Bucky didn't entirely know what to do for the best that evening. He didn't want to overstay his welcome, but every time he looked at the locks on Evelyn's door he wondered how she felt. He had held her until she fell back to sleep and then gently he had managed to pick her up, allowing her to nestle close to him as he carried her into her bedroom. He kept her in one arm as he pulled back the duvet on her bed and she whispered to him.

"You can stay if you want," she said.

"I don't want to move too quick."

"I would agree if this felt like a conventional relationship," Evelyn said to him and he lowered her to her mattress. She was still dressed in her skirt and jumper and she knew she had to change. "But things haven't entirely been conventional. Just stay…please?"

"Well when you say please," Bucky conceded easily and he bent down to kiss her chastely. "Get some sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

Evelyn nodded, not sure what she should say to him. She bit down on her bottom lip and she spoke, seeing him turn his back on her and head to the door. "I know you're opposed to mattresses," she said. "But this bed is big enough for two and I kind of…well…I don't mind if you want the left hand side."

Bucky scratched the back of his neck and looked to her as she grabbed her pyjamas from the bottom of her bed. He was the one this time who felt the colour rise in his cheeks at her suggestion. But he had let her fall asleep against him before. What was so different about letting her do it in a bed? It just felt a bit more intimate.

"Forget I asked," Evelyn shook her head and looked down, playing with drawstring on her pyjama bottoms. Bucky frowned and moved back to her, sitting down on the edge of the bed with her. He shook his head and reached his hand out to hold onto hers.

"It just feels weird for me," Bucky said. "I mean, I'm from a time when the idea of sharing a woman's bed was pretty scandalous unless they were married. I guess I'm just a bit out of step with the modern way and…and sometimes I don't know if I like it. I like being old fashioned. I like buying a girl flowers before a date and being there to hold doors open…pay for dinner…let her hold my arm when we're in public."

Evelyn swore that he was trying to get her to melt just at his words. But she composed herself and squeezed his hand. "Do what feels right," she said to him, knowing how hard it must be for him to adjust. "But just know that I don't mind, okay?"

"Okay," Bucky nodded and peered down to her. He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her once more. "Goodnight, Evelyn."

"Night, Bucky," she responded and he stood up and left the bedroom.

Closing the door behind him, he went back to the living room and plodded around, pulling his jumper from his body. He left his grey top on, his dog tags dangling against the material as he pushed his jeans off and folded them neatly up. He placed them onto the chair before sitting down on the ground and grabbing a cushion. Once he was covered in the blanket, he reached to turn the lamp off as he heard Evelyn finish off whatever she was doing in her bedroom.

Placing his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling and wondered how to tell her about Verity. In a sense, he was glad that she had asked him to stay. He didn't particularly want to leave her alone while Verity was on the loose. He didn't even try to sleep, despite feeling sleepy. He had been running on adrenaline for the past few days ever since he decided to return to D.C. He hadn't slept the night before after seeing Evelyn going out.

She had told him that she had gone clubbing and had been thankful that Rebecca had been there to keep an eye on things. Bucky had never been clubbing. He had been to parties and gatherings, but from what she told him, clubbing sounded horrible. She told him how some guy had tried to buy them a drink and Bucky had to admit that he felt jealous. He was glad that she had been scoffing pizza and too preoccupied to watch him when she had told him. He didn't like the idea of anyone touching her or even being near her.

Sighing to himself, he turned to look at the clock on the wall, just about making out that it was three in the morning in the darkness. He stood up and realised that sleep wouldn't come to him, not right then. He moved around the living room, keeping as quiet as possible and slipping on the wooden floor slightly in his socks. He brushed his hands through his hair and shook his head.

"Screw it," he mumbled.

He moved cautiously towards Evelyn's bedroom. He gently turned the doorknob and stepped into the room. She was already sleeping, sprawled out in her double bed, eyes firmly shut. He moved around the bed, trying not to trip over the shoes she had abandoned and the clothes she had yet to put away after trying them on the night before. Approaching the bed, he pulled the duvet back and sat on the edge. His weight dipped on the mattress and he almost got back up and left instantly, the feeling completely foreign to him. But he persevered when he heard Evelyn grumble and stir.

"You okay?" she asked sleepily.

"Can't sleep," Bucky responded and Evelyn nodded.

She rolled away from the middle of the bed and pulled the duvet further back. Bucky took that as his invitation and climbed in, resting on his back. Evelyn tossed the duvet up then, cuddling further into it before rolling onto her other side and facing away from Bucky. He laid awake, still staring but this time at a different ceiling. Evelyn tried to fall back to sleep, but she could sense the tenseness from Bucky besides her. She sighed and kept her eyes closed before reaching behind her. She found his vibranium arm and shivered at the coolness of it. Tugging it towards her, she moved so that it was holding her waist and Bucky turned to lay on his side.

"You don't need to-"

"-It's a part of you," Evelyn interrupted, knowing where this was going. "Just try and get some sleep…it'll seem natural one day."

"Already beginning to," Bucky admitted to her and her lips quirked as he watched the back of her head for a moment. He tried to loosen his breathing and he closed his eyes, longing to fall to sleep even if only for a few hours.

….

Bucky was awake before Evelyn. Amazingly he had slept for a couple of hours, his nightmare only waking him in a cold sweat instead of screaming. He panted for a deep breath before sitting up. Evelyn was still sleeping soundly. She had rolled over and was facing him with one hand stuffed under her pillow and the other in front of her by her chest. Bucky removed his arm from her waist and climbed from the bed, hands grabbing hold of the top of his head. Moving over to the door to her bedroom, he left her sleeping and went to splash cold water on his face. Taking a moment to compose himself, he saw a spare toothbrush in a pack and brushed his teeth.

He dressed silently and looked around Evelyn's apartment for some form of breakfast. Finding flour, milk and eggs, he set about making pancakes, still trying to figure out a way to tell her what Sam had told him. He realised that he had to do it. Of course he did. He didn't think it would be a good start to their relationship if he lied.

Moving over to grab a frying pan, Bucky placed it on her stove. He began beating the mixture together at the same time he heard Evelyn come padding into the living room. She was tugging her hair into a ponytail, her pyjamas askew on her body. Moving slowly towards him, she yawned into her hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I was going to make you pancakes so you could have breakfast in bed," Bucky told her. "But it seems that didn't go to plan."

"Hmm," Evelyn hummed, enjoying the sound of pancakes. She perched down at the breakfast bar. "You didn't have to make breakfast."

"I wanted to," Bucky said. "Besides, I didn't think you would be awake just yet."

"I heard you get up," Evelyn said, "figured that I should see what you were doing. Didn't expect to find you here and making pancakes. You're so domesticated."

Bucky chuckled and Evelyn smiled before slipping from her stool. She grabbed two glasses from her cupboard and poured orange juice into both of them. She left one by the stove as Bucky placed the batter into the frying pan and let it begin to cook. Evelyn kept hold of her orange juice, sipping on it gently while standing next to Bucky at the stove.

"Did you have anymore nightmares?" Bucky dared to wonder from her.

"Not as bad," Evelyn said to him. "You?"

"Always do," he responded and Evelyn gave his bare arm a squeeze. He had left his jumper off, her apartment quite warm and he had grown to feel comfortable with her seeing his vibranium arm. She didn't seem alarmed by it at all.

"Quite a pair we are," Evelyn sighed and Bucky chuckled, lifting his arm up and wrapping it over her shoulders so that he could bend down and kiss the top of her head. "What are we doing today?" she asked, changing the topic and sipping her orange again.

"You want to hang out today?" he asked from her.

"Do you not want to?" she questioned him back.

"Of course I do," he responded, "I just figured that you might be bored of me."

"Never," she responded. "But if you do want to hang out then I do have errands I need to run. I have to go to the store and pick up groceries for this week. I know it sounds boring, but seriously, if I don't get groceries then I'll just eat takeaway food all week."

"It doesn't sound boring," Bucky promised her. "It sounds normal."

"Well, feel free to join me," Evelyn said and she uncurled herself from his side, moving over to her drawer and grabbing cutlery. She set the places at the breakfast bar and grabbed the maple syrup as Bucky drank his the orange juice and tossed a pancake, earning a cheer from Evelyn and he laughed.

He finished cooking them and dished them on a plate. Heading to place them down on the counter, he sat down on the stool next to them as Evelyn poured syrup onto one. Bucky wrinkled his nose, a crease forming between his brows.

"How much syrup do you need?" he asked from her.

"Hey, stop judging," she said and cut into one. "I have a sweet tooth."

"You'll rot your teeth," he warned her.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't eat this every day. It's a treat," she responded to him, "but thank you for your concern."

"Just looking out for you," he said. "You don't get to one hundred and five years-old without watching what you eat."

Evelyn did laugh at that and Bucky turned his gaze over to her, seeing the smile on her face as she turned to face him and he wondered if he could do it. He didn't want to tell her. She looked so happy. She had no problems. He didn't want to add to her problems, but he knew that he had to. He took a bite of his pancake and lowered his gaze to the counter.

"I have something to tell you," he said to her, voice deep. Evelyn took a sip of her juice and looked over to him expectantly. "Sam called me last night and he has news…it's about Mardox."

"What about him?" Evelyn wondered, taking another bite of his pancake.

Bucky dared to move his gaze to her, his hand going to run down his stubble covered cheek. "Not him," Bucky shook his head at her. "Her. His sister."

Evelyn said nothing, waiting patiently for him to say something. He took a moment to continue watching her, a sense of fear taking hold of him at the sight of her face. The smile was gone. Instead she was just watching him, concern etched on her features.

"Stop staring and tell me," Evelyn finally encouraged him and he spoke again.

"His sister was broken out of where she was being held," Bucky said. "There is this group called the Flag Smashers. They want things to go back to how they were during the blip. Turns out that Verity Mardox is a sympathiser with them and they helped her escape…she's…she's one of the doctors who was examining my blood."

Evelyn nodded, trying to stay rational. Bucky placed his cutlery down and reached over, his hand taking hold of her cheek and cupping it, his thumb running over her cheekbone. Leaning closer to her, his forehead almost brushed against hers as she processed what he had just told her.

"Nothing is going to happen to you," Bucky promised her. "I mean it, Evelyn, I'm going to keep you safe."

"I know," Evelyn managed to say to him. "But this group…how serious are they?"

"Quite undercover from what I have read," Bucky said to her. "But they're growing. Sam is looking into it and I have told him to keep me posted. She'll be found and dragged back to where she belongs."

Evelyn shook her head. "But she wants revenge on you," she responded to him, moving her hand out to his neck, holding it and stroking it softly, the motion making him shudder as she looked at him with that soft gaze. "What if she comes after you?"

"I can handle myself," Bucky assured her. "What I don't want is her getting close to you again."

"Would she dare?" Evelyn wondered from Bucky. "I mean, would she be stupid enough to come after us again?"

"People who want revenge usually don't stop until they get it," Bucky said to her. "But she won't, not this time. I can go, Evelyn. If it would make you feel safer then I could leave you alone and-"

He was cut off as Evelyn moved to kiss him, the motion soft and gentle, her lips pressing to his and he swore that he struggled to think coherently for a few moments. She slowly pulled away, teasing her lips with his as she whispered against his cheek, her hand holding the back of his head and tangling into his hair. "Does that answer your question?" she wondered.

"Not entirely," he admitted.

"Then you're not very good at reading signals," she replied. "I don't want you to go anywhere. Is that clear enough?"

"You're sure?"

"Positive," Evelyn replied.

"Absolutely certain?"

"As certain as can be."

"No doubts?" he continued pushing.

Evelyn arched a brow. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm sure?"

Bucky shrugged. "Was kind of hoping you'd kiss me again just so I'm doubly sure," he said.

She smiled at that and shook her head. "You're incorrigible," she mumbled, but did just as he had hoped.

….

Evelyn had spent the Sunday with Bucky. He had gone for a walk to the store with her, carrying her basket as she tossed things into it. It had been nice and normal, a far cry from what he was used to. He would watch her look at packets, check sell by dates, and consider food that she claimed she didn't need but wanted. He carried her bags back home for her and she suggested she cook them dinner that evening. He had agreed, asking if he could maybe stay at her place that night, not liking the idea of her being alone while Verity was still on the loose. She had agreed, quite liking the idea of him staying at her place. They had gone back to his after dumping the groceries and he had packed a bag with clean clothes and his laptop and tablet.

Once they were back to hers, he settled on the sofa and watched her move around the kitchen, playing music softly in the background. He had been sat on his laptop as she cooked, making notes on how to find his first person he had to see in order to make his amends. He ate the pasta bake that she cooked, drinking beer alongside it as she opted for water. He had insisted on clearing up and she had helped him, loading the dishwasher and starting it up.

He walked her to work the next morning, telling her that he would see her that night. He had errands to run and he knew that he couldn't watch over her every single minute of the day. She had said that she would be fine, that she had her work colleagues and security at the museum was pretty tight. He nodded, standing with her at the bottom of the steps to the museum.

"Well, look whose back."

Evelyn was about to bid Bucky goodbye, kissing him chastely when the voice entered their ears. Evelyn turned her head over her shoulder to see Rebecca approaching. She had her gloves on her fingers and her duffle coat zipped up to her chin. Her hair was tucked behind her ears and her ankle boots clicked on the floor, her black skirt coming to her ankles.

"Hey," Evelyn greeted her.

"Hey," Rebecca said to her, "so what happened here? I only saw you Friday night and you never mentioned the man from out of time being back."

"Oh…well…Bucky…he kind of came back Saturday morning."

Rebecca arched her brow. "I see," she said.

Bucky had to admit that he felt awkward, but he understood Rebecca's disdain towards him. Evelyn sensed that Bucky didn't entirely know what to say and so she stepped in. She looked to Rebecca and gave her a firm nod.

"We're good," she promised her. "We worked things out, Rebecca."

"Well, I hope so," Rebecca responded. "Because I swear I won't be as charming next time I see you if you hurt her," she said to Bucky and he almost wanted to chuckle. She really thought that her lack of charm would bother him? But he nodded. It was sweet, in a way.

"Duly noted," Bucky told her, "but I don't intend on hurting her so you have no reason to worry."

"I should hope not," Rebecca said with a stern expression. "Because I took her out on Friday night and she practically pounced on a stranger who she thought was you. I don't want her to feel that way again."

"Rebecca!" she snapped at her and Bucky looked down to Evelyn, knowing that she would be embarrassed. She shook her head firmly at her and Rebecca shrugged.

"Just telling the truth," she said to her. "Are you coming in or what?"

"Give me a minute," she sighed, holding a finger up.

"I'll wait for you at the top of the stairs," Rebecca responded.

Evelyn groaned and placed a hand to her forehead, turning back around to face Bucky. She kept her gaze level so that she was staring just above his chest. He stepped closer to her and moved his finger underneath her chin, forcing her gaze up to meet his.

"That was so embarrassing," Evelyn said. "I'm sorry she spoke to you like that."

"I'm not," Bucky said. "She's a good friend."

"Well, I guess so," Evelyn admitted. "But still…" she trailed off and Bucky smirked.

He couldn't resist asking her. "Did you really see someone at the club who looked like me?"

Evelyn scoffed. "I saw someone at least three times a week who I hoped was you," she responded.

"I know that feeling," he said to her. "And I knew her saying it would turn you red."

"Such a tease," Evelyn complained to him, hitting him softly on the chest, her hand balling into a fist and staying there. "I should go up to her before she shouts something else. See you tonight?"

"See you tonight," Bucky replied. She stood on her toes in her brogues to reach up to kiss him as he met her halfway, bending down. He swore that he heard Rebecca cough loudly as his lips remained pressed to Evelyn's before he pulled away. He gave her a smile and backed away as she waved once and turned to move up the steps, Rebecca smirking wildly at her. She looked to her and narrowed her eyes.

"Don't start," she warned her.

She held her hands up defensively. "It's cute," she said. "You're finally dating someone. But I mean it, Evie, if he hurts you again then I will have his balls."

"I'm sure he will heed your warning," Evelyn said and showed her pass at the door before entering, Rebecca doing the same and following her in.

"The boy better," Rebecca replied and Evelyn smiled at the situation, despite her embarrassment.

….

Evelyn had been working on answering emails when she got a phone call from reception. Apparently there was someone there to see her. She stood up from her computer, locking it and heading to the entrance. She tugged on the dark green fitted dress she was wearing over her black tights. The sleeves came down to her wrists and the material stopped just above her knee, a black belt tied around the middle. She smiled as she approached the man who was waiting for her.

"Sam," she said his name.

"Hey," he greeted her. "I hope you don't mind me dropping in like this."

"Not at all," Evelyn promised him and she looked to Bert behind the desk. "He's a friend," she said to him. "Thanks for calling, Bert."

"Anytime," he waved and went back to his computer.

"Come on," Evelyn encouraged him. "Can I get you a coffee or something?"

"Coffee would be great," he said.

He watched her order a coffee and a herbal tea from the cart selling drinks. She spoke with the man behind the stall, telling him that she would pay him back when she left later on. Handing Sam his drink, she fell into step besides him and moved to sit down on a bench at the quieter end of the museum, a gaggle of screaming children running past. Sam looked at them with wide eyes. He knew that kids could be loud, but they were obnoxiously loud. Evelyn chuckled at his expression and sipped on her drink.

"You get used to that," she said to him. "I once had to do a tour when the usual guide was off for six different schools in one day."

"That sounds horrendous," Sam admitted.

"No, it's great," Evelyn responded, folding one leg over the other. "I love it when kids are interested in history."

"You must really love history, huh?"

"I guess so," Evelyn shrugged and took another sip.

"Well you are dating a fossil," he pointed out and she almost spat her tea out as she laughed, pressing a hand to her mouth. Sam smiled at the sight, chuckling and leaning back on the bench, legs splayed open as he took a sip of his own coffee.

Evelyn nodded and delicately wiped her mouth. "I guess I am," she agreed with that point. "So what brings you down here?"

"I…" Sam began, but he was unsure if he should be discussing this. He didn't know if this was something he should do or if Evelyn was the person he should talk to. But he had to talk to someone. "I have something that probably belongs in a museum, but I don't know what to do with it."

Evelyn nodded, uncertain of what he meant. She waited for a few moments, giving him time to compose himself.

"It's Cap's shield," he said in a whisper so that no one could hear.

"What?" Evelyn snapped loudly, unable to keep her voice under control. She leant forwards, almost spilling her tea. Her eyes widened and Sam nodded. "Do you know how many people have been looking for that? No one knew where it went or even where Steve went…hell, does Bucky even know?"

"He knows," Sam promised her, "but we swore to keep it a secret. He deserves a quiet life."

"I assume that's a quiet life not on the moon?" she checked with him.

"So you've heard the rumours?" he checked.

"Hard not to when you work here," she said with a shrug and wrapped both hands around the cup she held onto. "There was even talk at one stage of mentioning the rumour in the exhibit. I quashed it because it sounds ridiculous."

"It is," Sam said to her. "But that's why I came here. I have…the item," he said, not wanting to say it again. "And Steve gave it to me because he thought that I deserved it. The issue is that I don't think I deserve it. I don't feel that it is right for me to have it…to take up his mantel. I don't think it is me."

Evelyn nodded. She understood what he was saying. "Big shoes to fill," she confirmed.

"Exactly," Sam said to her with a soft nod in her direction, drinking his drink once more. "I have it sat in my wardrobe and I keep wondering if it would be better here…in a museum….his history preserved."

"Well, you know that we would take it," Evelyn said to him. "And every other museum would love to get their hands on it as well and…I mean…it would be a big boost for the exhibit here…but…" she trailed off and let out a sigh, "it is your choice. Steve gave it to you for a reason, right?"

"I think so."

"And I've read loads of books on him," Evelyn admitted to Sam. "I never met him and I will never know what he was like, but Bucky…he loved him look a brother…and he trusted him. He talks about him and it confirms what I read. He was a good man. He stood up for what he thought was right. He wouldn't give up the shield to anyone. I think that he saw himself in you."

"But how?"

"Because you're a good man too," Evelyn responded honestly. "I know who you are as well, Sam, and what you've done. You help people. You dropped everything to come and help Bucky and you're still helping him by looking into his past. That's not part of your job description, but you're doing it for him…for us," Evelyn said, knowing that Bucky would never have come back without him agreeing to help. "But it is down to you what you choose to do. Don't do anything brash. Take time and think on it."

"I will," Sam agreed with her on that point. He knew that there was no point in being brash. "Honestly, I would've thought you'd jump at the chance to have it here."

"Oh, don't get me wrong," Evelyn said, "I would go down as some kind of legend in the museum industry if I secured it," she kept her tone light and Sam chuckled. "But I get the feeling that right now, you're conflicted. And you have to do what feels right."

"Thanks," Sam said earnestly.

"You don't need to thank me," she shrugged at him and took another sip of her drink. "Anyway, how are things going? Bucky told me about Verity."

"Yeah," Sam agreed, rubbing a hand along his jean covered thigh. "I'm working on that case as a top priority. Last information we had saw her leaving on a private jet for Berlin."

"Berlin?" Evelyn wondered. "So she's not in the States?"

"Not right now," Sam said, "and the next time she steps foot here will be on her way to a jail cell."

"I hope so," Evelyn responded. "So…does that mean we can maybe relax for a little while? Because ever since Bucky told me yesterday he's been on edge. He tries to act calm, but he's not very good at it."

"Does he do that staring thing?"

"All the time," Evelyn said and her lips quirked. "I don't think he knows that he does it, that's the worst thing."

"Freaks the hell out of me," Sam admitted.

"I don't know, I find it quite endearing," Evelyn replied.

"You're perfect together if that's the case," Sam said and finished off his coffee with one final long slurp. He tossed the cup into the bin next to him and looked back at Evelyn as she pushed her hair behind her shoulder. "Listen, I know that Bucky messed up before and I know that he isn't exactly the most open guy there is…he has a lot going on in that cyborg brain of his that he doesn't tell people, but for what it's worth, he does care about you. I found him in Brooklyn before he came back and he…he was miserable…and Bucky is usually miserable looking, but this was different."

"He said that you found him there," Evelyn said.

"I told him that you deserved better than some crappy letter explaining why he had left," Sam said to her.

"I told him as much myself."

"I bet you did," Sam said. "Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is this…he really does care. I think that he could be happy, but it's almost as though he doesn't feel as though he has earned the right to be happy."

"I can see that," Evelyn said to Sam. "I just imagine it will take time to get him to change his mind."

"And I think you can help him do that," Sam said to her. "Just…Steve asked me to look out for him…but I am hoping that is a task we can both do now. It would put my mind more at ease."

"I'll look out for him."

"I know," Sam agreed with her and stood up. She followed his movement, tossing her cup into the bin. "I should get going. I promised Torres I would buy him a beer. We're trying to get into the Flag Smashers message board…well, he is. Hence why I am buying the beer."

Evelyn smiled. "I'll walk you out," she said.

"Thanks," Sam said to her and they began walking down the corridor to the exit. "I don't want to ask you to keep secrets from Bucky. I know that wouldn't be fair. He knows that I have the shield, but he doesn't know what I'm thinking. I don't even know what I'm thinking. Can you just tell him I came to check in on you? Nothing about the shield, not until I decide what to do. I don't know how he'll react."

Evelyn didn't entirely want to keep secrets from Bucky, but she found herself nodding. She would do it for the time being. "I can do that," she agreed with him. "And if you ever want to talk about it then you know where I am."

"Thanks, Evelyn," he said and she gave him a small smile and a wave before he left her to finish off the rest of her working day.

….

"So you came back."

"Very observant of you, doc."

"You know, I would have thought that you might have lost some of the attitude now that you're back with Evelyn…might make you happier than you were when we spoke on the phone…but clearly I was wrong."

Bucky shrugged his shoulders. He was back on the grey sofa again the next morning, talking to his therapist in the morning and then spending his afternoon researching a Congressman he had helped get into power through HYDRA's aid. He intended to make the man resign, but he had to do it while respecting rules one and two. Well, he would respect them as much as he could.

"What made you change your mind?" his therapist continued pushing. "You had been certain that leaving was the right decision before."

"And I'm still not a hundred per-cent certain that returning is the right decision, but I'm here," Bucky said, fingers lacing together on his lap. "So that is all there is to it."

"No," she responded. "Something must have changed your mind."

"Why can I not just change my own mind?" Bucky pushed and she reached for the notebook. He did his usual groan and glanced to the ceiling. "I saw an old friend," Bucky spoke to her. "He made me see that perhaps I can have a normal life. I put things into place…asked a friend to look into my history and past…see if anyone would want revenge on me. I am trying to make it as safe as possible for me to be here and to be with Evelyn."

She nodded her head. "Sounds smart."

"And you sound shocked that I could have a good idea," Bucky replied at her tone.

"I can be surprised every once in a while," she replied. "So how is it going? Are you opening up to her? Building a relationship with her?"

"Trying to," Bucky replied. "I don't tell her everything…but I mention things from the past…fleeting comments."

"Such as?" she pressed.

"Music I liked…my parents…what food I used to eat…everything light. I don't want to tell her about what I did as the Winter Soldier. If she knew then why would she want to be with me? I can barely think about what I did never mind talk about it."

"You know that she knows who you are and what you've done," she replied. "She knows about the Winter Soldier-"

"-She doesn't know everything," Bucky interrupted. "She knows what she has read. That is different to hearing about the horrors…different to the words coming out of my mouth describing how I shot a young man because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time…how many lives I took."

"That wasn't you," she responded. "That was the Winter Soldier. You're no longer him. Remember rule number three."

"I might not be him, but I was too weak to resist HYDRA," Bucky spat back.

"Is that what you think?" she questioned. "You were tortured, James. No one could have resisted what they did to you. You cannot blame yourself for that or you will never move on. There is no expectation on you to tell her everything…but just know that she knows that the man in front of her today is different to the man who was taken by HYDRA."

Bucky nodded. "She reminds me of that quite often," he admitted.

"And does she make you happy?" she asked him.

"Yes," Bucky said, "I only worry that eventually I won't make her happy."

"Why would you say that?"

Bucky shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like talking about her, but his therapist was supposed to keep everything under wraps and confidential. Besides, she would only pick up her notebook if he didn't answer her. "She has four locks on her door," Bucky said to her. "She is scared…she gets jumpy whenever she hears noises…and I was the cause of that. She has nightmares too."

"That is understandable," she replied. "And has she spoken to anyone?"

"Not yet," Bucky said. "But I don't like what being around me has turned her into. When I first met her she was so confident and nothing fazed her. And now she tries to act like things are normal, but I can see the signs. She looks to the door whenever she hears anyone in the corridor walk past. She…she screamed so loudly when she woke up from her nightmare." Bucky closed his eyes and replayed the noise in his head. "And it hurts for me to know that I was the cause of it."

"You were not the cause."

"No matter how many times you say that, I won't believe it or buy into it," Bucky said firmly.

"Fine," she said, "if you want to blame yourself then blame yourself," she said and her tone was harsh. "But if you want to blame yourself for being the problem then find a way to become the solution…to help her work through it. And that doesn't involve running away from her again as soon as something gets tough. She deserves better than such cowardly behaviour."

Bucky's brows knitted together. "Do you talk to all your patients like that?"

"Only super soldiers," she retorted. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to stop moping and blaming yourself and help her or are you going to continue this brooding?"

"You know, I suggested she talk to someone, but I don't think I'll recommend you."

"Tough love works best sometimes…especially for people like us," she responded.

"Yeah," James breathed out and looked to the clock, thankful that another hour was up on his session.

…

Bucky waited for Evelyn outside of the museum after his therapy appointment. He saw her leave, bidding goodnight to Charlie after leaving him a coffee on his desk. As she dashed down the stairs, he saw a look on her face that made him anxious. He watched her as she stood before him and she took hold of his shoulders.

"Promise me you won't get mad," she urged from him.

He arched a brow. "What's happened?"

"I…my dad called," she said to him. "He has been sent to D.C. for work for a week or so. He only told me this morning. He wanted to keep it a secret…anyway…he's in town with my mum and they want to have dinner tonight."

"That's fine," Bucky said, shrugging. "You go and have dinner. Do you want me to wait for you at the apartment?"

Evelyn moved a hand to her forehead and shook her head. "They…they kind of want to meet you," Evelyn said and Bucky's eyes widened as she shook her head. "I told them that it was far too soon to meet you. We've only been dating a few weeks. Besides, they don't have the best first impression of you considering you left me that letter and they saw me mope around my apartment for ages…plus they kind of didn't like the fact I was kidnapped to get back to you."

"This isn't filling me with confidence, Evie," Bucky told her.

"Sorry," she said, "but I have told them that isn't you. I can go to dinner and say that you were busy. I mean-"

"-Then I'll look like even more of a coward," Bucky interrupted and sighed, shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose. "No, this is going to happen sooner or later, right? Might as well be sooner. Besides, I guess that I owe them a massive apology for what I put them through."

"You don't owe them an apology for me being kidnapped."

"So you keep reminding me, but I do owe them an apology for hurting you," he said, "and for having to watch you hurt. So…I can't believe I am doing this…but yes…I'll come…come and meet your parents."

"You're sure?"

"As sure as I can be," Bucky said to her. "Just promise you won't leave me alone."

She nodded and began walking, threading her hand into his arm. "Never thought you'd be scared of meeting the parents."

"It's one of the most terrifying things I can imagine," he said and looked down to her as she laughed. His own lips turned up in a fake smile. She seriously thought he was joking. It was best to let her think that, he guessed.

….

A/N: Do let me know what you think - not sure if anyone is still reading or updates are too fast so would be great to get to know your thoughts/suggestions/opinions!