Hey all! Hope you liked the last one! This chapter is just a bit of fun as we get to meet the Howling Commandos!

Thank you once again Lara Barnes for your review and to everyone for the adds and favourites!

...

November 7th 1943, London, England.

Beth breathed a sigh of relief as she exited the building. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions and action. With the return of Steve and Bucky, preparing the injured men for transport and then heading back to London, there had been barely any time to breathe until finally, Edward had forced Beth and Josh to take a few days to recuperate. For Beth, it meant spending time with Bucky and Steve and she ran over to the room they were sharing on the barracks, flinging the door open without warning. She stopped dead as her eyes landed on a shirtless Bucky, water dropping from his hair to trail down his skin. He looked at her in equal surprise and she gave a squeak, spinning so she was facing the door to give him privacy and hide the blush.

"Beth, we're going to be together a long time. At some point you're going to see my chest so you may as well start getting used to it."

"No you may not!" Steve called from the adjoining bathroom, his voice muffled by the wall and running water.

Giggling, Beth chose to turn back to Bucky, though she kept her gaze from straying to his chest. He frowned and walked over to her until his skin was pressed almost against her, forcing her to look. She gulped, shakily raising a hand to press it against him and he bit back a groan as she stroked against one of his pecs. Beth bit her lip, forcing herself to step back and look him in the eye.

"Are you happy?" she asked teasingly.

He leaned in to capture her mouth with his own, a broad grin on his face.

"I am now" he admitted with a wink, moving back to his bed as Steve walked in with a towel wrapped round his waist.

Being her brother, Beth was used to seeing him dressed as such, but it was the first time since his transformation that she'd seen him topless and she couldn't help but whistle.

"All the ladies will be fighting over you from now on, that's for sure." She laughed.

Steve blushed as he began to dress. He mumbled something quietly and Beth grinned wider, her sharp hearing picking up the words she knew he hadn't meant to be understood.

"I just want the one."

She sidled over to him and gently nudged his side, leaning down so Bucky couldn't hear her next words.

"Peggy Carter?" she asked, her voice sickly sweet.

He spluttered, eyes widening as she smugly smirked at him. His face turned a darker red and she patted him on his back reassuringly.

"It's okay, your secret's safe with me." she promised.

She glanced over to see Bucky sending her a questioning look and shook her head, silently telling him she wasn't going to tell him this time. He playfully pouted and she smiled. She dropped down on Steve's bed, covering her face with his discarded shirt so she could talk to them as they dressed.

"The guys want to go to a pub tonight." Steve informed them both.

Intrigued, Beth was the first to answer.

"Really? And you're okay with going?" she asked him.

"Yeah, apparently it's just a bar. No dancing."

Beth laughed and nodded as Bucky took the shirt away from her face, signalling that he and Steve were dressed.

"I'm in. Wait, what guys?"

…

The guys, as it turned out, were a small group of soldiers rescued by Steve. The five of them, along with Steve and Bucky, had been the least injured and malnourished out of the survivors and had clubbed together to help get everyone back safely. When they'd returned, colonel Phillips had addressed Steve, asking if he would lead a small team to take down HYDRA. Steve had immediately approached Bucky, who in turn suggested the group of men now sitting around the table listening to Steve's proposition. Beth remained next to Bucky at the bar in the adjoining room, but by the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses, she assumed the result was a positive one. A moment later, Steve joined them and Bucky smirked up at his best friend.

"See, I told you they're all idiots."

Steve snorted in amusement as he took the seat Beth offered him. She gave them both a peck on the cheek, excusing herself to give them a moment alone. When she returned, she saw Peggy leaving the building wearing a knock out dress and by the look on Steve's face, she'd definitely made an impact. Beth brushed down her own skirt, the material a dark shade of blue. She hadn't bought many luxuries with her, and this was the nicest skirt she owned, along with the only blouse she had that hadn't somehow ended up in ruin. As she drew nearer to the pair, she heard Steve talking to Bucky.

"I've turned into you" Bucky whined.

Steve slapped him on the shoulder with a grin.

"Maybe she's got a friend." He jested.

"I heard that." Beth said, clipping the back of Steve's head as Bucky wrapped his arms round her.

The trio laughed until Jones approached them, the rest of the guys in tow.

"Hey, there's a dance place two doors down, you three in?"

Bucky looked to Beth, who nodded. Seeing her excitement, Steve sighed and shrugged.

"Okay, but don't expect me to dance."

Beth flung her arms round him, pecking his cheek before grasping both his and Bucky's arms to follow the group. Once at the dance club, it didn't take long for each of the group to find a partner, leaving Steve, as usual, to watch over the table and their drinks. Bucky turned to smile at Beth, who was looking at the floor with a nervous expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked, bending down so she could hear.

"It's been so long since I had any fun or danced, I think I've forgotten how. I want to, but I feel guilty for wanting to."

Bucky laughed and grabbed his beer, drinking half of it in two gulps. Placing the glass back on the table he looked to see hurt in Beth's eyes. He quickly realised she must have thought he was laughing at her and immediately felt bad. Slowly, he reached out and took her hand in his own. Her eyes flickered to his and he smiled.

"Well, if the lady wants to dance, let's dance. Don't feel guilty. You've done so much to help; you deserve to smile."

He swept her onto the dance floor and within seconds, had his arm round her as he spun them both round to the music. Beth burst out laughing at the goofy expression on his face and his own smile deepened, a joy he'd never before felt filling him at seeing her happiness. They danced for a few songs, and when a slower one came on, Bucky wasted no time in pulling her closer, his hands lacing together on her back. She rested her head on his chest as they swayed, heart light.

"I'm guessing it would be pointless asking you not to join the team?" she asked him after a few moments.

He kissed the top of her head before replying.

"Kinda. Will you still be mine if I do?"

She could hear the underlying fear of rejection in his voice and raised her head to look him in the eye.

"I'll always be yours Bucky."

His eyes closed, relief washing over him in a tidal wave. Beth smiled warmly and embraced him once more. her mind began plotting and by the time they returned to camp and she kissed Bucky goodnight, she had a plan.

The following morning, she made her way to the SSR headquarters, determination on her face. the receptionist, a pretty blonde lady with big brown eyes, informed her the general was busy, so she took a seat, watching as Steve found himself pressed up against a wall by the blonde woman, her lips on his. She stood, ready to intervene when Steve took the woman's shoulders and pried her away from himself. It was too late and Beth groaned as Peggy turned and walked away, hurt and betrayal on her face. Steve looked over at Beth to see she was glaring at the receptionist.

"Beth, what are you doing here?" he asked her.

"It doesn't matter. Right now, you need to get to your meeting and you need to try and apologise to Peggy because that woman feels a lot more than you men seem to think she does." She snapped back, her eyes never straying from the other woman.

As he retreated to the back room, Beth stepped forward and faced the other woman.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she demanded.

The other woman turned white, fumbling for her words.

"I… didn't think…"

"Save it." Beth cut her off. "Get away from me and stay away from my brother because if I see you near him again, I can't be held accountable for my actions."

The woman nodded and scurried off and Beth gave a sigh, hoping Peggy and Steve could still have a chance at happiness.

"That was impressive."

Beth smiled at the colonel as he walked up to her and he returned the gesture with his own. Over the past weeks, she'd come to know him and though she found him brash and unforgiving, he was loyal and cared deeply for his men.

"Thank you, Colonel."

He pointed towards the room Steve had disappeared into, motioning for Beth to follow. As they began walking, he spoke.

"So, what is it you want to speak to me about Miss Rogers?"

Beth took a breath before answering.

"I want to accept your offer to become an agent for the SSR, but I have one condition."

"Unless you can guarantee me that your brother and sergeant Barnes won't be too focused on you to do their jobs properly, it's a no."

Beth let out a huff of air, unsurprised that he'd figured out her condition. After all, it was no secret that the three of them would do anything for each other, as Steve had already proven by wandering into the heart of enemy lines to save his best friend.

"Yes, they will worry about me, but I know them; once they see my abilities and as long as I stay within relatively close proximity of them, they will focus on their mission. I'm asking for a chance."

The colonel pause at the entrance to the room, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I'm inclined to say yes, but only if they both agree. I'm not putting you on the team behind their backs and have them whining at me like little girls. No offence"

Beth pursed her lips, but agreed to his terms. Bracing herself, she stepped into the room, only to duck as the sounds of gunshots filled the air. Seconds later, she heard Peggy speak.

"Yes, I think it works."

Beth held back a laugh as the agent walked away from a terrified looking Steve. She couldn't help but giggle as Howard moved to stand next to him, both men in stunned awe as Steve mentioned his ideas for the uniform.

"I think you angered her." Beth commented, sidling up behind the pair of them.

They both jumped, spinning round with shocked expressions. Had it been any other scenario, she would have laughed at two men jumping out of their skins at a woman half their size, but seeing the hurt on Peggy's face removed any traces of amusement from her. Steve straightened himself and showed her the shield, asking what she thought.

"I like it. it's better than those." She said, pointing to the ones laid out on the bench.

"Hey! I worked hard on those!" Howard protested.

"They're cumbersome and way too over the top." She shot back.

Sensing an argument, Steve stepped in and gave Howard his uniform sketches, before taking Beth's arm and dragging her away.

"You okay?" he asked her.

"Not really. How could you be so stupid and let that woman kiss you?"

"I didn't know that's what she was going to do!" he hissed.

Beth sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose before she got a headache. This was not how she wanted this conversation to start.

"I know. I'm sorry, I'm just a bit stressed out."

Steve placed a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it comfortingly.

"It's okay. I'm sorry too. Now, I'm assuming you wanted to talk to me?"

She nodded, suddenly nervous because she knew if he said no, there was no chance of getting in to the team.

"I accepted the job offer from Phillips." She told him, voice steady despite her nerves.

She knew from the darkening of his eyes that it took him less than a second to realise her true reason for taking the position.

"Beth…"

"Steve, please. Even if I don't fight, I can be the team medic. It means I can stay with you and Bucky. plus, I can fight. I know how to use weapons and I'm getting really good at hand to hand combat. I can do this."

Steve studied her, admiring her courage. He had no doubt about her medical skills, but the thought of letting her go into danger with him was deeply unsettling. The thought of her dying or getting hurt without him being there, however, was more so.

"Okay. but, you are a medic first and foremost and will stay back to provide cover fire should we need it. Am I clear?"

Beth gave an excited squeal and threw her arms round him, hugging him tightly. At the other side of the room, colonel Phillips watched as they were joined by Bucky, who looked surprised then overjoyed by the news. He shook his head, his eyes soft.

"Those three are going to be a force to be reckoned with." He muttered to himself.