The Fall - Book 2

201. ‍ ‍Réalta Geal Stark, my bright star...

MARCH 9, 2020 — RÉA

We step through the portal, and I recognise the location from the files I read years ago: we're in Washington, D.C., facing the abandoned-bank-turned-HYDRA-base.

"Bucky, wh—" I begin, turning to him with wide eyes. He faces me and gently places a finger to my lips, halting my question, before cupping my face and looking into my eyes.

"This is where I was when I first met you. Eleven years ago today, at one of the absolute darkest times in my life, you appeared. You didn't ask for anything; you just offered me comfort and kindness...you saved me."

He lowers his hands, grasping my left in his right, and leads me through another portal; we emerge in the clearing where I defeated Thanos.

"And one year, nine months, and seven days ago, this is where I first saw you. Even in the midst of everything going on, I saw your face and thought that you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen." He pauses. "I also wanted to keep you safe. Even though you could clearly hold your own, I wanted to protect you."

He begins walking toward what was the battlefield, stopping in the centre.

"When you healed the land, I told you that you glowed like a star. What I didn't realise at the time is that you are a star." He clears his throat. "You've been a beacon for me ever since the first time you appeared inside my mind. Through all of the darkness, you have been my north star; my guiding light. You have brightened my life in ways I didn't even know I needed; in ways I didn't even know were possible."

He leads me toward the palace, stopping at the base of the steps...in the spot where I first hugged him.

"You hugged me for the first time in this spot. And I was so surprised that I just stood still...something which I mentally kicked myself for repeatedly, by the way," he says with a small half-smile and a soft, slightly self-deprecating chuckle.

He inhales shakily.

"I love you with everything I am; with every fibre of my being. My heart and my soul are yours—they always have been, and always will be."

Taking hold of my other hand, he drops to one knee. I gasp, and the tears I've been trying to hold back fill my eyes; I blink, and one spills down my cheek.

"Geallaim grá duit, tacaíocht a thabhairt duit, agus tú a chothaímid, i gcónaí agus go deo, sa saol seo agus sa saol eile. I promise to love you, support you, and cherish you, always and forever, in this life and the next."

He swallows audibly.

"Réalta Geal Stark, my bright star...will you grant me the incredible honour of becoming my wife?"

A tremendous smile spreads across my face, and I open my mouth to respond, but I'm speechless and no sound comes out; all I can do is nod vigorously as tears of joy stream down my face. I kneel with Bucky, and pull him into a kiss, taking my hands from his to twine my arms around his neck.

"Yes," I finally manage to say. "Yes, James Buchanan Barnes, I'll marry you. I will absolutely take the amazing privilege of having you as my husband." I cup his face in my hands. "Like I told you before: even when the Universe fades; even if eternity ends...I will love you beyond both. Gach rud a bhraitheann tú dom, is dóigh liom ar do shon...everything you feel for me, I feel for you." I pause. "I love you so incredibly much...always and forever."

He reaches into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a small, black velvet pouch. He carefully opens it and takes out a ring, sliding it onto my left ring finger; the whole time, I keep my eyes on his. Once it's fully on my finger, I look at it and gasp.