It took several more rounds before we convinced Eden to get on stage and sing one solo.

"Which song did she choose?" Jill asked, sipping on her daiquiri.

"Brighter Than the Sun by Colbie Caillat" I replied with a smile, taking my place at the table next to Jill.

She thought about the lyrics to the song and then smirked at me knowingly, "Wow, she must really like this guy"

I had a sudden thought, "Grab her phone, look up that guy's number for me and read it off."

Jill smiled slyly, "I already used her phone to text him a pic of you two on stage earlier singing. I told him he better take care of her"

"You deleted it right?" I asked. She nodded.

I was happy Eden had finally found someone. I remembered how pissed I was when Jill called me that night to tell me Eden had found that douchebag, Michael, cheating on her. I had called her immediately and listened to her cry for an hour. It was nice to see her happy…not just happy though, Eden was glowing.

This guy must be pretty special.

As Jill read the number off to me, I typed it into my phone, preparing to text this Bucky guy a video of Eden singing a song that was most definitely dedicated to him.

"Here she comes" Jill nudged me.

Stop me on the corner

I swear you hit me like a vision

I, I, I wasn't expecting

But who am I to tell fate where it's supposed to go with it

Don't you blink, you might miss it

See we got a right to just love it or leave it

You find it and keep it

'Cause it ain't every day you get the chance to say

Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart

It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun

Oh, we could be the stars falling from the sky

Shining how we want, brighter than the sun

I never seen it, but I found this love, I'm gonna feed it

You better believe I'm gonna treat it

Better than anything I've ever had

'Cause you're so damn beautiful

I kept recording as Eden sang her heart out. I'm sure she was thinking about Bucky the entire time, a big smile on her face. When she finally finished, I stopped the recording and typed a quick message and pressed send. I looked up to see Eden bowing on stage…it brought a smile to my face. As she made her way back to our table, I put my phone away and flagged down the waiter….one more drink wouldn't hurt.

…...xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...….

10:35pm

Steve told me goodnight and then went off to his bedroom to hit the sack. I laid on the couch in the dark staring at my phone on the coffee table. I wasn't going to sleep until I talked to Eden, even if I had to stay up all night.

I reached over and snatched up the phone as soon as I heard the text message alert.

I didn't recognize the number but I noticed there was a video attached to the message.

Unknown: She chose this song because of you. You must mean a lot to her. If you hurt her, there will be no place you could hide where I would not find you. – Brooke

I watched the video, listening to Eden sing her song.

Wow! Are they serious? She's singing this about me?

I read the message again with a smile. Eden had some pretty protective friends; they obviously cared a great deal about her.

So Steve's mystery red head must be Brooke.

I laid back on the couch to watch the video again, listening to the words closer….

…...xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx…...

Jill went and passed out in her bedroom as soon as the cab dropped us off at her place. Me and Brooke made our way to the spare bedroom to get undressed and ready for bed. After I had washed off all the makeup and tied my hair into a ponytail, I grabbed my phone and let Brooke know I needed to make a phone call.

"Uh huh, calling Bucky, are we?" she laughed, grabbing her night clothes and making her way into the bathroom.

She chuckled when I flipped her off as I walked towards the living room. I laid down on the couch and glanced at the time.

11:30

Hmmm Eden, Bucky might be asleep…you waited too long.

I didn't want to go to bed without hearing his voice though and I had promised to call him each night. I nervously scrolled down to his name and pushed the call button. He answered on the first ring.

We talked for half an hour. I told him about being surprised to see Brooke there, the karaoke bar we went to, even about the solo they made me sing at the end of the night. I didn't tell him that the song I had chosen made me think of him and our chance encounter in the park. He quietly listened to me babble…perhaps that last round of drinks wasn't such a good idea.

After he finished telling me about his day, he got really quiet.

"Bucky, you still there? What's wrong? I asked, concern in my voice.

"I miss you" he said it with so much sadness that I considered grabbing my car keys and heading home right that second.

"Bucky, I miss you too. I'll tell you a secret; you've been on my mind all day."

What the hell Eden, did you really just admit that to him? Sounds a little obsessive, damn that last daiquiri!

I promptly took back that last thought when I heard Bucky laugh, "Oh really? All day, huh? Were you thinking about me with or without my shirt this time?

"I'll have you know Bucky Barnes that I only thought about you shirtless like 60% of the time" I responded, instantly slapping my hand over my mouth, appalled that I had let that slip.

I could hear the smirk in his voice, "How were you thinking about me the other 40% of the time?"

"You'll just have to wait two more days to find out Mr. Barnes" I said teasingly "Good night Bucky"

"Two days Eden" he responded gruffly "Good night"

I laid there for a second, remembering how Bucky had looked the night he showed up at my door soaking wet…the way he had looked when he pulled that wet shirt from his body, so close that I could see the dampness still on his chest. I recalled the way he shivered when I ran my fingers over the scars on his left shoulder.

I felt the excitement in me, deep down…it was a sensation I hadn't felt for so long. It wasn't the same feeling as what I had with Michael. I felt something different for Bucky, a desire so intense it affected me not only emotionally but physically. I knew if he was here right now, laying with me on this couch that I would be willing and ready for him.

I finally got up and headed back to the spare bedroom. Brooke was there, lying in bed checking her email on her phone. She looked up and grinned at me as I walked back into the room.

"How's Bucky doing" she asked nonchalantly.

I smiled, "He's fine"

I watched her scrolling through her phone, realizing how much I had missed her the last few years. Brooke and Jill had been a big part of my childhood.

She will be right around the corner from you in two weeks, working at the Smithsonian.

It had crossed my mind several times tonight on whether I should tell her about who Bucky really was. I knew I would have no choice, eventually she would meet him and recognize him as James Buchanan Barnes….it wasn't like I could hide it.

What if she doesn't understand? I love him; I want her to like him. Just tell her Eden! Brooke was always the understanding one.

I got into the bed next to her and lay on my back looking up at the ceiling, debating on how I should start the conversation.

"So Brooke, if I tell you something, will you promise not to tell Jill. I don't think she would understand quite yet." I began

She turned, her interest piqued, "Go on"

There's something you should know about Bucky…..

I told her everything. She laid there, listening to me explain about how Bucky survived, what HYDRA had done to him, all the dirty details of the Winter Soldier, and about how he was living with Steve in the building next door.. After I finished my story, she sat there in silence for a minute.

"Say something Brooke"

"You met Captain America and didn't tell me!" she said in a serious tone.

I laughed uncontrollably, "I just told you I'm in love with a former assassin who was assumed dead over 70 years ago and your mad I didn't mention meeting Captain America?"

She thought about it a second, nodded, and then burst out laughing.

We giggled for several minutes before I finally asked, "Brooke, you don't think this is seriously messed up?

She rolled over to look at, "Eden, I've known you a long time and I've never seen you as happy as I've seen you today. If this guy is the cause of it, then I say go for it. You said so yourself, he isn't the Winter Soldier anymore. He controls his fate Eden and it's obvious he wants you to be a part of his life."

I felt the tears brimming in my eyes, glad that Brooke had accepted the situation so easily.

"Eden, you were always the smart one out of the three of us, I trust your instinct. Besides, he's best friends with Captain America and that makes him okay in my book." She added, "So what's he like?"

"Bucky?"

"No, Captain America! Tell me all about him"