[oom] I'll see you in the morning time

[nerves_of_ice]

The low hum of the television on the twenty-four hour sports channel continues all through the night, casting its shadows and dim electronic light over the bed, the blankets, and the two of them curled up together there.

For once, there are no nightmares.

It's only once the sun starts making its way above the horizon and the sky outside begins to fade from black to blue that Bucky stirs - and as he realizes where he is and who's with him, a sunshine-bright smile lights his face.

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[nerves_of_ice]

“I was never going to leave you there,” he says, quietly. “Not once I knew.”

[from_the_outside]

"I know."

It's wry as she studies him. "It's why Fury told you I was dead to begin with."

He knew, too. And he wouldn't chance his mission going under because of a few inconvenient emotions.

[nerves_of_ice]

His expression hardens into stone, but the cold anger isn’t directed at her.

”That was a mistake.”

[from_the_outside]

She reaches for his hand, twining their fingers together and pressing the back of his to her chest, right over her heart. "Yeah."

There have been a lot of mistakes over the last six years, many of them hers, but that one...

Yeah. It was the wrong call.

[nerves_of_ice]

He squeezes her fingers and doesn’t let go, keeping his hand right where she’s placed it.

“We’re here,” he says, after a moment. “That’s what matters now.”

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah," she says again, and smiles a little. "Because of you."

His hand in hers is grounding; his knee under her head is solid and reassuring. "You did so good."

[nerves_of_ice]

He looks down at her and smiles. “I’m just glad it didn’t have to come to any of my backup plans.”

[from_the_outside]

That surprises a laugh out of her.

"Why?" she asks, amused. "What were some of your backup plans?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Kidnapping,” he says. “For one.”

[from_the_outside]

"Kidnapping?"

She's laughing again, her hand relaxing a little in his. "You were going to kidnap me?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that,” Bucky tells her, blandly.

[from_the_outside]

The look she gives him is equal parts amusement and dismay.

"I'm glad it didn't," she says, trying not to think too hard about how he might have executed that particular plan.

[nerves_of_ice]

“I am too,” he says, very sincerely. “I’m pretty sure you would have been furious with me.”

[from_the_outside]

"You are absolutely correct," she tells him. "Please don't kidnap me."

Not that he's likely to need to now. Hopefully.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky smiles at her.

“Okay, baby.”

[from_the_outside]

She laughs again, a huff of amused breath, and lets go of his hand so she can finally push herself up to sitting and kiss him sweetly.

"You really don't need to," she tells him, when she pulls away again. "I'd go anywhere with you."

[nerves_of_ice]

He sets his left hand at her hip and curves his right to her cheek as he leans in to kiss her again.

“Right now, there’s nowhere else I want to be,” he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

"Good."

She cradles his face in her hands and kisses him back, soft and lingering. "Me neither."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Sharon,” he whispers, and kisses her again. Nothing more, just her name, soft and warm.

[from_the_outside]

It's still a novelty to hear her name – her real name – and that in combination with the way he says it, like it's his favorite word in the world, makes her melt all over again.

(Maybe she doesn't understand how he can still feel this way about her – God knows she doesn't deserve it – but she never, never wants to give it up again.)

She puts her arms around his neck and kisses him again, then leans her forehead against his.

[nerves_of_ice]

He stays still, breathing with her, both hands at her waist now.

“I don’t want to let go,” he murmurs, a little ruefully.

[from_the_outside]

"You'll probably have to eventually," she tells him, smiling a little, "but not right now."

It's only fair. She doesn't want to let go of him, either. "Still worried I'll disappear if you look away too long?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Not as much as I was,” he says.

Which isn’t the same as ‘no.’

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah, me too."

Which, considering how anxious she'd been about it before, probably wasn't saying much.

(She'd never been a particularly anxious person before, but she supposes spending six years in a place where any slip-up could get her killed has had kind of an adverse effect.)

[nerves_of_ice]

“Come here,” he coaxes. “Bring the laptop with you. We can curl up together and look at stuff.”

There’s not much more unpacking to do anyway, and it can wait.