Finding Love in France (Alternate Version)

Part 35: Good Dirt

Once she was out of the infirmary, Mila went back to work in the lab. Stark was relieved to have her back, but extremely protective. "No torches, no volatile chemicals, no knives, no guns, no cheap booze..."

"Howard, really?" Mila laughed. "I'm fine, cleared for duty without restrictions. That means back to work! We're a week behind, aren't we?"

"We are just fine, Doc. Don't you worry." Stark laughed. "Just never do that to me again! You took years off my life..." he smirked. "And I think Barnes might've made a deal with the devil to make sure that you're okay."

Mila smiled. "He has been wonderful, hopefully not at the expense of his duties." She thought about it for a moment. "Howard, what do you think about James?..." she bit her lip. "...and me?"

"You mean together?" Stark chuckled. "I think that's something you two need to figure out for yourselves and stop asking me!"

"What do you mean? He spoke to you? About me?" Mila laughed nervously. "What did he say?"

Stark smiled warmly at her. "He asked if I would be okay with you two, under the guise of not wanting things to be awkward for us working together, but I think we both know what he was getting at, don't you?" he winked at her.

Mila chuckled. "Did he really think that you and I..." the she laughed harder. "Really?!"

"Well now I'm just plain offended, Doc..." Stark rolled his eyes then smirked. "I think he wanted to make sure he wasn't overstepping, that's all..." Stark laughed. "The big guy's gonna be a whole different story..."

Mila got quiet. "What do you mean? What's Steve got to do with anything? He's with Peggy."

"Sure, but can you look me in the eye and tell me nothing happened with you two in France?" Stark raised an eyebrow at her. "Even if nothing actually happened, you don't think I didn't notice the way you were hanging on to him when we arrived?"

"Howard..." Mila panicked. "Whatever you think you saw..."

Stark put a hand on her arm. "Hey, it's me you're talking to. I don't care about whatever you two may or may not have done..." He sighed. "...And you both have moved on..." he looked uncharacteristically concerned. "...but his best friend and his former flame? That's not something that goes down easy, Doc."

Mila was thankful she had Howard to talk to. "I know, and I worry about what it might do to their friendship...I would never want to come between them..." she took a deep breath. "...but Steve made his choice before I ever met James."

"I knew it!" Stark crowed. "Oooooh, getting the good dirt! Sorry, Doc, call it intuition, but I had a hunch something happened!"

"Oh it happened, alright..." Mila sighed. "...But it ended in France..."

"Did you love him?" Stark asked sincerely.

"Maybe? I'm not sure...it was the first real human connection I had in years, and I think we just got carried away." She smiled. "With James, there is no question. First, we were friends, and he became so dear to me, the more I got to know him, the more I couldn't stop thinking about him..." she chuckled. "Then it was like a bomb went off, and suddenly, I was a lovesick schoolgirl..."

"This is what I'm talking about!" Stark laughed. "Why are you telling me about this, go tell him!"

Mila smiled. "I may have mentioned something about it to him already..."