Time Unchanging

Chapter 146

Eva got to the entrance hall. Sam was looking through all the luggage to find his bag. They hadn't even had time to unpack before the drama started.

"Sam," Eva called out, "please, wait!"

"Why?" Sam yelled. "You heard him back there!"

"It may not have come out the way he meant it."

He threw down the bag in his hand. "If that were true, then where is he? Huh?"

Bucky appeared at that moment and said, "I'm right here, doll. Please, just let me explain. Okay? None of that stuff is important-"

"What?" Eva asked incredulously.

That set Sam off more as he grabbed his bag and said, "I can't believe this! I'm going-"

"I'm sorry!" Bucky replied, stepping between his fiance and the door. "That's not what I-" He shook his head, tears forming. "Look, to me, what's important isn't the place or the flowers or even what cake we have at the reception." He took a shaky breath. "It's the fact I'm marrying you."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Just like that, we're supposed to be cool?" He moved around Bucky. "I need a few days to cool off and think. Sarah's been bugging me about visiting anyway."

With that, Sam left the compound, slamming the door behind him. Bucky felt dizzy and fell against the wall behind him. Eva helped Bucky stay upright as he began to panic. He had no idea how it even got this bad so fast.

Wanda, Yelena, and Clint had followed after to watch what they thought was going to be some hilarity. They hadn't planned on Sam and Bucky being hurt. Now, it looked like they were headed for a breakup.

"Oh my God," Wanda said, guilt washing through her, "what did we do?"

Clint started to move away, saying, "Yelena did it!"

Yelena replied, "That wasn't supposed to happen."

"Go after him, Bubba," Eva said.

Bucky took a breath. He had to make this right. He had time. Sam still had to dig out his keys, load his bag, and get in the car. He had time. Please, let me have time.

Once Bucky was out the door, Eva turned to the troublesome trio and growled, "How could you? I get wanting some fun, and with how gloomy Bucky had been, he was an obvious target! But never would I have guessed you three would take a joke that far! Me and Loki, sure! But Wanda, you are the mother hen of the Avengers! Clint, you're a father, for fuck's sake! And Yelena, you know exactly how that kind of manipulation can hurt someone! I'm disappointed in all of you!"

She walked out of the compound. She took her time to get to Sam and Bucky. Clint, Wanda, and Yelena felt ashamed. What would they do if Sam and Bucky called off the wedding? Or worse, broke up? It would be all their fault.