"Why didn't you tell me?" Alina asked as she preceded Bucky into their apartment. She had just found out at work, thanks to Lorraine, that the army were calling up their new recruits in a month and that Bucky's name was on the list.
Her husband closed the door behind them and followed her into their bedroom where she was getting changed so that she could start dinner. "What do you want me to say, Lina? They only just told us and the dates haven't been released."
Alina shook her head as she unpinned her black pillbox hat and put it down on her dresser before roughly unbuttoning her orange pleated blouse and dropping it onto the end of their bed. "For goodness sake, Bucky, I've told you before that you don't need to protect me," she turned her back and kicked off her brown heeled oxfords before she unzipped her grey and black flared pencil skirt, stepping out of it and catching up the pink dress with black piping and buttons she had worn the night before.
Bucky caught her elbow and turned her to face him, "And I said to you before, Lina, that I couldn't tell you everything." He glared down at her. "Do you think this is easy for me? Do you think I want to stand here and watch you cry because you know I'm gonna be gone in a month?"
Alina lifted a graceful hand to wipe at the tears that she hadn't even realised were sliding silently down her cheeks. She pushed his hand away, "You don't understand…"
He cut her off, "Yeah, I do. You're afraid I won't come home," he leaned down over her, his eyes hurt and fearful, "I'm scared to death that's exactly what's gonna happen."
He turned on his heel and put some space between them and Alina dropped to sit on the edge of their bed as her knees gave way, "Why did you enlist?" she whispered closing her eyes to try and fight her tears even as she felt them slide continuously down her cheeks.
Bucky barked out a humourless laugh and turned to her, she looked up at him, "Because that's what stupid young men do when they don't have someone to rely on them,"
Shaking her head the petite woman glared, "You had your family to rely on you. What do you think your mom is going to do if you don't come back? What about your brother and sisters?" she stood up and pulled on her dress. Moving to walk past him she gasped as he grabbed her arm and pulled her against his chest, his mouth closing over hers in a quick angry kiss.
And then he stepped away and left the room, throwing over his shoulder, "I'm going out for a while."
The sound of the front door slamming shut had her in tears and sliding down the wall to sit on the ground, legs pulled up to her chest. She cried bitterly for the hurt she and the man she loved were going through.
Bucky came home later that night smelling of smoke and beer. He didn't stumble so Alina knew he wasn't drunk and the fact that he walked right up to her and wrapped her in a hug made her want to cry all over again.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart," He whispered into her hair, "I won't walk out again, I swear."
She clung to him shaking needing to know that he wouldn't leave again.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart." He kept murmuring into her hair over and over again, "I promise I won't do that to you again."
Over the next few days he did everything he could to try and make up for leaving her that night. This included a date on the Saturday at Coney Island to see the sights, ride the attractions and eat as much candy floss as she could stomach. Alina chose a blue and white dress with a blue belt around the waist, matching wedges and her best white embroidered cardigan. Her white leather clutch in one hand and her other arm through Bucky's, she pulled him around the amusement park looking at anything and everything. He won her a stuffed bear at the ring-toss and they rode the Ferris wheel three times. That night they had dinner out at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the beach.
With a sigh the petite redhead leaned against Bucky's shoulder after their walk along the pier, "Thank you, Bucky. Today was perfect."
With a playful smile he wrapped his arm around her waist, "Promise me something, Lina." She looked up at him expectantly and he continued, "Next time we fight, you have to take me out." Alina pretended to look affronted and pushed him away before storming off down the pier.
Bucky followed after her laughing and swept her up into his arms, kissing her lightly, "You're pushing your luck, Serge." She said with a smile.
He grinned slyly at her, "Well, Lina. I couldn't very well press my luck with anyone but you, doll."
She laughed out loud at that, "Yeah, anyone else would smack you one if you tried."
He pouted but pulled her closer, "True." He shrugged.
Alina's smile faded a little and she reached up to trace his features with her hand, "I don't want to fight any more, Bucky." She murmured.
His expression became serious, "You know I'll try my hardest not to fight with you but we're both stubborn. You knew that before we got married," he ran his fingers through the hair that she had left loose at the back of her head, "We're gonna fight some of the time."
She smiled, "I know, just not like last time."
He shook his head, his gaze dropping to her lips as he did, "Not like last time." He smirked, the corners of his lips pulling up as he did, "Wanna seal it with a kiss, doll?" he drawled.
Alina laughed prettily at that, "Oh, what a line, Serge." She murmured before pushing up onto tip-toe to kiss him.