A/N: *Steve Rogers voice* I could stare at this gif all day.

Your life wasn't going to be the same without Bucky around. James Buchanan Barnes may have been an arrogant, crazy piece of work, but he was wonderful, and you were always proud to call him your best friend.

After Bucky left, everything just seemed to get worse.

For starters, the U.S. army had decided to accept the illness-prone asthmatic known as Steven Grant Rogers a few weeks ago, and now little Steve was out in the big, bad world. Both of the people you had grown up with were gone, and there was no promise of them both making it back in one piece, or at all.

However, you weren't expecting what happened next.

"Open up, (Y/N)!" A familiar voice boomed from your front door before aggressively knocking.

"Coming!" You called, rushing to see who was outside. When you opened the door, you almost fell backwards when you saw who it was.

"S-Steve?" You questioned, not sure if you were seeing things properly, "Um, I thought you were smaller."

Without hesitation, Steve wrapped his now muscular arms around you, pulling you in close, "You need to come with me."

"What?"

"I'm going back to Italy tomorrow, and I need you to come with me."

"Wait, since when were you in Italy? Right now I've got way too many," you paused and gestured at Steve's body, "Questions."

"You really must be living under a rock," Steve chuckled, "You're looking at Captain America."

"In case you forgot, I was wallowing in self pity for the last few weeks ever since you and Bucky left," you replied, half-jokingly. There they were again— Bucky's butterflies.

"Well, there won't be anymore of that. I'm going back to Bucky's division, that's why I want you to come with me," Steve smiled, his eyes still the same as they had always been.

Your cheeks tinted crimson at the mention of Bucky, "Are you sure I'm allowed to be there?"

"I don't really care. I know you need to be there, that's all that matters."

"You really are the best friend I could ever ask for," you smiled, embracing your friend in a hug.

"Yeah, because you and Buck are going to be more than just friends after we get to Italy," Steve smirked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"You're such a punk, Rogers," you rolled your eyes, a smile on your face, "Sorry, I mean, Captain America. Love the outfit," you joked.

"Shut up," Steve grinned before the two of you walked inside and started to pack.

~

The aeroplane trip to Italy was a lot better than you thought it'd be, developing new friendships with Howard Stark and Peggy Carter.

You leant over to whisper in Steve's ear, subtly motioning to the brunette agent sitting before you whose eyes were gazing out the small window, "I better be at your wedding, Rogers."

"Yeah," he chuckled quietly, "(Y/N) Barnes will have the best seat in the house. Of course, your kids'll be there too."

"Oh my god, Steve," you shoved him playfully, a blush rising to your cheeks which caused Steve to laugh, "You're terrible!"

"Hey," a voice belonging to Howard Stark called from the cockpit, "We're gonna start making a landing in a few minutes. Hold on back there."

"Alright," Peggy smiled, and you could see her look at Steve from the corner of her eye.

"She's a keeper," you whispered, winking at your best friend.

This time it was Steve's turn to blush, "Shut up."

~

When you got off the plane, you began walking towards the recovery tent that was set up in the middle of the barracks, Steve leading the way. Every eye was watching you as you made your way through– it was odd for a female to just waltz into an army zone. You searched every face your eyes found, looking for the familiar features of James Buchanan Barnes.
Moments later, your eyes found their way to a girl– a nurse– tending to a man with cuts and bruises to his face and neck. You looked over at the man, a hurricane of butterflies suddenly surfacing in your stomach as his familiar features, that had been burned into your memory since age six, came into view.

Just as your eyes locked onto him, he turned away from the nurse that was tending to his wounds, a bright smile beaming from his face as he caught sight of you. He leapt from his seat and practically ran towards you, his arms outstretched to signal that he was going to hug you like his life depended on it.

Seconds later, your bodies crashed into each other, Bucky's arms wrapping comfortably around you, encompassing you in a warmth you had all but forgotten existed. He then quickly pulled away, his hands holding onto your shoulders as he gazed into your (y/e/c) eyes.

"Buck-"

You were interrupted in the best way possible. Bucky's lips crashed into yours, those soft lips moulding perfectly with yours, as if they were made for that one purpose. You kissed back, tangling your hands in his already messy hair as he pulled you closer.

"Well," you both immediately pulled away when Steve's voice rang out, "I guess you found Bucky."

Your face flushed red, and when you glanced at Bucky, his face was the same shade as yours. Those butterflies in your stomach felt like they had all but melted during that kiss, and you had never been happier in your life.

"H-hey, Steve," Bucky smiled, running a hand through his hair.

"Do you think you could, um," you paused, nodding your head to the side, signalling for Steve to give the two of you some alone time.

Steve laughed, "Yeah, I'll go. I'll come back next year when you're finished making out."

"Go!" Bucky chuckled, shoving Steve away jokingly, "You're such a punk!"

"I know! Your wife tells me every day!"

When Steve was gone, you turned to look at Bucky, a smile curling his lips.

"I love you, (Y/N)," he said suddenly with absolute sincerity, "I always have."

"I love you too, Bucky," you smiled, a sigh escaping your lips after finally admitting to the feelings that had been building up inside of you for the past few years.

"When I left that night, I felt like an idiot. That could've been my last chance to tell you that I love you, and I'm sorry. If I knew you felt the same way, I would've even faked my own death just to stay in Brooklyn with you."

"That's so sweet, Bucky," you smiled dreamily, "When the war's over, we can still do all that."

"Get married, have a family," Bucky continued, "There's no one I'd rather spend my life with than you. Now that I think about it, I already have spent most of it with you."

"Steve's been sayin' that for long time. About us and a family."

"Oh wow," Bucky laughed, pressing his palm to his forehead in frustration, "I'm surprised the kid doesn't have a Mohawk."

"He's not a kid anymore. He's Captain America. You're not supposed to insult America's golden boy," you joked, causing another laugh to emanate from Bucky's throat.

"Stay with me. Tomorrow I get deployed again, and I need you here with me tonight," Bucky gazed into your eyes pleadingly, "Now I've got a reason to make it home."

A blush rose to your cheeks, "Is that allowed?"

"To hell with rules, doll. I love you."

~

You tiptoed over the dead grass, keeping a watchful eye on your path as the sun began to set. There was no way you were allowed to spend the night with Bucky, but he decided to sneak you into his living area anyway. After all, all of the other men in his sleeping quarters were deployed yesterday, so he was alone.

Well, he wasn't so alone now that you were breaking the rules with him.

Hand in hand, the two of you quietly scurried into the large tent, making sure there were no officials around.

"I feel like some sort of spy," you giggled, finally sitting down on Bucky's designated bed, "Or an assassin."

"That wouldn't be nearly as fun."

"I love you," you smiled before Bucky planted a sweet kiss to your lips.

"I've always loved you, but I never thought you'd love me back," Bucky admitted.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you're you. You're the only person I've ever been in love with."

"Oh Bucky," you grinned, cupping his face gently, "It'll be just me and you from now on."

He smiled, "I like the sound of that."

Steve walked into the room and plonked down on an adjacent bed, "I'm here too, you know."

You both turned to look at Steve, smiles tugging at your lips.

"Last sleepover?" You suggested, remembering the good old days that you had spent with the two men in front of you that you were proud to call your best friends.

~

Not much time had passed, and Bucky had come and gone to the front line numerous times. Last night, Bucky, Steve and the rest of the Howling Commandos had embarked on a mission to destroy the last HYDRA base. Bucky had kissed you like there was no tomorrow, a symbol of your promise to never forget the man you loved with all your heart.

You smiled as you heard a knock at your door, but it immediately fell when you saw the post man with a solemn look on his face. You walked to the door, swallowing a lump in your throat when you noticed that he was holding an envelope.

"Miss (Y/L/N)?" He asked, taking off his hat and handing you the letter, "I'm so sorry."

Your heart felt like it had shattered into a thousand pieces. Ripping the envelope open, you fumbled with the paper as your eyes scanned the words.

"Dear Miss (Y/N) (Y/L/N),

We have been informed of the relationship between yourself and James B. Barnes, and we regret to inform you that Mr Barnes has not returned from his last mission. Barnes' body has not been recovered, so we can only say that he is mission in action, but there is little chance of him returning. We give you our greatest condolences..."

You didn't want to read anymore, tearing the piece of paper up and tossing it in the trash. If you didn't accept that he was gone, there was a chance he could come back. However, when you saw Steve show up at your front door, tears streaming down his face, you knew that Bucky really was gone. Steve rushed to your side, enveloping you in a warm embrace as tears began to stain your cheeks.

Steve didn't say anything, but he knew what you were going through.

You sobbed, "But I love him."

You kept your promise— you could never forget James Buchanan Barnes, no matter how hard you tried.

A/N: eyyyyyy guys. I've got two other Bucky drafts in the works, and they're going to be VERY happy ones. I have a love/hate relationship with sad imagines :'(
Here's a gif to make you feel better.