Several months later...
It was a slow day for once and Anna was taking the opportunity to do inventory. They were running low on several supplies and needed to get them ordered before they ran out completely. Finishing the last cabinet, she sighed and laid the notepad aside.
Arms wrapped around her waist from behind and she jumped slightly in surprise. Realizing immediately who it was, she ran her hands over his arms and linked her fingers with his as she leaned back against him.
"Hey ya, doll," Bucky said against the back of her neck and she giggled at the ticklish sensation.
"Hey, Buck," she replied. "When did you guys get back?" She turned so she could see him and frowned at the dirt on his face that was now undoubtedly on the back of her uniform as well.
He grinned. "Just now. I would've cleaned up, but I couldn't wait to see my favorite girl."
She didn't have the heart to chastise him. She'd missed him too much. Bucky worked beside Steve and the Howling Commandos, fighting Hydra. When Anna and he would have parted ways, Peggy had dragged her along as the unit nurse. And Anna had never been more grateful.
She wrapped her arms around Bucky's neck. "I love you, Buck."
He turned serious all of a sudden and studied her face for a moment. "I love you, too, doll. Never doubt that." His lips found hers and they kissed until a throat being cleared caught their attention.
Anna's face heated when she turned to find Steve watching them with a smirk.
"I thought we were going for a drink, Buck," he said, obviously amused.
Anna turned to Bucky with a frown. He'd just gotten back. He laughed when he saw her expression. "You're going too, doll. Go get changed."
It was late evening by the time Bucky stood from the table the four friends were sharing and held out a hand to his girl. He wanted some time alone with Anna. She smiled at him as he helped her stand and wrapped an arm around her waist. He glanced over to Steve and Peggy. "We're going to go for a walk. See you later," he told them.
Peggy suddenly looked very serious. "Make sure you have her home at a reasonable hour, Sergeant."
Bucky arched a brow at the brunette and she broke into giggles. "I can't," she said with a wave of her hand through the air. "Go. Have fun."
Anna covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled as well. She leaned against Bucky's side as they wove through the tables toward the door. "I think Peg might be a little tipsy."
He grinned at her. "I think you might be right, doll." Once they got outside, he slowed his step and laced his fingers with hers.
"Where are we going, Buck?" she asked after a moment.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Nowhere. Everywhere. I just want to spend time with you."
When she didn't respond he glanced over to find a smile on her lips as she ambled along beside him. He decided now was the time to ask her the question that had been bothering him for weeks. "Anna, can I ask you something?"
"Anything. You know that." She squeezed his hand.
"How do you do it?"
Her smile fell and her step faltered ever so slightly. "How do I do what?"
He pressed his lips together and looked around before tugging her into a secluded alcove. "You know what I'm talking about, doll. My ribs. The cut in Dugan's side. They were much worse than you tried to make out."
Her gaze was fixed on her hands as they twisted together. The silence stretched and just as Bucky was about ready to let it go, she spoke. "When I was eight years old, Peggy and I were climbing trees. Which we weren't supposed to be doing, but when has that ever done anything but encourage us. We were laughing about something and I heard this crack. It's still the worst thing I ever heard." Thick tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped them away.
Bucky instantly regretted asking her. He couldn't stand to see her cry.
She licked her lips and looked up at him. "Anyway, the branch Peg was on broke. Just snapped clean in two. I scrambled down the tree and ran to her side. She was gasping like she couldn't breathe. Her eyes were huge. She was terrified, Buck. I just remember thinking that I had to fix her. My palms heated up but they looked exactly the same. But when I touched her..." She glanced down before meeting his gaze once more. "She was fine. Later she told me she hadn't been able to move as she laid there. That was what had scared her so badly. But I fixed her."
Anna shrugged and began walking again. "I don't know what it is, Buck or how I do it. It just happens. I try not to use it unless I have to, but then I saw you and...well, you're good at getting me to throw my rules out the window."
He grinned and brought her hand to his mouth to press a kiss on the back of it. "Your secret's safe with me, doll."
She simply shook her head as she leaned against him. He steered them back toward the base. "Come on. I have something I want to show you."
When they arrived at the barracks, Anna pulled to a stop and glanced between him and the building. "You want to show me the barracks? I assure you I have seen them before, Barnes."
He made a face and tugged her along behind him. "Cute, Anna. Very cute." He shook his head and mumbled under his breath.
When they reached the roof, he released her and spread out the blanket he'd stashed up there earlier. He sat and patted the space beside him.
She tilted her head to look him over then took the spot he offered. He laid back and pulled her down with him, cradling her against his chest. Her head leaned back to look at him. "Buck, what are you-"
He cut her off by grasping her chin to turn her head so she could see the sky.
"Oh," she gasped. Stars lit up the inky blackness. Millions of them. "It's beautiful," she whispered as if not wanting to disturb the night around them.
Buck kissed her temple. They laid in silence for a long time, just enjoying each other's company. Eventually Anna began to hum then sing softly under her breath.
He couldn't even make out the words but it made him smile just the same. "What are you singing, doll."
"Hmm? Oh, I didn't even realize I was. It's my favorite song. The stars always make me think of it."
When she didn't say anything else, he gave her a little hug. "Sing it for me?"
Her nose crinkled making him smile. "I'm a horrible singer."
"I don't believe you could be horrible at anything. I want to hear it."
(song is dream a little dream of me. Lyrics removed as not allowed on this site)
Her voice started soft, little more than a whisper, but Buck found it beautiful just the same.
He was well familiar with the song and sang the next verse with her, their mediocre voices sounding beautiful as they blended together.
"Dance with me, doll," he said as he hopped to his feet, pulling her to hers. And they sang and danced and laughed, the stars their only witness.
As she sang the last note, he twirled her then dropped to his knee. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand while he grasped the other one in his. "I need to say something to you, Anna and you need to let me say it. Because I've been practicing for days and I'm afraid I'll never have the nerve to get through it if you interrupt. Can you do that for me, doll?"
She nodded, tears pooling in her eyes.
The corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile. "From the moment I met you, I was smitten. There was no other word. You are stunning inside and out. And I know I'm just some dirt poor kid from Brooklyn that's tagging along in his best friend's shadow, but I love you. I love you so much, Anna. And I swear I'll do everything I can to make sure you never doubt that and that you're taken care of for the rest of your life. Say you'll be mine?"
She nodded as the tears now ran freely down her face and she threw her arms around Bucky's neck making him rock back. "I'm already yours Barnes. But yes, I'll marry you."
He pulled back and slipped his mother's ring on her finger. And for that one night, they were content knowing nothing could tear them apart.
A/N: Please note that beginning with this book the timeline in my MCU series changes dramatically from what it is. Things happen that didn't, other things don't that did. Just go with it.