Finding Love in France (Alternate Version)

Part 27: Back to Work

Mila was enjoying her work with Stark. It was nice to have some structure. It was even better to have something to take her mind off herself. She had been on the job for a few weeks already, and they were making progress with some of the obstacles Stark and Erskine had met while working on the serum.

She was also enjoying life on base. She really liked Peggy, despite keeping secrets from her. Stark was already her biggest champion and they, too, were becoming dear friends. She loved seeing Steve in his element and was at peace with her decision to keep her biggest secret from him. Watching him and Peggy, so obviously in love, she hoped the war would end before her secret revealed itself. Her hope was that she could hide in a lab somewhere so no one would see her expand.

Most surprising, however, was her friendship with Bucky, who she insisted on calling James, much to his chagrin. Steve had always told her how great they would get along if they met. He was not wrong. Mila found him hilarious and charming. Interesting, perceptive, and intelligent, though he tried to hide it. Easy on the eyes, too. She looked forward to dinner every night, where they would gang up on Steve, making the big guy blush for sport. They would often stay in the mess hall after the others had left, talking and joking until first lights out. Most nights, Bucky would walk her back to the barracks and keep her laughing until she walked into the building. She needed to laugh, it helped with the nausea...

Bucky was smitten. Hell, he was worse than smitten. He couldn't stop thinking about Mila. She was incredible. She was the smartest person he'd ever met, could swear in 5 languages, made Steve blush better than he did, and, god, what a looker...He usually liked them more like Peggy, all dolled up. But something about Mila, she just glowed. She didn't bother with makeup or fancy hairdos, she was far too practical for that...but it was unbelievably attractive. She loved books and movies, just like him. She was tough and cool and, damn it, he was in so much trouble. He was nervous to ask Steve if he would be okay with him taking her out. He had a feeling they may have been more than friends back in France. He saw how she looked at him when she thought no one was looking. He hoped he could get her to look at him like that someday.

One morning, about two months after her arrival on base, Mila was in the lab, trying to light her acetylene torch, not having much luck.

"Hey Doc, you need a hand? I can smell the gas from here!" Stark quipped from his desk.

"I'm fine, Howard, just trying...to get this damn thing...working..." and she fell to the floor with a thud.

Stark rushed over to her, checked her pulse and cut the gas. He yelled for help and soon medics were loading her onto a stretcher to take her to the infirmary.