The Risk We Pay for Love

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Steve had to wake Amelia up. They both got ready and walked out of the room, holding each other's hand as they walked.

Catching up to the other Howling Commandos at the plane, the doctor pulled Steve into one more hug. He all but melted in her arms, wrapping his arms around her and playing with the ends of her hair.

Amelia went on her tippy toes and kissed her fiancee slowly, but after a long moment she let him go. "Be safe,"

"I will." He rested his forehead against hers. "I'll be back before you know it."

"I love you."

Steve smiled, grabbing his bag. "I love you, too."

Then he loaded onto the plane, waving his beautiful woman goodbye and buckled up in his seat.

00000000000

Her first thought when the alarms came on was; I should have gone with Steve. But by the time she had finished her thought, she was being dragged away by Peggy to the nearest bunker. Now, Amelia was no stranger to being bombed or shot at, it was actually a good portion of her life... It was watching families race to get away from building and babies crying that had shocked her. Even in the bunker, it seemed they all got more nervous.

The children only know half of what was going on, only giving confused stares at their parents. But as the night dragged on, even the naive children began to cry.

"Are you alright?" Peggy took her godmother's hands in hers, squeezing them comfortingly.

Not meeting her eyes, Amelia just stared at the strangers all around her. "I've been through worse,"

Agent Carter chewed her lip, trying to think of a way to distract her godmother. But, she decided that there wasn't anything that was really worth talking about because it wouldn't distract Amelia. So, all she could hope that she can perhaps distract the locals. "Do you remember that song you used to sing to me? To help me fall asleep?"

Amelia studied her for a moment, then started to sing the blissful lullaby that her own mother sang to her once upon a time. Hearing it now? It seemed to calm Peggy's nerves already and beforeing she knew it? She was swaying to the song as well as their neighbors.

Everyone became silent as the lovely doctor sang, relaxing as the song went on.

After their day in the bunker, Amelia and Peggy had returned to base, only to receive news that the Howling Commandos would be returning shortly. It had shocked the doctor that they would return in only three days, usually they had spent more time out. But, she didn't say anything.

Instead, she decided to return to her apartment and freshen up.

She had showered and put on a yellow sundress, to help brighten up the day. Then she returned to base.

Walking around, Amelia could tell that a certain gloom has settled onto everyone. She looked around and saw a familiar redhead. "Dugan, what's wrong? Why are you home so early? Did you get Zola? Where's-"

"We lost Bucky..." Were his only words.

It was like someone had ripped her heart out... She couldn't breath. Amelia had come to love Bucky like a brother and wanted nothing but for him to live a full, happy life. She thought back to Abraham, thinking about how he was able at least live his life, but Bucky? He was still so young, knowing nothing but the army...

"W-where's Steve?" She choked out, wiping her loose tears.

Dugan met her eyes and sighed. "Saw him going to the pub, at least what's left of it."