Stark's Personal Assistant || Howard Stark ||

|you have to let him go|

*another month later
Dottie sat down on the garden across from Howard "Dottie" Howard called making her turn her had at him "yeah?" she asked giving him a slight smile "are you alright?" he asked "I'll be okay" she responds honestly making him sigh as he reached for her hand "I know Barnes and Steve means alot to you, I saw how close you both was but knowing them I know they wouldn't want you to cry over them on your everyday life" he spoke looking at her while she hold back her tears

"I miss them Howard" she mumbled letting her tears fall "me too honey, me too" he gave her a sad smile remembering Steve and Bucky. "I'm not forcing you or anything but Dottie you need to let the pain out from your chest" he rubs the back of her hand with his thumb while she looked around and nods her head

Dottie told Howard how close she have became with them mostly Bucky. She told him their memories letting herself broke down in front of him for the first time after hearing the news while Howard hugs her tightly letting her cry to his shoulder. She smiled bitterly at the memory of her and Bucky kissing for the first time but ended up laughing to each other after seeing the awkward faces they have

"So you two never dated?" Howard asked making her look up at him "well we tried but it never happened. We knew we both love each other but at the same time we were so scared to lose each other if we don't work out so we stayed as friends" she explained with a smile on her face making Howard smile back at her seeing her smile again after months

"Hey Peg" Howard greeted as Peggy walked towards them giving Howard a smile "I'll go back to work" he excused himself kissing Dottie a goodbye before Peggy sat down across from Dottie "he's still looking for him" Peggy muttured looking at Dottie "he loves Steve so much" Dottie replied earning a smile from Peggy

"I found this on Sergeant Barnes book with a dry red rose beside it. I guess he was supposed to give it to you" Peggy cuts herself off by handing Dottie a letter making Dottie smile

she looked down at the paper seeing her name Dorothy written on top of it. She looked back up at Peggy with a sad smile "I can't" she mumbled "but I think you have to" Peggy responds as she stood up from her seat about to leave her on her own "Peg please stay" she smiled at Peggy who nods her head in response and gave her a sad smile as she opened the letter

I really don't know what to say anymore I think I told you everything I wanted to tell you when we went out almost every day, mostly night. I promised you a dance when I left for war and when I get back we'll dance as long as you want. I saw the way Stark looks at you and I'm not gonna deny the fact that it made me jealous but we both know that we're both too scared to lose each other so we stayed as friends. Maybe one day, one day when we're both braver than we are today I hope that I will have a chance to call you mine but for now I'll wait until the both of us is reckless enough to love each other without worrying on how it's gonna turn out. I promised you that I'll go home to you alive. I'll want to see you achieve all your dreams even though I'm not the person that you'll achieve them with. Seeing you happy makes me happy so go and live your life with or without me

I know Howard loves you Liz I can see it and I'm not too mad about it anymore knowing the fact that he's gonna make you happy someday. I just hope that you'll never forget about me no matter how many people you meet. You have a special place on my heart you know that and I don't know if I ever told you this but you are the first woman that I love and the first woman that I let myself get attached to. Liz I wish you nothing but all the best things in life. I can't promise you that I'll come back home but I promise you that I'll try my best to come home for you.

no matter what happens, you'll always be my favorite person my Elizabeth

~yours forever, James

Dottie looked back up at Peggy seeing her already looking at her with a sad look on her face "Peg" she mumbled holding the letter on her hand as she didn't realize how hard she cried while reading the letter "Dottie I know it's really hard for you but we have to move on" Peggy replied while Dottie looked down on the letter "you have to let him go" Peggy added before Dottie looked back up at her "I don't know if I can Peg" she replied breaking down as Peggy stood up and hugged her tightly "it's going to be alright Dottie, I'm here for you"

Sorry for the short chapter. Have a great day!