Arabella

Two days of avoiding and eluding Bucky. I had seen him only at night, even then we didn't bother to hardly talk. It wasn't an 'I'm really pissed at you and don't want to speak' not talking. More an 'I'm still sort of upset and I'm ignoring you because you're ignoring me.' At this point it was just us being stubborn, I mean we hadn't talked enough or been in the same room long enough to get into an argument.

Today was the day of our vacation starting and, not surprisingly, I woke up alone. I'm very sure Bucky's not even going at this point, and I try not to linger too long on that fact as the taxi pulls up to Tony's building. Taking my luggage that I had packed when I couldn't sleep when I was alone, I go into the building. Pepper had planned for us to use his private air plane. Tony insisted the only way to get to the airport was by taking his helicopter.

I take the lift up to Tony's floor, and step out to see everyone already there. By everyone that meant Tony, Pepper, Bruce, Erica, Natasha, and Steve. Even Bucky. Now that kind of hurt that he didn't bother to wake me up or even tell me he was going, but I guess I couldn't expect too much from him considering the stalemate we were stuck in. Giving my bag to Bruce, who came up to me for it as I got off the elevator, I go directly to Erica, and she's on her phone in the corner. As I approach her she mouths

"Caleb." I nod to her in understanding, and wait for her to be done.

"I love you too sweetie, I'll call you when I have the chance. Bye." She hangs up the phone and smiles to me big. "This is going to be so relaxing, I can't wait to get there. Did you tell Taylor that we wouldn't be able to meet with him? I know I'm his partner but I seriously forgot." She rambles on to me, it makes a small smile slip on my face.

"Yeah I told him yesterday when I saw him in the hall." I assure her.

"Awesome, now we won't have to call him."

"Alright we are ready to go!" Pepper calls from the balcony, motioning for us to get on the helicopter. I follow Erica, we are the last to get on, and I sit on the edge by the window. We get into the air, and all of it starts to remind me of when we were both with Hydra. I grip onto Erica's arm instinctively, ready to fight and protect her from anyone who would hurt us. I feel her turn to me, but I keep my eyes in front of me and my body tense.

"Are you okay?" Erica says to me a bit too loudly, making everyone go silent. I loosen my grip on her arm but I don't let go.

"Yeah I'm fine." I say lowly, meaning for just her to hear but sure that everyone heard it from how silent it was. Not saying anything back, she loops her arm through mine to comfort me. It worked a great deal and I let myself relax as the conversations start back up around me.

The ride to the airport was short, and we were boarding the large private plane. I immediately head for the back and to a seat by the window. There were many beige colored chairs and couches to sit on, tables to eat at and places where everyone could see them.

No one sits next to me, I could only assume because of the 'leave me alone' vibe I was giving off. Although Erica doesn't sit with me, she sits across from me in the other row of two seats. The airplane moves as soon as everyone is situated, we didn't have to wait like we would with a commercial airline.

It's thirty minutes into the flight and I'm swiping through my phone, when I hear a voice talk from next to me.

"Okay what's up with you Aries?" Steve questions, concern obvious.

"Nothing Steve, I'm all good." I reply shortly to him.

"No you're not, you're not acting like yourself."

That statement makes my anger swell up. "Not myself? Well who the hell would know who I am at this point anyways, I didn't spend 70 fucking years locked away by Hydra to know what acting like 'myself' even is because it sure as hell isn't the same girl I was all those years ago." I snap at him. His face turns into one of shock, eyes widen.

I sigh loudly, regretting snapping at him like that. "I'm sorry Steve, it's just been rough lately. Ignore what I said, I didn't mean it." He puts an arm around my shoulders.

"I'm not going to ignore it because you did mean it. That's okay, your right. We can't expect you to be the same as you were before, just remember Aries we are all on the same side here." He pats my arm, squeezes me one time and gets up to head back to his seat.

'Fuck me.' I bang my head back against the head rest, leaving it there once I do.

Steve was right, like always. I seem to be taking it out on the people closet to me lately, it wasn't fair to them. I close my eyes, and try to ignore my surrounding.

'Maybe I was the one who shouldn't have come.'

Once we reached the airport, we had to board a boat to get to our own island. That ride wasn't long and soon we were walking onto the island to get to our guesthouses. I was a little nervous because it was set up for Bucky and I to share a room, and I didn't know how he would take it. If anything I'll tell him that I'd go with Erica instead, she wouldn't mind me and she was by herself too.

As we get to the front desk, I stand to the side and wait for pepper to check us in and hand out room keys.

'I might as well talk to Bucky now, especially since we'll be in the same room.'

I look over at him and see that he's talking with Steve, he's smiling and joking with him. A pang of envy hit me. With Steve he looks so natural and happy, and with me it has been high tense. I decide to leave him alone for the time being, letting him have a moment of happiness with Steve.

Pepper steps in front of me a unsure look on her face, she hands me my room card.

"Do you still want to share a room with Bucky? I can see it's awkward between you two right now." She asks in a low voice. I just nod a yes and give her a fake smile, not wanting to make a scene.

"Let me know if you change your mind."

"Okay." I answer as she walks pass me to give Erica her key. I look down at my own key, and see the room number 402, which wasn't really a room but a whole guesthouse. The slip that the card came in had directions to the house.

"We're neighbors, I have 403." Erica announces from her place beside me that she moved to once she got her card.

"Great, let's go find out where we'll be staying for the week." I pick up my bag and motion for her to follow me. Quickly she picks up her luggage, and rolls it next to me. With the directions from the slip, we find our houses fast and separate with excited smiles on each of our faces.

I open the door and enter the house. It had huge glass windows that showed the view of the ocean water that that the house sat on. I peered around seeing a modern kitchen, a bedroom, and a large living room. There was a porch that you could directly dive off of on the other side of the glass doors.

It all had a modern feel to it, it was completely gorgeous. I hear the door open from behind me, and I immediately go ridged knowing who it was. I turn around to face Bucky, and see him setting down his bag on the floor. He stands up and looks at me, his face not telling me anything.

"If you don't want to share a place I get it, I can room with Erica or someone else." I explain to him, really unsure about how he would want to go about it all. Bucky scoffs softly.

"No, you're not going to go and stay with someone else. You're right where you need to be." He declares, making it clear he was bothered I'd think that.

"Alright." I whisper to him, not confident in my own voice to speak loudly. That wasn't the answer I had expected from him. A knock on the door makes Bucky turn away from me. He opens it and I see Erica standing there. A surprised look on her face for Bucky, she was probably expecting me.

"Um hey Bucky." He greets her back with a polite hello.

Moving to stand in the door way, her eyes find me and a look of relief spreads across her face.

"Arabella, I was wondering if you wanted to get a drink with me. If you're busy we can go another time."

"No not busy, we can go now." I insist, really thankful for a reason to see the place without making it weird with Bucky.

'Here I go again, running from my problems.'

My eyes quickly look over Bucky, he didn't look mad or upset. I don't say anything as I step out into the walk way outside.

"Don't stay out too long, I want to talk to you." Bucky calls from behind me. I look at him over my shoulder.

"Fine, I'll be back in an hour." I agree with no hesitation, despite the actual anxiety I was feeling. Following Erica, who had already started walking ahead of me, we make our way to the bar.

'Too bad alcohol doesn't work on me.'