and the sound lights him up from the inside out.“That’s why I brought them. I knew if you didn’t like them then I couldn’t sell them.” You shrug “Besides, I have brownies in the car as a backup” You say giving him a wink as you take another bite.

“I know you don’t think you’re leaving here with those sweetheart.” 

You’re talking his ear off, he has books to update, parts to order and schedules to make and if it was anyone else he would have told them to leave the food at the front desk and went back to his office without a second glance. 

But it isn’t just anyone…it’s you.

This may be what he misses most. Sitting with you, talking about nothing and everything, tasting your new recipes. The most mundane days were always better when he had you.

Steve thinks this might be the moment. He can ask you out to dinner. Or maybe it’d be better if he cooked for you? Either way he will be securing a date with you before you leave this office, he’s determined. Right as he goes to open his mouth to invite you on what will hopefully be a life altering date, there’s a knock on the door. Without waiting for a response Bucky waltzes right in, and makes a beeline straight for the box on the desk. 

“Ohh scones” Bucky sings, but before he can reach the box Steve snatches it out of the way. 

“They're not for you Buck.” Steve grumbles with a glare.

“Aww come on Stevie don’t be like that” Bucky’s pout turns to you as you begin to stand. “Doll tell him he has to share!” 

“Don’t be too sad Bucky, I have brownies in the car. If you come grab them then they're all yours.” 

Steve starts to panic as you begin to grab your stuff. “You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah, I should get going. Besides I need to get out of your hair, you probably have a busy day.” 

Steve moves out from behind the desk, trying to think of a reason to get you to stay but before he can say anything you're right in his space, leaning up and planting a kiss on his cheek. Thanking him again before you leave his office Bucky hot on your heels.

When Bucky comes back in a couple minutes later with a smug look on his face it takes all of Steve's strength not to wring his neck.

“Brownie for your troubles?”

“God I hate you” Steve mumbles keeping his eyes on the screen as Bucky gets comfortable in the seat you were occupying moments ago. 

“Hey don’t get mad at me. All I did was come in here to say hello, not my fault she ran off” Bucky notes before taking a bite of his brownie. “Damn, these are good.” 

Steve rolls his eyes.

“So are you making any progress?” 

Before Steve can tell Bucky to mind his goddamn business his phone lights up with a text from you. 

I told Bucky he has to share the brownies with you, but feel free to hog all the scones ;) 

Steve smirks as he reaches over and snatches up a brownie. 

OMG part 1!! Can you believe? What did y'all think? Do you just love these 2? Do you want to see more of them? Leave a comment below because reblogs and comments fuel the muse.