Bucky POV

Bucky found Stella the next day in the training facility, already hard at work on one of the punching bags. She segued from a roundhouse kick into an upper body combination, then a stomp kick, followed by another roundhouse.

It could have been any other morning…except she had kissed him last night.

Bucky was still reeling. After months of tension between the two of them, of discovering the strength of his feelings for her, silently burying them, wondering if she could ever feel the same…she'd finally kissed him.

Well, technically she'd asked him to kiss her.

God, she was unpredictable.

"I think he's dead," Bucky joked as he approached. Stella spared him a glance but didn't respond, landing a few more blows.

"You need to turn your body fully when you strike," He noted once he got closer. She shot him a look before aiming a kick which sent the bag swinging. "I see you nailed the spin kick."

Still not saying a word, Stella retreated from the bag and took a seat on a nearby bench. Bucky handed her a small towel from a nearby rack. She took it, wiping the sweat from her face and pointedly not looking at him.

"Listen, I'm sorry about last night."

"You mean when you pushed me away for no reason?"

Bucky sighed. He had been up late thinking about what happened between him and Stella and his hesitancy to move forward with her. He took a seat beside her.

Here goes nothing.

"Stella…I grew up in a different time. I know things move more quickly in the modern world but it's not something I'm used to. I grew up in a time where if you met a girl you liked, you asked her to dinner; maybe a movie and after you walked her home. If you were lucky, you got a goodnight kiss. Where we were headed last night…that's what happened after months of being with someone. After going steady."

Stella cracked a smile. "Going steady?" She laughed. "You're showing your age Barnes."

He smiled back. "I guess I'm not used to how quickly things move in the 21st century." Stella's smile faltered.

"Honestly…I was embarrassed. A guy's never done that to me before; pushed me away when things were…heating up. I was worried you didn't like it…or me like that."

"Of course I like you," Bucky responded almost immediately. "I thought that was obvious."

"Well, last night kinda threw me off."

"I'm sorry," They said simultaneously, then laughed.

"To be honest…that's not all." Bucky continued. "I guess I was a little nervous."

"Nervous?" Stella questioned. Bucky hesitated, before pressing on.

"It's been 70 years since I've been with someone…in that way. I don't even know if I remember how to." Bucky felt a flush settle on his cheeks. It was difficult to talk about, but he liked Stella and wanted to be honest with her. "And I haven't been with someone since before Hydra…I don't want to hurt you."

"Bucky…" Stella's hand covered his own. "You could never hurt me."

"I did once." He reminded her. His fingers lifted and traced the now invisible place where the line of bruises around her neck had been. Stella swallowed.

"That was different."

"How," Bucky's voice was hoarse. The guilt still haunted him.

"You were brainwashed."

"I still have nightmares…I don't know if I'll ever truly be free."

"That's no reason to stop living." She whispered. Their gaze held. "But…we can take things as slow as you want to."

Bucky smirked. "You sure?"

Stella smiled. "Of course." Her fingers ran over his knuckles and she leaned closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in. He returned the hug, burying his face in her hair and inhaling. It smelled of lemons, reminding him of a summer day. He smiled to himself.

"I was worried I was corrupting your virtue or something," Stella murmured guiltily.

Bucky cracked a smile and pulled away.

"It's definitely not that."

"By the way if it's any consolation…" Stella started. "If your kissing is a reflection of one of those things you haven't practiced in a while…I think you're in good shape."

Bucky smirked. "Thanks doll."

XXX

The Quinjet landed silently on the roof of the compound. Its weary passengers disembarked, filing onto the tarmac. Wanda and Vision were waiting for them, smiling broadly.

"Long time no see," Wanda greeted, hugging the passengers of the jet as they debarked.

"Good to see you too," Natasha replied. Her hair was longer and a bit more disheveled than when she had left two months prior. Sam was next. The man looked mostly the same, with the exception of his facial hear which had grown thicker. Clint followed, then Steve. Steve's hair had gotten long and he hadn't shaved since he'd left. A thick beard had grown in.

"You all look a bit worse for wear," Vision remarked.

"It was a rough few months."

"And Loki?"

Nat shook her head.

"He managed to evade us at every turn," Thor replied, exiting the Quinjet.

"Well, hopefully a homecooked meal and a long shower will put you right. Wanda made paprikash."

"Sounds perfect." Natasha glanced around.

"Where's Stella?"

"And Bucky." Steve added. Wanda and Vision shared a look.

"They weren't with us when the alert came in that you were back," Vision stated.

"They're probably in the training facility," Wanda suggested.

"Together?"

Wanda cracked a smile.

"I'd be surprised if they weren't."

Stella POV

Stella dodged a punch that Bucky threw at her and rolled away. He followed, a rubber dagger gripped in his fist. She blocked a few of his strikes before throwing a few punches and a stomp kick at him. Stella limberly dodged him when he tried to grab her, twisting behind the man's back and putting him in a headlock. Bucky grabbed her and threw her forward, over his head. Stella landed on her feet before running at the assassin, picking up the discarded dagger on the way.

They sparred for a few more moments, each blocking whatever the other threw at them. Stella finally managed to get the dagger close to Bucky's neck, but he pinned her hands so they were in a deadlock. His strength began to overpower her, so she locked a leg around his thigh and pulled with all her might. They collapsed in heap. Stella giggled, Bucky's face pressed into the crook of her neck.

"Nice move, doll," He commended, lifting himself so he was staring down at her with a smile.

"That was graceful," Sam quipped. His voice made the pair look up.

"Looks like she's officially lethal," Natasha added.

"Nat!" Stella extricated herself from beneath Bucky and sprung to her feet, running into the woman's arms. She hugged both Sam and Clint, hesitating when she got to Steve.

"Steve," She murmured when she saw him, her breath leaving her body. He looked…different. And not in a bad way. His overgrown hair and new beard made the man look...well for lack of a better term, smoking hot. The worn state of his uniform added to the look.

"Stella." He replied, his expression unreadable.

"Lady Stella," Thor greeted.

"Thor! It's good to see you."

Bucky reached the group. Not one for hugs, he clapped hands with Sam. Steve and he clasped arms.

"How did everything go?" Bucky asked.

"It's a long story. How about we catch up over dinner?"

"Yeah, I'm starved," Clint agreed.

Stella met Bucky's eyes.

"We can finish training later," He said, sensing the question behind her eyes.

Stella grinned at him and walked off with Nat.

"I see you made some progress. It wasn't too boring was it?" Natasha questioned.

"I guess the novelty wore off of living in the compound. Especially after the semester ended," Stella answered.

"I see Bucky kept you company."

"He trained me."

"Looks like you did more than that."

"Nat!" Stella bumped her with her shoulder.

"Come on. You're telling me nothing happened between you and Barnes?" Natasha's gaze was piercing. Stella flushed.

"Well…"

Steve POV

The rest of the team dispersed. Steve lingered, hoping for a word with Bucky. He had missed his friend and had wondered how the man had kept busy…Now it was clear. It seemed Bucky and Stella had spent a lot of time together in Steve's absence. Steve watched Stella stroll away with Nat.

"So how were things while I was gone?" Steve asked. Bucky shrugged. He used his shirt to wipe a sheen of sweat off his face.

"Boring."

"Boring huh? Didn't seem like you were bored."

"Training her helped pass the time. Besides, she asked."

"Is that all that happened between you two?" Steve questioned, hoping he sounded casual. Bucky raised a brow.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you two must've spent a lot of time together," Steve hedged.

"What're you asking Steve? You want to know if we fucked?"

Steve winced.

"That's not what I meant, Buck."

Bucky sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He plopped down on the bench. "Sorry."

"What's going on Buck?" Steve asked, concerned. He took a seat beside his friend.

"It's Stella. She and I…well, we kissed."

Steve's stomach dropped.

"And she wanted to do more," Bucky continued.

Jealousy, hot and fierce, swelled within Steve.

"And I like her. I do. It's just…it's been so long since I've been with someone. I don't even know if I know what to do, anymore…And then there's Stark. Things have been calm between us. Do I really want to rock the boat by messing around with his kid?"

Tony. He definitely wouldn't be happy if he found out what was going down between Bucky and Stella. This Steve was sure of.

"To be honest, you probably weren't wrong to push her away. There's a lot going on with Hydra and Loki right now. It had all of us at our wit's end on the mission, Tony included. It's probably best not to rock the boat by adding Stella to the mix."

Bucky glanced at Steve.

"…Yeah. Maybe you're right."

Stella POV

Stella wasn't sure if things would change once the team returned but she enjoyed the routine she had gotten into so she was down at the training facility at 8am sharp the next morning to meet Bucky for training. The assassin was already there, hard at work on the punching bag.

"Hey," She greeted. He looked back at her. His face was coated in a sheen of sweat, his hair pulled back into a messy bun.

God, he's sexy. A thrill of anticipation rolled down her spine.

"Hey."

"What's on the schedule today coach?"

Bucky eyed her.

"Why don't we start by practicing what we learned this week. Sparring session?"

Stella nodded. She followed Bucky onto the mats and they faced off. Not a moment after she assumed her stance, he lunged at her. She dodged the strikes her threw her way and ducked under his arm. He grabbed at her, but she was too quick and twisted behind him. She aimed a kick at his back but he rolled out of the way before facing her again. This time, she lunged and Bucky was the one on the defensive. She worked her way closer, aiming a hook at his jaw but he blocked her and shoved her back. Stella stumbled back a few steps, surprised by the strength at which he tossed her but it slipped from her mind when he attacked again.

She twisted out of the way but was abruptly yanked back when he grabbed her ponytail and drew her against him, putting her in a chokehold.

She started to protest but his voice in her ear silenced her.

"Your enemy isn't always going to play by the rules. You need to be prepared for that." He released her and they faced off again. Stella was starting to get irritated now.

She came at him again, starting with a stomp kick and then an upper body combination which Bucky easily dodged.

"Don't be so emotional. You're sloppy when you're emotional."

Stella's anger spiked. She lashed out, flipping into a kick which caught the man square in the chest. Bucky stumbled back. She hesitated as he recovered, wondering if she had gone too far.

It was her downfall. Bucky grabbed her. Stella tripped over her own feet as she tried to dodge him. The assassin easily picked her up. She tried to put him in a headlock, wrapping her legs around his head and squeezing to limit blood flow to his head like he'd taught her but he was too strong. Bucky ripped her off and threw her forward. She landed on her back.

"Ow! Bucky, what the hell?" She demanded. "I was waiting for you to recover."

"Mercy will get you killed. You can't afford to be merciful. Your enemies will use your weakness against you."

"Weakness? So it's weak to be merciful?"

"…Yes."

Stella shook her head, disbelieving. Where was the kind, patient teacher she had been training with for the past few months?

"On your feet."

She got slowly to her feet, still recovering from being thrown. Her back throbbed in pain.

"Bucky wait," She said, holding up her hand as the pain radiated up her spine.

"Your enemy isn't going to wait."

"Enough with the enemy crap, I think you hurt my back." A flash of emotion crossed the man's features before quickly being replaced by his mask.

"Don't make excuses."

"It's not an excuse!"

"You're going to get hurt in battle."

"This isn't battle!" Stella was stunned by the ice in his voice. What was going on with him? "We're just training."

"You want to be an Avenger? You're going to have to suck it up."

Stella reeled back as if she had been slapped.

"I never said I wanted to be an Avenger."

"Could've fooled me. How else are you going to get Daddy to love you?"

Stella stared at Bucky, disbelief and hurt in her eyes.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

Bucky said nothing; merely staring back at her, his expression blank. Tears filled Stella's eyes and she turned on her heel, striding away.

"Where're you going?"

"Wherever I can to get the hell away from you."

"We're not done."

"Yes, we are." Her voice cracked.

XXX

After returning to her room Stella sat on the edge of her bed, her back throbbing. She tried laying down, but the pain only increased.

I'd better have Bruce check it out, just in case. She brushed away the tears that were still flowing before heading downstairs to the lab, Bucky's words still echoing in her mind.

What the hell was going on with him? He had never treated her like that during training before and certainly never talked to her that way. What had changed?

Stella glanced at her reflection in the glass walls that encircled the lab. Her eyes were still red rimmed, the skin beneath them flushed and irritated. It was obvious she had been crying but there wasn't much she could do about it. She took an unsteady breath walked inside. To her surprise Steve was there as well, deep in conversation with Bruce.

"Stella," Bruce said, looking up when she entered. Steve glanced at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah," She lied. "I took a fall during training. Mind taking a look?" Bruce nodded and directed her to a nearby examination table. She laid down. Bruce gently lifted the back of her shirt to examine her.

"Jesus. How did this happen?" Steve demanded, looking over Bruce's shoulder.

"…I fell," Stella lied.

"I'll do a quick scan to make sure nothing's broken. Other than that, there isn't much I can do besides prescribe you some pain meds. You'll need to take a break from training."

"Not a problem," She replied, thinking she wouldn't be going back to see Bucky anytime soon regardless of her prognosis. While Bruce walked away to prepare the machine, Steve lingered.

"What really happened?"

"I told you."

"That's not from a fall, Stella."

"Yes it is."

"Don't lie to me." Steve's voice was firm. "I can tell you've been crying. Did Bucky do that?"

Stella hesitated. "…No.

Steve's eyes hardened. He turned on his heel, but Stella grabbed his wrist.

"Don't. Please," She implored.

"He hurt you."

"It was an accident."

"It doesn't look like an accident."

"There are worse ways to hurt someone." Steve's eyes met hers and a heavy silence fell between them. "Please, just stay here."

Steve eyed her, before nodding. Bruce came back and performed the scans. He confirmed nothing was broken, recommending taking it easy for the remainder of the day. Stella nodded and accepted the meds he handed her.

"Do you know where Natasha is?" She asked before she turned to leave the lab.

"She, Wanda and Clint had some business at Avenger's Tower in the city. They won't be back until tomorrow," Bruce answered.

"Oh. Okay." Stella walked back to her room. She felt gross and sticky from training, and defeated and drained emotionally. She was still conflicted about Steve being back, the kiss with Bucky, what happened during training… all she wanted was a hot shower and to go to bed. She wasn't sure how she was going to undress with her back in the state it was in (which was why she had asked for Natasha) but that was a lost cause. Wanda would have been her other choice, but she was gone too.

Stella sighed and walked into her bathroom. She looked in the mirror. She looked terrible. Her eyes were still red, her face puffy from crying, her hair a rat's nest... She picked her brush up off the sink and ripped her hair tie out. She lifted her arm to run her brush through her hair but promptly dropped it into the sink when pain lanced through her.

"Okay, forget that," She said to herself. Hopefully the shower would help loosen and soothe her sore muscles. She wondered how bad it could possibly look. Steve and Bruce had seemed concerned. She turned and lifted the back of her shirt so she could see her skin her in the mirror. The simple movement caused pain to shoot up her spine. The bruise was already bright purplish-blue and covered most of her mid back.

You really did a number on me, Barnes.

Stella tried lifting her shirt over her head, before crying out as the pain worsened.

A knock at her bathroom door startled her.

"Stella?" Steve's voice rang out.

"…Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

…Was she? She didn't respond right away.

"I'm coming in." Steve found her standing there, looking helpless and frustrated. "I figured you'd need help."

Stella gave him a half smile. "Undressing?"

A slight flush settled on his cheeks. "Well…"

"You're not wrong," She conceded. They stared at each other for a moment. "Can you help my brush my hair first? I tried, but…"

Steve hesitated before nodding. She handed him the brush after he came to stand behind her.

Starting from the bottom, Steve slowly began working out the snarls.

"…It's been a while since I've done this for you."

Their eyes met in the mirror.

"I know." Steve had brushed her hair for her a few times back in the city. He'd told her he loved her hair; how long and thick and dark it was. A guy had never brushed her hair for her before, but she liked it.

Having him do it again was odd. Stella watched him in the mirror as he brushed, patiently working out the knots. Her eyes trailed down his profile, along the curve of his jaw. God, she'd missed him while he was gone. Had he missed her? Had he even thought about her at all?

It was the first time they were alone together since before he'd left for the mission. The last time had been in this very room. He'd bared his soul that night. Stella wondered if Steve was thinking about the same thing, but his expression was unreadable.

Steve brushed long after the snarls were gone, before running his fingers through the strands.

"Just making sure." His fingers trailed lightly along her back. "Done."

Stella turned around and faced him.

"Close your eyes," She instructed. This time he smirked.

"You know I've seen you naked before."

"Things were different back then." Steve's face fell.

"Yeah." His eyes slipped shut. Stella guided his fingers to her shirt hem. He lifted it over her head. She turned. He gently felt along her back to her bra clasp and tried unsnapping it, though his fingers kept fumbling. Stella couldn't help a snicker.

"Shut up."

"If you need to open your eyes, you can."

"I don't need to." Finally, the bra came undone and he helped ease the straps down her arms. Silence passed between them.

"Steve?"

"Hmm?" He asked, eyes still firmly pressed shut.

"Open your eyes." He did as instructed. Stella stood before him, naked from the waist up. She had turned toward him and was staring up at him, unabashed. He turned bright red.

"I thought you'd seen it all before," She teased.

"I-well, uh-" She cracked a smile before it fell. She crossed her arms over her chest, blocking her breasts from view.

"You left."

Steve was taken aback by her words. "Yes."

"Why?"

"I thought you said you needed time?" He said it half as a question.

"I didn't mean you had to leave." Stella's voice broke on the last word and tears began pooling in her eyes. "I was all alone. My life had just been turned upside down and you left me… After everything." He knew immediately what she meant. After New York. After Loki. After falling for each other.

"Stella." Guilt filled Steve. He longed to touch her, to hold her but was unsure what to do. He felt frozen. The tears broke free of her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. The floodwaters of her emotional dam had broken. He couldn't help himself. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and tucking her head under his chin.

"I'm so sorry." He hadn't thought of it like that. All he'd wanted was to give her space. Like she asked. To give her time to heal. "Please forgive me," He implored. She didn't respond, merely crying silently into his chest as he held her.

"I can't. I wanted to…But you were gone. You abandoned me, Steve. For two months."

"Stella." His heart was breaking in his chest. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her again. "I know I hurt you. I'm so sorry." She pulled away and looked up at him. Steve cupped her cheek, wiping away her tears.

"You did more than hurt me…I was in love with you, Steve." Steve was shocked. His grip on her shoulders tightened.

"You…you were?" She nodded, her eyes sad. His heart flooded with joy, then deflated.

"Wait…were…as in past tense?" Before Stella could answer a voice called out from her room, making them freeze.

"Stella? You in here?" Bucky appeared in the doorway. "The door was open…" He trailed off. His eyes flicked from Stella's topless form, to Steve hovering beside her, to Steve's hands on her shoulders. Bucky turned bright red when he saw her, which quickly morphed into confusion.

"What's going on…are you okay?" He seemed to have noticed Stella's red eyes and the fresh tear tracks.

"Bucky…" Stella crossed her arms over her chest again, attempting to shield herself. Steve stepped in front of her, blocking her from view in an attempt to maintain her modesty.

"What's going on?" Bucky repeated, stepping into the room. His eyes were narrowed on Steve now.

"Buck, it's not what you think," Steve started.

"Why is she topless? Why are you here?" Bucky had switched into protective mode now, something that irked Steve. Did he think Steve was harassing her? Assaulting her? Steve would NEVER do that to her. The thought made Steve's anger spike. Bucky was his best friend, he should know this about him.

"Bucky, Steve's right. Steve was just helping me undress. Because of my back." The fight went out of Bucky in a huff. Guilt filled his eyes. He stepped closer.

"God, Stella I'm so sorry. How bad it it? I came here to apologize and see if you were okay."

"She's not. Thanks to you." Steve blocked Bucky when he tried to get around him.

"I didn't mean to hurt her." Bucky's eyes flicked to Stella's. "Stella, it was an accident."

"Why are you training her in the first place? She should never have been there." Bucky's anger renewed and he stepped closer to Steve.

"She asked me to train her. Not that I'd expect you to know that since you were gone."

"And you agreed?"

"She's not made of glass, Steve. She deserves to know how to defend herself, especially if Loki is after her."

"Well I'm sure she didn't mean body slam her into the ground." Steve's voice was free of its usual kindness.

"You were the one who said to push her away Rogers!"

"Wait, what?" Stella demanded, but the men ignored her.

"I didn't mean physically assault her! This proves she never should have been there."

"So what? She should just wait for Loki to get the drop on her?"

Stella was tired of the back and forth and was sure the shouting was bound to draw a crowd. She looked down at her discarded shirt.

"I'd never left anything happen to her."

"Well, you're not always around, case in point these last few fucking months!"

Stella cried out in pain. She'd bent to pick up her shirt and pain had seared through her.

"Stella!"

"Are you okay?" Both men moved forward. Steve rounded on Bucky.

"DON'T touch her."

"Get your hands off me Rogers."

"Stop. STOP!" Stella screamed. She stood, not caring that she was giving them a free show. "Get out."

"Stella…"

"Now! Both of you. OUT!" The men had never seen such anger coming from the girl before and scuttled out the bathroom door into her bedroom. The door slammed shut in their faces. Steve stared at the door in despair. He was finally making progress with her, the girl he had longed for and missed terribly for months and she had shut him out again.

Bucky didn't seem to be faring better than him. Steve tried to calm himself.

"What happened during training?"

"I…" Bucky trailed off. He ran his fingers through his hair. "I…lost control." He took a seat on Stella's bed. Steve's anger evaporated in a puff of smoke. This was his best friend.

"Lost control how Buck?" He took a seat beside him.

"I was mad because of our conversation and was trying to do what you said, to put some distance between us…and the Winter Soldier, he saw my moment of weakness. I let him in."

The Winter Soldier. The brutal killing machine Hydra had turned Bucky into.

"I should've been stronger…Shouldn't have let him get the best of me."

"Buck…you were the Winter Soldier for seventy years. Sometimes he's going to get the best of you."

"But I hurt her." Steve could tell Bucky was torn up about having done what he did.

"She'll understand. I know she will. She's Stella."

"…Maybe she shouldn't."

"What?"

"I don't want to keep hurting her. I destroy everything I touch." Bucky was on his feet in a second and out the door not a moment later.

Steve called after him, but the man was already gone.

A/N: What did you guys think of this chapter? Steve's finally back and looks like he's not too happy about what's been going on between Bucky and Stella. Let me know your thoughts in a review! Thanks for reading!