Unforgettable

Part 31 - So you're leaving

Steve had tried to find Willow but to no avail. Rumour has it that she was staying with Jeremy. He was pretty sure that the girls knew where you were for definite but almost a week later and Willow still hasn't returned.

Looking up when he heard movement, he locked eyes with Bucky. The man looked awful. This seperation was really taking its toll on him. Steve knew that his nightmares were back, that he barely ate and he just seemed to withdraw back into himself again 'Hey. Have you managed to get any sleep?'

Sighing slightly Bucky looked at his oldest friend 'Some. And some is better than none right' Steve nodded at that but knew it was a lie. Some was more than likely none in Bucky's case

'Hey Steve.... so I wanted to tell you that I'm going away for a bit. Fury has asked me and Sam to go on a mission out of town for a while and I've said yes'

Steve frowned at him 'So you're just going to leave? I mean do you think that's wise. What if she comes back and you're not here'

Just hearing her name brought pain to Bucky 'It's only temporary. Just for a little while, a few months maybe and then I'll be back' Bucky could feel the cogs turning in that brain of Steve's 'Buck... I know you're choosing to do this because of whatever went down with you and Willow the other night at the party so talk to me. What actually happened?'

It felt too personal and too raw to go into in any length of detail as to what had transpired that night. So many words said and sadness. All he could feel was sadness when he thought of that night 'Look she's not getting her memories back Steve. I've got to be realistic here'

Shaking his head, Steve pushed further. He had to make Bucky see that he needed to fight for her before Jeremy got his clutches into her 'But that doesn't mean that you should just give up pal. You need to find and her and tell her everything about Jeremy. And I mean literally everything even if you think it might hurt her'

Feeling the frustration bubbling at Steve's words, he wanted to stand up and yell that he had been fighting. That he'd been fighting every minute of every day since waking up from the accident. That it hasn't made a bit of difference 'I can't Steve ok. Not anymore. I'm tired of fighting for someone who isn't really there anymore. I can see that Jeremy's already in her head and he'll twist what we say to make sure she doesn't believe us'

Steve sighs 'I think you're making a mistake here Buck..it feels like you're running away from the problem' Now this comment finally tipped him over the edge 'Do you think that I want to leave? Do you? Because trust me when I say that this is breaking me right now'

Bucky is pacing now, the anger in him right at the surface. A few months back he was so close to getting the life he always wanted and now he was standing here arguing with his best friend about why the only option was to walk away from the only woman he had ever loved. The only woman he would ever love.

Watching him, Steve knew that this was the last thing that Buck wanted and his tone softened somewhat 'I get it. I really do, but I think you need to fight harder. She's the love of your life. Can you really just let her walk away?'

Feeling the first tear fall, he looked at Steve with anguish in his eyes 'I just need this time Steve and so does she. All of this is too much. If we're meant to be then we will come back to each other but I can't force this any longer. Can you support my decision on this... please'

Steve knew that Bucky was right. This is what they both needed in order to press the reset button and start over or to let everything go in order for them to move on 'Yeah. Of course I can support you. I just want what's best for you both. You know that'

Hugging Steve, he finally felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders 'I know. Just do me a favour and look out for her whilst I'm gone ok?'

Confirming that of course he would watch out for her, he watched as his best friend walked away 'God I hope you're making the right decision here Buck'

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Meanwhile Willow had been staying with Jeremy since the night everything had kicked off. She felt like she couldn't breathe, that somehow she was suffocating and no matter how hard she tried not to think about Bucky, her thoughts always went back there. The pain she saw in his eyes that night is something that she would never forget

'Hey is everything ok? You seem a little bit out of it' looking at him dressed in causal jeans and a sweater, her heart involuntary skipped a beat. This was familiar to her. He was familiar to her and maybe this is where she should be focusing all of her attention 'No. everything isn't ok Jez. I just don't know what I'm doing anymore'

Pulling her close into him so that she was pressed up against his chest he soothingly rubbed patterns on her back 'Hey. I'm here for you. I'll help you figure it all out ok?'

Nodding her head, she allowed a tear to escape 'But what if you can't. What if they now all hate me. I'm not even sure if I have friends here anymore'

His heart ached for her when he saw the turmoil she was in 'We'll figure it out ok. You can stay with me for as long as you like. Just let it all calm down first. You're safe here with me'

She allowed herself to be pulled down so that she was now laying over Jeremy on the couch. She allowed his soothing words to wash over her and his gentle movements to lull her into sleep. The first sleep she's had since the party.

'Sleep first then strategise' she thought to herself as she let the world disappear for a few short hours

Note: My heart breaks for them both. As always thank you for reading and supporting. Please leave a comment/like if you're enjoying it ❤️