Disclaimer: Everything belongs to The Marvel Universe except for my characters Sophie and Jeremy – they are my own creations and are not meant to resemble anyone else's OCs in any way.

A/N: Weeelllll that last chapter definitely didn't get much love. Makes me so sad. I want to give a massive thank you to the handful of people who bothered reviewing. Your messages mean so much!

I think there might be some confusion about whether or not Bucky and Sophie will remain just friends or if it will turn into more. Rest assured, there will be more…so much more. And I hope this chapter gives you all a taste. Anyway, we're going to continue with flashbacks for a bit but I think things pick up nicely here. I really loved writing this chapter and I hope you all have fun reading!

As always, please don't forget to leave some feedback. Your reviews really do matter and sometimes influence my ideas when I'm writing. Reviews are my mental fuel and motivation!

Chapter 3: Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

Sophie groaned, her heart pounding and face flushing at the thought.

Maybe I should just try one more time myself…

She walked over to her nightstand and yanked open the bottom drawer. Her pink vibrator stared back at her, taunting her. She snatched it up and crawled under her covers, yanking her lounge shorts down as she went. Closing her eyes she began to run her hands up and down her body. Her palms skimmed under her t-shirt and cupped her braless breasts. Kneading, pinching, pulling, she imagined it was Jeremy. But nothing was happening downstairs. Scrunching her eyes tighter, she resisted, she really did, but the image came unbidden. Cool blue eyes stared down at her, then scruff tickled her neck as hot breath glided across her bare skin. Her breath faltered while strong hands slid down her sides and cupped her ass. There was an immediate jolt in her core and Sophie felt herself grow wet. Swallowing down the guilt, she kept her eyes closed as, she reached down lower, imagining the forbidden. Her fingers skimmed over her slick folds, gently teasing herself while she pretended it was someone else. A small whimper escaped her lips as her thumb rolled over her sensitive numb. At last, she inserted her vibrator and pumped it in and out as it gently hummed. But just as it had three hours prior, it failed her. Sophie felt herself climbing but just couldn't seem to topple over that edge. Giving up, she yanked it out and walked into the bathroom to cleanup, tossing the vibrator into the sink. She sat on the toilet, head in her hands and groaned.

What the fuck are you doing? Thinking about him while…in all the time you've been friends you've never allowed yourself to do that…not consciously anyway. It's got to be because all of this has been on your mind for the past few hours. That's it. That's all it is.

Sophie stood and slowly walked back towards the bedroom.

Maybe I should just go down to the bar. See if I can pick someone up for a one night stand. I mean…how hard can it be?

But her stomach roiled at the thought and she immediately dismissed the idea.

"I just don't think I could do it," Sophie muttered to herself. "It's just not me. That means I really am out of options."

Leaning against the bathroom doorjamb for another moment she finally decided to bite the bullet and just go for it. At this point, her brain just felt too muddled and if she didn't make a decision soon, she'd never go to sleep. Pushing herself upright she walked with determination to the end of her bed and grabbed up the black lacy set that was laid out. It was her favorite and gave her the most confidence, which she would definitely need tonight.

…

~ 2 Years ago ~

The first time she'd slept over at Bucky's place was an accident. It was Saturday in the height of summer and they'd gone on their usual early morning run. Sophie was proud of how much her running had improved in the year and a half that she'd known Bucky. It had become their ritual. Whenever they were both available, they would spend an hour Saturday morning in the park together. It gave them time to talk and connect, or just enjoy each others' company in silence. She'd come home and showered and then spent the rest of the day relaxing. Jeremy had client meetings the entire day but texted her that he'd be done in time for dinner.

He finally messaged her at 7:00pm, asking her to come over. He was too tired to go out but wanted to get takeout and relax with her. Excitedly, Sophie pulled on some cute and comfortable lounge shorts with a lacy bralette and tank. She carefully did her hair and makeup, making sure it was casual but sexy. Doing a quick once-over in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and took a cab down to his apartment. A small smile tugged on her lips as she drove past Bucky's building. A few blocks and turns later, she arrived at Jeremy's apartment. She could tell right away he was in a foul mood. After some poking and prodding Sophie finally dragged it out of him that a multimillion dollar deal had gone south and he'd lost the property.

"I'm sorry. I know you were really working hard to get this place."

"You have no idea how much of my own money I spent on everything. I was sure this place was a lock. This is literally a loss of $5 mil in commission."

"Damn."

"Yeah…" he sighed, putting down his phone. "I think I've lost my appetite. You pick whatever you want."

"You're not going to eat?"

"I don't think so."

She picked up his phone and began scrolling through the options.

"So what'd you end up doing today?"

"Not much," she answered distractedly. "Just went on my run with Bucky this morning, then relaxed. Did some reading, watched some tv. You know."

"Of course you did," Jeremy muttered under his breath.

Sophie made a face and dropped her hands down into her lap. She observed his profile for a moment before deciding to ignore the jab. He was cranky and she knew he liked to take it out on Bucky.

"So I'm working on a new project for the Avengers that I'm really excited about. I started it on Friday and haven't had a chance to tell you about it. There's been all this intel coming in from various countries about this arms dealer. Real shady guy, no one has been able to get any concrete info on him. He's been a massive headache, suppling multiple terrorist groups that have been wreaking havoc lately. But after very slowly and painstakingly sorting through all the bullshit info we've gathered, I think I've found a pattern with him. And I might possibly be able to even nail down a location for him. There's still some research I need to do on Monday to make sure my theory is plausible and my idea is viable, but Bucky thinks I'm really on to something! This could be really big!" Sophie gushed.

Jeremy whipped his head around and glared at her.

"Of course he does. It's always about what Bucky thinks, isn't it? Bucky this and Bucky that. What the hell Sophie?!"

She blanched, the phone slipping from her fingers.

"What are you talking about? I mentioned it to him when we were running this morning. I would have told you first but I haven't seen you since Thursday."

"I know Sophie! But like, you spend more time with him than you do with me!"

"Maybe that's because you work all the time! And when we're together, he actually listens to me! Instead of half listening while scrolling through emails!"

"You know my job is demanding. It's not a typical 9-5. I have to be available for my clients when they need me!"

"I know that. And I don't complain. But you're the one bringing it up."

"No, you don't complain. You just happily fill your time hanging out with a fucking murderer instead."

"That's low," Sophie hissed. "I've explained it to you. You've read the articles. You know it's not like that."

"You can sugarcoat it however you like, Sophie. But whichever way you look at it, he's killed dozens of people. And all these missions he goes on…you really think there are no casualties?"

"Oh so you look at your army buddy, what was his name? Kyle? And you call him a murderer too? Because you know he's shooting at people when he's doing a tour!"

"That is not the same thing!"

"Of course it is! I don't understand why you're so threatened by Bucky! We're just friends!"

"Because men and women can't be just friends like that! It's not a thing! At the end of the day, someone has feelings. Whether they're romantic or purely sexual, it doesn't matter. But the feelings are there!"

"Well they're not there for me Jeremy! How many times do I have to tell you that?!"

"I guess that just leaves Bucky then, doesn't it?"

"You're ridiculous!"

"Oh come on. Are you that naive? It's plain as day when you two are together. The way he looks at you, he's secretly hoping that one day he'll get to fuck your brains out!"

"That's bullshit and you know it! What is wrong with you tonight?!"

"And you know what worst part is? Sometimes I think you're hoping for the same thing."

…

Bucky took a big bite of his sandwich from the little local deli down the street just as his phone pinged. Wiping his hands on a napkin he picked it up to read the message.

Sophie: You home? I really need some company and Nat is out on a mission.

Bucky: Glad to know I'm second choice.

Sophie: Please, not tonight. I can't deal with anymore right now.

Bucky stared at the text. Something was definitely off.

Bucky: Come on over Soph.

The knock on his door came not even ten minutes later. He opened it to find Sophie with red and watery eyes, mascara running down her cheeks.

"Shit. What happened? Are you ok?"

He pulled her into the apartment gently. She began to mumble something, shaking her head back and forth. But the tears started to pour out and she covered her face as heartbreaking sobs wracked her body. Bucky pulled her close, his vibranium hand pressing her head into his chest as his other arm wrapped around her body.

"Shhh," he hummed quietly into her hair. "Everything is going to be fine. I'm right here, ok?"

But she only cried harder. Her palms turning to clutch at the white tee he wore. Bucky pressed his cheek against her crown, both arms wrapped around her small frame now and rocked her gently. They stood like that in his foyer for many long minutes until at last, her cries quieted down. Sophie pulled away from him and stared at his chest, unable to meet his eye.

"I've ruined your shirt," she mumbled, gazing at the tear and mascara stained tee.

Bucky cupped her cheeks, brushing the wetness off her face with his thumbs.

"I don't care about the shirt," he told her.

He tipped her chin up slightly, forcing her to look at him.

"What happened?" He asked gently.

Sophie sniffled and blinked back the fresh tears that were coming up.

"Jeremy broke up with me," she managed to get out meekly.

"What? Why?"

His brows knit in confusion but Sophie couldn't look at him anymore. She pulled her face free and walked further into the apartment. Kicking off her shoes, she sat down on the couch just as his breakfast bar caught her eye.

"I interrupted your dinner," she sighed.

His shoulder lifted in a half-hearted shrug.

"It's just a sandwich."

At the mention of food, Sophie's stomach growled. Her hand flew to cover it as she sniffled once more.

"Sorry. The fight happened before we even ordered any food."

"You want my sandwich?"

"No. I don't want to eat. I want to get drunk and pretend this evening didn't happen."

Bucky frowned. He walked over to his plate and cut off a third of the giant sub. Placing it on a separate dish, he moved to Sophie, handing it to her.

"Here. Eat. I'll make you a Jack and Coke."

She acquiesced and picked up the sandwich nibbling on the end.

"Why don't you find us something trashy to watch," Bucky instructed her.

"Ok," she replied quietly.

…

They sat in silence together, eating, drinking, and only half watching the reality show on the tv. Sophie had had several more sudden crying spells and had already gone through an entire box of tissues. At one point Bucky had forced her to go wash her face, refusing to let her makeup stain his couch. But through it all, he didn't press her to talk. He sat with her, he held her, he rocked her, he let her cry and wail and tear at his shirt. He rubbed her back, whispering to her that she was going to be ok. His heart ached as he watched her go through the pains of the breakup. At last she seemed to be out of tears. Sophie had sunken down on the couch, feet stretched out and head in Bucky's lap. He ran his fingers through her hair, gently rubbing her scalp. They remained quiet together as the couple on the tv sat through a horrible first date.

"Sophie?" Bucky murmured quietly.

"Hm?"

"What was your fight about?"

There was a knot in his chest, something throttling him as his suspicion mounted. She was quiet for so long he thought she wasn't going to answer him. After feeling her swallow hard, Sophie's response finally came.

"You," she said softly. "It was about you."

And there it was. The guilt that hit him was like a punch to the gut. His fingers stilled in her hair.

"It was about our friendship. Isn't it always with Jeremy?"

Bucky sighed and rested his head back on the top of the couch.

"Do you think," he began slowly. "Do you think that maybe he's right?"

He stared blankly at the wall above the TV.

"Are we doing something wrong?"

Sophie sat up and stared at him in shock.

"N-no. Do you think we are?"

Bucky tilted his head slightly, sad eyes scouring over every feature of Sophie's face.

"I don't know. I didn't think so. But maybe we are?"

"No," she said firmly. "We haven't done anything other than be there for each other — friends. Our relationship is no different than mine and Nat's! Or yours and Nat's for that matter!"

He continued to gaze at her and the desolate look on his face tore at Sophie's heart. She gulped, feeling panic rise up like a tide.

"No," she said again, fresh tears coming up unbidden. "Don't do this to me. Don't you break up with me too! Don't you dare leave me too."

Bucky's brows pinched together and he grabbed her up in a fierce hug.

"I'm not. I'm not going to leave you. I just…I just want to make sure I'm not ruining your life," he whispered harshly into her hair. "I've done enough damage to other people. I couldn't live with myself if I knew I was the cause of your pain and suffering too."

"Then stop thinking like this. Don't. Just, don't," she sobbed against him.

"I'm not leaving you," he whispered again. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. Not unless you ask me to."

He pulled Sophie into his lap and cradled her against him, allowing her to pour out all her emotions. She clung to him like a lifeline until, before he knew it, she'd fallen asleep against his chest.

…

Sophie woke up feeling confused and disoriented as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Her head throbbed and her face felt puffy from all of the crying the previous night. She looked around the room and instantly recognized it as Bucky's bedroom. The curtains had been drawn shut across the large, floor to ceiling windows and the apartment was peacefully quiet. She pulled back the simple charcoal comforter and slipped out of bed. After using the bathroom and washing her face, Sophie slowly stepped into the living room. The delicious smell of food cooking wafted to her nose and her stomach growled immediately.

"Morning," Bucky greeted softly. "How'd you sleep?"

"Ok."

Brown, uneasy eyes scanned the apartment and she instantly felt embarrassed at the sight of the throw blanket draped across the couch — a clear indication that Bucky had spent the night there.

"Bucky…I-I'm so sorry to put you out like that. You should have just left me on the couch and taken your own bed."

He flipped a pancake and paused, staring at her. The spatula slowly lowered to the counter.

"Sophie, you didn't put me out. We're friends. You know I'm always here for you. And there's no way in hell I'd let you sleep on the couch. Believe me, I've slept in much more uncomfortable places before. Now come eat, I can hear your stomach growling from here."

She blushed and took a seat at the breakfast bar just as he placed a plate in front of her. It was stacked high with pancakes, eggs and turkey sausage. A steaming mug of coffee appeared beside it.

"There's no way I can eat all of this."

He shrugged as he came around to join her, placing his own plate and cup down.

"I'll eat whatever you don't," he said nonchalantly.

For the first time, Sophie noticed that Bucky was shirtless and a funny thought crossed her mind. In the year and a half that they'd been friends, she'd never seen him like that. This was, in fact, the first time she saw his vibranium arm in its entirety. She had always made sure not to press Bucky about his past, knowing that it was a delicate subject. Slowly, he'd revealed bits of information to her, mostly about his time in the military and with the Howling Commandos. But his arm, his torture, his period as the Winter Soldier, those were things that were rarely brought up. And she was ok with that. Those things haunted him in a way she could never imagine. Sophie knew that when he felt comfortable enough, if he ever wanted to, he'd talk to her about it. Until then, she could wait. He must have sensed her staring because his demeanor changed immediately. He took in a sharp breath through his nose.

"Shit," Bucky muttered under his breath.

Then, instead of sitting, he whirled around in a slight panic. His eyes darted about, searching for his t-shirt.

"I'm just…let me get…where did I…"

"Bucky…Bucky…James."

He paused. He loved the way Sophie would use his given name. It was reserved for moments of sweet endearment or total seriousness where she wanted to capture his undivided attention. It reminded him of his mother and it hit a soft spot in his chest each and every time. She slid off her chair and approached him from behind, placing a palm gently on his metal shoulder.

"Come sit and eat, please."

He turned his head and looked down at her warily.

"It's ok," she said as she grabbed his left hand softly.

Tugging at him, she pulled Bucky back to his seat. He climbed up onto the stool and began to eat slowly, watching Sophie sidelong.

"We've been friends for so long now. Are you really that bothered by me seeing your arm?"

He looked back at his food and chewed thoughtfully.

"I just…I guess I'm still embarrassed by it."

"Why? It's a battle scar like any other. It represents the trauma you went through. What you managed to survive."

Bucky looked back over at Sophie.

"It doesn't freak you out? You don't feel like all of this is disgusting?" He asked motioning at the web of silver scars and raised rough skin where the vibranium met his own flesh.

"May I?" she asked softly as she looked him directly in the eye.

He hesitated for a moment before turning to face her so she could have better access to his left arm. Sophie scooted forward in her chair, their knees locking on either side of one another. Her fingers gently grasped his palm, turning it every which way as she studied the remarkable prosthetic. Bucky practically held his breath as her hand traveled up his arm, tracing the markings and ridges before finally reaching his shoulder. Soft and delicate skin glided over his thickened and rough flesh. She splayed her fingers out over the scarring, pressing her warm hand gently against him as Bucky closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

"No, it doesn't," she finally answered him.

Lifting her gaze up to Bucky's, she stared at his face, but he refused to meet her eye.

"Does it still hurt?" She asked him quietly.

"Sometimes," he admitted softly as his eyes finally drifted to find hers. "Mostly after intense missions."

"I'm sorry."

Her hand dropped away from him but neither one of them moved away from the other.

"Does anything help?"

"Sometimes heat. Sometimes I just have to massage it."

She nodded her head gravely. They continued to sit together as Bucky's tortured gaze dropped down to the floor, his eyes seeing something that Sophie could not. She stood suddenly and wrapped her arms around him, bringing his hung head down to her shoulder.

"It's not fair. After everything that you've been through…that you have to continue to suffer like this."

He pressed his forehead into her body and wrapped his arms around her middle, allowing her to hold him as he gathered himself. He knew she wasn't just referring to his shoulder. Bucky suffered from crippling post-traumatic migraines ever since his torture. Most of the time he could feel them coming on and managed them well with medication, but occasionally he'd have to lay in a dark and quiet room until he could sleep it off. Rarely, he'd be hit with one that was so bad it was completely debilitating. Thankfully, Sophie had only bared witness to his more mild headaches. After everything he'd been through, Bucky wasn't sure he could survive the embarrassment of her witnessing him laid out completely helpless like that. Steve and Sam were the only ones who'd ever had that privilege. Not even Nat had seen him suffer through the worst of it. At last she let go of him and slowly sat back in her own chair.

"Let's eat before it gets cold. I don't want your hard work to go to waste."

They turned back to their plates and ate in comfortable silence. Once they were done, Bucky snatched up her dishes before she could protest and took everything to the sink. As he stood there cleaning up, Sophie sat watching him quietly.

"It's vibranium, isn't it?"

He stopped washing the plate in his hand and looked up at her.

"Yeah, it is."

Then he went back to washing. She desperately wanted to know more, but she knew better than to ask. So she drank her coffee and waited. Bucky put the plate on a drying rack and wiped off his hands. Leaning heavily against the sink, his palms pressing into the ledge and head hanging low, he took a deep breath.

"It wasn't always," he raised his head and looked at Sophie carefully.

Rubbing his forehead he motioned to the couch.

"Come on, I'll tell you about it."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"I know."

Sophie walked over to the couch and sat down, waiting as Bucky retrieved a t-shirt from his bedroom. He sat on the couch beside her and was lost in silent thought for several minutes before he began to speak.

"Remember when I told you about the accident in the Alps? The one where I fell out of the train?"

She nodded but remained silent, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

"Well, when I fell, it tore my arm to shreds. It was so fucking mangled. And there was so much damn blood. I thought that was it," his eyes drifted over to his arm where he flexed his fingers as if feeling the pain of it all over again. He grimaced. "I thought I was going to just die right then and there. I passed out and when I came to, well…I was on Zola's operating table. I'm not going to get into the details but he gave me my first metal arm. The one I used as the Winter Soldier. Then when I was on the run, they found me in Bucharest and the arm got blown off during the fight to bring me in. After my trial, the judge was going to commit me. But Steve…" he paused and chuckled, thinking back to his best friend's unwavering loyalty. "Steve had talked to T'Challa on my behalf and he felt certain that Shuri could find a way to deprogram me. To take out whatever it was that Hydra had put into my brain and make those code words useless. So he talked to the judge and convinced him to allow me to go to Wakanda for treatment instead. They put me back into a cryogenic sleep until Shuri could figure out how to fix me. Six months later, she'd managed it. My mind was my own again. I spent the next year and a half recovering there. When I was set to return to the States, they gave me my new arm as a parting gift. As if they hadn't done enough for me already."

"Wow."

"Yeah," he breathed.

"So it works and feels like your other arm?"

"Almost. Shuri is brilliant. It's pretty seamless with movements and I can feel temperatures and pressure almost exactly the same way. But she was smart enough to leave the pain sensors out," he smiled mirthlessly.

Slowly, Sophie reached out and grasped his vibranium hand, squeezing it lightly. Bucky raised his eyes up to hers and searched her face quietly.

"Jeremy's an idiot," he told her softly.

…

It was a rare summer day where most of the Avengers were in the city instead of out on a mission. So of course, Tony insisted that everyone gather at the Compound for a pool party. Natasha and Sophie lay together side by side on loungers near the shallow end of the pool, sunning themselves and chatting as they observed the others.

"I'm sorry you're hurting, but honestly, Jeremy was a bit of a jerk."

"He was not. I completely get where he's coming from. But I just…it's not fair for him to think he can just tell me who I can and can't be friends with. I have the same relationship with Bucky as I do with you and he never cared about us hanging out. The only difference is that he's a man and you're a woman."

"Ok. I amend my statement. He was an insecure jerk."

"Nat!"

"But…" she shifted, throwing her left arm behind her head and turning her sunglasses covered eyes towards the far edge of the pool. "You can't deny that they are very easy on the eyes."

Sophie followed her gaze. On the opposite side, near the deep end, stood Steve and Bucky in nothing but their swimming trunks. One in red, the other in black, they were laughing about something. Sam tread the water below them, gesticulating with his head.

"Nat, are you serious right now?!"

"What? They may be my friends but I'm still a red-blooded woman. Don't tell me you've never admired Barnes like that?"

"Nope. Never."

"Never? You've really never thought about him in that way?"

"I mean, sure. Maybe the first time we met. But Jeremy and I had just started dating, it wasn't anything really serious yet. And then when we became a thing, that option was definitely off the table. So Bucky and I just became friends. He's one of my best friends now. I'd never want to ruin that."

"Mmmm," Natasha made a sound that was something of a cross between understanding and disbelieving.

Their attention was pulled back to the pool where Steve had cannonballed in. Sam's raucous laughter drifted over to their ears just as Bucky stepped up to the edge and did an impressive dive. He swam nearly the entire length of the olympic-sized lap pool before coming up for air. Emerging close to the two women, he stood in the hip level water and smoothed his long hair back. Sophie couldn't help but watch the rivulets of water glisten as they traveled across his well muscled chest, down to his perfectly tapered waist and disappeared beneath his waistband. Natasha arched a delicate eyebrow at her.

"As I said, you may have had feelings for Jeremy, and you and Bucky may be just friends, but there's no way you're that blind," she smirked.

Sophie rolled her eyes, "And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"I've seen the way you look at Steve when you think no one is watching. Tell me you haven't thought about that."

Natasha pursed her lips and crossed her outstretched legs.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied as she adjusted her dark shades.

…

(Closer - Kaum, General Vibe)

It was nighttime and everything around the pool was still and quiet. Everything except the sound of the water gently stirring as Bucky did his laps. It was a cloudless sky, the stars twinkling overhead and the moon shining down upon him. The rest of the compound was motionless, everyone else asleep. Sophie approached the edge of the pool quietly, lowering herself down to the ledge of the shallow end, her legs dangling in the water. Bucky swam up to her, coming up for air only a foot away. He brushed the hair and water out of his face and stared at her, his fingers gently gliding over the liquid surface.

"Sophie," he breathed out softly.

He could hear the deep breath she took in as she planted her hands on either side of her legs and leaned forward slightly. Drawn to her by an invisible force, he subconsciously moved closer. She parted her knees slightly to give him room as his palms slipped up her things, coming to rest lightly on her waist. Delicate fingers skimmed along skin and vibranium, reaching for Bucky's shoulders. She could feel his fingers flex into her skin. He pulled and Sophie found herself in the cool water with him. Heart pounding, her back pressed into the rough ledge, but she was finding it hard to care. Bucky's left hand remained on her hip as his right reached up to her face. The back of his fingers caressed her cheek, then his thumb ran over her bottom lip.

Sophie's breath hitched. She felt a nervous excitement and anticipation ripple through her. This was Bucky. Bucky. And yet…she couldn't wait for what was to come next. The excitement of it coiled almost painfully in her belly. Until at last, he bent down and claimed her lips. The kiss was slow and sensual, sending jolts of hunger to her core. It felt forbidden and naughty and Sophie couldn't get enough. Her arms wrapped around his waist, willing him to move closer to her. Bucky's tongue darted out, skimming her lip, teeth nipping lightly. Her gasp gave him the entry he was looking for and he deepened the kiss, eliciting a small whimper from her mouth. His large palm cupped the back of her head as he tipped it back slightly, giving him better access. The vibranium arm encircled her waist, drawing her against his damp chest. His body pressed up against her and Sophie couldn't help the small buck of her hips as she felt the evidence of his arousal. The soft moan that left Bucky's lips almost made her come undone. In that moment, she didn't care if he slipped her bikini bottoms off and fucked her right there and then. In fact, that's exactly what she was hoping for.

…

Sophie came awake with a start. She sat upright in her bed, panting and heart thudding. The wetness between her legs was proof of the excitement her unwanted dream had caused. She fell back against her pillow feeling sweaty and unsatisfied. She stared up at the dark ceiling.

"Fucking Natasha."

…

Three weeks later, she and Jeremy were back together.

A/N: Ok so maybe it is going to be a slow burn after all lol! But be patient. We will get there! I promise!

As always, thank you to my reviewers: Alice, blaan_coco, MidnightStar, Thorunnironside, Alpinelover, and Alices Rabbit! Sending lots of love your way!

MidnightStar: Glad you loved it! I had fun with that part. Felt like something Sam would do lol.

Thorunnironside: Thanks! I am finally feeling better. Nat is interesting for me…I wasn't sure how I'd do writing her but so far I'm enjoying doing her character! She's been pretty fun to write and I'm considering adding in some Nat x Steve bits.

Alpinelover: Thank you so much. It was slow going but doing better at last. It's probably going to be a few more chapters before Alpine, sorry!

Alices Rabbit: I agree, it's a sad thought. On the fence is exactly where I want you to be with Jeremy! Haha. And you hit the nail on the head - definitely a friend's before lovers story :)