The Ambassador's Daughter

Chapter 33

It took the better part of an hour to convince Elise that Louise should remain in the palace and to convince her that Bucky was not solely to blame. Neither Elise nor Bucky would accept that he was totally innocent in the matter. Elise left the palace still very upset by everything she'd heard.

Bucky returned to Louise's side, equally as upset as Elise. He bowed his head until it rested on the bed next to Louise's arm. He lay like that for a long time, playing and replaying every moment of his time with Louise. Suddenly he felt a hand on his head, stroking his hair. Bucky lifted his head and looked into Louise's eyes. They were cloudy with pain, but they were open.

"What-what did I do this time?" Louise croaked. Bucky took her hand in both of his. He kissed her hand.

"Why do you ask?"

Louise raised an eyebrow. "I'm in a hospital bed with," She groaned and shifted positions slightly, "A concussion, a broken arm, and some broken ribs, yes? I must have done something." Bucky laughed without mirth.

"Your ribs are bruised, not broken." He corrected. "And the worst thing you've done is make me fall in love with you."

"Silly me," Louise mumbled. "You know, the last time Father put me in the hospital it was over a boy, too." She half closed her eyes trying to remember through the fog. "Hmm, yes, I'd snuck out to a dance with some friends I'd met in... London, I think... Anyway. I'd snuck out to meet a boy, Father had forbidden it. He caught me as I was sneaking back in. He hit me and I fell down the stairs. I didn't stay in the hospital long, but I did end up in there." Bucky stared at her. "Father told the doctor I tripped over the cat. What?" Louise had just noticed Bucky staring at her. She smoothed back her hair, self-consciously.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Louise shrugged. "Sometimes it's easier to remember past pains than to focus on what could be hurting now." She sighed, "It's a coping mechanism, I guess." Bucky shook his head and looked away. He understood that. Probably better than she realized. How much time had he spent brooding over what he'd done in the past rather than looking at his current life, his future? "But seriously," She asked, shifting position again painfully, "What happened? I remember a lot of pain, my father's voice and your face. Not much else. Pain mostly."

"How's that doing, by the way?" Bucky asked, his eyes searching her face with concern. "The pain, I mean."

Louise pondered the question for a moment. "I guess that depends on what type of pain you're talking about. Physical pain is at about a five out of ten." Emotional pain is quite a bit higher, she added mentally. Bucky only nodded as if he understood what she had said and what she had not.

Louise looked over at Bucky. Her eyes taking in the bruise on his cheek bone and the cut over his eyebrow. "What happened?" Then she paused and added, "When did it happen?" Her eyes got a panicky look and her hand clenched nervously on her blankets.

"Two days ago. You've only been out for two days." Bucky assured her, gently forcing her loosen her grip on the bedding. "To get you out I had to uh... negotiate strenuously." Louise gently brushed her fingers over Bucky's cut. Her hand cradled his face.

"Am I worth it?" She murmured quietly, as if she hadn't meant to speak out loud. Bucky snatched her hand holding it firmly in his own. He kissed it and looked deep into her eyes.

"You are most definitely worth it!" He whispered fiercely. Louise smiled at him, rather smugly, as if she had just won an argument.

"You are, too. I love you, Bucky Barnes." She whispered. Then she groaned and laid her head back on her pillow, closing her eyes. Bucky leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently. He then leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes as well. Steve found them like that a few hours later: hands entwined, both asleep, a slight smile playing around the corners of Bucky's mouth.