"You're meant for more than this small town, too," you declared louder this time, grasping his face in your hands.

"I don't underst—"

"Come with me."

_____________

"What did you just say?" Bucky asked, taking a step back.

"Bucky," you began calmly, since you had blurted it out too quickly the first time. "I want you to come with me. To L.A."

With a dazed look, he slipped from your grasp, taking halting steps backwards until he reached the bed and sat down. "Are you serious?" he asked, finally meeting your gaze.

"Yes."

"You want me to come to L.A. and...do what?" he questioned.

You felt a spark of excitement then, thinking he might actually be considering your proposal. "I don't know. They have auto shops there, if that's what you still want to do. And they have auditions for guitarists all the time! You could do gigs at night and work during the day," you said as the possibilities flowed from your mind. You walked over and took a seat facing him, grasping one of his hands. "That's the beauty of this adventure, Bucky. You can do whatever you want."

"Where would we live?" he asked, giving your hand a squeeze.

Nerves bubbled up at the thought of co-habitating with Bucky, even if that's not what he meant. "Um...I don't know. I plan on staying in a cheap hostel for a few days while I checked out places. People are always looking for roommates to lower the rent. I've looked it up online and there are always short-term vacancies until you find something more permanent. So what do you say?" you grinned, full of hope.

Bucky stood then and took a few steps, running hands through his hair. He was still shirtless, thick ropes of muscle visible under his tanned skin as he moved. The thought of not having to say goodbye spread a warmth of happiness through your whole body. Could this really be happening? Could you get the guy AND chase your dreams?

He let his arms drop as he turned your way, his expression stopping you cold. "I can't," he whispered with his gaze on the stained carpet.

"What?" you uttered quietly. "Wh—why not?"

"Why not?" he repeated, disbelief shading his features. "Y/N, I have a life here, a job, family. I just...I can't leave for the hell of it."

"I did," you almost shouted, slight wavering in your voice. "Bucky, we're young. We both have our whole lives ahead of us. Now is the time to take risks, have adventures, even make mistakes. I may have a dream and a plan, maybe a small chance at success but even then, I am fully aware that I might fail. I could get there and fall flat on my face. But you know what? I'd rather fail than stay in one place the rest of my life, wondering what might have been," you finished, boldly holding his gaze.

Bucky huffed out a sigh, crossing arms over his sculpted chest. "Not all of us have that kind of conviction, Y/N," he spoke quietly. "Some people are just meant for smaller lives."

"Really?" you said, standing up from the bed. "This is it for you? This small town, knowing all the same people your whole life, never experiencing anything new, you're okay with that? There's nothing more you'd like to see or do?"

You saw Bucky hesitate, chewing on his lip for a moment. Taking that as an opportunity, you closed the distance between you and looped your arms around his trim waist.

"Bucky. I see you. I see your big heart and handsome smile and charismatic spirit. You've folded yourself down to fit into this small town life. Aren't you at least a little bit curious what might happen if you allowed yourself to just...let go? Explore? Find out all that you can become?" you asked, grasping his chin so he would look your way but his eyes remained off in the distance.

Silence hung in the stale evening air as you watched the wheels turn in his handsome head. Finally he clenched his jaw and shook his head, unhooking your arms from around his waist as he created space between you.

"No. I can't. I don't have those dreams anymore. I have the shop and my mom and sisters....this is my life now. It's not right for you to try and make me feel like it's not enough," he spoke quickly as he grabbed his shirt off the bed and slipped into it.

"Bucky..." you said, pleading as you reached toward him.

He evaded your grasp as he picked up his shoes and headed for the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. "I'll have your car ready by 10. It's probably best if you hit the road after that," he said with finality, swinging the door open and closing it behind him before you could get out a word.

Staring at the closed door, you let yourself sink to the floor beside the bed as the tears began to fall.

_________________

Morning came and you were surprised to see light filtering through the curtains. You didn't know how the sun could still rise and the birds sing when you felt like your world had already crumbled around you. How could the past three days have become so life-changing? How could a man you didn't even know the week before become both the wind in your sails and the rocks you had found yourself crashing against?

With sluggish movements, you stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom where you were met with your exhausted reflection. Your eyes were red and swollen from both crying and the few hours you had slept. Splashing some cold water on your face and taking a shower, you felt a little better. You dressed and attempted to hide the circles under your eyes.

Packing up your toiletries and clothing, you zipped your bags before taking a seat on the bed to look around. The sheets still smelled like him. He had left behind a hair tie on the nightstand with the empty pizza box from last night on the floor beside it. The hotel room felt like a time capsule, a frozen moment where your time together had existed. Taking a step outside meant leaving it all behind and letting go.

Glancing at the clock, you saw that it was nearly 9am. Check out time wasn't until 10:30, but you feared Wanda may somehow take advantage of a seconds-late check-out time and charge you for it after your latest interaction. If only she knew how it all had changed. You were unable to sit still any longer anyway, so you picked up your bags and left the room without looking back.

Stepping into the office, you expected to see a disgruntled Wanda, but instead you were met with a tall, silver-haired young man at the computer.

"Morning, I'm Pietro," he greeted you. "Checking out?"

You simply nodded, sliding the key across the counter toward him.

"Room 17..." he muttered searching the computer. "Ah, Ms. (Y/L/N). Oh."

He seemed to put the pieces together as he took in your bedraggled appearance. He let out a slight smirk at you, but kept his thoughts to himself. He probably couldn't wait to tell his sister how you left town with your tail between your legs. It didn't matter, though. You paid for your three-night stay in cash and left without a word.

Lugging your bags a few blocks, you arrived at the diner and settled in a booth after saying hello to Nattie behind the counter. She arrived at your table with her usual bright smile, but it dimmed as her gaze met your red, saddened eyes.

"Hey, hun. Heading out today?" she asked, seeing your bags and pouring you coffee without asking.

You nodded, gripping the warm mug with both hands with eyes focused on the dark liquid inside.

Nattie paused a moment, then lowering herself into the booth to sit across from you and setting the coffee pot on the table. "It's probably not my place, but...you two looked cute together. It's never easy. I'm sorry to see you go so soon."

"Thanks," you answered thickly with a sniffle.

She reached across the table and patted your hand with hers before standing. "How 'bout I have them whip you up something special for breakfast? Hm?" she offered.

You let out the smallest of smiles. "Sure."

A special breakfast turned out to be pancakes with fruit for a face and whip cream hair. It made you smile and what little you could stomach tasted delicious. As you asked for your check, you also requested a piece of boysenberry pie to go. It was just after 10am when you left the diner and shouldered your bags for the walk toward the auto shop. Your heart ached as you stepped into the office and left your bags on one of the chairs in the waiting room.

Bucky was helping a customer at the counter. He had met your eye when the bell above the door jangled as you entered, but you quickly glanced away, pulling out your wallet and waiting your turn to pay.

"Thanks for coming in, Mr. Coulson. We'll see you and Lola next time," Bucky said with a smile.

The balding man at the counter nodded in farewell, "A pleasure as always, Mr. Barnes." As he turned your way, he slipped on a pair of sunglasses and you took in the dark suit and tie he was wearing. There was something a little odd about him, like he held all the secrets you ever wanted to know and he relished in it. He walked passed you with an all-knowing smile and the door jangled again as he exited, leaving you and Bucky alone.

Without a word, you approached the counter, keeping your eyes downcast. Bucky reached for your paperwork behind him and slid it toward you. Fishing out the cash needed, you slid it toward him and he took a moment to count out your change before dropping it in your hand with a graze of his fingers against your palm. You had glanced at the list of charges on your bill and of course, Bucky had been even more generous than promised but you weren't going to argue. He was a better man than you'd ever met and at that moment, you knew you didn't deserve him.

Finally giving in, you glanced up to meet his eyes, seeing light shadows as evidence of lost sleep under his eyes as well. You saw nothing but kindness there and you couldn't hold it in any longer. A sob bubbled up in your throat until it burst with your words of apology.

"I'm sorry," you said thickly through your tears. "I'm so sorry, I never meant to..."

"I know," he spoke quietly, walking around the counter until you were enveloped in his strong, familiar arms. "I know you didn't mean to put down this small town life and I shouldn't have left the way I did. It's just...you struck a nerve. Your passion and conviction almost made me want to forget it all and say yes and...it scared me."

Lifting your head from where it had been resting on his chest, you sniffled. "Really?"

He nodded, caressing a hand across your back. "I haven't let myself want anything more in...I don't know how long. I really wish it was that simple, to just leave it all behind."

"Me, too," you whispered with a teary smile.

He pulled you close again, relishing the quiet comfort of being in each others' arms. After a few moments, you pulled away just enough to meet his eye, then pressing a lingering kiss to his soft lips. You never wanted to forget the feeling of electricity fizzling in your veins.

Breaking the silence, you spoke, "I need to show you something. Do you have a minute?"

He nodded and slipped out of your grasp. "Hang on," he said, walking toward the front door where he flipped a sign that said 'Back in 5 minutes'.

You clasped his hand in yours and walked behind the counter toward the back office. Taking a few minutes, you showed him the work you had done and how much easier the business side of things should be from now on with a bit of organization. Bucky was impressed and assured you he would do his best to keep it that way. It was a small thing, but you were glad to be a small part of his life after you left.

"Thank you, Y/N," he said, squeezing your hand in his.

"You're welcome," you replied, feeling calmer than you had all morning.

"Anything else to show me?" he asked, feeling as uneasy about saying goodbye as you were.

A sly smile spread across your face then, causing Bucky to furrow his brow in confusion.

"What?"

"There's just...one more thing on my to-do list," you said with a grin, leading him out of the office and into the cavernous garage. You walked past the line of cars, some with hoods propped open along with your own vehicle, all fixed up and ready to go.

"Y/N, what—"

You glanced back, putting a finger up to your mouth as you kept walking to the far end of the garage and into the little alcove hidden from sight. Stepping up into the car frame, Bucky followed you, still confused. That is until you gave him a light shove causing him to take a seat on the black leather bench seat with you straddling him seconds after. Your lips found his as your hands brushed down his muscular torso and sought the warm skin under his shirt to remove it.

Bucky had caught on by then and quickly rid you of your own top, his large hands gripping your hips shortly after. You broke the kiss only out of need for breath as you lifted your face heavenward, his lips nibbling at the sensitive skin of your neck.

Letting out a breathless laugh, he muttered against your skin, "This has always been a fantasy of mine."

You threaded your fingers into his hair, pulling his head back to meet your lips again. "What, you've never been with someone in a car before?" you asked in surprise, grasping at his belt buckle.

"Well...not in THIS car," he smirked, recapturing your lips.

Sinking your knees into the soft black leather to settle closer to his hips, you felt like the wide back seat of a sexy, classic car was made for this sort of behavior.

"Then, I'm glad I get to leave a lasting impression," you smiled against his lips, "And I've fantasized about this, too."

Finding your shared rhythm and both panting in the hot sticky air of the garage, your body reached its blazing peak and he followed you shortly after. You clung to one other for a while as your sweat-covered skin began to cool in the stillness. You pressed one last kiss to his lips, foreheads meeting as you held his gaze. In that moment, you had never felt so in tune with anyone. Mind, body, heart and soul.

______________

An hour later, the scenery slipped past in a blur as a warm breeze whipped through your hair with an arm dangling out the open window. The radio struggled to hold a signal, static cutting in every other word, but you hadn't noticed. Your mind was still in a hot garage with the man who had changed everything. Although your plans remained the same, something in you had shifted.

Driving westward, your car now was running better than it ever had the 10 days you had owned it. He must have done more than replace your radiator and you weren't surprised.

Outwardly, you were still a girl from a small town headed to the big city with big plans and even bigger dreams. But inside, you now knew there was more to small town living than you had ever considered.

Your only souvenir from your memorable weekend was a half-eaten slice of pie resting on the passenger's seat that would be devoured shortly, the package to be tossed at the next stop. The memories, though...those you would never let go.

_______

More to come...