I looked up slowly when I heard the waitress speaking…the voice was so familiar…where had I heard it before?

I know my mouth dropped open when I saw Lizzie sitting Bucky's coke down and winking at him. She was still staring at Bucky when she started to sit my tea down…once she glanced over and noticed me, she stopped to stare, an evil grin spreading across her face, "Eden…so nice to see you again"

I grabbed Bucky's knee and squeezed hard…I wanted to jump across that table and slap that smug look right off her face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bucky glance at me.

Stay calm Eden…don't say or do anything stupid.

"Lizzie" I said briskly. I was attempting to say as little as possible for fear that I would go into a rant and cause a scene.

She stuck her hand on her hip and shot back, "Hmm, how long has it been…a year and a half? I remember the last time I saw you…you were running out of Michael's apartment crying"

Bitch!

I felt Bucky's body stiffen next to me and Steve looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.

"That's right, I guess I should thank you for that…because of you, I was able to get away from that asshole"

She hesitated for only a second before she retorted back, "Yeah, Michael was fun for a little while but I needed a real man" I saw red when she let her eyes fall to Bucky, "Like you…you want to get a drink later?" She laid her hand on Bucky's shoulder and he stared up at her.

Oh hell no!

Bucky didn't see me clinch my fist and start to get up from my chair…but Steve did. I gasped when he kicked me hard with his foot under the table…I looked over at him with a glare and he shook his head and mouthed the word, "No" I'm sure Bucky thought I was just shocked that Lizzie would be so blunt and flirt with him in front of me…that was not the case…Steve had caught me with his foot in the shin and it hurt!

I looked over and saw Bucky reach up and remove Lizzie's hand from his shoulder and say to her, "No thanks, I have standards"

I watched Lizzie pull her hand away in shock and stomp off. I'm sure she had never been turned down before.

Once she had huffed away from our table, Steve got up and announced he was going to request another waitress. He stopped and put his hand on my shoulder, "You alright?" I knew he wasn't just talking about the incident that happened between me and Lizzie, he was also making sure he didn't kick me too hard.

I rolled my eyes at him and nodded my head, "Yep" He grinned at me and then walked away. As soon as he left I put my face down and stared at my lap. I couldn't believe that of all the restaurants in the city, we had to go to the one where Lizzie worked. Bucky had shown no interest in her whatsoever ever but all the bad memories of the breakup with Michael had come flooding back. Every single insecurity I felt about myself came flooding into my thoughts. I felt Bucky's hand on mine but it didn't make me feel any better about myself.

"I'm so embarrassed" I said, mostly to myself.

Bucky must have heard what I said because he replied, "You're not the one who should be embarrassed Eden" He took my hand in his and waited for me to respond.

I felt the anger in me start to rise, "I can't believe her! She's already broken up one relationship, now she tries to do it again"

Bucky let go of my hand and grabbed my shoulder, turning me to face him, "Eden, she didn't stand a chance with me…do you honestly think I would be interested in someone like her?"

But she's gorgeous and confident and….

I shrugged my shoulders, not quite sure what to say.

I saw him roll his eyes, "You're a silly woman Eden Page, if you think I would ever choose anyone over you" He lifted my face and kissed me sweetly on the lips.

I love this man! He always knows just what to say.

I don't know what came over me, but I just had to tell Bucky exactly how I felt about him, I leaned in and buried my face in his neck and whispered in his ear, "I love you"

He pulled away from me quickly, "What did you say?" He seemed so surprised that for a second I wondered if he had actually heard what I said.

I repeated myself, "I love you" I nervously looked up at him, "I'm sorry it that freaks you out, I just thought you should know…I mean…I've felt that way for a while…I just…" I was babbling so I shut my mouth to keep from making it worse.

"You apologize too much"

He is always saying that to me…maybe I shouldn't have told him…it's too soon to say I love you…we just met two weeks ago. Keep calm Eden, just be cool.

I nodded my head, "I've heard that…once or twice before"

Good girl! Don't panic and for God sakes, don't cry!

He leaned down close and whispered in my ear, "I love you too"

My heart started racing and I felt myself grinning from ear to ear when I looked up at him. Before I could say anything else to him, Steve sat down at the table and a waiter walked up and introduced himself.

I sat there the rest of the time screaming with joy on the inside. Steve started telling funny stories about him and Bucky when they were kids. It was so funny to listen to him describe all the trouble they would get themselves into. Bucky was something else when he was a kid. Eventually Brooke's name got brought up and I grinned when I saw Steven's reaction. We planned to meet at her apartment the next day to help her unload her stuff from the moving truck. I couldn't wait for Steve and Brooke to finally meet. I had a feeling it would be the start of something wonderful for the both of them.

When our waiter finally dropped off the bill, I saw Bucky pick it up quickly and pull his wallet from his pocket. He dug in the back until he found a debit card and then laid it on the table with the bill.

Steve smiled but started to say something, "Bucky…"

Bucky interrupted him before he could finish, "What? A man can't take the woman he loves and his best friend out to lunch?"

Steve looked at me, his eyes wide…he grinned at me, "I guess you finally told him"

I smiled and nodded.

I looked over at Bucky and saw the fake pout on his lips, "You told that jerk you loved me before you told me?"

I leaned over and kissed him on the lips softly, "He asked" I explained.

We left the restaurant once Bucky got his card back and signed the receipt. I caught a glimpse of Lizzie before we walked out of the restaurant. My right hand was being held tightly by Bucky, but with my left hand I threw her a wave and smiled victoriously.

We had just gotten into the car and were about to head home when Steve's phone rang. Bucky glanced down at the middle console and saw whoever it was that was calling…he glanced over at Steve and they shared a look between them.

I watched Steve pick up the phone and answer it…I listened as he talked to whoever it was on the other line.

"Hello….Yes sir, I understand….May I ask why? I think I have a right to know sir, he's my responsibility"

Oh no, please tell me he isn't talking about Bucky. He promised…Bucky promised me he wasn't leaving again!

I glanced over at Bucky; he had an intense look in his eye. "Bucky" I whispered. He didn't look my way, just put his hand up to silence me.

"Fine…we'll be there in an hour….No sir, an hour. We have someone with us that we need to drop off first….Goodbye" Steve sighed when he hung up the phone. He looked over at Bucky.

Bucky calmly asked, "Fury?"

Steve nodded, "He wants to see us both, now! He said he has something very important he needs to discuss with you."

Bucky glanced my way quickly and then turned back to Steve, "Let's get this over with…we can drop Eden off on the way"

Bucky didn't look at me, he just turned and faced forward. I saw Steve look at me in the rearview mirror but he just had a sad look in his eyes. I sat back in my seat and threw my arms across my chest in anger.

Fury must want them to go on another mission.

He had promised me he wasn't going on anymore missions. I couldn't sit by and watch the same thing happen as last time. I didn't say a word the entire ride home and Bucky didn't look my way once. I was running through each terrible scenario in my head…I was sure whatever it was that Fury wanted, it couldn't be good.

I was near tears by the time Steve pulled up in front of my building. Before he had even fully stopped the car, I had my seatbelt off and bolted out of the car. I heard Steve call after me but I didn't turn around. Bucky was shouting my name from inside the car…I heard him open his door as I made my way to the door to the apartment building. As quickly as I could, I ran up the stairs and to my door. I was fumbling with my keys, trying to push them into the lock when I heard loud footsteps running up the stairs. My fingers were shaking and I dropped the keys, "Shit" I reached down for them and when I stood up, Bucky was towering over me…an angry look on his face because I had run from him. I just slid my key into the lock and opened the door. I walked in and Bucky stalked after me, "Eden, don't walk away from me…we need to talk"

I kept walking away, scared to turn around and let him see the tears that had so suddenly started falling down my face. He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him…the anger in his face vanished when he saw my tears. He tried to pull me close to him but I pushed him away, "No! You promised me Bucky Barnes…you promised me you wouldn't leave again"

"Eden, stop! I'm not going anywhere" he said, pulling me close to him again. I let him wrap his arms around me this time. "He can't make me go Eden…he just wants to talk to me. If he asks me to leave again, I'll tell him no…okay?"

I shook my head, "You can't leave Bucky"

He was rubbing my back with his hand, "I won't leave you Eden"

He pulled me away from him and leaned down to look me in the eye, "I love you….I meant it when I said it."

I wiped the tears from my face, and let out a deep breath, "What could he want from you Bucky?"

He shook his head, "I don't know…I'm going to go find out and then I promise, I'll come right back. Watch a scary movie or something….I promise I'll try to be back before it's over"

I smiled at him, "I can't watch a scary movie without you...who would I snuggle up with?"

He smirked, "Good point! Fine, do something else, anything else! Just don't worry about me, okay?"

I nodded and wrapped my arms around him, "I love you Bucky"

He leaned down and kissed me passionately, until we finally pulled away breathless, "I want to hear you say that every day for the rest of my life"

He turned around and walked out the door before I could say anything else.