When they wake up the next morning they're a jumble of limbs. Darcy's tucked up under Bucky's left arm and straddling his torso with both legs. Bucky's right arm is draped over her, with one hand gently cupping her bum, and his legs are sprawled diagonally under Darcy.
"You know, normally when I wake up naked, I wake up next to a dude with a mullet named Chad or Thad who smells like weed and stale beer."
"Good morning to you too, Darc," Bucky laughs, squeezing her butt cheek playfully.
"I could get used to waking up next to you instead," Darcy says, wriggling her right arm out from underneath him and stroking his cheek, "Never thought I was much of an Ivy League kinda gal, but I'd be lying if I said last night didn't change my mind." She rolls on top of him and her thumbs make lazy circles at his temples. She draws in close to him and gently brings her lips onto his, then whispers "You win, James Buchanan Barnes. I love you."
He's breathless, staring up at her, until she draws near for another kiss. "I love you, so much," he says.
They lay in bed enjoying the feel of one another's radiating body heat under the cool satin sheets until Darcy announces she has to pee. With that, they roll out of bed, and Bucky goes to start coffee and pop some tinned cinnamon rolls in the oven for breakfast.
"What, no breakfast from scratch?" Darcy enters the kitchen, she's wearing Bucky's sweatpants and one of his tee-shirts.
"I haven't gotten to the class on breakfast pastries," Bucky replies, "So Pillsbury's taking this one."
"One point for the Doughboy," Darcy says, poking Bucky's abs with one finger before helping herself to a cup of coffee. When she stretches to reach a mug from the cabinet he sees a peek of her tattoo and lets out a soft snort.
"Something funny?" she says over her shoulder.
"You're friends with, like, at least six actual superheroes, and yet you have a Wonder Woman tramp stamp."
"It was either that, or a lightning strike between my cheeks," she turns to look at him with a smirk, just in time to catch him almost choke on his coffee, "Sorry, gramps."
"You kill me, Darcy."
~~~ 3 weeks later ~~~
It's Saturday night, Sam, Steve and Bucky are having a guys' night at Steve's apartment. Darcy, Jane, and Nat are at Bucky's, watching Yulia and probably gossiping about the rest of them like teenagers.
"I can't tell you how glad I am that you and Darcy worked things out," Sam says, "You were starting to be a real moody pain in the ass."
Bucky throws a tortilla chip at his head, "Let me lock you in a freezer for 70 years and see how good your emotional control is afterwards."
"Cap was stuck in an iceberg and he came out ok," Sam tosses an M&M at Bucky, but misses and hits Steve.
"Seriously?" Steve rolls his eyes, "Can we talk about something more important, like what we're gonna order for dinner?"
"I could go for a cheeseburger," Sam suggests, "Oh, and a milkshake."
Steve and Bucky nod in agreement, "Well that was easy."
They put in their order and Steve grabs another round of beers from the fridge. They're an Asguardian brew that Thor has promised can even get Steve a little tipsy.
"I'm gonna have to tap out at two," Sam says, popping the cap off, "Or I'll be comatose and you two will get to have all the fun."
"I have regular beers too, Sam," Steve says, "Wouldn't want PETA on my ass for endangering a wild animal."
"Ha-ha," Sam scowls, "So, when are we moving Darcy in? Thursday night?"
"Yeah, works for me. I think Thor and Banner said they're free too, we should be able to move her stuff within like, what, an hour?"
"Crazy you're finally settling down," Steve says, "Only took you a century."
"Oh shut up," Bucky replies, blushing, "You two are the ones who've been playing matchmaker."
"No but really though Buck, this is great. I'm really proud of you. I know it's gotta be tough not having all your old memories back, and feeling like whatever you do remember's from a past life. But you're making new memories now, new good memories."
Bucky shrugs, "Most of what I remember is stuff you told me, Steve. So most of it is good stuff, but… it sometimes just doesn't feel like it's mine, ya know?"
Steve nods, "I never had the same exact problem, but I get it. Trying to bridge the gap between life now and life then… it's complicated. But, with good friends surrounding you, it's a lot easier." He claps Sam on the shoulder and downs the rest of his beer.
When Steve returns with another round for them, Sam raises his beer in toast, "To good friends!"
They clink bottles and sip, before hearing the door buzzer signal that their food had arrived.
By the end of the night Steve is indeed a bit drunk, as are Sam and Bucky. The three of them are in hysterics over Sam's best attempt at performing 'Titanic' for his round of charades.
"Priceless," Steve cackles, "I wish I'd recorded that."
"You'd be dead, dude," Sam wheezes, "No one outside these walls can know about this."
"Oh they're gonna know," Bucky chortles, "Just a shame they won't see."
"Titanic is a two-person charade," Sam complains, "How'm I supposed to be Rose and Jack?"
Steve wipes a tear from his eye, "Not like that, whatever that was."
"You looked like Jesus," Bucky snorts, "Or, I dunno, a drunk falcon?"
They're quiet for a moment, and then Steve pipes up excitedly, "Hey Buck, when you're gonna propose to Darcy, we should totally invite her over for game night and then you can charades it to her!"
Sam rolls his eyes, "What's that look like other than just dropping on one knee?"
"Whoa whoa whoa," Bucky says, "Who said I'm proposing to Darcy?"
Sam twacks him on the back of the head, "Don't act like you weren't lookin' at engagement rings on your phone."
Bucky's face flushes crimson and he stammers, "I-I was not looking at engagement rings, I just…. I was gift shopping 'is all."
"You don't get a girl a ring as a gift if it ain't a promise ring or an engagement ring," Steve says.
"So? Who says I wasn't lookin' at promise rings?"
"The color your face just turned says it all," Sam laughs, "Gonna start callin' you The Lobstah Soldyah."
"Do not tell Darcy," Bucky whines, "Seriously, it's too soon. But yes, I am thinking about it."
Steve and Sam both cross over their hearts and zip their lips, "Scouts honor, Buck."
"Can't believe you're gonna be a regular run of the mill married man," Steve says with a sigh, and then a sly smile, "Do me 'n Sam get to be groomsmen?"
"So long as I don't kill the both of you first," Bucky retorts.
They all fall into a fit of laughter. Not long after they go back to their game of charades.
Sometime around 1 AM Sam is snoring on the couch and Steve and Bucky draw a mustache on him with a marker, giggling like little kids.
It's a good night, Bucky concludes, one of the best nights he's had in decades.
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