"Quick!" William Barnes shouted over the loudness of Goldie's Gym. "Push it!"

Bucky quickly maneuvered under the rope to the right, then pushed two jabs. Under the rope and up to the left, two jabs. Over and over again, hearing only ohis brother's words of encouragement. When he reached the end of the rope, he collapsed against the wall, gasping for breath and his fatigued muscles resting immediately.

Will chuckled and slapped him on the chest. "That's it," he told him with a smile on he face.

"That's it," Bucky repeated, falling against the wall and sliding to the ground. He began to stretch and towel his sweat off. He'd shower when he got home.

Bucky followed Will out the door into the evening sun. It was bright compared to the dingy overhead light in the gym.

"you know we just stoked the fire, Buck."

Bucky squinted at the sky as they crossed the street. "Yeah, I know. Youd think at least Uncle Vurt would be okay with it."

"well you did almost die last year, " will pointed out.

Bucky scoffed. "Pain is temporary. Victory is forever."

"Aunt Eliza would say—"

"Death is forever," Bucky interrupted. "If you keep talking all this sense, then I can't let you be my manger for the coming fight. If you through in the towel before I win my third and final championship, I might have to box you"

Will just sighed, refraining to say what was on his mind. Bucky knew that having his thirteen-year-old brother as a manager and trainer was not the best idea, but Bucky liked to find easy ways he could pay his siblings without them having to work in factories. Besides, Bucky could train on his own just fine. He had his varsity coach, which he consulted with every school day. He also has his friends to workout with. Will was an excellent assistant when Bucky was doing work on his own.

He had never been as close to Will as he had been to Becky, but Bucky was the over loving and protective type, and Will was his baby brother. They shared the most likeness too. As brothers, they nearly looked like the same person. Will was well on his way to being tall and strong. He had brown eyes, unlike Bucky, but his deep brunett hair was strange that as a board and fell all the right ways. His smile was intoxicating and his charm was irresistible.

As a person, he was unlike Bucky entirely. After their father died, Will was the sole thing that held their mother together. She was quite protective of him and did not let him out as much as she did Bucky and Becky. It hit even worse when Lester died. Their mother felt like she had failed and she poured her heart out into raising Will right. Will developed personality that was not at all extroverted. He would rather stay home and work there. He like to keep his circle full of no one but family.

And he was a mother's son. Their relationship was stronger than that of Bucky or Becky's wit their mother. Will was the fine line between happiness and insanity for their mother. And when she died, Will shut down. It was as if he didn't know what to do any longer. He was only now coming out of his shell bit by bit.

"How was your date last night?" Will asked.

Bucky grimaced, as the uncomfortable memories flashed through his mind. "Not good."

Will turned to walk backwards as he cocked his head incredulously. "James Buchanan Barnes... King of Class... Lover of All the Ladies... had a bad date? Impossible."

Bucky scoffed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Come on, will. It's not everything can go perfectly . I'm gonna find the right girl eventually."

Will turned forward on his heel. "Well, with all the girls you go through? Surely to God you will."

"You don't have to ride me for going out with a lot of girls," Bucky defended. Will shrugged.

"You always seems to have a good time more often than not. I just feel like you should just stick to the one for a while. See what a relationship has in store. You might have even found the right girl."

Bucky shook his head. "I'm pretty sure I'll know."

Will laughed as they made it to the last block on the way home. "How are you so confident in everything you do? I swear, I've never seen you debate anything. Not hotdogs or hamburgers, not left or right, but anything."

Bucky didn't say anything for a few seconds, unable to find the right answer. "I don't know pal. I guess I just know what I want... or what I need? I don't know." They walked up the steps to their Brooklyn home.

They live in the Canarsie neighborhood. The houses were all freshly built and beautiful. They moved there a year after The Barnes kids moved in, because Bert and Eliza's place only had one bedroom. Here, Will and Bucky shared a bedroom, and Becky had her own. It was a red brick house where two families lived. The windows and fort was painted green. The windows and front stairs were lined with flowers. There was a tiny yard off to the sides with a small herb garden Aunt Eliza grew.

They lived in the door to the right and another family in the door to the left. That family kept a car instead of an herb garden. They never used the car anymore: gas prices were far too high.

Bucky followed his brother up the stairs and through the front door. Just in the door, a stair case led to the bed rooms and bathroom upstairs and another door beside the walkways to the sitting room led to the kitchen. To their right was a small formal dining room.

The already small space was crowded with flowers and succulents— Aunt Eliza could never have enough. The entire house smelled like flora.

The smell of strawberry pie seeped from the kitchen, and Bucky immediately stepped toward it.

"James Barnes." A deep voice stopped Bucky in his tracks. It was Uncle bert sitting in his chair. Bucky ran his hand through his dark hair, squinting. He turned his path away from the kitchen and towards the sitting room. "Will, go upstairs," Uncle Bert ordered.

Will gave his older brother a look and didn't waist any time doing as he was told.

"Come here." Bucky did just so. Uncle Bert, or Mr. Herbert Barnes, brother to Bucky's father, was a robust man, who was once quite handsome in you younger years, but since gained a little weight and lost a lot of hair. "Eliza is not happy."

Bucky nodded. "Yes, sir. I know."

"It's bad enough that she doesn't want you ever doing this, but on a Sunday? Buck, you've gotta compromise," Uncle Bert said, his voice exhausted.

"I know, Uncle Bert. It's just... I've got another fight coming up... and this guy is pretty good. It's a lot or money. I can't lose." Bucky kept his voice low, careful not to let Aunt Eliza speak.

Uncle Bert sighed. "As much as I worry for you... I support you. I am thankful for the sacrifices you make for this family. We wouldn't be able to pay for this house, for our groceries or our train tickets if it wasn't for you. And your Aunt can't know that. I'm gonna keep taking some heat off... but don't train on Sunday anymore."

Bucky nodded. "Thank you."

"Now go in there and get it over with."

"Yes, sir."

Bucky left the room and quietly opened the door to the kitchen. The smell of the pie was distracting, but he promised himself he would focus on talking to Aubt Eliza.

She was mixing something on the stove. Her short, jet black hair was still perfectly placed from church and she had yet to change from her Sunday attire.

"Well golly gee, Aunt 'Liza, that pie sure smells swell," Bucky greeted. He inwardly cringed. He promised himself that he wouldn't focus on the pie.

Upon hearing Bucky's voice, Aunt Eliza dropped her whisk into the pot and slowly turned to face him, hands on hips. "Does it now?"

"Look—"

"No. You tell me you're going to take the long way home from church, that's what I want you to do. I swear, James, I will not stand by while you fight all these grown men and get beaten to the pulp."

"Aunt Eliza. I am a grown man now. And if you'd ever come to the fights, you'd see the other guy!"

She huffed. "You're not getting any pie."

"Are you really going to to exclude your favorite nephew from pie?" Bucky asked, taking a step towards her and taking her hands in his.

She huffed again, and turned away from him and crossing her arms. "I just feel like all this pain and work is just a trip for biscuits."

"A trip for biscuits? Aunt 'Liza, this is going to pay for college."

"Is college even going to be worth it in all this mess?" Ain't Eliza asked waving her hands around in the air, referring to the recent recession.

Bucky smiled warmly. "You know it'll be worth it. And it's all getting better. Life's shaping out to be a good one."

And she huffed. She likes doing that. "Fine. But still no pie. And go water my garden. You know which ones need it today."

"Sure thing," he agreed, really wanting a slice of that pie. He turned to leave, but Aunt Eliza stopped him again.

"Wait, James!" He grabbed the door and turned around. "A young lady called you earlier. Catherine Carlisle. Do you know her?"

Bucky's eyebrows scrunched together. "She called today?" he asked, confused as to why she would do such a thing.

"Yes, she said she wanted to apologize. She left her number."

"Huh. I guess I'll call her after I water your garden."

"Who is she?"

"I had an unfortunate time out with her last night."

Aunt Eliza smiled. "Alright. I won't pry."

Bucky smiled and set off to water Aunt Eliza's herbs. It took him less than 30 minutes. He came back in and looked longingly at the pie Aunt Eliza baked. Then he looked over at the neatly written number written by Aunt Eliza, disdained.

Bucky puncher the number in and listened to it ring. A boy's voice answered. "Carlisle Residence. Sydney Carlisle speaking."

"Hi, I'm calling for Catherine."

"Sure, give me a moment." The line was silent. "Hello, this is Catherine."

"James Barnes. You called me earlier?"

"James? Not Bucky? I'm not your friend?"

"I don't mean to be rude, miss."

"Of course. You're such a gentlemen. Which is why you should give me a chance to apologize in person.

I'll come to Brooklyn. Do you know a place we can meet?" Bucky didn't know what to say. He did not want to meet this girl again. But he hated to be rude.

"I'm pretty busy this week, Kitty."

"I can meet you after school."

"I have baseball practice after school. Then I train."

"Bucky, please."

"You can meet me at Goldie's Gym tomorrow at 6:30. Or not. But I'm not leaving the gym until 8:00 and I'm

not meeting a lady after dark."

She was quiet for a few seconds. "Fine. I'll see you there." And she hung up.

She was quiet for a few seconds. "Fine. I'll see you there." And the line was dead. Bucky hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Becky's voice rang out behind him. Bucky turned to face her.

"And what of it is your business?" he asked with a smile.