Arabella

We spent most of the night talking and joking with the group, even after we had all finished dinner. It was an agreed decision to go to the beach and see it in florescence, by this time it was night. I was excited to see the beach at night, the night before I hadn't seen much except for the bar and the room.

At the beach once again, Bucky and I took the same position we did the first time, only I was the one asking to sit like this. I have been feeling an overwhelming need to be close to him lately, and I could tell it was the same for him, he always found a reason to touch me or hold me.

I leaned into him as much as I could, turning my body so my ear was on him, listening to him speak through his chest. It was muffled, but sounded louder at the same time. I could hear his heart beating and it was comforting, I felt it could put me to sleep soon. He stroking my hair wasn't helping the cause either, but I wasn't going to tell him to stop.

"Arabella how do you feel about going jet skiing tomorrow?" Erica questioned me from her spot next to Steve, she took the lounge chair next to his, which was only a space away from where I was sitting.

"I'm up for it, is it going to be a group thing?"

"Yep we were just talking about it, you obviously weren't listening." Natasha shot teasingly, sitting on a beach towel closer to the water, directly in the neon sand.

"Sure wasn't, I was paying attention to Bucky's heart beat instead." I reply with no shame, I feel his grip tighten up and a kiss being placed on my head.

"Says the girl who was embarrassed to even admit she was looking for him." She remarks with a smirk.

"Well I'm not embarrassed anymore."

"I can see that. And you Erica, don't think I don't see you snuggling up with Cap." Her attentions goes to Erica, making Erica blush bashfully.

"Oh, I uh, that's not-"She stutters in a high pitched tone.

"I don't see a problem with that." Steve interjects, reaching to Erica and grabbing her hand. Natasha lets out a loud laugh.

"That happened a lot faster than I had anticipated." She says, then turns to look at the water. I chuckle at that, she was right, none of us had thought that Steve would say something that fast.

"Anyways, yes Arabella it's a group thing and will all go first thing in the morning after breakfast." Steve stated, drawing the attention away from what just happened.

"Sure Steve, first thing." I say as I burry my face into Bucky's chest, wanting to feel his warmth. I hear him answer Steve about going too, and I find that I'm drifting of to sleep. His heart beating steady and his breathing even.

The next day we did go jet skiing, we had lost track of time with and before we knew it lunch time came around. Our days seemed to go by fast, this being the third day here already. Now we only had two more days left until our return home.

I know that Bucky and I made up here, but I wasn't sure if it would follow through once we went home. I would try my best to see that it did, but I don't want to disappoint him or myself if they aren't. Deciding not to worry about it for now, I forget the notion and enter the lunch conversation.

"The plan for the rest of the time here is, we go out on a boat and snorkeling tomorrow, then the last day relax and get ready to head home." Pepper told Natasha, who had inquired about our plans. Everyone else listened in too, knowing it was good to have an understanding about what was going on.

"How does the boat thing work? Is someone going to drive it for us, or can we do it on our own?" Tony questioned quickly after her statement.

"Well I think we can get away with doing it on our own."

"Great then I'm driving." He finished, sitting back in his chair and taking a gulp of his drink.

"No one was going to fight with you on that anyways." Steve retorted with annoyance.

"As long as he doesn't kill us." I add half serious. Tony looked at me with a wink.

"I'll try not to, no promises thought just so I won't be liable if something does happen."

"Don't worry Stark some of us won't die that easily." Bucky spoke up finally contributing to the conversation. It was one of the first time that he has, besides a yes or a no answer. Being able to see that he was feeling more comfortable with the people close to us was great.

Although it had taken some time before he even got to this place, if it had been a couple of months ago he wouldn't have even spoken up in anyway, unless he was directly asked a question. With him working at S.H.I.E.L.D., eating with everyone regularly, and going on this was easy to see why he would step out of his comfort zone.

"That is correct, plus we'd be there to save those who do." Tony replied simultaneously taking ahold of Peppers hand. She smiled largely, they too had come a long way from when she left him. Tony kept to his promises to love her, and Pepper wasn't so against him working on projects.

With this trip everything seemed to be falling together. Even Steve had admitted to something with Erica, on a normal day he would've held his tongue. Maybe she meant a lot more than we had originally thought.

I feel Bucky's hand on my back, it was a response to Tony's words. I leaned over to him.

"You know that I don't need saving Bucky." He peered down at me an amused smile on his face.

"I know, doesn't mean that I won't save you." I scoff light heartedly.

'Doesn't mean I'll let you, not if you're the one who'll suffer.'

I kept that thought to myself, I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere that we had. He could try and save me, but I wouldn't need it if he wasn't there or he would be hurt. That would absolutely destroy me more than any physically harm that could get to me.

"I am going to order some shots, I know it won't affect three people at this table, but doesn't mean the rest of us can't enjoy it thoroughly. On the upside we have someone to take care of us." Erica said as she motioned for a waiter. Watching all of the able people get drunk was going to be the highlight of the day.

'This will definitely be a fun night.'