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thesugarclubs-blog · 2 years

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The Nightmare - Bucky Barnes x OC

warnings: death, grief, descriptions of car wreck, soft smut, Minors DNI

word count: 5.8k

WP: https://www.wattpad.com/1273713486-the-nightmare-ruby

authors note: This one gets pretty heavy and dark, please please read the warnings! It's a rollercoaster of emotions 🖤

Masterlist

She’s alone in the kitchen, a knife clutched in her hand and blood on her shirt, but she doesn’t know where it came from or whose it is. Ruby can’t remember anything, all she can feel is her heart thumping violently against her ribcage, followed by the sound of her own blood roaring in her ears.

“Ruuuubyyyy…” A strange, gravelly voice croaks.

The sound seems to come from everywhere and nowhere. She turns around, her fingers gripping the knife as tightly as she can, until she feels like she might shatter it.

She hears a deep scraping sound coming from the hallway. Claw marks appear on the walls heading straight for her. Bits of drywall crumble and fall to the floor. Her heart leaps into her throat, pounding so hard that her ribs threaten to crack. Sweat begins to form on her hairline and her hands get so clammy that the pressure with which she’s holding the knife causes it to slip and clatter to the ground.

“Pick up the knife, Ruby,” the voice urges with a playful yet menacing giggle.

Her legs begin to tremble, and then, suddenly, her body is slammed against the wall by an unseen force.

“I SAID PICK IT UP!”

She scrambles on her hands and knees and quickly retrieves the knife, feeling something looming over her. Icy dread fills her veins and she gets to her feet, ready to strike, but when she looks around, there’s nothing there.

Ruby blinks, and suddenly, she’s in the living room, still holding the knife. In front of her are four bodies under sheets that are covered in blood stains and claw marks. Above their heads is a macabre sign written in blood that reads HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY. Ruby screams.

And then she woke up.

Ruby sat up in her bed like a lightning bolt screaming at the top of her lungs and she could feel her heart thumping against her chest. She looked around her room and saw the clock on her bedside read midnight, it was her birthday and she just had the same nightmare she had every year.

It's not real, it's not real, it's not real she whispered to herself as she wipes sweat from her forehead.

Ruby listened carefully as she took deep calming breaths. No scary voices or scraping on the walls. She started shuffling the blankets around to untangle them from her formerly flailing limbs and hopefully return to sleep.

Ruby was almost comfortable again when she heard the groan of the floorboards from the hallway beyond her door.

There was a pause, then a soft, “Ruby?” came through the closed door.

She sighed, thinking about ignoring him, before replying, “Yeah, Bucky?” A beat of silence flooded the room as if he was contemplating an answer.

“You okay?” Muffled from the other side of cold wood.

Ruby sighed at the obvious worry in his voice.

“I heard—you—“ his words stumbled as she climbed from the bed, her fingers grasped the door handle, turning and whipping it open, startling the still half asleep man in front of her.

“You were screaming.” He finished.

His eyes widened, pulling him from his sleepy state, as he took in her dishevelled appearance. Her hair was tousled and her skin was pale. When her hand dropped away from the door he could see it shaking.

“Talk to me Ruby,” he urged, stepping forwards a little. She tucked her hands together in a desperate attempt to make them stop and walked toward the unmade bed, sitting down on the edge of the mattress, "I'm fine, the movie freaked me out I guess."

"I almost believe you," he light heartedly teased. The bed dipped beside her, his shoulder brushing against her as she pulled at the hem of her oversized shirt so it better covered her thighs. "I've watched you eat spaghetti during the fly, you weren't screaming because of Evil Dead." ''I had a nightmare, okay? Are you happy?” Ruby admitted with a sigh. Bucky's gaze softened as he shifted his position and moved closer to her.

''Do you want to talk about it ?'' “Not really, it’s fine. I’ve had it before,” Ruby sighed. She turned her body to face him, hair falling over her eyes as she glanced down at her shaky hands. “It’s just, you know when you have a dream and it’s so vivid. Like, you can feel every sensation even once you wake up?”

“Thought you didn’t wanna talk about it?” Bucky chuckled, tentatively tucking Ruby’s hair behind her ear. Ruby cleared her throat and moved further onto her bed, tucking her knees up to her chest, “I don’t. I was asking you a question.”

Bucky nodded once, and shrugged, “Not really. I don’t remember my dreams at all.” He swiped a hand through his hair and sighed, “Sorry that’s, uh, not helpful I guess.” “It’s okay. I don’t think that you could help me anyway. It’s…”

She sighed, not knowing if she should tell him about what she was thinking because she knew it was kind of silly, but lately, nothing seemed normal. Lights that went on and off in the middle of the night, people in the streets that appeared and disappeared out of nowhere. She felt like she was going crazy.

“Let me try,” Bucky said, his blue eyes softening as he looked at her. Ruby met his gaze through her lashes and nipped at her nails as the possible outcomes of their conversation played out in her mind. The last thing she wanted was to spill this stupid story that's been going around in her family for generations and have him think that she was a weirdo.

She let out a breath and whispered, "Ok, but I need you to promise that you'll hear me out first and please don't make fun of me."

Bucky took one of her hands in his and gave it a soft squeeze.

"Ruby, if something freaked you out this much the last thing I'm gonna do is make fun of you. I just wanna help you feel better however I can." His look made her feel more nervous than she already was, head tilting to the side and soft, warm eyes trying to calm her down. His other hand placed over her now clenched one, thumb drawing figure eights on the back of her hand.

He waited so patiently to let her thoughts turn into words, never there to judge.

Like he never did.

She took a deep breath and let her shoulders relax. “I don’t think my dreams are just dreams…the thing is…god what am I doing…” She whispered, more to herself. "Hey," Bucky urged. "It's okay. You don't have to talk about it if it's too hard."

Ruby felt like she was swallowing cotton. She'd never told anyone about this before, it's not like anyone would ever believe her. Ruby looked up at him with tears in her eyes as her chin trembled.

"No, I-- I want to. It's just... I'm afraid you'll think I'm crazy." “I would never think that” Bucky smiled

“My family… is kind of obsessed, well not obsessed but convinced we have this curse. Like we are connected to the supernatural world.” Ruby said averting her eyes away from Bucky so she wouldn’t see his reaction and she held her breath. "It has always been there, but then a few weeks ago the dreams started again but worse," she continued as she picked at the edge of her frayed sleep shirt. "Really fucked up stuff."

His fingers slid into hers and he gave them a squeeze.

"That's not...that crazy," he replied softly. She glanced back at him, huffing a light laugh. “Dreams are only the half of it, Bucky. I’m seeing things when I’m awake that aren’t there but feel so real, I can feel random cold spots in places when it’s 90 degrees out and there’s no air, things move or disappear…” She anxiously watched as Bucky pressed his lips into a thin line almost wincing as she spoke.

"See...crazy." Ruby muttered, pulling her fingers from his as she scooted further back into the headboard. "Just forget I said anything." He took a deep breath and shook his head before answering.

“Look, Ruby, if you say that this is happening to you then I believe you. I’d be a pretty shit friend if I didn’t eh?”

He gave her a half smile and she eventually met his eyes again. "Am I shit friend, Ruby?" he asked turning on the bed, the fabric of his cropped white football jersey riding up enough to show the bottom of his chest as he crawled toward her and rested against the headboard. He tucked his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in tightly to the curve of his body.

Ruby sighed, laying her head against his chest. She could hear the soft thud of his heart beat in her ear as she weighed her options about telling him everything. She looked up at him and swallowed her fear, "last week I watched Mr. Stark, the school janitor, mop the floors with blood. I don't know what's happening."

Bucky sighed, pressing a soft kiss to her hair and attempting to smooth the wild locks down with the palm of his hand. His skin felt warm, his body solid beneath her — comfort amongst the chaos of her mind.

“Has anything happened to trigger this?” He asked and Ruby shrugged.

“Even if it had, I don’t see how that would help get rid of it.” “Well sometimes knowing what triggers it, can help you stop it” he suggested, playing with the baby hairs on the back of her neck.

Ruby closed her eyes, and tried to think of the days before. Everything had been normal, aside from the visions and her inability to get a good nights sleep. As she kept trying to remember, Ruby felt herself drifting again, until a loud screeching, like nails on a chalk board, caused her to shoot back up with a gasp.

“Hey, hey I’m right here!” Bucky soothed. “What just happened?”

Ruby tried to tell him what she just saw, but as quickly as the vision came, it vanished again.

“Ru?” he pulled her out of her thoughts. He hasn’t called her Ru in what feels like forever.

“I- I don’t know. I just think I don’t want to be alone tonight….ca-can you stay, maybe? Here? With me?” She gulped.

“Of course.” He said, “I’ll stay as long as you want. I won’t leave you…ever.” he whispered the last part as she cuddled back into him.

"Thanks Buck."

Bucky pulled the covers on top of her as they settled into the pillows. Ruby focused her thoughts on the rise and fall of Bucky's chest below her hand, trying to bring her breaths as close as she could to the soft rhythm of his.

"I've got you birthday girl. You want us to keep talking? About that or anything else, or do you wanna try to sleep?"

"Talking is good, I don't think I can sleep right now."

“Of course, I have all the time in the world,” he whispered as he grazed a thumb against the side of her face.

It was comforting, making her sink down further into his chest with closed eyes. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. It felt like by only focusing on that, it could help her erase every bugging thought in her mind for a while, to be in the present.

His lips met her hairline, they felt warm against her skin as she opened her eyes again. “Bucky…is there anything you’re afraid of?”

"I don't know," he hummed.

She laughed and nuzzled into his chest. He placed one more kiss atop her head and she felt his warm arms wrap around her a little tighter.

"You don't know?"

He shook his head and Ruby glanced up at him to see his gorgeous lips spreading out into a smile.

"You've gotta give me something better than that, Barnes," She teased. "I was all vulnerable with you."

His bright eyes misted and he sniffled, swallowing hard.

"Losing you."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Ruby’s heart melted at that. “I don’t know what I would do without you. You are my best friend in the whole world and you mean so much to me. It is just so easy to talk to you” she spoke curling herself even more into his arms.

Bucky's hands moved over her back, drawing small circles through the thin fabric. She inhaled his familiar smell, some cheap cologne he bought when the mall opened after Ruby said she thought it smelled nice. There's something else there, something new. Like motor oil. It's faint and just as soon as she figured out what it reminds her of, the scent disappears.

"Hey, where'd you go there? Kinda staring off into space and weirding me out," Bucky murmured with a laugh.

“It’s nothing,” Ruby mutters, brow furrowing slightly as a shiver ran through her body. Bucky pulled her closer, and she shook the thought off, saying, “Bucky, tell me a story.”

She could feel him take a slow long deep breath as her head rose and fell with his chest.

"A story huh?" He breathed. "Lets see..."

She looked up at him, taking in the curve of his jaw and the cleft in his chin as he started to speak.

“Once upon a time…”

They both giggled but Bucky continued regardless, looking down on her with a soft gaze.

“…there was this amazing girl…”

"I don't want to hear the story about how you met Natasha, again."

He shook his head, the longer strands of hair around his forehead falling slightly out of place as she crept her fingers under the warm fabric of his shirt. "There was a young boy, he watched this girl every single day. The girl was everything, she held the stars in her eyes," he touched her cheek bone with the pad of his thumb collecting a small tear that had escaped. "She was the first warm breeze after a long winter. Her laugh made you feel like you could fly and with her around you believed it without a doubt. She was brave and bold but she was always the first person to smile at you in the hallways at school. She was sunshine trapped in this little beautiful body, there was not a person in the world that made him feel the way she did."

"The boy sounds in love," she smiled.

"The boy was consumed by it," Bucky gave her a small, tender smile as his hand cupped her jaw.

"where did she go?" Ruby's fingers traced the soft curve of his peck and Bucky's tongue ran along his bottom lip, "You said was. She was." she noted.

"She's just a little far away at the moment," Bucky inhaled slowly, "just a little out of reach."

"I hope she finds her way back. Maybe if you light up the path with all the light you have in your heart." The words that left Ruby's lips, barely a whisper.

Bucky kissed her forehead, his lips touched her skin lightly.

Bucky smiled into her skin, and tightened his grip around her ever so slightly. "I think he's just sad it took this long for him to tell her.." He whispered back.

Ruby turned her head up to look at him, locking her eyes with his. Was this story about her? Was this his way of telling her something? She bit her lip, and brought her hand up to cup his cheek, "Bucky..."

"I should have told you every day since your last birthday..." A small smile tugged at his lips. "I love you, Ruby"

She sucked in a shaky breath, and ran her thumb across her lips, "I love you too, Bucky" She stretched up, lightly pressing her lips to his, noting how cold they felt.

Bucky's hand found its way into her hair, and pressed her deeper into the kiss. He pulled her body on top of his, that faint smell of oil and gas returning, but Ruby ignored it.

She straddled his lap as he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. His hands found their way up her thighs. A soft moan escaped her as he moved his lips from hers, kissing her jaw down to her throat and sucking on that sweet spot she liked. It was right next to the tiny scar she got when she was drunk once.

“Bucky, I-“ she was out of breath but stopped when she heard sirens coming from outside.

“Don’t listen to them, Ru. Just listen to me. I’m right here,” he breathed and kissed her scar. “God, you are amazing. I’ve waited way too long for this.”

A breathy moan left her mouth as she tilted her head to give him more access, plump lips tracing her scar so gently.

Goosebumps pricked along her skin when he ran his tongue along it, slightly cold. “ Then why didn’t you come earlier? “

His hands gripped her waist, travelling up to grab her shoulders as he pulled back. “ I tried…and when I thought the right time had come…”

He placed one hand over her heart, his light touch made it feel like she’d run into something solid, making her flinch as she jumped back slightly.

“ Ruby. “ He whispered as she opened her eyes, seeing a blood covered Bucky in front with widened eyes.

Ruby gasped and pulled away from him, a strangled cry spilling from her lips. Her eyes instinctively slammed shut and she turned her head to the side as tears rushed down her face and her heart hammered against her ribs. It's not real, it's not real.

"Ruby?" Bucky whispered.

She felt his hands on her face as he gently grasped her chin and turned her head to face him. Ruby kept her eyes shut, her entire body frozen in fear. She was so sick of this, of these dreams invading every second of her life. Nothing about her was normal.

"Ruby, open your eyes for me, sweets. Please?"

"I can't."

She felt his lips, cool against her skin, as he kissed away the tears that continued to fall.

"Yes you can. For me? I'll keep you safe, princess."

Slowly, they fluttered open and through a thick mass of tears, she saw him clear as day and completely fine. He smiled at her. Bucky seemed to know what she was thinking. Her scar began to throb a little, the dull pain radiating through her head and jaw. Bucky pressed his lips to it. His hands held on tightly to her, fingertips sinking into her waist.

"I've got you," he breathed as he kissed her scar.

A shiver ran down her spine, there was a sudden chill in her room. She looked to her window and saw that it was shut, but why was she cold all of a sudden? Taking a couple of deep breaths she turned back to Bucky.

“I … don’t know what just happened… it seemed so real…” she whispered.

Bucky shushed her softly, rubbing his thumb across her trembling bottom lip.

"I'm here with you now. That's all that matters."

She nodded quickly as his hand snaked around her neck to pull her in for another kiss. This one is more frantic, their breaths coming out in shorter pants each time they pull apart. Ruby whimpered as he released her mouth, lips swollen and glistening with saliva.

"I won't leave you again, I promise," he whispered as his hands tangled in her wavy hair.

The lights flickered as Ruby pressed her hands to his abs, sliding one under his crop top to feel his firm pecs, the other sliding past his waistband, stopping just above his dick.

“I need you Bucky, please, say you need me too.”

A small gasp left his lips, he dipped his head into the crook of her neck, his breath felt cool against her skin.

"I've always needed you Ruby." He whispered in an almost soft whine while her fingers danced along his hip bones.

Ruby pulled back once more, tilting her head to look at him. He was beautiful, his hair was a mess and bright blue eyes looked up at her and suddenly she felt consumed by him.

Bucky helped her, removing his shirt as she freed him from the shorts and tossed them to the side, Ruby took in his naked form bathed in the moonlight and flicked her tongue across her lips. Outside, the wind howled, mimicking the bone chilling sounds of a woman screaming. She closed her eyes quickly again, battling against the horrors that raged within her mind. The world around them seemed to crash against the walls of her room, scratching to get out like a wild animal. Hungry for blood, chasing their happiness, desperate for death.

"Ruby," Bucky whispered through the noise. "It's just you and me."

"Come on, princess. Show me what you want." Bucky's voice was hoarse and laced with desire.

Trailing her fingers lightly over the valley of taut skin and a faint dusting of chest hair, her finger stopped at the waistband of his boxers.

"I want you. All of you. Always." Her voice broke as the branches of the trees outside scratched against her window in an eerily screeching sound.

Her hands traced down his abdomen, and over a large scar he had across his chest. She didn't remember that being there before. She shook her head slowly, throwing the thought away, as she leaned down and pressed her lips to his cold skin. Ruby kissed her way down, paying attention to each hip bone as she wrapped her fingers around his cock.

No more horrible thoughts. It was just her and Bucky. That's all she needed. Always.

"Ruby.." Bucky whined, moving his hips against her hand.

A smirk formed on her lips, as she moved her hand up and down slowly, "So needy." She whispered.

“Fuck.” He breathed as she spit on her hand and continued to move it up and down his cock.

He was lying back on her bed, his eyes closed. He seemed to enjoy every single second of it. His hands were placed in her hair, grabbing a fistful as he got closer and closer to his high.

“Sweets,” he breathed, “I don’t want you to stop but - fuck - I’m close.”

He pulled her head away from his cock and up to his face, kissing her passionately as he tried to get her out of her clothes.

She straddled him once again, his cock brushed against her clothed front making her whimper from the sensational feeling when she started to grind on it, feeling how soaked her panties became.

His hands grabbed the hem of her shirt, tugging on it gently as he pulled back. “ Can we take this off? I want to see every part of your beauty. “

She bit her lip and she blushed from his words, nodding quickly. “ Please… “

He pulled it off in one go, admiring the sight in front of him. “No bra huh?” He smirked up at her, never breaking eye contact as his lips grazed over one of her nipples before sucking on it and flicking his tongue around it.

She threw her head back with a soft moan. “Oh Bucky…feels so good…”

Bucky chuckled softly and bit down gently, causing her to whimper. His mouth travelled up the column of her throat and he nipped at her earlobe. As he breathed out, she heard the faint sound of glass shattering and when her eyes closed, she saw a bright white light. She tried to focus on the sound of his voice drowning out everything else.

"I love you, Ruby. I've always loved you."

Her hips continued to grind against him and she bit down on her bottom lip.

"I love you too. God, I need you."

He pulled back, his eyes so bright they almost looked like headlights in the dark. Her breath caught in her chest as she had the faintest feeling that she had seen something like this before. Again, she ignored it. It didn't matter now. All that mattered was him.

Bucky smiled and hooked a finger in the waistband of her shorts.

"Then let's get these off of you, shall we?"

Ruby rolled off his lap onto the bed, sliding back towards the headboard. Bucky followed close behind, his fingers catching in the fabric of her pajamas. The movement dragged her closer to him as he pulled the shorts down, tossing them to the side.

"Jesus," Ruby moaned at the sight of him, the hard lines of his stomach and arms flexing as he moved toward her.

His forearms came up to cage Ruby in and he rubbed his nose against hers.

"Just trying to help you out, sweetheart."

He started slowly rocking his hips against her, sending electric shocks through her body that had her toes curling with each thrust. She was going to come before he was even inside of her.

"Is that what you needed?" Bucky whispered breathlessly against her cheek. "Or should I give you more?"

“I’ll beg if you want me to Bucky, just hurry up and fuck me,” Ruby moaned, lifting her hips, grinding desperately into him.

“Jesus, okay baby, hang on,” Bucky muttered. “I gotcha Ru, I’ll take care of you.”

A blare of a car horn startled her, but Bucky didn’t seem to hear it, rolling the two of them so she was on top. “Why don’t you set the pace, maybe that’ll make you feel a little more comfortable.”

Ruby nodded her head, her chest heaving with pants as she tried to forget the noise. Bucky's hands gripped onto her hips helping her lift up slightly. She reached between them, grasping his cock and lining him up with her entrance. Ruby needed him and the more she sank onto him, it felt like a timer in her had started.

Her mouth dropped slightly, feeling every inch of him as she settled onto him. "Feels so good," He groaned tilting his head back against her pillow.

She began rolling her hips, slow at first before growing desperate as their moans began to fill the room. Whimpers and groans turned into quiet screeches and the sound of metal crunching. Ruby could feel that timer quickly ticking down and it only fueled her need for him.

Bucky's hands helped create a steady motion, rocking her back and forth, "I missed you." his head tilted back up as he admired every inch of her body.

Ruby leaned into his grip, arching her back as she rolled her hips forward in a needy attempt to feel him entirely. She slammed her eyes shut, willing herself to ignore the horrible images filling her mind of blood and twisted metal.

A bright light flashed in her eyes, as she heard Bucky moan from beneath her, the smell of burning and gasoline filling her senses.

"Bucky…" She whined, opening her eyes and searching his features, as she reached for him, tangling her fingers in his, needing every bit of closeness she could get. He was right here, with her. Nothing bad was happening. It was a perfect moment. She repeated that to herself, as she rocked her hips, picking up her pace.

"I'm right here, my love" He groaned, giving her hand a squeeze. "I've got you…" He cupped her cheek, and brought her lips down to meet his.

She squeezed his hand harder. She trusted the love of her life with her whole heart. Their heavy breathing mixed between them when she pulled back.

“Never let me go.” She placed her forehead against his, blue eyes looking so deeply into hers.

“Never.” He grunted with a final trust, warmth spread inside of her as he filled her up.

It made her let go, a tingling feeling shooting through her whole body and she collapsed onto him. Skin sticky against each other as they both tried to come down from their high.

She could feel electricity crackling through her nerve endings, making them explode as she shook on top of them. Bucky grabbed her chin gently and kissed her softly as he continued to move her hips. He wasn't finished.

"It's almost midnight, sugar."

Ruby looked at the clock, 11:51 p.m. and couldn't help but laugh. She couldn't believe this was happening. Ruby had adored him for so long, and she finally had him.

"It's not like you're going to turn into a pumpkin or something."

He chuckled softly. The smell of burning gasoline got stronger and she saw something dark and red gathering at his hairline like sweat. She blinked. It flickered in and out of her vision like television static. Ruby bit her lip.

"Bucky--"

"Ruby, I'm--"

He spilled into her with a groan and her mouth eclipsed his once more.

Ruby let out a whimper as he cupped her cheek, pressing soft kisses to her sweaty skin.

"My sweet girl," he whispered. "Always my sweet girl."

He rolled to her side with a groan, his fingers laying next to her thigh. The smell of smoke tickled Ruby's nose and throat, causing her to cough. Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked up at the ceiling. She felt cold suddenly, an unwelcome feeling tingling at her hands and feet.

"Buck, something isn't right."

Bucky coughed, it sounding wet and heavy. She grabbed his hand, holding his freezing fingers tight. “Tell me another story, Bucky?”

He sighed heavily. “Once upon a time…there was the best girl in the world. She and her best pal were going driving one night, the night that shoulda been one of the best of their lives. It was her birthday see, and it was Halloween.”

Ruby lifted her head, looking at Bucky. His skin looked paler than before and his normally bright smile seemed weaker.

His head rolled to the side, glancing at the clock. 11:54 "It was late like it is now..." His voice sounded strained as his head lulled back towards her. "The road was dark and the only light was from their headlights..."

Tears stung her eyes as he spoke, "Bucky--" she whispered, a mournful feeling pitting in her stomach.

"Listen, we don't have time," he coughed again, blood dripping from the corner of his full lips. "There was something in the road, you didn't have time. The car flipped. I think you're seeing me because of your family, I don't think I can stay..." he stopped, his mouth falling open as two large lines started to pull through his perfect flesh creating new horrific wounds that framed his blue eyes.

Ruby watched as everything around her melted away leaving her standing on a long dark highway; the only source of light was a set of flares and the flashing lights of a cop car. "Bucky?" She spun around, frantic, remembering, "Bucky!"

She ran toward the bright hot lights of the flares, stumbling over her own bare feet until she was standing in the wet grass of the ditch. "Ruby," Bucky's voice barked from behind her, standing mere feet from her covered in blood, "It wasn't your fault, remember that. It wasn't your fault."

"Bucky!" Ruby screeched, as a searing pain spread from the scar behind her ear across the rest of her head. She brought her hand up to her nose, and pulled it away, seeing the blood dripping from it. No. no. no this couldn't be happening. She heard the faint sound of tires squealing ring through her mind.

The faint feeling of a hand brushing her cheek, brought tears from her eyes. "I love you Ruby... I'll never leave you..." He whispered in her ear.

"No, no, no... This isn't real... this isn't happening… this is all a dream." She grasped her head in her hands and fell to her knees in the grass. "Bucky, help me! Please..." She screamed again.

Her pained cries surrounded her, tears streamed down her cheeks and her fingers dug into the skin of her chest. She wanted to rip out the aching pain in her heart.

This isn’t real.

“Y-you said…you wouldn’t let me go…” her voice quivered as she looked up at him, what was left of him.

He faded slowly right in front of her. She could almost see right through his sad,weak smile as he hunched down to meet her eyes. One cold hand reached up to cup her cheek. She closed her eyes, trying to remember how he felt when warm instead.

“Look at me baby, I don’t have much time left…please.” He spoke right in front of her, but still he sounded so far away.

Shaking her head, she sobbed when she felt him place his forehead against hers, kissing her nose in the most tender way. “ I can’t…I don’t want to remember you like this. “

“Once upon a time there was a girl…” He said softly.

She finally opened up her eyes, remembering when they laid in bed in each other's arms not long ago. He smiled down at her, the softest and sweetest smile that told her how much he loved and adored the woman in front of him.

Ruby shot up in her bed, her sweat covering the sheets as her alarm clock went off. She swung her arm at it, hurling it to the ground. It let out one final long, dying beep and then stopped.

Sunlight was pouring in through the windows of her bedroom. As she looked around, she could still smell Bucky's cologne mixed with the faint scent of motor oil and copper. Ruby's hand clawed at her chest, her fingernails digging into her skin.

Her eyes immediately went to the picture sitting on her nightstand. Her and Bucky at homecoming. He was kissing her cheek while she laughed. Both of them were the happiest they had ever been until that night changed everything. It was her fault. She should have never gotten in the car after drinking that much. He trusted her.

Every birthday since then has been the same. Ruby reached over and grasped the photo.

"I'm sorry, Bucky."

Tears dripped onto the glass, distorting his face. Ruby quickly wiped them away, but there were so many falling that she couldn't keep up. She could still feel his lips on hers, and still feel his presence in the room. Ruby's eyes closed and her eyes filled with tears.

She dropped the photo, put her head in her hands and began to weep, knowing that no matter what she did or how far she ran, her guilt would haunt her for the rest of her life.