It had been six months since Bucky left. Steve and I tried not to count the days, but it was too hard to ignore. Every time there was a letterin the mail from him, we'd feel relieved, it was proof that he was still alive and fighting. I thought about the last letter he had sent, it was light hearted. More so then the others he had send before, it was kind of odd he hadn't been happy like that since he was home. I shrugged it off thinking that it must be just a good day for him. I was in my room sitting on a chair by the window, my blue and red laced dress hanging over the back of the chair. I was in my underwear, I hadn't expected anyone today; Steve was out doing odd jobs for people, so I had the day to relax and read a good book by now it was more into the afternoon, telling me that I had spent most of my day sitting in a chair. I heard front door open, and listened intently for footsteps. I grabbed my dress and pulled it to my chest. If it was just Steve id tell him that wanted time to myself and he wouldn't enter my room. But if he had brought a guest with him I'd have to go and help host.
"Arie! Come on out, there is someone who wants to see you." I rolled my eyes at his call, there is only one person who wanted to see me lately, and that was a cleaning boy from the bar. He was very persistent with me, always telling me that he deserved a date with me. I was very much fed up with his demands, so much that I didn't care if I was rude at some points.
"If it's that boy Aaron tell him I'm not in the mood for his advances!" I hear him chuckle at my statement.
"Well lucky for you it's someone very different from him. But I think he annoys you the same." Now I was confused. I quickly pulled my dress over my head and yanked it down to slip it on faster. I sprinted over to my door, and pulled it open. Walking around the corner I tried to calm my nerves. My eyes widen when I see who was standing in my living room.
"Bucky!" I stopped in my tracks. There he was, standing there with a huge grin. His blue eyes cocky and teasing. I quickly ran over to him, and threw myself into his arms.
"Hey there doll." He wrapped his arms around me, one on my head the other on the middle of my back. This hug was different from the others he gave me, usually he'd wrap both arms around my shoulder and quickly let go. But this time he held on, even pulling me tighter in. I felt my heart beating quickly and my stomach going into knots. I pulled away and looked up at him, expecting him to release me from him hold, he just kept him hands on my shoulders. I finally spoke,
"James Buchanan Barnes! Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?" he shrugged with a smile on his face.
"It's only for a short time, I'm on a month leave then it's back to the battle field for me."
"Well at least you can come home at all, that's all that matters." He stared down into my eyes,
"Your right about that Arabella." He told me in a soft tone, I didn't know his to react to the tenderness he was giving me. So I just laughed lightly and pulled away to step out of his hold. I turned to Steve giving him my best glare, he gulped before giving me a silly smile.
"So that's why you've been so excited these past few days! I can't believe you didn't bother to tell me, I didn't even make anything or clean the apartment properly. I wasn't even dressed."
"Now Ara, I did tell him to makes it a secret so we could surprise you." I gave Bucky an unimpressed look.
"Well I can't stay mad, we only have a certain amount of time with you. Let's enjoy it."
"I very much agree with you Aries." I sent Steve my best smile.
"Alright so I say we go out and celebrate." Bucky declared to us, Steve and I nodded in agreement. He offered me his arm.
"If I may Ms. Rogers." I giggled at him and took his arm.
We all sat at a high top table in the Bucky's favorite bar. I sat on Bucky's left and Steve on his right, each having a beer in our hands. It was already later in the afternoon when buck had come home, and by now we had been sitting here drinking and talking for quite a while. Now it was night time and many people were in the establishment. I sat silent listening to Steve tell Bucky of what had been going on since he had been gone. I let my eyes roam around the room, sipping my beer every few seconds. My eye caught sight of someone I was desperately trying to avoid. Aaron. I did not want him coming over to us and try to ask me out. It would just ruin the mood for me. Just as I turned my head to look away, I saw from the corner if my eye him turning my way. Great. Now I knew he was going to come over here.
"Arabella!" I heard Aaron yell, I just closed my eyes, willing him away. He approached our table, standing directly in front of me. I slowly turned my head to him, I hear Bucky and Steve grow quite. Aaron spoke.
"I didn't know you were coming out tonight."
"Yeah well that's kind of the point."
"Oh come on don't be like that. All you have to do is go on a date with me, what harm could it do?" I felt Bucky tense beside me, which was strange in itself. Was Aaron asking me out upsetting him? I shook away those thoughts. Why would he even care? He never has before. Even if I wished he did.
"No Aaron I don't know how many time I have to tell you."
"Well you wouldn't if you just said yes instead." He remarked to me with a smirk. I rolled my eyes at his arrogance.
"Go away!" he didn't even listen to me, instead he reached forward to touch my face. I leaned back as far as I could. Just as he was about to make contact, a hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"The lady said to leave, let's do the right thing and leave pal." Aaron stared at Bucky for a moment, gave one last look at me and walked away.
"He really is annoying Aries" Steve complained.
"You're telling me" I scoffed at his remark. I look to my left, and I see Bucky in deep thought. Okay, he was not acting like himself tonight. He would usually give me a smart remark and get on my nerves about this. Then there's the fact he hasn't even approached a girl since we've been here.
"Well I finished my drink boys, how about we head back to the apartment and I can make something to eat?" they both said words of agreement and we were off. As we walked I felt a gaze on my face, but I never turned to meet it. I knew for a fact my brother wasn't the once staring at me, and I really wouldn't know how to react to my other companion eyes. We reached the apartment and I opened the door. Bucky held the door and motioned for us to head inside, Steve went in first, and I walked directly behind him. I felt a hand on the small of my back leading my inside, I almost jumped when I felt Bucky place his hand there. I just keep walking towards the kitchen, all of his actions since he arrived have been confusing. He's never acted like this towards me before, I'm not opposed to his advances. I just don't understand why, all of the sudden, I'm on the receiving end of them. I enter the kitchen and look through our food. Which seemed to be nonexistent, the only thing we actually had to eat was a cake I made yesterday. I decided that the cake was just going to have to be enough, I put 3 pieces on separate plates and brought it out to the living room. I handed each of the boys a plate before sitting down on the long sofa, on the opposite side of Bucky Steve decided to take the recliner chair.
We all talked for a while before my eyes started to close on their own. Shaking myself awake, I looked to the guys, both of them in deep conversation with each other. I thought about the past, how for many years, I wished that Bucky would smile at me a certain way, that one smile that makes the room light up and everyone around him find themselves in a great mood. Or maybe he'd put his arms around me as we walked. I never told him how I felt because I was afraid he was just tell me I was cute, then brush me off completely. I shook my head from these thoughts, I was going to upset anyone tonight with one of my moods. I decided not to interrupt them and got up quietly. Taking the route to my room, I opened the door, changed my clothes and plopped down on the bed falling into a 'what if' dream.