A/N: Sorry it's been a while since I updated, guys. I started this chapter last week and then hit a bit of a wall with it, so...yeah.

But it's done now and it's a lil bit smutty. Enjoy! And don't forget to review :3 pretty please?

The last week had been stressful to say the least. Alex had been in and out of training and meetings with Fury, all the while trailed by Bucky. She didn't mind, but it annoyed her that he was always around but she was being kept too busy to stop and talk. It didn't stop her from noticing how worried he was though, that was a look he couldn't hide.

She felt the worry seep in to everything Bucky did – the anxious eyes that constantly watched her in training to the way his arms unconsciously tightened around her as they slept. And now, even as they made their way towards the suspected Hydra base, his hand remained firmly clasped around hers in the back of the car.

But instead of thinking towards leaving Bucky and handing herself over to the enemy, Alex thought about the night before…

"You don't have to do this, you know," she heard Bucky speak softly from the bed behind her as she pulled a t-shirt on. "We can find some other way."

When Alex turned to face him, she saw that his eyes were wide, shining with the threat of tears as he looked up at her. "We've been through this Bucky," she said quietly, "There isn't another way to do this." Sitting beside him, Alex sighed, "I wish there was, but there isn't."

After a little while she went to get up, but he reached out and grabbed her hand.

He wasn't rough or pushy; it was as though he just needed the contact. She sat back down, her hand still in his and lifted his other hand to her face caressing her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his soothing touch.

Bucky opened his mouth to say something, but Alex silenced him, clasping her hand over his mouth, "Don't say anything. Please." After a pause, he nodded, leaning in and planting a light kiss on her lips. He pulled her close, enjoying the warmth of her body against his.

Alex ran her hands over his chest, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. His breath hitched, the gentleness to her touch still surprised him even now. When she finally got his shirt over his head, Bucky wrapped his arms around her waist, lying back and pulling her with him. He worked his hands underneath her t-shirt, caressing up and down her sides as her fingertips ghosted over his bare skin.

"Are you sure you want this?" Bucky asked breathlessly, "After everything that happened with Jake, l mean."

Alex nodded, "I'm not going to let him ruin this. I refuse to be frightened because of what he did – I know you're not like him." She kissed him softly and raised her arms, allowing Bucky to slowly push her shirt over her head, trailing kisses on her warm skin.

He sat up, facing Alex who was straddling his hips and she traced a finger over the scars on his chest. She bent her neck and littered his chest with kisses before moving up to his neck, and then returning to his lips. Her hands were a little shaky as she unbuttoned his jeans but when Bucky rolled them over, one hand by her shoulder, the other interlocking fingers with her own, Alex felt herself relax.

Bucky slipped out of his jeans, and then went to work on her shorts. He laid a trail of kisses from her neck to her stomach, lips lighter than air against her skin. Undoing the button and pulling down the zipper, he pressed a final kiss to her bullet scar. Alex arched her back, letting him tug off her shorts, eliciting a soft moan. Looking up at him, heavy-lidded, Bucky did his best to try and stifle a moan as she slipped a hand into his boxers. Alex pulled back her hand, tugging at the waistband of boxers and pulling them off before shedding her own underwear.

There was a slight nervousness about her and Bucky raised a questioning eyebrow and asked if she was ok, telling her he'd stop if she didn't want it. She shook her head, kissing him on the cheek, soft and sweet, running a hand through his messy hair. The comfort he'd come to find in Alex – and she in him, for that matter – was undeniable. It was what made the thought of losing her so much harder to bear.

Their lips met once again, Alex's lips parting to allow his tongue entry while his hands continued exploring her body. He situated himself between her legs and looked to her as if offering a last chance to back out. She nodded and Bucky pushed into her, a small gasp escaped her lips. Their bodies moved together, trying to find a steady rhythm and once they started moving in sync, Bucky sped up his thrusts. Alex bit her lip, doing her best to stifle her moans as he kissed her neck and nipped at her collar bones, trying to hold back his own moans. Bucky eyes roamed over her body, fingertips caressing every inch as though he was trying to memorise every part of her, before she left. After a while, Alex brought his attention back, pulling his lips down to hers as they both found their release.

They lay there together, enjoying each other's company; Bucky caressing Alex's cheek with one hand, kissing her as he held her close to his chest.

Alex wished she could've just lived in that moment forever.

But, plans had been made and that morning they would journey to the suspected Hydra base and she would give herself up. The plan was to wait until they had injected her with the serum and then, when alone, Alex would punch in a specific code into the device that Bucky had secreted in her boot – yet another piece of footwear he had cut a chunk of leather from – and that would signal Fury's team to get her out and kill what was left of the former Hydra organisation.

They all knew it was a risky plan, but Fury assured them that it would work without a hitch. It wasn't that part of the plan that concerned Alex; it was more to do with what the effects of the serum would be. It was what killed her father – none of them knew what it would do to her after Hydra's modifications.

"Remember, after you've been given the serum, punch in the code and we'll be there," Fury spoke firmly to her as she stepped out of the vehicle. Alex just nodded, they'd been through this so many times there was no danger in her forgetting what to do, so Fury placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before giving a curt nod as he cleared his throat, getting back into the car so her and Bucky could have a moment alone.

Bucky stepped towards Alex and stood for a moment. This was it. Everything they'd been working towards this past week. Are you really going to let her do this? He asked himself as he looked at her stood before him, so close to being within Hydra's grasp.

In the end it was Alex who made the first move, rushing forward and throwing her arms tightly around him, "It's going to be okay, Bucky," she said and he so wished that hearing her say that put his mind at ease. But it didn't. Nothing could.

So, he simply stayed quiet, wrapping his arms tighter around her, never wanting to let go. He wasn't the only one – for Alex, if this moment lasted the rest of her life it wouldn't be long enough. They both stood there for what felt like an age, neither wanting to let go of the other for fear of never seeing them again.

Eventually, Bucky pulled away a little, taking Alex's face in his hands and looking down at her with tears in his eyes, "I love you, Alex."

"I love you too."

"Barnes. It's time." Fury's voice came from the car window.

Taking a last look at Alex's face, Bucky pulled her into a deep kiss, the tears that fell on his cheeks mixing with those on her own. "Please come back to me," he whispered close to her ear, before pulling away again.

Alex backed away, giving Bucky one last warm smile before she disappeared beyond the tree line, towards the Hydra facility. It felt as though he'd lost a part of him and until she came back safely Bucky knew that he would be spending every minute worrying about Alex and what Hydra could be doing to her.

For a moment, he just stood in the same spot, as though he was waiting for Alex to come back or some kind of sign that she would be okay.

"She's gonna be fine," he heard Fury say behind him, as though he had read his mind. But, at this point he wouldn't rule out fury having the ability to do that. "Alex can keep herself safe."

"I know," Bucky replied, as he moved to get back into the car. "But it's not her I'm worried about – it's what they're gonna do."

Alex took a few more steps beyond the treeline and found that she could see the Hydra base through the trees. This is it, Alex. Just a few more steps.

Soon, she heard alarms sound from the distant building and within minutes she was surrounded by armed guards. From behind them she saw a familiar face stride through, "Alex. Long time, no see." Jake sneered.

She had to hold back a laugh, "That's attractive," she gestured to the heavy bandaging around his nose from Bucky's punch.

"Funny." He said, before a slightly sinister smile crept onto his lips as he stepped uncomfortably close. "But your little boyfriend isn't here to protect you now."

"I guess that's good news for you then." Alex smirked as she saw the anger in his eyes.

He backed up a little, "I take it you got our…message?"

She clenched her jaw at the memory of Sarah's lifeless body, "That's why I'm here. I didn't want anyone else getting hurt because of me."

"Wise choice." Jake turned and started walking back towards the base, "Bring her in, he's gonna want to see her," he called over his shoulder to the guards that still surrounded her.