Sorry for the long delay. I hope you guys enjoy. Read and review please. I also love to hear your ideas so private messages are always welcome.

-Ecorley

Bucky POV

I gritted my teeth in frustration, gripping the two glasses I held in my hand tightly as I navigated between groups of wedding guests in my attempt to get back to Eden. The large crowd of people was finally starting to get to me….it was almost suffocating being surrounded by this many bodies. Having Eden by my side was the only reason I had made it this long. Every single time I began to feel like it was too much, she would sense my anxiety and simply slip her hand into mine and give a light squeeze. Her presence was comforting to say the least. I finally managed to maneuver past a particularly large group of guests who were taking pictures and spotted my final destination, a few chairs tucked away at the back of the reception hall where I had left her.

Every worst case scenario ran through my head when I saw that Eden was no longer sitting in the chair where I had last seen her. Anyone else would have assumed she stepped away to use the restroom or to talk to an old friend…but I wasn't anyone. I immediately felt a surge of panic and I could hear the gears in my metal arm whir as I clinched my fist tightly. I felt the Winter Soldier part of me taking over and I immediately went into mission mode. I glanced down to see her high heels discarded on the floor but she was nowhere in sight. I set the two glasses down in the empty seat and scanned the room, searching for her. I spotted Clint and Carrie still dancing near the center of the room. Jill and her new husband were surrounded by a group of people, talking and laughing loudly not far from them.

Movement to my left caught my attention and I saw Steve and Brooke re-entering the room from a door off to the side of the reception hall. I tried to remain calm as I pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the dirty looks from wedding guests, and over to the smiling couple.

Speaking louder than necessary, I asked, "Have you seen Eden?"

They both stopped smiling and looked at each other before Steve spoke up, "Last time I saw Eden, she was with you in the back" he said, pointing towards the empty chairs at the very back of the reception hall.

"She's gone" I growled out, turning to scan the entire room once again. I looked over every face in the crowd, not just looking for Eden but also for anyone who looked out of place. I heard Brooke and Steve begin asking questions but my mind was only on one thing at the moment, finding her.

An image of Milton Kaine popped into my head, causing my body to tense when I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. Knowing it was just Steve, I shrugged it off as I continued to search the room for my missing girlfriend. My only mission at that moment was locating Eden.

"Bucky" Steve said firmly, once again placing his hand on my shoulder.

I turned towards him and watched as he flinched when he saw the intensity in my eye, the frustration at not knowing where Eden had disappeared to. I glanced at Brooke and noticed the confused look on her face.

Before Steve could say anything else, Brooke spoke up, "Bucky, I'm sure Eden just went to bathroom or ran off to talk to someone" she said reassuringly, the voice of reason.

Her words didn't make me feel better, but after a firm nod from Steve, I let out a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down. They were probably right but the last few days Eden had been acting strangely and my first instinct was that something was wrong.

Brooke reached out and took my arm in hers before giving me a smile, "Come on Buck, I bet I can find her" she said, glancing back at Steve before leading me off towards the back of the reception hall.

I felt like a complete idiot the moment that Eden came into view, sitting gracefully in the chair she had previously occupied, sipping on the punch that I had left there in my hasty search. I felt Brooke squeeze my arm and I looked down at her, scowling when I saw her cheeky grin. I was relieved but I didn't need the little red head rubbing it in that I was too over protective.

"Worry wart" she chuckled, pulling her arm from mine and pushing me towards Eden gently. I gave both Brooke and a smirking Steve a dirty look before making my way to where she stood.

She set her glass down and smiled when she saw me before rising from her chair, her feet still bare. Her smile waned and she cocked her head in confusion when she looked into my face, seeing the annoyance there. Half of me wanted to give her a piece of my mind for making me worry. The other half wanted to scoop her up and the get the hell out there…not stopping until we were back in D.C in our own apartment…back home.

She stepped close enough to where I could smell the sweet floral scent of her hair and leaned up to whisper in my ear, "What's wrong Bucky?..." she asked, placing her hands on my chest gently, "…your heart is racing"

She pulled back and looked at me questioningly but kept her hands planted firmly on my chest, her thumbs rubbing back and forth in a comforting display. I placed my hands on her wrists and flinched when I felt how cold they were, before sliding them up her bare arms until they rested firmly on her shoulders. Her cheeks were red and every inch of skin I had touched was ice cold. The thin material of the dress obviously didn't do much to keep the wearer warm but the reception hall was set at a very comfortable temperature, there was no reason Eden's skin should be that cold.

"Where did you go?" I said sternly, shrugging my jacket off my shoulders and wrapping it around hers, "I went to get us drinks and when I came back you were gone"

Eden pulled the jacket tighter around her but shook her head in confusion, "Bucky what are you talking about? I've been here this whole time. I haven't moved from this spot" she said, pointing behind her to the chair she had previously occupied.

During my time with Hydra, I had been trained extensively on human behavior. One very important lesson I was taught was to recognize when someone was lying to me. Many times as the Winter Soldier, I had to get information out of people in whatever way possible. Before I completed my mission, I always made sure that the information I received was the truth. Looking into Eden's eyes, I could tell that she wasn't lying to me, she believed what she was saying was true.

She only believes it to be the truth Bucky.

What the hell is that supposed to mean you cryptic bastard?

I took a deep breath and shook my head at her.

"Eden I was just here a few minutes ago, you weren't here. You don't remember getting up and walking somewhere?" I said calmly, aware that Steve and Brooke had joined us and were looking just as worried as I felt.

"Stop playing Bucky" she said laughing, but quickly stopped when she saw her other two friends and me not joining in. She looked back and forth between the three of us and took a few steps back, her face growing more and more confused. My jacket began to slip off her shoulders and she reached out quickly to pull it more tightly around her body.

I glanced over at Brooke when I heard her let out a gasp.

"What in the hell Eden?" she said, stepping forward to snatch Eden by the wrist.

I had been so caught up in Eden's confusion, so concerned about her disappearing, that I hadn't noticed her right hand. Her knuckles were red, the skin raw and lightly smeared with dried blood...from the looks of it, the blood was not her own. The redness marred her perfect white skin and it brought the night of the liquor store robbery to my mind. I swallowed hard, frozen in place as I watched Brooke turn Eden's hand over to examine her wounds. Images of that night began running through my head…the gun pointed at her head, the sound of the shot, her covered in blood, the metallic smell invading my senses. Looking at her hands, it appeared she had been fighting someone.

Brooke's voice finally brought me out of my thoughts.

"Your hands are so cold, did you go outside?" she prodded her friend before turning to Steve and asking him to grab a bottle of water and some napkins from a nearby table.

Steve quickly disappeared from sight and I stepped forward to grab Eden's other hand to find it covered with the same cuts. All the frustration and anger that I had been battling the entire evening starting bubbling to the surface. I glanced up at Eden's face and that anger only intensified upon seeing the utter disbelief on her face.

"I didn't…" she stuttered, shaking her head slowly, "….I was here the whole time" she said, seeming unsure of the truth in her words. "I was right here" she said firmly, pointing to the floor, "…right here"

Steve returned with the napkins and a small bottle of water and Brooke quickly took it from his hands. She poured a small amount of water onto the white napkin and began to dab them at Eden's knuckles, ignoring the small wince of pain that came from her friend. Eden yanked her hand away from Brooke's and stared up at us in bewilderment. She took a few steps back, one hand reaching out to pull my jacket around her tighter. When I tried to take a step towards her, her other hand flew up to stop me.

"Don't!" she said harshly, "Don't touch me"

"Eden…." Brooke said calmly, also taking a step forward to stand next to me. I felt Steve on my left move up as well. I looked over at him and saw the same concern I felt mirrored on his face.

Eden looked down and began to mutter to herself quietly, "This isn't right. I was here…not there. That wasn't real. They weren't real!"

That last part made my blood run cold.

"They"

I stepped forward again and grabbed her shoulders before she could move away from me. She didn't stop muttering to herself and refused to look up at me. Frustrated, I gave her a gentle shake and when she didn't respond, I shook her even harder.

"What do you mean Eden? Who? Where were you? Who did this to you?" I demanded harshly.

Brooke grabbed me by the arm and tried to pull me away, "Bucky, stop" she said. I glared at her, causing the red head to take a step back and throw her hands up in frustration. Steve looked between the two of us and after seeing the look on my face, he grabbed Brooke's arm and pulled her back a few steps to give us space. I heard her call me an asshole under her breath as I turned my attention back to Eden.

She had finally stopped muttering and looked up at me, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. She stared into my eyes with a blank look on her face, as if she didn't recognize me and I felt a deep sense of hurt was over me. Moments passed and I kept my eyes trained on her, my heart racing with the terror I felt.

She doesn't know you. You don't exist. You're nothing without her.

She blinked several times and her body suddenly relaxed before she finally whispered, "What's wrong with me Bucky?"

I let out the breath I was holding and opened my mouth to respond, to give her an answer or at least some kind of comfort, but nothing would come out. I was drawing a complete blank. I had no fucking clue what was happening.

I reached my hand out to touch her cheek, "Eden…I…"

I felt her body go rigid the moment I laid my hand on her face. She closed her eyes, lowered her head, and stood frozen in place. I pulled my hand away from her face and waited anxiously to see what her next move would be. I looked over at Steve and Brooke, seeing the utter confusion plastered on both their faces. Brooke mouthed the words, "What the hell?" and then looked back and forth between me and Steve. He and I shared a look…we both knew something was terribly wrong with Eden but neither of us had a clue as to what it was that was happening.

I looked back over at Eden to see her standing there, head still lowered and her body completely rigid. Anger….Confusion….Worry….every single emotion flowed through me in those few seconds of seeing her that way and waiting for her to snap out of it.

Enough was enough.

I glanced over at Steve one last time and he must have seen the look on my face. Before he could even call out my name to stop me, I reached out and grabbed Eden by the shoulders again. I gave her a firm shake and said her name gruffly. Her head popped up, her eyes opened, and the blank look disappeared from her face. She had that bright look back in her eyes and her demeanor had completely changed once again. It was if I had woken her from a dream.

She looked quickly over at Brooke and Steve before letting her eyes rest on me. She let out a small chuckle, "What are you guys staring at?" she said in a completely ordinary voice. The normality of it is what made a lump appear in my throat and I swallowed hard before speaking up.

"Babe, what's the last thing you remember?" I asked very calmly, trying to control the fear that was flowing in every part of me. I didn't want to freak her out and cause whatever it was that just happened to occur again.

She cocked her head at me and laughed, reaching out to grab my tie and tug on it playfully. That made this whole situation even worse for me. Something was wrong with her. Someone had done something to my girl, my Eden.

"I remember you were going to get me a drink mister" she said jokingly.

I stood there in shock; sick to my stomach and angry at whoever or whatever was causing this to happen to Eden. She had been through so much since her and I had started this relationship and I couldn't help but feel guilty. This was my fault. I didn't know how or why, but it was because of me, that much I was sure.

Before I could speak, she suddenly winced and let out a gasp of pain. I saw her sway and I instinctually reached out, catching her before she could slump to the floor. I held her close to my body, looking around to make sure no one had noticed. As concerned as I was for her, I also knew Eden wouldn't want to draw any attention away from her best friend's wedding...and I certainly didn't want people asking questions. She let out a low moan and rested her head on my shoulder, her hands reaching out to grab my metal arm. My jacket had slipped from her shoulders and now lay on the floor at her feet.

Brooke started to panic and was looking around frantically. Before she could cause a scene or call for help, Steve caught her by the arm and whispered something in her ear before stepping away and grabbing a chair. As soon as it was within reach I eased Eden down into it and took a knee in front of her.

She slumped over in the chair and hung her head between her legs, holding her hand up at me as she got her bearings.

"Eden…baby…are you okay?" I asked softly, placing my hand on her back and rubbing softly. She sat there in the chair for several moments, taking slow even paced breaths with her head still down.

Steve knelt down as well and grabbed her wrist to check her pulse, seeming satisfied with it, he moved on to her head and checked for a fever. After several moments he looked up at me and shook his head before standing up and walking over to a frantic Brooke. I could hear him whispering to her softly trying to keep her calm while I knelt patiently in front of Eden waiting for her to recover.

She finally raised her head, one hand rubbing at her temple while the other reached back to touch her neck. A look of pain had worked itself onto her face and when she did finally look up at me, a slow trail of blood slid from her nose. Eden's hand left her temple and she quickly wiped her nose. She grimaced when she pulled away and saw the blood coating her fingertips. Steve scrambled to grab more napkins while Brooke bent down to kneel beside her friend.

"Eden, tilt your head back. We don't want to get blood on this beautiful dress now do we?" she said shakily. She gave Eden a worried smile and helped her tilt her head back. Whatever Steve had told her had apparently worked and Brooke was much calmer.

"Bucky, my head hurts" Eden said weakly, reaching out for my hand.

I was still kneeling by her side and took her hand in mine, "We're going to get you cleaned up and then we're going to the hospital" I replied.

She lowered her head to look me in the eye, vigorously shaking it back and forth and wincing at the pain it caused, "No, no hospital please. Just take me back to the hotel"

Stubborn woman!

I gritted my teeth and watched another drop of blood slide down her face, "Eden, you're going to the hospital now, end of discussion"

"No, I'm not" she said firmly, reaching her hand up again to wipe the nose from her blood before tilting her head back one again.

Steve reappeared with napkins with Clint hot on his trail, both looking worried. Brooke took the napkins and pressed them to Eden's nose carefully and shared a look with the two men.

Eden's voice was muffled as she continued, "I'm fine. I just want to go to the hotel and lay down for a while" she said.

Clint spoke up before I had a chance, "You are not fine Eden"

Eden shifted uncomfortably in her chair looking defeated, her eyes moving between the four of us. Her eyes finally rested on me and she let out a deep sigh, knowing that one way or another she wasn't getting out of it.

"Bucky..." she started, her voice pleading.

"Woman, I will take you there kicking and screaming" I said gruffly.

The look on her face made me feel like shit for forcing the issue but I was done arguing. Something was very wrong with her. I had been trying to tell myself for the last few days that I was just imagining things...that it was just the stress of the last few weeks finally hitting her. I knew Eden...I knew this wasn't fucking stress.

"I don't want a bunch of strangers poking and prodding at me" she replied, her lip quivering slightly. Her words were like a bullet to the chest and this pain was much worse than any physical injury I had ever felt. It was almost enough for me to give in...almost, but not quite.

Before I could once again tell her no, Steve spoke up, "What if it wasn't a stranger?" he asked.

Without waiting for her response, he shared a look with Clint, who in turn immediately nodded his head and pulled his phone from his pocket.

"I'm pretty sure he's still at the tower in New York. I'll have him meet us in D.C." Clint said, pushing a few buttons on his phone and stepping away.

Brooke looked as confused as I felt and Steve patted me on the shoulder before looking down at Eden, "I know a guy" he said, nodding his head confidently.

Little did they know, the hero of the day was currently in a van being driven away to what would surely be a death sentence. Once it was discovered what he did, he would be completely disposable and therefore his life would be forfeit. The few commands he typed into his computer had caused a glitch in the program. It was still completely active and useable, but surely the error he caused with the system would alert someone that there was a problem with the woman. He had done what he could...satisfied, Franklin shut down the program once again, leaned back in his chair to cross his arms over his chest. His time was almost up, it was up to someone else to finish what he had started.