I listened to every word Bucky said…my mind racing to process the information.

Questions…there were just so many questions. I could see the pain in his eyes as he told me his story. It broke my heart to see him painfully struggle to tell me about his past.

Listening to him retell how he died had brought a gasp from my mouth that I quickly tried to hide with my hand. As his story continued, his frown deepened and his eyes grew darker. He told me about HYDRA and all the terrible things they had done to him. Sitting there watching him struggle to get it all out broke my heart. At one point I reached out to him and took his hand in mine to comfort him.

He told me how they erased his memory…brainwashed him into becoming the assassin known as the Winter Soldier. I learned about all the people he had murdered. I was trying not to cry in front of him so I swallowed the lump that was forming in my throat. He didn't need my tears now, he needed my support…he needed a friend.

The conversation seemed to go on forever. I asked questions, things that I needed to know the answers to.

Was the Winter Soldier gone?

I remember hearing on the news about the incident in Washington D.C. I had been so caught up on my work that I didn't pay much attention to it. I had heard rumors from neighbors that the famous Captain America a.k.a. Steve Rogers lived in this area. I was never one to listen to rumors so I ignored it.

I had never been to the Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian. I had always wanted to go but had never really had anyone to go with….maybe it was time I planned a visit.

Bucky was a hero!

He was a hero! Then he was turned into a murderer!

I looked over at him as he told me in more detail about what happened in Washington.

Was I scared of him? This man had killed countless people.

It wasn't Bucky who killed those people, it was the Winter Soldier. He was brainwashed. It wasn't his fault.

It was obvious Bucky felt sorrow for what he had done….the guilt right there, etched into his handsome face. What was I going to do? Turn him away? Tell him I couldn't be associated with someone who had done such terrible things?

That's exactly what you should do EDEN! He's dangerous!

My brain screamed for me to make him leave, get out and never come back. But my heart…well my heart wanted to help this man heal. I wanted to get to know the real Bucky Barnes. I knew the last thing Bucky needed in his life was the complication of being in a romantic relationship with anyone. Bucky needed a friend. I could be his friend.

If a national hero like Captain America can trust Bucky, then so can I.

I knew that I wanted to be more than just his friend. I felt something for Bucky that I had never felt before. It didn't make any sense to feel this way about someone who just entered my life, but I did.

Finally, Bucky finished. We sat in silence. I was still torn. My brain was screaming at me, telling me that this man would bring nothing but pain.

"I can leave it you want, I won't bother you again" he finally spoke.

I stared down at my hands…contemplating.

He's going to leave Eden. Is that what you really want?

"I'm sorry Eden." He got up from the couch and turned toward my front door.

Stop him Eden! If he walks out that door you might never see him again. Say something you idiot!

My heart had finally won the battle.

"We didn't have lunch yet" I spoke the words so softly that he didn't hear me.

YES! Good girl Eden!

He turned around, "What did you say?"

"But…we didn't have lunch yet…." I replied, louder this time. I looked up at him finally and knew instantly that I had made the right decision.

The wave of relief that washed over his face made my heart skip a beat. You could see the pain drain from his face instantly.

"You want me to stay?" he asked, his voice sounded unsure.

"Yes Bucky, I want you to stay" I replied. "Come sit with me please"

He sat back down on the couch to face me, closer than he was before. I could smell his cologne and being this close to him made my heart pound in my chest. His hair hung in his face and I desperately wanted to run my hand across his cheek and tuck it behind his ear.

Calm down Eden. You decided to be his friend, remember? See how that goes first before you try to jump his bones.

"The past is the past Bucky. I know you have been through some terrible things, but I want you to know that I am here for you. I promise, I'm not going anywhere." I smiled at him.

He breathed out a sigh of relief and ran both of his hands through his hair, pulling it out of his face.

"You have no idea how relieved I am to here that Eden" he said.

I reached out my hand and he took it, pulling himself upright to stand in front of me. I pulled him closer to me and wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. I could feel him stiffen at first. I'm sure he wasn't used to be hugged by anyone. But then I heard him sigh and relax into it.

After I moment I stepped back to look at him and smile reassuringly. He still looked so unsure. I glanced at the clock and noticed it was 4:45. I could feel the hunger pains in my stomach, begging for food.

"So, about that lunch….I haven't eaten anything today. Would you be okay with take-out food? We could stay in and watch a movie?" I added.

"Okay"

"Great" I smiled

I turned around to head to the kitchen to grab the phone and the menus stuck to my fridge. A sudden thought popped into my head and I turned to face him.

"By the way Bucky, you look pretty good for a guy who is nearly a century old" I laughed and continued on to the kitchen.

I heard him laugh loudly. It was quite possibly the best sound I had ever heard.

After contemplating our choices we finally chose to order a pizza from a place a few blocks away. Bucky had never eaten there before but I knew from experience that they had the best pizza. Instead of having it delivered, we decided to walk and pick it up ourselves. The guy taking my order said It was pretty busy for a Saturday night so our pizza wouldn't be ready until 5:30.

I grabbed my purse and threw my cell phone inside and off we went. The temperature had already begun to drop a bit but it felt nice. As we walked, we talked about his friend Steve. Bucky told me how great he had been, letting him move in to his apartment, taking care of him. He told me about the nightmares he had sometimes…his eyes darkened as he talked about them. I could see him slipping back into those bad thoughts. I looped my arm through his and he glanced down at me.

"Come back to me Bucky…you looked like you were going to a bad place" I said jokingly.

He seemed to snap out of it, looking down at my arm touching his arm. I thought maybe he didn't like it…I mean maybe he wasn't the touchy feely type.

Geez Eden, maybe you made him uncomfortable with the hug earlier too.

I started to pull my arm away, unsure of how he felt about me invading his personal space. He instantly grabbed my hand in his and I looked up to meet his eyes.

"Friends can hold each other hands, right?" he asked quietly.

I smiled at him, "Of course"

We walked together, holding hands….I know I had a silly looking grin on my face the entire time.

The place was packed full of people on a Saturday night. Bucky decided to wait outside while I made my way into the busy restaurant to pick up our order.

I walked in and made my way to the end of the bar where the to go orders are picked up. I passed a group of three guys who had obviously had way too much to drink already. They whooped and hollered at me as I walked by…I tried to ignore them. I ordered from this place a lot so the bartender recognized me immediately.

"Hey Eden, how's it going tonight?" he asked.

"It's okay Matt….I see you have your hands full already tonight" I said, nodding to the drunks further down the bar. He rolled his eyes and nodded.

I paid for my order, thanked Matt and headed back down the bar to the front door. One of the drunks, a stocky guy with a goatee, grabbed my arm as I walked by and pulled me toward him.

"Hey baby, why don't you slide right into the stool next to me here and we can get to know each other a little better" he slurred as he stared down my top.

I instantly yanked my arm out of his grasp and retorted, "No thanks" I turned back to the door and walked out of the restaurant.

I saw Bucky leaning against a light post further down the street, a smile on his face. When he saw me come out, he turned to me and his smile widened.

As I began to make my way over to him, I heard the door open again and someone follow me out. I turned to see the drunk angrily stumbling after me.

"Hey sexy, I wasn't done talking to you yet, get over here! Where are you going in such a rush?"

He snatched the pizza box out of my hand and laid it on one of the benches the restaurant had outside so diners could sit while they waited for their orders. He grabbed my arm hard and pulled me to him. I could smell the alcohol on his breath as he brought his mouth close to my face. His other arm reached behind me to slowly make its way down my backside. I pushed him away from him hard, which only made him angrier. He grabbed me with his left arm again and I saw him rear back his right hand in preparation of slapping me. He never got the chance.

I never heard Bucky approach, he was silent and deadly. I saw a metal hand shoot forward and grab the drunk's right wrist and squeeze. The drunk screamed in pain. I felt his arm drop away from me and I stumbled back out of the way.

I turned to see Bucky had pushed the guy up against the brick wall.

"You don't touch a lady like that" he spit out, a dangerous look on his face.

"Bucky!" I said loudly, coming up beside him.

"Look man! I didn't realize the whore was already taken" he shouted at Bucky.

Bucky growled in anger and pulled his right arm back like he was going to punch the guy. I stepped in front of him and laid my hands on his chest.

"No Bucky" I pleaded, looking up into his eyes. He looked down at me and instantly let the man go. The drunk ran off, back inside to join his friends I'm sure.

I kept my hands on his chest, I could feel his heart beating underneath the black shirt he wore. The anger left his eyes and he asked if I was okay. He pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around me.

"Yeah I'm fine" I said into his chest. We stayed that way for a minute before he finally pulled me back and smiled at me.

"Come on, I'll let you pick out what movie to watch" he said.

I smiled back at him. He picked up the pizza and we made our way back to my apartment.