#ex!bucky

"Tonight?" Thor asks with a frown. He was hoping to kick back and chill out tonight, not meddle in his best friend's relationship with his annoying ex.

"Of course, it's the perfect opportunity!" Steve exclaims. "Operation Distract Juniper Johnson is a go."

With a sigh, Thor stops in his tracks, causing Steve to bump against him. "And what, exactly, does this operation entail?" Thor asks, not sure he wants to know the answer and slightly regretting that he ever agreed to work with Steve.

"Nothing crazy - we just need to get Juniper away from Bucky for a little while and force him to talk to Y/N," Steve explains as his lips curl upwards. "Simple."

Thor, on the other hand, does not see the simplicity in the plan at all. "How do you suppose we get her off him?" Thor asks with a frown as they rejoin the party.

"That, my darling, is up to you," Steve answers.

"What? Me?" Thor sputters. "You're her friend; I have absolutely nothing in common with her."

Steve lets out a huff, his hands on his hips. "She... Juniper isn't exactly my biggest fan," He admits with a wince, as though it physically pains him to say someone doesn't like him.

Thor's confused. "How could someone not like you?" He finds himself wondering, quickly regretting it when he sees Steve's face light up. "I just mean, you have a way of forcing yourself into people's lives. I didn't think it was a matter of choice to be your friend."

"She is my friend," Steve assures him, still reeling from Thor's comment about how hard it is to dislike him. "But we aren't best friends. Juniper thinks I flirt with everyone too much."

Thor shrugs at that. "I mean, she isn't wrong."

"I can't help it; it's who I am!" Steve claims. "The world needs people like me to keep things interesting!"

"If you say so," Thor grumbles.

Steve nudges his arm, moving closer to him. "C'mon, just turn on that Odinson charm and distract her," He says in a softer voice. "While you're doing that, I'll figure out a way to get Bucky and Y/N to talk. And hopefully kiss and make up."

Thor says nothing, only letting out a grunt.

"Now look, Juniper's talking to Wanda. See? That's how good my idea was - it ran itself!" Steve says with a chuckle as he pats Thor's shoulder.

"Uh, I think we have a problem," Thor says, slightly concerned as he spots Juniper making a beeline straight back over to Bucky.

"Shit! Quick, Thor, go!" Steve exclaims, pushing him forward. "Now!"

Flustered, Thor rushes out to the crowd of people, grabbing a half-empty solo cup from someone's outstretched hand and yelling an apology to them while striding over to cut Juniper's journey short. With no idea what else to do, he stumbles into her and spills the contents of the cup onto her shirt.

Juniper immediately lets out a yelp, recoiling backwards as the cool liquid soaks through to her skin. "Oh, my God!" She cries, looking down at her wet blouse before looking back up at Thor with a glare on her face. "What is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry!" Thor says, holding his hands up as he drops the now empty cup onto the ground. "I didn't see you there."

"You're a fucking idiot!" She hisses with a glare. "This is a vintage football jersey, and worth more money than you have in your bank account."

He raises a brow, taking a step back. "That's pretty presumptive - you don't know how much money I-"

"I know it's not $12,000!" She cuts him off, cheeks flushed and eyes wide. "Jerry Rice himself played in this jersey- do you even know who that is?"

Though Steve was planning on watching his plan take place from afar, when he sees Juniper screaming at Thor, he knows he has to intervene. Thor isn't exactly being charming, and Juniper looks like she's half a second away from hitting him. With an inward groan, he walks over to them and stands in between them. "What's going on here?" He asks Juniper with furrowed brows.

She scoffs, pointing at Thor. "This klutz ruined my jersey- my authentic, vintage jersey!" She says with frustration on her face.

Slowly nodding, Steve turns to face Thor. Not knowing what else to do, Steve glares at him. "What the fuck is your problem, man?" He asks lowly.

Taken aback, Thor tilts his head. "Excuse me?" He questions Steve, wanting to make sure he's reading this right.

"I asked you a question," Steve utters, before pushing Thor back with a shove. "Gonna answer it, or keep staring at me?"

Thor's eyes narrow as he realizes what Steve is doing, but admittedly it would feel great to take out some anger on him. "And who the fuck do you think you are, Rogers?"

Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the chaos about to ensue, you're staring at Bucky longingly while Yelena rolls her eyes. "Just go and talk to him, already," She says with a tone of disgust. "Worst he can do is tell you to fuck off."

Your lips part in slight shock. "If he said that to me, I think I'd cry," You admit. "No. I'll just watch him from afar and wait for him to realize how much he misses me."

"I can't believe how quickly you've folded," She groans, rubbing her palm against her forehead. "I thought he wasn't worth the drama? Now you want him back?"

"It's just... he handled it pretty well, you know?" You say, watching as he laughs at something Sam's saying to him. "I thought he'd be like Tony and get all asshole on me for ending it, but he's being... nonchalant. As if I have no effect on him at all. Like he doesn't want me anymore. And that makes me want him more."

"Oh, brother," Yelena groans, before hitting your shoulder. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

"Yes, I do," You say with a sigh, about to spout some more bullshit before a crowd gets your attention. "What's going on over there?"

"No idea," Yelena mutters with a frown. "Maybe Tony's doing something stupid."

Suddenly, the crowd's shouts make it clear that there's a fight happening. Usually, you'd steer clear of it - but when you recognize the man getting punched, you gasp. "Is that-?" You begin before you look at Yelena and the both of you say in unison, "Thor?"

Steve's got him in a headlock when you arrive, but Thor quickly wriggles free before slamming Steve onto the ground.

"Thor, what are you doing?" Yelena yells at him.

You look up across the crowd and your eyes meet Juniper's. She looks indifferent; as if she couldn't care less about the outcome of this fight, but her eyes sharpen into a slight glare when she sees you.

When you hear Thor's grunt of pain, you decide you can't stand by and watch anymore. With a deep breath, you push through the handful of people in front of you and lean down, grabbing Thor's shoulder and trying to pull him back.

"Oh, yeah - now this is how you get a party started!" Tony announces from the sidelines with a sordid grin on his face. "Anyone taking bets? My money's on the giant."

"Thor, get off him!" You hiss, failing to pull him even an inch backwards. Steve grabs Thor by the head before pulling him down and spinning him onto his back, and with your hand still firmly on Thor's shoulder, you find yourself being pulled down with him.

Neither of the men acknowledge your presence as they continue to scuffle, but you get an odd elbow to your ribs and knee to your groin as you try your best to stand up. Soon, someone grabs you by the waist and hoists you up, and you're glad to have escaped the chaos. He places you firmly on the ground, and it isn't until you move your hair out of your face that you see it was Bucky who helped you out.

"Thanks," You say between heavy breaths.

He gives you a cold look on return. "What were you thinking?" He snaps, not bothering to wait for your response before he turns back to the boys and grabs Steve, yanking him off of Thor and pushing him back.

Yelena grabs your hand and asks if you're okay while you wave to Thor. "Get over here, right now!" You shout, and he reluctantly trudges over to you. "What was that?"

He only groans, shaking his head. "Don't ask."

"That's not like you at all, T," Yelena says with a frown. "Who started it?"

Thor looks back to where Steve's giving him a strange look you can't decipher. He doesn't look angry, and almost looks like he's holding back a smile. Weird.

"I think this party's over," Yelena decides. "At least for us."

Just as the three of you begin to make your way out of the woods, Steve comes over, holding his hands up in surrender. "I just wanna apologise," He claims, to which you and Yelena share a flat look before walking away.

"What the fuck was that?" Thor hisses, looking at the cuts and slowly forming bruises on Steve's face.

"It was all I could think of," Steve replies back with a whisper, keeping his face straight as he looks around at the dispersing crowd. "Didn't you see it? Bucky totally white-knighted Y/N - that's bound to be some sort of progress."

"He was helping her not get punched by one of us," Thor grumbles. "That was a complete failure. We did all that for nothing."

A small smile plays at Steve's lips as he looks Thor up and down. "Is it weird that it gave me a boner?" He asks.

"For fuck's sake," Thor mutters before taking a step back. "Your next plan needs to be better. Much better." And with that, he leaves, refusing to admit that the boner is mutual.

You stare at the blank canvas, hoping to find some inspiration in the crisp whiteness, but failing. It's split into four sections, Grant having decided the best thing to do being for your group members to each paint their own interpretation of saudade.

Maria, Grant, and Bucky are sitting at the table behind you, each of them lost in their own world as they draft up their ideas on paper. Though you love art, and dabble in creating it, painting isn't your chosen method and you're worried you'll ruin the piece if your section is weaker than everyone else's.

Sitting cross legged on the floor in front of the canvas, you continue to stare at it, hoping something will suddenly pop into your mind. You hear a slight shuffle before you feel the presence of someone next to you. Assuming it's Grant, you're shocked when you hear Bucky's voice instead. "Can't decide on what to do?" He asks you lowly.

You glance back at Grant and Maria who are engrossed in their drafts before letting out a sigh. "Decide suggests there's ideas I need to choose between," You say flatly. "I got nothing."

He hums, placing his paper on the ground on the other side of him where you can't see it. "Do you paint?" He wonders.

"Rarely," You reply with a dry laugh. "I sculpt, and do a little wood carving, but painting isn't my go-to."

Bucky tilts his head. "I didn't know that," He says, a slight hint of surprise in his tone. "You never showed me any of your work."

With a shrug, you look down and fiddle with a loose string on your pants. "I don't really show anyone," You admit.

"What kind of things do you sculpt?" Bucky asks you.

You're surprised he's giving you the time of day, but you assume it's only because you're in his group and he doesn't want to fail this project because of you. "Uh, animals," You answer him. "Mostly birds. It's hard to get their wing texture right sometimes, but that's why I like making them."

"You like the challenge," Bucky utters, before frowning. "I can't believe I never asked you about your art." He almost sounds disappointed in himself.

Letting out a laugh, you shake your head. "I hardly ever make anything. I'm nowhere near as talented as you," You assure him. "Even if you asked, I probably wouldn't have shown you."

He rests his hands on the ground behind him, leaning on them. "Why not?"

"Like I said, I don't show anyone," You reiterate.

"I would've asked for a hand-sculpted keyring," He says lightly, a hint of a smile on his lips, before he nods towards the canvas. "Why not do some birds?"

You frown, thinking about his suggestion. "Do they link to saudade?" You ask.

"I don't know, flora," Bucky says blankly. "Do they?"

With that, he gets up and walks back over to the table, leaving you with your thoughts. Once again, you stare up at the white canvas, though this time you're feeling a little less lost.

An hour later, the rest of the group decides it's time to call it a day. Maria and Grant say their goodbyes, Maria instructing you to keep the canvas safe before they both leave. Bucky's ready to leave too, but he stops at the door of the small room.

"Don't stay too late," He says. "Give me a call if you need a hand moving the canvas."

"I won't, and I will," You answer, giving him a nod as he leaves. While the air between you is still off, it's nowhere near as tense as it was before, which you're grateful for. You doubt he'll be running into your arms anytime soon but it seems he doesn't despise you, which is good.

You stay in the library for a couple more hours as you flesh out your plan before finally leaving. Thankfully, you're excited about your idea, but you hope the rest of the group likes it. The last thing you want is for Bucky to be disappointed in your artistic skills, being so talented himself, so you know this has to be perfect.

On your way out, lugging the canvas under your arm, you stop at the main doors as Juniper walks in. She's holding a pile of books and her face drops instantly when she sees you. You continue walking and there's a moment of silence, but just as you're about to step foot outside, she calls your name.

"Hang on," She says, waiting for you to turn around before continuing. "I think we should talk."

The words fill you with dread, but you keep your composure. "Okay," You reply. "About what?"

She rolls her eyes at your question. "Don't get cute with me," She says curtly. "We need to talk about Jamie."

"Do we?" You wonder, frowning at her. "What's there to talk about?"

An impatient huff leaves her mouth. "You're gonna keep beating around the bush and I don't have time for that, so I'm just gonna say it how it is," Juniper decides. "I want you to stay away from him. I know about your stupid project, but outside of that, there's no need for you to speak to him."

Aghast, you open your mouth. "I-"

"I'm not done," She cuts you off harshly. "You had your chance with him, and you blew it. But it's not like he'll take you back, anyway - the way he speaks about you, it's clear that the chance of anything happening between you is zero."

You swallow thickly. "The way he speaks about me," You repeat lowly, your stomach flipping.

She scoffs, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. "You were just an easy lay. Something to pass the time. If you hadn't ended it, he would've at some point. Once he got bored of you," She says coldly. "You were nothing special."

Utterly surprised by how openly cruel she's being, you let out a huff of air that's almost a laugh. "And you're a bitch, Juniper," You say bluntly. You refuse to believe Bucky speaks about you in that way; she's just trying to get in your head.

"Given by how quickly you slept with him, you have no self-respect, so how can you expect anyone else to respect you?" She asks with a shrug, looking you up and down. "And the pictures you'd send him? When you weren't even dating him?"

Your blood runs cold at her words. Surely not. There's no way in hell Bucky would show her those pictures. Is there?

"Red lingerie is a little tacky, don't you think?" Juniper says smugly. "It was annoying when his phone kept going off during movie night, but to see your pathetic attempts at turning him on was worth it."

That fucking asshole.

"At first, I found it funny, how desperate you are," She goes on to say, before pouting. "But now I just find it sad. You should speak to a therapist. Get those daddy issues fixed up, and maybe then you'll be normal enough to be in a proper relationship and not just someone's sex toy."

With that, she shoves past you and walks into the library, her footsteps slowly getting quieter behind you. Still in shock, you're frozen in place, clutching the canvas as your sight blurs.

Feeling sick to your stomach as you imagine him showing her all your texts, all the photos, you begin to stumble home, trying your best to keep the tears at bay until you're in your bedroom but failing.

After spending all this time feeling guilty about the way you dropped Bucky, it turns out he betrayed you long before the end.

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Part 6 >

“Oh,” you replied, crossing your arms defensively. “Does it also mention how you kidnapped me?”

Bucky chuckled, a small smile playing on his lips. “The things I’d do to bring you home.”

You rolled your eyes, refusing to be swayed by his charm.

“When we separated, did you ever tell anyone about our divorce?” Bucky’s tone grew more serious as he leaned forward, searching your eyes for the truth.

“Me?” You raised an eyebrow, the memory of Caroline’s threat flashing in your mind. “Did you forget that your mother threatened me not to tell anyone?”

The tension in the room thickened as you spoke. Caroline had made it clear she didn’t want the divorce to be public knowledge. She wanted you as far away from Bucky as possible, and she had the power to make it happen.

You’d learned quickly that fighting her was futile. Every news station and newspaper in the country had mysteriously closed their doors to you after the separation, leaving you with no choice but to pursue a career as an independent international journalist.

“That woman is ambitious as hell,” you muttered under your breath. Caroline’s wealth and connections were unmatched, and she wasn’t afraid to use them. She had even used Julius’s money to secure people who would do her bidding. Once you left the country, it seemed she lost interest in you, allowing you to continue your work in relative peace.

Working alone as a journalist in foreign countries had its challenges, but it also opened your eyes to the world. You found purpose in being a voice for the unfortunate, using your platform to shed light on the truth. Along the way, you met new friends, formed new connections, but you never let slip the truth about your marriage or divorce. The scars left on your heart were too deep, and the thought of trusting another man terrified you.

'What’s the point of having a husband if he can’t protect and defend me? you thought bitterly, the pain still fresh.

But perhaps, in a moment of vulnerability, you’d let a clue slip. You couldn’t lie to fellow journalists; they had a way of sensing the truth.

“What about your family?” you shot back, narrowing your eyes at Bucky. “Don’t just point fingers at me.”

For Bucky, the divorce was never acknowledged. He even burned the documents in the fireplace, a secret known only to him and God.

His parents, especially Caroline, were too embarrassed to admit their golden child had been divorced, while Julius, who never agreed with the divorce in the first place, remained silent.

Shawn, his oldest brother, was too high to care, and Hazel never bothered with such matters.

“It wasn’t my side either,” Bucky said, his voice steady as he locked eyes with you.

“Suit yourself,” you replied, your tone laced with a mixture of defiance and resignation.

“Sooner or later, the person who wrote it will show up,” Bucky added, his voice calm but carrying a cold edge.

“How can you be so sure?” you asked, a flicker of unease crossing your face.

Bucky merely shrugged, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “If they take too long, I’ll use my way to find them.”

A chill ran down your spine at his words, the threat lingering in the air. You knew what he was capable of, and the thought of him resorting to his methods sent a shiver of fear through you.

Steve, sensing the tension, stepped in, patting Bucky’s shoulder in a calming gesture. “Let the cyber team do their job. We don’t need you taking any extreme measures, especially with the convention so close.”

Steve understood Bucky better than most. While Bucky might present a soft, composed exterior, inside he was a beast—a man unafraid to take risks, to do whatever it took, especially when it came to you. The lengths he would go to protect what was his were both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

But Steve also knew the stakes. If the truth got out—that the future Vice President’s family, particularly Bucky's mother, had abused his wife to the point of divorce, and that the wife, thought to be widowed, had been kidnapped before the election—it would destroy the perfect image the Barnes family had worked so hard to maintain.

And it wouldn’t just affect Bucky; it would drag you down with him.

It would be the scandal of the century.

That’s why, before it could escalate, they had to find the source.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

The Barnes family gathered in the opulent conference room, tension crackling in the air like a live wire. Everyone was present, except for Shawn, who, as usual, was nowhere to be found.

Greg stood at the head of the table, flipping through his notes. “Well, after the Rogers family makes their appearance, it’s time for the Barnes to take the stage.”

“Of course,” Caroline chimed in, her voice sharp with authority. “All of us need to be up there.”

“Me too?” you asked, directing your question to Greg.

“Yes,” Bucky interjected before Greg could respond. “We’ve prepared the ramp for Tim’s wheelchair.”

Before you could even register the thoughtfulness behind Bucky’s statement, Caroline’s voice sliced through the room, dripping with venom. “No. It will ruin the balance. Everyone else can stand on their feet. While…”

“You know what? I hope you die and rot in hell!” you snapped, your voice ringing with years of pent-up anger.

The room froze, every head snapping in your direction. Caroline’s eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “Did… Did you hear that? She cursed me!”

You didn’t back down, the rage pouring out of you like a dam breaking. “So you’d rather parade your cocaine-addicted son who crashed his car and killed someone than show my brother who, despite losing a leg, works tirelessly from nine to five?”

Caroline was too stunned to reply, her face draining of color. Bucky, though usually stoic, couldn’t keep the anger from his voice. “You’re out of line, Mom. Tim is her only family left.”

Hazel, normally indifferent, nodded in agreement. “This time, I’m with them.”

Caroline, her voice trembling with indignation, shot back, “Is this how you treat your own mother?”

“No, Carol,” Julius said, his voice cold and cutting, “this is what we call karma.”

Bucky’s jaw tightened as he fought to control the emotions boiling beneath the surface. “She’s been in the same position as you,” he said, a lump forming in his throat as memories of his mother’s cruelty resurfaced. “You only felt that sting for three minutes, but my wife endured it for years.”

Caroline’s eyes narrowed, her fury now directed squarely at you. Her face flushed with rage, and you could almost see the steam rising from her ears. “So what? You want me to apologize?”

You met her gaze without flinching, your voice icy. “No. I don’t need your apology. It wouldn’t be enough to cover the pain I’ve suffered because of you. And honestly? I’d feel relieved if you died. If someone could confirm you’re burning in hell, it’d be the best news I’ve heard in years.”

Caroline, still believing she was the true victim, stormed out of the room, her heels clicking angrily on the marble floor. Julius and Hazel exchanged a glance before following her, leaving a tense silence in their wake.

Bucky watched them go, his fists clenched at his sides. He turned to you, his eyes searching yours for any sign of what you were feeling. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softening for the first time that day.

You shook your head, the adrenaline still pumping through your veins. “I don’t know. It felt good to finally say what I’ve been holding in, but it doesn’t erase everything she’s done.”

Bucky nodded, stepping closer to you. “You shouldn’t have had to go through that alone. I should’ve stood up for you sooner.”

You looked up at him, the tension between you both palpable. “It’s too late for regrets, Bucky. We’ve both been through hell. The only thing that matters now is what we do next.”

He reached out, taking your hand in his. “Then let’s make sure this doesn’t break us.”

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Before the convention starts, the air buzzes with the anticipation of the event. As you stand in the corner of the vast convention hall, adjusting your outfit, a familiar voice calls out your name. You turn and see Ian, the British journalist you’ve met a few times before. His tousled hair and easy smile make him stand out in the crowd.

“Ian!” you greet him, a genuine smile spreading across your face. “What are you doing here?”

Ian chuckles, clearly pleased to see you. “I’m here to cover the election, of course. But, honestly, I jumped at the chance to come because I knew you’d be here.”

You laugh softly, shaking your head. “So, you flew all the way out here just for me?”

He grins, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “My boss didn’t believe me when I said I knew you. I had to show him a picture of us together just to convince him.”

You laugh again, feeling the warmth of his presence. “Well, I’m glad you made it. It’s been a while.”

As you and Ian catch up, the conversation flows easily, your shared ideas and interests making the time fly by. He tells you about his latest assignments, and you share some of your recent experiences. The banter between you is light and effortless, the kind that comes naturally with someone you’re comfortable with.

But then, you sense a shift in the air, and before you can react, Bucky appears at your side. He’s polite, as always, his smile perfectly in place, but you can sense the underlying tension in his posture. His eyes dart between you and Ian, and although he doesn’t say it, you know he’s not thrilled about the easy rapport between you and the British journalist.

“Hi,” Bucky says, his voice calm but laced with something you can’t quite place. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Just thought I’d come by and check in.”

Ian extends his hand to Bucky with a friendly smile. “Ian, nice to meet you.”

Bucky shakes his hand, his grip a bit firmer than necessary. “Likewise. I’ve heard a bit about you.”

There’s a brief, almost imperceptible moment of silence, where you can feel Bucky’s eyes on you. His polite smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and you can tell he’s itching to separate you from Ian.

“Well,” Ian says, oblivious to the tension, “I should get going. Need to find my spot before the chaos begins.” He turns to you, his smile warm and genuine. “Let’s catch up properly after this?”

You nod, still smiling. “Definitely. See you around, Ian.”

As Ian walks away, Bucky’s gaze follows him, his jaw tightening slightly. Once Ian is out of sight, Bucky’s shoulders relax, but only a fraction. He turns to you, his expression unreadable.

“You two seem close,” Bucky says, his voice carefully neutral, but you don’t miss the hint of something more beneath the surface.

“We’ve met a few times,” you reply casually, though you can sense Bucky’s unease.

He nods, but his eyes narrow slightly, as if something about Ian doesn’t sit right with him. Deep down, Bucky’s instincts are on high alert. There’s something about Ian—something he can’t quite put his finger on—that doesn’t add up. And as much as he tries to push it aside, the feeling gnaws at him, making him wonder if Ian’s presence here is as innocent as it seems.

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Understudy by @wkemeup

Bucky knew after he'd ended things, you'd eventually move on. But when he's confronted with the reality of you with another man, he's certain it will tear him apart

goodbye by @lovelybarnes

“enemies to lovers with bucky”

Promises, promises by @babyboibucky

You believed that promises are meant to be broken but Bucky always proved you wrong. Until one day, he proved you right.

Heartbeat by @delusionalwriterr

“Call one of your exes and ask them why it didn’t work out.”

jealousy and james buchanan barnes by @bucky-bucket-barnes

You and Bucky had had an ugly breakup months ago. He mistakenly thought he had moved past his feelings for you, until he saw you hanging out with another guy at one of Tony’s parties. He appears to be having some difficulty containing his jealousy, to say the least.

and then there were none by @bucky-bucket-barnes

It had been two months since Bucky and you broke off things. In a moment of heartache and weakness, he couldn’t help but call you just to hear your voice again. You spend the night trying to patch up what happened between you two.

After All This Time by @bucky-bucky-bucky-bucky

impending danger puts you and your ex, Bucky, in close quarters.

Yours by @jadedvibes

You broke up with Bucky right before college to pursue your career goals across the country. You didn’t think the first time you’d see him again years later would be in your office after he was arrested for a crime you know he didn’t commit.

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning by @hopelessromantic423

After breaking up with Bucky, you miss him greatly but you don’t feel it’s your place to contact him. One sleepless night, Bucky shows up at your doorstep and you two reconcile.

morning after by @alisonsfics

accidentally running into one your roommate’s flings the next morning was sufficiently awkward. what makes it worse is when one of her flings is your ex-boyfriend.

was your favorite by @quietmyfearswith

in which bucky barnes still lives with his ex-girlfriend following their break up.

Understudy by @wkemeup

Bucky knew after he’d ended things, you’d eventually move on. But when he’s confronted with the reality of you with another man, he’s certain it will tear him apart

Incomplete by @ro-is-struggling

When your relationship started to have problems you and Bucky agreed that the best thing to do would be to break up. At the time it had sounded like the only option you had left. But now, several months later, Bucky was beginning to wonder if he had done the right thing because the pain in his heart and the emptiness in his chest only seemed to grow with each passing day.

Trying Not To Love You by @waiting4inspiration

Bucky thinks that trying to forget his love for you after your break up But he realizes that the more he tries to not love you, he finds himself loving you more

stay as long as you want by @buckysblanket

I Hope You’re Okay by @breadqueen95

Bucky is filled with doubt and confusion after the events of Endgame. He breaks up with Y/n, reacting badly to his instinct to isolate himself. She’s more than a little confused; they’d fallen in love in Wakanda. What had changed? Months later, Sam is the only connection they still have. Set during the events of TFATWS, can Sam get his idiot friends to finally get over themselves and admit how much they still need each other?

SERIES

Looking For A Heartbeat by @justreadingfics

You and Bucky used to be in a relationship. Feelings were hurt, you left. Now,  it’s been two years and you’re back. You both will handle the reunion well, won’t you? 

His Wedding by @jurassicbarnes

Bucky and you are exes. He moved on but you couldn’t. Since you both are still friends, he asks you for a favor – a ridiculous one. You reluctantly agree, not thinking of the future consequences you’ll have to face. You just hope everything will be fine. But it doesn’t always work out, does it?

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You met Bucky Barnes for the first time when you were eleven years old. You started middle school in Brooklyn halfway through the year, and he immediately took a liking to you. He walked you to all the classes you had together, always let you cut him in line for food at lunch if you wanted, and he and his best friend Steve Rogers made sure no one bullied you since you were the new kid.

It was apparent to everyone that he had a crush on you, but back then you thought boys were gross, rightfully so, and you made sure he knew that. He respected that and offered you his friendship in response.

Both he and Steve were the greatest friends a gal could have. The pair helped you acclimate to your new home, and you knew it wouldn’t have been as smooth of a transition without them.

However, things changed when you got to high school — boys were no longer gross, and you started to see your dark-haired friend in a different light. His sweet chivalrous nature no longer annoyed you, instead it made you swoon. You felt crazy, but you finally let him in on your crush when you asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance. He said yes, and admitted that he was hoping you would ask him.

It turns out your crush wasn’t one-sided, he secretly liked you for years. Steve claimed he knew that it was only a matter of time before you both finally got together.

You fell in love with him when you were 15, and you dated all throughout high school. He was the sweetest boyfriend and both of your families loved the two of you together. Everyone knew you two were it for each other, but your parents still warned you to be careful because they knew about the big plans you had for your future.

He proposed to you the summer before you left for college and everything in your heart wanted to say yes because you had never known a love like his. His adoration was all consuming, but you were afraid of what it could do to your goals. You knew you were going to California to attend your dream school, then law school after that.

You had plans, and a love like that was never a part of them. Letting go of Bucky was the hardest thing you ever had to do because it didn’t end due to anyone’s fault. No, you loved him with all that you were, but you had to let him go to become all that you wanted to be.

You went off to school on the other side of the country and tried to forget about the boy that held your heart. Over time, it became a little easier to forget all the memories you shared, but his hold on your heart, well that always remained.

You distracted yourself with other guys, but nobody ever felt right. You wondered if you romanticized the past, and that was why all other men paled in comparison to your first love. There had to be a logical explanation for why you had never found another love as sweet and pure, but you knew it was because you had never met anyone like Bucky.

After nearly eight years away you were offered a high paying job back in your hometown. Your old friend Steve was even a lawyer there. You didn’t tell anyone that you applied for the job and were extensively interviewed to get it, mainly because you didn’t want to explain your reasoning for wanting the position in the first place.

Coming back home felt like the right move for you. You had experienced so much, and you were ready to settle down near your family again, maybe near old friends too. After all, you always felt like a piece of you stayed behind in Brooklyn.

That was three months ago, and in that time you had made a name for yourself as a strong criminal defense attorney. You also knew now that you were back in Brooklyn you might eventually run into Bucky, and that thought made you anxious for a multitude of reasons. There was no denying you had hurt him, and that you were wrong for doing so.

However, you didn’t think the first time you’d see him after all these years would be in your law office’s conference room for your nine a.m. meeting. He sat there looking forlorn and defeated staring at the table. Perhaps he was tagging along with a potential client?

The sight of him washed memories of simpler times over you, but before you could reminisce, Steve called out your name.

“Hey Y/N you’re just in time, Bucky was arrested last night. They found cocaine in his auto shop. Sorry, I didn’t have the time to brief you, I had to bail him out early this morning, and it’s all been quite the nightmare.”

Your heart stopped. Bucky was arrested? There’s no way any of that could be true.

You turned around so Bucky couldn’t see you through the glass walls. “Wait, Steve, there has to be a mistake. He wouldn’t… there’s no way. And are you sure I should go in there? It seems like you have this um handled?” You rambled out because you were not ready to face him, especially not in these circumstances.

“I added this to your schedule because honestly Y/N, I need your help. You know him, you know he’s not capable of something like this, and you’re one of the best defenders we have. I could really use your help here because it’s not looking good for him.”

“What happened?”

“Someone credible tipped off the police last night that Bucky was involved with drug trafficking, and that his auto shop was his base of operations. When the police got there, Bucky was finishing up on a car and they showed him a warrant to search the premises. They brought drug sniffing dogs and everything. Somehow they found enough drugs locked in one of his cars to charge him with a felony, so they arrested him on site. It was weird, Buck said it seemed like they knew exactly where the drugs were located beforehand.”

You could not believe what you were hearing. This was a lot to get thrown into. “Steve, of course I want to help but he and I have history. We haven’t spoken in a long time, and I don’t know if it’s such a good idea that this be the first time we reconnect.”

“Don’t you think I know that? He’s my best friend. This is an all hands on deck kind of situation. Obviously, I can’t force you to help, but if you could help keep him out of jail, wouldn’t you want to?”

Steve knew how to make an argument — you couldn’t get out of this one. You nodded your head, “Yes, of course, you’re right. Lead the way.”

You followed him into the conference room to meet the one you left behind all those years ago. He didn’t notice the two of you walk in, too caught up in his own thoughts, and that gave you the opportunity to take a good look at him.

Bucky had grown up, or more specifically, he became a man. He sat there taking up the small chair with his broad shoulders and muscular body; somehow he grew up even more attractive than you had imagined. He also rocked a short scruffy beard, a stark contrast from the teenager who couldn’t grow a moustache. He changed tremendously yet still felt all too familiar and the sight of him so close to you made your heart race.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, pal. I had to get all the right information on the charges. I know you remember Y/N, she’ll be working on the case alongside me,” Steve said.

Bucky lit up when he heard your name, but when he saw you he didn’t know what the hell he should do. He didn’t think standing up and shaking your hand was the right move and he couldn’t fathom coming around and hugging you — not when he felt like crap and looked so rough after spending the night in jail.

You experienced a different apprehension and uncertainty because you didn’t know how he felt about you after all this time. Did he hate me or was he annoyed to see me on his case? Opting to avoid the issue altogether you wrapped your arms around your padfolio and walked towards the chair on the opposite side of the table. “Hi, Bucky,” you said as confidently as you could.

He tried to mirror your professional demeanor but he couldn’t help but crack a soft grin when you said his name, “Hi, Y/N.” God, I missed her.

You smiled at your first love and childhood friend. He returned the smile sincerely, a striking difference from the gloomy look he had before you walked into the room.

Steve interjected, unintentionally breaking the little trance you had fallen under with Bucky. “Okay man, I’m gonna give it to you straight. They seized enough drugs to put you away for at least a couple years. Our best move now is to come up with alternative grounds for why the drugs were there, like maybe someone planted them. They were found inside one of your personal vehicles inside your property, so that makes it more difficult, but can you think of anyone that would want to frame you?”

Bucky forgot Steve existed for a minute, barely listening to him speak. He was still caught up in the fact that you were there, looking so enchanting. She’s so lovely, she grew up so beautifully.

Steve cleared his throat to regain Bucky’s attention and heat immediately rushed to your cheeks as you shyly looked away from your ex’s intense gaze. Was he checking me out?

Quietly chuckling to himself, “You haven’t even asked if I did it, Stevie.”

Steve huffed out a breath, “I know I don’t have to.”

Bucky shook his head, his best friend’s loyalty was unyielding. “I have no idea why anyone would want to do this. I run a clean and simple business.”

“Do you have any enemies or maybe rival businesses that would want to hurt you?” you asked, hoping to get a better understanding.

His heart beat a little faster, hearing your honeyed voice again. Get it together, Bucky. She’s trying to help your case.

After a moment of contemplation, “Well I know John Walker, another mechanic, has a shop he opened up that hasn't been doing well. I’ve even heard that he took out a big loan with the mob, but I don’t know if that’s true. His business has been slow while I just opened up another garage because of demand,” he said while staring at the table. He couldn’t bring himself to look at you for too long, the last few hours had been exhausting, and adding you to the mix made him feel overwhelmed.

“Buck, that could very well be the motive for planting the drugs. If he knocked out the top competitor in the area then he’d be able to improve his business.” Steve said determinedly.

“Yeah B, that should give us a good start. Do you have cameras at your shop?” you asked, not noticing the nickname roll off your tongue.

Bucky blinked in surprise, he noticed. “Yeah, the police already took that but my system backs up the recordings online. I’ll give you guys the login.”

“Okay great, I doubt they’re looking through the camera recordings that intently since they already have all the evidence they need against you. That’s what Y/N and I will do today. Why don’t you take my car and head home, get some sleep,” Steve suggested.

“You’ve been up just as long as me, why don’t we both go.”

Before Steve could deny the idea, you chimed in. “That’s a great idea, Steve. Why don’t you go home and freshen up, maybe get a nap in. In the meantime I’ll look through the camera feed. I know we need to be quick about this, but you could use a little rest.”

Steve looked at you with furrowed brows and a disapproving frown, “It’s Bucky, Y/N. I need to be here for this, I didn’t ask you to come in to take over.”

“You look like a zombie, you’ll be better able to help after you get some sleep. Leave all your files and information, I’ll clear my schedule for the day so that I can work on just this. I’ll also make a couple calls to see where the prosecution is in the process.”

Bucky was astonished by your willingness to help. “You don’t have to do that, Y/N.”

“I know you didn’t do this, Buck. You guys head out, I’ll call Steve if I make any developments.”

Steve sighed deeply, he knew you were right and he trusted you to stay on top of things. “Fine, but I’ll be back this afternoon.”

“I figured as much.”

With that the two of them left, Bucky gave you an awkward head nod and a bashful smile on his way out.

┈┈┈┈┈・・

“Damnit Steve, a bit of a warning would have been nice,” Bucky groaned dramatically.

“At what point in this hectic situation would you have liked that warning? Also what good would it have done? You had enough on your plate, I didn’t need you to be anxious over seeing Y/N.”

“Better to blindside me with the one that got away then,” he scoffed as he got in Steve’s car.

“Are you kidding me? It’s been years, pal. You’ve dated plenty, and aren’t you seeing someone now?” Steve asked in disbelief as he pulled on his seatbelt.

“Dating and loving are different, and no I’m not seeing anyone. Probably for the best, ’m not sure who’d be lining up to be with a criminal anyway,” he muttered.

“You haven’t committed a crime, and you haven’t been found guilty — you’re not a criminal.”

“For now,” he whispered as he looked out the window.

┈┈┈┈┈・・

You logged onto Bucky’s security system account and tried to watch the tapes of the night of the search. Weirdly, the camera glitched during the afternoon, and there were no recordings during the drug bust. Taking note of that for later, you went back to the videos taken two weeks prior. You knew it was likely that any person that might have done this would have scoped out the shop beforehand.

It seemed like everyone that came in and out of the area that the drugs were found in were Bucky’s employees. Their clothes had Barnes Auto written on it with the shop’s old school insignia. The only person that came in the area without the proper attire was a pretty dark-haired woman.

Two weeks ago you saw her come in and out of Bucky’s office a great deal. On top of that, she constantly, almost purposefully, crossed the area where his car was located. The recordings also showed her walking out of the garage awfully close to Bucky, and you would be lying if you said the sight didn’t sting a little.

You knew you had no claim over the man, not in the slightest, but that didn’t take the dull ache in your heart away. Especially not after seeing him for the first time in so long, looking as handsome as he did.

Opting to forget about that and focus on your task, you soon realized that the woman did not return once in the last week. She was the only one that seemed out of the ordinary in the specified area. Maybe she had something to do with this?

You wondered if your suspicions had anything to do with the tinge of jealousy you felt when you saw them together. However, you had a hunch, and you knew those were rarely wrong. You texted Steve to ask Bucky about the woman — the timing of it all was questionable and worth looking into.

Next you started to ponder how the police were tipped off. You couldn’t figure out what reliable source would implicate Bucky and know exactly where the drugs were located. It would take a legitimate cause for a judge to issue a search warrant; unless it wasn’t a valid warrant in the first place.

Before you could get into it too deeply, Steve returned looking clean and a little bit better. You didn’t realize it, but it was afternoon and you had been working for hours. He brought you a late lunch, and sat down so that you could fill him in on your findings.

“So you think Olivia had something to do with this? Buck said she left him a week ago. He didn’t get into the details too much, but apparently it wasn’t a good match.”

“Don’t you think that’s weird, the um her leaving in the last week of all times and the missing tapes? Not them being a bad match.” you asked as casually as you could, hiding any feelings you might have about Bucky’s dating situation.

Steve noticed your sly attempt and decided to mess with you a little. “No, he’s had a big turnover rate lately. She was probably another one of many vying for the spot to be next to him, but you saw the other videos and you think it’s odd. I trust your judgement, so what’s our move?”

You couldn’t help but feel jealous over hearing about Bucky’s plentiful dating life, but you knew that was ridiculous. You broke it off long ago, you had to let it go.

You shrugged it all off, “I think we should find Olivia and question her.” The thought of meeting Bucky’s former paramour felt less than great, but you knew it was necessary. “This is discovery time, let’s talk to some people. Personally, I want to hit up Walker’s place too.”

“Let’s give Buck a break on finding her, I know the way to his auto shop. Let’s head there first.”

You stood up with purpose, but then got a look at the wall clock. “Ah crap, look at the time. I know they close early today, so why don’t we go first thing in the morning? We can meet here then drive together,” you suggested.

Steve reluctantly nodded his head in agreement. “I hate not being able to do anything. But okay, yes that works.”

“At least we have a place to start. Do you want to look into the police reports some more and start compiling a case with me?

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until we do.”

┈┈┈┈┈・・

The more you read the evidence you had, the more it seemed like Bucky really did it.

Steve got upset after a while so he stepped out to take a walk and clear his head to come up with a new strategy.

It was frustrating, Officer Hoskins, who wrote one of the reports, claimed that Bucky was belligerent, aggressive, and evasive when they arrived at the shop. Nearly everything in the report was stacked against Bucky, and it vilified him in a way you couldn’t believe.

Before you could stand up to clear your head as well you saw Bucky saunter into the conference room wearing a blue henley with dark jeans, holding a bag of food from your favorite burger joint.

“Hey, I thought you guys could use a little break. I had a feeling you’d still be at it,” he let out a nervous chuckle. He stood at the opposite end of the long table awkwardly, unsure of whether he should come closer to you or not.

You had been working for nearly 12 hours, and your mental state was waning. You didn’t feel as confident about his innocence anymore, so you blurted out the question that had been gnawing at you. “Why did you store the drugs in your own car, and what were you planning to do with them?”

Bucky’s eyes widened and his breath hitched in his throat. He took a second to reply, “Wow, Y/N I thought you knew I didn’t do this, you’ve known me for so long. Why the hell would I do this?” he asked, trying to keep his cool but unable to hide the irritation in his voice.

“No Bucky, I knew you; I haven’t known you in years. I have no idea who you’ve become.”

He scoffed, “You seriously think I’ve changed? That I am capable of what — drug trafficking?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, it’s my job to defend you regardless of your alleged guilt.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?” he asked rhetorically. “I’m not speaking to the Y/N that I fell in love with all those years ago, any more am I?” He paused, “I now see what you meant, you’re so concerned with how much I’ve changed but you don’t realize you’ve become nearly unrecognizable. The Y/N I knew would know I’m incapable of something like this. I’ve never committed a crime in my life. I even joined the military before taking over my dad’s business.”

Instant regret overcame you as his words seeped in. Of course you had changed a great deal in the last few years, but you had hoped that you were still the same person at your core. In that moment you realized you were wrong; he had only become a better version of himself. There was no way he did it.

Stuttering a breath, “Buck, I’m sorry… I will do everything I can to help you out of this, I just —,”

He cut you off before you could continue, “You know, a lot of what I did was partially done in the hope of becoming worthy of you.

Your heartbeat increased, did he still care for you? “I don't know what to say, I don't know what you want now.”

“Yes you do — it’s the same thing I’ve always wanted.”

He still cared. “Come on, you just said it yourself. I’m not that person anymore, maybe you are but I’m definitely not.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

Your face fell at that, but it was true. Before you could respond he muttered, “then why can’t I let you go?”

Taken aback, you stared at him in disbelief as your heart rate refused to slow down. “You did let me go, you didn’t ask me to stay,” you murmured with a soft, shaky voice.

He walked around the table so that he could stand right in front of you. “How could I? And run the risk that you’d actually listen? Becoming a criminal defense attorney was your dream since middle school, Y/N. Plus, it’s not like you asked me to follow you either.”

“I thought we were young and stupid. I couldn’t ask you to leave your dad’s shop especially when he was so sick at the time. It would’ve been selfish.”

“Well I wish you were selfish, at least then you’d be mine,” he said frankly.

“It wasn’t meant to be, we couldn’t ask so much of each other. Our lives were going in different directions.”

He paused to consider your words, they were the truth, but it still hurt. “So you thought about it, us working it out and getting married?” he asked with downcast eyes.

You placed your hand on his forearm, “I thought about all of it, how could I not? I loved you too, but it was bad timing. Even if I said yes the odds of us working out weren’t great, we were just kids.”

He gently wrapped his rough calloused hand over yours. “You know that’s not true, I would’ve done anything to make it work. You say it like it was a rash decision, as if I barely knew you and I acted impulsively.”

You exhaled deeply, “Bucky, it doesn’t matter anymore. We can’t do this. We made our choices, now I’m your attorney and this definitely cannot happen.”

“You didn’t give me a choice at all. You left without giving me a fighting chance.”

“Because I knew that if I let you try to convince me, there was no way I could leave without you,” you murmured. You looked down, thinking about loosening your hand from his grip, but then realizing somehow you had your fingers intertwined with his.

Bucky tilted your chin up with his free hand so that he could look into your brilliant eyes. “You are the love of my life, Y/N. There was never another like you. You took my heart and soul away from me the day you left — but maybe there’s still a chance for us.”

“I’m sorry, I wish things could have been different, but we can’t,” you said, reluctantly stepping back and fully pulling away from his warmth. “Maybe everything happened for a reason. I got my dream job, you turned your dad’s shop into a successful business. None of those things would’ve happened if we stayed together.”

“I guess you’re right, it’s just hard to remember that when you’re here now. All I can think about is the time we lost, and what we could’ve been.”

Before you could continue your conversation, Steve walked back in, unable to sense the tension in the room.

“Did you bring burgers? Thanks buddy.” He patted Bucky on the back and grabbed the bag before sitting down.

“Listen I’m gonna go, I don’t think there’s much else we can do tonight. You guys do whatever you want. I’ll see you in the morning, Steve. Bye Buck.” You grabbed your belongings and rushed out the door.

“What was that about?” Steve asked as he took a bite of his burger.

“Oh she accused me of committing the crime, and I professed my love for her.”

Steve choked on his burger, “What?!” he croaked out.

“Uh yeah, I think I blew it. Maybe I should’ve eased into it a bit. Seeing her brought back so many feelings though. I’ve always known that if I was ever given the chance again, I wouldn’t let her go easily. She told me it’s not possible though, now that she’s my lawyer. What a stupid rule,” Bucky huffed out.

Steve chuckled at his friend's annoyance, “I think there’s a rule that if you had relations prior to the client-lawyer relationship it may be kosher, but it might’ve changed. It’s probably best to wait it out.”

“I’d wait my whole life for her, what’s a little while longer.”

“I thought you were over her.”

“I never said that. I just stopped talking about her after a while because it made it easier.”

Steve nodded, “Well, she put in a lot of work for you today. She saw you with Olivia, and it kinda seemed like she might’ve been a little jealous. Perhaps there’s hope for you yet.”

Bucky lit up at the thought of that, he couldn’t help but smile to himself. “Well let’s keep me out of jail first, maybe then I can work with that.”

┈┈┈┈┈・・

Steve pulled in front of the auto shop, and parked his car. “So first thing when we get in there, we ask for Walker.”

You nodded your head, “Yeah, we can ask if he knows anything about what happened with Bucky. He’s technically not involved, but we’re allowed to talk to people who might have information about the situation.”

“Perfect, lead the way.”

As he opened the door to let you in, you walked up to the receptionist’s desk. There sat a dark-haired woman with meek eyes. She didn’t bother looking up to greet you, and at that moment you noticed that her name tag said “Olivia”. It took you a second, but you realized she was the same woman from the security tapes. She was dressed differently than she was when you saw her with Bucky, opting for a more modest and darker clothing style.

You nudged Steve, and he looked at you then got a good look at Olivia. He immediately registered her as the woman from Bucky’s shop.

Before you could speak to her, John Walker turned the corner and stepped into the reception area. He looked at you, then Steve, and realized who you both were. The black suits you both were wearing also made it easier to deduce your occupations.

“I want a lawyer,” Walker stated determinedly as he crossed his arms and attempted to look menacing.

You let out a laugh. “Um, okay here we are.”

“Olivia, don’t say a word, you have the right to remain silent.”

You looked at Steve, and he looked down at you. The two of you couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. John wasn’t under arrest, this wasn’t an interrogation, but he was acting like he had something to hide.

Before you could utter another word, Olivia broke the silence.

“He made me do it! John told me I had to get access to Bucky’s security system or else he would lose his whole business, he owes a lot of money to some sketchy people. It was duress, I didn’t do anything! I didn’t even know what was in the bag,” she blurted out.

“You put the bag in Bucky’s car?” Steve inquired.

“Well yeah, but John drove me there and made me.”

“Olivia shut up!” John shouted out. “None of that is true, none of it. You’ll be hearing from my attorney.”

“Lemar was in on it too, he’s an old buddy of Walker’s and he convinced him to falsify the report at the scene,” Olivia volunteered with abandon.

Shaking your head in disbelief, “Uh Steve, let’s get out of here. I think we have a couple phone calls to make.”

┈┈┈┈┈・・

Things moved swiftly after speaking with the prosecutor and the police. You and Steve were able to clear Bucky’s name from all charges.

Steve could not be happier, and he wanted to be the first to head over to Bucky’s to tell him the good news. However, before he could head out he stopped and thought about what a good opportunity this could be for his best friend.

“Y/N, I was going to go to Bucky’s, but do you maybe want to be the one to tell him in person? I just realized I uh have an important meeting I need to get to, like right now.”

“Um, sure… you could just call him though, right?”

“This feels like news you deliver in person, I think. Here, I’ll write down his address for you.” He scribbled the address on a piece of paper and handed it to you, not leaving any room for arguments.

You shrugged, “Okay, Steve.” Grabbing your briefcase you headed towards your car.

The thought of being alone with Bucky made you feel nervous, but then you remembered who he was. The guy who always carried your books and watched out for you. The guy who made sure you never felt alone, never felt unloved during your adolescence. Even now, he was the guy that was unafraid of baring his soul to you and telling you how he felt, making you feel his love that never left.

You also couldn’t believe he went into the military and took over the business thinking those things would add to his worthiness. He was worth everything and more to you, simply because he was himself. Kind, loyal, silly, and so soft with your heart, no one else could ever compete. You regretted not telling him that.

You blinked a couple times, until it finally clicked — you never stopped loving him.

Feeling a newfound excitement about being the one to tell Bucky the good news, you parked your car in front of his house and took a deep breath as rain started to drizzle on your windshield.

The next decision you made could very well change the trajectory of your life.

As you knocked and waited outside his door, you felt nothing but calm. You were ready to be with the one your heart always knew you were meant to be with.

Bucky opened the door and looked at you with raised eyebrows. He didn’t expect to see you at his place. “Y/N hey, did something happen? Please come in, Steve didn’t call me about anything?” He stepped aside to let you into his beautiful brownstone.

“Yeah, he got caught up. He wanted me to deliver the good news in person.” You walked in, taking off your slightly wet raincoat, smiling at him. He looked so good in his olive green sweater.

He beamed back at you as he took your jacket, directing you towards his couch as he hung it up. “Good news?”

You sat down and he sat next to you, a couch cushion apart. “Olivia and Walker set you up. Olivia did most of the dirty work under John’s guidance. I’m really sorry Bucky, but she confessed right when she saw Steve and I this morning. We called the right people, and another police officer went and questioned the pair officially. The prosecutor agreed to throw out the case, there are no charges against you now.”

Bucky breathed a giant sigh of relief, you could see the stress literally melt off of him.

Having you in his house was enough to make him happy, but hearing that there would be no case and that he was totally a free and clear man meant the whole world. “Thank you so so much for coming to tell me! I can’t believe it. The last two days have been so hectic, I was so afraid, but that worked out better than I could’ve imagined.” He reached out to grab your hand, grateful for no longer being in his predicament.

“Yeah, nothing to worry about anymore. Sorry about Olivia though, she was Walker’s receptionist, sucks that it couldn’t work out for you both,” you muttered, unintentionally squeezing his hand a little tightly.

“You sound really broken up about it… maybe a little jealous, but I know that’s crazy,” he teased.

You smiled sheepishly in response, “Nothing like that, B.”

An adorable smile graced his lips, “So I guess that means you’re not my lawyer anymore huh?” he asked, looking deep into your eyes.

“Correct, ‘m not your lawyer anymore,” you whispered, following his train of thought.

He tried to keep his cool, knowing now that there was nothing keeping you apart but yourselves.

“Well cool, do you want to stay for a bit, or do you need to get back to work?” Bucky wasn’t sure what he should do again. It wasn’t every day that he was cleared of a crime and the girl he always dreamed of spending his life with showed up at his door. He didn’t want to let you go.

“I could stay, I cleared my schedule for the week to work on the case, so there’s nothing pressing to get back to.”

“Great, do you want me to order up a pizza and crack open a bottle of wine? It’d be nice to catch up.”

“Yes, I’d love that.”

┈┈┈┈┈・・

After swiftly starting up the fireplace across from the couch, Bucky ordered a pizza from one of your favorite old spots. The two of you settled in with the best red wine, ready to get to know each other again.

Unsurprisingly, the conversation flowed easily, there was so much to learn about each other. Neither of you were exactly the same anymore; a lot of life had happened in the last few years. The last time the two of you were together, you could hardly call yourselves adults. You reflected on how you thought you knew so much about the world at 18. He told you a bit about his time in the military, and how much that made him grow up. You told him about all your years in school, and all that you did afterwards.

You both spoke about the random things that you experienced that made up who you were now.

Together, you both addressed the need for separating when you were younger; it made you both become the best versions of yourself.

You liked the person he became. He was always the best guy, but he grew up to be such a determined, kind, and amazing man.

When he got up to grab another bottle of wine he took a moment to appreciate the sight of you in his home; he thought you looked like you belonged there. You had taken off your heels and had your legs tucked under you — the slit on your black pencil skirt riding higher due to your seating position. Did you know how sexy you looked?

Throughout the afternoon you got closer and closer, literally and physically. By the time the sun had set there was hardly any space between the two of you on the couch. Like magnets, you both felt a pull towards each other that nothing could repel. Somehow his arm made its way behind your couch cushion, and you leaned into him from time to time.

There was a delightful familiarity you felt when you were with him. Even if you were no longer the same people, being near him felt easy, effortless. He knew you in ways most people never would.

Bucky felt the same way, it was all so normal and comfortable. And now that he was near you again, he couldn’t stop trying to make you smile; it had been far too long that he had gone without seeing it. He loved seeing you happy, content, and smiling. It was the most beautiful sight in the world to him.

He missed this, being with someone you feel safe to be your truest self with — he missed you.

Bucky realized he was wrong when he told you that you had become unrecognizable, and he wanted to make that right.

“I’m sorry for what I said at your office. You’re still you. Obviously you’ve grown into someone even more amazing and wonderful, but the girl I loved is still in there,” he whispered.

You met his ocean blue eyes, “I’m sorry too, B. The stress of the situation got the better of me, I shouldn’t have accused you. I knew better.” He nodded his head, he understood.

Bucky let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “I’m also sorry that I let it slip that I still have feelings for you,” he blushed under your gaze, the wine releasing his inhibitions ever so slightly.

“I’m not.”

Oh, you’re not.

“I appreciated the honesty, I like how I never have to guess where I stand with you.”

“Well I wish I could say the same about you,” he nudged your shoulder playfully and let out a laugh.

You narrowed your eyes and smirked at him, then you reached down to play with his fingers. “Why do you think I put your case at the forefront of everything, B,” you whispered. He intertwined his fingers with yours.

“Why do you think I let Steve pretend he had a meeting, so that I could come over and tell you the news myself?” you asked rhetorically, looking into his dark and dilated pupils. He was so close to you, his soft pink lips inviting you in. “Why do you think I came back to Brooklyn at all... ”

Bucky gasped in surprise, he couldn’t believe it. He reached out and cupped your cheek, you placed your hand over his and held his gaze. He looked deeply into your sparkling eyes, as if he wanted to memorize the look of adoration you held just for him. You saw nothing but pure love and desire reflecting back to you. “You were always worthy of my love, you’ve always had it,” you said.

Remagnetized and unable to fight the pull, your lips met his for a warm passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you flush against his beefy body as his tongue begged for yours to part. Letting him in, you placed your hands behind his neck and deepened the kiss.

You and Bucky had shared at least a thousand kisses in the past, but none like this.

None full of this much desire, want, and need. Never a kiss filled with such emotion and love. His hands roamed over your body, touching, kneading, trying to remind himself this was real — that you came back for him.

Slowly pulling back, you smiled as he chased your lips. You reached down to bunch your skirt up so that you could properly straddle his thick thighs. Understanding your intention, he manhandled you on top of him with ease. Fuck, that was hot. He was so much stronger than he used to be, and the thought of what he could do to you with muscles like that made your body buzz with desire.

You hadn’t realized you were biting your lip as you ogled him until he gently smoothed your bottom lip free with his thumb. You kissed the pad of his thumb, and he smiled at how adorable you were. He placed his hands on your waist, and trailed one arm up the length of your spine until it finally rested on the back of your neck. He pulled you into him, taking charge and guiding your lips to his.

The touch of his tongue set your body on fire, making you tingle in places you hadn’t in a while. He squeezed your hip and pulled you down hard against his tightening jeans — you grinded steadily against his growing erection. Fuck, was he always that big?

You kissed along his scruffy jawline, down his throat, nipping and sucking as you went.

Bucky groaned, “Baby, baby wait. Are you drunk?” he asked as he halted your movement, unwilling to take advantage of the situation.

“No, it would take a lot more than that to get me drunk.” you answered honestly. “Are you?”

“Not at all, and I’m glad because I want to remember every moment of this.” He leaned in to kiss you again, wrapping his strong arms around your waist.

Threading your hands in his hair, you kissed him back, soft and tender. There was no rush, not after all the time you spent without him.

The kisses slowly grew hotter and heavier, your hands tugging at his hair as you grinded against him again. The friction against your lace-covered core became too much. You couldn’t take it any longer, you needed him, pulling away you whispered against his lips, “Can I ride you, Buck?”

He nodded his head eagerly and leaned back on his sectional, giving you the space to do what you wanted. You speedily unzipped your skirt and slid it off, taking off the rest of your clothes as quickly as possible. Bucky followed suit, removing his clothes, watching you with a big grin — you were always so eager for him. You scrunched your nose when you saw him taking you in, “See something you like?” you teased, hovering over his lap.

“Mhmm, very much,” he pulled you down on top of him so that you could feel all of him, right against your dripping wet heat. He kissed his way down your neck, stopping to suck and knead your breasts harshly with his tongue and large warm hands. You whimpered as you gripped his hair and held him in place. He lavished your chest with kisses, unafraid of leaving a mark.

Unable to feel the emptiness inside of you any longer, you pushed him, making him release you. Bucky laid back but kept his hands on your hips to steady you, watching as you lined yourself up with his length and sunk down slowly, releasing a shuddering gasp as he filled you up completely.

You took a moment to adjust to his size — he really was bigger than you remembered. He stretched you out in the most satisfying way, the delicious pressure from being so full of him turned you on even more. Eagerly, you leaned forward and placed your hands on his broad shoulders, using him as leverage as you started to bounce on his thick cock.

Bucky’s hips moved instinctively, as he tightly gripped your hips and thrust into you, unable to control himself because he needed you too.“You feel so fucking perfect.” Bucky watched with admiration as the love of his life took what she wanted from him. “Fuck, use me pretty girl, just like that,” and you did, circling your hips and taking what you needed. He couldn’t be happier as he watched you ride him like you were meant to. He rubbed small circles over your clit when he felt your warm walls squeeze around him.

The coil tightened as a sudden orgasm took you over, making your body tremble with your release.

Grabbing the back of your neck he pulled your lips to his, pouring every emotion he felt into the bruising kiss. He pulled away to look at you in awe, his gorgeous sweet girl coming down from her high.

As your heavy breathing slowed down you felt Bucky sit up with his hard cock still inside of you. Crap, he didn’t cum.

You giggled as you looked at him, disheveled and handsome. “Sorry, B… just give me another minute and I’ll—,”

He flashed you a soft grin, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” Bucky hooked his hands behind your thighs and stood up as if you weighed nothing.

He walked you back towards the wall behind you, gently pressing you up against it. Placing a hand behind your head and keeping you pinned to the wall with his solid body, he kissed you fervently. Then he dropped his hand back under your thigh and snapped his hips into you with a hard thrust — with deep, steady strokes, he reclaimed your body as his. He knew you belonged together, and he never wanted to be without you again.

“Whose pussy is this, baby?” he groaned against the shell of your ear as he pounded into you.

“Yours Bucky, only yours,” you cried out, while he took you higher than you had ever been. Feeling weightless and under his control turning you on even more. He swallowed your gasps for air as he kissed you, murmuring sweet praises against your lips.

“That’s a good girl, taking me so well — missed this pussy so much. Missed you so much,” he managed to mutter out between his heavy breaths.

Bucky took you apart, striking every spot, giving you everything you needed with his rough unwavering thrusts. “Now cum for me, my love,” he rubbed your swollen clit and you could have sworn your soul left your body. “Buc-” you screamed, clutching his shoulders and squeezing your eyes shut as fireworks bursted behind your eyelids. Clenching down hard on his cock as wave after wave of pleasure rushed through your body.

A soft grunt escaped his lips as he felt your tight walls squeeze around him, and after a couple more hard thrusts Bucky finally emptied himself deep inside you — where he belonged.

The two of you wore matching satisfied smiles as you caught your breaths. After a moment, he carried you back to his room and sat you down on his bathroom counter. He didn’t want to let you go just yet, but he wanted to cuddle with you, and the two of you needed a shower after that little marathon. As the water warmed up, he stepped in between your parted legs and tilted your chin up so he could see your tired eyes.

“Think you can walk to the shower?” he asked teasingly.

“Mm no, B, you can carry me though.”

“Whatever my girl wants,” he pecked your lips and picked you up as you wrapped your arms around his neck and lazily kissed him. Standing under the large rainfall shower head, he held you in his arms, incapable of wiping the giant grin off his face.

The warm water washed the tiredness away a bit, and you asked him to finally put you down.

When you were younger, sex with Bucky was always rushed. Even though you were 18, it wasn’t something your parents approved of, so you rarely got the time to savor it whenever you found the time to get intimate.

Today though, Bucky cherished every moment. He took care of you without a concern for anything else in the world. The intimacy you shared was everything you wished for and so much more.

He gently washed your body, and you helped him wash his own too; you particularly enjoyed running your hands over his broad chest, defined abs, and well-built back.

“Buck, you know you’re like stupid hot right?” you asked him with faux annoyance in your voice.

He let out a laugh at your comment, cupping your cheek and dropping his head down for a sweet kiss. “You know you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on, right?”

Heat rushed to your cheeks, he was so sweet on you. You didn’t say anything, just leaned up to kiss him some more.

When you finally got out of the shower, you both dried up nicely then slipped into bed together, clothes long forgotten.

He wrapped you up in his big strong arms, so happy to have you close to him. You traced your fingers over his chest as you considered what had just happened.

“So much time has passed, B. You sure we can go back?” you asked hesitantly. The last couple of days were eventful to say the least, and you were afraid you might be getting caught up in it.

“You’ve always had my heart, Y/N. I don’t want to go back, I want to move forward with you by my side.”

Oh boy, this is real.

This man truly loved you, he never stopped loving you.

“Bucky, you weren’t always this sappy,” you said teasingly, squeezing his large bicep.

“It took years of missing you, thinking about what I lost to make me appreciate this all the more.” He kissed your forehead gently. After a beat, “Is it weird that I’m grateful for Walker? He’s the reason you came back in my life.”

You giggled at that and sat up to look at him. “It's a little weird, but I know it wouldn’t have been long until we found our way back to each other. Somehow, I knew it was a matter of time.”

A lazy smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah, I know you’re right. Steve told me when you took the job, I knew you were back. I was just working up the courage to reach out to you again.”

Your eyes widened at his confession, you didn’t know that.

“Oh also, I was never dating Olivia. I had hired her to work for us, I didn’t know where she was actually working. She quit suddenly, but I might've let you think we were a thing because jealousy looks real cute on you,” he smiled sheepishly.

“You jerk!” you playfully swatted his shoulder. “I was jealous though, you were right,” you let out a laugh.

“I know baby, I liked it.”

“Oh, Bucky, what am I going to do with you?” you beamed at the sweet giant man.

“Keep me?” he paused, “I’d like that more than anything.”

You nodded your head at your big softy. “Okay, handsome, you’re all mine now. I’m not letting you get away.”

He smiled brightly at that, tightening his hold on you. “And you’re mine. My girl, my baby, my sweetheart,” he tangled his legs with yours, caging you in while being careful not to crush you with his weight.

“Yes, I am,” you stated confidently.

You could’ve sworn you saw Bucky’s eyes water a little as he leaned in to kiss you. But that was all forgotten as you lost yourself in him again. As his lips slowly descended down your body you briefly thought about how there was probably a lot more to talk about. Nevertheless, you knew that could wait.

Okay but I’m just thinking about him showing up late one night—maybe he’s had a bad day and he just wanted to tuck the kids in to bed or even just check on them to see how they were.

You’re standing at the door with your arms crossed, leaning on the doorframe as you watch him be soft and gentle with your kiddos.

“Thanks for lettin’ me come by.” He says softly, the door clicking into place behind him.

The look on his face is one you remember all too well. Most likely he wasn’t sleeping—the nightmares keeping him awake again—and it was obvious that he’s been struggling with whatever was going on at work.

As he began to head out the front door you finally cleared your throat to speak.

“Look like you could use a beer.”

———————

Before you knew it what started as drinks on the couch turned in to your legs wrapped around his waist, fingernails digging into his hips as you moaned softly while your back arched off the couch.

“Jesus—fuck. Shoulda never let you go, sweets.” Bucky panted, voice barely above a whisper as his hips moved rhythmically against yours.

You simply whimpered as a response, brain too fogged in pleasure to be able to fully comprehend his words.

“You feel that, baby?” Bucky repositioned himself so that his forearms lay on the couch on either side of your head, stroking your hair back softly.

A gargled grunt tumbling from his mouth as he felt your walls squeeze him tightly.

“You feel how—how fucking good we feel together? How we were fuckin made for each other, huh?”

Each of Bucky’s thrusts punctuated his words, decorated with a breathy grunt as his thick cock pressed against your sweet spot.

“Bucky, baby, please don’t stop. Y’feel so good, please.”