Frostbite |The Alternate Timeline

Heartache

The memory faded away, leaving only our reflections in its place on the water's surface. I kept quiet, letting Bucky process what he had seen. He slowly turned to face me, searching my face, for what I didn't know.

"Melanie-" he started, his voice cracking as he spoke, "Why didn't you mention any of this?"

"I told you- Steve didn't want me to. He was supposed to come home, and he knew it would make it worse if you guys knew that. So, he wanted you to think he chose to stay."

He took a deep breath, unable to look away, "You had a choice, though."

I blinked in surprise, unsure what to say. I knew this would happen when he learned the truth. It was part of the reason I had kept it hidden. He would blame the only person he could; the only one who was still here.

"Bucky, I'm sorry. Really, I am- but you can't seriously be mad at me for this?"

"Steve died. He died Melanie. And you didn't think it was important to share? He was trapped back in time-"

"I know he did. I'm the one who was there. I'm the one who had to give up something to save his life," I snapped, crossing my arms in response to his hostility, "He was happy, Bucky. Steve got to live the life he wanted with the person he loved. It could have turned out a lot worse."

He ran his hand through his hair, shaking his head at my words. I was so tired of fighting with him, so sick of this dance. Part of me had hoped he'd understand, and we could move past this.

"You came back covered in his blood, and you lied straight to our faces," he recalled, not taking any heed to what I had just said. Now it was my turn to shake my head angrily. "Am I wrong?"

I sighed and met his eyes again, "Are you more upset that you didn't know the truth or that he got his happily ever after and left you behind in the process? Are you jealous, Bucky?"

"I don't expect you to understand," he huffed, clenching his fists, "Apparently you only give a damn about yourself.

"I get that your upset, but we don't get everything you want out of life all the time. It's just not how it works," I retorted, growing angry.

"Yeah, that's coming from a spoiled Stark," he seethed, "I'm sorry but you have a two second rebound rate. Then you're doing something else to piss me off."

"Spoiled?" I scoffed sadly, "And yet- All I want is the world for you, Bucky. Whether I'm in it or not. All I've done is try to help you- to be there for you."

"By lying to me? Hiding this-" he waved his arms violently, "from me? I don't care what Steve asked from you. How can I trust you after this? You've continuously hid things. You fucked up-"

"I lost everything!" I screamed, my voice breaking, "I lost my brother, I lost Steve, I lost Natasha! You don't get to sit here and judge me; to make it seem like I'm some heartless monster that didn't take your feelings into consideration. You're not the only one trying to deal with their grief and trauma."

"You have me!" he bellowed, his voice wavering. I was taken aback by this, staring dumbfounded at him. But he didn't give me a chance to speak. "You still have me and Sam. We deserved to know-"

"I don't owe you anything," I told him coldly, "He could have told you when he came back, but he didn't. Maybe he wanted it left alone."

He shook his head, but I was done. Done with the arguing and the guilt. I turned my back to him and stalked toward the tree line.

"Where are you going?" he demanded, taking a step forward. I didn't answer, choosing to ignore him instead. He jogged forward, grabbing my wrist, "Wait-"