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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
till the end of the line
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BUCKY'S NERVES WERE evident. He could barely keep his eyes off the pavement, he hadn't said a word the whole walk. And he was so lost in his thoughts, he had almost walked into oncoming traffic. Diana almost had a heart attack at that point. After that, she had become his seeing eye girlfriend, making sure he didn't walk into people and scare any more taxi drivers. It was clear his mind was still trying to figure out what he wanted to say.

"Are you sure you don't want me with you?" Diana asked, holding onto his hand a little tighter as they approached Yori's building, "I can tell you're freaking out, at least let me walk you to his door."

Bucky took a shaky breath when they stood at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the front door.

"Okay, but talking to him is something I have to do alone," Bucky finally looked at her for the first time since they left her apartment.

"I get that, I also want you to know that I'm gonna be here to support you through everything, you got this," Diana reached up and held his face in her hand. She got on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, "come on."

The two had walked together all the way up to Yori's floor, but from observing Bucky, Diana could tell he was ready when the two metal doors opened.

"You're ready," she spoke softly, Bucky looked down at Diana, a smile weakly making its way on her face, "you got this, I'll see you."

A quick hug was all they got before Bucky quickly had to get out of the elevator before it closed. Diana made her way down to the first floor when're she would wait in the small lobby area that the building had. There was a small seating area and magazines everywhere. Diana picked the first interesting one she could find and took a seat and waited. A particularly interesting article had her unaware of the man standing adjacent to her from the coffee table in front of her.

That quickly changed when her ears perked at the sound of his leg hitting the table. Diana peered over the magazine to see him, eyes wide as if she had grown three heads and was reciting Latin.

"You're Diana Renfrey," he stumbled out, realizing that she noticed his staring.

"That I am," she responded politely before looking back down at the article, skimming to pick up where she left off.

"So that was the Winter Soldier that I saw with Yuri a while ago," He muttered. Diana lowered the magazine again, assessing him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to remember if Bucky ever described him before, "oh, yeah, my name is Unique."

"I'm sure it is, what is your unique name?"

"No, like my name is Unique."

"Oh, well, nice to meet you."

"Uh, thank you, for um, everything you've done," He tried getting out.

"No need to thank me, Unique, it's my obligation," Diana smiled softly,

"Oh, uh, okay," Unique looked up, his face flashing in recognition, "oh, Mr. Barnes, nice to see you again."

Diana straightened up, deciding that she was going to keep the magazine. She really wanted to finish that article. Bucky had left the elevator and was heading over to her, a solemn look in his face. She stood up, a sympathetic look on her face before looking back at Unique.

"It was nice to meet you Unique, but we have to go, Bucky only had to um, drop something off for Yori," Diana shrugged, holding out her hand for him to shake.

Unique nodded with wide eyes as he slowly accepted her hand.

"Uh, you too," Unique said as he let his hand fall to his side when he watched the couple walk away, "have a good night!"

Diana sent a wave a small chuckle to herself as she looked up at Bucky. He clearly wasn't happy, but he still looked relieved. The walk home wasn't too long, and the streets weren't as crowded as they were before.

Bucky was quiet, but he still was consciously holding Diana close to him. When they approached her front door, he unlocked and opened it for her. Her blush didn't go unnoticed by her boyfriend who gave her a smile as she walked in.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she walked into her kitchen, getting the kettle started to make him some tea.

"It sucked, seeing Yori's face when I told him," Bucky admitted from the doorway to the kitchen, "but I feel lighter, Yori's upset right now, but he had been wanting to know what happened."

Diana nodded as she got two mugs ready for when the kettle would eventually start its whistle.

"I'm glad you're feeling a bit better, I could tell that his son was eating at you for a while," Diana stepped forward to him, taking his metal in both her hands. Her thumbs traced the patterns on his hand.

"I don't understand why you love this arm so much," Bucky whispered, making her look up, "I remember how you used to look at the old one."

Diana felt her face grow warm but she shrugged, a smirk on her face as it began to grow hotter. She had something inappropriate to say.

"You don't want to know why I love it so much," She joked, making Bucky scrunch his nose while he chuckled, disgust and amusement warred within him and it was evident on his face.

"Oh, Diana, come on," Bucky pulled his hand away and wrapped his human arm around her, his laughter continued to fill the room, "I thought I was bad but you have some serious issues."

Diana let out a laugh of her own as she wrapped her arms around his muscular torso.

"Yeah," she pressed the side of her head into his chest, "but you make it better."

She felt the warm compress of his lips on her head and she shut her eyes, basking in the feeling of being held by him. She was upright on her feet but she could have easily fallen asleep right there.

"You're staying the night, right?" Diana felt herself asking as she remembered what time it was.

"Should I just..." Bucky trailed off, when Diana gave him a moment to finish the question, and he didn't, she pulled her head to look back up at him, she could hear the rest of the question, but he never actually said it.

"Yeah," Diana swallowed hard, her eyes wide, her heart racing, "yeah, I mean, we've known each other for years, I know you're not some murderer who wants to wear my skin, and I haven't lived alone since 2012, so it's been hard adjusting even with Nat."

Bucky nodded. Diana grew quiet, she didn't want her words to make it seem like him moving in would be some sort of business transaction, she almost mumbled her next few words, but she worked up enough nerve to get it to a whisper.

"And I haven't had a good night's sleep except for when we stayed with Sam and his sister," she never broke eye contact when she told him this, she wanted him to know.

The screaming tea kettle would have to scream a little longer. It seems when Bucky pressed his lips to Diana's, being in his arms really felt like home.

• • •

DIANA'S STUFFED DUFFEL bag slapped the small of her waist with each step they took. They were on their way to the Anderson's where everyone would take a flight down to Louisiana where Sarah and Sam waited. This meant they had to pass the restaurant that Bucky and Yori frequented. Diana wondered how this would affect her boyfriend as they approached the window of the restaurant.

Diana felt Bucky pause to look in the glass and she looked with him. A woman sat with Yori, she was helping him pour a soda into his glass, Bucky mentioned he had developed Parkinson's and it was harder to eat for him sometimes. The woman felt eyes on her and she looked up to lock eyes with Bucky and then Diana. Something flashed on the woman's face before she pulled away from Yori and began to do something else, it was clear that she worked there and must know Yori due to him and Bucky being regulars.

Bucky didn't want to linger, Diana could tell. They didn't enter the building and they didn't hang around the restaurant. They had a flight to catch soon anyway.

It felt natural to hold onto his arm as they walked, and it helped Diana get a small sense of his emotions. He was relaxed, unlike before, maybe he let something inside him go when they paused at the restaurant, it didn't matter. Bucky would tell her when he's ready.

The walk felt shorter after that pit stop, soon enough, the couple was at the Anderson's doorstep, they still were all living in Judith's home, which wasn't ideal since they had to turn the office into a bedroom for Charlie. Years ago, Diana would still be knocking, but that formality didn't even cross her mind as she entered the home.

"We're here!" Diana announced.

"We've almost finished packing!" Tonya announced from her room, it was where Judith slept, and it was where Diana slept when she occupied the house, "Charles just finished booking the hotel!"

A few minutes later, the woman walked into the living room with her suitcase. When Tonya's eyes grazed over Diana and Bucky's entwined hands, they widened as a smile split her face.

"FINALLY!" She yelled out as she left her suitcase to rush forward and practically tackle the two in a hug, "I swear, Sam and I were going to lock you two in a room."

Diana laughed as she used her free arm to hug Tonya back, Bucky had done the same.

"What's all the commo- oh, finally!" Charles' voice pulled everyone's attention to him, Diana and Bucky had to turn around to see the man, he also had a duffel like Diana, but it was definitely larger than the one she had.

"Was everyone waiting on this?" Diana asked, tilting her head, her eyebrows furrowing with confusion.

Tonya and Charles seemed to be snickering to themselves when she said this, it was one of those things they did that made Diana thankful it was Charlie jr and Judith that she was taking care of. If she had to take care of Tonya and Charles as kids, she probably would've lost her mind.

"Di, I was waiting on this," Bucky admitted, making her nudge his side as a tease.

"Oh I get it, let's dog pile Diana cause she's oblivious," She joked, squeezing his hand, "I'll get you all, don't worry."

Charles laughed at her words and shook his head as he walked over to Tonya's suitcase and grabbed the handle. He looked like he was just realizing something when he looked at the luggage and looked up at Charlie's room with furrowed eyebrows.

"Charlie, son, come on we're gonna miss our flight!" Charles called out, he looked over at Tonya after, "I'll take this to the car."

He walked off without waiting for a response, knowing that Charlie wouldn't take much longer. Charles paused and held out his arm for Diana and Bucky's bags.

"Here, I'll go with you," Diana offered, taking Bucky's bag as well, she didn't want Charles to carry all of that by himself.

Charles nodded and the pair walked over to the attached garage, the car's trunk popped open when they approached and Diana glanced over at her brother who had a key fob in his hand.

"So, where are you and Bucky at, like, actually?" Charles asked, making Diana smile, she had an inkling of what he was wanting to know.

"When this trip is over, we're going to get started on him moving in, he'll be moving into my place since he has less furniture," Diana admitted, looking over at Charles, "it doesn't even feel like we're moving too fast, I think it's because of how much we've been through together."

"I have to confess," Charles glanced at the garage door, going quieter with his words, "I was worried about you in 2016 when you and Steve pulled that crazy stunt in Romania, all I could see was you laid up in that hospital bed, there was more plaster and gauze than there was of you and I was scared that you wouldn't survive a second round with him, I'm glad that you guys saved him, but I was scared of The Soldier."

"That's okay, Charles, the Soldier is scary as hell, but Bucky is free from him," Diana pulled Charles into a hug as she told him all this, "and you can see, he's as gentle as a small bird, he wouldn't dare hurt me or anyone, trust me."

"Yeah, I was just actually worried if I had to fight a super soldier on behalf of my sister," Charles laughed, making Diana laugh with him as they parted.

"Yeah, sure, your back is as old as Bucky but I'd like to see you try," Diana nudged him as she teased.

Soon, they were joined by Bucky and Tonya, Charlie jr in tow with his own bag. All of them were ready, and that was clear. It didn't take long to pack up and go, Louisiana waited.

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THE CHAOS OF the airport and the frantic search in the grocery stores was worth it when Diana saw the way Sam's face lit up when the family arrived on the dock. Bucky held a very regular, normal cake that wouldn't melt in the Louisiana sun the second they stepped out of the car. Diana had to do a lot of convincing with that detail. The rest of the family had brought extra snacks, and Tonya had been convinced to make her famous dip.

The dock was blowing a surprisingly cool breeze despite the time of year and the fact that they were under the late afternoon sun. Sarah was the first to see the group, and her yell of excitement brought everyone else. AJ and Cass came charging at Diana and Bucky with nerf guns as they played, Bucky let out a fake roar as he pretended to throw the cake at the kids.

Diana laughed as the kids let out their childish screech and ran off to "attack" more party-goers. Music was in full swing with a few of the people using random objects to play their song, everyone who knew the words would sing. Bucky managed to set the cake down as Tonya used the spare table space to assemble her dip.

Sam finally made his way over, wrapping Diana in a bear hug.

"Hope the flight wasn't too bad," Sam greeted.

"Wasn't long enough for it to, thank god," Diana smiled as she pulled away for Bucky to greet him as well.

"You sure? And the drive?" Sam asked.

"Everything was okay!" Diana assured him, "the only hard part was convincing Bucky to put the ice cream cake back when we stopped at the store."

A loud hearty laugh rumbled through Sam's chest. He shook his head as he offered Bucky a beer and Diana a cup of the mixed drink that Sarah had made. Something called "Swamp Juice" that some of the others went crazy for. She had gladly accepted it, not hearing the commotion from behind her until after she took the first sip.

Diana turned around to see Tonya and Charles fussing over the bowl on the table. Sarah seemed to notice it too and began to approach.

"Charles, it's not your damn dip, back up," Tonya finally spoke up in her laughter, Charles finally did, his hands raised in defense as a half cocked smile was branded on his own face.

Sarah glanced over at Diana in confusion over the siblings' odd behavior.

"Sarah, this is my brother, Charles, and my sister, Tonya," Diana pointed the two out for Sarah and she looked around to see that Charlie jr had gotten acquainted with AJ and Cass and was showing them new tricks for their guns, "and the boy over there showing your sons new ways to fight around the house is Charlie Jr."

"Oh Charlie jr, Sam showed me a photo years ago he's all grown up," Sarah cooed over the boy who was out of earshot, "my god I'm not ready for AJ and Cass to get to his age."

A new song was being sung, a more familiar one, but Bucky seemed to light up the second he heard. He appeared to be more joyful than he had in a while being surrounded by such joy. So much that he pulled Diana into an open space and led her in a dance. Her drink was gracefully taken by Sarah who was by them when he spontaneously decided to do this.

A laugh was pulled out of Diana's throat as she wrapped her open arm around him and followed him in the steps. It was like they had done it a thousand times before when he dipped her and then met her down there with a kiss. When he pulled away, she couldn't help her curious stare.

"What has got you like this?" Diana asked, a smile on her face that she couldn't put away.

Bucky shrugged as he pulled her back out and twirled her under his arm.

"Cause I can, and I've been wanting to for a while," Bucky replied coolly.

A couple people awed at the sight of the two and the couple danced alongside a few others for a while until Diana finally started to get out of breath. They found their way to a picnic table where Tonya and Sarah had been chatting about Steve. A few weeks ago, Diana would've turned her nose about the subject, but as she sat down, she just leaned back into the leg he had propped up onto the spot next to her.

Bucky eventually chimed in about one of his own Steve stories before the war.

"We had made a trip to Coney Island, Steve had just gotten over another sickness and restocked on his inhaler and I wanted him to get some fresh air," Bucky's smile was tinted with a bit of sadness now, it was clear Steve would always have that effect now, "we used to joke about it but the poor guy, he was so small back then and I would sometimes forget that he needs to take it easy more frequently than others, I made the man go on the cyclone with me five times until he threw up the hotdogs we ate, I thought it was funny until it got into the hair of the girl next to him."

Diana let out a soft chuckle, leaning her head back on his knee.

"He got his payback in the war though, he had our whole team doing the most reckless things," Bucky huffed, "ziplining onto trains, blowing up tanks while we're hanging off of them, I'm surprised I didn't lose my arm sooner."

Diana gasped at his words, she didn't know if she wanted to laugh or somehow get offended for him, but he seemed to be enjoying her reaction, the girls didn't know how to react either. Bucky let out another laugh after that one and AJ and the other little girl found something else to be entertained by down the dock

Sam had walked by, the sun was beginning to set now, making Diana realize just how much time had already passed, the view was similar to the one her and Bucky shared a kiss over. Hand in hand, the two approached their friend, soft smiles on their faces as Bucky put a hand on Sam's shoulder, the three sharing the moment over the orange hues reflecting on the water.

Sure, hard times were always lurking around every corner. But with the song of Louisiana, sung by cicadas and lapping waters, Diana felt a new sense of home in the two men she accompanied. And with them, there wasn't anything that could shake her.

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3.3k words

Oh, my GOD!!!

I CANT BELIEVE WERE AT THE END!! I HAVE THE EPILOGUE NEXT AND GUYS, CAN I JUST SAY IT ONE MORE TIME?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOLLOWING THIS JOURNEY!

I love Diana with all my heart!! She's my passion baby and her and Bucky just make me so happy!! Thank you ALL for sticking by me and sticking by Diana!! I hope to see you all on some of my other books and who knows? Maybe Dianas story will continue some day!!

We'll see when the new Cap and Thunderbolts movie comes out!!

but for now, thank you all so much! I LOVE YOU!
- greta!