[WWII AU] you and your baby went to town

[from_the_outside]

Waiting for Bucky's day off has been as difficult as waiting for Christmas used to be when she was a kid. And it doesn't help that they just don't seem to be able to manage time alone together after the mission – not enough of it, anyway. A few stolen kisses here and there are all she gets, even as she feels like she's burning up from pure want.

When he finally tells her, grinning, that he's gotten another R&R day, she spends the next few days in a haze of relieved anticipation. Not just at the thought of finally being able to touch him, but just because she loves spending the time with him. She knows it's a bad idea, knows it's only going to hurt so much worse down the line, but she can't stop herself, and she doesn't want to.

She doesn't ride with him into town this time. Instead, he'd told her to meet him at the little chapel he'd shown her earlier. Wilkins is happy to give her a lift, after she spends extra time and care on her hair and makeup and clothes – the civilian outfit he likes so much and which Lorraine had tried to ruin. 

She's right on time as she walks into the little chapel and looks around for him. "Bucky?"

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"Very impressive," she compliments him, amused, and lifts her glass for him to top her off. She'll have to be careful not to have too much too quickly; she can already feel the warm glow of the wine seeping through her veins.

She looks around the clearing and the trees, blinks up at the dappled sunlight as it comes filtering down. "It reminds me a little of Virginia," she murmurs. "Our house is out in the woods, on the mountain."

[nerves_of_ice]

He refills her glass, then his own, and stretches out to lean on his elbow and look up at her.

"What's it like there? If you can tell me, that is," he amends.

[from_the_outside]

"I don't see why not," she tells him, with a quick smile of her own.

Not when it's just describing a place, anyway. "It's out near the Shenandoah River. The house is way up, tucked away on the mountainside, looking down over the valley. There are a lot of trails to walk along, and some small streams and waterfalls nearby, and a little town down in the valley where we can go to shop and see people."

Her expression has turned dreamy and a little wistful. "I loved going there as a kid. There's a big lawn to run around and play on, and trees to climb. It's so quiet and peaceful there."

[nerves_of_ice]

"It sounds pretty great," he murmurs, looking at the way her gaze goes distant. Bucky promises himself that once she's gone, once she's returned to the time she's come from, he'll go to Virginia, see if he can find this place she loves. Maybe it'll help him feel close to her still, across all the years between them. Maybe he could--

"Do you have a secret hiding place there?" he teases. "Where you keep treasures?"

[from_the_outside]

She laughs, and comes back to the present. "There are some caves nearby," she admits. "Not real caves, just rocks that have been eroded away, but they were great places to hide out and play at being a pirate, burying treasure. I used to hide things there in a metal lunch box."

[nerves_of_ice]

"All you need's an eyepatch," he laughs. "Arrr. That's amazing, I'm never going to forget that."

[from_the_outside]

She laughs and puts a hand over one eye, then scowls theatrically at him.

"My dad and I would draw maps, sometimes," she laughs, when she lowers her hand. "'X marks the spot' and all."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I'm definitely going to remember that, too," he teases. "I can just see you looking for treasure like that. You were cute as a button back then, from those pictures you showed Peggy."

[from_the_outside]

"I was a wild tomboy," she laughs. "My poor parents had no idea what to do with me. Their little blonde angel used to come back covered in grass stains and scratches from running around the woods and climbing trees and playing with the boys."

She smiles, remembering. "Aunt Peggy was the one who really understood me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Looks like she still does," he observes. "Besides, who says an angel can't be tough stuff?"

[from_the_outside]

"Yes, she does."

And Sharon hasn't stopped being grateful for that since her first moments here. She smiles at him and sips her wine. "Angels are tough stuff," she points out. "Isn't the first thing they always have to say to someone: 'don't be afraid'? And then you get into the flaming swords and righteous anger. Very tough."

[nerves_of_ice]

"See?" he teases. "I knew you were an angel, right from the start."

[from_the_outside]

"I guess you did," she teases back.

She wishes she could bring him to the house in Virginia, so they could sit outside in the sun like this, and sleep in the same bed, and have a real chance at time together.

It's impossible, but she wants it anyway.

[nerves_of_ice]

Laughter dances in his eyes as he takes a sip of wine. He looks as relaxed as he feels, stretched out beside her, and at this moment he can't think of anywhere else he'd rather be.

"Sounds like you had a lot of fun growing up."

[from_the_outside]

"I did." She smiles down at him and reaches to run her fingers lightly through the wave of his hair. "I was very fortunate. I still am, I guess."

She's never had to scrape together money to see a movie, or wonder how her family will get fed. She grew up without a care in the world, happy and wild and excited for the future. "And because of Aunt Peggy, I always knew what I wanted to do with my life."

[nerves_of_ice]

He tips his head back just a little, angling into her touch. "Uh-huh," he says, solemnly. "Travel through time and space."

[from_the_outside]

Her laugh bubbles up and out of her and she tightens her fingers gently in his hair to wobble his head, teasing.

"Yep," she agrees. "Got it in one."

[nerves_of_ice]

His breath catches slightly as she tightens her grip and a flash of desire strikes through him. Bucky makes himself not let anything more of it show, or tries, and grins up at her.

"Hey, I know I'm just a simple soldier boy," he teases back, "but I can be quick on the uptake sometimes."

[from_the_outside]

The small gasp he makes is like flint striking steel in her stomach. "There's nothing simple about you, soldier boy," she tells him, smiling, and rakes her fingers through his hair before lifting her hand away.

"Not a damn thing."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Guess you found me out," he murmurs, and takes a last sip of wine before setting the glass to the side on the grass. Bucky flashes a quick grin at her and lies back, hands folded behind his head.

"It's a pretty day."

[from_the_outside]

She smiles and sips at her own wine, then sets her glass aside and settles down next to him, looking up into the dappled leaves and the blue sky beyond. "It is," she agrees. "We really lucked out on the weather."

[nerves_of_ice]

"We did," he agrees. "Although I had a backup plan if it was raining or too messy. A little bit of one, anyway."

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah?"

She rolls her head to look at him, her lips curving. "What was it?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Well, you might see part of it later," he returns, blandly. "And of course, there's always the movies. Those are inside, out of the muck and mire."

[from_the_outside]

"True," she agrees, and amuses herself for a moment with thinking about how much he would probably enjoy a backyard movie night, or a drive-in.

She glances at the little house that sits nearby. "Did it have anything to do with that cottage?"