Gwen scanned the cafe until she saw Bucky stand and wave. She walked to the corner table and stood in front of him.

"Hi."

"Hi. We're not going to be awkward, are we?"

Gwen laughed. "I'm not sure how to greet you. I mean, the last few times we met were... unique."

Bucky smiled. "A hug would be welcome."

Gwen smiled, and Bucky wrapped his arms around her waist. She hesitated for just a moment before her arms circled his shoulders. He turned his face into Gwen's neck and placed a soft kiss there before he pulled back.

"Just a hug, huh?"

Bucky shrugged and motioned for her to sit. He sat across from her and took her hand.

"I know I'm being a little forward," he said, "but I like you a lot."

"We really don't know anything about each other."

"What do you want to know?"

"How did you get into... your job?"

"Didn't take long for that to come up."

"Sorry. I'm not passing judgement, but if we're going to try this, I think I should know."

Bucky nodded. "You're right. I've been doing it for about ten years."

"You just decided to be a dancer?"

"No. Not really. I enlisted in the military when I was in college."

"Is that why you do the soldier uniform?"

"Yeah. The owner loved the idea. Women and military uniforms, you know?"

Gwen blushed. "Yeah, I know."

Bucky smiled. "Yeah. I did a couple of tours in Afghanistan, and one in Iraq. One day, we were traveling with a weapons truck, making sure it got to base, and we hit an IED. Well, the weapons truck hit it. The explosion was bad enough, but it also set off the ammo supply."

"Oh my God."

"We lost four of the nine guys we had with us. The rest of us were all hit in some way, but I was pretty bad. A big piece of metal from the truck that exploded was lodged in my left shoulder.

Steve got hit in the leg by a stray bullet, but he dragged me to shelter behind some rocks and radioed for help."

Gwen squeezed his hand.

"I honestly thought I'd be missing an arm when I woke up."

"It was that bad?"

"Worse thing I've ever felt. But they were able to save my arm, though I do have some nerve damage. I don't always feel things with my left." He smiled. "Good news is I'm right-handed."

Gwen shook her head. "How long did it take to be able to make those kinds of jokes?"

Bucky's smiled faded. "A long time. I was discharged, sent through some basic psych sessions, then put on a VA waiting list."

"That's terrible."

"They didn't think my PTSD was bad enough."

"How bad is it?"

"At first? Nightmares every night. Any sudden noise scared the shit out of me. I ducked to the floor at the grocery store because a kid threw a box of cereal out of the shopping cart."

"And now?"

"Well, that's where I get to how I got into my line of work. I knew I needed help, but I couldn't hold down a job. I was too jumpy. Too paranoid. That turned into anger issues. I knew I needed money, and the guys in my unit used to joke about me being a stripper, because I got drunk one night when we were stateside, and I guess I did some grinding on some things. I don't know, you'd have to ask Steve for more details on that. He was sober."

Gwen chuckled.

"So, I gave it a try. It's good money, so I get the help I need for my PTSD, and it's not an environment that triggers anything. I can empty my mind when I'm on stage and just let myself get lost."

"Is that why you don't flirt with the women like the other dancers?"

Bucky nodded. "It's almost like I'm not even there."

"Are you getting better?"

He nodded. "Slowly. Sounds don't get to me like they used to. Nightmares still come sometimes, but not every night. Maybe once or twice a month, now."

"That's good."

She squeezed his hand again, and Bucky played with her fingers.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Your story with the ex... why you got scared and ran out on me that night."

"Well, you already know about the dragged out divorce."

"Right."

"We were married for four years before I filed for divorce. Dated for three. I thought he was the one. He was romantic and attentive, until about the third year of our marriage. He started coming home late and his temper got short."

"Did he hit you?"

"No. That's one thing I can say he never stooped to."

"Good."

"His attitude shifted. It started off small, but six months later he was insulting me and he wouldn't let me touch him. Turns out he was having an affair, and he saw our marriage as an obstacle to his new romance. He resented me, and then he hated me."

A tear slipped down Gwen's cheek and Bucky wiped it away.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Before that happened we were talking about having kids. I thank God we never did." Gwen pulled her hand away and wiped her face. "I'm sorry. I think I need to go."

"Don't run away."

Her lip quivered. "I need to leave."

"Ok. Can I come?"

She nodded, but walked out before he could catch up to her. Outside, he jogged over to her and pulled her into his arms. She gripped his shirt and cried.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be sorry." He soothed his hand down the back of her head. "Let me take you home."

"I walked. I only live a few blocks away."

"Perfect. I'll walk you."

"Bucky," she pulled away, "you don't have to do this. I'll understand if you don't want to get involved with me. I'm a mess."

"Did you not hear my PTSD story? Let me walk you home."

He brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb, and she nodded. Bucky took her hand and let her lead the way.

Gwen stopped outside of her apartment building.

"This is me."

Bucky pulled his hand from hers and shoved both in his pockets.

"Can I see you again?"

"I can't imagine why you'd want to."

"I told you, I like you."

Gwen took a deep breath. "I like you, too. That's what scares me."

"Why?"

Gwen looked around at the people passing by.

"I don't want to talk about this here. Would you... would you like to come up?"

Bucky smiled. "Yeah, I would."

Bucky sat next to Gwen on her couch.

"What happened with my ex," Gwen said, "before I found out he was cheating on me, I thought there must be something wrong with me. He was pulling away and we stopped making love, and I just... I thought it was me. Even after I found out he was cheating, you can't imagine how awful I felt. If he went to someone else it was because I couldn't make him happy, or I had changed in some way after three years of marriage. I tried to be what he wanted, but he just didn't want me."

Bucky brushed her hair back. "Why does that make you scared of liking me?"

"Because I was so wrong about Robert. What if I'm wrong about you?"

Bucky sighed. "I wish there was a way I could show you I'm not like him, but I can't. Only day by day, if you decide to see me again."

"I want to see you again. I do."

Bucky smiled and leaned forward. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, then rested his forehead against hers.