April Showers | Bucky Barnes x Reader AU

8 | for the first time

A/N: In which James & Y/N have sex for the first time and then the aftermath of them doing it for the first time again ten years later. Enjoy!

Also, just a quick heads up to let you know I'm going to be updating chapters with mood board/collage banners and chapter titles rather than numbers. Gifs are great but I enjoy the process of finding the right photos and getting creative so if you get update notifications but no actual update, that'll be why! Thank you for reading! x

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"When we think of the past it's the beautiful things we pick out.
We want to believe it was all like that."
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

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November 2009

"Are you going home for Thanksgiving?"

Y/N and James are walking hand in hand along the South Bank. It's freezing, and she clings to his arm, nuzzling herself into his side as much as she can.

"Can't really afford it," James sighs. He misses his family and friends. A lot. But having Y/N is making his homesickness a little easier to handle. Especially as he hardly sees Natasha. She didn't enjoy being in a house of rowdy guys so moved in with new friends a month into their studies. "We're having a Friendsgiving at the house though. That's what Joe keeps calling it anyway. You're invited, of course." He beams, trying to hide the melancholy look in his eyes.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to intrude on-"

"Everyone else's girlfriends are gonna be there, Y/N. I want you there." James cuts her off. His arm tightens around her as they head into Waterloo tube station.

It's only 4pm but the sky is already dark, hints of stormy grey mixed with the blue as snow clouds threaten to roll in over London.

"Yours or mine?" Y/N asks as they head down on the escalator. James is standing in front of her, his blue eyes sparkling as he peers up from a couple of steps below. He reaches for her hand before he answers.

"Well, I know all the guys have gone to Winter Wonderland for the evening so we'd have the house to ourselves..." He's talking quietly, pulling her closer to him as they step off the escalator.

Y/N nods. A night in at James' usually means pizza and the two of them reading or watching a movie while snuggled up under his duvet. The boys are stingy when it comes to turning their central heating on (she's starting to think they don't actually know how to do it) so their house is always on the chilly side.

"Did I leave my fluffy pyjamas at yours?" She asks as they step onto the Jubilee Line train, already excited to get cosy.

"Yep, they're in your drawer. And I bought a hot water bottle for you."

"Ugh. Best boyfriend ever."

James laughs and presses her back against the door that adjoins the carriages. He kisses her slowly, his broad frame hiding their intimate moment from everyone else on the train.

"I love you." He murmurs against her lips.

"I love you more."

"Not possible, pretty girl."

James' house is indeed empty when they arrive. And it's tidy, which makes a change. Y/N wanders through to the kitchen and opens the fridge. She finds their favourite cheap wine at the back, a post-it note attached that says 'JB's - do not touch'.