Well look who it is...

A/N: Hello everyone! I have finally published another chapter (on time this time)!

Enjoy!

No one's POV

The voice had been clear as light, and the second it echoed through the room, Charlotte recognised that voice. That one voice that kept her company in the 1940s, the one that was trapped inside its own body for 70 years, excluding screams.

Bucky!

Charlotte's small frame turned around to a rather astonished Bucky staring at her. His cobalt eyes seemed to be squinting at her, as if he didn't believe Charlotte was actually alive and standing.

Charlotte, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with seeing him. She never had her chance to express how much she actually loved him underneath it all, and she wasn't meaning to pass that chance up now. With tears of joy flooding her eyes, she threw herself into an embrace.

Luckily, Bucky caught her. In fact, he had been prepared. The second she threw her arms around his neck, he snaked his arms around her waist, consciously making sure his metal arm wouldn't hurt her small frame. She smelled like flowers and citrus, just like that shampoo the doctors winded up bathing her in. Not that he was watching, of course his 1940s gentlemanly manners got in the way of that.

Right now, Bucky felt like the luckiest man alive. Even though she probably didn't feel the same way about him, she was still willingly hugging him. An ex-assassin. A monster.

He shook those lingering thoughts off, instead focusing on setting Charlotte gently to the ground. The girl undid her arms around his neck, and Bucky politely let go of her. He could see the misty eyes, but decided against it to speak.

"Bucky," she finally breathed after a while. "Is everyone... okay?"

Bucky smiled in return. Silly Charlotte, always asking about everyone else instead of herself. "Everyone's fine," he said. "But you were out for.. so long."

Trying to keep a straight face and choke back tears, Bucky smiled weakly. But Charlotte, as her usual self, wasn't buying it.

"Bucky," she said, her tone a tad warning now, even with a playful edge. "How long was I out for? And are you okay?"

Deciding better than to lie straight to her face (he figured she'd get behind it anyway), he finally said something after what felt like eons.

"You were out for... 5 days. And-"

"5 days?! What did I do? I- I can't remember a thing."

Bucky looked down at her, almost in shock. "Charlotte," he began again. "You had 4 bullets. Two in your leg, one in your stomach and one just above your collarbone."

Charlotte's confused face dropped. "Oh."

In reply, Bucky smirked. "And also, you have lost your mind."

Charlotte looked like she'd hit him. Bucky's face was solemn now, because the events of... that night... kept replaying in his head... over and over again... like he'd lose her and-

"What," Charlotte stumbled over words, feeling sad about his serious face. She knew, although the man before her was often sullen now, he only put his serious face on if it was serious. "What do you m-mean?"

Bucky almost lost it. Not at her, at himself, everything. She let herself get shot for him and she was claiming that wasn't crazy? Wow.

"You- you jumped in front of me! Literally like Steve's shield! Except you don't deflect bullets!"

Bucky felt tears sting his eyes. As much as he hated being weak, she partially deserved to see how much pain she caused him. Charlotte had stumbled back onto the white-sheeted bed now, and he almost felt bad. Suddenly, he rushed next to her, taking a seat and holding her shoulders.

"I almost lost my doll. You."

Charlotte was overwhelmed with emotions. Did he just call her his doll? Did that mean that he- he felt the same way as she did? Indescribable love? Ugh, that sounds awfully gooey.

"I- I'm your d-doll?" Charlotte asked, tempted to yell that she was anything but a doll. But she let him finish.

Bucky cupped her cheeks, his metal one sending electric shivers through Charlotte's body. "Always have. Still are. Always will be."

Then, he kissed her.

The kiss, to say in the least, was... stunning.

Fireworks exploded in Charlotte. Everywhere. It felt like her body was on fire, yet just fell in ice. Like she was running, even though she wasn't moving. Like both day and night wrapped themselves around her. Electricity crackled everywhere.

Now to the realistic side of it.

The kiss was passionate, their lips crushing against each other in the most gentle yet rough way. Charlotte wrapped her arms around Bucky's neck again, to realise that this was her first kiss. Oh, well. At least she had it with someone she was sure she wouldn't regret for a long time.

Their lips parted, and they shared breaths just as they had when they sparred in Stark Tower. It was silent for a while, neither party saying something to ruin this moment.

Suddenly, Bucky cracked a smile. Charlotte, feeling that Bucky's laugh is somehow contagious, also showed one of her rare genuine smiles.

"Um," Charlotte began somewhat awkwardly. "Do you- I- well, I heard something before I passed out..."

Bucky flushed a bit more, if that was even possible. "You did?"

Charlotte tentatively unwrapped her arms around his neck, somewhat reluctantly. "You.. really feel that way?"

Swallowing hard, Bucky knew he had to admit his true feelings sometime, anyway. And he chose it to be this day. Hesitantly, he nodded.

Wow, admitting your feelings is tough. Especially if you love someone.

Charlotte returned a sheepish smile. "That's.. good," she said. "Because I sorta feel that way too."

Satisfied, Bucky crushed Charlotte in another embrace. Bucky almost got up to go, but stopped when a cool, vibranium hand held onto him.

He turned to see Charlotte make the most hilarious puppy eyes she could with her blue eyes. Those eyes always looked like they crackled with harnessed electricity.

"Stay?"

He almost sighed in exasperation. As beautiful and adorable, yet kick-ass Charlotte may be sometimes, she certainly knew how to drive someone crazy for her.

So he stayed.

I see... most of this chapter is fluff, but that's okay. :D

Either way, I'm not sure whether I should leave it open-ended like that, or continue, but it's your choice, so follow, favourite and review if you want another chapter! But don't forget, I might also be starting a new BuckyxO/C series called 'Darker than That' (More details will be released when I actually publish it). Anyway, it's either that this story ends here, or you can tell me to keep going! Thank you for all the support!

Love you all!