A few weeks had passed since Lizzie's run in with John Walker. There had been a lot of questions at work, the truth about who she was, was out there now. Dan had managed to use it to his advantage, making her look like the bad person for lying to him about who she was. Most people understood why you would hide this. She had told him in hope that they might stay on speaking terms. Had she known he'd be a dick about it she wouldn't have bothered.
Lizzie had always loved her job, but now she was loving life too. Bucky really made her happy. She spent her days off with him and when she was on early shifts, he would always be waiting for her at her house. Today, she had had a partially horrid shift, one of her patients had taken a turn for the worst and she had lost him in the early hours, she had become close to his family over the weeks he had been there. Breaking the news had nearly broken her. Her first instinct once she was alone was to text Bucky. When she arrived home that morning, she opened her door and was greeted by the man himself standing there. She fell into his arms.
"Hey." She said with a sigh.
"Hey, I thought you might need some company this morning?"
"I did, thank you."
Bucky kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and he lowered his head and kissed her lightly. He felt her smile. He took her hand then and led her to the bathroom. Lizzie looked round inside, the bath was filled with a hot bubble bath, there were candles round the side of the tub and on the window ledge as well as the sink, and then she noticed the rose petals. She rounded on Bucky.
"I may love you Barnes."
"Only may?"
She walked over to him, wrapping her arms loosely around his waist. Looking up into those blue eyes. "I do, Buck. I love you."
Bucky ran his hands up her arms, over her shoulders and placed them on her neck. He kissed her, he was madly in love with her, had been since he first laid eyes on her, but hearing her say it, made his heart skip a beat. "I love you too. Now get in the bath before it's cold."
She started pulling her t-shirt over her head, she looked back at him over her shoulder. "You joining me?"
"God, I want too, but there is more to my plan this morning."
She pouted at him and he laughed. He watched her slip into the bath, he could see the affect the night had had on her, start to slip away.
When Lizzie came into the kitchen, Bucky had set the table for breakfast. She had been teaching him to cook. Not that he couldn't cook, he just stuck to the basics, she had been helping him become more creative. There was orange juice and coffee on the table, she poured them both a cup. She wrapped her arms around Bucky's waist, her head resting on his shoulder.
"What you cooking?"
"I'm making you an omelette, with some cheese and bacon."
"Want me to do anything?"
"Nothing, sit at that table and drink your coffee."
"Yes sir." She playful smacked his ass, as she went to sit in her seat. When he placed the food in front of her, she tucked in it. It was good, she was teaching him well. "I'll make a house husband out of you yet." Lizzie cringed then, had she really just said husband.
Bucky noticed her face. "I know what you meant, it's fine."
"How has therapy been going?"
It was Bucky's face that changed this time. He wasn't enjoying therapy, the government had given him a pass, as long as he comply with certain things. Dr Raynor wasn't a bad person, her intention was good, but it felt like he was going nowhere. She had asked about his relationship with Sam. He hadn't replied to any of his messages since he had given the shield up. She had asked about Lizzie, he had told her bits, but not everything, he wanted to keep her to himself. He finally felt like he had something in this life again, she made his life better. He hadn't told Lizzie about his book yet, it had been Steve's, he'd used it to write down things to catch up on the years he had missed, Bucky was using it to write a list of people he had wronged as the Winter soldier.
"It's ok, Dr Raynor tries to get me to open up about everything."
"That is the point." she reached across and took hold of his hand. "You do know you can always talk to me, about anything."
Bucky squeezed her hand, he knew he could, but deep down he was worried she would turn away from him if she found out everything. Lizzie was about to get up and take their plates away when Bucky stopped her. "Nope, you are doing nothing. Go sit on the couch, you need to sleep and rest. I'll be here." Lizzie kissed him, god she loved him.
When Bucky made it into the living room, she was curled on the couch, hard fast asleep, he pulled the blanket off the back of the chair and threw it over her. He sat on the floor next to her and put the TV on low and pulled out a book to read. He could get used to this, a semi normal life, with a beautiful girl, nice home, maybe he could get a job, could he work a normal job? They could have meals out, weekends away, holidays together. If things go well, they might end up married and maybe have kids! He shook his head at himself, he was getting carried away, he couldn't ask this of her, without being honest about everything. But it was nice to dream.
…
A few days later Bucky was in his apartment watching the news, he had first thought Lizzie had maybe overreacted about this new army guy with the shield, surely it can't be that bad, but as he watched the TV, he wanted to smash the guy's face in. He was nothing like Steve, seeing the shield on his arms, hearing them call him Captain America was maddening. Right now he understood why Lizzie had knocked the guy on his ass, more than once. Every time he thought about that, it made him slightly proud of her.
He had taken the time to train with her a bit, there was some old equipment of Steve's in her garage, and they would use it. It normally finished when one of them pinned the other to the floor or the wall or something and that led to some extremely hot sex. Who knew training could be so much fun and such a turn on all at the same time? He was surprised at how strong Lizzie actually was, she had caught him off his guard once, he thought he was gonna need his tooth looked at. She had sprung straight into doctor mode and had ice and kisses ready for him.
He wasn't meeting Lizzie till later, she was on an all-day thing at the hospital, some sort of training day. He had listened, but when she started spitting out huge medical terms, his brain sometimes turned off. He got dressed and headed to confront Sam.
Finding him on an airfield, Bucky looked round and everywhere he saw posters for the new Cap, reading "Cap is Back!" that angered him even more. Before he knew it, he was on a plane with Sam. He was meant to have dinner with Lizzie tonight, shit. He pulled his phone out and wrote her a quick message
"Hey, currently on a plane. Long story. Not sure if I'm gonna make it back for dinner. I'm really sorry. I promise I will make it up to you."
He hoped she wouldn't be mad at him. He looked up and saw Sam looking at him.
"Is it true she knocked him on his ass?!"
Bucky looked at him, how did he know he was messaging Lizzie. "Yer, twice."
"She's a badass." He said shaking his head and smirking as her pulled on his gloves
Bucky smiled then; yer she was.
"Does she make you happy Bucky?" Sam asked genuinely hoping Bucky had found a little joy.
"She does, she really does." Their conversation took a turn then, he had to remember he was still pissed at Sam. just as he was about to get into it with Sam, his phone beeped in his hand.
"Hey, that's fine, I understand. Whatever you're doing, be careful, both of you. And I have some exciting ways you can make it up to me."
Bucky smiled at the message, even miles away she could make him smile. "God I'm looking forward to it." texted back quickly before turning off his phone and tucking it away inside his jacket.
….
Bucky found himself in a prison cell, he'd missed one of his therapy sessions whilst running around Germany with Sam. Since they were mandatory, he was stuck in here. He thought about Lizzie, what the hell would she think about this. Sam had shouted that he would call Lizzie the moment they had arrested him. He knew she would come but he wasn't sure he wanted her to see him like this.
She had jumped on his bike and sped to them the second after she put the phone down on Sam. As she pulled up outside the police station, she had spotted Walker with the shield on his back. She wanted to hit him again.
"Hey Rogers!" He called out to her.
She turned and looked at him, arms across her chest. "Walker."
Cameras flashed then, it was big news, Steve's granddaughter and the new Cap. It would be bigger news if she knocked him on his arse again. It had slowly started to come out that Steve had had a family. The first time she had seen herself on the news, she had laughed. Everyone wanted to see her with Walker, the military arseholes had hoped she would come round to the idea after she had calmed down, they were so wrong.
"What you doing here?"
"Sam phoned about Bucky. What the hell are you doing here?" She did her best not to snap at him, not wanting to give the press anything.
He gave her this cocky smile and again she wanted to wipe it off his face. Bucky had been teaching her some of his calming techniques. Instead she stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets.
"I managed to get him out of here. Though he might have to do as he's told."
She rolled her eyes at him, she started walking off and he grabbed her arms, she spun round on him, they were inches from each other's faces. He held her there, staring at her. Lizzies resolve to stay calm was failing. "If you took the time to get to know me, you might like me."
"Tell you what, you give up the shield and the name, to someone that actually deserves it and I'll consider it." She gave him a big grin; he was still holding her arm. "You might wanna let go of my arm."
"I'll let go if you agree to go for a coffee with me?"
Now he was pushing it. Her anger was rising. "Not sure my boyfriend would like that."
"Aww cute, you making up excuses to not go with me."
"Not making a thing up. Let's just say he throws a mean left hook." He let go of her then. She gave him a quick wink, a half-smile on her face. As she walked into the building, she turned and gave him the middle finger. Knowing that she was hidden from the press by the station entrance.
She spotted Sam chatting to someone, she didn't recognise her, it was then Walker pushed past her, tripping him seemed like a good idea. However before she could she saw that Bucky was being brought out. She walked over to him, her arms sneaking around his waist. He smiled down at her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Sam phoned. He was worried."
"I'm fine, no harm, no foul."
She pulled at face at him, he was still hiding something, something was clearly bothering him, she wanted him to tell her, but she wasn't going to push him either. He would tell her when he was good and ready.
The woman approached them then, she held out her hand to Lizzie. "You must be Elizabeth. James talks about you alot. I'm Dr Raynor."
Lizzie took her hand; slightly taken back she'd called him James. "Dr Raynor, it's nice to meet you. And please call me Lizzie."
"If you don't mind, I need to borrow these two."
Lizzie just shook her head. She gave Bucky a quick kiss on the cheek and went to wait outside. She had no idea how long she had been lent against the bike, but she could see Walker and his sidekick, standing a few cars over. Bucky and Sam came out and made their way to her first.
"You both ok?" Both men scowled at each other. Clearly therapy had gone well. Bucky took hold of her hand. "You're leaving for a bit, aren't you?"
Sam stepped away from them giving them a moment. Bucky stood in front of her and lifted her face up. "There are more of us."
"What do you mean? How?" She was utterly confused. More super soldiers?
"I don't know but we have to go find out. They're causing a bit of trouble. I'm sorry."
"Don't you ever be sorry, for being who you are. I'll be here when you get back."
Bucky bent down and kissed her, he watched her climb back on his bike and headed off. Watching her ride away on that bike, made him wish he could be the guy that didn't do the right thing for once. They walk over to Walker.
The prat still didn't seem to understand that just because he carried that shield and was given that name did not make him an avenger and didn't mean that they were going to follow him like they did Steve.
"A word of advice then, stay the hell out of my way." Walker told the pair. As he turned away from them, he spoke again. "And that girl of yours, she inherited her grandfather's ass."
Bucky went to launch at him, but Sam held him back. He knew Walker's game, he was trying hard to make Bucky react, and comments about Lizzie were gonna do that.
"Calm down. You're gonna give him what he wants." Bucky unclenched his fist. "Also that girl of yours is more than capable at knocking him on his ass should he ever try anything."
A smile crossed Bucky's face then, hell yeah, she was. He had a feeling she was a lot stronger than all of them, but she held it back. She had made a choice about her life, letting the world know she was Steve's granddaughter. She could live with that being out in the world. After she had broken up with Dan, she had sat Bucky down and told him about it. The memory crossed his mind as he and Sam made their way to see Zemo.
It was the morning after their first official date, they were laid in bed, she sat up to look at him. "I have to tell you something."
"You can tell me anything."
"I told Dan about who I am."
Bucky sat up in the bed then, she had shared her secret. Lizzie noticed the look on his face. "I didn't tell him everything else I just explained who I was, not what I am. I told him Steve was my grandfather."
Bucky looked at her, he knew that she had taken Steve's letter to heart. He had told her to be who she wanted to be and to be happy. "Do you think that was a good idea? I mean what if he tells the whole world."
"Let him. I don't want the shield, I don't want people to know about my strength, but I do want to be his granddaughter. I want to be able to show my pride in my family history. I want to be able to stand up for the legacy."
Bucky laughed a little, god he still wished he'd seen her kick soldier boy's ass. "Not gonna punch the new guy out again are you?"
She punched him on the arm. "It wasn't on my to do list. But do you think telling him was the right move? I just didn't want to lie anymore. I can't offer my opinions on who has the shield, if no one knows who I am."
"Plan on giving some interviews, do you?"
"No, god no. But I do want to stand up for you and Sam and if I'm just plain old Dr Rogers I can't do that. If I'm Elizabeth Rogers's Steve's granddaughter I can."
Bucky pushed the hair out of her face, she never flinched at the coldness of his metal hand. "I like plain old you. I don't need you to do anything you don't want too. I'd never ask you…."
Lizzie closed the space between them then, sitting in his lap, her arms draped over his shoulders. "I know, that's why you're here."
The sex that had followed that conversation had been out of this world. It was slow and passionate. Bucky was pulled out of his daydream by Sam speaking.
"We're here."
End of chapter 5