The Ambassador's Daughter

Chapter 24

The next morning Ambassador Brandt stormed to his daughter's room and found it exactly as she'd left it in the middle of the night: Empty. Furious Brandt stormed down to his study. It would soon be time for him to be in the embassy, but he had time for this.

Last night had pushed him to his breaking point. He had a pretty good idea why Louise was constantly at the palace. He knew it had to do with Barnes. That was the only explanation for her familiarity with him. Brandt settled behind his desk and picked up his phone. He dialed the garage. "Garage, Gordon speaking, how may I help you, sir?"

"Gordon I need to see you in my office as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir." Gordon hung up the phone. A few minutes late the man stood across the desk from Brandt, looking very nervous. "How may I help you, sir?"

"My daughter often uses you when she goes out, yes?"

"Yes, sir, she does."

"Well, then, there's something I need from you."

*

Bucky had been awake for an hour. Louise was still asleep, curled up next to him. Bucky had to admit that he liked having her in his bed. The early morning light filtered into the room through a gap in the curtains, Louise's tousled hair spilled over her shoulders and across her pillow. Bucky couldn't remember the last time he'd slept so well. Something about her presence calmed him, even when she was asleep.

He found her fascinating to watch. She rolled over a lot. Several times over the past hour, Bucky was sure that Louise was about to wake up but, even though she lifted her head off the pillow, she always just rolled over and kept on sleeping. She rolled over onto her side, facing Bucky, and slipped her arm across his torso. She took a deep breath and her eyes fluttered open. She took a second to process her surroundings and then sat bolt upright, her eyes open wide.

"Oh, bad! Oh, bad, oh bad, oh bad, bad, bad!" Louise gasped.

Bucky chuckled softly, "Not exactly the phrase a man likes to hear from a girl who spent the night." Louise looked at him like he'd lost his mind.

"If I'm here now, that means I stayed the night and that means my dad isn't going to be happy." Her eyes filled with fear and she raised her hands to cover her cheek, as if she could already feel her father's slap. Bucky sat up and gently took her hand, pulling it away from her face. She looked up at Bucky, "If you think missing curfew is a minor infraction, what does defiantly walking out of the house and not coming back translate to?" She buried her face in her hands and began rocking back and forth, hyperventilating. Bucky was at a loss for what to do.

Bucky climbed off the bed and knelt in front of Louise. "Hey," He said softly. "Louise, I promise we will take care of you." Louise looked up and the fear in her eyes cut Bucky to his core. He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. Louise kissed him back, closing her yes, trying to focus herself.

"You can't promise that," She smiled at him, "But thanks for saying it." She stood up and brushed past Bucky. "The sooner I get home, though, the better things will be." I hope, she added silently. Bucky grabbed her arm.

"You can't leave that way." She looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Who came with you to the door last night? Who hasn't left me alone since I came out of cryo?"

"Are you saying Steve camped outside your door last night?" Bucky shrugged, it really wouldn't surprise him. He moved quietly to the door and pulled it open enough to show Louise the hall. Sure enough, Steve was slumped against the wall, his chin sagging against his chest as he snored softly. Bucky closed the door and smiled at her. "So, I'm seeing two options here," She said slowly, "I either crawl out the window or I go out the door and I have to fend off Steve Rogers." She pretended to think about it for a bit. "I'm taking my chances with the hallway."