|| LONGING || EDITTING

|| Chapter Forty - Five ||

The day flew by, it was a harmonious day and it was almost like a dream. Arizona and everyone else was sitting around a campfire in what would become Bucky's new home, her eyes trailing over everyone, each and every person holding a smile to their faces and she couldn't help but feel complete looking at the happiness surrounding her. Sadly, it was cut off when her phone began to ring, Cat furrowing her brows, "You've got signal?" Her tone filled with disbelief.

"Courtesy of Shuri's amazing technology that's everywhere and anywhere," Arizona smiled at Shuri who shrugged with a smug grin. Arizona got up and walked away from the campfire to answer, "Hello?"

"Where on this God-forsaken planet are you?" Tony's angered tone rang through the phone, Arizona rolling her eyes and huffing as she crossed her arm over her torso, her glancing at the campfire before turning back, "We have been worried sick! Not a single call to let us know if you were going out all day, dinner is ready and it'll get cold, get home now,"

Arizona glared, "No," She deadpanned, "I don't have to listen to you, if you disrespect my wishes of not wanting Pepper in the house, then I won't respect yours for me to come back,"

Tony clenched his jaw, "Arizona Stark, get your ass back home, now,"

Arizona squinted her eyes, "You know what? No!" She raised her voice, "I'm going to stay here for a few days," She then raised her brows, "And I refuse to have any more dinners if Pepper's there, I have every right to be angry with her and you should be too! But you're not, you're wrapped around her perfect little finger that she keeps swirling around for her benefit," Arizona snapped.

Before Tony could say anymore, Arizona hung up the phone, Bucky smiled shyly at Nikitah after she had whispered something in his ear. He turned to see if Arizona was okay but frowned seeing she was sat on the ground, near the edge of the lake, "I'll be back," He muttered to Nikitah, putting a hand on her knee before getting up and heading over to her, taking a seat beside her, "You okay?"

"Tony thinks he can just boss me around all the time," She crossed her arms, "I don't want Pepper in the same country as me and he thinks I'll sit in the same damn room with her!" Arizona ranted.

Bucky sighed, looking to his right and down at the redhead, "He just wants you to come home, he cares a lot about you, Nixie, I don't think you realise how many people truly worry for your safety if you don't say anything about where you are or where you're going,"

Cat took a seat on Arizona's right -- it being the only space she could get and smiled at her best friend, listening as Arizona replied, "It just gets annoying sometimes, I don't need him checking up on me like I'm a baby," She raised her brows, "I'm not a child anymore, Bucky, I'm a teenager," She then arched her brows and held her hands out in a confused manner, "Yes I'm still trying to figure everything out, but that doesn't make me any less of my age than what I am,"

The raven-haired tilted her head to the side, giving Arizona a soft and comforting smile, "It's good that people worry, Zona," She leaned toward her when Arizona looked troublesome at the ground before her, "I know it can be annoying," She scoffed, "Trust me, I know. But, I couldn't be more grateful to have the family I do, and I don't think you realise that you don't just have Tony and Pepper, you have every other Avenger, Bucky, me, Peter, Shuri," She listed, "You are more loved than anyone else I've ever known,"

Arizona looked down, feeling ashamed of being angry at Pepper, Bucky grasped her hand gently, "I know that look, Nixie," She raised her head, Cat looking over at them, "You should never feel ashamed of your feelings, okay?" He raised his brows, "If you're angry? You're angry, nobody can change that except time -- you will need to learn how to come to terms with Pepper staying again and you can't push people away anymore, it's not you to do so,"

She nodded, taking his words into deep consideration before she looked forward, tears blurring her eyes as a wave of shock hit her. The sun was setting, there was a lake before them, Bucky to her left -- looking at peace with himself for the first time in decades, and to her right was Cat -- sighing in content and happy to be around people she cares about, "Cat," Said raven-haired looked at her best friend, watching as Arizona gestured to the sunset, "It's my paradise,"

Cat furrowed her brows in confusion, her taking a minute to realise what Arizona was gesturing to and she smiled widely. Bucky looked down, a soft smile on his face, her looking back up to him and smiled, confidently saying the three words she hasn't said since she was five, "I love you,"

Bucky's eyes sparkled with glee, his smile widening as he wrapped an arm around her, "I love you too, Nixie," He replied softly, his hand reached out for Cat to hold whilst Arizona curled into Bucky's side, Cat gently grasped his hand her smiling at him as he returned it, her free hand going to Arizona's who tightened her grasp.

Nikitah, back at the small campfire, awed, "They're so cute!" She squealed, "Must ruin it!" She urged, standing up and cupped her mouth before anyone could stop her, "Come on kiddie-winks! Time for bed! The adults need to have alone time," She then smirked to Bucky, "Preferably just a handsome cripple and puffy haired orphan!" Arizona sat up and saw Bucky turn a shade of red when Nikitah winked at him and she laughed, Cat joining in as Bucky got up with an embarrassed face, Cat and Arizona laughing as they joined him to walk back up to the campfire, Nikitah nodding with a bright smile, "That's my little minions,"