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Once we were out of the apartment and making our way across the parking lot to our SUV, I felt Bucky's hand on the small of my back and I leaned against him. I glanced up to see him staring straight ahead…his eyes were full of anger, frustration, and something else. He must have felt me looking at him and I was slightly surprised when he looked down at me and I saw that last emotion flicker in his eyes. It was a look I had seen from him before…the night at my apartment when he stopped Michael, the day of my car accident, even the day when he left my apartment declaring that he was doing it to keep me safe. I saw concern in his eyes. I understood the anger and the frustration but not the concern.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"That look in your eyes when you yelled at him…I've never seen you look that way before…so angry" he said finally.

I thought about what he said and realized that it had been a long time since I had felt this way. I couldn't remember the last time I let someone infuriate me this much. Brooke and Jill both use to tell me that it was downright scary when I got mad…they always mentioned a "look" too.

He shook his head and forced a smile on his face. I opened my mouth to say something but Brooke suddenly yelled across the parking lot, "See you there Eden"

I waved my hand at her but continued walking toward the car, still looking intently at Bucky, trying to figure out what he was thinking. We reached the SUV when I finally felt it…the most disturbing feeling that someone was watching me. I looked around, searching for the sudden cause of my discomfort. I noticed Brandon staring at me from Steve's car, a look of loathing on his face and I felt my blood start to boil.

Hmm, must have been Brandon giving me the heebie-jeebies.

When I looked back, Brandon's head was facing forward and I could see Brooke turned around talking to him from the front seat. Even though he was no longer staring at me, I still felt eyes on me and I looked around again, unsure if the creepy feeling I had was from Brandon. We had reached the SUV and Bucky was opening the door to get in, stopping when he noticed me looking around nervously.

"What's wrong?" I heard him ask. I didn't answer him…I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and the goose bumps rise on my arms. The overwhelming feeling continued and I shivered and threw my arms across my chest, continuing to look side to side, scanning the parking lot and not seeing anyone watching.

"What?" Bucky asked again, more forceful and louder this time, instantly making me snap out of it so I could turn to him. Something wasn't right…I could feel it.

"Get in the car" I whispered, grabbing for the door handle and flinging it open, stepping in the car quickly. Bucky did as I said and as soon as his door was shut, I hit the button to lock the doors. I was staring out the window when I felt Bucky grab my shoulder and pull me around to face him.

"For God sakes Eden, what is it?" he asked, leaning close to me.

"Someone was watching us" I stuttered "Didn't you feel it?"

He shook his head and I started to doubt myself.

Damn Eden, you're letting Brandon get to you. Calm the hell down before you have Bucky thinking you're crazy.

"It was probably that asshole Brandon. He didn't take his eyes off of you the entire time we were in Brooke's apartment either" I heard the anger in his voice, "Steve and I both saw him looking down your shirt"

That sudden revelation wiped out the remaining nervousness I felt and replaced it with anger.

"Fucking pervert" I hissed, pulling my leather jacket tighter across my chest as Bucky put the key in the ignition and started the SUV.

"You still want me to be nice to him?" he asked huskily, leaning over to kiss me. All the tension and all the anger I felt melted away as soon as his lips touched mine.

I groaned when he ended the kiss and put the car into gear, pulling out of the parking lot and heading in the direction of the bar.

I shook my head, "If he keeps that shit up, I'll talk to the prick myself…until then, please try to abstain from kicking his ass"

He started to protest but stopped when he saw me look over at him, "I can take care of him Bucky, trust me"

He smirked at me and nodded his head, reaching out one hand to me while the other steered. The parking lot was full again when we got there so we drove around to find a place to park. Steve was lucky enough to find one that was about where we had parked the last time. Bucky had to drive another block before he found a spot to pull into. He dug into the console and pulled out his knife, reaching around to clip it onto his pants beneath his jacket.

"Just in case" he said when he noticed he look I was giving him.

I shook my head and got out of the car, making my way over to him. I grasped his hand tightly in my own as we headed to meet Steve, Brooke, and Brandon. They were waiting at the door for us when we walked up.

I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself. I would pretend like nothing happened between me and Brandon. I would not let him get to me again.

Just ignore him Eden.

"Took the two of you long enough" Brandon chided when we walked up, trying to push my buttons.

Brooke punched him in the arm, "Stop being an asshole Brandon"

I felt Bucky squeeze my hand gently and I bit my tongue, refusing to let Brandon get a rise out of me.

I smiled politely, "We had to drive around to find a parking spot" I left it at that and didn't even sneer at him.

Good job, keep it up Eden!

He looked at me inquisitively but didn't say anything else. We were lucky enough to get the same table we had the last time we had come. Brooke looked over at David, the karaoke guy, and waved at him when he saw her.

"There's David, I'm going to go get the karaoke binder from him" she said to Steve, before slipping off her jacket and placing it on the back of a chair. Steve took the seat across from it, turning around in his chair to watch her as she made her way through the crowd. I inwardly groaned when Brandon took the seat across the table from me but perked up when I felt Bucky's arm wrap around my waist from his seat beside me.

Brandon was staring at me intensely and it was driving me crazy.

I looked away from Brandon and tried to focus all my attention on Bucky. Steve was sitting on the other side of me and I sighed in relief when I heard him strike up a conversation with Brandon, forcing him to stop staring at me. I felt Steve pat my leg reassuringly under the table and I reached down to squeeze it quickly before he released his hold on my leg.

I had two of the most amazing men I had ever met on either side of me…I felt their protective aura surrounding me and it was such a wonderful feeling knowing that they each cared about me. Steve: the big brother I never had but always wanted and Bucky: the man who I loved so completely.

Brooke suddenly returned, throwing the binder down in front of me, a sly smile on her face. She took her place across from Steve and next to her brother.

I slid out of my jacket and then picked up the binder and began to look through it, knowing that Brooke would insist I sing something. I knew I would have to suck it up and sing but I was definitely not drinking tonight, remembering how shitty I had felt the last time. I would have to do this without any liquid bravery coursing through me.

A pretty waitress appeared to take our drink order and I had a hard time not scowling at Brandon when he began ogling her, resorting to his charming ways. He flirted with her relentlessly, sneaking peeks at me across the table to see if it had any effect on me...it didn't. Bucky and Steve both asked for beers, Brooke requested her Long Island Ice Tea, and Brandon asked for a Sex on the Beach. I rolled my eyes at him when he winked at the waitress as he said it. The pretty girl turned to me finally asking what I would like to drink.

Brooke started to protest when she heard me order a just a plain water but shut her mouth quickly when she saw the look I threw at her. She swallowed hard and looked away but I saw a hint of a smile on her face.

I must have "the look" on my face. That look that Jill and Brooke use to tell me about when I got really mad…they said it made me look so self-reliant and indestructible.

Knowing that made me happy…it had been so long since I had felt this kind of confidence in myself. I thought hard, trying to figure out when I had lost it…when did I lose that piece of myself.

Michael!

Yes, that was it…after Michael…his treachery had broken me and I had let it. But here it was again, slowly resurfacing again to restore my self-worth, making me believe in myself again. I glanced over at Bucky, studying his face: the striking blue eyes, the dimple in his chin, those pouty lips, and his muscled jawline.

It's Bucky…he's the reason I feel this way again. He's the one who gave me back what I lost.

He was looking at me inquisitively, wondering what I was thinking. A smile broke out on his face when he saw the smirk I gave him.

He leaned closer to me, "You look…." he thought about it a moment before continuing, "…happy" he finished.

"I feel happy. I think you should know it's all because of you" I said, whispering the last sentence into his ear.

I took his metal hand in my own and scooted closer to him, sighing in pleasure when I inhaled his cologne.

The waitress came back with our drinks and we fell into conversation in between watching people go on stage to sing. Brandon had even stopped trying to annoy me and I finally remembered why I had always liked him when we were growing up. He was a funny guy…I couldn't help but laugh at hearing him tell Steve and Bucky stories about Brooke and I when we were kids. He seemed to be consuming his drinks faster than everyone else. By the time Brooke, Steve, and Bucky ordered their second drinks, Brandon was already on his fifth.

I was looking through the binder searching for a song and listening to him slurring his words as he told Steve about the pranks he used to pull on Brooke. I felt Bucky remove his arm from around my waist and looked over to see him removing his jacket. I couldn't help but stare at him as his chest and arm muscles strained against the black fabric. That sexy smirk was suddenly on his face when he caught me admiring him. We shared a look between us and I knew he could see the lust in my eyes…I was suddenly very ready to go home and be alone with him. I shivered when I felt his hand on my leg, rubbing up and down my thigh.

"Fuck man. What happened to your arm?" Brandon slurred, stopping his story to gawk at Bucky's metal arm.

Bucky's smile disappeared, replaced by a frown and my mouth dropped open. Brooke reached up and smacked him on the back of his head hard, "Asshole" she said, sneering at her brother.

"What? Look at that shit!" he said, pointing at Bucky, glancing over at Brooke and then to me and Steve.

Bucky stiffened and cleared his throat, "I lost it in the war….I was a…" he started to say but I cut him off, "No Bucky, you don't have to explain shit to him" I said, glaring across the table to Brandon.

"Shut up Eden, I want to know" he slurred, putting his finger over his lips to hush me, "So you were in a war….keep going" he said, motioning Bucky to continue.

Bucky's hand had gripped my leg tighter when Brandon had told me to shut up and I knew he wasn't going to continue…he was pissed.

Brooke noticed too and she hissed at her brother, "Show some fucking respect" She was curling her hand into a fist angrily and I saw Steve reach across the table to take one of her hands in his. She visibly relaxed at his touch but I could still see the anger in her eyes.

Brandon was looking around the table angrily and he suddenly stood up, knocking my half empty class of water over, "I need to go piss" he announced, stepping away from the table.

Steve was reaching for napkins to mop up the water but there weren't enough to clean up the mess. I sighed, "I'll go grab some more napkins and get myself another glass of water" I turned to Bucky and reached up to caress his face with my palm, "I'll be right back" He nodded, his eyes still full of anger.

I'm going to beat the shit out of Brandon. Insensitive little prick only cares about himself and not about anybody else's feelings.

I made my way up the bar and waited patiently for the bartender to finish making some drinks for other customers. I glanced back at the table and saw Brooke and Steve talking to Bucky…Brooke had an angry look on her face and I could see Bucky nodding his head at her. She must have been trying to apologize for Brandon's behavior. Bucky glanced over at me and I gave him a small smile…he looked at his watch and then back at me. I knew he was ready to leave and after that shit Brandon had just pulled I was ready to go as well. I nodded my head at him and saw him look over to say something to Steve.

I suddenly felt a hand on my arm and then someone was yanking me away from my spot at the bar. I glanced up to see Brandon, an angry look on his face. I peered past him to make sure Bucky wasn't stalking over to where he now had me cornered….thankfully Bucky was still looking at Steve so he didn't see what was going on, and hopefully he wouldn't see what was about to happen.

Thank God, now I can let this asshole have it!

I pulled my arm out of his grasp and threw him the dirtiest look I could muster…I must have succeeded, he flinched back slightly but the alcohol was making Brandon braver.

"I can't fucking believe you Brandon" I hissed at him.

"Oh come on Eden. He's arm is fucking metal…a damn amputee!" he said, a disgusted look on his face "Even you can do better than that!"

I was trying really hard to control myself but he just kept on and on, "You must have gotten desperate when I didn't call you" he snorted "You must have went out and found the most pathetic guy you could find to make yourself feel better" his said loudly. Luckily no one really seemed to notice with the music playing.

I peered behind Brandon again as he kept letting hateful things spew from his mouth to see Bucky had finally looked my way and noticed Brandon yelling at me. I knew trouble was brewing when I saw him say something to Steve and Brooke. They both turned to look at me but it was Bucky that was rising from his chair.

What Brandon said next caused me to tear my gaze away from Bucky and focus only on the asshole standing in front of me.

"Michael must have really fucked you up Eden…you're just damaged goods now, all you can get is a one armed man" he spit out.

A month ago, hearing those words would have brought tears to my eyes…I would have been hurt by them, agonizing painfully over hearing someone say such awful things to me. But tonight, standing there in front of him yelling such horrible words….all I felt was rage…hot, searing fury.

I heard him chuckle when I lowered my head…he probably assumed I was crying, which was not the case. I was preparing myself mentally for what I was about to do…I knew it was going to mean Brooke would find out about me and Brandon but honestly I didn't give a shit anymore.

With my left hand, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him towards me. My right hand formed a fist and reared back before punching him hard across the face. I may be small but Brandon was drunk and my punch put him on his ass. I stepped forward to continue my assault but strong arms pulled me away and I saw Steve bending down beside Brandon. Brooke was looking back and forth between Brandon and myself. Her eyes widened when Brandon pulled a bloody hand away from his nose to shout, "Crazy bitch, that's why I didn't ever fucking call you after that first date"

I struggled to move towards him again but the arms around my waist held on to me tightly. I heard Bucky in my ear, trying to calm me down, "Stop Eden, Stop"

Why is he so fucking calm? He should be beating the shit out of him too.

I jerked to face him, still fuming at Brandon's words about Bucky….he had no idea what awful things that asshole had said about him.

"Let me take you home…to bed" he said, his hands still around my waist. He smirked when he saw the shocked look on my face after hearing him say those words. He leaned down and whispered, "Watching you punch him was absolutely the sexiest thing I've ever witnessed woman!"

I suddenly heard Brooke yelling; Bucky released me and I turned around to see what was going on.

"I warned you asshole. I told you to stay away from Eden!" Brooke was shouting, reaching down to slap Brandon repeatedly across the face as he used his arms to shield himself. Steve was struggling to pull her off of him without hurting her.

Bucky suddenly turned to me, thrusting the keys in my hands, "Go to the car, I'm going to help him with her and grab your jacket"

When I hesitated he said, "I'll be right behind you" and then leaned down and kissed me. He turned away from me and walked over to help Steve. I noticed the crowd gathering around so I pushed my way through and did as Bucky asked. It was a chilly night and I should have been shivering as I walked out of the bar but my anger was making me immune to it….for now. I was still furious so I stomped the two blocks to my SUV in anger.

I saw a group of guys at a bus stop up ahead and when they noticed me, one man in the group whistled and started walking towards me.

He stopped in his tracks when I said, "Back the fuck off" His friends laughed at him and stared me down as I walked by…luckily they were smart enough not to follow.

I was almost to my SUV when I felt it again…that terrifying feeling that someone was watching me. I slowed down and looked around. I thought I heard footsteps so I turned around quickly and saw a shadowy figure disappear into the alleyway about 15 feet away.

"Hello?" I asked shakily. I started walking slowly back towards the alleyway, unable to stop myself.

What the hell are you doing Eden? Go get in the car and lock the damn door. Bucky didn't say anything about ducking into dark alleyways to get raped and murdered.

I kept walking until I stood right in front of it, peering into the darkness, trying to allow my eyes to adjust. I stood there for several moments until I finally saw it…saw him. He stood about halfway down the alley just staring back at me.

Monster

Whatever was down there was a monster…I could feel the evil radiating off of him. I saw his hand reaching into his coat and I stood frozen waiting to see what he would pull out. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt the hand on my shoulder.

I jerked my gaze from the alley and looked up into Bucky's blue eyes, "Are you okay Eden?" he asked when he noticed my blank expression. He placed his hand on my face and flinched back, "Jesus, your skin is ice cold"

I looked away from him and peered back into the alley but the figure was gone.

You imagined it Eden! It was just shadows!

I let him help me into my jacket and then steer me the rest of the way to the SUV. Once he started the car he put the heat on full blast and then turned to me.

"What's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost. Talk to me" he demanded. I quickly told him what I had seen and he gazed out the window towards the alley. I saw him reach for the door handle and I quickly reached over to grab his hand, "No Bucky" I stuttered, shaking my head at him.

"I'm just going to walk down there and investigate. I'll be right back" he assured me. I couldn't let him go down there…Bucky might think he was a monster but I knew otherwise. Whatever was down that alley….that was a monster. I held on to his arm, my hands shaking, "No" I repeated again.

His eyes searched my own and he finally nodded, "I'm sure it was nothing Eden. You just got freaked out walking in the dark all alone. I shouldn't have let you go by yourself…it won't happen again" he insisted.

God, I hope he is right. I really hope I was just overreacting.

I took a deep breath and nodded, "Let's go home" He took my hand in his and I sighed at its warmth against my cold fingers. As we pulled forward, I looked out the window and down into that alley….there was nothing there.

Get a grip Eden.

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Unknown POV

She had been so close…so very, very close. I had watched her all evening, waiting for my opportunity. When she got into a confrontation with that guy, I had stood back and watched her. She was like a wild animal…feisty ones were always the best.

I made my way over to where the long haired man was trying to calm her down. I saw him thrust keys at her and tell her to go to the car.

This is it! Perfect!

I followed her slowly, enjoying the way her ass moved as she stomped down the street. I smiled when I heard her tell a group of men to back off.

They better back off, she's mine!

I started closing the distance between us. I needed to get closer before she got to the SUV at the end of the block. I ducked into an alley when she slowed down and jerked around.

"Hello?" I heard her call. I made my way farther into the alley, hoping I could lure her in easier. It was completely dark and I knew she wouldn't be able to see me very well. Oh, but I could see her and she was perfect! The street light she was standing next to allowed me to see her entirely…her face was full of fear and it was exciting.

We stared at each other for several moments…the terror on her face was intoxicating and I was dying to see more. I reached into my coat, ready to pull out the hunting knife I had stored there…just for her.

She jerked her eyes away from me when he touched her.

NO! He ruined it. He has to go. He has to DIE!

I could see him talking to her and then suddenly guiding her away from the alley, presumably to the vehicle. I backed up to lean against the wall in disappointment. She had been right there, so close. I could almost smell her blood…taste her fear. I watched as the SUV pulled past the alley and I punched the brick wall in frustration.

Soon. Be patient. She's worth it. My Eden. The longer you wait, the sweeter it will be.