I am honestly so sorry about the lateness for this chapter.
But i can honestly say that i've had the biggest writers block with this chapter which is evident by the lack of an update.

But holy Jeez this story's gotten a lot more popular than i anticipated! Thank you all so much!

As always; thank you to the people who reviewed:

deathb4beauty, primadea and the guest!

Thank you so much and i promise the lengthy wait wont happen again.

Elena had been waiting for three hours now.

Like a good girl she had stayed relatively close to the stores near where James had left her, but this as getting ridiculous.

She had made polite conversation with a few people, signed a few things, even going so far as to buying herself a hot dog to chew on while she waited, but she felt she looked kind of stupid sitting there with a hot dog in her hand on one of the benches looking extremely lonely in her white and green attire.

Sighing, Elena looked across the brightly lit road to see a few group of people heading towards an equally well-lit building.

Bored out of her brain and getting more and more depressed by the second Elena made her way over there to see what the fuss was about.

The chill in the air was evident now and Elena blatantly remembered that she'd left her coat in the car when it came to pick up Howard, with a frown she wondered if they would bring it back and with a grimace she gave up that thought.

The men probably sold it already since it was hers.

Rubbing her arms idly she tentatively walked up the road and towards the building, hear the pleasant sound of music getting louder as she dropped her hot dog onto the ground.

As her feet took her towards it, she realised that it was a club.

One made solely for dancing, where men took beautiful dames to have a good time and also show them off for the other patrons to see.

It was wonderful.

Her brown eyes widening in awe watching all those couples, smiling at each other with obvious admiration for each other shining brightly in their eyes as they danced around the room without a care in the world.

It reminded her of the showgirls at home and how they used to take her to places like this, showing her all the fun she could have if she wasnt so uptight and polite all the time.

And just how much fun flirting could be.

But Elena had always shied away from the thought of leading someone on only to walk away later, with no intentions of actually starting something with them.

It was cruel.

But begrudgingly, it was slightly amazing how good the girls in Chicago were at it.

Catching a man's attention with only a glance and reeling them in with a few coy blinks with long lashes and mischievous smiles, talking to them about nothing very important and laughing like they were first class comedians.

And then at the end of the night, only leaving them with a fleeting kiss and a seductive smile.

Cruel, but intriguing to watch.

Thinking of the girls back in Chicago made her miss them, and with sad thoughts beginning to plague her mind Elena headed over to the bar to get herself a drink to stop these annoying nerves.

Walking in and sticking to the side was easy enough without making a scene, getting to the bar was even easier with the amount of people laughing and having a good time in the large club and Elena found herself feeling slightly better since the chill wasn't present inside the building and she could walk without the incessant feeling of goosebumps on her arms.

Ordering a drink with her face was also a piece of cake and Elena wondered why in the world everything was going so smoothly all of a sudden, normally when things went perfectly something bad was just around the corner waiting for her.

The tall bartender passed over her drink with a wink and Elena gave him a smile in return, taking hold of her drink with her small fingers and taking a sip.

It was in that moment a drunk man bumped into her and caused her to almost choke on her drink when she was forcedforward suddenly, her stomach pressing into the counter and sending a wave of pain into her abdomen.

After the initial shock and after coughing a few times to clear her lungs she had felt an abnormal amount of rage surge through her, she was already feeling frustrated beyond belief and now she was getting pushed around by larger men, this night was slowly but surely getting worse and worse and worse and wors-

Whirling, her eyes rushing to look for the man when they'd barely seen the gap in the crowd and the sight through it.

Her heart was suddenly in her throat and she the pain in her stomach was non-existent, moving to a more vulnerable spot in her heart.

There, looking as handsome as ever in the middle of the room with that stupid brown-haired girl on his arm was Sergent James Barnes having the time of his life.

Or so it looked like it.

With swift and graceful movements he had the girl twirling and sliding across the dance floor as if they had done it a million times, a wide smile on her face and that mischievous curl of his lips every present on James.

Elena didn't dare move.

Why? she thought to herself, dejected, Whats so good about her?

And then Elena was putting herself down, finding that brown-haired girl amazingly beautiful with luscious curls shorter than her own, pretty brown eyes darker than her own, even a whole head taller than her.

And James could have anyone he wanted, why would he want her?

Sure, she was famous, she could probably out-sing this girl anytime and any day but when it came down to it, it was really up to James, and whatever Elena did wouldn't make him look twice.

Perhaps she was too proper.

Perhaps she should have flirted obviously or made it clear of her interest for him.

Perhaps she could've done something different and saved herself this awful pain that was beginning to hurt more than the time she broke her arm.

Turning to leave she didn't feel the warmth of the bar anymore, the sound of people being drowned out by her loud thoughts and her eyes forcing themselves away from James and locked onto the door, determined to get out and go home and scream so hard into the pillow the neighbours would hear.

Squeezing through the crowd had proved to be easy, walking home would be cold but not unbearable, the hole never did much damage to her before so tonight couldn't be that much different, the kitchen door would be locked but the spare key was in the lamp next to the door, the house was cold but indefinitely warmer than outside, her room was blank of anything since she'd cleaned it out a few days before and her pillow would be the only thing keeping everyone from seeing Elena Faye so broken.

Or that's what she had planned.

In reality on her walk to the bar door someone had bumped into her again. Which happened to be a horrible thing since her feet were encased in a small heeled shoe and she couldn't keep her balance.

Stumbling, Elena fell forwards, feeling pairs of hands reach forward to grab her on either sides of her body to steady her, once people saw her face they were quick to help and ask her if she was alright, even when she tried to reassure them she was fine and turned to leave.

But when she turned to glance at James again, against her better judgement but she really hoped he didn't see her embarrass herself by falling over, she noticed that the song had stopped and James was making his way over to her, an expression she'd never seen on his face before filling her vision and she had to force herself to turn away and head towards the door again.

Pushing through people and was surprised to notice that they went back to their business even if she bumped into them hard.

Oh no. No no no no no no no no no no no no-

"Elena!"

Great, now he was calling for her.

She felt heat build as she ran, not very fast in her shoes, and felt her vision get a little clearer.

Probably adrenaline.

Elena wondered why she was running from him, shouldnt she want to face him and get mad at him or something? Make a scene and stomp out like an angry girlfriend like the majority of her girlfriends would?

But it wasnt as if she could face him without feeling her heart threaten to break once again.

But Elena had no choice when she felt fingers curl around her arm and turn her to face his handsome blue eyes directly again, his expression questioning with sincere concern glittering in his eyes which did nothing but confuse Elena.

He wasnt with her, he was with Halle.

She had no idea what shape her own face made but she had an idea when James own expression only deepened in his frown and he turned his body 180 degrees, addressing the brown-haired girl Halle all while keeping her arm in a firm grip to keep her from escaping like both of them knew she would.

A few words were spoken, people went back to their drinks, Halle had a sad and stumped look on her face and Elena was proud to say/think that it didn't even bring her pleasure.

It didn't matter to her that he asked her to go find her friend so that he could speak to Elena since she felt as if it was pity.

Elena didn't want pity, she wanted to go home and cry.

Why wouldn't he just let go so she could go home and cry?

Now that the little spurt of adrenaline from falling and being chased had worn off and she wasnt dizzy anymore she could feel her stomach cramping up a little, telling her that she must have hurt her stomach before.

James turned back to her and held her back while gently pushing her out of the bar.

But for the first time in two weeks.

Elena didn't want to be near James.

None of them spoke on the walk too Elena's house.

Well, James had spoken, asking if she'd hurt herself or if she was cold but was met with silence and the side of her head, Elena couldn't speak to him without her voice trembling or breaking so she opted to not speak at all.

But it was becoming increasingly awkward.

Part of her felt guilty for ignoring James even though she knew full-well that he was only worried for her well-being and was trying to help but she knew what she saw, and that was that.

He liked to go out looking for beautiful Dames to take out for one night only to leave them the next morning wondering if it was all a dream.

He was like the girls in chicago.

A friend, but not someone you wanted to be attached to.

Another part of her was angry at him for being so handsome and for leaning her on.

Even if it was two weeks ago, the almost-kiss never left her mind whenever he was around and he had probably forgotten about it days ago.

And the last part of her, the biggest part, hated her for rejecting to talk to him because she was freezing her toes off.

Elena was holding her arms and shivering softly in the cold streets, what possessed her to forget her coat? Why did she always forget her coat?

But it was too late now, she was left to the cold and james didn't look to be in a talkative mood either, his eyes set on the road in front of his feet and a focused look on his face.

Wonder what he's thinking about?

Probably thinking about how he wished that he was with Halle instead of you right now.

God he's so handsom-

"I'm sorry" Elena blurted. Feeling the tense silence beginning to be too much for her and definitely feeling the cold wind in her bones now, she was sure frost bit was around the corner and she didn't want her last moments to be giving James the silent treatment.

Or so that's what she told herself.

James turn his head almost immediately when she'd spoken, his eyes holding hope and doing nothing but make Elena feel even more guilty about ignoring him.

This was why she couldn't be mean to anyone, if anything it only backfired on her when her conscience came back to eat her alive with guilt.

"I'm sorry" she repeated, gathering her breath and doing her best to keep the shiver out of her voice as she spoke to him, her brown eyes coming up to meet his pale blue ones, "I shouldnt have ignored you James"

There, she apologized, she felt a bit better.

"Have I done something?" He asked, his tone seeming hesitant and shocking her so much she would've flinched, what had he done?

Leading her on, being so god-darned handsome, bringing another girl with his every time she was with him, being socharming-

With a sigh "No, you havent," Elena breathed, admitting it and not feeling better anymore "I just-"

I'm in love with you.

I love you.

I can cook.

I'm better than her.

I-

"I'm in lo-" she breathed, feeling her speech break of and she knew she didn't have the strength to confess to him her feelings, she really was weak.

James looked at her with an eyebrow raised, clearly waiting for her to finish her sentence, and with a sigh Elena looked away, "I guess im just a little 'homesick' for Chicago" she finished lamely.

He bought it.

And that didn't do anything to make her feel a hell of a lot better.

But James, as charming as ever, took off his uniform jacket, only to throw it over her shoulders gently and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close with that stupidly dazzling smirk of his, bringing warmth back to her frail body.

She cursed her body for leaning into him without her permission, feeling as if it was betraying her since she knew he probably did the same thing with Halle.

But darn did he smell wonderful.

He was just so.. perfectly perfect with only a handful of flaws.

James was just so much bigger than her, tall enough to reach for the spices on the top shelf of the kitchen, strong enough to open tight lid jars, charming enough to please her friends (perhaps not Howard) and he was a man of uniform.

And if all of that wasnt enough, he was warm too.

That could be great on winter nights.. She could call him her Winter Soldier, come to scare the danger away along with keeping her warm while she slept.

Okay she really needed to stop daydreaming.

Especially since they arrived at her house and slip through the gate with an elaborate pin code to answer to.

At the door with soft clicks of her heels hitting the concrete Elena turned towards James, a smile present on her lips.

The porch light was hanging above them and it lit up his face like the sun never could, it kept enough darkness there so that he looked even more masculine.

Without his arm on her shoulder she noticed that his jacket was heavy around her shoulders and she wondered just how strong his shoulders were.

Oh Jeez, now she was fantasizing about his shoulders? She really had it bad.

He hadn't said anything about the homesickness thing and for that she was grateful, because she couldn't make up a believable lie to save her life.

James however, had donned the same focused expression he'd held on the walk home when she wasnt speaking to him, his eyes cast down with a frown marring his pretty features.

Was something on his mind?

"James?" Elena asked tentatively, her arm reaching out to brush her fingers against his forearm which was bare since he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows for no apparent reason.

His forearm was even warm too, this guy just never got cold did he?

James lifted his eyes enough so that she could see them, noticing again just how much shorter she was than him, about a head and a half which was clear since only his eyes raised, not his head.

Shifting a little and putting his hands in his pockets James took a deep breath, as if he was preparing for a speech or something, and was it just Elena or did he seem.. Nervous?

No, that couldn't be right, James didn't get nervous he was James.

Bucky the womanizer, Bucky the brave, Bucky the handsome devil, Bucky Barnes, the man of Elena's dreams.

Oh for the love of god would her brain quit that already?

"I.. um"

Wait a moment did James just stutter?

This made Elena feel nervous because James wasnt the type of man who stuttered during anything, he was the epitomeof confidence, something that she was attracted to.

"How long have we known each other?" he asked all of a sudden.

Elena felt the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose again, what on earth was going on in that beautiful freaking mind of his?

"Um.. About two weeks" She replied hesitantly, thinking back to the times where they'd shared meals, taken Steve's drunk butt home, walked around and talked about things that weren't relevant.

"And when are you going back to chicago?"

The mention of Chicago shocked her, when would she go back.

She didn't really need work at the moment and could easily get a job as a showgirl the second she went back but what incentive did she really have to go back there other than for work?

Sure, there were the other girls, but she never truly fit in with their crew anyway, and there was always Steve here, little Steve who would probably need someone once James left tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow morning. James was going to leave. For war.

Swallowing hard and shaking her head to clear it from horrible thoughts of him getting shot or worse she cleared her throat and looked back into his deep blue eyes.

"I havent decided yet" she mumbled and held his military jacket closer to herself, savouring his smell for a while longer since, really, this could be the last time she ever smelt his cologne.

Last time she looked into his eyes.

Last time she ever heard his voice.

Please keep talking James.

His left hand reached up behind his head and he scratched the back of his neck idly, obviously not bothered by the cold wind whipping through his hair and messing it up in the most exceptional way.

You handsome devil.

"Well. You coul- I mean. Have you ever considered.. Staying here?" he asked after a few tries, his voice changing into a nervous tone she wasnt used to him using and she felt the urge to tell him to calm down and just breathe.

"Here in Brooklyn?" Elena asked with a frown donning her face.

"Yeah. Here where you grew up. And.."

And-

"Stay here with me.."

Her heart stopped.

Elena had no idea what to feel, couldn't think, couldn't move but all she knew was that James had said something that friends just didn't say.

Stay here with you? Of course I will.

It was as if time stopped and the two of them were the only thing that was real in the world.

"Ah- and um Steve of course!" a nervous laugh left his lips but she couldn't process it.

This was like a dream come true.

James wanted her to stay, perhaps she wasn't so bad after all.

Perhaps they had a chance.

Suddenly James broke the space between them and Elena could've jumped out of her skin.

Her nerves were going crazy with just a few words coming from his lips, words that made them more than friends and now he wanted to be in her personal space? Was he trying to give her a heart attack? She couldn't take this much excitement in the space of ten minutes.

His hands traced from her elbows all the way down to her fingers where he slipped his nimble calloused fingers into her own, intertwining them and sending a millions shocks through Elena's skin.

James was so close to her.

She could feel his warmth and hear his breathing.

She watched his chest rise and fall in front of her eyes and felt him lift her fingers up until they were held between them, his fingers gently rubbing their warmth into her cold ones.

"-I mean, you mean a lot to me Elena and I had to tell you this before I leave tomorrow.."

I'm so in love with you James.

"Those girls.. I don't know them like i know you.."

This cannot be happening.

"-I.. I think I-"

"ELENA!"

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no NO.

Howard's very loud and very obviously drunk voice interjected from the gate to reveal a less-than-ideal Howard Stark with a mussed up suit, a lipstick kiss on his cheek and a bottle of Chardonnay in his left hand while the other was attempting to shut the gate behind him.

All of this with a cheesy smile and half closed eyes.

Elena wanted to scream. She had never felt so angry with her father.

The moment was gone and she felt James already beginning to pull away from her hands, his fingers burying themselves into his pockets and his feet sliding back away from her.

For heavens sake Howard Stark!

"Elena!" he yelled again, stumbling drunkenly up to the porch stairs where he collapsed ungracefully, limbs sticking out awkwardly and his bottle going flying somewhere. His voice then lowered to a whisper and his eyes narrowed in suspicion, "There's a man staring at you right now"

Elena stopped breathing for a moment.

Pinching the bridge of her nose she took a deep breath and composed herself, it was over and she was going to stick with it with her head held high darn it, and in the morning Howard was going to get the ass-kicking of a life-time.

"Daddy.."

"Good evening Mr. Stark" James addressed, his charm coming out to play once again and he flashed that dazzling million dollar smile at her father, "I was just seeing to it that Elena got home safe"

Just?

A disbelieving eyebrow was raised in his direction and Howard's eyes turned sly, "Riiiiiiight. In that case you've finished your job, have a good night now"

Well if that wasn't the most rude way of saying 'you can go now'.

Elena couldn't believe this.

This was happening too fast and she couldn't stop it, James was already laughing it off smoothly and making his way down the steps, his blue eyes facing away from hers.

Her heart ached.

Look at me, look at me James! You could die tomorrow! Come back!

His head only turned but his eyes never met hers.

"Write me Elena"

But I love you.

And Elena watched him leave, holding his jacket close and only idly noticing that it was one of his military ones and that he may get in trouble for letting her have it, but there was no way in hell she was ever going to part with it now, because her heart felt like it had taken the beating of a lifetime and this jacket was the only thing keeping it from freezing entirely.

James.

And behind her, looking like a panicked deer in headlights was her drunk father frantically around the garden around their porch.

"I've lost the Chardonnay! Elena help!

Preview-

"Daddy! Steve cant take the super soldier serum!"

"I'm just the scientist Elena"

plus

'Dear Elena..'

Yeah, sometimes Howard sucks.

This was a little rushed but i really just wanted to get past this stage because it was blocking sooooooo much.

As always please review and I hope you all have the best day :)

Take Care,

-PrincessJade