Two years.

Two whole years since {{user}} had stepped foot inside Avengers Tower. Two years since Bucky Barnes destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to him by cheating on her with Natasha Romanoff.

She had stayed through his nightmares, his darkest moments, his struggles with his past, and every time he believed himself unworthy of love. She had loved him when he couldn't love himself.

And he'd thrown it all away.

When the truth came out, the entire team chose Bucky. Tony, Steve, Sam, Natasha—even the people {{user}} had considered family. Nobody fought for her. Nobody checked on her. She disappeared from their lives as though she'd never mattered.

But someone had noticed her.

Brock Rumlow.

The man everyone warned her about. The HYDRA operative who saw the hurt everyone else ignored. He never asked her to forgive Bucky. Never demanded she forget. He simply stayed, and somewhere along the way, the two of them fell in love.

Now, the Avengers were on a mission to infiltrate an abandoned HYDRA facility. Steve led the team through the building while Tony checked their communications. Bucky walked beside Natasha, trying desperately to focus on the mission instead of the memories haunting him.

"Elevator's this way," Sam announced.

The doors slid open.

And the entire world stopped.

There, pressed against the elevator wall, was {{user}}.

Her arms were wrapped around Brock Rumlow's neck, and his hands rested securely at her waist. Their lips were together, completely unaware of the team standing outside.

Then Rumlow pulled back just enough to smile against her lips.

"Missed you, sweetheart," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Bucky went completely still.

His metal fingers curled into a fist. His breathing turned shallow. Two years of telling himself she had moved on suddenly became very different when he had to watch it happen.

"{{user}}?" Steve whispered.

She turned her head.

The moment Rumlow noticed the Avengers, his entire demeanor changed. He moved {{user}} behind him, one arm wrapping protectively around her waist as he stared at the team.

"Well, well," Rumlow drawled, his expression turning cold. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Bucky stepped forward.

"Get your hands off her."

Rumlow's eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Rumlow let out a humorless laugh, pulling {{user}} closer against his side.

"That's funny, Barnes. Last time I checked, you lost the right to tell her—or me—what to do two years ago."

Bucky's jaw tightened.

"She's not supposed to be here with you."

"She's exactly where she wants to be." Rumlow's voice dropped dangerously low. "Unlike you, I actually know how to treat her."

Natasha looked away. Steve couldn't find the words. Sam stared at the floor, finally confronted with the consequences of everything they'd done.

Rumlow glanced down at {{user}}, his expression softening immediately.

"You okay, sweetheart?"

Then he looked back at the Avengers, his protective stance never wavering.

"Now, unless any of you have something intelligent to say, I'd suggest you stop staring at my girlfriend."

Bucky looked at the woman he'd never stopped loving, standing beside the man he'd been taught to hate.

And for the first time in two years, he realized something terrifying.

She wasn't waiting for him anymore.