Ever After

Part 3 - We Had Our Time

For the next two days you continue to ignore Steve's calls. Today could finally be the day where you can't avoid him any longer, as Bruce calls you over to the makeshift compound to go over all the information you need for this mission. "You sure you wanna do this Bella?" Bruce asks, but all you can do is stare at him, still getting used to his new form: the Hulk mixed with Bruce's calming tone - the actual epitome of the words 'gentle giant'. "It's not exactly fun, and one false move..."

"You don't trust me Bruce?" You question with a smirk, making him smile back.

"With my life," he responds before once again going through the whole system, and which order to put the stones back in the timeline etc. "Now, this could take up to a few hours for you guys, maybe even a day or two - but just seconds for us."

"Great," you smile, still not quite comprehending what you've let yourself in for - but the timing sounds good. It'll give you more time to convince Steve to stay, while not leaving Bucky alone for too long.

"I'll need to get a suit fitted for you too, and you'll need to speak to the Pym's..." Bruce starts to go on, but your still stuck in your own mind. Steve's words are still going around your head. You had barely slept for thinking about it.

Later on that day you're sitting talking to Hank Pym and his wife Janet, not fully taking in all the information they're giving you about the quantum realm. But you figure you've got the basics down. Your head now completely swimming, and a head ache on the way, you decide to take a walk around the lake at the old compound, finally taking a seat on a bench to try and get some peace and quiet.

"How's it going?" Bucky interrupts your daydream as you sit by the lake, watching the reconstruction of the compound. 

"It's been better," you laugh, gesturing for him to sit. "But nothing I can't handle." The two of you sit in silence for a while before you notice Bucky wearing gloves. "What are those?" You ask.

He blushes, sticking his hands in his coat pockets, desperately trying to draw your attention from them. "I don't want people to see," He stammers. "It's erm...." You realise that you've hit a nerve. Even in the 40s Bucky had worried about how others view him. Always playing the cheeky go getter to everyone else, never really showing his anxieties, except around you. 

You pull at his left hand, taking the glove off, exposing his metal arm. His breath hitches, nerves running through him even more when you take his vibranium hand in yours. "It's just you and me Bucket," You smile, intertwining your fingers with his. "And I don't care about it. Besides, it's not as horrendous as that beard!" You laugh, reaching over with your other hand and tickling under his chin. He feigns shock before swatting your hand away. "I'm kidding. It's a good look." You wink.

He smiles gently, squeezing your hand. Looking back over the water he sighs. "It would have been so much easier." He chuckles.

"What would?"

"If you were still in love with me instead of Steve." You look at him completely shocked, questioning where he's going. His eyes widen at the expression on your face. "No, no, Bella, I don't mean...I'm not in love... I just meant..." He takes a breath. "I don't know what I'm trying to say."

"Are you asking me to stay Buck?" You swallow hard. "You know I love you Bucket, and we had our time..." You flashback to the 40s, while the three of you had been close, it had always been Bucky. Even though you were best friends, you always had that soft spot for him. He for you too. There had been moments when you thought you were going to be with him forever, but the war had changed all that. Had changed you both so much, that being best friends was the only thing that mattered to either of you.

"And I wouldn't change that for the world." Bucky responds. "I just wish it was easier to let you both go."

"We're coming back Buck," you say defiantly. 

"Belle..." he starts, rolling his eyes.

"I know, I know." You laugh. Both of you go back to just sitting watching the construction company working away at the compound. There was no more words for either of you to say to each other, just the wave of memories and friendship surrounding both of you. You had to do this; you couldn't leave Bucky, but you could never live without Steve either. 

"There's something I need to tell you," Bucky breaks the silence, you can sense the fear mixed with anger in his voice. "Something about Steve, and this mission." He lets out a frustrated sigh, running his hand through his hair.

"What is it? Is he planning on going without me?" You start to panic, looking around, ready to run back to Bruce to check before Bucky grabs your attention back.

"No," He sighs, "But you need to tell him the truth Belle, so he can make the right decision. He wants to go back for P..." A glowing ring of orange interrupts Bucky, distracting you both - you recognise the noise instantly, but still it makes both of you sit up on edge. 

"Isabella Thomas?" Doctor Strange's voice rings out.