The past isn't always buried.
After the brutal mission with Leo Novokov, Natasha Romanoff awakens with pieces of her life missing, fractured memories veiled in a fog she can't quite penetrate. Her life as a spy, her history as an Avenger-it's all there, except for the warmth of something she can no longer feel but senses should be there. Bucky Barnes, the man who once knew her better than anyone, has chosen to remain hidden, leaving the love they shared buried for her own protection.
Bucky is a ghost in her life, careful to stay in the shadows, but unable to fully let go. Everywhere he goes, there are quiet reminders of Natasha-the faded notes in his journals, the scars they gave each other, the empty side of his bed each night. But he's convinced that to bring her memories back would endanger her, so he lets her go.
For Natasha, however, the whispers of her past are relentless. Fleeting fragments of laughter, half-remembered dreams, and the brush of a familiar touch haunt her in the quiet. And as she uncovers old trinkets, redacted files that even her highest clearance level can't access, and glimpses of a man whose eyes spark an unexplainable ache, she realizes that her past holds secrets someone wants her to forget.
Driven by curiosity and a deep, instinctual yearning she doesn't understand, Natasha starts to chase the fragments back to their source. And with each step, Bucky finds himself pulled closer, torn between protecting her and wanting her back.
Mia Stark shows up at the Avengers compound hoping to find her place in the world and help people. She built her own suit to resemble her dad's but he's just as shocked as everyone when she shows up. The most surprised of all is Bucky Barnes who quickly finds himself drawn to the daughter of a man who hates him with a passion. Mia tries to ignore the draw, even going as far as sleeping with Steve but it's impossible. She's got a brain full of unresolved trauma that only Bucky seems to see and understand. He makes her feel wanted for the first time in her whole life and she makes him feel normal for the first time in over 80 years. She sees Bucky, not the Winter Soldier he was made to be and he sees the innocence and sweetness buried under her rage. It's also him that helps her see that her power to manipulate energy is a gift and not a curse or a flaw. The two quickly find a flow that mostly includes him finding himself between her thighs. But it's not enough for Mia, she wants more. She wants a life with Bucky, she wants him to finally kiss her and she wants to tell him how much she loves him. His own fear about his past keeps him from giving into her and his love for ber, or does it?