Previously: Captain America and the Howling Commandos broke through a Hydra blockade in Volgograd, rescuing the trapped allied soldiers. During that mission, Ed came across Izumi's doppelganger along with saving a certain Daniel Sousa.

And now, the continuation of the story!

Enjoy!


March 1945 – Austrian Alps

Bucky's POV

Bucky wasn't exactly sure what time it was but it was early.

Much. Too. Early.

He wished he could get his mind to turn off, to let him get a few more hours of sleep before the mission that he was NOT looking forward to doing.

Even though the S.S.R. along with several Howling Commandos were ready for what was to come...

Bucky and Steve were weary, even more than Ed was.

And it all stemmed from the same source: Dr. Armin Zola.

The S.S.R. intel team had finally managed to crack the code Hydra used in their communications. Well, it had been easier once they got a hold of a Hydra radio transmitter and spent hours listening in on the enemy's communications. But, with that new information, the S.S.R. had succeeded in discovering the whereabouts of the elusive doctor.

The Colonel had made Zola's capture top priority at that point. The reason? The Howling Commandoes had gotten rid of every Hydra factory they had known about but had been nowhere near figuring out where the main base of operation was located.

If anyone would have information on that, it would be Schmidt's right-hand man.

Hence the mission.

Bucky sighed, massaging his head roughly.

Part of him did not want to go through with that coming mission... Not for him but...

He glanced to his side where Ed was soundly sleeping, bundled up in blankets and her coat. He wondered briefly how long it had taken her to fall asleep earlier that night so he let her get as much rest as possible.

Thinking it over, Bucky wondered if that would be a good idea in the long run bearing in mind the news Steve and him had to give her later that day.

He was sure she was going to yell at them and, fully rested, she could probably yell for a long time.

Before setting off, Steve and Bucky had discussed... Well, Ed and her role during the mission. Considering they were going after Zola, the person who wanted Ed captured, dead or alive, Steve and Bucky wanted to keep her as far away from him as possible. They knew she could take care of herself: she had shown as much over the year together but...

They didn't want a repeat of the mission with Mustang. They didn't want to think of what could happen to her if the mission went south.

For her safety, Steve and Bucky had decided that she was to stay with the others as the two of them along with Jones hijacked the train.

The problem in all this was convincing Ed about that plan. Steve and Bucky would be the distraction, entering the train and luring the guards away from Zola while Jones went to the doctor from the roof. However, Ed was under the impression that it was her presence that would cause the distraction.

No one had told her differently just yet: that was Steve and Bucky's job. That coming morning.

It was all in the hopes of giving Ed less time to fume and yell at them before the mission began.

At least, that was what they wished would happen.

Bucky hoped adding that there was a certain weight restriction on the wire they were using could sway Ed to not yell at them for too long... Her mechanical limbs made her much heavier than expected and they couldn't have the wire snapping on them.

She'd understand.

Right?

He sighed, hoping that his optimism would last. However, he still wasn't looking forward to the future discussion.

"Bucky?"

He jumped slightly as he glanced towards Ed who was slowly sitting up, rubbing her eyes as she squinted in his direction.

"It's early," he replied softly, trying to untense, "you can go back to sleep."

She shook her head, scooting closer to him on the floor, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders as she tossed the other over his. He smiled softly, lifting an arm and letting her press herself against his side. He nuzzled the top of her head, breathing in her familiar scent.

He heard her chuckle softly before she whispered, "What were you thinking about?"

Bucky hesitated a moment before answering. "How that granny snores."

Ed scoffed, shaking her head. "And is mostly deaf?" she added with a smile, craning her neck to look up at him.

"That too."

The granny they were talking about was the owner of the home they were currently being housed in. The previous day, the group had arrived at the small village in the Alps and had – well, mostly Ed had considering they spoke German – negotiated sleeping arrangements for all of them for the night in exchange for some provisions the team had brought with them.

No sooner had Ed started explaining the situation, an old woman had marched up to her, grabbed her wrist and seemed to insist on Ed following her, going on in German about something Ed had found overly amusing.

"Well, I have a place to stay," she had remarked to the others with a chuckle.

The other villagers didn't seem to put up a fuss about the rest of the group as they began offering them a place to sleep. The granny, however, was over persistent to have Ed with her.

So, of course, Steve sent Bucky as well, mostly to keep an eye out just in case.

"You were very trusting yesterday," observed Bucky, motioning with a tilt of his head towards the granny's bedroom – the only bedroom in the house. Hence why the two of them were the floor in front of the fireplace.

Ed smiled softly. "She reminded me of my Aunt Pinako."

Bucky nodded, recalling having heard about that sassy old lady that had helped raise Ed, her brother, along with their childhood friend, the granddaughter of said sassy lady, Winry.

"You do have a knack for finding these people," said Bucky with a soft chuckle.

Ed shrugged. "They find me, actually."

Bucky didn't doubt that statement: Ed did have a knack for attracting unique characters and getting into even more unique situations.

He still wasn't 100% sure if she had made up the time where she boiled one of her boots for her and a friend of hers to eat. He hadn't gotten the specifics on why they had no other food or option other than her boot. Well, at least, considering her left foot was metal, it shouldn't have been too bad...? Right...?

Or that time when she and her brother were left on a deserted island for a month by their teacher. Who would do that?! To children?! Even though Ed had assured him that they survived just fine, Bucky still thought back to it from time to time, flabbergasted.

"So," began Ed, snapping Bucky out his thoughts, "what's bothering you?"

He hesitated once more, trying to come up with another excuse, to distract her from that question. However, Ed seemed to see right through that.

"Something is wrong," she stated, eyeing him carefully. "I can tell. Not only now but on our way up here. You and even Steve were acting weird. What's wrong?"

He bit back a groan at that. This was supposed to be done later that day, with Steve present.

"Bucky."

He sighed, massaging the side of his neck. "Fine," he whispered. He took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "For the mission later it'll be Steve, Jones, and myself going to hijack the train," he stated almost too quickly.

Ed's eyes widened significantly at the news. She hadn't started yelling yet so Bucky took that as a good sign. For now, at least. She continued to stare at him and he could almost see the gears turning in her mind.

"That's a joke, right?" began Ed, her voice clipped and Bucky realized he wasn't as safe as he had thought.

He took another deep breath before shaking his head, stating, "No," with a definitive tone. He figured it was best to just get it over with, quickly, like ripping off a band aid.

She frowned at his response. "I'm not going with you?" she tried, her voice lowering.

Bucky reminded himself to stay strong. "No," he repeated, attempting to keep his voice at the same tone.

Her frown deepened. "And you're fine with this?" Her voice had gotten almost dangerously low.

"Ed –"

"You're. Fine. With. This?" she stated, over enunciating each word.

"Yes! Damnit, yes I am!" finally snapped Bucky. He had wanted to stay calm and rational during the conversation but, apparently, he couldn't. Not when it came to Ed's well-being.

"How –?"

"I'm not letting you get anywhere near that man, Ed! He wants... wants to...," Bucky couldn't get himself to finish that sentence as he realized his body was shaking from that outburst. He tried to center himself, barely managing as he continued. "And I won't be able to live with myself if something happened to you."

Ed, on the other hand, wasn't having it. "Not this again! I thought we were passed this!" she growled out, pushing herself to her knees as she turned to face Bucky.

"We were but that doesn't stop me from worrying! I trust you, you know that but –"

"Then why am I not going with you?!"

"Because Steve and I will be the distraction!" he explained, trying his best to stay calm.

"And why isn't it me? We know he's after me –"

"That's exactly why!"

"Then I'd be the perfect bait!"

"We – I – am NOT having you as bait!"

"Well that's too bad!"

"No!"

And this was why Bucky had wanted to have this conversation with Steve present: it may have been easier to convince Ed if they two of them tag teamed their way to making her understand. However, he was alone, fighting a tough battle against a very hard headed and stubborn woman.

"James Buchanan Barnes," she began, pointing a finger at him. "I am going with you and Steve or so help me, I will kick both your asses in front of this entire village."

"You can't, Ed," he began and, seeing the look that she had made him continue his explanation overly fast. "I mean coming with us!" She opened her mouth to argue some more. "The wire! The wire won't support all three of us!"

Ed paused, staring at him as she seemed to go over the reason in her mind. Bucky hoped that what he had said would be enough to calm her down a notch so that they could –

"Seriously?!" she hissed angrily.

Apparently not. "Ed, please."

"I'm stuck waiting? WAITING?!"

"Ed!"

"Why do you two get to go? To decide that I stay back to WAIT?! To be USELESS?! Risking your lives while I DO NOTHING on the sidelines? I want to protect you just as much as you want to protect me! This is ridiculous! I –"

"Evelyn..."

She stopped suddenly, breathing deeply, staring intently at him. His look was pleading at that point. He didn't know what else to tell her, to get her to understand.

"Evelyn, please," he whispered. "Just… just, please, for this mission, trust us? Please? I don't want you anywhere near that man and," he swallowed with difficulty, "and I want you to be safe, for once."

They stared at each other for several heartbeats as Bucky let the words sink in, for both of them. Even in the dim glow of what was left in the fireplace, the two of them held each other's gaze, golden eyes fixed on blue.

That is, until Ed took a final deep breath. She even puffed her cheeks as she held it in, releasing it after a while. "I still don't like," she mumbled as she sat back on top of her folded legs.

Bucky felt a great sense of relief wash over him at her acceptance of the mission. "I know. I've known you wouldn't since the idea had been discussed –"

Her head snapped up, a frown once more prominent on her features. "You've discussed this without me?" she almost sounded exasperated at the news.

"Steve and I knew you wouldn't like it...," explained Bucky slowly, praying he didn't screw up the situation.

Ed opened her mouth to protest before seeming to change her mind, huffing and crossing her arms instead. "Yeah, I don't, still don't, still won't."

"I'm sorry, Evelyn, but," he reached out to her slowly, hoping she wasn't mad enough to pull away from him, "we don't want to give him a chance to capture you."

She thankfully wasn't as she let him wrap his hand around hers and grasp it tightly.

"And what about you guys?" she wondered, the edge in her voice gone.

"We'll watch each other's backs, that I can assure you."

She sighed heavily, her grip on his hand tighter than before.

They stayed like that for a moment until Bucky whispered, "I'm sorry."

She lifted her gaze and, with a final eye roll, she flopped back to her original position by his side. She leaned heavily against him and he figured the worst was over. That is, until she elbowed him in the stomach, hard. Bucky gasped out in pain, groaning afterwards as he figured that he probably should have seen that coming.

"Am – am forgiven now?" he wondered, breathless.

"For now."

The two of them stayed pressed against one another for several minutes and Bucky realized, thinking back at the conversation he had just had with Ed that... It was not as bad as it could have been. He knew she was stubborn, hard headed, and that changing her mind was most of the time a task and a half, even for him. However, maybe, just maybe, she was doing this for him.

Compromising, understanding.

For him.

He wasn't 100% sure of that but it did have a nice ring to it.

"He'd probably say something about my limbs, won't he?" murmured Ed suddenly.

Bucky didn't really even have to think about, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Slimeball just might...," he replied just as softly.

He heard Ed huff as she repositioned herself. "Yeah, that does sound like his type."

"Are you ready in case it does happen?" he wondered. Considering how worried she had been for several months about telling the others about her gender, he figured that it extended to her limbs as well.

Ed pursed her lips, breathing deeply through her nose. "I don't exactly have a choice."

No... She didn't... It was all in the hands of that asshole. But... "I'll be right by your side, you know that right?"

"Of course, I do."

"Doesn't hurt to repeat it."

That at least got a light laugh from her as she shook her head. "I know you'll be there, especially..."

Bucky waited, intrigued by what Ed was going to say before her sentence tampered off to nothing. "Especially... what?" There was an inkling of a thought that crossed his mind but he didn't want to get his hopes up, not until he heard Ed's answer.

She stayed quiet for some time and Bucky didn't press her for more information. He just waited, holding her tightly against him.

Finally, Ed nodded to herself. "I may not have a choice about my limbs because of that son of a bitch but... I do have one about something else. I want to have a say in at least one of my secrets."

It took every ounce of self-control Bucky had to keep calm at the news Ed was sharing. She hadn't been completely clear on what that secret was but he could only guess.

"I've – I've hidden too long. It's enough," she stated with some finality, nodding to herself once more, as if she was trying to talk herself into believing those words as well.

That... Bucky wasn't too convinced about. It didn't sit all too well with him that Ed... "Are you sure?" he whispered, moving just enough so that they were face to face. "I don't want you to feel pressured to do this because of that man. It had to be entirely your decision. No matter what I've asked or what he could possible say."

Her gaze was strong as she stared back at him. "He may not give me a choice about my limbs but I will have one for my gender."

Bucky exhaled shakily as a smile broke across his face. It had been months since he had started bringing up her sharing her secret with the others. Yes, he wanted her to be honest be them, to not have to hide anymore but there was more, so much more that he hadn't shared with her.

He mainly didn't, want her to be scared anymore. Not only had the idea of telling the others, especially Steve, terrified her but... She didn't seem to be able to fully enjoy their dates either. It wasn't often but Bucky caught all the times she would scan the area or look over her shoulder, searching for anyone they knew, that may recognize her. He didn't want that for her. What he did want was for her to be able to enjoy herself, to be free of that fear.

They were in the middle of a war; they didn't need to add extra worries to their everyday lives.

Also, her willing to tell the others was a relief to hear. From what Peggy had confided in him, the rest of the Howling Commandos had mentioned on more than one occasion how Ed seemed to disappear during the evenings; how they had never met Evelyn; and how young Ed still looked. It was only a matter of time before one of them put all those clues together.

Even though Bucky attempted to throw the others off by faking dates with Evelyn so that Ed could be present with the group and by joking that Ed would look younger much longer than any of them would... He was still scared that they'd piece everything together and call Ed out on it.

But now, with Ed willing to tell the Howling Commandos about her gender, Bucky was elated. No more worrying, no more lies: both of them could be completely honest with each other and everyone around them.

Bucky cupped her face, staring intently into her golden eyes, unable to stop himself from smiling. "You are the bravest person I've ever met."

She scoffed, avoiding looking at him as he felt her face warm up under his hands. "After hiding for so long, not really all that brave but I'll take the compliment."

He chuckled softly, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Besides the point. And, you were right, I will be there, right by your side when you tell them. I promise."

She smiled at him, kissing him gently before wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "Ich liebe dich."

"Love you too."

Bucky glanced briefly towards his bag, an idea coming to mind but... He stopped himself from physically shaking his head, negating the idea. Now was not the time.

"By the way," began Ed with a serious tone, leaning back enough to look at him in the eye, "this decision better not distract you on the mission later. Clear?"

"Crystal clear, ma'am," he replied, sealing the promise with a kiss.

"Good."

They just stared at each other for several more minutes, taking each other in until Bucky suddenly stifled a yawn. Ed shook her head at that, smiling softly.

"There's still time before sunrise," she stated, brushing some of his hair away. "Think you can fall back asleep?"

"I can try. You?"

She shrugged but lay back down, maneuvering the blanket so that, when Bucky lay down as well, she tossed it over both of them and he imitated her with the other. He kissed her forehead one last time before settling down drifting off.

Later that morning, when Steve had passed by with the intent to explain the mission to Ed, both she and Bucky broke the news that it had already been done.

Steve glanced between the two of them, unsure if he had heard correctly.

"You know?" he tried, his eyebrows arched in surprise.

Ed crossed her arms, frowning in his direction. "Yes and, before this becomes a normal occurrence, any other decision that centers around me, I WILL be a part of, am I clear?"

Steve eyed Bucky who nodded quickly, hoping that he'd agree. If not, Bucky was going to be leaving the news breaking to Steve and Steve alone: he didn't want to get yelled at by Ed again. Steve studied the two of them a moment longer before agreeing with a tilt of his head.

"Sorry, Ed," he began, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "We knew you'd be angry, one way or another."

She raised her eyebrows. "Damn straight I was. I'm just glad that that granny we were staying with was mostly deaf. I'm sure we would've woken her up."

Steve glanced towards Bucky, wondering if the discussion had really been that heated. Bucky shrugged, not denying it. He was just happy Ed didn't yell like he knew she could. If she had, the entire village would have woken up...

"So, ready?" wondered Steve.

Bucky and Ed shared a look before following Steve to where the others were waiting.


Ed's POV

Even if I had told Bucky that I was somewhat fine with this arrangement, internally, I most definitely was NOT. After telling Steve for over a year and even longer that he was stuck with me, it was damn difficult to be alright with letting him go on this mission without me.

And even more difficult to let Bucky.

I know Zola has it in for me, that he wants me captured but that didn't mean I needed to keep my distance from him! To keep my distance as the two people I cared about the most on this side of the Gate went on a mission without me.

Did. Not. Like. It.

I lifted my gaze to the wire that hung over our group as we stood near the ledge of the mountain range.

I blamed that wire too. Along with S.S.R. that decided that it would be enough for our group's mission.

Assholes.

I didn't fully trust if their calculations had been correct or not, on whether or not Howard had any input on the choice. However, since it's just a wire, I highly doubt he did: he had more important things to deal with.

Hence why I needed to somehow trust that that wire would actually NOT hold my weight along with Steve and Bucky's.

Fucking wire. Fucking S.S.R.

Did I mention I wasn't happy about the situation?

However,...

Taking a deep breath, I schooled my features, attempting to calm down. I had told Bucky and Steve that I would be alright with this arrangement and I needed to follow through with that. They didn't need to be worrying about me while they hijacked the train that would be carrying Zola.

The mission rested on them distracting the guards, luring them to the middle of the train while Jones found and apprehended Zola.

The three of them needed their focus on that, not on my dislike of my role in the mission.

"You remember when I had you ride the Cyclone on Connie Island?" wondered Bucky suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. He was glancing between the large ravine in front of them and Steve, a small frown on his face.

"Yeah, and I threw up?" replied Steve who, on the other hand, was sporting an amused smile.

"This isn't payback, is it?"

"Now why would I do that?" chuckled Steve, glancing back at him.

That at least had gotten a chuckle from both of them but... The tension was still present in their bodies.

They probably liked the mission just as much as I did.

"We were right," called out Jones, making most of us turn towards where he was kneeling next to a Hydra transmitter. He was listening in on the conversation while Jim fiddled with the controls, probably attempting to keep the legibility high enough for Jones to understand. Honestly, it could have been either of us that listened in but... I left it to Jones. I didn't think I was in any condition to focus on that task at the moment.

"Dr. Zola's on the train," continued Jones, lowering the earpiece. "Hydra dispatcher gave him permission to open up the throttle. Wherever he's going, they must need him bad."

Steve nodded at that information before putting on his helmet. I briefly noticed, from the corner of my eye, the other moving to prepare for the hijacking but... My focus was on Bucky.

We stared at each other and I tried my hardest to keep my face as calm and supportive as I could even though, on the inside, my worry was clawing, wanting to get out.

"Let's get going." Monty's words broke our concentration, nearly having made me jump in surprise.

Bucky and I glanced at each other briefly and we both ended up nodding at the exact same time.

"Because they're moving like the devil," finished Monty and, from that moment, everything seemed to happen all too fast.

Steve had already gotten into position, his trolley hooked to the wire as he stared at the other side of the ravine. "We only got a ten second window. You miss that window, we're bugs on a windshield."

That didn't make me feel any better about the situation.

"Mind the gap," called out Monty with a hint of humour laced in his voice.

At least he had a voice. I – I couldn't find mine as I just stared from a distance. Dernier was next to Steve, his arm raised, ready to give the signal.

"Better get moving bugs," said Dum Dum.

I still couldn't bring myself to utter anything.

"Maintenant!" called out Dernier, lowering his arm.

The train was there, across the ravine. And Steve jumped.

Bucky quickly took Steve's place, hooking his trolley onto the wire.

I opened my mouth –

"Maitenant!"

And he jumped.

It didn't matter. I didn't know what to say. My voice didn't come.

"Maintenant!"

That – that was it.

We all watched as the three of them landed on the train and, moments later, it all disappeared around the bend.

Now... we had to wait.

And I HATED waiting. I was telling the truth to Bucky earlier that day, that the mere idea of not doing ANYTHING would irritate me.

I was right.

Come on!

I hurled another snowball over the edge, into the ravine. I couldn't sit still. I had tried sitting but that hadn't worked for very long. After that, since Jim had told me to stop pacing around the ledge twice already, I resorted to keeping myself occupied in another manner.

Hence the snowballs.

Come on!

They should be radioing in soon. One of them should. They should be radioing in to tell us that they succeeded in the hijacking of the train and capturing Zola. It was supposed to be a simple in and out mission.

Then why was I panicking so much? I scoffed to myself for that stupid question: it was because I wasn't present, I wasn't there to watch their backs.

To watch Bucky and Steve's back. One of them was always there to watch mine for the past several months that, for this mission, not being there for them was causing anxiety to crawl its way through me.

I hurled another snowball over the ravine.

I was running out of snow in arm's reach so I switched to rocks. Just anything to keep me moving!

Radio in damnit!

They should have gotten Zola by now! No? I honestly didn't know how much time had passed since the three of them ziplined onto the train.

It almost felt like an eternity ago.

The next rock I threw looked like it went further than the others...

Patience was not one of my strong suits, I'd have to admit,

"Jim, do you copy?"

I paused, my arm raised to throw another rock. That was Jones. He was radioing in. I barely heard his voice but it was enough; I didn't need to rely on Jim repeating every transmission.

"Here," replied Jim and the others congregated around. "Report?"

"Train is ours. Zola's captured."

Even though the others cheered when Jim repeated the news, I heard something off in Jones' voice and a chill went through my body.

I didn't move.

"Barnes didn't make it."

I choked, the rock falling from my hand. No. I didn't hear that right. The others were making too much noise. I didn't... That's not what...

Jim was shushing the others as he pressed the earpiece tightly against the side of his head. `Say again."

"Barnes. He fell. He's gone."

No...

NO!


Well, I had planned on making this into 2 chapters but decided it would surprise the heck out of you readers if the train incident happened right away (and not with a chapter before, warning you ;P) I tried to balance as much as possible between everything that happens in this story and the movie and decided that, finally, it was time to give the readers what most have been expecting to happen for so long. Hopefully it lived up to your expectations!

Let me know what you thought!