Hello Sergeant (Bucky Barnes)

Good morning

James' POV

I woke up the next morning to see myself staring down at us. A glance from the corner of my eye showed that Peggy was still sleeping with her head on my shoulder and her hand on my heart. There wasn't even light coming from outside the window yet, so I guessed it was around six am.

"What time is it?" I asked quietly, not wanting to wake her yet. It took me a moment to remember who this was – Peggy's friend Jace.

"6:30. Natalia says it's time to get up." His tones were hushed, and he moved closer to the bed.

"She asked you to wake me or told you wake me?"

"Is there a difference?" He replied with a grin and a shrug.

He knew Natalia pretty well, then. "Not really. For the record, kid, don't ever touch me when I'm sleeping. I can't promise not to shoot first and ask questions later."

"You're not armed," he stated, "I'm calling your bluff."

I had the gun from under the pillow in my hand, pointed at him, with the safety off in seconds. "I'm never unarmed and I don't bluff."

He blinked once. "Duly noted. We'll be in the living room."

I nodded, clicking the safety back on and lowering the gun. He backed a couple steps away before turning and walking out the bedroom door, shutting it behind him. I looked down again to see Peggy looking up at me, a slight smile on her face.

"That wasn't very nice, James."

"He woke me up." I brushed her hair back so I could see the amusement on her beautiful face.

She poked my chest with her finger. "You woke me up."

I smiled and leaned down suddenly, capturing her lips with mine, taking her by surprise. She pushed me back as soon as her brain caught up with what was going on, but not before she had responded to me.

"I'm sorry I woke you up, Peggy; I'm not sorry for kissing you."

"Sarah, James. I'm Sarah Evans, remember?"

"I'm sorry, I forgot, Sarah."

Sarah sighed and rolled away from me, getting out of bed. I laid there, watching her pad into the living room and I could have sworn I heard someone punching someone else. Curious, I got up, tucking the gun into the waistband of the sweatpants I wore. Sarah and Jace were scuffling, and it looked like he was losing. My eyes met Natalia's and she smiled at me before looking back at the pair.

"Morning, James. I figured we'd go for breakfast this morning before I go to work," she said quietly.

"Nice call, sending the kid in." I pulled her into my arms and she laid her head on my chest, putting her arms around me. I studied the taller brunette. "Is this normal?"

"For them, yes. He's her best friend, even if it doesn't look like it right now."

"If you say so. It really doesn't look like it, though," I said as he attacked her, not getting past her blocks.

"Give them a couple minutes. He's mad at her."

"What would he be mad at her for?"

"Keeping your existence from him for a month."

"He's just a kid, Natalia!" I protested, drawing back from her so I could read her face. Why would it matter that she hadn't told him she'd found me in Kiev? He couldn't have helped me.

"So's she," Natalia reminded me with a shrug. "They're both 18, James."

"Oh," was all I could say to that.