A Heart Break In Time

Avengers, Assemble! *ENDING FOUR

Bucky and I got to the theater room and approached the couch. He sat first which left me with the dilemma of where do I sit? Right next to him? That would answer some questions before they're asked. But sitting too far away would also give the wrong idea.

Bucky saw me hesitating to sit and sighed. "Talia, are you choosing him? I know we're about to have the conversation but I just... I need to know now because I can't do it all again. I really can't."

I blinked in shock, I was really unprepared for that. But knowing he wanted me to choose him was all the answer I needed. I sat next to him and smiled. "No, no I'm not." I squeezed his hand.

"Oh." Bucky mumbled as we pulled away. "Guess that answers that question for me." He smirked and I sat next to him.

"Guess it answers a lot of them." Steve's voice from behind us startled us. I instinctively moved away from Bucky.

"Steve-" I started to explain but he stopped me.

He held his hand up as he walked towards the couch. I noticed that Peggy wasn't with him. "I'm sorry, Buck, but this is insane. Talia, we've been together for years. And you're choosing him?"

I felt uncomfortable, he was right. We had been through so much together. I cared for Bucky, I loved Bucky. I couldn't deny that. But I loved Steve too. For the last five years, Steve was all I had. Sure, I saw Natasha and Tony... but they had their own lives. Steve was my everything and I was his. The stones were the problem. Again.

I didn't answer and they both seemed to notice. Bucky's body tensed up and Steve walked towards me. "Talia..." he crouched down in front of me. "If there's still any part of you that loves me, please. It wasn't me. None of the things I did or said were me. I'm here. I love you, I need you. Please. Do you still love me?"

"I-" I looked to Steve, then turned to Bucky. He stared at the wall, fists clenched. Guilt was tearing up my stomach. "Yes. I do." Steve's face lit up and Bucky stood. "Wait." I reached for Bucky's arm. "I love Bucky, too."

Bucky turned and looked at me, shock written all over his face. Steve's was the same. Steve stood and looked at the two of us. "So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying just that. I love you both." I sighed, letting go of Bucky and leaning against the couch. "It's complicated, I know. But it feels like two very different loves, but I'm in love with you both. Truthfully..." I stopped myself. This was ridiculous. They were both just going to walk out the door and likely never talk to me again. At least, not personally anymore. I was still their boss now.

"No, finish what you were saying." Bucky encouraged, sitting next to me.

I sighed again and Steve sat on the other side. "Come on, talk to us."

"Truthfully, I don't know if I can live without you both. It's selfish, I know. But... I just lost so much and you're both so important to me I just..." I felt the tears filling in my eyes and it hurt down to my core. I would lose one of them, or both, today. "I just don't have it in me to lose anyone else."

Steve and Bucky were looking at each other and I placed my head in my hands, trying to focus my breathing. They weren't answering and it was putting my anxiety into overdrive.

Suddenly, Bucky's hands grabbed mine as Steve wrapped his arms around me.

"So don't." Bucky replied calmly.

"What?" Don't what? What the hell was he talking about?

"Don't lose either of us." Steve explained.

I jerked my head towards him, confused. "I'm not understanding."

"We can figure something out." Bucky shrugged looking at Steve. "Neither of us want to lose you."

"And neither of us want fo just sit there and watch you be with someone else." Steve added.

"So... you both want to be with me? At the same time?" Was this a dream? Is this really happening?

Steve shrugged. "We need to discuss some ground rules. But yeah, why not? Weirder things have happened."

Bucky grabbed my face and pulled me in for a soft kiss. I felt my anxiety slowly easy away while his lips touched mine. As Bucky pulled away, Steve touched my face shortly after, bringing my face towards him as he kissed me, the last of my lingering anxiety left as his hand slid to the back of my head. His fingers tangled in my hair.

"It's been way too long." Steve whispered, pulling away. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too." I smiled back at him. I giggled and they both looked at me, questioning. "I just realized. I basically have every girl's dream happening right about now." I giggled again, both of the men chuckled next to me.

Both of my men. My home.

THE END