Steve and Bucky spent most of the morning talking their ears off, catching up, then spent the afternoon wandering around Brooklyn because Bucky wanted to soak in his neighbourhood before being shipped off to parts unknown. Hermione was due to finish late because of a last minute meeting, and she seemed on edge when she returned, meeting them at the expositions entrance, her smile brittle. She kissed him, then leaned to the side to look behind Bucky.

"Well, where's your date?"

Steve and Bucky exchanged a glance, trying their best not to laugh.

"I forgot. Wait, don't chew me out yet. I didn't mean to! But they've gotta be long gone now, I was due to meet them an hour ago."

"I don't have words for how terrible you are, Barns."

"Honest mistake. You should blame Steve. He's the one who distracted me all day." A rise in volume coming from the exposition caught their attention. "Come on! I don't want to miss Stark's presentation."

He hurried ahead, as eager as kid on Christmas morning, which was just as well because his exuberance and sharp elbows were creating them a path through the packed crowd, parting people like Moses did the red sea. They lost track of him at some point when he got too far ahead, but he reappeared out of nowhere when some jerk jostled Hermione. Bucky gave the guy such a dressing down he disappeared with his tail between his legs before Steve could lean into him himself.

"May I?" Bucky asked, offering her his arm.

"Erm," Hermione glanced at him, and Steve rolled his eyes. Might as well let Bucky have his moment of saving the damselle. At least, she would be safer tucked in between them. "Sure."

They made it close to the scene in time to see the barely clad dames dancing in front of the car before Howard Stark himself arrived and kissed one of them full on the mouth, which earned him a few catcalls. Next, he revealed his flying car and Hermione's grip on him tightened. Blood was draining from her face, and added to her drawn back behaviour since meeting up, Steve was starting to worry.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"This never happened in my timeline," she whispered urgently. "It's a major deviation. The technology involved to accomplish such a thing this early in time. He must be a genius. From now on, I'm blind to the future. What I know of it might be completely wrong."

Steve nodded in understanding, including what she wasn't saying. That this was probably the reason why there was no magic in this world.

"What's going on?" Bucky asked after the car had crash landed on the scene.

"Nothing," Hermione said. "I'm just really excited by this flying car. I never imagined such a thing possible."

"In that case, wait till you see the sideshow. There's all his latest inventions exposed and-"

Steve stopped listening. Modern inventions and machines had always fascinated Bucky. He'd always loved disassembling things and putting them back together. He'd even repaired his father's watch once. Steve lagged behind while Bucky pulled Hermione by the hand, pointing at this and that. She actually seemed interested and was laughing along. Steve was struck by the image of them: his two sergeants in their uniforms, holding hands, and looking like they actually belonged together. He caught sight of a recruiting office and wandered over to it, like a moth to a flame. He wanted so bad to fit in and do his part. He was about to try his luck once more when Hermione and Bucky caught up to him.

"Don't tell me you're at it again?"

"At… what?" Hermione asked.

He hadn't tried since meeting her, but seeing them together tonight had rekindled his need to do more.

"This punk has tried enlisting at least half a dozen times." Hermione's eyes grew wide. She looked scared where Bucky only showed anger. "You've got Hermione now. Are you really just going to abandon her."

He had a point. Hermione was important and she did need him, out of time as she was. She literally had no one else. But Hermione paled further at those words.

"You can't, Steve," she pleaded. "Promise me you won't, even if I have to."

"What do you mean if you have to?"

"The meeting today. They need to fly me overseas as soon as possible. Some urgent business in Norway."

"What?" Bucky snapped while Steve was struck dumb. "Can't they find someone else? You're a-"

"I swear if you say woman, Barns, you can kiss your nuts goodbye. As it turns out, I'm the leading authority in this matter, so I don't have a choice."

"You're both leaving? Tomorrow?"

"I'm sorry, Steve. I wanted to tell you tonight when we got home."

It would hardly feel like home anymore without either of them there.

"And you, both of you, you just expect me to wait here, twiddling my thumbs?"

"There's plenty other jobs for the war effort right here," Bucky argued.

"I'm not sitting in a factory while there are men out there, and women, laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. Or you. This isn't about me, it's bigger, and you both know it, you're both a part of it."

Steve glared at them, daring them to say he was wrong. When they didn't, he turned on his heels and stormed to the bar of the enrollment office.

"Steve!"

He paused, but kept his back to them. She sounded so desperate that he might just give up 1 and promise her anything, but she was leaving too. He had nothing to hold him back anymore.

"Just give me some space. I'll see you back home later."

"But-"

"Let him blow off some steam, Hermione."

He didn't need to turn around to know Bucky would walk her home and that they would both be waiting there for him.

Steve thought Dr Erskine was pulling his leg at first, and he would be arrest anytime now. It wasn't until the doctor had stamped his file ACCEPTED that he knew this was the real deal. Steve was happy and excited and scared all at once.

Once home, he opened the door slowly, wincing when it squeaked anyway. His flat was so dark and quiet, he thought that maybe they had fallen asleep while waiting for him. An armful of curls corrected him of that notion when Hermione ran into his arms to hug him tightly.

"Oh thank, Merlin! I was so afraid you wouldn't come back, that I wouldn't see you before leaving."

Steve pushed her back to see her face. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she'd spent all this time crying. Glancing at Bucky who had been inordinately quiet, he found him lounging on the couch, his uniform spotting a wet, rumpled patch beneath his shoulder.

"You're a jerk," Bucky said and looked away. "I hope you got it out of your system this time."

"Sort of," Steve admitted as he closed the door shut behind him with his foot since Hermione was still clinging to him.

"What do you mean 'sort of'? Either you did or you didn't!"

Steve swallowed against the lump in his throat and licked his lips.

"I was accepted. I'm leaving tomorrow too, for New Jersey."

"No," Hermione said as she took a step back.

"You're kidding? Right?" Bucky asked.

Steve resented that tone.

"No. Someone there obviously thinks I could be of use."

Silence stretched between them. This isn't how he wanted to spend the last night he had with his best friend and his sweetheart. It felt too much like his mother's wake. Sad, lonely and a bit awkward.

"So, all three of us leave tomorrow," Bucky finally said. "The brains, the brawn and the runt. Guess we might meet up over there one of these days and have a good laugh about tonight."

Steve smiled at him, glad he understood, then looked at Hermione.

"Someone once told me that if you can do some good, then you should," she finally said, making his smile grow wider.

"Sound like a wise person."

"I have it on good authority he's a runt," she deadpanned.

Steve chuckled. His heart felt about to burst with how much he loved these two, and simultaneously broke at the thought this might be the last they saw of each other.

"Come here," Steve said with open arms. "The both of you. I want a hug."

"Only because Hermione here doesn't make it awkward," Bucky muttered and he put his arms around both him and Hermione.

"You're the one making it weird, Bucky," Hermione mumbled, her voice muffled against his chest.

"Guys?" Steve looked back at Bucky. If he didn't know better, he'd say he looked embarrassed. "Are you two going to get busy tonight?"

"I… don't think so. We won't bother you, Buck, I promise."

Hermione's face was red and she buried herself deeper into the hug.

"It's not that," Bucky said. "I just don't want to be alone tonight. Can we share the bed like last night? I know I'm asking a lot but… I never wanted this, I never wanted to leave and…"

He trailed off. He looked scared and Steve only remembered seeing that look on him a couple of times since he'd known him. One of those was when he had been drafted.

"Yeah, Buck, sure. If Hermione doesn't mind."

"It's fine. He doesn't snore."

Bucky chuckled and squeezed them tighter for a second before letting go. He joined them in the bedroom when they were all in their nightclothes, Steve studying the bed with Hermione like it was a map and they were planning an invasion.

"You two know you're supposed to sleep in the bed, right?" Bucky asked.

"He should go in the middle as punishment," Hermione decided.

"But that means I don't get to cuddle with you. I might even cuddle Bucky by mistake," Steve argued.

"Alright, so you take the middle again," Bucky said with a huff.

"I did my duty. I'll pass this round."

They both rounded on Hermione.

"What? No. No way."

"The majority has decided, doll."

"When did we become a democracy?"

"It's America. I know you Brits like your crowns, but we're all about fairness in the land of the free."

"Steve," she pleaded.

"Don't look at me, Hermione. I'm American too. And so are you, by the way."

"What?"

"You think they'd just let a Brit wear the U.S. army uniform?" Bucky snarked. "You've been Americanised, darling, retroactively too I bet."

"They can't just-"

"Did you read the small prints?"

Hermione bit her lip.

"They made me sign papers. All. Day. Long. They could have sneaked one in at the end and I wouldn't even have noticed," she admitted.

"There you go."

"I can't believe I'm American," Hermione muttered as she hiked up her era-appropriate nightgown and climbed into bed.

"That's what's troubles you?" Steve chuckled. "Aren't you taking a plane tomorrow."

"Oh God. I'd forgotten," she said, digging her nails in his arm as he settled next to her. "Why did you have to remind me?"

"I wanted to get your mind off you being American."

"You two were really made for each other," Bucky said from the other side of the bed. "You're so sickeningly sweet, I feel like I need to brush my teeth again."

"You're an idiot, Buck."

"Takes one to know one."

Hermione tittered softly next to him, already half asleep, but contrary to them, she'd had a very long day at work and then spent the rest of it crying, so he wasn't really surprised.

"Hey guys?" Bucky said, just above a whisper. "Thanks."

Steve woke up first. He was surprised he'd managed to sleep at all. Today was a day where all their lives were changing. Hermione was curled up against him. Her hair had come undone during the night again and was attempting to smother Bucky who was spooning her from behind. Yeah, sure, he didn't cuddle. He regretted not having the means to take a picture then and there. His two favourite people in the world, together right here and now with him, but about to be catapulted in different places in the world.

But times were what they were and they had to do what was necessary. With a sigh, he escaped Hermione's hands and began packing, not having prepared anything the night before. He'd just put water to boil when Bucky emerged.

"Sleep well?" Steve asked.

"Like the dead. I think your girl tried to strangle me with her crazy hair during the night."

Steve smirked.

"You were cute. I couldn't even see your face under all her curls."

Bucky sat and rubbed the last traces of sleep from his eyes.

"Funny how I always imagined you'd be overprotective when you got yourself a girl."

"What do you mean? I'm plenty protective."

"You let a handsome rugged man like me sleep in her bed, pal."

"Our bed. I was there, remember? And I trust you, Buck. I know you wouldn't do anything her."

"You keep telling yourself that, Stevey. I did plenty."

"Yeah, Sergeant Cuddles," Steve chuckled.

"But more seriously, you know Norway's been occupied by the Nazis for almost three years, right? I don't know what the hell she does, been pretty evasive about her work when I asked, but I doubt it involves paperwork. I think she might be a spy or a specialist, you know, like in those comics."

He mimed shooting and Steve paled. He had not known that specifically, no, too wrapped up in his own situation. And now, he couldn't very well ask her not to go behind enemy lines after the speech he had given them yesterday. He wasn't that hypocritical. He doubted she'd outed herself as a witch to the army either, so the specialist idea was out too.

"I'm sure she knows what she's doing," Steve replied, gritting his teeth. He knew it was no use asking Hermione. She took her confidentiality clause very seriously.

Speaking of the witch, she strode in, alert and wrapped in her uniform, so crisp she must have magicked it clean that morning, as well as her hair.

"Morning, Steve," she said, her kiss and hug lingering longer than usual. "Bedrooms free if you want to get dressed now, Buck. We really can't be late."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Bucky saluted and left. As soon as he was gone, Hermione kissed him again, more deeply.

"I'm going to miss this. I'm going to miss you," she said.

"I know. I feel the same. Promise you'll be careful out there?"

"Of course I will. You're the one I'm worried about. Don't do anything… rash, okay?"

"You say that like I do it everyday." He ignored her raised eyebrow. "Where are you leaving from?"

"La Guardia. Bucky is dropping me off, then heading to the docks."

"I'll come too. I leave around noon."

Bags under their arms, Steve looked at their home one last time, committing the details to memory. He dropped off their keys at Maggie's who cried as she hugged all three of them, mumbling what they supposed were encouragements. They made their way through the streets, taking this last opportunity to be together, talking about nothing and everything as if they weren't going to war. At the airport, Steve even had the crazy urge to throw her over his shoulder and run. But Hermione hugged Bucky tight, telling him to watch out for himself. He kissed the top of her head and told her to go kick nazi ass, which made her laugh. Steve was glad to see her happy this one last time before he held her in a tight embrace, only letting go to kiss her goodbye, knowing it might be forever. He wasn't an idiot. Remembering Bucky's advice, and because he was elbowing him rather viciously, Steve whispered the three words he had never said before in the hollow of her ear. She shivered and blushed and her own answer was three words long too. A soldier walked up to them, saluted then picked up her bag and that was it… she was gone.

He bit his lip, refusing to break down. If she had found him from another time, another place, a whole other dimension or universe, it's not a war that was going to come in between them. He took in a heavy breath, letting that sudden certainty sink in. They would come together again.

"You okay, bud?" Bucky asked, clasping a hand on his shoulder in support.

"Yeah. We'll be okay. All three of us."

Because Bucky had always been there for him, and he'd find a way to bend reality itself if he had to to make it happen.