Hello Fanfiction readers! I'm back with another chapter! I know I said I would update Back To Square One, but I am having serious writers block, but I promise you, an update is on its way. All other things aside, I hope you like this new chapter! :-)

It had been almost two years since she had seen her boys and all things considered, she was doing alright on her own, the boys sent home their salaries and she put them in the bank for them, setting aside what they usually paid for rent each month and saving the rest for when they got home. She was on her way home from work, but had stopped by the store to pick up groceries. It would have been Steve's week to buy food had he been there. Nearly two years alone and she still kept track, it was just one of the ways she adjusted.

She had just walked in the front door when she noticed the envelope on the floor under the mail slot. After putting the groceries the groceries on the kitchen table, she picked it up and flipped it over. On the front of the envelope, printed clearly, were words that made her heart drop to her stomach. Western Union Telegram. She tried to stay as positive as possible. Maybe Bucky or Steve had gotten hurt, hopefully not too badly, and were being sent home. She carefully opened it and read the letter.

Dear Ms. Gilly:

It is with regret that I write to you on January 23, 1945 to notify you of the death of Sergeant James B. Barnes. I offer my sincere condolences as I can understand the pain this loss must bring you. He died in service to his country fighting alongside many other brave soldiers to end this world strife. At the loss of such a fine soldier and loyal companion, we offer our sympathies.

Sincerely,
Colonel Chester Phillips

She dropped the paper as though it had burned her. He was gone. Not knowing what to do next, she backed up until she hit the wall then slid to the floor. Bucky was gone. She didn't cry. She wanted to, but she couldn't, shock acting as a barrier to her tears, not letting her express her gut wrenching sorrow. Hours passed, but to Mary, they felt like minutes. Everything was falling apart. He was supposed to come home. He promised. He, he promised.

As she sat on the cold floor, her mind couldn't help but wander to happier, simpler times. Years ago, when the three of them ruled Brooklyn. Or maybe it was just the few blocks around their apartments, and maybe they didn't quite rule it, but when you're a kid in Brooklyn with your best friends by your side, it's all yours. It was all theirs.

"Give it back Andy!" she cried. The neighborhood bully, Andy Charlack, had taken her doll again.

The ten year old bully sneered at her then laughed. "Whatcha gonna do about it pipsqueak?Gonna call your friends to help you? Oh wait, I forgot, you don't have any!"

"Guess again Charlack. Over here." Mary looked to the mouth of the alleyway and saw two boys. A blond and a brunette. It was the brunette who had spoken and both of them looked like they were ready for a fight.

"Gotta say, didn't think playing with dolls was your thing." the brunette said "Now why don't you let the girl go and we all move along."

Mary knew challenging Andy was risky. The brown haired boy may have been bigger than her, but ten year old Andy towered a good six inches over him.

Andy laughed at the threat and pushed her to the ground and threw the plush doll against the wall. The blond haired boy rushed Andy, throwing himself into the fight while the brunette ran over to help her up.

"Are you okay miss?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine, but your friend over there is an idiot."

The boy sighed. "Yeah, yeah he is. But he's my idiot. You stay here, we'll take care of Charlack."

The brown haired boy jumped in as soon as the blond went down. The blond haired boy got up and was about to go in for more, but the brunette shoved him aside to where Mary was.

"Are you okay?" Mary asked him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Are you?"

"Yeah"

Their short talk ended in time to see Andy's fist collide with the brown haired boy's eye and he went down. Mary ran towards them despite the blond trying to stop her.

"Hey dummy!" She cried, then kicked Andy where no man should be kicked. The bully fell to the ground before running away.

When he was safely out of sight, she bent down to look at Bucky who was sitting up.

"Are you alright?" she asked kindly.

"Yeah," he answered. "I'll be fine."

"Good" she said, then she punched him in the arm."

"Ow!" the brunette cried. "What was that for?!"

"Stupid! I could have handled it by myself!"

The boy smiled. "Yeah, you probably could have. You got a name tiny?"

She huffed, still a little annoyed. "Mary. Mary Gilly. And I'm tiny."

The boy laughed. "Yeah you are. How old are you?"

Mary mocked outrage. "I don't even know your name and here you are asking me how old I am!"

"James" he said. "The name is James Buchanan Barnes, you can call me Bucky, and idiot over there is Steve."

Mary smiled at the memory. She had been six that day. They hadn't figured that out until a few days after. On that day, the trio was born and from then on, they were infamous, stuck together like glue, causing trouble everywhere. It seemed perfect, but of course, it had its moments. Those two boys worried her sick back then. Her mind began drifting again to a fall day two years after they all met.

It was a chilly day in October. They were playing in an alley on the fire escapes, hanging from the ladders and swinging on the railings. It was all good fun until Bucky, who was swinging on a second story railing, lost his grip. A he hit the pavement, Mary heard a sick snapping sound. She and Steve immediately halted their playing and rushed over to him. Bucky had managed to get himself sitting up, but was still trembling, despite how hard he tried to mask it. It didn't take long for Mary to discover the problem.

"Bucky" she breathed out. "Your arm"

The nine year old looked down at his arm and saw a bump that wasn't supposed to be there and it was bruising quickly. Not thinking, the touched it and immediately cried out.

"Steve!" Mary said. "Go get your mom"

With that, Steve took off running out of the alley.

"Bucky?" she said gently. He was still staring at his arm with a look of shock. "Bucky" she said louder, gaining his attention. "Don't look at it. Look at me, kay?"

He nodded. His eyes were glazed over with tears that he refused to let fall, and she saw them.

"Oh Bucky…" she whispered. She kneeled next to where he was sitting and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, making sure to be careful of his broken arm.

He sniffled and rested his head on her shoulder. They stayed like that until Steve came back with his mom and at the hospital and for the few days he was forced to stay home after he got back. He asked her to stay, said she took some of the pain away.

It was easier back then. She missed those days. She missed those memories. She missed them. Bucky and Steve. She missed them. She missed her boys.

She spent the night in the boys' room. She slept on the floor next to Bucky's messily made bed. He never made his bed neatly like Steve did and the morning he shipped out was no exception. Normally, Mary would fix it after he went off to work at the docks and before she left for work, but she hadn't touched it since the day he was deployed. It was exactly like he left it. Like it should be. She slept in one of his old shirts, it still smelt like him.

Part of her couldn't believe he was gone. She could feel it. Something was telling her he was alive, but she shoved it aside, not wanting to keep false home. Instead, she reasoned with herself, she would keep his memory alive.

That night, there was a star in the window.

A little sadder than my usual stories, I know, but do not worry fair citizens of , it will get lighter. I hope. Anyway, what did you think? Love it? Hate it? Let me know in the reviews! That's all for now, see you next update but for now, this is RA88, signing off with a smile. :-)