Well, folks. Here we are with only one chapter left after this one. Thank you for all your support. Truly, it has been such a privilege to have so many wonderful readers, reviewers, and commenters. You are all the reason why this story has an ending, a sequel, and a one-shot series.
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Chapter XLIX
It was safe to say that Lucy had taken the news of her pregnancy quite terribly. As the days went on, her attitudes towards it varied.
At first, she hoped it was just a fluke and there was something else perhaps at work. Maybe it was cancer, since that was preferable to her. It became obvious she was growing a person inside her when she missed her next bleeding, was constantly hormonal, and had the worst cases of heartburn in her entire life. She spent quite a bit of time hunched over and puking as well, finding almost every single smell on the base made her nauseous.
Her stomach began to get a little more squishy as she neared what would have been her three-month mark. As another two weeks went by she noticed her uniforms fitting more snugly, which sent her into another fit of tears.
Lucy knew even if she didn't show much, she had to be careful either way. Despite the fact she didn't want this baby, she knew Bucky did. He would never forgive her if she was reckless and endangered their child.
She wished more than anything that he was with her. She missed him more than usual in those couple weeks and she cried more whenever she thought about it. She received most of his letters from the first couple of missions he had been away. She read them in the privacy of her tent, softly reading his words out loud, despite the fact she felt silly. But she wanted to read the little peanut growing in her womb its father's words.
She hushed down some of the more explicit lines though. Lucy blushed as she read how Bucky wanted to kiss her from her head to toes, and how he missed feeling her body pressed against his in the night. He wrote of how he missed burying his face in her hair, and how her nails felt scraping down his back. He missed the little noises she made and how it sounded as she gasped his name in the middle of the night. Bucky also wrote of how his favourite fantasy was imaging her in her little silk slip dress from their wedding night, and the entire time Lucy read she had crimson burning into her cheeks. She bit the inside of her mouth and tried to control her breathing as slick gathered in her panties, making her positively ravenous for him.
Unfortunately, as her pregnancy progressed, Lucy didn't find her frustrations subsided in any way. His words left her wanting him more, causing more restless nights as his absence went on.
Daniel treated Lucy like glass and was quite odd around her. It drove Lucy insane, and she wanted to ask him what exactly his problem was until one day he came clean and told her.
It was expected, of course, that he still had feelings for her. He told Lucy that even though he wanted to be alright with her being with Bucky, he wasn't. He was happy for them, but Lucy being pregnant was always something he had wanted with her. The fact she was so content with having another man's child and settling into the role of a soon-to-be mother irked him. He thought it meant that it was just him that Lucy couldn't stand the idea of, not the fact she didn't want to have a baby.
She didn't have time to comfort him and make him feel better about himself. Lucy told him that if it was any consolation, she didn't want to be the mother of his or Bucky's child. It did help though that it was Bucky's. Lucy could stomach the idea of having a baby for him. With Daniel, she likely wouldn't have been able to do it.
Still, even as she ran her hand over her belly and tried to usher up any feeling of love for the tiny thing growing inside her, she felt nothing. There was an emptiness within her which didn't make sense.
The only thing that kept her still trying was because she wanted to feel something. She didn't want to be some cold, unloving, mother. She wanted to love her and Bucky's child more than anything. Lucy hated that she wasn't able to muster up any feelings for it. After all, she loved its father with her entire being. So why couldn't she feel anything for his child?
No matter how hard Lucy tried she only felt contempt. It wasn't the little thing's fault, of course. It didn't ask to be planted in her womb, but the more she thought about all she was giving up the more afraid she became.
It was the exact thing she didn't want after she got married. She didn't want to just be someone's wife or someone's mother. She wanted to be her own person, fearing she would lose relevance as most women did after they served their purpose of giving birth.
Lucy wondered if perhaps she could learn to love it. She learned to love Daniel after she didn't think she was ever capable of such an emotion. And she loved Bucky even more than him. So, she knew it was possible.
But still, Lucy feared that even when the baby was placed in her arms, she might still feel nothing.
She knew how much easier things would have been if Bucky had been there. He would have eased her anxiety, and still made her feel like she had worth. Seeing how delighted he would be for the baby likely could have rubbed off on her as well, and perhaps once observing his reaction then Lucy would feel better about the whole situation.
She felt like she was doing this alone, though. That scared her, and all she had for comfort was Elsa. Daniel was of no help and constantly made her feel guilty. How dare he make her feel worse than she already did for having her own husband's child? She began to despise him for it and spent little time trying to make him feel better about himself. He moped around like Lucy had gotten pregnant to spite him, which wasn't true. When she had snapped at him and how she didn't want this just as much as he did, his only retort was cold-hearted and left Lucy with a bad taste in her mouth.
Maybe you should have kept your legs closed, hetold her.
He reminded her that she had always had a problem with that though, and was eager to give him her virtue before they were even engaged. He spat at her as though his words were poison, asking how long she waited after she found he was dead until she offered her body to the next man who showed a sliver of interest.
When Daniel turned to her and saw the hurt in her eyes and how tears were gathered at the rims he immediately began apologizing, saying he didn't mean it. Lucy wouldn't hear it, though.
She tried to tell herself that maybe Daniel was lashing out because he was hurt. After all, she had hurt him more terribly than she could ever imagine. Still, that didn't excuse his cruel behaviour. Especially now, when she was most vulnerable.
Charles remained blissfully unaware of her pregnancy, and she thanked God for that. He still treated her with a sense of normalcy, but that was also an issue. However, carrying heavy objects and working her ragged was an unfortunate side effect of Charles treating her like he usually would.
He also didn't understand why she was constantly getting sick and taking pee breaks. Lucy pretended it was due to 'lady issues' and immediately Charles would stop asking her questions about it, his ears tickled pink from embarrassment.
She wished Whitney was there, so that way he would be normal as well. He likely wouldn't have been so blind to the fact that Lucy was pregnant as Charles was. She knew there would have been some untasteful jokes about her getting knocked up, but at least she could handle that.
What she couldn't handle was how every time she closed her eyes she could see his dead body. Lucy had killed before, and it had changed her for the worse. But she had never killed someone she considered a friend. Usually, it had only been a matter of survival before. Whitney was different though, and it caused Lucy to almost come completely unhinged.
At least she still had Bucky. Every day she worried that he would slip away from her though, and the thought made her want to die as well.
Despite the fact she didn't want the baby, she found herself talking sternly to it, telling it that it better stay alive — for its father's sake, she tried to convince herself. She supposed that for now, it was the closest thing she would get to feeling any type of love for it.
As she thought about it, Lucy sighed as she hunched over a desk in her tent. Her head was pounding the more she thought about the uncertain future, and she was rubbing her temples to help ease the budding pain. She was so exhausted and would kill for more than an hour or two of sleep at night. But more than falling shells and bullets kept her up now, and Lucy wondered how much more of this she could take.
She stared down at the paperwork she was trying to complete. After about the second time she had gotten sick that morning, Charles had told her she better rest up at the base. Lucy begrudgingly agreed and figured she could at least sit down and give her feet a break if she did paperwork all day.
Instead of paperwork, she had been unproductive. The only 'work' she had done thus far was writing a couple of names she thought Bucky might like on a small piece of paper.
George, named after Bucky's father, was on the top of her list. Other traditional names such as Matthew and Benjamin were there. As a joke, Lucy put a couple nonsense ones down, such as Titus, Augustus, and Severus.
For girls' names, she wasn't sure where to even start. Kathleen was an option but beyond that Lucy came up dry as she tried to muster up anything else and decided to give up. She began to doodle on her piece of paper as she was preoccupied in her own little pitiful world, not even taking notice of a figure approaching her tent. She was used to Charles and Daniel coming and going, but what she wasn't expecting was a smooth Brooklyn drawl to emit from the mouth of her tent.
"Doctor, you sure are lookin' mighty pretty this fine morning." Lucy's eyes shot up, her heart pounding in her chest as she recognized that honey-whiskey voice anywhere. Immediately she was at attention, seeing her devilishly handsome husband standing at the base of her tent with a smirk on his face and looking like a vision.
"Bucky!" Lucy gasped as she shot to her feet, knocking some loose papers off her desk and some books to the ground.
The space disappeared in no time as she launched herself into the warmth of his arms. Bucky chuckled as Lucy nearly toppled him over. He held her as tightly as he could manage, bringing her into the comfort of the tent so no one could see them embrace as they clutched one another.
Lucy's eyes closed as she finally felt like everything was alright. She felt safe, and like she was finally at home. He was the closest thing she had to home in over three years, and she would be damned if she didn't revel every single second in his arms. She breathed in his familiar scent, her heart beating against her chest frantically and a lump forming in her throat as tears gathered in her eyes.
"Holy cow, you must have really missed me, huh?" Bucky murmured in her hair as he placed kisses on the top of her forehead.
"Don't let it go to your head." Lucy pulled away finally to look up at his handsome face. She studied him, trying to see if he was healthy and alright. Once again, it didn't look like there was a single scratch on him and relief washed over Lucy. He frowned immediately as he saw how her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked softly, moving some hair out of her face as he saw her trembling. He looked down at her with worry, and his thumb gently brushed her cheek. Lucy clutched his wrist tightly, pressing a kiss to his palm.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Everything's fine now," For once, she felt like that was true. At that moment everything was alright. Nothing in the entire world was wrong, and for a single second, Lucy didn't even worry about the pregnancy.
Bucky snorted at her answer, a grin on his face, "You just are that happy to see me?"
"Apparently!" Lucy laughed but tears were running down her face. She was unable to hold them in any longer, and she just accepted that she was now a crier. Pregnant Lucy cried at everything, but she didn't care.
Bucky wiped her tears away with his thumbs, a little concerned at how much she was displaying emotion, "Happy enough to let me give you a big 'ole smooch?" He asked her cautiously, knowing Lucy didn't like kissing him in public where everyone could see.
She nodded eagerly, barely able to contain her excitement as he leaned down and captured her mouth with his, and Lucy returned the kiss with fevered passion. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she could have sworn it was about to leap out of her throat. Blood coursed through her body, and it was like a live wire hitting water; everything within her was ignited with a spark.
Bucky moaned at the way she kissed, his hands going to her waist as their bodies were flushed against one another. Her full breasts were placed against his chest and she thought he might have been able to feel her heart hammering against her rib cage.
He walked her backward clumsily until she was pressed against her desk in the sanctuary of the tent. She gripped at his shoulders tightly, kissing him with an unprecedented passion. Lucy should have been worried about someone seeing them, but at that moment she couldn't have cared less. All she was concerned about was the feeling on his lips on hers and how incredible his tongue felt in her mouth.
Their kissing was desperate, sloppily done with open mouths as heat generated through their bodies. Lucy could feel her slickness practically dripping down her parted thighs and she knew that it was just another symptom of the pregnancy. Lucy knew she shouldn't let it rule her, but all she could think of was getting railed by him on her desk.
"God, you drive me wild, pigeon." He separated from the kiss, his lips swollen and pink from Lucy's administrations, "Thought about kissing you like that for the last couple weeks."
"Have you?" She cocked an eyebrow, her hands running through his hair as they gazed at one another. Neither one of them was willing to break eye contact yet, "Something tells me your thoughts weren't entirely pure while you were gone, Sergeant."
"Mmm, been thinking about those little moans you make while I'm so inside you I can feel your heartbeat." He confirmed as his thumb brushed against her bottom lip, and it took all Lucy's strength not to take it between her teeth and bite it.
"What else?" Perhaps it was just her stupid horny pregnancy brain, but she wanted to hear every dirty thought he had while he was away.
"You wanna hear more, princess? I don't think you can handle it," He flirted, his fingers tapping at her waist. Bucky nuzzled her neck and Lucy gasped, her eyes fluttering shut as he called her his princess, and Bucky's lips grazed her sensitive skin, setting her aflame.
"I can handle it." She begged wantonly. Lucy had to know he needed her as much as she needed him.
"I don't think you can, babydoll." He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "Plus, if you get me thinkin' about it I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself from sinking into that sweet little cunt again." His hips flushed against hers, and Lucy could feel his semi hard-on through his pants. With just a little bit of grinding, she likely would have finished in no time, finally able to scratch the itch she's had since that night he took her in the grass. Lucy knew that wouldn't be fair to him though, and they both decided to move away from one another.
"We should stop while we're ahead." Lucy agreed, her heart still pounding. She knew she was dripping from his comments, and all she wanted was more of him but knew that she couldn't.
"Agreed," He said a little forlorn, and Lucy forced herself away from him after he pecked her lips once more. They smiled at one another fondly, just happy to be in the other's company for a little while. "So, how's my girl?" Bucky asked with a grin as he saw Lucy gathering the papers and books strewn about on the ground. He bent down to help her, their hands touching briefly and once again sending sparks throughout her body. Lucy felt silly, as though her teenage sweetheart was helping her pack up her things. It was so funny how Bucky made her feel like that again, like a schoolgirl with a crush.
As she placed the books back on her desk, Lucy answered, "She's managing." With a sigh, she directed her eyes down. Lucy picked at a hangnail and drew blood with it. It stung, but not nearly as much as her following words did, "Whitney's dead."
Bucky looked shocked at her words. He frowned as he processed what Lucy just said. He then rubbed his hand against his scruffy chin and then shook his head as he spoke sympathetically, somehow knowing she was there when it happened, "Are you okay?"
"Not really. But right now I am." She answered as she made sure to keep the desk between them. All she wanted to do was to wrap her legs around him and kiss him madly again, but resisted Wanting to change to the subject, Lucy did everything she could to veer away from having to talk about her feelings. "How were your missions?" She asked him before he could say anything else. He licked his lips and clicked his teeth as he placed his hands on the desk, purposefully leaning forward so he could get closer to Lucy.
"Now, Dr. Heinrich, you know I can't talk about that." He answered teasingly, a hint of mischief in his tone.
"Or you'd have to kill me if you did?" She retorted, playing with a stray piece of paper that stuck out of one of her books.
"Yes. And I'm rather fond of you, so I don't think I'd much like having to kill you."
"I didn't think most men were so fond of their wives. They're always the 'ball and chain' and 'warden' and such," Lucy wrinkled her nose as she thought of the way most men talked of their better halves. She wondered how Bucky spoke of her when he was away with the Howling Commandos. Was she his ball and chain? Lucy didn't think so. She was his sweetheart, and even if Bucky didn't broadcast that to his men, she knew he'd never think of her as a burden as many pretended their wives were.
"Strange," Bucky couldn't imagine not getting along with his wife. Sure, sometimes they fought like cats and dogs and they still drove one another up the wall, "I guess we'll see in a couple of years. Right now I like you just fine," He smirked.
"Only right now?" Lucy shot back, her eyebrow cocked up.
"Well, that's about to change if you don't come on over here and give me another kiss." He threatened lowly, leaning even closer towards her past the desk.
"You're such a devil, Bucky Barnes." Lucy didn't think she could handle another kiss that burned with such passion. The last one nearly killed her, setting her on fire with such mad desire that her entire body lit up like the Fourth of July.
She could still feel the way her blood pumped through her veins and the way she was still slicked between her legs, soaking for him.
"C'mere," Bucky requested as he rounded the desk, making quick work of the distance she purposefully put between them. She worried that if he were to attack her lips again, she would be begging him to roughly fuck her on that very piece of furniture that separated them. She was in a particularly fragile state the last couple of weeks and needed him so desperately. Lucy didn't trust herself at that time when she could be so easily persuaded. She wanted to trust Bucky to do the right thing, but he was a man, and they have very little self-control when it comes to their lustful wives.
"No, you stay away from me!" Lucy demanded with a soft squeal as she walked quickly to the other side. She giggled, not wanting him to catch her. She crossed to the opposite side from him, her heart racing.
"You wanna play, sweetheart?" He noticed the cat and mouse game they were starting, as he quickly followed her around the desk.
"No! I want you to leave me alone, you ruffian!" Lucy lied, speed walking to the other edge of the desk as Bucky picked up his pace. His arm shot out to grab her and Lucy giggled and tore herself apart from him while simultaneously slapping his hand away.
"Oh, you're in for it now!" He threatened playfully while shaking his head, "You better pray I don't catch you, Lucy Barnes."
Lucy only stuck her tongue out at his childishly in retaliation after another fit of giggles as she ran around the desk, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible.
Bucky shook his head again and finally leaped over the desk as easily as one would hop over a fence. Lucy squealed as he caught her, his kisses unrelenting as she tried to push him away as his lips assaulted her face, trying to reach any part of her skin he could gain access to. Lucy protested and tried to shove him off of her, finally giving up once she realized he wasn't about to let up.
Finally, Lucy looked up at him with wide eyes as she surrendered. The way she looked at him as he held her tightly made him think he was the only man in the world to experience such a longing gaze, filled with every ounce of desire and devotion.
It was amazing how much emotion Lucy could generate from just one look. But that look spoke a thousand words, and each one was a different way of saying I love you.
"Kiss?" Bucky requested, "I won it fair and square." He pointed out, his eyebrows shooting up as his hands ran up and down her arms tenderly. Each small motion of them created goosebumps on her tender skin.
"This how you got the other girls to kiss you? You chased and harassed them for one?" Lucy asked as she peered up at him. The way he was looking back at her made her heart melt a little. He looked at her the same way she did at him, as though there was an entire galaxy in the orbs of her hazel green eyes.
"Never had to chase a dame before you, doll." He told her, "Drove me crazy." He whispered before nuzzling her nose against his.
"One kiss," Lucy said harshly, stabbing a finger into his chest threatening. She refused to give him more, knowing that if she did, he would have her naked in seconds.
"Better make it count then, huh?"
"Show me what you got, Barnes." She said lowly, challenging him.
He snorted a small laugh, trying to hide his smile, "You got it. Barnes." He retorted back.
Lucy felt his mouth open against hers after their lips finally connected. His tongue ran across her teeth, asking for permission to enter. She eagerly opened up for him, her chest rising and falling drastically with each strained breath as she tried to keep herself composed. Her burning lustfulness certainly wasn't deterred when his hands snaked down her waist to grip a handful of her ass. He groaned as he kneed his hands into it, deepening the kiss at the same time.
Lucy gave out a little mewl as he kissed her in a particularly sinful away. His tongue slid into her open mouth, forcing her to taste him. A deep-seated burn began to settle in her lower belly as the embers lit inside her. The flames grew and grew until it was raging throughout her and igniting everything in its wake. Lucy's knees would have buckled if he wasn't holding her up, and he gently pressed her against her desk, allowing her to sit on it so he could move between her thighs. She felt him pressed hard against her, his erection prominent and leaking for her touch. He had been just as desperate for her too, and she wondered how he managed to still desire her so much even from the food that was given to the men that were specifically designed to suppress their libido.
Lucy supposed it had very little effect on her husband though, given their current situation. He moaned against her mouth and gently as their bodies began to gently grind against one another. Lucy allowed his tongue to brush against hers as her hands tangled in his dark locks. As his body rocked against hers, Lucy wanted to undo his zipper and pull him out, allowing her to take him inside her soft, awaiting, heat once more. Both of them knew they couldn't though, and as his hands trailed from her outer thighs to in between them, reaching her to her core as he gently felt her through her uniform pants.
"Oh, honey—," Bucky moaned as his thumb gently rubbed between her legs where he knew her sweet spot above her entrance was as he toyed with her, "Fuck, you make me crave you so much." His words came out breathy and desperate.
Even though she hated to do so, Lucy pushed him lightly away from her, her hands on his chest so they could both settle themselves. Bucky took her canteen on her desk and opened it, taking some water in his hands and splashing it on his face so he could calm down. Lucy giggled slightly, biting her lip between her teeth as he pinched her and told her to knock it off and how his hardened state wasn't funny.
"I used to be a good girl before I met you, ya know. Before you corrupted me." She leaned back on her desk as she peered at him, her legs slightly swinging.
"Please," Bucky snorted, "You wouldn't know the first thing about being a good girl." He took a drink of her water, still trying to control himself.
"Funny, that's not what you usually tell me in bed." Lucy replied in a seductive tone, "Usually you're fillin' my ear with all sorts of praises."
"That's because you're my good girl and mine only. You're my naughty girl too, depending on the mood you're in. You've never been good for anyone else, though." He said lowly, nipping at her lips and taking her bottom one between his teeth as he kissed her again.
"And just when exactly am I your good girl? And when am I naughty?" She asked for clarification as they separated as he was leaning on the desk, moving closer to her despite Lucy's protests.
"You're good when you're on your knees and I'm feeding my cock to you." He growled as he pushed his hips against her again, "You take me so well between those pretty pink lips, swallowing everything I give you. And when you're ridin' and bouncing up and down on top of me, squeezing me for everything I'm worth... Fuck, and when you touch yourself at the same time…" He couldn't even finish his sentence, knowing he would get carried too far.
"And then how am I naughty?" She inquired with a curious tone.
"When you give me some of that sass of yours and talk back to your husband," He growled lowly, making Lucy swallow a lump forming in her throat at how raspy his voice got, "It'll earn you a couple spanks again. You remember that night, huh babydoll?"
Lucy recalled the night he was talking about when they were in their hotel room. She had gotten particularly lippy with him and Bucky didn't quite like that. He made her strip naked in front of him, her panties falling down her legs as she stepped out of them as his eyes never left her and the way her arousal dripped down her thighs. He made her bend down over his lap, his fingers sometimes dipping into her wet entrance to feel her walls encouraging him to dip them inside. His hand came across her ass and each time he did so he made her count them out for him until he figured she had enough. He then buried his face in her cunt until she couldn't breathe, lapping her up and making her come in his mouth so many times until she was overly sensitive and each small lick was like torture.
The thought alone of the memory almost made her moan. As Bucky moved down to capture her lips again with an open mouth Lucy's eyes almost fluttered close from wanton desire.
Even though she hated to, she protested, "No more kisses!" Lucy whined, knowing how hot her blood was pumping and how each touch of his lips and caress of his tongue made her an absolute fool for him. Bucky took her refusal as a challenge though, knowing there was a way around her sudden no kissing rule.
"Fine!" He groaned in annoyance at her insistence but understood why it was necessary. They were both too wound up for their own good at that point.
Bucky grinned, accepting her orders to him and knowing he shouldn't test her. But there was a way he could still get what he wanted without causing more sexual tension between them. "Can I teach ya something that my Ma used to do to me when I was little?" He asked her carefully as he brushed a piece of hair out of her face. Just like that, their hot and heavy attitudes turned into something more innocent like a switch was flipped.
Lucy smiled, "Sure," she answered sweetly, her heart fluttering ever so slightly when she thought about how he wanted to share something with her from his childhood.
"Did you know that humans aren't the only creatures that kiss?" He asked her with a cocked head. His lips were upturned ever so slightly, betraying him.
"I didn't know that," Her smile also grew, wondering what he was getting at. Bucky grinned even larger when he realized he knew something that Lucy didn't. It was a rare occurrence that it happened, and he would take each small victory he could get.
"Butterflies kiss too." He answered and Lucy's smile shifted curiously until Bucky finally said, "Like this," He leaned into her and on the skin her cheek allowed his eyelashes to flutter against it softly in the faintest of brushings. Lucy laughed when she realized it felt exactly like a butterfly kiss. Her heart swelled with how sweet he was and wondered how it was possible that someone like him loved her so damn much. She also found it amazing how his mouth could be on hers so heavily and desperately one minute, and then the next minute he could show her what a butterfly kiss was.
"And polar bears do it like this," He separated from her cheek to nuzzle his nose against hers lovingly. Lucy laughed, pink tickling her cheeks as she felt his breath against her. "This is a fish kiss," He sucked in his cheeks and puckered his lips, making Lucy laugh hysterically. She did it back to him, allowing their lips to touch briefly before her cheeks turned red as she laughed loudly and she nearly doubled over. He was laughing as well, and before she knew it they were just hugging, holding one another and softly swaying as they tried to come down from their hysterics. Bucky couldn't stop smiling at the feeling of her in his arms. Time stopped as they held one another in the statuary of her work tent.
Lucy wiped the tears away from her eyes so he couldn't see them. She really did cry at just about everything. As it turned out though, she didn't mind the happy tears as much as the other ones, "You used to do that with your mom?"
"When I was little I didn't want to be kissed by her anymore, as most boys eventually do. This is the way she got around it." He told her. He had a fondness in his voice that usually appeared whenever he talked about before the war.
Lucy swallowed tightly, thinking out loud as she spoke quietly, "Maybe you can do it with our baby one day?" For a single moment, she was almost happy there was a baby on the way.
"One day," Bucky replied with a nod, the corners of his upturned ever so slightly.
"Show me how humans do it again?" She requested. He eagerly touched his lips to hers, moulding it against one another. Lucy hummed as she felt his hands tangled in her hair and she lightly bit him, causing him to smile through the kiss. Lucy didn't care for a single second that anyone could walk in and see them. All that mattered at that moment was Bucky. He was all that ever mattered to her.
When they finally pulled away, Lucy touched her lips, almost as she could still feel him there, until Bucky ruined the mood by saying; "Wanna see how a dog kisses?" He asked mischievously and before Lucy could squeal in protest he licked the side of her face, making her cry out. He laughed at her reaction and Lucy pretended to be disgusted, saying something about how she didn't want to catch his germs. She shoved him off of her, giggling as she did so.
"Are you some kinda animal expert or something now?" She joked as she wiped away his saliva on her cheek with the sleeve of her uniform, making a noise in disgust.
"Not at all. But I know some random facts. Like how otters cuddle in their sleep to make sure they don't lose one another in the night." Steve had told him that one after he had read it in National Geographic. Bucky hadn't had any interest in animals, but a girl he was sweet on was taking zoology, so Steve always made sure to tell him any interesting facts he stumbled across.
Lucy smirked, she stood on her tippy toes to gently brush some of his hair out of his face. Her hands caressed the side of his cheek, her thumb gently rubbing against the scruffy skin there, "You must be an otter then. Given how much you love holding me close to you in bed." She thought he would be irritated; she was fussing over him so much, but he didn't seem to mind the closeness of her. It proved he missed her just as much as she had missed him.
Bucky grinned down at her, wanting to tell her another impressive fact, "Penguins propose with pebbles and mate for life. Sometimes when one of the mates doesn't come back after a long trip, the other goes and looks for it until the end of its days."
"That's so sad," Lucy's heart sank as she pulled away and she tried not to think about those poor penguins losing their mate, "Why didn't you give me a pebble when you proposed?"
"Because I gave you a nice piece of string instead. And then a ring." He pointed out with a cocked head as he joked.
"I want a pebble," Lucy demanded as he wrapped his arms tightly around her just to hold her close.
"Okay," Was all Bucky said softly into her hair, inhaling her scent, "When I'm gone I'll bring you the prettiest pebble I find."
"What if I refuse it and don't wanna marry you after you present it to me?" Lucy retaliated.
"Well, then I have some bad news for you, sweetheart. I think we're as married as married people get since we've consummated our union many, many, times. You could always file for a divorce if you're that sick of me."
"Nah, that seems like a lot of work. Plus, good lawyers are so hard to find around here."
"That's the only reason why you wanna stay with me?
"And because I love you so, so much."
"That's what I wanted to hear." He said as he looked down at her again, brushing another piece of hair away from her eyes. There was something different about her, but he could put his finger on it. As he looked down at his sweet wife, his eyes caught on a piece of yellow notepaper that was on her desk. Bucky frowned as he picked it up, noticing its title.
Baby names.
His heart began racing and his mouth went dry, "Lucy, what's this?" His pulse quickened, and he felt he had been hit by lightning.
Lucy turned pale as she realized what he was looking at. She quickly snatched it out of Bucky's hand and crumpled it up. "Nothing. It's nothing!" She said flustered, her cheeks turning red and she just shrugged, "I was just...bored. It's just a silly thing women do."
Bucky blinked a couple of times, trying to see from her face if she was lying. She seemed nervous and embarrassed, but if Lucy didn't want to tell him, then he wouldn't pressure her.
"Is this your way of sayin' you wanna have my babies?" He smirked, winking up at her flirtatiously.
"Hardly," Lucy rolled her eyes, "As I said, it's just a silly thing women do. Like planning out their weddings as little girls and such," She wanted to gag on her words, knowing the only reason women did that was that they were conditioned to at a young age.
"You sure, doll?" Bucky picked her up and placed her on the desk again. He came in between her legs and began kissing her neck, his lips marking her skin like a brand, "I could put one in ya right now if that's what you wanted." His lips trailed under her ear, sucking on her pulse, "Right here and now on this desk." He drove her crazy from the way he was nipping at her, almost making her eyes roll back to the base of her skull.
Lucy should have told him. She could have. Now was the perfect time, and all she had to say was two simple words.
I'm pregnant.
But the words wouldn't come. They tasted like poison to her and turned to ash in her mouth.
Instead, all she could say was "Slow your roll there, tiger." She giggled, "You keep away from me with that weapon," She wiggled her eyebrows as she gestured down to the situation he was having in his pants.
"What's with all this baby stuff? You finally comin' round to the idea of it? I thought it scared you!" He ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath as he looked at her.
Lucy sighed and shrugged as she still sat on her desk, "I guess when I think about how
you're going to be the daddy I get less scared." It was true. The fact it was his child growing inside her made her feel slightly better about the whole situation. If she was being honest with herself, it was the only thing that kept Lucy going.
"Well, I certainly hope I'm going to be the daddy. Unless there's someone else?" He cocked an eyebrow accusingly, his blue eyes narrowing at her. Even though he was teasing about Lucy being unfaithful, the idea of her being with someone else drove him insanely jealous.
"Yes, I have many lovers. The chances of you being the father are slim to none." She retorted quickly.
"Damn, I knew it was too good to be true." He shook his head in remorse and clicked his teeth.
There was silence between the two of them for a moment. He had a goofy smile on his face as he looked at her, perfectly content in that moment. They were comfortable with one another, not needing any dialogue to make the silence bearable. Just being one another's presence was enough, but as he looked at her like Lucy was sure no man has ever looked at a woman before, like as though she hung the stars in the sky and she could no longer take it.
"Bucky, I umm…" Lucy began, nervously twisting her ring on her hand. He refused to meet his eyes, knowing she might very well burst into tears. She licked her lips as she tried to work up the nerve to tell him. But telling him would make it real, and once he found out he would immediately make her go back home. Lucy wasn't ready for that yet. She wasn't ready to leave him.
"Shit, is that the time?!" He looked over her shoulder to the clock she had on one of her tables, "Steve is going to kill me. I was supposed to be back at the plane twenty minutes ago so we can head to Switzerland," He checked his wristwatch to make sure. Steve had only given them a couple of hours on base, just enough for them to get their mission debriefing and new orders.
Bucky had begged for enough time just to see Lucy for a bit. He had been wandering trying to find her and had been sent on a wild goose chase by Daniel, who gave him a couple of locations she could have been. It was Bucky's fault for not checking her work tent first, but trying to navigate around the other tarps and tents and various stations was like a maze.
"Oh," Lucy's heart sank as she realized their time was up. However brief it was though, it made her happier than he would ever know.
"He can wait though. This is important." Bucky stated, ready to defy orders directly from Steve for her, "You were saying something?"
"It's really not," Lucy assured him, "It can wait until you get back!" She promised, although she had a bad taste in her mouth as she spoke the words.
The sad reality was that if he took as long on this mission as he had on the others, Lucy might already be transferred back to the States. Her eyes welled with tears as she thought this might be goodbye until the war finished.
"You sure? Last chance to tell me, doll." He cocked his head, trying to urge her into spilling her secret. Lucy knew if she told him he wouldn't leave her, and he would miss the mission. Hell, he might even desert the war entirely, and Lucy couldn't let him do that.
So instead of telling him Lucy only nodded, her lips pursed together firmly, "I'm sure." She didn't want him to see the tears in her eyes, quickly wiping them away as he gathered his pack from the floor where he had dropped it after Lucy had rushed to him.
"I like George for a boy. I noticed it was on your list for my Pa." He told her as he gathered his things, making Lucy's heart flutter faster as he brought it up and lifted his bag over his shoulder, "Maude for a girl." The fact he's brought it up almost made her think he possibly suspected her condition. Lucy's mouth opened and closed a few times, trying to process his words.
"Maude?" Was all she said with a frown, wondering where it came from. It hadn't even been on her list. Lucy had to double-check just to be sure. Her heart leapt as she thought about it though and what a good father he would be. She started to get all sniffly when she thought of how he would look holding their baby for the first and how he would beam as brightly as the sun.
"It's pretty," Bucky shrugged, "Maudie is a cute nickname." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. Lucy closed her eyes as his lips lingered there a little longer. She held onto his shirt tightly, not wanting to let go.
She suddenly couldn't contain her tears. She hated watching him walk away and each time it got harder and harder. The thought this might be goodbye for a long time nearly killed her, and suddenly a horrible sadness washed over her.
"Hey," He said softly, "Hey, hey, pretty girl. None of that now. Shit, I must really be somethin' special to make you cry over little 'ole me like that." He wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
"I'm not crying!" Lucy said through muffled sobs, "I have allergies!"
"Sure ya do." He pulled away and winked at her. "I won't tell anyone your secret, pigeon."
"Come back?" Lucy requested, "Please, please, come back."
"To you? Always." He separated from her to look down at her, frowning at how sad she was. He wondered for a second on what was going on with her but thought it better to not ask. If she wanted to tell him, she would. It caused a sickening feeling well in his stomach at the thought of leaving his wife in tears though.
"You tell Steve if anything happens to you, I'll kick his no-good butt." She laughed through her crying, trying to make a joke.
Bucky chuckled, "You're gonna kick Captain America's butt?" He asked in amazement.
"If he lets something happen to my husband? You bet I will." She promised.
"Well, that I gotta see," He laughed again before straightening up and preparing to leave. "My money's always on you, doll." He kissed her cheek.
"You stay safe." She ordered him, her hands still clutching his shirt as she rested her head against his chest, hearing the beating of her heart against his ribs. She closed her eyes and memorized the sound of it, never wanting to leave that moment.
He pressed his lips to her head once more. He then lifted her chin with his finger, making her stare into his steel blue orbs. Lucy could fall in love all over again just by looking into those stormy ocean eyes. For her first time, she felt something in the very pit of her shift. In the core of her belly, a small flutter was felt and Lucy wondered what exactly it was. It was like butterflies in her stomach, only more gentle, almost as though it was only the ghost of them.
Bucky kissed her, and Lucy forgot all about space and time and all other things of worldly cause. Just like it was only the two of them on the London Underground platform, it was only the two of them in that tent. The world outside didn't matter, only the feeling of his lips on hers did.
He kissed her sweetly in goodbye. He poured every ounce of love into it, hoping he could always recall what it was like to have his lips moulded into her. He could still feel the tears rolling down her cheeks, and it broke his heart a little to know he was the cause of it.
Her hands clutched at him, fearing if she let go he would slip away. She never wanted that moment to end. Lucy wished that kiss could have lasted for all over eternity.
But all good things in her life, it came to an end.
He pulled away first, knowing if he didn't leave now he never would. "I'll see you soon." Bucky's voice was quieter as he spoke as promised as he walked away. Picking up his bags and leaving was the hardest thing he ever had to do. So he left, trying not to look back in fear of what he would see.
Lucy's eyes followed him, drilling into his back as her stomach flipped. She hated seeing him go, it never got any easier. The fact it could be a very long time until she saw him again broke her heart into pieces. "I love you!" She called out outside her tent, her arms wrapping around herself as she realized she hadn't said it. Lucy didn't even care if anyone heard or saw, though. Damn them. Damn them all.
Turning around to face her as he walked backward, Bucky only replied with a large, cocky grin, "I know!" He winked at her.
Lucy watched him until he disappeared. She closed her eyes tightly and choked back a sob, wondering why she didn't tell him but figured it was better that he didn't know.
Still, it killed her just a little bit inside.
It had been a few weeks after Bucky had left, and just as there always was when he was away on a mission, there was an empty spot in Lucy's heart.
Lucy tended to continue sticking to paperwork and research during those days. Charles was becoming eerily suspicious, and it drove her insane at how quickly things were changing. They were bound to change more when she arrived at the Stateside since she would have a tiny baby as a part of her life.
She rarely slept from how worried she was about the future. Every little thing scared her, and she often felt fear take hold so tightly that she woke up barely able to breathe and felt as though someone was sitting on her chest.
Lucy dreamt of home in those times. She dreamt of a life without war, where she could hear Bucky's soft snoring beside her in bed and feel his hands softly holding her to his side as they slept.
Sometimes in her dreams, she could hear little padded feet making their way to their bedroom. Whenever Lucy woke up from a dream such as that, it didn't particularly make her feel as scared about things. Especially when she thought about how peaceful life could be sitting in a kitchen in Brooklyn with a cup of coffee, and Bucky muttering some nonsense and making funny faces as he tried to get a fussy baby to eat mushy food off a tiny little spoon.
It wasn't the life she wanted or even the one she was comfortable with, but it would be close enough. Still though, despite knowing she would one day be fine and get used to the idea of mediocrity, Lucy was scared about all the things she couldn't control.
Lucy's only saving grace was Elsa in those times. She was more excited about the baby than Lucy, and due to her having many sisters, she had quite a few experiences with the tiny humans.
Apparently, there was more to it than just feeding and changing it. Lucy was constantly writing things down on small slips of paper that she had to remember. She was so naive to the ways of babies that she didn't even know that they needed their necks supported when you held them for the first couple months after they were born.
The other nurses that were around were also quite eager to give Lucy advice. Connie especially was helpful in those times, and showed Lucy the best way to swaddle, using whatever they could find lying around to practice on. A few others also began knitting her small clothes and booties for it, which almost made Lucy smile as she saw how tiny they were.
Elsa got especially offended when Lucy referred to the baby as "that thing" growing inside her. As Lucy was with a few different nurses outside one of the med bays, Elsa lectured her on how her baby was a person, and not a 'thing', as she so fondly called it.
"Hi baby!" Elsa yelled in the direction of Lucy's belly as she walked up to the nurse's station.
"Will you shut up!?" Lucy hissed, quickly looking around to see who heard. Luckily, everyone present was badly injured or unconscious besides the nurses, "I don't want everyone to know I'm pregnant!"
"People are gonna start figuring it out soon enough," Elsa shrugged, "Especially with the belly of yours continuing to grow." She poked at it and giggled, causing Lucy to shove her off.
Lucy was still small enough to hide it, but she knew it was silly to continue hoping it would stay that way. Each day she grew bigger, and as the little peanut grew, she began to feel a stronger flutter inside of her. Elsa told her with a smile that the baby was moving, and Lucy's heart lurched. She didn't tell Elsa the first time she thought she felt it was when she was with Bucky, wanting to keep that information locked away in her heart for herself.
"I wish you would have it here," Elsa huffed, blowing a stray piece of hair out of her face, "It's been so long since I've held a little babe." She came over to Lucy and gently placed her hand on her belly, trying to see if she could feel the flutter from the outside yet.
"Yeah, because having a baby on the outskirts of an occupied city is a good idea." Lucy bit down on her words as soon as they left her mouth. What she was saying was from a place of privilege. Many women in that city were scared and expecting, just like she was. Only, they didn't have the option to leave when things got bad.
"You know what I mean," Elsa rolled her eyes, and then walked away after she huffed from not feeling any movement, "I just wanna see Baby Bucky and pinch his little cheeks." She placed a hand on her heart and practically sighed, "Gosh, you two are both so good looking that you're gonna have the cutest baby ever."
"You think it's going to be a boy?" Lucy cocked an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I know it's going to be a boy! You think it's a girl?" Elsa scoffed, thinking she knew better.
Lucy shrugged, she didn't really know or care that much. She did like the name Bucky had suggested earlier though. When it left his lips it felt right to her. Maude. "I hope it's not a girl," Was all she said, "Being a girl is so much harder." If Lucy had a daughter she didn't want her to struggle to be seen and heard her entire life as she did. Lucy often wondered what it was like to walk into a room and for everyone to immediately take her seriously, to think she deserved to be there and that she was smart and capable, and not just there to serve coffee.
"That little girl will be lucky to have you as a mother though. You can teach her to be strong, Bucky can teach her to be compassionate." Lucy's heart lurched at Elsa's words. "She might just change the world." The nurse shrugged.
Lucy was left pondering her words. She hoped that if their child was like either of them, they had more of Bucky's qualities. Sure, he was a cocky bastard. But he cared more about her than anyone ever had. He was constantly putting her needs before his own. He was gentle, sweet, kind, and empathetic while Lucy was none of those things. As she thought about her peanut, she prayed it would be just like it's daddy. Even down to its looks, Lucy found herself happiest when she thought about carrying around a little baby with stormy blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Lucy smiled slowly as she thought about it. Her heart fluttered at the same time the baby did. She ran her hand over her bump, gently caressing it.
"Sometimes it takes a little bit of work to settle into a new role," Elsa assured her, observing how Lucy's hands gently ran over her bump, "It doesn't mean you're not going to be a good mother."
Lucy wanted to be a good mother. She really did, she just didn't know how to. "I'm not so sure I'm going to be a good mom. Especially to a girl." The fear still ate away at her.
"But Lucy, think of what a good example you'll be! Sure, maybe you won't get to live out your dream to its fullest potential. Perhaps you will have to go teach at a high school. But by the time your daughter grows up, it'll be a new era. Times will change, and perhaps she can have what you didn't. And then you can watch her succeed, and know that you're the cause behind it. It's not ideal, I know. But it's the best out an unfortunate situation,"
Lucy found herself choking back as she thought she might cry again at the thought. She didn't want to give up her life, not one bit. But perhaps, for Bucky's child — for her child, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Lucy might not have felt "love" yet, per se. That didn't mean she didn't have to show it in any way she could. Just because she was destined to not be that great of a mother, didn't mean she wouldn't try.
It was a hard thing to process and accept. But Lucy no longer had a choice and realized that even if she never stepped foot in a university lecture hall again, she could never project that on her child.
After all, she knew what it was like to feel unwanted. She could never do that to something that was the result of her and her husband's love.
Elsa seemed to notice how she was lost in thought, her arms crossed against her chest and biting her lip. The nurse only came up beside her and gently touched her shoulder, "It'll be okay. Even if Bucky isn't with you for a while, you'll do just fine on your own. You've done everything else up until now on your own, right?"
Lucy could only nod. She thanked Elsa for her support, knowing she would have gone insane if it weren't for the other women present at the base who were supportive of her. Lucy, who had never been one for female friends, found a sense of companionship from many of them. It was the support group she needed in such a difficult time, and would always be thankful for it.
"I think I need to tell Phillips soon," She admitted to Elsa, who was gently washing an unconscious soldier's forehead, "I don't know how much longer I can hide it." She didn't want to tell him though, especially before Bucky came back. Lucy had to see him once more; she had to tell him.
"I think you'll be alright for a couple of weeks still." Elsa read into Lucy's hesitant tone, realizing why she was scared. "Either way, us gals have your back." She promised her with a smile.
Lucy walked out of the tent, leaning on one of its support poles. She had her hand in her pocket as she looked out at the rest of the camp and recognized that everyone was just as tired as she was. Her gaze fell upon gaunt faces of men who were shells of what they once were. Everyone wanted it to be over.
Her thoughts drifted to Bucky, as it usually did those days. She thought back to their last night in the hotel, and how defeated she felt when she realized it was all coming to an end. They had laid in one another's embrace for a long time, just trying to memorize the feel of their naked bodies together. She never wanted to leave that room but recognized that their time was running up.
She had moved to the window at one point to light a cigarette, peering out into the London night, where the only light came from the yellow street lamps which set the city aglow with an eerie, dazy, dandelion colour.
Bucky sat at the foot of the bed, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched her drag some of her cigarette, her eyes wet with tears. He looked at her in concern but had no words to comfort her since they both knew what was quickly approaching.
"Talk to me?" He begged her, looking on in worry. She was so silent, barely making a noise as she stood at the window. She looked like a vision to him, with smoke trailing from her swollen lips and her body bare and exposed. Small purple marks Bucky had placed on her were the evidence left behind from him loving her. And as she stood there, her one foot wrapping around her calf as she trailed it up and down he couldn't help but admire her and take her in.
Lucy could only shake her head at his request though. She was already well aware Bucky had accepted becoming a Howling Commando, he had just yet to tell her. She knew he was putting it off though; he didn't want to hurt her. But it was torture for her to know he was putting himself at a larger risk. He wasn't a super soldier like Steve, and while the Captain had sworn to her he would protect him, Lucy had a hard time accepting Bucky was leaving.
"C'mon, baby. How am I supposed to make you feel better if I don't know what's wrong?" He requested. He wanted to know what exactly was going through her brain, hoping to talk it out so she would feel better. He had known it was futile though, and nothing he could say would ease her anxiety.
Lucy shook her head again, refusing to meet his gaze. She looked back at the empty street, focusing on the way the rain fell and the way it almost shimmered underneath the yellow from lamp posts and the light caught on it.
"You know what's wrong." Was all she murmured, sniffing. Lucy couldn't look at him, scared that if she did all her emotions would be exposed.
He got up off the bed, just as bare as she was as he walked over to her side. He gently held her by the waist, bringing her into him so her body was held close to his. His skin on hers felt more electrifying than a crack of lighting. It set every nerve in her body alive, and his touch that ran over her generated heat within the essence of her being that warmed Lucy to her core.
"Nothing's gonna happen to me, okay?" He wiped a tear that leaked down away with his thumb. His touch was gentle on her skin, dusting over her cheek with the lightest brushing.
Lucy closed her eyes, painfully trying to block out the thoughts of something happening to him. "Okay," She whispered back and then kissed his palm as she held it to her face.
"Now, no more of that. Nothing hurts me as bad as seeing you cry. Especially over me." He whispered into her hair, holding her tightly to him. "I'll always come back to you."
Lucy nodded as she sniffled, trying to compose herself a little more as she continued smoking. His lips trailed up her neck. Each soft kiss brought her back to life a little more. But still, it wasn't enough. In fact, it hurt just a little more because she knew it would be so long until she felt such peace again.
"I'm just scared." She swallowed thickly, allowing him to see a piece of herself that was vulnerable and exposed. Lucy rarely let alone see that side of her, and Bucky felt privileged that she trusted him enough to let him see such a side of her.
"Why?" He asked her, brushing hair out of her face.
Lucy blinked a couple of times, wondering why he would ask such a stupid and obvious question, "Because you made me fall in love with you and you could die!" Sometimes she wondered if it would have been easier if they had never met.
Pursing his lips together, Bucky brushed a piece of hair out of her face, "You really think death is gonna stop us from being together?" He asked her gently. Lucy refused to meet his eyes until he told her gently to look at him. Lucy's eyes hesitantly met his, and she could see how his were glassed over like hers were although none of his tears leaked down his face. "You think I'm not gonna search for all of eternity to find you in the next life?"
Her heart shuttered at his words and Lucy finally ashed her cigarette on the plate beside them on the table. She turned her attention fully back to him and saw him peering down at her with a look of longing, "I just don't want you to go. We finally just got together and now it's all ending."
"Well, still have until morning, don't we?" He asked her, his lips upturned slightly. His smile didn't stretch up to his eyes though, and something told Lucy he was struggling with having to leave just like she was. Only, he chose to be strong for her so she wouldn't see just how badly it killed him inside.
"Make love to me?" Lucy requested one last time, swallowing a lump gathering in the back of her throat.
Bucky let out a little chortle, picking her up gently so her legs were wrapped around his waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bed as though she weighed nothing. He made quick work of carrying her to the small bed in the corner of their hotel room. He placed her down softly, his eyes glancing over her spread body, "Lucy Barnes," He whispered as he brushed some of the hair out of her face as he settled on-top on top of her between her legs, "It would be my greatest pleasure to do so," She recalled how he said something similar to her the first night they were intimate in the farmhouse. And just like that, all the memories of it came rushing back to her.
As Lucy thought about their last night her eyes were wet as she thought about it. She wiped her tears away and saw how storm clouds were gathering in the sky as she stood outside the nursing tent. The clouds looked sinister as they formed together in a dark shade of mundane grey and terrifying cobalt.
Thunder rumbled far away and echoed in her bones. Lucy didn't know why, but she figured this storm was just the beginning, serving like some type of omen.
Because in her experience wherever there was a storm, death and devastation followed.
She just prayed that wherever Bucky was, he was alright. Because she didn't know how she would go on if anything happened to him.
I was going to do the train scene in this one but thought it might seem too rushed, which is why I put in a filler section in the second half.
In the next chapter (the final one) I will not be posting any author's notes. So, for now, this will be goodbye.
Thank you all for your continued support. You have no idea how much it had inspired, moved, and urged me to continue writing. Every one of you has played a role in this story, and I hope from reading this, you all have found pieces of yourselves within these characters.
I hope from this, each of you has developed to be as strong as Lucy, as caring as Bucky, as kind as Steve, as resilient as Daniel, as easy going as Dugan, gentle as Elsa and Hilda, and that you have grown as much as Whitney.
Thank you for allowing me to share this silly little story of mine with you,
-A
Remember to follow/subscribe so you can be notified when I post the sequel/one-shots. Also, even though I won't be writing an author's note next chapter, it would still mean a lot if you showed me a final piece of love and reviewed/commented on this story one last time to let me know what you thought of the ending!
