The next few chapters will play around with the events of episodes 3, 4, and 5.

I don't own TFATWS, MARVEL, or any characters belonging to the MCU or Disney...duh.

A week later Bucky sat at the bar inside Rosie's diner. Nearly every day this had been his spot. He watched her work, and afterwards he walked her home to her apartment where sometimes they shared dinner. Other times he said goodnight with a teasing kiss on her lips. He wasn't trying to be a tease, but they both felt like they weren't ready. Maybe with any other girl, but not with Annie.

His phone buzzed annoyingly in his pocket. He didn't even need to check. He knew it was Sam. The man had been calling nonstop for the past few days. Bucky had avoided him because...well because for once he was starting to feel normal. He didn't want to get involved in whatever government crap Sam had going on. He'd been angry at him since he gave up the shield. Steve's shield. Only not Steve's shield, not anymore.

Bucky had put that aside on their last few encounters, but was was getting tired of it all. He would much rather spend his time here, and with Annie. Watching her smile, and feeling her arms around him. The weight that had been lifted off her shoulders in the past week had made her shine even brighter, and sometimes he didn't even remember that she'd been having sex for money when they met.

He really tried not to think about that.

His phone was ringing again.

He slid off the stool and took the call outside.

"Sam," he answered cooly.

After their encounter with the new Cap and letting Zemo escape they called it quits for a moment. Bucky was depressed and...withdrawn after the whole ordeal. Then, Annie happened. He'd kept his ear to the ground for info on the Flag Smashers, and Zemo's whereabouts. He expected Sam had been doing the same.

"Karli called me. She wants to meet," Sam said.

Bucky sighed. He knew what this meant. He'd be getting on a plane. Probably tonight.

"Where? When?"

Sam told him the location, and Bucky nodded. He'd be flying out tonight and would head straight to the meeting. He glanced through the windows into the diner. Annie was pouring coffee, and she caught sight of him. She smiled brightly at him and his heart squeezed painfully.

"I'll be there."

Later that night Bucky walked Annie back to her apartment like always. He had a bag with him, and she was curious, but the way he was holding her hand distracted her from asking about it. When they got to her door Bucky pulled her close.

"Can I come in?" he nuzzled against her ear.

"Of course," she said, a little surprised that he had to even ask.

He dropped the bag and kicked the door shut behind them. He pulled Annie back to him and felt the breath rush from her lungs as he picked her up into his arms.

"What are you doing?"

"Shhhh,"

As he carried her to the bedroom Annie could feel his heart pounding. It only served to increase her own heart rate. They made it to the edge of the bed, and Bucky searched her eyes.

Without a word, Annie leaned in and kissed him. A current, caused by something Bucky didn't understand ignited a fire between them and suddenly he was on fire for her. They fell onto the bed as they continued their exploration.

"Annie," Bucky breathed against her lips, "I have to go away for a few days. Maybe longer."

The sadness in his voice almost broke her. Despite how she was feeling about him leaving she knew he didn't like telling her the news any more than she liked hearing it. She took his face in her hands, caressing him gently. "I'll be here when you get back,"

That reassurance was all Bucky needed. "I was hoping you'd say that. Now, can we say goodbye properly?"

Annie giggled as Bucky's hand slipped down and under her shirt, "I don't know how proper this is,"

Her hands followed suit and grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head, and exposing for the first time the scars where his metal arm was connected.

"Mmm, you're probably right," he hummed against her lips.

His tongue slid against her lips and into her mouth, dancing against her own. Her fingers splayed over his scars, feeling the roughness of them.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

"Sometimes," he answered as his fingers went to the buttons on her shirt.

Slowly, he undid each button. The slow, deliberate action made Annie ache inside. He pushed the shirt off her shoulders, showering kisses onto her shoulders as he went. Annie entwined her fingers into his hair and pulled gently. Bucky growled low, and dangerously. Once again Annie got the feeling she was playing with fire...

"Do you know how badly I don't want to leave you? What have you done to me?" He grinned darkly.

"I don't want you to go either,"

"It's work stuff," he explained.

She pressed a finger to his lips. "I don't need to know, Buck. Just give me something to remember you by until you get back."

And he obliged. Soon they were bare-skinned and as close as could be. Bucky whispered things into her ear that later, when he tried to recall he couldn't. But he remembered everything she had said. Every whimper and moan. Every breathless sigh of his name. The way her hair smelled, the way she tasted, the look in her eyes when at last they came together.

He couldn't remember feeling that way in a very long time. Not a lot of people ever cared about him. Most people just wanted to use him. The strongest soldier. A killing machine. HYDRA's wonder boy. With Annie he knew, he could feel that she cared. Cared about him, James Buchanan Barnes.

He cared about her too. Which is why he was desperate to get this taken care of and get home. If he hadn't promised Steve he'd look out for Sam, he wouldn't even be here.

Bucky wasn't sure what this meeting held, but he never expected the events that were about to unfold...

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