Where'd all the time go..? - Bucky Barnes -

How It Began.

Let's start at the beginning.
It was 1943 when I first layed my eyes on James Buchanan Barnes.

'The World Exposition of Tomorrow'. Stark Expo 1943. And a beautiful night it was.

The Expo presented such as Phineas Horton's Synthetic Man and a prototype of a flying car by Stark Industries.
The crowd loved it. I, however, had eyes for one thing and one thing only that night.

My closest friend Elizabeth took me to the Expo, it took place in Flushing Meadows of New York City. The plan was that we would drink, party a little, hopefully meet some men and have a good time. We did just that.

James Barnes was a tall, handsome, dark-haired man. He stood proud with his Army-uniform attire. Next to him stood a smaller, fair-haired young man, who I later came to know as Steve Rogers.
James and I locked eyes almost immediately, he then approached me and Elizabeth.

"Oh, good god, Elizabeth, he's coming, what do I do?!" I panicked, biting my lip, unsure of where to put my hands.

"Oh for heavens sakes, Evelyn, I don't know... Play with your hair! Smile! Be yourself!!" Her advice was pointless in that moment as nothing could take my mind off how handsome he was.

He approached. "Good evening, ladies, how are we on this fine night?" he yelled over the sound of the crowd, the other man hiding behind shy him.

"H..Hello there, I'm doing just splendid, and yourself?"

"Oh, well, I'm just swell, thank you, doll. James Barnes. Friends call me Bucky." He held out his hand for me to shake, his skin soft and warm, "And this here, is Steve Rogers. A fine young man, though he lacks confidence." He chuckled and playfully shoved the smaller man beside him.

"My name is Evelyn Thompson. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." I replied, my heart racing as a slightly bowed.

"Oh, believe me, the pleasure is all mine." he winked, as he placed a small kiss onto my hand.

Elizabeth introduced herself to James and Steve. Steve was incredibly quiet at first but got on with Elizabeth like a house on fire.

When the Expo had ended, the four of us made our way to a nearby bar. We drank all night and talked into the early hours of the morning.

"So. Miss Thompson, when can I see you again?" James asked as we readied ourselves to go home.

"Whenever you like, Mr Barnes. It's been an absolute delight spending this evening with you." I gave him my telephone number and I leant in for a hug, but instead, James gently grabbed my chin and placed a small kiss upon my lips.
I looked him in the eyes, I'd known this man for approximately 5 hours and yet I felt as if I'd known him forever. My soul knew his.
I kissed him again, once more, before smirking and leaving him to go home...

I saw James again exactly a week after we first met. He took me out for dinner at a nice restaurant in town. We walked along a lake, shared a bottle of wine and spoke all night.

"Come home with me, Evelyn." he insisted.

I hesitated at first, wary that I'd only met him the previous week. Despite this, I trusted him. I knew I was safe with him.

So, I said yes.

He took me to his apartment. It was small and undecorated.

After that night, I fell madly in love with James, as he did with me.
It was rare we went anywhere without each other.
We listened to music together, we danced together, we made love, we even had plans to marry... We were inseparable for 2 years. That is, until he left for the war. And I never saw him again.

While Bucky was off fighting, I sat staring longingly out of the window, hoping and praying that a car would pull up, and I'd see him step out and come home...

"He'll come back, sweetheart, I promise. He would never leave you on your own," Elizabeth comforted.

One day, as I made dinner for myself, a car did indeed pull up outside of the house.
I raced to the door, expecting to see my lover standing the other side of it, only it wasn't Bucky, but one of his Captain's. My heart sank immediately.

"Miss Thompson, I'm sorry we have to meet on these circumstances but I'm afraid there's been an accident regarding your partner, Mr. James Buchanan Barnes. Mr. Steve Rogers, Mr. James Barnes and a Mr. Gabe Jones were sent on a train raid, in which your partner, James, fell from the train into an iced-ravine during the attack. I'm sorry to tell you this, Miss Thompson, but Mr. Barnes did not make it. James was an incredible man, I give you my deepest condolences."

I was inconsolable for weeks. Absolutely nothing could shift the deep pit of depression, guilt, anger and grief that had overcome me. I was utterly convinced I could not live without my Bucky. I wanted to be with him, in any way I could.

The night I had planned to take my own life, was one of the last memories I had before I was taken.

I woke up midday and decided to visit my local bar. The bar I had practically lived at since hearing the news of James' death a few weeks ago. I drove there, planning to leave my car outside and get a cab the next day to go get it.
The bar was about half an hour away from my house.
I drank for hours and hours. All day, all night. I drank until I could barely walk.

When I decided I had enough, I left the bar. Being drunk, I was confused about my surroundings. I forgot where I was, which roads to take. Voices of the ones I love clouded my brain.

"He'll come back for you, sweetheart." Elizabeth.

"I love you, Ev." Bucky.

"I'll look after him for you, honey" Steve as we said our final goodbye's.

"Exshuse me, shir, can you tell me wheresh Orchid Avenue is pleash?" I slurred to a man as he walked towards me.
Looking back, I can't remember what he looked like. I just knew that he was tall and dressed from head to toe in black.

I would soon forget all of this for a very long time. I would forget about my friends, I would forget about James.

But that's the last thing I remember, before it all went blank and I woke up surrounded by scientists...

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-M