Author's Note: I do NOT own Marvel characters that will be mentioned on this story, however I DO own Arabella and my plot so please don't steal.

Reviews are appreciated. 2 Chapters in a weekend, I'm on a roll aren't I? :)

Re-posted because is being a bitch. Thanks to Kima Wolfwood for the heads up.

Warnings: This story will contain coarse language and other strong adult themes.


When Monday finally comes around I'm out of the hospital and my first move is to go straight towards the place Peggy had told me Steve would be, ehm, performing.

I hold tighter the black umbrella in my hand, the rain is heavy but yet I still manage to spot that Brooklyn kid I have known since we were kids sitting underneath a tent, wearing a brown leather jacket hiding that uniform I find so funny.

Peggy is in front of him, they share some flirty smiles, both of them thinking they're so smooth and I find it funny, cause in reality they're not. However they seem to be in a deep and private conversation and somehow I know Bucky would hate me if I interrupt him, Steve isn't the best with ladies but since he gained a little weight his luck had changed. So, I decide to do what Bucky would tell me to do.

Turn around and leave the kid get some—

"Arabella!" I hear him call my name before I can go. So, after internally apologizing to Bucky I walk towards the pair. Peggy smiles at me as I greet her and asks me about how I've been doing with the job.

"You're working with her?" Steve asks and we both nod.

"Her idea," I continue "it was that or being Howard's secretary and believe me. That was NOT going to happen."

He laughs as he shakes his head softly at me. "What you been up to?" he asks.

"Not much, really…" I sigh "I just got out from the hospital and—"

"No letter from Bucky?"

I shake my head no. Peggy looks at both of us confused as I explain "He is my husband—fiancé—I mean! Boyfriend, argh, fiancé?" I ask towards Steve who just shrugs "it's complicated." Peggy laughs but somehow gets my strange message.

"What you got there?" I ask looking down at the sketchbook he currently holds.

"Oh!" he exclaims "This old thing?" he shrugs "it's just something I've did, to kill time, you know…" He lifts the book up and shows me the very well, if not excellent, drawn monkey riding a monocycle.

"Steve, that's really good" I tell him.

"I told him the same," Peggy adds "I think he just doesn't likes to get compliments" she jokes.

"I can take compliments," he says with a slight smile towards Peggy "thank you very much."

A lightning suddenly strikes down and makes us turn around just as another jeep arrives bringing more injured man from the frontline.

"It's not fair," Steve says suddenly.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I thought this was what I wanted," Steve sighs closing the pad "All those men's are laying their lives out there and I'm here, wearing tights."

"Steve—" Peggy starts but gets cut off.

"I'm a joke to them," he says "I'm just a joke, a government's joke."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Peggy continues "those men's had it hard, they just came back…"

I nod in agreement as Peggy continues "they're all that's left from the 107."

Did she just say…

Steve looks at her, then back at me, as if he's trying to ask me

"Wasn't Bucky on the 107?"

Yes, he was and he wasn't there. With those men, if he had been there he would've already come to look for him, me, us.

My face drains of color telling Steve we're thinking about the same thing and by followed act he starts running through the rain, calling for me and Peggy to catch up.

"What's wrong?" she asks as we follow Steve as fast as we can "Did I say something wrong?"

I shake my head as I try to compose sentences or words, whatever comes out first "My husband…" I trail off "James Buchanan Barnes, he's on the 107th."


"Oh, Captain, what an honor to have you here" Phillips says with a sincere sarcasm Steve fails to acknowledge. Bless him, because I was about 2 seconds from ripping Phillips face off.

"Colonel Phillips" he says, saluting as a soldier should "I'm sorry for taking your time, sir but I just need a name, a friend of mine. Sergeant James Barnes."

Phillips looks at Peggy as he raises his finger, pointing at her and snarls "we'll talk later, Carter" both me and Steve turn to look at Peggy whose face shows no regret on what she did, thought I don't think she knew about it when she told us that information.

"Sir," Steve repeats himself catching Phillips attention "the name is Barnes, B-A-R-N—"

"I know how to spell," Phillips interrupts him with a heavy sigh, "I've had to write many letters to family's today, but I don't remember that name…" he turns around and looks for a paper in a cabinet behind him. His eyes catch mine briefly as he inhales deeply and proceeds to speak and therefore, destroy as fire my entire world.

"He's MIA."


"What in heaven's earth do you think you're doing?!" Howard asks me as he enters my room, finding me on black leather jacket, covering the white blouse I've been wearing since I left the hospital this morning.

"I'm going."

"No, you're not." Howard says chuckling, keeping his temper at bay "you just got out from the hospital and now you're planning to get back!? Hell no!"

"Howard—"

"No, Arabella!" he yells "that's my final word! You're not going with Steve!"

"It's my husband!"

"You're my sister!" he yells, voice cracking "I almost lost you once; I—I don't think I can go over it again! I can't!"

"Howard…" my voice softens as I try to walk over to him, I close my eyes knowing how my brother would feel if he lost me, I felt that way when he was send to a boarding school when we were eight years old, when I thought I was never going to see him again.

"I just need you safe, Arabella…" he sighs.

I laugh softly at that "there is nothing as a safe place anymore, Howard"

"Well going there, believe me," he says sarcastically "I can assure you. It's the NON safest place in the world"

I sigh, turning my back at him as I hear him groan preparing himself to speak and before he can do so I interrupt him saying "if I was lost would you go after me?"

"Of course, I would!" he says, a frown on his face.

"Why?" I ask, looking at him behind my shoulder.

"Cause you're my family" he concludes and I nod my head.

"And Bucky's mine," I say, turning around to face him, his eyes are set on me and nothing else "if I lost him, I would go after him, if he was hurt I would do everything to save him, I would give my life for him, you and Steve… cause you guys are all that I have left" I try to blink the tears away from my eyes but it's too late when I feel one slip down my cheek, Howard hands quickly wipe them away and he brings me to his chest, kissing my forehead.

"I understand it," he says calmly "I do, I swear, but Barnes, Rogers and even I would never forgive me if I let you go and then had something happening to you—"

"But—"

"I'll take Steve and he will bring Barnes back, okay?"

"Fine," I nod at him and he smiles "can I at least see Steve before you guys go?"

"Yeah, sure" he nods and I peck his cheek before going to find my best friend that was going to rescue my husband from the HYDRA base at north. Peggy had kindly 'suggested' that since Howard was the best civilian pilot around here, crazy enough to do what Steve was planning to do, we should let him know about it. And after a little begging from my part, he finally accepted to do so.

I walk through the streets with only one thought in my mind, what if he's not there? What if Steve can get to him? What if he's de—

"Arabella?" I hear Steve ask and I break away from my thoughts to see him standing there, that stupid shield on his hand and he also wears the same clothes from this afternoon.

"Steve, I just—God, I—Steve, please just bring him home to me, please." I sob, tears stream down my face when I think he could no longer be him, when I think he could no longer be ali—.

"Shhh" he brings me to his chest, I inhale his smell, the smell of grass, rain and his cologne. "Look at me," Steve takes my chin in his hand and raises it so he can see me straight to the eyes "I will bring Bucky back, okay? I will. Safe and sound."

I nod at him and he kisses my head before going after Howard, leaving me there stranded. Alone, in a hallway, helpless to wait every day till news about Steve arrive, making me feel useless when Howard damn well knows I can help.

"Please, Bucky…" I pray, falling to my knees, sobbing my eyes out as I see Steve, Peggy and Howard leave in the plane "please be alive, please, please…"