Oh my lawd, we're on Chapter 38! Once again, if it wasn't for all your encouragement and loving reviews, I likely wouldn't have made it this far in this story. Thank you all so much for your continued support!

In full disclosure, I originally wasn't planning on including the middle part of this chapter. But then I thought I have put so much work into developing Lucy's character, creating a backstory and a world around her, and then had her tortured (I'm so sorry, my poor baby), to not give her the moment she deserved. So without further ado, the next chapter!

Trigger Warnings: Minor violence and torture


Chapter XXXVIII

Lucy's brain was officially mush. She couldn't string two thoughts together even if she wanted to since the machine they had hooked her up to just turned her brain into scramble eggs.

The torture of her body seemed to end. She felt strong, like she could run for miles if she wanted. But the fact that her head hurt so much and her brain didn't seem to work would have kept her from doing so.

If she wasn't strapped to a medical table, she very likely would have fallen down if she was released. Her brain was unable to send signals for her legs to move or do anything really.

All she could do was mutter things over and over again. Although she was sure it wasn't anything intelligent, only incoherent mumbo-jumbo.

Finally, the pain in her head eased a little after what seemed like hours. She had known at that point that something bad had happened to her. And she could remember getting injected with something that ignited a spark inside her as a part of a machine attached itself to her face. But everything else was confusing.

She recalled seeing men in lab coats hovering over her, taking notes and muttering medical terminology, but Lucy couldn't make sense of it. She figured they were doctors trying to help her, but if they were, why did she hurt so badly?

The only word she remembered saying was please.

Please.

Please stop.

Please end the pain.

If Lucy had been given a gun, she would have stuck the barrel in her mouth and pulled the trigger just to stop the agony she was in. But of course, they would never give her a gun.

Eventually, when it all faded she remembered faces. Not the doctors' faces though. No, it was the people she loved. Adeline with her black hair and blue eyes, and Beatrix with her honey locks and the same eyes as Adeline. Her mother with her kind face, and Mr. and Mrs. Lee with their gentle smiles. Her niece and nephew and their boisterous belly laughs. Daniel and his little small chuckle, and the way he always adjusted his glasses.

And lastly Bucky, and the way he looked when he told her he loved her.

She held onto that image the most. For a little while, she couldn't remember anyone's names, but only that they meant a lot to her. And although she didn't know who the mysterious, attractive, man with the blue eyes was, she knew she wanted to be wherever he was.

Wherever he was, she would follow. Because every moment she remembered his smile, or his laugh, or mischievous chuckle, or the way his lips felt on hers, Lucy felt at peace.

Every pleasant thought she had ended though when they injected her with something else, feeling like fire in her veins. It turned her thoughts into something sinister, red painting them, tainting the memory of the ones she loved.

All she could do was grit her teeth and scream after that.

But once again, the pain ended and her mind was blank. Thoughts were scrambled, and instead of coherent stringing together of ideas, Lucy could only see colours.

Behind her closed eyes, her brain was active but still unable to process anything. Everything ached as she stayed strapped to a chair.

When she finally felt someone hovering over top of her she wanted to mutter form them to stop. Feeling them above her and knowing their eyes were on her as she laid on the table made her want to cry. The thought of doing another round of torture to her brain made her want to be sick.

She could hear her name being called like it was muffled in a dream. The person who was saying it was close but still seemed so far away.

As her name was said again, finally her eyes shot open and she saw a man standing above her looking concerned.

"Lucy, can you hear me?" There was a low rumbling somewhere but Lucy didn't know what it was.

Her eyes caught on the frazzled man above her and no recognition struck her. He was very handsome though, and when Lucy saw him for some reason her heart fluttered ever so slightly.

"Lucy, come on." The man urged as he saw her blank eyes and no trace of her knowing who he was, "Can you hear me?"

She blinked a few times and looked up in confusion. She knew that she should know the man but had no idea who he was. He uncuffed her from the table and Lucy's heart began to pound.

What was happening? She thought. She couldn't leave the examination table! Where would she go?

Helping her get up and sit straight, Lucy looked at the man curiously. "Lucy?" He grabbed her face once she was sitting upright. "We have to go, this place is about to go up in flames!"

She only opened her mouth in confusion and was about to ask him who he was. She felt like she had met him once, perhaps in a dream.

"Can you hear me? I said we have to leave!" The man said all the more insistently. He looked at her desperately, trying to find any traces of the old her in the hollow shell that remained.

"I—," Lucy didn't know who he was. She barely knew who she was, after all. "I don't…"

The man looked at her with a broken expression, his hands still cupping her face as he looked at her with sadness in his eyes.

She could only blink dumbly, and for the first time in her life, she had nothing to say. She only opened and closed her mouth like a fish, looking on in confusion.

The man only sighed and then with a determined look in his eyes, grabbed the back of her head and pulled her forward so their lips clashed together.

Lucy felt his soft, warm, mouth on hers and for a moment everything was fine. This was kissing. She knew what that was. As soon as her mouth began to move on its own, all her memories flooded back to her.

Eyes opened wide and squealing in surprise, Lucy pushed the man off of her, "What are you doing?!" She demanded with a huff.

She knew the man before her. Although it was still processing how he was there, Lucy could at least recognize him. Daniel. And somehow, he had managed to steal another kiss from her. For some reason, although it seemed normal, it also seemed wrong. Almost like there was a reason she couldn't kiss like her instincts screamed at her to.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do." He defended, "Do you remember me?" He asked her.

The second last finger on her left hand, although devoid of any jewelry, felt heavy. Almost like there was something that should have been resting there but there was nothing. Lucy vaguely remembered waking up on a sunny Sunday morning in Paris, and stretching out onto linen sheets as her bare skin lay against it. The man before her was also there, his fingers trailing lightly over her naked skin.

"Daniel?" Lucy asked, as more memories began to flood back.

He sighed as a breath of relief and quickly grabbed her so she could stand, "Can you walk? We have to leave. This place is about to blow any minute. The POWs have mutinied."

POWS? Where the hell was she? As Lucy looked around her face fell as everything at once came back to her.

Her mouth fell open as she realized Daniel was trying to help her escape. She didn't think she could walk but she would try. Slipping off the table, Daniel's arms hooked around Lucy's waist as he tried to help her walk.

It felt so strange to be in his arms again. Almost foreign and like it happened once in a dream, but not in reality. As Lucy hobbled, she felt the floor rumble under her feet and she and Daniel looked at each other in shock. That didn't sound good.

After a little time, Lucy was able to start to walk on her own, her body surging with what she assumed had to be adrenaline.

She gasped the moment they passed another examination room. She looked at Daniel in wide eyes, not believing that she had forgotten about her actual fiancé.

She stopped dead in her tracks in the dimly lit hall. Although she wanted to get rid of that place as fast as possible, she had to find Bucky.

Wait!" Lucy screeched and came to an instant halt as Daniel tried to pull her forward. "We have to get Bucky!"

"Who the hell is Bucky?" Daniel demanded with a frown.

"My fiancé! Keep up, Jesus!" She said frustratedly as she took off at a run. The adrenaline had to have been kicking in. After all, she was barely able to stand moments before. But the thought of finding him urged her on.

"His name is Bucky? You left me for a man named Bucky?!" Daniel demanded, then skeptically asked, "Can't we just... Y'know? Leave him?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, wondering if she would go for the idea.

"No! We can't leave him!" She exclaimed, scandalized. She began to take off at a run again before Daniel stopped her.

"Lucy!" Daniel grabbed her hand. She could hear gunfire and the roar of some other heavy weapon, "I know you want to find him but this place is huge. I'm sure he's fine. And I want to help him—," Lucy looked at Daniel skeptically as he spoke.

He rolled his eyes, "I want to help you." He corrected, "But I need to get you out of here first. I'm sure he would want it that way. If he really loved you he would want you safe." Daniel was right. If Bucky found out she put herself in harm's way to go after him he would be furious.

As Lucy was about to open her mouth to protest she remembered something, "You said that the POWs escaped?" She asked with a frown. "But what about all the civilians?"

Daniel looked at her with confusion, "Civilians? What civilians?"

She had to find Hilda. She had to go after her and find her first. She was her responsibility, and hers to care for.

"We have to save them!" Lucy said harshly. Daniel saw the determined look in her eye and knew there was no talking her out of it.

"Do you know where they are?" He asked with a sigh, realizing it was useless to try to change her mind.

Lucy nodded confidently, "I-I think so," She wasn't completely sure. After all, she couldn't even remember who her fiancé was a few moments ago.

Daniel only sighed in defeat and nodded, knowing it was useless to argue with her, "Let's go," Lucy couldn't help but smile.


It had taken them too long to find the civilian prisoners. As it turned out, Lucy really didn't remember the complex at all. It seemed for a little while they were running around in circles, and avoiding the Hydra soldiers turned out to be a challenge.

After the building rumbled again and Lucy and Daniel nearly fell to the ground, he finally had enough.

"We're leaving now!" He demanded, "We tried to find them, and we didn't! I told you I was going to get you out of here and that's what I'm going to do, so let's go!"

Lucy shook her head, "I'm not leaving without them! You leave if you want to, but I'm staying!" Daniel knew she was too stubborn to fight with.

Instead, he only groaned in an annoyed fashion, "Goddamn it!" He knew it was useless to try to argue with her. And he would never leave her, not even if it meant saving himself.

Lucy smiled as he continued to follow her. She couldn't move as fast as she wanted given the fact she was still in those stupid high heels she had been wearing for weeks. But she knew she couldn't take them off since it was well into winter and the moment they would be outside she would freeze.

Suddenly the building's foundations were rocked and Lucy fell to the ground again. She heard yelling off to the side, a mix of women and children's voices and she knew they weren't far away.

Struggling to stand, Lucy got to her feet as quickly as she could. She didn't notice if Daniel was behind her or not, she had tunnel vision on where the voices were coming from.

When she rounded the corner, her jaw nearly dropped as she saw about ten people trapped under the metal scaffolding of the building. She ran forward, knowing it was likely useless for her to do anything.

Fire blazed around them and Lucy ran towards the crying people. "Daniel, help me with this!" They had to get those poor people free.

"Luce—," He began to tell her it was useless, there was no way they could lift the heavy metal. But she cut him off, fire and fury in her eyes.

"I know, okay! But we have to try!" They moved forward and Lucy coughed from the smoke. She was beginning to sweat from the heat around her, and as she approached the people who were trapped she yelled to see if anyone could hear her.

To her horror, a small, feminine, voice called back, "Lucy?"

Lucy's eyes widened, "Hilda?!" She could recognize that sweet voice anywhere.

"We're trapped!" She couldn't see Hilda, but she could hear her coughing, "One of the POW's got us out and told us to free the others! I was on the last cell when the ceiling collapsed." Lucy could hardly contain her fear knowing that Hilda was trapped under there.

"We're going to try to get you out!" Her voice was filled with desperation. She would never forgive herself if she let anything happen to Hilda. Lucy began trying to move the scaffolding, pushing against it with all her and Daniel's might.

"No! It's no use! We've tried everything! Leave us and get out while you still can!" She could hear the little sobs in her voice. A small hand, just tiny enough to fit through the cracks of the large metal beams shot through and grabbed her hand. Lucy nearly burst out in tears.

Instead, she only kissed her hand, "I'm not leaving you!" She promised as she began to try to lift the heavy object in the way. Sweat was pooling down her neck and back and she nearly screamed at how useless their efforts were.

Suddenly, a gunshot ran out and pinged off the metal close to her head. A Hydra soldier was behind them, looking intimidating in his black leather uniform, a mask with goggles over his face. As Lucy looked in horror, she realized he had a flame thrower attached to his back.

"I'll take care of it!" Daniel assured her as he ran off to face their adversary. Lucy nearly laughed as he said that, never thinking he would be one to get into a fight.

But as he tackled the man to the floor, Lucy shut her mouth and was apparently wrong. His time fighting with the partisans has changed him, clearly. But still, the man he was facing had a few more inches on him and at least fifty pounds.

As Lucy could hear Daniel and the soldier fighting, she continued trying to pull at the metal framework again.

With a small voice, Lucy's heart broke, "Lucy, it's alright. You should go." Hilda said in a tiny squeak. She sounded so scared, and Lucy hated that she was helpless at that moment.

"I'm not leaving without you!" She yelled back, struggling even more to lift the heavy object. She grit her teeth, struggling more with all her might to lift it, but once again it didn't even budge.

Her head was pounding. Each breath she took was strained, as though her lungs couldn't take enough air. Her heart was pulsating in her chest, and blood rushed past her ears, muffling all noises.

Lucy closed her eyes, trying to block out Hilda's crying. She heard fists collide with Daniel's face. She could still hear what it sounded like as Bucky screamed from the next room as he was tortured. She could hear Zola's cruel voice, and practically see the smirk on Schmidt's face.

She could hear her mother pleading with her father before the gunshot echoed through her house, the noise comparable to the thundering storm that took place that night. She could see Beatrix's face as she walked home crying from the heinous man's house after her father sold her. She could feel the splatter of her father's blood against her cheek. She could hear Adeline's cruel tone as she yelled at her in the limousine.

She could feel the softness of Daniel's hands on her waist, the sting between her legs as he took her innocence. She could feel pride welling in her belly as she walked on stage at convocation when they first called her Doctor Heinrich.

And in between, she heard the soft voice of Margaret Whiting. Her hazy, slow, melodic, voice filled the streets of Brooklyn on a summer night as she danced with a stranger. The eerie trumpets filled the air, as she rested her hand on his chest for the first time and felt his heart pounding beneath it.

Lucy didn't know what happened next, but when she opened her eyes Daniel was on the ground, panting and looking at her in shock. One of the metal scaffolding beams had been tossed across the room as though it weighed nothing, lodged into the wall behind him, pinning the Hydra soldier to it as he bled out. It was as though it had been nothing more than a spear of javelin to her.

Lucy looked at her hands, expecting to see something different. Did she do this? She couldn't have. But all there was, were five petite fingers on each one, still delicate and soft, although a little dirty.

"How—?" Daniel looked at her in wonder, his face bloodied as he struggled to get up. There was no way she could have thrown that piece of metal like that, but somehow she did.

Lucy's chest was rising and falling, her breathing sporadic. She felt a soft grip on her and Lucy turned to be met with blue eyes. Hilda was there with tears falling down her face. Immediately, Lucy engulfed her in a tight hug, not ready to release her until she was sure she was there, safe, and in her arms.

"How did you do that?" Hilda demanded as the others were able to escape the fallen beams and make their way out.

"I don't know," Lucy shook her head in disbelief. She really had no idea how she managed to do such a thing, or if she really even did it at all.

"Either way," Daniel stood up and hobbled over, limping slightly. He had taken a pretty severe beating, "Let's get the hell out here."

Lucy couldn't help but nod. And before taking off at a run, she looked at her hands once more and back to the beam which she had thrown as though it were weightless.


Bucky couldn't believe that out of all the people that could have staged a rescue, the punk-ass, scrawny, Steve Rogers of Brooklyn would be the one to do it.

Of course, now he wasn't so scrawny. He was still a punk though, and that would never change. Especially after they had tried to get out of the warehouse that was ablaze and Steve had barely gotten out with his life. Why, oh why, did God have to test his patience so much with that kid?

The mystery of how he sprouted several feet and put on an extra hundred or so pounds in the last couple of months would have to be dealt with later. At the moment, the only thing that Bucky could worry about was how to get out alive from the shit-show he was in, and how to find Lucy.

As they ran around the equipment yard firing at Hydra soldiers, Bucky took cover behind a tank. Another man had a similar idea, and when Bucky raised his gun to fire, he instead looked on at a familiar face.

Hey, Sarg!" Dum Dum Dugan smiled widely upon seeing Bucky. He was relieved he was still alive, "Boy, is it good to see your face! How was torture?" The Boston native asked nonchalantly, still with his signature bowler hat and a red mustache.

Bucky sighed wistfully and laughed, as he added another magazine into his gun. Bullets pinged off the tank they were taking cover behind. "Good! I got engaged!" He smiled widely.

"Sheesh! That is some bad torture." Dugan said with also a confused look in his eye "That's a new technique if I've ever heard one. Did they make you get engaged to like... one of them?'' Dugan asked cautiously, "I mean because don't get me wrong, you're a good lookin' fella, but I don't know what kind of man would prefer you over some pretty—." Bucky could hardly contain his laughter, even despite the intense moment of gunfire.

"Hold on for a sec!" Bucky cut him off to turn from the tank they were taking cover from and tried to fire at the Hydra operative who was making it hard for them to escape. To his surprise, he was beaten to the chase. A bullet was put in the head of the man, and Bucky looked around for whoever could have made a shot like that.

He smiled as he saw amidst the fire blazing and the small war zone they created a woman dressed in silken gold. A gun was raised in her arms as she fired from a place of safety. Pride welled in Bucky as he saw how well she was doing. She looked like a force to be reckoned with as she shot off bullets, peering through the scope just like he taught her, and hitting several targets.

"Nah," Bucky shook his head and nodded towards her, "To that little spitfire over there!" Bucky gestured with a smirk over to where there was so much commotion. Dugan looked over and to his surprise, his eyes caught a familiar face.

"Dr. Lucy fuckin' Heinrich!" Dugan laughed as he saw her, pleased beyond belief to see her alive and well, "The woman just doesn't die, does she!"

"No she does not," Bucky said with a large, beaming smile. "Lucky for me!"

"Well, hell! In that case mazel tov, my friend!" He slapped Bucky on the back in congratulations, holding his shoulder tightly and smiling down at him. "Now back to work!" He said before climbing up into the tank and jumping down the hatch so he could use one of Hydra's toys against them. "I'll gloat about how I told you so later!"

Bucky only shook his head in disbelief, slightly chuckling. He knew he would never hear the end of it from Dugan.

As the tank started up, Dugan covered Bucky as he was able to make his way closer to Lucy. Ducking behind a sheet of metal and a little ways off from her, Bucky decided to try to get her attention.

"Hey Annie Oakley, need any help?" Bucky called to Lucy with a large smile. She looked up at him in surprise, a smile soon on her face as well as soon as she spotted him.

"Maybe!" She yelled back over the loud noises of bullets whizzing past them, "What will it cost me if I say yes?"

Bucky pretended to think about it for a second, "How abouta kiss?"

"Sergeant, if you get us the hell out of here, I'll give you a whole lot more than a kiss!" She assured him with a wink. It took all he had not to race over there and slam his mouth on hers at that moment.

Daniel looked on in exasperation, a slightly defeated look on his face, as he rolled his eyes dramatically, "Lucy, I'm right here!" He said in annoyance at their mid-battle flirting.

"Oh! Sorry!" She said genuinely as she bit her bottom lip. Bucky noticed how a small blonde girl clutched at Lucy's dress and followed her around like a lost puppy. She seemed to be holding Lucy back until a Hydra soldier tried to get the drop on them.

The little girl took a plank of wood and hit the man on the back with it with a ferocity that she didn't look she previously possessed. She continued hitting him until he was on the ground, calling out in pain.

The tiny little beast continued to hit the man over and over until he was yelling for mercy and thrashing on the ground. She had the plank raised over her head and she continued to swing it down over and over again until even Bucky thought the man had enough. He had to admit, the scene was comical enough to be in a silent film, but Bucky had to call an end to it.

"Alright, alright, slugger! You got him!" Bucky assured her. The girl looked up at him with a beaming grin, looking proud of herself. She looked at the wooden plank in her hand, clearly having found a weapon she enjoyed. "You play baseball?" Bucky asked her curiously, wondering where she could have learned to swing a plank around like a bat if she didn't.

"No." She replied happily, "What's that? I'm Hilda, by the way!" She blushed at the handsome man talking to her.

Bucky only raised his eyebrows, "Well Hilda, you're playing on my team when we get out of here! I'm Bucky."

She gasped happily and jumped in excitement, her plank clattering to the ground from her reaction as she clapped slightly, "You're even more handsome than I imagined!"

"Thank you?" He replied skeptically, an eyebrow cocked even more. Who was this strange, young girl?

"I'm Lucy's friend!" She replied happily, "I'm the one that saved her after the waterfall!"

Bucky's eyes widened as he realized the tiny thing in front of him is the reason why his fiancé was alive and well, not at the bottom of some river, "It's nice to meet you!" He yelled over more shots fired at him, ducking and grabbed her so she ducked too.

Suddenly the factory behind them exploded violently, shaking the earth and causing him to hit the ground. His ears rang a little and he was at a loss of breath from the shock waves that sent him spiraling to the dirt, but the sound of cheering from the captured POWs and civilians was unmistakable.

As Bucky got to his feet, he realized Hydra's remaining soldiers began to throw their weapons away, their hands up in surrender.

Walking still cautiously with Hilda, Bucky saw Steve in the center of the fighting. His guard was let down, smiling at the new victory he just achieved. Men were yelling with their weapons in the air, cheering joyously.

While Steve wasn't looking, a lone Hydra soldier tried to be a hero and shoot at Steve. Bucky raised his gun on time and shot him in the neck, blood splattering everywhere, a gaping hole where his throat used to be.

"I had em'!" Steve defended himself, looking back at Bucky in surprise.

"Yeah, sure looked like it." Bucky scoffed, shaking his head at his stupid best friend. "Now, I think you owe me an explanation of what exactly happened here." He gestured up and down to his newly acquired body.

"Lab rat," Steve shrugged, "Plus I started eating my greens like my Ma always told me. Made a world of difference." He joked, making Bucky smile as he approached him.

"Really? And here I thought you finally hit puberty while I was away." Bucky quipped, slinging his gun over his shoulder once he realized there was no more use for it.

"Ha-ha!" Steve laughed sarcastically, "Still a jackass, I see."

"And you're still a no-good punk," Bucky said as they embraced each other in a tight hug. It felt strange hugging the new Steve, and as he clapped his back, Steve pulled away to look at him with concern, his hand still on his shoulder.

"God, you are such a goddamn moron, you know that! I told you not to do anything stupid and the first thing you do is get yourself captured!" Now the scolding began. Bucky rolled his eyes and was about to defend himself but Steve cut him off, "And another thing! I had that guy! You are clearly in no position to be fighting right now! You could have been hurt!" He pulled him in for one more tight hug, clearly showing he was only being harsh on him because he cared, "Shit, I missed you. It's good to see you in one piece, you giant idiot."

Something caught his eye over Steve's giant shoulder. A girl in a tattered dress with hair falling out of its updo and a dirty, bloodied face, stared at him across the blazing weapons court with a small grin on her face. She had her rifle on her shoulder as well, although the large, awkward weapon didn't look like it belonged with her soft figure.

Cutting Steve off from scolding him more, Bucky quickly interrupted him, "Hey-yeah, Steve it's good to see you too, buddy! And I'm expecting a bigger lecture later, but can shut up and hold that thought for a second—," Bucky patted his shoulder and then began walking away with a shit-eating grin on his face, "I gotta go see someone about a girl!"

"What?" Steve demanded in shock. There was no way, after all this time, after being a POW, that Bucky could possibly have met a girl.

Steve was left flabbergasted as his best friend abandoned him. Only a small, grinning blonde girl remained in front of him. Steve hadn't even noticed she had been behind Bucky, and clearly, he had been protecting her.

The girl gave him a little wave, making Steve nod at her politely, "Miss," He stared at her disheveled state, "Are you hurt?" Steve asked the young girl who was dreamily staring at him. She looked absolutely love-struck, softly sighing as he spoke.

"Hi," Was all she could say wistfully as she stared at him, completely ignoring his question, "I'm Hilda."

Steve couldn't help but chuckle and then turn his attention back to his best friend. He saw him approaching a woman, and Steve cocked a curious eyebrow as he watched on.

As Bucky approached Lucy, he noticed how she had her hands at her hips, her face twisted in perplexity and a slight scowl. Bucky couldn't help but smirk at how pissed she looked. He knew she was only angry because she was head over heels in love with him.

Lucy shook her head as he approached her "He's right! You were an absolute idiot! You could have gotten yourself killed!—,"

"Yeah, yeah," Bucky replied sarcastically before rolling his eyes in annoyance and grabbing her by the waist. He dipped her roughly, slamming his mouth to hers as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity apart, he was free to finally kiss her.

And kiss her he did. It wasn't soft, but rather one that was starved and desperate. He had fantasized about kissing her again, once they were free, but it was nothing like this. He poured every ounce of love and longing into it, which Lucy eagerly returned.

Lucy's mouth opened to him as she gently let him in, their tongues meeting softly. Her arms wrapped tighter around him as his finger splayed over her waist. The kiss dizzied her, but she couldn't bear to pull away at that moment.

The feeling of his smug smirk against her set her body on fire for him. His gentle touch breathed life into her, coaxing a soft sigh from her lips. Her hands tangled in his messy, sweaty hair, running them through it. Their hearts pounded in their chests in the same rhythm, matching one another's.

Bucky couldn't tell how long they kissed for. A couple seconds, a few minutes, months, years, or even a century. No matter how long it was though, it wasn't nearly long enough for him. Not after everything they had gone through. Not after thinking he would never get the chance to feel her mouth on his again.

Like he promised, he kissed her until she couldn't breathe. Bringing her up from the position he had dipped her into, Lucy couldn't bear to have his lips separate from hers, and as he was about to pull away to get some air, her arms only wrapped tighter around his neck.

Smiling as mouths molded, their lips opened to one another as their tongues touched ever so gently once more. Licking her teeth and his hand splaying down her spine, Bucky became intoxicated on her. She was stronger than any liquor he ever had, comparable to the most dangerous of drugs. She was so addicting, and if he had it his way, he would spend the rest of his life hooked on her.

Finally, they pulled away torturously. Bucky chuckled lowly as he saw her small smile, his hands still on her waist to keep her steady.

"Still mad at me, pigeon?" He asked her.

"I forgive you." Lucy quipped back, a little dizzy from the kiss.

"I thought so." Bucky only smiled as they finally tore their bodies from one another and he grabbed her hand. He didn't happen to notice they had acquired an audience, several people wolf-whistling and clapping at the two lovers reunited.

"Wow," Steve looked on in shock, nodding in disbelief and trying to process what he just witnessed. Hilda only giggled behind him and blushed nervously. The red from her cheeks spread down to her neck from the very public display of affection, "That was uhh, well… unexpected." Steve scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably.

"Kiss her again, Sarg!" Dugan yelled happily, from where he was sitting in his tanks as a boisterous laugh emitting from his loud mouth. Bucky couldn't help but shake his head at the obnoxious Boston man.

"Please don't!" Daniel only called back, looking a little green from the sight he just witnessed.

Taking her over to Steve, Lucy looked a little unsure as they approached him. She was nervous, likely for the first time in her life upon approaching the attractive man. Of course, as they walked forward, she couldn't help but notice that the man before her was absolutely jaw-droppingly beautiful. He was so perfect that he had to have been cooked up in a lab since Lucy refused to believe someone was just born that way.

Steve looked at Bucky curiously, "Who's your new friend, Buck?" There was some accusation, but also amusement in his voice. He couldn't believe that he had gone to war and still found a dame to cozy up with.

"Lucy Heinrich, meet Steve Rogers," Bucky smirked as he saw how Steve's face dropped in surprise at hearing her name. "Steve Rogers, meet Lucy Heinrich." He paused for a moment seeing the recognition light up in Steve's eyes, "My fiancé."

"Oh my God!" Steve's smile grew as he realized what Bucky had just said. "C-Congratulations!" He stuttered a little in disbelief, "Engaged? Really? I never— Wow!" He embraced Lucy in a tight hug at that moment and Lucy laughed at being swallowed by his strong embrace. He pulled away to look at her, still wondering if what he heard was real, "Jesus, Buck! When you said you were gonna marry her, I didn't actually think it would happen!"

"Neither did I!" Bucky admitted with a small laugh. "But what can I say? The lady just couldn't stay away from me."

"Are you pregnant?" Steve asked skeptically in a small whisper, wondering why on earth she would marry him, considering everything that happened almost four years ago.

"God, I hope not!" Lucy laughed a little uncomfortably, pulling away from Steve,

"Then how did this—," He gestured between the two of them still in surprise, "Even happen? You both owe me a story!" He smiled widely back at them again, wondering if he possibly had been on the head and was now a little delusional, "Wow! This is such great news! I'm so happy for you two. But umm, we'll have to celebrate later, alright? I should go check on anyone who needs help and get people into the cover of the trees before reinforcements show up." He smiled widely down at them, not thinking in a million years Bucky would reconnect with the woman he had obsessed over for so long, in the middle of a war—no less. Let alone, they would be engaged!

"Sure kid, go be a hero." Bucky nodded and Lucy waved goodbye, her eyes following Steve and drilling a hole into his back. She had a lazy little smile on that Bucky had seen a couple times before and he chuckled.

"You have drool on your face." Bucky teased her.

"Stop it!" She blushed madly, "I do not!" With her sleeve, she wiped the corner of her mouth, despite the fact she didn't have any drool there. "I thought he was smaller."

"Yeah," Bucky nodded, still perplexed at the fact. He was having a hard time believing the kid whose ass he used to save all the time in Brooklyn just saved his ass. "Me too."

"I want one." Lucy gazed dreamily after him, staring at his backside with a devilish grin plastered to her lips.

"No." Bucky said firmly, despite the fact he knew she was teasing.

"Ugh, fine. I guess I'll settle." She rolled her eyes, a mischievous expression on her face.

Bucky snorted playfully, "Settle? Settle, my ass! If anything, I'm the one settling! I'm pretty sure I can do better than an overwhelmingly beautiful dame with a Ph.D., who speaks multiple languages, and who holds her own in a fight!"

"In your dreams, Barnes." Lucy pushed him away, kissing the corner of his mouth softly before heading towards Hilda and Daniel, "I'm the best thing you're ever gonna have!"

As he watched her walk away, a happy skip on her step as she saw her little friend, Bucky couldn't help but let out a small exhale, admitting to himself, "Don't I know it."


It had turned out that while Daniel was working for Hydra, he was also aiding some partisans and rebel groups in the forests not too far off. He had just enough clearance to know how they should hit Hydra, and when Hydra would send patrols looking for them.

Lucy felt horrible for ever thinking he could have truly been helping Hydra, she should have known better than that.

She also felt horrible about how she had chosen Bucky over him. She didn't explicitly ever say it, but of course, Daniel knew. Especially after sharing such a kiss at their reunion.

As Lucy and Hilda walked near the front of the group alongside the tank, she didn't notice how Daniel came up to her.

"Can we talk?" He asked her, his hands in his pockets, a rifle over his shoulder. He looked so different than when they were together.

"Of course," Lucy nodded and ran her hand over Hilda's blonde hair, "Why don't you go ask Steve for a piggyback ride?" She told the girl, who she knew was feeling the effects of having to walk for so long. She was weakened after being a prison and having very little food. And besides, she wasn't wearing the proper shoes to be trekking around in the snow.

Hilda only nodded with a small, devilish smile on her face. She ran off, yelling Steve's name far too happy and making Lucy and Daniel both chuckle.

"That's some pet you picked up there." He laughed as he saw the little blonde head bob up and down as she excitedly ran through the snow.

"Who does she remind you of?" Lucy asked him, her eyebrows cocked. She wanted to know if he thought the same things about Hilda as she did.

Daniel smiled as he looked down, his eyes carefully watching their shoes, "Beatrix, of course! No wonder why you've taken such a liking to her. Although, I feel like she might have the same bratty streak that belongs to—,"

"Adeline!" They both laughed as they spoke at the same time. Their eyes met and for a moment, things almost seemed back to normal. It felt as though no time had passed between them, except for the fact that someone else now belonged in Lucy's heart.

Bashfully scratching his neck, Daniel licked his chapped lips before speaking up, "That was some kiss back there."

Lucy snorted, "What kiss? Ours you stole? Or mine and Bucky's?"

"Yours and… the American." He refused to call him Bucky, the name just sounded too ridiculous coming from his mouth. "I kind of was hoping that's how ours would be like when we finally saw each other again."

Lucy looked at him with a sorry expression in her eyes. Sighing, she gently reached out to touch his arm, "Daniel—,"

"Je suis désolé mon amour," I'm sorry, my love, he choked out, "I did this. I ruined us. From the beginning, it was all my fault. With the affair, with my pride, and not following you to America… I'm so sorry, Lucy. I didn't deserve you." His voice caught as he spoke sadly, causing tears to form in Lucy's eyes.

"It's not your fault." She whispered, "I think this is how it was always supposed to be. Deep down, you know this too."

Daniel scoffed, trying to mask his pain, "I wish it wasn't, though. If I had loved you more, and fought for you—,"

"I would have still found my way to him." She assured him gently, touching his arm softly again. "Daniel, you were the love of my life. But he… he's something more than that. I can't even explain it."

Daniel nodded and took a shaky deep breath in, "So, it's officially over for us?" He said as they continued to walk past the trees through the snow. "I should give up?"

"I'm afraid so," Lucy said sadly, knowing it broke her heart to admit it. She looked at him sadly, hating that she was hurting him.

He only nodded in understanding, swallowing a lump in his throat. He cursed under his breath and tried to blink back tears. He looked back at her, who was staring up at him with large, concerned eyes. She looked so different than he remembered.

"I think you've changed," Daniel tried to chuckle, but just kept himself from crying.

"I don't think I have. I think I've always been like this, you just didn't want to see it." She said gently, knowing what she was saying was the truth.

"Maybe you're right." He shrugged, "I think you have always struggled with two halves of yourself. Lucy Heinrich of Queens and Lucy Heinrich of Paris. The former being the rough and tough gal who never took no for an answer. The one with a tragic past, who was made the way she is by her father. The archaeologist and the Lieutenant. And then I think the other Lucy that I knew was the one the Lee's raised. The lady. The academic." He crossed his arms as he spoke, looking at her as though she was a piece of art he was studying and trying to understand. "And I think you like being the first one. That's why you chose him."

"Maybe you're right." She shrugged, breathing in the cold, crisp air. She could smell the trees strong scent, something she never thought she'd ever get the chance to do again as she was trapped in Hydra's facility.

"I know I'm right. I know you better than anyone." He assured her, looking down at her with a small grin as he nudged her shoulder, making her laugh ever so slightly.

"No." Lucy shook her head, smirking, "Not better than anyone. Not better than him. He knows my middle name." She recalled the night she told him after they made love for the first time. A smile found its way to her lips as she thought about it.

"The bastard!" Daniel hissed under his breath in resentment. He was never told what her middle name was. "Then it's official! You are now someone else's fiancé!" He looked at her once more and saw her thin smile plastered to her lips. "Maybe it's for the best you've changed."

"I think you're right. I've done some things I never thought I was capable of before. It's incredible, really."

"I always knew you were capable of it. Lucy the adventurer." His faith in her had always been overwhelming. Even when she was writing her doctoral thesis, there had been so many times when Daniel believed in her even when she didn't believe in herself.

"And guess what? I shot a gun!" She didn't think he had seen her wielding her rifle back at the facility, of the fact she had shot multiple people. That was probably for the best, though.

"You shot a gun?" Daniel laughed and smiled widely in disbelief.

"I know! I hate guns!" Lucy giggled, her laughter fading. She just stared at him and he looked back at her, and she regained her composure. Finally, she softened, sighing loudly as she stared up into his handsome eyes. "You know I'll always love you?"

"I know. And you know it's the same for me." He assured her, shaking his head, "I should have never-..." he trailed off, looking at her fondly and sighing. He stopped himself from saying whatever he was about to admit to her, "I'm happy that you're happy." He finally settled on. His face then turned into a mischievous smirk, "But you know that sloppy American will never compare to me in the bedroom?" He teased.

"I don't know about that," Lucy joked back, "He can hold his own."

"I have a hard time believing you. Americans don't make love. They just flail their bodies around and hope it ends up in the right spot. And have you heard him speak? Doll? Doll? What the hell is he doing calling you that?" He laughed, teasing Bucky more. "And pigeon?! You are not a pigeon!"

"I am a pigeon." Lucy laughed. She was his pigeon, until the end of her days, "And he's charming! I happen to like his silly pet names!"

"You never liked my silly pet names," Daniel frowned, although he was still masking a smile.

"That's because 'love of my life', 'my goddess', and 'Aphrodite' are all a little pretentious." She answered back with a smug expression.

Daniel looked at her and nodded with agreement, "Alright, I can see you're possibly correct." He nudged her shoulder, smirking, "If you have a son will you name him after me?"

"Not in your wildest dreams, pal!" Lucy laughed loudly.

"Worth a shot," He shrugged with a grin. He elbowed her again, looking down bashfully, "Lucy, I want to be in your life forever. That's what I promised you when I got down on one knee. Even if you're with someone else. Just because you're getting married to another man doesn't mean I don't want anything to do with you. I love you. I love your family. And I'm sure with time and… perhaps self-medication and copious amounts of liquor and therapy, I can learn to tolerate the American." He sighed, looking down at his shoes as they continued onwards through the snow, "I suppose I should go make nice with him, in that case," Daniel cringed at the mere idea, "Although I think I'd much rather punch him."

Lucy knew it was hard for him to say that. She could see he was finally accepting that she was with Bucky, and it meant the world to her to know he would still be around if she needed him, "You have no idea what the means to me," She said softly, and then smiled as she teased him, "And you never got down on one knee! I remember it was like pulling teeth to finally get you to propose to me!"

"That's not true! I had the ring two weeks after we met!" He admitted, making Lucy pale ever so slightly.

"I'll give it back to you." She promised him, "That way when you find the right girl you can give it to her."

Daniel wrinkled his nose, thinking the idea was ludicrous and would never happen. Suddenly, he had an idea, and with a teasing look he spoke up, "Do you think your sister will ever marry me?" Daniel asked her and Lucy turned around to look at him wide-eyed.

They both burst out laughing at the preposterous idea, knowing Adeline, as lovely as she was, was also a high-maintenance pain in the ass.

"Good luck to you if you do!" Lucy smiled widely back at him as Daniel howled in laughter.


So Daniel won't be a problem for Lucy and Bucky! I thought if he was, it would only be soapy and cause more drama that was unneeded. Plus, I like them better as friends. It shows the contrast between Lucy and Daniel's relationship (first love) VS her's and Bucky's (everlasting love).

But now it's time to get real. I'm trying to debate on whether or not I want to add more smut to this story. Now that Lucy and Bucky are reunited as free people and engaged it's probably gonna get hot and heavy.

But I don't want to cheapen the storyline by just adding it willy-nilly. I know for sure it will be added at least once more, and maybe a second time. And I kinda want to put it in the next chapter too, but I'm on the fence about it. Is more smut something y'all alright with? I really don't want to make this story like some others where porn just becomes a plotline. Lmk how you feel about more graphic stuff.

Also, I know humour has been an ongoing element in this story, especially since Dugan and Co. have been in it. I'm just worried about it becoming cheesy and corny. I think it's good to release some of the tension, but if you guys are finding it too much please don't hesitate to share your opinions!

Anyway, that was the couple topics I wanted to address. As always, thank you for reading! Your support means so much!

-A

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