Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- History Catches Up -

"Elena, honey! How was it?"

Delilah's question brought Elena to the attention of the other people inside the dining room, including Bucky, who looked up from where he was in the kitchen cutting potatoes. With a grin Elena walked into the large kitchen.

"It was fantastic," she replied, looking at the pair with a twinkle in her eyes. "In fact, it was so great that they offered me the job."

"What?!!" Bucky exclaimed just as Delilah let out a cheer of delight, his face splitting into a wide smile that made Elena laugh with happiness. He chucked his items aside on the counter and in two strides he was in front of her, picking her up and spinning her around the kitchen as she squealed.

"Oh, I knew you'd get it!" Delilah clapped, walking over once Bucky had set her on the floor once more. The older woman threw her arms around Elena, embracing her tightly as a mother would. "Congratulations, baby."

"Thank you, Dee," Elena replied, stepping back and looking at the pair, Bucky standing beside her with his arm around her waist. "I start in two weeks, so here's hoping Gideon is feeling cabable of taking on my job at the library. I'm not going to be there for very long."

"We'll have to celebrate later tonight, darling, when it gets a little quieter," Delilah said, walking back over to the kitchen stoves. "I have a wine that I've been saving for a treat, and I think that tonight would be the perfect time to crack it open."

"Looking forward to it, Dee. I'm going to go have a shower, but I'll be back downstairs to help with the dinner setup soon," Elena said, looking up at Bucky when he tugged her a little closer to him.

"Hurry back, doll," he murmured, one hand brushing against the side of her face. She smiled, kissing his knuckles and making him chuckle. God, she loved seeing him happy. Even better, she loved seeing him happy for something she had achieved. She couldn't remember the last time a male had supported her in her pursuit to become a teacher. It made her want to drag him upstairs and show him just how thankful she was for his support, maybe making him even happier than he already was. She giggled at the thought. Later.

"Of course," she replied, letting go of him and walking out of the kitchen, Bucky watching her go.

After a lengthy shower where Elena had taken her time cleaning and washing her hair, she pulled on a long, soft blue dress. She had first worn it in front of Bucky when they had gone on their first proper date together and his reaction to it had been one Elena would never forget, and while they weren't going out tonight, she liked dressing up for him. This dress was one of the things that brought on his rare and radient smiles, and she wanted tonight to be filled with them.

She had just slipped Bucky's dogtags underneath the collar of her dress so they could lie comfortably against her chest when she heard it. The sound like a firework going off. At first it hadn't bothered her. She had continued to towel dry her damp hair. But then it happened again and again, and then there was a chorus of screams that shook her to her core. Dropping the towel on the ground Elena stepped out of the room, walking quickly down the hallway and towards the stairs. Before she could make her way down, though, a steady stream of people barged past her, some running down the corridor, others continuing to climb higher and higher. She was about to call after one person when she felt a hand grab her arm. With a gasp Elena spun around, ready to fight, but she stilled her raised hand when she realized who it was.

"Dee, what's going on?!" Elena cried, latching onto the older woman as she dragged her back down the hallway and into the room, closing the door behind them. Delilah's face was flushed with sweat, eyes wide as she stared at the younger woman, hold onto her hands tightly.