Eligible Bachelor ✔️

Chapter 12

I woke up with pain in my stomach and realized there was something resting on my stomach. I opened my eyes to see Steve asleep next to me, his face inches from mine and his hand on my stomach. I brought my hand to his cheek, as I whispered, "Steve." I heard his breath change as he stirred, "Steve."

He smiled, feeling her hand on his cheek, "Melody love. There's those green eyes I've missed. I'm so sorry. I've been an idiot."

"You have." We both laughed.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, looking down as I pulled down the blanket to see just a scar, "what happened?"

"Cho used the regeneration cradle. She said it might just be sore."

I nodded again, "yeah it hurts. But I'm okay. Steve?"

He brought his hand to her cheek, "yeah love?"

"Kiss me. I miss you."

He moaned softly, as he felt her bring her hand to the nape of his neck.

I felt his kiss turn urgent quickly as I felt his tongue parting my lips. I moaned as he brought his hand down to my waist. We were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. We both laughed, looking to see Tony standing with Natasha.

"Um guys. You're not alone."

Steve laughed, standing up from the bed. "I need to go talk to Maria. I'll be back? And then we can talk?"

I felt him run his fingers through my hair as I nodded, "of course."

He nodded, kissing her on the forehead before leaving the lab. I sat up, clutching my stomach as I watched Natasha come up to help me, offering me her hand. I grabbed it as I sat up, my feet off the side of the bed, "I'm okay. Thank you."

Before anyone could say anything, a large man stormed into the lab, "Melody Maria Carbonell!"

I groaned, "dad. What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away from Tony and the Avengers! You start hanging out with them and you get kidnapped and hurt!"

I stood up as he approached me, gripping my arm, "let me go!"

"You're coming home with me!"

He tried to pull me away but I broke out of his grip as Tony and Natasha came up to us. "No, I'm not! I'm staying with Uncle Tony!"

He raised his voice, "he is not your uncle! And his father got my sister killed, and he lets that freak walk the halls!"

I pushed him in the chest, "he's not a freak! Bucky is my friend!"

He gripped her arm again, tighter so she couldn't break out of it. Before he could say something, someone barged into the room.

"Hey! Let her go!" Bucky stormed into the room, grabbing him and pressing him against the wall with his metal arm.

"Bucky! Let him go." He didn't listen to me until I grabbed his flesh hand, making him look at me, "it's my father, let him go Buck."

He nodded, letting him go but standing next to Melody.

"I'm staying here dad. With Tony and with the Avengers."

Her father nodded, "fine, but don't expect anything else from me."

I scoffed, crossing my arms, "fine. Uncle Tony was the one that paid for me to go to school anyways."

He shook his head, "that's because you should have been a doctor, or a lawyer. Not slumming it as a nurse."

"I like being a nurse! And Uncle Tony has been a far better father to me than you ever were!"

"Fine!"

I was relieved when he left the lab without any further altercations. I turned around to face everyone, "I'm sorry." I looked at Dr. Cho, "how did he know I was here?"

She shrugged, "he was down as your emergency contact."

I groaned, "can you change it to Tony, please?"

She nodded, "sure."

I felt Bucky's hand on my back.

"Are you okay Mel?"

I nodded, "yeah. I just want to find Steve."

Tony stepped towards her, "we need a team meeting first."

I groaned, following him to the conference room with the rest of the Avengers. As I sat, I looked up to see Steve enter, taking the seat next to mine. I felt him place his hand on my thigh as I grabbed it in mine.

"Bucky? Do you want to go first?"

He nodded, "I'm not sure what there is to say. But they tried to use the same code words and they obviously didn't work. So they tried to reprogram me, but they couldn't. Honestly, they didn't seem properly organized. And obviously whoever was actually in charge wasn't there. By the time they took Melody, most of the soldiers were called away somewhere else. I guess they thought Melody would be an easier target than she was." He looked at Melody, winking at her. "I'm not completely sure what the motive was for taking her though."

I laughed as I looked at Steve, "Allison was mad that you didn't choose her. I think she was working with Rumlow the whole time. They were trying to get someone close to you."

Bucky laughed, "he never would have anyways."

Steve sighed, "so. You're related to Tony and you're friends with Natasha who also trained you to fight. Is there anything else you're keeping from me?"

I groaned, "Steve. I'm sorry. For the record, you never asked my about my family. Or if I knew how to fight."

He laughed, "well I'll be sure to ask the next girl I date those questions."

"The next girl?!"

He laughed again, shaking his head, "I'm kidding." He leaned over, kissing her on the cheek before looking back up at Tony, "are we done here?"

Tony nodded, smirking as he watched Steve grab Melody's hand, pulling her from the conference room.