Althea

Part 26

I decide to wear a tight-fitting white dress for dinner with Bucky, letting my hair fall in long soft curls and brushing a light layer of makeup on my face.

The day with Thor and Loki had been one of the most emotional days I've had in a while, and the perfect ending is one spent with Bucky. An evening with him – doing no matter what – is all I could ask for after the rollercoaster of emotions I experienced during the day.

Opening the door, ready to meet him, I find Bucky on the other side, his arm raised as if he's about to knock.

"Well hello there, handsome."

"Ally you look... wow."

I can't help but smile, not only at his compliment, but also at how dashing he looks. We're a contrasting couple with him, a figure dressed in all black, next to me in my white dress.

I reach up and place a light kiss on his lips and he wraps his arms around me.

I am unworthy

I can hear his thoughts and reach up to kiss him again.

"You are more than worthy."

He smiles at my response and pulls away, taking my hand and leading me down the stairs.

"So, where are we going?"

Bucky leads me out to one of the many cars in the garage of the compound. He just gives me a knowing smile but doesn't answer my question. I have to roll my eyes at him, unable to hide the smile that tugs the corners of my lips up. This man and his secrets.

Bucky drives us through the city to a beautiful restaurant, and the hostess leads us back past the tables of customers towards a quiet table overlooking the lights of the tall buildings, glimmering amongst the black sky.

"How did you find this place?" I ask, tearing my eyes from the view to look at him.

"Once upon a time I knew the family that started this place. Steve and I would come here after he'd taken a beating in the alley across the street."

I didn't recall seeing an alley across the street, only buildings built so tightly together I couldn't imagine how anyone managed a second of privacy. But then from the look in his eyes I could tell he was talking of a past life, a time before he held the burden of being a super soldier. When he was no more than a boy, wreaking havoc on the streets of Brooklyn with his best friend.

I reach over and grab his hand, giving him a soft smile in thanks, for sharing this place with me, for inviting me into this piece of his memories, his heart.

"It's beautiful." I say, looking out again at the view. And it truly was. Not just because of the shining lights, but because of what this place meant, what it still means.

"Yes, it is."

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By the time the dinner has ended, my stomach is full and my cheeks ache from the laughter and smiling. The intensity of the day has been lost and I feel nothing but content and warm as I walk along the street with Bucky, my arm linked with his and his jacket draped over my shoulders.

We'd hardly spoken during our walk, choosing to wander in a comfortable silence, letting the sounds of the city lead us. And it was only when we happened across a place where the music carried out onto the street and I could hear not only the joyous melodies, but the laughter and shouts of the people inside. I slowed our walk so that I had time to look through the windows of the establishment, transfixed on the crowd that are dancing along to the songs. The emotions radiating out of the doors almost overwhelm me, and it's not until Bucky is standing in front of me, looking down at me, that I realise I've stopped walking completely.

"Ally, are you okay?"

My eyes bounce between his face and the dancing, until he turns to see what's taken my attention.

"No."

"Come on Bucky, please."

His brows bunch together, but I can see his eyes soften so I know it won't take much convincing. I reach up and press a kiss to his cheek and then whisper in his ear, "dance with me"

He groans but I can see the resistance fade and he doesn't stop me as I pull him into the bar.

"Just so you know, I haven't danced in about one hundred years." He says over the music as we make our way onto the dance floor.

"It's okay, if you step on my toes, I can just heal myself." I can't help but let out a laugh as he rolls his eyes at me, before wrapping his arms around my waist and swaying us along with the beat of the music.

And although he claimed it had been years since he'd danced, he was a natural. As the music changed from a slower, romantic melody, to an upbeat song we moved together along with it. He quickly let himself go and I couldn't help but laugh as he spun me around and the lifted me up as he spun us both.

We carried on until the place was almost empty, only a few dwindling patrons left, and when we emerged onto the street Bucky took my hand in his once more, claiming he had one last place he wanted to take me. I had no mind to object, wanting to hold onto the rush of the night, not ready to let the warmth between us fade.

So he led me further along the streets and in only a few minutes we were at the waterfront and he sat down on a bench pulling me onto his lap where I had the perfect view of not only him, but also the skyline as the sun began to rise and the sky turned from the darkness of the night to a stunning pink, then faded to yellow, and eventually to the crisp blue of late autumn. Once day was upon us again and my eyes finally started to feel heavy, I turned my face to his and he moved his hands from resting on my hips to holding my cheeks and then whispered.

"I love you, Althea."

I couldn't help but pull back slightly, my eyes widening as a slight gasp parted my lips.

"You love me?"

"Yes, Althea, I love you."

My heart feels like it stops in my chest, and I don't realise I've frozen until Bucky's face starts to drop and I can feel his panic setting in, so I reach up and gently place my hands on either side of his face before lightly kissing him.

"I love you, James Buchanan Barnes." He doesn't hesitate in pulling me in for another kiss, this one taking my breath away as I loop my arms around his neck.

"I think it's time to go home." I say, and he sees the look in my eyes and his understanding becomes clear as I pull him in the direction of the car.

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I startle awake, forcing my eyes to open as I sit up and detangle from Bucky.
Then I hear it again, a strange noise coming from downstairs, and it sends an odd feeling running through me.

"Buck, did you hear that?" He only groans in response, so I slide out of bed and throw on his discarded shirt before going out to investigate.

I follow the noise downstairs and through the back door, rubbing my arms to try fight off the chill in the air.
After a couple of minutes of looking around and not finding anything I realise I must be hearing something so turn around to go back inside, to the warmth of my bed and the man in it.
I'm almost at the door when I hear a scuffle and then feel a sharp, hard smack on the back of the head, and the feeling of falling to the ground before nothing.