For your love

I forgive you

Cuddled up in the movie theater style room Evie lay against Bucky's side as a random movie played. Sitting half across his lap she tucked her head into his neck as he ran his metal hand up and down her back. His right hand rested on her thigh with his thumb absently rubbing circles while watching what was on. Closing her eyes Evie just listened to his heart beating steadily under her ear. Happy. That's what she was feeling right now.

Other than their brief kiss earlier they hadn't done anything more than find comfort in each other's arms. The simplicity in just being with one another was all she needed. After a little while she felt him shift and then again as he got restless. Either he was about to make a move or he was about to have a PTSD moment. Evie was okay to help him with both options although she was hoping for the former. Bucky's chest rumbled as he began to speak. "I'm sorry for my part in what happened to you. If you'll let me, I'd like to make amends."

Leaning her head back to look up at him she furrowed her eyebrows. "Bucky there's nothing to apologize for. You tried to help me more than you've ever hurt me. Come to think of it, you've never hurt me. You're probably one of the only people who's never hurt me."

Avoiding her eyes he gently moved her legs off of his lap and slid over to put some space between them. "That's not true. I did hurt you, you just don't know it yet." Her heart began to beat harder. What could he have done to make him this scared to tell her?

Clasping his hands together he rubbed his metal thumb roughly into the palm of his right hand. "December 16th, 1991 I was ordered to kill Howard Stark, steal the serum he'd recreated and kill any witnesses. It's because of me your dad was able to be taken advantage of by that guy who ran your mom off. It's because of me that you didn't grow up with Tony."

Scooting closer Evie cupped his bearded cheek to make him look at her, but he kept his gaze on his lap. Tucking his hair behind his ear she gave him a small sad smile. "I already know."

His eyes snap over to hers in surprise and confusion. "What? How?"

"Rumlow. He told me one day at the start of my training. I think he hoped that I'd be broken even more if he told me what you did, but he forgot something important." Caressing Bucky's face she leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips. "He forgot that I saw what they did to you. I knew that you were forced to do those missions from day one. My Blue would never have done any of those things if given the option to say no."

"There's nothing to amend when it comes to me, but if you need to hear it then I forgive you. For everything." Tears filled his eyes as he pulled her over to straddle his lap.

Now it was Bucky who tucked his face into her neck while she held him. Soothing him as best she could Evie wrapped her arms around him, laying her head on his. Bucky's arms tightened around her waist bringing her closer to him just breathing her in while he silently cried. As they sat there with the movie softly playing in the background the only other sound was the occasional sniffle coming from the man in her arms.

She hated Hydra for everything they'd done to her and her family, but she hated them even more for what they did to Bucky. She made a silent vow to do everything in her power to make his life better. The simplest thing she could do was to love him and she already did. She had probably loved Bucky since the night they met as crazy as that sounded. After everything they went through that night, the sacrifices they were each willing to make for the other to be safe...

Evie stared into the distance while she ran her fingers through his baby soft hair while she thought about what brought them to this moment. She had questioned his motives back then, but Evie knew now that they'd fallen in love with each other that night. How could she not love this man? He was kind, caring, and selfless. He always put others before himself. In short Bucky Barnes had the most beautiful soul she'd ever known.