Abigail's POV

My alarm went off to start the cleaning and I shut it off before sitting up. Stretching, I turned to see…the bed empty. Sighing, I figured Bucky had gotten up to go on a mission or training. I slid out from the covers and changed into cleaning gear. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and descended the stairs to start the day, despite it being my birthday. We can always celebrate later tonight, I thought. I rounded the corner of the kitchen – the first section I began cleaning in – and collided into someone's back.

Bucky's. He turned to me, a wide smile stretching his lips.

"Good morning Abigail," he said, pulling me into an embrace. "Happy birthday," he whispered in my ear. Releasing me, he kissed my lips. Distracted by the taste of him, I didn't notice he had taken the cleaning supplies out of my hands.

"Sam, you can start here. Steve, you're in charge of the living room. Tony-,"

"Wait. What's going on?" I asked, interrupting Bucky's orders to the men, who I hadn't seen until he called attention to them.

"We're going to take over the cleaning today. You will be going with Wanda, carol and Nat to the movies and then lunch, maybe shopping. You decide," he told me. I arched an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, okay. But I usually do…"

"Take the day off. We've got this," Tony said.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't mind helping,"

"We had to do our own cleaning before you came here. Don't worry. Go have fun with the girls," Steve answered.

"O…kay. I feel like you're up to something,"

"Abigail! Let's go. Change into something cure. Movies okay?" Natasha shouted, linking her arm through mine and tugging me away.

"But-,"

"We're not up to anything. Have fun," Bucky told me. He winked and turned to resume giving out orders. I still had my suspicions but went back to our room to change into a red tank top and blue jean shorts. I switched from my tennis shoes to a pair of black converses and met the girls at the entrance to go out for the day. I didn't expect what would be waiting for me when we got back to the compound later that night.

Bucky's POV

Today was Abigail's birthday and I wanted to do something special. I knew she would set her alarm to 7 in the morning for her cleaning duties, so I got up earlier. I roused the others from sleep, rang Stephen Strange to come over and laid out a plan. To surprise her.

"I want to throw her a surprise party. Nat, can you get her out of the compound? I don't want her to see us setting everything up," I said.

"Sure. We'll go see a movie, go shopping for a few hours. Wanda, Carol? Care to join us?" she replied.

"Yeah. I'm down for a girls' day out," Carol said.

"Good. The rest of us can clean up and set up things for the party," I went over details; the cake, the theme, the time so the girls could get back in time. I wanted her to celebrate with everyone, her family. I'd celebrate more with her later after everyone retired to their rooms. I had the gift wrapped and ready. She'd only have to unwrap it. I only hoped she would like it. I also had another gift, but I wanted to wait a few more days before I officially proposed to her.

I smiled thinking about the day we'd marry. She'd be with me forever and I couldn't wait.

"She'll be down any minute. How will you get the supplies from her?" Steve asked.

"Simple. Distract her," I said. Which is exactly what I did. I gave out orders, sections where everyone needed to be. Strange arrived a half an hour later to begin the set up. It would be in the lounge downstairs where we had the banquet a few months ago, the decorations for her surprise party a little more lavish. The theme was based off her favorite musical; Phantom of the Opera. The lounge would set up to resemble the masquerade scene; everyone dressed up in gowns and suits. I gave Wanda and Nat specific instructions for Abigail's dress for the party, suggesting the shopping option. I hoped they would help pick out the best dress and mask.

"Any plans to propose to her?" Strange asked. We were hanging the lights. My hands faltered for a moment. I shifted my gaze to the wizard, and he chuckled.

"You both looked completely in love with each other at the banquet. I'm surprised you weren't already engaged then," he continued.

"I'm waiting for the right time. It won't be tonight. Maybe in a few days. You're right. I love her most ardently. I want it to be perfect. Traditional. At dinner or…there's always one of the gazebos in Central Park," I stated, resuming tying the lights to the ceiling.

"You've certainly figured things out. How did up you meet her? I don't imagine it was that easy. I know we're around civilians, but most don't treat us as she does,"

"I didn't meet her in the conventional sense. I was being pursued by someone, an enemy and somehow found myself neat her former place of work. A dog daycare. I sort of ambushed her by getting into her car. She brought me to her apartment, and she bandaged me up,"

"Wait. What happened? How did she end up doing that?"

"Oh, uh, I got shot. In my right arm. I'm amazed at how calm she was that night. Still amazed at how she was able to calm me,"

"She might have the ability to be a calm effect," Strange stated.

"We thought so too. But she volunteered to be tested a few months ago. Nothing. It's just her personality. No ability whatsoever," I said. This was true. She had come down to the lab one day, curious to see what new tech Tony was working on asked to see if she had any secret ability.

'I assumed I didn't have one, but I've not been tested to be sure. Maybe it's hidden,' She had said. She sat on a bench while Tony scanned her for any ability and the results had been negative.

'It's probably due to all that compassion and kindness you have. That in itself is powerful alone,' I told her.

'Plus, all my love for you. As well as everyone else. I love you the most. You're my favorite person in the world,' She said, pulling me down for a kiss.

"Must be some memory you have there," Strange stated.

"She provides some of the best ones," I commented. We continued setting up, putting last minute details into place. The cake was ordered in, so we didn't cross path with Abigail and eventually we changed into the outfits for the party.

"I'll text Nat to bring her back. Get in position," I stated, turning off the lights, shrouding us in darkness.

Abigail's POV

The first thing we did while out was catch a movie; a little rom com we could giggle and fawn over the cuteness overload. This was followed by lunch – burgers, wings and fries – food we really loved.

"So, shopping? There's a place downtown that has the prettiest dresses. I thought maybe you could get one for a fancy date with Bucky," Nat suggested.

"Yeah, not a bad idea. I'd like a new one for a special occasion too," I said.

"Always looking for ways to impress your fiancé," Carol stated. Heat flushed my face as the table grew silent.

"He's not my fiancé. We're still only boyfriend and girlfriend," I said.

"Really? I could have sworn you two were already engaged," she commented.

"No, I think you're confusing us with Tony and Pepper,"

"They're married already. I don't think anyone else is engaged or dating yet. Just you and Bucky are dating currently. Wanda, you haven't started seeing Vision, yet have you?" Wanda's face turned bright red as she shook her head.

"He's not your fiancé? Damn, I thought he had proposed. From the way you two act around each other, I thought the step had been made," Carol said.

"Not yet. I have a feeling he'll pop the question in a few days. Carol's right. You might as well already be engaged. It's pure love you two have," Nat stated. More heat flushed my face and I stuffed another fry in my mouth. We finished up and headed a few blocks away to the dress ship Natasha mentioned. I was blown away by all the fabrics and cuts of them and tried a few on.

In the end, I picked out a dark pink one that rippled to the floor, a slit that came up to mid-thigh. I also picked out a short blue one for another special occasion should it come up.

"Hey, check out these masks," Wanda stated. There were a bunch of them, ranging in all sorts of colors and styles. A golden one with lace and rhinestones caught my eyes. The gold ribbon to tie it on shimmered and beckoned me touch it.

"We have a winner," Wanda said.

"I don't know when I'd wear it," I stated, longing to run my fingers over it.

"Who know? Maybe we'll throw a masquerade for a banquet. Ooh, I know. How about you change into the pink dress and wear the mask. Surprise Bucky with how pretty they are. Render him speechless," Natasha said.

"You know. I might," We rode back to compound after Natasha got a text saying there was an emergency with the cleaning. Apparently, Tony couldn't figure out the best way to organize his desk and needed my help. When we got back, the compound was sark, setting off alarms in my mind.

"Maybe they blew a fuse," Carol said.

"You can't run the vacuum and the shampooer together. I should have warned them," I said. We entered and went to the lounge, the last place on the list to clean. As I was about to call out for the boys, the lights came on and all of them popped out and shouted:

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

I gawked at the set; the lights, the decorations. It was Phantom themed. Tears pricked my eyes and I glanced up at the top of the stairs where one of them stood. Where Bucky stood. The dark tuxedo he wore resembling the Phantom, the white mask perfectly formed to his face, accentuating his stormy blue eyes. Music started playing and he descended the stairs to me.

"Care to dance, sweetheart?" he asked, taking my hand and kissing it. I nodded and he brought me out to the middle of the dancefloor, starting a waltz. My attention was solely on him; I didn't notice the girls disappear to change or that Tony and Pepper joined us on the floor.

"This is why you had me go with the girls," I said, figuring out what he had been up to.

"I wanted to surprise you for your birthday. I had everything planned out perfectly," he stated.

"Thank you. It's lovely," I told him.

"I have something planned for us later. Just us. No one else," he whispered.

"I can't wait," Bucky leaned in to capture my lips. A gentle kiss, his arms holding me closer. I shared dances with Steve, Tony, Sam and all people Stephen Strange. Still, I came back to Bucky and cherished each moment. I was truly in love with him and refused to be parted from him.

We had cake and food, chatting away until, one by one, people started to retire for bed. By midnight it was only Bucky and me in the lounge.

"Let's go to our room. You have a final gift to open," he told me. I nodded and we went down the hallway hand-in-hand. He took a chance to twirl me, pulling a delighted laugh out of me. At our door, he pressed me up against it, leaning down to kiss me, both hands resting on the door on either side of me. He moved them my hips, circling them around me to lift me up. My legs wrapped around his waist as he opened the door, carrying me in. He kissed me again, sitting me down on the edge of the bed.

"One more present. Wait here," Bucky said. He walked over to the dresser and pulled something out of one of the drawers. A small teal bag, which he handed to me. I opened it, pulling out the tissue paper, my fingers brushing over a medium sized box. I unclasped the top and discovered a necklace with a small white mask pendant attached to it, a small rose with a black ribbon tied to it sticking through the eye hole.

"I had it custom made. I wanted it to resemble the mask in the musical. The rose was an additional part of it. What do you think?" he told me.

"It's beautiful. I love it. Help me put it on," I handed the necklace to Bucky. Turning so he could slip it around my neck, I lifted my hair up making it easier for it to rest against my skin. His fingers, cold and warm at the same time, brushed against my collarbone and neck; they lingered for a moment before I turned to face him, my hair cascading down my back.

"How does it look?" I asked.

"Perfect. Like you," His eyes flicked up to mine, making heat rush through me. My hands drifted up his arms, fingers tracing over each muscle before entwining in his hair. I pulled him to me, my lips pressed to his. He pulled me into his lap, my legs dangling off the bed. His hands tangled in my hair, moving to untie the mask. It fell on my dress, Bucky pausing to move it to the side. I untied his mask, repeating the same motion. Our lips melded together once again, out tongues gliding against one another.

One hand found the zipped of my dress and pulled it down, the straps slipping off my shoulders. He pulled those off, the silk fabric resting at my waist. I shifted back to take it off, settling back in his lap. I removed his jacket and bow tie. Slowly, I unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it off his shoulders, down his arms until it hit the floor. I let my hands roam over his defined chest, causing him to shiver. He slid me off his lap to remove his pants and tossed them to the floor as well as my dress to have it out of the way.

He moved towards me gently pushing my body against the sheets. He removed my underwear, leaving me bare to him. I took of his boxers, his cock springing forth.

We took our time, touching each other and kissing; it led to us fitting together like puzzle pieces, moving against each other slow and tender until we came, one at a time. It ended with me resting against his chest, the sheets draped over our hips, lower limbs tangled up.

"Happy birthday," he told me, kissing the top of my head. I snuggled closer and squeezed him tighter.

"Thank you. It was the best one I've had in a long time," I told him, drifting off to a pleasant dreamland. Unknown to us, a new enemy would cause trouble a few days later.