Harper wasn't expecting to rejoin her blushing and embarrassed family, but wasn't wholly surprised when Jordan was the only one enjoying the awkwardness. It was on brand, after all. With her nerves already rather strained, she reseated herself beside James and set about fixing the situation.

"Jordan, whatever teasing you're doing, could you stop?" she asked as Natalie retook her seat between their mother and uncle.

"You misunderstand, sis," the other brunette grinned wickedly. "I heard that you and James would be living together so, out of concern, I just wanted to drive it home to be cautious about premarital babies, unless you guys want those."

Harper pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to hold onto the last of her patience. "There are no babies on the horizon."

"Exactly. Gotta be cautious since you'll have 24/7 access to your hot stud and all," Jordan practically cackled.

Their parents and uncle snapped at her all at once, trying to shush her, though everyone knew it was really to no avail. Harper didn't like to play dirty, but she didn't have the energy for a clean fight. "I hardly think anyone is interested in hearing about my sex life. It's just James, so rather boring by comparison. Surely yours is more conversation worthy."

"Girls!" their mother scolded.

Jordan had the good grace to blush and said, "Alright, alright, point taken, Harper."

"I'm too old for this," muttered their father.

"Uncle Martin, you made a pie, right?" Harper asked.

"Two. Apple and blueberry. Should I-?"

"No," Harper shook her head, standing up from the table once again. She placed a hand on James's shoulder. "We can get everything. Would you mind helping me, hun?"

"Of course," James answered quickly, following her in a haste.

They disappeared into the kitchen and away from the rest of the family. She had the distinct impression that he needed a moment away just as much as she did. Coiling her arms around his middle, she buried her face against his chest and muttered, "I'm sorry about all that."

"It's okay. I expected some teasing from Jordan," he reassured her, returning the hug. He rubbed circles on her back and asked, "Are you okay after your talk with Natalie?"

A puff of air parted her lips. Unable to hide her frustration, she answered, "I don't get why she even wanted to talk."

"I'm sorry, Harper."

They stood in silence for several more minutes, simply holding onto each other. She felt James tense slightly and turn. Lifting her head from his warmth, she saw her father had entered the kitchen. The couple parted despite their chaste position. Harper did keep one arm around his waist, however, which seemed to encourage him to leave his metal arm around her shoulders.

"Sorry, dad," Harper spoke up. "We'll be out in two minutes with the pies and everything."

"No need to apologize," he replied with a shake of his head. "As usual, Jordan was being a handful and it seems from Natalie's behavior that your talk wasn't a good one. I just wanted to see that you're alright and to apologize for your sisters."

"Yeah, I'm okay," she confirmed.

"I'm glad," he answered simply. Harper didn't miss the meaningful smile he directed at James. She squeezed her partner's side affectionately. Clearly her father approved, and Harper suspected that he had been unsurprised to find James comforting her. Her dad continued, "Take your time. Mom and Uncle Martin are still lecturing Jordan."

Bucky eyed a couple of drunk men loitering up ahead on the sidewalk. He slipped his hand from Harper's and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into his side and thus under his protection. Her words from earlier about unwanted attention on public transport were still nagging at him.

It was pretty late at this point, but they were almost back at Harper's apartment. They had traded stories about the part of the night when they had been separated. He had explained how her family had quelled his worries that who he was, in all iterations, would bar their acceptance of him. With awkwardness, he also explained how Jordan had brought out into the open the unspoken truth that he was having sex with her – the daughter of the parents in the room – and would be able to do so even more once he moved in with her. This last point had Harper bristling.

It was as they were switching lines on the T that Harper began to recount her conversation with Natalie. Even as they passed by the intoxicated men, she was still explaining what had happened. "So basically, she couldn't take ownership of any part she had in the whole conflict. It's all my fault. Her biggest issues seemed to be that I shouldn't have testified to get her put in treatment by force, I should have just helped her sign up. Never mind that I tried that and she refused."

"So she didn't apologize for anything?" he asked, surprised.

"Nope," she answered, popping the 'p' for emphasis.

"Not even for yelling at you during…?"

Harper shook her head. "Not even for yelling at me during Gram's funeral. I brought it up and she basically said that she had lost control. I mean, that much was obvious and didn't need saying…"

They walked up the steps to her building and made their way quietly up to her apartment, mindful of the late hour and the other tenants. When Harper unlocked the door, they heard a series of meows begin from the bedroom. He watched the brunette hasten to her cat, a frown on his lips. He hated seeing her distressed. Aslan had grown on him a bit and he had long since learned to appreciate the animal for all of the good he brought to Harper's life. It wasn't lost on him how very important he was to her.

Harper reemerged from her bedroom, a happy orange mammal draped over her shoulder. His claws were kneading her sweater, pulling it down her shoulder and also further exposing her collarbone. Bucky smiled softly at the young woman and the old cat, their affection for one another as clear as ever.

"So how did Natalie explain wanting to talk to you so suddenly?" Bucky asked as they moved to the kitchen. He saw Harper eying the bottle of whiskey on her counter and set about pouring them each a glass.

"She said that she hoped we could both put things behind us and move forward. I said I couldn't just forget everything, so that's why we ended up talking about some of the things that happened, but I mean, really it was useless. She wanted to avoid and bury everything and that's not what I want."

He handed her the glass, nodded at her thanks, and sat down at the small kitchen table with her. Careful not to jostle the feline in her left arm, she lifted the glass to her lips. Curiously, Bucky asked, "If she had apologized, would you have accepted it?"

"Depends if it was a shit apology or not," Harper replied honestly. "All of the nasty, terrible things she said and did to me during the Blip… it wasn't okay. I need a real apology and a promise to work on herself."

Bucky nodded, glad that her compassion was not without boundaries. He didn't like the idea of her simply accepting someone who had hurt her so much back into her life.

"Regardless, tonight was nice overall. My family clearly likes you."

"Your father in particular seemed approving." The former soldier couldn't help but smile.

Harper drained her glass with a slight shiver. "It certainly is ideal, so I'm considering everything a success."

"Ideal? Not a requirement?"

"No, why would it be?"

"I just meant for your father at least. Won't I have to ask his permission to marry you at some point?"

Harper flushed brilliantly, and not from the alcohol. "No, people really don't do that anymore. Or at least, not around here they don't."

"Oh," he replied, blinking with surprise. It seemed he would never run out of things to learn about modern times.

"Besides," Harper went on, "it doesn't ultimately matter what anyone else thinks. I love you and I want a life together, and so long as you feel the same, that's all that matters. I don't belong to my dad or anyone else, after all."

Bucky chuckled lightly. "I suppose I should have known that you would hate that custom, regardless of whether it was still typical or not."

"What were you thinking?" she replied playfully.

A single overnight bag was all James had – the most important of his possessions were contained in something so small. Harper's chest throbbed. She made a mental note to drag him out shopping to pick out a few things for the apartment. Yes, he was moving in with her, but she wanted it to be their home rather than hers with another occupant.

A few drawers in her bureau were filled and several knives were hidden away throughout the apartment. She understood the traumas behind the habit and didn't protest. A few books were placed on her bookshelf and his toiletries found homes in the bathroom. Finally, his newest journal found its home in the nightstand on what had become his side of the bed.

Harper grinned and wrapped her arms around the soldier. She knew there would be growing pains to her space not being entirely her own anymore, but she could think of no one more worth adjusting for.

"Is this necessary, Harper?" Bucky groaned.

"Yes," the brunette answered easily.

He trailed behind her down the aisle of the department store, looking with dread at all of the things around them. "Your things already look nice. There's no point in getting new stuff."

"Humor me, James."

The former soldier sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. He stopped when Harper did in front of a shelf full of bed linens. They stood in silence for a moment before Harper asked, "Are there any that you like?"

"I trust your taste," he shrugged.

Harper shot him a light glare. "But I'm asking you."

Bucky didn't understand her insistence, but turned to skim the options in front of him. After a couple moments, he pointed to one and asked, "What about this one?"

It was a navy blue comforter with a thick band of slate grey and a thinner white stripe at the head and foot. Decorative pillows of various sizes and combinations of those three colors also appeared to come with the set as well as grey sheets and a white bed skirt.

"I like it," Harper said cheerfully. She selected the appropriate size for the bed and tucked it beneath her arm.

"Although, it doesn't go with anything else in your room."

"Our room," she corrected. "Let's go find some curtains to match.

Bucky caught her free wrist, halting her in heading off to her next mission. "Wait, darlin', is that what this is? A trip for me to pick out things for the apartment so it's less 'yours'?"

"Well, a more positive spin is that this will make it feel more 'ours'."

The former assassin was unsure how to feel about the sentiment. It was overwhelmingly kind, as was often the case with Harper. He had assumed she had just wanted to change things and wanted company for the shopping trip, but that she was actually trying to get his input on things for their home made him feel awful for his annoyance.

"You don't have to do that, Harper…" he muttered uncomfortably.

"Well, no, of course we don't have to. But wouldn't it be nice for things to look a little more like a blend of us? Rather than my style with a few of your things?"

Flashes from past dreams flooded his mind's eye. He remembered himself as a young man dreaming of a life with a pretty wife who would make their home to her heart's content before bringing a brood of children into it. While the thought had warmed him back then, he found that Harper wanting their home to be a reflection of both of them much nicer. So, with that realization, he nodded and followed her on to pick out curtains, new bathroom towels, and some knickknacks.

Harper huffed in annoyance. "Guys, seriously."

"We're being serious," Kat argued.

"So am I," the brunette grumbled, aggressively snatching a floret of broccoli from Kat's takeout container.

Tawny spoke up, "But maybe getting back out there would be good for you."

"I highly doubt that," Harper snapped, then shoved another piece of sashimi in her mouth. Not that her current situation allowed her to enjoy it, frustrated as she was with her friends. Glaring back at Tawny, she added, "I didn't think you'd switch sides on this."

The other woman had the good grace to flush lightly, but asserted, "Kat makes some good points."

The trio had gathered for a night in. Harper sat on the far side of the couch, Kat on the other, and Tawny in the armchair. They had ordered delivery from a nearby place and were curled up with their food and wine. An empty bottle already sat on the coffee table, a second nearly empty one beside it. They had gossiped and chattered for a while before her two friends had once again brought up going out to a club.

"What would you think if one of your patients was refusing something like this?" Kat challenged.

Harper rolled her eyes. "If it wasn't distressing to the patient, wasn't something they wanted to address, and wasn't impairing their life, I wouldn't be pushing it. And going to a club at thirty-three isn't something that's high on my priorities list."

"But I missed so much time with you guys," Kat argued, placing her dinner in her lap. "I'm not asking that we go out partying like we did in college. I'm asking that we go out once in a blue moon, and not even always to a club. Some of our best times have been going all out like that, and I want that again."

"Kat, I totally understand that desire, but the last time I went out fucked me up. I don't want to experience any of those feelings again by being in a place like that."

"You'd have us. We could invite other people, too. James would come in a heartbeat if you asked," Tawny pointed out. "He could bring some of his badass friends. Nobody would mess with you, or even look at you funny with him there."

"I know he'd protect me, but nobody can just stop that sort of environment triggering the things I felt when…" she broke off with an angry sigh.

Tawny continued gently, "But maybe it would be good to have experiences that are better than that. So you don't have to be afraid of those feelings anymore."

Kat disappeared for a moment, returning with another bottle of wine. Harper stuck her glass out to the other brunette, who obliged and filled it. There was a tense silence during which she downed the wine and tried to enjoy another piece of yellowtail.

The three women jumped as a key jiggled in the lock of the apartment door. A moment later, James entered, looking tired but in one piece. Harper hopped to her feet, hastening to him. Her arms coiled around his neck as one of his curled around her waist. She tilted her chin up and caught his lips in a happy, relieved kiss. It was kept short, but she lingered for a moment after.

"Welcome home, hun."

"Glad to be home," he replied in a low murmur.

Harper pulled back, hands at his shoulders to still him while she made a quick inspection. His hair was a bit disheveled where it was longer in the front. Dirt and sweat streaked his face. There was a split in his lip and a bruise on his cheek. A few tears were visible in his vest and pants, through which cuts were visible. Blood flecked his clothes and metal arm. His or not, she couldn't be sure. Overall, he seemed alright, but she asked anyway, "Are you okay? Were you hurt?"

"Just superficial stuff. It'll all be gone by morning," he assured gently. With a slight grimace he said, "I do need a shower."

"Okay," Harper nodded. "Don't worry about cleaning up after. I was going to clean the bathroom tomorrow anyway."

"You're the best," James replied gratefully, stealing a quick peck. Pulling back, he turned his attention to the other occupants of the room. "Hey, sorry to interrupt you ladies."

"Hi, James," Tawny greeted with a smile. "Don't worry about it."

"A welcome interruption. The injection of good cheer Harper needed, really," Kat added.

The brunette glared at her friend. Pressing a hand to James's back to urge him toward the bathroom, she snapped, "Gee, wonder why I needed cheering, Kat."

James looked uncomfortably between the three friends before heading toward their shared bedroom. He emerged and his bright blue eyes met hers as she was moving into the kitchen. She looked away, face heating up with embarrassment.

A/N: Thank you as always for the continued support. This one is a bit shorter than usual, but I hope you all enjoyed a taste of domestic Bucky!