Hello Sergeant (Bucky Barnes)

Are you ready to party?

Halloween 2012
James' POV

I looked down at the outfit on my bed, trying to decide if I was really going to wear it or not. We'd been invited to a Halloween party at Stark Tower in New York, and Sarah had asked me to come with her. Steve would be meeting us there since he was currently on a mission again with Clint and Natalia.

I picked up my phone and called Sarah. "Tell me again why I have to wear this."

"Because it's a costume party and you can't go as the Winter Soldier. What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing. When are you coming to get me?"

"As soon as I'm dressed, so put the outfit on already, James!"

"Fine, doll. But only for you, okay?" I said, sighing.

"I'll be over in a few, so get ready!"

The line went dead, so I tossed the phone on my bed and started putting on a uniform I knew I'd worn before after seeing the photos at the museum. I don't know how she'd managed it, but this was an exact copy of the Sargeant uniform I wore back during the war. I heard a little metallic clink by my feet as I picked up the shirt and looked down to see a small pile of metal on the floor.

Confused, I picked it up and looked at it; they were my dog tags, I realized. I read the embossed words, a smile starting to form on my lips. My name, rank, number, everything I tended to forget. My smaller tag had Steve's name and information, a welcome surprise. I put the chain over my neck and tucked it under the white t-shirt I was wearing under the thin dress shirt. The cool metal against my skin was a welcome feel for once, a memory I could hold on to.

Shaking my head, I quickly finished getting dressed, putting on my hat just as I heard Sarah knock before letting herself in. I wasn't prepared for what I saw. It was Peggy – my Peggy, in that red dress from my memory, hair curled the way she always wore it. I know my jaw dropped as my eyes slid over her, taking in the red lips, painted nails and matching heels.

"You look great, Bucky!" I wasn't prepared to hear Peggy's voice, either; the British accent finished off the transformation.

"Peggy? You look like a million bucks!" I walked over to her, taking her hand in mine. My eyes drank her in; I'd never expected to get to see Peggy like this again.

"What do you think? I wasn't sure I should wear this –"

"You look perfect, doll," I cut her off before she could talk herself out of it. "Just like I always remembered." I gave her a grin as she blushed.

"You're okay with me looking like this? If it bothers you, I'll put on the other costume I brought with."

"I'm more than okay with you lookin' like that, doll. Come here." I pulled her into my arms and held her tight, breathing in Peggy's familiar perfume, so unlike what Sarah usually wore. "You even smell like her."

"I went all out for this, Bucky." She let me hold her for a long moment before looking up at me. "We need to go meet the others; I've arranged for some dancing music later on. Will you dance with me then?"

"I'm not leaving your side tonight, Peggy," I said firmly.

I wasn't going to miss a single moment of my time with her if I didn't have to. Natalia had told me about this, thinking that it wouldn't be good to surprise me. She'd explained that after tonight, I needed to let Peggy go so I could live my live with Steve and Sarah. This was my chance to say goodbye - the right way.

Peggy adjusted the pins on my lapels and stepped back to look at me critically. "You're all set, Bucky."

"Let's go then. I can't promise to keep my hands off you much longer if we stay in here." I leaned down to kiss her, hoping she'd let me but knowing she probably wouldn't.