Month Twelve (December)

We were due to leave for our mission in three days. We were going to be on protection detail for one of HYDRA's 'finest'. HYDRA was tipped off that there was going to be an assassination attempt in Moscow during a deal. It was apparently a pretty important deal that they couldn't just pull their guy out of. We would be staying in one of HYDRA's safe houses throughout the week and were not to be seen unless needed. Nobody could know that we were there. We needed to be ghosts.

When we arrived in Moscow, we went straight to work. We tailed him and made sure there were no threats in the surrounding area. It was a boring day to say the least. When we finally got to the safe house, after seeing our mission safely to his, I collapsed to the bed with a groan.

"Are you tired?" The Winter Soldier asked me as he started removing his gear.

"No, just bored." I sighed and looked around the small studio apartment.

"Sleep." The Soldier told me over his shoulder. I looked at him and sat up slightly on my arms.

"You sleep." I countered, annoyed by the command. He stopped what he was doing and turned just enough to look at me. We stared at each other until I had to break eye contact. I groaned and flopped down on the bed. "You are unnecessarily good at that." I huffed.

The Soldier went back to what he was doing and I was left with my thoughts. We were finally alone and away from HYDRA. I could start phase two of my plan tonight. I had been working on my shifting reality abilities. If everything suddenly looked like it was the 40's again, it might jumpstart his brain... might. It could also go very wrong.

With the reality stone, I could change the reality of matter. Now that its power leaked into mine I could do the same without it, just on a much smaller scale. I didn't have the stone, but I'd been practicing at night during the time I was protecting the Winter Soldier as he slept. I had to wait until he was asleep, or almost asleep, to start though. His brain still in a dream-like state could trigger his memory. He needed to wake up to it.

It took a while. He insisted that he took first shift and ignored all of my protests. I folded and got ready for bed while he set up for shift. I set my alarm for two and a half hours and went to sleep.

I woke up to the annoying beeping of my watch. I maybe got an hour of sleep. I couldn't turn my brain off. I had a dream that things went terribly wrong when I tried to get to Bucky, which was totally comforting... not.

I sat up with a tired sigh and rubbed at my eyes after turning the alarm off. I cleared my throat as I looked up to see the Soldier sitting in a chair in a dark corner of the room.

"Get more sleep." He told me when I looked at him.

"That's not our deal, Soldier." I reminded him. "We both get sleep. Come on, it's your turn." I said and stood from the bed. He stared at me while I walked up to him. He was trying to get me to do what he wanted, but I was fairly used to his stare by now. "Come on, Buck." I said and held out my hand for him. His brow furrowed like he was trying to remember something, but it was gone as quick as it came. It was still progress though.

He gave in with a nod and took my hand. I took his spot in the chair and watched him get ready for bed. When he was finally laying down, I started thinking about what to show him. The apartment was small enough that I could shift almost all of it. The only thing my power couldn't reach was the bathroom. I had to stay in the center of the room to shift everything around me. It shouldn't be a problem.

The only thing I was having a problem with was people. I couldn't cast an illusion of a living thing yet. I knew the reality stone could, but I was nowhere near the power of the stone. I could only shift non-living items.

As soon as the Winter Soldier's breathing started to even out, I knew it was time to act. We didn't have much time. I decided on a bar scene. It was easiest to cast. I took a deep breath and stood from my chair, walking it to the middle of the room. There was a small kitchen area with a counter. I placed my hands of the counter and watched as reality shifted, starting from where my palms touched the counter.

Soon, everything was brightly colored. The kitchen countertop turned into a bar counter with bar stools and everything. I looked down to my clothes to see that I was wearing a cute green 40's dress and had my hair up. At least, I hoped it was 40's, but my memory could be wrong. The foam cups we were using turned to glass cups and I grabbed one to hold. I turned to see the Soldier still laying on the bed. I took a deep breath and made the bed disappear, turning it into tables and chairs and sending the Soldier to land on the floor.

He jumped to his feet quickly and looked around. I had my back to him, but could see him in the bar mirror. I did my best to recreate his Sergeant uniform from memory. He looked good in it and it made me smile.

I watched him take the hat off his head and study it, running his thumb over the symbol on the front. He dropped his hand and looked around again until he saw me. He tilted his head in confusion before hesitantly making his way towards me. I knew that he had trouble figuring out what memories were real and I hated that I was adding to that, but I needed him to remember.

Thoughts of worry consumed me as he approached me. I hoped I was making the right call. At least I was until I heard Bucky's voice.

"Becca?"

I blinked in surprise and turned to look at him. He was confused and hesitant, like he was trying to place me. My brow furrowed as I watched him approach me.

"No, I'm sorry. You have the wrong-"

"You grew up..." he interrupted. I sighed in relief when I realized my plan worked. He remembered at least something from his past.

"Hi, Buck." I smiled, playing along even though it hurt. He tilted his head in confusion.

"Since when do you call me Buck?" He asked. Then it was my turn to be confused. Everyone called him Bucky. The only people who didn't were...

"I know, it's just been a long time, James." I replied as my heart shattered.

"And I'm sorry for that, Becca." Bucky told me and pulled out a seat to sit next to me. "I meant to visit." He said and lowered his head.

"It's fine. You were off saving the world, and what not." I smiled sadly. "So, Sergeant Barnes, huh?" I asked and bumped his shoulder. He chuckled and lifted his hat up.

"Guess so." He nodded. The next thing I said broke me in more ways than one.

"Mom and Dad would be proud of you."