Annabelle Rogers - James 'Bucky' Barnes

Chapter Sixteen

Hours later Annabelle was still out cold, sweetly snoring her way into a deep sleep. The girls where siting in the lounge room with James discussing the unusual situation.

"Okay, lets go through it again. She has been complaining that her emotions have been out of control and heightened for weeks now, correct?"

James nodded.

"Okay. and when she felt one of the most powerful emotions to a human her eyes started glowing and then this morning she adapted her emotions to yours?" Wanda added.

James looked over to Natasha, like Wanda was getting somewhere but neither of them knew what it was. They watched as Wanda's brain was ticking over before she finally spoke up.

"Whatever it is I think its connected to A.Bs emotions. Like when I was heart broken and angry I unlocked my powers full potential."

"So you're saying that something happened to unlock something in A.B?" the girls nodded "but what?"

"The only thing as, if not more powerful then anger/ heart break is...."

"LOVE!" The girls spoke in unison

"You're telling me that whatever is happening to A.B, was unleashed because she fell involve with me?" James felt a wave of guilt rush over him, he is the reason she is going through all of this change and uncertainty.

"Buck!" Natasha spat, bringing him back to reality. "Its not your fault, we don't even know whats actually going to happen, it could just fade away."

"Then what do we tell A.B?" Wanda asked concerned.

James looked through the door way to see Annabelle still sound asleep.

"We don't." He said in a serious almost cold tone. "She is finally happy, I don't want to ruin that for her. I want her to enjoy it... even just for a little while"

He turned around to face the girls, they understood where he was coming from. Annabelle has been through so much in her 25 years of life.

"I will keep an eye on her and when I can't be around I will suggest she goes to the compound. She doesn't like being here by herself anyway so it won't be hard to convince her"

"Why do I get a feeling this is going to blow up in our faces?" Natasha questioned, no one knew what was going on with Annabelle but Natasha did know she hated secrets and if her abilities are connected to her emotions, when she finds out, it won't end well.

The girls agreed to James' plan, they said their goodbyes and headed back to the compound where they planned on doing some further digging into Annabelle's family history, trying to understand what is going on.

---

The rest of the day was peaceful, Annabelle moved to the couch cuddled up in her blanket drinking some herbal tea that James made her to calm down her anxiety.

While she was laying about on the couch watching Disney movies, James was replying to her client emails and phone calls. Making sure she was all organised for the rest of the week.

James was sorting through and organising all of her work stuff, when he tried to suggest to Annabelle about hiring more team, even just a couple of assistances.As he expected though she said no, it is hard to find help you trust and that can do the job as good as you.

Once he finished up on her computer he neatly packed up the files and headed into the kitchen to get started on dinner. He couldn't cook many meals so spaghetti and meatballs was his go to, one of the first meals Annabelle showed him how to make.

Watching James cook from the couch admiring how much concentration it took him to boil spaghetti. She loved it when he was domestic, these where her favourite kinds of days with him.

Getting up from the couch, dragging her feet towards the kitchen. She gave James a kiss on the check before turning away and heading into the bathroom.

Stepping into the scorching hot shower Annabelle started washing her hair, detangling her curls as she ran through the conditioner. Clipping up her curly locks wanting to leave the conditioner in while she exfoliated and shaved her body, she couldn't help but think about the last few days, so much has happened.

She got her dad back, then her brother, she found out that she is dating her brother best friend, spent the weekends with her family mending those relationships, falling in love with her brothers best friend and confessing it to him. And now he is in her kitchen cooking her dinner.

All of the emotions she felt over the last few days caused her skin to run cold, like someone had pumped ice into her veins. As she noticed the feeling she instantly thought of James, about to run out to him.

It was in that moment that her skin changed, it was no longer this cold sensation, it was warm and light. Like a hug from a missed loved one. Not understanding what just happened Annabelle brushed it off, thinking maybe the water is to hot for her today.

---

The smell of meatballs and garlic bread filled the air as James walked over to the dinning table with a plate of homemade garlic bread and two bowls of spaghetti.Placing one down in front of Annabelle and the other in front of his seat before walking over to get two glasses of water.

Annabelle was perched on the chair in her AC/DC t-shirt and long fluffy rainbow socks, wet hair pulled back into a light braid with a fresh clean face. Sitting with one leg under her and the other on on the chair leaning against her chest as she hugged the warm bowl of spaghetti.

"Are you feeling better?" James questioned as he sat down across the table from her.

"Much better, thank you for looking after me"

"Of course, but you did scare me, do you know more about what brought it on?"

"Being back at home, at the compound I mean. It made me realise how much I miss being around them everyday, how much I miss not being alone. Even when you're by yourself"

When she would lock herself in her room at the compound she always knew someone was around if she needed something, either her dad would be in the lab with bruce or Steve in the training room, Nat and Wanda down the hall. Someone was always around to talk to or hangout with.

"Are you thinking of moving back?" James asked, trying to read her face but failing with all her conflicted emotions.

"I thought about it, but I have a life here... with you. We have our privacy, we don't need to hide our relationship around anyone here but its also just us, so when you're not around..."

"Well, how about, when I'm not around you go spend time at the compound, and considering the only time I won't be here is when I'm helping Steve with a mission I'll probably be there too"

Warmth filled her smile at the idea, not having to choose between her two lives. She would be able to have private time with just James but also get her missed family time.

It was a to easy for James, it was exactly what he wanted to suggest. She just happened to bring it up before him.