A/N: I am finally back with the next chapter!

Thank you for the few who have reviewed. Also thank for for those following and favoring this story! And those who are just reading it! That last chapter was viewed over 500 times!

So this chapter was kinda fun to write, and once you read it you may work out why. ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot and OC/s.

Chapter Three

It wasn't long before James went back to his flirty and carefree self. Which started to get under my skin. I would try to discuss the Winter Soldier and he would brush it off, or change the subject. So close to losing my cool right now. Maybe I need to take a different approach to the matter. Maybe ask him about the memory we were in, and see what else he remembers.

"James" I said trying to get his attention.

He turned to me with a smile, "yes doll?"

'That annoying nickname again. Does he even know my name?' I thought biting my tongue. "About the memory we are in, when and where was it from?"

"Well" he begun before a passing soldier patted James on the back, distracting him for a moment. "It was before I was shipped out, a little place in Brooklyn I loved to go to. I actually came here with a couple of girls the night before shipping out" he replied before taking a swig of his new drink.

I nodded my head. "Why aren't the girls here right now?" I inquired watching the people passing the table, headed for the bar.

A small smirk appeared on his lips. "Jealous?"

I scoffed. "You wish" I said rolling my eyes making James laugh. "I just thought they'd be here in the memory."

His smirk dropped to a sad smile. "I guess they would be here…if I could remember what they looked like." James took a moment to think about the girls, "I know they were a part of my memory but they have faded to the point I just can't see them anymore."

Without much thought I placed my hand a top of his on the table, like before, only this time I had no intent of moving it. The cocky and flirty James was more a forefront of the moment. His memory told him that was who he was at one point in time. This new, broken James Buchanan Barnes was the outcome of having his mind mess with and reprogrammed, and reawaken in a different time. The memories he had of his old self all he had to identify with. Hence they have become the wall, the front to hiding the new person.

"It's alright" I said softly, just for our ears. "Everyone's memories will fade over time to the point where it can't be seen in your mind. But the mind is an amazing thing, for it can retain a name, color or smell." I smiled at him softly. "To be fair I am surprised this memory is this intact" I said looking around the room and then back at him. "Maybe you won't remember all the girls you dated, but a name or color or smell or even an object will remind you of them."

James's hand moved to hold mine, his thumb running over my knuckles. "I believe you" he stated looking at our hands. "I remember names, and maybe a smell or something would remind me of them." He lifted his eyes to look into mine. "Besides, I have a new best gal to remember; you. A fiery vixen."

James was sincere. No wall hiding the truth. I should not be feeling this surge of pride and confidence. If anything I should be correcting him, telling he was wrong. But it was like my tongue was missing. My brain would not allow me to deflate this gorgeous man's compliment. My heart on the other hand seemed to swell. This might not be good. Could I be attracted to the man, or memory before me?

I wouldn't say I have a 'type' but a few key factors always came into play when I dated a man. 1) Good looking/gorgeous/drool worthy; be it their facial features, hair, eyes, body. 2) Personality/sense of humor/flirty; they need to be in some way relatable to me, on my level, connection, be able to laugh and flirt. 3) Is or looks like a bad boy; can't deny that I lose it for those kind of guys, tell me there is not a woman out there that can resist a bad boy. I think it's because we want to understand them and help or change them.

Thankfully two Soldiers and their partners broke the moment when they bumped into James. They apologized and he said 'no harm done'. Then they were on their merry way. James's focus was back on me, his hand still holding mine. Thankful for that moment I was able to get my head back into gear.

"Now then" I stated sitting up straight, "about the other guy."

I noticed the small cringe from my words. "Do we have to talk about him" James practically whined. "Why talk about him when we could be talking about you, or even be dancing doll." The wall was starting to resurface.

"We have to talk about him because you want to be able to walk around without fearing that a curtain string of Russian words, or something small bringing him to surface. Remember?" I felt like a mother scolding a child. But the time for tiptoeing around was over.

And like a child, James fidgeted in his seat before sighing. "I know you're right…I just don't want to provoke him."

That intrigued me. "Provoke him? Please explain."

His eyes met mine before he began. "The more we talk about him the more conscious he becomes. Soon he will be aware you are here, and then he will begin to find a way into this memory" James said seriously. "For the moment I have been able to rather distract him by hiding us in this memory. But the illusion will eventually drop and he will know."

I nodded my head. "I see. Well I, myself have a set time to do my work inside your mind. I guess we best stop this messing around and get to it, yes?"

I began to get up from my seat, mindlessly straightening out my dress and running my fingers through the loose hair around my shoulders. All the while James watching my every move before he too was on his feet. His hand grabbing mine and halting any other movement. My eyes looked to his in question; what are you doing?

He raised my hand up to his lips and placed a soft kiss upon my knuckles. "How about before we get to work that I get that dance, doll?" He asked with a soft smile.

I was about to say 'no' but seeing that smile upon his face, paired with those smouldering eyes and over all perfection that was James Barnes I was speechless. He seemed to take my lack of an answer as a yes, and began to lead me to the dance floor. And I followed him without resistance. Just as we reached the dance floor a slow song began to play. James turned and held my hand while bringing his other to rest at my waist, I feel he wouldn't dare place his hand anywhere it wasn't meant to go without some kind of permission. I placed my free hand on his shoulder. From there we slowly moved around the dance floor in time with the music.

I'd have to say if I didn't know any better I would have thought this was a dream, the perfect dream. I guess in a way it was. We weren't physically touching, besides my fingers on his temples, or dancing or even in this venue. But part of me wanted to overlook all that. Why? Maybe because a part of me liked the thought of a gorgeous man holding me rather close and dancing to a slow song. I have always had a weakness for romance. But that comes from the endless time and effort I have put into a career, hardly a dating life and no relationship lasting more than a few months. So I will enjoy this small moment for a while.

Forgetting myself I moved closer to James, resting my head on his shoulder while my hand moved to rest on the edge of his shoulder. He stiffened a little when I did that. But soon relaxed and drew me closer. With the closer proximity I could hear him hum along to the music. His voice was a little husky but very pleasing to my ear. I wouldn't mind listening to his humming or him talking any day. Something about him was drawing me in. Which might not be a good thing, I should stop this.

I pulled back, causing James to stop humming and look at me. "Everything alright doll?"

I nodded my head, "Yes."

"You sure doll?" He sounded a little worried.

'That damn nickname!' I thought, my blood starting to boil. "Must you keep calling me doll?! I have a name" I snapped.

The way he stiffened and face blanked, I felt bad. I began to sputter out an apology but I think it made no sense. James face warmed up and he drew me close with his arms again, and he resumed the dance.

His lips came to my ear and he spoke. "Of course you have a name; Aimee. And such a beautiful name for a beautiful lady."

I felt my heart skip a beat at his words. That husky tone, mixed with that daze one gets when talking to the one person they hold dearest or even call their love. I should be stopping him or just ignore it, but I can't. That pull making itself more known. Maybe it was this memory, it's so perfect, I had always want something like this to happen to me. Have a gorgeous man take notice of me, talk to me, flirt with me and dance with me just like James had and was doing. How did I let this man get to me?

Clutching his shoulder, I pulled back to look into those captivating eyes of him before uttering just one word: "James…" in a soft, distant voice.

Not to sound typical but everything seemed to fade, leaving just James and myself. I watched his eyes and saw as something snapped and they glassed over. His hand on my waist came up and softly hold my chin, this thumb rubbing over my bottom lip and then moving to caress my chin. Those smouldering eyes of his darted to my lips before returning to my own. Silently that was James asking to kiss my lips, though it turned out to be more of him telling me he was going to do it. As he did just that.

Swiftly he moved in, his lips capturing my own. My heart stopped when they touched. Without a second thought my eyes closed, the hand holding on to his shoulder moved to the back of his neck as James own hand moved to cradle my neck. The kiss was soft, light and rather innocent. Think a peck on the lips but touching lips lingering together longer then a peck. Slowly the world around us began to come back to me, and I slowly opened my eyes while pulling back from the kiss. With half opened eyes I looked into those of James, who most likely mirrored me but sporting a tender smile upon the lips I had just kissed.

Gradually everything sunk in. The attraction. The close dancing. The look in James eyes. Everything fading away. That kiss. My feelings growing for the man I hardly knew. With my senses coming back and the logical side kicked in. I stepped back from James, my hands coming to fill the distance I had created between us. My eyes took on a hard expression, emotions pushed away. I was here to deal with The Winter Soldier, not cosy up to Sergeant Barnes.

"Forgive me Sergeant" I said straightening out my dress. "That should not have happened."

The warmth in his eyes seemed to dull, while the smile upon his lips fell. "No, forgive me" he said standing straight. "I should not have kissed you Aimee-Miss Smith."

I wanted to tell him I had wanted that kiss, and for him to call me by my name. But the likeliness of him doing that would be slim. As I had basically slapped him in the face with formalities and apologies for a kiss that had to be one of the best I had ever had. Things were now tense. Maybe letting logic fully take over was not the best road to have taken. As I did like James, maybe more than I would like to admit. But The Winter Soldier was priority. Once I leave James head I guess we could see what things would be like. Yet would he be attracted or interested in me outside this memory? I was born and raised in a different time to the man before me. Would or could we have anything of interest in common?

I could have pondered those thoughts a little longer but a sudden explosion from behind the Big Bang interrupted. I was sent falling and slightly skidding along the dance floor. Lifting my body up into a sitting position I took note of how my ears were ringing and the soft noise of screams, my head a little fuzzy but could still look around and asses the scene. There were a few injured people beside and in front of me, a few people who had come to their aid as well. To my right I saw James get to his feet and look to where the Big Band had been. My eyes looked there also only to see a figure clad in black commando clothing, hair long and untamed, dark googles hiding his eyes and a black mask hiding the lower half of his face. But what stood out the most was the metal arm with a faded red star on the shoulder.

"Winter Soldier" I croaked out getting to my feet uneasily.

The man in question looked in my direction, his fists tightening upon laying those hidden eyes on me. James quickly moved to stand before me, my vision of The Winter Soldier now replaced with his back. I could sense they were staring each other down. Even if James was fearful of his other self. He was putting himself in the line of fire for me. I couldn't have that. I stepped around James, my right hand moving to rest on his arm as I looked around at the area Winter now stood. It was slowly fading in color. The memory had been damaged with his entrance.

"I will be fine" I said not taking my eyes off Winter. I saw James nod out the corner of my eye. "You can leave if you want."

"No" he said firmly but I could still hear the slight falter in his voice. "I won't leave you alone with him."

I nodded my head. "Very well then" I said removing my hand from his arm. "Let's begin this then."

TBC...