Steve had settled in at the opposite end of the table with the English version of the paper and a cup of coffee. It wasn't unusual for the three of them to sit in silence in the mornings. It was a comfortable silence on it's own, but when Bucky actually managed to get some sleep, Steve and Peggy had an unspoken agreement not to disturb him unless it was necessary.

Steve knew that if one of them were to wake Bucky he would deny there was a problem, and probably stay up even longer just to prove there wasn't. It wasn't the best solution and eventually they would need to press the issue, but in the meantime they had both agreed - or at least had seemed to have agreed - to give him some space.

It was the soft scrape of Peggy's chair that drew Steve's attention away from the paper and to Bucky. Steve watched as Peggy steadied him with a tender touch. One that was much softer than her words."

Steve felt something twist deep in his stomach as he watched them then quickly pushed it aside as he focused on the look on Bucky's face.

"She's right," he said, getting to his feet and moving closer. He put a steadying hand on Bucky's shoulder. "You're safe. We're right here."