A Love Like Ours

THIRTY SIX

New York City, 12:15pm the following day

The entire morning has been grueling for poor Bucky, Watching his precious doll run around completely flustered and panicked as they prepared to leave the house.

He even had to ask her to wait home while he brought Rosie down to Wanda and Vision's because he knew Wanda would be able to tell right away that something was wrong.

What he should have expected, However, Was that Wanda already knew about Steve coming back into town, And grilled him for details the second he stepped foot inside the house.

She tried to convince him to allow her to go with Anastasia to meet with Steve at Doctor Lavigne's office, Thankfully he and Vision were able to help her understand how that would only make the situation more stressful for Anastasia.

But now as Bucky stands on the snow covered sidewalk in front of the breathtaking building as it towers before them, He found himself wishing he had Wanda as backup.

The entire drive up, The two barely spoke. They played cheerful music off a playlist Anastasia created a few weeks ago, But they were both too anxious and overwhelmed to singalong.

Neither one of them have been able to shake the image of the other from night of the accident since Ayo knocked on their door yesterday morning.

Over and Over Anastasia sees Bucky choking on his own blood beneath Steve's twisted scowl as he punches him repeatedly.

Over and Over Bucky hears Anastasia's ear piercing scream as he holds her shaking, bloodied body in his arms.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Bucky hesitantly asks, His hand resting on the small of Anastasia's back as they stand a few feet from the glass revolving door.

She inhales a sharp breath before meeting his piercing gaze as the frigid December cold blows a swirl of snow flurries past her face.

"The sooner we go in, The sooner we leave."

"If you want to leave at any point, Just tell me and we'll go."

She swallows thickly, nodding up at him as he pulls the tall glass door open.

She can feel her heart pounding hard with each click of her combat boots.

The truth is, She wished she'd been able to come alone.

The friendly receptionist, Sarah, Whom they've only met twice before, Greets them and promptly escorts them back to Doctor Lavigne's elegant office, Where she's been waiting for the last fifteen minutes.

After exchanging handshakes and polite, uncomfortable smiles, Bucky guides Anastasia to sit beside him on the luxurious four cushioned couch, Directly across from where Doctor Lavigne sits behind her desk.

The faint smell of vanilla swirls in the air around them from her many candles. And bright natural light seeps in through the floor to celling windows to cast the room in a golden glow.

"So, Why don't we begin with how each of you are feeling about today? Who would like to go first?" Doctor Lavigne hums, her pen resting between her thumb and index finger, Taking note of their  anxious body language.

The couple share nervous glances, And Bucky begins to rub the back of Anastasia's hand gently with his thumb.

"I'm worried." He answers, Hoping to help Anastasia ease into talking as well.

"And what would you say you're the most worried about, James?"

"Steve being here, Steve being in the same room as Anastasia." He confesses, his old pals name tasting like poison on his tongue.