Chapter 7. Reset

Nothing was said as they went up to the room on the 3rd floor but Ariel could see that Merton was agitated. He did look at her once they were inside the room and started up the console. After he entered his credentials and requested a secure connection he turned to her and put his hand on her arm sympathetically.

"I'm sorry," he said. "It was necessary to get him out of there immediately. Once a month all the resident historians from the surrounding area meet with the council. When it came time for my report I told them how quickly you and Bucky connected. At first Peri was happy then she got a report on a screen that we couldn't see. Someone is manipulating this timeline, seemingly making it go faster than it should have. Apparently, you two shouldn't have been compatible so quickly. When I said you were together at the beach all day and I wouldn't be back until late they ordered me to intervene and get him out of here."

"I don't understand," she said.

"You had your first sexual encounter three days after you met, your second today," he said. "According to Peri's new information it shouldn't have happened for a week at least. I read your diary before the meeting. He shouldn't have declared his love so quickly." He looked apologetically at her. "There's concern you have become too emotionally involved but I told them I encouraged it. What is evident is that someone wants the relationship to flame out and fast. I don't know what they're going to do about it. It's beyond my pay grade."

Peri's face appeared in the holographic display and she looked grim. "Well, this is unexpected," she said. "I wish I could say there's an easy fix but there isn't. Ariel, I know we told you that Barnes relationships or lack of weren't documented in the time period of June 1940 to June 1943. That's not entirely true but it's always been need to know because the sources were second hand. You and Merton weren't in that select group of people who needed to know."

Ariel said nothing at first as it wasn't something that was upsetting to her. As a rookie historian on her first assignment it wasn't unusual not to be told all the details. It was standard procedure to make sure the historian didn't try to change the timeline. The little details, if they happened, were an indicator the timeline was true.

"Have I changed Bucky's timeline?" she asked.

"You may have if Merton didn't kick him out of your bed," said Peri. "You may have to break it off and observe his reactions to it."

"So, that's it?" asked Ariel. "Just as I declare my feelings for him you decide no more dating, no more sex. Why do you need me here then? Merton could do the observations. An android could do it."

Peri and Merton both looked at Ariel with concern. Then Peri's attention was taken by something out of view of the other two and she shook her head. She became distracted by whatever she was looking at.

"What is it, what's wrong?" asked Merton.

"Continuing the relationship may not change Bucky's timeline after all," said Peri, finally. "I'm sorry, I'm getting all sorts of confusing data here. It's going to take some time for the council to wade through it and determine our next course of action. Until then, Merton you play the part of the over protective uncle. Don't let the couple be alone. Ariel, be upset, which I don't think you'll have to fake but do not let Bucky back into your bed. Not yet, anyway."

Both Ariel and Merton verbally gave their compliance and the communication was terminated. They looked at each other for a moment then with an audible sigh Ariel got up and went to her room. She opened the window as it was stifling in her bedroom and put some clothes on. Picking up what was left of the condom and the package she put them in the trash bin then sat at the kitchen table.

"Are you alright?" asked Merton. "I know this is unexpected. It doesn't happen often but he is an enigma. It could be why previous attempts failed. For what it's worth I thought you were making progress just based on what you wrote in your diary."

"Maybe," replied Ariel some despondently, "but she's right. Tell me truthfully, have any historians become so emotionally involved with their subject that they leave the profession and choose to stay with their subject?"

She could see him wrestle with what to tell her but the truth won out. "Yes, it has happened," he said reluctantly. "It's not something the guild is keen on acknowledging as they see it as a failure of the training. But, in my opinion, historians are people, just like the subject of their research. They have emotional needs, human faults, and make mistakes like everyone else. As far as I know none of those who stayed changed what actually happened. However, if you stayed with him, you could theoretically change history. The implications of that would fill a quantum drive with all the computations and repercussions of this one man if his fate was changed."

"I know that," she said quietly. "But I don't care. I want him in my life, Merton, at least until he has to go. I don't know if I want to give him up though."

She began to cry and Merton put his arms around her. He told her to go lie down and he would make something to eat for both of them. While she laid on her bed she heard a sound outside and went to the window. Bucky was on the ground, looking up at the window. He climbed onto the roof of the one story addition and came to the window as she stuck her head out from the curtain. Quickly Ariel shook her head and looked behind her so he could see the open door. He nodded, then took her hand and kissed it as she sat on the edge of the windowsill.

"Did he hurt you?" asked Bucky in a low voice. "Did he hit you?"

A strong emotion rose in her with the realization that Bucky was already so protective of her his first concern was that Merton had abused her. The historian in her made a note to mark it down but the woman in Ariel fell in love a little deeper with the caring man standing on roof outside her window.

"No, he didn't even yell after," she whispered. "He doesn't want me to see you any more."

Bucky shook his head in a display of determination, then grasped Ariel's hands. "That's not his decision. We'll get our own place. I make enough money to support us. We could get married."

He was so earnest and part of Ariel wanted nothing more than to go with Bucky and have him to herself but if she did she would be setting in motion a whole new timeline, one that could change history in so many ways. Considering Bucky's time as the Winter Soldier she could be saving lives. But there are other lives that would be changed and not for the good. That thought rang in her head and she made a decision, the only logical one she could make as a historian, to not interfere in the timeline.

"I think we should step back for a while. I don't know for how long. He's my only living relative and I don't want to lose him." She looked at Bucky, pained at how her words affected him. "It doesn't mean I don't want to be with you because I do but maybe we were moving too fast. I love you, Bucky, but I want to slow down."

His eyes glistened and he swallowed hard then he nodded. "Alright," he said. "You did say at the beginning you wanted to take it slow. I just thought when you let me into your bed that you were okay with moving faster. Maybe I pressured you into saying yes and I'm sorry if I did. I love you, Ariel. But I'll step back until you're ready."

He kissed her with a finality that frightened her then he went to the edge of the addition and jumped off, reminding her of footage of him as the Winter Soldier. For a devastating moment she felt like she had sealed his fate. It took all of her willpower not to climb out the window and ask him to catch her so they could run away together but instead she forced herself to watch as he jumped over the fence and walked away, looking back just once with a tortured expression on his face that wrenched her soul.

Over the next three days they didn't see each other at all and nothing was heard from him or from Steve. She went out on Tuesday and bought a present for Steve, a new product called watercolour pencils. Ariel thought with his art interests it might be something he would like to try. She saw them in an art store when she walked to the grocers for the pie ingredients, still intending to bake it. On the Wednesday, after finishing work at the Library, Ariel came out to Steve waiting for her. He smiled grimly at her as she approached him and they began walking.

"How is he?" she asked. "I thought I would hear something from him but he hasn't called or been around."

"Not good," replied Steve. "Heartbroken, in fact. He thinks it's over between you two."

"I didn't tell him that," protested Ariel. "I just said we should take a step back. He wanted me to run away with him and get married but if I did then I would lose my uncle and he's my only living family. Would you do that as an orphan? Would you turn your back on the only family you have? I couldn't do it."

"No, I guess I wouldn't," he answered solemnly. "Bucky feels things deeply, even though he doesn't always show it. He was crazy for you and it's like he's going cold turkey in getting over you. I told him to give you and your uncle time but he's not the most patient guy."

"What would you do, Steve?" she asked. "How can I fix it? I don't want to lose him."

"Come tomorrow," he replied. "I'll be there about 2 pm. Will your uncle let you come over? It's not like Bucky would do anything your uncle could object to with his parents and sister there." His face coloured slightly. "He told me how your uncle found you."

They talked more about it on the way to the antique store then Steve made his goodbyes. Ariel kissed him on the cheek for being a good friend, making him blush. When she entered the store Merton looked at her with concern.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Bucky's not doing well," said Ariel. "According to Steve he's already thinking that it's over between us. Steve thinks I should come to the party tomorrow to reassure him."

Merton gave an audible sigh. "I checked and there were no messages. Maybe after supper we can call again and get their opinion on it. I certainly don't want him to break it off as that would defeat the purpose of having you here."

After dinner they went up to the communications room and started up the set. Merton entered his credentials and requested a conversation with Peri. About five minutes later she looked at both of them expectantly.

"Well, how did it go?" she asked.

"How did what go?" countered Merton. "We've heard nothing since Sunday."

Peri's face went hard. "What do you mean? I sent a detailed plan of action through the message channels on Monday."

Merton opened the messaging function and looked at Peri. "There's nothing. I received nothing."

Peri swore, an unusual thing for the mostly unflappable 97 year old. "It's gone from my sent folder as well. I don't know what to say. Someone is obviously sabotaging things."

"What did you want us to do?" asked Merton.

"Resume the relationship," she replied. "But slow down the sexual part of it. You need to have a serious talk with the young man, Merton and tell him your concern about being too intense for Ariel. Merton, did any of the other resident historians express any concerns about changes to the assignments they were overseeing before the meeting with the council?"

"No, not exactly," he replied. "There were the historians who were watching over Bucky's future fellow soldiers; two of them in particular, Dum Dum Dugan and Gabriel Jones. The historian watching Dugan said there have been attempts to draw the man into a fight several times, something he's not inclined to do. As for Jones, he has been harassed by the police for instigating unrest when he hasn't been anywhere near the incidents in question. Both men will enlist at the same time as Barnes and they will become friends in boot camp, good friends. But if either of them end up in jail before they enlist they could theoretically be put into different units. They go on to be part of the Howling Commandos and Jones will be one of the men on the train when Bucky falls."

"That's definitely interference," she said. "Let me look into that. I will speak to our security lead and see if they can find out what happened to the files I sent to you. There has to be a digital footprint somewhere. It might also be a good idea to relocate the portal apparatus as it's been in the same location for some time. I am concerned that someone will attempt to meddle with it."

"I'll call a couple of the resident historians tonight and move it tomorrow," said Merton. "I've been feeling that our time in that location is running out as city council have been talking about redeveloping the area with public housing." They disconnected the call and Merton shrugged before facing Ariel. "Call him. Tell him that I will let him see you if he comes to see me first and we set some ground rules. I'll even see him tonight if he's inclined to come over."

Ariel went down to the kitchen where the telephone was. She picked up the receiver and dialled the number, watching the circular dial go back to the starting point after she turned it to the number. There were three rings before Mrs. Barnes answered.

"Mrs. Barnes? It's Ariel. May I speak to Bucky please?" There was a pause as Mrs. Barnes said something. "Yes, ma'am, I'll be there. I'm unsure of my uncle as he promised a friend to run an errand with him. I'll see you tomorrow."

She waited some more before Merton joined her so Ariel told him that she had made his attendance on July 4 unsure, thinking he wanted to talk to Bucky first. He agreed that was the prudent thing to do. Then Bucky came on the line and he could hear the relief in Ariel's voice.

"Bucky? It's good to hear your voice. I was worried about you. Steve said you weren't doing well. I don't want to break up, Bucky." She listened as he said something and he envisioned Bucky trying to let her down easy. "Well, Uncle Merton says he's had a bit of a change of heart. He wants to talk to you first but he's willing to let us continue seeing each other with some conditions. Can you come over now and talk to him while he's willing?" She paused again biting her bottom lip as she listened then nodded her head. "Okay, I'll tell him you'll be here in 15 minutes. Thank you, Bucky."

Merton placed a call to several other historians and they agreed to move the portal apparatus to a new location the following morning. They all agreed it was long past time for the move. Merton would meet them at the portal location with his van. At the appointed time they heard the door to the stairwell open and Bucky's footsteps coming up the stairs. He knocked on the apartment door and Merton answered it to Bucky carrying a bouquet of sweet peas, which looked like they had just been picked from a garden.

"Go put them in water and then wait in your room, Ariel," said Merton, authoritatively. "Bucky and I will talk out here."

She took the flowers from Bucky; their fingers brushing against each other as he handed over the bouquet then he sat on the couch in the parlour area. Ariel put the sweet peas into a vase and filled it up with water then took it to her room and closed the door, her eyes meeting Bucky's before it was closed completely. Merton brought an unopened bottle of scotch and two glasses over, peeling the paper off of the top before pouring some out for each of them.

"Here's to a resolution we can both live with," he said taking a sip.

Bucky did the same. "Before you start I just want to apologize for taking advantage of your hospitality. I talked Ariel into it. She's been a lady since we met and I allowed my desires to overrule my common sense. She has no blame in this. Only I do."

"That's very gallant of you Bucky," replied Merton. "But she basically said the opposite. I'm guessing the truth is somewhere in between." Bucky started to protest and Merton raised his hand. "I don't want to quarrel with you. The fact remains that you each took advantage of my absence and used my home to satisfy your carnal desires. I appreciate that you at least made sure that Ariel wouldn't end up in the family way." Merton took a deep breath and another sip of the scotch. "Since that evening Ariel has been miserable and it's made me realize that her attachment to you is deep. How do you feel about her?"

"I love her," said Bucky. "I know we've barely known each other a week but I think about her constantly and only want to make her happy. In fact, I would like to ask for her hand in marriage, if you're inclined to allow me."

Merton sat back in the arm chair, appearing to give Bucky's offer great thought. "I'm going to say no, at this time," he replied, putting his hand up to keep Bucky from interjecting. "However, I am willing for you to continue to court her, provided you promise as a gentleman that you will not pressure her to bed with you again. I do that so you have the opportunity to get to know each other better without the spectre of intercourse between you. If you truly love her you will abide by my wishes. If, after a time, I am satisfied with your conduct you may make the offer again and I promise to give it the full attention it deserves. Those are my conditions, Bucky. I love my niece. She is the spitting image of my late sister who I doted on when she was a child. Ariel's well being is my responsibility to her late parents to make sure she marries well and for the best of reasons."

He sat back again and watched Bucky carefully, thankful that he had his own recording devices going. The young man took a sip of his scotch then looked at Ariel's bedroom door before offering his hand to Merton.

"I accept," said Bucky. "She is a unique woman and I would be a fool to allow my pride to keep me from doing whatever it takes to win her hand in marriage. I promise to respect her and assure you there will not be a repeat of Sunday evening between us."

Merton shook Bucky's hand then went to Ariel's door and told her that Bucky had accepted his terms for their continued acquaintance. Looking relieved Ariel came out and went straight to Bucky, allowing him to hold her and comfort her. Her uncle watched the pair then picked up his glass and the bottle of scotch.

"I have some ledger work to do," he said. "You may visit here in the parlour while I work in the kitchen. Once your scotch is finished you can say good night to each other."

He turned and went for the books, spreading them out on the table. To make it seem like he was giving them privacy he turned on the radio in the kitchen but kept his recording devices on in the living room. As soon as the music came on Bucky clasped Ariel close to his chest and stroked her hair.

"He's agreed to let us see each other but he doesn't want us going to bed together," he whispered. "I had to agree. I've been miserable without you."

"I know, me too," she whispered back. "Oh Bucky, I thought I lost you."

"Never," he said. "When I've proven myself we'll get married and we'll be together forever."

There was no verbal response from Ariel but she squeezed him around the waist and they stood for a short time before sitting on the couch. Curling her legs up as she sat on the couch Bucky put his arm around her shoulders so she could rest her head in the crook of his arm.

"We'll get married at City Hall, then have a little wedding lunch at my parent's house," he said wistfully. "There are some nice furnished flats near the Library. We can rent one of them and make it our own. Just you and me, and Rosie, can't forget Rosie." The kitten had climbed over Ariel's lap and was now curled up in between them. Bucky scratched her head behind the ears. "I'll take as much overtime as I can at the docks to save up enough for a down payment on a brownstone and then we'll start a family. It will be wonderful, because we'll be together."

As Bucky went on about what they would do together as a couple, then as a family, Ariel listened without commenting, knowing it would and could never happen. As much as she loved him their futures would split apart when he went to England, possibly later if they decided to write to each other. Her assignment would be over and she would return back to 2142 to go through her recordings and diary entries, creating her report and submitting it to the guild for publication. Merton said she had already found some information that wasn't known, yet it seemed like Peri knew more about Bucky than she was letting on. She felt a hand caress her face and she looked up at Bucky.

"Hey, you were somewhere else for a little while," he said. "I asked you a question and you didn't answer."

"Sorry, I was daydreaming," she replied. "What did you ask?"

"How many kids do you want?" he asked, smiling. "I always wished I had another brother and sister so we each had someone we could be close with. What do you think of four kids?"

She smiled softly. "I think four is a good number. We'll have to get someone to look after them while I'm working at the Library."

"You won't have to work," said Bucky. "I'll make enough to support us all. A mother should be home with her children."

Ariel sat up and looked at him with concern. "I didn't go to college to stay at home and just have children. Yes, I want them but I want my career as well. You understand that, don't you?"

He licked his lips with what looked like exasperation. "What kind of man would make his wife work? How are you going to cook the meals, do the laundry and the housework if you work? I mean, I guess we could get a housekeeper but that would need more overtime at the docks and I'd never see you and the children. No, you won't be working, not as my wife, you won't."

Ariel could feel the heat rising in her. There was no pretence in the frustration she was feeling at the moment and she stood up. "Well, I'm glad I found that out now. You don't own me, Bucky. I'm a modern woman, with plans to run a library someday. What if something happened to you? An industrial accident, or maybe the war between England and Germany spills over here and you go off to fight and get killed. Wouldn't you want me to be able to work and put food on the table for your children?"

"Now you're talking nonsense," said Bucky. "I'm a careful worker and I don't take any unnecessary risks. As for a war, where did that come from? The U.S. won't get involved in any else's war. That's just silly."

"Why is it silly?" she asked. "Look at the newspapers. Hitler is invading all over Europe. You think this country is going to sit back and let that happen? They didn't in World War I and Hitler isn't to be trusted. Every treaty he has signed promising not to invade a country he has broken. You don't think he won't do the same with America?"

Merton came out from the kitchen and looked at the couple. This wasn't supposed to happen. "I think you two need to cool down," he said calmly. "Bucky, maybe you should go home. Both of you need to take a step back before you say something you'll regret."

Ariel folded her arms across her chest and shook her head angrily. Bucky stood up, went to the door shaking his head and went down the stairs without a word. She stormed off to her room and slammed the door. Merton took a deep breath. He would look at the recordings before he made any decision on how to deal with what just happened. If he didn't know better he would think Ariel was the one trying to sabotage the relationship.