You glanced in the mirror one last time to check your hair, making sure it was perfect. Tucking in a loose curl behind your ear you take a deep breath and sigh.

Your best friends were waiting for you, you've known them you whole life. Steve and Bucky. The crazy goofy duo that always had each other's back, and your back since you three were young. Living in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn your whole life, watching out and sticking up for one another.

Today wouldn't be easy. Today you were helping Steve lay his mother to rest. Sarah Rodgers was like a second mother to you. After your parents died two years ago in a traffic accident, Sarah stepped in and practically took you in. Although it hurt like hell to have her gone, you knew this was nothing compared to how Steve felt. You had to be strong for him.

"(Y/N)" you hear Bucky calling you from outside your apartment door. "It's time to go."

"Coming Buck" you say, take a deep breath, and head out the door.

The service was beautiful, and as you, Steve and Bucky walked back home a comfortable silence surrounded you all.

Finally getting to Steve's door Bucky grabs him in for a huge bear hug. "You know you can stay at my place tonight. We can all stay in, make a fort in the living room just like we did when we were kids."

"Thanks Bucky, but I'm ok. Really." Steve grabbed his shoulder, then turned to face you. "(Y/N). I know you're worried, but really guys. Go home. I'll see you later."

"I'm with you till the end of the line, pal." Giving him a little shake and a small smile.

"You promised me a movie this week Rodgers. I will hold you to that ok?" you say as I grab him in for a bear hug myself. With that Steve goes into his apartment and closes the door. You and Bucky stay there for a second just watching the door before turning and heading to your own homes.

"I'll walk you home (Y/N)." You turn to Bucky and give him a sweet smile. "Thanks Buck, but don't worry about me. You know I can take care of myself" you say while giving him a wink.

"You sure?" he says looking at you, worry in his deep blue eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure. I need to go for a little walk anyways. I'll see you around Buck." You give him a kiss on the cheek, and quickly turn around before he can see the small blush appear on my cheeks.

You start walking towards your apartment, but slow down and lean against a nearby building, trying to control your breathing. Sarah's death was hitting you hard but you didn't want to admit it. You slump down to the floor and finally let the tears come through that you have been holding in all day.

"(Y/N)…." You look up to see Bucky standing next to you, worry and sadness in his eyes.

"Buck… what are you doing here?" you say, quickly trying to dry up your tears.

"I knew you weren't ok. Followed you to make sure you got home alright." He says taking a seat next to you, pulling you into his side. You lay your head on his shoulder and finally let it out.

After what seems like forever, you finally finish crying. You just sit there with your head on Bucky's shoulder. You take in his scent, he smells like spearmint, the woods, and rain. It makes you feel at home.

"Come on, let me take you home." Bucky says as he pulls you by your waist to your feet. Another blush finds your way to your cheeks, but you keep your head down to hide it.

Holding your hand the whole way home, you can't help to let your mind wander to Bucky. Bucky has always been your friend. Your best friend, just like Steve. But lately you couldn't shake the feeling of something more than friends from your mind. You finally reach your door and you turn to face Bucky.

He looks lost in thought, as if he's trying to say something.

"What's wrong tough guy?" bumping him in the shoulder.

"Hm.. oh nothing. Don't worry about it." He says bumping you back, trying to lighten the mood.

You reach out and place your hand on his cheek. What the hell am I doing? But I just had to reach out to him.

"(Y/N)…" it was barely a whisper. But you heard it. The way he said your name just now, it made something in you flicker. Like butterflies in your stomach. But before you could even think about it anymore he quickly pulls away from your touch.

"Rest up. I'll see you around kid." And before you knew it he was walking away.

"See around Buck." You whisper and open your apartment door, not understanding the disappointment in your stomach.

-.-.-.-

Bucky's POV

What the hell are you doing James? What has gotten into your head? (Y/N) is your best friend. Why are you letting your emotions get to you?

Seeing her broken down and crying earlier hurt, it pulled at some string in your gut. But when you went to comfort her, you could barely control your growing emotions for her. You've been trying to keep those emotions locked away. Constantly flirting and going out with every girl who came your way to bury those feelings away.

But hearing the sadness in her voice now as you pulled away from her touch, you can't help but wonder if there could be something there.

You shake those thoughts out of your mind. You haven't told her or Steve yet that you were enlisted. You were trying to tell her. That any moment you could leave. You didn't need to tell her how you felt, especially knowing she might not feel the same. Because if she didn't, you don't think you could make it past the war. It was better to go off, knowing you would do whatever you had to do to make this country safe, for her.

-.-.-.-

A couple days pass and you finally get that to go see that movie with Steve like he promised. He was so strong. Always a pillar of strength, even when you knew deep down he was hurting bad.

Sitting down in the movie theater, they're talking about the boys in the war. You see the determination and want in Steve's eyes. "Hey, I know you want to go bad Steve. But what's so bad with sticking around here with me?" you say playfully nudging him.

"I just want to be part of something (Y/N). I want to do my part just like everyone else." He said watching the screen longingly.

"Just put the picture on already!" Yelled a big oaf behind us. You can see Steve tense up almost immediately. You place your hand in his and whisper "Don't Steve…."

"Come on just put the picture on no one wants to see this shit!" The guy screamed at the screen again. A few seats away you can see a lady tearing up, obviously offended and hurt. She must have someone she loves out there fighting.

"Can you show some respect?" Says Steve as he gets up from his chair. I immediately put my palm to my face and shake my head. "Steve…"

Before you know it Steve and the oaf are heading outside, you're quickly on their tail to protect Steve and back him up. It's what you guys have always done.

Punches start flying and Steve is getting knocked down again and again.

"I can do this all day" says Steve, bruised and bloody. Barely standing up.

"Enough!" you scream and pull the oaf away from Steve using all your strength. Surprised you actually made him connect with the alley wall.

As you go to help Steve up your suddenly yanked back and pressed on the alley wall yourself. "Who the hell do you think you are? Some pretty fine thing like yourself. Don't you know better than to mess with men?" he says as he pins you up against the wall.

"I guess not." I spit back while I go and knee him between the legs. As he doubles over in pain I make a move to go check on Steve. But before I can reach him I'm dragged backwards by my hair.

"BITCH! I'll show you better!" he screams as he pins you back up against the wall harshly, making your head his the wall with extreme force. You start seeing spots.

"Women are only good for one thing…" he whispers in your ear as his hands start making his way up your thigh. You freeze and then almost instantly start struggling. Kicking and bucking trying to pry yourself loose.

The oaf doesn't like that and gives you a punch to the gut. Effectively knocking the wind out of you. Grabbing you again he presses you up against the wall, your vision starts to blur between the pain you're feeling and the tears welling up in your eyes. You prepare for the worst. All you can think about before you feel like you're about to blackout is Bucky. Bucky… He will never look at me the same again.

Before the oaf can go any further, you feel him being yanked off of you. You collapse to your knees from all the pain.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!" yells Bucky, his face the angriest you've ever seen before. He throws some punches, with a look to kill. The oaf runs away after his jaw makes a popping sound.

"(Y/N)…" you hear Steve say as he hobbles over to you. You can barely register his outline anymore. "Buck! Help me out, (Y/N) is hurt!"

"(Y/N)! Tell me what hurts. What did he do to you?" says Bucky has he comes up to you and holds you to keep you from falling.

You try to shake them off and stand, to be strong. But as soon as you do you feel the world spin and darken around you. You feel someone catch you in their arms and the last thing you can say before blacking out is "Bucky…."

-.-.-.-

Bucky's POV

I picked up my uniform today. Put it on for the first time. It makes it real.

I decided I have to tell Steve and (Y/N) today. I can't keep hiding this from them. I leave this weekend for God's sake… they need to know.

I know they're at the movie today, might as well go and surprise them with my uniform when they come out. That'll be a hilarious way to let them know! I can just picture Steve's reaction!

As I make my way to the theater I hear a commotion in the alley. My curiosity gets the better of me and as I look to see what's going on, I'm frozen in place.

(Y/N)… On the floor, being pushed up against the wall… I see red. I can barely understand what I am doing, its instinct that took over. Grabbing the asshole off of (Y/N) with all my might, barely able to contain myself.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!" I scream and immediately my fist meet his face, his stomach. Anything I can get my hands on. I connect with his jaw, using all my force. I hear a pop, and I can see I broke his jaw. I want to kill him. He starts running out of the ally and I'm about to go after him. Make him hurt. Make him pay. When I hear Steve scream out to me, "Buck! Help me out, (Y/N) is hurt!"

My heart stops... I run up to her and hold her in my arms. "(Y/N)! Tell me what hurts. What did he do to you?" I can't stand to see her in pain. This isn't right.

She tries to stand up, trying to wave us away. She can barely stand. Immediately her knees buckle, I catch her before she call fall. And then, so low I can barely hear it she says "Bucky…"

My heart catches, my guts twist. I get this sense of joy from hearing my name from her lips, but I hold back tears of anger seeing her like this. So hurt. So vulnerable. I feel like it's my job to protect her. To keep her safe. And right now I failed.

"Buck, she doesn't look too good. There's blood…" you hear Steve say as he looks at her head. "She needs medical attention."

You lift her up in your arms and look at Steve, panic written clearly in your face. "Steve… I can't… I mean we can't lose her."

"We won't Buck, common let's go." He grabs your shoulder and squeezes tight reassuringly. He's always so strong, so sure of himself. Right now I'm not. Far from it.

I follow Steve to the nearest Emergency Room. Praying to God she'll be ok.