Chapter 4

Bucky closed the distance between them, hands reaching up to cupping her face. Oakleigh bit her lip to keep tears from welling in her eyes. Bucky's gaze was so trained on her, she was sure he could read her thoughts.

"Baby of course you can stay here. I just wasn't so sure you'd want to."

The tears slipped from her eyes. "I love you." Bucky pulled her tight to his chest.

"I love you too." I'm sorry I never went back for you.

In his defence he thought she had been killed. It was no excused, he should have knows better than to believed Hydra, he should have made sure. Demanded to see a body or went back for her once he got his mind right.

"Can I shower tomorrow? I just want to go to bed, which I know sounds silly considering that that's what I've been doing all this time."

"Sure O. I'm just going to call Steve and let him know we're going to be staying in the rest of the day."

He was sure Steve probably already knew they would want their time alone. It did not hurt to check in with the blonde, Steve was quiet the worry wart, especally when it came it him.

"Wait what time is it?"

Bucky looked to the small alarm clock on the bedside table. "Just after three in the afternoon."

"Don't you have things to do? You don't have to stay here with me, I'm a big girl you don't have to watch over me. I'll be fine to take a nap on my own."

Bucky lifted her chin so he could look her in the eyes. "There is nothing I need to be doing right now other than be here with you."

"Ok." She smiled, picking up her clothes to go and change.

The longer she stood there talking and remembering their past, the grosser she felt. Maybe a shower would be a good idea, wash the last several decades from her body.

"Actually I think I'm going to have that shower first. Some warm water might help me shake off the chill."

Bucky nodded, they both knew it would not. "If you're good, I'll just got find Steve and grab some things from the kitchen at the same time."

"Ok." Bucky's eye followed Oakleigh as she walked into the bathroom.

When the door closed, Bucky closed his eyes. The last week had been taxing on his emotions. Having Oakleigh back was earth shattering to him, she had quickly filled up the part he knew had been missing inside him. It had been there brewing under the surface, being free in this 'new world' had not felt right because she had not been free with him.

Not wanting to waste time, Bucky left his room on the hunt for Steve.

"I didn't think i'd be seeing you again today." Bucky had found Steve in the kitchen with Natasha.

Both of them picking at a plate in the middle of the table. They seemed to be talking about a mission the way they leaned into each others space.

"I wanted to come get some food and things. I think being out and around everyone right now, might be too much for O."

"Smart decision, considering the kids here."

Bucky rolled his eyes, Peter was new around here. While he was smart, the boy was very much still a kid. He got on Bucky's nerves almost as much as Sam did. While the kids intentions were well meaning, Oakleigh did not need Peter in her face right now.

"Fantastic."

"How does she seem?" Steve asked.

"Herself, trying to pretend that she's fine so I won't worry about her."

Natasha smiled. "Sounds like my kind of girl. You can't show weakness when you are surrounded by men all day, especially in the 40's."

"She knows she doesn't have to with me, but she does anyway."

Steve smiled fondly. "She's stubborn Bucky, always has been."

"Having her back, alive, it's more than I was willing to let myself hope for. I just feel like I'm waiting for it to go wrong."

Steve clapped his friend on the shoulder, "I know how hard that feeling is to push down, try and stay in the moment and not planning for what could happen next."

"I though she was dead, she'd been there all this time."

"Let Oakleigh know that we can go shopping when she feels up for an outing."

Both mean looked down at the black widow, she just shrugged at them and went back to making her coffee. So she liked to shop, so what?

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Bucky grabbed a couple things and made his way back to his room.

"Buck, I talked to Tony. When she's ready, we have a therapist ready for her to talk to. She's the one who I talked to after I got back, she's is good."

Bucky nodded stiffly, making a quick exit. A therapist would be good for Oakleigh after all she has been threw, he just wished she did not need one.

Oakleigh was out of the shower, dressed and sitting cross legged on his bed wait for him.

Bucky noticed the sweatshirt she was wearing was way to big to be Natasha's. He realized she'd taken it from his closet, his pulse jumped and his mouth dried.

Oakleigh had spend over twenty minutes in the shower, the warm water begging her to stay. There was a frilly thing in the bag she was given, the tag said it was a loofah. She used it the rub the soap into her skin, there was also a razor in there. Oakleigh took her time shaving her legs and other personal places around her body.

Hydra never gave her a razor, too afraid she would use it against them, or on herself.

Once she felt clean, Oakleigh dried off and went to look at the clothes she was left.

There were a black lace something or other that she slid on, the fabric resting between her butt cheeks. She liked this a lot more than the loose fitting shorts they had as underwear back in the day.

There was a bottle of 'lotion' that she rubbed over her body. It smelled nice and made her skin feel soft after she'd scrubbed it raw. There was also a hair brush in the bag and some hair products. Taking out the brush, Oakleigh worked threw her tangles, her hair had grown a couple inches since she left for the war. It was mid back now, but would get a little shorter once her curls started to dry.

There were a pair of black shorts, although they were short and fit snug to her hips and barley covered her butt. Then there were a couple shirts and tank tops but even after the hot shower, she was still feeling cold.

Forgoing the bra for the night, Oakleigh ventured back into the bedroom in search for a sweater. On the fall side of the room she found a rather large closet. She picked the first black sweater she found and pulled it over her head. It fell to cover her upper thigh and shorts, but it was cozy and it smelled like Bucky. Who was not back yet.

Oakleigh figured it was pointless to try and fall asleep without him, so she sat on top of the bed to wait. She only had a couple minutes to herself before he got back.

She thought about everything the guys had told her. Her and Bucky were POWS, thought to be KIA. Oakleigh had had it so easy in the Hydra facility, she sat around all day waiting and hoping Bucky would be brought to her. She started working out to keep her strength up so that when they were back together she would be ready for another escape.

Bucky on the other hand had suffered and lost so much. She heard Stephan talking about him 'the asset', how it took weeks but they finally 'broke him'. How they were going to put him into a cryo pod between missions to keep him young and fit. How they beat him and brainwashed him into submission.

Finally when they shoved her into one of those pods, Oakleigh knew what it was. It did not make it any less scary or the cold any less bearable as she lost consciousness.

Bucky made his way back, carrying a bag. He stopped when he saw her. Oakleigh watched his eyes take her in, a little smirk pulling at his lips.

Finally he cleared his throat. "Feeling better?"

"The shower was much needed, the water presser is a lot better too."

Bucky snorted. "A lot of things are better than they were in the 40's."

Oakleigh bit her lip, "I know you want to wait and talk tomorrow, but can I ask you a question?"

Bucky came and sat in front of her on the bed, "Sure."

"If everyone thought we were dead, how are we here?"

"They sent me after Steve, wanted me to kill him. We were fighting and he recognized me, once he knew I was alive, he didn't stop until he got me back. It took a while, and this is a much longer story that we can get into another day. It took me almost killing him for him to connect with something in me. I recognized him, and I ran. The longer I was away from Hydra the more I started to remember. A couple months later Steve found me again, and he brought me here."

"You two were always each others pillar." She smiled sweetly. "How did I get here?"

Bucky's jaw clenched, he stood from the bed and paced. This was the question he had been dreading her asking.

The moment where he would have to tell her he had not thought of her in decades. That he had left her frozen and alone, because he was dumb enough to believe a stupid lie.

"When I failed my mission the second time, Zola was dead, someone else was controlling me then. I think it was around the 90s. When I got back-" They beat me "They brought me back to the pod, yours was always right next to mine. But it was missing, and I heard you screaming from some back room." I killed people trying to get to you. "I couldn't get to you and when they put me back in the pod, you were still screaming."

Oakleigh stayed quiet, taking in all the information. Bucky's body was ridged and his fists were balled up so tight his knuckles were white.

"When I woke up the next time, I looked over to my left and there was nothing beside me. I didn't know what was missing I just knew that something was supposed to be there, something I needed. At some point I stopped looking, and I just felt the emptiness, but could never figure out what it was."

"You thought I was dead."

Bucky turned back around to find her kneeled up at the edge of his bed. "I've been more or less me again for the last four months. I don't have all my memories, they come back to me in flashes, usually triggered by something, or in dreams. When Steve, Natasha and I went to Sibera, we weren't there for you. We went looking for information." Bucky walked back over to the bed. "I saw my old pod and felt the empty space beside it pulled at my heart. I walked down that long hall way like I had hundreds of times when we first got there. Then I got to your room and I remembered the first time I entered it, you ran up and hugged me. Then I saw your pod with you in it, and it knocked me to my knees."

Oakleigh felt so heavy with the guilt that was coming off Bucky in waves. It was clear how responsible he felt about his actions while he had been the asset. She did not want him feeling any ounce of guilt where she was concerned. It was not his fault. Him being here with her now, that is what she wanted him to focus on.

Grabbing his neck, Oakleigh pulled his mouth down on hers. He groaned into her, hands pulling her into his body by her hips. Oakleigh started to lean back, pulling Bucky on top of her as she settled back on the bed.

Her thighs wrapped around him like her arms did, keeping him near her. He smelled just the same as he did back during the war. Like spice, warmth and gun powder.

It was clear to her that he was living with so much pain. Oakleigh was going to do everything to ensure he never felt pain like that again.

He clung to her tightly with his flesh hand, his metal one pressed into the bed. For some reason this beautiful women wanted him on top of her like this. After all this time, the things he's revealed to her, she pulled him over her body.

Bucky wanted to pull away, wanted to get mad at her for seeming to ignore everything he'd just told her. Then Steve's voice echoed threw his head, 'Enjoy it'. Bucky held his girl to his body, soaking in her warmth and her love.

A tear rolled down his cheek, she only held him tighter. Eventually their kisses slowed, Bucky slid off Oakleigh and onto his side, pulling her into his chest. He knew she wanted to go for more, the way she rolled her hips up into his. He also knew she was exhausted, and they could do that whenever she wanted, after she got some rest.

This choice proved a smart one, as soon as he pulled her to him Oakleigh's eyes drooped and she was quick to fall asleep.

Bucky stayed up for the rest of the afternoon watching her, but soon the days of not sleeping caught up to him and he knocked out.

.

Bucky woke up the smell of honey in his nose. He slid his arm across the bed to find the source but came up empty. His eyes flew open and he sat up, only to spot Oakleigh staring out his window.

He forced himself to breath, she was still here and she was alright.

"Moring."

She turned at the sound of his voice, she smiled coming to join him back on the bed.

"What were you doing?" He wondered.

Oakleigh shrugged. "Just wondering how different everything must be now. I was also thinking about all the people we left behind. Donna, even my dad. They all thought we died, they mourned and then they moved on."

"We could check in on them if you want. One of the guys here is pretty good at finding people."

"Nah. I want to remember Donna how she was. I imagine she went home after the war, reconnected with that boy she liked and had a big family, just like she wanted."

Bucky thought about bringing up her dad, but it was clear she had left him out of her fantasy on purpose.

"Are you hungry? I brought some things from the kitchen last night." She shook her head.

"Is Steve around today."

"He should be yeah."

Oakleigh played with the bedding. "I want the whole story, everything. I'm not going to be able to move forward if I can't first remember what happened to us."

Bucky grabbed her hands, "You've been awake for one day, you're allowed to sit in it."

"My stint in the Sibera facility was a lot more pleasant than yours. I don't have that much to unpack, and I need to hear it. I don't want to wait."

"Ok." He watched her for a second. "Why don't we have breakfast in the kitchen then? I can tell Steve to meet us there."

Oakleigh nodded, getting to get feet. She looked down at her clothes then over at Bucky. He was in a pair of sweats and a tight fit t-shirt.

"You look beautiful. Most of the Avengers should be out of the tower today, you shouldn't bump into too many people."

.

Bucky pulled out one of the fruit trays and slid it in front of Oakleigh before turning on the coffee machine. She picked up an apple slice and turned it around in her hands not taking a bite. He assumed she was probably nervous about the new space and not feeling to hungry, he never was after cryo.

"Hey O." Steve smiled, giving her a hug before joining Bucky around the counter.

"Hi Steve, sleep well."

"I did. I hear you want the full story." Oakleigh frowned, Bucky had not left her side all morning. "Modern technology. House phones are not really a think anymore, most people have their own personal phone to call each other on."

He slide something flat and shiny over to her, picking it up she looked it over. Interesting, seems there was a lot she had to learn about in the next little bit.

"Most of the team are downstairs training, but they will probably be up in a bit for food. Why don't we go out to the patio and eat?" Steve suggested.

"The team?"

Bucky agreed with a nod, picking up the fruit try to bring with them. Even if all Oakleigh did was pick away at it, that would be enough for now.

The air was arm, but being so high up meant more breeze.

"Maybe I'll start." Steve looked over at Bucky. "My story is shorter and less complicated, and it'll answer most of the questions that I'm sure you have about this place."

And he did, starting at the moment they last saw each other. Both Oakleigh and Steve teared up as he talk about his goodbye to Peggy. Then he explained everything up until finding Bucky again.

Then it was Bucky's turn. His story was longer but he kept the details light, she could tell this was hard for him to talk about. The way Steve reacted to some of the information, it was clear this was his first time hearing it too. His tone was informational, leaving his emotions out of it.

When it was all over Oakleigh exhaled loudly. Both these men had been threw so much, she was relieved that they had found each other again.

"Thank you guys for telling me, I know it wasn't fun to revisit some of that stuff."

"Anything you need." Steve smiled standing up. "Natasha offered to go shopping with you once you feel up to it."

Oakleigh smirked, "Who's Natasha?" Her smile only growing with Steve blushed.

"One of the avengers here." He cleared this throat. "You'll like her."

"Uh huh, must be something if she's making you blush like that."

Steve rolled his eyes and mentioned getting some training in before supper.

Bucky stayed seated with her, "You doing ok?"

"I'm fine. Are you ok?"

"How could I not be with you here." He took her hand in his.

"Ahh, is this her. Miss Oak-Leigh." A black man came onto the patio, followed by a pretty red head.

Bucky licked the inside of his cheek, "O, this is Sam and Natasha. Guys this is Oakleigh."

"What is someone like you doing with someone like him?" Sam dropped into the chair Steve abandoned, throwing his thumb at Bucky.

"Someone like me?"

Sam widened his eyes and looked her up and down and then looked Bucky up and down.

"Someone so very clearly out of his league. You know when I heard Bucky's girlfriend was coming here, I figured she'd be some mopey, brooding emo chick. You sweetheart are sunshine compared to this storm cloud."

"Ok enough." Bucky reached over and shoved Sam.

At first Oakleaigh had prickled at Sam, wanting to defend Bucky. But as their banter when on, she realized they had a sort of friendship.

Natasha smiled at her, moving around the boys to come face to face with her.

"Nice to see you awake."

"Nice to meet you. Steve said good things." Natasha smirked, he had huh? "Thanks for the change of clothes, and I would like to take you up on that shopping trip offer, maybe tomorrow or the next day?"

"Sounds like a plan. Sam and I were just headed down to the training room, see you guys later."

Sam smiled, reaching out to take Oakleigh's hand he kissed the top of it before following her out.

"They see nice."

Bucky scoffed, "Sam's a pain in the ass."

"So you like him. Otherwise you would not bother to call him a pain in the ass." Bucky brushed past her comment.

Standing he offered his hand out, "Want a tour around the place?"

As they walked around, Bucky slowed as they came upon one of the corner offices. "This is the shrinks office."

"The office is empty."

"There are a couple chairs in there, a couch. She does not work out of here, it's just a space she uses as an office when she's needed."

Oakleigh crossed her arms. "Oh you mean for me?"

"I know you like talking about your feelings just as much as I do. She's the women who helped Steve when he first came back. She already knows a lot about us, she could be good for you to talk to."

Oakleigh shrugged. "Maybe."

Bucky would leave it at that for now, at least the idea would be floating around in her head. If he forced her to go, she would clam up and refuse to talk. He knows because he would do the exact same thing.

"Come on." He took her hand. "I'll show you the best part about this place."

The roof top.