First Love || Bucky Barnes

Chapter Twenty-Four: World Exposition of Tomorrow

~June 14, 1943~

Bucky tapped his foot as he and Elizabeth anxiously waited for the doctor to come into the room.

Elizabeth's period was two week late.

"I'm late."

Bucky's tilts his head to the side as his wife slide into the booth of Tom's Restaurant. Bucky glances up at the clock that hung over the counter of the diner. The clock read 5:30. "Doll, you're on time," he tells her. Elizabeth glances over at the clock. She looks back at her husband, shaking her head. "No, not late for our date." She brings her hand up to the heart shaped locket, her slim fingers fidgeting with the locket. Sensing his wife's nervousness, his left hand reaches out, taking Elizabeth's right hand into his. "Elizabeth, what's troubling you?" 

"I'm late, James." 

Bucky studied Elizabeth's expression. He watched as Elizabeth's eyes dart down to her stomach. Realization settled into Bucky as his eyes widened. He let go off Elizabeth's hand, immediately getting up from the booth. He goes around the table, sitting down next to Elizabeth. "You mean?" he trailed off, his left hand shakily slightly as he rested it against Elizabeth's stomach. Elizabeth let a shaky breath loose. "I think?"  She shrugged her shoulders. "I mean, I'm not exactly sure. We would have to go to the doctors to see if I'm actually-" "Pregnant? You may be pregnant?" 

Elizabeth gazed into her husband's eyes. She brings her right hand up to his cheek, wiping away a stray tear. "Are these happy tears?" Bucky nodded. "Of course they are doll." "Bucky, we don't know if I am-" Bucky silences her with a loving kiss. Elizabeth kisses back, her right hand moving from his cheek to the back of his neck. 

Bucky pulls away, resting his forehead against his wife's. "Doll, I'm over the moon right now." Elizabeth giggles as her husband continues. "This could be it."

Elizabeth smiles, flashing a toothy grin at Bucky. "This could be it." 

"This could be it."

Bucky's foot stilled as he looks over at his wife who squeezed his hand to ease his nerves. Bucky gives her hand a small squeeze. "This could be it." The sound of the exam room's door opening drew the married couple over to Doctor Collins who enters with a file in his hand. "Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Barnes." "Morning Doc," Bucky greets him as the Doctor sat down on a stool across from the couple. He opens the file, quickly reading over it. He closes the file, settling it onto his lap.

"Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, I'm sorry to inform you that you are not pregnant."

Elizabeth frowns while Bucky squeezes her hand in comfort. "But Doctor Collins, I'm two weeks late," she informs him. Doctor Collins nodded. "Yes I see that but there are a few reasons why it could be late. Are you currently stressed? A lot of people are due to the war."

Elizabeth glances over at Bucky who frowns. A wave of guilt washes over him. "It's my fault, Doctor." Elizabeth shakes her head. "James, no-" "Elizabeth." Bucky stares into her eyes. "It's my fault. You're stressed out about me leaving." Tears weld up in Elizabeth's eyes. She tries to blink the tears away but one stream down her face. Bucky places a hand onto her cheek, his thumb wiping the tear away. He lowers it and turns to the doctor. "I ship out to England tomorrow."

Doctor Collins extends his hand out toward Bucky. "Thank you for stepping up to serve our country." Bucky shakes the Doctor's hand. Bucky nods, pulling his hand away and immediately taking Elizabeth's hand into his once again. "Mr. and Mrs. Barnes," Doctor Collins spoke as he stood up from his stool. "Your time to have children will come." "Thank you Doctor Collins," Elizabeth thanks him as well as Bucky. The married couple stands up and walks out of the room. The two make their way back into the lobby.