Finding Love in France

Part 29: Welcome to England

They were over the English Channel when she heard James lightly snore. She smiled and turned around to see Steve laughing at his friend, too. She asked "Has he always snored?"

"Since we were kids!" Steve laughed, then got a little quiet thinking about how she knew this...

Sensing his discomfort, Mila left the cockpit and took a seat next to the bulky blonde. "Tell me, Captain, who is this Peggy Carter I have heard so much about?"

Stark laughed from the cockpit "the greatest gal that guy's ever gonna lose, that's who!"

Steve's face fell at Stark's jab.

"Oh, don't listen to him!" She touched the giant's arm. "From what James has told me, she only has eyes for you."

He smiled. "I hope so...I'm just not good at these things. Not like Bucky. And definitely not like Stark."

"Damn right, Rogers!" Stark boomed.

"Tell me, what is it that draws you to her?" She was finally able to read him. "What makes her the one?"

"Who told you that?" He looked over at the sleeping Bucky and assumed. "Gotcha. I don't think it's just one thing. It's everything, really? She was nice to me when I was still the little guy. She gave me the time of day when I was nothing. She lets me make mistakes so I can learn from them, but also tells me when I'm being an idiot." He blushed a little. "And she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

"Sounds like you have it all figured out, no?" She smiled.

"Actually, if you don't mind me asking, how'd you two decide to be together?" He needed all the help he could get.

She laughed a little. "Well, it was a bit of a process." She looked over at her sleeping love. "At first, all I wanted was to make sure he didn't die on me. Then, as we started to get to know one another, I grew quite fond of him." She smiled thinking about the first night she fell asleep at the foot of the bed. "He's sweet and charming. But also infuriating and stubborn. Then again, so am I..." she laughed again. "The man is relentless, no? Once he decides he wants something, he is fairly systematic about it. Sure, he is a bit overly confident, but he also poured his heart out, even though things did not always go his way."

"Really? You turned him down?" Steve was intrigued. "Buck's had his fair share of things blowing up in his face, but he usually just moves on to the next..." he caught himself.

"The next girl, Steve?" She laughed. "You don't think I don't know what he was like before the war? I am obviously not qualified to say he is a changed man, but he seems sincere in his intentions. What other choice do I have but to take him at his word?"

"Sounds fair. But how did you know?" He was hoping she could give him some pointers.

"Truthfully, I knew when I began to care more what he thought than anyone else. I also knew when I felt sick at the thought of losing him. And I knew when he made me hopeful for the future." She looked away for a second. "Which is not something I had allowed myself to think about for a long time." They hit an air pocket as the plane began its descent. "What was that?!"

"Welcome to merry olde England, kids!" Stark shouted from the cockpit.

Once the plane was on the ground, Steve smacked his friend to wake him. "Rise and shine, jerk! We're here!"

"Already? I was just getting cozy..." Bucky smirked. "Mils, you ready for this?" He got up and grabbed her hand.

As they deplaned, there was a couple headed towards them. A large man stepped in front of the other figure.

"Sergeant Barnes, back from the dead, I see?" said the gruff older man.

Bucky saluted and replied "Yes, sir!"

The older man stepped towards Steve and Stark and grumbled "Captain Rogers, Howard, I see you two enjoyed yourselves on your latest mission" and he motioned towards Mila. "Even got yourself a little souvenir, huh, Stark?"

"Actually, sir, she's with me..." Bucky said, slightly less confident than he would have liked.

"Oh really, Barnes? And what makes you think you can just bring back random women to my base?" He got up in Bucky's face.

"Uh, she's the doctor who saved me, sir." He hoped that Mila wouldn't be too mad at him for his cowardice in front of the commanding officer.

"And also, Colonel Phillips, she's my newest recruit." Stark said triumphantly.

"What makes you think you can just bring guests here?" He had turned his attention to Stark.

"She worked with Erskine, Chester. Need I say more, or do you want her to pull a rabbit out of a hat, too?" Stark did not back down.

It was then the second figure stepped out from behind the gruff soldier.

"You worked with Dr. Erskine?!" Peggy Carter cried excitedly at Mila.

"Steve was not exaggerating. You truly are gorgeous." Mila stuck out her hand to the glamorous brunette standing in front of her. "Dr. Mila Abrams, and you are obviously Agent Carter." As she shook her hand, she read Peggy's trepidation at her accent.

"You brought a damn German national to my base, Stark? Are you trying to piss me off?" Colonel Phillips yelled.

Before Stark could answer, Mila stepped towards the gruff man and said "Sir, with all due respect, Abraham Erskine was also a German national, and you had no problem accepting him or his help on your special project" she pointed at Steve.

Colonel Phillips got right in her face and shouted "Abraham Erskine was vetted and cleared by the United States government! BEFORE we were at war! What kind of clearance might you be able to provide, other than bedding one of my soldiers, to make me think you are not just another defector looking for safe haven?!"

Steve had to physically hold Bucky back. Starks's jaw was on the ground. Peggy was frozen in place.

Mila glared back at Colonel Phillips, eyes on fire, pulled up her left sleeve, and shouted back "How is this for vetting, Colonel?! My entire family was slaughtered, how's that?! Does two years in Bergen-Belsen count?! How about nearly two years with the French Resistance?! Is that enough?! Is that what you are looking for?!"

The silence was deafening. Everyone except Bucky stared at the numbers on her arm. Took in the gravity of what they meant. Realized how wrong they all were.

After a standoff that felt like hours, Colonel Phillips blinked and said "Looks like we've got ourselves a live one, here, folks!" He backed down. "Agent Carter, please escort the frauline doctor to the medical center for intake. Barnes, head to debriefing with Rogers and Stark." He shook his head, started to walk away and chuckled "Welcome to England, Dr. Abrams. You're in for one hell of a ride."