Happy Birthday, James

- - - - -

"Bucky!"

James Barnes awoke with a start, eyes flying open as he gasped for breath. The soft mattress underneath him dipped as he sat upright, and the sheets that provided him with warmth draped around his waist, exposing his uncovered chest to the chilling temperature in the room. He raised his one hand to his head where he could hear his own blood rushing through his ears. He clenched his eyes shut, fuming from the moment he witnessed in his dream. This time, it wasn't a memory, but a messed up series of images full of blood and tears and pain. And this time, Ana was in the middle of it all.

It had been her scream in the nightmare that forced him to wake up, and as he turned to look down at her resting form, his heart rate dropped slowly, and his breathing evened out. She's okay, he thought to himself, releasing a heavy sigh. He was thankful she hadn't gotten up because he knew she was having trouble sleeping lately with all of the sudden flood of her father's memories. Bucky gently raised the sheets over her shoulders, and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Ana fidgeted from the light touch, and her eyes cracked open. When she saw that Bucky was up, she compelled herself to push away the drowsiness and question him.

"Bucky?" She called, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He replied quietly, sliding back under the covers. He looped his arm around her waist, shuffling closer to her. "Go back to sleep."

Ana couldn't stop herself from yawning, and she shook her head at him. "If you're having nightmares..."

"I wasn't. I was just cold." He replied.

Ana grinned lazily then, and rested her head against his naked shoulder. "That's because you don't wear a shirt to bed."

"I thought you liked it that way." Bucky chuckled out.

"Oh, I do." Ana whispered, eyes dropping. "But I don't want you to feel cold."

"I've got you to hold." Bucky said softly, slinging his arm over her torso and settling his hand on her back. Ana let out a tired sigh, enjoying the feel of his hand drawing circles on her back, and kissed his shoulder.

"Charming." Ana hummed. "Get some rest, Buck."

"I'll try."

- - -

"So you watch him do that all day?"

Natasha was watching Ana who was watching Bucky as he, along with Steve and Sam, worked to build another addition to the stables. The oversized rhinos were taking up all the room, leaving limited space for all the other animals, and Bucky had offered to find a solution when he spoke with T'Challa early in the morning over breakfast. Ana threw Natasha a quirked brow in response, and laughed.

"Not all day." Ana replied, taking her eyes off the man she adored. "I help out where I'm needed. Though whenever I'm free, I do make sure to drop by and... appreciate the view." She smirked, as Natasha nudged her shoulder with her own.

Natasha motioned to Ana's phone where it was opened on the messages app. "And who are you talking to about a cake?" She asked, leaning on her hands behind her and basking in the suns rays.

Ana quickly sent Shuri a text before clicking off her phone and shrugging. "Oh, you know, just trying to organise a small party for the birthday boy."

"Who's birthday is it?" Natasha questioned.

Ana nodded her head at the men. "Bucky's. He's like, one hundred and one today."

Natasha chuckled. "You're with a man almost four times your age. That doesn't weird you out?"

"Technically, Bucky is biologically in his early thirties from his time out of cryostasis since the war." Ana countered, brushing the grass from her shoes and standing up. She extended her hand for Natasha to take and hauled her up. "So, no, it doesn't weird me out."

Natasha followed Ana as the Warrior led the Widow down the grassy hills towards the laboratory where they spent most of their time. "Remember that guy you were into in your early days at S.H.I.E.L.D.? Grant or something..." Natasha told Ana, who immediately tensed at the name.

Ana pivoted on her heels and continued to walk to the lab backwards while she faced Natasha. "I recently learned from Fury that he was loyal to Hydra from the beginning. Whatta dick." Ana grumbled. "I can't believe I used to spar with him whenever Bobbi was out on an assignment."

Natasha caught Ana's shoulder in her hands and stopped her from walking. "I always thought he was shady. Glad I was right."

"Is that your version of an I told you so? I remember you said for me to back off but Clint said for me to go for it." Ana reminded her.

"And you listened to Clint?" Natasha questioned, shaking her head. Ana's eyes darted to the side, and she shrugged.

"Fair enough."

- - -

The living room above Shuri's lab was now somewhat decorated with red and blue balloons and streamers — thanks to Ana's vast knowledge in the Mystic Arts. She chuckled under her breath as she thought about Stephen and what he would think as she let another red balloon manifest in her hands. Sam and Steve were tasked with distracting Bucky until everything was presentable. Natasha was hunched over the cake, lighting up all one hundred and one candles while Shuri was picking out tunes to play for the party.

The Princess looked over at Ana once she finished taping the balloons together. "Nice job, Ana." She said.

Ana walked over to her and smiled. "Thanks. I know it's a little crazy, but this would be his first party in who knows how long."

"I get it, and I think it'll be fun." Shuri grinned, "All we need now is alcohol!"

Ana shook her head. "Nah-uh, you are so underage, Princess. Water or soda for you." She stated, making Shuri pout in response.

"Fine." Shuri muttered, and approached the snacks table to pick up a handful of gummy worms. Ana smiled to herself, noting how much Shuri reminded her of Peter.

Ana joined Natasha in front of the cake, and suddenly frowned. She looked up at the woman, "You don't think it's too much, do you?" She asked nervously.

Natasha placed a hand over Ana's. "Yes, I do. But I think he'll appreciate it." She assured, smiling.

Ana nodded, letting out a sigh. "Right."

Sam suddenly appeared next to the women, chest heaving as he leaned over to catch his breath. He had just come inside, and shut the door behind him. He looked up at Ana, and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Your man's on his way. Steve and I couldn't keep throwing frisbees around. It turned into a hardcore game and we all tried to one-up each other." Sam shared, clutching his ribs.

Natasha smirked to herself while Ana swatted her hands around, "Ah, okay, someone turn the lights off!"

Shuri pressed down on a Kimoyo Bead and the room went dim, save for the light coming from the candles. T'Challa walked inside from the staircase spiralling down the centre of the building, and stood by his sister who shushed him to keep quiet. Footsteps could be heard on the other side of the door across from the people inside who waited for the man of the hour. The doorknob twisted and Steve let Bucky walk in first, smiling to himself when Bucky questioned the lighting in the room. Shuri turned the lights back on and everyone threw their arms up and exclaimed a loud,

"Happy Birthday, Bucky!"

Bucky stood, unmoving, eyes wide and mouth agape. "Oh... wow..." He whispered.

Steve clapped his friend on the back, and laughed, nudging him forward. "To answer your question as to why we spent hours playing frisbee, so we can pull this off. Happy Birthday, buddy." He said. Bucky glanced over at him, and scoffed out a laugh, accepting the hug he gave him.

Ana slowly strolled towards Bucky, who stared at her, trying to suppress a knowing grin. They both reached out with one hand simultaneously and intertwined their fingers. Ana used her other hand to frame his face as Steve joined the others around the cake. Bucky raised a brow, as if to say this was all you, huh? Ana smiled gently at him. "I know it's been a while since you've celebrated a birthday. You told me you stopped the year you were drafted into the war. But this is a different time. A time where you don't have to fight in anymore wars or battles. A time where you just gotta be you. Bucky Barnes. I hope you see this as a start of a new chapter in your life. Not a reminder of how much you missed or forgotten, instead how many you can look forward to now that you're on the road to recovery. Because as long as I'm with you, I will always make sure you mark every year as a sign that you're still here, still living. Happy hundredth Birthday, James."

Bucky lowered his head and pressed a kiss on her lips, holding her close. There were a few woo's from the group and a get some from Shuri, making them laugh into the kiss and pull away.

"Did you have to throw in the hundred and one?" Bucky whispered.

"Yes. Yes I did." Ana chuckled.

Bucky looked up, "Because you had a straight face the entire speech and the second you said hundred and one, you cracked." He said.

"I was trying very hard to pull through, but dammit, I just couldn't." Ana swayed on her feet, and tilted her head.

"Yeah, yeah. Come here." Bucky pulled her in for another embrace, and closed his eyes, thanking his lucky stars for the girl in his arms. Ana held his hand and pulled him along, guiding him to the table where the frosted cake awaited. "Alright, come on."

"Cut the cake, old boy." Sam told Bucky, handing him drink.

Once Bucky stood behind his cake, he laughed at how many candles covered the surface of it. "Very funny, I hope there's some cake under all those candles, Ana." He looked up at her with a twinkle in his eye.

"You love it." Ana dismissed.

Shuri threw her hands out before Bucky could blow the fire from the top of the candles, making him stop in his movements. "Wait! Aren't you going to make a wish?" She asked. Bucky paused, and looked at the Princess, before his focus transition to Ana. Then, he cracked a smile and said,

"Nah, I'm good."

- - -

After a night of quiet partying, eating cake and hanging out with awesome people, Ana and Bucky bid their friends a goodnight before retreating back to their room for the evening. Deciding they didn't want to end the festivities there, after a heated, special kiss, Ana and Bucky put a movie on and watched it until another round of special kisses drew them together. By Ana's hand, the first Star Wars was playing on the flatscreen tv. Ana was sitting up against the headboard and Bucky was lying down on his side, head in her lap.

"I still don't see it." Bucky said as Luke Skywalker came on.

Ana's fingers brushed through his long hair and she chuckled, "Then open your eyes." She replied. She may or may not have told him he looked similar to the lead in the movie.

A ding sound coming from Ana's phone on the bedside drawer caused her to look over at it. She picked it up and read the text from Fury. Found him. He'll be inconvenienced for another three days. Attached was an address and phone number to one Scott Lang. Ana then remembered what Scott was going through, and her mood dampened a tad. She made a promise to herself that she would visit her dear friend and see how he was holding up after the Berlin incident.

"What is it?" Bucky asked, and sat up. "Is Shuri sending you more me-mes?"

"They're pronounced memes, my darling, and no. It's a text from Fury." Ana showed him, and he nodded. "Remember the guy that could shrink? Scott Lang?"

Bucky's eyes squinted and he recalled the Civil War moment between the Avengers. "The guy that also turned into a giant, right?"

Ana pointed at him in confirmation. "Yeah, well, he's been under house arrest ever since Germany. I've been meaning to visit and check up on him. See how he's holding up. He's also got a kid and it's probably tough for the both of them. He wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for us. For me." Ana mumbled, eyebrows furrowing.

"What makes you say that?" Bucky questioned.

Ana glanced at him. "Sam and I knew Scott. We knew what he could do. We knew he'd be a great addition to the team so we called Clint and had him talk Scott into joining us. We needed a guy who could get in and out, someone who could take out our opponents without them even knowing about it until they're on the floor. Scott would've helped us take care of the other Winter Soldiers before they were unleashed. But he got caught, just like the rest of us." Ana explained.

"Where is he now?" Bucky asked.

"San Francisco." Ana answered.

Bucky waited a few seconds before, sitting up against the headboard next to her. "You should go."

Ana glanced at him, unsure. "Really?"

Bucky nodded, "Yeah, I mean, it would only be for a day or two. I can take care of myself for a few days. I have my goats and Steve to keep me company." He smiled.

Ana chuckled, "Thanks, Buck. It'd give me peace of mind knowing he's doing alright."

"You do have to do one thing for me before you go." Bucky replied, giving her a grin.

Ana leaned forward, and hummed. "And what's that?" She asked, wrapping her arms around his neck as she moved above him. Bucky's breath fanned across her cheek and his eyes shut once their lips were millimetres apart,

"Give me another special kiss..."

- - - - -

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this short chapter since it's the last time Ana will get to relax because now she's going onto Ant-Man and the Wasp, the the dreadful Infinity War! Let me know what you thought and I'll get started on the next phase of the book. From here on out, it's gonna be filled with revelations and pain! (sorry not sorry) I'm so excited to get into the next phases, so stay tuned and keep reading and voting my lovely readers!

Q- What's your favourite cake flavour?