Roswell (S. Rogers & B. Barnes)

52.

Steve looks and feels exhausted, being away from Roswell is taking its toll on him. Not seeing her. Not getting to talk to her. To laugh with her. He still can't get his head around the fact his friends did this to him. To her. He's not sure he can ever forgive them, let alone work with them. How can he trust them to have his back when they didn't trust Roswell and Bucky. He knocks on Bucky's doorway, Bucky lays in his bed, his head rolling to look at Steve.

"Can't sleep either, huh?" Steve asks, repeating Bucky's words from the night before. Bucky lets out a breath and nods. He can't. Ever time he closes his eyes he is just reminded that Roswell isn't here, isn't in the next room with Steve. She feels too far away from them that it hurts him. "I just spoke with Tony" Steve admits. "He got Roswell to agree to see us" Bucky leans up.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, tomorrow, we're going into the city, spend some time with her, dinner, hotel....."

"That's great" Bucky offers as Steve leans up from the door and enters the room, he closes the door behind him.

"Can I?" Steve asks as he motions to the bed, Bucky nods and watches as Steve lays down next to him. "I have some work to do before I can go, but I will join you both there, take her to the park, or the Botanical Garden..." Steve states as he drums his fingers on his chest, Bucky nods from his side. "I want to fix this, I want this to work more than anything, and I will do anything to fix it"

"I know" Bucky assures him. "I know you, I know how much she means to you...." Steve closes his eyes as he fights tears.

"I love her" Steve admits. "I need her in my life because she makes it better, I just...." Steve rubs his fingers into his head and lets out a breath.

"You need to sleep" Bucky scolds him. "Sleep here" Steve looks at him. "Dude, we'll stick up a pillow wall if it'll make you feel better, but you need to sleep, and if you need to know someone is beside you then...." Bucky rolls his eyes slightly. "Then I'll be that someone" Steve smiles at Bucky, grateful, he nods and then settles on his side facing away from Bucky, Bucky grabs a couple of pillows and sets them between the two of them before he does the same as Steve, faces away from him. Both men take deep breaths. Hoping for a better tomorrow. Hoping that things with Roswell are going to work out just fine. They both need to believe that right now.

..............

Roswell has never really been one for shopping, she's not that kind of girl, but she does get a few lore books, a new pair of boots, a couple of scarves, she can never resist a good scarf. She pulls a bag along her arm as she walks towards her jeep parked in the private parking lot, thanks to Tony, it means no press, no public, no one to see her look so exhausted and withdrawn. She misses the two super soldiers. She misses sleeping with warm arms wrapped around her. She misses listening to Bucky narrate the inaccuracies of blood splatter in a movie. She lets out a sigh and then pauses when she sees Bucky leaning against her jeep. He sees her too.

"Hey" Bucky greets leaning up off her jeep, she gives him a small smile. She raises an eyebrow at him, asking him if he is alone. "Steve's on his way" Bucky adds. "He had some files to drop off, but he'll be here" he promises her and then motions to her bags. "Let me help" she allows him to take the bags from her so she can unlock her jeep. She lifts the trunk and Bucky sets the bags inside, his eyes on Roswell though. She looks as tired as Steve did the night before. "Are you okay?" he whispers, she looks at him and shrugs a little.

"Yeah" she answers looking away as she sorts her bags in the trunk. "Tired" she admits sadly, Bucky nods, understands, they are all tired without each other around. Bucky touches the small of her back and she looks at him. Bucky kisses her, his hand threading through her hair.

"I've missed you" he whispers against her lips. "We both have" She clutches to his sleeve and closes her eyes. She's missed them too. God, she's missed them so much. She looks at him, pulling her lower lip between her teeth as she starts to cry. She shakes her head trying to fight it. He pulls her closer and lets her cry into his chest. Her arms wrapping around him, clutching to him. "I know" he whispers sadly. "I know, kitten, but it's going to be okay" he hugs her tightly. "I love you, and Steve loves you, and that's all that should matter," he tells her. "That is all that does matter" he counters himself. He rubs her back, curling his hand into her. He can't imagine how difficult this must have been for her, he at least had Steve, she was dealing with this all alone. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. "Steve suggested we go to the botanicals" Bucky offers. "But I think we need a drink" she nods a little, he kisses her head and pulls back. "I'll text Steve when we find somewhere, 'kay?" he asks her, she nods as he brushes tears from her cheeks.