Oh my God, I cannot WAIT to share this chapter with you. I'm actually so obsessed and proud of it, and I hope it makes you all as happy as it made me. It's the perfect amount of cute/funny/embarrassing/ and heartbreaking. Thank you to my reviewers, and all who followed and favourited!

Enjoy this fluffy little piece!

Disclaimer: Still haven't figured out a way to own Marvel.


Chapter XI

Brooklyn, New York, 1940.

Lucy stumbled out of the bar, desperately in need for air. Her head was spinning, and she knew she should have stopped drinking a long time ago. Adeline was still inside, having men swoon over her and women wishing to be her. The looks of longing were also matched with looks of hatred and jealousy. Since after all, the United States was coming out of a long recession and many people had suffered. Lucy was never one to flaunt her wealth as her sister did, but that was Adeline's own business.

Eventually, though, Lucy had become increasingly uncomfortable from all the looks of attention earlier in that night and felt nearly unable to breathe. Not to mention, she felt as though the entire room was spinning and if she stayed in there a moment longer she would lose her mind.

It really was unladylike to be as drunk as she and Adeline currently were, but Lucy didn't care. She had never really been one to follow social normatives or do what was expected of her. Although, she knew she would regret being that drunk in the morning when her head was in the toilet.

At that moment she didn't care though. And Lucy found herself stumbling into the streets of New York and immediately finding peace. Of course, she missed Paris. But this was home, and it would always be home. If it hadn't been night time, she would have hopped on the first subway to Queens and walked around her old neighbourhood just to see what became of it. New York had a different feel from Paris, and it filled her with happiness to be back in the place she once loved so much.

A light breeze picked up and Lucy exhaled deeply only to be met with the familiar smell of stale cigarette smoke. She had picked the habit up in France since everyone did it there. She hadn't really craved one until that moment though, and she turned around to see the man from inside the bar quietly smoking off the side, not even noticing he had company on the quiet street.

"Do you happen to have another one of those?" She asked him, getting his attention.

Bucky turned around with raised eyebrows and his face reflected a smile when he saw her. He was shocked to see her outside with him. "You followin' me or something?" He teased her, walking up slowly with the cigarette hanging from his bottom lip and he reached into his pockets to pull out the carton.

Lucy didn't really know of anyone who smoked outside. Everyone was allowed to do it indoors, and she figured he was out there to escape as well.

"Clearly," Lucy smirked as he passed one over to her and she took it, their fingers brushing against one another ever so lightly that she almost wanted to jerk her hand back at the contact.

"And here I was thinking you were playing hard to get by saying you were engaged. Turns out you were just waiting to get me alone." Bucky teased her.

Lucy put the cigarette in her mouth and then waved around her left hand, wiggling her fingers, "Not playing hard to get, it's the truth."

The man took her left hand and then stared at the ring on her finger. Lucy yet again wanted to yank her hand away at the physical contact. The electricity she felt shouldn't have been coursing through her veins at his touch, and she told herself she was just drunk.

He looked at her ring, and then only raised an eyebrow and let out a low whistle. He had rarely ever seen an actual diamond ring, almost everyone he had known to get married only had a simple band. It only confirmed his theory that she was wealthy, much like the other woman who she was with in the bar. "He's a lucky fella," was all he said.

"Do you maybe have a light?" Lucy asked him, and he quickly reached in his pocket to produce a small zippo. He flicked it open and held it to the bottom of her cigarette. Trying to get it to ignite, he continuously attempted to get a spark but by some faithful trick played on them by God, it just wouldn't catch.

"Here," He sighed and then moved closer so that the ends of their cigarettes were touching. His mouth was near to hers, their faces so close that he could see the little flecks of green in her brown eyes and the light dusting of freckles on her cheeks. She was barely able to tear her eyes away from his, seeing how they were an ocean of blue she wished for nothing more than to drown in. The tension was so obvious that it could be cut with a knife.

"You shouldn't look at me like that." Lucy pulled away the second her cigarette was lit, reacting almost like he had burned her, taking a few steps back.

"Like what?" He chuckled lightly, exhaling smoke as she stepped away.

Lucy pulled her cigarette from her mouth to also exhale, immediately feeling calmer than she did a second ago prior to filling her lungs with the harsh feeling of nicotine. "Like you were wishing I wasn't engaged."

"Nah," He shook his head and looked down at his shoes before kicking a small stone into the street, "I'm happy for you. But…" He looked back at her before saying candidly, "I would be fooling myself if I didn't think you were the most goddamn gorgeous woman I had ever seen."

She blushed madly, and then turned away from him, inhaling deeply as she brought the cigarette to her mouth yet again. Lucy was shocked at him saying such things, and she only shook her head. She had known she had attractive features but never really believed she was that beautiful. "Seriously," He said, and chuckled at her reaction, "Your smile is like nothing I've ever seen." Lucy couldn't help but smile at that moment and he pointed and laughed "See! That's what I'm talking about! That smile!"

She made a point by not smiling and purposefully frowning and he only chuckled and faked disappointment, "So what's your name?"

Lucy had to think for a second, "Um… Emma."

"Um, Emma? Okay, well that's definitely a fake name so I see how it is. You had to think about that for way too long." He joked.

"That's my name!" She laughed, defending herself "It is! It's Emma!"

"You're lying but that's alright. We'll just use fake names then. I'm Steve."

"Is that a fake name too?" She asked, shifting her weight to her one foot and putting her hand on her hip as she tilted her head. Bucky was absolutely charmed by her, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"It could be, I guess you'll never know." He gave her a smug smirk, "So, Emma." Bucky gave her a skeptical look as he said her fake name."Where you from?"

"Here. But I just arrived from France a few days ago. And what about you, Steve? Where are you from?"

"Brooklyn born and raised, sweetheart." He flicked the last of his cigarette onto the street, but Lucy still was working on hers. She inhale deeply and allowed it to fill her lungs, along with the nighttime air. "What were you doing in France?"

"Studying," She sighed, "I missed home though. It's good to be back." She really didn't realize how much she missed New York and her family until she was back. In France, she was too busy with Daniel and her studies to be homesick.

"Yeah," He looked at the quiet street and then nodded in agreement "Nothing really compares to good old New York." He said the city's name with the typical Brooklyn accent and it caused her to laugh and he chuckled at her reaction. "So, how about that dance now?"

"What dance?" She asked in curiosity and frowned at him.

"The one we discussed. You gave a tentative maybe to it back in the bar once you finished your beer? It looks like to me that you're not drinking it anymore. And now that we now know each other and are on a more or less first name basis I figure it's more appropriate. "

She chuckled and only shook her head "You can't be serious! You really want to dance? Now? There's no music and you know I'm engaged!" Lucy exclaimed, bewildered by the strange man in front of her. She wondered what he could hope to gain from it.

"Engaged or not, I'd still like a dance with the most beautiful dame I've ever seen." He said and Lucy threw the rest of her cigarette into the street once she had reached its end. "I promise I'll be a perfect gentleman."

She snorted and then only looked at him, "You wanna dance in the middle of the street? With a woman you have no chance with? To no music?" Lucy questioned again, confused at his motives.

He only looked out into the Brooklyn roads as a few stray cars raced by, breathed deeply, and then confidently said "Yeah, I can't imagine a better way to spend the rest of the night." Really, he just wanted to get to know her more. She intrigued him. And very rarely did a dame ever intrigue Bucky Barnes in such a short span of time speaking to her as this women did.

"Perhaps it would be better spent with a woman who would actually reciprocate your feelings back?" She asked and he took a step forward towards her, his hands still in his pockets. Normally, Lucy would have felt slightly uncomfortable and threatened with a man so blatantly flirting with her in the dead of night while it was just the two of them alone. But there was something about him which made her feel calm. Something about him which made Lucy feel as though she had known him her entire life. She had never felt so comfortable and connected with a stranger before.

"Please," Bucky only scoffed and pursed his lips together in a grin and joked, "I bet you any money that you'll be falling in love with me at the end of this."

"You talk a big game, Sir." Lucy joked back.

"Yes I do, Ma'am." He then bowed and then reached his hand out, "May I have this dance, my lady?"

She only sighed and figured what the hell would be wrong in humoring him for a bit. It couldn't hurt. And as she told Adie, she could look but not touch. Although, she figured this was just teetering on the edge of inappropriate. However, she went against her better judgment, as she had an overwhelming urge to be drawn to him and she answered with a simple, "You may."

Bucky took a step forward and gently placed his hand on an appropriate spot on her waist, immediately making his breath hitch at the contact and he could feel her stiffen. Her one hand went on his shoulder and her other one was taken into his. He took a small step forward to bring them closer together, and she shot him a pressing look, almost telling him to back off and he laughed, "Don't worry, doll. I'll leave room for Jesus." He promised as they began swaying to no particular tune and Lucy laughed at his joke.

"I'm sure he will appreciate that." She smiled, "As will my fiancé."

"Tell me about him?"

"About Jesus? I don't think I'm really the most qualified—,"

"Not him!" Bucky exclaimed, laughing at her humour. "Trust me, I went to Sunday School long enough to get the whole spiel. Me and the Big Guy aren't really on the best terms at the moment."

"Been committing too many sins, Steve?"

"Believe me, I have a couple in mind right now I'd like to be committing." Thou shall not commit adultery, and thou shall not covet another man's wife rang in his head over and over. God, he was going to hell for sure for thinking the things about her that he was in that moment. He had never been attracted to a woman this much before, and the fact he couldn't have her only made him want her more.

She only pursed her lips together and then looked down, refusing to meet his eyes. She then chuckled before shooting back, "My, you really are quite the flirt, aren't you? Do women usually fawn all over you?"

"Sometimes," He shrugged, a grin also his lips, "I wouldn't say fawn though. Falling heads over heels? I'd say that was more accurate." Bucky teased.

"And you're modest, I see! Really just the whole package, aren't you?"

Bucky only snorted and then continued joking with her, "Exactly! Another reason to leave your fiancé for me! I'm pretty much the perfect man!"

Her gaze met his and he looked down at her honest, doe eyes before sighing, "I gotta be honest with you though, sweetheart. I think I use cockiness and flirtation as a form of overcompensation." He wasn't sure what happened to get him to admit to that. Something about her eyes, and how honest and caring they looked compelled him to justify his actions and behaviour.

"Overcompensation?" She backed away almost suddenly and couldn't help but look down at below his waist, an eyebrow raised teasingly.

"Not for that! Jesus Christ!" Bucky couldn't help but burst out in laughter at her dirty mind, "I think I'm doing alright in that department, actually." He had never met a woman so bold before, and so nonchalant about joking about such matters.

"Oh," She let out a breath of relief, "That's good then. I mean, not for me. But for you! And your next endeavors!" Lucy tried to shift the uncomfortable tone.

"I was really trying to have a deep moment with you, and you completely sabotaged it by just assuming I was compensating for having a small peni—,"

"Okay!" She cut off and then laughed, her cheeks turning pink, "I'm sorry! I just assumed that was what you were talking about! Usually, when people overcompensate for something it's because of that!"

"No! That would be the opposite of impressive!" Bucky laughed back. "And people can overcompensate for other insecurities. I'm trying to get you to fall in love with me, and that would just be tragic if that were the case."

"Indeed it would. Also, can't say you're doing so hot on the 'getting me to fall in love with you' part. But, I would like to know what you were about to say before I interrupted you though." Lucy said softly as she pursued her lips together.

"Nope, it's ruined now." Bucky chuckled and placed his head on the top of hers, his chin resting there. Holding her felt more natural to him than anything else in the world, for some reason. It could have been because he was drunk, but then again, it could have been for a different reason entirely. "Missed your shot. I was going to tell you something deep and that scared me but that's not happening." They continued swaying casually, still at an appropriate distance. For some reason though, it started to begin to feel inappropriate to him. Bucky was sure he would have gotten the hell beat out of him if her fiancé had been there. Although, she likely thought nothing of what was happening, but to him, every area she touched ignited him with a burning desire.

"Fine, I'll tell you something then that scares me then." She attempted to make it up to him, "Since, after all, we are strangers and it's not like you're gonna go run your mouth to anyone I know."

"How would you know? I could know someone that you know. After all, we are neighbours, I'm from Brooklyn and you're from Queens. It wouldn't be completely impossible? And, you did just humiliate me by just assuming my manhood was small so now I have a reason to get back at you."

"I highly doubt that you know the same people I do," She looked him up and down and giggled, knowing they were from two entirely different worlds.

"Alright, you got me there. You clearly are of a much different social standing." Bucky chuckled and placed his hand on a more comfortable area on the small of her back.

"Not that that's a bad thing!" She told him as he spun her around gently, causing Lucy to grin wider and her heart to pump in her chest a little harder, "I'm envious of you, actually."

"You? Envious of me? I seriously doubt that." Bucky scoffed in disbelief. He didn't need to see what she was wearing or how she styled herself and see her big engagement ring to know she was wealthy. From the very way she composed herself it was obvious. "Trust me, sweetheart. There's nothing really to be envious of. I'd much rather have your life."

"Because you think it's so great? Believe me, it's not all it's made out to be." She whispered under her breath, almost so he couldn't hear. She wondered if he would think of her as another spoiled little rich girl who thought life was hard. If that was actually what he thought, he didn't let her know that. Instead, he only inhaled deeply and rested his chin back on her head.

"Tell me that thing that you were going to say about what scared you." He said gently. Lucy wished he didn't say that. She wished that he was an ass or went back to his original, cocky demeanour. It would be easier to ignore the tingling in the spots where his hands were touching and try to ignore the obvious connection that they had.

"It's silly." Was all Lucy said back, "You'll make fun of me for it."

"No, I won't," He promised and pulled back so he could look down at her. She looked nervous, and he wasn't sure if it was because she didn't want to say what she was about to, or if it was him that made her nervous. Bucky didn't want her to feel uncomfortable around him. He didn't want her to think that he was the type of guy to place another move on her even though she had mentioned several times already she was engaged. He would never attempt to go further with her than dancing since he promised her he would be a complete gentleman and it also wasn't in his style. When a girl said no, Bucky knew to respect that and not to put any pressure on her.

"I don't know if I'm ready to get married," For the first time, Lucy released her anxieties out loud. She had been so afraid of her thoughts before that she had told no one. Not a single living soul, especially Daniel, ever knew how she really felt. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of how she could tell a complete stranger about her fears, but not even her own fiancé since she was scared of how he would react. "I thought I was, but not I'm not sure."

Bucky frowned as he heard her voice choke up and her eyes become glossy, "Is it because you don't love him?" He felt oddly protective of her, and he didn't want to leave things between them not knowing if she would be alright.

"No! I love him, I love him so, so much. I'm not scared to spend the rest of my life with him." She was quick to assure both him and herself of her feelings.

"Okay, that's good. Why are you scared then?" He asked, frowning. He watched as his expression shifted and her lower lip ended up trembling just a bit.

"Because I guess I'm afraid of losing myself." She explained with a deep exhale. "I'm worried that if I become someone's wife or mother I won't be me anymore. I won't have an identity, I'll just become an extension of someone else. Someone's property, even. With their name replacing my own and no freedom to do what I want after I've worked so hard to get it. I just… I'm scared of becoming someone's arm candy and expected to fit into this moulded normative of what's expected of me and what isn't. I don't want to lose a part of me."

Bucky wasn't sure what he was expecting but it sure as hell wasn't that. The conversation turned from flirtatious to downright deep, and he wasn't sure he was the best person to be offering advice on something like that. After all, he was a man and didn't really understand what it was like for women after marriage to only be reduced to someone's wife. Really, Bucky wasn't even sure if it had even crossed his mind what exactly women had to give up.

"I've just worked so hard" She continued, closing her eyes and breathing in deep, her expression reflecting pain and confusion, "I don't want to become someone's everything and lose myself in the process. I'm just so, so scared.

Bucky only swallowed a lump in his throat, "And you haven't told him this?"

She shook her head, "No! Of course not. Because he would hear it as though I didn't want to be with him. Which I do. It's the marriage that I'm unsure about."

"Then don't get married." Bucky offered, "Why do you feel like you have to?"

"Because it's different for a woman. I mean, I live with Daniel now and people are already treating me as if I'm some kind of loose harlot. If I didn't have a ring on my finger and some prospect of marriage, it would be even worse. I'd forever be marked as some kind of whore and I'd never get respect, or a chance to practice my area of study."

"Guess I didn't think about that one." Bucky admitting, realizing that she was right and he should have never assumed that her life was easy because she had money. Clearly, there were certain limitations in her life, and she felt trapped regardless of all her wealth. "But can I just say something? Tell me to beat it if you don't like what I say."

Lucy nodded and said quietly, "Okay. Go ahead."

"Look, Emma- or whatever your real name is. I don't know you very well. But I can tell from the last ten minutes of talking to you that you're not just someone's arm decoration. You deserve a life where you're not overshadowed, and where you don't feel pressure to fit into some kind of mould that's been placed on you. You are absolutely stunning, and clearly way smarter than I am. And I think that if I were your fiancé, I would realize that. You aren't the kind of person to be put in a corner. You're one hell of a woman. And anyone who doesn't recognize that or expects you to give up part of your life doesn't deserve you. Don't ever, ever let any man— or hell, any person, tell you who you are or who you should be. You're incredible, and any idiot could see that. And if I'm being honest, you should tell your fiancé how you're feeling."

Lucy only looked at him at that moment as he spoke. She couldn't believe the amount of faith this stranger had in her. He didn't even know her, but was giving her advice and trying to comfort her. She was a little more than hesitant when she first met him, but she was more than glad she stuck around. "Thank you." She swallowed and then readjusted her grip on his shoulders as they continued to dance. Really, they did little more than just sway side to side to the music that the city gave them. "I really mean that. I'm glad I met you, Steve."

"I'm glad I met you too, Emma."

"Now," She exhaled and felt as though she could finally breathe again. "I told you something. It's your turn to tell me."

"So that's how it's going now?" He grinned down at her.

"Oh, that's how it's going." She rose a cocky eyebrow and then snuggly stated, "You owe me."

"I take back all I said, you're terrible."

"Hey!" She giggled before lightly punching his shoulder, causing him to laugh and rub it after pretending it hurt, "That's rude!"

"You've got a mean left hook there, doll." Bucky chuckled and put his hands back on her body where they were previously, feeling as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Thanks, my father taught me." It wasn't a lie, really. Her father did teach her for to punch. Only, she learned it from watching him hitting her mother. She could still remember the way his knuckles would curl, leaving the thumb outside so he wouldn't break it. She remembered countless times watching it happen, and promising herself to never, ever let a man ever treat her the way her father did to her mother.

"Did he know he was raising a boxer?"

"Don't avoid telling me! You can't get around it!"

"I was going to tell you! And then you emasculated me!" If Bucky was truthful, he had a moment of vulnerability with her before. He should have continued feeling like that, especially after all she just told him, but he often struggled opening up to other people. Really, the only person he had even remotely opened up to was Steve, and he had known him for years. He only just met this woman, and although he was compelled to tell her everything moments before, compared to her issues his seemed small and petty.

"And I just told you my biggest secret, so now you have to be honest!" She insisted,

"You can't use the fact you opened up to me as a weapon! That's manipulative!" Bucky chuckled.

"Fine! Then I guess I'll just be on my way…" She began to walk away and Bucky stopped her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her back into him, causing her breath to hitch just a little bit. Flushed against him, they both seemed to realize their close position and a light blush appeared on their cheeks.

The tips of his ears turning a little pink, Bucky couldn't remember the last time a girl actually made him feel this nervous. "Okay, I'll tell you! Jesus, you're a handful."

"Don't criticize me!" She giggled, trying not to grin and fake being frustrated.

"Oh, that wasn't criticism. That was admiration. I love a headstrong woman."

"I would drive you insane." She promised him, stating confidently, "I don't think you could handle me." As soon as the words left her lips, she wanted to take them back. This was wrong, she was blatantly flirting with another man and she did nothing to stop it. But God, it felt good. And Lucy felt an excitement coursing through her veins that she was sure she had never felt before. If Lucy was truthful, she didn't feel nearly as bad about flirting as she thought she would. She was a little resentful towards Daniel for letting her go to the United States all by herself, and she figured she deserved some fun.

"I think I'd be up to the task," He promised her, "It would be a pleasure to go insane because of you."

As they looked at one another in those few seconds of silence, they only could stare in to each other's eyes. His deep blue orbs as he looked into the hazel brown one's of hers. Lucy had to turn away, feeling as if the moment was too intimate. Guilt began to settle into her stomach. Although it was only a look, it held more power than either of them could realize.

Neither one of them could know what would happen in those next moments. Whatever higher power was out there had to have been playing a cruel joke. Because at that moment, the apartment above the bar's open window echoed the sound of music.

Margret Whiting's "My Ideal" began to fill the street of which they stood as if fate had something to do with it. The soft sound of trumpets echoed in their ears, and clearly, they had someone in the apartment above watching over and trying to help them out. They must have believed they were making the situation more romantic, but the reality was that they only added to Lucy's guilty feeling.

They both looked at each other and smiled, Lucy giggling softly, choosing to ignore whatever bad feeling was welling up inside her. "I think we fixed the 'no music' problem."

"Yeah, I'd say so," Bucky chuckled and gazed down at her, lightly brushing a small stand of hair from her face. He swallowed a lump in his throat before saying, "Okay, my turn… You wanted to know, so here it goes. I think I used cockiness and flirtation to overcompensate for the fact I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing with my life. And that terrifies me,"

She sighed softly, looking at him sympathetically. His heart fluttered at her small, reassuring grin. "It's okay to not know what you want yet." She promised him, and Lucy's fingers on the back of his shoulder seemed to have a mind of its own at that moment. Gently, she began tracing small, invisible patterns on his skin. It was something that she did without thinking, and it was an incredibly intimate gesture despite her not noticing. But Bucky noticed, and a shiver ran down his spine as he felt her gentle fingers trace against him lightly. His heart pounded even faster.

"No, it's not just that." He told her, "My dad, he was was this incredible war hero. And here I am, doing absolutely nothing with my life. I've been working the same job since I finished high school, and I could have gone to college but… I don't know. I couldn't afford it at that time, and I just haven't really even found anything I wanted to do. I'm scared I'm not going to be good at anything, and that I won't be able to live up to his legacy. He always thought I would go on to do great things, and I just haven't. I haven't done anything, and that's the problem. I feel like I'm wasting my life away, and it scares me that I might be missing out on some opportunity, or if I do try something I'll fail at it." He admitted to her something he had not even fully admitted to himself. He was terrified, all the time of missing out on life or being stuck in the same mundane streak that he already was on. It was strange that he felt so comfortable around her, as if he could tell her anything and everything.

"Your father would be proud of you either way. Not knowing what to do is okay." She whispered gently, "You have lots of time to figure it out." Her voice was like velvet to him, and he was positive a woman had never effected him as much as she did.

"I don't know about that," He scoffed, "I mean, as I kid I always thought I would be like him. And I'm not. I have nothing going for me, and nothing to look forward to. And I think that's why I am how I am. I feel like I have to overcompensate for something missing, and the only way I can do that is by talking a big game even though I don't really mean it."

Her eyes softened and she sighed again, her hand lightly going to the front of his chest, "Again, I don't know you very well. But you seem incredibly kind, and intelligent, despite what you may think. You told me I don't have to fit into a mould of what other people expect of me, and you don't have to either. Just do what makes you happy. Either way, I'm sure your father would be proud of you for at least that. You don't have to live some extraordinary, incredible life to make an impact on people. What matters is your own happiness, and at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if someone else is proud of you. You only need to be proud of yourself."

"God, you're smart." He said and she laughed at his answer. She smiled softly, and pink spread across her cheeks at his complements.

Once the trumpets had stopped, the voice of Margaret Whiting filled the air and put them in a trance. They didn't notice the cars driving by, or the drunk people that stumbled out of the bar. At that moment they were the only two people in the world.

Will I ever find the boy in my mind

The one who is my ideal?

Maybe he's a dream and yet he might be

Just around the corner waiting for me

All Lucy could think of as the lyrics played in her head was what a cruel entity fate was.

"I really mean that," Bucky told her, "You really are somethin else."

"You are too, although you have yet to realize that." She breathed out softly, and Bucky had to resist every urge in his body not to kiss her. There was nothing that felt more right and more natural about the thought of him pushing his lips to hers. He had an overwhelming need for her, but he put that need somewhere deep inside of him, hiding it away.

Will I recognize the light in his eyes

That no other eyes reveal

Or will I pass him by and never even know

That he was my ideal?

Lucy wanted nothing more at that moment to forget she was engaged. She had connected more with this man in ten minutes than she had with anyone else, and she felt he knew her on a level perhaps no one else would. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she hated herself for thinking such things, but she couldn't deny it.

The song ended, and the crackling of the vinyl filled the air as it ceased playing. Once again, the noisy streets of New York came alive, but to them, they were still the only people in the entire city. Her hand gently fell to his chest, where she could feel his heart beat erratically. Her eyes flashed to his, and their gaze met, and she almost looked surprised at how hard his heart was beating from being so close to her. It was almost a more intimate reveal that the secret he had shared, and Bucky found himself exposed.

Bucky exhaled a deep breath before admitting, "It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep my promise of being a total gentleman right now." He looked at her soft, pink lips, and knew in that moment he had never wanted to kiss something so badly.

She was about to reply when the two of them were ripped out of the sweet daydream they had been trapped in as the bar doors opened up. "Excuse me? What the hell do you think you're doing?" The sharp tone of Adeline cracked through the night and suddenly Lucy pushed him away hard, the tone of her sister forcing her back to reality.

Bucky's eyebrows raised at her suddenly animosity, and Lucy looked back to Adeline. Her chest rising and falling hard as she felt panic set in. What the hell was she doing? She thought to herself. "I'll be there in a second!" She promised Adeline with a shaky voice, realizing what she had done.

Her sister understood and slowly nodded before disappearing back into the bar, skeptical if whether or not she should leave her sister alone with the strange man. They were too close for comfort, and Adeline didn't want Lucy to do something she could regret just because she was drunk.

They were once again by themselves, and Lucy had tears welling up in her eyes from the guilt she was suddenly feeling.

Bucky stared at her with a slightly hurt expression, and he wanted nothing more than for her to stay with him at that moment. But he knew she couldn't, and that she had to go.

"I think the song has ended," She could only say softly as a lump formed in her throat. Bucky and Lucy knew there was no music playing anymore, but they knew what she meant. Their time was up.

Bucky gave her a small, half smile before saying gently, "Guess so." All he wanted was for things to be different. For them to maybe live another life, where she wasn't engaged and was free to maybe be with him. He had never felt a connection like he had with her with any other woman, and it scared him because he wasn't sure he would ever find that ever again.

All Bucky could do at that moment was take her hand and bring it to his lips delicately, placing the softest of kissing on her skin and causing Lucy's heart to flutter in her chest.

She wanted to kick herself for the things she was feeling. "Ma'am," Was all he said respectfully before giving her one last slightly broken grin. From where his lips touched her skin, she could still feel it burning, as though it had been scorched by the sun.

She knew she had to walk away before she did something she would regret.

Lucy turned away, her mind racing with 'what ifs', and she wondered if there was ever a time with Daniel things had felt quite so right and electric, almost as though it meant to be. She began walking slowly back into the bar, she almost wished he would call out her name —knowing it miraculously and confirming to her that there was such a thing as fate and it had brought them both there that night.

"Hey, doll?" He called back to her and Lucy whipped around, desperately to hear what he had to say. He stood there looking like an absolute vision, and Lucy breath caught in her throat. "So what's the verdict on you falling in love with me?"

Lucy could only give him the smallest smile and reply back, "Perhaps in another life…"

Before she walked into the bar, she turned back one last time and gazed at as she walked away. "Whatever you end up doing," She began and then met his eyes, causing his heart to break because he knew this would be the last time he ever saw her, "You'll be extraordinary."

They exchanged one last smile, and she walked back into the bar and out of his life forever.

Bucky was left alone in the New York night on the side of the street. He wondered if what had just happened was real or not, and he could only put his hands in his pockets and try not to think of the sadness creeping in.

A voice suddenly rang out, and he looked up to the window above the bar, where an old woman sat in a nightgown. She was the one who had put the music on, attempting to create the moment between them.

"You should have kissed her, dummy." She said in a bitter voice, the sadness also affecting her from the two young people who were clearly meant to be but met at the wrong time.

Bucky wanted to, but he knew he couldn't be the type of person who would jeopardize her relationship, "She would be happier with someone else." He tried to convince herself.

"That's not the look of a woman who's happy in her life." The old lady shot back. Bucky wasn't sure that was the case or not. She said she was in love with her fiancé, and although that didn't guarantee whether or not she was happy, he wouldn't be the reason a relationship fell apart.

Bucky only sighed and walked back into the bar, heading to get another drink after the rough night he had. He didn't want to think about her, or how he might have met the perfect partner but in the wrong time.

He didn't look around the bar as he walked in, not trusting himself to rush over to her and grab her face and kiss the hell out of her if he saw her. So he head towards Steve, who was sitting quietly on a bar stool next to a rowdy Tommy Susa and George Caraway.

He appeared next to his old friend, who knew something was immediately up when he ordered a whiskey and downed it in a moment while also looking like a kicked puppy.

"So, it didn't go well with your future wife?" Steve could only ask, noticing the sadness present on Bucky's usual cheery demeanour.

"She's someone else's future wife," Bucky explained and Steve frowned, waiting for him to expand on what he meant. Rolling his eyes, Bucky spoke the next words as if it pained him, "She's engaged."

Steve pursed his lips together and only nodded in understanding, he pat his friend on the shoulder sympathetically and could only say, "Sorry, Buck."

"Yeah, well." Bucky only sipped his drink, and then repeated what she said to him back to Steve, convinced that if he said it back out loud it would happen, "Maybe in another life."


Margaret Whiting's "My Ideal" wasn't actually released until the 50's, but I thought the lyrics made sense. And if you listen to it as you read, it's seriously cute following the Bucky/Lucy interaction.

This little bit of fluff has been short lived, and won't appear in the story again for a couple more chapters, but at least we'll begin see more of mains together now and progress a little more in their relationship.

Please show your love/ support if you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. Review, Follow, Favourite. You know the drill.

-Amelia