If I Met Her First.

Confess

"Emma?"

"You have to wake up you need to eat something."

Emma slowly opened her eyes and saw Bucky standing over her with a plate of food. Instead of respond, Emma just rolled over to ignore him.

"You didn't eat yesterday. I'm not going to let you starve yourself." Bucky says and sets the plate down. "Please?"

Emma bit her lip and sat up, knowing Bucky was right. She looked at the plate and really didn't want to eat, but she knew she needed to so everyone would stop worrying so much.

As she took the first bite, she felt sick from how sad she's been. It was hard to see Emma like this for Bucky. All he wanted to do was help, but he couldn't figure out how to.

"Hey kiddo." Tony says walking in the room. "Mind if I sit with you?"

Emma shrugs her shoulders and Tony sits on the edge of Steve's bed. Bucky rubs the back of his neck with one hand, from the stress of seeing Emma so distraught about life.

"The funeral is going to be tomorrow. Just us and a few others that Steve knew." Tony says and looks at Emma.

Her eyes meet Tony's and she looks away quickly. Part of her was ready for the funeral, to have some kind closure, but she also wasn't ready to say goodbye.

Tony stayed silent a little longer and Emma stared at the plate of food in her lap. She couldn't even get the energy to feed herself.

"Emma, come on kiddo. Keep eating." Tony says and walks to the side of the bed and sits by her. "You did this last time remember?"

Emma remembered very clearly. She wouldn't eat after her parents died and she needed up having to get a feeding tube. That's one of the lowest points she's ever gotten to.

"Stop." Emma says so Tony doesn't tell Bucky the story. "I'll eat. Just not now." Emma adds and puts the plate back on the nightstand and lays back down.

Tony looks at Bucky who looks confused. Without making any noise, Tony mouthed the word 'later' to Bucky, letting him know he'll tell him when they're not with Emma.

It didn't take long for Emma to be subdued by sleep again. As soon as Bucky was sure she was asleep, he ran through the compound to find Tony. Bucky saw him sitting on the couch with his head back.

"Can you tell me what happened now?" Bucky says and Tony looks up to him. "What happened last time?"

Tony took a deep breath and Bucky sat by him on the couch. This was hard for Bucky to talk about, even if it was a long time ago.

"When her parents died, Emma went days without eating. Days turned to weeks. She had to get a feeding tube for a while." Tony says and Bucky's jaw drops. He never would've guessed if Tony didn't say it.

"That's not the worst of it." Tony adds and looks at Bucky.

"What is?" Bucky asked now concerned.

"She cut herself. A lot." Tony whispers and drops his glare to the ground. "She doesn't think I know but of course I know."

Bucky was in shock. He didn't blame her for wanting to do it, but that doesn't mean he'll ever let it happen again. In that moment, Bucky decided to stay by her side. Always.

Emma didn't know how much Bucky cared about her. If something happened to her, Bucky would never forgive himself for not being there to take care of her.