Chloe watched through the one way glass while Natasha interrogated Gruber. He verified a lot of what she already learned from the journal, but Nat kept at him.

The door behind Chloe opened and let a little light into the dark room long enough for someone to step in. Bucky slid an arm around her waist.

"You ok?"

Chloe nodded.

He pressed close behind her and kissed her neck. "Is this ok?"

"Yes."

He sighed and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her close. Chloe closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Is he telling her anything?"

"Nothing we don't already know." She trailed her fingers over his arm. "Can I confess something?"

Bucky tensed, and Chloe wondered if he was bracing himself for something bad.

"I feel so safe with you."

"That's a confession?"

"I've tried to hide behind this determined attitude, but the truth is I'm scared. I've been scared from the beginning. First not knowing what was happening to me... and then finding out."

Bucky's arms squeezed tighter, and she smiled.

"You've been my rock."

"Even when you were mad at me?"

"I was never really mad at you. I was frustrated and angry at myself and what was happening. But, yes... even then. You would stand by me or touch my shoulder, and I just felt better. Calmer."

Bucky kissed her temple and she turned in his arms.

"Even with that man in the other room. I've been on edge since we got him back here, but since you came in... I don't know. You just make me feel like it's going to be ok."

"It will be ok."

She lay her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Bucky kissed the top of her head and and smoothed his hand over her hair. "Can I make a confession now?"

Chloe smiled. "Sure."

"You make me feel like myself."

She smiled up at him. "How do I do that?"

"You don't see me as the Winter Soldier."

"But that's not really true."

"Maybe not at first, but I can see the difference. Even before you kissed me, you were seeing me differently. You have no idea what that means to me. How it allows me to be myself."

"You've definitely shown me a side of yourself that you don't show other people."

"I guess we put each other at ease."

"When we're not being awkward."

Chloe grinned and Bucky laughed.

"Yeah." He stared through the glass at Gruber. "Did you really want to stay for this?"

Chloe turned around.

"Kind of. This man changed my life. I'd like to hear what he has to say, but so far it's nothing new."

Bucky took her hand and pulled her toward the door.

"These sessions are being recorded. Natasha will let us know if she gets anything. How about we go up to the roof, and..."

Bucky leaned down and kissed her neck. Chloe wrapped her arms around his shoulders and buried a hand in his hair.

"Last I checked it was raining."

Bucky groaned.

"We could always go hang out in the common room."

He pulled back. "Really? And deal with everyone making comments about us?"

"Let me ask you this. Back before the war, when you had a girl, did you care about being affectionate in front of other people?"

"Well, different time, so what was appropriate in public was different, but..." he gave her a big grin, "no. I didn't care."

Chloe pulled him toward her and kissed his neck. Bucky groaned and squeezed her hips.

"Then why do you care now?"

Bucky scooped her into his arms and carried her all the way to the common area. The elevator was the only place he put her down, and that was only to press her into the wall and kiss her breathless.

He sat down on the sofa and placed her at his side, but pulled her legs over his.

"No one here but us," she said.

"For now. Let's make the most of it."

Bucky tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and kissed along her jaw until he captured her lips. Chloe trailed her fingers along his neck and shoulders.

After a while, Bucky pulled back. With both hands on her face, he stroked his thumb over her cheek. He brushed his lips lightly over hers, and whispered, "Я тебя люблю."

Chloe froze. She opened her eyes to see Bucky staring at her. He brushed their lips together again, and pressed his forehead to hers.

"My Russian may be a bit rusty since I haven't been practicing. Can you say that in English, please?

Bucky chuckled. "I love you."

Chloe ran her fingers over his jaw. "I love you, too."

He smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Took me a while to realize it."

"That's ok. Took me a while to admit it. Even to myself."

Chloe brushed a lock of hair from his eyes. "You're so patient with me. Always have been." She ran her hand down his chest. "You know how you asked me to dinner?"

"Sure."

"Can we skip it?"

"You don't want me to take you out?"

"We're kind of past that get-to-know-you stage. Why go out when I'd much rather be right here, doing this?"

Bucky groaned as she kissed his neck.

"Can't really argue with that."

He pulled her mouth to his. They wrapped their arms around each other, roaming over wherever they could reach. The room was filled with sighs and heavy breathing.

"Oh, naw, man. I do not need this burned into my brain."

Sam was standing there with his eyes covered when they pulled apart, and Chloe laughed.

"Sorry, Wilson. Better get used to it."

"Natasha sent me to look for you guys. Gruber realized she was fishing for info on you, and he wants to see you."

Chloe flinched. "Me?"

"That's what she said. Won't say anything else about you unless it's to you."

Chloe went to stand, but Bucky grabbed her arm.

"You don't have to do this."

"I want to. Maybe I'll finally get answers."

Bucky followed her to the interrogation room. When she opened the door, he glared at Gruber, but as Chloe closed the door, he winked at her. She knew he would be watching from the other room.

"Chloe." Gruber said her name with a sigh. "I never expected to see you again when I had to release you."

She faced him and crossed her arms. "You wanted to tell me something?"

"The redhead was asking me questions. I know those questions were about you. I think it should be you to hear the answers. Don't you agree?"

"Ok." She sat down across the table from him. "We already have the journal, so we know what you did. We know what you were trying to do. The question is, how far did you get? What's the extent of the ability you gave me?"

"When you left me, the ability was very raw. You had no control. Unfortunately, I couldn't work with you."

"You mean you couldn't brainwash me and use me."

Gruber grinned.

"The journal says something about me absorbing the skills I can learn with my ability."

"That was a goal."

"So, I can do that?"

Gruber shook his head. "I didn't have enough time. That would have required more genetic tweaking."

Chloe dropped her eyes to the table.

"You seem disappointed. Are you enjoying the ability I gave you?"

"Enjoying? Enjoying the trauma you put me through?"

"Which you don't remember."

"Enjoying learning I'm a freak? Falling all over myself when I use this stupid ability that I can't control? Enjoying that you were going to turn me into a killer?"

"Not a killer. A weapon."

Chloe stood. "You're right. A weapon. I'm going to take your weapon and turn it against you. You can enjoy that."

She slammed the door as she left, and tears built in her eyes. She barely had time to step away from the room before Bucky gathered her in his arms and kissed her head.

"Get me out of here," she whispered.

Bucky picked her up and carried her to her room. He lay down with her and held her close while she fought back tears.

"Nothing will ever be permanent. No matter how much I train, I'll never keep what I learn."

"I think it's a good thing."

Chloe pulled back. "Why?"

"If it means he would have had you longer... if it means you would have been put through more than you already were... I'm glad you can't."

A tear slipped from Chloe's eye, and Bucky wiped it away. Chloe buried her face in his neck.

"Just hold me."

"You don't even have to ask."

One Month Later

Everyone was winding down. Tony had thrown a party, and most of the guests were gone. Just Clint, Sam, Natasha, Steve, and Tony were there along with Chloe and Bucky. Chloe sat tucked against Bucky's side.

She pressed her lips to his, and Bucky deepened it without thinking, drawing a collective groan from the others.

"All right," Tony said, "something needs to be done about the Dynamic Make-Out Duo over here."

Chloe hid her face against Bucky's chest.

"There are bedrooms, you guys," Tony said. "You both have one. Pick one. Use it."

Bucky spoke a few phrases of Russian against Chloe's ear, and she blushed.

"Geez, Barnes," Natasha gaped. "I had no idea you were so filthy."

Bucky grinned. "I forgot you could understand what I said."

Steve shook his head.

"Damn, dude. What did you say?" Sam leaned forward.

"That's between me and Chloe. And Natasha, apparently."

Everyone looked to Natasha, and she stood. "Out of respect for Chloe, I'm staying quiet."

Chloe mouthed a thank you, and Natasha nodded as she left the room.

Chloe whispered to Bucky in Russian, "Take me to your room."

Without a word, Bucky took her hand and led her to the sleeping quarters.

She took in his room for the first time. There were no personal items like in her own room. Just the furniture and basic necessities. Only one thing stuck out. She picked up her gloves from his dresser.

"You left those in the training room," he said. "I meant to give them back, but I kept forgetting. When you never questioned where they were... I decided to keep them."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "They were yours."

Chloe put the gloves back, and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and breathed through the kiss.

"So, uh... we agreed your room would be a place with no pressure. You wanted to come to my room."

He lifted his eyebrow, and she grinned.

"I was intrigued by what you said to me out there."

"Really? The dirty talk?"

She nodded. "More specifically, what you said." She fisted his t-shirt. "Something about my entire body trembling?"

"If that's what you want, I'm here to serve." He placed a soft kiss to her lips. "Tell me what you want."

Chloe grinned and pressed her lips next to his ear to speak in Russian. As she spoke, he tightened his grip on her hips and pulled her closer.

He smiled down at her. "And Nat thinks I'm the filthy one?"