Finding Love in France (Alternate Version)

Part 33: Easy

While Mila recuperated, Bucky brought books and magazines, played cards, and listened to her when she got upset. Something about hormones? He wasn't sure. All he cared about was that she was okay. In the evenings, after Peggy, Steve, and Howard left, he would cram into the bed with her and read until she fell asleep. It was his favorite part of the day, curled up together, just relaxing and being themselves. Because he was on R&R, he could stay until lights out, then go back to the barracks. They hadn't even kissed yet, but he had never been so in love with someone before.

Mila was trying to figure out how to tell James about her abilities. She was nervous, as, except for her family, Erskine, and Steve, no one knew about them. She had been careful never to document the true source of her "findings" when she was working on the serum. Though she trusted Stark, she worried that he might want to turn her into a weapon, like Steve. Revealing her true nature was not something she looked forward to. She hated the idea that it could ruin whatever was blossoming between them. She felt safe, respected, and understood. It was such a natural progression, going from friends to something more. She had to admit, she was crazy about him...

It was their last evening in the infirmary. They were crammed into the bed reading, him a novel, her a medical journal. She kept looking over at him and smiling. She was so comfortable with him. Though they sometimes had their differences, it was just easy. Even when they disagreed on something, he always listened to what she had to say, never dismissing her as emotional or irrational. She took a deep breath and went for it..."Hey, James? Can we talk about something?"

"Sure, Mils, what's on your mind?" He put down the worn out copy of Frankenstein he was reading. "Everything okay?"

"Well, I hope so..." she looked at him and tried to get a good read on his thoughts before she started. "In the name of being completely honest, there is something you should know..." this never got easier. "...you know how Steve got certain traits from the serum?"

"Uh huh, like the biggest set of brass ones..." Bucky grumbled.

She laughed. "Not that part, perhaps...but the vision, hearing, strength, and wound healing? Those traits, my love."

He melted at the nickname. "I'm listening..."

"Ever wonder where they came from?" She smiled at his response to the pet name. "Or more to the point, who they came from?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Doc, but they came from a lab." He didn't understand what she was getting at. "Did you get some, too?" He joked.

"Actually, I gave them..." she braced herself for his response.

"You made all that? Pretty impressive." He was constantly amazed by how smart she was.

"You misunderstand, James." She sighed. "I gave him those abilities...they are mine..."

"Come on! You're kidding me, right?" He laughed. "Wow, for a minute there...I thought you were trying to tell me you were dying or something."

"I'm not kidding, James! This is serious!" She huffed. "I'm trying to be honest with you about something almost nobody knows! This is important! Stop laughing!"

He was laughing even harder. "So you're saying you're, what? A super soldier?" He cracked up.

"Damn it, James! Don't make me throw you across the room and hurt myself just to prove my point!" She was fuming. "Also, why is this so funny?!"

"Sorry, Mils..." he was gasping for air from laughing so hard. "...how many of these super powers do you have?"

"Enough to know that you haven't changed your socks in 2 days, you wanted to punch Steve in the face every day this week, even after you made up, and, well, you are sad that we do not get to cuddle in the evenings after tonight, because it is your favorite time of the day." Mila rattled off.

Bucky stopped laughing. "How the hell did you know that?"

"Which part?" Mila smirked. "The fact that I can smell the socks? Or the way I can hear you gritting your teeth when Steve walks in?..." she laughed. "Or is it the thing that I didn't give him? The fact that I can hear your thoughts..."

"How long have you been listening to my thoughts, Mila?" He froze. "What have you heard?"

Mila smiled "So now you believe me? I am no longer a joke?" She laughed. "Why are you so nervous, my love?"

"Why did you call me that?" He was terrified. "What's going on?"

She put her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "I called you that because I love you, too, James Barnes." She kissed him and he didn't care if she had ten heads...