"C-come in." I stammered, pushing down my shirt that had ridden up to my chest. I gave a small sigh and relaxed in relief at the sight of my abdomen not ripped to shreds, but something was off.

The door creaked open slightly, leaving only enough room for a head to poke through. I watched as thick brown hair and light blue eyes peeked into the doorway.

"Bucky?" I asked. The door opened to reveal a young teenage boy who was almost a spitting image of his older brother Jake.

"Bucky!" I giggled, swinging my legs over the bed and spreading my arms for an embrace. Despite the fact he was at the age of resisting authority I was still able to pull him into a well wanted hug.

"I've missed you so much." Bucky whimpered, his voice catching in emotion. I knew how he felt, the familiar feelings were bubbling up inside me as well.

"Me too Buck. I'm never gonna leaving you again." I whispered, holding him tight. Soon he was crying and clutching me like I had held my pillow a few minutes earlier.

A weight of responsibility fell in my chest at the remembrance of a long ago conversation with Jeremy. At the time I didn't really believe him but now I knew it was true.

"You don't have to leave us El! Just because your dad says you have to doesn't mean you do."

"You know I don't have a say in this Jere! My dad calls the shots in my life."

"What about Bucky? You remember what happened to our real Mom right?"

"Yeah. She...died during childbirth. Then Mrs. K. adopted Jake, you, and Bucky."

"Do you know what that did to Bucky? He feels it's his fault for everything. I don't blame him, but when you're with him...it's different."

"What are you talking about?"

"He looks up to you Eleanor! He sees you as a mother, despite the fact you're only a few years older than him! If you leave...you're gonna lose him."

"You didn't lose me. I knew you would come back!" He cried, holding me tight. Despite his age and height he still had substantial strength. I comforted him like a mother would her child.

"I knew you were strong. I never doubted you for a second." I murmured, ruffling his hair in affection. Bucky just sniffled against my neck in an attempt to calm himself.

"There were many times when Jeremy and Jake told me you were never coming home but I knew you would. I couldn't believe they'd say something like that but...they did. Now that you're here, we can finally be a family again." He faltered, pressing his face into the crook of my neck. I rubbed and patted his back as I slowly rocked us back and forth.

"We've always been a family, and no matter what anyone says...you're my Bucky." I giggled, cradling the teenager. Despite the fact most boys his age would have been repelled at any type of affection, Bucky seemed to wallow in it.

"Here." He said, wiping his eyes and pulling out a paper from his pocket. "Jeremy told me to give it to you when you woke up."

"What time is it?" I yawned, looking at the drapes which didn't show light to begin with.

"It's...ten, if I remember correctly." He said with a shrug, letting me open the crumpled note.

Eleanor,

I saw how troubled you were when I left, and I know you're going to go back despite the danger. You've always been that way and I can see that part of you didn't die. As much as I hate to say it...I'm glad it hasn't.

I'm sorry I can't be there, but take the walkie-talkies if they'll be any help. You're clothes were a mess too, so I threw them in the wash. Bucky should have put them in the dryer by now.

No matter what happens, just remember that Bucky and I love you. And even though Jake isn't here I'm sure he'd feel the same way.

-Jeremy

I felt my heart skip a beat at the words 'I love you' but that wasn't the point of the message. The importance of it was to serve as a warning for the night. If I died, so would a bit of Jeremy and Bucky.

"What does it say? Jeremy told me not to read it and made me pinkie promise I wouldn't." Bucky said, trying to read over my shoulder. I folded the message and slipped it into my pocket despite his pleas to see it.

"It says that you need to get to bed. Don't you have school tomorrow?" I grinned, watching as he fell onto the bed in frustration.

"But I'm hungry." He whined, tugging on my arm in a needy way. I hissed in pain as he touched a tender spot of skin. Startled, he scrambled to his knees and watched as I rolled up the sleeve of my sweatshirt.

To my horror and surprise, a large purple bruise adorned my entire arm. It wrapped upwards to my collarbone and all across my neck in the most peculiar fashion; almost as if it were a hand print. I immediately got off of the bed and ran towards Jeremy's mirror. I pulled up my sweatshirt to show an ugly black bruise where the hook had tore out a chunk of flesh from my body during my dream.

"You okay? Where did all of these come from!?" Bucky said, looking up at me with a concerned gaze. I swallowed and shrugged before turning back to the mirror. If I had been alone I would have taken off my shirt but I couldn't do that with Bucky there.

"I don't know. I probably just slept on it wrong." I chuckled, although deep inside of me I was freaking out. Bucky looked at me with suspicion but seemed to shrug it off. I hoped he did because I didn't want him to worry too much.

"Uh...you said you were hungry. How about we make a sandwich?" I giggled.

"How long has it been since you've eaten something? Your stomach sounds like an angry bear." Bucky giggled, poking me in the side (although he was careful not to jostle my bruises). I laughed and put the last piece of bread onto our 'gourmet' sandwiches.

"How would you know what an angry bear sounds like?" I giggled, passing him his plate. He shrugged and took a large bite of his very late dinner.

"I don't know. How do you know what an angry bear sounds like?" he smirked, taking another bite of his turkey and cheese. I chuckled, my thoughts conjuring up an image of Freddy Fazbear with a frowny face.

"Just a wild guess." I smirked, looking at a yawning Bucky. I guess he really was tired.

"C'mon kiddo. You've gotta get to bed." I giggled, putting our plates onto the counter. I'd clean it up later, but right now Bucky was more important.

"Alright." He groaned. This time was different because he didn't protest at all.

He jumped into his bed and lay down. I walked over to his bed and stroked his hair. He closed his eyes continued to let me pet him like a cat.

"You want me to tuck you in?" I smirked, sitting on the edge of his bed. He flushed and crossed his arms defiance but I pulled the covers up to his chin anyway.

"Sweet dreams Bucky." I whispered, kissing him on the forehead. I went to turn off the lights but before I could close the door he called me.

"Eleanor?" He asked.

"Yeah?" I said.

"You wouldn't mind staying with me...until I fall asleep?" He murmured sleepily. I chuckled, and closed the door before snuggling under the covers with him. I relaxed and let him curl up against me despite the fact I felt a little uneasy about the whole thing.

"Mom never did this for me. She never had time. I'm glad you're here. Now we can be a real family." He sighed, cuddling even closer against me.

"Me too sweetheart." I whispered, pushing hair behind his ears.

"Jeremy really cares about you." He whispered. "I do too, but it's platonic."

"Do you even know what 'platonic' means?" I said, raising and eyebrow.

"Yeah. It's like, when you care about someone but not in a romantic way." He mumbled. "I'm pretty sure Jeremy likes you like he would a girlfriend."

"How would you know?!" I gaped, feeling my cheeks burn. Bucky just chuckled, and continued to relax.

"You should've seen the way he was acting when I got home from my friend's house." He whispered. "It was 'Eleanor this...' and 'Eleanor that...'. I know he cares about a ton about you..." he trailed off.

I wanted to wake him up and hear the rest about what he had to say but I knew it wasn't a good idea.

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

A/N:

Sorry for the last chappie not having a note. I told you I'm shit at writing these things. But I digress, this has been quite an odd chapter. Just to refresh the ideas...

Quicknote fact time:

1. Bucky was ignored as a child and went to Eleanor for attention.

2. Jeremy has a crush on Ellie?

3. Jake, Jerebear, and Buck's mother died in childbirth with Bucky.

4. Jake, Jerebear, and Buck were adopted by Mrs. K. when they were little.

5. (This is from the last chappie) Who was that girl in the picture with Mike?

Sorry. I just felt a need to refresh the memory of the past events. Yeah so...comment and like for more! I promise to be quicker writing these if you give me feedback.

-Gberryb