We sat there for in silence for a several minutes, Bucky kept his arms around me and I wrapped mine around his neck, burying my face in nape of his neck. I wasn't crying…I was just trying to understand what had just happened.

You know exactly what happened Eden…you just don't want to believe it was possible.

"Long version" I heard Bucky mutter.

He unwrapped his arms from me and I pulled away from his chest and turned my face to look at him. He was staring straight ahead, a blank look on his face.

"What?" I asked, confused.

He didn't move but I saw his eyes glance down at me and reply, "I want to hear the long version of the story."

Oh, he wants to know about Michael.

I sighed and laid my head back down on his chest. I felt his metal arm wrap back around my waist, the other brushed my hair out of my face. I took his metal hand in mine and rubbed my fingers through his, enjoying the feel of the cold metal on my warm hands. I told him everything: how we met, how great it had been the first few months, how terrible it had been the last month, and about his ultimate betrayal in the end. When I told him Michael had been my first, he looked down at me in shock. I felt my cheeks turning red but he was kind enough not to say anything.

Maybe you should have that left that part out Eden, now he knows how pathetic you are.

"He had been drinking Bucky, I don't think he realized what he was doing…I doubt he would have…", I let my sentence trail off.

"Don't make excuses for him, he doesn't deserve that…and he didn't deserve you" he said.

Hearing that made me turn and smile at him. Well at least Michael was out of my life for good. Surely seeing an angry Bucky and the scuffle that ensued would keep him away from me. It was definitely time to get rid of that box in the closet.

I released his metal hand and pulled myself up off the floor. I stood looking down at Bucky who was still sitting on the floor staring up at me. I reached out my hand and he took it, pulling himself up. He stood in front of me and with a sigh asked, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, "Thank you for coming to my rescue…again. You're slowly turning into my own personal knight in shining armor Bucky."

He smirked at me and bowed dramatically, "Anything for a lovely lady"

As he stood back up, a lock of hair hung in his face so I reached up to brush it away and then laid my hand on his cheek, smiling up at him.

Damn he's handsome.

He looked like he was thinking really hard, struggling to decide something. His pouty lips were the sexiest thing I had ever seen.

Get a grip Eden.

A sudden look of surety crossed his face and I felt his hand slide to my waist and draw me closer to him.

Whoa, what's he doing?

My heart was pounding in my chest as he leaned his face down to mine.

This is it Eden, you're going to know what those lips feel like.

KNOCK KNOCK

Son of a ….

…xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx…

I listened while she told me the story of how they met and the relationship that followed. I didn't understand how anyone could cheat on a woman as beautiful and sweet as Eden. While she spoke, she rubbed her fingers through my metal ones.

She doesn't seem uncomfortable at all.

When she told me that he had been her first and only sex partner, I was surprised…and then angry. She had given this man a very special gift and he had deceived her.

She started to make excuses for him, explaining that he had been drinking. He didn't deserve to have her make excuses for him. I remembered bits and pieces from 70 years ago when I had too much to drink at a bar, I would never do that to a lady.

"Don't make excuses for him, he doesn't deserve that…and he didn't deserve you" I told her pointedly.

She smiled at me but then let go of my hand. She stood up and reached her hand out to me…I took it and pulled myself up as well. The redness on her cheek was fading…no tears were in her eyes. On the outside she looked okay, but I couldn't be sure of what she was thinking.

"Are you okay?"

Her nod yes didn't make me feel any better.

""Thank you for coming to my rescue…again. You're slowly turning into my own personal knight in shining armor Bucky."

Me? A knight in shining armor?

I smirked and bowed my head at her, "Anything for a lovely lady"

My hair fell into my face as I rose back up and I saw her reach her hand out to me. She brushed it away and laid her warm hand onto my cheek and left it there.

She was smiling at me. No one had ever smiled at me that way before. I didn't see fear in her eyes. No disgust or contempt of me. She looked at me like I was just a man, just Bucky Barnes.

Kiss her Bucky. No, I don't want to ruin it!

She wants you to…look at her. She isn't the first woman to look at you that way….remember Bucky, remember…..

Then I heard the voice of the Winter Soldier, a broken man…I didn't deserve something so pure.

You're a monster, she could never want you.

I was confused, unsure of what to do. My heart was telling me to do it, kiss her like no man had ever kissed her before. …show her that Michael was not a real man...because a real man would never be so stupid to let her slip through their fingers.

Man up Bucky, do it!

That was it, I made my decision. I had to try. I had to kiss her.

I reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her closer to me.

This is it Bucky, don't chicken out…

I leaned in…

The knock at the door made us both jump. I pulled away and turned toward the door, a sneer at my lips.

Son of a bitch…

"I bet it's the food", she whispered.

She looked up at me, a disappointed smile on her face. I saw it in her eyes, she had wanted it to.

The moment was ruined. She stepped towards the door to answer it but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face me.

"I'll answer it, just in case it isn't the food" I insisted.

"Okay, grab $5 out of my wallet for a tip please. I'm going to grab your clothes out of the bathroom and throw them in the dryer…I don't like seeing you in those" she said pointing at the pajama pants and t-shirt I was currently dressed in.

"If you like, I could always take them off." I grinned, teasingly grabbing the bottom of the shirt and raising it up to expose my chest.

"You are incorrigible." She said giggling as she turned and walked away.

I grabbed a $5 out of her wallet and made my way to the front door. The young guy standing there had a huge grin on his face that faded when he saw me. He looked surprise to see me.

"Umm…hello. I have your order here "he stammered, nervously.

I passed him the bill and took the bags from his hand. He peered passed me into the apartment like he was looking for something.

"Did you just move in?" he asked nonchalantly.

I eyed him suspiciously, "No, why?"

He must have realized I was on to him. He shrugged, thanked me for the tip, and left without saying another word.

I shut the door and turned to see Eden making her way back into the living room.

"I got your clothes in the dryer….what's wrong?" she said, noticing the look in my eye.

"That delivery guy…there was something about him, he was acting odd. He kept trying to look past me into your apartment"

She rolled her eyes, "Ugh, I had hoped he had gotten fired or quit by now. I use to order from this place regularly but the last few times Mr. Creepy was the one to bring it…he was always staring at me. I finally just stopped ordering from there"

"Good Lord woman, am I always going to have to fight the men off of you?" I teased.

She smiled, "Only if you're up to the challenge…come on, let's eat. I'm starving."