1943.

Elise nodded as Colonel Phillips explained to her the last parts of the next mission. Captain America's team would be in a train to get Arnim Zola, Hydra's principal inventor. It would be a risky and difficult mission and Elise knew it. They had to be very careful if they wanted the mission to be successful, Phillips said.

And not to die, Elise thought while writing everything the Colonel was dictating to her.

Both raised their heads as they heard somebody cleaning its throat. James Barnes was standing near the entrance of the tent and saluted the Colonel. Phillips imitated him and waited until he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Colonel Phillips, but Agent Baker's presence is requested"

"Of course, Sergeant Barnes. We're finished here. Agent Baker" He replied shaking her hand and Elise nodded, standing up and following Bucky to the outside.

The field was full of movement. Everybody had tasks to do and soldiers could be seen carrying different things from one side to the other. Steve Rogers was talking to other men and he waved his hand to Elise, who smiled and waved back. Bucky smirked all the time. It was when they arrived to Elise's tent that he grabbed his elbow and pushed her inside.

"Do you want us to be killed or what?" She giggled as Bucky's body was near hers.

"Oh, c'mon. Don't use your drama skills with me, doll" Elise rolled her eyes and try to move aside, but Bucky's grip got stronger.

"You must be mad"

"Yeah, mad about you" Elise felt her cheeks blushing and shook her head. Bucky bit his bottom lip while staring at her with his gorgeous blue eyes.

"Don't you trust me?"

"Knowing you, nope" She smiled widely and Bucky moved his hand to hold her waist, pressing his long fingers against her skin. The other hand went up and caressed her lips.

"Will you be waiting for me?"

"I thought of waiting Steve actually" Bucky looked at her coldly and Elise looked back defiant. The man sighed and shrugged, smirking.

"It seems it will have to be done in the bad way"

Bucky picked Elise in his arm and she screamed in surprise. Her legs were against his chest when her face was near Bucky's ass. Elise kicked him cursing and trying to free herself from his embrace while he was carrying her to her own bed.

"Doll, you shouldn't use that beautiful mouth of yours to say that awful words" Bucky threw her onto the bed and Elise screamed, staring at him. Her eyes were a reflection of anger but he was still smiling. "Or I will have to clean it"

Elise's eyes widened and she moved quickly on the bed, trying to escape from him. Bucky was faster and took her ankles, pulling her towards his own body. Her face was red and her eyes shined and Bucky knew at that moment that was in love with her. He wasn't sure about that all that time. At the beginning it was like a game. A game in which he was always a winner. But she was different. She had twisted all his world. Bucky put his hands on both sides of her head while looking at Elise.

"Now, seriously, Doll. Will you miss me?"

Elise looked at the man above her. His blue eyes, his mouth. That hair that wanted to touch too many times before. She bit her lip and saw his gaze on it. Swallowing, she arched her body to reach him and kiss his lips.

At the beginning it was a slow kiss. Full of meaning, of feelings. They both knew that it could be the last one and they didn't want it to end. Bucky's lips were soft and Elise felt the dip of his tongue asking for permission. She opened her mouth and the kiss got more passionate. His hands were caressing her hips and moved to the hem of her shirt. Elise nodded and Bucky's fingers went across her burning skin until they reached her breasts.

"Tell me you'll reply my letters" he muttered on her lips while they felt each other's breath.

"I swear" Elise kissed him again and broke it to say "And you…"

"What? Ask me whatever. I'll give you everything you want" Bucky bit her neck and pinched her nipples while Elise was trying to silence her moans.

"Promise me that you will return, James Buchanan Barnes. Promise"

"I swear it"

They looked into the other's eyes when Steve's voice was heard over the whole field, calling his mate. Bucky laughed and shook his head, standing up and putting his clothes in order. He moved to the tent's entrance and looked back to Elise, pointing at her.

"When I come back, doll, you won't leave my bed in ages"

Elise looked at him smiling, seeing the man she loved disappearing.

Present.

"Okay, Captain. Two on your left" Alice said with firm voice.

"Understood"

Alice was following the progress of the mission thanks to JARVIS, who was showing her the battlefield. Tony had forbidden her being with the Avengers. Even if she was inside the helicarriers. Alice knew that he was only trying to protect her, but Pepper agreed that was too much. Nevertheless, she stayed in the lab working with Bruce since he was recovering from an injury.

"He loves you. Tony" Bruce added when he saw Alice's face.

"I know. It's just...I'm not a child anymore" Bruce shrugged and continued typing and ordering JARVIS while Alice controlled the enemies' position.

The mission was a complete success and everybody returned with only bruises and broken devices that could be easily repared. That was another of Alice's taks as Tony had discovered that she was skilled with technology.

"I learned from the best" She had said brushing his hair. Tony had muttered something like "Go back to work" although he was smiling.

Alice was leaned against one of the tables in the lab. One of Natasha's weapons had been damaged and she was trying to fix it as soon as she could. It was something her grandmother Elise reproached. When Alice had her head on something, she wouldn't do anything else unless that thing was finished. She admitted that occassionally that was true. Well, it was always. It was a good way to avoid thoughts.

"Seems like Natasha will be deadlier than before" Alice raised her head and saw Steve leaned on the door's frame, watching her as she worked.

"Yeah, but she'll love me when she sees what I've done" She winked and the blonde man smiled, shaking his head. "Did you need something, Captain?"

"Not really. I came here to see if you were alright"

"Yeah...I'm fine" Alice said, surprised for Steve's answer as she took another tool from a table near her.

"Tonight Tony's celebrating a party. Yeah, I know" He added when he saw her disgusted face, laughing. "You told me once that you wanted to hear stories from Elise and...ourselves" Alice froze, staring at the weapon she had in the table, waiting to be repaired. "We could...you know. Drink something, not alcoholic and...talk"

"Euh...I don't know if it is a good idea, but thanks anyway. I think I'll stay in my room"

"I'll be in in mine if you...well, you know. If you just change your mind" Steve turned to exit the lab but before leaving, he spoke again. "By the way, Alice...take her box. Don't run from it"

The tool she was handed fell on the floor and Alice saw Steve's back as he walked to the elevator. She sighed and ran her fingers towards her hair, cursing her grandmother and everything that surrounded that situation. Tony had told her where she could find the box if she wanted. Alice had nodded without a verbal response.

"Just when you're ready"

But...what would happen if she never was?

Alice grabbed the tool and left it on the table, walking to another part of the lab. She asked JARVIS to bring one of the huges wooden boxes Tony kept and waited until it was in front of her. She began to search and finally found it. Deep down there was a strongbox. The little robot Tony hated helped her to move it to the table and she looked at the numbers, biting her lips.

C'mon, Elise.

She tried using her grandmother's birthday, her mother's and her own, but it didn't work. Of course not. She had been a trained agent. She knew perfectly that numbers would be the first somebody would put. Alice scratched her neck, trying to think. She tried Steve's birthday and Bucky's (whose birthday date had to ask to JARVIS)

"JARVIS, you work with Tony and surely you know about this strongbox. Can you give me a clue?"

"Miss Baker, I only know the numbers belong to Miss Elise's best day of her life"

"Great" she muttered in disgust, trying her wedding's date.

Wrong again.

"What if...?"

Elise always told her how she had met Steve and Bucky just before beginning to work as an Agent near Peggy. Alice was so little she didn't notice her grandmother's voice as she was speaking. But something had clicked inside her head and she put the numbers. The strongbox opened with a click and Alice began to jump over the lab, singing. She laughed and stopped before somebody could see her and took the dark blue box. She placed it on the table and looked at i, taking a deep breath before opening it.

The first thing she saw were several old photographs in which Peggy, Steve, Elise or Bucky could be seen. Most of them were of Bucky and Elise, and a few of Elise working or looking at something, distracted. Like if someone had taken the photo using her as a model. Alice took one of the photographs in which Elise and Bucky could be seen dancing on a club. Her grandmother was stunning as so was James Barnes.

Alice put all the photographs together and put them apart. There were also several letters tied with a violet lace, now dirty from the passing of time. She placed them near the photographs and stared at the brown folders there were. Some had stains and others had their corners folded. Alice passed her fingertips through the first one, feeling the old paper on her skin. It had a symbol she knew very well. It was Hydra symbol. And below that, a single sentence typed.

The Winter Soldier.

What did you do, Elise?