It's Forbidden

Thirteenth Reason

Aspen was feeling overwhelmed by everything going on. Between her feeling the way she did, Bucky getting back, Steve's attitude, the hostility, Tony, Bruce, it was all too much for her to handle the way she was feeling right now. She wanted to crawl into a shell. And she wanted Bucky to crawl right in there with her. She held his hand tight and he held hers right back. Before she had to explain this to anyone, she wanted to explain everything to Bucky.

She could tell he was just as worried and stressed out. He had no idea what was going on. She felt terrible. He was so confused. So was everyone else, but they weren't her boyfriend who's brother who isn't actually her brother thought was her real brother. Complicated. Yes. Insane. Yes. Hard to explain. Yes. She just needed Bucky to be the first one to know everything. It affected her and him the most.

She knew she'd get protests, but she needed to talk to Bucky alone. She'd explain to everyone else, but she'd rather everyone not be around when she told Bucky. She wanted their conversation to be more intimate. Because she also hadn't seen him in two days. She wanted them to have time to process it all alone without having to add someone else, or several people into the equation.

"Can you guys leave us alone for a second?" She asks, shyly, knowing the protests she would get. At least from Steve. She didn't know about everyone else. And she was right. "No." Steve said looking at her offended. "You owe us an explanation." Steve says. "You're Tony's aunt?" He asks. Aspen would give them all an explanation, but Bucky first. She didn't want anyone to be around when she told him because she wanted them to have an intimate conversation about it without other's input.

Tony must've known where she was coming from, and he had more heart than he let anyone know about. He stood up for Aspen and obliged to her request. "Everyone out except Aspen and Barnes. Now." Tony tells everyone. Steve rolls his eyes, but he knew better than to argue with Tony. "Thank you Tony." Aspen says, he gives a slight nod, 'you're welcome', before all three of them leave the room. Leaving Aspen and Bucky alone.

As soon as they all left the room, Bucky picked Aspen up out of bed. He sat on the bed with Aspen on his lap straddling him. He ran his fingers through her hair just as she did his. She smiled at him, looking over her features. Every time they looked at each other, they both wondered what they would ever do without each other. They would never take one another for granted. They would hold each other close and never let go.

"Hi." Aspen whispered. Tucking a piece of his hair behind his ear. Bucky smiled at her, he couldn't help but smile when he looked at her. "Hey." He whispered back to her. "I was gone for two days and you had quite the adventure." He says to her. It was true. A lot had happened within the span of two days. She didn't even know where to begin, but she needed to just get it over with. "What happened doll?" Bucky asked her.

She got it over with. Talking fast. Slow enough for him to understand her, but fast because she was nervous and she wanted to make a long story short. "Steve told me before you left," She started. "When you were leaving and he told me to go in the other room talking to him," She clarified, so there wouldn't be too many questions because she knew he would already have many.

Not that she cared, she would answer the same question for him a million times, but she knew he hated asking too many questions or what he felt was too many questions. He thought when he asked so many questions he was a burden which was beyond true. Which was why she wanted him to ask the least amount possible, so he wouldn't even think about feeling that way.

"That I'm adopted. He said mom told him before she died and she also told him to make sure I got to know you, but not let me date you or anything." She says. "Which sounded sus." Aspen says. Because it was suspicious. To anyone who didn't know any better, it would be extremely suspicious. "So I got a DNA test after you left and turns out Tony's dad is my brother." Aspen finishes, making the long complicated story, short.

Bucky takes it all in and nods after letting it soak in for a second. He can tell Aspen is nervous. Anxious. He gives her a smile. "At least I'm not your brother." Bucky tells her. Lightening the mood. Smiling at her. His gorgeous smile and baby blue eyes light up her world. She feels less anxious. Less stressed. She feels like everything is going to be okay again. Because of him.

"Thank god." She says. Not being able to help but smile at him. "That would've been my thirteenth reason." She teases. Even though they both knew, her mind had went there. Bucky knew during Hydra, her mind went there several times, and he knew the only reason she didn't , was because of him, and he was grateful she was still alive, because if she wasn't, he wouldn't be either.

"You know I understood that reference," Bucky says, "And I don't like it." He says. "But it would've been my thirteen reason too." Because honestly, it would have. He wouldn't know what to do if what was insinuated by Steve and Aspen's mom was true. He couldn't not be with her. He wouldn't be able to do it without her. They couldn't go back, especially after she told him she loved him, which he hadn't addressed yet, but as soon as she was better, he would.

"If we go down, then we go down together." Aspen says, smiling at him. "Always." Bucky says. Smiling at her. Then he gets serious. "How're you feeling though princess?" He asks her. He had never called Aspen princess before, but she liked it. It made her blush. "Oh that's new." She points out smiling. "But I like it." She says, her cheeks read. "I don't feel good. I keep throwing up." She says answering his question.

"And my belly hurts and I have a fever." She finishes. "How about we get Bruce back in here and figure out what's going on then, yea?" He asks. "Yea." She says. "But Bucky?" She asks. "Yes Aspen?" He asks. "I'm glad you're back." She says, smiling at him. "And I'm gonna throw up again." Aspen tells him.

He saw her face go pale and knew she was about to get sick. "Not on me you're not. Go over to the trashcan Stark." She shook her head and got up off Bucky's lap to throw up again. "No now that was the thirteen reason." She says before getting sick again.