AN: The first two chapters are flashbacks while Steve is unconscious and are written in past tense, the rest will be in present tense.

Chapter One: Bully

Annabelle and Steve sat in the theater and waited for the show to start. The screen was currently showing clips of the war in an attempt to get more men to enlist. Sensing Steve's frustration due to his latest rejection from the military, Anna reached out and took his hand in her own to comfort him. He looked to her and their eyes locked as she gave him an encouraging smile causing him to show a small smile of his own. They were broken out of their stare by a man shouting at the screen, causing their attention to shift to him.

"Come on, start the movie already!"

Glancing at her friend, Anna recognized the look of determination on his face and the fire in his eyes. She reached out for his arm to calm him, but it was too late.

"C'mon man, have some respect." Steve retorted.

The man stood up, towering over the two friends and causing Steve to stand, not about to be intimidated. Anna had a feeling that things weren't going to go over well; her suspicions were confirmed when the larger male began dragging her friend out of the theater, into the alley and she quickly followed.

As soon as they got outside, Steve was knocked to the ground by a well-placed punch to the jaw. Anna quickly moved to her friend's defense.

"Leave him alone you jerk!" She cried before kicking him in the shin.

Most other men would have likely pushed her to the side and continued beating her friend, but this man had the audacity to backhand her across the face causing her to fall to the ground, stunned. Steve immediately jumped to his feet as the man moved to kick his fallen friend.

"Don't you touch her!" He shouted in a rage, getting in the way of the other males access to his friend.

Anna was in shock, first at being hit, then at Steve's reaction. She sat watching in stunned silence as he was knocked around by the man that was almost twice his size. She heard quick footsteps and looked up in time to see her brother grab the man's arm.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Bucky asked in a mocking tone. The man immediately tried to land a hit on Bucky, but was quickly on the ground.

"And if you ever so much as look at my sister again, you will be sorry!" He threatened as the man got up and ran off. Bucky turned and helped his best friend to his feet before approaching his sister, concern clear on his face as he helped her up.

"You alright sis?"

"I'll be fine Bucky."

Anna turned her face away and her brother narrowed his eyes at her before gently grabbing her chin and turning her face so that he could see the red hand print on her cheek.

"He hit you?"

"I'll be alright, it'll be gone in a few minutes anyway." She reasoned, wincing at his anger and glancing at Steve who was standing beside her brother.

Bucky chuckled softly at her before releasing her chin and turning to his friend. "I get why you were trying so hard buddy, but you really gotta stop picking fights."

Anna sighed softly and trailed behind the boys as they walked out of the alley only catching parts of their conversation. She was brought back into focus as Bucky directed a question at her from his spot to her left, causing her to look up at him.

"What do you think Angel? You wanna join in?"

"Join in what?" She questioned, tilting her head to the side with a confused stare.

The boys chuckled in response and her brother ruffled her wavy hair. She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted before looking to her right for Steve to answer her. "The World Fair, then out dancing with a couple dames Bucky picked up."

"Sure, could be fun."