Lifeline | A Bucky Barnes fanfiction

chapter 3

Present time

"Hey." Sam smiled as he grabbed her in his arms. "I missed you." He said still holding her. "Me too." She sighed and felt the weight of her shoulders lift for a momento as he hugged her. "I talked to him." She told Sam, referring to Bucky. "He answered your call?" He asked surprised. "Actually... he called me... I texted him and he then called me like two minutes later... I was very surprised." She stuttered. "He convinced you to come, right?" Sam teased her. "He kind of did." Anabela admitted. "You both are so damn stubborn, I swear to God sometimes I just wanna lock you up in a room until you both admit you want to have babies and get married." Sam groaned. "I don't think that's the correct order, Samuel." Anabela held back a laugh. "You know what I mean." He said. "Is he here?" She asked hopeful. "I'm sorry, honey, I haven't Heard from him." Sam said. "It's okay... I'm here for you." She gave him a quick hug as he walked to the stage to give his speech. Sam knew she wasn't okay, he knew she was glad to see him but he also knew she expected to reunite with Bucky.

Sam was guided to the stage as Anabela made her way to a corner of the room. "Excuse me, ma'am, you're not allowed to be here." A man took Anabela by her arm. "Get your hands off me." She said trying to get free but the man tighten the grip and another one got her from her other side. "You're banned from the headquarters, you know that, miss Torres." Anabela knew that could happen but she still took the risk. "This is the memorial of one of my best Friends." She snapped. "Woah, woah gentlemen, no one taught you how to treat a lady?" A man approached the scene. "Miss Torres, the name is John Walker." She turned to him. "Hello, John Walker, as you can see I'm a Little busy here." She replied sarcastically.

"Easy, boys, leave the lady alone." He said and they all freed Anabela from their grip. "What brings you here, Miss Torres?" He asked her. "Cap's memorial." She simply stated. "Are you a big fan, sweetheart? Because if that's the case you're lucky... you're seeing the new Captain America." He showed off his suit which made Anabela laugh. "I don't think so, Mr. Walker" She said, knowing that it had be a bunch of lies. There will never be a new Captain America. "What makes you so sure?" He asked her getting closer to her which started to make her uncomfortable. "Because I'm an old friend of Steve Rogers, that's why." He smirked. "Oh I see, I knew the last name was familiar, you're one of our black listed people." She tensed up a bit but tried to cover it up. "So what's your super power, Darling?" He asked. "I don't have one, don't you think I would have shut you up already If I had any?" She sassed him. "A big mouth it is... looking for someone to teach you how to behave?" He whispered getting closer to her face.

"I wouldn't do that." A voice came from outside their circle. Anabela would recognize that voice anywhere and he sounded pissed. "Sargeant Barnes, what a suprise." John took a step back and sarcastically grinned at Bucky. Anabela turned to him and forgot about anything else as she practically ran to his arms. He was surprised for a momento but then he gave in the hug and pressed her to his chest. "What a sweet reunión." Walker teased. "Unfortunately she can't be here." Bucky slowly unwrapped his arms but held Anabela's hand so she stayed next to him.

"It's a memorial for God's sake, what am I going to do? Cuss you off? That's the only super power I fucking have." Anabela barked at him and made Bucky smirk. She was as feisty as he remembered. "Alright, sweetheart, you can stay but only if I can handcuff you." Walker smirked. "You're not touching her." Bucky took a step in front of her towering John. "You know... Captain America would let me stay at a memorial." Anabela said and made John tense. "He is here, Miss Torres." One of the men standing behind Walker said. "Yeah he is... in a coffin." She replied. "Alright, alright... Imma leave you off the hook." Walker sighed. "Only because you're pretty and seem very harmless." He smirked making Anabela huff.

"She doesn't need your approval, John, she's with me and Sam." Bucky stepped in. "Get lost." He said dragging Anabela by the arm to a corner of the room, as Sam began talking on the podium. "Thank you for having my back." Anabela told him as she held eye contact. "You didn't need it." He half smiled at the now woman he used to know, it was weird, he felt like he never stopped seeing her right when they locked eyes again, she still had the same reassuring smile, she was still very small but at the same time she looked more mature, she had grown up through the years, before his eyes. "I thought you weren't going to come." She admitted. "I couldn't break a promise to you... again." He shrugged. "Are you staying?" He asked. "I don't know." Anabela admitted. "An apartment isn't really affordable in New York for me right now and..." She kept babbling. "I have a big enough apartment, you know... you're always welcome." He said trying to sound cool... but he actually wanted to be close to her, he wanted to try to erase the past years when he wasn't around. "We've been together for about 5 minutes and you're already trying to get me to move in with you." Anabela teased playfully. "I guess I am." Bucky smiled, trying to cover up the fact that he was nervous.

Anabela stayed quiet for a moment which made Bucky overthink what he just said, did he go too far? Steve had told him multiple times that Anabela was in love with him, he had to believe him, he was his best friend after all... and also Sam's constant teasing to his best friend... but years have passed and maybe she found somebody while he abandoned her or simply changed her mind. "I think I'll take that offer." Anabela shook him out of his thoughts. "You want to stay with me?" He asked trying to hide the disbelief in his voice. "Yes... I mean we have to catch up after all." She smiled. "I'll have to lay low tho..." She shrugged. "I really don't understand how you're a danger... years passed and I'm still causing trouble in your life." Bucky groaned. "Hey... it's not you, I was an adult when I made the choice to let the pretty brainwashed soldier stay at my apartment." Anabela half joked which made him half smiled at her comment but he still didn't understand how she could see that with humour. "So you think I'm pretty?" He tried to joke. "I liked the long hair." Anabela teased. "I'll think about it." Bucky smirked. "No, you won't..." She denied. "You hated it." Anabela laughed.

"Well, well... look who decided to show up." Sam interrupted. "Don't worry, I'm already regretting it." Bucky joked. "You were really good up there tho..." He pat Sam on the back. "Really? I kept getting distracted by an annoying couple that was bickering... do you happen to know them?" Sam teased the both of them. "Oh come on, we weren't loud... besides I was almost dragged outside by Mr. I'm the new Captain America." Anabela said. "That asshole." Sam muttered. "He is here because you gave up on the shield, Sam, why didn't you just take it?" Bucky let out. "It's not that easy, Barnes." He replied. "Steve gave it to you, he believed in you." Bucky barked. "I just don't understand how you could let go of it so easily." He continued. "That's not fair, it was not easy and you don't know what I'm going through because you never return my calls, man." Sam answered him back, starting to raise his voice. "Okay, easy fellas... we are getting a Little emotional and this is not the place." Anabela interrupted, gently putting her hands on both of their chests as a little separation. "Are you staying in New York, Sam?" Anabela asked trying to change the subject as Bucky huffed looking the other way. "I have to take care of something back home... Sarah's expecting me actually." He told her. "Is everything okay?" She asked worried. "Some family problems... but we will be fine." He reassured her. "What about you? Do you want to come with me? Sarah and the boys would love it." He offered and it was true. She had an amazing relationship with Sam's family, as they took her as one of their own. "Umm... although I would love that I think it might have to wait a little... I'm staying here for a few days." Anabela told him. "You're moving here?" Sam asked confused. "She's staying with me." Bucky spoke again. "I see." He said. "So... are you guys like together?" He asked turning to Anabela. "We're just catching up, Sam... like old Pals." She smacked his arm. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, honey... just know we won't be doing that kind of catching up." He teased her but she couldn't say anything as he hugged her goodbye. "Take good care of her." Sam turned to Bucky. "When have I not?" He scoffed. "Don't make me show you my list." He replied. "Okay, love to see you getting along." Anabela interrupted again before they continued arguing.