I do not own Captain America anything.

Except the digital copies. They are all mine. Mine, I say! ;)

I Am Machine

Reunion Tour

"Bucky!"

It was the second time since they had known each other that she had thrown herself into his arms.

Hey, doll!

For him, passing the time in cryofreeze, it had only been a few weeks.

For Amelia, it had been more than a year.

He was somewhat surprised that she responded so freely, considering the more extended passage of time for her.

Though he also thought he shouldn't.

She was Amelia after all.

And her own person entirely.

And she held on too, clung with all her might.

Arms tight around his neck, cheek pressed to his. Full, warm body contact.

He gladly returned the embrace.

With a smile.

Two arms.

A now free mind. And lightening heart.

When she finally let him go and stepped back, her entire face was glowing.

"Get in here!" she gushed, immediately tugging the former Winter Soldier eagerly inside her little Bucharest sanctuary.

It looked the same, it smelled the same.

And Bucky instantly felt the sense of home that had always enveloped him whenever he was in the cozy abode.

Strengthened by Amelia's exuberant presence.

"Your arm!"

She was grabbing it, running her hands up and down the cloth-covered appendage in astonishment.

"Is it really real?!"

He nodded, not speaking. Just looking at her, reveling in her, letting her effervescence wash over him.

Then she stepped back, crossing her arms across her heaving chest.

He was tossed back to the night he had burst into her apartment, half crazed with panic and fear.

Only now she was smiling, big and excited. Gleeful.

"Alright then, Bionic Man, let's have it!"

He raised his eyebrows at her, amused.

"Really?"

She tossed out an enthusiastic and very self-assured look.

"Oh yeah!"

He shook his head good-naturedly, shrugging out of his hooded jacket as he did so.

Then without further arguement, his red long sleeved shirt.

And the gray short sleeve shirt underneath that.

Which left only a white tank covering his smooth, well-muscled chest and stomach.

And exposing two seemingly flesh arms.

Shoulders, elbows, wrists. Fingers, bones, joints. Knuckles, pores, hair.

Both limbs fully functional.

And all completely normal looking.

Amelia gasped, her hands coming up to cover her agape mouth.

"Oh Bucky! It's incredible!"

Her face was a picture of awe and wonder.

And he understood, he really did.

It was the same feeling he had experienced the first time and did experience every time he looked at it.

Touched it. Thought of it.

In the broad light of day this time, she moved forward.

And reached out a welcomed hand.

Without permission, because she needed none.

She never needed permission from him. She was Amelia.

Amelia, reaching out now.

Reaching out to eagerly inspect the Wakandan engineers' and scientists' impressive handiwork.

Her voice was barely a whisper, as if he had stolen her breath all over again.

And he had.

"No scar tissue . . . not even a seam or break at all . . ."

He smiled down at her, the mirror parallels of the two events painfully, wonderfully clear.

"Does it feel human?" she asked, unable to tear herself away from the technological marvel . . .

I remember being impressed by Howard Stark's hovercar. Now I've got this thing.

. . . that was his new left arm.

Turning it this way and that.

And once more, just as before, lacing their fingers together, just for a moment.

Fitting together perfectly.

Bucky shrugged a little, synthetic nerves tingling at her soft touch.

"Not exactly. But pretty close. It feels more natural than the metal one."

She nodded, as if that made perfect sense.

"Does it bleed?"

Amelia would ask that question.

"No. The chemical compound inside is clear. It just . . . oozes."

She grinned cheekily upon at him, the sun highlighting the auburn in her hair.

"Well, I'll take your word for it. I'm not going to check!"

She let go of his arm then and tilted her lovely face up to his, blue eyes alight. Cheeks flushed.

Looking so very happy. Elated.

And he felt his own restrained emotions welling up inside him.

They gazed at each other and the moment seemed to stretch out between them, everything waiting.

His first impulse was to wrap her up in his arms and kiss her.

She had kissed him the night he had come to say goodbye before going back to Wakanda and into cryofreeze.

And though he couldn't let her continue, he hadn't wanted her stop.

Nothing in that regard had changed for him.

But it had been a year and she was a wonderful woman any man would be lucky to spend time with.

And he had left, supposedly never to return.

So kissing her might be assumptive.

He was still considering it when she blew out an exhalation of happy breath and stepped away.

"Okay, I want to hear everything you can tell me!"

Feeling free and at home, Bucky decided to enjoy himself a little.

"Well, can I put my clothes back on first?"

Amelia Watson didn't respond, seeming to gaze intently at his thinly garbed chest.

"Amelia?"

Her innocent yet slightly pixieish expression struck Bucky as both adorable and incredibly sexy.

"I'm thinking."

Then winking devilishly, she waved an acquiescing hand.

"Oh, have it your way then. On is fine."

Grinning, he redressed in everything but his hooded olive jacket. Leaving it neatly draped over the back of one of the kitchen chairs.

And sat down at the table opposite her.

To share his new tale.

Her beautiful blue eyes were wide, drinking in every word of this newer, much shorter, much more hopeful experience.

"And the words didn't have any effect at all?"

He grinned lopsidedly, shaking his head. Feeling a slight wave of renewed relief all over again at the revelation.

That he was finally free of the mind control of HYDRA.

Amelia seemed to feel the same, countenance relaxing visibly.

And Bucky sensed rather than entirely saw, a whisper of something pass through her eyes.

Something he couldn't quite decipher.

Not yet.

And was gone just as quick as she refocused.

"And the rest?"

He did lower his gaze then, finding himself looking down at his empty, folded, peaceful hands, face momentarily darkening with the heavy sins of the past.

"I'll always have the memories. I chose to keep them. I'm learning to live with them."

She nodded seriously, as if silently agreeing with the wisdom of this decision.

They sat thus for a moment.

Then Bucky Barnes drew himself back up and looked around, clearing.

And refusing to dampen their reunion with moroseness.

"So how have you been? How's Simon?"

Amelia beamed at him.

"We're good! Same routine. Simon's at school right now . . . oh, he's started teaching himself to walk the penny across his knuckles . . ."

Then her musical voice faded away and her face grew solemn. Openly studying him.

And spoke quieter.

"I really missed you, Bucky. I mean, I'm fine, you know, in case you have to leave again soon, but . . . it's so nice to have you back here. And know you're finally really okay."

He smiled again.

"I missed you too, Amelia. And I am. I'm getting there."

They sat comfortably for a few minutes, listening to the quiet sounds of the distant world around them.

Then Bucky Barnes . . .

I think I used to be much better at this.

. . . drummed up his courage.

"Are you . . ."

How do they say it now?

". . . uh, seeing anyone?"

Good question, sir. I wonder how she will answer.

Thanks to brigid1318, OnYourLeft107, tamarabvillar, eileanskye, vajbff, Sassiebone, and So Kind Guest for your reviews.

Thanks also to for adding your support to this story.

I just appreciate you all so much!

Up next, of course, Amelia answers the question.