"I said £5, Bucky." I repeat.
"I know. This is only 4." He argues.
"Okay. Kitty, do you want anything?" I offer.
Kitty stands up in the trolley and I gently lift her out. She walks up and down, looking at the shelves. Kitty finds what she wants, but can't reach it, she stands on her tiptoes and raises her hand.
"I got it." Bucky announces.
Kitty glances at him, taking a few steps back towards me. He gets the packet of sweets and hands it to her.
"What have you got, sweetie?" I ask.
"Gummy worms!" She exclaims, grinning.
"You aren't eating the whole packet at once though, this time." I point out.
Kitty grins, and reaches up to take my hand. Bucky takes control of the trolley and we head to the tills.
Reaching home, I place the shopping bags on the kitchen counter and start to unpack. Opening the top cupboards, I push all the glass to the back. I stop when I feel a tug on my jeans and look down to see Kitty trying to get my attention.
"Stevie?"
"Yes?" I quiz.
"Can put this DVD on me please?" She asks, holding up a Disney film.
"Bucky's in the living room, can he do it, I'm kind of busy?" I suggest.
Kitty frowns at that, turning her nose up and then glaring at the floor.
"I'll do something else." She whispers.
Guilt rushes through me as she wanders out of the kitchen. Racing after Kitty, I scoop her into my arms and carry her back into the kitchen. Placing Kitty on the edge of the kitchen counter, I hold her there with my body.
"Bucky is okay, he's not going to hurt you and he loves you very much, Kitty." I point out.
"But he's scary." She mumbles.
"Kitty, everyone has moments when they're scary. You need to trust Bucky." I say, cupping her face in my hands.
"Okay." She gives in.
Picking Kitty up by her waist, I stand her on the ground and hand her the DVD. She skips off down the corridor, but stops in the living room doorway.
"Bucky, can put on please?" She questions.
"Sure." I hear Bucky reply.
When I've finished putting the shopping away, I lounge on the sofa beside Kitty and she leans her head against my side. Bucky sits at the computer desk, typing on his laptop.
Three weeks.
*
"Goodnight, Kitty." I whisper.
Kissing Kitty's forehead, I pull the duvet up to her chin and slide her teddies underneath.
"Night night, Stevie."
Closing the door, I walk downstairs and sit on the sofa next to Bucky. He stays sat on the opposite end, staring at the tv.
"Bucky, you don't have to be so far away." I point out.
Bucky slides down the sofa, sitting right next to me. Lifting my arm, he slips underneath so his head is leaning on my chest.
"How long are you going away for?" He asks. That one question I was dreading the most.
"It doesn't matter." I mutter.
"Ste?" He questions, looking up at me.
Bucky's eyes are wide, begging me to tell him just a few days.
"Three weeks." I whisper.
Bucky lowers his head, looking back at the tv and I can see he's upset. Leaning around him, I brush the long hair out of his face and kiss the top of his head, which is hidden by his hair.
"I know it's a long time, but it will go by quickly." I point out. It won't. It will go by very slowly.
"No it wont." Bucky argues.
Suddenly, Bucky stands up and storms out of the living room. Sighing, I lean forward and place my elbows on my knees, hiding my face in my hands.
I have to do this. I need to go. I need to eliminate the threat so Bucky is safe. But, the way he's reacted makes me not want to go.
After a while, I get bored and feel the need to check on Bucky. Turning off the tv, I make sure all the lights are off and wander upstairs. Pushing open my bedroom door, Bucky is lying on his side and curled into a ball.
Climbing into bed beside him, I hear Bucky sigh.
"Bucky?" I ask into the silent room.
"What?" He questions.
"I'm going to miss you so much." I admit.
He relaxes slightly. Shuffling forward, I wrap my left arm around his waist and pull Bucky's body against mine.
"I'm going to miss you more." Bucky announces.
*
"Bucky? Bucky?" I shout, wandering into the kitchen.
Bucky is stood on the kitchen counter, opening the cupboard and pushing everything out of the way. He mumbles under his breath quickly, unaware I'm in the room.
"What are you doing?"
"Oh. Hey." He mutters, closing the cupboard and looking at me with innocent eyes.
"What's going on?"
"Okay. Don't get mad." He says, raising his hands and jumping off the counter to stand in front of me.
"What did you do?" I question.
"I was playing hide and seek with Kitty, and well, I can't find her." He announces.
"What?!"
"Calm down, Ste, I'll find her, okay?"
"No, no, it's not okay!"
Racing into the living room, I throw all the pillows off the sofa and chuck them back on. I push both sofas out of the way and check behind them. Opening the cabinet, I then look under the table.
"Bucky, how could you loose her?" I shout.
"We'll find her, stop panicking!" he screams back.
"What's going on?" A small voice asks, my heart leaps into my throat.
Kitty is stood in the doorway, a confused look on her face and her head tilted to one side. She's holding her Captain America teddy and smiling.
Racing over to Kitty, I scoop her into my arms and spin her around, holding her close to me. Burying my face in her neck, I sigh in relief.
"You're safe." I announce.
"Did I win hide and seek?" She asks.
"No because you scared us all." I argue.
Kitty giggles and I can't help but laugh too. I was panicking for no reason. She's alright. Bucky is alright.
"I win!" Kitty shouts.
Placing her on the floor, she races off and up the stairs. I turn back around to face Bucky, there's a serious look on his face.
"You need to tell her." Bucky points out.
"Do I have to?" I question.
"Yes, Ste." He argues.
"Fine. I know." I mumble.
Walking out of the living room, I wander up the stairs. Pushing open the bedroom door, Kitty is sat on the floor holding her Captain America teddy and talking to herself. She's wearing a bright pink dress, with a tutu skirt attached to it. Kitty looks up when I step into her room and smiles.
"Stevie, come play?" She questions.
"Actually, sweetie, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Lifting Kitty up, I place her on the edge of her bed. Kneeling down in front of Kitty, I lay my hands on her knees and she looks at me with a confused twinkle in her eyes.
"What's it?" She quizzes.
"I'm going away for a while, not for long, but a while." I announce.
"Where?" She whispers.
"Another country."
"Why?"
"I need to save someone." I answer.
"Away like holiday?" She questions.
"Yes. Like a holiday."
"I stay with Nat?"
"No. You'll stay with Bucky." I correct.
Kitty looks down at her feet, refusing to make eye contact with me. Placing a finger under her chin, I lift her head so she has to look at me.
"Bucky loves you. He wants to look after you. Please, Kitty, don't make this harder for me then it already is." I beg.
Kitty nods slowly.
"Okay. I stay with Bucky." She mutters.
"I know it's difficult, darling, but I have to go away and there's nothing that can change that." I point out.
Kitty nods again. She leans forward and slips her arms around my neck, resting her chest against mine.
"Love you Stevie, will miss you." She whispers.
"I love you too Kitty and I will miss you so much more." I admit, kissing her cheek and hugging her tighter. "I'm going to miss you and Bucky more then you think."
