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-Hannahg

Arabella

My talk with Pepper was easy enough, I feel like she knew her answer all along. She just wanted reassurance that she was doing the right thing. When it comes to love I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer, it's all a risk, leave or stay, you just have to hope that in the end you made the decision that you can live with.

I was already back in my room, Bucky had left a note.

Gone with Steve for lunch, I'll see you when I get back.

-Bucky

Smiling at the note, I set it back down. I'm glad that he and Steve are spending more time together, bonding is always good. Hopefully Bucky will have the same mentality for me when Pepper wants me to go with her.

I had no clue what to do now. Pepper was most likely with Tony, Bucky with Steve, and I already ate. I didn't want to lay down or watch T.V either. Suddenly a thought came to my mind.

'I can go to S.H.I.E.L.D. and spar with the agents.'

I hadn't done that in a while, it was a good way to fight off the boredom. I changed into workout clothes, last time I was in regular attire and it really wasn't comfortable. I headed out, phone in hand, to the S.H.I.E.L.D. building. It only took about 15 minutes to get there, and like before, I went straight to director Fury's office. He was sitting same as the first time that I came, paper work in front of him. He looks up at me with a bored look.

"To what do I owe a second pleasure?" He asks, looking back down at the work.

"Same as the first pleasure, and I do mean the exact same." I stated back.

"It went well last time, so you can do it again. I'll get Agent Hill to call the same agents. You can meet them in the same room too." Fury replies blandly, obviously impartial to my want to spar with his agents.

'Well that's better than him not liking it.'

I promptly leave his office and go to the practice room. I set my stuff in a corner and I wait for the agents to get there, taking a seat against the wall that's facing the entrance. It wasn't even five minutes when Taylor, Knight, and Moore walked in, smiles on their face. They place their bags and towels down with my things.

"Hey Arabella, we knew you'd come back." Agent Knight greeted first.

"Of course, with fighting like that I'd have to come back and do it all over." I approach them, and shake their hands, then take a step back basically saying 'let's do this'. Getting the message, Moore stepped forward first, taking the chance to fight me before the other two.

Walls with holes, mats torn up, and a broken light later Knight was fighting me now. This whole session was extremely intense, after we fought all that time the first time around, we knew what the other could bring to the table. I throw a leg to knight, who blocks it successfully, I see Taylor and Moore sparing from the corner of my eye.

Now it was a double fight. I swing my body around knight, twisting his arm and throwing an open hand hit to his chest. He retaliates by swiping my legs and pining me to the ground. All of the sudden Taylor flies over our heads, and Knight turns around to block Moore's kick. I slip out from under him, facing Taylor as he tries to punch me in my side. I kick him to the wall, his elbow creating a hole in the wall. I'm pushed from behind, and I flip back to press my arm against Moore's throat.

She presses her arm to mine. In a split second were both being flipped on our backs? I stand up quickly and see everyone already looking at each other. We're watching, seeing who would be the first to attack.

"Wow."

We all snap our heads to look at the door way. Steve and Bucky are standing there, Steve looking more than impressed. Bucky looking a bit angry. I relax my stance.
"How long have you been standing there?" I question mildly annoyed that we had an audience.

"Long enough to see that this was incredible." Steve retorted.

"Or very dangerous." Bucky added, his posture defensive; examining our damage. I gaze around the destroyed room.

'We might have took it too far.'

"Not dangerous, we wouldn't have really hurt each other." Taylor speaks up. Bucky glares at him, not bothering to respond to his comment.

"It's cool guys, I'm tired anyways I'll see you another time." I call out to the agents, they nod their heads at me, and proceed to gather their things from the corner. Moore comes back and hands me a piece of paper then leaves the room too. I look down at it, it's her number.

'Good now I won't have to go to Fury next time.'

I go and grab my bag, I stand in front of Bucky and Steve. Quickly sending a message to Moore so that she had my number stored on her phone. I look up to them once I was done.

"We can go now."

"Yeah let's go." Steve says, walking in the direction of the exit. Bucky lets me slip my hand into his, he holds on tightly. I can tell he's upset because he hasn't spoke to me yet. We walk in silence until I gather the courage to say something.

"What's wrong Bucky?"

"Nothing." He replies shortly.

"Well obviously something is because you won't even talk to me." He sighs.

"You weren't there when Steve and I came back, and I was worried. Then Steve gets a call from Tony, who says to go pick you up from S.H.I. . I come and see you fighting with not one, but three agents. I don't want you to get hurt Arabella, not when I can stop it." We continue to walk as we speak.

"I get that Bucky, but you have to understand. I'm just like you, I can fight and train and I'll be fine." I insist to him, trying to make him understand that it won't hurt me.

"I know but you don't have to."

"You're not always going to be around to swoop in and save me, I can save myself." He stops in his tracks, pull me by the arm to his chest.

"I just wish I could save you from all the pain that comes with it."

"I wish I could save you too." We stare at each other, a hint of sadness fills the air. This was about so much more than our current situation. It was about all those years ago, and all the pain that we both went through. Nothing could have saved us from that.

"Come on let's catch up to Steve, I'm sure he's wondering where we are." I beckon him, breaking us out of our trance. Steve is waiting outside the building, a smile comes to his face when he sees us.

"Maybe next time you can give your big brother a fight?" He remarks playfully.

"Oh sure, as long as you are ready to get your ass kicked."

Once we made it home, JARVIS let us know that Tony wanted us all upstairs to celebrate.

"He's only celebrating because Pepper came back." I comment on the way up.

"Pepper came back?" Steve asked surprised.

"Yeah she's been back since yesterday."

We stepped out of the elevator and heard music going. Tony was sitting with Pepper, Natasha by Bruce and Clint in a chair next to the couch.

"Hey! Finally, we've been waiting for you!" Tony said loudly. I gave a wave, and sent a knowing look to Pepper. I sat on the love seat, Bucky sitting next to me, tucking me into his side. Listening to everyone talk and laugh, seeing Pepper here with Tony. Watching as Natasha and Clint teased Steve, and even Bruce arguing with Tony. It all felt right, like this was exactly where I was supposed to be. Everyone here was a family, blood or not.

Too bad this feeling couldn't last forever.