hardest to love: bucky barnes

nineteen.

"Wait, so what really happened?"

"She told us you left."

"If you wanted to stay with her then why did you leave?"

I could hear all the voices on the other side of my wall when I woke up. I threw on my black silk robe and brushed my teeth before heading to the kitchen. James was sitting at the table with the girls, eating cereal.

"Good morning Val!" Angelina called from the seat next to James.

"Good morning." I said starting my coffee and avoiding James. I didn't think he would actually stay her but the folded blankets and sheets on the couch were proof.

"Continue the story!" Angelina asked James.

"Oh yes, James. Please continue with you're story." I said placing my coffee cup on the table and sitting down with them.

"Maybe I'll save the rest for a bedtime story." He said smirking at me.

"Girls, go get ready. We have class in an hour." I said and they all went to get ready, leaving James and I at the table.

"Isn't Sam or Steve begging to hang out with you now that you're back?" I questioned him as he sat across from me.

"No, they know this means more to me."

"What means more to you?"

"Being here."

I remained silent, drinking my coffee after his comment.

"What about you? Doesn't your boyfriend want to see you today?"

"I have a responsibility here, James."

"I know, these girls are talented. Irina almost stabbed me while spreading cream cheese on her bagel earlier. I can see why you love them." He said sincerely.

"I do. I would do anything for them." I said before going to get dressed, leaving James at the dinning room table.

After throwing on some tights and a body suit I headed into the living room to see the four girls doing each others hair. I usually help Angelina with hers but then I saw James braiding her hair at the table while she sat on his lap.

"Valentina usually does my hair in two braids but I guess one will work." She said to James while she played with her dolls hair. "Valentina has the prettiest hair."

"No, you do." I said sneaking up on them.

"Thank you." I said bending down to James ear in a whisper.

"Anytime, doll." He said looking over at me.

"C'mon girls! We gotta head down stairs to practice." I called to the older girls in the living room and then I counted to make sure they were all there.

"Gotta keep your ducks in a row, huh?" James said to me as he followed us downstairs.

"Are you leaving?" Angelina asked him.

"Yeah sweetheart, gotta go fishing with Sam."James said heading for the door till Angelina ran over to him.

"Don't leave, James!" She cried.

"Honey, he's gotta go." I told her.

"I'll see you soon, Angel." He said looking down at the little girl in front of him.

"Can you come to dinner tonight?" She begged him causing him to look up at me, waiting for me to say something.

"Yeah, Buck? Wanna stay for dinner tonight?"

What the hell was wrong with me? James and I hated each other barely a year ago and now I'm inviting him to dinner?

"I'd love to." He said with a grin bigger than he usually gives before walking over and kissing my cheek.

"Dinner starts at eight. Don't be late." I said, feeling this girls look at us.

"I wouldn't miss it." He said heading towards the door. "See you later girls, have a fun practice."

Just like that, he was gone. I heard the three younger girls behind me mock how James and I were acting with loud kissing noises and a song about kissing in a tree?

"Girls, go start your warm up."

We practiced like usual with stretches and working on different routines. The girls did great but got distracted in conversation from time to time.

"Val, if you marry James will we still live here?" Emilia asked as her and Marina practiced turns.

"I'm not marrying anyone." I said watching them by the mirror.

"Why not? I like James." Angelina said sitting down next to where I was standing and playing with her pink ballerina tutu.

"I don't trust him." Irina said taking off her shoes.

I can't say I do either, I thought to myself.

"Irina, are you going to Gia's tonight for dinner with her parents?" I asked one of the eldest girls. Irina has a girlfriend named Gia and they've been together for three months. Gia has been over a few times before but a lot more recently.

"Yeah, Can you drop me off after we change?" She asked as Nadia grabs their bags.

"Yes. Girls go get dressed then we can go do some running around." I said and they all scattered. I had to take Irina to Gia's, Nadia to the tower so she can work with Peter and Tony on some new equipment, then Natasha was taking Emilia and Marina to a young avengers training camp for the week that Tony set up, plus I have been ignoring Natasha's calls and text all morning so I should probably go see her.

Once we all showered and changed we were out the door. Since it was only Angelina and James going to dinner, I figured I wouldn't go all out with it. We dropped off Irina then headed to the compound. Emilia and Marina immediately run towards Thor to go talk while Nadia heads to Tony's office and Angelina and I go to find Nat in her room.

"Auntie Nat!" Angel said running towards the red head on her bed.

"Hello my angel!" Natasha said picking up the small brunette child kissing her face and hugging her.

"Hey Nat." I said walking over to them.

"Hey Val." She said before sending Angelina off to go see Pepper who was making snacks in the kitchen.

"Tell me about Barnes." She asked me as I sat on the bed and she braided my hair, like she used to before a mission.

"I don't know what to say." I thought for a moment. "The three younger girls like him, I guess. I just don't know what to say about him being back."

"I don't think he ever stopped loving you, Valentina." She said braiding the left side of my head first.

"I can't say I never stopped loving him. Some part of me feels like it's just not the same."

"So, you don't want to be with him?"

Of course I want to be with him.

"I'm not sure."

Natasha continued to braid my hair and we talked about the other Avengers in the tower. I left to go bathroom to look at my hair while Natasha went to the kitchen to help them out. I heard a knock on the door, assuming it was Nat, as I fixed myself in the mirror.

"Sorry, Nat I was just fixing-" I said getting cut off by James kissing me and pushing me back into the room as he closed the door. Next thing I knew, I felt his fingers in my braids keeping me close to him. I could taste the little bit of blood from him bitting his lip. Soon enough his tongue was in my mouth causing me to moan quietly in his. After that he pulled apart from me.

"I'll be at your place at eight, doll." He said winking at me then leaving.