Project 1940S

Chapter 23

I woke up disoriented, looking around the dark, windowless room. There wasn't much decor in the room, including a clock, so I had no idea what time it was. The room outside was silent and I peeked out the door to see that Loki, Ivy, and Wade were wrapped up in each others' embrace, fast asleep, thankfully with blankets covering their bodies (thought admittedly Loki had a glorious chest). 

I tiptoed through the room, quietly opening the door, and headed back to the elevators. 

I stood in front of them for a moment, wondering if I should push the up or down arrow. Go down to the main room, or up to Steve and Buckys' apartment. I finally made my choice, waiting for the elevator to drop me off at my destination. 

"Okay." I murmured, hesitating, before opening the door and smiling just a bit when I smelled pancakes. "Okay." I muttered again. 

I had just closed the door when I heard Bucky roar, "GET OUT!" 

I froze, heart leaping in my chest, thinking he had heard me. But I realized that wasn't the case when I heard Sharon's voice. "But James-" 

"I'm serious Carter, get out of the apartment. I'm going to have Stark throw you out of this tower I swear." 

"What a violent temper Winter." Sharon said in a patronizing voice. "This is why women always prefer Stevie." 

My temper flared immensely and I found myself striding forwards and into the kitchen. "How dare you." I snarled, stalking forwards. Sharon was wearing revealing clothes again, and she blinked in surprise. Bucky looked just as startled, but also slightly flushed. 

"Wha-" 

"You heard him. Get out of our apartment." I spat. 

"Just who do you think you are?" Sharon said nastily, trying to tower over me. My fist popped out, catching her in the throat. She let out a gasp, clutching her throat and stumbling backwards. 

"Their girlfriend." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Get out. Or I'll sic Loki on you." 

Sharon stumbled out of the room and Bucky turned to look at me. I didn't recognize the look in his eyes, but he strode forwards, kissing me hard and then whispered. "That. Was the fucking hottest thing ever." He kissed me again and I smiled against his lips. 

But when he pulled away, I said seriously. "Buck. . . if you don't-" 

"Wait." Bucky said quickly. "I just. . . I really want to explain what happened. Before you make any decisions." 

"Okay." I whispered. 

"When I said that we didn't need a woman in our relationship, what I meant was, we didn't need anyone else for our relationship to be happy, or to be in love with each other." Bucky said quickly. "But what I should have added was, just because we don't need anyone in the relationship. . . it doesn't mean that we don't want someone else either. Steve and I both want you Elizabeth, otherwise we never would've agreed to court you in the first place." 

I smiled. "I figured as much." I kissed his cheek. "But I also want to talk to the both of you." 

"Of course Princess." Steve's soft voice made me jump, spinning to see he'd been leaning against the wall. He was only wearing his boxers, his hair a mess as though he'd just gotten out of bed. "Although, who was Bucky screaming at?" 

Bucky scoffed. "Sharon was trying to make love pancakes apparently." He tossed them into the garbage. "And then burned them. I could've at least eaten those." 

"Well, before we eat, you should say what you want to say." Steve said, coming over and sitting down at the table. 

I looked at both of them and was silent for a moment, trying to picture an unconventional life. Waking up in the morning to both of them, a ring on my finger from both of them. Steve wearing his boxers and making pancakes while the morning sun shone through an open window of our house. Bucky laughing as he came down the stairs, children hanging on his shoulders, laughing with him. 

I pictured kissing Steve on the cheek while helping with the bacon, before feeding the kids and going out somewhere nice. Perhaps the zoo or the aquarium or the park, playing or teaching the kids, sharing experiences. Being a unconventional couple. 

Then I imagined parents reactions and the fact that I could never actually get married. Was that something I could even live with? Could I put aside my one solid moral 'don't have sex before marriage' aside to live with men I loved forever. 

It made me nervous, butterflies erupting violently in my stomach. 

"Hey." Bucky said, taking my hand. "Just tell us, it's alright." 

"Before I say this, I want you guys to know I do like you." I said, looking between the two of them. "But I think logically about things, people, and events in my life and logically. . . this relationship. . . well I can't see it progressing." 

Bucky tilted his head to the side, looking confused, but Steve asked, "Can you explain why?" 

"You two are married." I replied. "And you can't marry anyone else. And obviously, I'm not saying that even if we could get married, that we would do it now. But in the future, it is an impossibility. I just. . . I don't see-" 

"You don't think we'll marry you?" Steve finished, raising an eyebrow. 

"Well, obviously, no." I said, cheeks burning. "Considering-" 

"Considering we know five Gods, the King and Queen of Asgard, the King of Wakanda, and Tony Stark, I'm pretty sure we could figure out a way for the three of us to get married doll." Bucky smirked a little. 

"Yeah, Loki mentioned a planet he knew, but I mean, it's not Christian or Earthly or-" 

"There are religions on Earth that allow marriage between more than one person." Bucky argued. 

"Mostly one man with multiple women. And it's a logical response to the fact that a man can get several women pregnant at the same time in order to repopulate the Earth." The fact slipped right off my lips. We had learned about the Mormons quite recently in cultural Anthropology. 

"Who cares?" Bucky finally asked. "If we're happy, isn't that all that matters? If I get to wake up with you between the two of us, what do I care about what others think or religion?" 

I smiled a little, squeezing his hand lightly, which he had started holding at some point. 

"There is one other thing." Steve said quietly. "Something that you must know." 

"Oh?" I asked quietly because Bucky's grip on my hand had suddenly become painful. 

Steve sighed, reaching forwards to take my other hand into his, lifting it up to kiss the back of it, before whispering against my skin. "Our super soldier serum makes us immortal. At least, as far as we can tell. Our hair will grow out, but that is the only sign that we change at all. It's like that Twilight movie except-" 

"-except you can't make me into a vampire." I smiled a little. 

"I want you to understand the cost of being with us." Steve whispered. 

"Actually." I whispered back, "It seems that it's going to cost you a lot more if I'm the one you have to watch grow old and die." 

Steve cupped my cheek. "It's worth it if we get to love you through it all." 

I swallowed back my tears, connecting our lips lightly. "Then I'll stop thinking about logic and focus on my heart. How about that?" 

"I like that." Steve murmured. 

"Me too." Bucky said softly, reaching out and squeezing my hand again. "I love you. Both of you." 

"Me too." Steve and I whispered together. Steve stood up, "Now, how about I make the pancakes this time?" 

Bucky and I grinned at each other, "We'd love that Steve."