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sjsmith56 · 4 months ago

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I Won’t Watch You Die

Summary: AU one shot. Bucky and Steve, caught during a bank robbery are given the opportunity to become part of a special unit for the Strategic Scientific Reserve, formed to fight HYDRA. Bucky’s wife is happy they aren’t in jail but she has her own fears of what could happen to her husband.

Length: 7.1 K

Characters: Bucky Barnes, named OFC, Steve Rogers. Brief cameo by General Phillips, Dr. Erskine, Agent Peggy Carter, Bruce Banner and Sam Wilson.

Warnings: Minors DNI - brief scene containing mild sexual content which may be unsuitable for underage readers. OFC worrying about Bucky, OFC seeming a little bitchy due to stress, economic circumstances making life difficult for working class, heartbreak.

Author notes: This AU is set in the early 1940s, after the United States have entered the war. The Depression lasted longer in this universe, affecting many more people, including Bucky's family who lost their house when his dad was injured at the shipyard. After getting laid off himself, Bucky and Steve turned to bank robbery, hoping to use the money to help as many families as possible in their neighbourhood survive until the war economy takes root. Steve's mother is still alive but is not doing well. The opening scenes are inspired by the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The dialogue (marked with *) in the bedroom disrobing scene is taken from the film and was written by William Goldman. The title is also a line from the movie but is used in a different context here.

Brooklyn, spring 1943

It had been a long ride on the subway back to Brooklyn and the young teacher was tired. Etta stayed at the school to finish marking assignments, not wanting to bring them home over spring break. By the time she got to her stop the sun was almost set and it looked like there might be a late spring snowstorm. Drawing her thin coat around her, Etta exited the car at the elevated station and stepped carefully down the stairs exiting out the gate at the bottom. The wind came up, biting through her clothing, even as she wrapped her arms around her, trying to protect her gloveless hands from the elements. There was nothing she could do about the bare legs, having torn her last pair of stockings the week before. With rationing because of the war limiting the supply she hoped that warmer spring weather would come soon.

Finally reaching the row of brownstones that had been converted from single family homes to flats, she went up the stone steps, then in through the front door, stopping to open her mailbox and collect her mail. Quickly, she flipped through them, grimacing at the number of bills there were. The afternoon newspaper was also there, and she briefly read the headline about the latest bank robbery, blamed on two local men she knew well. Folding it back up she tucked the mail and paper under her arm and went up the three flights of stairs to her one-bedroom flat, unlocking the door and closing it then turning on the kitchen light. The bundle of papers was placed on the kitchen table. Her coat came off, followed by her shoes, then she slipped her cold feet into her slippers left by the door. It was chilly in the flat, and she opened the coal fireplace in the parlour, tossing several pieces into the burner, then a few lit matches, hoping it would catch. As she walked towards her bedroom she unbuttoned her sweater, taking it off in the room lit from the light spilling in from the kitchen. Hanging it up in the wardrobe she turned around, startled to see a man sitting in a chair beside her bed. His face was obscured but he was big, based on the shadowy outline of his figure.

"Keep going teacher lady*," said the man, glancing at a gun on the table beside him, then focusing his eyes on her. "It's okay, don't mind me. Keep on going.*"

She froze until he turned on the bedside lamp, picked up the gun and held it. Slowly, she undid the buttons on her dress, and slipped it off over her shoulders, letting it drop onto the floor. A loud breath escaped through his nostrils as he gazed hungrily upon her in her slip.

"Let down your hair*," he ordered.

She undid the pins that held her hair up and it fell loosely around her shoulders.

"Shake your head*," was his next command, letting out an almost obscene sound at the sight of her doing that. "Uhh*."

He gestured with the hand that had the gun in it, towards her slip, wordlessly suggesting it come off. The dark-haired woman didn't move fast enough, and he cocked the gun. Slipping those straps off she let them slide off her shoulders, then stepped out of the slip, before holding it against her bare chest. He uncocked the gun and stood up, leaving it on the table beside the chair. Pulling his suspenders down, he stepped slowly towards her, keeping his blue eyes focused on hers. Taking the slip in his hands, he tossed it aside, and gently placed his hands on her ribcage before sliding them up to cup her soft, round breasts in the dim light that came through the doorway.

"You know what I wish?*" she asked before he did anything else.

"What?*" he smirked.

"That for once, you'd get here on time*," she answered, emotionally, throwing her arms around him and kissing him, frantically. "Where the hell have you been, Bucky?"

"I'm sorry, baby," he whispered, as her hands unbuttoned his shirt, almost ripping it off his body. "We got here as soon as we could."

She stiffened when she heard the word "we."

"Steve?" she asked. "Where is he?"

"He made himself scarce so we could be alone," answered Bucky, leading her over to the brass bed, covered in the quilt her grandmother made.

Pulling back the quilt he laid her down in the crisp, white bedsheets, unable to take his eyes off her. He quickly undressed, eager to join Etta in bed after not being with her for so long.

"I missed you," he whispered as he buried his face in her neck, taking in the smell of Ivory soap that she used for bathing. "You smell so good."

"You don't," she retorted. "When was the last time you had a bath?"

He shrugged, then raised his head so he could look at her face. "We haven't exactly been living in the best accommodations, sweetheart. Haven't eaten since yesterday, either."

"You gave it all away again, didn't you?" asked Etta, looking carefully at him. "Bucky, you have to keep a little to survive. What about Steve's medicines?"

"I keep enough for those," he answered. "But people aren't doin' well and with the war and rationing, it's hard. I can't keep money when I know there's a family that hasn't eaten in two days because their daddy got hurt on the docks. It's what happened to my dad, and they lost the house. I can manage."

She wanted to cry at how this man she loved so much had turned to robbing banks and passing on the money to people in need, hardly keeping any for himself. A tear must have escaped because Bucky kissed her cheek gently.

"I should be mad at you," she whispered. "Putting yourself in this kind of trouble for people you barely know."

"But you love me, don't you?"

"You wish."

His lopsided smile made her heart flip, then he pressed himself into her, making her whimper.

"Say it," he murmured. "Please."

It took several more attempts of him kissing Etta before she relented.

"I love you," she answered, looking up at him, as she accepted the full weight of his muscular body on hers.

"Damn, I love you," he groaned as he thrust into her.

For the next half hour, there was no banter or talking about his profession. He just wanted to touch her and feel her body react to his, bringing both to the brink of bliss before he pulled out early, not wanting to add a pregnancy that would get Etta fired from her job. Immediately, he helped her come, knowing she needed it. Taking a handkerchief out of his trouser pockets, he cleaned her up, then slid his arm under her head, kissing her on her temple. They laid like that for a while, until she sat up a little, to look out the window behind the head of the bed. With a sigh, she waved at someone outside, then she put her slip on and robe over top of it.

"I'm letting Steve in," she said. "He looks miserable out there. I'll start boiling water for you two to have a bath. Then you change into clean clothes so I can wash those ones. In the meantime, make yourself useful and start something up for supper. I have some pork chops that you can fry up and leftover potatoes. There might still be a good onion as well."

Bucky sat up and grabbed her hand as she came around from her side of the bed, kissing it.

"You're too good for me, Etta."

"I know," she smiled, then she cupped his face with the hand. "You're too handsome to say no to."

After unlocking her door and leaving it slightly ajar, she looked for her biggest pot and filled it with water, then placed it on the biggest burner of the gas stove in the kitchen, turning it up high. She heard the door open and went to the hallway.

"Thanks, Etta," said Steve, Bucky's best friend, as he took his wet shoes off and unwound the scarf from around his neck. "I tried to sit in a diner with a nickel coffee, but they told me unless I ordered some food I couldn't stay. There was a lineup of soldiers and sailors waiting to get in. I guess a bunch are shipping out tomorrow."

"Yeah, they're shipping out every day," she answered. "Go sit by the fireplace in the parlour and warm up. I've put some water on to boil for you and Bucky to have a bath. He's going to start supper, if you want to help him. I'll get the washtub ready."

"Etta?" She stopped to look at the thin, sickly man, his eyes seeming too big for his face. "Have you seen my ma?"

She thought for a moment, as if she was trying to word things right.

"Yes. She's in the parish poor house but she doesn't look good. I don't think she's going to last much longer, Steve. She said not to try to see her. If you do, they'll arrest you."

He swallowed and nodded his head, looking ashamed for a moment. She squeezed his shoulder then left to pull the washtub out from where it was positioned in the pantry. A pantry that had barely any food in it. When she returned to the kitchen, a fully dressed Bucky had the pork chops on and was chopping the onion and potatoes up. He took over when Etta tried to lift the big pot, carrying it to the pantry and pouring it into the tub. Then he filled it up again and put it on the burner for the next one. Four pots would give him enough to have a shallow bath. Etta could pour a smaller pot of warm water over his head to rinse after he washed his hair. Then he would help Steve as he was too shy to have Etta see him naked. Finally, they would start another batch of water boiling to wash their clothes. Privately, Bucky was afraid they would fall apart in the harsh laundry soap as it had been a while since either he or Steve changed them. Another pot of boiling water was poured into the washtub before the meal was ready and they sat down together.

Etta took only a small amount of food, giving Bucky the bigger portion and Steve more than hers. Both men ate hungrily, and she opened the ice box, finding the cake that one of her students brought her earlier that week, a boiled raisin cake. She cut a generous piece for each man, then sat back and watched them eat. Steve couldn't finish his, pushing it towards her, so she obliged him and ate the rest. Unable to afford coffee, they drank water. Bucky pushed his chair back and patted his stomach.

"Etta, that was excellent," he said. "A feast fit for a king."

"You cooked most of it," she replied drily, then stood up to take the dishes to the sink.

Bucky pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck until she laughed. Winking at Steve, he tickled her a little until she almost screamed and pulled herself away from him. She went to the bathroom to relieve herself, then stood in front of the sink, looking at herself before she washed her hands in the cold water. A slight knock got her attention, and she opened the door to Bucky.

"You okay, sweetheart?" he asked. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine," she smiled. "I had to go, that's all."

"The water's ready for me to have my bath," he said. "Do you want some hot water in the sink to clean yourself up?"

She nodded, and he kissed her, then left her there, coming back with a smaller pot of hot water from the washtub, pouring it into the sink. Returning to her bedroom, she got her nightgown and brought it back. Then she gave herself a sponge bath, cleaning what she could before drying off and putting her nightgown, then her robe on. Emptying the sink, she rinsed it with cold water. The sound of Bucky singing That Old Black Magic reached her ears and she came out to the kitchen where Steve was cleaning up, using a smaller pot to heat water for the dishes.

"Thanks, Steve," she said.

"Least I could do. We did eat your food."

Bucky was singing again, and they smiled at each other. When the water in the bigger pot was warm, she took some of it, carrying the water to the pantry where Bucky sat in the bath water, cleaning his armpits.

"Have you washed your hair yet?" she asked.

"Not yet," he said, squeezing the washcloth over his head, then scrubbing it with the Ivory Soap bar.

He squeezed his eyes shut as he did then nodded his head. Etta slowly poured the clean water over him, rinsing off the lather as Bucky ran his hands through his hair. When the last of the water was poured, he wiped his face with his hands, then gingerly opened his eyes before smiling at her.

"Hi darling. I smell better now."

She looked at the dirty water in the tub and shook her head at how filthy it was.

"Try not to spill any on the floor when you hook up the hose to drain it. Make sure you rinse it before putting clean water in."

He saluted and she returned to the kitchen to top up the water that was taken from the big pot. Steve was drying the dishes and putting them into the cupboard, standing on his tiptoes to reach the one shelf. Bucky came out wrapped in a towel and kissed Etta on his way to the bedroom, to change into clean clothes that they left with her. He brought Steve's clean clothes and a towel with him, placing them in the pantry room. As they waited for the water to boil in the big pot, he glanced at Etta's mail and flipped through the envelopes, frowning, as he opened them.

"Sweetheart, this one is marked final notice," he said, holding up a bill from the electrical company.

"They raised the rates," she replied. "I managed at the old rates, but I fell behind with the new ones. I figured if I could push it towards summer before they turn off the electricity I can manage with candles for a while. I can save up enough to pay the difference."

"What about the cancellation fees and the hookup fees?" he asked, visibly upset. "They're nickel and diming people into losing their power now. Where does it stop?"

"Don't yell at me," she answered. "It's been hard managing. I've been giving your ma money to tide them over. My own mother isn't doing well. I'm doing the best I can."

"Sweetheart, I'm not angry at you," he said soothingly, wrapping his arms around her, as Steve left to give them privacy. "I'm just angry that people are hurting, and they keep adding costs onto everything. What will they do when everyone is either homeless or in the poor house? It can't go on like this. Why isn't the government helping people more instead of putting us into a war across the ocean?"

"You know why," she stated. "They have to stop Hitler, Bucky. If they don't, he'll be here next."

"I know," he answered, shaking his head. "It just gets to me."

The water on the stove was almost boiling and Bucky carried it to the washtub, then set another pot of water to boil. Nothing more was said about the bills but when Etta went into the bedroom, he pulled Steve aside.

"We need to hit another bank," he said. "She's stretched too thin, and I don't want her to lose her flat because she's been helping my family while I haven't been around. I wish I knew about this sooner."

"She's a good woman," replied Steve. "You should marry her."

"I plan to." The dark-haired man ran his hand through his thick hair. "One more bank job to help her and our families then that's it. I'll enlist in the army. It pays well and should be enough to help her and my parents out. They can afford a three-bedroom apartment with steam heat and hot water on army pay, and live together. With my pay and hers they'll do alright. Maybe you can get on at a grocer's and take over this place. You might be able to bring your ma to live with you."

"Sounds like a plan." Steve looked to the bedroom. "You should go to her. I'll call you when the water is hot."

Bucky entered the bedroom to find Etta lying on top of the bed. By the quiet sniffles he heard she was crying. Sliding next to her, he rubbed her arm and kissed her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should have realized you've been taking care of our folks while we've been away. You're a good woman Etta and I'm a better man because of you."

She rolled towards him, wiping her eyes.

"It's hard managing three sets of parents," she murmured. "They worry about you."

"I know." He cleared his throat. "I'm going to enlist in the army, then I want us to get married. With my army pay and your teacher pay, you can afford a better apartment; one big enough for you and my parents and sister. Steve will try to get a job as more fellas are getting shipped out. He can take over this flat and maybe bring his ma to live with him."

"Don't go getting all romantic on me, Barnes," grinned Etta, then her face became serious. "You'd do that?"

He nodded. "For you, anything. I'll go tomorrow and look into it. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, I will." He kissed her, drawing her close into his body, inhaling the scent of Ivory Soap on both of them, thinking he never smelled anything so good as that.

Steve called from the kitchen that the water was hot enough and he left her in the bed, going out to put it in the washtub. One more pot should do it, since Steve was a smaller guy, and he would need some cold water in there because of his health. A little while later as Bucky sat reading the paper while Steve bathed, he thought about his decision, knowing it was the right one. All they needed now was the right bank for this last robbery. With enough money to get a good apartment for everyone, he'd be ready to serve his country. What could go wrong?

Six months later

It was warm at the docks, as Bucky and Etta were saying their goodbyes. So much had changed since he decided on that one last bank job. When he and Steve didn't even get the chance to pull their guns out, he knew something was wrong. It was like the police already knew their plans as they streamed out of the bank's offices with their guns drawn and trained on the pair. Ordered to surrender or be shot down, both men complied. After they were cuffed and placed into the paddy wagon, they weren't even taken to the precinct. Instead, they were taken to Fort Hamilton, the army base at the south end of Brooklyn. There, they joined five other men in the stockade, until a man in an army uniform introduced himself and his companions when they entered the room, Colonel Phillips, a Dr. Erskine, and a British woman, Agent Carter with the Strategic Scientific Reserve, or SSR.

As she read the name and offence committed by each man in that cell from a file folder she carried in her hands, Bucky realized that they had been under surveillance for a long time. Each man, Dugan, Dernier, Falsworth, Jones, and Morita, had skills that the SSR wanted to utilize. When she got to Bucky, the Colonel looked him up and down.

"Well, he looks fit at least. What skills does he bring to this unit?"

The woman smiled. "He regularly wins prizes at the shooting galleries at Coney Island and Rockaway Beach. Those rifles are rigged but he manages to quickly assess how they have been adjusted and can instantly change his aim. I thought he could be the marksman for the group."

How did they know he always cleaned up at those shooting galleries? How long had they been watching him? The Colonel grunted then moved on to look at Steve.

"How old are you son?"

"23," he answered. "What do you want of us?"

"I chose young Steven," said Dr. Erskine, his thick German accent surprising all of them. "He is 4F, but that hasn't stopped him from trying to enlist five times at five different recruiting stations under five different names."

Steve felt his cheeks go hot, as Bucky glared at him. The younger man's desire to enlist had been a source of contention between the two men for some time. Erskine continued.

"I think he is the perfect subject for the project. He's not already a killer; the fact the guns these two used were unloaded and they've never hurt anyone during their robberies proves it. He tries to help people, as shown by them sharing the stolen money with people in dire need, and he has an artistic soul. All of them an indication of a good man, limited only by his physical disabilities."

The Colonel grunted then nodded his head and stood tall in front of the cell.

"You all have a chance to serve your countries, gentlemen, and I do mean your country for I know two of you are not citizens here. You will be part of a special commando unit in the Strategic Scientific Reserve. You're going to undergo six months of training, then we're going to send you on a special mission to fight a special type of Nazi."

"What if we say no?" asked Bucky.

"Then you go back to the police and wend your way through the criminal justice system. In your case, even though your guns were unloaded, it's still considered armed robbery. With the number of successful heists you pulled off, you're looking at life imprisonment."

The seven men looked at each other then all verbally agreed to join the special unit. They really didn't have much choice.

In the six months since then much had changed for all of them as they underwent a gruelling training regimen that turned them all into exceptional soldiers. Except Steve, who only trained with them sometimes and even then wasn't expected to achieve what they did physically. He was undergoing some different training that he was sworn to secrecy about, even from the others, admitting it was a special project that was expected to change the shape of warfare forever. While the others were being sent to Europe to be imbedded with a regiment, Steve would be staying behind for a time before he joined them. Today was the day that Bucky and the others were shipping out.

Allowed to marry Etta on one of his leaves, Bucky learned on his honeymoon that his father got a desk job at the shipyards, and his family were moved to a newer three-bedroom apartment with steam heat and running hot water, with a real bathroom. Steve's ma was moved to a nice sanitarium to live out her final days in a place that was bright and warm. Etta and Bucky were offered a newer two-bedroom apartment in a nice area of Brooklyn, with all the amenities. During their honeymoon they rarely stepped foot out of that apartment.

He smiled at the memory of that week, then looked at his wife again, as they stood outside the gate where thousands of soldiers had lined up to board a former cruise ship that would take them to England. Bucky felt a pang in his heart at leaving her behind.

"I'll miss you," he murmured, holding her close enough to place his lips near her ear. "I'll write you as much as I can."

Etta smiled at him, even though inside her fears were clawing at her. "I'll miss you too and I'll write you twice as much. Promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise," he answered. "When I get back, we'll start a family."

Their kiss was long, tender, and noticed by others, who guessed they were newlyweds. Then Bucky picked up his duffel bag and checked in at the gate. He only went a short way when Etta called out to him.

"Hey Sergeant!" He turned back to look at her. "Do your duty, soldier."

"Yes ma'am!"

He saluted then joined the line, watched by Etta until she lost sight of him in that sea of green. She returned to her comfortable apartment, wondering what type of work Bucky had to do for them to warrant this kind of luxury. What had he promised them so that she and his family were taken care of so well?

🪖 🚢

Two weeks later, she received a visitor at her apartment. A strong knock drew her out of the kitchen, and she opened the door to a tall, blond, muscular man in an army uniform, who smiled at her as if they knew each other. It took her a moment to realize it was Steve and she fainted. When she came to, she was on the couch in her living room, with a cold, damp washcloth on her forehead. Taking it off, she sat up to face the man, who sat in the armchair across from the couch.

"Steve?"

"Yeah, it's me," he replied. "Before you ask, I can't tell you how I look this way. It's a national secret."

"Okay," she breathed. "Will you look like this forever?"

He smiled and nodded. "It's permanent." His face became serious. "I'm here on official business. Normally, the army sends out a telegram." Immediately, Etta could hear her heartbeat in her ears as she thought of all those fears about Bucky. "I found out this morning and received permission to give you the news directly. I already saw his parents. Bucky's MIA. In fact, the whole unit is. They were imbedded with the 107th regiment and were sent with a couple of companies on a mission. 200 men left, less than 50 returned."

"No, he just got there. Why would they send them out so soon?"

"That's just the way it was." He looked at his hands. "Did Bucky ever tell you about the commando unit and who they were training to fight?" She shook her head. "It's a special division of Nazis called HYDRA. They're worse than the SS and are up to some scary things. It's likely they were captured by this division. They're no longer where the battle was and quite frankly, they're having trouble finding where the prisoners have been taken. I'm going over by aircraft tomorrow with our command team to take over the search for them. I promise that I'll do all I can to find Bucky. With my rank, I can send my own telegrams, and I'll send one to you and to Bucky's parents as soon as I can."

"Your rank?" She looked at him, puzzled. Just a few weeks ago he was a small, sickly man who had health issues that could kill him at any moment. "What are you?"

"A captain, but not just any captain. I can't tell you anymore than that. Just know, that I can do things other men can't." He stood up. "I better go now. I still need my rest, just like any other guy."

She walked him to the door and on impulse, hugged him, surprised to find that he was very warm; the heat from his body radiating through his uniform. It was all so strange and seemed to be happening so fast.

For the next month, Etta tried to keep to a routine. With it being summer, she was off work, but she regularly visited Sarah Rogers at the sanitarium, and her in-laws, the Barnes at their apartment. She walked, read the newspapers voraciously for any word of the war, and slept poorly each night, consumed with dreams of Bucky in pain. Then one day, a knock at the door brought her a telegram and she opened it to read that Bucky, and the special unit he was in, had been rescued. There were no other details other than it would all be in the news within a day or so. That was when she found out that Steve Rogers was Captain America, the allies first super soldier, the result of a scientific experiment that gifted him with perfect health, great strength, and incredible stamina to fight against the Nazis. Single-handedly, he broke into a secret base, released the prisoners, including his own captured unit, then together destroyed the base, dealing a significant blow against the enemy. It was heady stuff, and the public ate it up. Just as they ate up the future exploits of Captain America and the Howling Commandos, the name given to that special unit. Over the next year much was written about them, and they were on the newsreels all the time.

Etta didn't care much for all that, as it just reinforced her fears for Bucky's safety. Instead, she lived for his letters, filled with love for her. She wrote back just as much; filling her letters with dried flowers from the window boxes of their apartment, drops of her perfume, and even small slivers of Ivory Soap that she shaved off and placed in the envelope, hoping that he would notice the smell and think of them, when he was still on the run.

Her fears slowly subsided until just after Christmas 1944, when she woke up screaming one morning from a dream that seemed all too real: a dream of Bucky falling. The next morning when she received Steve's telegram, she thought she would die. At Bucky's funeral with an empty coffin, she and his mother numbly received the folded flag, neither of them in a state to feel anything else. Just a few weeks later, when the newspapers reported the death of Captain America, she thought she had died and gone to hell. At his funeral, she received the flag on behalf of his mother, who was too ill to attend. After giving it to her in the sanitarium she wasn't surprised when Sarah Rogers died a day later, clutching the flag that represented her only child. It was all too much for the young woman and she took a leave of absence from her teaching job, sitting alone in her apartment, not eating or drinking; not wanting to live in a world without Bucky.

⏳ ⌛️

"Etta," said a voice, a familiar voice but one that shouldn't even exist anymore.

She opened her eyes and screamed, before a hand was placed gently on her mouth, then removed.

"Steve?"

He was older, and wearing a blue suit of some kind, like the one he wore as Captain America, but it was different.

"Yeah, it's me. Get dressed. We don't have much time."

"You're dead."

"No, it was thought I was but it's too hard to explain and will take too long. Do you trust me?" She nodded. "Just get dressed. Wear trousers. I'll wait in the living room."

Quickly, she rose and put some clothes on, then brushed her hair and came out to see him standing in front of the window. He turned around quickly and smiled at her, then took something out of his pocket.

"Put this on." He slipped a strange device on her hand, then took her other hand in his. "Ready?"

"Wait, where are you taking me?"

"To Bucky," he smiled, then pressed a button on the device.

She held her breath as some sort of suit grew out of the device, encasing her body so quickly that she couldn't believe it. Then there was a flash, darkness, then another flash and the suit disappeared as quickly as it was created. She was outside, amongst a group of trees, near a lake. A man with long hair and a beard turned swiftly around, his eyes exactly like Bucky's.

"Etta," he whispered, then enclosed her in a noticeably warm hug, his face pressed into her hair. "It worked."

She pulled away and looked at this man with Bucky's eyes and voice.

"I don't understand," she stammered. "You died. Both of you died. You left me alone but you're here, wherever this is and you're alive. Is this heaven?"

"Upstate New York," said another voice and she looked towards it only to be startled by the appearance of a green skinned giant wearing glasses. "It's okay. I won't hurt you. I'm Bruce and you're very much in upstate New York. It's 2023 and you've come through time."

It was all too much for Etta and for the second time in her life, she fainted, aware only of someone saying to catch her before she fell. When she woke up, it was on a blanket, next to the lake she remembered seeing on her arrival. The sun was peeking through the trees with a slight breeze making the remaining gold and orange leaves rustle. It was autumn, she realized. It had been winter in New York when Steve appeared in the apartment. Three men sat nearby, talking quietly, then one turned around.

"Your wife is awake, Bucky," he said, standing up and approaching her. "Hi, I'm Sam. I’m a friend of Steve and Bucky. How do you feel?"

"Confused," she admitted. "What the green man said about it being 2023. Is that true?"

"Yeah," he smiled. "Kind of overwhelming, isn't it? These two didn't help matters but Steve really didn't have the time to explain. Bucky should have at least cut his hair and shaved for you so that he was more of a familiar face." His face grew serious, and he glanced back at where Steve and Bucky stood, giving her some space. "Steve had to go back in time to fulfill a promise made. Bucky asked if someone could be brought forward. He's been through a lot and well, he thought if you were here with him, it would make it easier for him to adjust. It won't be easy for you as there's almost 80 years of life for you to catch up on but together, I think you can do it, and you won't be alone. There's a few of us here that will help you both."

Acknowledging his words, Etta began to stand, accepting Sam's help up, then he walked away, followed by Steve, leaving her and Bucky alone. She studied her husband’s face, seeing lines on it that hadn't been there before. He wore black, which he never wore before and he had gloves on, which was strange because it wasn't cold.

"Come, sit," he said, gesturing to a bench that overlooked the lake. "There's so much to tell you."

"Start with why you aren't dead."

He smiled. Etta always was blunt. It was one of the things he missed about her.

"Everyone thought I was, as I fell a long way. But they didn't know that when I was a prisoner of HYDRA for that month when I was MIA that they did something to me that changed me. They were trying to turn me into a super soldier like Steve. I survived the fall, but HYDRA found me and took me back to their lab to finish the job. They didn't just turn me into a super soldier, they erased Bucky Barnes, and turned me into a killer, a weapon to do their bidding. It took them years because I fought them as hard as I could but, in the end, they made me into someone called the Winter Soldier. I killed many people for them, Etta. They kept me alive, freezing me then unfreezing when they wanted me to kill. It's why I haven't aged much."

She gazed steadily at him, seeing the regret that was engraved on his face and in his eyes. Yes, he had been a killer, but he wasn't anymore. Somehow, he got away.

"Why is Steve still alive?"

"He didn't die either, but no one knew that. He deliberately crashed that plane full of bombs in the Arctic then he was frozen in the ice but the serum he got that changed him into a super soldier kept him alive, just enough that when he was found in 2011, they were able to thaw him, and he woke up. He became Captain America in the 21st century and fought against HYDRA again, as they never really went away because what I did helped them to become dangerous again."

Etta didn't have to say it, but she did, wanting a straight answer. She was always smart at reading between the lines. It was something Bucky loved about her.

"They sent you after him, didn't they?"

Bucky nodded. "I was sent to kill him and that's when he found out I was still alive. He called me by my name and there wasn't a big flash of understanding or anything like that but more like an unraveling of all that they did to me. It took some time, and I was sent to kill him again and I almost did. I swear, I wanted to bash his face in and shut him up because he kept calling me Bucky. Then I saw him in my mind, as he was then. The little guy, who was always sick, his face bloody from being beaten up, and me coming to help him. That was the beginning, and I didn't kill him. He and his new team were able to stop HYDRA, and I went underground until he found me again and we ended up in the biggest fight of our life against someone more dangerous than HYDRA had ever been. They needed time travel to do it and when some things had to go back to their time, I asked about bringing you forward."

She was full of questions and rattled them off one after another.

"Why not your parents or Rebecca? Why me? I'm not sure I can live in a future where everything is so strange. I mean a real green giant and time travel. What else has changed in all those years? If I don't fit in, can I go back?"

"It was better my parents didn't find out what I became. Rebecca's still alive and I couldn't bring her younger version forward. It had to be you. You're my wife." He swallowed and his eyes became glassy as he looked out over the lake. When he spoke again, his voice was wavering. "You died, Etta. Steve found your grave; you were buried next to my empty coffin. Your date of death was February 5, 1945. He looked up in the newspapers how you died ... you killed yourself." The tears began falling down his cheek. "I can't send you back because I won't watch you die, Etta. Please, stay here in the future with me. Don't make me face life without you, not when we can be together again."

He reached into his pocket for a handkerchief, wiping his eyes. Noticing the gloves on his hands again, Etta took his one hand in hers.

"Why are you wearing gloves on a warm day? What aren't you telling me?"

He swallowed noticeably again, then took the glove off his right hand. It looked normal and she caressed it, then interlaced her fingers with his. With her right hand she reached for his left and tugged on the glove. When it came off a metal hand was revealed, black with gold markings. She looked up at him for an explanation.

"I lost my arm in the fall and HYDRA gave me a new one, a monstrous thing that was used to deliver death and destruction. It was eventually destroyed and a kind king in a country with incredible technology designed a new one. It's still metal but I can feel with it, and it's meant to be as close to a real arm as possible. It wasn't designed to hurt or kill. I'll show you all of it when we're alone, but it is different and may take some getting used to. It's why I can't go back."

They sat without talking for some time, but she didn't pull her hand out of his.

"What do they do for work in the 21st century?"

"A lot of the same. I'll be part of Steve's team, called the Avengers. They kind of protect the whole world from evil."

"No more bank robberies?"

Bucky smirked. "No more bank robberies."

"I should still be mad at you," she whispered. "Putting yourself in this kind of trouble for people you barely know."

"But you love me, don't you?"

"You wish."

His lopsided smile made her heart flip like it always did, then he pressed his lips onto hers, making her whimper.

"Say it," he murmured. "Please."

It took several more attempts of him kissing Etta before she relented.

"I love you," she answered. "I'll stay."

"I love you, too," he cried, kissing her all over her face before he grasped it in his hands. "We'll have a nice place to live, and we can start a family, if you want. I know I'm older now but inside I'm still the young man you married at City Hall." His eyes searched her face. "We just have to find Steve a girlfriend."

"I heard that," said Steve, still talking to Sam a fair distance away. "I can find my own girl."

"Yeah, you've been in this century how long and you're still single," answered Bucky, standing up and pulling Etta with him. "Face it, you need our help."

As the two men bantered back and forth, Etta made eye contact with Sam, who grinned at her. Apparently, Steve was just as hopeless with romance now, as he had been in the 1940s. She wasn't sure how well she would adjust but having her husband and his best friend back in her life was better than good. It just felt right, as if it were how it always was and would always be.

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