The next week was living hell. The streets were being patrolled by police at least twice a day and citizens were constantly getting stopped for questioning.

It had gotten to the point where Belle was terrified to leave the apartment, not wanting something to happen to me. Every morning I would awake to find her curled up at the foot of my bed sound asleep; like a dog guarding their owner from harm. And every morning I would pick her up and place her back in her own bed. Whenever she does wake up she comes bounding into the kitchen with a beaming smile on her face as if the night had never happened.

We never brought this up, just like all the other things she does that she thinks I don't know about. I'm worried that if I talk to her about it she'll break: if she breaks I break and that's no good for anyone.

We have fallen into the habit of cooking breakfast together. It's a good distraction for the chaos going on outside. She makes the pancakes, I cook the bacon. We found an amazing radio station that exclusively plays songs from the thirties. I would sing along to all the songs I could remember whilst Belle laughed and danced and swayed.

I sometimes wonder if this is what it could have been like if Hydra never got me. I don't really remember much from my past, only feelings. Good feelings. And a few people too, like Rebecca. The youngest of the Barnes family and quite possibly my best friend. We were so close and only grew closer when Dad passed away. If I hadn't been drafted, Becca and I could have stayed close.

"Whatcha thinking about Bucky?" A fifth pancake was dropped into my plate and I instinctively reached for my cutlery.

"How amazing your pancakes are." I replied, smothering the pancake in golden syrup.

"I learned from the best." I glanced up and see a stack twice as high as my own sat opposite me. Belle gave me a sheepish smile twiddling her thumbs as she sat down.

"I'm hungry."

"There's like twelve Bee."

"As I said. I'm hungry." She repeated this time with a hint of a smirk. I tried to take the top one but she slapped my hand away. "You want more you can make your own. These are mine."

I hold my hands up in surrender and Belle giggles in triumph. I get up and go to the fridge intending to get a drink only to find barren shelves and empty cartons. My heart drops when I realise I am going to have to leave to get groceries.

"Um sorry Belle but I am going to have to go."

"What? Why?" The urgency in her tone made my heart shatter but I tried not to show it.

"We're out of food, doll. I have to leave or you can't eat."

"No. No I'm not letting you leave. You could get hurt Bucky. They could get you." Belle's breathing quickened and she dropped her fork with a clatter. The noise seemed to startle her as she jumped back from the table hitting her back against the wall.

"Hey hey breathe. Just breathe." I catch her hands before they can go to her hair and hold them firmly in my palms. She begins to tremble as she fights back the rising panic.

"I'm going to be okay. I know how to protect myself, you have seen me train plenty of times. Besides it's only across the road. You can sit next to the window and watch me if you want. But I am not having you go hungry, Belle. As much as you want me to be safe your well-being will always come before my own."

"I don't want to lose you." Belle whimpered her nails digging painfully into my palm.

"You'll never lose me."

"They're looking for you."

"I know."

"You won't be long?"

"No more than fifteen minutes."

"I can watch you leave?"

"Well I know you will never sit still long enough, but you can sure try." I squeeze her hands comfortingly, taking care not to hurt her. The robotics in my arm had been playing up recently so I rarely touch her with it in case it shorts out.

I can see the cogs turning in her brain as she calculates whether she should let me go or not. Eventually she unclenched her hands and nodded, careful not to look me in the eye.

"I don't have to go now. I can wait if you want."

"No it's fine." It was anything but fine; but an argument would be unwise in this state. I let go of her hands and went to find my wallet.

When I returned Belle had positioned herself on the table with her stack of pancakes in front of her giving her the perfect view of the street below. She had somehow managed to swipe my hoodie from the coat peg and was now buried under the fabric.

"Let's see how fast I can be. I bet I can get back in ten minutes."

"Fifteen!" Belle challenged.

"You are willing to bet on it."

Belle narrowed her eyes and leant forward. "I bet a bag of Reece's cups that you will be back in fifteen minutes."

"You're on. Timer ready?"

Belle hopped off the table and swiped my burner phone from the counter. She flipped it open so that the time was visible on the screen.

"It's 10:32, see you at 10:47."

I make my way slowly to the door making Belle shout at me to hurry up. I give her a mock salute as I close the door, this time remembering to lock it after me. I will not make that mistake again!

I jog down the stairs, the competitive side of me wanting to win the silly bet. Once outside I look up at the window and see Belle waving the phone at me. I roll my eyes and head over to the shop. I don't get far however as I collide with a strangely solid mass.

"Hey mind where- you again?"

"God I'm sorry. I keep doing this." The blonde haired man apologised whilst staring at me.

"Yeah...you do." I go to step around him when he grabs my arm.

The metal arm.

I freeze in my tracks and force back the programming that is screaming at me to slam him into the sidewalk.

"Do I know you?" He asks slowly with too much emotion in his eyes for me to decipher.

"No. You don't."

"You look really fami-"

"I don't know you man now please let go of my arm." I can't imagine how this looks to Belle. She is no doubt freaking out about a stranger stopping me and I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly worried myself.

"Your name is Bucky right."

"Are a stalker or something."

"No why would you- your daughter said it yesterday."

"Let go of me." Don't freak out. Don't freak out.

He seemed to sense the 'do-it-or-die' tone and dropped my arm, not without staring at me oddly.

---

This is not the Bucky I remember. His hair is longer and more dishevelled. His eyes are sunken and dark, clouded over with misery. There's a shadow of stubble around his chin that makes him look a lot older...well I suppose that doesn't make sense all things considered. You know since he should be both over ninety years old and dead.

But the evidence is undeniable. This is Bucky. There is no doubt about it.

"I'm sorry. Are you- are you sure you don't know me?"

"I'm sure." I can sense his hesitation and it's killing me. Why doesn't he remember?

"Ok. Sorry to bother you." I turn to leave just as panicked footsteps approach us. The young girl from yesterday starts tugging on Bucky's sleeve trying to pull him away from me.

"Hey Belle don't worry, I'm fine." Bucky whispered, taking hold of her hand. She gripped his arm pulling the sleeve up slightly and I swear I saw a flash of silver. Strange.

"Come home please."

"I'm sorry for scaring you. I just wanted to talk to your dad." The girl - Belle? - seemed to freeze when I addressed her and she began to shake. Shit what did I do?

"I'm coming, let's go." Bucky glared at me before leading the girl back to their apartment block. I was left stunned on the side of the street wondering what on earth just happened.

My phone started to buzz but I ignored it. No doubt it would be Nat calling to check up on me. I didn't exactly give anyone any warning, so they are probably looking for me.

I stare at the spot where Bucky stood and sigh.

"Well done Rogers. You scared him away."