I couldn't help but smile during the entire ride back to my apartment. The memory of that kiss was still fresh on my mind. I hadn't even given it a second thought when I reached for the button of his jeans…even the risk of being caught in the act wasn't enough to stop me. I just knew that I needed to be close to him and that cold metal table was as good a place as any. I had smacked his hand away in frustration when he tried to stop me.

"Tonight, I promise"

Seeing that sexy smirk on his face and hearing those words from his lips had caused butterflies in my stomach. I had left without a fuss…willing to do just about anything he asked to make him keep his word.

When I reached my building, I headed up to my apartment. I instantly walked into the kitchen and pulled an apple out of the fridge. My appetite had returned and I munched on it happily as I walked around my apartment cleaning up the mess from the last 4 days. Once I started a load of laundry and my bedroom was picked up, I sat on the couch trying to figure out what to do next. I didn't have any clients to work on today. I looked at my watch…it was only 3:00. Bucky didn't give me a set time of when he would come over so I settled in on the couch and turned on the TV.

Every 15 minutes or so I would look from the TV to the clock, checking to see how much time had passed. A few minutes later I would check my phone, just to see if by some possibility I had missed a call or message from him. I decided to text Brooke to update her on what had happened that day. Steve had told me in the car on the way to SHIELD that he had told Brooke he was taking me to see Bucky.

Eden: I saw Bucky today and he is coming over tonight. I think everything is okay between us now.

Brooke: I told you he would realize how much of a fucking idiot he was being. I'm glad I didn't have to kick ass. What are you guys doing tonight?

Eden: Not quite sure and I don't really care. It will be nice just having him here again. What about you, what are you doing tonight?

Brooke: I'm supposed to be meeting Steve at 7:00 for coffee. Coffee! Pssh! Maybe I can convince him to buy me a beer instead. Oh! I almost forgot, do you think you and Bucky can come to the exhibit on Monday? Some new items are going on display and they have to do with Bucky. I thought he might want to see them and I know you've never been before.

Eden: I'll ask him but I'm sure it will be fine. Have fun with Steve!

I wonder what the new display items are.

I sat my phone back down on the table and started to flip through the channels, looking for anything that might distract me. More and more time passed and I began to get nervous when he still hadn't shown up by 5:30.

What if he changed his mind and he isn't coming? What if he stayed late with that pretty trainee of his? No Eden! Bucky wouldn't do that!

I got up from my couch and wandered over to window to look out at the park. Bucky had said he had been watching me run the last few nights. I thought back to the first night I had gone out and remembered the feeling I had that someone was out there…that must have been Bucky. It was comforting to know that even when he swore he had to stay away from me to protect me, he still secretly watched over me.

Knock! Knock!

I turned and made my way to the door to look out the peep hole. His back was turned away from the door but I could tell it was Bucky. He turned to look at me with a bright smile on his face when I opened the door. He held a beautiful bouquet of orange lilies in one hand and a bag of Chinese take-out food in the other.

Food and flowers, my hero!

He was wearing jeans and I could make out a navy blue shirt under the leather jacket he wore. He must have gone home and showered before he came over…his hair still looked slightly damp and he smelled like soap.

He thrust the flowers at me and I took them from his hands and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek, "Thank you, they're beautiful. Is there a reason you knocked instead of using your key?" I asked as I closed the door behind me.

He turned to face me, "My hands were full and I couldn't get to my keys…and I wasn't sure if…well, you know….if it was okay for me to just walk in"

I looked up at him as he stood there with that unsure look on his face.

"Bucky, I gave you that key for a reason. It will always okay for you to just walk on in…I asked you to move in with me, remember? I didn't rescind that offer just because you lost your damn mind for a few days" I said with a sly grin.

The unsure look on his face was replaced with a sheepish grin, "Only a for a few days"

He stared at me for a few seconds and the grin disappeared, replaced by a frown and a look of guilt. I shook my head at him and reached up to rub my finger along that pouty lip, "No Bucky, don't do that…don't feel guilty. I know you thought you were doing the right thing"

I took his hand in mine, "Come on, this food smells delicious…let's eat and then we can talk, ok?"

He nodded his head and allowed me to drag him over to the couch. He sat the food down on the coffee table and then followed me into the kitchen. I pulled a vase out from under the sink and arranged the lilies in it until I was satisfied that it looked just right. I stepped back to admire them and felt Bucky come up behind me; he let his hands slide around my waist and his chin rested on my shoulder. I leaned back against his chest and closed my eyes, content for the first time since Monday night.

I heard him whisper in my ear, "I'm so sorry Eden…I just…"

I turned to him and raised my finger to his mouth to shush him, "Stop. You can explain later…right now I'm starving"

I pulled my finger away from his mouth and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Grab something to drink out of the fridge for me" I asked as I reached for some napkins and utensils. We made our way back into the living room. I immediately walked over to the shelf to search for a movie to watch. Bucky had seemed to like The Godfather trilogy so I pulled Goodfellas off the shelf and slid it in before walking back to my bedroom to change. I pulled on my yoga pants and tank top and skipped back into the living room, happy that things were getting back to normal. Bucky was pulling cartons out of the bag and lining them up on the coffee table. He frowned when he looked up at me; the weight I had lost was much more noticeable in these clothes and the look on his face made me regret changing. Bucky had never seen me this way…when he had met me, I was still carrying those 10 pounds I had gained during those two months of snacking in front of the TV.

That guilty look crossed his face again, "I know you were running all week, but that doesn't explain how you lost all that weight so fast"

I shrugged my shoulders and wrapped my arms around my waist self-consciously, "I don't know"

He sighed but dropped the subject when he noticed I was uncomfortable. I didn't want him to feel worse than he already did. I sat on the couch next to him and grabbed for a carton of lo mien. I took a single noodle from the carton and sucked it into my mouth before turning to him to smile.

"You'll just have to spend all weekend fattening me up" I said, taking another noodle and dangling it over my mouth.

I heard him chuckle and grab for a carton of fried rice. I pushed play on the remote and snuggled in next to him, taking big forkfuls of lo mien and shoving them into my mouth. Once we were done eating, Bucky let me lay down with my head in his lap as he brushed the fingers of one hand through my hair while the other rested comfortably on my waist. We had about 10 minutes of peace before there was another knock at my door.

I paused the movie and looked up at Bucky before I rose from his lap and headed to the door. I heard him get up and follow me. When I looked out the peep whole I saw Steve standing there...my heart started beating fast.

I got so caught up in being with Bucky that I completely forgot Steve was getting the fingerprint results tonight. Oh God, what if it isn't good news? Will Bucky leave again if it turns out it wasn't just some kid joyriding?

I turned to look at Bucky and he must have seen the worried expression on my face. He frowned and stepped forward to open the door.

Steve looked slightly surprised when it was Bucky that stood in front of him instead of me, "Hey Buck, can I come in for a second?"

Bucky moved aside to let Steve in, not saying a word to him before he walked back into the living room to take a seat on the couch. I glanced up at Steve and didn't like the look he was giving me.

"Hey Eden" he said quietly "Let's go sit down and talk"

I already felt a small lump forming in my throat as I made my way over to the couch. Steve followed behind me and sat in the chair next to the couch.

We sat in silence for several uncomfortable seconds. It was Bucky who finally spoke first, "Tell us" he said, looking up at Steve.

He cleared his throat, "Well there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the fingerprints didn't come up as any of the known members of HYDRA" he said.

I looked over at Bucky hoping to see a smile on his face…he was completely expressionless.

"Go on" he said to Steve.

Steve looked at me uncomfortably, "The bad news is that the fingerprints didn't come up at all Eden. Whoever it was that stole that truck, they weren't in any database."

He turned to Bucky, "That doesn't mean it was some secret HYDRA assasin that we've never heard of before…it could have been some underage kid who's has never been fingerprinted"

Bucky nodded, "Thanks for calling in the favor and finding out what you could Steve"

Steve stood up, "Not a problem, I need to get going, I'm meeting Brooke to have coffee"

Bucky started to get up but I stopped him and said, "I'll walk him out, I'll be right back" I didn't want him going anywhere near the door after hearing that news, afraid he would decide it was safer for me if he stayed away. I wasn't going to let that happen…as soon as Steve was gone I would plead and beg with him to stay.

I followed Steve to the door and he turned to face me. I threw my arms around his neck and let him hug me tightly. He had saw the panic in my eyes when I had realized that we were no closer to finding out who was driving the truck that hit me.

"Good luck Eden. I hope the two of you can work it out" he whispered in my ear.

I nodded at him and kissed him on the cheek. He turned to leave but I grabbed his hand to stop him, "Hey Steve, skip the coffee and take her for a beer" I said with a small smile.

He squeezed my hand, "I'll do that" he said with a grin.

I closed the door and locked it before walking slowly back into the living room. Bucky was standing by the window looking out as the last bit of light faded.

I made my way over to him, "You're not thinking about jumping out that window and running away are you?" I asked, only partially joking "You heard what Steve said, it could still be just some kid joyriding"

He didn't say anything or look away from the window so I continued "And if someone wanted to hurt you they wouldn't come after me...there isn't anything special about me, I'm just a nobody"

That got his attention and he finally turned to face me, "That's completely untrue…you are special to ME and you are my everything. If HYDRA wanted to hurt me, you would be the one they would choose"

Oh God, he's going to leave and never come back.

"Please don't leave" I said softly.

He looked surprised, "Eden, I'm never letting you out of my sight ever again"

It was my turn to be surprised, "What?"

He reached his hand out to me and when I took it, he led me over to the couch.

I started to say something but he put his hand up to stop me, "Let me go first please" Once I had nodded, he continued "I'm never going to leave you again...not ever…not even if you get tired of me and ask me to. I can't be Bucky Barnes without you Eden. You're the one who makes me want to be that person again; you were the piece that had been missing. I'm so sorry I left you. I honestly did it to keep you safe but I realize now that you were right, if you were in danger, I am the best person to protect you….and Eden, that's all I ever want to do"

I felt the tear down my cheek the moment he started talking. When he was done, he gently used his thumb to wipe it from my face. He pulled me into his lap and wrapped his arms around me. I sat there with my head on his chest as he rubbed his hand up and down my back.

"I love you Bucky" I finally said.

"I love you too, more than you could ever know" he said, kissing me softly on the head, "I have something for you"

I raised my head to look at him, "Something for me? Like what?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, it's my way of apologizing…let's just say it's an I'm sorry I'm an asshole gift and leave it at that" he said with a silly grin.

"Oh, is that something like an I fucked up but I hope you'll forgive me gift?" I said with a chuckle.

"One in the same" he replied.

I leaned back excitedly, "Well where is this mystery gift then?

He reached into his leather jacket and pulled out a silk drawstring bag and handed it to me. As I opened it up and reached inside he said, "I know you asked me not to buy it for you but it really is beautiful and I know you wanted it."

I withdrew my hand and there was the blue topaz ring in my palm…the same one I had tried on at the antique shop a week earlier.

"Bucky, you didn't have to do this…it's too much" I said, looking up at him.

He took the ring and grabbed my right hand so he could slide it onto my finger, "Nothing will ever be too much for you. This is my gift to you…no, it's my promise to you…a promise that I will never leave you again."

I smiled up at him, "Are you sure this isn't just a bribe to get me to forgive you? I do remember telling you I didn't want you buying me expensive things"

I looked down at the beautiful ring on my finger and admired the way it shimmered in the light.

I heard him chuckle, "You better get used to it, I don't plan on this being the last ring I ever buy you"

I looked up quickly to see him smirking at me and I felt the smile on my face widen.

Did he mean what I think he meant?

He leaned down and kissed me again, "I told you Eden…I love you"