OCTOBER 24, 2020 — AVENGERS COMPOUND — RÉA
When Bucky parks the car in the compound garage, I'm not surprised to see Thor waiting for us. Bucky pops the trunk, then helps me from the car as our friend takes my suitcase from the back.
"I'll take this to Lady Pepper's quarters, then will meet you at the hangar."
"Thank you, Thor," Bucky and I reply in unison.
Bucky grabs his duffel bag from the trunk, then the pair of us make our way to the hangar. Nat, Bruce, Andrew—Agent Mitchell—Sam, and Wanda are already there; since the ramp is lowered, I can see them inside the quinjet as they go about completing the pre-flight checks.
"Good morning, Barneses!" Andrew calls as he strides down the ramp. "Let me take that," he gestures to my husband's bag, "so that you can say your goodbyes. I know it's only five-forty, and I hate to rush you, but there's a small storm system on the radar; Romanoff thinks we can get ahead of it if we leave within the next five minutes."
Bucky gives a terse nod; I don't need our link to feel the tension radiating from him. He turns to me, and I immediately hug him as tightly as I can, given my rounded belly; he hugs me back before resting his hands on my bump.
"I love you, Bucky. I love you so, so much." Though my voice wavers, I manage to hold back my tears, not wanting to make it even more difficult for him to go. "Be safe...Conall and I will be here when you get back."
Conall kicks against Bucky's hands, and wanting to let Bucky say a proper goodbye to our son, I do what I did the first time he felt Conall move: I open a link between the three of us. I watch my husband's eyes mist, and the smile that forms on his handsome face is both happy and sad.
"Remember to be gentle to your mom, okay buddy? Jazzercise is fine, but try to avoid playing soccer with her ribs." He pauses. "I love you, Conall. I love you so much. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Just like that night, the immense love that Conall has for his father—for both of us—travels through the link; this time, there's a tinge of sadness as well.
"I'll miss you, Sclipire Noastră Micuța. You just keep growing and getting stronger, alright, Lupuleț?" (Our Little Twinkle ... Little Wolf)
Again, Conall kicks Bucky's hands, and we feel his agreement through the link.
"I'm going to talk to your mom now, Conall. I love you."
I close that branch of the link; when Bucky taps his temple, I close ours as well.
"I love you, Réa." He cups my face in his hands, his eyes fixed on mine. "Steaua Mea, Farul Meu, Miracolul Meu.... Te iubesc cu totul în mine...întotdeauna și pentru totdeauna." (My Star, My Beacon, My Miracle.... I love you with everything in me...always and forever.)
"I gcónaí agus go deo," I reply.
He presses his lips to mine; the kiss starts off sweet and tender, but quickly evolves into something heady and potent—and, quite frankly, desperate—as we both pour everything we're feeling into the gesture. When the kiss ends, I open my eyes to see my husband's shining with unshed tears.
He brushes his thumbs over my cheeks and gives me one more brief, gentle kiss, then takes several steps back.
"See you later, doll. Do your best to enjoy your time with Pepper and Morgan. And remember...don't overdo it," he says before starting toward the quinjet.
He's made it all of four steps when Sam appears at the top of the ramp.
"Bye, Cupcake! Bye, Crumb! See y'all soon!"
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The Fall - Book 2
Fanfiction***The Fall - Book 2 picks up where Book 1 left off*** Réalta has spent her entire life locked in a tower, haunted by visions of a man in pain. Unbeknownst to her, this tortured soul is Bucky Barnes, the former Winter Soldier...a man whos...
