First Love || Bucky Barnes

Chapter Twenty-One: Operation: Proposal

~April 22, 1942~

"We did it!"

Howard stared in shock and amazement at the flying car before him. Elizabeth clapped her hands as she walked over to him to share her excitement. "Howard can you believe it?!" she exclaimed as he stood frozen. He couldn't believe that the two had finished their flying car project.

Elizabeth turned her head at the clock that was hanging by the door and she saw that she still had two hours left in her workday. She wondered if Howard would let her leave early so she could go home and change for her birthday dinner that Bucky had planned.

"Howard?"

Howard snapped out of his daze. "Since we finished our project early, may I head home and get ready for my dinner that Bucky planned?" Howard glanced over at the clock. "You still have two hours left." "Well I thought-" "I need you to alphabetize my blueprints since we can't start the trail runs today." 

Howard turned around and made his way to his office. Elizabeth frowned. "Howard, wait!" Howard let out a sigh as he turned around and faced her. "Why do you need me to alphabetize your blueprints? We usually don't start on a new project until everything is finalized-"

"I can't work in a room that's disorganized. If a room is disorganized-" "I get frantic. I know. I will get started on it," Elizabeth tells him as she makes her way to the filing room.

Howard let out a sigh. "James. Your proposal better be a tearjerker," he muttered under his breath as he heads into his office.

++++++

Bucky checks his pocket for the fourth time and felt relief wash over him as his fingers curled around the small box. 

"Elizabeth should be arriving shortly," Tom tells Bucky as he sits down across from him in the booth. "Boy, quit being so nervous," Tom orders him. Bucky let out a nervous laughter. "Is it that obvious?" "Yes it is. You have checked your pocket four times since you've been here. She is going to say yes." 

"I hope so-"

"Don't hope. Know," Tom said pointing to his head. "You and Elizabeth are childhood sweethearts." Bucky chuckled. "We didn't start dating till high school." Tom shook his head. "I knew when you two walked into my restaurant at five years old, hand in hand mind you and asked me for a booth." Bucky smiled at the memory. "How many times have I reserved this booth for you two plus Steve?" 

"Give or take a few hundred?" 

Tom chuckled as he looked out the window to see a taxi cab pulling up in front of his restaurant. He watched as Elizabeth stumbled out of the taxi. She smoothed her dress down before closing the door and bidding the driver goodbye. She ran over to the doors.

"She's here," Tom informs Bucky as he reached into his pocket for the fifth time, his fingers curling around the box. "She will say yes," he whispers as Elizabeth walked up to the table.

"Hello Bucky! Hello Tom! I am sorry for being so late. Howard wanted me to alphabetize his blueprints. I didn't realize how late it had gotten by the time I was done." 

Bucky stands up and gives Elizabeth a kiss. "No worries, doll. All that matters is you're here. Happy birthday." Elizabeth smiles at him as Tom stood up and gave her a hug. "I will be back with your dinner. Please sit." Tom made his way to the kitchen as Bucky and Elizabeth sat across each other. Tom walked in, quickly closing the doors behind him so Elizabeth couldn't see in.

"Well?" 

Tom turned around and faced the small crowd of familiar faces. "What's happening out there?" Steve asked. "Elizabeth has just arrived." "Why was she late in the first place?" Winnifred asks. "Howard kept her late," Grandpa Jack tells her.