Hi everyone! Thank you so much for all the new follows and favourites! Missing my reviewers, how is everyone finding it? I must admit, I get dreadfully bored with slow burns mostly and realised that I had written one myself. I think it's time we push the throttle on this relationship. RATED M FOR SEXUAL CONTENT

The training was relentless but at her request. Every day she would get up at 4am, run five kilometres before meeting Natasha at the gym to spar. They would carry on for hours, only stopping when Natasha said.

The afternoons would be spent in the armoury, training with a range of weapons from knives to automatics. As the weeks went by, Erin could see her body become leaner, stronger, faster. She could barely recognise herself in the mirror. She ignored the dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep, the nightmares having plagued her since they moved into Stark Tower.

She thought they would get better but she was wrong. Every night she was choking from the Winter Soldier's iron grip on her throat, watching Steve, Natasha, Tony and Sam get blown up or shot. She didn't speak about it to anyone, she didn't want them to worry. She kept telling herself if she trained harder, became stronger then she would be safe.

Steve, Tony and Bucky were undeniably worried about her. She had essentially shut them out since their move, spending all her time either in her room or with Natasha. They kept knocking on her door but she ignored it, choosing to take meals in her room or leaving the tower altogether.

Today was a quiet day, Natasha had been called out to a mission with Steve. Tony was away on a business trip with Pepper in Miami so it was just her and Bucky, not that she knew where he was. He had tried speaking to her on many occasions since their return, she knew he wanted to talk about their kiss. She couldn't face it yet.

Erin never expected she would feel this way. They were so busy saving the world and moving back to New York that the moment she was on her own in her new room at the tower, she had her first panic attack. The silence was deafening, the flashbacks haunting her every moment. She didn't for a second blame Bucky or any of the team but she felt so weak. She had only confided this to Natasha, she didn't want anyone to feel any guilt about the tricks her mind was playing on her.

She had come to the agreement with Natasha, after much arguing, they would begin her training in earnest. Natasha was concerned, Erin could see it in her eyes but she kept her opinions to herself, mostly. Natasha more than anyone else understood not wanting to feel weak, not to feel like a liability.

If she was being honest, she felt awful about not telling anyone the truth of why she was doing this, of her nightmares. She hated seeing the pity and worry in Steve's eyes whenever they saw each other. She wanted to tell him but every time she opened her mouth, the words wouldn't come out.

The ache in her muscles from yesterday's training radiated through her entire body but just like she had for the last month, she ignored the pain as she made her way in the elevator down to the gym. As she was on her own, she decided to just put her music in and take her anger out on the punching bags.

To her relief, the gym was empty as she stepped into the large room. The sun was starting to set, leaving the room in a golden light coming through the floor to ceiling glass windows. She dropped her water bottle on the bench and wrapped her hands up before making her way to the bag. She started the music on her phone, the rock music blaring so hard it nearly hurt her eardrums but it blurred out any coherent thought. She took her stance and began punching.

Erin never really knew how long she would be there for, she sometimes came down in the middle of the night when the panic drowned her, to release some tension. It often helped, the exhaustion allowing her a few merciful hours of dreamless sleep.

The music carried on, she could see spots of blood on her bandages from where her knuckles had repeatedly hit. The room had gotten dark, she only noticed hours had passed once the automatic lights came on. They were pleasant, a low yellow glow instead of the extremely bright white you could get in gyms.

She only became aware of someone else in the room when a breeze went past her from where the door had been opened. She stopped and turned, removing her earbuds as she did to see Bucky walking closer to the centre of the room. Her heart began to beat so fast it made her feel sick, she hadn't been alone with him since they left Stark's cabin.

"Jarvis said I would find you here" He said, in a matter of fact tone.

Erin wiped some of the sweat from her brow, choosing not to answer and instead going to grab a drink from her water bottle.

"What are you doing?" He continued.

She could tell he was trying to choose his words carefully.

"I'm training, yourself?" She replied.

Bucky sighed "Looking for some company, I've got a bit tired of talking to myself"

Erin nodded in acknowledgment, taking another sip of water. She knew she was being rude but she didn't know what to say, where to start.

She turned back to the bag but before she could make another move, he spoke again "Erin, what have we done wrong? I get you might not want to be around me but Steve is your best friend"

She put a hand against the bag, she knew this was going to happen "No-one has done anything wrong…" she started.

"Well then why have you barely spoken to any of us for weeks, except Romanoff? She won't say a damn word but all you ever do is train!" Bucky walked towards her until he was barely a foot away, the anger and hurt was evident on his face.

"I need to be stronger, a better agent. I'm just keeping on top of my training that's all" She kept her tone as even as possible as they made eye contact. She couldn't break now.

"That's a lie. You are becoming obsessed. You're avoiding us. I thought things had changed between you and me but maybe I was wrong"

The tension was palpable as they faced one another, she desperately tried to find the words "It's not you, Bucky. It's not anyone. I don't want to get into this right now" She turned her head to the floor, praying he couldn't hear the crack in her voice.

Bucky took another step towards her, she instinctively took a step back, and he looked at the gap between them "You're afraid of me"

"No I'm not" She said softly. It wasn't a lie, she wasn't afraid of Bucky. She was afraid of her nightmares.

He didn't seem to believe her, he looked out the window, running his hand through his hair "I knew this would happen. I'm sorry I put you in this position. I never should have come back"

Bucky turned his back and slowly made his way to the door "Don't worry, I'll be gone before the morning"

This sent Erin into a panic. She never wanted him to leave, she didn't even want the distance between them. She was doing this to protect the team from herself. She couldn't be responsible for Bucky leaving again.

"Bucky!" She called out as she ran to the door, she couldn't let him leave.

He stopped just as he pushed the door open, turning to look at her. Without hesitation, without pause, Erin ran up and kissed Bucky. She poured all her fear, all her passion, and her feelings into the kiss. It took a fraction of a second for him to start kissing her back, his arms around her waist as she wound her hands into his hair. Everything that had been left unspoken since their return was being released in a whirlwind of kissing and hands. She pressed her entire body against his, trying to be as close to him as physically possible.

He stopped the kiss for a moment, breathing hard through his nose "Erin, stop…"

But she couldn't stop, she reached up and began kissing him again. She tried to convey everything she felt in the physical contact. She let out a small moan as they kissed, the friction of their bodies sending a ripple of desire through her core. The moan was enough to push Bucky further, he grabbed her legs and lifted her so her legs were wrapped around his waist, his hands holding her ass.

He left her mouth but her noise of complaint was cut short as his lips met her neck in a series of kisses and light bites. Her moans became more frequent and louder as he nibbled on a specific spot on her neck.

"Bucky…" She breathed.

"Mhmm?" He replied in between kisses.

"I need you now"

He moved his head to look her in the eyes. She felt as though he was staring into her very soul "Right here?" He asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"Right here, right now" She replied before she returned the favour of leaving small kisses down his jawline and neck.

He groaned deeply, they both knew this was insane but were too lustful to care. He carried her over to the nearest mat on the gym floor, laying her down and fitting himself into the space between her legs as they carried on kissing. Their bodies were grinding against each other in a desperate bid for relief. Erin began lifting the hem of her sports top before Bucky took over, nearly ripping it over her head. She felt almost shy as she knew she was bare but this was quickly forgotten about as Bucky ran his hand over her breast, lightly running his fingertips over her nipple. The touch was like a jolt of electricity as she bucked her hips into his causing both of them to moan.

Erin had no interest in foreplay at that moment, she began lifting Bucky's shirt before he took over the task. As he did this, she began pushing off her leggings. They were quickly discarded to one side. Both took a moment to admire the other. He was glorious, she thought. His muscles were defined in nearly every inch of his body, his face handsome and looking at her with desire that she had never felt in her entire life. He came back down for another kiss as Erin leant up to meet him halfway. She could hear him undo his belt as he kissed her deeply before breaking away to remove his jeans.

With the final barriers gone, he moved back in between her legs, the sudden reality of what they were doing came to the forefront "Erin, are you sure?" He whispered, she could feel his member pressed against her.

"Please Bucky, I need you" She softly replied, hoping he could hear the meaning behind her words. He leant in for another kiss but this time more gentle. She felt his hand move between them as he lined up with her entrance before slowly pushing his way inside her, inch by inch. The feeling was exquisite. She moaned as he buried himself deeply within her.

He paused so they could both adjust to the sensation. Despite the fact they were on a gym mat floor, in the least romantic setting, she was in ecstasy. After another still moment, Erin began to kiss him again but this time it was slow and lazy. As they kissed he slowly moved his hips in time with hers, rocking back and forth in a slow, sure rhythm.

Time was senseless, it could have been minutes or it could have been hours. Their mingled breaths became more ragged as Bucky picked up the pace, she dug her fingernails into his back as he began pounded into her relentlessly. Nothing else mattered but the joining of their bodies.

She could feel herself reaching her peak, her orgasm mere moments away "Bucky…" she moaned, his lips abandoned as she tried to stop herself screaming, head buried into his neck. He moved his arms so one was holding her against him, the cold metal against her back while the other was wound in her hair.

She muttered his name over and over again as though in prayer. He could feel her tighten around him "Look at me" his voice hoarse as she opened her eyes, blue meeting brown. They stared deeply into each other's eyes as they came in unison. Their moans bouncing off the walls, filling the room.

They collapsed back on to the mat, Bucky careful not to crush her with his full weight. They panted as the room came back into focus, the smell of sweat and sex surrounded them.

Slowly they untangled their mess of limbs and moved away from each other, until Erin was leaning against Bucky's shoulder, her legs crossed. She took a peak up at him, he grinned at her and she grinned back.

"So you won't leave?" She asked gently.

He let out a soft breath before leaning his forehead against hers "Only if you want me too"

"I really don't, I…" she trailed off as everything hit her at once, all her bottled up fear and emotion. She began to cry. Bucky scooped her up into his lap and held her against his chest as she cried herself out.

Eventually, when the storm in heart had passed, they grabbed their clothes discarded around them and redressed. They walked hand in hand to the elevator and made their way to her room. In an unspoken agreement, he came in with her and she asked Jarvis to order them a pizza.

The night was spent talking, eating, and laughing. She spilt her entire soul to him throughout the night, explained why she had been keeping her distance. She felt guilty when she saw the hurt in his eyes but he reassured her that he would always be there for her, as long she wanted him. It felt good to fully talk to someone. To let someone see her deepest fears. To know she wasn't alone as long as she didn't allow herself to be.

It was nearly 2am, the TV playing a random documentary in the background as she laid across his chest as he stroked her hair.

"Bucky?" She asked.

"Yes, sweetheart?" He replied.

"Do you regret what happened in the gym?"

He shifted up slightly so he could look at her "Why would you think that?"

She tried to think of how to explain her worry "It was just so…random. I guess. I'm worried that it wasn't how it should have been. I don't want you to think less of me" she mumbled at the end. Erin was by no means shy of sexuality but Bucky and Steve were from a different era where that type of incident was seen as unsavoury.

He smiled as he understood what she was getting at, he kissed her forehead softly "Erin, since we met, even when I wasn't me you brought my humanity to the front of my brain. I've been attracted to you since I could fully appreciate who you are. Yeah the moment was…" he trailed off.

"Unpredicted?" She supplied helpfully.

"Yes but in the best way. I would love to take you out to dinner and dances but what happened in the gym was perfect. I think we both needed it"

She couldn't help the bright smile take over her face "I thought so too" and she leaned up for another kiss. The rest of the night was spent showing each other how much they needed this.

The following morning, Erin woke as the light came through the curtains. She felt a heavy arm laid across her waist. She turned round to see Bucky already awake.

"Good morning handsome" She smiled, he smiled back and leaned in for a kiss.

"Good morning beautiful" He replied.

She sat up and walked across the room to her drawers to throw on a shirt and some loose shorts "The place is still empty until this evening, do you want to grab some breakfast in the kitchen?" She asked as she dressed.

Bucky got up with a groan "Well as we both exerted a lot of energy through the night" He gave her a wink "Yes I think breakfast is a good idea" He grabbed his boxers and pulled them on. They made their way out her room down the corridor into the shared kitchen. Erin had asked for her room to be close to the communal areas, she wasn't a morning person and didn't like the idea of trekking down stairs for a cup of coffee.

They held hands and kept giving each other coy smiles as they opened the kitchen door.

Neither, in a million years, would have predicted that in an equally stunned silence sat Steve, Natasha, Tony, Pepper, Sam and Clint around the breakfast island.

Erin had never been more aware of how few clothes she currently had on, let alone her lover who stood next to her in just his boxers.

Everyone stared at each other for a few moments, Steve and Sam both sat with open mouths, Pepper had her hand to her mouth in shock. On the other hand Natasha, Tony and Hawkeye looked like Christmas had come early.

"I, uh…" Erin stuttered, looking up at Bucky who was just as shocked.

"Yeah we…" He tried to add.

Erin cleared her throat "We'll, uh, just get properly dressed. Be right back" Before anyone could say anything or to see if Bucky was following her, she practically ran back to her room.

Bucky followed seconds later, closing her door. Both looked at each other and burst out laughing.

She threw herself on her bed, covering her face, she could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. Bucky laid next to herself, throwing an arm around her waist and brought her on top of him, kissing her all over her face as she squealed.

"I guess the cats out of the bag" He said cheerfully.

"Come on soldier, we best get dressed and prepare for our interrogation"

"Yes ma'am"

The team sat around the table in silence as Erin and Bucky made a swift exit from the kitchen. Steve was bright red in the face. He couldn't deny he was pleased for them both. The team had returned early to stage an intervention for Erin. Natasha had finally come somewhat clean on why Erin had been avoiding them all, together the team formulated a plan to try and get her some help.

He knew both Bucky and Erin had been trying to readjust since their return. Anyone would be blind not to see the attraction between them but anytime Steve had asked Bucky about it, he would change subject.

Tony clapped his hands together, jolting the team out of their various thoughts "Never let it be said that sex doesn't cure a bad mood"

Pepper tried to keep a straight face but let off a snort which promptly set off the whole team in giggles.

Tony rolled his eyes and grabbed his coffee cup "Children" he muttered and took a small sip with a smile.

As Bucky and Erin made their way back to face the Spanish inquisition, she smiled as realised she finally had gone a whole night without a single nightmare.