The Number One Rule

Chapter Thirteen

Dates like this went on for a while.

Bucky and Y/N would meet up discreetly and sneak out for fun activities, or if Steve happened to go hang out with some of their other friends, Clint and Natasha, they would have a movie night at Buckys. Of course, locked away in his room in case Steve happened to come home.

They made that mistake once while out in the living room, and Y/N had to hide in a broom closet until Steve was in his room. Afterward, Bucky rushed her out before Steve came back out.

Was it hard and frustrating trying to think out all the steps to not get caught? Yes. Did they hate hiding it from Steve? Absolutely. But they knew if they had started this whole thing with Steve's knowledge, it would have been even harder and more awkward. The chances of them both losing Steve's relationship were high. And they knew deep down their relationships with him would never be 100% tarnished, but it would never be the same either.

They had been doing this for a month now. Y/N had gotten the job at the museum she wanted and she was absolutely loving it. They were paying her to read things she was already reading in her free time, and now she had access to even more information than before by being able to use the museum's archives.

She would come home from work gushing to Bucky over the phone about all the new things she discovered, or how a co-worker had told her about a new book she planned on getting. Bucky of course on the other end smiling wide at her excitement and love for her job.

Beck had been kind enough to offer her apartment for dates if she was going out of town, or wouldn't be there for the night. And those were the best nights. They would cuddle up, watch a movie, start a TV series, listen to music and talk, or just bask in the presence of the other when they were reading or doing work on their own.

It was bliss, it was comfortable, and it felt natural.
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"Y/N, hurry up! We want to get there before the babies are born," Steve shouted up the stairs.

Today was their high school friend's baby shower. Wanda and Viz.

They were high school sweethearts. Viz was a grade older than Bucky and Steve, and Wanda had been a grade above Y/N. No matter the difference in grades, they still had a wide friend group varying in age.

Clint and Nat were coming as well. Nat didn't go to high school with them like Clint, but she was at the neighboring school. She joined the friend group after she and Clint became a couple toward the end of their senior year.

Now Steve and Bucky were waiting downstairs for their sisters to get their asses down there so they wouldn't be late. Wanda and Viz lived in upstate New York so it was something of a drive.

"You gotta know what to say to get them down here," Bucky sighed, elbowing his friend lightly in the shoulder. "Watch the pro. Girls, if you don't hurry all the cake and mini-donuts will be gone!"

Beck was the first one tripping over herself to get down the stairs. "Oh, my God! I heard they're having catering from Chick-fil-a too!" she squealed, running down the stairwell faster.

"Wait, chicken nuggets?" Y/N added, peeking her head out from her room from the top of the stairs. Everyone looked up at her with waiting eyes. Bucky sent her a subtle wink and smile. "I'm coming!" she shouted dipping back in her room for a quick second before rushing down like Beck.

"Well, don't just stand there boys. We have a baby shower to get to," Beck pushed the two men toward the doors.

"Alright, alright," Steve laughed, being the first one out with Beck behind him.

"After you, milady," Bucky gestured, opening the wider door for Y/N.

"Why, thank you," she grinned walking ahead of him.