November 4th, 1943 - London, England: BUCKY
He had asked her to join him for a drink.
Bucky said he owed her one after she had saved his ass. AJ had given him a little grin as she brushed her hair behind her ears. He had felt his breath catch in his throat as the dimples in her cheek deepened while she smiled up at him and Bucky noticed that the green in her eyes looked even brighter than they had when they said goodbye in New York.
When AJ's smile had slowly disappeared and the woman looked away from him it was then that Bucky could see hesitation written all over her face. He had felt his heart sink down to his stomach out of fear that she might turn him down. There was no way a girl like Adelyn Frost would ever want him – too smart, too funny, too aware of his bullshit and not afraid to call him out on it.
But then she had bit down on her lower lip and nodded her head in agreement, "One drink," She said holding up one finger as she playfully squinted her eyes at him and told Bucky that she had work to do with Howard in the morning.
Bucky got to the bar early with Steve knowing that his friend was there on a completely different mission than Bucky was. Steve was creating his own team of men that would follow him into the pits of Hell to try and end Hydra. Some of his bunk-mates had made the team including his two closest friend in the one-oh-seventh. Bucky knew Steve would ask him to join, too, and there wasn't a chance in Hell that Bucky would ever tell him no.
Of course he'd be a part of Steve's team.
It also helped that Adelyn Frost would be working closely with Steve and Bucky knew that Steve was sure perked up after finding out that Peggy Carter would be staying for a while, too. It seemed like the Brit had captured his friends heart and Bucky couldn't blame him. She was quite the dame, as Steve would say.
Bucky sat at the bar and watched the door to see if AJ had made it yet.
Agent Carter had arrived and had stunned the room into silence. Including Steve.
Bucky was just waiting for his girl to show.
His girl.
If AJ ever heard him refer to her as that she'd smack him upside the head.
He sighed, ducking his head a bit when he saw that most of the men were heading out – most of them drunk. How long had he been sitting at this bar waiting? Steve and Peggy were still talking quietly in the corner and Bucky was left by himself nursing a drink and trying not to be too upset that AJ had stood him up. He looked at the door one last time before he downed his drink and paid the bartender.
It was clear that she wasn't going to come and he was a damn fool to think she would.
Bucky got up from the bar stool and headed towards the door while catching Steve's eyes, his friend gave him a sad smile and his eyes showed nothing but pity and concern - that was until he became distracted by Agent Carter again.
Bucky opened the door to the bar and walked out onto the street. He looked around the area to make sure that no cars were coming and took a step forward only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw that AJ was pacing across the street from him. From the looks of it, AJ was talking to herself while making gestures with her hand. He grinned wide and tried to hold back a chuckle while watching her. At one point, the woman Bucky was so enamored with stomped her foot down on the ground in frustration and pointed towards the bar without bothering to look in the buildings direction and continued on with the heated conversation she was having with herself.
He watched for a little while longer before he crossed the street and walked up behind her. He walked up just in time to hear AJ mutter under her breath, just go inside! He grinned and bit down on his lower lip before he spoke up. "Y'know," Bucky said causing her to jump and spin around to face him. Her eyes were wide and her hand was pressed to her chest as she breathed in deeply, completely startled by Bucky in that moment. "You look like a mad woman out here debating whether or not to come inside and have a drink with me." He grinned down at her.
She opened her mouth to argue with him, her brows furrowed in annoyance letting Bucky know that he had struck a nerve. Which, to be honest, only made his grin grow larger. AJ pressed her lips together and inhaled deeply, dropping her hand from her chest. "That was not what I was doing." She said in a defiant tone when she looked up at him.
Bucky closed his eyes and his lips formed into a pucker while he nodded his head, making it clear for AJ to see that he did not believe her. When he opened his eyes again AJ was looking up at him and her green eyes seemed to be illuminating in the dark. Instead of teasing her anymore, Bucky smiled down at AJ. "Come inside and have a drink with me, Frosty." He said to her as he held out his hand for her to hold onto.
Bucky saw that she needed a push forward to go inside the bar with him and that without it she'd likely turn on her heel with some excuse about having to work and head back to the base.
Adelyn Frost was stubborn as Hell.
That's what he loved about her.
So, if she needed a little push he'd give her a helping hand.
AJ looked hesitant as she took in a shaky breath but slowly placed her hand in his and let him guide her across the street and to the bar.
When they got inside, Bucky saw that Steve and Peggy were still sitting in the corner talking. But when the two of them saw that AJ was now next to Bucky holding onto his hand, both of their faces shined with relief as they smiled happily at the two of them.
He'd have to question Steve later why Agent Carter looked so relieved. But he noticed that she was not smiling at him - in fact, her smile was directed towards AJ.
Bucky led AJ to the bar and pulled out the stool for her to sit on then gently pushed it closer to the bar once she was sitting on it, lingering behind her briefly when he caught the scent of her perfume.
He really enjoyed the mixed scent of vanilla and a hint of citrus that AJ always wore - even now while they were overseas. He had even smelt it on her when they were trying to escape from the Hydra base in Austria.
Bucky sat down on the stool next to her and signaled for the bartender to come back over.
He then looked down at AJ who was nervously playing with the curls in her hair. Bucky grinned as she continued to fidget. She was nervous. "Drink?" He asked her.
She nodded quickly and swallowed hard. "Bourbon, please." She told the bartender.
Bucky raised his brows in surprise of her drink choice. The bartender looked to Bucky next who shook his head at him. "Just the bourbon for her." Bucky let the man know that only AJ would be drinking this time.
AJ did not like that.
She turned in her chair to face him and narrowed her eyes at him in suspicion. "Why aren't you drinking?" She asked him.
The way she was looking at him was enough to make Bucky want to laugh. "Because," He moved in his chair so that his body was facing hers as well. "I already drank my one drink while you were outside debating on coming in." He smirked while watching as AJ shrugged off her jacket. Bucky took in the dress she had chosen to wear and smiled. It was a burgundy dress covered in polka dots with a low-cut bodice that hugged her tightly around her torso while the bottom flowed whenever she moved in the stool.
"I'm regretting my decision already." She said under her breath causing Bucky to laugh and AJ to smile softly at him.
The bartender brought AJ her drink and Bucky pointed over to Steve saying; "Put it on his tab."
AJ raised her eyebrows at him in amusement at his boldness.
"Technically it's on my bunk mates." Bucky admitted. "They bet that you wouldn't show. But on the off chance that you did show – your drinks would be going on the tab Steve opened."
She nodded her head and picked up her drink. "A drink bought for me by the US Army and the SSR." AJ said before taking a small sip of her drink. "Seeing as that's technically who is paying for the tab seeing as Steve didn't come to Italy with pockets full of cash." AJ explained. "So, in a way I suppose, I'm buying my own drink." She then teased as she took another sip while batting her lashes at Bucky.
Bucky scrunched his face up and nodded his head. "I'm a cheap date."
AJ raised one brow at that. "And who says that one drink is a date?" She asked him with an amused smile.
"Oh, I do." Bucky grinned as he watched the way her green eyes lit up as she looked at him. He could see that something had changed with AJ. Well, when it came to him. They had been friends at Camp McCoy but she had never looked at him the way she was looking at him now. Bucky had actually first noticed the change in the way AJ looked at him that morning he had shipped off to England while they said their goodbyes.
But he had chalked that up to him being a masochist.
AJ set down her drink and looked at Bucky. "Well, then you're right. You are a cheap date." She grinned.
Bucky laughed at that and nodded his head in agreement.
They sat together while AJ had her one drink and Bucky listened as she talked on and on with excitement about the new materials she and Howard were working with to create a shield for Steve. The material she seemed to be the most excited about was something called Vibranium.
"It's unlike anything I've ever worked with before," AJ continued to tell him. "Stronger than steel yet it weighs one third as much as actual steel does." AJ told him and Bucky grinned as she continued on. "Not to mention that shield is vibration-absorbent!" She exclaimed loudly with a laugh. Her drink was nearly finished but she had yet to pick it up to finish the remaining bits of alcohol. Bucky smiled as AJ looked around the bar only to see that it was nearly empty and that they were practically alone in the room. "How long have we been talking?" She asked him as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
Steve and Peggy had already left and his friend had given Bucky a nod with stern look before leaving.
Bucky knew that look. It was Steve's; don't do anything stupid, look.
Bucky got that look a lot back in Brooklyn when it came to women.
But AJ was different.
Bucky ignored AJ's question and instead asked her, "Do you want to dance?" AJ cocked her brow up again at Bucky in amusement. He smiled and stood up, offering out his hand again for her to grab.
Just a little push.
Bucky watched as she swallowed hard while looking from him, down to his hand. AJ took in a deep breath before she grabbed her drink and downed the rest of the alcohol before she placed her hand down in his again while putting the now empty glass back on the bar.
Bucky smiled and led her to the room where only one couple was left dancing as the bartender now played the piano softly. AJ stood in front of him now while still holding onto his hand tightly. He stepped forward causing the woman in front of him to look up at him nervously. He grinned down at her as he placed his free hand on the small of her back and moved her closer to him so that they could begin their gentle sway to the music in the room.
AJ nerves seemed to ease after they began to move and her body relaxed relaxed completely. Her free hand moved up to rest on the back of his shoulder and Bucky smiled happily as she pressed the side of her face against his jacket. Bucky moved his head down so that his face was pressed against AJ's dark brown curls and inhaled deeply at the overwhelming feeling of holding her this close to him. They stayed holding onto to each other while dancing until they were the only ones left in the room. And it wasn't until the bartender stopped playing the piano that Bucky realized the man was starting close the bar up for the night.
They pulled apart slowly and Bucky smiled as AJ looked up at him. Her eyes then dropping down to gaze at his lips and Bucky's heart felt like it would burst from his chest at any moment. He listened to her give into a heavy sigh before she looked up at him again, her tongue dashing across her lower lip before her eyes moved back down at his lips again.
And he panicked.
He had wanted to kiss her for so long but...he couldn't move.
Bucky cleared his throat and shifted a bit as he dropped his hands to his side. "We should get you back to base." He told her.
AJ's eyes grew wide in surprise at his words but she seemed to have quickly sobered up and nodded her head in agreement.
He walked her back to base and dropped her off at the science building - yet again failing to kiss her goodnight.
You fool! He yelled at himself as he walked to his bunker. Damn fool!
All Bucky had been thinking about since the first time he saw Adelyn Frost was kissing her and what it might be like and how soft her lips would feel against his own.
And when he had the opportunity to do it...he froze.
Bucky was never going to hear the end of this from Steve or any of the other men he bunked with.
Should'a kissed her, you jackass.
_
November 5th, 1943 - London, England: AJ
He didn't kiss her.
Bucky Barnes: a man who had been trying to 'woo' her since the very first day they met had not kissed her: Adelyn Frost.
She was a genius - smarter than most people her age and some older but for the life of her, she could not figure out why James Buchanan Barnes did not kiss her the night before. She had stayed awake most of the night going over everything and could not come up with a reason as to why Bucky hadn't kissed her. She had given him all the signals that she wanted him to kiss him and he...hadn't!
Which left her feeling incredibly angry.
And Howard, unfortunately, suffered the brute of her anger.
"I thought you had a date last night - why the hell are you in such a mood?" He asked after AJ had snapped at him for something that did not warrant the hostility he had received.
"It wasn't a date." AJ said as she tested out Steve's new shield. Howard held onto it while AJ swung at it with a large piece of steel. (It was a good way to get her anger out.)
"Yes, I'm becoming very aware of that now given how hard you are swinging at me - hey, watch it!" He said in a high pitched tone when AJ hit too closely at him and had to jump a bit away to avoid getting hit.
"One might think," swing. "-when a person asks another person out for drinks," harder swing. "That might imply that it was a date!" She huffed as she swung at the shield again. It didn't even have a scratch on it. AJ set down on the piece of steel and walked over to the lab table and began to write in Howard's journals.
Log 327: Steel – no damage to shield.
She set the pen down and turned back to face Howard and leaned against the desk. He gave her a sympathetic smile and set the shield down. "You wanna talk, kid?" He asked.
AJ shook her head. No. She did not want to talk about it. What she really wanted to do was take the piece of steel she had been using earlier and whack Bucky over the head with it. And if she were to talk about it with anyone – that person would not be Howard.
She loved the man as if he was one of her brothers - but that was the point! AJ wouldn't feel comfortable discussing the fact that she was upset that Bucky hadn't kissed her to Sam so she really didn't want to have to discuss it with Howard. It was too humiliating.
"Oh, come on, Frost. I won't make fun, I promise. And if I do, you can tell everyone about how you walked in on me this morning getting tossed into a wall by the alpha and beta rays of the cartridge Steve picked up in the Hydra factory."
Now that had been quite the scene to walk in on. And after running to Howard to make sure he was okay AJ felt her sour mood soften for only a moment as she laughed at his wild expression. But as they continued to work with the different shields her mood soured once again. And AJ knew that if she didn't talk about it with someone that her mood would only worsen and she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything today.
So, AJ swallowed her pride and decided to tell Howard why she was upset. "We had a drink." Howard nodded along as he listened. "We danced."
"Sounding more and more like a date."
AJ then groaned in annoyance. "But he didn't kiss me. Not even at the end of the night!"
Howard slowly tilted his head to the side as he gave AJ an amused look. "You're mad...because Barnes didn't kiss you goodnight?"
She huffed at his tone. "Well when you put it that way-" AJ started to say only to have Howard interrupt her.
"Why the Hell didn't you kiss him?" Howard walked over to where AJ stood.
She moved her hands to rest on her hips and glared at Howard. "Well...because!" It wasn't the best answer. But it was what came fumbling out of AJ's mouth.
He chuckled at her response. "You know, for someone who calls me a misogynist for all the women I sleep with you - you sure do have a double standard when it comes to who should make the first move, Frost."
Damn him. Howard was right.
"Rogers will be here soon." He told AJ as he walked over to her and took off her protective glasses and set them down on the table. "I can handle showing him all the material on my own." AJ wanted to protest but didn't. She only shrugged off her lab coat and headed towards the door. "Just do me a favor and go find Barnes before you start swinging at me again." He hollered at her.
AJ narrowed her eyes at him as she looked over her shoulder. "Don't tempt me." She threatened before walking out of the room.
On her way out she passed Peggy who looked just as annoyed as AJ felt with Steve hurrying after her. He gave AJ a look, almost pleading for her to help him – but she was a woman on a mission.
And then Bucky walked into the science building and her confidence vanished and she froze. She felt absolutely ridiculous when her first thought upon seeing Bucky was to hide, but it was too late to hide because she was in plain sight and Bucky had most definitely seen her do a little pivot when she saw him walk in.
He smiled and walked over to her and AJ took in a deep breath of reassurance. "What can I do for you, James?" She asked him once he was standing in front of her.
He raised a brow at that. "James?" Bucky chuckled nervously. "What's with the formalities?"
Really?
He couldn't honestly be that dimwitted! How could he not know why she was angry right now?
She cocked her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a very obvious look.
Bucky then frowned. "Are you upset with me?" He asked her and took a step closer to her, hand reaching for her arm only to have her step away from him.
She then laid on the sarcasm pretty thick when she spoke up again. "-Of course not, James."
He grinned at her sarcasm and was clearly amused now more than concerned given the way he was looking at her. "Yeah, I can see that." He crossed his arms over his chest, mirroring her posture. "What's going on, Jay?"
Seriously?!
"Nothing, James." AJ huffed and then turned her back to him and headed back into the restricted area where soldier were not permitted to follow.
But apparently those rules didn't apply to Bucky because he followed after her.
"Will you quit it with that!" Bucky said as he chased after her. "You haven't called me James since Camp McCoy and you didn't exactly like me back then." He continued to follow after her and past all the scientists who watched in confusion as Bucky chased after one of their lead scientists who, by the way, looked more than a little angry that he was doing so.
"Maybe I never stopped disliking you." She said over her shoulder as she headed to her own private quarters where she knew she wouldn't be bothered.
"I don't believe that." Bucky said as he quickly slid through the door before AJ could shut the door on his face. She turned to face him and raised her brows up as a challenge when he said; "Otherwise you wouldn't have gone on a date with me last night."
She let out a bark of a laugh. "That was not a date." AJ disagreed.
Bucky crossed his arms over his chest again and walked forward, invading AJ's space. "Oh, it wasn't?" He said back to her. "Why not?"
AJ glared up at him and words she really didn't want to be saying began to blurt out of her mouth. "-Because! If it was, you would have-" She stopped herself as she looked up at Bucky and couldn't help it when her eyes began to linger on his lips yet again as they had the night before.
Howard was right.
A woman could make the first move.
So she did.
AJ moved forward and Bucky's arms dropped from his chest and his hands settled on her hips the second AJ pressed her lips to his in a kiss. It had clearly taken him by surprise but he happily responded to her kiss. It was soft, and sweet, and everything AJ could have ever dreamt a first kiss being like. His lips moved like magic against her own AJ found herself moving her arms around his shoulders to circle around his neck as Bucky pulled her closer to his body and moved his head to the side to deepen the kiss.
It was like seeing fireworks for the first time.
So completely amazed that something so beautiful was happening right in front of your eyes that your stomach was bursting as you watch the colorful lights fill the sky.
There had been fireworks at Howard's expo. They had been going off over her head when AJ had seen Bucky talking to Steve at the recruiting station. The bright sky had made it easier for her to see him that night.
Fireworks.
That's what she felt.
AJ opened her mouth and hummed softly when Bucky's tongue touched the tip of her own causing her nails to gently scrape at the back of his neck as they continued to kiss.
Kissing Bucky Barnes was so much more addictive than any type of sweets AJ had ever tasted.
And when she finally managed to pull away, AJ didn't move her arms off of Bucky's shoulders. The young woman just looked up at him and took in a deep breath before speaking again. "You would have done that at the end of the night if it was a date." AJ said in a whisper.
Bucky was smiling and his eyes locked with hers and AJ felt the fireworks again. "I'll remember that next time." He licked at his lower lip and AJ wanted nothing more than to melt in his arms in that moment.
But she was still upset with him. "Who says there will be a next time?" She asked and dropped her arms from around his neck.
He smiled and tugged her body back to his, kissing her again before she could start to argue with him. His hand cupped her cheek while her hands rested against his chest, eventually fisting the fabric after giving into the kiss. Bucky's lips twitched up into a smile when she started kissing him back which caused AJ to smile as well against his lips. When Bucky pulled his lips away from hers slowly AJ found herself trying to follow after his lips and tugging at his shirt to pull him back to her.
"Come with us on our missions." Bucky said causing AJ to look up at him in confusion. She blinked in surprise and Bucky smiled down at her. "Because I am finally holding you in my arms again, Adelyn Frost, and I can't imagine ever letting you go again."
"I can't-" She started to say only to have him cut her off with another kiss. "You can't just," And another kiss and she smiled against his lips. "That's not fair-" More kisses, much softer this time. Bucky nudged his nose with hers before he pulled away from her again and AJ sighed as she gripped onto his uniform and smiled softly up at Bucky. "I suppose Howard could come up with some reason for me needing to go with you all and not heading back to base in London." She whispered while fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.
Bucky grinned and she felt herself melting again at his radiant smile.
Bucky pressed his forehead against hers and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry I didn't kiss you last night." He spoke softly. "I should have – I just...I've been wanting to kiss you for so damn long now and when I finally had my chance to do it I...got scared." He admitted.
"Why?" She asked him while letting him hold her.
He let out a nervous laugh, "Because I'm crazy about ya, Jay. And I tend to screw up good things in my life." AJ frowned at his words and stood up on the tips of her toes to press her hand to Bucky's cheek softly and interrupted him with a lingering kiss.
She hoped that the kiss could convey just how much she cared for him, too, without her having to say it out loud.
Because he wasn't the only one who was scared.
When AJ was with Frank she hadn't known how she felt or didn't feel until it was too late.
But AJ had known for quite some time that her feeling for Bucky weren't just platonic. She had romantic feelings for him that were on the verge of...dare she ever admit it, love. She had just been too damn stubborn to give into those feelings.
She pulled away and Bucky was looking down at her as he tried to catch his breath after their last kiss.
She pressed her index finger to the dimple on his chin, "You still owe me a dinner." AJ said with a little smile as she let go of Bucky and gently pressed her hands to his chest again as she led him to the door until he was standing on the other side of it. She watched as Bucky grinned like a damn fool as she slowly shut the door on him and locked it so that he couldn't come back inside. She did have work to do!
AJ pressed one hand to her chest as she leaned against the door and felt the way her chest moved up and down as her heart beat so loudly she could hear the pulse in her ears. She slowly moved two fingers to her lips that Bucky had just been kissing and grinned.
Fireworks.
Who would have known that taking Howard's advice would be so rewarding?
_
December 25th, 1943 - Zurich, Switzerland: STEVE
It was Christmas.
The Howling Commandos had just finished their latest mission and were settled back at the base in Zurich. Howard and AJ had been there waiting for them and Steve saw the look of relief show clearly on AJ's face when they all came back unscathed. She had gone to Bucky first to examine him saying that she needed to see him in the medical bay to make sure that he was okay. Odd how Bucky had been to only one of the Howling Commandos to receive such special attention.
Bucky and AJ were together now.
They weren't telling anyone they were together – Steve included. But they were together.
It was pretty obvious.
He could see it from the way they looked at each other and the gentle touches they shared when they thought no one was watching them.
Steve was happy for them, truly. Steve didn't mind that they were keeping their relationship private. He felt no ill will towards his best friends. He was just happy that they were finally together. He knew how hard AJ had been fighting against her feelings for Bucky. Be it out of guilt because Frank or just AJ being the stubborn woman she was - but she had finally pulled her head out of her ass and allowed herself to feel something for Bucky and that the guilt she carried from not loving Frank was no longer stopping her from being happy. And he was glad that Bucky was finally with the girl of his dreams
On this Christmas night Steve had seen the two of them walking outside together in the snow with their hands linked as they spoke softly to the other. He had stayed hidden where they wouldn't see him not wanting to ruin their private time by getting noticed and then having to be their third wheel.
He had smiled when he saw Bucky stop in front of AJ and pulled something out of his coat pocket to give her. AJ had laughed after she opened it and looked up at Bucky who was grinning down at her. She moved up a bit to stand on her tip toes and pressed her hand to Bucky's face before leaning in to meet him in a kiss.
He had smiled and headed back inside only to look over his shoulder when he heard AJ let out a squeal of a laugh and saw Bucky picking her up in a hug, spinning them around in circles.
Steve was happy for them and found himself making a Christmas wish that night. A wish that AJ and Bucky would have many more Christmas' together where they were just as happy as they were on this night.
He walked back to his private quarters that were near AJ's and went inside his room, leaving his door open just a crack as then got in bed and began to sketch what he had just seen.
That's when he heard them making their way to AJ's room.
"Y'know, I still think it's a bit unfair that you have your own sleeping quarters while I have to share mine with a bunch of snoring men." Steve heard Bucky comment.
"Oh, is that so?" AJ's voice was light and teasing.
"Mmhm,"
There was a moment of silence and Steve figured they must have been kissing. But his ears perked up when he heard AJ speak up again.
"You could always bunk with Steve." She suggested causing Steve to give into a little snort of a laugh.
"As much as I love Steve - I'd rather bunk with you, sweetheart." Bucky said in a chuckle.
"Well, that is just out of the realm of possibilities, Sarge." AJ said with a little giggle that made Steve smile.
There was silence again for a long moment - long enough to make Steve get up from his bed to go out and make sure they were okay.
They were more than okay.
The two pulled apart for air and AJ fisted the fabric of Bucky's shirt while she had one hand on the doorknob to her room and opened the door. "Steve wakes up before sunrise every morning to train – you need to be gone before he's up." She kissed him again and pulled him forward to follow her.
"I know, I know."
Steve decided to give those two some time together and headed towards the lab where he knew Howard would be awake.
"Rogers!" Howard said when he walked through the doors. "What's got you up so late?" He asked.
"Just felt like going for a walk." Steve said with a small shrug.
Howard chuckled, knowing somehow that Steve was lying. "Mmmhm," He chuckled and then motioned for Steve to sit down. The man brought a Steve a glass that he filled up with scotch. They both knew that alcohol wouldn't affect him the way it would any other person – but it was a kind gesture. And then Howard said something that made Steve choke as he attempted to swallow his drink. "AJ's got Bucky in her room again, doesn't she?"
Steve looked at Howard with wide eyes while trying to settle down and wipe away the bit of alcohol that he dribbled down his chin. "W-what? No! Why would you-" He stammered out as he set down the glass Howard had given him.
Howard laughed loudly and took a seat cross from Steve. "Relax, Rogers. Those two aren't exactly covert when it comes to hiding their relationship." He added and Steve narrowed his eyes and that man. "-and I was not implying that anything was happening in that room other than sleep. My sleeping quarters are right next to AJ's so get your head out of the gutter."
"Alright, enough!" Steve raised his hand not wanting Howard to go any further into detail.
"It's not the first time she's snuck him into her room." Howard said surprising Steve. "They spend most of their time talking and after a while I hear someone snoring. And I know that Adelyn does not snore."
"How long have you known?" Steve asked Howard and picked up his glass of scotch again and sipped at it.
"A few weeks now." Howard swallowed his drink. "Not that they have told me." He said with a scoff. "Do you know that I have been trying to get AJ to admit she has feelings for Barnes for months now! Ever since she said goodbye to him at the docks when he shipped out to England."
Steve smiled as he looked down at his hands. "I think Bucky's been in love with Jay from the moment they first met. He never had a woman shut down his advances so fast. God, he would not shut up about her for weeks afterwards."
"Things finally fell into its place for them. It's fate, I'll tell ya." Howard chuckled.
"Fate?" Steve echoed, chuckling lightly.
Howard laughed, "Oh don't tell me you don't believe in fate either? AJ, I can understand, she's a scientist. But you're a man of faith! You gotta believe that someone has been pulling some strings for those two!"
Steve thought on it for a moment and smiled. "I suppose in some circumstances...fate could be real."
"Thank you!" Howard laughed.
Fate or not. Steve was just glad his friends were together and happy.
_
December 22nd, 1944 - Poland: AJ
"What's goin' on in that beautiful brain of yours, Jay?"
She looked up from her food rations at Bucky who was smiling at her. But the worry was evident in his eyes when he reached across the table to hold her hand.
It had been a little over a year since they first got together. A year full of happiness that AJ had never felt in her life before.
Only the closest people around them knew that they were together: Steve, Howard, Peggy, and the Howling Commandos. But if anyone high up in the SSR caught wind of their relationship, AJ would be shipped off to a different base – or worse; back to the states.
AJ squeezed his hand feeling safe in the private quarters she shared with Steve and Howard who were both conveniently away for the evening. (Something she had worked out with the both of them.) She felt safe. Right here, right now, with Bucky. That's all she should feel.
But something in her gut was telling her that something was wrong – or that something was about to go horribly wrong.
And the blissful year they spent together became something terrifying to her.
Because she was terrified of losing him.
It had started in the morning when she had woken up to a terrible feeling in her heart and desperate need to be near Bucky. AJ wanted to be with him in a way that she hadn't before - a way she had wanted to be with him for quite some time but was too scared to make the move. You're going to lose him, the little voice in the back of her head told her as her gut ached.
She had woken Howard and Steve up and told them, "We are all adults here." Before she explained to them why she would need her privacy with Bucky tonight. Steve's cheeks had turned a dark shade of red and Howard had laughed while clapping his hands and made a; It's about damn time, comment.
Howard's parting gift for the night was still hidden away in her dresser drawer. Use it, kid. No one want to have a baby in the middle of a warzone.
It had made her smile briefly. But she was too in her mind with the fear she had of losing Bucky.
But even now in Bucky's company, she only felt dread. Dread of what was bound to come – no, she was not dreading finally having sex with Bucky, she was really, really looking forward to that. She felt dread for the morning when he would leave with Steve and the rest of the Howling Commandos.
"You've hardly touched your food," Bucky commented. "And you have spoken maybe two full sentences to me since I've gotten here which is something that never happens." He smirked.
AJ frowned and twisted the bracelet made of yarn that Bucky had given to her last Christmas around her wrist. She had laughed when he said he had to barter for the yarn from a little girl; "She hustled me," Bucky had said causing AJ to laugh yet again before standing up on her tiptoes to kiss him. I love it. She had told him before she let Bucky slide the yarn bracelet onto her wrist.
"Y'know, most girls would see gift giving as a way for the guy to ask them to go steady." Bucky had given her a lazy smirk as he looked down at her.
"Yes, well I am not most girls." She had teased him. He playfully narrowed his eyes at her and continued to hold her hand, thumb rubbing against her skin. "But I suppose if you were asking me to go steady with you...I'd say yes."
Bucky had picked her up and spun her around as she laughed so hard that tears fell down her cheeks.
"Do you believe in fate?" She asked, her mind going back to what Howard had said a couple of months ago. He had called Bucky and AJ constantly being thrown in the same place fate. AJ had said it was simply a coincidence. "-Or signs?" She asked next. "Or maybe even destiny?" AJ finally said.
"Um," He pushed his tray away from him. "I haven't given it too much thought, to be honest. Why?" His voice was full of concern.
"Since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to work in science. It fascinated me and it was all I ever thought about." She told him. "So, I believe in science. I believe in what I can see right in front of me and what I can feel or touch – because that's all I've ever known. I don't believe in fate or destiny or signs...but-" AJ shook her head and moved one hand to cover her eyes in embarrassment.
Bucky squeezed her hand. "Talk to me." His voice was quiet.
She moved her hand away from her eyes and placed it on the top of Bucky's hand. "I'm scared." AJ finally admitted out loud.
"Of what?"
"Fate, destiny, the unknown." She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "I have this horrible feeling that something is going to happen tomorrow."
Bucky sighed and let go of AJ's hand so that he could get up and walk over to AJ. He got down on his knee and looked up at her and saw the tears in her eyes. He grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles and whispered against them, "Nothing is gonna happen." He promised her.
"How can you know?" She said in a whisper as she looked down at him.
"I don't." He admitted and looked back up at AJ. "War is unpredictable but I am choosing to believe that in a week I'll be holding you in my arms again when you get back from London."
"But you don't know that!" AJ argued.
"-You know what I do know?" Bucky interrupted her. "What I do know is that I love you Adelyn Frost." He told her and then pressed another kiss to her knuckles.
Of course she loved Bucky.
Maybe she had all along.
She felt her entire body warm and relax after he said those words and she smiled softly down at Bucky. "That's the first time you've ever said that to me." AJ whispered.
He grinned. "Didn't want to scare ya' off." Bucky teased.
She smiled and shook her head at him before saying, "I love you too." As she said the words AJ felt her eyes filling with tears. "So much." She had to close her eyes and look away briefly to let the tears fall as she hid her face from Bucky.
"Then why are you crying?" Bucky asked as he stood up, bringing her up with him and pulling her into his arms.
She buried her face against his chest. "Because I'm scared." She said again as her hands moved to his back, gripping onto the fabric of his shirt tightly. "I love you and I'm terrified that something is going to happen to you tomorrow and that I'll lose you forever."
"Hey, hey," Bucky moved his hands to AJ's shoulders, stepping back so he could look into her eyes. "You will never lose me." He swore to her. "Even if I do die – I'll crawl out of my grave to come back on home to you, Frosty."
She turned her face again after he said that, "-Don't joke about that, Buck." He moved his finger under her chin and locked eyes with her again. He wiped away her tears and moved forward slowly and pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. When he pulled away from her, AJ sniffled, "You can't just kiss all my worries away." AJ said with a sad smile.
"I can try." He kissed her again.
But when he pulled away this time AJ had grabbed at the collar of his shirt and brought his lips back to hers in a needy kiss that neither of them broke until their breathing had turned into pants. AJ walked backwards and pulled Bucky along with her to her bedroom as their lips found the others again in a series of needy kisses.
Bucky pulled away when they were finally at her door and looked down at AJ, "We don't have to," He whispered and then inhaled sharply as AJ fiddled with his belt buckle with shaky hands. But AJ had already pushed the door open with the back of her heel and lead them inside her room. "Jay, we don't have-"
She was the one to interrupt him with a kiss now. She smiled against his lips as they continued to walk further into her bedroom. "Get out of your head, Barnes." She whispered to him before they fell onto her bed.
Bucky took a moment to look down at AJ while running his fingers through her hair. "I love you so much." He said in a whisper.
"I love you too, James Buchanan Barnes. Always."
And she meant it. Adelyn Frost would always love Bucky Barnes.
There was absolutely no changing that.
Time or distance – it didn't matter.
She'd love him forever.
Until her dying breath.
Afterwards as well.
_
December 23nd, 1944 - Poland: BUCKY
He had woken up before AJ had. The sound of Steve and Howard returning to their rooms had woken him from his slumber. Bucky leaned over AJ a bit to grab his watch from the nightstand only to have her move her face into the crook of his neck in protest.
"Mmm," AJ whined after waking up from Bucky's movement.
"Shhh, go back to sleep." He whispered and pressed a kiss to her temple as he rubbed down her arm, fingers grazing against her skin.
She, of course, didn't listen and moved herself until she was on top of him and pulled the covers over their naked bodies while grinning down at Bucky causing him to smile as well. "Stay." She drew out the word in a whisper and pressed her lips down on his in a lazy kiss. He chuckled and kissed her back. "Come on, we still have one left." She wiggled against Bucky causing him to groan.
"Sweetheart, you're killin' me." He told her. AJ gave him a wicked grin that made him shake his head as he tore the sheets off of their heads and he looked over to the night stand, pointing at the leftover wrapper from the night before. "Give Howard my thanks for letting you borrow some of his stash." He grinned and kissed her before he rolled them so he was on top of her. When he was looking down at her he saw now that she frowning, her brows knitted together and Bucky knew that she was overthinking again and he would need to reassure her that everything would be just fine. "I'll see you again, Jay." Bucky said while running his fingers through her hair. "I swear I will."
AJ continued to frown though. "You better." She moved forward and kissed him.
And just as he began to lose himself, completely intoxicated by the woman under him, there was pounding on the door causing Bucky to pull away and groan.
"Get up, Bucky! We leave in ten minutes!" Steve yelled from the hallway.
Bucky shook his head as he looked at the door and then looked back down at AJ who had a terrified look in her eyes. She sighed and moved her hands to rest on his face so he was looking her in the eyes. "Please just be careful, Bucky." She whispered.
"I will." He said with a nod and kissed her again before he got up and began to dress.
AJ did the same and put her dress back on from the night before and then walked over to where Bucky stood at the door once he was done changing.
Bucky watched as her lower lip began to quiver. "I love you." Her eyes filled with tears again as her voice rasped.
He smiled sadly, trying to hide his own worry and pressed a kiss to her forehead before pulling away from her slowly, knowing that if he didn't let go of her now, he never would. He smiled down at her and then Bucky pointed towards the dresser where one wrapper was left. "Save that for when I get back." That had made AJ laugh which is all he wanted to hear before he left. He kissed her one last time before he walked out the door.
He was halfway down the hall when he heard AJ saying his name. He looked over his shoulder, trying to ignore the feeling of dread he now felt as well.
"Come home to me, Buck."
He took in a shaky breath and forced a smile. "Always." I love you, her mouthed to her.
It took all the strength he had to turn back around and head out to meet with the rest of the team.
When he got to Steve, his best friend squeezed his shoulder. "Don't worry, Jay will be fine on her own." Steve must have seen the worry in his eyes.
But Bucky wasn't afraid that something would happen to AJ while he was gone. He was afraid he wouldn't be making it home to her.
A long time ago he learned to trust AJ's gut. But his own gut told him that he couldn't leave Steve – that he needed to be his backup.
Maybe there was such thing as fate or destiny, he didn't know.
But Bucky would listen to his gut.
There was one thing that Bucky did know for sure and that was that when AJ came back from London, he was going to ask her to marry him.
Adelyn Juliet Barnes.
It had a nice ring to it.
But she'd always be his Frosty.
