Out of Time (Book 1)

Goodbyes and Good Lucks

1943

Betty smiled as she woke to the feeling of Bucky's arm across her stomach.  Turning on her side to face him, she saw that he was splayed out on his front, his head turned towards her, hair mussed up and trailing across his forehead.  She nuzzled his face with her nose, and he let out groan, lips curving in a smile.

"Good mornin' Sarge," she whispered.

"Shhhh, I'm havin' a great dream," he mumbled back.

"Oh yeah?" she poked his arm.  He opened one eye and gave her a rakish grin.

"Looks like it wasn't a dream.  Mornin', beautiful."  Betty kissed his cheek and snuggled in closer as he tightened his arm around her.  "A guy could get used to this."

"Well, all this'll be waitin' for you when you get back."

"I like the sound of that," he hummed, kissing her softly.

They lay there for a while, relishing the quiet of the morning, avoiding having to get up and face the inevitable goodbye.  Eventually though, they both knew that they had to make a move.  They got up and busied themselves with their morning routines, fitting in around each other as if they'd done it a thousand times before.  Bucky smiled softly as he watched Betty putting on her coat and shoes.

"One day soon, this will be our everyday, Doll."

"It's easy to imagine, isn't it?  Both of us headin' out to work, meetin' at the diner for lunch, havin' your Ma over for dinner," she said, wistfully.

"We could even get a cat."

"We're not gettin' a cat Bucky!" Betty interrupted him.

"Spoilsport," he pouted, but they both laughed.  "Come on Doll, time to go."

Bucky slung his kit bag easily over one shoulder and they headed to the train station hand in hand.  The place was teeming with soldiers and their sweethearts, families, and friends.  Betty pulled out a handkerchief and started waving it at Bucky, who looked a little confused.

"I promised I'd be wavin' a handkerchief for you Barnes," she chuckled and he grinned in realisation.

"You're such a goon."  Then his expression turned serious as he dropped his bag on the floor and pulled her in.  "I don't think I can do this," he admitted.  "I don't wanna say goodbye again."

Sighing sadly, they stood with their foreheads pressed together, eyes closed, ignoring the cacophony of the station around them.  They were the only two people in the world.  Betty felt the tears start to slide down her face and she let out a sniffle.

"Oh no, Betty, please.  Don't cry.  I need to be able to picture you ragin' mad at me, callin' me a pain in your ass," he said, trying to make her laugh.  But it didn't work.  He felt his own tears fall and he cupped her face in his hand, kissing her softly.

"It'll all be fine, I promise.  We'll be together again before you know it."  He kissed her again, and again.  "I love you, Elizabeth Rogers."

"I love you too Sergeant Barnes."

With one last, fierce, embrace, Bucky let Betty go, picked up his kit bag and backed away.  He tried to summon one of his signature flirtatious grins but failed.  Devastation played across both their faces.  Giving her a salute, he turned and walked away, looking back every few paces.  The last thing he saw was Betty waving her handkerchief, weeping just as she promised.

The emptiness Betty felt as she trudged back home from the station made her want to vomit.  Everything felt like too much effort.  Dragging herself up the stairs and into the apartment, she realised that Steve was back.  He looked up as she entered and immediately rushed over to her, wrapping his arms around her as she dissolved into hysterical sobs on his shoulder.  He held her tight until she calmed, then sat her on a dining chair and made her some tea.  Sitting on the chair next to her, he rubbed small circles on her back as she stared into the distance, giving her comfort with his presence.  Finally, she looked at him.  Her lips trembled but she managed to turn up the corners of her mouth in a weak smile.