Marlena let out a sigh of content as she got off the couch to remove the disc from the DVD player. Bucky sat on the couch staring at the television screen in complete and utter despair. The two of them had just finished watching Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Since Marlena had returned home from her short time at Sharon's apartment, she and Bucky had been engaging in a rather emotional Star Wars marathon. It was amusing for Marlena to watch Bucky become so enthralled with the movies, yet she also found it to be very cute. He was very invested in them, quite possibly even more than she was, and she found herself to be completely in love with it.

"I can't believe I just watched all of those just for that to happen," Bucky grumbled. He enjoyed the movies, but he was less than pleased with the ending of the final one. Darth Vader had died, and Bucky wasn't sure how he should feel about it. Darth Vader had been his favorite character, and watching him die didn't exactly go very well for him.

"You should have seen it comin', Buck," Marlena said as she knelt down on the floor in front of the entertainment system. They had been watching Star Wars all day, and now that they were finally finished Marlena believed it would be best to introduce him to more of her favorite movies.

"At least now I know why you like these movies so much—you're practically an Emu," Bucky teased as Marlena grabbed the first Transformers movie from her collection.

She scoffed and tossed the DVD case beneath the television before turning to look at Bucky. "First of all, they're called Ewoks. Second of all, why am I one?"

"Because you're a small teddy bear, and I just feel as if I need to hold you close to me," Bucky answered with a smirk on his face.

Marlena laughed and shook her head before turning back around to tend to the DVD player. It was corny remarks such as that one that made Marlena's feelings for the former assassin grow. She couldn't help it, and she didn't really think she wanted to. Bucky made her feel comfortable, he made her feel happy; not even Dylan was able to make her feel that way, so it was important that she was able to find someone who could.

"So, what movie are we watching now?" Bucky questioned her.

"Transformers," she answered as she pulled the silver disc out of the case. "It's about these advanced alien robots from the planet Cybertron who come to save earth from being destroyed by the evil Decepticon leader Megatron."

"Wow," Bucky breathed. "What a very eloquent description."

Marlena chuckled at him. "You're gonna love it, I promise."

Marlena headed back over to sit down beside Bucky on the couch once she had put the DVD in the player. She wrapped herself in the blanket that was on the back of the couch and proceeded to pull her knees to her chest. Bucky watched with a smile as she struggled to get comfortable with the blanket, and he chuckled before scooping her up in his arms and pulling her onto his lap. She squealed in response to the abruptness of the action, causing him to laugh.

Bucky could never seem to help himself when it came to Marlena, and although most of the time he refrained from engaging in certain actions in order to prevent from frightening her or making her uncomfortable, now was definitely not one of those times. He saw his opportunity when he noticed the adorable pout on her face as she fiddled with the large blanket, and so he took it.

"You really are small, sweetheart," Bucky said to her as he shifted himself into a comfortable position on the couch.

Marlena smiled and pulled the blanket tighter around her, absentmindedly snuggling herself into his chest and smiling when she felt his arms wrap protectively around her. Bucky was warm, much warmer than her blanket was, and at the moment she couldn't bring herself to complain about the freezing cold temperature her mom loved to keep the house at. She was content being in his arms, and in that moment there was no place she'd rather be.

"I come from a family of small people, Barnes. Don't judge me," Marlena chuckled as she averted her attention to the television screen. Transformers was now five minutes in, yet Marlena was the only one of the two to even notice the movie had started playing. Bucky was too enamored with the feeling of having Marlena wrapped in his arms to pay attention to the screen.

"I dunno," Bucky chimed. "Your great grandfather was almost the same size as me."

"You're only like five-eleven," Marlena snickered, pushing herself up to look at him.

"I'm six foot, actually," Bucky retorted with a smirk.

Marlena smiled and opened her mouth to respond, but her voice was lost as she found herself gazing at the man in front of her.

She had spent nearly her entire life growing up listening to stories about him, but back then stories were all that they were. She still found it hard to grasp the fact that he was actually here and that he was with her, but she couldn't have been more thankful because of it. She was happy she took the time to go over and talk to him that day back in the Smithsonian, despite his reluctance to speak back to her. Bucky had become one of the most important people in Marlena's life over the course of the month, and she wouldn't trade him for anybody in the world.

She would not deny that he had done some terrible things in his life (under the influence of Hydra's mind control, of course), but she was willing to look passed the terrible so she could see the good; she was willing to look passed the terrible in order to keep him in her life. If she were to lose him, despite the short amount of time they had known each other, she wouldn't know what to do with herself. She would be completely lost without Bucky, just as he would be completely lost without her.

"I'm really glad I met you, Bucky," Marlena said quietly as she looked into Bucky's eyes. They were glistening with deep admiration as they locked onto hers, and just the sight was enough to make Marlena's insides flutter with emotion.

"You know I'm glad I met you, Marlena. I'd honestly be nowhere if I didn't have you," Bucky chuckled, tightening his grip around her waist.

Marlena smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her until their foreheads were touching. "Everyone would be nowhere if they didn't have me," Marlena remarked, earning a playful scoff from Bucky.

"Shut up, Marlena."

Marlena just giggled, and before she could even think about responding, Bucky was pressing his lips to hers.

In that moment, everything around them had been forgotten—it was only the two of them.

Marlena's body relaxed almost instantly as she felt the warmth of his lips melding with hers, and she pulled him as close to her as she could possibly manage. Even with him pressed tightly against her body, it still wasn't enough for her, nor was it enough for him. The two craved each other; they craved each other's touch, they craved each other's presence, they craved the sound of each other's voices, and even when they were graced with such it wasn't enough for them—it never would be.

Their lips moved perfectly in sync with one another's. The passion they held for one another in that moment completely consumed them, so much that they were completely oblivious to the front door opening behind them.

Miranda entered the house and threw her purse and keys to the floor beside the front door, her eyes widening slightly as she watched the situation on the couch unfold. It was strange to see her daughter being intimate with a guy, especially one who was ninety-seven years old. She also wondered why the two were still up at almost five in the morning, but when she noticed Transformers playing on the TV screen she knew.

Miranda let out a soft chuckle and crossed her arms, slowly moving to stand behind the couch. The couple had yet to detect her presence, and she would be highly surprised if they even managed to stop when she spoke.

"He is a ninety-seven year old man, Marlena Elisabeth! Have I taught you nothing? This is taking 'respect your elders' to a whole new level," Miranda exclaimed.

Marlena pulled away from Bucky immediately and nearly fell off the couch due to the amount of fear rushing through her body. Had it not been for Bucky's arms wrapped securely around her waist, she most likely would have ended up with yet another back injury.

"Mom!" Marlena nearly screamed as she removed herself from Bucky's lap. She ran a hand through her already-messy hair and threw her blanket beside her.

"I am s-so sorry," Miranda laughed as she moved to pick up her purse.

Both Bucky and Marlena were in a rather awkward state at the moment, but it was a given. A mother walking in on her daughter in a heated make out session would never not be awkward, at least for the daughter it wouldn't.

"I can't believe you," Marlena groaned as she placed her hands over her face.

Miranda laughed again and patted the two of them on the shoulder. "It's okay—I ship it."

Bucky was confused by her words, but Marlena knew perfectly well what she was talking about. She looked up at her mom with a dangerously serious look on her face and stood up, grabbing the rest of her belongings off of the floor. "I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to leave," Marlena said as she shoved her mom's belongings into her arms.

Miranda chuckled as Marlena pushed her towards the staircase. She glanced back at Bucky and smiled, more than happy that her daughter had found someone worth investing her time into. "Just take care of her, please."

Marlena groaned once again, while Bucky smiled and nodded from the couch. It meant a lot to him to have Miranda's approval, despite the fact that he and Marlena weren't even together, at least not officially. He could only begin to imagine what Joseph would have to say about the situation if he were still around.

"Goodbye, mother," Marlena said as watched her ascend the staircase.

"Goodbye, you two. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Miranda followed. "It's not like I could do anything anyway considering the fact that I'm going to be forever alone, but you get what I mean."

Marlena shook her head as Miranda disappeared up the stairs, and she turned back around to face Bucky, a small—yet nervous—smile coming onto her face at the sight of him.

"Did I bite your lip?" she asked as she rubbed the back of her neck. Her mom had startled her so badly she didn't even think about being gentle when she ripped herself away from Bucky.

"A little bit," Bucky chuckled.

Marlena smiled and hurried over to him. She grabbed either side of his face and pulled him in, planting a soft kiss onto his lips. "Does that make you feel better?"

Bucky smiled and nodded before kissing her once more. He wrapped his arms around her and gently pulled her back onto his lap, holding her close to his body. He pulled the blanket back over her body, and Marlena sighed in content before wrapping her arms around his torso.

"I will take care of you, Marlena," Bucky said quietly as he fixed his gaze upon the television screen. "I'll take care of you the way you took care of me—I think I owe you that much, doll."

Marlena smiled against his chest and moved her hand to grab his. "We'll take care of each other, Bucky." She wrapped her small hand around the bulky metal that made up his left hand and held it close to her, not even bothering to worry about the bone-chilling temperature of it.

Bucky didn't respond. He only squeezed her side with his right arm—afraid he would harm her with his left arm—and planted a soft kiss onto the top of her head.

He was far from being able to classify his life as complete—he wouldn't be able to until he managed to find a way back to Steve—but right now, being with Marlena was most certainly good enough for him. He could not recall ever feeling so strongly about someone before, but he didn't seem to mind at all. If he were to choose anyone on the planet to dedicate such an intense amount of feelings to, it would without a doubt be Marlena Claire—it would always be Marlena Claire. She had become more important to him than he had originally planned, but he wouldn't change a thing of it. She was his life now, and he had absolutely no problem accepting it.