Love that Lasts Forever

define

A/N: words: 4009. LAST CHAPTER BEFORE EPILOGUE ALERT YALL. OMGGGGGGGGGGGG. how goofy is this. this is the last chapter to the last book in this series. if you've been around since the beginning, i love you, because its been a long ride of no updates and a shit ton of spelling mistakes. but thats okay. because this series is my child. these books are my children. i have issues. anyway, enjoy!

Sometimes the most beautiful things in life are hidden in the sand. Sometimes, the things that matter the most only live in your heart. Sometimes, the waves come crashing in, filling your lungs, causing your ribs to rust, until you are nothing more than a silhouette, a ghost travelling from smile to smile, an angel haunting the dreams of a man with a simple smile, and thunderstorm eyes. Sometimes the most beautiful things in life don't last forever. Sometimes the most beautiful things in life are only made beautiful from the hands that crafted them.

Sam was drifting in and out of sleep beside Bucky, their last night before Bucky can leave. He urged Sam to leave yesterday. Actually, he's urged Sam to leave since he woke up, also known as the past week. He already left Bucky alone once before. He's not doing that again.

But he's so tired. His bones ache, crying for him to lay down, to settle in a bed and sleep. His mind feels like a boulder, thoughts running wild, despite being perfectly still. His heart. His heart sobs in his chest, his heart yearns for simple morning with the sun peaking into their life. His heart yearns for light touches and quiet nights, when it was only the two of them. His heart pounds against his chest, determined to get its way, needing to get its way.

But life hasn't been kind to the heart that beats in Sam's chest.

"Stop thinking, bird brain." Bucky slurred from the bed next to him. Sam sighed, eyes fluttering open.

"Can't." Sam said, his voice steady in contrast to Bucky, no sign of sleep. Bucky looked over at Sam, eyes open a fraction.

"What's on your mind, sweetheart?" Bucky asked, voice still impossibly gentle and soft, comforting, as if his voice was being draped over Sam's shoulders.

"I just wanna go home. Wanna sleep. Don't wanna leave you, though. Kinda a problem." Sam shared, meeting Bucky's eyes.

"We go home tomorrow." Bucky reminded him. Sam nodded as he breathed out a small 'I know.'. Bucky sighed. "Sam you haven't slept for the past two months, have you?"

"Not well, I guess." Sam confirmed. "I got two months off, though, that's something."

"Two months off to deal with a very small, very needy child that doesn't believe in sleep. Sounds like a real vacation." Bucky commented, causing Sam to smile.

"It'll be better than this job, that's for damn sure." Sam huffed. Bucky hummed, nodding. "Let's just go home, tomorrow, yeah?" Bucky smiled.

"Yeah." Bucky agreed.

~~~~~~~~

The sound of Sam's phone rang through the room as the sun rose. Sam groaned, reaching for the phone in his pocket. Rhodey's name read out on his phone.

"Hey, man." Sam greeted, his voice full of sleep.

"Hey, how's Barnes? "

"Fine. We're both good, what's up?" Sam asked, and felt the growing dread in his stomach at the thought that this was definitely not just a check in.

" I really don't wanna do this, I've been fighting with the higher ups for weeks about this, but do you know when you're comin' back onto the field? "

Sam sighed. His eyes passed over Bucky's sleeping form, a slow rise and fall of his chest evident by the flutter of the sheets. His wounds had all healed, the only sign was a fading scar on his palm and shoulder.