Chapter 14. Expectations

Content warning: Contains sexual content which may be inappropriate for readers under the age of 18.

It was still crowded in Brooklyn College's bookstore when Bucky went to pick up the resources he ordered online for his three courses but he managed to get in and out of there in less than an hour. His presence there did turn a few heads, and he had to suppress his own reaction to some of the whispers he heard but nothing negative was said, so that was something. When he got back home with his haul, he could hear the chirp of his kimoyo bead bracelet, reminding him that he hadn't called Shuri back yet. He had fully intended to on Sunday, but Tom's heart attack had thrown a wrench into everyones plan that day. Pulling it on, he activated it as he went from his bedroom to his living room.

"Sergeant Barnes," said the holographic representation of Shuri. "You didn't call back."

"No, an emergency came up yesterday and today I was preoccupied with picking up the resources I need for my college courses."

It was the second time in as many days he had ever surprised Shuri, as she opened her mouth, then closed it before smiling at him.

"You're going to college?"

"Just three courses," he replied, trying not to sound smug. "I have to do something with my life if the Avengers don't regroup." She looked at him expectantly. "I'm taking an English course, political science, and astronomy. I took an anthropology course during the summer and found it interesting."

"I am pleased for you." She looked around. "Your girlfriend is not there?"

"No, she teaches art at the college and had to attend staff meetings today. Classes start on Wednesday, so she'll be busy with that. I probably won't see her until the weekend."

"It is gratifying that you are trying new experiences." Her face became more serious. "How did the arm fare after you cleaned it?"

"I haven't noticed any changes in its function, but it looks much better. What does your monitoring show?"

"No changes but I am concerned about repeated exposures to the high temperatures and water pressure causing issues. I would suggest you keep the dishwasher cycle to a short one no more than once a week so that exposure is limited. I have instructed the other members of the design group to begin designing an upgraded arm that will better withstand the dishwasher environment."

"You're not angry I tried that?" he asked, curious.

"No, not at all, although I would have appreciated prior notice that you were going to try it," she said. "It is a practical solution to the need to keep the arm's exterior clean, but it would probably be best if it were the only item being cleaned. If you have biological matter on the arm, I would suggest running a cleaning cycle on the appliance after." She looked down at her desk for a moment. "We have completed the prosthetic for the boy whose name you sent us. We spoke with his parents and the technician who made his current arm. It is not vibranium but it does contain circuitry that will eliminate the phantom issues he is experiencing. It will be shipped to the technician this week and should be ready for fitting before month's end. The circuitry can be transferred to any new arm that the technician makes for him based on our design, to accommodate his physical growth. At some point, it will require an update, but we will work with all concerned then."

"Thank you for doing that," he said.

"It was our pleasure," she smiled. "I hope to hear from you again soon, and to meet your girlfriend. What is her name?"

"Hope Franklin," he said. "I was friends with her mother first. She helped me get my GED."

"Well, you tell Ms. Franklin that someday we hope she can visit Wakanda with you. You are always welcome."

He almost told her about Thaddeus Ross's pledge about enhanced humans, but held back, not wanting to insert a sour note into their conversation. But then again, the announcement had made the news. It was likely Shuri and King M'Baku already knew.

"I will. Thank you again."

The image shut down and Bucky took the bracelet off, placing it back into his nightstand drawer. Opening the bag of books he had picked up, he sorted through them, then headed to his closet and pulled out his backpack, planning to use that to carry his things on campus. He had his tablet, his notebooks, pens, pencils, and now his textbooks. He was as ready as he could be for Wednesday. A ripple of satisfaction went through him. Finally, he was doing what he wanted to do with his life, and not what the circumstances dictated.

On Tuesday, he had a video call with his sister, informing her about going to college. Rebecca was thrilled for him and even more pleased when he brought up bringing Hope to meet her in October. With a promise to let her know once everything was booked Bucky ended the call and sat in his living room. Alpine ran towards him, with her tail straight up then jumped onto the couch, laying gracefully on her side, close enough that he could scratch her behind the ears. Slowly, she blinked her eyes before closing them completely. According to what he looked up on the internet it meant she loved him and trusted him.

Taking in the calmness of his environment Bucky closed his own eyes, using the moment as an opportunity to just be. The sounds of the outside traffic dissipated into a gentle hum, while he breathed steadily in and out, focusing only on that.

--

"Do you have everything packed?"

He looked at his mother, who stood in the doorway of his room. It was obvious that she was using every opportunity she could to talk to him and just be in his presence before he picked up his duffle bag and left the house to head for the docks and the ship that would take him overseas.

"Yes, Ma, it's all packed."

Her hands clasped and unclasped in front of her, betraying her anxiety at her only son going off to war. Taking her hands in his, Bucky raised them to his lips, kissing them, and remembered how they had soothed him when he was sick, had baked untold numbers of cookies, and scrubbed the dirt out of his and Dad's work shirts, even to the point where her fingers were almost raw from the harsh laundry soap. Right now, to him, they felt as soft as silk, and he could smell the Avon hand lotion she bought from Mrs. Hall, who lived down the street.

"You'll be careful over there, won't you?"

Her voice trembled just a little then her grey eyes looked up to his face and he saw it all in them, her love, her hope, but mostly her fears for his safety.

"As much as I can be in a war zone."

That was not exactly what she wanted to hear but Bucky couldn't lie because he felt it, too. He was afraid, not just about dying, but about what war would do to him. It was one thing standing in the boxing ring, hitting a man over and over with his gloved hands. It was another thing to be aiming a gun at a man in the distance, and pulling the trigger, killing him in a second or two without warning him. "Thou shalt not kill." Even though he wasn't much of a church goer, that commandment was first and foremost on his mind. Swallowing, he forced a smile on his face, then kissed his mother on her forehead before wrapping her up in his arms. She gave in to several sobs before taking some deep breaths and calming herself. With a sad smile, she left him to finish getting ready.

A few minutes later, it was his dad's turn to appear at the door. He should have been at work already, getting overtime, since the Navy yards were going at breakneck speed, building, and preparing more ships for the Navy. But instead, he was home, wanting to have a final few moments with his son before he left. The big man stood in the doorway, gazing at Bucky with a stoic demeanour that didn't completely hide his own emotions.

"You're almost ready?"

"Yeah, just have to carry my bag downstairs." He faced his father, surprised to notice how old he looked. "Dad, I'll be alright. You've told me a lot about what to expect."

"It's going to be worse, son. Just, keep your head, trust your brothers in arms, and God willing, you'll make it through." He shook his head as his eyes glistened. "It was never supposed to happen, you know? The Great War was supposed to be the last one. Now we're sending our boys off again and so many families will never be the same." He grimaced then stuck his hand out to his boy. "Good luck, Bucky. Do your best to come home."

The handshake became a heartfelt hug, with his father clapping him on the back several times, the scent of his Old Spice shave lotion filling Bucky's senses, before suddenly letting him go. Picking his duffle bag up, Bucky stopped in the doorway and looked back at his room, wondering if it would look and feel the same when he returned. Then he followed his father down the stairs, saying goodbye all over again to his mother and Rebecca in the parlour, before stepping outside where several other young men he knew were doing the same. He saw Steve across the street, but the smaller man just watched him, then raised his hand. Their goodbyes were said last night. They nodded at each other, then he slung the duffle bag over his shoulder and headed towards where the bus was waiting to take him and the others to the ship. He never saw his parents again.

--

His eyes jerked open, and Bucky raised his right hand to his cheek, finding it wet. He could hear his accelerated heartbeat in his ears and for a moment he breathed heavily. Alpine's head was up, watching him intently, then she rose and placed her front paws on his chest, bumping his face gently with her head. Distracted, he stroked her fur, then closed his eyes again. He couldn't remember ever having such a vivid memory of his parents, complete with their voices, faces, and their unique scents. Why now? Even though it came with a sense of sadness, it was also something he was glad to have received; a full and complete memory that had nothing to do with HYDRA or the Winter Soldier. It was then that he realized something; not so long ago he would have fallen apart after experiencing this memory. Right now, he was cherishing it, accepting it as something wonderful and precious that he thought he had lost. Fishing for his handkerchief, he wiped the remaining tears from his face and blew his nose.

Feeling inspired, he stood up and went to where his phone was charging, sending a text message to Hope. She answered right away, so he dialled her number.

"Hi," he said, trying to sound casual. "You up to joining me for dinner? Nothing special; maybe a bistro somewhere or a diner. I just want to see you."

"Sure, can I meet you there? I'm still at the college, just finishing up some things."

He named the diner, and the time, then told her he loved her. Shortly after he left, he stopped to pick up some flowers for her, a bouquet of dahlias, zinnias, and some small sunflowers. When she came into the diner, seeing him from the door, her face lit up as he handed the bouquet to her, then kissed her lovingly.

"What's this for?" she asked. "You're in a good mood."

He shrugged. "Just felt like it. Excited about tomorrow." He waited for her to sit in the booth, then sat across from her. "I talked to my sister today and she's excited about meeting you."

"I'm excited about meeting her, too," replied Hope, watching him with a soft smile on her face. "I talked to Mom. Tom came through his angioplasty really well and they let him go home today. She's going to stay through the weekend. With it being the long weekend, I thought we could do something special."

"Like what?" He nudged her leg with his foot.

"Well, I know you promised Mom to keep our more energetic activities confined to your place. I could stay the whole weekend."

"The artist's group isn't meeting?"

She shook her head. "Some of them have kids so they're spending the weekend with them, last gasp of summer before school starts on Tuesday. I'm all yours." Carefully, she bit her lower lip. "I would like to bring some art supplies over and sketch you, maybe even start a painting."

He could sense her blush before it reached her face as a rush of blood heated up her skin.

"You talking about rendering me in a nude pose?"

With a shy smile, she looked away, wondering if others had heard him. Which was stupid, because she was an artist, even though it had been during her undergraduate college years since she had worked on a nude portrait. His hand took hers, his thumb rubbing over the back of her hand.

"Hope, look at me," said Bucky softly. She met his eyes, her own fear of being judged evident. "Yes. I would like that. I just ask that it be realistic, showing all my scars, and the arm. It's going to be private, just between us, right?"

"Yeah, they're not for anyone else. Thank you."

"I want to make one small request." She looked up at him, a little apprehensive. "Would you do a full body portrayal of both of us, together? Nude or partially clothed of us, you know, something kind of soft and beautiful."

"We could just take a cell phone picture. That would be the most realistic."

Shrugging slightly, he looked down at their clasped hands then back at her. He was kind of surprised at himself for asking this.

"I would rather have something as seen through an artist's eyes." His eyes looked around as if he was searching for the right words. "I think that you would find beauty in the things about my body that bother me. There's no one else I would trust more."

The server interrupted them, asking if they had made a decision already, knowing full well that the couple hadn't even looked at the menu. Bucky asked for a few more minutes, then made his choice, watching Hope intently as she scanned the menu. After making her choice, she took his hands in hers again.

"Alright, I'll do my best."

During the meal they spoke about the coming few days at the college with Hope informing him that Todd, the young man who accosted her in the summer had been expelled from his program and the registrar declaring that he was no longer welcome as a student. The father's monetary donations were cancelled, but it wasn't a bad thing as it seemed they came with so many strings attached that the administration of the college felt it wasn't worth the trouble. Hope admitted that for a time, she thought the leaders of the college would pay lip service to the women staff that Todd had affected with his behaviour. Their decision to support their women staff left all of them feeling vindicated at taking a stand.

On the walk back to the brownstone, a few blocks away from the diner, Hope held the bouquet in her arms while Bucky put his arm around her shoulders. In the balm of the warm evening air everything felt relaxed as they strolled through the neighbourhood. Bucky still engaged with her and others during the walk, even as they took their time. They stopped several times to look in shop windows and listened to a street musician. When they walked past the sushi bar, Bucky knocked on the window, getting Yuri's attention as he looked up from his seat, giving them a smile and a wave. Leah noticed, acknowledging the couple, before returning to her work.

"I guess she's forgiven me," said Bucky, as they turned away from the glass. "No frown this time."

"She's pretty," replied Hope.

"She is, but she's not my type." She looked up to see him gazing at her, then he kissed her briefly on the side of the head as they continued walking. "You are and I'm in love with you."

By the time they got to her place, Hope wondered what had put Bucky into such a good mood. It wasn't of concern but the whole walk home displayed a social side to him that he rarely showed in public.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine." He smiled, then brushed his curled fingers against her cheek. "I experienced a wonderful memory of my parents earlier. It was from the day I shipped out. There was sadness, and fear, but there was love and hope as well. I could feel their presence in every way. In those days laundry was done by hand, and my mother would use Avon hand lotion to treat how harsh the soap was on her skin. Even now I can smell it and picture the way she looked and hear her voice ringing in my ears. I can smell the Old Spice aftershave that my dad wore, and see the regret on his face that his generation couldn't prevent another war from happening. It occurred to me that even six months ago I might have fallen apart after remembering that but today ... today it was a gift. It was a reminder that my family loved me. Maybe part of me always knew that but today it was right there, and I could touch it and feel it as something tangible."

"That's beautiful." Hope's smile filled her face with a light that touched him in a similar manner. "Just the way you talked I could tell that it wasn't a bad memory. You should share that with your sister."

"I will when we go see her." Once, again he touched her cheek. "I want it all with you, Hope. The good, the bad, the happy, the sad ... it sounds so corny saying it like that but that's life, right? I'm finally at a point where I have something real to live for." Enclosing her in his strong arms, he kissed her with an intensity usually reserved for the bedroom, before stepping back. "Call me when you're done on Friday, and I'll meet you here."

He touched her cheek, then waited as she let herself into the house. She watched him walk away through the living room window, thinking about how content he seemed. This weekend was going to be incredible.

With the first few days of classes behind him, Bucky spent Friday afternoon cleaning his place, changing the sheets, and washing the ones he took off his bed. He stocked the refrigerator with fresh fruit, vegetables, juice, wine, and beer. After he received Hope's call that she was on her way home, he walked to the brownstone and sat on the steps waiting for her. Not long after, he saw her approaching as she walked, admiring how she looked as she came closer. When she saw him, he could tell that she picked up her pace a little, seeing the anticipation on her face. Standing up when she stopped in front of him, they smiled at each other, then hugged and kissed.

It didn't take long to gather what she needed for the weekend, although if she forgot anything it was only a short walk to come back. She packed a carrying case with some sketchbooks, charcoal, and pencils, then packed a small rolling suitcase with clothing. At first, she thought she would have to use her car, but Bucky convinced her to walk, willing to carry the heavier items for her. The walk to his place took them past many who were enjoying the last Friday in August. The sound of music wafted all over, and the glow of the almost setting sun bathed everything in a warm golden light. It seemed a perfect way to start their weekend together.

At his flat, they were both greeted by Alpine who circled around their ankles. After dropping her suitcase off in the bedroom Bucky came back out to find her cradling the kitten, gently taking her from Hope's arms and putting her on the floor. He backed Hope up against the tall counter that separated his kitchen from the living room area, lowering his head towards her and gently nuzzling against her neck.

"God, I missed you," he murmured, taking in her scent and the softness of her hair.

"It's only been a few days," answered Hope. Her eyes fluttered closed as the rippling sensations from his mouth on her skin spread throughout her body.

Taking her jaw gently in his hand he kissed alongside the edge of it, before settling on her lips and bringing several soft whimpers out.

"Far too long. I need you in my bed, now."

He kept kissing her in the most sensual way, waiting for her permission to proceed. For all the years of the men in her life either taking her for granted or ignoring her own needs, she now had a man who wasn't afraid to tell her what he wanted and waited for her to grant it.

"Yes."

That simple word had Bucky lifting her up like she weighed nothing and carrying her to his bed, placing her on top, then removing his shirt revealing that beautiful body that made her gasp more often than not. Lifting her own shirt so that the skin of her abdomen was revealed brought his mouth and hands onto the soft warmth there, hungrily exploring her as she managed to pull it off over her head. Her jeans ended up on the floor, then he tugged her panties off, kissing the inside of her thighs and hips until he focused on where she needed him most. In the blur of his efforts, Hope could feel the ever-increasing buildup of desire within her body. Her own hands gravitated from fondling her breasts to pressing them into his hair as he brought her to the delicious precipice before she soared into ecstasy. It was like nothing she had ever experienced with anyone else, but with Bucky it was something he always aspired to, as if it was his duty to make her body sing loudly, calling to him as a siren would.

That siren's call drove him as he prepared to join their bodies together in a union that could last longer than any other man she had ever been with. Insatiable, ravenous, and demanding were just words that only scratched the surface of the way he made love and fucked her body until she couldn't take any more. All of it was done with the intention of pleasing her first and it did, so much so that Hope knew she would never find another man who could make her feel the way Bucky did. When she did finally signal that she had reached the end of her endurance, he stopped, murmuring that he would take care of her, starting with rehydration as he made sure she drank lots of water.

A bath was drawn for both of them, so that she could lay back on his chest and fall asleep if she wanted. They talked as he squeezed the warm water over her body with a large sea sponge, sharing everything and anything that came to mind. He dried her off, dressed her in her pyjamas and tucked her into his bed. Although Bucky wasn't tired, he spooned behind Hope until she fell asleep then he went out to the kitchen and made himself a late meal, reminding himself to save some for her in case she woke up needing food. Not that she did wake up, as she stayed asleep all night, and well into the morning buried into the white duvet. When she did finally stir, long after he got up, the subtle sounds were heard by Bucky, who watched from the doorway. She raised her head, seeing him there and lowered it back to the pillow.

"What did you do to me?" she asked, her voice muffled in the press of her head into the fabric. "I feel like I have no body left."

"Told you I missed you," he answered, making the bed dip as he spooned behind her. "You must be starving."

"Uh huh," she muttered. "Thirsty too." She sighed, more as a sign of being relaxed and satisfied. "Do you have something made up for me?"

"I made pancakes and sausage, and I have loads of fresh fruit, some whipped cream, coffee, juice, and I bought some danishes ..." He patted her bottom. "Up you get, madam. Breakfast will be served in the conservatory."

She giggled, then rolled over to face him. "I love you."

"I know. I love me, too." Gently, she pushed him, then he kissed her softly. "I adore you."

They kissed again, languidly enjoying the play of their lips against each other. Then he pulled away and got out of the bed, smiling as he left her to get ready. When she did come out, she noticed that he pulled the table over to where his plant stand was. Since her mother bought him his first plants, he had added to the display and now had an assortment of flowering and ornamental plants that formed his conservatory. On the table, breakfast was set up, complete with another small bouquet of flowers.

"Did you go out already?" she asked, as he pulled her chair out.

"You were dead to the world," he shrugged. "I had time to pick up something. Besides, you can sketch them if you get tired of me as your subject."

"Never," she answered as she bit into a plump strawberry, its red juice staining her lips.

Loading up her plate, she ate heartily, occasionally nudging Bucky's leg with her bare feet. Shifting his chair to sit beside her, he fed her some grapes, mouthing the pulse point under her ear as he teased her lips with them. When a smidgeon of whipped cream appeared on the edge of her lips, he kissed it off, then placed some on her neck sensually licking it.

"What's got into you this morning?" she asked, laughingly. "You're being awfully physical."

"Tell me to stop," he murmured.

"Stop."

"No," he grinned. "Beg me to stop."

"Please, stop," she cajoled, "or we'll end up in bed again."

"Mmmm, is that so bad?" He was nuzzling her neck again, with his hand reaching under her shirt. "You slept like a baby."

"Let me sketch you first," she whispered. "If you do, we can spend the rest of the day in bed."

"That was going to happen anyway."

He had that lazy smile on his face, making Hope's insides flutter, as the charming man that he was at heart came through. But he kissed her cheek, and when she ate her fill, he cleaned up while she got her sketching supplies ready, laying them out on the table. His shirt came off first as she had him recline on the sofa. Alpine took it as an invitation to sit on him, so she added in the kitten as she rested on his chest. There must have been something alluring about how Hope was bent over the image, working in the shading and definition details because Bucky suddenly removed the kitten and placed her on the floor. He took his socks off, padded over to the table in his bare feet and gently raised Hope up with one hand and picking up her one sketch book with the other, while she grasped several pencils, then walking / pulling her to the bedroom. As she got herself comfortable leaning against the headboard, he undid his belt and jeans, playfully teasing her by lowering them and displaying the dark curly hair on his lower abdomen.

"You're not wearing underwear," she stated.

He shrugged. "Do you mind?"

"No, I don't mind but don't move ..."

Quickly, she drew him, focusing her attention on that part of him, knowing that she could draw the details of the rest by memory, but wanting to get this playful and sexy pose he was gifting her down on paper. When she was satisfied, she watched as he lowered his jeans completely, revealing his full body then leaned against the wall facing her. It was obvious he was in the beginning stages of being aroused, as his cock was on glorious display and the smirk on his face told her that it was a deliberate attempt to distract her.

"Fuck," she thought. "Why did I think he would behave as a male model?"

"Is there a problem with my pose?" he asked, looking down, then back up at her through his long dark lashes.

"Yeah, there's a big problem with your pose," she answered, trying to keep her eyes on the paper.

The end of the bed dipped as he kneeled there, his eyes fixed intently on her. Realizing that the menace that was Bucky at that moment was not to be denied, she quickly gathered her things and leaned over the bed with them, placing them on the floor. When she rose back up, he was right there, one hand already on her waist and sliding up underneath her shirt. The other took her hand and put it on his cock, then he smiled seductively at her when she grasped it fully.

"Quick learner," he grinned.

"One track mind," she countered, which he didn't disagree with. "I guess I'm living in the moment."

The moment lasted for well over an hour, ending with a shower together. As Bucky dried himself off, leaning against the dresser, Hope, wrapped in a towel while she sat on the bed, quickly sketched a side view of him, getting in the shading that defined his right arm, torso, and gluteus muscles. Pulling on some shorts, he started preparing some sandwiches for lunch, as she threw some clothes on and brought all the sketches out to the table to work on them while the memory of them was still fresh.

This time, he brought her a sandwich with some berries on the side, and placed it where she could reach it, but not interfere with her work. A bottle of juice he placed beside it drew her attention right away and she unscrewed it, taking a good long drink as she studied the last sketch, the side view of his body. Recapping the bottle and putting it aside, she began layering subtle lines following the curve of his arm. Even though the pose was static the addition of the lines added movement to the image. There was nothing sexual about the sketch of his nude body; it was all about the definition of his figure, and the play of light and shadow making it seem like a living breathing entity. Eventually, she pushed it away from her and towards him as he sat across the table, then picked up her sandwich and ate it, observing him as he studied her rendition of that aspect of his physique.

"It makes me look perfect," he murmured. "There's no scars, no blemishes. It's beautiful but it's not me."

"You're right, it isn't," she admitted. "It's a study of the lines of your muscles, how they interact in harmony with each other, and it's emphasized by the shadowing I've applied to it." She gestured to the one of him and Alpine and the other that showed his lower abdomen, both of them more realistic and less idealized. "Those are of you, a moment of peace with your cat, then a moment of naughtiness as you came on to me. But this one ... this is the one that would be displayed in an art gallery or a museum."

He nodded sagely. "This is an ideal form of the human body. It could be any guy since you don't show my head except in outline, but you used me. Why?"

"Because your body is interesting. Aesthetically, it's quite perfect for a study of the human form. If you sat slumped over a little, with your head dropped a bit, I could make you look like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders. As you stood in the shower earlier, there was a moment when you bowed your head under the water and let it hit the top of your back. If I captured that moment I would represent it as surrender. Doesn't matter to what but in that moment, you showed vulnerability just by the way you stood. Your body is your instrument, Bucky, and it sings to me."

He breathed out audibly as he examined the sketch again.

"Would you feel that way if I was a normal guy and thick around the middle, with wrinkles and grey hair?"

She came over from his chair to sit on his lap. Running her hand through his hair she pressed his head against her chest.

"You're handsome and you have a great body and yes, I love that about you. But you are so much more than a pretty man." She swallowed, taking the time to come up with the right words. "Here you are, trying to cope with 70 years of change that you were barely aware of. Almost everything that you knew is gone or changed so much that it's unrecognizable. But you persevere and strive to better yourself by going to college, by being a friend who can be depended on, and by educating yourself to understand how things work now. You're the best man I've ever known other than my dad and I know I idealized him. If we're lucky enough to beat the odds and be together for many years, I'll always see you like I see you right now, but it doesn't matter what your outside appearance is because I love the man inside so much and I see him as well."

He looked up at her, seeing the similarities with her mother in her face and manner at that moment. Chances were she would end up looking just like Joyce in another 20 or 30 years. A vision of them as an older, greyer, and thicker couple appeared in his head, making him smile. It wasn't something to fear but something to look forward to in expectation. Hope was the woman he wanted to grow older with and she wanted the same with him. Physical beauty was fleeting, and didn't reflect the person inside. That person was revealed by love and how they treated others. He wanted a lifetime of showing Hope his inner person, and in return, he could possibly expect to be happy.

Author's note: Welcome to My Broken Heart will be updated on an irregular basis for the foreseeable future. I have experienced some writer's block with it and wish to give it the time and attention it needs to stay true to the story.