A/N:

Hey! So this is a Bucky x O/C story, so please enjoy!

There were a lot of people who enjoyed to socialise in the 1930s. However, Charlotte Jaines had never been one to talk a lot. She always seemed out of place and a little... Odd. Although she was a beautiful girl, with wavy caramel hair including hazel streaks, a petite face sprinkled with freckles, and blue-ish eyes, she always lagged behind and was a quiet person.

That didn't stop her from standing up for herself, though. Charlotte was always very honest, and when she didn't like something, she'd let them know. So that's how this story sort of begins.

It was a sunny morning, kids running around the streets of Brooklyn. James Barnes was only 11 and making his way down one of the more secluded alleys of New York when he saw a little girl, sitting on the ground and crying. Her caramel hair was in a disarray, hanging over her face like a curtain. Yet he could still hear her small sobs.

So being the nice kid he always was, he walked up to her. "Hey," he just casually said. The girl paused her sniffs and glanced up at James. "What happened to you?" Normally, he wouldn't have just stopped to chat with a little seven year old crying in the street, but today something strange pulled him to her.

"They- they took my train."

"What?"

The little girl sighed softly and rubbed her big eyes. "They took my train and laughed at me."

"And? What happened?"

"I kicked one of the boys in the shin. Then they shoved me."

Bucky had a feeling that this girl reminded him of Steve. That guy was always off to trouble. "Are you hurt?"

"Well, not really."

James gazed thoughtfully at her scraped and bruised knees. He knew she'd have to get those cleaned up. And since his best friend's mother was a nurse, he knew she'd get this girl cleaned up. So after thinking about his decision for a bit, he smiled and picked her up.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Charlotte smiled sweetly at him. He actually didn't mind her, even if she was a tad younger than him. He held out his hand expectantly, waiting for her to take it.

She softly took it and he picked her up. Although she winced a bit, it didn't seem too bad. "I'm James," he finally said. "But you can call me Bucky."

Suddenly, Charlotte felt a lot warmer. Softly, she replied with, "I'm Charlotte."

Of course, it had all been very confusing for Steve and his mom when Bucky came in with a small strange girl by his side. Of course, Sarah Rogers ended up patching little Charlotte up, though, because she pitied her. Steve seemed a bit jealous of Bucky bringing in some random girl in, but as he saw her spark, he changed his mind.

So Charlotte stayed for the day, automatically clicking with the two boys that seemed plenty of fun. In the evening, she parted her ways, promising to come back tomorrow, as her apartment was right above Steve's. The two boys were very eager on this.

When little Charlotte came back home, slightly bruised, of course her parents were a slight bit baffled. But Charlotte told them not to worry, and so they didn't. But for the first time in a really long time, Charlotte went to bed with a smile on her face, looking forward to spending the day with Steve and Bucky tomorrow.

She felt like she belonged.

The next few years, Charlotte would always hang out with Bucky and Steve. She would play tag and baseball with them, and they'd always have a blast. Yes, those were happy times. Yet they didn't last for long.

Two years later, when Charlotte was 9, her parents died in a car accident. It was around October, and she watched with puffy eyes as her parents were lowered into their grave. They were her last family.

Charlotte mourned her parents' death very much.

It was now Christmas Eve, everyone was out to celebrate and sing merrily. Except for poor Charlotte, who sat in her cold and lonely apartment all by herself, tears trickling down her delicate cheeks as she murmured some Christmas carols.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the wooden door leading into the apartment. Charlotte's head snapped up with curiosity, wondering who in their right mind would knock on her door during a time when they should sit with their family, having the rare luxury of having a warm dinner. Either way, she stood up, feeling bad if she didn't open the door to such a patient knock. She turned the brass knob and pulled back the door, only to have her caught in surprise at the most unexpected thing.

"Steve? Bucky?"

Indeed, the two 13-year-old boys stood at her door, grinning lightly. This baffled Charlotte greatly. Shouldn't they be with their families?

"Hey, Charlie," Bucky called out playfully. He knew she hated being called that, but called her that anyways. Steve gave a dorky wave.

"Wha- what are you doing here? Why aren't you with your families?"

"Well," Steve said, the grin remaining on his face "We thought that you wouldn't have anyone to celebrate with, so we invited you!"

This caused Charlotte's heart to lighten up. "Really?"

They both smiled, then replied in unison, "Yes."

Charlotte smiled, a pretty twinkle in her blue eyes. Again, Steve and Bucky were making her feel like she belonged to some sort of... big family. It gave her a soft feeling in her stomach, thinking that she still did have family around.

"Well?" Bucky stared expectantly. "Come on, let's go!" And with that, both Bucky and Steve grabbed her skinny wrists and dragged her into the frosty cold, pulling her down the stairs and straight into Steve's apartment. Mrs. Rogers smiled sweetly as she saw Charlotte's petite little face.

"Hello, Charlotte," her flowery voice spoke. "So glad you could make it."

Truly, it was festive in the Rogers' family apartment, and Charlotte smiled at the sight of it. Then, she turned to the two older boys and sincerely said, "Thank you. For inviting me."

Because really, there was nothing nicer than getting to spend her Christmas Eve with her two closest friends.

A/N: Ok so that was Chapter 1... I hope you guys liked it! Sorry it was so short!