Ahh! I'm so sorry for completely disappearing off the face of the earth. With everything going on in the world it's been a little chaotic. I had to move back in with my parents since apparently dance teachers are not considered an essential service at the moment lol. I also am concluding the final year of my THIRD degree, so things are crazy. But I thought I'd update because I'm bored and I'm assuming everyone else who is self-isolating is too :(
Here's a happy little pick me up. Enjoy, my loves!
Chapter XL
It had taken Lucy and Bucky a little while to compose themselves afterward. With shaky legs and fingers, Lucy could barely do up her dress.
As Bucky helped her, she couldn't help but chuckle at their sweaty hair. The small amount of lipstick she had worn prior to the party was now all over Bucky's face, and Lucy quickly tried to rub it off, giggling as she did so.
When they had finally gotten dressed, Lucy sighed as they exited the tank and no longer heard the music playing in the night. The celebrations must have died down, meaning Bucky and Lucy had been in the tank for longer than they had thought.
With gentle hands, Bucky gripped Lucy's waist as he helped her down the tank.
As soon as she was on the ground she couldn't help but smile back up at the man she had just shared an erotic experience with. The sting between her legs would last for a few days, but she didn't mind. It would serve as a small reminder of how he had been inside her in those few perfect moments of desperation and love.
"How you feelin?" Bucky asked her as he looked down into her eyes as he pushed some of her sweaty hair away so he could see her deep hazel eyes. He looked genuinely concerned, wondering if perhaps they went at it a little too roughly considering they had both been tortured for the last several weeks. But Lucy felt fine and was almost saddened that they had to leave the tank which they had found sanctuary in.
"Like I'll be walking funny for the next couple days," She smirked as she got on her tippy toes to wrap her arms around him. He smirked down at her, making her legs go a little week again, "But I'll survive," She promised him.
"One of these days," Bucky began, brushing another stray tendril of hair out of her eyes, "We're gonna make love in a real bed. No more strangers bed's in farmhouses and barns and tanks."
"But where's the adventure in that?" She questioned with a mischievous smile.
Bucky rolled his eyes, "I've had enough adventure to last a lifetime."
Suddenly it became very clear to Bucky and Lucy that they were no longer alone. A twig snapped under someone's weight, probably so they could keep watch for the village and make sure nothing happened to the tank.
When Lucy and Bucky saw who approached, they were met with a familiar face. Steve looked between the two of them with a frown, and Bucky gazed on at his friend and took in his perplexed expression.
"Were- were you two...?" Steve looked between the two of them as though they had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. He took in their appearance as he stood there confused, a tin coffee mug raised in his hand. He had clearly volunteered for watch duty and needed the caffeinated beverage to help stay awake.
The evidence was uncanny.
Bucky's tousled hair.
Lucy's fallen updo. The adjustment she was trying to make to her dress.
The smudge of lipstick against his best friend's corner of his mouth.
And their faces, oh their faces. So smug and devilish. A blush of red on Lucy's cheeks and only a smirk on Bucky's lips.
"Aww," Steve wrinkled his nose in disgust and horror. "You two—? Ohh, God!" He tossed his head back in realization, a blush even deeper than Lucy's settled deep in his face. He was embarrassed, more than he ever had his entire life. Even more than the time he had caught Bucky outside his apartment playing tonsil tennis with a dame.
"Well," Steve only swallowed thickly and then rose his mug in cheers, "On that note, good night!" He raced away like the building was on fire. It was far too uncomfortable to see his friends in their post-coital state.
Lucy only giggled ever so slightly, her shame settling deep in her stomach. But Steve's blushing reaction had been too funny.
"Well, doll." Bucky only sighed as he placed a hand over her shoulders and brought her into him so he could tenderly kiss her forehead, "Think we scared the punk good?"
"Oh, undoubtedly." Lucy chuckled, her finger going to his face and wiping the crimson colour off the corner of his lips which she loved kissing so damn much, "I think he'll be scarred for a long while." She realized she missed a spot from earlier.
"It's about time he learned of the birds and bees," Bucky teased, his devilish, smug smirk made Lucy grow weak in the knees.
"Oh hush, you! He's not totally helpless."
"That's true," Bucky sighed, his ego showing through his expression, "He learned from the best."
"I know you're not talking about yourself, James Barnes." She cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest, "Sounds like someone is in need of some humble pie."
"Of course I'm talking about myself! And humble pie? No way! I can make my girl straight up sing for me. There's no way I'm hiding that, darlin'." He chuckled, his face only getting smugger as he tried to lean in and steal a kiss. Lucy, much to her dismay, put her hands on his chest to stop him.
"Well," Lucy only cocked her head and she clicked her tongue, "This songbird won't be singin' any songs for you any time soon."
His smirk disappeared immediately, instead placed with dread. "Wait, what?"
Her cocky expression looked like she was a cat that ate the canary, "Well, if you're gonna act like that I might just hold off on the goods."
"You wouldn't." His jaw dropped a little bit at her implication.
"Oh, but I would." She kissed his cheek, still smirking like the devil as she walked away. "You've been awfully bad until now. Seducing me before we were married. I'm almost inclined to keep my legs closed until our wedding night." She had threatened that very thing before, but this time she was serious.
"Don't act like you're all so innocent in this either, missy. You're not foolin' anyone by this act." Bucky called her bluff.
Lucy only shrugged mischievously, a glimmer of trouble in her large doe eyes. The juxtaposition of innocence and mischief in them made his blood only grow hotter for her.
"Enjoy your dry spell, Barnes." She winked as she began to walk away to the women's tent which had been set up for them to sleep in.
"Wait... Wait, Lucy, you're serious? Lucy? C'mon, now doll! You can't be-..." he trailed off as he watched her walking away. "Can I at least look but not touch?"
She turned around, a look on her face that caused a pit to well deep in his belly. He swallowed thickly as he saw his little minx, his spit-fire, his girl made of dynamite and gunpowder, but also sweetness like milk and honey.
"Look all you want, sweetheart." She winked at him playfully as she used the same nickname he called her. She was trouble alright, the biggest type of it. She was gonna be the death of him, he just knew it, "But I doubt you'll be able to resist."
"Haha!" Bucky laughed comically, sarcasm dripping from his tone, "You think you have that much power over me? I can wait all I want, babydoll! You're not hurtin' anyone but yourself with this charade."
Lucy only looked back again, a flare of wickedness in her eyes. She did something next that surprised him to his very core. That dame was absolutely crazy, trying to keep him on his toes as she did.
Lucy flipped the back of her skirt up, showing off her pretty panty-clad backside. Her thighs covered in stockings, the clips of it drawing him in. He remembered how only a few moments ago he had been buried in between those sweet thighs, her gripping him tighter and tighter until he spilled every ounce of himself inside her. He wondered if the remnants of the evidence he had been in her was still dripping down her silky thighs.
Lucy only laughed maniacally as she saw how his jaw went slack from the sight of her rounded ass out in the open. If he was allowed to do more than just looking and actually touch her he'd mark up that porcelain skin with a couple swift spanks.
She put her dress back down as she giggled at his state, knowing he had a weakness for her behind and how he craved to run his hands over it. As she walked away Bucky could only sigh.
"Yeah, she's gonna kill me alright," Bucky said to no one but himself. If he was gonna die though, he'd more than willingly go from her hands.
As he turned around, he saw a more than shocked and horrified Steve. He had clearly come back to grab something and had stumbled upon the two of them blatantly flirting and Lucy lifting up her dress.
"I-I only... I forgot... " He stuttered nervously. His face was as red as a tomato, clearly having seen something that wasn't intended for him.
"Did you get a look at my fiancé's ass?" Bucky asked him, wanting to watch him squirm. It was too easy to torture the poor punk.
"I-I only came back just to grab-... I wasn't staring! I mean... " He cleared his throat and then sighed, looking down at his mug, "Good night!" He yelled again, this time far more uncomfortable than before.
"Oh, you're dead Rogers!" Bucky laughed as he chased after him.
Unfortunately, the fairytale that Bucky and Lucy briefly experienced that day had to come to an end.
The next morning, the partisans were all too eager to send the previous Hydra prisoners on their way. Lucy had woken up to sleeping beside Hilda with the women quickly trying to usher them out of their tent so they would all leave. It was understandable, of course, that they wanted their camp back. And not to mention, there were too many mouths to feed and the larger numbers attracted unwanted attention.
But as Lucy and everyone else walked away from the camp, they knew it would be the last few moments of peace they had. She was almost saddened by the prospect of leaving it, knowing all that awaited her back at the camp was more work and fighting, and possibly even a division transfer.
She and Bucky hadn't spoken about what they would do about their relationship. They had to tell Phillips, but the idea of it created an uneasy feeling in Lucy's stomach. She didn't want to have to leave Bucky just because they were engaged. She thought about the nurses who had secretly courted soldiers and wondered how it was possible to keep it hidden for so long. And also, was it ethical? What rules would Lucy be breaking if they didn't report their relationship? And as much as Lucy was one to bend the rules every now and then, there was a difference between doing that and also committing a serious infraction. Never before did any of her other rule bendings could end in a dishonourable discharge or being court-marshaled, at least so far.
She supposed when she got back, she would have to ask the love expert herself on what she should do. If anyone knew how to handle the situation, Elsa Hardy would.
In the days they had spent marching, trying to return back to Italy, Lucy had barely seen Bucky. It had only solidified to her that the partisan camp was a one-time thing, and it had been a brief and sweet dream.
Lucy had been busy trying to take care of the civilian women that had also been prisoners. She also attempted to help the sick and injured POWS as well, and Bucky had been occupied with trying to find everyone food and also keeping safe as they traveled.
He had attempted to at least give her a good morning kiss each day though, but there had been several days where she hadn't seen him until dinner, on the few days they were lucky enough to find anything. The women and children usually got the first serving of the food, but Bucky always made sure to bring Lucy's to her.
He would be able to sit for a few minutes to talk to her, and it was that small amount of time that Lucy looked forward to all day, and cherished the memory in her heart. They would lean against one another as they ate, their shoulders touching. Every so often Lucy would clutch his strong arm, resting her head against him as she was practically lulled to sleep. The temptation of pressing kisses to his shoulder and neck grew more with each moment they spent with one another.
She felt like a schoolgirl again, all giddy and full of smiles. It seemed like whenever he was around, Lucy couldn't help but dreamily gaze up at him as though he held the universe in his eyes.
Even Daniel had picked up on it, asking her (a little bitterly) why she never looked at him like that. Lucy didn't know why Bucky affected her the way he did. But it took her back to feeling exactly as she did when she was sixteen.
Lucy felt herself shiver at every touch. Every little brush of their bodies made her want him more, and Lucy wished they had privacy like they did the night of the partisan camp.
The only time they had gotten alone together was a whole five minutes one night. Bucky had come to say goodnight to her at her makeshift tent and Hilda had been gone.
It had taken Lucy and Bucky only seconds until they were on top of one another. He had her pinned to blankets on the ground, and she had welcomed him in between her legs so she could wrap her thighs around his waist. Their lips moved furiously on one another, knowing they had limited time.
His hand had gripped her thighs tightly, his fingertips digging into her soft flesh. Their tongues molded against one another and met in a frenzy of passion. Feeling his body on hers once again felt like the most familiar scenario in the entire world.
As his hips moved between hers he gently rutted into her, forcing her to feel the hardness of his manhood. It caused sparks to ignite over her skin as she desperately wanted nothing more than to be completely bare underneath him. After the animalistic tryst they had in the stolen Hydra tank, Lucy didn't know how she could wait until they were married.
Intimacy with Bucky was different than it was with Daniel. With Daniel she had felt shame immediately, knowing she had abandoned her innocence and compromised herself. She had always thought that Bucky would be slightly bothered that he wasn't her first. But he had never brought it up, nor seemed to care.
After fooling around with Bucky, Lucy hadn't experienced shame for a single second. In fact, she wanted to do it again. She wanted to feel him as he was inside her once more, to wrap around him and be closer with him than what was physically possible.
As she thought about it and how he rested in between her legs she could help but give a little gasp as he kissed up and down her neck, biting her softly. He gave a sharp thrust again, hoping to be met with friction, and both of them let out a soft moan. Lucy gasped into his mouth, allowing his tongue to slip closer to hers. He explored her mouth, tasting the inside of her cheeks and his tongue running along her teeth.
Lucy wrapped her legs tighter around him, he groped her hard with his hand and forced his hard cock against her once more, releasing a low growl which only intensified the need Lucy had for him between her legs. She wished he could have just taken her like that, on the floor of the tent, ravaging her roughly and using her body.
They separated after they realized they both heard a familiar, chipper, voice approaching the tent. Looking at one another in horror, they knew they couldn't be caught with his hand up her skirt by the owner of the innocent voice.
Bucky quickly scrambled to get his things, causing Lucy to giggle as they tried to avoid being caught like troublesome teenagers.
Lucy fixed her hair as she helped Bucky sneak out the back flap of the tent. He smiled at her one last time before he left, giving her a particularly wicked grin before harshly pressing his lips to hers in a goodbye. He lowly whispered he loved her as he separated, and without another word took off.
Lucy was left with a quickly racing heart and blush on her cheeks. The thought she had just been wrestling on the floor with a man she was not yet wed to was exhilarating. She placed her hand to her chest as she felt her quickening heartbeat as Hilda finally walked in, noticing Lucy's silly smile and frazzled state immediately.
"Are you alright?" The young girl asked her as Lucy sat on the ground dreamily.
"Huh?" Lucy looked up in surprise at Hilda's question, "Oh, yes. I'm… I'm great." She stuttered a little, still half out of breath.
"Was Bucky here?" Hilda asked with a raised eyebrow after she picked up on Lucy's slightly unbuttoned dress and messy hair. "I just saw him walking around a few seconds ago looking rather flustered."
Lucy raised her eyebrows and tried to fake innocence. She only pursed her lips together, appearing as though she was trying to remember who Bucky even was. She shook her head and then shrugged, "Nope, haven't seen him."
Suddenly there was a masculine voice at the mouth of their tent, letting himself be known from voicing out "Knock knock!"
Lucy's breath hitched when she heard the district Brooklyn drawl and she attempted to brush some of her hair out of the way to pretty herself up.
Bucky peaked his head through the flaps, a devilish smile on his handsome face. "I was in the neighborhood and just wanted to say good night to ya, dollface." His smirk nearly sent her to have a fit. All she wanted was for him to come back and get on top of her once more. He had to know that seeing his messy hair and mischievous smirk would make her go wild. She wondered if he was still hard in his trousers; the thought only made her blush more.
Lucy only nodded, still trying to compose herself from where she sat on the ground of the tent, "And umm, goodnight to you as well, Sergeant." She awkwardly stuttered before clearing her throat. She bit her kiss-swollen lips ever so slightly, her stomach twisting into nervous knots.
With a small pause, his eyes raking up her to take her completely in, he pursed his lips together and smirked in a manner that made her grow positively dizzy, "Dream of me." He requested, his low voice once again affecting her most intimate parts.
Before she could even retort, the tent flap closed and he walked off with a chuckle. Lucy only shook her head, staring at where he had been only a few moments before in a love-sick manner. Her wistful sigh did not go unnoticed by Hilda, who only stood there with her hands on her hips looking down disappointed at Lucy.
"Shame! Shame, Lucy Heinrich!" Hilda scolded her the moment they were left alone.
"What did I do?" Lucy asked, scandalized. She couldn't believe she was being chastised by a 15-year-old.
"He was in here, wasn't he?" Hilda looked down disapprovingly, "Look at you! You practically look guilty as can be!" She accused her once more.
"He-he was not!" Lucy defended herself. She didn't have to explain her actions to a teenager, although it seemed like now she would have to. After all, she had been caught red-handed.
With a sigh, Hilda sat down beside Lucy, "Luce, you know of the birds and the bees, right?"
Lucy could hardly contain her snort of laughter. Instead, she only pursed her lips together and tried to compose herself. She nodded evenly and placed her hands on her lap and she tried to keep composed, "I think I've heard of it before, yes." Lucy answered sarcastically.
"Well, you should know that sometimes boys want to initiate...that, not even to have babies! Just because they are wicked and they want it!" Hilda blushed as she spoke of sex, her cheeks turning best red, "And Bucky is a good man, but he's still a man, nonetheless." Hilda warned, regardless of how uncomfortable she was.
Trying not to laugh, Lucy touched her hand gently, "Thank you for your concern. I'll be sure to keep him in check."
"You definitely should!" Hilda said as, slipped into her blankets as she readied herself for sleep, "I'm sure if you let him he'd do all sorts of bad things to you! You can never be so sure with men. Mama says they only have one thing on their mind."
"Ugh! That hooligan! What a horrible man!" Lucy played along, "You don't think he's after my virtue, do you?"
Hilda shrugged, "You never know. I'm sure he's not. Bucky's more of a gentleman than most. I heard one soldier discussing pleasuring a woman the other day and it was horrifying! I can't believe men speak of such things in public! But anyway, if you're worried though, I could stay with you two to chaperone." Hilda offered kindly.
Lucy paled at the thought of never being alone with Bucky ever again. Never kissing him until her lips were bruised and feeling his hard member through his pants again pressed between her legs, "I umm, don't think that's necessary. As you said, he's more of a gentleman than most." If Hilda had known of the gentlemanly things he had been doing to Lucy right before she had walked in, Lucy was sure she would have a heart attack.
Lucy blew out the lantern they had in their tent and quickly got under the covers with Hilda to stay warm. They were surrounded by pitch darkness when Hilda finally spoke up.
"Have you and Bucky ever kissed?" She asked bashfully, her voice quiet in the darkness, "I mean, besides when you were reunited?"
Hilda couldn't see Lucy's smirk on the darkness, so she tried to keep her voice even so she wouldn't give away how laughable the question really was, "Once." Lucy lied.
"What was it like?" Hilda asked a little hesitantly.
"Like the world had exploded into itself. It felt like fire and ice at the same time. Like every part of my body was ignited, but I had a coolness in my veins that only he could warm. It felt like…" Lucy lost her voice as she tried to put it into words, "It felt like a new universe coming into being and we were the gods of it. There was only us in those few moments and nothing else."
Hilda gave a soft sigh, "How romantic," She practically cooed. "I hope I'm kissed like that before we all die."
"We're not going to die!" Lucy scolded her.
"Well, you never know! It is war!" Hilda defended herself, sighing once more, "Do you think Steve would kiss me?"
Lucy snorted, trying to stifle her laughter, "I think Steve is a little old for you, Hilda."
"Damn it!" Hilda cursed, making Lucy nearly gasp at her language. In false tears, Hilda wailed heartbrokenly, "He's just so handsome it makes me want to cry!"
"He is very handsome." Lucy agreed with her, nearly sighing herself as she thought of the supersoldier.
With a mischievous giggle, Hilda turned to Lucy in the dark. It almost reminded her of the 'sleepover' she had with Elsa back at camp after Lucy had been impaled by the shrapnel. The situation made her miss her dear friend so much.
"More handsome than Bucky?" Hilda wiggled her eyebrows mischievously, making Lucy roll her eyes.
Lucy only put her finger up to her mouth to shush her, indicating for her to keep quiet as she nodded. She felt as though she was a troublesome child.
Hilda gasped in scandal as Lucy admittance. "Bucky has a more handsome face," Lucy assured her, "But Steve? I can watch him from behind all day." She said a little dreamily as she thought of the Captain's perfect rear.
Hilda gasped once more and giggled widely at Lucy's dirty words, "Bucky has a nice behind too!" She assured her, "I'm sure your wedding night will be quite something." More evil giggles could be heard from the young girl.
"I'm sure it will be," Lucy blushed as she thought back to heated trysts against a barn wall, lips capturing her own hungrily. She had opened her legs eagerly for him, allowing him to enter her with ease. She thought of sweat dripping down her back as they were in the tank, feeling his hips pound into hers as he kissed up her neck, "It'll be a strange new sight to behold, that's for sure." More flashes of Bucky's fingers gripping her hips, as he continued to madly ravage her like a starving man, desperate for the touch of a woman.
Trying to keep her thoughts pure, Lucy only gazed at her little friend, "You know… Several young men are your age at the base. Some of them could even be as young as seventeen." If she remembered correctly, Roger Green, who worked with her closely and was always kind to her, was only nineteen. She was sure Elsa would know of some nice young men as well.
Even though it was dark Lucy knew Hilda was blushing. "I wouldn't mind that." She answered, "But perhaps romance should wait until after the war. Men die. I'd hate to become attached then have him ripped away from me." She paused for a moment, realizing what she said in front of Lucy. "That won't happen to you and Bucky, though."
Lucy's heart fell a little but then she only shrugged, they had known there was a possibility that one of them would die. But all that mattered to her was the time that they had. She would take whatever she was given.
When they had finally arrived at the base, Lucy looked around and saw all the changes that had taken place. There was an eerie sadness to it all, a dark grey settling over everything. Men screaming in the triage tent wasn't something Lucy was used to, and seeing trucks full of injured soldiers with bloody gauze wrapped around their heads wasn't exactly a pleasant sight either.
It was clear after the months she had been gone their situation now only worsened. Hopelessness was heavy in the hearts of everyone, but the 107ths return definitely lifted their spirits.
However, Lucy didn't stick around for long after she heard the "Let's hear it for Captain America!" from her rowdy fiancé.
She gave Peggy a small smile as she made her way through the crowd of men. The relief she felt of being back at camp was like no other. Finally, every single moment of worry and anxiety about their survival had come to an end.
Lucy wanted to say hi to her old British intelligence friend, but she saw she was much too entranced by a certain supersoldier. Lucy recognized the look they were giving one another, and she wondered just how long they had known each other. Surely, they couldn't have just met.
As Lucy saw a couple of pretty nurses approach Bucky and give him a flirtatious smile, she knew to make her exit. Rolling her eyes as she heard, "Where are you hurt, soldier?" As one particular pretty blonde gave him her attention.
Lucy could feel his eyes burrowing in the back of her skull as she walked away. She wanted to stay with everyone to make sure they were taken care of, but she had some business to attend to first.
She found it difficult to navigate the base once she returned. Everything had been rearranged and moved, with no sense of organization. It had taken her past half an hour and a short jeep ride to finally be dropped off in front of a familiar tent.
Finally, Lucy heard a familiar voice from inside and smiled. Walking up to the tent, her boots sank in the thick mud. Approaching it, she opened the tent flap to see Charles quickly discussing something Roger Green, who was nodding vigorously trying to keep up.
When Lucy walked into the tent, Charles looked up for a brief moment then disregarded her, looking back down frantically at his papers. When he looked back up again seconds later his gaze was wide and his mouth fell open. He looked like he was staring at a ghost, and suddenly Lucy was giggling.
"Oh my God!" He gasped as he rose from his chair so quickly that he knocked it over. He didn't care though and only rushed to take her in a big hug.
Roger stared in confusion, wondering how Lucy was alive after Charles had told him otherwise. Charles gripped her hard and his arms wrapped around her, holding onto her tightly as they stood there.
When Lucy finally pulled away Charles looked on at her with his eyebrows creased, "I thought you were dead!" He hissed as he took a shaky breath, still looking at her as though she would disappear at any moment.
"It's a long story," She nervously laughed as Charles gestured to her to take a seat at his desk. It once was Lucy's desk, of course, but since she had been away for so long it had rightfully become Charles'.
As Lucy sat across from him she realized how much he had grown up. He no longer looked like the meek young man she had found at Oxford. Instead, he looked far more confident in himself and his abilities. Lucy has always seen potential in him when he had not. She was pleased to see she was correct in her judgment on him, and it caused pride to well in her chest.
"That bloody bastard Barnes told me you were dead." Charles shook his head. "Came here all broken up about it too. I suppose he just lied to my face though like a LIAR."
"It's not his fault," Lucy tried to defend Bucky. Her smirk grew as she heard Charles' hostility towards him.
"I gave him one job, I said to protect Lucy but noooo, the simpleton couldn't even do that. He really sold me on believing you were dead too. And he said you fell from a waterfall? How did that even happen? The idiot had even mucked that up." It was clear Charles was only angry because he had been mourning Lucy for so long. He had suffered for no reason, losing one of his closest friends and mentors.
"Charles—," Lucy attempted to cut him off.
"I never trusted him. Not even from day one, remember? I said that one couldn't be trusted. And then I believed he was actually torn up about your death too. But apparently, he hadn't even checked if you were really dead, the moron!"
"Charles—,"
"How damn stupid is he exactly? You don't have to be a genius to just go to the base of the waterfall and check to see if a body is there!" Charles was clearly frustrated and wanted someone to blame for all the time he spent hurting. Bucky was an easy target since they never particularly got along. "I mean honestly! The idiot—,"
"Charles, Bucky and I are getting married." Lucy finally said.
Charles' eyebrows went up in shock as he stared at her with a slightly opened mouth. "C-Congratulations!" He stuttered out, although looking a little confused. "You know, I always liked him." He lied.
Lucy couldn't help but cock her head to the side, "Liar." She accused him.
"So, he really did win the bet, I suppose," Charles stated, grimacing further as he thought of the bet that Bucky had created which was actually done by Gilbert Whitney.
"He's a good man, Charles." Lucy assured him, "He saved my life more than once. If you got to know him I'm sure you'd get along."
"I'm doubtful we will." Charles sighed, "Although, I suppose he wasn't all bad when he spoke to me. He seemed to be genuinely in love with you. He was far more devastated than I thought he'd be. You should know he cried… A lot. Like an embarrassing amount given the fact I'm a stranger and we've had our run-ins in the past."
Lucy smiled as she shrugged, "What can I say? I have that effect on men." She paused for a brief moment before realizing she had more news to tell Charles, "Oh! And Daniel is alive! Turns out, he was in one of those awful death camps we have been hearing rumours about, but he was able to get out because he was working for Hydra. He was a spy though, so he wasn't really working for them."
Charles looked flabbergasted when Lucy continued to speak. He didn't know he could be any more shocked after the news Lucy had given him, but apparently, he was wrong.
"He'll be working with us," Lucy added, knowing that she, Charles, and Daniel would be spending a lot of time together in the next few weeks. Charles blinked madly as he heard the words leave her mouth. He had always been a large fan of Daniel's and even preferred some of his work to Lucy's. Both Daniel and Charles had studied similar topics, and Charles had obsessed over his work for so long.
"And you really want to marry Barnes over Dr. Réhal? You've thought about this, right?"
"Yes," Lucy huffed and rolled her eyes, "I've thought about it. I love him." She emphasized.
"Fine, fine. I'm just making sure you've really thought about all your options. Especially since you're no spring chicken… No offense."
Hilda had mentioned the other day that Lucy was so old to finally be married for the first time. It was a mildly offending moment for Lucy since it had been an insecurity that she had been dealing with for a while. She would have been married far younger if the war hadn't broken out and Daniel had gotten himself captured. But then again, she wouldn't have joined the army and met Bucky if that had happened. She supposed it was quite embarrassing to be 27 (on the verge of 28) and still unattached.
"Rude," Lucy pointed out with a sigh, "But also true." She supposed.
"I'll be sure to get you a good wedding present," He assured her with a small smile, "And I'm hoping you'll consider me for a god-parent if you have children. It'll be so fun to teach your little one about academia at an early age. No doubt it'll have your intelligence…" Charles suddenly paled, "Unless it takes after him. In which case, it's practically doomed."
"Charles!" Lucy could help but let out a small giggle at his insult.
"Either way, I'll spoil it. But you better get a move on though, you don't know how many more good years you have left ahead of you, after all."
"What is with people thinking I'm so old?! I'm not old!" There was still plenty of time for her and Bucky to work on children. It was likely she wouldn't be ready for several years, especially since she wanted to enjoy being married first. But even still, she had tons of time.
"No, of course, you're not old!" Charles assured her. "You're just matured." He teased her with a smile.
Lucy only rolled her eyes, "Hardy har har." She smiled back, looking at her old friend fondly and feeling love well in her chest. She had missed him, and she hadn't even realized how much until that moment.
"Speaking of Hardy..." Charles cracked another smile, "You know a certain Elsa Hardy is going to kill you once she realizes you're here and didn't go straight to see her."
Oh shit, Lucy realized. She couldn't imagine facing the wrath of Elsa once she realized she hadn't gone straight to see her. Lucy wasn't exactly afraid of anything in particular, but Elsa Hardy definitely terrified her.
When Lucy finally visited Elsa the redhead had gone absolutely crazy. The two girls had met in a rough hug and gripped each other to the point it hurt as they spun around and laughed. Elsa jumped up and down and squealed happily as tears leaked down her cheeks. Lucy had never been one to have close female friends beyond her sisters and to see Elsa's reaction made her heart swell with love and happiness.
Once the girls had their reunion, Elsa had taken a break so Lucy could explain what the hell happened. Elsa held her hand as they sat and talked. They cried, they laughed, they hugged again. It was like Lucy had a family even away from hers in the States. All she needed to be happy was Bucky, Hilda, Elsa, and Charles.
Elsa, forever the troublemaker, wanted to know all that happened with Sergeant Handsome and Lucy blushes when she looked at her little string engagement ring on her hand. She explained all that happened (including some naughty details) and Elsa squealed even more and jumped up and down while chanting there was going to be a wedding while telling her various I told you so's.
And as much as Lucy wanted the moment to last with her closest girl friend, Elsa had to get back to work. The injured men weren't going to care for themselves, after all.
It was then Lucy decided to go find Steve and Bucky and see if they needed her to fill out any reports to give to Phillips. Looking around for them for the better half of an hour, she eventually found them with two familiar faces.
Peggy Carter was one, helping them out with the briefing and discussing what happened. The other was a handsome man with black hair and a well-trimmed mustache. Lucy couldn't help but smile as she stood outside the tent and crossed her arms as she looked onward at the man she had once known
"As I live and breathe, it's the famous Howard Stark." Lucy chuckled as she approached, immediately getting everyone's attention. She felt Bucky's eyes on her and slightly shivered, "What brings you to grace our presence in this neck of the woods?"
Well, well, well, if it isn't my old lover, Lucy Heinrich." Howard had a large smirk on his face, "My God, you look absolutely ravishing," She approached him with a smirk and he leaned down and kissed her hand, his lips trailing up her arm, his tongue darting out to taste her skin "I could eat you up,"
"Alright, hands off, pal!" Bucky put his hand on his shoulder and yanked him away, causing Howard to laugh. Lucy could see Steve chuckle out of the corner of her eye at Bucky's protective nature.
"You pick up a guard dog or something, Luce? Who is this?" Howard only chuckled at Bucky's reaction.
"Her fiancé," Bucky stated harshly, a frown on his face at Howard's boldness. From Steve's reaction, he had already known exactly what the infamous Stark was like, and was not surprised at all by his inappropriate behaviour.
"Hmm. No. You don't look like a French professor. My dear Lucy, you really did cause a stink up in New York over that. I remember it being announced in the paper you weren't getting married to anyone from old money. Quite the scandal. And you know how I love a good scandal," Howard smirked at Lucy and gave her a wink.
"New fiancé," Lucy assured him with a crooked grin.
"My my, you go through them like no tomorrow, don't you dear?"
"Well, I thought the first one died so that's not my fault."
"Ooooh. Sorry, my condolences? You'll have to explain the situation later. Perhaps over a bottle of champagne and strawberries which we can erotically feed to one another?" Howard suggested flirtatiously with a wiggle of his eyebrows. Steve attempted to stifle a laugh when he saw Bucky's face redden with anger. "Hopefully the same unfortunate mix up won't happen to this fiancé." Howard gestured over Bucky, "Or, if it does... Perhaps I will finally get my shot?"
"Never gonna happen," Bucky answered for her. He wondered where the hell Stark got off saying those things to his future wife. Steve and Peggy only looked between their three friends in amusement.
Howard looked to Bucky and cocked his head before turning back to Lucy and pointing at him, "Luce, you sure you wanna spend the rest of your life with this guy? Absolutely no sense of humour."
Lucy only chuckled before giving Bucky a look after glancing over at him, "I'm sure."
Bucky only gave her a small smile which made Lucy melt a little bit. She smiled back, not even recognizing how uncomfortable their sappy love-struck looks made everyone else.
"Yuck. Get a room, you two. Jesus Christ." Howard picked up on the tension between them through the sappy smiles and rolled his eyes. "Or at least invite me into this and that way we can have a threewa—,"
"As I was saying!" Steve quickly intervened before Bucky could wrap his hands around Howard's neck. He looked nervously between the two men and Peggy once again stifled a laugh at Bucky's enraged expression, "I was just explaining what's going to happen next when you walked in." Steve said gently, filling Lucy in," Oh! Phillip wants you to report to him, by the way." He looked at Peggy to make sure he was right and she nodded in confirmation.
"What's the army want now?" Bucky was quick to get to the chase. He wasn't happy to finally be back after being a prisoner of war and already have orders.
"You two, in particular, have a new mission." Steve smiled as he crossed his arms, looking at Lucy and Bucky.
"What is it?" She asked with a frown. She wanted to cry at hearing they already had a mission. Could they not just catch their breath for a moment? After all, they had just gotten back after months of hell.
Steve's smile even grew and he continued, "How's a little bit of furlough sound?" He asked mischievously.
Lucy blinked a couple of times in surprise, not expecting to hear those words. She turned to Bucky with a slightly open mouth in shock. He only looked back at her and gave her a soft smile.
"Sounds pretty damn good to me," He finally answered, not taking his eyes off of her and making Howard crinkle his nose in disgust once again.
"We have two weeks in London." Steve explained, "Most of it will be mission logistics and figuring out what to do with Hydra. It's not the ideal vacation like Hawaii I'm sure you two wanted, but hey, a leave is leave."
Fuck Hawaii, Lucy thought to herself. Paradise was wherever she and Bucky were together.
So, I haven't written the next chapter yet. BUT I have some really really great stuff planned and you guys will actually lose it. I'm so excited, you have no idea! I've also previously stated that I don't know if I'll manage to do a sequel. I've been thinking about it a lot more and I *kinda* have a little more of how I would write it if I did eventually release one.
One thing I've always taken pride in this story is how it's different from the other 40's Cap fics. I want the sequel to be equally as original and don't want it to follow any other ones people have written. So if anyone has any ideas or wants something, in particular, to happen *IF* a sequel were to be a thing, shoot me a PM or leave a review!
Thanks for reading. Hopefully it eased some of your boredom. Check out my one-shot as well that I wrote last month if you need a happy little pick me up.
-A
Show some loooveee and don't forget to review, follow, and favourite. OR if you're reading on AO3, comment, bookmark, leave a kudos. You all know the drill.
