He smiled softly and nodded as he followed her. He pushed down his feelings, told himself that it was better this way. “I’m afraid I’m going to drink this place dry.”

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“You’re the only family I need,” she said, then leaned up and kissed his cheek softly. “Come on, we look silly standing here like this,” she said, then moved to put her hand in his and start pulling him from the middle of the room.

176

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 10:47 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

He had stopped dancing, but he never let her go. “We still have time.” He said, his voice soft. “You’ll have the family you’ve always wanted.”

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“Not with how things are right now,” she said, almost a sad tone to her voice, “I wanted to, you know? When we were younger. Before the war.”

164

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 10:40 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

He understood. Dating wasn’t in the cards for him, either. He tried, but everyone just saw his age. Sure, he didn’t look like it physically, but mentally— he had decades on them. And it was too much. “Do you ever think you’ll settle down?” He asked curiously as the song came +

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

She frowned at him and shook her head. “You know better than to ask me that, James. I’m not interested in that. Nobody really. . . clicks with me like that, and it’s okay. It’s understandable. I could be their grandma. Gosh, their 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 grandma.” She sighed a little bit. —

159

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 10:40 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

to a soft end, the room filling with applause. But his focus remained entirely on her.

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 10:31 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

“You’ve got thousands of guys willing to be with you,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Why does my opinion matter so much?” He was mostly curious. They’ve been friends for so long, but he’s always loved her. He just wouldn’t say it. Too scared to admit it.

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“Just in work clothes a lot, you know? I like when you think I’m pretty.” She shrugged small, as if she were a little shy to admit. “It’s just. . . nice.”

171

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 10:27 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

“I want you to dress however you want. You’re still pretty in my eyes.” He admitted. It was true. In a suit, in sweatpants, in a dress— it was all perfect. 𝑆ℎ𝑒 was perfect.

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“Sometimes you do, that’s true. I just think it’s still rare when you see me as something more… feminine. Feel like you don’t get to a whole lot.”

102

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 10:09 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

“I compliment you!” He defends with a soft laugh, holding her closer this time. “I complimented you last week when you got your hair done.”

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

Stephanie held onto him tighter this time when she was brought back in, her smile one of full devotion to her best guy. “Mm, rare to get a compliment from you like that ~ but thank you. Guess it’s been a while since I’ve got to get out of the suit and it something fitting.”

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 9:49 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

He playfully rolled his eyes and spun her around, pulling her back in. “I might be. Yes, you look pretty.” He answered with a soft chuckle.

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“Are you trying to tell me I look 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺, James Buchanan?” she asked with a gentle smile and a small quirk of her brow.

119

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 5:36 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

“You should be, honestly.” He said. He reached up and tucked some hair away from her face. “You really cleaned up tonight. You look nice.”

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“You know how many times I’ve heard you say that?” she asked, letting her fingers brush through the hair at the base of his neck. “Enough that you’d think I’d be used to it by now.”

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 4:27 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

His smile grew as he looked down at her. “You are something else, Steph.” He said, his heart fluttering.

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“Mm, always were my hero,” she said softly, this time not teasing him. She meant it entirely.

112

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 4:22 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

He grinned at her as he wrapped his arm around his waist, keeping ahold of her other hand, following the music as he swayed with her. “I’ll keep it easy and simple, sweetheart.”

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

Her hand clasped around his easily, as if it were made for her to hold onto. Stephanie then chuckled and shook her head. “No, actually. Not at all, so you better not let me stumble around and make a fool of myself.”

113

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘 · Mar 16, 2026 · 4:12 AM UTC

𝐁 𝐔 𝐂 𝐊 𝐘@Bionic_BuchananMar 16

Bucky grabbed her by the hand, setting down his drink. “You know there’s no better dance partner than me.” He said with a soft chuckle, leading her out to the dance floor. “It’s been years since we’ve danced. Still remember the steps?”

ᅟ͏ ، ͏ 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁 𝑂͟𝑈͟𝑇 𝑂𝐹 𝒯𝐼𝑀𝐸 ⋆*･ﾟ@VALOREDSHIELDMar 16

“Or — hear me out — you could ask me to dance? Finally.” Stephanie teasingly rolled her eyes before finishing his drink off and setting it down on the bar. “Unless you think someone else here would be a better dance partner? I’m sure I could find someone…” Stephanie then —