Sharp Edges

Chapter Thirteen

James never meant to fall asleep. But he found himself rousing to the low hanging sun shining in the window and the bed empty. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, able to hear the tv on downstairs.

Yelena had a chicken baking in the oven as Natasha worked on mashed potatoes. Steve sat in the living room with Cara and watched something he didn't quite understand on television.

Walking down the stairs, James yawned as he turned towards the noise. "What's on tv?"

"Something called Troll Hunters," Steve tried to explain, Cara's eyes fixed on the screen. "Dinner should be ready soon."

James furrowed his brow and sat on the other side of Cara. "That's... a lot of colors."

"She's fixated," Steve remarked, Cara clearly so. "She'll eat a good dinner, I think. Get a good nap in?"

He nodded. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, but it was comfortable... lying with both of them."

"Comfort isn't something you come by much. Embrace it," Steve advised wisely. He liked to hear that his best friend was comfortable enough to sleep.

James nodded. He looked down at Cara and couldn't help but smile. "As long as they're happy, I'm happy."

Steve recognized the selflessness in Bucky's smile. He meant those words. "Yelena came down with a smile on her face, too." In case he was wondering.

He looked over at Steve with a curious look. "She did?"

Steve nodded with a soft smile of his own. "She came down with Cara. She's kind of a natural with the kid."

"I'm glad they're getting along," James replied softly.

"She's in the kitchen, if you were looking for her. Dinner should be ready soon," Steve shared.

James stood. "Alright, I'll go and check on her." He walked out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Yelena was leaning down in front of the oven, taking the temperature of the chicken. Once she was sure it was done, she reached for the oven mitts. She caught sight of James out of the corner of her eye and her smile grew. "Hi sleepyhead," she teased gently.

He chuckled as he leaned against the counter and watched her. "Hi."

"How do you feel?" she asked as she pulled the chicken out of the oven. Setting it on the stove top, she gracefully kicked the door shut. "I didn't want

to wake you up."

"I'm alright. A bit more rested," he answered. "How are you?"

"I... am an excellent cook," she boasted charmingly, displaying her beautifully golden chicken. Pulling off the oven mitts, she tossed them at James playfully before she stepped up to him to find his lips in a kiss.

James slowly kissed her back as he wrapped his arms around her. "I can't wait to taste it."

She pressed her forehead against his as she held that moment of closeness. "Everything is okay," she told him quietly, assuring him in case he was worried.

"I'm glad," he murmured in reply. "I love you, babydoll."

"I love you," she replied huskily, kissing him once more before she lowered her feet to the floor. "Do you want to carve the chicken? You have such excellent knife skills," she observed with a cheeky grin.

James gave her a confident smile. "Sure. Should it cool a little first?"

"It should," she confirmed, stepping back to open a drawer and pull out a carving set to put aside for him. "Maybe you can set the table?"