AN: Before you get mad and possibly throw things at me, let me apologize for being easily distracted by another story idea!
Secondly, if you haven't watched CA:TWS, don't read because there may be spoilers.
Please read and enjoy!
Prologue:
"I-I don't understand. What are you trying to say Steve?"
"Bucky's dead, Maria. He's not coming back." Steve said, looking down at his hands in order to avoid the look of complete helplessness Maria would most likely show. She always knew how to make him feel guilty, even without really trying.
"How? I saw you both...this morning...alive and well..." Maria said, her accent getting heavy as she fought back her flood of emotion. She so badly wanted to break down and cry, but knew that she had to be strong.
"He fell off the train. I couldn't get to him in time." Steve admitted. He thought Maria would slap him, like she usually did when he or Bucky did something stupid and dangerous. Usually it was him getting slapped. Bucky would just get the cold shoulder for a few days. Well, he used to. He wouldn't be getting it anymore.
"Don't blame yourself. Not your fault." Maria stated calmly, though she took in a shuddering breath. She lifted her head up high and blinked back her tears. She placed a hand on her waist and jutted out her hip, like she always did when she was determined to do something. Steve knew this look all too well. It meant Maria was gonna do something dangerous and possibly risk her life, yet again.
"Maria-" He tried, but was cut off when she raised her hand.
"No, Steve. I pilot the plane tonight over Germany." She said, her accent very apparent now. He could almost hear the Portuguese rolling off her tongue.
"Maria, you don't have to." He tried again. "Peggy and the boys understand that you need time to grieve." But, his words were falling on deaf ears. Maria would have none of it. She had a job to do, and damnit, she was going to do it, or die trying. Just like Bucky.
"No." She said.
"You need time-"
"I said no!" She shouted. She rarely ever raised her voice at Steve. She was serious.
"But-"
"I will grieve when the war is over. Not before and not during." She stated calmly, after taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down. Steve opened his mouth to argue more, but snapped it close when he saw her eyebrow raise in defiance. That would be his only warning. He knew better than to argue with a Latina woman. Nothing good ever came from arguing with her. He swore she was a another version of Peggy, just from another country.
"Fine." Steve said after awhile, finally allowing her to get his way. She nodded her thanks and turned around to get geared up for the next mission. Steve shook his head and turned the other way, pulling out a letter that was addressed to Maria. From Bucky. Something told Steve that she would never get the chance to read it. And that scared him. He couldn't lose another friend, not this soon.