I just wanted to say happy holidays to everyone! And a huge heartfelt thank you to TenebrisSagittarius for your review that truly melted my heart and made me a little teary! I'm so happy you like Beth and how I've written her and I hope I don't disappoint with my plans and how she is still so young. I really hope you continue to enjoy the story.

Once again, thank you for all your reviews and favourites!

...

December 24th 1941. Brooklyn Recruiting and Induction Center, New York

"Steve, I really don't feel comfortable here."

Steve sighed and gave his best friend an exasperated look.

"Come on Buck, enough already! We're doing this."

Bucky's lips pressed together in a tight line.

"What about the promise we made to Beth? You know, the one about NOT joining until after her birthday?"

For a brief moment, Steve paused, a conflicted expression crossing his face for only a split second when he shrugged and turned back to the center with a fierce resolve. With a look of disapproval, Bucky pursed his lips and considered leaving his friend to it, but ultimately, his protectiveness won and he found himself jogging after the younger man.

As they entered the room, Bucky glanced around and took in the lists showing ailments that would cause you to be rejected. He knew there was no way he would be rejected as he had never really been ill and was a very fit man, however, Steve suffered from the first three ailments alone, and Bucky's eyes spotted at least another two as he skimmed down the list once more. He wanted to drag Steve out of there before it was too late, but as his arm extended out to grasp the smaller man's collar, Beth's face flashed through his mind. At first she was smiling, but as his eyes strayed over to a film reel of bombs being dropped over London, the image was replaced by one of Beth staring up at the sky in terror, a bomb heading towards her.

A hand fell on his shoulder and he jumped violently, barely able to stop himself from lashing out at Steve, who was giving him a concerned look.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Come on, let's get this over with."

Surprised at Bucky's sudden eagerness to join up, Steve walked up to the desk and grabbed an application form. It didn't take long before they were seated in the waiting area and Bucky found his feet kept tapping nervously.

"James Barnes."

"Steven Rogers."

Both men stood and gave each other a hug.

"Good luck." Steve said, knowing there was no way Bucky would be rejected.

"Yeah, you too." Bucky replied, patting his friend's shoulder.

He slid in to the room behind the doctor, who took all of his vitals before offering him a seat on the bed. As he fastened the buttons of his shirt, the doctor peered at him over his glasses.

"So, young man. Why is it you wish to join the army?" he asked.

Bucky took a deep breath, a frown appearing on his face, before replying.

"Honestly, I don't. I want to be the farthest place away from here I can, but if anything was to happen to my family, I would never forgive myself. That's the only reason I'm here- to keep them safe."

The doctor nodded, an understanding shine in his eyes, his head set in a grim line as he saw the unhappiness on Bucky's face.

"Well, I'm happy to clear you for duty. You'll receive instructions about basic training within the next few weeks. I'm so sorry."

Unable to speak through the emotions choking him, Bucky simply nodded and took the file. The whole process took less than twenty minutes but to the young man, it felt as though twenty years had passed. Numb, he walked back in to the waiting room to see a glum looking Steve already there. As soon as their eyes met, Bucky couldn't help but breathe with relief. Steve had been rejected, he would be safe.

"I take it they accepted you?" Steve asked, jealousy lacing his tone.

"Don't be like that." Bucky snapped, heading to the exit.

The walk back to Steve's was quiet. Steve was hurt over the rejection and felt guilty for his jealousy. Bucky was still stunned that he'd actually gone and joined up. On top of it, both felt incredibly ashamed that they'd gone behind Beth's back. By the time they finally arrived, Steve stopped Bucky before they ascended the steps.

"I'm sorry Bucky. I just wish I had been accepted."

"I know you do buddy, but at least now you can keep an eye on Beth while I'm away."

Steve grinned, but shook his head.

"She'll have Mark for that. I have a feeling his going to propose soon."

The smile fell from Bucky's face as fast as it appeared, and an uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach. Ever since he'd found out about Beth's new man, he'd had an angry pit bubbling inside him. At first, it was anger at himself for not speaking enough to Beth, then it was towards Beth for not telling him and then it simmered out until he was angry at Mark himself. He knew why, but refused to admit it to himself, so allowed his mind to convince his heart that he was angry because it would one day break up their little family.

"Yeah, probably." He finally said, realising Steve was still waiting for a response.

Steve's eyebrow raised up once more, but Bucky ignored him and started up the stairs. Beth greeted them as they walked inside, a smear of flour on her cheek that had both men laughing. She looked at them in confusion until Bucky's hand reached up and brushed at the white powder. A blush crossed her face and both Beth and Bucky told themselves it was embarrassment, not attraction that caused it, even when she turned redder at the smirk accompanying the small touch. He let his hand drop and she smiled as she walked back to the kitchen, asking the pair how their day was. They shared a wary look before stating it was nothing out of the ordinary. She smiled over the shoulder at them and Bucky found his hand trailing to his pocket, making sure his papers were safely hidden.

"So what are you baking over there?" Steve asked, sniffing the air to try and guess.

"Mince pies. And no, you can't have any of the filling." She said to Bucky as he opened his mouth to ask that very question.

He snapped his mouth shut with a grin and shrugged as he sank down on one of the kitchen chairs, happy to watch her bustle about. Steve also watched her, his heart aching at the movements that only a year ago were being done by their mother. He missed her so much, and seeing Beth taking over from her made him both happy and sad. Bucky saw his friend's expression and reached over to pat his shoulder. Seeing the movement, Beth turned and wrapped her arms round him as a few silent tears broke from his eyes. From the shaking of her body, Steve knew she was using his sadness to let her own out and raised his arms to awkwardly wrap around them. Bucky decided to give them a moment and stepped in to the living room, not realising he'd knocked his jacket off the back of the chair in doing so. Beth's eagle eyes spotted a piece of paper fall to the floor, and the moment she read the words 'US Army Recruitment Form', she let out a gasp. Pulling out of Steve's grasp, she bent to pick it up, her eyes widening as she read the words, telling her that Bucky had been drafted.

"Beth." Steve began, rising from the chair.

She turned a glare to him azure eyes flashing with an anger he'd never before seen from her, and one that immediately had him sitting back in his seat.

"Don't." she warned as his mouth opened once more.

The venom in her voice made him shudder and as she stormed out of the room, Steve decided it would be wise to stay out of the way. As she moved to the living room, Bucky smiled up at her from his crouched position next to the tree, only for it to falter at the livid expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he stood to face her.

Her hand slammed in to his chest and he reached up to take the piece of paper from beneath her palm. His throat instantly dried and she continued glaring at him with hears shining in her eyes.

"You dropped something." She spat.

Unable to stay in the room a moment longer, she flung open the front door, slamming it so hard behind her the windows shook. Bucky let the paper drop to the floor and took a shuddering breath as he heard her barely muffled sobs filter in from outside. Steve shuffled in from the kitchen and Bucky sighed.

"What do we do?" he asked.

Steve shrugged.

"I have no clue. Just give her a few minutes."

Though he didn't want to, Bucky agreed and took a seat in the living room. After a few minutes, the sound of Beth's crying stopped, but she still didn't come back in. another few moments passed and Bucky was about ready to haul her into the warmth when he heard a male's voice on the other side of the door. Mark. Gritting his teeth, Bucky once more sat down and barely greeted the other man when he entered with Beth. Beth ignored the pair of them and moved back to the kitchen, bringing in a pot of coffee shortly after. Though she chatted amicably to them, Bucky knew it was only for Mark's benefit, and it only made him more irritated.

By the time Mark left, Bucky felt like smashing something, so when Steve invited him to his room, he jumped off the sofa as if it was aflame. Beth watched them go, her anger from earlier dissolving into sadness. Silently, she gathered their empty cups and after washing them, decided she wanted some air. She grabbed her coat from the hanger and moved on to the balcony outside her room, not caring that snow had started falling again. She brushed a patch of snow away and sat down with her legs dangling over the edge, watching the hustle and bustle of the street below. Despite it being Christmas Eve, people still filled the sidewalk, desperate to buy the last minute presents they forgot. At that moment, Beth wanted to ignore Christmas altogether. The door quietly opened behind her and when a familiar pair of legs stood next to her, she let out a sigh.

"I'm so sorry Bethie. Steve was so desperate to join and I couldn't let him do it alone."

"Even though you knew there was no way they'd say yes to him?" she asked.

Though there was no anger, her words still made Bucky flinch.

"Guess I was worried they'd be so desperate they'd let anyone in" he admitted.

Beth looked up at him and for the first time, saw the fear he had for her brother's safety. At once, her anger vanished completely and she picked herself up, flinging herself into his arms.

"Thank you for being there for him." She said into the fabric of his jacket.

"Till the end of the line." he said, reminding her of his promise at Sarah's funeral.

She grinned up at him and nodded.

"Till the end of the line."