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Serial rapist and murderer.

Those words kept running through my head over and over again. I knew SHIELD didn't handle those kinds of things…so why was Bucky investigating it with Hawkeye? None of it made any sense to me. I felt Bucky's arm wrapped protectively around me and I turned to look over at him. He had promised to tell me what was going on today and I almost wanted to shake him awake right now and demand he do just that. The serene look on his face as he slept brought a smile to my lips and I decided to let him be. I could wait a few more hours for my explanation. I slipped out from his grasp and walked quietly to the bathroom to shower and get dressed for the day. Bucky was still sleeping when I left the room and made my way into the living room.

The apartment was eerily quiet so early in the morning. I curled up in the chair next to the window that over looked the park to watch the sunrise. As the time passed, I could see more and more people filling the streets and sidewalk. I was watching a woman struggle with her dog in the park when I thought I heard my name called. I listened closely for a moment and then heard what sounded like a door open.

Bucky must be awake and getting ready to take a shower.

I went back to looking out the window again but jumped when I heard a door suddenly slam shut. A second later, I heard my bedroom door ripped open and heavy footsteps down the hall.

"Eden" I heard Bucky yell out in a panicked voice. He suddenly appeared in the living room, still wearing only his boxers, his hair still disheveled from sleep.

"Good morning" I said quietly.

His head jerked my way and he let out a deep breath when he saw me sitting in the chair.

"Fuck" he said in a shaky voice as he ran his fingers through his hair. He walked over to where I was sitting and kneeled in front of me and laying his head on my lap.

"What's wrong?" I asked, reaching down to lift his face to me and let my hand rest on his cheek. He had the strangest look on his face and his eyes were filled with worry.

"I woke up…you weren't there…I panicked…I thought…" he let his voice trail off when I stood up and reached my hand out to help him up.

"You thought what?" I asked.

He shook his head, swallowing hard before wiping all emotion from his face.

He pulled me into his arms and wrapped them around me tightly, clinging to me like his life depended on it.

"It's okay Bucky. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere" I said as I rubbed my hands up and down his back. "I couldn't sleep so I got up and came to watch the sun rise" I continued.

"You should have woken me up, I would have got up and watched it with you" he said, pulling away to look at me.

"You were out late…doing whatever it was you were doing….you looked like you needed the sleep"

He released his hold on me and stepped back nodding his head, "I'm sorry about that. I guess it's too much to hope for that you changed your mind about wanting that explanation." He said with a hopeful smile.

I chuckled lightly and patted both of my hands against his chest, "You're not that lucky….but I will give you a temporary reprieve…let's eat breakfast first and then we'll talk"

He nodded his head and followed me into the kitchen to watch me make us some breakfast. We chatted easily enough as we ate, talking about everything except what happened last night. Long after he had cleared his plate, Bucky continued to talk, asking me questions about random things in an attempt to delay the inevitable. He grew silent when I stood up and put our dishes in the sink and wiped down the counter. I finally turned to him and reached my hand out, "Come on, it's time to talk" I said gently. He sighed and took my hand, allowing me to lead him into the living room so we could sit down on the couch next to each other.

He sat staring at me for several moments and I finally had to say, "Go ahead"

"Eden….I don't think…"

I cut him off, "James Buchanan Barnes, talk!" I said, a little more forceful than I intended.

He smiled sadly when he heard me use his full name and took my hand in his, "I don't want you to worry okay. I'm going to take care of everything…you know I would never let anyone hurt you" he started.

The story that followed shocked me to my core. I know as he continued, my eyes grew bigger and bigger.

I knew I felt someone watching me.

Before he finished his story, I put my hands up to stop him, "So last night, when I told you I saw someone in the alley….he was really there? He was watching me?" I said softly.

He nodded and reached for my hand. I pulled it away and scooted back on the couch away from him, "You convinced me that it was nothing…but you knew didn't you? You knew it wasn't nothing"

He sighed, "Eden I didn't want to scare you…it was dangerous out there and I didn't want to risk…."

I stopped him again, and angrily asked him to continue the story. I could tell he was upset that I was angry with him but he started talking again.

Don't freak out Eden. Be strong. Bucky doesn't want to be with someone weak little girl who is just going to fall apart at the first sign of danger.

That's easier said than done…a fucking rapist murderer who has his eyes set on you. Great!

I really tried to keep my face completely blank and not show Bucky how truly freaked out I was but when he started talking about the videos he had witnessed the creep watching, I had to lower my head so he couldn't see my eyes widen. I felt a knot forming in my stomach and then the nausea set in. I lost it when he told me about the pictures the guy had of me hanging on his wall and the way he was pleasuring himself as he stared at them. I got up and rushed to the hall bathroom and slammed the door shut, locking it before throwing up every single thing I had just eaten.

I could hear Bucky outside the door pounding on it, asking if I was okay but I just sat there, clinging to the cold porcelain toilet. I don't know how long I laid there but I finally flushed the toilet and stood up to wash my mouth out and drink some cold water from the sink. I looked at myself in the mirror, noticing the pale skin and the beads of sweat on my forehead. I quickly rinsed my face off and then sat down on the toilet to pull myself together. Bucky was no longer at the door knocking…and I didn't hear him moving around the apartment.

Am I mad at him? Yes. No. He was just trying to protect me last night. That's all Bucky ever tries to do.

I knew deep down, I wasn't mad at him…how could I be? I loved him. He was only doing what he thought was right. I had a rapist and murderer after me…I couldn't blame him for being a little overprotective.

Am I scared? Yes. No. Why should I be? Bucky is the most lethal and scariest guy out there…and for some reason he loves me. He's not going to let anyone hurt me.

With a sigh, I opened the door to the bathroom and saw Bucky sitting against the wall across from the door with his knees up, head bent down. The moment I stepped out, he looked up at me and stood up quickly.

"Eden…I…" he started.

"Don't" I said, putting my finger to his lips, "Don't apologize. Don't say anything. I'm not mad. Hell, I'm not even worried"

He looked at me skeptically and I continued, "Do you love me?" I asked

"Yes"

"Would you ever let anyone hurt me" I asked

"Never"

"Then why should I worry?" I asked again, forcing a smile to my face.

He stared at me, his deep blue eyes boring into mine…he suddenly grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and pushed me back against the wall causing me to gasp in surprise. A moment later I felt his lips on mine, kissing me roughly…the desperation, the need….it was nothing I had ever felt from him before. His hands reached down to pick me up and wrap my legs around his waist. I wasn't sure what exactly had gotten into him but damn it if it didn't feel good. His metal arm was on the back of my thighs, holding me close to him….the other was behind my head, holding me in place as his lips continued to move over my mouth.

When I felt him move from my lips to my neck, I wrapped my arms around him and let my hands rub his back, moaning loudly. I dug my nails into the skin when I felt him bite down lightly on my shoulder before moving his lips back up to my mouth. I wasn't even aware that he had been moving until I suddenly felt him release me. I opened my eyes and realized he had carried me into the bedroom. He was standing in front of me, breathing hard and staring down at me with a smoldering look.

My hands found his bare chest and I couldn't help but rake my nails softly down it eliciting a loud moan from him. He put his hands on my waist when he felt me lean forward to kiss his chest, focusing on his nipples and the scars on his left arm. I let my fingers skim slowly down, past his abs, down to his belly button, until I found the top of his boxers. I looked directly into his eyes when I reached my down into them, running my fingers through the coarse hair before sliding my hand down the length of him.

He inhaled loudly, throwing his head back and closing his eyes. I let go of him and with both hands, I started to slide his boxers down his hips, raking my nails across his ass as I did it. Just as soon as his boxers hit the floor, his cell phone began ringing. He glanced in the direction of his phone and groaned.

"Forget it" I whispered, reaching my hands out to him again.

He stepped back and bent down to pull his boxers back up, "I need to get that, may be important" he choked out. He walked over to his phone to answer it while I sat on the bed and pouted.

He didn't even say hello when he answered it, "What did you find out Barton?"

I perked up when I heard Hawkeye's name…Bucky had told me Clint was going to be contacting Director Fury about what they could do about the monster who was stalking me. I knew what Bucky wanted to happen…he was hoping Fury would allow him to handle the guy in his own way. Bucky's way would surely involve lots of pain and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Yes, the monster deserved to die for what he had done and what he was obviously planning to do to me. But was I okay with that?

Yes. You know you would feel better at night knowing that guy wouldn't be able to hurt you.

"Fury did what?!" I heard Bucky say loudly.

He didn't say anything for a long time, he just listened to whatever Clint was telling him.

"I know this is their jurisdiction Clint…he should have let me handle this though. This isn't right and you know it...they could make a mistake and the guy could get released….I know you did what you could and I appreciate what you did for me, for her too"

He hung up and turned to find me with a confused look on my face.

"What?" I asked.

"Clint talked to Fury this morning and told him what was going on. Fury wouldn't give the order for me to take care of it…he said SHIELD was not created to bring down murderers and rapists. He has friends in the police department though. They raided the warehouse this morning and arrested the guy. They have him in custody already" he explained as he paced around the bedroom.

"That's great. So why do you seem so angry about that?" I asked after sighing with relief. Knowing that the guy wasn't going to be able to do any of the awful things he obviously had planned for me made me feel a lot better.

"I should have been the one to handle him" he said, a dark look in his eyes, "It's my job to protect you"

"I'm glad it worked out this way" I said and he looked up at me in shock.

"Why? Did you not hear me when I told you what he did to those women Eden. That's what he was planning to do to you" he argued.

"You would never let that guy get near me Bucky…and now he's in police custody which means he will be put on trial, found guilty, and go to jail for a very long time. Now all the families of the women he hurt will have their justice too" I explained.

He lowered his head, but I could still see the anger in his face.

"Bucky" I said softly, "I know that you would do whatever it takes to keep anyone from hurting me…but, I'm glad it didn't come down to that. Can't you just be thankful for that?"

He sighed and walked over to me, kissing me lightly on the head, "I am thankful…it would be nice to know that there is no possibility of him ever coming near you…him cold in the ground for instance would make me feel way better." he grumbled.

I smiled at him, "Doesn't matter to me. It's over"

Bucky was still frowning, "It's not over until he's in prison. The police department makes mistakes all the time. Anything could happen. I'm not letting you out of my sight ever again"

"That's good to hear…how about you set your sights on me right now" I said, walking towards him with a smile.