Hello, thanks for reading, hope whoever is out there is doing ok Usual things apply, comments welcome, I don't own anything, Marvel is the creator almighty. No money being made. Stay safe x
Chapter 44: What's my Age Again?
A Whiskey and Coke:
Andi is stood centre stage, belting out a rock song she claims to know. Waving her arms wildly, forgetting the words repeatedly. She has dropped the mic twice, while Amelia dances and screams in the front row. Natasha stands beside her, arms folded, eyebrow quirked, trying to hide her smirk from the pair. 'She's really good, don't you think?' Amelia gushes loudly. Natasha is resisting putting her fingers in her ears right now, 'no, she's God-awful.' Amelia nods, as if she didn't hear Natasha correctly. Someone suddenly bumps into Amelia, both the women look over at a man, who apologises and then proceeds to offer Amelia a dance. Natasha can't believe his tactics and looks across at her friend in horror, as Amelia blushes and considers his proposal. Natasha slings an arm across her shoulders and smiles lazily at the guy. He looks between them and Amelia bites her lip. Natasha declares, 'she already has a dance partner, but thanks.' The guy takes the hint and mopes away, nudging his friends, who stare over keenly. Amelia looks up at Natasha, 'he seemed nice, why did you do that?' Natasha strokes her hair and stares into her eyes, 'you're not available.' Amelia laughs at the notion, 'well, are you?' Natasha challenges Amelia directly. The producer swallows, she wants to scream no, but knows this is hardly a relationship now, she doesn't even see Steve anymore.
She's struggling to think, her head is spinning with alcohol and trying to calculate her relationship status. Andi finishes and bows dramatically, she tries to pick another song, but a bar worker points her off the stage, telling her to queue again. Amelia boos and quickly spins, bumping into someone wearing a Captain America shirt. She pouts and prods the shield transfer, 'he's not even that nice of a guy!' She spews aggressively and Natasha steers her away quickly.
A Vodka and Something…:
The three are back at their table, Amelia is swaying to an awful rendition of Paradise City and Andi suddenly lights up, 'oh, oh oh, I have a really good one, a really good one.' She opens her mouth, 'shit, I forgot. No, wait. If you had to sleep with another Avenger, who would it be?' Amelia giggles into her glass and looks at them, 'Bucky! Easy.' Andi laughs raucously and Natasha wonders just how close these two are. 'Why? Why? Why? Explain!' Andi demands through her laughter. 'Well, he's sweet and easy to talk to.' Natasha cuts in, 'she said sleep with, not adopt.' Amelia blushes, thinking about it before professing 'fine, he's fucking hot!' Andi suddenly looks fake angry and then just laughs, high fiving her sister. Amelia asks the pair their answer and they both say in unison, 'Steve' Amelia just inhales, closing her eyes. 'Come on, sis. He's a looker, he's a nice guy, he's stacked, probably rich, well mannered.' Amelia shakes her head, 'that's not it, none of that.' Andi and Natasha stare at her for answers, Amelia bumbles over her words, unsure of herself. 'He's honest, he's real, he's wise, he's kind...' Andi laughs at her sister's overly serious answer and Natasha slowly moves Amelia's glass across the table. Amelia touches her chest, almost grasping her heart, she looks teary and stares at the table, suddenly looking up, 'and he broke my heart, he's an asshole.' Andi cheers and nudges a shot towards her, spilling the majority of the small measure. Amelia throws the shot back, 'ughhhh, too much, that was one too many. I feel sick…'
A Pitcher of Something Purple:
Steve and Bucky pull up at the bar and Bucky gets out, sighing at the sight of groups of people laughing, joking, smoking and generally being loud.
Steve looks like he wants to join him in the bar, but Bucky stops him, 'wait here, we don't want another bar fight.' He turns, walking inside.
Walking inside, Bucky looks about, hoping to see the women instantly and make a quick exit. It smells like sweat and alcohol and he's not sure this was ever his idea of a good time.
He spots Sam first, chatting with his friends. He walks over to him and stops in his direct eye line, simply raising an eyebrow. 'Hi, nice to see you too, Barnes,' Sam jokes. Bucky holds still and Wilson gets the picture, he points over and Natasha is at the bar alone, 'good to see you, BUD!' Sam calls after him, but it's drowned out by chanting of the word "shot."
Bucky walks across to The Black Widow and wonders what is wrong with the music in here tonight, he can't remember it being this bad before. Everything else is as bad as he remembered. He pulls up beside her at the bar and neither speak, just nod. He looks at her loaded tray and then asks, 'I thought you were ready? Where are they?' Natasha scoffs and points to the sisters, who are signing into the karaoke machine. Andi stops and spits 'those aren't the lyrics, your machine is broken.' Someone boos them and Bucky frowns, wiping his face and wishing to be anywhere else. 'How do I make it stop?' He asks Nat. She laughs, 'you gotta let it ride out.' She dismisses him and returns to their table, smirking his way and leaving him confused.
He wanders around the bar, partly to get away from the crowd and partly to avoid the sisters' terrible singing. He peers out a small window and spots Steve, fortunately still in the car.
When he returns, he spies the three at a table, finally settled. Amelia is sat in Natasha's lap, stroking her face and talking to Andi animatedly. Andi is sucking a straw from a pitcher, full of a purple liquid and as he gets closer she stands and accidently kicks her chair over, calling his name wildly. He stops beside them; Andi throws herself at him and kisses him deeply. Amelia watches with her mouth open, enjoying it too much and muttering to Natasha, 'God, I need some of that.' Bucky kisses her back, but it's wet and she's clearly drunk, he spots a dreamy eyed Amelia staring at them and pulls away awkwardly. 'I'm your taxi, girls,' he states flatly and Amelia looks surprised, 'but I don't want to go! Who called you?'
'Everyone,' he peers around and mutters dryly. He tries to help Amelia up and she shouts 'I can handle it, thank you.' Bucky chuckles, 'yeah, sure you can.' Andi puts both hands out, 'wait, wait, we can't leave, Natasha still has a dare to do.' Natasha looks bored and pulls up her sleeve revealing a number in pen. Andi looks horrified 'but you were with me all night!' Natasha stands and gets ready to leave, clicking her fingers in the brunette's face, 'Amelia, perk up, he brought Rogers.' Bucky looks at her open mouthed, he was hoping to break it to her gently. Amelia turns around quickly 'what? Why would you do that? He hates me!' Bucky defends himself, 'I didn't know what I was walking in to and he doesn't hate you, don't be ridiculous.' Amelia sulks, too drunk to really comprehend that she is about to see Steve. Andi throws her sweater at her head, hitting her in the face, just as Sam comes over, 'you need help, Barnes?' Bucky refuses tersely and Amelia cries 'Sammy! Come home with us, party at ours.' She throws an arm around him and he gently pries her off, 'I'd love to, but your guy might kill me.' Amelia jokingly looks under the table, 'what guy?' Natasha walks over to her and clips a piece of hair back into place, she wants to make sure Steve sees what he is missing. 'Take me home, Sam Wilson,' Amelia purrs close to him. He laughs and shakes his head, 'nah, that would be the last thing I do, I guarantee.' Bucky coughs obnoxiously beside them, 'yes it would, go to your own home.'
A Bottle of Water:
Natasha walks outside and climbs in the backseat, Steve twists and queries in concern 'if you're sober, couldn't you have got them home?' Natasha is typing on her phone and answers 'I'm not sober' without looking up. Steve passes her a bottle of water, which she wordlessly accepts. His knee taps anxiously, looking around the parking lot.
Bucky walks out with Andi beside him, her knees knock and she keeps trying to touch Bucky, anywhere she can. He grapples with the door, trying to sit her next to Natasha and she announces 'I'm in the middle.' Bucky leans in and tells her strictly, 'belt up.' She ignores him, giggling and then she spots Steve, gasping deeply 'you! You broke my sister, bad Captain America! We aren't talking to you or about you!' Steve looks at her sheepishly and Bucky makes a frustrated noise as he leans in and buckles Andi in tight. She laughs loudly, trying to bite his neck as he hovers over her. Steve tries to offer her a water and she bats him away, 'I don't want anything from you! Asshat!'
Andi presses wet kisses to Bucky's face and Natasha watches, Steve looks away quickly. He catches sight of Sam walking Amelia out, he's holding her elbow and leading her to the car. She laughs at him, her face flushed, even inebriated Steve thinks she looks perfect. Sam gently steps away, checking she's still and not going to fall. She grins at him, blowing him a kiss and waving clumsily. Steve keeps his eyes on her as she waits beside Bucky. She looks around inquisitively, confused and then smiling to herself, she obviously hasn't seen Steve yet. She appears happy, humming to herself, her jacket over her arm, her smooth freckled shoulders on display. Steve catches a glimpse of her tattoo and tenses a little, thinking about who else looked at it tonight.
He jumps when the window knocks beside him and looks around at Sam, waving through the glass. Steve steps out of the car and slowly looks at him, 'hey man, how you doing? Look, make sure they have a glass of water each, they were going at it pretty hard.' Steve scowls at him, ignoring his advice, 'what was that picture?' Sam delays but understands, 'ah, just a joke, man, making you jealous, but seriously, sort it out, she's great and you deserve this.' Steve softens a little and Sam departs, 'I'll see you at work!' He waves at the girls in the back seat, Natasha rolls her eyes at him. Steve looks back and Bucky is helping Amelia into the car. She gasps loudly at the sight of Steve through the window and then announces 'I'm hungry' like she never saw him.
Andi straps her sister in and Bucky closes the door, contemplating leaving them to sleep it off in the lot. He sits in the driver's seat and looks back at the three of them, laughing at nothing.
'Wait, wait, show me again!' Andi cries, she's weeping tears of joy and Amelia does a hand action, mouthing this big. Natasha coughs a little and Amelia jokes 'that's what I did as well!' All three laugh wildly. 'Children…' Bucky mutters disapprovingly, Andi coughs and fidgets, making a dramatic proclamation, 'Mia, that guy was all over you, he wanted it, you should have gone for it,' Andi proclaims loudly. 'He's not here,' Bucky states dryly, knowing she's doing it for Steve's benefit, Andi sulks back into her seat in disappointment, Natasha amused by her pouting face. Amelia considers the encounter, 'he was ok, I would have danced with him, but Nat...'
The front door opens and Steve climbs into the passenger seat. Turning to look at the back row, her offers Amelia a small smile. She looks away and breathes on the window, drawing a heart and a cross. Bucky gives Steve a look and offers no reassurances, shrugging. Andi leans forward and reaches for Bucky's shoulders, massaging them. Steve looks awkward and turns away, Bucky frowning in pain, Steve catches Amelia watching him in the rear-view mirror. She looks off anxiously and Andi leans further out of her seat, trying to lick Bucky's ear. Natasha pulls her back and Bucky finally starts the engine.
Andi springs out of her seat, 'oh, Mia! I bought us a water each.' She grabs two bottles and Steve rolls his eyes, as she ruins his kind gesture. Amelia accepts the drink and struggles to open it, 'I like Sam.' Amelia says confidently. 'He's a real gent, says what he means, knows what he wants, even speaks to me.' Steve can feel this is aimed at him and he watches her in the mirror, 'even offered me a night with him.' Steve's brow creases, he can't believe what he's hearing and Natasha advises, 'don't do it, he's a selfish lover.' Andi and Amelia laugh in shock, spluttering questions her way and Steve looks at Bucky slowly. Amelia shoots her arm out, making Bucky jump, as a bottle of water appears beside his head, begging 'open me, please!'
Bucky effortlessly opens the top, passes it back and asks, 'right, where to?' Andi opens her mouth, but Amelia intervenes, 'our house, please!' Steve shifts in his seat, aware he doesn't know where it is, wondering if he will see Rosie. Amelia calls, 'Bucky! Bucky! We did karaoke.' Bucky can't help but smile, she sounds like Rosie, excited and proud of herself, 'oh yeah, what did you sing?' Andi interrupts, 'Alone, With or Without You, We Don't Need Another Hero, Love Stinks, Since You've Been Gone...' Steve knows what she is doing, despite knowing none of these songs, he looks down and tries to ignore her.
Andi unbuckles and everyone groans, she leans between the two seats and says 'radio!' She puts it on and finds a station playing Taylor Swift, she sits back down happily and Natasha rolls her pupils at her. Bucky gets a little louder, 'are we ready, now?' Amelia giggles and reaches to tickle Bucky's neck, 'ready, Jamie.' Steve turns to look at Bucky and he's smiling, Steve doesn't appreciate the relationship going on here, no one has called him Jamie since before the war. Amelia leans forward and asks 'can I touch your hair?' Bucky eyes Steve and stutters, 'umm, sure. Be quick.' Amelia slides a hand into his hair, acting uncharacteristically forward, groaning, 'God, it is soft.' Andi agrees smugly, lighting up with a thought 'oh we have a question for you, if you were dating us, which other one of us would you bang?' Amelia tries to tell her it made no sense and Steve raises a hand, assuring her they get it. Bucky looks embarrassed and asks Andi, 'really?' she nods like a puppy. Bucky scratches his head, feeling put on the spot and uncomfortable. 'Fine. Amelia, probably.' Andi cheers loudly and Natasha mutters, 'this is a weird relationship.' Andi continues, 'she chose you as well, so, good to know you have a back-up!' Steve stares at his friend, Bucky can feel the side of his face heating under Steve's glare. Bucky turns to look at Amelia's red cheeks and she can hardly meet his eye. Natasha shouts, 'hey, Barnes, just so you know, you couldn't handle it.' She says something else in Russian and the sisters stare at her wide eyed. Bucky laughs at whatever she said and grips the wheel, once again asking if they are all ready to go. 'What about you, Steve?' Nat asks seriously. He opens his mouth and Amelia shouts 'oh, I know. Sharon Carter!' There's silence in the car and Steve responds slowly, 'no, I was going to say, there's only Amelia for me.' Andi coos dramatically and Amelia doesn't flinch, just hiccups, once again, like she didn't hear him.
Natasha opens the back door, 'I left something,' she mumbles and just like that she disappears back inside. Bucky drops his head onto the steering wheel and Steve exhales in exhaustion, 'should have stayed at home.' They sit in awkward silence for two minutes and Andi sings along to the radio. Natasha returns and shuffles in beside Amelia, pushing her to the middle. Natasha catches Amelia's attention and whispers 'oh, you have something on your...' she licks her finger and gently caresses Amelia's lip. Amelia stares at her, glassy eyed and then refocuses, remembering Steve is there, she looks at him shyly and blushes crimson red. 'Umm, thank you, thanks. Yeah, thanks.' Steve shoots Natasha a dirty look.
Andi shouts 'Bucky! what is the hold up!' Bucky looks shocked, he was waiting for them. He gives in and puts the car in drive, Andi calls 'wait' and he slams the breaks. 'Just kidding' she says lightly.
A Banana Shake:
On the ride back, the girls demand food, at first one by one and eventually chanting to the effect of 'FOOD, FOOD, FOOD.' Bucky follows Andi's patchy directions to a drive thru and Amelia slumps in her chair when she recognises it as the one her and Steve visited. They pull up at a speaker and Bucky looks at it, confused. He taps it with a metal finger and it speaks, offering to take their order. Andi leans forward and reels off a long order, she leans back and asks 'what are you lot having?' She snorts and laughs at her own joke, 'I saw that on Charlie's Angels.' Amelia looks up, 'oh my God, I love that film, let's watch it when we get back!'
The voice in the speaker is intermittent and Bucky frustratingly taps it again. Andi bends forward between him and Steve and shouts 'hey! Did you get that?' Amelia pushes her sister and she nearly ends up in Steve's lap, laughing hysterically. They finally finish their order and wait at the next window. Andi shouts 'is there a toy?' The colleague smiles, but doesn't answer her. 'Ketchup! Get ketchup! All the ketchup.' The colleague leans down to accept payment and stares at them with wide eyes, recognising Steve and Bucky instantly.
'They're famous, we get it, where's my burger?' Andi demands. Amelia laughs at her sister and pulls on her skirt, encouraging her to sit down. Andi jumps forward again, shouting out the open window 'where's my milkshake, hey! You! Where's my milkshake?' Bucky huffs, 'I just gave it to you!' She settles back down and squeals when she spies it in a cup holder.
They grab the rest of the food and park in the empty lot, littered with picnic benches. Amelia makes a noise and announces that she doesn't feel good, darting from the car before it's barely stopped and runs for a trash can. Bucky looks at Steve and nods at her, 'well go after her, you idiot. Jee's.' Steve slowly gets out of the car and follows the direction she went in, hands in pockets, looking lost and dejected.
Andi declares she wants fresh air and clambers out of the car with great difficulty. She stands in front of it for a moment, the headlights on, Bucky and Nat can see her posing and pulling faces. She starts dancing and trying to climb on the hood. Natasha is eating fries, 'they are way more fun than you lot.' Bucky sighs and gets out, he walks over to Andi and she grabs him, kissing him passionately. 'I've missed you, Bucky bear, where have you been?' He sighs, 'giving you two space.' She shakes her head, 'I don't want space, in fact I want you as close as possible.' She giggles as she reaches between them and tries to get a hand in his pants, he jumps a little and tries to gently push her away. 'Don't be coy, I told them all about it and what you do with it, more to the point.' Bucky looks over at the car, squinting at the bright lights and can see Natasha still eating, now sat in the front seat watching them silently. He backs away, 'we can't do this here. Get in the car? Please?' She sighs but agrees, 'you're no fun!'
Steve walks over to Amelia and catches her wiping her mouth and groaning into the bin. 'You ok?' He asks from a few feet away. She closes her eyes and doesn't look at him, 'fine. I am not your problem anymore.' Steve steps in closer, 'of course you are, I still love you, Amelia, this isn't done.' Amelia looks at him sleepily, feeling the drink and energy draining from her. 'Not now, Steve' she simply says and she begins to wobble back to the car. Steve calls out, 'how's Rosie? Is she doing better?' Amelia tries to ignore him, but then she hears, 'I miss her so much.'
She softens and turns back, ignoring the ground moving beneath her feet, 'she misses you too.' Steve looks up surprised by her soft tone, hopeful for more, 'she's doing well.' Steve nods solemnly and Amelia throws her hands in the air, toppling a little, 'God this was meant to be a night off, away from it all, what are you even doing here?' Steve looks shocked by her quick turnaround, 'you know what? I don't care! Did you come to check if you made the right call? Well here I am! Single Mom, check. Drunk, check, same old ass, check. Not blonde, check.' Steve looks mortified at her words, watching as she stalks away and nearly trips, she hisses towards him, 'I'm fine, don't!' Steve hangs back and allows her time to get settled and hopefully calm somewhat.
'You said you'd wait!' Steve calls to her. Amelia stops and looks at him slowly, he explains 'in your card, you said you'd wait.' Amelia sighs, wiping her eyes, 'wait for you to grieve, yes, not decide who to screw. Steve, I'm not doing this.' She marches for the car, praying she has the restraint to not look back.
Eventually, Bucky pulls up outside their new house. Steve marvels at the nice neighbourhood, concrete steps leading to a small porch and two windows, with white wooden shutters. The girls were loud most of the way home and then the racket died down. Bucky looks back and all three are asleep. Andi's head is against the window. Bucky turns off the engine and gets out, he opens Andi's door and wakes her, gently, then firmly. Andi mutters and asks Bucky to take her to bed. She waves at Natasha and Amelia, through the window. Bucky shuts the door and helps her stumble up the stairs. Amelia sighs and scoots to the door, now free from the middle. She starts to leave and Steve says 'this looks nice, you've done well.' Amelia sighs looking up at home, she's given up fighting him for tonight, 'yeah, we love it, dunno how it happened, Andi thinks there must have been a murder there, it's way too cheap. Rosie has somewhere to ride her bike and there's a bakery on the corner, so we are set.' Amelia cringes, even when she's trying to be frosty he unlocks something in her. Steve looks up with parted lips, 'she has a bike?' Amelia shrugs, 'well a trike thing, streamers and basket, we picked it up last weekend. She can't really ride it with one arm, Andi just pushes her on it.' Steve nods, trying to ignore the bitter sting inside.
They speak at the same time, 'I see the beard is back'/'I miss you.' The words spill out of him and she watches his face, he thinks she might say something in return but she shakes her head and steps out. She closes the door and walks to the front window, looking in at him. She licks her lips, 'I'll see you around. Thanks for the ride.' She turns, going inside.
Steve puts his head back against the head rest, 'I know you're awake.' Natasha opens her eyes and says, 'you're an idiot.' Steve closes his eyes, 'so I keep getting told.' Steve looks over and can see the downstairs light flicker on. Amelia shirks her handbag and begins to unzip her dress, it hangs open at the back. Steve's mouth runs dry and then she speaks to someone, hugging Bucky goodbye and Steve narrows his eyes at his friend's hand pressed on her bare back. Amelia pulls away and picks up a sleeping Rosie, Steve feels his breath catch and then someone steps close to the curtains. He can see it's Natalie, she puts her middle finger up at him aggressively and pulls the drapes. Steve sighs and watches Bucky leave, the downstairs light flickers off and the upstairs one goes on. Bucky gets in and Steve stares at him, 'well, that was horrendous.' Bucky reaches to switch off the radio and adds, 'oh, it gets worse.' A noise catches Steve's attention and Natalie lets herself in, climbing in the back seat and forcing a sleepy Natasha over to one side. 'Thank you for the ride, Bucky dear,' she says warmly, 'hello Steven,' she says harshly.
Bucky just shrugs, getting out of the car and jogging back to the door, locking up. 'You have a key?' Steve asks as he gets back in. Bucky nods nonchalantly, 'for emergencies.' Steve looks annoyed and Nat leans forward 'maybe if you had led with something better than, nice pad, you'd have a key,' Natalie scoffs and Steve considers walking home.
AN: I know it's a little excruciating between Steve and Amelia, but I really wanted to make it realistic, not have her collapse back into his arms, despite the temptation! I had so much fun writing about the drunk antics and imagining how Steve and Bucky might react. In the next chapter, Steve gets a visitor and Bucky gets an invitation… x