Lizzie had been at Bucky's apartment a week now. The first night she stayed she had fallen asleep on the sofa and Bucky had left her there, which she was fine with he had wrapped her in a blanket before he left, but in the morning, Lizzie had been woken up by the smell of fresh coffee and a note next to it saying he'd popped out to the shop for more food for them. He had also stated that he had changed the sheets and that he wanted her to take the bed. When Lizzie had tried to protest taking the bed, he had pointed out that he had slept in far worse places than a sofa. She really had felt bad about it and now about running around in his t-shirts and shorts most of the time. Yeah, she was an army brat and of course she always had a bug bag ready, but it only had three days' worth of clothes in it.

She was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast when Bucky came in. He was really worried about her, she hadn't left the apartment and had refused to go home, not that he really wanted her to go. She was clearly very worried about whether or not they were going to use her as a lab experiment or worse make her fight their battles for them. She was the first descendant that they knew of that had inherited the super soldier's abilities. He knew she was right to worry, hell he would be if he were her, but that didn't mean that he wasn't going to stop trying to ease those worries away as best he could.

"Morning." He said softly not wanting to make her jump.

"Morning," Lizzie smiled. "I've made you pancakes."

"Thanks. I was thinking we could go to your house today, pick up a few of your things." Bucky watched as Lizzie froze midway through placing a third pancake on his plate. He reached round her and took the plate and spatula off her, he set them on the table, then turned back to her. The urge to pull her to him was so strong. Fuck it, right now she needed someone, and he wanted to be that someone. He closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms round her. She lent her head against his chest and her arms wrapped around his waist. Bucky reached behind her and turned off the hob and moved the pan over before returning to her again.

Lizzie felt so safe here with Bucky, no one could hurt her while she was here with him, leaving this apartment and going back into the world, scared the hell out of her.

"What you thinking?"

"I... I'm scared Buck. I just want my life back. I want to go back to how things were."

She felt his grip loosen a fraction, but it was enough for her to realise he had taken those words differently to how they were meant. She didn't want that. Problem was that she had enjoyed the last few days with Bucky, he had been a true gentleman, and this was the first time he had hugged her without her actually starting or asking for it. She hated to admit it, but she was falling for him. She had been since their night together. The only reason she had made things official with Dan, because he was the safe option. Now she wasn't so sure she wanted that anymore, not that kind of safe anyway. She pulled back in Bucky's arms a little before looking up at him,

Bucky tried to ignore the fact that she was biting her lip as it drove him mad. "Are you going back to him?" He asked, trying to keep his eyes on hers and not her lips.

Lizzie moved her hand to his face. "No Buck. I'm not."

Bucky's eyes widened slightly at the news. She wasn't going back to Dan. His heart was pounding in his chest he couldn't believe what he heard, he was so happy that his hands slipped to her hips and he moved in for a kiss. Their lips were almost touching when his brain caught up with him, he didn't move unsure if she wanted him and not knowing how to explain a way out of it. Luckily for him Lizzie moved in and closed the millimetre gap that was left, her lips were soft yet held an unyielding want for more. His metal arm slipped from her waist to just under her bum and he lifted her with ease onto the countertop. She let out a surprise giggle against his lips. He pulled back and she was smiling at him, he kissed her again, her hands moved up to rest on the back of his head and combed through his hair. He goes to pull her top off, he wanted her so badly, but her hands move to stop him. Bucky looked at her completely puzzled.

"I don't want to start this…" She indicated between the two of them, "by cheating. I need to finish things with Dan first."

"I understand. But you do want me, right?" Bucky asked as he stroked his thumbs over the tops of her thighs.

"More than anything."

He kissed her lightly again before stepping back and letting her hop off the counter. They decide that cold pancakes aren't the best and opt for a couple rounds of toast for breakfast. Afterwards Bucky watched from where he leant on the kitchen door frame as Lizzie finally made to leave the flat for the first time.

…

The taxi pulled up outside and she stepped out, there was no one there that she could see. She was wearing Bucky's hoodie, which was far too big and had on her last pair of clean trousers. She opened the door and headed in; the place looked just like she had left it. She started making her way to the kitchen when a figure walked out of it and handed her a cup of steaming coffee with a smile. They acted as if it was an everyday thing for them.

"Who the hell are you?!" She snapped, half shocked, half pissed off that she hadn't noticed the guy's coat on the chair arm.

"I'm the man that may have just saved your ass." He watched Lizzie gave him a look, he'd seen that look before from her grandfather. She sat at the table across from him. "Kicking the ass of the government's new play toy, was not the smartest move. Though it was pretty funny."

She snorted at his description on the new Captain America. "How did you know about that? And I ask again, who are you?"

"Nick Fury. I know your grandfather. I've been watching you for him."

Lizzie stared at him then, Nick Fury, she knew that name, he had had something to do with S.H.I.E.L.D. "Do you know where he is?" She watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, he placed it on the table and slid it over to her. Lizzie noticed the writing on it, it was Steve's.

"I'll give you a minute to read that. Then you and I need to talk."

Lizzie just nodded at him, pulling the letter across the table and picking it up. Her name was written across the front. She opened the envelope carefully and pulled it out.

"Lizzie,

I know you will be kicking yourself right now but let me tell you not too. For 32 years you have hidden who you truly are, and I helped with that. Maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe I should have let you go and join the army.

After you lost your parents and I lost your father, it broke me a little inside. Parents are not meant to outlive their children. All I ever wanted was for you to be safe. It's why I trained you, so you could always fight back if needed. I think my fear of losing you may have rubbed off on you.

I asked Bucky and Sam to check in on you, become family to you. I also told them about you, I knew neither of them would ever tell anyone and would try their hardest to always protect you if that is what you wanted.

I'm going to be honest now, it was always my dream for you to carry that shield and show the world who you are, but selfishly I didn't want you to either as it would mean you running headfirst into danger and I wanted to keep you safe.

If you want to carry that shield, then you go and do that. You don't let anyone get in your way, and yes madam I did hear about what you did to Walker, and you can ask Nick, I had the biggest smile on my face when I saw the video. You looked so powerful, so free, so ready to take on the world.

So if you want that shield, if you want to carry on our legacy, then go do it with my blessing. Because I've only ever wanted you to be happy. Watching you become a Doctor, made me so proud and you are amazing at it, but please just do what makes you happy. Just be happy.

One final thing, it took me over 70 years to come back to your grandmother. She was the love of my life, I will never regret coming back to her, she gave me your father and then he gave me you. So please listen to this, don't wait for love. If you have held back from Bucky because you are worried about my reaction, I want you to know, I couldn't be happy for the both of you.

If you love him or feel you could be falling in love with him, run with it. Don't settle for silver when you have someone else wanting to be your gold.

I've known Buck my whole life and I know, no matter what he will always look after you and protect you with his dying breath. He will love you fiercely and the one thing I know is, that he will never hurt you.

I'm always thinking about you, always hoping you are well and happy and loved.

All my love

Your ever-loving Grandfather

Steve xxx"

Lizzie placed the letter on the table, she hadn't realised she was crying till her tears hit the paper. She missed him so much, she hadn't realised it fully till that very moment, just how much. One thing that Lizzie was confused over was his mentioning Bucky. How did he know she'd fallen for him? Had Nick been watching that closely? As all this ran through her head, she hadn't realised that anyone had joined her in the room, however that changed as she felt someone lay a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and Bucky was knelt by the side of her chair, she threw her arms round his neck, and he just held her while she let the last of the tears fall.

When Nick finally came back into the room Bucky stood up and turned to stand behind her chair, his hands resting on her shoulders. Nick took his seat again. "So what do you want to do?"

Lizzie looked at him, she had no idea. She just wanted her life back. "For now I just want my life back. I want to go to work and come home."

"You don't want the shield?"

She looked at Nick and then she moved and looked round at Bucky. She felt like she would be letting so many people down if she didn't take it, but she didn't want it, though she also didn't want John Walker to have it either. It should go back to Sam or Bucky. She wasn't sure that the avenger's life was the one she wanted to go down, well not yet.

"I don't want the shield, but I don't want that utter moron to have it either. It should go back to Sam or if he doesn't want it, Bucky should be given the choice to carry it."

Bucky squeezed her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.

"You wanting that shield I could do; they couldn't say no to giving it to a Rogers. Giving it to him or wing boy is something else, however. They are thinking about the image and neither of them fit what they want."

Lizzie thanked Nick before she showed him to the door.

"You have my card, if you ever need anything and I mean anything you call me. Don't run off and hide with this one." He pointed at Bucky, his face holding a small smile.

Lizzie closed the door after him and turned to Bucky. She ran into his arms and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. Bucky just held her.

"What's gotten into you?" He asked, shocked at her sudden change in mood.

"Read the letter, but know this Bucky Barnes, I think I might be falling for you. And I don't wanna hide that from anyone, I don't wanna hide anything anymore." Bucky kissed her. She jumped down and looked at him. "I'm going to speak to Dan now, but tonight Sergeant Barnes, you are all mine."

She walked to the kitchen and came back with the letter. "Take it with you and read it."

"You sure? He wrote this letter for you."

"I know, but I know he wouldn't mind if you read it."

"Ok, so what time do you want me to come back tonight?" Bucky pushed back a strand of hair from her face to behind her ear.

"Around 7. I hope to have everything sorted by then."

"I'll see you then." He said with a smile before kissing her cheek and leaving.

Lizzie watched as Bucky left, once he was around the corner on his bike, she closed the door and headed to where she had left her handbag. Pulling out her mobile she scrolled through her contacts till she came to the number she needed. She rings work first telling them she will be in first thing Monday. She had told them that it had been a family emergency, but apparently, they already knew that, said that her cousin had rung in three days ago and had explained everything knowing full well that she would be too busy to remember. Clearly Nick had thought of everything. Lizzie took a deep breath and rang Dan and asked if he could come over.

She showered and changed quickly before Dan arrived, she didn't really want to take Bucky's hoodie off, but thought it was best just while he was here. This conversation was going to be hard enough as it was; she didn't want him noticing her wearing another man's hoodie on top of it all.

When Dan arrived around four, she let him in, he hugged her straight away before she had a chance to dodge out of the way. Lizzie took him towards the kitchen. Dan looked round as he followed her; he had never been inside her home.

"Lizzie, what has been going on. You never made our date, then when you rang me you sounded so upset."

She said nothing yet and gestured for him to sit down, which he did. She made him a coffee and placed it in front of him. "So there are a few things you don't know about me."

"You know you can tell me anything?" He reached across the table and took her hand.

"My grandfather is…. Was…. Steve Rogers."

Dan stared at her then, he took his hand back and ran it over his face. "You're telling me your grandfather is Captain America."

"Yes, that's how I know Sam and Bucky. There are pictures all over this house of him, me, all of us."

"Why have you never told me any of this? You've lied to me for months." He sighed and looked like a hurt puppy.

Lizzie really didn't want to see his reaction to what else she had to say. She was beginning to think that dumping him via text or phone might have been easier. At least that way he would have just called her a bitch to their friends and she would have felt bad, but at least she wouldn't have to witness this. But she continued. "My grandfather wanted me to be safe from people that might want to hurt me to get to him. He wanted to keep me safe. Please understand Dan, none of this was done to hurt you."

"So why now? Why are you telling me now?"

Lizzie looked down then, the words still hurt coming out of her mouth. "They are replacing him. They are announcing a new Captain America. They took me to meet him, John Walker is his name. He was throwing the shield round and I got angry."

"I'm sorry, that must have been hard."

"It was. See the last thing I haven't told you is that I inherited my grandfather's super strength. The serum they used on him, runs through me."

"So, your what, some sort of avenger?"

"No I'm still just me. Dr Elizabeth Rogers. I just don't want to have to hide anymore."

Dan looked at her. He got up and moved towards her, he pulled her out of her chair. He pulled her close. Lizzie placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back. "Look Dan, the other thing I wanted to talk about was us."

"What about us?"

"I think…...I mean…... I think it's time we called it quits. I mean you're a nice guy and everything but if I'm honest I've had feelings for someone else for a long time. And I put it off because I wanted to stay safe and normal…..."

"So you've been using me this whole time." He backed away from her then.

"No Dan. No it wasn't like that."

He grabbed her then, by her arms, his grip was tight on her. "Of course it was. Let's use safe normal Dan to pretend you can have a normal life. He's stupid enough to play along."

Lizzie forced him off her, trying her best still not to hurt him. "You know what, believe what you want. Just go! Get out of my house!" Lizzie watched him storm out of the kitchen and she heard her front door slam. She wasn't sure how she thought that would go, but clearly, they weren't going to be friends.

…

Bucky arrived at Lizzie's bang on seven o'clock, he hesitated before knocking on the door. Why the hell was he nervous? He knocked on the door, and Lizzie opened it, Jesus she looked amazing. She was standing there in an oversized shirt dress, and barefoot. Her hair was loose, and she gave him the biggest smile. He handed her over the flowers he had brought with him.

"Thank you."

Bucky followed her in, he saw the dining table was set and had a beer for each of them. He laughed.

"What's funny?"

"Always knew you weren't a fancy wine kinda girl."

She winked at him. She walked over to him, getting as close as she could without touching him. "So my question is, do you want dessert first or after?"

"Always first."

Lizzie giggled as he scooped her up into his arms. Bucky kissed her hard and carried her to the sofa where he sat down with her in his lap. He used his metal hand to push her hair out of her face, he then pulled to one side to expose her neck where he placed a trail of open-mouthed kisses. Her hands were on his shirt, undoing the buttons with fumbling fingers. Every kiss he placed made her give out a soft moan. He loved the effect he had on her.

Lizzie could feel how hard he was under her, she ground her hips into him, and his breath caught.

"Do that again and this is gonna be over before it starts."

Lizzie leant forward and kissed him. "You best get me out of this dress then, because I wanna feel you."

Bucky grabbed the hem of her dress, his hand grazing her thighs as he started pulling it up. Lizzie helped him get it over her head. His eyes went wide when he saw she was completely naked underneath it. Lizzie moves her hands to his trousers, she unbuttons them as quickly as her hands will allow and pulls the zipper down, he helps her by grabbing the waistband of them and his boxers and pushes them down slightly. She licks her lips as his cock springs free and moves to position herself over the top of him. He watches her face as she slides slowly down. She lets out a low moan as she feels him bottom out beneath her, she doesn't move for a moment letting herself adjust to him and enjoy the fullness that comes with having him inside her.

Bucky kisses her shoulder, his hands running down her back and landing on her arse. He helps her to start moving. It was slow and he couldn't take his eyes off her face, she was moaning and the moment her eyes hit his, he was lost. He began to set a punishing pace then, listening to her moan louder and louder with every upwards thrust. Her hands were on his chest, he felt her nails digging into his skin, but he didn't care, he kept pushing her closer to the edge. Bucky felt her start to tighten round him.

"Come for me." He gasped out as he lowered his hand between them and began to tease her clit.

His words pushed Lizzie right to the edge, but it was the feel of his fingers playing with her that sent her flying over it. Bucky continued to play with her as she came down from her high, after a while he waited for her to catch her breath as he moved her off him and removed his clothes fully, He noticed her watching him and smiled. He moved her so she had her chest resting on the sofa. He nestled between her legs, he ran his hands over the smooth globes of her behind before slipped them under her hips and pulled her to her knees. Bucky smiled at the sight of her wet pussy before ramming into her. The almost feral moan that fell from her lips as her hands gripped the cushions only spurred him on. He leant forward and placed his right hand on her throat pulling her back with him so her back was flat against his chest and he could watch her breasts bounce with every thrust. He went hard and fast, pushing into her tight cunt again and again, he was so close, but he wanted to feel her come around him again. Bucky tightened his grip around her throat slightly and nibbled on her ear as he whispered into her, telling her just how tight she felt around him and how badly he wanted to feel her come around him again. He ran the fingers of his other hand over her breast and pinched her nipple rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. This was all it took, and he had her coming again, and he could feel her wanting to collapse but he held her up as he followed her over the edge. They both landed on the floor with Bucky softening her blow.

Lizzie turned to face him as she caught her breath and smiled. "Let's always do dessert first."

Bucky just laughed at her.

End of Chapter 4