𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒. ( 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 ) ✓

xxxvii. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN STANDING THERE?

[REQUEST - i actually quite like this one]

When Bucky began sneaking around at night and having a lot of private conversations with Natasha you began to get curious.

You found it particularly unnerving when you woke up one night to find Bucky wide awake and putting on some clothes before leaving your shared apartment. When you were sure he was gone you crept out of bed and towards the window where you saw Bucky getting into a car with Natasha.

You didn't sleep well following that.

When you felt Bucky's figure sink into bed beside you, later that night, and press a gentle kiss to your forehead you wanted to throw up.

So you thought it best to replicate Bucky's distance from you. It got to the point where you might leave the room when he entered it or he would wake up earlier to hit the gym so his visit wouldn't overlap with yours. You didn't know what had happened to your relationship and it broke your heart. Bucky didn't seem to feel the same way. His smile was still present and almost shone brighter than before.

Was he glad to be rid of you?

You got so sick of the internal debate every night when his arm was slung around your waist that you settled it. The next time Bucky was going to go 'run some errands' with Nat you were going to follow them. And so, you did.

You were surprised the master soviet assassins didn't notice you creeping around behind them. You convinced yourself that it was because they were so happy in each other's company that the rest of the world didn't matter. Bucky used to say that about the two
of you and so the words felt bitter on your tongue.

You finally managed to give your legs a break as they stopped at what seemed to be their destination. After a long walk through large, crowded roads they entered a small store on the corner of the street. You had set up a watch point across the road in a small café but now you'd decided enough was enough. You set the money for your drink down on the table and stormed out of the quaint place, ready to give your boyfriend a piece of your mind.

Yet what you actually found was much more shocking than you could imagine.

The store the two had entered was a jewellery store and Bucky was lingering by the rings.

Unless Natasha and Bucky had been going on for much longer than you anticipated, you could probably assume what they were doing here.

"Oh no." Nat's voice came from the necklace section beside you that you hadn't realised she was standing at.

At the sound of Natasha's exclamation, Bucky turned around and his eyes widened when he saw you in the doorway. Immediately he shuffled away from the ring section and the member of staff behind him shut the dark, velvet box.

"How long have you been standing there?" Bucky questioned, clearly taken aback from your arrival.

"I followed you because I thought you were cheating on me with her," you mumbled with embarrassment laced through your sentence as you pointed to Nat who sent you a tight lipped smile.

"Unless that's for her, I think I owe you an apology." Bucky looked towards the hand you gestured to and realised the ring he was looking at was still in his palm so he quickly hid it behind his back.

"N-no, I wouldn't. That's n-not..." Bucky's sentence trailed off as he tried to disguise how flustered he was and he clearly needed someone to intervene just as Nat did.

"I think what Barnes is trying to say is..."

"Will you marry me? Like not right now because I had a dinner reservation planned for this and Steve was gonna find me something to wear and even Sam was gonna pick out some flowers and Nat came to help pick a good ring but if you say yes now, I'll know to buy this. Otherwise, it might be a waste of money - these things are kind of expensive. Not that I wouldn't spend money on you, like, I'll buy you the whole damn store if you want but-"

You cut off Bucky's rambles with a kiss and he looked at you in surprise before becoming more at ease. When you pulled your lips away he was even more red and heated than he was before.

"Yes."

"Huh?"

"Yes, I'll marry you. Buy the ring, stupid." Bucky's eyes lit up with joy and yours were even happier when you came to the realisation that not only was Bucky 100% not cheating on you but you were getting married too.

The two of you embraced in a hug and the claps of staff and other customers made a giggle escape your lips.

Beside all of them, Natasha pulled out her phone and snapped a quick picture.

"Something to show the grandkids."