Finding Love in France (Alternate Version)

Part 26: Common Ground

As they talked about science or whatever, Bucky just listened to Mila and Stark. Steve and Peggy were probably playing footsies under the table, and he didn't feel like watching them make eyes at each other. He was trying to figure out this new person sitting with them. He couldn't believe she made it out of a death camp. She was really skinny, he thought. She must've been starved like he was. Jesus, he hated the idea of anyone else going through the things he'd been through with Hydra. The more he heard her voice, the less her accent bothered him. It was actually kind of soothing...

"If you all don't mind, I'm going to take Captain Rogers here for an after dinner stroll?" Peggy chimed in. "Dr. Abrams, do you need me to show you to the women's barracks later?"

"I could show you, Doc." Bucky surprised himself. "It's on my way home."

"Thanks, Buck! Peggy?" Steve offered her his arm.

Peggy giggled. "See you all later..."

As they walked away, Mila sighed. "Thank you, James. I can find my way, you don't have to walk me like a dog..." she smiled weakly.

"Aw, don't be afraid, Doc, he's harmless!" Stark joked. "Actually, I need to head out for the evening. I'll pick you up at the barracks at 9am, okay?" He got up and squeezed Mila's shoulder. "See you tomorrow, new employee!"

After Stark left, Bucky looked nervously at Mila. "Listen, can we start over? I'm really sorry about earlier...it's just..."

Mila looked up at him and smiled. "James, it's okay. Steve told me what happened to you. It's only natural you would be weary of someone who sounds like me."

He was staring at those green eyes, almost frozen. "It's still not fair of me to judge you like that. I'm sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Can I ask, where were you that day in the forest?"

"Of course. I was completing my mission, recovering what ever was left of the super soldier." She smiled thinking about it. "He was a mess when I found him. He was in the tree line, riddled with bullets, with a nasty bump on the head."

"That sounds like Steve..." Bucky laughed. "He's always been kind of a mess. It's amazing he's finally gotten his shit together..."

"Is that so?" Mila laughed. "Tell me, James, what was he like before? When he was my size?"

"Oh man, he was such a pain in the ass!" Bucky laughed. "His mouth was always getting him into trouble that I would have to bail him out of...but he never backed down." He shook his head, thinking about all the jams he had to get his friend out of. "He never met a bully he couldn't piss off...then try not to die until I could pull the guy off him."

"Sounds like you spent a lot of time rescuing him...I'm glad he finally got to return the favor." She smiled, grateful that Steve had someone looking out for him.

"It sounds like we've both saved his ass, Doc." He caught himself staring and just smiled at her. "Nice to know I'm not the only one looking out for him. Thanks for that."