Sorry it's taking so long to post now guys. I'm trying to make the chapters longer per some reviewers requests. Please comment and let me know what you guys think. I'm thinking I may not be done at Chapter 100 because I still have a lot I want to cover and it just seems like I would be cramming it in. Hope you guys enjoy.

ECorley

EDEN POV

Bucky lay in bed with me while I slept...I was completed exhausted from the long morning of shopping with Brooke. I don't know if he was actually tired or if it was more about just wanting to be close to me after thinking I had been taken. When I woke, I was still curled up against his chest, my arm wrapped around his waist. His warm hand was pressed against my bare back and his metal arm was curled under the pillow that his head was lying on. When I had opened my eyes, I could see that he was awake, just staring up at the ceiling with a small smile on his face. When he felt me stir, his eyes moved down to me and his smile widened.

"Hey there sleepy head" he said softly, running his hand up and down my back.

I pressed my lips against his bare chest, "How long have I been asleep?"

He glanced over at the clock before saying, "Almost 4 hours...it's 6:00"

I sat up slowly and let out a groan, "We're supposed to go over to Brooke's tonight so she and I can wrap all those gifts we bought today. I guess it's time to get up"

Bucky sat up too and grabbed me around the waist to pull me into his lap. I shivered from the sudden coldness on my back; he noticed and reached down to pull the blanket over my shoulders before pulling me in for a kiss.

"Don't even think about it Barnes" I teased as his kisses left my mouth and trailed down my neck, "I think you've had more than enough for today"

He shook his head, "It will never be enough. I always want more of you" he said huskily as his tongue moved down to my breast. I finally lifted his face to mine and placed a long, lingering kiss on his lips before crawling off of his lap and out of the bed. I reached down and grabbed his shirt and boxers off the floor. I slipped the shirt on over my head and handed the boxers to him.

"Why do you always look so sexy when you wear my shirts?" he said as he got out of bed and slipped on his boxers before reaching for his jeans. I raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged his shoulders, "It's true" he said.

I laughed and turned to walk to the bathroom, "You do a pretty damn good job making them sexy when you wear them"

I stood in the middle of the bathroom, looking between the bathtub and the shower. I knew I should be quick about it and take a shower but a bubble bath sounded so divine at that moment. I finally made my decision and walked over to the tub to start filling it with hot water. I heard Bucky walk in just as I added my "Garden of Eden" bubble bath. I turned to see him beaming when he smelled the familiar floral aroma. I smiled too, thinking about how he had told me it reminded him of his mother when he was a child.

I turned off the water and gave him a wink before slipping out of the shirt and throwing it on the bathroom floor. As I slid into the tub, he chuckled and walked over to pick it up off the floor, ogling me as he left the bathroom to place it in the laundry basket. He returned moments later, still wearing only his jeans and no shirt. He settled himself on the floor next to the tub and talked to me while I soaked...my eyes were closed and my head rested on the back of the tub.

I looked up in surprise when he brought up the subject of my parents and asked me if I planned on telling them the truth about him before Christmas. I had been thinking a lot about that, ever since I had agreed to bring him home for the holidays to introduce him to my family. I loved Bucky and I wanted my parents to love him too. I knew Bucky's past wouldn't be easy for them to overlook but I also knew that my parents were the most compassionate people I had ever known...they would give him the chance to prove himself. Bucky loved me and I knew if we spent enough time together with my parents, they would see that he would do anything for me.

Bucky's voice interrupted my thoughts, "Whatever story you want to make up and tell them about me is fine...I'll go along with it"

He looked stunned by the words that came out of my mouth, "I'm not going to make up some fake story about you. I want them to know the real you Bucky, not some made up version that might make it easier for them to accept. I intend to tell them the truth about you...I mean...as long as you're okay with that"

He said nothing, only nodded his approval. I frowned at the surprised expression still plastered on his face.

"Don't look so shocked. I'm not ashamed of you or your past Bucky. Nothing that you did was your fault...you were a hero before HYDRA got ahold of you" I said.

"Then they turned me into a monster" he said quietly, looking down at his hands, "Are you sure you want to tell your parents that? Are you ready for them know what I am? They may not approve"

"You were a victim Bucky. What they turned you into doesn't matter because you aren't that person anymore. You aren't some big, dirty secret that I feel the need to hide and I won't have you thinking that you are. I'm an adult...I don't need them to approve of who I choose to live my life with" I reached out and took his hand in mine, "I know exactly how I feel about you and no one will ever be able to change that, not even my parents"

He looked up at me, shaking his head and sighing deeply before saying, "But they're your parents Eden"

I squeezed his hand softly, nodding my head, "That's true...but you are the man that I've fallen in love with Bucky...I chose you, remember that. I'm not saying that they are going to instantly love the idea of their only daughter wanting to be with a former HYDRA assassin, I'm just saying that they will just have to get used to it"

They better get used to it because I have no plans on letting him slip through my fingers.

He opened and closed his mouth several times like he was going to say something but couldn't find the words. The flustered look on his face was absolutely adorable and I couldn't help but tease him.

"I mean I already decided that I want every part of my future to involve you" I said with a sly smile before cocking my eyebrow at him, "...that is unless you have other plans. I guess if you aren't sure about me..."

He rose onto his knees, silencing my words with his warm, pouty lips on mine. I felt his hand slip into the tub to grasp onto my waist, pulling me up from the soapy water and pressing me into his bare chest. I wrapped my wet arms around his neck and felt him shiver as droplets of water slid down his back. When he finally pulled away, I heard him panting hard as he tried to catch his breath. My eyes were fixated on the rivulets of water slipping slowly down the muscled curves of his chest. I looked up and into his eyes, smirking when I saw the lustful look in his eyes.

He cupped my chin in his hand, "You are the only thing in my life that I am 100% sure about Eden. Don't ever forget that"

I leaned in and kissed him quickly on the lips, "Ditto" I said.

He finally stood up and reached back to grab my towel as I lifted myself out of the water. I wrapped the fluffy towel around me and stepped up to the mirror to brush my hair out. I could see Bucky in the mirror, leaning against the wall watching me. I decided to leave my hair curly and used my fingers and some mouse to scrunch it up...I saw Bucky smile when he realized what I was doing. I was drying my hair when I looked up and noticed Bucky had left the bathroom. I applied some eye makeup and my usual lip gloss before heading into the bedroom.

Bucky was completely dressed and lying on the bed waiting for me when I entered. He watched me slip on my underwear and bra before disappearing into the closet to find my jeans and a long sleeved shirt. Once I had my socks and shoes on, we both slipped on our jackets and headed out the door together. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we made our way across the parking to get in the car. I had been digging in my purse for my phone for a good 20 seconds before I remembered I had lost it somewhere. Bucky chuckled when he realized what I was looking for and without me asking, he reached into his jacket and pulled out his cell phone so I could text Brooke and let her know we were on our way. She was already waiting for us by her car when Bucky pulled into the parking lot.

He shook his head and laughed when he saw all the shopping bags in the backseat of Brooke's mustang. Bucky had managed to grab all of the bags from the seat and was about to start heading towards the apartment when he noticed Brooke opening the trunk. When he got a look at all the bags stuffed inside, he looked up at me with wide eyes.

I shrugged my shoulders, "What? Christmas is the season of giving" I said in my defense. He rolled his eyes at me and started walking towards the building.

Brooke and I managed to grab all the bags from the trunk and trudge to her apartment. Bucky had already made it to the living room and had piled the gifts on the floor by the couch. He and Steve exchanged a look when they saw the two of us come through the door, each carrying just as many bags as Bucky had brought in.

I sat down the bags and walked over to Steve, leaving Bucky to help Brooke sort through them. He wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug before pulling away.

He looked over at where Bucky and Brooke were sitting, "He was really worried about you earlier. He called me panicking as soon as he got back home and realized you weren't there...I was already rallying the troops" He must have noticed my confusion because he added, "He had me call Clint...the three of us were getting ready to head out and search for your trail when you walked in the door"

I looked over at Bucky and smiled to myself. I felt guilty for making him worry but at the same time it made me just the tiniest bit happy to know that I had not only him looking after me, but Steve and Clint too.

I glanced at Brooke, "You didn't tell her, did you?" I asked, already knowing the answer. Brooke was completely calm...if I had caused her any worry and it turned out later I had been "missing" because I had gone shopping, she would be ripping me a new one right now.

He shook his head and gave a small smile as he looked over at the red head, "No, I didn't want to worry her unless we knew something. I did tell her your phone was missing though"

I patted him on the shoulder, "Thanks for that"

He tried to give me a stern look, "Don't let it happen again. I was pretty worried myself" he admitted. I started to apologize but stopped when he started to speak again, "It's okay Eden, you don't need to apologize. However Clint is not as forgiving as I am, you should definitely expect to get an earful from him on Monday morning. He had already geared up and was nearly to your apartment when I called to let him know you had shown up"

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well that Steve was right, "I should call him and start apologizing now so I won't get it as bad on Monday" I said.

I started to reach into my pocket for my phone and groaned when I realized again that it was missing.

Steve laughed, "Have you called it? Maybe someone found it and is holding onto it" he said hopefully.

I would have done it earlier when I had returned to the apartment but got distracted by how upset Bucky had been. The thought had never occurred to me after I had woken up from my nap and honestly I figured if anyone had found it, they didn't plan on giving it back. Steve reached into his pocket and handed me his own cell phone and I shrugged my shoulders before taking it, "I guess it's worth a shot"

I dialed my number and lifted the phone to my ear as I waited for it to start ringing. I know my eyes widened when I heard ringing coming from the shopping bags now sitting on the floor. I turned to see Brooke digging around in the bags until she triumphantly thrust my phone in the air, "Found it" she said, giving me a big smirk before tossing it to me. I laughed as I watched her begin to dig in the bags once more.

I handed Steve his phone back and stuck mine into my pocket. He gave me a wink headed towards the couch to sit next to Brooke. When I turned around, Bucky had stood up and walked over to me. His hands slid around my waist and leaned in to whisper, "I'm sorry about earlier"

I raised my one hand and let it rest on his chest, "Don't...you already apologized" I gave him a quick kiss before taking his hand and leading him back to the couch. I sat on the floor nestled between his open legs as we finished sorting through the bags.

"What all did you guys buy?" Bucky asked as he reached down to look inside a bag...this particular bag held the watch I had bought for him.

He let out a grunt when I smacked his hand away from the bag suddenly and declared, "No peeking"

He grinned and playfully reached for the bag again, "Why not? Is there something in there for me?" he teased.

I tucked the bag behind my back, "Not if you don't manage to behave yourself until Christmas"

He gave me a cheeky smile but kept his hands back. Steve and Bucky stayed on the couch watching a movie while Brooke and I took our bags to the dining room table to start wrapping. It took us a couple of hours to wrap everything and we chatted quietly the entire time. I was surprised when Brooke told me that she and Steve still hadn't had sex yet.

She glanced over at the couch where Steve was sitting and then back at me before sighing, "We would have done it earlier but when I got home from shopping I was so damn tired, I passed out. I literally didn't wake up until you texted me when you were on your way over"

I couldn't help but let out a laugh and she flipped me off and swore, "Tonight...it is definitely happening tonight"

Brooke's phone started ringing all of a sudden and we both started digging on the table for it. I finally found it under a few rolls of wrapping paper and tossed it to her. I passed her the phone and she grinned when she saw the caller ID, "It's Jill" she said excitedly before putting it to her ear and answering.

"Hey Bride to be, what's up? ...Yeah, Eden's right here actually, we're wrapping presents. ...Who said we bought you anything? "

I laughed and continued wrapping the last couple of gifts I had as I listened to them catch up. I carefully wrapped the watch I had bought for Bucky; keeping my eye on the couch to make sure he didn't see it. I had just finished up when Brooke's conversation caught my attention again.

"Yeah girl, you know we'll be there. We wouldn't miss your bachelorette party. Name the day and time and we're there. " she said into the phone. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Jill had told us a few weeks ago that she didn't think she wanted to go out to party before the wedding, much to mine and Brooke's disappointment.

Apparently she changed her mind...or Brooke managed to change it for her.

Brooke had sworn she was going to talk her into it but I didn't think it would actually work...obviously Brooke was better than I had given her credit for.

I glanced over at the couch to see that the movie had ended and both Bucky and Steve had turned to stare at us curiously when they heard the end of Brooke's conversation.

I quickly looked back over at Brooke to see her setting her phone back down.

"Jill changed her mind...the bachelorette party is on" she said excitedly, clapping her hands. I couldn't help but grin at her enthusiasm.

"I'm sure you had something to do with that change of heart" I replied.

She winked and shrugged her shoulders, "Does that sound like something I would do?"

"So what's the plan?" I said, intentionally ignoring the look Bucky was now giving me. He had been relieved when I told him last week that Jill had decided to not partake in the traditional bachelorette party. I knew he wouldn't like the idea of me going out and partying without him there to protect me.

He's just going to have to deal with it.

"Well it's just going to be us, Blake, and Tommy. Her sister is being all bitchy and refusing to go and her other bridesmaid is pregnant so she's out too" she said.

I couldn't help but grin when Brooke said Jill's cousin, Blake was coming. I hadn't seen him or Tommy in years.

Brooke and I shared a knowing smile when we heard Bucky ask from the couch, "Who are Blake and Tommy?" I looked over to see Bucky and Steve exchange a look between them...I know Brooke saw it too. She grinned mischievously at me, so I knew she was about to have her fun teasing the two of them.

Brooke looked down at the gift she was finishing and replied casually, "Blake is Jill's cousin and Tommy is his...ummmm...friend"

I stifled a giggle and it ended up coming out as a snort...Brooke threw me a look and I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing again. I knew letting her tease them wasn't nice but it sure was a little funny to see how jealous Bucky and Steve could get.

It was Steve who spoke up next, "Why are they going? I thought that was normally a girl thing" I watched Bucky and Steve share a look again as they waited for an answer.

I was the one to reply this time, "Oh, I'm sure they're coming along to make sure no other guys try to mess with us. I mean, we will be drinking and some guys might try to take advantage of the situation"

"Like hell they will" I heard Bucky say with a scowl.

Brooke chipped in, "You guys won't have to worry about us... Blake and Tommy are pretty tough, they'll take real good care of us"

Steve and Bucky both got up from the couch and made their way to the table. Steve went to Brooke's side while Bucky came to stand next to me.

I looked up at Bucky and recognized the jealous look on his face. I bit my lip and looked back down at the table, "...oh yeah, real tough. We'll probably spend the majority of the night keeping the women away from them. They are both handsome...and great dancers" I said, nodding my head.

Brooke lowered her head suddenly and I saw her shoulders shaking in laughter. Tommy and Blake actually were amazing dancers...the few times we had all gone out together, the two of them had torn up the dance floor.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bucky tense up and I looked back over at Jill...she gave me a look to see if I wanted to keep the game up. I nodded at her and she looked up at Steve, "We'll be completely safe with them. Tommy teaches martial arts...he even owns his own dojo"

I looked up at Bucky, "...and Blake is a police officer. They are both pretty built...solid muscle. I promise babe, the two of them can handle us"

Bucky turned away but I heard him mutter something under his breath that sounded like, "I'll show them solid muscle"

I heard Steve speak up, "Well if you need someone to keep other guys from messing with you, Bucky and I can come" he said, looking down at Brooke. I saw the jealous look on his face and for a second I reconsidered joshing them.

She shook her head and smiled at him, "We can't have our boyfriends go with us to a bachelorette party"

Bucky scoffed indignantly, "But it's okay for these other guys to go with you?"

Brooke nodded her head, "Well yeah, they're different. Right Eden?" she said, looking my way, her face turning red as she tried to keep herself from busting out laughing.

I chimed in, "Absolutely! You don't have to worry Bucky, Blake and Tommy are both in a committed, long-term relationship..."

Bucky looked ready to argue when Brooke spoke up, "...with each other" she finished.

Bucky looked confused for a second but then his eyes widened in surprise and he shook his head, "Oh!"

Steve spoke up, "So, Tommy and Blake are..."

"Gay" Brooke and I said at the same time, finally breaking down into a fit of giggles.

"Did you see their faces?" Brooke said between chuckles, "Oh, you two are adorable" She glanced up and saw Steve looking down at her like she was crazy. She got up from her chair and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him lightly on the cheek, "Absolutely adorable"

Steve smiled at her warmly and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as the two of them looked at each other. I glanced up at Bucky and saw the frown still on his face. I slid my chair back and stood up to rest a hand on his cheek before smiling up at him. He stared at me for a second before he rolled his eyes at me.

"Not funny" he said quietly, gripping my waist tightly before pulling me in for a quick kiss on the lips.

"It was a little funny" I said softly, sliding my hands up the back of his shirt to touch warm skin. We both looked over at Brooke and Steve to see them staring intently at each other. I noticed the look in their eyes; it was one that I had seen reflected in my own whenever I looked at Bucky.

Bucky looked back at me and leaned down to whisper in my ear, "Let's get out of here and give them some time alone" he said knowingly. I nodded my head and kissed him one last time on the cheek before announcing that we needed to head home. Steve and Brooke finally snapped out of it and stepped back from each other.

Bucky helped me gather all my gifts and put them back in the bags to make them easier to carry. While Steve and Bucky went to load them up in our SUV, I helped Brooke clean up the bits and pieces of wrapping paper. Once we had everything cleaned up and loaded, I walked over to give Brooke a hug before heading out, "Good Luck" I whispered in her ear.

She leaned back and smirked, "I don't need luck"

"No, but you will need stamina" I said, glancing over at Bucky before turning back to her, "Trust me, these super soldiers are something else"

She blushed furiously, "I'll keep that in mind" she said, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

I gave Steve a quick hug before taking Bucky's hand and walking out of the apartment. We headed to our car, laughing about Brooke and Steve. I had a feeling that tonight was going to be gigantic leap forward in their relationship.

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Brooke POV

When Steve had realized Eden and I had been picking on him and Bucky earlier, I had seen a flash of heat in his eyes and it made my insides churn when I saw it. He was jealous and for some reason, that really turned me on. Once Bucky and Eden had walked out of my apartment, I closed the door gently behind them before turning the lock.

"Brooke" I heard him say my name hoarsely.

I stared at the door for several moments, gathering my nerves and steadying my racing heart, before turning around to face Steve.

He was standing very still a few feet behind me watching me closely. Before I could make a move, he stepped forward and closed the distance between us, pushing me back until his body had pinned me against the door.

I moaned the moment his lips touched mine and my hands frantically reached for his shirt to pull him closer. His hands slid down and gripped the back of my thighs to lift me up so I could wrap my legs around his waist. Effortlessly he carried me towards my bedroom, one hand under my thighs to keep my steady, the other on the back of my neck to keep his lips moving over mine.

Every nerve in my body was tingling as I felt him lower me onto the bed and look down at me. I scooted up on my elbows and groaned as I watched him tug off his shirt to expose a bare, muscled chest. I swallowed hard as he sat down on the bed next to me to lean over and kiss me. My hands reached eagerly for his torso, marveling at how fast he had healed...the bruises had faded so much that they were barely noticeable. As he leaned over to kiss me, I felt his hand reach for the buttons of my shirt, undoing each one so gently that I barely noticed his hands were moving.

He stopped for a second and looked up at me, panting hard, "Is this okay? I mean should I stop..."

I cut him off quickly with a low moan, "Don't stop"

Quickly his fingers started working on my shirt again while I let my hands roam his chest, exploring each curve. When he had finished with the last button I sat up so he could push it from my shoulders. His hand moved to my back and pulled me up from the bed so he could resume kissing me. His lips moved down to my neck and then onto my collarbone.

His body stiffened when he felt my hands reach down between us to unsnap the button of his jeans. He stopped kissing me and leaned back, swallowing hard when my hand found his zipper. The sound the zipper made as I drew it down slowly drove me mad with need. I bit my lip as he stood up from the bed to slide the jeans down his legs and step out of them, revealing the black boxers he wore underneath. I lay back on the bed and reached down to unbutton my own jeans. Steve stepped up quickly to grab my hand to stop me. He took my hands and raised my arms over my head to rest on the back of the pillow. I gripped it tightly and bit my lip when I felt him draw my zipper down himself and pull the jeans from my legs.

Before he could start kissing me again, I sat up and reached behind my back to unsnap my bra and throw it to the side. His hands immediately moved to my chest and I felt goose bumps on my skin as he palmed them causing my nipples to stiffen. I saw him smile to himself and mutter, "Perfect" as he lowered his mouth to my chest.

I arched my back as he his hands moved across my skin and his lips reclaimed my mouth again. My own hands were gripping his back, scratching my nails lightly up and down as I wiggled against him. I could feel him, hard and ready against my thigh and the need to touch it was too much. I reached down and slid my hand into his boxers, smirking when I felt him gasp against my mouth and rest his head on my chest as I moved my hands over him. He was breathing shakily as I continued exploring him, savoring each moan from his mouth and each tremor from his body. He finally reached for my hand and pulled it from his boxers.

I was about to ask him why he stopped me but I felt his hands reach for my panties and I let out a deep sigh when he started drawing them down and then discarded them on the floor. I looked up at him nervously but it quickly vanished when I saw the lust in his eyes as he stared at my nude body. I groaned loudly when I saw him reach for the band of his boxers and slip them down, fully exposing me to his body.

He's fucking perfect...holy shit Brooke! SHIT! SHIT!

He settled himself on the bed above me and resumed his kissing, letting his hands explore my body. He caressed my entire body, letting his fingers move up and down me. I finally couldn't take it any longer and I leaned in to whisper, "I'm ready Steve...please" He looked down at me in surprise and nodded his head. I could see the nervous look on his face too. We were about to take a huge leap forward but it was one that I was most definitely ready for and I hoped he was too.

He took a deep breath and pushed my legs apart further, letting his fingers move gently up and down my thigh as he positioned himself against my core. I felt him rub the hardened length against me and I shivered in anticipation. He leaned down to kiss me softly before he began to push himself into me slowly. I buried my face in his neck as he went deeper and I couldn't help the dirty moan that escaped my lips, "Holy shit"

Once he was inside of me fully, he sat very still, looking down at me with a look in his eyes that I wasn't used to seeing on a man's face. Every relationship I had in the past, had turned out to be with a complete jerk who only wanted one thing from me. For once in my life, I felt like I was finally giving myself to someone who cared about me just about much as I cared about him.

I held on to him tightly as he started to move above me, thrusting slowly into me before eventually picking up his pace. He seemed to be in no rush to finish quickly and I was more than happy to let him continue for as long as he liked. He brought me once, twice, and then a third time before he finally looked to be losing his self-control.

His thrusts became harder and quicker and I tried to encourage him on with each moan I released. I felt myself reaching my peak again and I let my hands, which had been resting on his back, slide down to grip the muscles of his ass. I felt his rhythm get more and more unsteady until finally he let go, a low groan escaping his lips as he let his heat fill me. He slowed the movement of his hips and then finally raised his eyes to look at me... I smiled at his sweat soaked skin and hair. He was panting heavily and swallowed a few times like his throat was dry. His hand found my cheek and I closed my eyes as he stroked it lightly. I felt him pull out of me and position himself beside me, propping himself up with his elbow as he trailed his fingers over my stomach.

I shivered at his touch, "Steve, that was ..."

"Incredible?" he asked.

I looked over and nodded my head with a smile. He raised his arm and motioned for me to scoot closer. Once I had my head on his chest, he lowered his arm to my back and pulled the covers over us. His other hand took mine and he laced our fingers together before sighing contently.

"You know I was a little nervous about this" he said softly after a few moments.

"About what? Having sex with me?" I asked, rubbing my thumb against the back of his hand.

"Yes, kind of...I just don't have much experience with...uhhh, you know... I just wanted our first time to be perfect"

I leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the lips before snuggling back into his chest, "Well mission accomplished...It was perfect Steve"

He pulled his arm tighter around me before speaking again, "A+ material?"

I gave him a soft chuckle, "Definitely"

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BUCKY POV

When Eden woke me up Sunday morning begging me to take her to buy a Christmas tree, I couldn't say no. She had such an excited look on her face when I agreed and it warmed my heart to see her so happy. I would gladly give her anything she wanted to see that look on her face all the time.

I thought it was a little early to be buying a Christmas tree and putting it up, but Eden said she liked to enjoy the holiday for as long as possible.

That afternoon, we had gotten dressed and headed out to search for the perfect one. After she picked out the artificial tree that she wanted, I placed in in the shopping cart I was pushing and continued to follow her around the store. She had her own cart and was filling it with Christmas decorations. Eden spent over an hour picking out different ornaments for the tree and I had stood back, watching her with a smile.

Once we got home, I lugged the tree up the stairs while she grabbed everything else. It was a pain in the ass to put together but seeing how pleased she was made it worth it. I sat on the couch, surrounded by boxes of ornaments and drinking hot chocolate that she insisted on making us.

This is the good life! I could definitely get use to this.

I watched as she fluffed the tree, admiring her backside as she bent over to do the bottom limbs. She turned around suddenly to take a sip of her drink and caught me looking.

With a smirk she said, "Having fun?"

I took a large swallow of my drink, "Absolutely. I think you missed a spot though...on the very bottom there" I said, pointing at the tree and cocking an eyebrow at her.

She dramatically leaned over, sticking her ass in the air, before fluffing the limb I had pointed out. She looked over her shoulder and laughed when she saw me still watching her with a leering grin on my face.

"You are impossible Bucky" she said with a laugh as she continued.

Once that was done, I helped her string on the lights and then sat back down to watch her carefully place the ornaments on the tree. It was amusing to watch her put one on and then step back to shake her head before moving it over a few inches. After she had put everything on the tree, she reached for another bag sitting on the couch next to me. It held a lovely angel topper for the tree...one with blonde hair that looked strikingly like Eden herself.

She unwrapped the angel from its box and then reached her free hand out to me, "Come on mister, I need you one last time" she said sweetly.

I sat my mug down and took her hand to let her pull me up from the couch. She looked up at me sweetly and handed the angel over. I stepped up to the tree and placed it on top carefully before moving back to admire Eden's work. The tree really was beautiful and she smiled when I told her so.

"Our first Christmas tree" she said as she wrapped her arms around my waist.

I put my arm over her shoulder and kissed her forehead, "The first of many...come on and I'll help you put all the presents under the tree" I had to admit, her good mood was quickly spreading to me. As I passed her gifts, I looked at each name tag on them, noticing quite a few that had my name on them. I knew the one gift I wanted to give her would need to wait until I talked to her father. I made a mental note to get with Natasha and pick her brain on what to buy a woman for Christmas.

After we had everything arranged under the tree just right, we spent the remainder of the night on the couch watching Home Alone and eating popcorn.

That night, I lay in bed next to her and listened to her talk about how excited she was to go to her training the next day. I knew working with Natasha was going to make Eden an even better fighter. I was worried about her and Brooke going off alone for Jill's bachelorette party but I had to admit, with Clint's help, Eden was quickly becoming a very capable fighter. I was still a little miffed that Jill's cousin Blake and his boyfriend Tommy were allowed to go but not me or Steve. They sounded like they were proficient enough to take care of anything minor that might arise but I would feel better if me or Steve went with them.

They wouldn't be a match for Kaine. You can't let Eden go without someone there to watch over her.

After Eden fell asleep that night, I spent a long time running over different scenarios in my head. I finally came up with a plan...one that would allow me to keep my promise to Eden about not following her but would also allow me the peace of mind to know she was safe.

First thing in the morning, I would call Steve and run it by him to see what he thought. I finally relaxed and wrapped my arm tighter around Eden before falling asleep.

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EDEN POV

Geez, this has been a long week. I can't wait to go out with the girls tomorrow.

It was Thursday and the last few days had worn me out. Working with Natasha was amazing and she was teaching me how to be even more agile in my fighting. Between training and work though, I was exhausted. As soon as my training was over each day, I had to instantly rush home to start working on clients. It had taken me nearly all week to catch up before I was even able to start on the antique shop website. I had finished it only a couple of hours ago and I was hoping the owner would be satisfied with my work. I was now trying to get things ready for this weekend.

Bucky was propped up on the bed watching me carefully as I packed my overnight bag. Brooke and I were leaving tomorrow as soon as I was done training. I wanted to get everything packed and ready before going to bed so I wouldn't have to rush in the morning. The plan was for her to pick me up at SHIELD so we could drive the 3 hours to our hometown. We would still have enough time to get all dressed up before we headed out to celebrate Jill's last week as a single gal. I was currently digging through my closet trying to find something to take with me to wear when we went out. I was attempting to pick out something that was nice but not overly sexy. I knew Bucky was already worried enough about me going off without him, there was no reason to make him panic further by dressing too wild. It was okay to dress provocatively when he was there to keep an eye on me but not when he was a good 3 hour drive away.

I was actually surprised that he didn't put up more of a fight about us going, especially with Milton Kaine still on the loose. I was a little suspicious but Bucky had promised that he wouldn't sneak off and follow us. I guess it really did make him feel better that Tommy and Blake were going with us.

I was digging through the clothes in my closet, becoming more and more flustered as I searched for something to wear.

Black mini skirt? No! Red Halter Dress? NO!

I finally settled on a pair of dark skinny jeans, black riding boots, and a low cut black and grey striped top. I knew Brooke would give me hell for wearing something so bland but it was more important to me that Bucky feel okay about the whole situation and not worry the entire time I was gone. I came out of the closet and sat the clothes on the bed to start folding them. Bucky picked up the top to examine it and then eyed me.

"What?" I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing" he said before laying it back down on the bed. I noticed the pout and couldn't help but smirk at him.

"Bucky, that is probably the most modest outfit I could pick out" I said with a chuckle as I picked up the top to fold it neatly and place it in my bag.

"Awfully low cut" he muttered.

I gave him an exasperated look, "If you keep that up Bucky Barnes I swear I'm going to find something much sexier to take with me"

He let out a deep sigh before crossing his arms and laying his head back on the pillow to stare up at the ceiling.

Damn! He's cute even when he is pouting.

I picked up my overnight bag and placed it on the floor before taking a seat next to him on the bed.

I placed my hand on his chest, "Stop being all moody Bucky. I can take care of myself...especially now that Natasha is teaching me some of her moves. Besides, so what if a bunch of guys are looking at me? It doesn't mean I'm looking back at them...I only have eyes for you, remember?" I said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

As I pulled away from him, he glanced at me, "I don't want anyone touching you, much less looking at you. You're mine" he said softly.

"Hmmm...who says I belong to you?" I teased. I laughed as he sat up to glare at me. I stood up from the bed and threw him a haughty look before making my way into the bathroom to grab a few toiletries. I was reaching down under the sink for my travel case when I felt a muscled metal arm snake around my torso. I could see myself reflected in the mirror as I rose up and I smiled when I felt him pull me snug against his chest. Bucky stood behind me with his chin resting on the top of my head, staring intently at our reflection. He raised his right hand up to brush the hair away from my neck before leaning down to let his lips graze along the sensitive skin. He smirked when he felt me shiver against him.

"I say you belong to me" he said gruffly.

I started to turn around and let out a surprised yelp when I felt him lift me up and set me down on the counter top to face him. I stared at him for a moment before reaching out to grab handful of his shirt and tug him closer. I gently brushed some hair out of his face before resting my hand on his cheek and smiling at him.

"Well if you say it, then it must be true" I said, gazing into those beautiful blue eyes of his.

He gave me a sly smile, "Damn right" He leaned down to kiss me deeply, moving his lips over mine with great vigor until I was left breathless. He pulled away with a knowing smirk, "You almost done" he asked. When I nodded, he smiled, "Good, I'm ready for bed"

I watched him saunter out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. I touched my lips with the tips of my fingers and smiled to myself before hopping down off the counter and grabbing my travel case. I brushed my teeth and washed off my makeup before flipping off the light switch. When I walked out of the bathroom, Bucky had already undressed and was pulling the blanket back to crawl in on his side. I threw my travel case into the overnight bag and zipped it up. I felt his eyes on me as I discarded my jeans and tank top to slip into a comfortable oversized night shirt.

Once I turned the light off, I got in bed and scooted over to lie on my side next to him. His arm slid around my waist and pulled me closer until I was nearly flush against his bare chest. Looking up at him, wrapped so tightly in his arms, I realized how much I was going to miss him over the weekend. I buried my head into his neck, breathing in the intoxicating smell of him.

"I'm going to miss you" I knew he heard me despite how muffled the words had come out.

His hand moved from my waist to the back of my neck and I felt his lips brush against my forehead. He sighed deeply, "Me too"

I lifted my head, "What are you and Steve going to do while we're gone?"

I felt him shake his head, "I don't know. Worry about the two of you probably"

I snickered and rolled out of his grasp to lay on my back, "The two of you should go out and have some fun" I stopped to think about it and a sudden thought of Bucky being hit on by other women popped into my head, "On second thought, maybe you guys should just stay home where it's safe"

I looked over to see him raise an eyebrow at me. I scrunched up my nose, "I would rather not have to worry about some other women flirting with you. One of them might try and steal you away from me"

He shook his head and laughed softly before laying his head on my stomach, "That's never going to happen"

I raised my hands to his head and started rubbing my fingers through his hair, feeling his body relax against mine. He started telling me a story that Steve had told him about the two of them growing up in Brooklyn. Over the last couple of weeks, Bucky had started to recover some of those memories on his own and I loved to lie in bed at night and listen as he would tell them to me. It was on those nights that I think he forgot some of those bad memories HYDRA had forced on him and started to remember how to be just Bucky Barnes.

Once Bucky finished his story, I turned on my side so he could wrap his arm around my waist and pull me into his chest, burying his face in my neck. It only took a few moments for him to fall asleep, evident by the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back. I laid there, warm against him, and smiled to myself as I too drifted off.