Babydoll

Happy birthday, doll

"Doll, do you think I could talk to you for a minute? In private."

A surprised smile spread over her face as she nodded up at him before telling Matt that she and Bucky were going to talk and that after she was done for the night. Her brother gave her a tight hug and told her he'd see her the next day at their parents house for Christmas. "Happy birthday, Bits. Night Bucky."

Hugging her brother back she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Happy birthday, Bubs, I'll see you at mom and dads."

Bucky told Mathew goodnight and Merry Christmas since he wouldn't be coming back down either. She knew he'd reached his limit for socializing so she led them to the elevator to take them back down to their floor.

Standing in comfortable silence Aurora leaned back against the far wall of the elevator and closed her tired eyes. Today had been a great day. From Mathew surprising her after telling her that he hadn't been able to get leave from his posting to getting to spend most of the whole day with Tony and Pepper, not to mention Bucky. That really was the best part of her birthday. Spending time with him celebrating Christmas in a semi relaxed setting. She knew he only stayed as long as he had because of Steve, but it had been nice all the same.

"Why didn't you tell me today was your birthday?" His quiet voice had her opening her eyes to see him standing right in front of her. Startled Aurora let out a little squeak of surprise because she hadn't been expecting him to be so close. Letting out a deep chuckle of amusement Bucky took a step back to give her some room, but didn't go far. Licking her lips she shrugged her shoulders as she pressed her hands behind her.

"Matt and I don't make a big deal about our birthday, never have. When you share your birthday not only with a holiday but another person you're used to keeping it simple. Tony and Pep of course knew, that's why he didn't do anything until the party." Her and Matt hadn't been surprised by the cake, only surprised that that was all Tony done this year. She'd expected him to go all out since it'd been a couple of years since her and Matt had been in the same place at the same time for their birthday, but she wasn't complaining. She didn't like being the center of attention.

He tilted his head a little as he gazed down at her. "You could have been off celebrating with your family instead of staying here. So why didn't you?"
Aurora knew he was asking why she had spent her birthday making sure that he had a good day. Wondering why she'd done any of the small things she had to make him happy over the last six months. 

She wasn't ready to tell him yet that she'd fallen for him. Not when he'd made it clear that nothing could happen between them because of what Hydra had made him do to Tony's family. It wouldn't be fair to tell him since he didn't want anything to happen with them and would hurt less if she didn't say anything to only find out he didn't feel the same way so she told him a different truth.

"You guys have all become my extended family. Besides, Matty and I are going to spend most of the day with our parents tomorrow so we'll celebrate then." He shook his head at her, taking back the space between them until his upper stomach was brushing against her breasts.

"You know what I meant, Aurora." She loved that he only ever called her by her first name and never her nickname unless it was the one he had for her. 

"You're my friend and I wanted you to enjoy today because I know that your family wouldn't be in the city this year." Steve had told her that Bucky's nephew, James, would be going to his daughters house in Wyoming and his nieces didn't live in New York so he'd be alone with the exception of him and the team. 

Looking up at his unreadable expression she tried to play today off like it wasn't a big deal. "It's nothing I wouldn't do for any of the other's." Okay that was a half truth. She would have tried to make anyone else feel better, but maybe not to the extent she had for him. The ding of the elevator let them know they had reached their floor.