After dinner, Bucky pulled off his leather jacket and handed it to Tessa, "It'll be cold on the bike." She took it and slid her arms through the sleeves, which came past her hands. The jacket itself covered her butt it was so big, and she giggled as she mounted the bike behind Bucky, clasping her hands together as she clenched her thighs against his. Without his jacket, she could feel his back muscles against her chest, and it made her stomach do backflips and clench her legs a little tighter around him as he took off into the night.

He's different than I thought he'd be. Gentler, sweeter, chivalrous. Everything Ryan wasn't. What have I gotten myself into?

Bucky finally pulled the motorcycle off to the side of the road and Tessa leaned away from him, getting a view of her surroundings. He'd stopped by the park down the street from her shop. "I didn't want to drop you off yet. I hope this is okay?" He asked as she got off the bike and waited for him to join her.

"Yeah, this is fine." She answered, reaching out her right hand to take his left one. She could see most of his arm now without the jacket, and to her own surprise, she wasn't afraid. Tess had learned from Kayla Ellis that appearances can be deceiving, and peeling back the layers of James Buchannan Barnes was becoming more and more worth it in her eyes.

"What are your dreams, Tessa Davis?" Bucky asked suddenly, stopping and yanking her toward him with ease. She bumped against his chest as his hands settled on either side of her waist. She noticed how high he held her, keeping his hands a respectable distance away from her ass. A real gentleman. "If you could do or have anything, anything at all, what would you want?"

Tessa's eyes focused on Bucky's strong chest for a moment, the sleeves of his leather jacket pooling around her wrists as she felt him beneath her, "Anything?"

"Anything."

"I guess I'd travel. I'd see all the wonderful places I've heard about. I'd have adventures. I'd meet interesting people. Having a near-death experience makes a person reevaluate what they've done in life. I... haven't made the most of my time yet. Since the incident. I'd like to make my days count, you know?"

Bucky raised his hands slightly to press against the small of her back, pulling her closer to him as she looked up at his blue eyes. "Would you let me join you?"

The corner of Tessa's mouth twitched anxiously, anticipating her action before her brain did. She reached up on her tip toes and pressed her lips against his gently. "Maybe." She breathed as she pulled away, "It's a little early to make such plans, isn't it?"

Bucky took a chance and bent down to her, kissing her a little more firmly than she had, "I told you, I don't know if I'll be young forever. I sure as hell won't live forever so I don't have time to waste."

Tessa breathed in the scent of his breath as her heart quickened, trying to keep up with her racing mind.

No. No, I can't commit to this. I don't know all the variables. I don't know if this is safe or right or good...

"Oh, what the hell." Tessa grabbed onto the back of his neck and crashed her lips into Bucky's desperately, plunging her tongue into his mouth as he breathed her in. He quickly moved his hands to her butt and heaved her up so her face was at eye level with his, making their kisses just a little easier. She wrapped her legs around him and he felt her tighten around his torso as she grabbed strands of long hair in her fingers. She tugged back at his head, allowing herself a deep breath before he pulled her lips back to his.

Bucky carried Tessa further into the park and carefully sat them down on the grass. He slowly crawled over her, dipping his head down low to kiss her slowly. She cupped his face with one hand and held the edge of his jacket she wore in the other. As he pulled away she gasped before asking breathlessly, "Do you have protection?"

"What?" Bucky's husky voice sent chills down Tessa's spine as she arched her knee around him. He lowered his body just a little, so he was pressed against her but not crushing her. He used only his left arm to support his weight while his real hand ran through her tangled brown hair.

Tessa pulled away slightly, her eyes darting to the side as her mouth stayed slack, "This is too fast. We can't- we can't here. We can't now."

"Can't what?" Bucky breathed against her ear before kissing along her cheek to her neck. "You're thinking too much."

"We can't have sex right now!" Tessa yelped, pushing herself onto her knees and smashing her head into Bucky's. "Ouch, fuck! Damn it!" She cursed as Bucky backed off of her and she settled onto her ass. He looked a little hurt but unfazed by getting his head bashed in. Tessa sighed, "I'm sorry, we just can't yet."

"Oh." Bucky said in surprise, finally catching on to Tessa's change of pace, "I wasn't planning on having sex with you, doll. I was just enjoying the moment."

"Oh." Tessa repeated, suddenly feeling very sheepish for assuming all he wanted was to fuck her. "My bad."

Bucky eased himself onto his butt as he watched Tessa run her fingers through her tangled hair. He wanted to kiss her again, but clearly, he'd overwhelmed her. "It's getting late."

"We don't have to leave yet. I didn't mean to kill the mood. I just panicked. I haven't slept with anybody since Ryan."

"And I didn't plan on making love to you in this public park. What kind of a gentleman would I be if I didn't earn it?"

Tessa's jaw couldn't seem to find it's closed position after his words, just like her heart couldn't seem to find its normal pace. "I'd like a second date. And a third. And another dozen after that. I'd like to be exclusive. I'd like you to court me. All those words that mean I don't want you to kiss anyone else like that."

"Okay, Kayla." Bucky teased under his breath, but Tessa narrowed her eyes and scowled at him. "Yes, ma'am. I'm all yours."

"Good. This night did not go as planned at all." Tessa sighed, shaking her head back and forth in disbelief, "I did not expect to fall for you."

"Speak for yourself," Bucky answered, moving to sit beside Tessa. He laid on the grass, staring at the stars. She watched him for a moment before joining him, finding her place in the crook of his arm.

They laid like that for a while until Bucky's phone began buzzing wildly in his pants pocket. He reached in with his metal arm and pulled it out, answering without looking at who it was. "Hello?"

"Barnes, we need you home ASAP."

"I'm a little busy right now, Sam." Bucky droned as Tessa drew lines across his stomach with her finger.

"Whatever it is, this is more important." Sam bit back, catching Bucky's attention. "We've got word that Hydra is planning something big. They are calling everyone in via their secure channels. They are converging in Seattle. Schmidt is gonna be there."

"That is important," Bucky grunted, and Tessa turned her body to see Bucky's face. She mouthed 'who is it?' and he covered the mouthpiece to answer, "Captain America."

"Oh, Steve?" She clarifies, not understanding what could be so important that Steve had to interrupt their date.

"No," Bucky answered loudly, "Sam."

Tessa's eyes widened and she sat up, looking down at the man. He was being called in. "What is it?"

"Is that a woman with you Barnes?" Sam chortled on the other end, "I wasn't expecting that."

"Can I come back tomorrow?" Bucky sighed, rubbing his eyes with his fingers.

"Too late, I've already got the quintet locked on your location. Extraction is imminent."

Bucky groaned loudly, turning to look at Tessa, "Great. Awesome. See you soon." He hung up the phone and sat up, taking Tessa's hand in his own. "I'm sorry, I have to go. Let me at least walk you back to the shop before they get here."

"I'll be fine." She assured him, watching him carefully for a few moments before adding, "Are you going to be okay?"

"One date and you're already worried about me?" Bucky teased and she smacked him hard against the shoulder. His smile was sad as he pushed himself to his feet, then offered his left hand to pull Tessa up, "I'm sorry. Duty calls. I guess they think they need me."

"You can call me when you get back?"

Bucky twisted his mouth uncomfortably, trying to figure out how to tell Tessa that he may not be back for a very long time, "It's... not that simple. I'll be back as soon as I can, but I can't let the others get suspicious about where I'm going. Sam's the only one who knows about Steve and Kayla being alive."

"Oh." Tessa said softly, shoving her hands into the pockets of Bucky's big jacket, "I guess, call me whenever you can?"

"I will. I promise." Bucky pressed a quick kiss to Tessa's lips as the wind picked up substantially. Tessa looked up nervously, but Bucky just slung his arm around her shoulders, holding her close as the quinjet landed nearby. Without turning to Tessa, he asked, "Are you sure I can't walk you back?"

"I'm sure. It seems they need you more than I do right now." She muttered honestly. There wasn't a hint of bitterness in her voice, but perhaps a little bit of wonder as the back of the quinjet opened up and two young women came trotting out.

"Barnes, you ready to go?" The first woman asked cooly. She wore a purple suit with cutouts on her shoulders, and a bow attached to her slim back. Her jet black hair was held back by a matching purple headband behind her choppy bangs. She stared at Bucky and Tessa behind purple-tinted sunglasses, even in the black of night.

Bucky nodded as he squeezed Tessa close to his side once more, "Yeah, I'm ready."

"It's all hands on deck Bucky. We appreciate you coming in." The second woman added sweetly. She was shorter than her coworker and had a sweet smile as she addressed the pair. She pulled her thick brown fishtail braid over the shoulder of her black and red suit, shifting awkwardly as the other woman stared at Barnes impatiently. Tessa blinked rapidly when she noticed the woman seemed to shrink ever so slightly, appearing smaller than she had before.

"This is a lot." Tessa admitted sheepishly as she turned to Bucky. "Be safe okay. I'd kind of like to see where this goes."

Bucky kissed her one last time, lingering as long as he dared. He followed the two women into the jet before the back closed and rose into the sky, taking Bucky Barnes away from his date, who stood in the wind clenching onto his leather jacket around her shoulders.

"So the Winter Soldier has a girlfriend? I wasn't expecting that."

Bucky looked up as Sam entered the room wearing his Captain America pants with a grey undershirt. Barnes leaned back in the leather chair he'd found himself in at the long conference table. He thoughtlessly tapped his fingers along his metal arm, remembering how Tessa didn't pull away from it.

"The Winter Soldier doesn't." Bucky murmured as he stared at the table. The smallest, proudest smile crept across his face, causing his eyes to crinkle with happiness, "James Barnes does."

"She's cute too! Super short." The brunette who had retrieved him giggled, plopping down beside Bucky with a toothy grin aimed toward Sam.

"That's real cute coming from you Cass, seeing as being small is the reason you're even allowed here." Kate Bishop snapped teasingly as she pulled her purple glasses up over her headband to focus on the meeting that was about to take place at Avengers HQ.

"Screw you Hawkeye." Cassie Lang grumbled as she crossed her arms and leaned back, ignoring her friend's gaze.

"Alright Avengers, listen up. We have a lot to go over and not a lot of time. We've been intercepting coded messages from Hydra. They are planning something. Something big. Our inside source says Schmidt is going to be there." Sam explained, pulling up a hologram of Johann Schmidt above the conference table. "This is the first lead we've had on Schmidt in years. We have to bring our A-game. We take down Schmidt, the regime will fall."

"And how exactly do you plan to take down the Red Skull?" Doctor Banner asked as he leaned against the glass wall of the conference room. "Not only is he a super soldier, but he has the power of the Soul Stone."

"That's where our inside source comes in. She gets close- she pulls the trigger. We are just there to make sure his plans don't come to fruition. With this many Hydra agents convening, he's planning something big." Sam continues, meeting Bruce's sad eyes. Professor Hulk missed his teammate. He'd considered working out a way to remove the Hulk before she went missing.

Bucky nodded, staring down at his vibranium hand, "When do we leave?"

"The Hydra convention seems to be Friday in Seattle. We'll leave here Wednesday evening to prepare."

Bucky looked up Sam with dark, frustrated blue eyes, "Wednesday? I could have finished my date if I'd have known we were leaving Wednesday!"

Sam's eyes roamed the room before settling back in Barnes, "We'll talk about that after the meeting. For now, we plan."

Bucky's mind couldn't focus on the plan, because it was back in suburbia with his best friend and the girl he prayed he'd see again.