She nodded to the two men that stood guard at the door before she swiftly stepped inside, her navy blue gown flowed behind her.
"You're late," Steve whispered as he pulled her into his embrace before silencing her giggle with a kiss.
"You told me to wait ten minutes before following you. Ten minutes can feel like a lifetime when something you want waits for you at the end." He didn't answer her verbally instead tightening his grip on her waist and going in for a deeper kiss. "How long do we have before people start to wonder?"
"Don't think about that." Another kiss for distraction. "I saved a dance for you," he spoke as he extended his hand towards her. Tessa's face fell before she accepted his hand.
"We couldn't dance out there with the rest of them?" she inquired as her other hand went behind his neck.
"I'm sorry but you know they'd ask questions and-"
"No need to explain anything to me. You know I'm just happy for any moment I get with you." She rested her head against his chest, ear to heartbeat, closing her eyes and the faint sounds of the orchestra in the ballroom reached through the closet doors and surrounded them.
"Can you believe tonight is my inaugural ball?" he murmured into the top of her head.
"I can. Ever since my father had you and…over for dinner that night I knew you were much more than just a state senator."
"I'm so happy you've been here for every step, Tessa."
"I'm blessed to have been, Mr. President." He shook his head.
"No, I'm Steve to you. Nothing can or will change between us, ok? Promise me, Tessa, that I'll always have you."
"As long as we both shall live, Steve, yours I'll be. I love you."
"I love you too." Their next kiss was slower, both of them savoring the taste of each other's lips and sounds of their hearts. A knock on the door startled both of them, jumping apart. The door opened to reveal Bucky, his new chief of staff, in his suit with two flutes of champagne.
"Sir, the First Lady would like to make a taste." Steve nodded and Bucky shut the door behind him.
"Ten minutes?" Tessa smirked as she smoothed out the lapels of his jacket.
"Ten minutes." He kissed her forehead, letting his fingers linger on her chin and cheek for an extra beat before he strolled out of the closet. She watched the clock by the door tick down, the sound of cheering and laughter reaching her ears.
The ten minutes ended and she squared her shoulders before leaving the supplies closet to head back to the party. She felt alone when she entered back into the ball. White noise surrounding her and a special heaviness in her heart. She caught Bucky's eye as she looked around for a glass of champagne, him giving her a quick nod as if to say he knew how she felt and she should know she isn't alone.
She looked at the main table where the President, Steve Rogers, sat with his wife, Sharon. A shuttering breath came from her lips, the entirety of her champagne going down her throat in one sip.
"I'm proud of him." Bucky came up next to her and pulled her into a waltz.
"Yeah. Me too. He deserves this. He'll be great." She kept her gaze down so she wouldn't have to watch how Sharon leaned into him and was able to touch him in public.
"He wishes things were different, Tessie. You have to know that." Bucky looked concerned when she finally met his gaze. She nodded in response.
"'The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live,'" she whispered with a small smile. "Is it bad of me to love him so much and sometimes wish my father had never introduced me to him?" Bucky shook his head.
"That's normal in any relationship. Unrequited or not," he teased. "He'll find a way. Tessa. You both will."
"Thanks, James. You're a good soldier."
"I'm with you both until the end of the line."