A Heart Break In Time

No, You Accidentally Survived.

Bucky and I hadn't talked since I left his room that morning. I went back to bed for an extra hour of sleep before going for a run. I came back and took a shower. I couldn't get the morning with Bucky out of my head. Was I imagining all of this? Did Bucky have feelings for me? Did I feel the same way? Everything in me shouted to kiss him this morning, and before at the pool... even at the gym with him I was tempted. What the hell is going on? I groaned before turning off the shower water. I stepped out of the bathroom still wrapped in my towel when I heard a knock at our shared door. I opened it and saw Bucky, packed up.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Sam texted me. We're finishing this." He stated firmly, no emotion on his face and I started to wonder if I was imagining this all on my own.

One hand on my towel, I used my other arm to wrap around him. "Be safe. I'll tell Fury what's going on."

"Thanks, Talia." He looked like there was more he wanted to say but he just walked away instead. I closed the door and walked over to the bed, dropping myself on it. What the fuck.

After checking out of the hotel, I made the drive alone to the compound. I saw Rhodey before I saw anyone else. "Hey, kid."

"Hey yourself, old man. You gonna be in this meeting too?"

"Yeah, any idea what it's about?"

I shrugged. "Not at all."

"Where's the other two?"

I made my way to the conference room with Rhodey. "Finishing up something, I'll fill them in." I walked into the conference room and saw Fury, and across from him I saw Steve. "I thought you were retired."

"I'm here the same reason you are, Talia. Fury asked me to be."

I looked to Fury and he gestured for me to sit before he spoke. "I'm aware of the change in your relationship. I assume this won't cause any issues for us?" He raised his right eyebrow at us.

"Never has before. What is this about?"

Fury didn't answer my question, instead asked his own. "You're missing some people."

"Sam and Bucky are finishing up something they started. I'll fill them in."

Fury nodded. "There's three powered individuals I'd like for you all to train. They will be arriving shortly. You will be entirely responsible for them." He placed three Manila folders on the table and slid them to us.

I looked confused at him, and Steve mirrored that confusion. "I don't know if we're the best people to train someone with powers, Fury."

"Their powers are not a concern, they need to be trained as individuals, and how to work as a team."

"And Steve? Isn't he retired?"

"I'm right here, Talia." He spoke up.

"Yes, that's what I'm confused about." I rolled my eyes and Fury stared at us.

He stood up when he answered. "If I'm correct, you retired as Captain America. That doesn't mean you can't teach. Is that a problem?"

"No, sir." Steve and I answered.

"Great, Rodgers. You're dismissed. Talia, please stay seated." Steve grabbed the files as he walked out and I stayed where I was. "I know you know how I felt about Stark," I let out a chuckle. "But we know he cared for you greatly." Fury sat in the seat next to me. "And Romanoff... was special to me. You're aware, yes?" I nodded. "She spoke highly of you, as well. I'm trusting you can handle this."

"I believe I can, sir."

"Great. One last thing. Give Rodgers a little bit of shit, will you? I'm typically a cold man, but what he did... that's cold."

I gave him a smirk in response. "Oh, I plan to, sir." Fury left the room and I took a moment to think about what he was asking of us. Three more heroes. Super heroes. And Steve and I were supposed to be responsible for them?

I walked out of the room and Steve was walking towards me. I went to walk around him but he stepped in front of me. "Can we talk?"

"Okay."

Steve walked back into the conference room and sat down, I followed after him but stayed standing. He waited a while before realizing I wasn't sitting down and spoke anyway. "We have to be a team here, and we can't do that the way we are now."

"I hardly think that's my fault, Rodgers."

"You're right."

I started to argue and then realized he agreed with me. "Wait. What?"

Steve sighed, placing the files on the table. "You're right. I messed up. I made you promises. And all you see is me bringing Peggy back. You have every right to be furious at me." He paused and I felt like I should say something but I'm speechless. "Here's the whole story. I put the stones away. And Peggy saw me. I couldn't hide from her, it was too late." Steve sighed. "Peggy could read me like a book, I couldn't lie to her. She asked me to stay. And I thought about it, Talia. It's selfish and awful, I know. But I did. I realized quickly, I couldn't stay there. I knew too much. I would want to change too much. I kept thinking about where Bucky was at that time, about all the awful horrific things I could stop. How could I stay there and not do that? I couldn't. I'm not a time travel expert, but I knew changing everything bad thing I could, wouldn't be good. I made a judgement call. And it hurt you, I will forever be sorry for that. Everything I felt for you was real."

I stood there, processing his words as he patiently waited for me to speak. I don't think I actually expected any real explanation from Steve. But he gave it, and I don't know that I could've blamed him. I know I wouldn't have been able to stay in the past and not save everyone. "Did you love me?"

"Of course I did. And I wanted to marry you."

"But Peggy."

"I never stopped loving her. There were too many what if's. I always had that in the back of my head."

I nodded. I really couldn't blame him for that. I held onto all my regrets too. But this one he could really fix. They loved each other. I took a deep breath. "I forgive you. You could've handled it a hell of a lot better. But I forgive you. You deserve to be happy. And I like Peggy."

"You had a poster of her on your wall."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. I'm aware, Steve. So moving on. Let me see those files."

He slid them down to me. "Sam and Bucky can't come back soon enough. We have our work cut out for us."