Chapter 1
Before the war, Bucky and Steve lived in an apartment with their friend Lily. Lily was an oddball; she had short, brown hair and was a bit of a tomboy. Bucky and Lily would go out looking for work and Steve would draw for ad companies and sometimes the newspaper. Lily would come home frustrated, after not being picked at the docks.
"I can work circles around half those men." She huffed. "I shouldn't be valued any less because I shave my legs instead of my face." She sighed.
"Lily it's ok, I'm sure you can find something else." Steve assured.
"Half the factories are already full, I can't sew, and heaven forbid a woman work on the docks." She said and slumped down in a chair. Steve sat down his sketchbook and pencils. He walked over and rubbed her shoulders. He knew how her back would ache when she got upset, her emotional pain always seemed to manifest itself physically.
"They're holding auditions tomorrow, for show girls at a gentlemen's club. It's worth a shot right?" She asked.
"Lily you don't have to do that, we'll figure it out."
"Steve we're barely scraping by, rent is due in a week, and we need our medications." Steve nodded. While Lily didn't have as many problems as Steve, she did have severe arthritis and it was excruciating. Steve noticed that her hands were a little swollen.
"It's a good thing they didn't pick you today, you're in pain aren't you?" He questioned and she nodded. Steve knelt down in front of her and started gently massaging her hands.
"You have a fever, I can feel it." He told her and put his hand on her forehead for good measure.
"I'm fine Stevie." She sighed and kicked off her shoes.
"No you aren't, if you aren't fine say something, you don't have to hide it and tough it out." He said and stood up to look for some pain killers.
"Oh, like you don't hide the pain. I've watched you lie to nurses, when the pain was so bad your teeth were chattering, you told them it was only a five on the scale." She scolded.
"Then I guess we're both liars then." He huffed, then brought her a glass of water and a couple painkillers.
"If your fever doesn't go down soon I'll toss you in a cold bath, clothes and all." He teased, knowing he couldn't really pick her up, even if he wanted to. After a few hours of sitting with Steve while he drew, she was feeling a little better. She got up and clean the kitchen before starting dinner. She figured if she couldn't find a job, the least she could do was make sure her boys were fed. She wasn't really good at household duties, but she tried. She could still hear her mother's voice saying that she'd never find a man, no man wanted a woman that couldn't manage the kitchen, the sewing, or the kids. No man wanted a woman that wore slacks and got into fights. Bucky came home that night, tired and grumpy.
"I got five dollars, it's not much, but we can get Steve's medicine." Bucky announced.
"I made dinner, it's just vegetable soup, but it can last us a couple days." Lily said before bringing them each a bowl. They graciously accepted it and started eating.
"I'm going to go down town tomorrow, they're holding auditions for show girls at a gentlemen's club." She told Bucky.
"Lily, I told you we'll find some other way, after I finish this Ad deal we'll have plenty for the rent." Steve told her.
"What about food, heat, and clothes? We only have enough food to last till the end of the week, its freezing in here, and Bucky's socks are almost worn through." Lily reminded him. Steve looked over at Bucky, hoping he'd back him up.
"Steve these are desperate times, we have to get money where we can." Bucky sighed.
"We can't afford the luxury of our dignity." Lily said.
"Lily this isn't about dignity, those men at those clubs, they aren't gentlemen."
"I can hold my own Steve, none of them are going to touch me unless they want to lose their valuables." She said as a matter of fact. After eating and down the last of some old, sour whiskey, the three retired to their small, shared bedroom. They usual took turns taking the bed or the floor, since the bed could only hold two people. That night Bucky and Lily took the bed, while Steve slept on a makeshift cot, on the floor. Steve couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when he saw Bucky's arm wrap around Lily, but he never thought Lily could love a shrimp like him. The next morning Lily got up first, groaning and wringing her swollen hands.
"Doll, you ok?" Bucky questioned and rubbed his eyes.
"I'm fine, the cold makes it worse." She cried.
"Here, let me see." Bucky took her hands in his, he rubbed them and breathed on them, hoping it would help a little. Once the pain left she got up and got dressed.
"Bucky this isn't a good idea, those men are pigs." Steve told him.
"I know, but once she puts her mind to something, there is no talking her out of it." Bucky left for work, Lily left for the audition, and Steve sat there, praying she wouldn't get the job.