ã2015 12:39 pm

"You ready for this?" Tony asked, giving you a worried look. He was unsure of himself and his work. He could not say everything would be okay. For once in his life, he didn't know how things would work out.

"I've been ready for a while, Stark. Flip the switch." You replied, your signature smirk plastered on your features.

"I don't know why you want to do this so bad."

You sighed deeply and looked to the ceiling. "Tony, you built a machine with the capability of sending someone to a different time period. Yes. I'm volunteering. And you know damn well why."

He hesitated, his hand resting on the lever. The lever that would send you back. He knew he probably wouldn't ever see you again, never joke around with you, drink with you, laugh. He was sending a woman back to her time period, back where she belonged, before HYDRA kept her and her friends as fossils.

You were waiting for the day Tony's brilliant mind came up with a way to get you home. All you wanted to do was tackle Steve in one of your bear hugs, engulfing his dwarfish frame with yours, and tease Bucky, with the lady-killer smirk he always had written on his lips.

You were thankful when your friends came back. When you found out they were living 70 years later, just as you were. But time passes, mistakes are made. And not accompanying them on that last- fatal- mission was possibly the biggest mistake you've ever made.

"Do it, Stark. Now." You demanded, your eyes welling at the thought of your friend, and the one who got away.

"I'm going to miss you, (Y/N)." He said solemnly.

"I've been gone for a while." You replied. He took in a shaky breath, trying to hide his tears, only because he knew you were right. You weren't (Y/N) since they died. You were a shell without emotion.

"Goodbye." He whispered.

"Don't forget me."

And the lever flipped, sending you home.

ã1936 10:49 am

"Jesus Christ." You muttered, shakily lifting yourself on a weak arm, your head throbbing as the world spun around you. You shut your eyes tightly then opened them, trying to adjust to the light. The blur cleared from your sight, and you almost screamed at what you saw.

It was an old alleyway, the exposed brick towering on each side of you. You were slumped into the corner, your forehead trickling a small line of blood from where you head made contact with the floor. How you ended up there, you could ask Stark. And slap him, while you're at it.

You stood slowly, letting your wobbling knees get used to the weight before stepping forward. You made it to the end of the street when a loud commotion began behind you. You turned, ready to put someone in their place, but stopped when you saw the scene unraveling in front of you.

The small, blonde boy from your past was getting pumbled in an alley.

"I can do this all day." He said, comfirming your suspicions. You ran between the buildings, grabbing the men by their collars and flinging them backwards, away from Steve. You turned to glare at them.

"Might wan' ta watch out there, woman." One of them said.

"Don't need ya gettin' that pretty face all messed up." The other one cooed.

"Get lost, before I shove my foot so far up your a-"

"Woah, woah." A familiar voice called. "What's happening here?"

Your heart flipped at the sight of Bucky, adorned in his nice, black slacks with his crisp white dress shirt, an unbuttoned vest hanging loosely around his shoulders.

"James." You breathed out, not believing the sight in front of you. The man you love, then man that died, the man you saved, he was right in front of you. In front of your eyes, living, breathing... alive.

"(Y/N)? What are you doin' here?" He asked. "You're as bad as Steve over here, causing a ruckus when there was none."

He looked to the two men, who were now wearing fearful looks, obviously having heard of Bucky's past encounters with Steve's attackers.

"Get goin'. There's nothing here for you." Bucky said to the two men, who both responded with a quick 'yes sir', then hurried out of the alley with their heads down.

"Now Steve, what have you gotten yourself into this time?" Bucky asked, helping his friend off the ground. You stood there, staring at them both as if they were dodo birds.

"(Y/N)? You feelin' alright?" Steve asked, clasping onto your shoulder. You shook your head, breaking out of your thoughts.

"I'm more than alright, Steve." You looked to Bucky and smiled. "I'm just swell."

"Alright, then!" Bucky clapped his hands together. "Why don't we go dancin' tonight? I'll save a special one for you, Doll." He proposed, sending a wink your way.

"Lookin' forward to it, James." You replied, smirking once again. Bucky bit his lip, trying to contain himself when you called him by his real name. If you only knew what that did to him.

He threw an arm around your shoulders, then another around Steve's, then walked out of the alley, and all the way back to Steve's apartment, laughing and talking the entire time.

You reached up and clasped you fingers around his hand, which was dangling off your shoulder. He looked away from Steve, who was telling a story, and at you, a genuine smile gracing his lips before he turned away, squeezing your hand slightly as his eyes looked ahead.

When the three of you made it back to Steve's apartment, which was located above both yours and Bucky's homes- Steve always needed someone close- you kicked off your heels and fell onto the couch, a content sigh escaping your lips.

You were finally home.

"What's got you smiling?" Bucky asked, his lips pulling upwards.

"Just in a good mood." You replied nonchalantly.

"Oh yeah?" He said, sitting next to you. He decided to be bold, and sling an arm around your shoulders. "Is it me? It me, I know."

You playfully slapped his chest as he laughed. "Get over yourself, Barnes."

ã1936 6:32 pm

"Come on, sweetheart. One dance?" A drunken, ginger male tried again.

"No, sir. Now hurry and leave before I make you." You threatened. He huffed and mumbled curses upon you as he sulked away, almost spilling his drink on himself. You sighed and tossed your (H/C) curls over your shoulder, playing with the hem of your navy blue dress.

"Now, I'd ask you to dance, but seeing how that last guy was treated, I'm not so sure." An all too familiar voice said behind you. You smiled, instantly knowing who it was.

"Doesn't ever hurt to ask, Bucky." You replied, swirling your straw around your untouched drink.

"Okay then, here goes. (Y/N) (Y/L/N), would you do me the honor of dancing with me?" He asked, holding his breath for your response.

"I'd love to." You said, making Bucky grin wider than you'd ever seen. He held out his hand, which you took, before running out to the middle of the dance floor, smiling wider when he heard your giggles.

When you were in the center, he began to swing you around without hesitation, spinning you under his arm, out and in, twirling you with him, dipping you until your hair grazed the ground. You laughed the entire time, enjoying his childish behavior. He loved every second of it.

The song changed into Frank Sinatra, the smooth voice lulling the child in Bucky, making him pull you close. He wasn't ever good at slow dancing, so he just held you close to him by your waist, his face buried in your hair. You kept your hands on his shoulders, your eyes closed as you swayed softly to the beat.

"You know, James, this feels like a dream. A dream I don't want to wake up from." You said softly.

"I know, Doll, I know." He responded.

"Can we go outside?" You asked. He pulled away and smiled before nodding, pulling you out of the dance floor and into the night air.

"What is it you need, (Y/N)?" He asked, leaning against the wall.

"I need to tell you something while I've got the chance." You said, wringing your hands together.

"Then say it." He said softly.

"James Buchanan Barnes, I think I'm in love with you."

He smiled and stood straight, coming so close that your chests were touching.

"I've been wanting to hear that for a while." He said, his breath hitting your face. He began to lean down, towards your lips, and you were sure he could hear your heart beat. You closed your eyes in anticipation, waiting for his lips to finally meet yours, but was only chilled by the night air rushing over the front of your body.

You opened your eyes, finding nobody there, then looked around to see Bucky strolling down the sidewalk.

"Darn it, James," You called after him, "You'd better get your butt over here, or so help me, God!"

"What was that? I can't hear." He teased.

"Get over here and kiss me before I change my mind."

He chuckled and shook his head turning around and walked very slowly towards you, that stupid smirk on his face, knowing he was teasing you.

He finally reached you, putting his finger under your chin, tilting your face towards his.

"I love you t-"

And then then there was nothing.

ã

You opened your eyes to blinding light.

"What happened?" You asked, yout voice groggy. Your eyes adjusted to see a brunette towering over you.

"Bucky?" You asked.

"No, Tony." He replied. Your heart sank in your chest.

"Why in God's name am I here?!" You yelled, making him jump back.

"We need you here, (Y/N). You changed everything."

"What do you mean?"

"You changed the future. They're okay. They're fine."

"H-How?"

"Well, I guess you can ask him."

You heard the door open behind you, and turned to see the man you loved, his shoulder length hair tied back in a small ponytail, a smirk on his lips. Your eyes instantly began to water.

"Are you just going to sit there?" He teased. You jumped up as soon as he said that, rushing into his arms.

"I love you, James. I love you. I love you. I love you." You cried into his chest.

"Hush, Doll, it's okay." He said, running his hands over your back. You pulled away and connected your lips to his in a long overdue kiss, 70 years late to be exact, and melted into his embrace. His hand reached the back of your neck, pulling you even closer, if possible. You pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"How did you live?" You asked.

"I had something to fight for."

1839 words. Thank you! Hope you enjoyed. I'm excited to see the results!