Author's Note: Just another thank you to all those who take the time to read and support my stories. It really means a lot to me, and gives me more "oomph" to continue writing. I always love receiving messages and comments as well. Recently, I've received comments that question some of the factual evidence within my story. While I welcome all feedback, I do hope that you remember that this story is fiction; based in a world where super heroes exist and super powers are a thing. I'm not trying to make my story as scientifically or canonically perfect, because this is our dream world: a fictional playland where Bucky Barnes has a relationship and we get to explore how he handles being in that relationship. It's meant to be fun - but yes, there will be loopholes. All I ask is that you continue to enjoy the story for what it is, and try not to take it too seriously :) Thank you, friends!

Now...on to the new chapter!


The following morning, Bucky headed down to the long line of available vehicles within the Avengers garage. Though the cold didn't affect him as much as the average person (given his serum), it was still snowing outside enough to keep him from taking his motorcycle. Snow hitting his face at 70 mph was akin to having a thousand tiny needles pummeling him. So, as much as it pained him to leave his beloved motorcycle behind, Bucky opted for one of the other available vehicles to take him into the city.

For a Friday morning, New York wasn't as busy as he expected. The roads were shit, so he figured that had something to do with it, but was happy for it nonetheless. Any time he could head into the city without half as much traffic and horns and angry pedestrians than usual was a good thing. He loved his hometown and he always would, but he knew what irritated him about it as well, and the traffic was one of them.

Despite fewer cars and people clogging the byways, the snow still made the commute down to Madison Avenue longer than Bucky would have liked. Thankfully, conditions improved the closer he got to downtown, but it was slow going nonetheless. His goal would be worth it though. He promised Alexis a new sleep camisole to replace the one she ruined back on the island, and he didn't want to land in DC later that evening empty-handed.

Knowing he wasn't exactly comfortable doing what he was about to do, Bucky kept Alex and her happiness in mind as he parked the car. He made his way along the avenue of posh boutiques, knowing damn well he was out of his element. Dressed in black jeans, boots, his leather jacket and a dark hat, he resembled an underground rock version of the sleek, sophisticated pedestrians that passed by him on the sidewalk.

One by one he stopped at the storefronts, checking to see if the overall feel of the place spoke of his girlfriend's style. When he finally came to one that did, he walked inside and was instantly bombarded by nothing but lingerie.

It was a small boutique, as they all were on Madison, complete with steep price tags and minimal amounts of fabric. Bucky's eyes went wide, scanning the tables and shelves of slinky items as he tried to figure out how he was going to handle everything he was looking at. He knew Alex's size, he knew she liked jewel tones, and he knew she liked soft things. Soft and pretty. That's what he'd promised, and that's what he would deliver.

He also appeared to be the only person in the boutique. Two female employees were speaking to one another at the counter when he entered, and Bucky quickly noticed their appearance brighten upon seeing him. One of the employees quickly straightened her blonde hair and the blazer she wore and then walked over.

"Good morning! Welcome to La Perla. Is there something I can help you find?"

Her blue eyes smiled more than her mouth did, which seemed tight and cautious. Given her attire and tone of voice, Bucky sensed she was a bit straight-laced. She was good looking, but had the appearance that she was well aware of that fact.

"Just looking, Ma'am" he answered, eyes darting between her and the other employee behind the counter. He was out of his element. Really, really out of his element.

The blonde looked him over, and her expression hinted that she liked what she saw. "Shopping for someone special?"

"Very special, yes." He smiled. "Can you, uh...point me to the sleepwear?"

Her expression eased a little. "Of course! Right this way."

Bucky followed her into a smaller side room where plenty of the exact items he was looking for were on display. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, dripping with diamonds or crystals or something expensive-looking, while the floor contained several tiered tables full of tiny clothing pieces. Backlit racks of sleeping gowns and robes hung along the walls all around him.

"I'll give you some time to explore" the woman told him. "My name is Sarah, so please let me know if there's something you need assistance with at any time." With this, she placed her hand on Bucky's arm as she was about to leave him, but sensed the hardness of the metal beneath his jacket. Her eyes met his with question.

Bucky only smiled. "Thank you, Sarah."

She gave a curt nod, confused by what she felt but not about to ask, then exited out to the front of the boutique.

Hoping he avoided any strange questioning, Bucky got to work. He examined each piece as though Alex were there, wondering which she would like most. Most of the items were in pastel shades, although one item in sapphire blue stood out to him right away. He went over to it, removed his leather glove from his flesh hand, and felt the satiny fabric between his fingers. He closed his eyes and tried to picture Alex wearing it and if she'd like it, and a smile came to his face almost instantly. With her black hair and dark eyes, he knew she'd look stunning in it. It had a low v-neck in both the front and the back and was trimmed in lace. It came paired with the smallest set of satin shorts he'd ever seen. Knowing her body and how she'd fill them out, he decided to buy those as well.

Another piece also caught his eye; one that was an emerald green color. He liked that one too, but never saw Alex wear anything in that shade. His heart seemed set on the sapphire piece that first caught his eye, so he went with it.

Sarah and the other woman were pleasantly surprised when Bucky arrived back at the front counter with both pieces. Sarah gave her coworker a flick of an eyebrow as she took the pieces from him. "Whoever the recipient is, is one very lucky girl."

Bucky felt complimented by this, but kept his grin subtle. "She certainly is."

"Is it your anniversary?" the other woman asked. "I ask only because we don't see too many men step in here unless it is."

He gave her a polite smile. "Just getting it because she deserves it."

She and Sarah exchanged looks of surprise.

"You're a rare breed, then." Sarah folded up the items and placed them in a white box, complete with a white satin ribbon. "What did you say your name was?"

"First name is Bucky, Ma'am."

The other woman made a cutesy-sounding noise. "Well, Bucky - you are one stellar boyfriend, if this is any indication."

Bucky didn't know how to take any of it, so he gave her another gracious smile and waited while Sarah continued wrapping up the items. She placed the box in a black bag and pushed it towards him as he handed over his credit card. He could tell the other woman was still staring at him, but he tried to keep his focus on signing the receipt so he could get out of there.

"Great meeting you, Bucky" Sarah told him. "And I hope your girl pays you back for such a nice gift." She gave him a wink, as did the other woman.

Bucky thanked them and got out of there, happy to have the fresh air in his face again. He stared down at the bag in his hands and smiled. What the two women in the store didn't know was that his girl never had to repay him for anything. She proved her love and her affection every day in ways he never took for granted. Getting her something soft and pretty like he promised certainly made him feel good, and he was excited to see her reaction (and how sexy she looked in it), but it wasn't really what mattered to him. Only her happiness mattered, however he could make that happen.

Feeling satisfied, he headed back to the car. He stared up at the skyscrapers around him, watching as snowflakes danced between their stone and steel designs. It was weird to think he was in the middle of the Pacific Ocean just a few days ago spending every moment with Alex, whereas now she was in DC and he was in New York shopping for her. Life moved too fast for him sometimes.

There was only one more stop Bucky wanted to make before he exited the city completely. He dropped by a deli that had become one of his and Steve's favorites. It was a a bit of a hole-in-the-wall location, but the sandwiches were killer and they made giant homemade cookies that Bucky couldn't help himself to buying every time he stopped there. He ordered a foot-long sandwich and a cookie to-go for both he and Steve, then pointed his vehicle for Headquarters.

By the time he arrived and made it over to Steve's place, he was so hungry he almost ate his sandwich on the way over. He held out, though, and the look on Steve's face when he saw the paper bags he was holding made the waiting worth it.

"No way. You went to Arnie's?" Steve's eyes got huge. "Were you in the city?"

Bucky handed over the bag with Steve's name on it as he stepped inside. "Was getting something for Alex. An overdue gift, let's say."

Steve wasn't even paying attention. He must have been just as hungry as Bucky because he had the sandwich and the cookie laid out at his kitchen counter with a bite taken before Bucky even claimed a seat. "Slow down, punk or you're gonna choke" he told him.

Steve swallowed some of the sandwich and closed his eyes in ecstasy. "When was the last time we had Arnie's?" He took another bite and chewed, a piece of lettuce sticking out the corner of his mouth. "Had to be back in the spring, right?"

"Think so. Way too long, that's for sure." Bucky opened up his own sandwich and took that first bite and, similar to Steve, tasted the greatness of a true New York deli. "Yeah, it's fucking good, isn't it?"

"Why don't we go there more often?"

"Too busy hunting Hydra our whole lives."

Their matching blue eyes met across the counter in sympathetic understanding.

"That reminds me." Steve swallowed and wiped his mouth. "Fury called. Said he wants to meet with us, and the sooner the better."

Bucky's brow fell. "What's wrong?"

"Sounds like he wants to discuss whatever Markos has been telling them. To 'make plans'was his exact wording."

The men sat and chewed thoughtfully. Bucky hoped that whatever Fury wanted to meet about didn't mean something awful was in the works. If it was a mission, that would be fine. But if something major developed as a result of Boroshka and whatever Alexis informed them of, it would leave him feeling much more uncomfortable.

Plus, he needed to inform Fury of one major development he was sure Alex hadn't told them: the words didn't work on him anymore.

"Speaking of Markos..." Steve mentioned. "What'd you get her that you had to go into the city for?"

Bucky chewed silently, but his eyes met Steve's and his mouth formed a stuffed but subtle smile. "Lingerie" he said, voice muffled by the food.

"Lingerie?"

He nodded, still chewing. He was curious to see what Steve's reaction would be this time, and watched with growing satisfaction as Steve's entire face transformed into a grin.

"Didn't take you for one who really cared much about that sort of thing."

"It's a long story, but I owed her." He shrugged and smiled. "Plus, I've taken a liking to a lot of things I would never have guessed before meeting her."

"And now it sounds like she'll get her gift a few days early" Steve said, finishing the last of his sandwich.

Bucky stared at him. "Why?"

"Because we're leaving tonight."

His eyebrows shot up. "Tonight?"

Steve balled up his sandwich wrapper and shot it into the trash like a basketball. "Fury said the sooner the better, so when Fury says 'jump'..." He eyed Bucky and smirked. "You know the rest."

"No I don't" he replied flatly.

Steve inclined his head with sass. "What I mean is: we need to get down there as soon as we can. And since we're not exactly busy at the moment..."

"I haven't eaten my cookie yet."

"When you finish your cookie, Buck."

"Don't deprive me of my cookie."

"I would never deprive you of your cookie."

Bucky nodded towards the counter. "You gonna eat yours?"

"Yes, and you know it."

He shrugged and finished the last of his sandwich. "Was worth a shot." Peeling back the wrapper of the cookie, he took his first bite and considered their new schedule. Originally, he thought he would have at least one more day to get ready for DC, but that had been cut in half. It excited him, though. Now he could surprise Alexis two-fold: with a special gift she wasn't expecting, and with a much earlier arrival.

"Does Alexis know we're showing up tonight instead of tomorrow?" he asked.

"She won't hear it from me." Steve gave him a wink.

"Let's keep it that way and see what happens" Bucky said, and they shared a knowing smile.


Alex was two hours into a meeting that seemed to have no end. The details about Boroshka Gribinov's exit from Hydra and hiding out on Stark's private island was far more interesting that she could have ever guessed, even after seeing a lot of it in Boroshka's mind. S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence uncovered that Erik Dobrow - his former name before going under the radar - was also ousted from Hydra when the Winter Soldier program reached its limit and disintegrated. He ran, as all cowards do, and Boroshka went with him. Now he was hiding under a different identity and, more than likely, some sort of advanced biological change that allowed him to migrate into S.H.I.E.L.D.

Surprised by absolutely none of it, Alex watched as shocked and horrified S.H.I.E.L.D. staff members worked through their emotions over 'yet another Hydra agent' infiltrating their agency. More than once, she side-eyed Fury at their reactions. Unspoken words were passed between them, but Fury maintained a well-skilled poker face through all of it.

Towards the second hour of negotiations on where S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers team would go from here, Fury was summoned unexpectedly from the meeting.

Alex watched as he rose from his chair, apologized to the group, and then headed into the hallway where another staff member walked away with him. When she looked back at the rest of the group before her, question lingered in their eyes.

One of the branch division officers stood and smiled. "Why don't we use this as a much-needed break from all the talking?"

It was all Alex and the others needed to hear. The group stood in unison in a shuffle of chairs and soft voices as many exited the conference room. Alex was about to join them, but an accented voice stopped her.

"Miss Markos, if I may?"

Alex turned to see the Eastern European branch officer approach walking forward. She was a mature woman; somewhere in her mid to late 60s, with tightly pinned back gray hair and bright eyes. Her attire was modest and professional, comprising of a short blazer jacket and a knee length skirt in the same shade of cherry red. She thought her name was Claudia, but couldn't be sure.

The woman held out her hand. "Claudia Burke, Eastern Europe representative."

"Yes, Ms. Burke - I remember now." Because Alex was wearing her gloves, she was able to shake the woman's hand.

"Please. Call me Claudia." She politely folded her hands in front of her waist as her eyes stayed on Alex's hands. "You've a very interesting predicament, don't you?"

The term predicament gave Alex pause. "I'm afraid I don't understand?"

"Your hands, dear. They cause a bit of trouble for you, don't they?"

"Only to those who are evil" Alex replied with a grin.

Claudia's mouth turned suddenly rigid. "Yes. Maybe so."

Alex was used to odd comments about her hands; God knows she had a whole lifetime of phrases and insults and jokes to look back on. Until now however, she'd never heard anyone call her powers a predicament.

She was still waiting for the reason why Claudia had stopped her, but she didn't want to be rude. "Is there something I can help you with?" she offered. "I know the Poland branch is under your jurisdiction. It must be difficult to hear everything being discussed here."

The woman bristled a bit, but kept her polite smile. "I'm actually quite tired of all the discussion. I was just simply hoping to hear more about your lovely vacation." With this, her smile beamed. "I'm sure it was a wonderful time, aside from the one mishap you experienced?"

"Yes, it definitely was" Alex said, feeling a trickle of nostalgia for her vacation.

The room had now emptied and only Alex and Claudia were left. Claudia began to walk slowly towards the door, motioning for her to follow. "It must be such a relief that, despite the challenges of your predicament, you are still able to have a romantic relationship." Her gaze turned to Alex as if waiting for an explanation.

"Believe me, I count my blessings every day" was Alex's response. She'd give no more than that to someone she barely knew, no matter how rude she might appear.

Claudia clearly didn't get what she was wanting, but accepted it nonetheless. Alex could see a hint of frustration in the woman's eyes. The aged lines of her face barely moved even when she was smiling. Perhaps she was trying to get her to say something that would give her the edge to help her Polish branch members, or maybe she was just genuinely curious, Alex didn't know. All she knew was what Fury told her in the vehicle the night before: say nothing to anyone at the meeting.

"I was impressed to hear that Sergeant Barnes has improved beyond his limitations" Claudia mentioned, trying another angle. "Your relationship must be helping him so much."

Alex felt her irritation flare at Claudia's word choices. "I'm sorry - limitations?"

"Given his past. We all know what he's done."

This caused Alex to stop. She took one inhale to steady herself before facing the small woman in front of her. "Ms. Burke-"

"-Claudia" she returned crisply.

Alex bit her tongue. "I understand the perception many have, particularly those who don't know Sergeant Barnes personally. However, what most people think they know about him and his history was, in fact, all Hydra's doing. Not his."

A standoff began right then and there between the two women. Though Claudia was a few inches shorter than Alex and far more plump and aged, the woman's stare did not back down. Her polite smile morphed into a tight line edged with impatience.

"I see now that your bias has clouded your better judgment," Claudia replied with a click of her tongue. "And here I took you for such a bright woman. What a shame."

She exited the conference room and left Alex alone. Inside her body, Alex's powers roared with a fury she hadn't anticipated, filling her with a fire ignited by anger. When she glanced down at her palms, a faint white light seeped through her gloves up to her wrists. She flexed her hands and steadied her breath, trying to quiet her powers as best she could. One thing was certain: the Poland Branch was going to be an issue.

Perhaps even a clusterfuck of an issue.


Fury stepped inside Maria Hill's office and shut the door. "What'd you find out?"

"Just as you suspected, Claudia Burke isn't Claudia at all." Maria looked up from her laptop screen and removed her glasses. "Her birth name is Oxana Kovalenko. Daughter of one of Hydra's top scientists in the 40s." She sat forward and lowered her voice. "One who, coincidentally, worked alongside Arnim Zola."

"Well how 'bout that." Fury's voice was thick with sarcasm and his waning supply of patience. "Seems they all have an alias."

"And an endless supply of fingerprints." Maria's hands flew across the keyboard as she brought up Oxana's many security clearances during her career. "Seems her, Boroshka, Erik, all of them have access to some serious biometric equipment."

Fury leaned over Maria's shoulder and peered at the screen. "Not surprising if you're the daughter of a scientific maniac." He stood up and folded his arms over his chest. "Do we know why she was following Markos?"

"Has to be her connection to Barnes."

Fury began walking towards the door. "We need confirmation of that next."

"Do we tell her?" Maria called after him. "Alexis?"

Fury hesitated at the door. "No." He turned and looked at Maria grimly. "If your methods can't give us confirmation, then maybe Markos will."


Alex lay slumped against the couch inside her temporary living room, flipping endlessly through television channels but finding nothing of interest to watch. Her brain was too scattered and her energy too unsettled to really focus on any one thing. She tried reading a few chapters of the book she brought with her, but couldn't concentrate. She turned to television, but nothing interested her long enough to hold her attention. She finally just gave in and left it on a cooking show as background noise while she thought about the day's events.

That, and she hadn't heard from Bucky all evening.

He'd sent a text earlier saying that he and Steve were going into the city and that he'd try her later once they got back. What they were doing, where they were going and why, still remained a mystery to her. Alex thought it was really great that the two of them were spending more time together. She also realized that after spending an entire week alone with a girlfriend, Bucky was probably in need of some serious guy-time. She just hoped whatever they were up to, they were safe. All the meetings and the topics being discussed the past two days had her on edge.

When the doorbell buzzed, it surprised Alex so much that she nearly jumped off the couch. She fumbled for the remote to mute the tv before answering the door. After a second's worth of wondering who it could possibly be, she figured it had to be Fury.

When she opened the door and saw it was Bucky, her hands covered her mouth in shock.

Bucky smiled crookedly, his eyes shimmering with love. "Hey doll."

Alex threw her arms around his neck and started laughing. "You're EARLY! Why!? How?! I thought you were in New York!?"

"I know, and I'm sorry for fibbing" he said, hugging her tight against him. "But the New York thing was his idea."

Withdrawing from Bucky's arms, Alex saw Steve crowding into the hallway behind him. His handsome smile was laced with a twinge of guilt. "Hiya Markos."

She punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Captain." Her eyes flicked between the two of them, her emotions a mix of disbelief and gratitude. "So let me guess..." She settled her hands on her hips. "Since you're both here, and you're early, something tells me it wasn't because you were excited to come down to DC."

The two men shared a knowing glance. "You're not entirely wrong" said Steve.

"Fury?" she asked.

They nodded in unison.

"Should've known!" Alex said with a laugh. "But I'm so glad you're here." She exchanged a smile with Bucky. "For many reasons."

Steve lifted a backpack over his shoulder and nudged Bucky. "I'll leave you two for now so I can get settled in. Don't forget: meeting with Fury tomorrow. 0700 hours."

"Got it" Bucky told him, his face still locked in a permanent smile. When he looked back at Alex, they shared that same massive smile together and hugged again.

Once Bucky was inside Alex's place and brought his stuff into the bedroom, she invited him to join her on the couch. When Bucky emerged from the bedroom, Alex noticed both his hands were behind his back and the blue of his eyes shone with mischief.

"So I got you something..."

Alex eyed him curiously.

"...something I promised you." His dimples appeared as his grin grew. "Any guesses?"

She shook her head. "I can't imagine what you're even referring to?" She tried to think back to things he promised to get her, but was drawing blanks. Plus, he was standing there looking handsome as fuck in his worn jeans and leather jacket and holding something she couldn't see, so she was starting to feel flustered. "What is it?"

He came closer to where she sat on the couch and knelt on both knees in front of her so that they were eye level. He revealed a white box from behind his back, holding it in front of the both of them.

Alex stared down at the box and then looked at him with question.

Bucky gave her a nod of encouragement. "Open it."

She took the box and felt her anticipation grow with each passing second. The excitement evident in Bucky's expression seemed to transfer to her in those moments as she began to open the gift.

No one ever gave her gifts.

In fact, the last gift Alex got was the tiny little opalescent seashell Bucky gave her back on the island, and even that was something she didn't feel like she deserved.

But this...this was a large box, so whatever the contents were couldn't be jewelry. In fact, Alex honestly had no idea what it could be, which added to her curiosity.

She took the bow off first and set it on the couch cushion beside her. Her gaze met Bucky's as she lifted the corners of the lid up and off. Beneath lay two pieces of tissue paper folded over and held together with a circular sticker. Alex carefully tore this apart and opened the tissue paper to reveal the gift below.

Realization settled in as she lifted a gorgeous dark blue silk top out of the box. She looked past it to the man kneeling in front of her. "Is this...?"

"I promised you something soft and pretty back on the island, didn't I?"

"You did! But...James, it's gorgeous." She stared at the beautiful fabric and the delicate lace trim detail and could tell just from the look and feel of it that it was well made. It was even softer than the one she ruined, and way, way prettier. She began to shake her head as she looked at Bucky; the shade of his beautiful eyes only a fraction brighter than the color of the camisole. "You really didn't have to."

Bucky reached a hand up to cup her cheek. "You alwayssay that, and you know my answer is the same every time." He pulled her towards him and kissed her mouth. "Plus..." He nuzzled his nose to hers. "You didn't see the other half yet."

Alex cocked her head. "Other half?"

He nodded towards the box. "There's a Part 2."

She looked down and saw what he meant. She lifted out a pair of matching silk shorts and uttered an excited giggle. "Shorts, too?!?"

Bucky grinned and pulled Alex in for another loving embrace. She smiled into the kiss, feeling the love that radiated from Bucky. She held the items in one hand and braced the other against his neck as she gazed into his eyes. "These are absolutely stunning, James. Way nicer than what I threw away a week ago."

He laughed. "Glad I could help you upgrade."

"I can't wait to wear them." She made sure to emphasize the lust in her voice as she said this.

Bucky picked up on it and added a flare of his own. "I can't wait to see youin them."

Alex placed the items back in the box and then slid off the couch until she was also on her knees. She cupped Bucky's broad face in her hands and immersed herself in the love present in his gaze. "Thank you for being so thoughtful, and thank you for treating me to something so nice."

The look in Alex's eyes and the affection in her voice was exactly why Bucky did what he did. He brushed away a piece of her hair and swept his thumb across her cheek. "You're welcome, love."

Alex gave herself over to the feel of his soft mouth once more. For the first time since she arrived in DC, her mind finally relaxed. Thoughts fizzled as Bucky's touch strengthened and his hands sunk into her hair, guiding her mouth against his. She breathed a little deeper, felt a little stronger, and her powers thrummed in a low and present current that told her she was safe again. Bucky was her other half in every sense, and she felt it clearly in that moment.

"Question for you" she murmured, coming out of the depth of their embrace. She opened her eyes to find Bucky staring back at her. His eyes were soft; softer than eyes should ever be. "Have I turned into the girl who hates being away from her boyfriend for longer than a few days?"

Bucky exhaled a laugh. "What's so bad about that?" His fingers caressed the back of her neck as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We're partners. We're a team. And it gets pretty difficult to be away from your best teammate, right?"

They were the words Alex needed to hear. She nodded and smiled, feeling his reassurance in the very depth of her soul. "You're right."

Bucky drew her in for another heartfelt hug and Alex was bathed in his comforting warmth. She breathed in the heady blend of his cologne and his leather jacket, and the smile that came to her was a natural reflex. It was always the little things about Bucky that made her the happiest.

Upon separating, Alex rocked back on her heels and then stood. "You're not the only one who has a surprise." She fingered his chin lovingly. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

Bucky felt a ripple of excitement as he regained a spot on the couch. In the minute or so that she was gone, he tried to think of what she might have gotten him. He remembered her mentioning a surprise when they talked the night before, but he could only guess at what she meant.

When Alex came back into the living room, she took a spot across from him on the couch. "Remember when I went out the other day and did some sightseeing?" She held a black and white photograph out in front of her. "Does this tell you where I went?"

Bucky stared at the picture with wonder. It was a photo of him. He wasdressed in his Army enlistment uniform of olive and tan, his hat cocked to one side and his posture proudly erect. He couldn't have been more than 20 in the photo, but his memory wouldn't allow him to recall much else.

He reached out with cautious fingers as he took the photo from Alex. "You went to the Exhibit?"

A bashful smiled played at her lips. "I wanted to see you. To learn about you when you were in the war, to see what you looked like in your uniform, to see what you were like when you were basically my age."

Bucky's eyes lifted, fear and hope swirling in their color. "Did you like what you saw?"

She leaned in until her lips were only a whisper from his. "I loved everything I saw."

Her lips connected with his and Bucky closed his eyes. Inside his chest, his heart began to race. His memory struggled to take him back to the moment that picture was taken, but he didn't care. It would mean leaving the tenderness of the present, and he didn't want to be anywhere else in time but here.

Alex stared into his eyes as their mouths parted. "You can keep the picture, by the way. I flashed my badge and showed them my hands and they basically made no argument against me taking it."

Bucky uttered a surprised laugh. "Really?" He glanced down at the photo again and shook his head. "Seeing stuff like this...I don't know, it always feels like it was a lifetime ago."

Alex pressed her hand to his chest, directly over his heart. "Same soul, though" she told him. "Same beautiful soul."

Bucky felt his breath shudder in his chest. The fact that someone, anyone, could think that about him shook him to the core. He didn't deserve Alexis. She was perfection, whereas he was flawed; broken. Her love healed him and made him whole, and he only hoped his love did the same for her.

He never really knew what to say in moments like this, but even as these thoughts and emotions swirled within him, he could feel them being tamed by Alex's touch. White light from her powers curled about her fingers and connected with his body, soothing him and quieting the doubt that cropped up in his mind. It was like she knew somehow; in that crazy-weird way she always seemed to know. Whether it was their love that connected them or her powers, Bucky didn't care. He was just thankful to have someone who understood him and loved him the way she did.

Overwhelmed by emotion and a need to be as close to her as possible, Bucky scooped Alex up into his arms to the sound of her surprise-filled laughter.

"What are you doing!?"

"Taking you to bed." He nudged open the bedroom door and carried Alex inside. "You have new sleepwear I'm dying to see, and I'm exhausted." He carefully lowered her onto the bed and then climbed up beside her. "Spent all morning in underwear boutiques, you know. It takes a lot out of a guy."

The mental picture that came to Alex's mind only made her laugh harder. "I can't imagine how you must have looked among all those suit-and-tie-wearing New Yorkers." She reached over to tug on a strand of his long hair. "Get comfy while I go change."

"Don't take too long," he teased, watching as she hurriedly exited the room.

Once she grabbed the box and the items, Alex went into the washroom to change. She slipped out of her current outfit and into her new one, starting with the top. She was utterly amazed at the quality and beauty in the items Bucky had chosen for her. The fabric dripped like liquid over her body; the silhouette of her nipples visible through the thin silk. She was sure he'd enjoy that, if nothing else.

Next came the shorts. They were tiny, but sexy in a way that reminded her of old Hollywood glamour. Nevermind that her ass cheeks peeked out from the bottom (she was positive Bucky would love that even more), but there was definitely something about the pieces that were reminiscent of a more glamorous time.

Alex stared at her reflection in the mirror and smiled.
She felt sexy. Beautiful, even.
She couldn't wait to show him.

Since the washroom was located adjacent to the bedroom, when Alex opened the door to reveal herself, she was already facing the bed. Bucky remained lying on his back, but once he saw her appear in the doorway he sat up on his forearms.

"What do you think?" Alex did a slow spin, noticing that his eyes widened at least three sizes.

"I think you are easily the sexiest woman alive" Bucky answered. "And holy shit, did I choose well."

Alex loved how expressive he got in moments like this. His eyes always widened, his mouth always opened, and his body always responded. She crawled onto the bed next to him as his hand reached out to feel the fabric on her skin.

"You look even better than I imagined." His hand slipped beneath the silk to grip her waist and pull her closer. "And I'm suddenly very overdressed."

"What are you waiting for?" she teased. "Take your damn clothes off!"

Bucky sat up, dimples fully present. "Yes, Ma'am."

As he proceeded to remove his clothes piece by piece, Alex felt a certain amount of pride while she watched. She was fully aware that every subtle movement of muscle was all hers to enjoy. The dark hair that fell over his face as he stripped off his jeans, the slight smirk as he lifted his shirt up over his head and revealed his broad chest, all of it was hers. Earlier that day, she had informed that self-righteous woman Claudia that she counted her blessings every day, and she intended to keep her word.

When Bucky was down to just his boxer briefs, he climbed back onto the bed and pulled Alex against him. "Yep, that feels much better."

"It looks much better," Alex added with a kiss to his cheek. She fell into her usual spot nestled against his bare chest, settling into the comfort of his arms as they closed around her. "Feels a little more normal like this too, doesn't it?"

Bucky murmured a yes against her neck. "I missed this."

"Me too."

"Guess that makes me the guy who hates being away from his girlfriend after a few days."

Alex could feel him smiling. "What's so wrong with that?" She gazed back at him and winked, and then their mouths connected once more.

The night wore on and the couple eventually fell asleep in one another's arms. Outside, one of Claudia Burke's spies waited in an SUV across the street. He monitored S.H.I.E.L.D.'s temporary living quarters for any activity from the three Avengers, but none came the rest of the night. In the morning, he would report his findings to Claudia as she requested.