so I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter and are as happy as I am that they are finally together! Now, on with the story as we draw ever loser to the start of CA:TFA. This is the point I'm excited for as Beth finally really comes into her own!

February 27th 1942. Brooklyn, New York

The next time Bucky left for his second and final round of training, it was a much happier occasion as he knew he would be returning to the woman he loved and who loved him back more than he could imagine. He stared only at her as the bus left, imprinting her smile in his mind. He didn't see the smile drop as they turned out of view and was oblivious to the tear rolling down her cheek, but Steve didn't miss it. He placed a comforting arm on his sister's shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

"He'll be okay."

She nodded allowing herself to believe the words, even though they both knew that there was a higher chance he wouldn't be once he was sent in to battle. Already, a number of friends and neighbours had lost loved ones and each time she heard about it, Beth grew more and more fearful for Bucky. Steve kissed her cheek fondly and she gave him a soft look, following after him as he turned to go home.

March 10th 1942. Queen's, New York

Steve was busy stacking shelves when Beth entered, cheeks flushed and eyes shining with happiness and pride. He gave her an amused look as she tripped over a box, barely catching herself, and she playfully smacked his arm.

"I heard from Bucky, he's been made a sergeant!" she breathed.

Both ride and jealousy swelled in Steve's breast. Beth also noticed and nudged him.

"Come on big brother, you'll get your chance someday, I just know it!" she encouraged, even though deep down, she knew she'd continue praying every night for him to never have to fight.

Steve sighed, knowing she was right, and pushed his jealousy aside to grin broadly at her.

"When I'm home we'll have to write back and congratulate him."

Beth nodded enthusiastically and after a quick hug, was bustling out of the door once more, glowing with happiness. Her Bucky, a sergeant!

May 7th 1942. Camp McCoy, Wisconsin

As Beth stepped off the bus, she breathed a sigh of relief. Being the only female was bad enough. Being the only female on a fourteen-hour journey when none of the males felt she should be there was hell on earth. Still, it was over and she could relax a little. The small group was met by a uniformed male, who indicated for them to follow him. Beth felt a little nervous as she walked through the camp. Feeling the eyes of hundreds of men on her was not the most pleasant experience, especially as none were the eyes she wanted on her. As if reading her mind, she suddenly felt a gaze on her that had her blushing, a smile spreading on her face.

"Bethie!?"

She barely had time to turn round when she was engulfed by a pair of strong arms. She laughed as she returned the embrace, her hand sliding round his neck to cup the nape. He let her go, a shocked smile on his face, his eyes shining with joy that she was there.

"But…how? Oh god, please don't tell me Steve's here" he asked.

She chuckled and shook her head.

"No, just me. I'm here for training."

"I don't get it." he said, confusion in his gaze.

"I didn't want to tell you, as I knew you'd worry yourself, but I'm a fully trained nurse. When you wrote and told me about your promotion, I realised I didn't want to sit around waiting for you to come home. I had a little medical knowledge thanks to Steve being so sickly, so I joined the nursing corps. I completed my training last week."

Bucky couldn't believe it. well, he could actually, but he was still surprised to actually see her standing in front of him.

"Wait, if you've done your training, how come you're here?" he asked, still confused.

A voice shouting her name cut off her response and she gave him an apologetic look.

"I'll find you later and tell you everything."

She jogged back to the group and Bucky could see her telling them why she'd left them. He shook his head bemusedly, not quite sure why she was there, but over the moon none the less to see her and be able to hold her.

By the time Beth finished her induction and had been shown to her quarters, night had fallen. She yawned as she stepped out of her bunker, rubbing the tiredness from her eyes. She began making her way to the food hall when a hand grasped her arm and a pair of lips pressed against her own, she sank into it, curling her fists on Bucky's chest as he smiled against her. when they parted, they were both breathless and she chuckled.

"That was a nice hello."

He shrugged, reluctant to let her go just yet.

"I didn't get chance to do it earlier. Now, what brings you here? You can tell me as I accompany you to your dinner."

She smiled and walked beside him, her arm linked with his own as she continued her explanation.

"After I completed my training, we had an officer come in from the field medic corps. He said that they were desperate and as they needed as many men as possible to fight, they were recruiting women to the corps. Apparently they are targeting those from the nursing corps because of our medical training. By the looks of things, I'm one of the only females to volunteer, though I have been assured that there are others across the States."

Bucky paused and for a moment, simply stared down at her in awe. When she glanced up at him with doubt in her eyes, he felt his mouth pull up in to a grin.

"You're magnificent." He said and smiled wider as a blush spread across her face.

Beth buried her head in his shoulder to hide the blush but she knew from his chuckle that he'd already seen it and she felt her cheeks heat up more in response. Bucky slid his arm round her shoulder, holding her tightly against him until they reached the food hall. He reluctantly let her go and after pecking him lightly on the lips, she disappeared in to the building. As she entered, she spotted a group of females already in the queue and made her way over. One, a young petite girl with a raven bob framing her face, smiled brightly at her.

"Hi! You must be the new woman we were told about!" she said as Beth made her way over.

Beth gave them a shy smile, tucking her hair behind her ear, something Steve and Bucky always joked about because they knew it was one of her nervous ticks. She heard Bucky laugh from somewhere behind her and frowned over her shoulder at him. The movement didn't go unnoticed by the other nurse, who gave her a grin.

"Would I be right in guessing your sweetheart is here?" she asked.

Beth gave a sheepish grin.

"Is it really so obvious?"

"Not overly, but only someone who has a sweetheart themselves knows that look honey. Oh I'm so silly! My name is Alice."

"Beth. And yeah, the idiot by the trashcan over there is my man, sergeant Bucky Barnes."

A whine from the nurse beside her had her turning a confused expression on the other woman.

"I've been sweet on him since I got here!"

Beth couldn't help it. She burst into peals of laughter, closely followed by the rest of the table. From the end of the cafeteria, Bucky smiled fondly at her, but as his eyes swept across to the other medic trainees, he frowned to see the condescending looks they were throwing her. He knew she could hold her ground, he just hoped she could do it when she was greatly outnumbered.

November 30th 1942. Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

Bucky didn't know what he was so worried about. Though the first month was tough and he kept finding Beth hiding in strange places with suspicious tear marks on her face she kept brushing off, she eventually cracked her fellow trainees and rose above them to become the best in the group. She outshone everyone, showing a natural talent for medicine that stunned and pleased the higher ups. And Bucky knew it wouldn't be long before she was recruited and joined the ranks as a female soldier.

He didn't really want it, but as long as she was close so he could watch over her, he could accept it. He couldn't believe he could ever feel so proud of anyone, but the day she ran over and flung herself in his arms, telling him she'd passed the final exam with flying colours, his heart just about burst, and he knew Steve was just as, if not more, proud of her.

Elizabeth Rogers, aged twenty-one, became the first female medic in the USA army on November 30th, 1942. As Sara Rogers had predicted, her babies were destined to make history, and Beth had just set the bar.