Finding Love in France (Alternate Version)

Part 37: Date Night

As they walked arm in arm to the main gate of the base, Bucky couldn't stop smiling at Mila. When she would catch him, she would giggle, then blush, which made him smile wider. He loved her laugh, even when she was laughing at him, but the nervous giggle...he felt like his heart would burst. When they were out of the gate, he hailed a cab to take them into town. They had reservations at a small Italian restaurant Stark had recommended.

They arrived at the restaurant and were seated in a booth in the back. Mila was nervous, not just for the date, but also because she hadn't been to a restaurant in a very long time and was overwhelmed. "Is it too late to just grab trays in the mess hall?" She joked, trying to hide her apprehension.

Seeing right through her joke, he leaned over to kiss her forehead and said "If this is too much, we can just grab something to go. It's a lot, I remember my first time going out after..." he got dark for a second and caught himself. "Then again, going drinking with the boys is a bit easier than sitting in a fancy place with a beautiful woman." He smiled and held her hand.

"Thank you, my love." She kissed his hand. "How do you always know what to say to make me feel better? Can you hear my thoughts, too?" She smirked.

"I wish! That would make my job so much easier, wouldn't it?" He laughed.

"And what job might that be, James?" She quipped.

The waiter approached the table to take their orders.

"Sir, you just saved my neck!" Bucky laughed. "Mils, I don't know about you, but I definitely could use a drink right about now..." They placed their orders and the waiter walked away.

"You're lucky you're gorgeous, Sergeant Barnes..." she shook her head, smirking.

They talked and laughed until the restaurant closed, joking about how it was just like their usual nightly dinner, but with better food. They caught a cab back to base before curfew and spent the rest of the evening strolling.

During their walk, Bucky was trying to find a way to tell her that he had a mission coming up. He didn't want her to worry, but he also didn't want to go without her knowing exactly how he felt about her. "Hey Mils, now that you're all healed up and back to work, how are you doing with me having to get back out there?"

"Well, I can't say that I enjoy the idea of people shooting at you, if that's what you're asking..." She sighed. "...but that is your job, no?" She looked up at him. "Did you get new orders?" She sometimes regretted teaching him to block her.

He took a deep breath. "We leave the day after tomorrow..." Blocking her from reading his thoughts took serious energy. "...but I need you to know, Mils..." he looked into those eyes that he would do anything for. "... I love you more than I can say. Thank you for giving me the chance...You are my reason to try not to do anything stupid."

She couldn't look at him, instead, burying her face in his shoulder. She was trying not to sob. "James, promise me you will stay safe! Promise me you won't do anything stupid! Promise me you'll come back! Promise!" She was panicking.

"Mils, I can't promise anything except that I will try like hell to get back here to you." He held her while she cried. "All I can do is try, okay?" He kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Mils. Please don't cry."