Only one true love

Part 3: Chapter 13

The next few days passed in making a plan about who will be going on the 'Bucky mission', as we called it, and how it was going to go. We found out, by closely observing, that, every day at the same time, Bucky would sit on a bench, not too far from the place we bumped into each other, and would stay there for a while before departing.

In the end, we came up with a plan. I was going to go to Bucky first to talk to him, get him to remember and peacefully get him to the headquarters. Steve and Thor were going to be close by, in case Bucky gets aggressive. In case he starts away, Natasha, Clint and Tony were going to help us chase him. If we are not able to restrain him, Bruce (in Hulk form) will come, but we are hoping that it won't come to that.

***

On the day of the mission, I woke up early. I was excited because I will finally be able to talk to Bucky. I was also nervous because I didn't know how it will go.

I got up and went to get something to eat even though I wasn't hungry. Steve and Natasha were in the kitchen when I entered. Steve was going over the plan while Natasha was pouring herself some coffee.

"Morning," I said when I entered the kitchen. I made some toast and sat down.

"How are you feeling?" Steve asked me.

"Not gonna lie, I'm a bit nervous," I said.

"It's normal to be nervous before a mission, especially before this one," he said.

"Yeah," I replied. I got up from the table without eating and went to get dressed.

Half an hour later, Steve, Thor and I were walking to the coffee shop where I was going to separate from them. We walked in intense silence. When we came to the coffee shop, they both hugged me and wished me good luck before going in. I didn't say anything. I was too nervous. I kept walking and stopped before I reached the bench Bucky usually sat on. He was there now, not looking in my direction. He was looking down and his hands were in his shoulder-length hair. The hair that was always so soft and silk. In the hair I loved to touch and run my hands through. Only, it was never this long, always short.

I took a deep breath and made my way to the bench.

"Is it free?" I asked Bucky, pointing to the bench. He nodded, without looking up.

I sat down and looked at him. I didn't know what to say. He looked so vulnerable right now. I wanted to wrap my hands around him, run my hand through his hair, kiss him and tell him it was going to be alright. I wanted to comfort him. I went closer to him.

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked. He ignored me. I put my hand on his back and I felt him tense. He looked up immediately and his eyes met mine. He looked shocked when he saw me. My eyes filled with tears, I couldn't help it.

"Bucky," I said quietly, "It's me, Rose. Please remember."

I slowly moved my hand and put it over his. He tensed but didn't move it. He just kept looking me in the eyes, trying, trying to remember. After what felt like an eternity, I saw recognition in his eyes and they filled with tears.

"Baby?" he said quietly. I smiled and nodded, tears rolling down my face. He remembered. He remembered me. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. I sobbed and laughed into his chest.

"Baby, baby, baby," he kept saying. We stayed like that for a long time until Steve interrupted us.

"Hey," he said. I lifted my head so I could see Steve but didn't pull away. Steve wasn't looking at me, he was looking at Bucky. They looked at each other for a while. Then Bucky spoke: "Steve?"

I saw Steve's eyes lit up when Bucky said his name.

"Yes, yes, it's me, Steve," he said.

"Baby?" Bucky spoke to me. I looked at him.

"Can I say hi to my old friend, please?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, of course," I said and let go of Bucky.

While they were hugging, I wiped my eyes and got up. When they let go of each other, Bucky put his arm around my waist.

"I want you to come with us," I told him. He let me go and looked at me in disbelief.

"Wait, so you did all this just to arrest me or put me in custody or whatever?" he asked.

"No, no, that's not what I meant!" I said, "I meant to come to be with us, like live with us, so we can help you."

"Oh, sorry," he said, and put his arm around my waist again.

"I would love to," he said, kissed me and pulled me in a hug. I hugged and kissed him back, thinking to myself, 'this is where I belong.'