You, me and Vegas

Part 12

Warning- Fluff, angst. realization.

After his parents left, Bucky was restlessly and desperately trying to call Peach on her phone.

Bucky's heart sank when he looked around the living room and noticed Peach's phone lying on the coffee table. She had left it behind in her haste to leave, and he couldn't call her to apologize.

He picked up the phone, looking at the screen. It was ringing, but of course, there was no response. She was probably already at Wanda's. He put the phone back down, feeling even more guilty and frustrated than before.

Bucky was still pacing around the apartment, unable to calm his thoughts. He couldn't stand the silence and solitude any longer. He needed to talk to someone, to get a different perspective on the situation.

He picked up his phone and called Steve, hoping he wasn't busy.

Steve sat down next to him, still in shock. "God, Buck," he said, shaking his head. "You're a real piece of work, you know that?" He sounded a bit scolding, but his eyes were filled with more concern than anger.

Bucky closed his eyes, leaning back against the couch. "Yeah, I know," he muttered. "I royally screwed up. Big time. I hurt Peach. And I don't know how to fix it this time."

Steve took a moment before responding, letting the pieces fall into place. "Wait a minute," he said suddenly, realization dawning. "Is this why you've been so...happy lately? All smiley and all that?"

Bucky looked at Steve, his expression sheepish. "Yeah," he admitted. "Peach makes me happy. She's just...she's different. She understands me, and she's so good to me, even when I don't deserve it. She has made me realize, that I don't have to be serious all the time. I can find happiness, in even smaller things in life. I don't have to be what my parents want me to be..."

Bucky ran a hand through his hair again. "But tonight, I let her down," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "I stood there like a coward and let my parents insult her right in front of me. I let her leave without saying a word. I've been a total prick."

Steve could see the pain and frustration in Bucky's eyes, and he understood. He had seen firsthand how controlling and critical Bucky's parents could be.

"Bucky," he said, his voice gentler now. "It's okay. It's never easy standing up against your parents, especially when they're like that. So...you have fallen in love with Peach, huh?"

Bucky nodded, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. "Yeah," he said hoarsely. "I have. I love her. I didn't want to, I tried so hard to not fall for her, to not get so attached."

He looked at Steve, his eyes filled with pain. "But I can't help it. She's just...she's everything I've ever wanted, but didn't know I needed. And now I've royally screwed it all up."

Steve sat silently, listening to Bucky's confession with a mixture of concern and understanding. After a moment, he asked, "Have you tried talking to her?"

Bucky shook his head, looking down at his hands in his lap. "No," he said quietly. "I couldn't. After what happened at dinner, she stormed out, and she didn't even take her phone. And honestly, I don't blame her. I wouldn't wanna talk to me either."

Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You gotta talk to her, Buck," he said firmly. "You gotta apologize and make things right. She's important to you, yeah?"

Bucky nodded, his expression one of determination now. "She is," he affirmed. "More important than anything, anyone else. I need to fix this. I need to make things right with her. Tomorrow we are getting annulled, maybe I can get to talk to her before that."