One we filled the car up with gas, we both took turns going to the bathroom before Bucky headed back into the small convenient store.

I was waiting for Bucky to come back when I received a message from Nat.


This is a conversation via text message between Arie and NatItalicized is Nat, Bold Italicized is Arie


Nat:You're in heaps of trouble, Marie Barton. Why didn't you tell any of us you're pregnant?!

Arie: Who in the hell told you I was pregnant?

"I'll kill him!" I growled, realizing immediately who started this asininity.

Nat: Bird Brain announced it to us when he came to visit before leaving earlier today. I am so hurt you didn't tell me.

I grumbled, narrowing my eyes at the screen, my hands beginning to shake as I typed a response. "Damn you, Bird Brain."

Arie: News Flash! Not pregnant. Though at the rate Bucky and I keep bumping uglies, I might as well be. Why is everyone so angry?

Nat: How disappointing to hear. They're not angry, just hurt you guys didn't tell them. I guess I should call off the armed forces, eh? Straighten this out.

Arie: Please do. Keep everyone off my trail too. I can't be dealing with this especially if we're dealing with something else.

"God, this is going to be a long mission…" I muttered, thumping my head against the window.

Nat: Is there any way I can convince you two to give me a niece or nephew? I want one badly now.

I scoffed, shaking my head in response, before typing the response as I formed a plan to get back at Sam for the situation he caused.

Arie: Not now, Nat. Let's deal with the situation at hand first.

Nat: You're probably right… sadly. When will you be home? We need to have a girls night so we can dish on all the crap happening around here.

There it is. The question of when we would return. I didn't know if or when I would be able to return home. Not until all of those loyal to Hydra were taken down, and stayed down.

No heads can grow if the body is burnt to ashes. I had to give it my all. Even if it killed me.

So, with a final sigh, I looked around before typing a response.

Arie: I don't know. We'll have to see how long this situation takes. We'll be in touch though. Sounds good. We can plan it when I get home.

"I swear the first thing I do when we get back to Khimki is wring his Birdy neck…" I mumbled under my breath.

"What's wrong, doll?" Bucky asked as he slid into the driver's seat, and handed me a large bag of snacks.

"Your friend told everyone that I'm pregnant." I replied, rubbing my forehead.

"Who? Sam?" He asked, frowning before turning to look at me when I stayed quiet. "I'll kill him…" He groaned as he pulled out of the gasoline station.

"No, I'll kill him. He didn't learn the last time he did this did he?" I asked him, shaking my head in disbelief.

"No. I think he took your threat as a suggestion rather than a promise. If you don't mind, let me deal with his ass this time. He's been asking for a good ass-kicking. I'll beat his ass into next month." He growled, narrowing his eyes at the road.

"Can't we both do it? I really want to get back at him for this… Hm… maybe if I break Red Wing… No, that's just cruel." I muttered to myself as I as I pulled out a drink from the bag and gulped half of the bottles contents out.

"Woah. Thirsty much?" He asked, raising a brow at me.

"Parched dry." I quipped, as I closed my eyes and leaned back.

"Go to sleep if you want… We have a long drive ahead of us." He said, as he reached over to pat my leg with his hand.

"I'm fine…" I mumbled sleepily as I adjusted my position on the seat.

"Sleep. I'll wake you up when we're either along." He promised.

"Ok, I guess I can take a nap." I muttered, drowsily.

He might have said something else but I didn't hear what he said because I had already fallen asleep.


Dream:

I was running through the woods, searching for something.

"Sammy?! Sammy?! Sweetie, where are you?" I called breathing hard as I searched the yard.

"Mommy…?" A little voice called.I turned sharply towards the direction I heard the voice call, sighing in relief as the little, blue-eyed, dark haired, girl with pig tails as she stared at me, looking confused.

Relief flooded through me as I rushed over to her, pulling her into a tight hug before letting her go, with my hands still on her shoulders.

"Samantha Jacqueline, don't you ever hide from me again." I said chastised.

"I'm sorry, mommy, I was only playing with Grant and Bailey on Uncle Sam's boat. Uncle Steve and Daddy where watching us play." She explained, with a lower wobbly lip.

"You were with your dad?" I asked, suddenly tired.

"Well, yeah, he said you were tired and needed some rest because my little brother was about to come soon. So, Uncle Steve, and Daddy took us to see Uncle Sam." She said, looking back towards the boats to where I could see the tall familiar form as it stood next the boat.

"Are you okay? Does my brother want to come now?" She asked, concerned.

"Oh no, sweetie. Mommy is fine. Why don't you go ahead and go back with Daddy while I go prepare something to eat?" I asked, as I straightened up.

"I'll go tell Daddy that I'm coming home, so I can help you. Don't start without me! I want to help, mommy!" She called as she ran off towards the docks again.

"I won't!" I called back, amused as I waddled up the porch steps and walked inside.


Bucky's POV:

I had driven further than I thought I would. Lost in thought.

It was now sometime after one in the morning, and Arie was still asleep, mumbling about killing Sam.

I briefly wondered if she was alright. I couldn't help but notice how she was always tired, and easily irritable as of two months ago.

Her sleeping habits had changed, she had stopped wearing her favorite perfume, and even gotten curvier in the chest area and hips.

Not that I didn't enjoy her new curves. I may even now be addicted to them, but that's not something that surprises me. Everything that has to do with Marie Barton entices me.

She always has, since the day we met in the Hydra base.

I couldn't stand to hear her tortured, or beaten. Even after all the shit I underwent in a daily basis, I worried more about her than myself.

She ended up being a blessing in disguise when she arrived there.

Every time we saw one another we came up with a secret sign to let the other know if we were alright. We still use it up to this day.

She was the beacon of hope that helped guide me out of that hell hole, and I would always be grateful.

There's nothing I wouldn't do to protect her. Even if it meant killing again. I would do it, to keep her safe.

What the bastards did to us, and our unborn child, burns me. I didn't have the heart to tell her that she had miscarried various times before one finally survived, the miscarriage she suffered was provoked with multiple serum versions.

It gutted me to see her so hurt, and even though I now suspect she is trying to be strong, I have a feeling she is about to fall apart.

Her reaction to what we learned broke me. It made me want to take her and run and hide away forever. But I knew if I tried something like that she would kick my ass if I tried.

I know that she wants to do this mission, but I can see it emotionally draining her, and see she is about to crack if something else happens. There is only so much she can take before she caves, and I hope I can be there for her like she's been for me.


Arie's POV:


Dream:

"You weren't worth my time, you're not even worth the time wasted." The familiar voice of my ex said.

I flinched as I heard the words replay over and over, multiplying my humiliation tenfold.

"You used me?" I asked, heartbroken.

"No, not entirely. To use you I would have had to be interested in the first place. I merely feigned interest to win a bet." He said, plainly as his friends laughed.

"You asshole!" I growled and punched him in the face, smiling at the satisfying crack I heard before he screamed and grabbed his nose.


"Arie, wake up, baby." I heard as a cool leather gloved hand touched my arm.

I inhaled sharply, opening my eyes before looking around confused. "Where are we?" I asked groggily, as I reached up to wipe my face.

I cracked my neck, before sitting up and grabbing my purse.

"Just six hours passing St. Petersburg. We're stopping for a few hours and continuing later." Bucky said, before we exited the car.

"Where to Bucko?" I asked, shaking slightly at the temperature drop, as I picked the door.

He scoffed, before reaching over to grab my hand. "Hotel. Across the street." He said before pulling me across the street.

"Mm. Warmth." I muttered, shaking like a leaf in the cold.

We walked in, and he quickly went to the desk to get us a room as I stood by the door.

A few minutes later he walked back to me and led me back out the door, towards the rooms.

He led me up the stairs to the second floor.

As we walked in, I quickly rushed to the bathroom to relieve myself, before rushing back into the room to climb into bed, only taking off my jeans, shoes and sweater before pulling the blanket over me and rolling myself into a cocoon.

"Are you going to be alright, milaya? I thought I could go get us some food down the street, I think I saw a twenty four hour fast food place there." Bucky said as he patted my burritoed feet.

"Yes. Be Fine. Go. Get food. Please." I shuttered, as my body adjusted to the blanket.

"I'll be right back. Don't open the door for anyone. I have the key." He said as he got up and headed out the door.

Moments later, I heard a small click, and the whole room became warm.

Once I felt comfortable enough I rolled over and turned the TV on, checking for anything new, before changing it to a romcom.

I must have drifted off because next thing I know I felt a hand tap my back, and the smell of food wafting through the air.

"Here. We got lucky I found this." He said offering me the large styrofoam as he grabbed one for himself.

"Cabbage soup?" I muttered, sleepily locking my lips.

"Or veggie soup." He muttered opening it slowly.

"That sounds good." I muttered as he pulled out another thing from the bag.

"Is that Black bread I smell?" I asked as my mouth watered at the thought.

"It is. Eat the soup first though, doll." He muttered as he dug in too.

I nodded, humming as the soup slid down my throat, warming me up immediately.

I finished the entire soup, before Bucky had even reached a third of his.

"Black bread is in the bag with salted butter." He murmured offering the bag.

I squealed, before pouting as he pulled the bag away.

"Save me a piece, doll. Don't be selfish." He teased, before he gave me the bag and turned back to eat his soup.

I squealed again, before snatching the bag and pulling out its contents.

"Homemade?" I asked, excitedly.

"Definitely homemade. Just like the soup. A family had a stand in the corner. I thought this might help better than a McDonald's ten piece." He said smirking at my pout.

He chuckled at my offended expression before I smiled at his thoughtfulness.

"It did. Thank you." I said, thankfully.

"You're welcome, doll." He replied as he finished his soup.

I quickly spread the butter over the pieces of bread and handed a few to Bucky before digging into mine.

I moaned as I took the first bite, enjoying the delicious flavors of the bread mixed with the salty melted butter.

Bucky chuckled at my reaction, before biting into his bread and groaning too.

"God, I missed this…" I muttered once ai finished everything.

"So I take it you like it?" He asked, smiling at me as I leaned back, patting my stomach, contently.

"Loved it. Oh god… I feel so full but I am not going to complain, because I enjoyed it too much." I groaned.

"Would you like to sleep now? It's just past three in the morning." He said as he picked the empty containers and dropped them into the bag.

"Yes, that sounds good right now…" I murmured, feeling my eyes grow heavier.

He nodded as he slipped off his jacket and zip up sweater along with his t-shirt boots and pants, while I made myself comfortable on the bed.

I watched him walk back towards the door locking it, using the chair to barricade it. Before he walked back over to me.

"—Sleep now." He muttered, as he slid into the bed behind me and pulling me flush against him.

We fell asleep within minutes, with the movie I had put earlier as background noise.