A/N: 3-part update today :) After this, I have one more chapter ready to go, and then there will probably be a lag. I wanted to at least get through the Phillip's-heavy chapter I mentioned earlier before letting the story simmer for a little bit. More will come! (Just slowly.)

We now return to our Steve Rogers' POV, already in progress.

"Hey punk, got space for a roommie in there?"

Steve whirls around to find his best friend in the doorway of the tent - looking a little worse for wear, but smiling like he's up to no good, just the way he remembers. Like a dam bursting, Steve's moving before his brain engages.
"Bucky!"
He charges across the tent and sweeps Bucky clear off of his feet, half crushing him in a bear-hug. "Jesus, Buck, am I glad to see you!"
He hesitates for a second as he feels Bucky tense and startle when his feet leave the ground.

"Hey, hey, easy kid, easy!" Bucky lets himself be manhandled for all of two seconds, then wriggles and swats Steve in the head, laughing uneasilly at him. "Put me down meat-head! I'm finally allowed to use my own feet again - you wanna put me back on 'em?" Steve sheepishly sets him down.
He still forgets, sometimes, just how much bigger and stronger he really is now. Sometimes, he still feels like he's barely 100 pounds soaking wet - a tiny little thing that people only notice for the wheezing.
He used to be able to barrel straight into Bucky and bounce off, not 6 months ago. Bucky had thought it was hilarious.
Now Steve'd probably just level his friend, if he hadn't picked him up instead.
Bucky's shaking his head, but he's grinning tightly. "Big doofus."

Steve can't help but grin back. "When'd they let you out?"

"This morning. Apparently I get to walk around without a sitter and everything."

Steve nods and gives himself a moment to stand there, just taking Bucky in.
Buck looks tired and scruffy… but good. He still seems a little hollower than he was. A little darker and a little colder. Steve's trying his best to get used to that…
But what really matters is that it's Bucky and he's here. That's enough.

"It's real good to see you again, Buck. … I really missed you..."
He unconsciously reaches up to shove bangs that aren't there anymore to one side. His hair's been trimmed neat, so he doesn't need to, but it's a nervous tic. He doesn't know what else to do with his hands, anyway.
"I was really startin' to worry they'd never let you outta there." He confesses softly. "… Like somethin' was really wrong…"

A tiny jagged something creases Bucky's smile, but it smooths away again a second later. Bucky tosses his duffle in the corner and sits down on the edge of the cot against one wall. He's quiet for a second, something thoughtful in his eyes.

"I missed you too, kid." is all he says.