Longing •Bucky Barnes•

• Thirty Five •

I was tidying up the kitchen after dinner as Bucky went upstairs with Morgan. She was very insistent on starting as soon as dinner was done. She dragged Bucky upstairs who was obviously so excited to be pampered. I cleaned up the house a bit because we had left a little over a week ago sort of in a rush so we had left the house a little messy.

I did some laundry and started the dishes before walking back out into the living room. The fire Bucky had set was still lively and cracking. I looked out the window to see Tony's house next to ours. I hadn't imagined to see anything considering no one was home, but no one would likely ever be home. I worried deeply for Pepper and if she'd make it, and even if she did, would it have been a quality of life she'd want?

I shook myself just trying to enjoy the time I could even spend at home. After everything that had just happened I never wanted to be home so badly. I think everyone did. After the loss, yet success we had everyone wanted to just be home with loved ones. A majority of people had theirs back, but I couldn't help but feel the opposite. I was lucky to have who I did and I couldn't forget that, but it just didn't make any of this any easier.

I could hear giggles from upstairs and I shook my head only imagining what chaos she was putting him up to. She adored him and he adored her so I know he'd let her get away with just about anything. I grabbed a blanket off of the back of the couch and wrapped it around myself. It was getting well into the fall by now and things were starting to get chilly.

I curled up on the couch and laid my head down and I hadn't even realized this was my first time sleeping since it all. Nearly 3 days since my eyes last saw sleep and I was so tired. I rested my head on the pillow next to me and I rested my eyes. I drifted off for just a little while and fell into a light sleep. I however was awoken by the sound of foot steps coming down the stairs.

"Auntie Val come look!" I heard and I pushed the sheets off of me.

I rubbed my eyes and saw her standing on the top of the stairs. She was holding the hair brush in hand and I just smiled and followed her up to the second floor. I wrapped the blanket I was just under and wrapped myself up in it. She ran into the bathroom and I followed her in to see Bucky sat on the edge of the tub. He had braids and bows in his hair as well as glitter all over his face.

I bit my lip as I looked to him and he smiled at Morgan when she turned to him, but as soon as she turned away he eyeballed me. I pulled the blanket over my shoulders as I looked at the two of them. Morgan looked so proud of her self and he looked very tired.

"He looks great Morgan, you did a fabulous job I think this might be his new look." I said crossing my arms.

"Really?" Morgan asked.

"Most definitely." I said smiling. "Come on miss Morgan let's get some rest."

"Okay." She said defeatedly.

I was expecting a little more resistance, but she just exited the bathroom as she went to the guest room we had. She crawled up into bed and got under the covers. She laid down and looked up at me smiling.

"You get some sleep, I'll see you in the morning kiddo." I said pulling up the covers.

"Goodnight auntie Val." She said.

"Goodnight Morgan, let the bet bugs bite." I said getting up to shut off the light.

"Let them?" She asked with a giggle.

"Humans are as great source of protein for bed bugs you're doing them a favor." I said teasingly. "Love you Morgan."

"Love you auntie Val." She said and she turned over and curled up.