Bucky woke Evelyn late in the evening, peppering her face with kisses, his hands tracing over her body. She hummed in contentment and sighed out his name.

Her eyes didn't open but she was awake.

"Let's go get something to eat, baby doll," Bucky placed a kiss to her nose and Evelyn let out a giggle.

"I don't want to leave this bed," Evelyn stretched with a groan, her muscles sore.

"Did I hurt you?" Bucky sat up away from her, full of concern.

"Only in the best ways," She sat up, holding the blanket against her chest. "Give me ten minutes and we'll go. Can we go to that pizza place we like?"

"Whatever you want sweetheart," She cringed a little at the endearment but played it off quickly.

They dressed and since the rain was gone the pair decided to walk to their favorite pizza place down the block.

"Are we okay?" Bucky asked her as they walked hand in hand.

"Yeah, I just need to," Evelyn sighed softly, "I think we need some rules."

"Rules?" Bucky looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"I think I'm just confused," Evelyn shrugged. "I'm confused about what is us and what's them."

"Them as in?" Bucky questioned.

"The Soldier and the princess persona," She said like it was the simplest explanation.

"I don't know if there is a difference," Bucky told her honestly. "I treat you the same way I would normally."

Evelyn blinked at him and stopped walking.

"Evie, I told you, if you're my girl, you're my girl," Bucky pulled her softly to start walking again, "But if you need me to do something different I can."

"I just, I guess I need to know you want me, Agent Evelyn Shaw, not Princess Sweetheart that's ditzy and honestly seems a little easy," Evelyn laughed a little at herself.

"Evelyn Shaw," This time Bucky stopped. He put his hands on her cheeks and pulled her in for a deep kiss. "I want the kickass, eyes and ears partner I have. I want the knife wielding, tiny little agent who scares me a little."

They arrived at the pizza place and quickly found a table. Bucky held her hands on the table while they waited for their food and she just looked at him.

Evelyn was sure she was in love with him now. She had been fighting her feelings for him before this mission but the way they are with each other, the close quarters, and they just got along so well. They were perfect for each other. But this day, this day proved that it was love and not just a passing fancy.

They spent the night not worrying about Pierce or the Power Broker. They were just two people, on a date, happy.

Friday

Wanda made contact and planned to come over for dinner. Sam had returned from his recon mission and Evelyn and Bucky were meant to meet with Sharon the next day. They were cutting it close.

Evelyn worked on dinner while Bucky went over some things with Wanda. While he looked over the debrief from Sam, Wanda went to the kitchen to help Evelyn.

"You guys are so married," Wanda laughed, pointing to Evelyn's apron she wore.

"Well," Evelyn fiddled with the ring on her finger before she moved to pull dinner out of the oven.

"Oh my god," Wanda lowered her voice, "You had sex."

"No I didn't," Evelyn said way too defensively.

"You had sex with Bucky!" Wanda exclaimed but in a whisper.

Evelyn used the pot holders she was holding to hit Wanda putting her fingers to her lips. Wanda's eyes got even wider at the confirmation.

"Baby doll, how much longer do we have?" Bucky's voice called out.

"I'm bringing it out now," She called back.

"Shoot, okay, I'll make a call after we eat," Bucky walked into the kitchen and took the pan of food from Evelyn.
The trio ate and talked about the mission, they talked about the compound and how everyone was doing. It was nice. They were so isolated with each other and while they didn't mind they did miss their friends.

"So you don't want back-up tomorrow?" Wanda confirmed. "Tony wanted a team to monitor you."

"I think it's too risky," Evelyn shrugged and looked at Bucky.

"We don't know what she knows but if she sees a team, which she can spot in her sleep, our cover will be blown," Bucky shook his head.

"Do you think she knows you're undercover?" Wanda asked quietly. She was worried about her friends.

"If she does, we're dead," Bucky shrugged. "I'll do my best to get Evie out but if she knows," he trailed off.

"No, we're partners. Where you go, I go," Evelyn glared at him.

"Evie," Bucky glared back. "I made you a promise."

"So did I," She countered.

"Wow, you guys are really a married couple," Wanda laughed from her seat. "What if it was just one person, just someone to be in on comms with you."

"But who? Sharon would recognize all the Avengers," Evelyn ignored Wanda's comment.

"What if Sam was on the roof across from the restaurant?" Wanda countered.

"He stands out like a sore thumb with those wings," Bucky grumbled, pushing his plate away.

Evelyn stood to take the plates but Bucky placed his hand on her arm, "I'll get it baby doll, you cooked, I'll clean up."

Wanda and Evelyn moved to the living room while Bucky cleaned up.

"So you and Bucky," Wanda nodded.

"I love him," Evelyn gulped back. "But I can't tell him that. This mission has everything clouded."

"It's almost over," Wanda told her.

"What if he doesn't want me after it's over?" Evelyn confided in her friend.

"He's wanted you since he met you, trust me," She pointed to her head. "Bucky thinks very loudly."

The girls looked over the information on the Power Broker that Sam brought back after that. It was fairly certain that Sharon Carter was the Power Broker or at least working for them.

"Just let us know you get back okay," Wanda told them before she left. "Sunday at the park where you saw Nat, she'll be there again for a debrief."

Bucky and Evelyn were left to make their plan for the night. They planned contingencies and contingencies for those contingencies. Bucky was a bit of a worry wart.

Saturday

Bucky checks his guns and places them in his arm holsters. Evelyn puts her leg up on their bed, exposing her thigh and it's thigh holster for her favorite knife.

The two are dressed to the nines. She wore a long dress with a slip up to her hip. It was bright red. She wore black heels that still kept her much shorter than Bucky. He wore a suit and a bow tie in all black.

"Evie, I," Bucky caressed her cheeks looking down at her, "You're so beautiful."

"You're not horrible to look at Barnes," She gave him a wink.

He didn't move and kept his eyes locked on hers, "I have to tell you something."

"Tell me when this is all over," Evie gave him a small smile.

"But what if," Bucky sighed, "You're right."

The pair didn't take the motorcycle to the restaurant, they hailed a cab and held hands in the back the whole way. Bucky whispered in Evelyn's ear, sometimes sweet things, sometimes filthy things, sometimes mission things.

When they arrived Sharon was already sitting at their table. She waved them over, taking a sip of her glass of wine.

"Bucky!" She stood, kissing his cheek, "It's so good to see you again. You look amazing."

Evelyn grit her teeth at this display but kept her fake smile on.

"And this must be Emily?" She turned to Evelyn.

"It's Evelyn actually," Bucky corrected her, pulling out Evelyn's chair for her to sit.

"It's nice to meet a friend of Bucky's," Evelyn's cheeks already hurt from the fake smiles.

"Wife actually," Bucky corrected her with a grin.

Sharon snorted but didn't say anything about the subject.

Bucky and Sharon chatted and Evelyn just listened, her eyes on the rest of the restaurant. Sharon hadn't come alone at all. She had at least ten people with her and Evelyn suddenly got nervous.

She reached up for Bucky's hand and traced the number ten on his palm. He looked at her with wide eyes. That's when Sharon made her move.

"Are my friends making you nervous, Agent Shaw?" Sharon looked down at Evelyn.

"What are you talking about Sharon?" Bucky looked between the girls, trying to defuse the situation.

"You didn't think I knew you were undercover?" Sharon laughed.

"What do you want?" Evelyn slipped her knife from under her dress and slipped out of her heeled shoes, ready to run.

"Pierce. It's simple. We have a mutual dislike for him. You take care of him and I'll let you go," She shrugged.

"But you're the Power Broker," Evelyn laid all of their cards on the table.

Bucky grabbed her hand and squeezed it trying to stop her. "Personally, I have no qualms about getting rid of Pierce, Steve might though."

Sharon just laughed. "Steve will see reason, eventually."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Evelyn leaned forward.

"I want Steve, so I'll have him," She shrugged. "If you're good little helpers, I'll let you keep each other too. I know how attached the two of you have become. But I might have to keep Bucky for myself, look how good freedom looks on him."

WIth that, she placed a bunch of photos of the two of them together on the table. Some were from their planned dates, some were more intimate, some were down right private.

"I'll slit your throat," Evelyn threatened. "After I carve your eyeballs out for even looking at him."

"Stop it," Bucky hissed at her, "We can't get out of here alive if you do that."

"What happens once Pierce is gone?" Bucky asked Sharon.

"Then you two work for me," She shrugged and drank more of her wine, unphased by Evelyn's threat.

"And the Avengers?" Bucky asked.

"Look, I don't care, they aren't messing with me and I don't plan to mess with them. We can all coexist here. I just ask that you let me know if I'm ever on their radar." Sharon said simply.

"Oh you're on the radar now," Evelyn glared at her.

"Evelyn," Bucky warned.

"It's simple really, you do what I ask or I kill you, especially you" Sharon gave Evelyn a grin, "Out of curiosity, how many of my agents did you make?"

"Ten," She hissed back.

"Nicely done," Sharon gave her a small clap, "You really are the best eyes and ears aren't you."

Evelyn lunged across the table and Bucky grabbed her around the waist.

"We're leaving. You obviously know where to find us," Bucky stood, pulling Evelyn with him.

"One more thing," Sharon called to the pair. "I want to be there when Pierce dies."

Bucky's brain was turning with possibilities and he gave Sharon a nod. Evelyn's shoes were left behind. She counted each of the agents as they left the restaurant.

As soon as they stepped outside, Bucky was checking her over, he was talking but she couldn't hear him. She was so mad. They had been completely ambushed. Nothing they planned could have prepared them for the shit show that this mission had become.

He pulled her into a cab and shook her.

"Evie, come on baby," Bucky's hands roamed over her face.

"I'm going to kill her," Evelyn looked at him.

"You blew it in there," Bucky looked at her with disappointment rampant in his eyes.

Evelyn shrunk into herself in the seat. She turned to look out the window and barely heard Bucky on with Steve. They were due to meet up with Nat the next day but this was big, huge even.

"Yeah she's fine, she just lost her temper," Bucky gave Evelyn a side eye. "I think I have an idea."

"Buck, you literally killed a guy for her this week," Steve laughed on the other end of the phone, "I can't imagine her temper was worse than that."

"We'll be alright, see you tomorrow," Bucky hung up and looked at Evelyn.

Once they were home, she immediately went upstairs to change. He walked in and she stood in just her underwear and thigh holster. Bucky groaned at the sight.

"I know I messed up," Evelyn told him, removing her jewelry, "She just kept saying those things about you and I just," she sighed.

"I shouldn't have said what I said," He told her, taking her in his arms, "I'm so sorry Evie."

"How did she get those pictures of us," Evelyn laid her head on his chest and they sort of swayed back and forth in the bedroom.

"I don't know baby doll," He kissed her forehead. "I'll fix it, I swear."

"Should we just go back to the compound? Would we be safer?" She looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Not yet, Steve's coming with Nat tomorrow," Bucky picked her up and kissed Evelyn softly on the mouth. "Can I tell you how sexy it is when you threaten people over me?"

"Stop it, I don't think I've ever been so mad in my life," She kissed him softly and then a little deeper.

"Can we forget about all of this for the night?" Bucky asked her with a small whimper.

"I'll be yours if you'll be mine," She whispered against his lips.

They spent the night wrapped around each other. It wasn't until the sun came up that Evelyn eventually fell asleep. Bucky sat beside her, just watching the rise and falls of her chest. He scrubbed his hand over his face in frustration.

His plan could go two ways. One way he was sure to lose Evelyn but he would complete the mission and the world would be better off. The other way was riskier but in the end, he'd get to keep the girl and catch the bad guys.

Once he was sure Evelyn had gotten some sleep, Bucky slipped from their bed and made his way downstairs. He started packing a picnic basket for the two for their excursion to the park. He stood in a pair of sweatpants, making coffee when he found her arms circle around his waist.

"Morning to you sweetheart," He didn't even turn around.

"Did you sleep at all?" She asked him, placing small kisses to his back.

"I'll be okay," He told her as an answer, handing her her cup of coffee.

"That's not an answer," She added her sugar and milk but gave him an unhappy look.

Bucky changed the subject and mentioned their picnic. She was happy about it but kept a keen eye on him the rest of the day.

The pair laid together on a blanket in the park, enjoying the day when an elderly couple came up to them. Bucky absentmindedly played with the rings on Evelyn's hand.

"Aren't they sweet dear?" The woman said, "They remind me of us way back when."

"Oh, young love," The man said with a smile.

Bucky looked up and nearly laughed. "We have plenty for lunch, would you two like to join us?"

"But," Evelyn started and Bucky nudged her shoulder to make her look up at the couple. Steve's blue eyes were unmistakable and could only be compared to Bucky's. "Oh, yes, please join us for lunch!"

Steve and Nat as a little old couple had Evelyn giggling into her hand. Bucky and Steve walked around the park and talked while Nat and Evelyn huddled together.

"Are you okay?" Nat asked her quietly.

"I screwed up, this mission has me," She threw her hands up, "Something about that man makes me crazy."

"Sounds like love to me," Nat wiggled her grey eyebrows at Evelyn. "How's the sex?"

"Stop!" She giggled and the boys turned to look at them. "Oh my god, look what you've done."

The girls talked about Sharon and their ideas on how to get rid of her and Pierce but if Evelyn was honest, killing them both didn't solve anything because with Hydra, if you cut off one head, two more resurface.

The boys walked in similar ways, hands in their pockets, eyes on the girls but also assessing everyone around them.

"Look, Sharon wants you, maybe if you," Bucky started.

"She'll see right through me trying to team up with her," Steve shook his head.

"If I," Bucky looked at Evelyn and let out a deep sigh, "I just don't think I could do that to her."

"So we find another way," Steve placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"She wants to be there for Pierce," Bucky said. "If Sam and the team can take out the base camp, we can handle Pierce and Sharon."

"I gotta ask," Steve looked at Evelyn this time, "Is she planning on bringing them in alive?"

"Her? What about me?" Bucky laughed.

"If it was your choice they'd be dead by tomorrow and it wouldn't matter," Steve told him, "I know you're trying to do this right for her."

Bucky gave a deep nod, "This could be huge for her at S.H.I.E.L.D. Pierce and the Power Broker."

"I don't think she cares about that," Steve shook his head.

Evelyn waved at Bucky and Steve as they made their way back to the girls. The rest of the afternoon, the friends caught up and made plans to meet again soon for a solid plan.

Bucky scooped Evelyn up and swung her around happily before the pair packed up their picnic. It was a happy day for them even with two threats looming over them. They spent the rest of the day together, holed up at home.

The next week:

"I've got it," Bucky slapped his hand down on the table, "I've really got it."

"Well let's hear it," Evelyn grinned at the man.

"We meet with Pierce to negotiate our price for taking out the Power Broker," Bucky drew on a piece of paper, "Then we invite Sharon to the same deal. But we get the new S.T.R.I.K.E team ready and once all players are in place, raid the place and everyone is arrested. Even the two of us, to make it look real. Even though she'll probably rat us out as soon as possible."

"It can't be that simple," Evelyn shook her head, "And how do you plan to get the S.T.R.I.K.E team in play without Sharon noticing. The old team works for her."

"Plain clothes," He shrugged. "And sometimes the easiest solution is the best one."

"What about the rooftops?" She pointed to his drawing, "You know Sharon will place someone there just in case."

"Pierce too honestly, I'm hoping they take each other out," Bucky shrugged.

"The Avengers will all be taking down the base in Germany," Evelyn sighed. "We need someone far enough away that they aren't seen but close enough to see everything."

"So then Pierce and Sharon go to the Raft and we go home," Bucky said like it was the simplest thing.

"And then what?" She gulped back unsure why she even asked.

"Evie," Bucky sighed. "Then we live our lives the way we want to, together."

"Okay." She agreed.

"Okay?" He questioned her.

"Let's do it, sooner rather than later. I kinda miss my bed," She laughed.

"Well tough luck cause when we go home, we'll be sleeping in my bed," Bucky shook his head, "Honestly the thing is way too comfy. I used to sleep on the floor when I first moved in."

The two spent the rest of the night talking about their plans for the future. He told her all the things he wanted to do with her. He wanted to travel and she wanted to see the world. It worked out perfectly.

A few days later:

Bucky had gotten into contact with Sharon and let her know his plan. He would meet with Pierce to negotiate his price for taking her out and when Bucky gave a signal, Sharon would make herself known. She was pleased with the situation. It also helped that social media and the news all believed the Avengers were on a mission in South America, far away from where they actually were in Germany.

Evelyn loaded up her weapons under her princess persona clothes. Bucky tried to talk her into a bulletproof vest but it looked funny under her clothes. Bucky was nervous, agitated and ready for this whole thing to be over. He had this feeling he couldn't shake but didn't tell Evelyn about it.

When they arrived, Evelyn found the sniper right away. Their guy was way further away and Pierce's guy was completely obvious. She snorted and let Bucky know of his presence before they moved inside.

Before long Pierce and his entourage pulled up. He had nearly fifteen guys with him this time. Evelyn stood slightly behind Bucky but kept her eyes on everyone.

"Why have you summoned me?" Pierce glared at the pair.

"We never discussed payment," Bucky shrugged in his nonchalant mode.

"You get to live," Pierce sneered.

"Well that just won't work," Bucky scratched at his beard, the signal for Sharon.

Suddenly her team burst through the door, the former S.T.R.I.K.E team working in unison. They took all the weapons from Pierce's men and had the man in the expensive suit drop to his knees.

"Well done, my friends," Sharon applauded the pair.

"You betrayed me?" Pierce tried to get up but was pistol whipped and fell to the ground.

"What are you going to do with him?" Evelyn asked.

"Let's just say there's an old friend of Bucky's that's waiting for him," Sharon ran her hand over Bucky's chest, "You sure you don't want to team up?"

"You're going to make him a new Winter Soldier?" Bucky questioned.

"Something like that," Sharon tilted her head, "Why does this seem too easy? Your girl hasn't even threatened me yet."

"Steve holds you in high regard," Evelyn dropped their code word to the S.T.R.I.K.E team and agents stormed the place. They took out Sharon's guys and Pierce's subdued guys in record time. They moved in on Sharon and she gave up easier than Bucky and Evelyn thought she would.

Before Sharon was handcuffed she said two words that stopped Bucky's whole world. "Kill him."

A shot rang out and Evelyn pushed Bucky to the ground. He watched from the ground in what felt like slow motion as a bullet tore through Evelyn's chest. She hit the ground with a thud and Sharon's maniacal laugh rang out as they carted her away.

"Evie!" Bucky screamed, "Help, get me a medic!"

"It's okay," Evelyn told Bucky. His hands pressed on the wound to keep pressure, "It's okay."

"No, what were you thinking, how can you be so stupid?" Bucky had tears running down his cheeks as he looked down at her.

"I love you," She whispered to him, her eyes fluttering closed.

"No, no, wake up, Evie!" He shook her, trying to keep her awake when the EMT's showed up and made him let go of her. "No, please!"

It felt like minutes passed but Bucky knew it had been hours. He had been taken to the hospital by S.H.I.E.L.D but there was no update about Evelyn's condition. He knew it had been hours because Steve came walking up to him, still in uniform.

"What happened?" Steve looked at Bucky, sitting on the floor, his bloody hands covering his face.

"She saved me," Bucky couldn't stop picturing it.

"Did you get Sharon and Pierce?" Steve asked.

"Who the fuck cares?" Bucky stood up and was chest to chest with Steve, "Evie's fighting for her life and you care about the mission?"

"She would ask the same thing," Steve reminded him.

Bucky got frustrated and punched the wall with his metal hand.

"Buck you need to calm down," Steve warned him.

"I can't! They won't tell me anything," He ripped at his hair, "She's my wife!"

"Buck," Steve told him carefully, "No she's not, it was part of the mission."

This time Bucky punched Steve. He left Captain America laying on the floor of the hospital and tried to find out some information on Evelyn.

Steve recovered and sent Wanda to try and talk Bucky down. She hugged him while he cried.

"I didn't get to say it back," Bucky cried into Wanda's shoulder, "She told me she loved me and I didn't get to say it back."

"She knows Bucky, she knows," Wanda patted his head while he let his emotions run through his body.

More time passed. Wanda talked Bucky into cleaning the blood off his hands and brought him a change of clothes. Tony finally showed up and tried to get some answers but the doctors weren't budging.

"Buck?" Steve approached the man carefully.

"Do you want to be punched again?" Bucky didn't even look up at him.

"We need to debrief and obviously Shaw can't do it, so we need you to come down and," Steve was shoved against the wall before he could finish.

"I'm not leaving here until I know she's okay," Bucky told him, "And I'm not leaving here until she's awake."

"You have a job to do," Steve reminded him, "It's a mission, we have work to do."

"You know damn well this is more than a mission," Bucky let go of Steve and walked away. "Someone, who isn't you by the way, can come down here for a debrief or they can wait."

Sam came down to the hospital and helped Bucky with his reports. Normally the S.H.I.E.L.D agent would be the one doing all this but with Evelyn down, Steve was unfortunately right. It had to be done.

"She's tough," Sam told Bucky, gripping his shoulder tightly. "So did you guys?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Watch it Wilson," Bucky warned playfully, "It's more than that."

"You love her?" Sam asked in a serious tone.

"Before she passed out, she told me she loved me," He nodded, "I didn't get to tell her."

"I mean we saw that footage from the club and I swore yall had been together for months and just hadn't told anyone," Sam shrugged, shuffling the paperwork he had with him. "It looked real as hell."

"Why won't they just tell us if she's okay?" Bucky's leg was bouncing nervously. "I'm going crazy, man."

"From what you said it was to her chest, that's got to be complicated," Sam tried to comfort his friend.

"Do you think she'd let me whisk her away from all of this? Just travel and live our lives?" Bucky shook his head, leaning back in the uncomfortable hospital chair.

"You know Shaw," Sam shook his head, "She'll be asking when the next mission is from her hospital bed."

"She really will," Bucky let out a laugh.

Some doctors approached Bucky warily. "Are you Mr. Barnes?"

Bucky looked at the doctors, then at Sam, then his metal arm and nodded his head but didn't speak.

"Miss Shaw," The doctor started but was cut off.

"It's," Bucky started and then stopped with a sigh. He had to remind himself she wasn't exactly Mrs. Barnes, "it's Agent Shaw," he finished lamely.

"Yes well um, there was a lot of damage and we lost her a few times," the doctor went on to explain.

Bucky was out of his seat and Sam pulled him back down, "Just listen."

"She's okay now," The doctor looked at their papers with a confused look, "She keeps asking for her husband though but our paperwork indicates no such thing. Is she having a memory issue?"

"Can I see her?" Bucky's leg was bouncing again.

"I uh," The doctor looked at Sam. "Do you know who the husband she speaks of is?"

"I'll explain, just let him go back," Sam gave Bucky a smile, "Tell her I said hi."

The other doctor took Bucky to Evelyn's room. Once the door opened and he saw her lying in the bed he let out a strangled noise.

He approached the bed. Evelyn's eyes were closed but as soon as he reached her side she let out a groggy sigh and whispered his name.

He hit his knees beside her bed and grabbed her hand. She turned her head and her eyes met his and for the first time in hours, Bucky felt like he could breathe again.