Winters Storm~Bucky Barns~

Chapter 24:

I sit on the counter of the kitchen telling the pint of cookie doe ice cream all about my feelings and nightmares when suddenly a light flicks on. "You know there is such a thing called a table right?" Tony says as he enters the kitchen. "What's the fun in those?" "Fair enough."he chuckles, "what are you doing up anyway?"

"Couldn't sleep." "No way."he responds sarcastically. I just give a gentle eye roll. "Want to talk about whatever has got you eating ice cream at 3 in the morning?" "Thanks for the offer Stark but I have already sang that song to this carton of ice cream." He shakes his head in an understanding manner before he opens the fridge himself. Silence fills the room as he rummages and I stuff. "Why are you up?"I ask him softly, finally having the nerve to break the silence.

"Struggling to sleep; just like you kid." "You do realize I'm not a child right?" He playfully rolls his eyes before they finally land on whatever he was searching for. He pulls out a huge bottle of water and takes a swig before setting it back down on the cool counter.

"Can I admit something to you."he suddenly says. "Of course." "With all of this just around the corner I'm more afraid than excited, I mean what if it doesn't work? What if it fails?" His eyes match the tone of his voice, they are full of worry. "I'll be honest with you, I feel the same way...... but if we don't try, if we don't at least try then we will never know. We will never know if we would fail or if we would be on track to bringing everyone back."

He nods his head before looking down. "You know after everything I have been through I feel as if nothing scares me anymore. Bucky taught me to control my fear, taught me how to control it. Every other normal person when someone breaks into their home to kill them run, not me. No, what did I do? I fought him, I knew who he was. Granted yes I did try and run but when the Winter Soldier comes knocking on your door you don't necessarily open the door and let him in."

This small chuckle seems to escape him as he comfortably leans against the counter. "I was afraid that night. I had been on the run for years, finally started to think they gave up but then I just had to walk into the kitchen. Honestly Stark even though I was scared I would never trade that night for any other night. That is the night I got my best friend back."

"I understand Blue, I really do. I remember the day I first met Peter." Just then this small smile finds itself resting comfortably on his face. "I was sitting in this old couch talking to his really hot aunt and suddenly this scrawny kid walks in the door carrying a dvd he found in a dumpster. He wasn't even paying attention, never even noticed I was sitting on his couch. Kid was to busy talking about my car, but boy the moment he saw me his eyes grew so wide."

     Tony's smile soon fades when he comes back to earth. "I know what you mean. The first time I saw Bucky I was being chocked by him against a brick building." This devilish look appears in Stark's eyes as he continues to listen. "Trust me it wasn't the good kind of chocking. I begged him to stop and I ended up ripping off his glasses and looking into his eyes. I don't know I saw this sort of flicker in his eyes that told me he wasn't bad. After that it was like his whole attitude changed towards me. He never wanted me to get hurt."

"They were truly something weren't they." "Yeah they were." My eyes begin to water at all the memories like the night in the hotel. He was gentle yet rough making sure not to hurt me. They way his fingers would trace over my bare skin leaving goosebumps everywhere they touched. They way he would kiss my lips made my heart race, and when he kissed anywhere else then my breathing became very unsteady. And god when he would pin my wrist or my waist down.....ugh.

"You know what I miss most about him though?" "Hmmm." "The way he hugged me. Whenever I was scared, upset or overjoyed..... he.....he would just hug me so tight. The world just seemed to melt away." There is silence for a few seconds until "well don't worry, tomorrow you will get that back. We all will."