Eden wasn't kidding when she said I was in for a long night. Once Brooke got the waitress back over to the table, she ordered them another round of Long Island Ice Teas. We watched each singer go on stage and sing their chosen song…most people were pretty drunk but it was still quite fun to see. Eden sipped her drink slowly this time, telling me she didn't want me to have to drag her ass out of the bar later. We laughed the entire night…Brooke kept telling funny stories about Eden growing up…each time she let some embarrassing fact slip, Eden's face would turn bright pink and she would throw her face into my chest.

Brooke eventually convinced her to go back on stage so they could sing together. The two of them were something else to watch, Brooke knew how to entertain a crowd and Eden went along with it. The men went wild watching them sing and dance on stage, and I tried my hardest to not let it get to me. Steve and I cheered loudly for them when they finished singing I Love Rock and Roll.

Eden made her way back to the table first and I could see Brooke following behind her, stopping to talk to people at different tables on the way. I stood up and kissed her on the cheek when she finally made it over to me, "You guys did great, no one could keep their eyes off of you" I said in her ear so she could hear me over the loud cheering.

"Well unfortunately for them, I only have eyes for you" she grinned, taking her seat next to me. Steve was turned around watching Brooke talk to a group of guys a few tables away. Eden noticed the look on his face and leaned over, "Don't worry Steve…Brooke just likes to talk to people" She patted him on the back and he slipped her a small unconvinced smile.

Brooke finally arrived at our table and Steve and I clapped for her…laughing when she took a dramatic bow.

"You were incredible" Steve said, gazing up at her "Both of you" he said, shooting a look at Eden. Brooke leaned down and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Aww, thanks Steve" Steve's face turned bright red and he quickly picked up his beer to take a sip, trying to hide the smile on his face.

"Well, you guys about ready to get out of here…I'm tired of all these drunk guys trying to hit on me" Brooke said as she sat down.

"Since when do you mind a bunch of guys hitting on you" Eden said with a chuckle. The table shook a bit and I saw Eden wince like she was in pain. Brooke glared at Eden, "Since now" she replied, looking over at Steve to see if he had heard what Eden had said…he had been watching the person on stage and didn't notice the exchange between them.

Eden leaned over and reached her hand down under the table, rubbing her shin. She rolled her eyes when she caught me looking at her questionably, "She kicked me….why does everyone keep kicking me?" I smiled and started to ask her who else had kicked her but she put her hands up to stop me, "Don't ask"

Brooke insisted her and Eden have one more drink before they left. Brooke flagged down the waitress one last time to place a final order and close the tab. She ordered something called a Walk with Jesus and Eden turned her head sharply, "Brooke" she warned "you know what happened the last time I drank that"

Brooke's smile widened, "How could I forget, it took the entire weekend to get that smell out of my car?"

Eden lowered her head in embarrassment, "Exactly, so why would you order it for me?" I reached over and put my hand on her back, rubbing it gently.

Brooke giggled, "Because that was like 5 years ago, I'm sure you'll be fine…besides, we're not riding in my car tonight" she said, looking at Steve out of the corner of her eye.

Steve interjected, "Whoa now!..." he started to say. Brooke leaned over and threw her arm around him, "She'll be fine Steve" she said. All Steve could do was stare at her with a silly smile on his face and nod his head.

The waitress returned later with the bill and sat two glasses down on the table…the liquid inside was blue and I looked over at Eden when I felt her cringe, "You okay?" I asked.

She nodded and took a deep breath as she reached for the drink. Brooke already had hers in her hand and was raising it up to toast…Steve and I raised our beers too, "To old friends" she said nodding at Eden, "To new friends" she looked my way, "and to new beginnings" she said, letting her eyes fall on Steve. We clinked our glasses together and sipped our drinks. Steve and I placed our beers back down on the table but Eden and Brooke were staring at each other as they each drank from their glasses.

I know my mouth dropped open as I watched them drink the entire thing, I saw Brooke wink at Eden….on and on they went until finally Eden slammed her empty glass down on the table, "Ha Bitch, that'll teach you" she said, pointing at Brooke and giggling.

Brooke sat her empty glass down, a sly smile on her face, "I let you win"

Eden scoffed at her and then turned to me, "She's a sore loser" she slurred, laying her head on my chest. I saw Steve reach for his wallet and hand the bill and his debit card to the waitress when she returned. I looked over at him and started to tell him I would pay, but he waved me off, "Next time Bucky, I got this one"

Brooke turned to him, placing her finger on his chest, "Now Steve Rogers, this was supposed to be my treat for helping me move…now I'll have to take you out again" she said, winking at him.

Eventually, the waitress returned Steve's card and receipt…Eden reached behind her to grab her jacket. I watched with a smile as she struggled to put it in, finally taking it from her hands gently and helping her slip it on. She looked over at me miserably, "Thanks Bucky"

"Eden, are you okay?" I asked, letting my hand graze her flushed cheeks, she was hot to the touch.

She shook her head, "That last drink….ugh….I should have said no" She must have noticed the look of concern on my face and she raised her hand to my chest, "I'll be fine once we get outside…just need some fresh air"

Brooke stood up quickly and swayed a bit, before reaching out to grasp Steve's shoulder to steady herself. He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped maneuver her to the door, turning his head back to look at me, "You got her?" he asked, looking at Eden.

I nodded. I held out my hand to her and she took it, rising from her chair shakily. Once she had her bearings, I put my arm around her waist and walked her to the door. She inhaled a deep breathe once we were outside in the cool night air.

I saw that Brooke was smiling and talking to Steve as she leaned against a wall. She seemed to be doing a bit better than Eden. I heard her asking Steve for a piggy back ride to the car and he happily obliged. She laughed as he bent down and let her get on his back, laying her head happily on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Eden was smiling and shaking her head as she watched them make their way down the street. She glanced up at me with glassy eyes, "Don't even think about it Barnes, I have enough dignity still in me to walk myself to the car"

"What if I want to carry you myself?" I asked, rubbing my thumb across her cheek.

She shook her head with a laugh, "I think I need to walk a little…but I will allow an arm around my waist, if you don't mind?"

I slid my arm around her and we walked slowly back to the car. Steve and Brooke were waiting for us when we got there. Brooke had quieted down a little and was leaning her head against Steve's car hood.

"How about we let the girls sit in back? Just in case." He said with a chuckle.

Steve opened the door for Brooke and she slid in with a giggle saying "Wow, what a gentlemen! Never had a guy open the door for me before." The last drink had finally kicked in…she was drunk…there was no denying it.

I opened the other door and helped Eden slide in too, bending down to kiss her cheek before closing the door. Steve and I climbed up front and started to head home. As we drove, I heard Eden start to groan and I turned around to check on her.

Her face was pale and I noticed she kept swallowing hard, "Bucky, I don't feel good. I think I'm going to be sick"

I looked over at Brooke, she had her head back and her eyes closed…she seemed to be sleeping. I turned to Steve, "Do you mind dropping us off first and then taking Brooke home?"

Steve shook his head, "No problem" He navigated in the direction of Eden's apartment and I turned back around "Babe, we're on our way home, just hold tight, ok?"

She nodded her head and then laid it back on the head rest. When Steve finally pulled up to our building, I turned to him, "Thanks man, goodnight"

"See you later Buck, take care of her" he said as I got out of the car.

I opened the back door and lifted Eden up into my arms, using my hip to close the door. She flung one arm around my neck and groaned into my chest. I carried her as gently as I could up the stairs and to the apartment.

"Eden, I need to put you down for just a second so I can open the door" I said quietly. She nodded and leaned against the wall as I opened the door. When I tried to pick her up again, she put her hand out to stop me, "No, I got it" She walked through the door slowly and laid her purse by the front door. I turned to close the door and lock it. When I turned around, she was gone…the sound of a door slamming drew me to the bedroom. I sat on the bed and listened to her as she threw up what I imagined was everything that she had drank and eaten that night.

I wanted to go to her and comfort her but I also knew she would be embarrassed to do it in front of me…so I sat and waited. Several minutes passed in silence before I heard the toilet flush. Still she didn't come out…I couldn't wait any longer. I stood up and knocked quietly on the door, "Eden?"

She didn't reply so I waited a minute and knocked again, "Eden"

When she still didn't answer I got nervous.

What if she is really sick? I need to get in there and check on her.

I was about to knock one more time when I heard her weakly say, "Come in" I opened the door and walked in…she was leaning against the bathroom counter, her head between her knees. I made my way to her.

She sat up slowly and saw her reflection in the mirror, "I look like a mess" she said turning on the facet. I came to stand beside her…even in her drunken state, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

"You look beautiful" I told her, hopping up onto the counter to sit and watch her.

She rolled her eyes at me, "Yeah right" she said, as she began to scrub her makeup off her face with a wash cloth.

"Well….I am a bit partial though…being madly in love with you and all" I replied, watching as her eyes lit up slightly and a small smile formed at her lips.

She shook her head, "Even when I'm sloppy drunk?"

"Even then….I'm going to go wash up in the guest bathroom and get ready for bed…you okay?" I asked….when she nodded her head, I jumped off the counter and headed into the other bathroom.

Once I had changed out of my clothes, I made my way back into her bedroom…she was already in the bed and under the covers. I turned the lamp off and rolled over to face her. She had her eyes closed, but I heard her murmur "I love you Bucky Barnes"

I smiled at her and reached over to brush some hair from her face, she was already fast asleep, "I love you too" I whispered silently to myself.