Author's Note: This chapter is a little shorter because it's in the next chapter that we really hit everything. In the next chapter, we're officially in Captain America: The First Avenger!

I give you the thirteenth installment of Rage, Rage.

Chapter Twelve - Tidings

"Thank you for the ride, Howard. And you're sure you don't want to come over tomorrow?"

"Ana and Jarvis are planning to introduce me to some of their European traditions. I understand Ana makes some excellent Hungarian Christmas dishes." He rolled his eyes and smiled. "But you don't have to be such a worrier, Matilda. I'll be just fine."

"If you're sure." She leaned over and pecked a kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you Monday, then." She opened her door and climbed out, making sure to take her bag with her. Matilda took a moment to watch him drive off before letting her shoulders slump with exhaustion. She turned and trudged her way up the stairs to her apartment, digging her keys out. She started to unlock the door and frowned, pulling back. Then she twisted the doorknob and found the apartment already unlocked. Matilda pushed her way inside. "Stevie? Why's the door unlocked?" she called, setting her bag down and shutting the door.

"Juno! Look who's back!"

Unbuttoning her coat, she turned. "What are you—" She froze, breath catching. "Bucky?"

He grinned at her from his spot on the couch, looking exhausted with his uniform only half-buttoned and a glass of water in hand. "Really? That's all I get, doll?"

"You— You're back! I thought tomorrow— But you—"

He shrugged. "The original plan was to just go back to my place. But I wanted to see you." He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, setting the glass aside. "Wanted to see you two first."

Matilda stared at him. And then a grin broke her face. "You're back!" she said again. With a laugh, she dashed forward. Steve yelped in alarm and scrambled out of the way. Bucky shot to his feet only for her to collide with him and send them both tumbling backward over the back of the couch.

He landed on the floor with a grunt. "Wow," he gasped out. "Careful there, Tilly. I'm gonna need these ribs when they ship me out."

Matilda shifted so that she was kneeling next to him and then she dragged him into a hug. "Or you could just not leave ever again. I— We all missed you." She tucked her head down against his shoulder.

"Well, that—" He cleared his throat and then his arms came up around her. "That's nice to know." He tightened his arms around her and then rested his head against hers. "Missed you," he mumbled.

Steve cleared his throat loudly and Matilda jumped back, looking up to find him leaning over the couch and smirking down at them. "So," he said slowly, drawing out the word. "Is one of us gonna make dinner or are we going out?"

"Oh, right! I'll make dinner." Matilda dragged herself to her feet. "Are you hungry, Barnes? I bet you're starving." She paced over to the kitchen and started taking out her ingredients.

Bucky frowned, pulling himself up. He hesitated. "You look exhausted. Why don't the three of us just go out somewhere?"

She glanced back at him, visibly cautious. "Are you sure?"

"You look tired."

Matilda nodded once. "Um, okay, then. Let's go. Steve, do you—"

"I'm not changin'," he said, pulling at his suspenders. "I'm gonna wait by the car." He escaped out the front door.

Matilda glanced at where he'd gone and cleared her throat, shifting from foot to foot. "You are hungry, right?" she murmured, glancing back at Bucky.

"Yes," Bucky said, buttoning his uniform back up. He began fumbling with his tie.

"Here." Matilda stepped over to him and knocked his hands away. Then she began carefully redoing the knot. "How was basic?" she asked, focusing on her work but painfully aware of the fact that he was watching her closely.

"Good," he said softly. "Exhausting. Lonely." He paused as she began tucking his tie into his uniform. "I missed you."

Matilda looked up at him and smiled. "We missed you too."

"No, I—" He groaned and dug his fingers in his hair. "I— I missed you. You have no idea how many times I just wanted to sneak off to the train station and come back here so I could see you."

She stared up at him to a long moment and he kept glancing nervously away. "Oh," she murmured. Matilda reached up and gently began fixing his hair. "Bucky?"

"It took me ten years to realize I was in love with you." And finally he managed to look her in the eye. As she took a nervous step back, lowering her hands, he straightened. "It took me ten years. And, and then it's taken me another seven to figure out how to say it." He cleared his throat and glanced away. "Sorry, I— I'm sorry. I've just had a lot to think about. Like I said, I missed you."

She pressed her lips together and tilted her head to the side. Then she reached out and carefully took his hand in hers. "You know, you really should have said something sooner. Here, Stevie and I thought you just lost interest in dating."

He chuckled, though there was still a nervous edge to it. "I lost interest in dating anyone who wasn't . . . well, you."

Matilda laughed and looked down at their hands, carefully lacing their fingers together. "That's sweet."

Bucky shifted nervously and his fingers flexed around hers. "Well, I feel it'd be a lot sweeter if you . . . if you'd be my girl. Or at least give me a chance. I mean, if you— You don't have to, but I would really—"

"I would love that," she assured him.

He smiled. "Thank you." Bucky tugged her forward, still holding her hand, and curled his free arm around her.

"So where are you taking me?" she teased.

"Ideally? California. Some expensive restaurant there and then we go dancing afterward and never, ever stop."

Matilda giggled and shifted so she could look up at him properly. "And on a more realistic note?"

"I don't know. I didn't think I'd get this far, if I'm being honest." Bucky glanced to the side. "You wouldn't happen to have any ideas, would you?"

She took a deep breath. "How 'bout we start with Christmas Eve dinner? With Steve? The three of us together?"

"I like the sound of that." And then his eyes widened. "Shit, Steve is still waiting for us."

"That's okay. He can wait." Matilda leaned her head forward against his shoulder and finally released his hand so that she could curl her arms around him. "I'm glad you're back," she murmured. "I don't want you to leave again."

"You know I don't get to decide that," he sighed, leaning his head against hers and closing his eyes as he breathed softly into her hair. "I wish I could stay but we both know I can't."

The door opened. "Did you two lose your way to the door or— Oh."

Bucky looked up to find Steve standing in the doorway. The shorter man stared at the two of them and then grinned. Matilda shifted in Bucky's arms just enough that she could turn and look at her brother. "What?" she asked indignantly, though her tone was belied by the pink that started to spread across her nose.

Steve's grin just got wider. "Ya know, how 'bout I stay here and you two go to dinner?" He stepped fully inside and closed the door. "I'm not really feeling up for it anymore."

Matilda just flushed deeper and straightened. "Steve—"

"In fact, I think I'm just gonna hit the sack early. Good night." He stopped by them and kissed Matilda on the cheek before clapping Bucky on the shoulder. "Have fun."

Matilda tried again, pulling back a little from Bucky's hold. "Steve—"

He waved to them and then disappeared into his room, the door closing loudly. Her face burned and she glanced up at Bucky. He smirked. "Well?"

"Um, yeah, okay." She stepped so she was standing beside him and then she slid her hand in his. "When you think about it, the nicer places will be full. I don't have anything reserved—"

"That's okay."

She smiled. "Hey, Bucky?"

"Yeah?"

"Je t'aime."

He blinked, pulling back a little. "Is that . . . French?"

"Yes."

"What's it mean?"

She smiled a little brighter now and her grip on his hand tightened. "It means 'I love you.'"

"Coffee," Bucky said brightly, setting the cup down on her desk. He moved to stand beside and duck down, hugging her and kissing the top of her head. "What are you working on?"

"Aircraft artillery," she murmured absently. She scratched out a few corrections to the blueprints in front of her. "I'd ask you to help, but . . . ."

"This is a little above my pay grade," he agreed. "Have you eaten today?"

She tensed in his hold and he sighed. Matilda set down her pen. "I just— I forgot."

He pulled back. "I'll get you something."

She watched him leave the room and mumbled, "Thank you." Then she returned to the plans.

"Here ya go. Eat up."

Matilda jumped in alarm, knees hitting the underside of the desk. "Holy—" She stared up at him. "When did you get back?"

He looked amused, setting the plate beside her. "Just now." That amusement turned into concern. "When's the last time you slept?"

She just smiled at him and moved her papers aside so she could replace them with the plate. Bucky gave up and leaned against the desk. After a little while, she looked up. "When you say you love me," she started softly, "you mean it?

He stared at her in surprise and then smiled. "Of course I mean it. Would I lie to you?"

"No," she said immediately. "I know you wouldn't." She yawned widely and tried to hide it with her hand.

Bucky frowned and straightened. "We should get you home. You need some sleep."

She waved a hand and pushed her empty plate away. "Later. I have to finish this."

"Tilly—"

"Later," she said sharply, looking up at him. "I would love to get some sleep, Bucky, but this is larger than just me. Right? People are dying and I can do something to help stop it. To protect them."

He stared at her. He sighed. "Alright. Show me some of your regular SI stuff that I can work on, doll. I wanna help."

"Tills, Horton's here."

Matilda paused and then wheeled herself out from under the car. "Already? But he's not supposed to be here until—" She glanced at the clock. "Oh." With a groan, she hauled herself up. "How do I look?"

Howard eyed her and then scoffed. "Like a mess. You've got that change of clothes in your office, right?" When she nodded, he waved to her. "Go, go, go. I'll stall him."

"You're the best, Howie." She stepped past him, careful not to get any grease on him, and escaped out into the hall and up the stairs. It took her five minutes to change and manage to get herself presentable, not a trace of oil in sight. Then she rushed to the meeting room. Matilda paused outside the door and took a deep breath to compose herself, clutching her folders to her chest. She pushed her way in. "Doctor Horton. It's a pleasure." She stepped forward, holding out her hand.

He got to his feet and shook her hand, smiling. "Please, call me Phineas. And I'm excited about the possibility of being a part of your Expo."

"We're excited about that possibility too." She pulled out a chair and sat down, passing one file to Howard. "But as you can imagine, we've chosen to be particular about who we choose to present. So tell me why you think you should be a part of the Stark Exposition."

"He rejected this round of candidates too?" Matilda asked, looking down at the room in front of them where Abraham, Phillips, and Howard were in heated discussion. She glanced at the woman next to her. "I don't think Phillips really understands what he's supposed to be looking for."

"I don't know if any of us do," Peggy mused. "We were told that if we don't have a selection by the end of this next round, we could be shut down."

"And Erskine?"

"He's willing for us to be shut down if it means we don't use the wrong person." Peggy glanced at her. "The colonel considered Barnes, you know." When Matilda straightened in alarm, Peggy laughed. "Don't think I don't know who you spend your time with, Matilda. We may not talk about our personal lives but that doesn't mean I don't notice things."

"Right. Phillips?"

Peggy cleared her throat. "Phillips. He considered him right up until that fight. Do you know what it was about?"

Matilda shrugged. "He mentioned the fight but never explained further. Why?"

"The men were training using SI firepower. Recruit named Isaaks complained about the design. Blamed it for his poor aim. Phillips told him that you yourself delivered that shipment of weapons and tested and demonstrated them. Said that proved the fault was with Isaaks and not you."

"Nice of him to defend the honor of my work."

"Well, Isaaks didn't appreciate that. Called you a few choice words that were sprinkled in among his very negative opinions of a woman being in the scientific field. Followed by a comment about what you're really good for."

Matilda winced. "Ah."

"As you can imagine, Barnes didn't take well to that. Turned where he was standing and knocked Isaaks on his ass with one blow. That was the fight. Or how it started, at least."

"And Phillips?"

"He remembered Erskine's previous reservations with candidates. Being too battle ready. Too quick to fight. Quick to turn on allies over a disagreement. So he didn't nominate him."

Matilda frowned and her hands tightened on the railing. "I... I think he'd do well with the serum."

"Hmm. Well, for what it's worth, I disagree with Phillips's conclusion." Peggy smiled and turned, stepping down the stairs. "Don't you have weapons plans for the colonel to look at?"

"Howard has them. I have things I have to deal with for the Expo." Matilda pulled on her curls for a moment then turned. "I'll see you Tuesday, then."

When she reached the front office, Mary asked, "Heading out?"

"Yes. When Chester leaves could you give him this, please?" Matilda asked, handing over a thick envelope. "It's the contract adjustments he asked for."

"I'll make sure they get to him."

"Thanks, Mary. You look nice today." With that and a wave, Matilda stepped outside and slid seamlessly into her car.

When she arrived at the Expo area, she called, "Dean! Talk to me!"

The man jumped, clipboard clutched to his chest. "Miss Rogers! O-of course! The enlistment area has its groundwork laid. It will be finished by noon tomorrow. Most of the presenters have already set up their areas, though we are still waiting on O'Hara and Braddock. Doctor Braddock isn't supposed to land until this evening, but he assured us that his things would be ready to present by morning." He held out a layout of the Expo to her, various sites marked and annotated.

Matilda took it and looked it over. "And O'Hara? What's his story?"

"We don't know yet."

She frowned and then handed the Expo layout back. "Keep me updated on that. Okay, walk me through everything."