"I wasn't sure what you liked so I got a bit of everything," Bucky said sheepishly motioning to the bags of Chinese food.

"You could have asked. Now we have dinner for the next week." I responded shaking my head but Bucky just grinned.

Dinner was quiet not that I expected us to have a lot to talk about. Bucky seemed hesitant to discuss what had transpired in the last year and I had been dead. The food had tasted oddly bland, not what I would have expected. THen again Steve had ordered Chinese food my first night there, maybe my own thoughts had caused an odd rift between my taste buds and brain. Bucky shooed me away so he could clean up stating that I shouldn't worry about chores yet.

A shower sounded good after not really needing on for the last year. Thinking about it made my skin feel heavy with non-existant grime. Upon entering Steve's room my heart dropped when his scent didn't hit me as strongly as it should have. It was like when you catch a whiff of something that smells good but you can never find where it's coming from so you're not sure if you just imagined it. The feeling was actually quite frustrating.

The water was warm as it cascaded down my body but did nothing to relax my tense muscles or sooth the ache in my chest. Bucky had warned me to be careful, that Steve had changed. What could he have possibly done to cause Bucky to feel the need to warn me? My mind traveled to Nat and Maria. They also seemed to want to warn me about something but they kept their mouths shut. I wanted to get them alone and ask some questions. Maybe they'd be more willing to talk about it than Bucky was.

I sighed feeling my eyes burn with unshed tears. I'd just gotten my life back and already it seemed to be falling apart. Despite my thoughts and emotions running rampant I slept well that night and woke up feeling refreshed and determined.

"Jarvis, can you ask Nat and Maria to take my shopping?" I asked getting dressed.

"Agent Hill said they'll be here in twenty with Mister Stark's credit card," Jarvis replied. I couldn't help but smile, of course, they already knew I'd need to go shopping. Along with my super soldier boyfriend, I'd missed the girls desperately.

I did a once over of the room before leaving but something shiny caught my attention. On Steve's nightstand laid the necklace he got me and the crumpled up sheet of paper that held the first ever picture he drew of me. slowly I walked closer and picked up the small pendant with the thin chain trailing behind. He'd kept it. I hung it around my neck feeling the unfamiliar weight hit my chest. This tiny piece of metal had actually provided me with a lot of comfort after what Bucky, no the winter soldier had sone.

"Bucky I'm heading out," I called as I ran out the front door to Maria and Nat's awaiting vehicle. They both greeted me and Nat handed me a fruit smoothie and a bagel. I thanked them, digging into my breakfast.

"Alright, where to first? What are you needing?" Maria asked.

I swallowed the bread in my mouth before speaking," I just need some toiletries."

"Non-sense we have Tony's card! Let's buy a new wardrobe." Maria said grinning.

I shrugged not telling them how much I hated the smell of clothing stores, I didn't want o put a damper on their mood.

"He can one of you tell me why Bucky felt the need to warn me about Steve?" I ask after we parked back at the house. Shopping had been fun and I had avoided the subject all day and even ignored questions that could lead to that conversation.

"Jay after you died Steve couldn't function. He spiraled into a depression that he never quite recovered from. After he came back around he kept a distance which started to cause a rift between the team. He quit putting a value on our lives and didn't care what happened to anyone so long as the mission was complete. Tony got fed up and they had it out but the damage was already done and on our next mission Steve almost started a war with Wakanda. Half of us backed him up while half of us didn't. The team never quite recovered from that but we're still the Avengers." Nat explained.

To say I was shocked was an understatement. Never would I have thought Steve was capable of being so heartless.

"He missed you though. In his rare downtime, he's always drawing pictures of you each one more perfect than the last." Nat finished.

Numbly I helped the girls sort through the closet putting everything "old" in a pile that they had some plans for. Bucky had a good reason to warn me but he also seemed to have confidence that I could bring back the old steve. I clung to that thought like it was the only thing keeping my head above the water.

"How are you and James getting along?" Nat asked suddenly.

"Fine, I guess," I muttered folding another shirt.

"Poor guy felt so guilty after your death, blamed himself for everything that Steve went through." Maria tisked.

"Steve doesn't blame him, does he?"The question came out too quickly for me to be able to hide my concern.

"No, they're not as close now but they're somehow still best friends," Maria explained. I couldn't help the relief I felt flood me. Bucky and Steve were still best friends. I hadn't ruined that for them.

Bucky and I sat in silence eating or leftover Chinese food. It wasn't necessarily an awkward silence but the air was a bit tense only filled with the sound of forks hitting plates and our chewing. grey-blue eyes kept glancing my way in the dim light all emotions they held unreadable. When I finally caught the soldiers eyes their feeling was intense but I also wasn't sure what that feeling was. My eyes immediately snapped down to my food, appetite quickly diminishing. I heard a sharp intake of breath, I couldn't look back up at that moment due to my fear, however. Bucky cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you." His sad voice said.

"There's no need to be worried, I'm fine," I whispered.

"Exactly you're fine. You shouldn't be fine, Puppy. You should be feeling something, anything. You're taking being alive again a little too well. You should be angry or sad or in shock but it's like you never left." Bucky's voice was stern almost a shout.

After taking in his words my eyes shot to his."Do you want me to be angry? Sad? In shock? is it bad that it's like I never left?" I wasn't angry just confused by what he'd said.

"No, it's not bad but you're not reacting normally to this situation. Maybe you should stay home tomorrow, going out is just going to end up setting yourself up for a psychological break. You shouldn't have a lot of distractions around until after you've readjusted." His voice had quieted some but the sternness never left.

"Are you telling me to stay in tomorrow?" I asked eying him wearily.

"No, but I'm asking you to. As Steve's best friend it's my job to help look after you. I just want what's best for you." He said causing me to wince at how much of a father he sounded like.

"Thanks for your concern?" I didn't know what else to say.

Bucky and I were staring at each other until the front door opened and the wind carried in a very familiar scent. My throat became dry. There was a ringing in my ears. All my arm hair stood on end. My brain took a moment to catch up. And when my head finally turned there he stood. His shirt was black, and a pair of dark jeans hugged his body perfectly. His hair was longer and darker and his face was no longer clean shaved. everything else looked the same thought as he and I stared at each other my brain came up with the best, most sophisticated thing to say...

"Hi."