"What do you guys think of the color?" Jill asked, chewing on her fingernails nervously.

Brooke and I were standing next to each other, staring at our reflections in the mirror, wearing identical dresses. The dress was a beautiful shade of navy blue…marine, according to the tag on the dress. It was a floor length, one shoulder beaded dress with a high slit up the side. I loved it and the color complimented mine and Brooke's complexion nicely.

"It's beautiful Jill, you did a decent job picking out a sexy bridesmaid dress" Brooke replied, spinning around to admire herself from the back with a sly grin on her face.

"I'm glad you guys like them. Carrie wasn't happy with the color or the dress but mom talked to her and she hasn't said a word since" Jill said, a frown on her face.

Jill's older sister Carrie was her maid of honor, and apparently she was not happy that her younger sister was getting married before her. Brooke had filled me on some of the drama last night as we lay in bed catching up. Carrie had been downright nasty to Jill since the engagement was announced. Jill had chosen Carrie as maid of honor in the hopes that it would make her sister feel better about the situation….that was not the case.

"Well your sister is crazy Jill, the dresses are beautiful and I love the color" I said, pulling her into a side hug "Why don't you put your dress on now and let us get a look?"

She brightened, "Okay, you guys get undressed and I'll go find Ms. Cathy and tell her to pull my dress"

When Jill was out of earshot, Brooke turned to me, "That bitch is making her miserable; we may need to intervene and have a talk with little miss Carrie"

I nodded and smiled as we made our way back to the dressing rooms to undress, "She's just jealous Brooke; I think we can hold off on breaking her knee caps for now."

Brooke stuck her tongue out at me before disappearing behind the curtain. I slipped in my stall and began undressing, carefully hanging the gown back onto the hanger. I ran my hand down the fabric…it really was a pretty dress.

I dressed quickly and found Brooke lounging on the couch by the mirrors, reading something on her phone. I plopped down, startling her, causing the phone to drop from her hands. I reached down to pick it up and saw what she had been looking at, a website with information on Captain America.

I smirked at her and raised my eyebrow, "Research for work?"

"Hush it woman!" she replied, snatching the phone from my hand with a grin.

Is that a blush on her face? I don't think I have ever seen Brooke blush over anything….or anyone.

I needed to remember to mention Brooke to Steve the next time I saw him. Bucky had said that Steve wasn't seeing anyone, despite the obvious interest women had in him.

Jill walked out of the dressing room at that moment and Brooke and I oohed and aahhed over the stunning dress she had chosen. Jill looked like a princess in the long lacy white gown.

After we had snapped some pictures of Jill in her wedding gown, Brooke and I went and paid for our dresses. Luckily, neither of us needed any alterations, the dresses fit perfectly.

After we left the bridal shop we decided to stop for pedicures and then eat dinner. We arrived at the salon around 4:45 and it was busy, Jill and Brooke were seated next to each other but I had to sit across the salon in a corner by myself. While I sat there, letting my feet soak in the hot soapy water, I pulled my phone out. I hadn't spoken to Bucky since last night and I felt an overwhelming need to talk to him. I didn't want the nail technician to hear my private conversation with Bucky, so I chose to text message him.

Eden: Missing you today

I frowned when I looked at my phone ten minutes later and still hadn't gotten a reply from him. Bucky had always instantly replied to me when I sent him a message. I tried to shrug it off, maybe him and Steve were at the gym working out.

Don't worry about it Eden, he'll text you back

I forced a smile on my face as we left the salon and headed to the restaurant, trying not to let it bother me.

…...xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx…...

Steve and I were watching the third Star Wars film when he got the phone call. I knew who it was by his reaction. Any time Steve got a call and instantly left the room, it was S.H.I.E.L.D calling. I could hear him talking to someone on the other line, it sounded like he was arguing with whoever it was. Several minutes later, he returned to the living room, a confused look on his face.

"New mission?" I asked.

He nodded.

"When do you leave?"

He took a deep breath, "We leave tomorrow night"

I turned around to look at him, "We?"

"That was Director Fury; he has decided you are needed on this mission. We are to report to the new S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters in an hour for briefing." he said reluctantly.

So Fury had finally decided to veto Steve's decision on not allowing me to join the team during missions. I knew Steve was angry and probably a little worried, I could tell by the way he was pacing around his living room, running his hands through his hair.

"Bucky, you don't have to agree to this. He can't make you go if you don't want to."

I thought it through. I did want to go…I needed to go….I would only have closure when I finally face HYDRA and everything they had done to me.

"I'm going Steve. It's time I get back out there." I added, grabbing my boots and slipping them on.

I stood up and a sudden thought popped into my head.

Eden! She's supposed to be back tomorrow.

"Steve, when are we supposed to leave tomorrow?" I asked.

He knew what I was getting at….Eden would be coming home tomorrow night and if we left before she arrived I wouldn't be able to say goodbye.

"We leave at 9pm Bucky" he said solemnly.

How would she react when she came back into town and found out I had left for a mission? I had promised her the Winter Soldier was gone for good.

You're not going as the Winter Soldier; you're going as Bucky Barnes, an agent of SHIELD.

I was torn. Part of me wanted to be stay, wait for her to come home and fulfill every unspoken promise I had made to her over the last couple of days. The other part of me needed this mission. I needed to get out there and prove to myself that I was still Bucky Barnes…a soldier…a good man, a man worthy of a woman like Eden.

I nodded, "We better get going, I'm sure it's not a good idea to keep Director Fury waiting"

Steve looked unsure, but nodded in agreement.

One hour later, we joined Director Fury, Natasha, and Agent Barton in a briefing room, discussing the upcoming assignment. SHIELD had obtained information about a group of HYDRA operatives working out of a hidden base outside of Germany. Our mission was to infiltrate the facility, obtain HYDRA research files, and eliminate any threats if needed. Fury wanted me to go because according to the information, I had been held at this facility for quite some time during my days as the Winter Soldier. The hope was that I would recognize the facility and be able to navigate the team through it.

Over the next four hours, we devised our plan of attack. After receiving additional instructions, we were dismissed. As I turned to follow Steve out of the room, Director Fury called me over to him.

"Yes sir?"

"Sergeant Barnes, I have something for you." He said, reaching for a large case on the table behind him. He laid it in front of me and motioned for me to open it.

Inside was the Winter Soldier gear I had given up over two months ago. My black leather tactical vest, gloves, and boots were folded neatly inside the case along with my knives, guns, and utility belt.
I know Fury saw the hesitation in my face when I reached to touch the SIG-Sauer P220. It had always been my weapon of choice.

"Good luck tomorrow Sergeant Barnes" he said with a nod, turning and walking from the room.

Steve was waiting for me outside the door. He said nothing when he say the large case I was carrying…he knew what it was and I saw the concern in his eyes.

We stopped at a diner on the way home, to grab something to eat. Steve was assuring me that everything would be fine. I think he was just trying to convince himself. I wasn't quite sure how I felt yet. I was ready to get back in the field and do something productive….something good for a change. The only thing I was unsure of was Eden. I needed to tell her what was going on but I honestly didn't know how she would react. I reached in my jacket for my phone and realized I didn't have it.

Damn, I must have left it on the table when we left.

"I left my phone at your apartment. I hope Eden hasn't texted me…she will wonder why I haven't texted her back"

"What are you going to tell her Buck? " he asked, laying his fork back on his plate.

I shook my head, "I don't want to ask her to come home early, but I really would like to see her before I leave…just in case….you know…"

"I understand Bucky. Nothing is going to happen though. We are going to do the mission and then come home. YOU'RE going to come home" he promised.

We paid our bill and headed back to the apartment. I instantly made a beeline for my phone as Steve said goodnight and headed to his bedroom.

I had 5 text messages from her and 2 missed calls.

Eden: Missing you today.

Eden: Is everything okay?

Eden: I'm getting kind of worried now, can you please let me know you're okay?

Eden: ?

Eden: Did I do something wrong? Please answer the phone.

I saw that the messages spanned over the last 5 hours. I read the last message again and felt like a complete asshole for leaving my phone.

Great Bucky, now she thinks she's done something wrong.

I dialed her phone number and waited until she picked up. She sounded out of breath and upset which instantly put me on alert.

"Bucky!" she said loudly.

"Eden, what's wrong?"

I heard her sigh, a sound of relief in her voice, "Thank God it's you. I was worried when you didn't answer my messages earlier"

"I'm sorry, I was uhh…out…with Steve. I left my phone in the apartment by mistake"

It's not a lie! I was out with Steve and I did leave my phone.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I kept texting and calling you….I just wanted...well, it's more like needed…to hear your voice." She said quietly.

"You apologize too much…I should have had my phone on me. Will you tell me about your day? I want to hear all about it"

I lay back on the couch as she began to tell me about all the things that she and her friends had done that day. Hearing her voice was the best part of my day, all the worries I had about this upcoming mission faded away as she spoke.

She needed to hear your voice Bucky.

Before we got off the phone, nearly an hour later, she told me that she hoped to be home by 9 tomorrow night.

Tell her Bucky….tell her you won't be here.

I knew I should let her know I was going on an assignment tomorrow night and wouldn't be here to meet her, but I just couldn't. I had already made her worry all day by not answering my phone…..I didn't want to completely ruin her trip. I would call her tomorrow before I left for SHIELD and let her know, that way she could enjoy the last day with her friends with no worries.

"Bucky, I'm really glad I get to see you tomorrow night….I've been looking forward to….you know…finishing what we started the other night" she said, a serious tone in her voice.

"Me too Eden….get some sleep"

We said our goodbyes and I stared at the phone for a long time after she had hung up.

Tomorrow Bucky, you'll tell her tomorrow….

I lay on the couch thinking about Eden for a long time. How would she react? Would she be angry I didn't tell her sooner? Would she worry about me?

That's when I realized that in the back of my mind I was secretly worried. I was going back to the source of all my problems, back to HYDRA. I was going to face the monster. Maybe when this is over, I'll finally have some closure.

Sleep didn't come easily that night…and for the first time since meeting Eden, the nightmares returned.