Hockey Rules (Bucky Barnes AU x NHL)

Cross-Checked

*~* Bucky *~*

Emma decides that she will issue a statement on her personal Instagram page.  All she says is that her and Pierce parted on good terms a month after his trade and that she has nothing but respect for Alex.  She straight lied to protect our relationship.  And I love her for that.  I just wish the truth would be out so we can leave all of this behind us.

I'm in our locker room getting ready for the All-Star game.  We're playing with the North and the East is playing with the South.  The guys are cool, letting me know they thought Emma and I are great together and that they would have my back.  I'm sitting with Steve and Ryan and doubt enters my mind.  "Guys, you don't think Pierce will try anything tonight, right?"

"Barnes, he would be an idiot to do so," Ryan says. "Everyone would know he did it make a move on Emma. If she's playing nice then he has too."

"Bucky, relax, most of the players hate him too.  If he takes it too far, he'll have to deal with them too." Steve tells me.

"Just, if something happens, make sure Emma is ok."  I sigh and lean my head back. "I'm scared she's going to freak and do something stupid."

Ryan grips my shoulder.  "If I know my best friend, you're right."  We both chuckled.  "Steve and I have got her, ok?  Let's just have fun."

We all hit the ice and start playing.  No one is taking hard hits or penalties and I start to relax. The game ends and our side won.  Steve had two goals in the game and is name the MVP for our side.  I'm so proud.  I look up for Emma and she is cheering for her friend.  She sees me and blows me a kiss.  This girl has my heart, and she wasn't afraid to show it.

After all the festivities, Emma and I spend a couple of days at Disney World.  Seeing her so free and happy, I can't help but think of the future.  She's just everything I wanted in a partner.  I started to think that I needed to make a place in California permanent.  I knew that I could be traded at any time.  But even if I was, home would be where Emma was.

We left Orlando and headed up to Brooklyn.  I wanted Emma to meet my mom and sister, the other important women in my life. We took Steve with us for the first meeting; my mom treated Steve like her other son.  I got nervous again, but I could feel Emma becoming tense. "Doll, it'll be ok.  She'll love you."

"Yeah, remember when you met my dad?"

"Ok, but to be fair, I only knew you for two days." I kiss her cheek. "I love you. You're perfect and if anything, we brought Steve to be a distraction."

"Throwing me to the wolves, I see.  Remind me again how we are friends?" Steve huffed.

"Because I saved your punk ass when we were 10 because somebody decided to pick the biggest guy in the yard and start a fight."

"I don't recall the event in question," Steve says with a slight blush.

"I love that you guys are so close," Emma says.  She takes a deep breath and puts on a smile.  "Let's do this."

*~* Emma *~*

Meeting Bucky's mom was way less stressful than him meeting my dad.  Winifred or Winnie as she asked me to call her is wonderful.  She looks just like Bucky, and she made me feel like I was the only person in the room.  She was so happy to see Bucky and Steve, pulling both for huge hugs.  Becca, his sister, was a delight.  She's a senior in high school and loves her brother.  She gave him a run down on all of her classes and where she had applied for college.  He keeps trying to convince her to go to NYU.  She turns to me to ask where I went.

"I went to CSU Fullerton in California for Public Relations.  What's your major?"

"I'm thinking I want to be a sports agent or work for a sports organization like you do Emma."

"I think you could do it.  Any school would be great.  But I can't tell you where you should go.  You could end up in Florida if the program is right for you. But I'll help in any way I can."  I give her a hug, "Your brother loves you and he'll support any decision you make. Who knows?  You could end up in California with me. Just make sure you do it for you."

We walked to dinner a little while later and Winnie pulls me to walk with her.  "Thank you for your words Emma.  I know that Bucky means well but she needs to know that she is her own person outside of her brother's shadow.  He was a star here in Brooklyn and she gets lost in that sometimes."

"Winnie, your son loves his family and I know that he wants what's best for her.  But I know that having her gone would leave you lonely.  If you want, and only if you want, you can always visit us in California for any amount of time if she does decide to leave.  I don't have a mom, but I can tell you are a good one."

"Thank you, Emma.  I hope my son realizes that you are a keeper."

"I love him, Winnie.  I won't let him go."

The Ducks are starting a road trip in the East after their break.  They play the Islanders and win the game 5-3 with Bucky having a goal and an assist and Steve getting two assists.  I sit with Bucky's and Steve's families.  Steve's mom, Sarah, is great, and I love her loving attitude towards Bucky.

We also have the play the Rangers.  It was so sweet that Bucky and Steve get a tribute during the 1st period.  They glide to the middle and raise their sticks in salute to the crowd.  Their old teammates shake hands with them after the Ducks win in overtime. 

Now, we are in Boston at the TD Gardens.  I'm nervous.  Wanda and my dad flew out to be with me during the game because the Barnes and Rogers families couldn't make the trip.  We have a box with Clint and Natasha and I keep playing with my necklace.  I get a message on my phone before warmups.

Emmalina, please take me back.  I know you're here and I don't want to have to go to extreme measures to talk to you.  I still love you.

I show the message to Wanda.  "What the hell does he mean by extreme measures?"

Unfortunately, this got Clint's and my dad's attention.  "Emma, what is going on?" My dad asks.

"I don't know, I got this weird message from Alex." I show them my phone.

"Emma you can't go downstairs after the game.  I'll let Ryan know so he can tell James," Clint says.  "I don't want you anywhere near this asshole while we are here."

"But Clint, I promised Bucky and Steve..."

"And they will understand, princess." My dad took my hands.  "I'm scared of what he will try to do.  We might have to let the league know too.  But we'll wait."  He took my phone.  "You can't let James know. He might do something stupid during the game."

I sat during the warmups and Bucky looked for me.  I didn't want to bring attention to myself, so Alex didn't know where I was.  I felt so bad.  Bucky was looking for his light and I wasn't there.  The game started and I was on edge.  I just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Heading into the third, I was starting to relax.  It was tied 0-0 and it had been an aggressive game.  But Alex went nowhere near Bucky.  Steve took a cross checking penalty against Pasternak and now we were on the penalty kill.  Bucky, Ryan, Josh Manson and Cam Fowler were on the kill and holding their own.  Alex went back to his own end and then attacked.  I didn't see it.  I was so focused on what Alex was going to do I didn't see the other Bruin, Brock Rumlow, rushing at Bucky. He cross-checked Bucky, flipping him in the air, Bucky landing headfirst onto the ice.

...

...

I watched him go down, but not get up.