Author's note! I own nothing of Marvel-verse except my OC character, everything else belongs to the amazing Stan Lee, may his wonderful self Rest in Peace, Jack Kirby and all the other amazing men and women who helped bring about our Marvel-Verse in Comic AND live-action as well as cartoon and animations and bringing this creativity and enthusiasm to our world and to other inspired minds of creativity.

Chapter 2

The next few weeks were filled with Stephanie attending her medical classes, to finish the few classes she had left. She'd been going to school for nursing, just like their mother had years ago. It was also better than sitting in an empty home. Alone.

The next month that past she found herself stunned by a woman dressed in a military women's uniform with a briefcase at her side. "Can I help you?" Stephanie asked her curiously, walking up the final few steps to her apartment.


Smiling, the woman nodded, "Stephanie Lou Roger, I presume?" she asked.

Hearing the woman's British accent, Stephanie nodded, looking the woman up and down curiously, "Yes, ma'am," she answered. Fear suddenly filled her at the thought of her brother or Bucky, "Has something happened to Steve? What about Sergeant Barnes-" she stopped quickly when the British woman held up her hand to silence her.

"I am Agent Carter. Mss. Rogers', your brother-"

"Stephanie," she interrupted the lovely woman softly, "It's just Stephanie,"

Smiling at the young woman about her own age, Peggy nodded, "Your brother, Steve Rogers, informed me that you'd tried on several occasions to join military ranks but had been refused because of gender reasons? Being a Nurse doesn't seem to interest you in the armed forces, and yet you've been going to medical classes for Nursing these last several months before your brother joined up? I don't get it?" Agent Carter questioned the young blonde.

Stunned by this turn of conversation, Stephanie shook her head, "No, ma'am, that is not the case at all. I don't mind it honestly. Being a Nurse, it's not that it doesn't interest me, Agent Carter, I just can't stand the idea of leaving my brother and best friend out there and I can't help them. I'm tired of being the damsel here, and I don't intend to be a damsel if I joined the Nurses ranks. My mother died being a Nurse from TB, so I know I could do much more if given the chance, but I just... I want to try to do more than just what women are restricted to. You know?" Stephanie told Agent Carter.

Smiling, Agent Carter handed her a folder from her briefcase, "Stephanie, I'd like you to look over this file as well as the forms inside, think about it very hard. If you have any questions, please call the number in the file, and if you're interested in doing this, sign those forms and give this number a call. Someone will be by to pick you up in three days afterward." Agent Carter told the woman, handing her a card with her name and number on it before walking past Stephanie and down the stairs to leave.

Flipping open the file, Stephanie's jaw nearly dropped with shock as she read the first few lines. "Agent Carter?" she called, her green eyes looking up from the file to the smiling woman, "Is this for real?" she asked the woman.

Smiling widely to her, Agent Carter nodded, "As real as I am standing before you, Stephanie." She answered.

Taking in a breath of courage, she released her breath and nodded to Peggy. "Then I'm yours,"


Stephanie had been informed that her training would be different, faster, and slightly more intense than normal training, but she had been up for it, to add to this, she was not allowed to tell anyone about this, not where she was, not what she was doing, nothing. Not even her brother.

It was today, three months after her training, that she was walking down the street to the theater with Peggy beside her. She had seen a few of her brothers' stage performances, and she hated seeing her brother looking like a circus monkey, no doubt he felt like one too. She had hardly recognized him when he'd sent her a new photograph of him after the experiment and she had seen the News Paper Peggy Carter had gotten ahold of after the experiment. Steve had tried to explain what had happened, and why. But when his explanation had fallen short, Stephanie had asked Peggy Carter several questions about this program her brother had agreed upon, and the woman had told her what she could after Stephanie had graduated.

However, as Agent Carter explained a few things, Stephanie didn't want to believe it. "You're joking, right?" she asked the woman as they walked down the street, she sighed as they came to a theater and entered the large area now filled with music and singing and a stage play going on. She felt her heart breaking as she watched the man playing the part the best as he could for what was possibly the eighty-something time. "This has to be killing him, Peggy." She whispered to her new friend.

The woman had sent her to England for training, and it had been a quick and very intense physical training. She'd even finished what was left of her medical training there, as well as picked up a few language skills, and she still was technically doing those classes as she went, with the help of Peggy of course. Surprisingly, Stephanie had caught on fast with Language, luckily for her, a set of skills she was shocked she caught onto with far too much ease. However, it was because of those two reasons that Peggy Carter had picked her as one of the candidates to join the SSR officially in the end. She'd simply wanted to give the girl a fair shot like her brother had been given.


"Actually, it's about his one-hundredth and fifth. How was Stark when you met him? Was he on his best behavior?" Peggy teased the woman.

Smiling at the random question, Stephanie nodded, "He was... Interesting. I used to be invisible back home, but um, Howard Stark definitely knows how to make a woman feel visible enough to apricate herself. But yes, he was on his best behavior." Stephanie told her friend and recruiter.

Smiling, Peggy took a breath as she watched the stage performance for the thirty-something time. "And it does bother him, Lou. The smile only lasts for the stage and not for long afterward," Peggy told the woman. "Come on, you get a few minutes with your brother, then you're all mine before you're shipped out for your assignment, Agent Rogers," Peggy told her with a smile.

Smiling happily to the woman, Stephanie walked to the back entrance where she waited patiently for her brother to walk back from the stage. Sitting on a table against the wall with the News Paper in her face she listened as the girls trotted past her down the steps giggling and talking amongst themselves.

"You were fantastic!" the Senators assistant told Steve with enthusiasm.

"Thanks," Steve said, though he did not sound enthusiastic by any means.

"Come on Ladies, pack up, we move to Philadelphia next!" The assistant told them all, clapping his hands to get their attention. Looking at the set of legs crossed over the other and glaring at the obvious woman who was sitting ladylike on the tabletop with a Newspaper in her face to hide her from everyone else's view. The Assistant began to get irritated after he stood there for a moment, his arms crossed over his chest and his foot loudly tapping against the wood floors with annoyance. "Who is this? Who is this!" The Assistant stumbled with aggravation, "Come on lady, this is a theater, not a backyard-"

"I'll handle this Martin, go on- yeah, no, it's okay, I promise, I can handle it." Steve said calmly, and much more politely, "Ma'am, can I help you?" Steve asked once Martin was gone. When she didn't respond, he watched the lady gently snap the paperback upright from when it tried to flop over. Softly sighing, Steve shook his head. This was ridiculous. "Ma'am, please, I'm trying to be polite here,"

Closing the Paper, Stephanie folded it in her lap with a big smile, "Two ma'ams by her very own big brother? I think I might have to get used to that." She said teasingly to her brothers' shock.

Completely stunned by the voice that no longer matched the face Steve knew he knew more than his own face. Steven looked her over for a second or third time, and his jaw dropped just a little, "Steph?" Steve questioned. He was shocked, speechless really, as he continued to look her up and down. She looked different, confident, strong, and happy.

"Rogers, why is she still here!" Martin snapped walking back quickly with the Senator and three guards, "Remove her, now please." Martin requested rudely.

Slightly panicking, Steve stepped between the advancing guards and his sister, "Wait, hang on a second,"

Grinning to the three guards that moved towards her, she sighed and eased off the table, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, boys. Senator Brant, I am Agent Stephanie Rogers. I am simply here to see my brother, I wanted to assure myself that he was doing all right. Looks like he's being fed well. I hope." She said looking at her brother up and down after she shook hands with the Senator to be polite.

Smiling wide, Senator Brant nodded as he looked the lovely blonde up and down then glanced to the Captain, "Another Rogers? My, my, Captain, you never mentioned you had a sister. And what a beauty she is as well." The Senator said with a smile, "Is there any hope I have to maybe snag you away from the service madam?"

Blinking at the man with a complete dumbfounded expression, Stephanie looked at her brother's annoyed and insulted shock of silence then back to the Senator. "It's Agent, Senator, Agent Rogers. And I'm afraid not, my superiors have already given me my orders. May I have a moment alone with my brother, please." She requested with a pretty smile.

When she and Steve were given a privet room at the Theater, Stephanie silently squealed and jumped at her brother, hugging him tightly, "I am so sorry, I couldn't tell you-"


"I don't care, I just want a hug. A really, really, big hug." Steve told her sadly, taking in all the warmth and comfort she gave in her warm hug.

Hearing the sadness in her brother, Stephanie's excitement died. So, she did what her brother had asked. She gave him a really big hug. "I'm sorry Steven." She told him sadly.

"Where are you going? I mean, where are your orders taking you? And why are you wearing a British uniform?" he asked her sadly. Not wanting to let her go. She was his baby sister, she shouldn't be the one going anywhere, he should be. Like Bucky.

"I'm sorry, I can't answer any of those questions," she told him sadly, fighting back her tears. She hated seeing him so close to his dream only to once again be held back by political red tape the Senator held in place.

Nodding, Steve hugged her tighter, "Is it dangerous?" he asked.

"It's War Steve, it's always dangerous," Stephanie answered him sadly.

"You won't be in harm's way, will you?" he asked.

Softly laughing, Stephanie felt her heart being stabbed. "No, I'm going to be right beside an experienced field Agent the whole time." She lied softly, her voice fooled him, but her face would not have that much she knew. "I'm shadowing the Agent that recruited me until I'm ready for other fieldwork. Mostly Medical and translation. I suppose I have a talent for tongues." She joked about the last part.

"A linguist Nurse. That's great Stephie, I'm so proud of you." Steve whispered, hugging her tighter. He had to loosen his hold when he heard her grunt from the pain he must have put on her fragile bone. "Sorry, Steph. I just missed you a lot. You look fantastic," he said looking over her once again.

They talked as long as they could before a knock on the door came and an MP officer opened the door, his eyes looking between the siblings as he nodded to Steve. "Agent Rogers, times up, gotta go." He told her nodding out towards the hall.

Looking at her brother, Stephanie sighed and hugged him tightly one more time, "I love you, big brother," she told him, sniffing back all her tears with as much strength as she could.

Hugging her back, Steve wiped her falling tear away with a sad smile, "Don't let them see you cry," he whispered to her and kissed the top of her head. When he was normal, before the serum, he was either her height or almost a foot shorter than her by the time she was twenty, now he was the tall one be by almost two feet while his sister remained at five foot two and a half inches, her blonde soft curly hair was pulled back in a low bun, her make-up was soft and natural, not too much for her personality. Steve watched his sister leave with a heavy heart and fear in his heart for her. Where is she going? He couldn't help but ask himself that constantly.


Stephanie took a deep breath of encouragement as she stepped out of the car and took her two small bags plus the briefcase Agent Carter had given her to deliver to Colonel Phillips on her behalf since she couldn't be there that trip.

"Agent Rogers!" an older man called with an orderly tone as he walked towards her with another Officer.

Turning to the man who'd called for her, she felt her stomach knot up all over again at seeing the two men walking her way. Oh shit. Deciding to swallow the fact that she knew this man walking up with the Colonel, Stephanie forced herself to calm down and walk the rest of the way to the two men, ignoring the shocked expression on Bucky's face. "Colonel Phillips, Sergeant Barnes," she said nodding to both men as she approached, switching her second bag plus the briefcase over to one hand to shake the Colonel's hand and that of Bucky's. She forced back her bashfulness at the man's blue eyes looking at her like a lovesick schoolboy.

"Agent Rogers- Wait, you two-" Phillips started, looking over to Sergeant Barnes with some curiousness, staring at the Sergeant looking at him and clearing his throat and nodded to him.

"Yes, sir, um, we grew up with one another." Sergeant Barnes answered Phillips's unfinished question.

Nodding as he looked between the two of them curiously, Phillips rolled his eyes at them, "Well good, no need for introductions then." Phillips said before turning back to Agent Rogers, "Agent, I believe you were given something to deliver to me." He spoke.

Bringing herself back to the point of her being there, she nodded, "Yes, of course, Agent Carter had me pull together some things for you and your men, the intel is all there."

Taking the briefcase, Phillips nodded, "Mehm, I am sure it is, come with me, Agent." He said, turning and heading towards a tent, "Sergeant Barnes, be a gentleman and take the lady's bags would you," he said with his back to them.

Smirking to her, Bucky sighed and took her bags from her hands watching as she nodded to him in thanks, "Yes, sir," Bucky said walking in step with her after the Colonel. "What are you doing here, Doll?" he asked softly over to her.

"My job, Sergeant, or will that be a problem?" she asked him, looking at him as they casually caught up to Phillips.

Chuckling at her with a grin, Bucky shook his head, "No ma'am, Agent Rogers." Bucky answered her, walking into a tent, and setting her two small bags on the bed.

"Agent Rogers, until you are no longer needed here you will sleep here, meals are with the rest of the soldiers as well, or you can bring your meal back here to your tent. Your job is with medical unless translation calls for your assistance. Am I understood?" Phillips questioned her.

Nodding to him, she held back, taking in the nervous breath she wanted to take while Phillips stared her down. Damn he made her jittery. "Yes sir," she answered casually.

Nodding, Phillips looked to Barnes, "I like this one. For now." He said, "Agent Rogers, Sergeant Barnes will show you the ropes around here, he also handles decoding and translations so, congratulations, you two are now a team. No fighting, the children do not listen well when mommy and daddy are fighting and grandpa is not exactly a nice man when he has to come down from the principal's office, now, good night." He said and walked out. It was very late, and he was very tired with still a lot of work that needed to be finished.

Confused by the man's choice of words, Stephanie looked at Bucky trying not to laugh as the Colonel left them. Once he had, she burst into laughter. "Mommy and Daddy?" she asked him, covering her mouth.

Nodding, and trying his best to not laugh himself, Bucky licked his lips with amusement, "I think it was grandpa and principles office that got me," he joked, and the two soon burst into a round of laughter together. Bucky wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a big hug, kissing her cheek in the process, "You have no idea how badly I have missed you, doll."

Feeling a bit too comfortable in his arms, Stephanie closed her eyes and absorbed how wonderful it was to have him in her arms, how wonderful it was to see him. Sliding her hands down his back she rubbed his sides a little to ease out of the hug. However, he hadn't let her go. "Bucky?"

Feeling as if he were about to cry, Bucky sighed and buried his face into her neck, his arms tightening around her, "Just let me hold onto you a little longer sweetheart. Please, don't let go." He softly pleaded.

Hearing the trauma and pleading in his tone, Stephanie wrapped her arms back around her friend tightly and held onto him for a little while longer.

Bucky sighed after a moment, relieved she hadn't made him let go. He was emotional, seeing someone from home. But he was in shock that it had to be her. Why did it have to be his girl? "Why are you here Lou?" he asked her.

"I joined the SSR, Agent Carter recruited me, sent me to England for my training, and now I'm here. I got to see Steve before I came, he's...He's doing okay. Feels like a circus monkey, but he's okay." She told him once he let her go.

Nodding, not really understanding what she meant by that but had simply gone along with it. Soon, Bucky forced a laugh, grabbed her face, and kissed her on the corner of her mouth, "Come on doll, let me show you around." He said with a big smile, taking her hand and walking her out of her tent. He spent about an hour showing her around, introducing her to a few of the boys of the 107th that he was serving with, at least those of them who were still awake. He'd even informed a few of them to lay off.

"Aw, come on Sarge. It's not like she's your girl?" one guy teased, whispering as he watched Stephanie leaving their tent a few of them had gathered to play some cards.

"Is that even allowed?" another asked, actually taking the time to think about that logically.

Bucky smiled at their teasing as he shook his head to them, "You guys are unbelievable, and she is mine, so lay off."

Smiling at the claim, Stephanie crossed her arms while his back was to her while the guys teased him, she cleared her throat and popped her hip out just a little for some dramatic, "Sergeant Barnes," she said.

Clearing his throat, Bucky turned to face the woman he'd known since she was a child and grinned. "Yes ma'am," he said trying to sound in character.

"I do believe we still have a few more areas I need to be acquainted with, I do have a job to do while I'm here, other than patching you up," Stephanie told him with a grinning smile. She almost laughed at the boys laughing at Bucky, one gently nudging the man and raised his brows at Bucky, "You are unbelievable Dugan,"

"Keep your girl close Sarge, I might try to take her from yah," Dugan teased.

Laughing, Bucky stepped out of the guy's shared tent with a big grin, "I'd have to be dead for you to try, Dugan," he joked with the man. Turning to Stephanie, he nodded, and Bucky walked out of the tent to her. "Of course, Agent Rogers. Lady's first?"

But Dugan was honest when he'd told the young man to keep her close, there were a lot of men around here and in this war who were not technically honorable. Being so long away from the loving affection of a woman, many had gotten cruel and brutish. But he had to say, mostly it was something he'd keep to himself, she sure was the prettiest gal he had ever laid eyes on. Her smile could light up a room, hell she had lit up the boy's tent when Bucky had walked her in and introduced her. Her hands were still soft too, Dugan, out of playfulness, had shaken her hand, yes, but had kissed her knuckles just to mess with Bucky and to maybe lay a few charms on her himself. But when the Sergeant had claimed the girl was his, Dugan knew he was out 100%. Because even though she had smiled at them, even Dugan, her smile lit up for Sergeant Barnes only. But he knew he was in trouble because Dugan knew he was hooked. But he could look from afar, there was nothing wrong with that, as long as he stayed that way and out of Barnes's way. Lucky buck, Dugan thought with a soft sigh. Turning back to the game, he shuffled the cards again then cut them between the boys and him.

Almost failing at containing herself, she nodded to him, "In this case, I believe it should be gentlemen first since I do not know my way around effectively."

Softly laughing at her, Bucky nodded, "Right this way,"

Stephanie had spent her weeks just like that, listening in on the radio, helping with translations where she could, learning a few things herself while she was there. And Colonel Phillips hadn't been wrong, she had worked very closely with Bucky on a few translations when she wasn't patching soldiers up in the medical tent that was.

Bucky had eventually come in for a bad cut on his palm, though he wouldn't tell her what it was from when she questioned him about it, he'd only smiled up at her, watching her as she worked and kissed her hands when she finished wrapping his wound and a promise to see her later if he wasn't called away for duty.

Sadly so, during her time there she and another translator seemed to not get along at all, almost arguing every time something came over the wire when he'd tried reporting it as nothing, simply casual chatter. Thankfully so, Stephanie seemed to be rather good at catching it quickly and fixing the man's mistakes, and she tried her best to get a second ear other than her own and the fool of a translator. However, Colonel Phillips had 'sent her to her room' for a 'timeout' when she and said unnamed translator had gotten into a very loud verbal confrontation in which case, she had ended up getting into an argument with the Colonel. She'd be lucky if she simply got removed from her station here in Italy.

Running in after her, Bucky sighed with worry for her, and honestly some small irritation, his girl could definitely argue when she wanted to, "Louie-"

"Don't you dare Louie me, James Barnes," she snapped pacing her tent with aggravation. "Something is not right about that man, not at all. I don't trust him! Every time. It is every time something comes across the wire, he says it is absolutely nothing when it's the complete opposite!" she snapped.

"Well, that is very nice of you to voice, Agent Rogers," Colonel Phillips said walking in. He did not look pleased at all. Until he grabbed her chair and took a seat. "Sit, now... I won't tell you twice Rogers," he told her with a tone of annoyed order.

Grinding her teeth, Stephanie forced herself to take a seat on the stool. Colonel Phillips moved out from under the desk for her to sit on. "Sir, if I may-"

"No, you may not, Agent. I think I now understand why Agent Carter requested you as her Shadow. You're just like the woman, do not smile Mss. Rogers, that is not exactly a compliment. However, I believe you may be onto something. Unfortunately, I do not have the last say today. They're sending in the 107th to the front. I'm sorry. My orders came from above me on this, I have no choice. Say your goodbyes to the boyfriend, and please don't let me or anyone else catch you two together in any form of intimacy. Sexual intimacy is not permitted, especially at the Front lines. Sergeant, you and your boys leave in three hours." Phillips said as he stood from the chair and left Stephanie's tent.

Stephanie was in shock as she watched the tents flap gently blowing in and out with them let down to cover her living space, her green eyes glancing at Bucky standing there looking defeated, his hands tucked in his pockets.

Looking at his feet, Bucky tucked his hands into his pockets. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do, hug her, kiss her, talk to her, pretend they weren't here at the front lines? However, as he looked at her, the shock and fear on her face, Bucky knew what he was going to do before he even did it.

She was in shock. Stephanie couldn't believe this. Looking at Bucky as he pulled his hands from his pockets and began his way towards her, she assumed he was going to hug her like he always did. "What? So, they're just sending you guys in? No questions? A second opinion isn't going to be given? These are lives they're sending out there. That message-" she was silenced by Bucky grabbing her face and claiming her lips in a deep passionate kiss. With his one hand sliding to the back of her hair, undoing the pins and letting her hair unroll and falling against her back as he kissed her, his other trailed down her back, wrapping around her waist and pinning her against him

Shocked by all means that this was happening, Stephanie melted into his arms, her arms sliding around his neck whilst she returned his kiss with equal passion and excitement about this happening. He'd kissed her, he finally kissed her. Hell, she was kissing him back. Her first kiss honestly. And it was perfect. Her heart was full and happy, then her confidence shattered slowly as reality sank in. Pulling her lips from his as several thoughts struck her hard, Stephanie stepped away from him, pressing a hand to her mouth with shock as everything came flooding back to her. How Bucky was with girls, how girls were with Bucky, all of it. She couldn't believe it. And he'd kissed her, a man she had fallen in love with from the moment she was fourteen and he'd kissed her, probably not really thinking of what could have happened or what could have happened if it had gone further or ended badly. They were on the front lines, they were in a war, there were hardly any women here, other than a few nurses in the medical tent. Then a thought hit her, Bucky likely hadn't kissed her out of love at all.

Seeing her shock, emotional pain, and slight panic, Bucky grabbed ahold of her arms feeling his own panic flood him like a dam breaking, "Lou, just let me explain, please. I love-"

"Please don't, Bucky," she whispered, closing her eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek as he'd tried to say the words, the shake of her head silenced him, and her plea for him to just not, "Don't lie to me like that. I've known you since I was six, and-and I know you better than I know myself-"

"Then listen to me, Lou, please, I'm not lying to you, trust me. Believe me, please I am begging you. I do love you," Bucky told her, his grip on her arms were desperate, he wanted her to look at him, but she wouldn't, "Look at me Doll, come on, please look at me," he pleaded with her. Maybe he shouldn't have waited so long. Maybe he shouldn't have kissed her today. If only he could go back in time and just let Steve catch him kiss her before he left, let her slap him that night before he left like he knew she probably would have done. But he couldn't.

Refusing to do any of it, to look at him, to truly listen. It hurt. It wasn't that he'd waited too long, no, it was that she was the only woman here who really knew him, but she didn't want to believe it. He hadn't really shown interest before now or acted on any of the possible times he may have shown interest, and she didn't want to go down that road of pain. "No, you don't. Look, it's okay, alright, I get it. Like every other man here you've been away from women- no, please stop. You've always had a different girl on your arm, holding her hand, dancing with her, whispering her things. You could have had me from the moment I turned sixteen or eighteen, or before you left for the War, and you chose not to, probably because I'm Steve's sister, and-and that's fine, I've accepted it. Or at least I tried to. So, doing this...This hurts, Bucky. It... It really hurts. Knowing that the second you get home, that the first pretty face you see she'll be on your arm and-and dancing and laughing. I can't- I'm so sorry." She whispered, trying to control herself. She couldn't afford this, she had a job, she couldn't get tangled up with her schoolgirl emotions. She had to leave the tent. Now. Walking for the closed flaps, Stephanie stumbled as Bucky grabbed her arms and pulled her to a stop, a look of hurt and panic on him as he himself almost stumbled, his forehead pressed into hers and his breathing heavy.

Not accepting this at all, Bucky pulled her to a stop, his heart broke as she spoke. He hadn't known she liked him that much- no, he hadn't known she'd loved him that much, hadn't wanted to see it even when he had seen it, he'd only acted on his feelings now because he didn't know if he'd come back this time. He didn't want to hurt her back home. But when she stumbled, when he'd halted her to a stop, to keep her from leaving, Bucky felt gutted. Pressing his forehead to hers, his chest heaved with breath to try to calm himself down. He'd never done that to her, never pulled her that roughly to make her stumble, it felt like he'd slapped her, even though he hadn't. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Lou. I-I didn't mean to... Lou, you cannot, will not, just walk away like this. Not like you did at the theater. You aren't even willing to listen to me. I love you- no, stop trying to overtalk over me, Louie. I listened to you, it's your turn to listen to me now. I love you, yes, I do. I tried to distract myself for so many years because I didn't want to hurt you, you were sixteen, that wasn't right of me to do that to you, and I didn't want to lose you or Steve. You're both my best friends, you two are all I got anymore after this War is over. And I'm sorry I hurt you, I'm so sorry that I never told you when I should have. But I... I cannot go out there another time without at least knowing whether or not you loved me, at least for a single second of our lives. Because no matter what you think of me after this, I'll never love anyone else as much as I love you. Why do you think I touch your lips? Hm? Because it's my way of kissing you. You've been my girl for years, Lou. I never kissed those girls, I never could. And the dancing was never right with them." He admitted, his heart was pounding in his chest, trying to burst through his ribs it was hurting him. Looking down to his feet as he bit on his bottom lip for a moment, Bucky breathed in a deep breath before he could look back into her eyes. "I'm sorry you watched that all those years. I'm sorry I never had the courage to do this before now. I'm sorry I hurt you. But you've been everything to me. You and Steve. But I feel whole when you're around. When you're with me. I don't feel lost. I don't feel like a loser," He laughed embarrassed at admitting that part, but he did, he felt like a loser when she wasn't around, he felt like a loser when Steve wasn't around. In truth, Bucky felt like a nobody without the Rogers siblings. "Please, don't make me walk out of here more broken than I already am... Just... At least answer me one question if you're going to shove me out of here, Lou. Was there ever a time that you ever truly loved me?" he asked her. Pleading, and breaking with the pain of what she may say. His blue eyes watering with the desperation that she'd say yes, fearful that she'd tell him to just shut up and leave her alone forever. His hands moved from her arms to her face, taking in as much of her as he possibly could just looking at her.

Breaking with every word she heard, Stephanie covered his hands holding her face with her own as she nodded. "Are you kidding? I've always loved you, but you never... Bucky we can't here, we have jobs to do, a War to stop. To win."

He felt like he could fly when she'd admitted to loving him, even now, when he was a ball of mess, begging her at her feet to not make him leave her like this. He felt like a loser right now, that was for sure. But he had such a bad feeling about this. He'd been getting darker lately, more serious, and less fun than he used to be. Something wasn't right. And he had a complete fear that he wouldn't be coming back. "War will always be around the corner, no matter if America is involved or not. That is never going to change, humans will always have a War the next day or the next century. Right now, you are my war, Stephanie Lou Rogers. And I want to win this one. I can't run away from you. I can't walk away from you. Because I want to win you... Let me win this."

She had no idea what was happening, she had no idea what she was doing as she nodded, or what she was thinking when she pressed her fingers to his lip before he could say anything more, or try to kiss her again, "You have to earn it, Bucky. That is how you'll win. You want me to believe you, make me believe you by keeping your word and actions. And I don't mean by kissing me or trying to have sex with me, which I don't know if you've done with anyone else- anyways that's not, whoa, I'm sorry, that came out far worse than I... It-it's was very wrong. That was not what I meant." She laughed at her stupidity and covered her burning red face with embarrassment.

Softly laughing along with her, Bucky kissed her forehead and pulled her into his arms, "God you are so perfect." He said into her hair, his skin tingling through his sweater and two shirts that he wore to keep the cold out, but when she pressed her hands against his stomach and wrapped her arms around him, he felt nothing but warmth as she held him close to her. She was Peace embodied.

Blushing into Bucky's chest, she softly laughed at the ticklish feeling her ear and neck had when he buried his face into her hair, but when he said she was perfect, she felt her stomach knot with an unknown emotion. Shaking her head at him, she sighed, hugging him loosely, "No I'm not," she whispered, holding him close to her. And the sudden fear that she was going to lose him now that she finally had him.

"But that's exactly what makes you perfect to me. You're always there when I need you, you are yourself, adorable in every way. Perfect smile, perfect laugh, perfect eyes," he listed off and kissed her cheek. Unburying his face from her hair and neck, Bucky sighed with peace as he looked at her, the way she nibbled on her bottom lip, "My girl. That's why you're perfect, Doll."

Unable to control herself, Stephanie began to giggle at how adorable that had been that she had stumbled further into Bucky, she began to laugh just a little bit harder when he too began to laugh.

Laughing at how dumb that had to of sounded, Bucky held her close, "Okay, that- yeah, that sounded-"

"Because I'm your girl?" she asked, laughing into his chest, his arms wrapping around her tighter, Stephanie wrapped her around his neck when he lifted her up and spun her around her tent. They spent an hour like that, in one another's arms just dancing to imaginary music, having fun, and pretending the War was far, far, away from them. The last forty minutes before Bucky had to leave, they spent lying on her bed in silence just looking at one another. "What are you thinking?" she whispered.

Smiling, Bucky sighed as he cupped her face in one hand and kissed her forehead, "That this has to be a dream and a nightmare rolled into one. I finally have the most precious and sought-after treasure in my reach, but now I have to leave it behind. I can't help but think that you won't be here if I come back. If you'll still be my girl, or someone else's." he admitted sadly.

Taking his hand into hers Stephanie moved his hand from her cheek over her heart, "I'll always be your girl, Bucky Barnes. Whether it's today or a hundred years from now, you had me the day you saved Steve and me from those bullies at school." She laughed at herself for sounding so cheesy, "I'm sorry, that sounded so bad-"

Smiling, Bucky took hold of her face and kissed her, he smiled at the intake of breath she took at the surprise, leaving little kisses on her lips, "No, it was perfect."

Laughing at him, Stephanie wrapped her arms around him as he leaned closer into her, his upper body looming over her and his arms wrapped around her to hold her close to him while he smiled his charming smile, "You are as bad as I am when it comes to cheesy lines, Buck."

"Oh, I know, but you love me anyway, Doll," he teased her, kissing the tip of her nose.

"And that, Sergeant, is something you will always be correct on,"

"Sergeant!" Phillips called from the other side of the tent, "Fifteen minutes before you leave. I suggest you return to your tent and get your gear packed and ready to go." He said casually. This time he had a tone of more calm. He really didn't want to send these men out there. But he had no choice as he claimed.

Sighing, Bucky dropped his head with surrender he nodded mostly for himself and Stephanie, "Yes sir, Colonel," he said. Kissing her neck and then her cheek and lips, Bucky got up from the bed, grabbed one of the Army green blankets on a chair, and shook his head to her as she tried to get up, likely to walk out with him, "No, it's almost lights out, get some sleep doll." He told her, draping the blanket over her legs and waist. He grabbed her hand and knelt by the bed, pressing her hand to his mouth, "No, don't argue, Lou. Just sleep. Okay? I don't want you to watch us leave. Please."

Kissing his cheek, she sighed and stood from the bed anyways, "Bucky, I've watched you leave a few times already, and you've come back with bumps and scrapes for me to patch up. Come on," she told him and walked to the tent flaps. But as she watched them leaving, Stephanie couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Something felt... dark. Very, very dark. She waited for four days to hear any kind of word from Bucky's unit. But there was nothing. Her worry was turning into panic.

"Agent Rogers, I'm sorry to pull you away from your daydreaming, but I've just received word from Agent Carter. She needs you in France. Your plane leaves shortly, I'd suggest you pack a few things, you'll be gone a few days." Phillips told her. "I am sure by the time you get back Sergeant Barnes will have contacted us or returned, until then, all we can do is wait. I'm sorry." Phillips told her, he genuinely sounded sorry. When she felt his hand rest on her shoulder, she turned to look over her shoulder to the man, and the look of sympathy told her he truly felt her worry. Not just for Bucky, but for every person out there fighting this War.

Nodding, Stephanie sighed and packed an overnight bag. The flight was quite surprising, but when the plane landed and she attempted to unload herself and her bag, Stephanie found herself in shock when Peggy rushed the plane. "We are not staying Steph. We have a problem we need to handle." She said closing the plane door and taking a seat, opening her briefcase Peggy handed Stephanie a file.

Looking through the file, the location and the mission, and the questions they needed answered, she found herself questioning someone's sanity. "Russia? We're going to Russia, seriously? Um, isn't that a bit suicidal Pegs?" she asked the woman curiously.

"Well, if you put it that way, yes. But I figured if I was going to go, I was going to go with someone who knows a bit more Russian than me."


Raising a curious brow to her, Stephanie closed the file and rested her hands clasped together on the file, "I learned my Russian from you, Peggy Carter,"

Grinning, Peggy breathed a sigh of confidence, "Yes you did,"

Seven days later

"Fun! This is what you call fun! Really, Peggy!" Stephanie shouted as they ran down the burning and exploding top floors of the building they were currently trying to escape with files in a bag on Peggy's back. Seeing no way out of the building being ten floors up with the top three floors burling and exploding, Stephanie looked for another potential exit. But the one she found she was not very enthused about it. "You have to be kidding me... Come on... The window,"

"What! No, I am not-"

"Just go through the window!"

Taking a big calming breath, Peggy sighed and looked to her friend, and held out her hand for the woman. She was not going out that window alone.

Nodding, Stephanie took Peggy's hand, "On three," she told the brunette.

Nodding, Peggy and Stephanie moved as far back against the furthest wall, "One," Peggy started. A sudden massive explosion from above them and metal screaming came from above them causing both women to look up. There they both stared in wide-eyed shock.

"Three," Stephanie said, pulling Peggy into a run and both women jumped through the glass, missing the burning and twisted metal and concrete by mere inches. They fell and rolled over the next rooftop, both women watching as they lay there while the building collapsed.

"Window. Got it," Peggy said as she sighed, closed her eyes, and rolled to her side to get up.

Sighing, Stephanie rolled onto her side with a stifled groan as she looked at the collapsing building then looked back to Peggy with a curious expression, "Why am I your friend again?"

Peggy burst into laughter at Stephanie's question as she rolled onto her belly, "That is a very good question. Sometimes I wonder the same thing." Peggy admitted.

Laughing at her in return, Stephanie helped Peggy up, "Let's get the heck out of here." the sofa in shock and silence. When the boys tried to talk to her, she shook her head to them and silently walked herself into her bedroom and shut her door.