Chris sat going over the upgrades Tony was making to the compound's online security. Tony had given her the task of ensuring that they were solid with no vulnerabilities that he'd overlooked. It had taken her weeks, but she finally thought she'd inspected every facet and that everything was in great shape. Part of the upgraded security was to help protect her since she'd been compromised and she loved having a measure of ownership in it.

At tomorrow's meeting, she'd give him the final report with her recommendations on how to make a couple of things even stronger. She was proud to have come up with just those two minor points. Honestly, Tony Stark was a genius. She didn't understand until now just how true that statement was.

The last of the report finally done, Bucky and Steve would be so happy, she decided to order a takeout meal from the upscale Italian restaurant Bucky had taken her to a couple of nights ago and invite them to a night in. They were heading for the big mission in St. Petersburg the next morning. Why not?

When she finally made it to Steve's apartment, he wasn't there. That was good. They were doing last minute preparations for the mission more than likely.

There was a knock at the door which surprised her as she set out food for their dinner, wondering who'd come to call on Steve. Who wouldn't know he was getting ready for a mission?

"Agent Danforth," FRIDAY announced above her head. "Secretary Ross is at the door and he'd like to speak with you."

Fuck. What did he want?

"FRIDAY, don't tell Secretary Ross but I'd like for you to record this conversation, audio and video, and save a copy to my work files as 'conversation with Ross' with date and time stamps. Would you do that for me please?"

"Absolutely," the A.I. told her.

She hated that her hands were shaking but she straightened herself up and went to the door to open it.

"Yes?" she said with as much disdain as she could muster.

Ross smirked down at her. "Agent Danforth," he said smiling, his emotions were downright gleeful. "As I'm sure you're aware, the mission in St. Petersburg deploys tomorrow."

Chris nodded. "I am."

"I'm going to be commissioning your help for an integral part of the mission," he told her. "I just wanted you to be ready."

"What do you want me to do?" Chris asked carefully. Something about the emotions bubbling beneath the surface of the man unsettled her. "What will my involvement entail?"

"We need you to shut down a vital part of their network," Ross explained. "Without it, a good portion of HYDRA's support will be cut off and it will help ensure the safety of our team and I know you want that."

"Yes," she answered with all honesty, "I do."

"I'll meet you in your office tomorrow morning at 8. We'll be done in plenty of time for your meeting with Stark before he leaves."

He started to walk off, but Chris stopped him. Speaking of Tony...

"Does Mr. Stark know about this?" Chris asked. "He's who I answer to."

"I really don't give a damn," Ross told her. "He answers to me which means you answer to me. 8 o'clock sharp tomorrow, Danforth."

Something felt off. Chris just couldn't put her finger on what.

Closing the door, she glanced at the ceiling and tried to fight back tears. "FRIDAY, stop the recording please."

"It's done, Agent Danforth."

Grabbing her phone from Steve's coffee table, she started to text Tony.

Chris: Tony, you know about Ross's plans for me in this mission, right? I'm sure you do. I just want to double check.

Certain that she'd hear from him soon, she tried to put all of it out of her mind and focus on giving her guys a really nice evening.

It was only a couple of minutes later that Steve entered his apartment, Bucky on his heels.

"Steve, something's not right," Bucky said before he noticed she was moving around in the kitchen and broke out into a grin, running his flesh hand through his hair.

"Hey, doll," he said heading her way. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Chris smiled up at him when he reached her, basking in the passionate kiss he treated her to.

"I thought I'd surprise you," she told them, leaning up to kiss Steve when he reached them. "I hope that's okay."

Sure, they had a rule about weeknights which they'd all broken a few times each. Chris also knew that here and there, they had nights for just the two of them and she understood that and wasn't jealous. Not anymore.

The look they cut each other held a lot of guilt. She laughed, feeling them out. "I did interrupt something. I'm sorry. I got us dinner. How about we all enjoy that, and then I'll take off and you can do what you were going to do."

Steve was a shade of red she'd never seen him achieve in the gym.

"Steve, it's okay," she told him, smoothing her hands up the sweaty front of his t-shirt. "I get extra time with each of you when the other is sent on a mission solo. Shouldn't you guys get time to yourselves? It's not your fault I can't leave the compound and go on missions."

"That made it better." Steve dropped his head. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. The last thing we'd ever want is for you to feel left out. I promise. I—"

"Steve," Chris pressed her fingertips to his mouth to silence him as she felt Bucky wrap his arms around her waist from behind. "I understand." His expression grew even more concerned. "Steve, I mean it. I'm doing better at understanding. Yeah, I'm still afraid you'll both come to your senses one day and kick me out. But until you actually do it…"

A pair of soft lips teased the tender flesh below her ear. "Chris, that's never going to happen. Your place is right here. Between Stevie and me."

"Except when you need guy time," Chris shrugged out of his hold and went to finish laying out food. "And that's okay too. Go shower up and then we'll eat."

The two of them exchanged a look and headed for the bathroom. "We're not done talking about this, doll," Bucky told her.

"Okay," she called, trying to keep her tone upbeat.

Inside, her emotions were rioting. She had no idea what the hell was up with Ross and what he wanted with her. Tony hadn't answered her text. And now she'd upended Steve and Bucky's date night before the mission. Chris glanced around her at the Italian dishes all around her and seriously contemplated putting together a plate for herself, leaving a note, and going to hide in the safety of her own apartment so they could have the night they planned, and she could have her pending panic attack in private and not worry them with it.

The note was left on the coffee table and she'd just finished her plate. Chris was about three feet from the door when Bucky sprinted out of Steve's bedroom in a fresh t-shirt and sweats, easily beating her to it. He pressed his flesh hand to the door above her head, staring down at her with a storm of emotions playing across his face.

"No, you don't," Bucky said in a mildly warning tone.

Steve had made it into the living room and picked up her note before his gaze met Bucky's, shaking his head. "Sweetheart, we feel terrible enough. Were you really just going to sneak out?"

Chris's shoulders slumped, her emotions too close to the surface. It wasn't all because of them. She had to get a hold of herself or they would just blame themselves. She didn't want the night to get worse.

"I wasn't sneaking out," Chris tried for a playful tone but missed it by a mile. "I left a note."

Bucky snatched her plate out of her hands, handing it off to Steve as he reached them before dropping a shoulder and throwing her over it just as he had the first night they'd all been together. Chris's world spun as he strutted into the bedroom and dumped her across Steve's bed.

Bucky planted a hand on either side of her head as he loomed over her. "Now, let's talk," he said gently. "Why were you trying to sneak out?"

Tears stung the backs of her eyes and she blinked up at him, trying to get control of herself and failing. "If I left a note, I wasn't sneaking out," she argued weakly.

Steve stretched out next to her and she watched the panic take over his expression when he noticed the tears spilling from her eyes. "Sweetheart, no," he brushed away one with his thumb. "We don't want you to leave. Ever."

Bucky scooped her up and planted her in his lap before she even realized it. His flesh hand was gentle as it smoothed over her back. The fingers of his metal hand tipped up her chin as he looked at Steve and said, "We need to talk about this."

Steve sat next to them, reaching across to run his fingers through Chris's hair, his strong fingers felt so good.

"I'm sick of this entire arrangement," Bucky told them with no hesitation. "I don't sleep well without either of you next to me. Everyone knows we're a trio or triad or whatever they're calling it these days, so I don't want to fucking hear the entire 'respectability' argument from either of you ever again. And if we just went ahead and all moved in together, we wouldn't be here right now."

Steve's expression was a study in guilt. Yes, Bucky had made the first two arguments many times before and now? That was just a misunderstanding that she'd inadvertently caused.

"Bucky," Chris said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I had a bad day anyway. I'm not upset at you or Steve. I promise. I'm thinking I need to just go crawl into bed and by the time you guys get back… all will be well."

Bucky huffed out an irritated breath. "That's my point. You shouldn't have to go crawl into your bed in your apartment alone when you're down, and you obviously are. You're in a relationship with two other people for fuck's sake. It's times like this when you need to crawl into bed with us and let us take care of you. You've done it for us enough. Especially my ass. I'm done with this. No more rules or arrangements. I want us all to live together."

"It's okay, Bucky," Chris was feeling worse by the minute. Now she'd upset Bucky, and he deserved never to be upset about anything ever again considering what he'd been through. "I'm sorry. I should –"

"He's right," Steve cut her off, his blue eyes serious as the focused on her and then Bucky. "Hell, Tony's even offered to modify our three apartments into one big place for all of us. He's offered a few times. Let's do it."

While Chris had a couple of reservations about moving in together, she was a creature who liked her privacy from time to time, she knew she'd gotten used to having them around. She wasn't sure she'd survive not having them around, truth be told.

"Yeah?" Bucky's face split into a wide grin, his blue eyes sparkling.

Steve's answering grin was breathtaking. Seeing Bucky happy was one of his favorite things. "Yeah," he said with conviction before turning his gaze to Chris.

"Sweetheart, what do you think?" Steve asked gently.

Bucky's expression was filled with so much hope as he looked to her that her heart skipped a beat.

In that moment Ross, the bureau, the mission – everything faded into the background. Did she want to move in with these two amazing men even though she had very recently been a Grinch-level loner who was super protective of her privacy?

"Yes," she told them and meant it, brushing away tears. "Let's do it."

Bucky's smile was triumphant, and he dove for Steve, claiming his mouth with his own and accidentally dumping Chris onto the floor.

"Doll, I'm sorry," Bucky was flushed, breathless as he hauled her back up on the bed and pushed her onto her back between them. "I'm the happiest man on the planet right now."

Grabbing Steve's shirt above her, Bucky hauled him close for a filthy kiss that was all teeth and tongue that she had a front row seat for. Watching them make out and pull each other's clothing off was unbelievably hot!

The outcome they'd arrived at? Chris could see it working. They practically lived together on the weekends anyway. Just maybe they really did want to keep her. Gasping, Chris watched them paw at each other above her, not entirely aware that she'd slid her own hand into her jeans to give herself some friction as she watched.

Steve was the first to notice, placing a big hand over her abdomen. "Someone's enjoying the show," he told Bucky with a wink.

"I definitely am," Chris said grinning. "I should have just asked to stay and watch tonight and that would have solved the problem."

"No," Bucky said forcefully, playfully. "Nuh-uh, you both agreed to move in together. You're don't get to back out now."

Moving down her body on the bed, Bucky very efficiently pulled off her shoes and jeans. The sight of her fingers working her clit under her panties instantly grabbed the attention of both men.

"With us all living together, I do get to watch, right?" Chris wanted to make sure and tease him at the same time.

"Oh, you'll get to watch sometimes," Bucky explained, "when you're not participating for whatever reason. And right now, I'm thinking I want you to participate, doll."

Pulling her hand out of her panties, Bucky sucked her fingers into his mouth and moaned at the taste in a way that had her insides trembling. On the other side, Steve's eyes darkened, and he licked his lips before leaning down to seal his mouth over hers in a kiss as dirty as the one he'd shared with Bucky.

"I think that's a great idea, Buck," Steve told him, his hand gliding down her thigh to her knee and then back up until his fingers slid into her panties. One strong finger slid into the incredible wetness that had gathered between her thighs, smoothing back to her other entrance and reminding her of what they'd talked about a few days ago.

Oh. The day was definitely getting better now.

"Look at you," Bucky said, pulling her hand from his mouth and studying her. Thoughts of what Steve had promised her had her faced warming and she didn't want to know what color she was at the moment. "What are you thinking about, doll baby?"

When Steve pulled her panties off and tossed them over the side, Bucky's eyes darted after the movements. Steve shifted to settle himself between her thighs, pulling them onto his broad shoulders before burying his face in her heated, wet flesh and going to town.

Chris writhed, gasping and moaning under his ministrations as Bucky worked at pulling off her sweater and bra. Bucky stole kisses from her lips while Steve devastated her with his mouth and fingers. He switched between sucking gently on her clit and lashing it with his tongue while two strong fingers found and petted her g-spot inside, driving her wild.

Bucky pressed her wrists into the bed, slowly kissing her, absorbing her moans into his mouth.

"I love the sounds you're making, doll baby," Bucky said against her lips. "What's he doing down there?"

The orgasm slammed into her at that point and Bucky watched as she thrashed beneath them, crying out into the room. Steve, however, wasn't letting up. All at once he stopped what he was doing, darting to the bedside table on his side of the bed and pulling out a small tube.

Bucky's eyes widened as he watched Steve return to his place between her thighs, using the lube on his fingers quickly.

"What's this?" Bucky asked, still pressing Chris under him but talking to Steve. "Whatever you're doing is giving me some terrible ideas."

Steve licked at her folds more as one finger teased that untried ring of flesh, testing it.

"You're not the only one getting what he wants tonight," Steve told him with a wink, gently pushing the finger into her. "Relax, Sweetheart."

Bucky's dark brows shot up, his grin wicked. "Did I miss a conversation?"

"Maybe," Steve said breathlessly as he gently slid just the tip of his finger in and out of her ass. "I told Chris what I want and turns out she wants the same thing. She was just afraid I'd say no."

Bucky's attention turned back to Chris. "Is that right, doll baby?" His lips scorched a path across her cheek to her ear. "You want to take both of us? I've wanted that too… but just the thought of it drives our Stevie wild."

Chris just knew from that Bucky had used the thought to his advantage with Steve from the way he said that.

Steve's mouth was back on her as he worked to open up her untried entrance. Chris writhed beneath them, adjusting to the feeling of Steve's finger pushing further into her.

"You ever tried anal before?" Bucky asked gently.

Chris managed to shake her head, gasping at Steve's careful ministrations.

Bucky teased her jaw, the delicate flesh of her throat with his talented mouth as Steve continued to devastate her.

"Does Stevie know that?"

Chris nodded, crying out when Steve added more lube, a second finger entering her so carefully.

"You hear that, Stevie?" Bucky said teasing her with his plush mouth. "You'll be her first. I bet it will feel amazing. I know I can't wait to take you there, doll."

"He said… we had to wait…" Chris was really struggling to speak between the two of them, "for you…"

Bucky leaned back to smile at her. "I'm the luckiest man in the world today. I get you two in my bed every night. I'll get to enjoy how it feels with me and Stevie both buried in your beautiful body at the same time…"

When his mouth moved down to her breast, Chris was desperately fighting off her second release. Steve was gently working two fingers into her and they'd pushed in deeply. While the feeling was strange, it felt good. So good.

By the time Steve had a third finger inside her, Chris thought she was going lose her mind. Somehow, she was able to fight off her release, barely, when all at once it stopped and Steve's fingers were gone.

"Steve?" Chris whined as Bucky soothed her.

"We've got you," Bucky whispered easing back from her and pulling off his shirt and sweats. As usual, he wore nothing underneath.

Chris dove forward to get her mouth on Bucky. They had her so worked up. Both his flesh and metal hands lightly clutched in her hair as she swallowed him down, going to town on his cock that had to be aching from just watching the last few moments.

"Lie on your back," Steve ordered Bucky, a firm hand on his shoulder.

"You heard the man," Bucky gently eased Chris off him and moved to the middle of the bed to stretch himself out as his best guy wanted.

Steve had lost his clothes at some point, lifting Chris easily to sit her atop Bucky, her slim thighs straddling his hips. Steve stayed right there crowding behind her, one arm wrapped gently around her, the other guiding Bucky up into her aching, wet passage.

Between Steve's lips teasing the back of her neck and the sensitive skin of her throat and the feeling of Bucky's hard length stretching her open, Chris was already on the edge. Bucky's hands rose to gently hold her breasts, his thumbs a gentle tease over nipples so tight they ached. Just the thought of what they were about to do made her a trembling mess.

When Bucky was buried and moving within her warmth, Chris felt Steve's arm tighten around her. First one of his fingers teased her other entrance, sliding in easily with more lube. She felt him shuffling behind her as he applied more to himself, her entire body trembling in anticipation.

"Please tell me you're not afraid," Steve whispered in her ear.

"I'm excited," she assured him, looking down into Bucky's smoldering eyes. Bucky was definitely excited.

When Steve began to push into her and Chris sucked in her breath.

"Relax, Sweetheart," Steve whispered behind her, pressing kisses to her shoulders.

Chris tried, the burn as Steve slowly began to push into her took her breath away.

"Buck?" Steve sounded as breathless as she felt.

Gently, Bucky pulled her down to him until her breasts brushed his chest and his mouth could claim hers. Bucky dazzled her with seductive kisses, distracting her so Steve could continue to move into her, making her feel impossibly full. When Steve had fully pushed into her, his groan behind her nearly had her coming then.

Her nails clawed at Steve's thigh, Bucky's chest. "Oh, please, Bucky, Steve, you've got to move… Please."

Steve's large hands were a warm whisper against the skin of her back and hips as he gently began to move within her, drawing a deep groan from Bucky beneath her.

"Oh, doll baby," Bucky whispered. "You feel like heaven around us."

When he began to move too, Steve gasped. "I can feel you, Buck."

Bucky's metal hand came up to clasp Steve's where it rested on her shoulder and Chris just fought to hold on. If they thought it was something to feel each other, it had to minor compared to how it felt to be joined to them both, cradled between two super strong bodies. They were so careful with her in how they moved, eventually synchronizing their movements so that when one slid in the other slid out.

They pressed hot kisses to every part of her they could reach as they whispered to her how beautiful she was to them, how much they loved the way she brought them all together as one. Chris came harder than she ever had not too long after they'd established a rhythm, losing the world for a few moments. When she drifted back, she found they'd slowed down but they hadn't stopped, still hard inside her.

Chris felt so full that their movements had the slightest edge of pain, but she loved it. They stole kisses from her lips, from each other, as they filled her as she'd never been filled before and stayed with her as she began to fall apart around them.

"I'm… " Chris was barely able to speak. "Oh, I'm gonna…"

"I'm close too, Sweetheart," Steve's hold on her tightened. She could feel the pounding of his heart at her back. "I want you to come… I'll come with you…I want to feel you."

Bucky's thrusts gained in speed and strength as he cried out and let go beneath her which set her off. Chris thought she heard cries in the background, dimly realizing that it was her, as she clamped around both of them in her release. The world spun away and she was barely aware of Steve finding his own end, shouting behind her.

All she knew was that they ended up in a tangle on the bed, one on each side of her. Each of them struggled to breathe. Chris burrowed as much as she could in bed, exhausted enough to close her eyes. Oh, was she ready to go to sleep now.

She was sort of aware of them kissing, talking over her. A warm pair of lips pressed to her shoulder.

"Doll baby?" It was Bucky. "Can't go to sleep yet. Dinner, remember?"

"Not hungry," Chris grumbled. "Sleep."

Steve curled around her from behind and the warmth of him was so nice. "Are you okay? We… we didn't hurt you, did we?"

Chris hoped they could tell she was shaking her head. "Don't know how I'm going to walk to my office to meet Ross in the morning but…"

"Ross?" Bucky asked.

More whispering before she was gently pulled up from the bed and against a solid chest. The sound of running water and the gentle hum of the heater in Steve's bathroom filled her awareness. The gentle smell of lilacs reached her senses next and Chris's eyes slit open to see Bucky pouring in Nat's bath oils.

"You never gave that back?" she asked Steve with a grin.

"I bought her more," Steve admitted, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Let's get cleaned up."

"I'm going to fall asleep in the tub," Chris warned with a chuckle.

"We're not leaving you, baby," Bucky told her as he climbed into the huge tub. Once he was seated her held out his arms for her.

Steve passed her to Bucky, so he could climb in and she enjoyed being settled against Bucky's chest, dozing the entire time.

They spoke briefly about the mission and she napped through most of that, but she did stop and lift her head to look back at Bucky. "How long do they think you'll be gone?" she asked.

Bucky's expression was guarded. "Might be as long as a month," he said gently. "But we should be able to check in once a week. Maybe video chat."

Chris smirked. "You could make some videos for me and send them. How about that?"

"You're rubbing off on her," Steve playfully complained.

"I love it," Bucky whispered giving her a squeeze.

With the efficiency of a SWAT team, they cleaned up themselves and her and somehow got her to eat with Steve fretting over her the rest of the evening until they finally all piled into bed.

"I'll miss you," she mumbled before sleep claimed her.

"We'll miss you," Bucky whispered above her.

"We'll be back before you know it," Steve whispered from the other side. "Always. And then we can start planning our home."

Our home.

On that happy note, Chris let herself drift into peaceful sleep.