Disclaimer: Don't own. Wish I did...but I don't.

Chapter Two

New York, March 1942

"Mr. Stark, we have perfected the formula. The serum was a success!"

Howard Stark hmmed no commitedly gazing into the observation room were Antonious was currently recovering from the latest and hopefully the last experimental serum tested on his person. Tremors racked the young man's frame which never changed from its slender shape regardless how many different versions of the serum they pumped into his blood and tears streamed down his cheeks in steady rivets.

Yet even wih this he could easily see what had his scientists so excited. Hard muscle covered the lithe figure, leaving it free of imperfections and full of solid power. In addition to this it had tailored itself to the subject's physique making him perfect for speed.

"How do you feel, Antonius?" He asked through the microphone connected to the room's speaker. His subject stilled at his voice and allowed his dark hair to fall in front of his face as was habitual for him.

"F-fine, sir. I f-feel...different. Stronger."

Howard smirked and turned to Erksine.

"Bring the canidate."

"And the boy?"

"Send him to Carter for training."

"...Carter, sir?Are you sure? She only does seduction and assassinations."

"Yes, I'm sure! Now go!"

"Yes sir."

London, England May1942

Antonius was the best student she had ever taken.

Of course it helped that the serum had implanted the basic information into his mind yet she could tell that even without it he'd be amazing. He soaked up information almost as soon as she gave it and had the fastest reflexes she had ever seen, however she soon realized that no matter how good he seemed to get he was always so sad, so lonely. Sometimes, when they were relaxing between missions, he'd fall into a sort of pensive mood. He'd whisper to the stars in a long forgotten tongue or he'd sing a slow melodious song that seemed to house all the pain he'd ever felt. It made Peggy wonder what he'd gone through in life to make him feel that way. Yet in the two months she had known him she had come no closer to figuring it out.

At the moment the two of them were walking through the streets of London having been given a small break between missions to regroup. Antonius, or Toni, as he liked her to say, was walking beside her babbling excitedly about one book or another while she pretended that she was pretending not to listen. In truth this was the only time she got to see him this excited and she treasured it . Treasured the way his hazel eyes lit up with childish innocence and wonder. The way he smiled as if nothing in the world could go wrong. She treasured it and wondered why a person like him was still young at his age when most would be married or at the least courting.

A quiet gasp from her protege drew her from her thoughts and her eyebrow rose when she turned to find him being steadied by a very familiar man, whose blue eyes were full of amusement. A blush spread across Toni's cheeks and he ducked his head to hide behind his hair ( a habit she was still trying to break him of) while the man, Sergent James Barnes, chuckled.

"We have got to stop meeting like this, darlin'." He drawled and, to her surprise, her student gave a soft chiming laugh.

"Indeed. Maybe names are in order."

Barnes smirked and brushed the hair away from the younger male's face. "So tell me your name then, Beautiful."

The blush on Toni's cheeks darkened and neither noticed that Barnes was still holding him. Peggy did however and she smiled slightly at that fact.

"Antonius. Toni for short."

"A unique name for a beautifully unique person."

"Hm. What's your name then, charmer?"

"The names James Barnes, darlin'. My friends call me Bucky."

Toni smiled at him and Peggy's smile grew.

Perhaps her students loneliness was about to come to an end.

Her smile sharpened.

And if Barnes hurt her boy she'd make him plead for death.

Germany October 1943

As it turns out she was correct.

Within two weeks of officially meeting the two began courting. Due to the laws against same sex couples they kept the affair a secret from everyone but her and only six months into their courting they got married. The wedding was a small event officiated by a priest from one of those underground gay right groups, but they had loved it. Even with their seperate military carrers they managed to keep in contact with each other and despite the distance their relationship only seemed to grow stronger. Then Bucky was captured by the Hydra.

The capture devestated Toni but instead of breaking down he went after the enemy with a vengence completing every mission with unimaginable efficiency. This went on for nearly two months until, one spring day, Steve Rogers showed up at their camp with his team and over 100 newly freed Hydra POWs, Bucky stumbling beside him weak but alive.

It was the first time she'd seen her student cry.

Now, as she stood in the doorway of his bedroom, she wished she had been wrong than night in London if only to spare her Toni from the pure anguish enamating from him now.

He was on the floor dressed in nothing but his undergarments and a bathrobe, long dark hair falling in disarray to pool around his shaking form. His hands dainty but strong were holding an official looking paper in a white knuckled grip, tears streaming in neverending trails down his cheeks.

"Toni?" She questioned softly.

Without looking at her he thrust the letter into her hand. As she read the first line, her heart shattered for him.

To Whom It May Concern,

We deeply regret to inform your that Sergent James Barnes was Killed in a firefight on the eve of 16 October 1943.

She looked away, not bothering to read the rest instead focusing on her student.

"Oh, God. Toni, I'm so sorry."

For a moment he didn't respond, however when he looked up she found herself immediately wishing he hadn't. His eyes, normally a warm hazel, were dull yellow hue and she immediately knew that her normally rescillient student would never recover from this.

TBC...

A/N: I'm a bit tenative about this story seeing as how we don't really know alot about Bucky. So, um...tell me how I did. Critiscism is welcome but please no flames because I am the type of person to tell you off and politely not give a fuck.