It's Been A Long, Long Time ; Bucky Barnes

Chapter Eight

2014 - Birthday

Cara had many worries about her planned trip to Sokovia, she couldn't sleep. Her dreams went from Hydra nightmares to nightmares about Sokovia. She relived the events from Europe every night on her brother's floor, waking up in a cold sweat every morning.

It wasn't until the night of November fourteenth that Steve got worried, Cara woke up in the middle of the night with a scream that made Steve's heart ache. He rushed to the living room where she was sitting up with her head in her hands and her elbows on her knees. Steve slowly approached her when he realized she was stifling her sobs, she looked up at Steve and turned away from him.

Steve sat on the couch next to Cara, he waited for her to slow her cries before wrapping his arms around her. She lay in his arms as he said, "I'm sorry." He said this repeatedly, Steve felt a lot of responsibility for her past and how terrible the last seventy years were for her. Cara knew he felt this way and tried to convince him it was never his fault constantly.

Steve felt her shake in his arms as Cara continued crying, he knew why. It was her first birthday since Hydra. He knew she wouldn't want to celebrate knowing Bucky wasn't going to be there with them. Cara pulled away from him and he wiped her tears. He wasn't sure why she screamed only a few moments before, but he knew it had something to do with her dreams.

"It'll never be the same, Steve," Cara muttered. His heart dropped, knowing she was right, it will never be the same, "I think I should look for Bucky alone."

"What?" He said, "You can't. I won't let you."

She just shook her head and choked back her tears, "You told me yourself, you have to go with the rest of the Avengers to look for the scepter." she wished she didn't have to be alone but she knew it had to happen, "If you and Nat go with me it'll only set everyone back, please let me do this. Please Steve."

Steve shut his eyes and thought about what she was saying, he knew she was right but he also wished she wasn't. He pulled her into a hug and whispered, "Okay."

Cara gave a heavy sigh before he went back to bed, but she couldn't sleep. Her mind wandered, she had never had so many thoughts all at once. It made her smile thinking about how many thoughts her brain could have, her mind wandered so much for so long that the sun began to rise. It was a Saturday and the only person who knew it was her birthday was her brother.

Steve tiptoed into the living room, as though he were worried he might step on her toes or interrupt a conversation. He reached the kitchen and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding onto. Cara followed soon after.

"Would you like to meet my friends today?" He asked, already preparing for the "no" that she was about to say.

"You know what," Cara said, "Sure." Steve spun around and faced her, the look of shock on his face made Cara wonder if he was breathing, "I already know three of the Avengers, so why not meet the other three? I just have to shower first."

He smiled and gave her a hug, "Yay!"

-

After Cara showered she walked to Steve's closet, she went shopping with Natasha and Sam every sunday since they moved to the city. She was finally able to wear, to eat, and to do what she wanted, she also had the money. Steve had made some extra room for her clothes in his closet and his desk was covered in her jewelry. It was a shock that her income was so much but she wasn't complaining, Tony had been extraordinarily kind to her for the past couple weeks.

Cara pulled her cream colored turtleneck sweater over her head and paired it with a black leather skirt over her black tights and black army boots. She had only bought one purse with Sam and Nat, it was small and black.