Steve POV

Steve knocked on the door to Stella's bedroom, two cups of coffee balanced in his other hand. A few moments passed.

He knocked again.

"Stella?" He called.

No response.

"Stella?" He said a bit louder, rapping again on the door. He glanced at his watch.

9 am. He supposed she could still be sleeping.

He knocked louder.

"Stella!" He called, now getting worried. His knocks became more urgent.

He shouldn't have left her alone. What was he thinking leaving her alone after such a massive shock? What if she'd tried to leave again? What if she'd hurt herself? What if-

The door creaked open revealing Stella clad in a towel, her hair damp from the shower.

"Jesus Steve. Patience much?" She snapped.

"I- uh sorry," He babbled. "I got worried when you didn't answer the door."

"I was in the shower," She said shortly, indicating her still moist body.

"Right. I'm sorry."

"Did you need something?" She asked.

Steve shook his head, clearing his frazzled thoughts.

"Here." He handed her one of the mugs. "It's how you like it," He added.

"Black?" Stella questioned sarcastically. "…Sorry," She amended almost immediately. "Thank you." She took a sip.

"I thought we could take it to go. Maybe go for a walk by the lake?"

"Steve…I appreciate the thought but I'm not really in the mood for a walk."

"Right…Well, maybe we could watch a movie? There's a Harry Potter marathon on today. I know it's your favorite."

"Steve." Stella said exasperatedly. "I know you're trying to be helpful right now. Really, I do. But I need some space. Some time."

She isn't going to get over Bucky in one day. She needs time to mourn the loss of him.

"Of course…I'll bring you up some food later."

"Steve. Please stop. I don't need you to take care of me," Stella said sharply. "I'm a grown woman and I don't need a babysitter."

"I know you can take care of yourself, Stella. But with Bucky gone…I just want you to know you're not alone here." The last thing he wanted was her closing up again, ostracizing herself like she'd been doing these past few weeks. Not to mention, he'd promised Bruce he would keep an eye on her.

"Did you think I would just forget what you did? How you and Tony ganged up on me and imprisoned me? How you shocked me into submission? Did you think I'd just get over that? This is your fault." Her tone rose with every statement. She brandished her wounded wrist at him, red and angry and raw. Her eyes blazed blue.

"Stella…" Steve started, the guilt that had been festering since yesterday rushing to the surface. "God, I wish you could know how sorry I am. This was the last thing I wanted." His gaze found her wrists again, eyed the scarred flesh. "I know I can never make it up to you…"

Stella surveyed him, eyes softening, her anger crumbling.

"I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from…I'm still tired. I didn't sleep well last night." She rubbed her bloodshot eyes.

Silence fell between them.

"…Can I please just have some time to myself? Just a few days to get my head on straight."

"Stella, I don't think being alone right now is really what you need."

"It's what I did when Mom died. Abuela too. It's how I grieve Steve."

Steve wanted to say that she wasn't alone anymore. That she didn't need to do this by herself. That they could grieve for Bucky together. That he was there for her. That the team was there for her.

But who was he to say that after what they'd done to her?

"Please Steve." She begged, her eyes watery.

"Stella…" Steve closed his eyes. It was hard for him to see her like this and not give in.

"Steve, I know you care and that you want to be there for me but honestly…it's hard for me to even look at you right now."

Steve flinched. They stared at each other, Steve's gaze sad and guilt-ridden, Stella's uncomfortable but resolute.

"Fine." He agreed reluctantly.

"Thank you."

Stella closed the door.

She waited until Steve's footsteps had faded after before dropping the coffee onto her desk and curling back up on her bed. She knew capitalizing on Steve's guilt was a cheap shot but she didn't care. She'd gotten what she wanted.

As she watched the rain begin to fall outside her window the tears she'd forced to stop minutes before fell freely again.

She felt like a nerve, raw and exposed and reactive. Her anger had spiked suddenly and harshly at Steve rising up from nowhere. She knew it wasn't his fault, what was wrong with her?

Her thoughts drifted again to Bucky. Was it raining where he was too? How far had he managed to get in just a manner of days? Was he still in New York? Was he still in the country?

Despite Steve's offer she felt more alone than ever. Her emotions threatened to overwhelm her, clouding her mind, making it impossible for her to move.

Maybe some people were meant to be alone.

Steve POV (A Few Days Later)

"You guys haven't seen Stella have you?" Steve asked from his seat at the head of the table at breakfast. Her chair was noticeably vacant once again, as were Bucky's and Tony's. All three had been empty since the day Stella had tried to flee the compound.

"I haven't seen her in a few days." Wanda murmured, staring down into her cereal.

"Neither have I," Natasha added, not meeting his gaze.

Sam and Clint both shrugged. Steve quirked a brow at them. He met Sam's gaze for a moment. The other man quickly shifted his eyes back to his coffee.

"Well, when's the last time you saw her?"

Silence was his only answer.

"I asked you all a question," Steve said, losing his patience. The room collectively flinched.

Natasha was the one to answer.

"She's probably depressed Steve." The redhead had circles under her eyes. It was one of the only times (excluding post battle) that he'd seen her looking less than pristine.

"Has she not left her room?" He asked to no one in particular.

"I haven't seen her," Natasha said.

Steve felt a sinking feeling in his chest.

"Friday, can you have Marta come up here please?" Steve asked.

"Certainly Captain." The AI droned overhead.

Minutes later the woman arrived. She was the personal aide that serviced the residential wing.

"Captain Rogers, you summoned me?"

"Marta, has Stella had any food delivered to her in the past few days?" Occasionally if the team couldn't make scheduled meal times, they would ask the kitchen to send food to their rooms.

"No, she hasn't."

"Nothing?"

"No sir."

"Okay, thank you."

The woman nodded and excused herself.

He and Natasha met each other's gaze. He saw in her eyes the realization he'd also come to.

XXX

"Stella?" Steve knocked on the girl's door. No answer. He tried the handle.

It was unlocked. He nudged it open with his shoulder before striding inside. The room was stiflingly hot. The bed was unmade, the coffee he'd brought her days ago untouched on her desk.

She was curled up in a chair by the window, staring out at the rain. She didn't react as Steve walked up beside her and placed the tray of food he'd brought with him on the coffee table.

It was even warmer over here. He realized suddenly that the heat was coming from her.

She looked terrible, at least for Stella. Her cheeks were sunken, her skin pale, her hair greasy.

He knelt before her.

"Hi," He greeted gently. Her eyes slid to him.

"Hi," Her voice was hoarse from disuse.

"I brought you some food."

The girl's gaze shifted to the tray before returning to the window.

"I'm not hungry."

"Stella, I know you haven't eaten in days."

"How do you know that?"

"I talked to Marta. And no one's seen you in the kitchen or outside your bedroom in days."

"I haven't been feeling well."

"Are you sick?" Steve pressed a hand to her forehead. "Your skin is hot."

She looked and him and smiled sadly.

"I'm not sick Steve."

"…Is it Bucky?" He asked because how could she not miss him? The man's absence felt like a hole in Steve's chest. Every time he thought of him outside the compound, alone Steve wanted to drop everything and go after him.

Steve had wasted no time in starting the search to find his friend. He knew Bucky thought that answers lay outside the compound but it was too dangerous and as far as Steve was concerned Tony and Bruce were some of the greatest minds alive. Bucky would be much more likely to find answers here than anywhere else.

"…That's part of it." Stella said, bringing him out of his musing. Her hand went to her wrist, tracing the skin that had been scarred from the bracelets.

The skin was mottled and irritated. Bruce had offered to heal her wrists in the cradle but Stella had refused.

"Talk to me Stella."

"I don't want to talk."

"If you don't want to talk, then you need to eat." Steve reached for the tray and held it in front of her. She stared at it, then back at Steve.

"Tell me what's going on," He begged. He'd wanted to give her space, like she asked for. To respect her wishes. Give her time to process. It was supposed to help…

He should have been keeping a closer eye on her.

"Bucky's gone," She finally managed.

"I know," Steve said.

"He left me. He promised he would never leave me."

"I know, sweetheart."

"I miss him so much."

"We'll get him back. I promise," Steve swore and he meant it. "But you need to take care of yourself. That means eating regular meals and going to training. You need to keep up your strength." Steve held up the bowl of soup hopefully.

"What if he doesn't want to comeback? What if he hates me?"

"Stella, Bucky loves you." Steve said because he knew it was the truth. He knew it because he knew his friend better than anyone, even after everything Hydra had done to tear them apart. Steve knew it because he loved her and how could God be so cruel to have him and Bucky fall in love with the same woman?

"Then why did he leave me?"

"Bucky has his own issues he needs to work through. He'll be back, Stella."

"…Do you promise?"

Steve hesitated.

"I do."

Silence fell between them. Stella looked down at something silver clutched in her fingers.

"What's that?" Steve asked.

Stella held them out for him. He took them.

"These are Bucky's dog tags. How did you get them?"

"They were on my nightstand when I came back to my room. After he left." She paused. "A little piece of him," She said, more to herself than him.

Steve shook his head, smiling softly.

"You know…these are replicas? They're not real."

Stella furrowed her brows.

"What do you mean?"

"When Bucky fell off the train in '45 he was wearing his dog tags. They were never recovered. I'm guessing Hydra got rid of them. They just would have been another part of Bucky's past to remind him who he was. When he was assumed dead, the army printed another pair and gave them to me. When I went into the ice…these were around my neck, along with my own." Steve trailed off, handing them back to her. "I gave these back to Bucky when he came to live at the compound."

Stella stared at the tags in her palm. She undid the chain, sliding one of the tags off. She pressed it into Steve's hand.

"You should keep one. He was yours as much as he was mine, if not more so."

Steve held her gaze, gripping the tag so tightly it stung his palm.

"Thank you."

He reached under his shirt, pulling his own tags out. He unhooked the chain, sliding one of Bucky's to join his own.

"I'm sorry I was so awful to you the other day. I know you were just trying to help," She said contritely.

"It's alright." Steve smiled at her. "We'll get him back, Stella."

She didn't respond.

"What else is it, sweetheart?" He asked because he knew Stella well enough to know something else was going on here.

"…I don't even know how to face them," She admitted eventually.

"Who, Stella?"

"The team." She rubbed her thumb over her wrist again.

A lightbulb went off in Steve's head, one that also explained the team's odd behavior earlier.

"Stella, the team wanted to keep you here for your own protection."

"I don't belong here Steve. I want to go home."

"You can't yet, honey. Loki is still after you and you need training for your powers remember?" He was talking to her like he would a wounded animal. He treaded lightly. In the state she was in, the wrong word could send her ricocheting back into herself.

She met his gaze, her expression equally resolved and pained. "They imprisoned me."

Steve swallowed. In the past he would have lied for Tony because he'd wanted the man and Stella to have a relationship.

No longer.

"That was Tony. We -all of us, we fought to have him release you, to take those damned bracelets off you."

Stella rubbed her wrists, staring down at them.

"Stella, why won't you let Bruce heal your wrists? They must hurt. I know you're upset with Bruce but…"

"It's not because I'm upset with Bruce."

"Then why?"

"Because I don't want to forget."

"Stella…"

"You can't change my mind on this, Steve."

Steve wanted to argue the subject but now wasn't the time. Her wounds, literally and figuratively, were still too fresh. He dragged his eyes away from the scarred skin and back up to her face. The dark circles were worse than ever.

"Stella…have you slept at all?"

Her look grew guilty.

"I fell asleep for a few hours earlier. I'm sorry, I was just so tired."

"Why are you apologiz-" Steve cut himself off.

Of course.

"I'm afraid to go to sleep. I don't want to hurt someone…But I can't go back to the bracelets Steve, I can't. Please don't make me." She grabbed his hands for emphasis, her eyes wide and pleading.

"Stella, you will never wear those damned bracelets again." Steve promised, gripping her hands back in turn. "I swear it to you."

The look of relief on her face was evident.

"No more keeping yourself awake either. It's not healthy and it's not sustainable. You can start sleeping in my room again until we figure something out."

"Steve, I don't want to be a-"

"Shush. It's no bother."

"…Okay."

"Stella, I know you're used to doing things on your own and I know we hurt you…but I need you to trust me. No more keeping things to yourself if you're hurting. If something's going on with you, I need you to tell me, okay? Not because I'm your mentor, because I'm your friend and I care about you. We'll get through it together, okay?"

He half expected her to argue. She didn't respond for a moment, debating with herself. Steve opened his mouth to say more, but she responded first.

"Okay."

Steve POV (A Few Days Later)

"Try again Stella. You can do it."

Stella lifted her arm and aimed. The blaze she emitted bypassed the target completely. Steve did his best to suppress his agitation.

He'd been spread a little thin lately. Between the search for Bucky, keeping an eye on Stella, and trying to keep the peace among the residents of the compound he was stressed to his limit.

He'd spoken to the team about Stella, impressing that despite the fact they felt guilty about their actions on the day of her attempted jailbreak, they needed to get over it for Stella's sake. She was never going to feel comfortable around them again otherwise.

The team agreed they'd been acting like children and promised to return things to normal as best they could.

Steve had pulled Natasha aside separately.

"Can you please try and make amends with her?"

"How mad is she?"

"She's not mad Nat, she's distraught over Bucky leaving and doesn't know how to be around you guys after what happened. She could use her best friend."

Natasha sighed.

"I know I've been acting like an idiot, I just don't know how to face her. I keep wondering if I should've stayed out of it and let her and Tony hash things out on their own. I feel like I betrayed her."

"I feel the same way, Nat."

Natasha steeled herself.

"Alright. I'll go up now and check on her."

"Thank you."

That was one relationship mended, at least. Five more to go.

"Try again Stella," Steve encouraged, bringing himself back to the present. He rubbed his eyes.

Steve hadn't slept last night. Natasha had given him a list of names, contacts from her time in the red room who might have insight on where Bucky had gone looking for answers. Yesterday he'd finally managed to track one of the leads to a remote area of Pennsylvania. He and Sam went to check it out but by the time they arrived, the house the contact had been inhabiting was abandoned. They'd searched it but come up with nothing. The two had made it back to the compound just before dawn. Just enough time for a quick shower and breakfast before training with Stella.

It was her third day back at training and so far, it wasn't going well.

Her progress had completely reverted. She was unfocused, missing targets and completely off her game.

"One more time Stella," Steve urged.

"What's the use? I'll just miss again."

"Come on Stella, you're better than this. These are the basics."

She'd been miles ahead of this just a week ago. What had happened? Aside from Bucky leaving and her imprisonment, of course.

"Then why can't I hit the target?" She snapped.

Steve felt his patience slip. "You need to focus."

"I am focused."

"You're not even trying."

"I am trying!"

"No, you're not. All you can think about is Bucky," Steve bit out.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Steve knew he'd fucked up. The thing was, he was so sleep deprived he couldn't stop himself from pushing the point further.

Steve saw the flash of betrayal in her eyes before Stella turned on her heel and began striding away.

"We're not done." Steve barked, marching after her.

"Screw you."

Her words pissed Steve off even further. Easily catching up with her, he put his hand on her shoulder.

Stella spun quickly, sweeping her leg under his. Steve, slightly caught off guard, brought her down to the mat with him. Stella angled quickly so that Steve's back hit the ground, herself straddling him with the advantage.

"How did you do that?" Steve managed as he stared up at her, somewhat shocked she'd managed to disarm him.

"Bucky taught me. He told me your legs are your weakness." Stella smirked crookedly. Steve had never seen this expression on her face before. It was almost…sinister in nature. Stella blinked, her eyes turning from brown to tesseract blue. "Want to know what else he taught me, Steve?" She trailed her hand down his chest, settling on his belt. The subtext was implicit.

"That's enough," He snapped, trying not to show how disturbed he was by this display.

"It'll never be enough. He's not here because of you." Her grip transferred to his wrists, tightening, her skin growing hot. Her eyes glowed, the temperature rising around them.

"Stella…" Steve started, ice creeping down his spine. "Ah!" The heat from her hands burned his wrists.

"How does it feel Steve?" She repeated, her voice low, almost unrecognizable. "Does it hurt? Do you feel helpless? Do you feel weak?"

"Stella…what's wrong with you?"

It didn't come out the way he meant it to. He wasn't trying to imply she was sick in the head, but rather that this behavior was nothing like her. She wasn't unkind, certainly not cruel.

Something was wrong.

Stella glared down at him icily. Her eyes reverted back to brown. She pushed herself off him, stalking off in the direction of the exit. Steve didn't stop her.

He lay there on the mat processing what had just happened. The skin around his wrist was still hot, red and irritated but not burned.

A Few Hours Later

Steve knocked before letting himself into Stella's room. She lay across the bed, facing the opposite direction. Steve sat on the edge.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper with you." He started.

"I don't blame you. I can barely summon my power, let alone hit the target. I would give up on me too."

"I would never give up on you, Stella. I know you've been through a lot recently…I shouldn't have been so hard on you."

Steve had chalked up what happened earlier to aftereffects of being shocked by the bracelets. Stella was still recovering. She'd get back to normal eventually. She had to.

He didn't even let himself entertain the alternative.

That what happened in the cells had changed her forever.

Stella took her time in responding.

"Steve… I don't feel like myself." She swallowed, sniffing. Steve reached out and rubbed her back. "I feel moody, like I can't focus... I don't even know what came over me downstairs."

"We'll get him back Stella."

"It's not just Bucky, Steve…" Stella turned so she was facing him. Tears were in her eyes. "I don't feel like me anymore. I used to be different, happy…I can't even remember the last time I felt happiness."

"Stella, maybe you should talk to someone. A professional," Steve suggested, feeling like the girl was showing signs of depression. How could she not after everything she'd been through? "I'm sure Bruce would be happy to-"

"No," Stella said firmly. The last person she wanted to talk to was Bruce. He could never understand. And she still hadn't forgiven him.

"What about someone else? A therapist maybe? I could refer you to mine-"

"No."

"Then how can I make it better Stella? Tell me and if it's within my power, I'll make it happen," Steve said solemnly.

"I don't know Steve. I just know that something doesn't feel right. And it's not just Bucky being gone…it's me." She paused. " And there's so much pressure to master my power and I keep fucking up. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Hey, we all go through rough patches with our abilities. You'll get through this."

"What if I don't?"

"You will." Steve assured her. "And we'll start making time for the things that make you happy, Stella. Whatever you need."

"Steve, I know you don't have the time to go full on babysitter. And you shouldn't have to."

"We'll make the time Stella. If I'm being honest, I could use it myself. We both need time to relax and recharge. I need time to live outside of being an Avenger…You'd honestly be doing me a favor."

"You mean it?"

"I do."

"…I'm sorry about earlier. I don't know what came over me." Stella murmured.

Steve gave her a small smile. "Me too. Even?"

"Even."

Flashback (A Few Months Prior)

"Wow."

Stella looked up from her spot on the floor where she was untangling a large pile of garland.

"Did you do this all yourself?" Wanda asked as she walked inside the rec room, taking in the decorations that had been erected since last night.

"Yep. Woke up at 7 and couldn't get back to sleep." Stella admitted.

"This is amazing." Wanda gushed.

"You don't think it's too much?"

"Of course not. We could use some Christmas cheer. Can I help put up the rest?"

Stella beamed.

"Of course."

Wanda and Stella worked for another hour. Vision wandered in eventually and turned on some Christmas music for them.

Wanda was instructing the android on how to artfully drape more garland from the light fixtures when Stella declared, "I'll be right back."

She knocked on Bucky's bedroom door a few minutes later. He answered almost immediately. The man's hair was wet from the shower and he was clad in jeans and a white t shirt. Stella did her best to refrain from ogling the man.

"Hi."

"Hi." He responded.

"Um, what're you up to?"

"Reading." Bucky answered, holding up a book in his right hand.

"Oh. Gotcha."

He smirked.

"Did you need something?"

"Right. Wanda, Vision, and I are turning the rec room into Winter Wonderland. Came to see if you wanted to join us."

Bucky hesitated.

"There's gonna be hot chocolate…" Stella said, hoping she was sweetening the deal.

"I think I'm gonna pass doll."

"Oh. Okay. Sure. Well, we'll be downstairs if you change your mind."

She returned to the rec room, slightly deflated.

A few minutes later, Stella stood precariously on the edge of a bar stool to hang a string of multicolored lights.

Just a little further…

She was standing on her tiptoes in an attempt to reach the edge of the archway when the stool slipped from beneath her.

Shit. She braced for impact but it never came.

She peeked her eye open to see Bucky staring down at her, his eyebrow raised.

"You always seem to find trouble, don't you?" Bucky's voice was warm, his eyes alight with humor.

Stella smiled.

"You came."

"Glad I did. That would've been a nasty fall."

He placed her back on her feet.

"Thanks."

"Where're Wanda and Vision?" Bucky questioned.

"They went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate."

"Alright, I'm here. Better put me to work." Bucky said. "And why don't you let me handle the heights from now on?"

Stella grinned.

"…Actually, I have a better idea."

Twenty minutes later, the pair found themselves trekking through two feet deep snow.

"Why can't we order a fake tree?" Bucky asked as he trudged ahead, clearing a path in the snow that Stella gratefully followed.

"You're joking right? Fake trees are terrible. You don't even get the pine smell."

"Right. How could I forget the pine smell?" He shot her a smirk.

"Just trust me, okay?"

Stella's eyes settled on a beautiful green fir.

"This one is perfect."

"Are you sure this will fit in the rec room?" Bucky asked, staring up at the massive tree.

"Sure, I'm sure."

"And Stark's not gonna mind that you're hacking down trees on his property?"

"You let me deal with Tony," Stella assured him.

"Alright. You're the boss." Bucky dropped to his knees and began hacking at the stump of the tree with the ax Stella had dug out of the training equipment. Thankfully, chopping time was cut in half due to Bucky's super strength.

"You grab the stump and I'll get this end." Stella instructed, bending to pick up the top of the tree.

"I got it." Bucky effortlessly lifted his end of the tree and began dragging it back the way they came. Stella jogged after him.

"Show off."

He laughed. Stella smiled. She loved Bucky's laugh.

Once they managed to squeeze the tree through one of the doors, they dragged it up to the rec room. Well, Bucky did. Stella directed him around the tight corners. After some struggling, they finally reached the rec room.

Bucky dropped the tree into the stand while Stella tightened the bolts at the base. It was a magnificent tree, the only issue being it was clearly way too tall for the room. The top bent awkwardly against the ceiling before the whole thing collapsed hopelessly onto the rug.

Stella started giggling. Bucky shot her a look. Her giggles evolved until she was outright laughing hysterically. Bucky cracked a smile, shaking his head before joining her.

"I…told you," He managed through gasping laughs.

Stella barely heard him. She had fallen to her knees she was laughing so hard.

Wanda and Vision found them a few moments later.

"What's so funny?" Wanda asked, toting a tray of steaming mugs.

"The tree…it's- it's too tall," Stella wheezed.

"No matter," Vision said calmly. He aimed a jet of light from the mind stone at the trunk of the tree. The bottom half fell away easily as the beam neatly severed it.

"You saved the day, Vis," Stella said. She and Bucky shared an amused look.

The group busied themselves for the next hour decorating the tree. Vision and Wanda focused on the top, Vision hovering and draping the lights while Wanda levitated ornaments to the tallest branches. Bucky and Stella tackled the bottom.

Stella was taking a break and sipping her hot cocoa when Bucky strolled up to her, picking up his mug and slurping it.

"What put you in the Christmas spirit?" He asked.

Stella smiled.

"Christmas was my mom's favorite holiday. She would go all out with the decorations. We'd watch Christmas movies as we put up the tree. Abuela would make coquito. It was my favorite time of the year."

"What's coquito?"

"It's a Puerto Rican Christmas drink similar to eggnog. I'll make some for you guys sometime."

"Do you miss her? Your mom?"

"Every day." She turned to look at him. "What was Christmas like in your house?"

"Pretty much the same. My parents would let my little sister and I decorate the tree. My mom would play a Christmas record. Sometimes Steve would come over to help if his mom was working." Bucky smiled at the memory.

"What was your sister's name?"

"Becky."

"Pretty. Is she…Is she still around?" Stella asked, hoping she was being tactful.

"She died a few years ago. Old age."

Stella didn't say anything for a moment. She couldn't imagine what it was like to see your baby sister outgrow you. To grow old and gray and pass of old age while Bucky remained young.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. She died in her sleep. Best way you can go if you ask me."

"Right." Stella longed to ask if Bucky had reconnected with his sister before she died, but she refrained. It was none of her business really.

"Do you miss them? Your family?"

"Every day." He looked down at her. Stella smiled softly. She scanned the room then looked back up at him.

"What made you change your mind? You didn't seem interested when I first asked you to come down."

Bucky hesitated, holding her gaze. Stella stared back.

"Stella, Bucky…" Wanda called. They glanced at her, their trance broken.

Wanda smirked, pointing above them. Mistletoe was hanging was a hook over their heads.

Stella blushed. Her eyes drifted back to Bucky who she was surprised to see was also sporting bright red cheeks.

She smiled shyly at him. He did too. Stella saw a flash of the young flirt in his face.

"May I?"

Stella swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She nodded. He leaned in.

His breath ghosted across her lips, his hand breezing over her waist. Stella waited with bated breath. She felt his breath tickle her ear. Bucky placed a lingering kiss on her cheek.

As soon as it started, it was over.

Disappointment washed over her.

Wanda whistled. Bucky laughed, ruffling his hair.

The group hung out for a few more hours, eventually turning on A Christmas Story which Bucky and Vision had never seen before.

At the end of the night, they returned to their wing, Wanda and Vision bidding the other two goodnight before disappearing inside their rooms.

"Goodnight doll," Bucky said, preparing to head down the hall.

Stella cleared her throat. He turned back around.

"…You know, you could've kissed my lips. If you wanted to, that is." Things had been warming up between the two of them lately and yet Bucky still hadn't made his move.

Bucky walked back over to her.

"The last time we spoke about you and me…you said you weren't over that guy. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable if you're still getting over him."

Stella smiled. Bucky really was a perfect gentleman.

"Good answer."

"Trust me, it's not like I didn't want to. And…" He cleared his throat. "It didn't feel right."

"Oh."

"What I mean by that is-" Bucky amended quickly. "It didn't seem like the right time. When I kiss you for real, it won't be in front of other people." He paused. "If that's something you wanted."

Stella felt her cheeks heat. What was it about this man that turned her into a fawning school girl?

"You really are quite the romantic."

They stared at each other for another moment.

"Well, goodnight doll. Sorry for not kissing you." He said, his lips upturned.

"Goodnight Bucky."

They turned away from one another. Stella hesitated after opening her door.

"Bucky?"

"Hm?" He turned back to her.

"When that time comes…I'll definitely want it."

He smiled back.

"Glad to hear it."

A/N: Little bit of a Bucky flashback at the end for all you Bucky shippers. Thanks again for reading! Please drop a comment if you're enjoying this story and let me know your thoughts :)