3

"So how was that?" Bucky asked as they left Dr. Raynor's office.

"Interesting..."

"Yeah that's one word for it. See I told you she's intense."

"Oh, yes. That's also one word for it. I think she's going to be very helpful, though." She paused before continuing. "Honestly, I might start seeing her myself."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Or someone else. But she already knows our story, so it would be easier that way. Talking with her made me realize 'wow, I've really been though a shit ton too'. Not as much as you, of course, but a lot, so maybe I need to discuss it all with a therapist."

He nodded. "I agree, you have been through a lot. And I think sometimes you can diminish just how much you've been through." She gave him a look. "Remember, I was unconscious for a lot of my time as the Winter Soldier, when they had no need for my 'services'. And then I dusted for five years. But you were alive that whole time, the world changing rapidly in strides around you. You need to take care of yourself too."

"Careful, you're starting to sound just a bit like Dr. Raynor."

"Oh geez." He winced. "And, neither of us are as young as we used to be."

"True, we need to take care of ourselves, and each other."

"Exactly. I'll support you if you decide to go see a therapist."

"Thanks, Amor."

"Of course. Hey, you want to grab something to eat? I'm always starved after those sessions."

"It was pretty draining. Let's do it."

"Come on, I know a great sushi place."

"Bueno." He was smiling at her. "What?"

"I'm glad you're not hiding yourself anymore."

"I never really wanted to, but my family insisted. But I'm glad too."

"James!" Upon reaching the restaurant, an elderly man sitting alone at the counter waved.

"Hi Yori." Bucky waved back.

"Did you see the obituaries today?"

"I did."

"No one made it past ninety this week."

"So sad. So young."

"Is this your wife?"

"Sure is. Carrie, meet Yori. Yori, this is the great Carina Granado."

"The great Carina Granado-Barnes, now," she reminded him.

"So nice to finally meet you. He talks about you all the time."

"Aw, he's so sweet. Nice to meet you too." She shook his hand as they joined him sitting at the counter.

"I'm glad you're making friends," she told Bucky.

"With our age group, it's tough, but there's still a few of us around."

The first time it happened, she had gone right into a panic.

She had been without Bucky for so long now that readjusting to having him back was challenging in some ways. In some ways, they fell right back into being together as if little to no time had passed, while with other things it was more difficult.

It didn't help that in her dreams she had been plagued by the trauma of losing him over and over again, a vicious cycle she seemed to be trapped in, even when in the relative peace of sleep.

"Buck? Bucky?!"

Hurried footsteps down the hall sounded following her cries and he stumbled sleepily back into the room. "Carrie? You okay?"

"Oh, ay Dios mío-"

"Hey, hey, what happened?" he soothed, coming over to sit next to her on the bed.

"Where were you?" she asked. "I thought I'd lost you, all over again. You were gone, in my dream, and then I woke up and you weren't there anymore. I-I thought I was losing you again..."

"Oh, Carrie, I'm sorry."

"Where were you?" she repeated.

"In the living room - sleeping on the floor."

"Why?"

"Can't get used to the bed."

"Oh..."

"But I'm here, I promise you. We're in control now and you're never losing me again."

She wanted to tell him not to make promises he couldn't keep - she knew he would try his hardest to keep it, but, as they knew all too well, life was madly unpredictable. But instead she let herself bask in his promise.

This time, when she awoke, no dreams involved, she found Bucky's side of the bed empty and cold.

For a moment, just a moment, there was a brief twinge of panic, but then she knew as disoriented as she was waking up in the dark in their shared bedroom without him, she knew where he'd be, where she would find him.

She brought her blanket and pillow, curling up beside him on the floor, feeling his arm wrap around her.

"You don't have to do this alone," she reminded him, and snuggled closer.

"Flowers?" After returning from a day at the lab, she found her husband arranging a bouquet of flowers in a vase on the table.

"Only the best for my wife."

"Well thank you, aren't you sweet." Again, that old-fashioned charm that no one could remove from him. "What should we have for dinner? Ordering in nowadays is just so easy."

"Too easy," he agreed. "But no, I'm cooking tonight."

"You are?"

"Yes, my favourite Romanian dishes that my mom used to make. You have a seat-" He pulled a chair out for her. "-And have a glass of wine, and leave the rest to me."

She smirked. "Okay, the kitchen is yours."

"So one of my colleagues from the lab is going on a date tonight," she said as he poured a glass of wine for each of them.

"Very nice."

"Yes, with a girl she met online."

"I still don't understand the whole online dating thing."

"Me neither!"

"Like, do they ever actually meet in person?"

"Eventually, I think. Lara was meeting her date in person tonight. But apparently they've been chatting for over a week through an app, just messaging, no calling or anything. Crazy times we live in."

"Well, here's to the good old days." Bucky raised his glass.

"I'll drink to that." They touched glasses and took a sip each for their toast.

Bucky kind of forgot about cooking when they started kissing, both forgetting all about their dinner plans.

His cell phone ringing broke them apart.

"Who is it?"

He knew there was no point in hiding it from her. "Sam."

"Oh! You going to answer it?"

"Probably not. Besides, we're busy." He tried to distract her by kissing her again, resuming what they had started, but she only pulled away and gave him a look. He sighed heavily and grabbed the phone. "Sam, this had better be important-"

She snatched the phone from him. "Hi Sam, how's it going? No, no, this isn't a bad time, thanks for calling, I'm glad you did." Bucky rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course. I will be there. See you then, looking forward to it."

"So he's really doing it? He's giving up the shield?" Bucky said as she handed the phone back to him.

"He's not 'giving it up', he's putting it in a place where it can be honoured by everyone."

"He's giving it up."

She sighed. "Bucky-"

"Steve gave him that shield to do something with, and that something was not to put it behind glass and never use it again."

"Well it's his choice. And I would really like it if you came to the ceremony. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I'm going."

Looked like she was going to D.C. on her own.

Had to include Bucky's line about online dating because it was just too good! ;)

Oh my God the ending of Episode 4 was insane! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)