When Bucky emerged from the bathroom fully dressed, his hair still damp, he approached Daisy in the living room. She was still curled up in the window sill on her laptop, doing her work.

"Miss Daisy?" Bucky said.

She looked over to him and smiled. His skin no longer had a film of dirt and his hair looked much better despite its length. The circles under his eyes were beginning to fade away. He looked like a whole new man.

"You look great," she said.

Bucky smiled shyly. He wasn't expecting that. "I was just wondering if you lived here alone."

"It's just me," Daisy confirmed. "I used to have a roommate, but they left a few months ago. I was glad to see them go, to be honest. Don't worry, you aren't stealing anyone's bed."

"Okay," Bucky said with a nod. He felt reassured by this. "I was just curious."

There was a silence for a moment. Bucky wanted to speak to her but didn't know what to say.

"I have another question," Bucky spoke up.

"Hmm?"

"Do you know how to cut hair?"

Her lips curved into a big smile. "You want me to cut your hair?"

Bucky nodded.

"Yeah, come on." Daisy set her laptop down and took Bucky by his real hand, leading him back into the bathroom. Some of the steam was still there but it was mostly gone now. She ran back to grab a bar stool and set it down in front of the sink counter. "Sit down. I'll grab some scissors."

She ran out and back in again. Bucky took a deep breath. He was looking forward to ridding of the long locks; he wanted to look like himself again. He thought it might help.

"How do you want me to cut it?"

"How it used to look. Back before, well, you know."

"Coming right up. Just sit still," Daisy said. Bucky closed his eyes to try to relax himself. She started by pulling his hair back as if she were going to put it into a ponytail, but chopped it all off together instead. He felt the weight fall off of his head. From there, she began to trim even closer to his head, being extremely careful.

She was surprised with how still Bucky was being before remembering that he was used to being strapped down to chairs for electric shock therapy in order to wipe his memories. This must have been easy for him.

When she finished, she set the scissors down on the counter, blow dried his hair, and wiped her hands. She hadn't cut anyone's hair in a long time - not since Dave moved out - and was feeling pretty proud of herself. "You can open your eyes, Bucky," she said with a small giggle. He opened them and his eyes widened when he looked in the mirror. He didn't even recognize himself.

"Wow," he muttered.

"Welcome back, Bucky Barnes," Daisy said with a wink. "You like it?"

Bucky nodded. His theory worked. "I feel a little less like, well-"

Daisy beamed. "I know what you mean. Good." She went to the closet across the hall and grabbed the broom and pan, sweeping up his cut hair. Bucky was shocked at how much of it was gone.

"Miss Daisy, I don't know how I can ever repay you for any of this," Bucky said. "You've been so kind to me."

"Don't worry about it," Daisy said. "Like I told you, I wanted to help."

Daisy returned to her work and Bucky returned to the guest room, where the files were place on a desk. He was almost done with the past pile and contemplated reading more, but decided to get more sleep. He didn't wake up until the next morning, feeling refreshed. He dreamed more memories, but they were of happier times when he and Steve went on a double date to 'the future.' How ironic that was.

He rolled out of bed and put on some fresh jeans and a shirt; he didn't have many civilian clothes, and Daisy had noticed his light travel. He strolled out into the kitchen and stopped in the doorframe to the living room when he heard her talking. She must have been on the phone. Music was playing lightly in the background and was barely audible.

"Shut up. Ugh, what a creep." Pause. "No, you're not crazy. That's probably the most disgusting thing I've ever heard." Pause. "Oh god, no, don't do that. Yeah, yeah, I know, you've been wanting to hook up with his roommate for a while but remember that time he got tested and it came back positive? Just don't." Pause. "I heard it was more than just the clap. Just don't even go there. You'll thank me later." Pause. "I've been fine. Better than before, actually. The first like, two weeks were pretty hard. I didn't miss him or anything, I still don't. It was just weird waking up by myself to an empty apartment and cooking for one instead of two." Brief pause. "No, I haven't. Thank God. I think I'd die. It would just be super awkward. Didn't you hear? That girl dumped him like, two weeks later when she found out that she wasn't the only woman in his life and now he's sharing a bed with someone named Felipe. Not even kidding. Josie saw them out together a few weeks ago." Pause. She laughed and flipped the pancakes she was making. "I wish. I never have a day off. When I'm not working, I'm researching for work. But I'm going to try to take it easy today. No, I will not be having wine with my breakfast. Jesus Christ, Cari, that was only like, two times in college. Maybe four." She laughed again.

This was when Bucky decided to make his appearance. He couldn't help but listen to the conversation and wonder who this guy was. He must have been her former roommate and sounded like a former boyfriend.

Daisy glanced over at Bucky and gave him a bright smile. She was wearing yoga pants and a tank top that hugged her curves nicely. For the first time, he saw her hair down as it cascaded over her shoulders in waves. Bucky tried his best to keep his gaze onto her face.

"Hey Cari, I gotta go. I'll text you later, ok?" She hung up her cell phone and placed it on the kitchen counter. She flipped the pancakes again. "Good morning, handsome!"

"Morning."

"There's coffee in the pot if you want any. I hope you like pancakes."

Bucky nodded and headed into the kitchen. He grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee, some sugar and cream. He leaned against the counter while she finished the pancakes. He ran his hand through his hair to push it back, almost forgetting that it was short again. "No wine?"

Daisy laughed. "Oh god. I'm sorry you had to hear that. Please don't think I have a drinking problem."

Bucky smirked. "It's alright. Even if you did, I'm not really in a position to judge."

"Well, if you'd prefer wine over coffee in the morning, just let me know," Daisy teased. Bucky chuckled. It still felt strange for him to laugh and smile, but he couldn't help it around Daisy. Her mood was contagious.

"Coffee's just fine, but I may hold you to that in the future."

"I'll remember that."

"What kind of pancakes are you making?"

"Buttermilk with chocolate chips and blueberries. I like to tell myself that the blueberries negate how unhealthy the chocolate chips probably are."

Bucky laughed. "That's totally how it works."

"I don't appreciate your sarcasm, Sergeant Barnes," Daisy said as she shot him a wink.

"My apologies, Miss Daisy." He wanted to ask her about her former roommate but he knew better. His thoughts were interrupted by Daisy placing two plates on the counter by the barstools. She grabbed some forks and knives and set them next to the plates.

"Did you sleep well?" Daisy asked.

Bucky nodded. "Much better than my nap before. It was memories again, but nicer ones. Nothing traumatizing."

"I'm glad to hear that," Daisy said before taking a bite of her pancakes. "Hopefully it stays like that."

"It probably won't, but that would be nice."

Daisy was glad he didn't ask. She realized he probably heard most of that conversation and knew he was probably wondering about who this guy was but she was so glad that he didn't ask. She hated talking about Dave.

Having Bucky there was surprisingly comforting. She enjoyed knowing that she was no longer alone. She enjoyed being there for other people and he gave her someone to be there for. Of course, it helped that he was handsome. But she knew he was a broken man. She felt it was her responsibility to help him; after all, it was no coincidence that she found him in the museum the other night. It couldn't have been. She believed it was her fate.