It's Been A Long, Long Time // Steve Rogers

Chapter 28

Rebecca's POV

"Hey Bex..."

I froze. There he was, staring back at me. My older brother. "Bucky..." I repeated as tears welled in my eyes. There were tears in his eyes as well and he took three large steps towards me. Steve was standing behind me with a hand on my shoulder for comfort. "How...how are you..." He pulled me into him and into a bone crushing hug. Steve walked away and let us have a moment. "Sam, let's take Scout out." I heard him say. Sam. Who is Sam? I looked over and saw another man with Steve as they got ready to take Scout outside.

"Where are you going?" I asked, my heart rate increased. I didn't want Steve to go. "Hey, I'll be right outside. We're just gonna give you a minute alone." He reassured me and gave me a kiss on the head. He and Sam, apparently, left and I looked back at Bucky. He looked so different. He had been through so much. I looked up at him and placed my hand on his cheek as if to double check that he was real. "How are you here?" I asked. "The same way Steve is here." He replied. My eyes then drifted to his black metal arm and I reached out to touch it. He squeezed his eyes shut as I ran my hand along it.

"Did they do this to you?" I mumbled. He nodded sadly. "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, Bex...I'm broken." He mumbled back. I shook my head as tears continued to roll down both of our cheeks. "No. You're not." He was my Bucky, my older brother...but he was different. He was hurt. So full of guilt. I should be the guilty one. I've known he was alive and haven't even tried to do anything about it. I could be doing something about it.

"I'm so sorry..." I mumbled, my voice shaking. "I could have-" "Stop." Bucky pulled me into another tight hug, "you couldn't have done anything, Bex." He whispered. I tightened my arms around him and shook my head as he guided us both to sit down on the couch. "I didn't get to say goodbye..." I cried. The last time I saw him I was like 17. It had been so long. I felt Bucky take a deep breath and I felt his grip tighten. "I've been so alone. Grandma she-" "I know. Steve told me. I'm so fucking sorry Bex." I gripped his shirt tighter.

He let me cry in his arms for a short while, his grip tight like I could disappear at any moment. I held him just as tight because between the two of us, I think I was terrified to lose him again. "I've missed you so much. I'm so happy I get to see you again." Bucky whispered. "You could see me now... we can-" "No Bex." Bucky said, shutting down my idea of saving him once again.

"But you're alive somewhere!!" I sobbed. "No one knew, Bex." He whispered. "But I know now! I could save you...we can be a family again. You, me, and Steve." "Shh, Bex." Bucky soothed me and rubbed my back comfortingly. "You can't save me." He whispered. Sobs left my lips and I clutched his shirt tightly as I cried.

"You don't need to get involved in that mess anyway. It's dangerous. I was dangerous and I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you at my hands." He squeezed me tighter and I leaned against him. My sobs slowly turned into deep breaths as I slowly relaxed in his arms. "You're safe here with Steve. He'd never let anything happen to you." And I knew that. I knew I was safe with Steve, but I wanted Bucky here too. I wanted my older brother.

"Please don't leave me again..." I whispered.

I felt him kiss my head and rest his forehead against the top of my head. "I'll stay as long as I can, Becca."

We must have been sitting there for a while, quietly just enjoying each other's company, because by the time Steve and the other man, Sam, came back inside with Scout, it was getting dark. Bucky never let go of me though. I soon felt Steve's hand on my shoulder and glanced over at him. "Hey sweetheart, Sam and I brought some pizza from your favorite pizza place." He said softly. "Tony's?" I asked. "Is there any better pizza place?"