Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Marvel or the characters therein. Nor, sadly, do I make any moneys from the posting of this fanfiction.

Here's another oneshot! Hope that you enjoy it.

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The Insomniac

Hermione sat watching television, looking more like a zombie than a normal human. Bucky sat next to her, hugging her to himself. Rosie sat next to her on her other side, telling the older witch how her day in school went. Later on, Mike went over to her and explained cellphones to her, even going so far as to show her how to play Angry Birds. But not once did she speak or even do so much as stand up unless she needed to use the restroom. But that had been going on for well over a week and it didn't look like she was getting better anytime soon.

It got to the point that Bucky called Harry.

"She's been awake for a week and a half," James told him. "I'm at my wits end! What can I do to help her sleep? Because I've tried nearly all of them."

"Okay," Harry said deep in thought. "Has there been any changes lately that could have her unknowingly flashing back thanks to her PTSD?"

"Not that I'm aware of," he muttered.

In the background of the phone call he heard Ginny say, "It's April!"

"What?" came from both men.

"Men!" Ginny grabbed the phone from her husband, saying, "It may have to do with the fact it's April. She never does well in April. Between being tortured that month back in 1998 and finding out that her parents were killed that month…" She sighed heavily. "One time she was up for three months and had to be put into a magical coma."

"She never told me," James muttered.

"Hermione keeps much of what she goes through to herself. She doesn't want to be a burden on anyone. She isn't! I swear! But she's never been one to allow others to help during the hardest times for her." She paused. "Perhaps you can get her to open up a bit to let you know what's wrong. She trusts you, James. You're her family. That means something to her."

He thanked her quietly, hanging up the phone and looking over to his wife. She was watching a home shopping channel and listening to Lucy cooing and gurgling on her chest.

"James?" Her voice was rough with lack of use and she turned her head towards where he was watching her. "Can we please get rid of the chandelier in the sitting room?"

Standing up straight, he went over to the sitting room and took note of it for the first time. It was all crystal and gold. It looked like it cost a pretty penny too. Absently he got back onto the phone, this time to call Stark.

"When did you put a chandelier into our apartment?" he asked without preamble.

"And hello to you too," he said coolly. "That was my wedding present to you. Do you like it?"

"No. I want it out in the next five minutes or I'm taking it down myself."

He hung up the phone and went over to his wife. Hugging her and the baby, he murmured, "It'll be coming down soon."

Tears were running down her face, as she breathed, "It's so silly to be scared of a chandelier."

"No, it isn't," he assured her. "Let me take the baby over to Natasha. She can babysit Lucy while the work is being done to take down the chandelier."

"Okay," she breathed, kissing the baby's head before he took her.

Steve ended up taking the baby, as Nat was out in the field. Bucky tried to get Hermione to go to bed, but it would have involved going through the room with the chandelier. Exhausted, Hermione crumbled into tears against James's chest.

Tony came in with the crew of workers that would be taking down the wedding gift he had given to them. He was about to say something snarky when he saw Hermione sobbing uncontrollably against her husband's chest.

"Shh, sweetheart," James cooed. "They're here now and it's going to be gone before you know it."

Shivering now, she choked out, "Need my…calming…draft."

"You'll have to pass the chandelier."

She was quietly sobbing for a second. "You'll keep me safe?"

"You know it."

Finally, James managed to get Hermione into the bedroom and given, not only a calming draught, but a couple of ounces of a weed infused lemonade that would help her back keep from spasming. Tony walked into the room to see Bucky rubbing his wife's back.

"All this upset over a chandelier?"

Glaring at him, Bucky asked, "Been into any caves since you were abducted and tortured in one, Stark?"

The wealthy industrialist's face shut down. "What's that to do with her now?"

"Just answer the question."

Pursing his lips, he answered, "No."

"Try walking into one without freaking out. I dare you."

Rocking back onto his heels, Tony inquired, "You mean to say she was tortured with a chandelier?" Thinking that over, he added, "I've never heard of that before, but there are some really weird people out in the world."

Bucky didn't say a word as he pulled the shirt she was wearing up, revealing scars riddling her back. Hermione usually had what she had told him were glamours, but thanks to a week and a half of no sleep…well, she couldn't keep them going.

Tony gasped at the sight of the scars. "What the hell."

"She was tortured and had a chandelier fall on her just afterwards," Bucky told him, covering her back up again. "She's scared of them now. She knows she's being irrational, but you know what it's like dealing with that kind of fear. There's no reasoning with it. She hasn't slept in nearly two weeks. Hell!" He went over to him, hissing, "She hasn't left the sitting room since she noticed it, I bet. Thank you for the gift, but you need to take it back."

Flicking a look over to Hermione, Tony nodded, as he back away. "Gift card?"

Relaxing Bucky answered, "Sounds good."

Once Tony was gone, Bucky stripped down and joined her in bed. Cuddling up with him, she sighed, "Is it bad of me to hope the gift card is from Starbucks?"

Chuckling, he assured her that it wasn't. With one last sigh, she slipped into a restful, dreamless sleep.

TBC…

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And aloha to another oneshot! Thanks for joining the fun. Take care and I hope that you're all remaining awesome.