A/N: Here it is...chapter 2. Let me know what you think!:)

Chapter 2-

Something Old and Something New

Alesha put her Chevy Trailblazer in park then took a deep breath, trying to steady her heart rate. Normally she thoroughly enjoyed walking her dog in the walking trails, it felt good to walk amongst nature and just be away from everything. Under the sun and nestled amongst the trees, her spirit always felt revived. Such peace could be found to sustain her to get through another week. Today, though, she was slightly nervous…ok, more than slightly. Butterflies threatened to explode out of her stomach. She checked the time on her cellphone. 12:58pm. She was two minutes early. Before she could delay any longer, a wet nose poked the side of her head making her smile.

"Ok, ok. We're going."

She got out of her car, pocketing both her keys and her cellphone then opened the car door behind the driver's side so her dog could jump out. The chocolate lab leapt out, tail wagging ready to explore.

"Come on, boy, let's go."

There were only two other cars in the small parking lot leading to the trail head. One was a small sedan while the other was a black SUV. A second glance at the empty SUV and something within her told her he was already here. He…Bucky…James Buchanan Barnes. A supposedly dead WWII hero. Which made absolutely no sense. After meeting him on Wednesday, her mind had gone into overdrive. She had immediately recognized Captain America even without the stars and stripes on. Her friend, Becca, was obsessed with the man…to the almost creepy point. Something in seeing Steve Rogers and hearing the name Bucky had triggered a memory that once she was home, sent her straight to her laptop researching. How was Bucky alive? She thought this would have been all over the news. The thing that really got her was that he wanted to see her again. She had tried to conceal her shock and surprise. Guys rarely asked for her number and it had been years since she was on a date. Why her? She was not anyone special. Yet she could not deny the tug on her heart and his open, excited expression while he asked to see her again. After the panic attack, he had been truly charming in a way that captivated her. No man, especially whom she just met, had treated her as such an old-school gentleman. Honestly she had loved it. Their flirty texts had made her smile so broadly and realized she wanted to see him again just as badly. She had text him later that evening and they agreed to meet for a walk on Sunday. So here she was. God, she hoped this was not a mistake.

They had agreed to met at the picnic tables just next to the trailhead. As she rounded the corner, her eyes were immediately drawn to him. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans over sneakers with a black Henley long-sleeve. His shoulder-length hair was ruffled like he had run his hand through it once too many. As he looked up and noticed her, a genuine smile broke out on his face. She could not help but wonder if he thought she was not going to show. That made her heart ache for him. Her responding smile seemed to ease some tension and he walked over to meet her. Over his shoulder she glimpsed two others. Steve Rogers stood, arms crossed, watching his friend with a concerned look. The other guy, Sam maybe, sat on one of the picnic tables scanning around them. They both wore what she assumed were work-out clothes, sweatpants and long-sleeves with sneakers. She noted her own dirty sneakers, faded jeans and hoodie. It was almost embarrassing how long she had spent trying to decide what to wear. Which was stupid. This was not a date.

"Hey doll," Bucky greeted bashfully, sticking his hands in his front pockets. She noticed he wore a set of motorcycle gloves.

"Hey sweetheart, thanks for meeting me here. Have you been here before?"

"Ah, no."

"Oh great. It's one of my favorites. The weather is pretty nice so I was thinking about doing the longer trail…but if you need to leave before we can do one of the shorter ones…" She rambled, aware of the awkwardness and trying to diffuse it.

He shrugged, not having removed his eyes from her like she would disappear if he did. His eyes were the most vivid blue, like the sky on a sunny day. It would be so easy to continue to just stare into them…but that most likely would not help the awkward moment.

"Well, ok then. Ready?"

Before she could direct them towards the correct trail, the other two men approached. It was instinctual, she took a half step back feeling intimidated. She was only 5'3" and all three of the guys were at least 6' and bulky. They would easily squish her like a bug. To her surprise, Bucky was by her side in a flash and standing partially in front of her protectively. A feeling of gratitude and warmth filled her. She wondered if he even realized he had moved or if it was subconscious. Whatever it was, a sense of relief filled her. Not that she guessed freaking Captain America would hurt her but at least her new friend was looking out for her. That feeling slipped away as she noticed the looks of concern and mistrust being thrown back and forth.

"Steve…don't…" Bucky begged but was ignored.

"Alesha, right?" Steve asked and waited for her nod before continuing. "Do you know who I am?"

"Captain America."

"Do you know who he is?" Steve nodded towards Bucky who cringed slightly. Steve held her gaze unflinchingly, eyebrows furrowed.

"Bucky Barnes."

That got their attention. All three stared at her a long moment making her shift uncomfortably.

"What? My family went to the Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian last year. I may have done some research to confirm after meeting you guys last week."

"And…you're ok with…this?" Bucky asked hesitantly, watching her.

She shrugged, hoping it came off looking casual. "Yeah, I mean honestly I'm a bit confused because you're supposed to be dead…you're not a vampire or zombie are you?"

That earned a snort from Sam and two confused looks from Steve and Bucky.

Steve placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head. "I don't know about this, Buck. You're supposed to be in hiding. It's only been a year."

Bucky ran his hand through his hair, sighing. His shoulders slumped and he stared at his shoes, defeat written all over him.

The other guy was surveying her, head cocked to the side slightly. He seemed curious. He broke the awkward silence surrounding the group. "Why do you want to hang out with Bucky?"

That startled her. "Well…that's generally what you do when you want to get to know someone."

He smirked at her instant reply. "Aren't you curious about how he's not dead?"

"Yeah." She shifted her eyes to meet Bucky's blue and to see the turmoil rolling in them. "But… that's not my business. If you want to tell me you can, otherwise I don't need to know. Truthfully I liked walking with you. Its been a while since…well, walking with you was fun…it felt nice."

His eyes lit up but before he could respond, Steve spoke up.

"I'm sorry, Alesha. You seem like a nice dame but I don't think it's safe."

Bucky visibly tensed, jaw clenching as his eyes narrowed at his friend. Instinctively she reached over and placed her hand on Bucky's arm. There was no rational thought behind it. It just happened. She was not sure if it was meant for a reassuring touch for him or to ground herself. With the touch, he glanced down at her and seemed to calm marginally. He shifted so he stood closer to her but made no further move.

"I can go if I need to. It's ok." She murmured, trying to hide her disappointment. Over the past few days she had been both anxious and excited for this walk…and it was going nothing like she planned it to.

"No, it's fine. It'll be fine." Bucky seemed to direct the last part towards Steve.

Sam, Alesha was still guessing that was his name, stepped forward looking at each of them purposefully. "Its just a walk. Why don't we stay as a group though? I'll admit, I'm curious to learn more about her."

"What's your name?" Alesha asked.

"Sam Wilson…wait, how come you know these dudes' names and not mine?"

"Were you born before the '50s?"

He raised an eyebrow, watching her skeptically. "No…"

"Then you're too young for my interest. Sorry, hon." She could not help the teasing smirk that accompanied her statement.

"What?"

Bucky spoke, unable to hide the amusement in his voice. "She's a history nerd."

"Oh…oh, that's cold." Sam shook his head, lips turning up slightly.

"I'll get you a warm pack for that burn." Alesha deadpanned. Her and Sam stared at each other for a long moment before he started laughing and a triumphant smile broke out on her face. Both Steve and Bucky had small smiles on their faces.

"I like you." Sam smiled at her, eyes bright. "Even if you are a dwarf."

Alesha placed a hand over her chest in feigned horror. "Dwarf? Please, I much prefer the term 'hobbit' if you're making fun of my height. Then I can eat all I want and still look adorable."

Sam threw back his head laughing and smacked his leg. "Oh shit, girl. If Bucky screws this up with you, can I call dibs on you next?'

She could feel Bucky tense next to her, her hand still on his arm. It was apparent Sam meant the comment jokingly but Bucky looked ready to pummel the guy. "Don't hold your breath. So, are we walking?"

"Yeah, let's go." Bucky placed his hand on her lower back and directed her towards the trailhead she started towards before the messy, awkward conversation started. Steve and Sam followed behind, Alesha could sense and hear their footfalls. As she started walking, Bucky put his hands back in his pockets and she immediately missed the warmth on her lower back. She scolded herself mentally as she looked around for her dog.

"Trigger, come!" She called out. Two seconds later, the chocolate lab ambled out of the woods and came to her side. "Good boy, ok you can go now." With a woof, the lab started along the dirt path but stayed within sight of her.

"His name is Trigger?"

Smiling, she shrugged as she met Bucky's eyes. "Yeah, my grandad named him. Trigger was his hunting dog."

There was a hesitant pause. "Was?"

"He died five years ago. So now I take care of Trigger."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks. I miss him but I'm ok."

They walked in companionable silence, their arms just a couple of inches away. The sun streamed down brilliantly, warming her face. Spring was here and it felt amazing. With the snow finally all melted, grass and flowers were beginning to show green shoots in the ground. The trees around them had a few early leaves and buds to celebrate the renewing warmth. It was Alesha's favorite time of the year. A time of renewal, of growth, of new life. Something her own personal life lacked.

She could feel Bucky's glances thrown her way because, truthfully, she kept glancing at him. Having it confirmed that he was Bucky Barns, the WWII war hero, sent her mind whirling. How was he alive? It had to be something similar to what happened to Captain America because he looked about the same age as the pictures from the Smithsonian. What she had told them was true though, she had no intention of pressing him for answers. She had learned to keep her questions to herself and to wait until the other person was ready to share. It had helped with her sister and the trauma that she went through. That did not mean her mind whirled and fought to figure out solve those questions.

"Oh my God!" Sam finally exclaimed exasperated from behind them. "Are you two going to talk or just walk? I've got some questions if he's too scared to talk."

Alesha laughed as Bucky muttered something under his breath beside her. "Ok, Sam, what do you got?"

An easy, rolling conversation started with questions thrown back and forth. She spent a good part of that talking about herself, which normally made her uncomfortable but she understood that she had to pass some unspoken test. Sam's quick questions were easy to answer with Steve occasionally asking for clarification. Bucky kept silent but watched her answer often. She explained how she was a middle child, older sister and younger brother. Her siblings and parents lived in Albany while she lived with their grandmom here in the small town. Her grandparents owned an old farmhouse and after her granddad's death, her grandmom refused to move. Unfortunately, she got into a car accident soon after that affecting her mobility. The worst part was dementia began to take hold. It came to a point where it was unsafe for her to live alone. Thus Alesha moved in. She continued to work at a local diner during the day so she could make sure to be home to help in the morning and evening. There was two years of university under her belt but she had to drop out years ago after her sister needed help and then ended up moving in her with grandmom, so she never picked it back up. She asked a few questions about them, understanding they could not be completely open with her. They were staying at the newly finished Avengers facility. Sam frequented the townhouse he still owned back in DC when he was working at the VA. Steve was debating getting rid of his apartment in DC but had yet to pull the trigger. Pretty soon Sam and Alesha began debating Star Wars verse Star Trek and in what order you should actually watch the Star Wars movies. Sam was in the opinion the original three were the classics and they to be watched first while Alesha defended that you had to watch them in numerical order. Steve and Bucky just walked and listened. After almost an hour of walking, they arrived back to the trail head. Steve and Sam said good-bye to her, Sam a bit more enthusiastically and Bucky walked her over to her car, Trigger walking behind them.

"I'm sorry."

She almost stumbled, surprised by Bucky finally speaking. He never said a word during the walk and an uneasy feeling that he regretted meeting up with her had sunk in. "What? Why?"

He refused to meet her eyes. "It didn't go exactly as I had hoped."

"You didn't think it'd turn into a double date?"

He snorted, a smirk emerging. "Double date…I just thought…"

"Hey, it's ok. They are protective of you. I get it. Really, I didn't mind." They stopped at her car. Bucky still had his hands in his pockets, shoulders slumped. Her heart broke for him. She did not know what had happened but it was clear he was suffering with something. Memory of his panic attacks in the coffeeshop and the hovering of Steve during the walk only confirmed it. Something within her wondered how many people he felt able to open up to and call a friend…probably few. She helped Trigger into the back seat and closed the door before turning back to Bucky. His face was impassive as if preparing for bad news and to turn tail and run.

"Are you busy on Wednesday?"

His eyes widened as he shook his head.

"Why don't you guys come over for dinner and a movie? I usually have the house to myself so you don't have to worry about others around."

"Are you sure? You don't…if you don't want to see me again…"

She could not help it, his uncertainty, his shame was almost visibly hanging over his shoulders. She moved closer and put her hand on his arm. "I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it. Can I see you on Wednesday, Bucky?"

"Anything for you, doll."

A blush crept up on her cheeks. Something about him calling her 'doll' made butterflies erupt in her stomach. "I'll text you my address, ok?"

He nodded, a genuine smile lighting up his face and erasing the doubt and despair prior clouding it.

"Ok, see you then sweetheart."

"Bye, doll."

She squeezed his arm before stepping back and getting into her car. As she drove out, she gave a quick wave to him before pulling out of the parking lot. A smile stayed on her lips. Suddenly she could not wait for her week to begin.

Wednesday arrived with an extra dose of spring. In celebration, and she knew she looked cute, Alesha wore a coral maxi skirt with a soft, teal blouse. Trigger laid on his bed in the living room while she bustled about the kitchen. Her grandmom was out with her group of friends playing bingo, like every Wednesday. Her cousin, who had recently moved into the spare room, was out doing God only knows what and really she did not want to know. Truthfully, she tried to pretend he did not live there but that only worked so well.

A knock on the front door brought a beaming smile to her face. She hurried over and opened it to reveal Bucky holding a bouquet of tulips and lilies with Steve and Sam behind him.

"Hey guys, come on in."

They stepped in and she was reminded of how small she was compared to them. It felt like standing next to professional football players…or Avengers.

"Ah, these are for you." Bucky awkwardly handed them over, clearly uncomfortable.

"They're lovely. Thank you. Its been years since anyone gave me flowers." They smelled like heaven and sunshine and she could not help sticking her face in them. "Alright, kick your shoes off, make yourselves at home. Dinner should be ready in a minute." She wandered back to the kitchen to retrieve a vase for her flowers. They were going to look wonderful on the desk in her room.

"It's smells great. What did you get?"

She smiled over her shoulder at Bucky who had followed, now leaning against the doorframe. In the black Henley and jeans, arms crossed loosely, she thought he could be a model. Those brilliant blue eyes, sharp jawline and muscled body usually only found in magazines, the word 'hot' was not enough to describe him. After a moment, a shit-eating grin emerged on his face and she realized she had been ogling him instead of actually answering his question. Embarrassed and cheeks hot, she turned around fill up the clear vase with water for the flowers. "I made a lasagna. Its cooling now and the breadsticks should be out of the oven in a second. A salad is already on the table. Does that sound ok?"

"You made all this?"

"Well the breadsticks I bought premade but the lasagna and salad I made from scratch."

"Did I just hear you made lasagna from scratch for us?" Sam called out, sounding from the direction of the living room.

"Yes! I hope that's ok!"

"Damn…we gettin' spoiled tonight!"

Alesha shook her head as she arranged the flowers in the vase. She glanced up and noticed Bucky watching her with his lips turned up slightly. "What?"

"You didn't have to do all this."

"I know." She walked over and placed the flowers on the table. "I wanted to." The timer went off for the oven and she hurried to pull the breadsticks out. They smelled like garlic amazingness and her mouth began to water. Looking around the counter, she realized she forgot to grab the basket for them. Moving over, she opened the upper cabinet to grab the small weaved back but froze with her arm outstretched. It was one shelf higher than normal. Which was fine…but now she could not reach it. Who knew just a few inches could make such a difference. Before she could move to grab a chair, a warm presence snuck up behind her and reached over to retrieve the basket. The warmth radiating off his frame covered her from head to foot and she suppressed the urge to lean back into him. Bucky set it down before her then moved to lean against the counter, a teasing smirk on his face. If his movements had been purposefully slow as he stood behind her, she chose to ignore it…for now.

"You're welcome."

She rolled her eyes and swatted his chest playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Its nice to have tall people around."

"I'm not tall. You're just short."

"Didn't your momma ever teach you not to insult the cook?" She teased back, putting a napkin in the basket and placing the breadsticks in. The teasing felt fun and effortless.

He whispered sadly, eyes staring off into the distance suddenly. "I'm not sure. I can't remember."

That was not what she expected to hear. What was she supposed to say to that? What did that even mean? She stopped her actions and watched him. There was so much unsaid, something that haunted him. She could see it in his eyes. The urge to reach out and touch him, to try and sooth his pain and comfort his soul overwhelmed her. As she opened her mouth to respond, Steve and Sam came around the corner.

"Hey, your grandfather was a vet?" Sam asked, plopping himself down on one of the dining chairs, oblivious to the silence he walked in on.

"Yeah," she redirected her attention to the dark-skinned man, seeing Bucky blink rapidly as if waking up from the corner of her eye, "he fought in Vietnam and Korea. Ended up retiring a Major."

"Huh. We saw the framed medals on the wall. Which branch?"

"Army, all the way."

"Come on, Air Force, baby! That's where it's at!"

"You keep your delusions. You guys ready to eat?"

The four gathered around the kitchen table after Alesha placed the lasagna and breadsticks to accompany the salad. To her surprise, Bucky pulled out a chair for her and made sure to wait until she sat before he did. Whatever is said about old school chivalry, she found it endearing. Whatever had passed between them minutes ago seemed to dissipate. He gave her a small smile which she returned, hoping she had not unintentionally ruined their evening already. She really did want to get to know him. After just a few bites, the guys were praising her culinary skills.

"I'm going to guess you don't get home cooked meals often." Taking a bite of a breadstick, she savored the garlic flavor and warmth that accompanied it.

"No, there's a catering crew but this is so much better." Sam said through a mouthful of lasagna.

"I can't even remember the last time I had lasagna from scratch…" Steve mentioned. "I think it was before the war. Buck, I think your mom made it after church."

Bucky stilled, eyes unforced as he stared down at his plate. A awkward tension slipped into the room. After a long moment Bucky whispered. "She…always overcooked it…that first layer was tough."

Steve chuckled, beaming. "Yeah, almost lost a tooth once."

Sam took another bite and moaned. "God, this is good. If you keep cooking like this, I'm going to marry you."

"Sorry, I don't accept marriage proposals after just meeting someone." Alesha quipped. "I'm glad you like it. Next time, I'll make my favorite fudge brownies for you guys."

All three stared at her with wide, hopeful eyes which made her laugh. Her grandmom always said the way to a man's heart was through his stomach.

Once done eating, they cleaned up the kitchen quickly and retired to the living room for a movie. There was a short two-seater couch with a recliner placed on each side facing the TV. The house was an old farmhouse, built in the 50s with wood paneling walls and a sense of history. Over dinner it had been decided that Steve and Bucky need to be introduced to Star Wars, especially after the heated debate a few days prior. Alesha popped in A New Hope, yes she conceded to start with the first film made, even though it felt so wrong. Steve and Sam had taken over the recliners, leaving the love seat for Bucky and Alesha. After turning the table lamp off next to her, she leaned back to enjoy the movie. It had been a couple of years since she watched them, only her dad would watch them with her and he traveled for work continuously.

As the opening credits rolled by on the screen, words floating through space, Alesha felt the nervousness rolling off Bucky in waves as he sat rigidly, hands clasped in his lap. With a glance, she noticed his face was impassive staring ahead but not at the TV screen. A trickle of worry and concern slipped in. Was a movie not a good idea? Had she said or done something wrong? Everything seemed to have been going so well while they were eating. He had even contributed some to the dinner conversation. What changed?

Leaning over, she put her mouth near Bucky's ear and whispered. "Everything ok, sweetheart?"

He blinked rapidly for a moment before turning his head slightly to see her. He gave a curt nod, lips pressed in a thin line.

"Relax then." She smiled at him before putting her head on his shoulder. "This ok?"

A half second later, he sighed softly and shifted to lean back against the couch and wrap his right arm around her, his hand landing on her hip. "Thanks, doll."

"Shhh…I'm trying to watch this movie." She teased, swatting his chest. Pulling her legs up and tucked them beside her, she leaned further into Bucky's chest, heat radiating from his core that made her feel like he was a human space heater.

They watched the movie sitting like that, her tucked into his side. A few times he even chuckled during the movie which made her heart swell. She had not been looking for a relationship, even if she did get lonely sometimes. It just did not feel like the right time to be actively searching. So much of her time was devoted to taking care of her grandmom. But this, watching a movie with his arm around her, this she thought she could easily get used to. This was something she really hoped she had the opportunity to enjoy again. Even if they only remained friends, she enjoyed his company and proximity. She could only hope the feeling was reciprocated.

Soon enough the movie finished and Alesha sat back up to turn the light on. "So what did you guys think?"

Steve and Bucky stared at each other for a moment before breaking into matching grins.

"How many more are there?" Steve asked, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice.

"Five…and they get better." Sam replied smugly, putting his hands behind his head.

Alesha rolled her eyes smirking. "I guess you guys have to come back next week for episode 5 then."

"Really?" Bucky softly said, his eyes full of hope as they met hers.

She placed her hand on his that lay on his thigh. "Of course. Sounds like I owe you guys those fudgy brownies too."

Bucky grinned, placing his other left hand over hers.

"Oh, boo, you might be my new favorite person!" Sam exclaimed, getting up off the recliner, a huge smile plastered on his face.

Steve rose also, watching Bucky and Alesha. "We probably need to start heading back. Thank you for having us over Alesha." He leaned down to pet Trigger whom had immediately laid down at the captain's feet as the movie started. Who knew Captain America was a dog person?

"Thank you guys. It's been awhile since I've done something fun like this." To her surprise and joy, Bucky stood up then took her hands and helped her off the couch. She could definitely get used to this chivalry. Following them to the door, she scratched Trigger behind the ear as they got their shoes on. Steve gave her a thoughtful smile as he said good-bye, the first out the door.

"Come here, I'm a hugger." Sam said, pulling her into a hug, making her giggle.

"I'm a hugger too." She confessed, arms around his torso.

"You tell Mr. Grouch here what we can bring for next time. And don't say 'nothing'." Sam teased as he stepped towards the door.

Alesha huffed playfully, putting her hands on her hips. "I'll try to think of something. Bye, Sam!"

"Bye, boo!"

As Sam walked out the front door, she turned to Bucky who stood staring at the ground, hands in his pockets. "Can I get a hug?"

Immediately he brightened and opened his arms. She stepped into his embrace and loved the feeling of his solid chest against her and his strong arms around her. It felt warm, comforting and safe. Only with one other person had she felt this in an embrace, and it had been five years since she received a hug from her granddad.

"You give great hugs." She mumbled against his chest. "I think I'll demand a hug every time I see you."

He laughed, tightening his hold on her fractionally. "I'll hold you to that."

She leaned her head back to look at him. "It's a deal. Thank you for coming. I had a wonderful time…and those flowers are gorgeous. I'm going to keep them in my room so I don't have to share them."

"My pleasure. I enjoyed…this…being with you. Thank you."

Blushing, she stepped back. "Of course. Text me when you get home?"

"You sure? Are you worried about Steve's driving?"

"No," she swatted his arm, "I just…maybe I want to say goodnight then."

He paused, watching her, eyes going soft. "I'd like that."

"Hey Romeo! Get moving!"

Alesha smiled at Sam's yelling while Bucky looked upward as if praying for help. "Go on. Text me, ok?"

"Yes ma'am."

She watched Bucky walk out to the SUV. Did they ever drive anything else? As they pulled out of the driveway, she waved then stepped back into the house once they were gone. She felt lighter and happier than she had for a while. Not that her life was awful by any means but it had been so easy to relax and joke with them. The memory of being cuddled up to Bucky made her smile. That was definitely her highlight of the night.

An half hour later, she received the greatly anticipated text as she lay in her bed reading.

Bucky: We're back. Close call but we're alive.

She snickered as she replied.

Alesha: Well I'm glad to hear it. I'd hate to have to come out and rescue you. I'm already in bed with a good book.

Bucky: That sounds perfect. I'll let you get back to it. Goodnight, doll.

Alesha: Night, sweetheart. Text me in the morning?

Bucky: Sure! Sweet dreams.

Alesha: You too!

Bucky: Stop texting me and read.

Alesha:

She put her phone down and picked her book back up. Yet the words seemed to float by as she thought of the bright blue eyes and delightful laugh of the man whom suddenly made her heart swell with his chivalry and hopeful demeanor. She could not wait to see him again.