In my search to find Peggy to make sure she's alright I come across Howard who quickly pulls me aside, a shield in hand.

"You're gonna wish you were here when I tell you what happened," he begins, and launches into his rendition of the tale as I take in the bullet marks on the vibranium shield, and as fascinated as I am I have to cut him short.

"Yes, Steve had told me about what happened," I tell him, anxious to find Peggy. "He might have a slightly bruised face for the next day or two from me as well."

His eyebrows shoot up. "He didn't try to kiss you too did he?"

"No, and he'd get a far worse hit than that if he ever did," I say and warn "You best heed that warning as well."

"Noted," he quickly says, and I pray for both of our sakes that he actually does.

"I've already worded Steve up today about his conduct, don't make yourself the second victim," I murmur, looking about the lab but not seeing her. "Have you seen Peggy? I've been looking everywhere for her."

"Yeah, I think she might have stepped out for some fresh air," he says and I press my lips together. "I've never seen her that pissed before, and trust me when I say that I've made her pretty mad."

"I can imagine," I say and nod my head to him. "Thank you, Howard."

But just as I go to make my way back up to the top floor of the bunker to track her down I come across Lorraine in the break room, laughing with another secretary as they make coffee.

I've never been one to look down on other women for what they choose to do with their bodies, but I've always been one to take sides when someone is causing trouble and this is no exception. I've tangled with far worse girls in the Red Room than her.

"And you should have seen Agent Carter," Lorraine says and I listen carefully, standing just out of sight. "I knew she had a thing for him but you should have seen her face."

"She's just bitter because you got to him first," her friend replies, and when Lorraine laughs I know that I've found my second victim for the day.

I debate my options, knowing that Peggy would disapprove of me getting involved in any way, and for Peggy's sake I'm about to leave it be.

Until Bucky walks in.

I stand hidden with my arms crossed over my chest, watching with narrowed eyes as she approaches and runs a hand along his arm that seems to make him jump more than anything else. I watch the way he anxiously looks around before finding any excuse he can to leave, dashing back out the door before she even has the chance to introduce herself, and I make a pleased sound before deciding to involve myself.

She's going to be a problem, and I've been trained to take care of problems before they can cause harm later down the line. She's no exception.

Her friend gives a surprised exclamation at Bucky disappearing so swiftly before she leaves the room herself, and I move in now that it's only us and Lorraine.

"He's handsome isn't he?" I say, leaning against the table she stands by. "Although I thought Captain Rogers was more your type." She arches an eyebrow now as she takes me in. "But after spending so many months with him I'm quite used to girls dying to get a bite so I shouldn't be surprised."

"I can only imagine."

"Though I can't say any are successful," I remark and pretend to ponder. "Ever since I've known Steve he's only ever had eyes for one woman in particular."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," she says and I tilt my head. "He's a man, and I've never met one without a wandering eye."

"Yes, speaking of which I do recall Mr Stark telling me about the tryst the two of you had," I say and see the momentary shock that crosses her face. In truth I've never heard a single thing, but based on the balance of probabilities it was a safe bet. "I doubt the Colonel would be happy with his secretary screwing around considering how terribly it would reflect on him. After all, he would be so ashamed to find out that you were one of the WAAC's adding to all the salacious rumours of misconduct."

"Those rumours of misconduct are nothing but tales spread by the jealous wives of soldiers and men who'd rather not see us serve alongside them," she says slowly in an attempt to patronise me, to shame me. "The women within our ranks know that it's rubbish."

"That is true," I acknowledge, and if it weren't for the fact she was openly mocking Peggy's reaction I might have turned a blind eye to her attempted flirtation with Bucky. "Makes you the exception then I suppose."

"I would've thought you'd be grateful for me whisking Captain Rogers away considering your closeness with Agent Carter," she accuses and I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "Isn't that the other salacious rumour they spread? That the WAAC's are either sluts or lesbians?"

Between this secretary and Howard's own remarks I truly am dumbfounded that's the accusation she jumps to instead of all the other's which are actually true. Of all the things I've heard since my recruitment at least it's more creative than being simply insulted as a communist.

Although, if that is an actual rumour it does provide some context to the assumption Howard had made before he saw me kissing Bucky at the expo. Regardless, it does make sense for Howard's ego to believe that Peggy and I are in some type of relationship rather than accept the fact that neither of us have a sexual interest in him.

"Well, women are typically only discharged for being one of those and you can theorise all you like but we all know which you are," I say and catch her wrist as she goes to slap me, but I'm only smiling. "Careful now, after all Mr Stark is a dear friend of mine and he's hardly shy about sharing his exploits within earshot of the Colonel."

"So, this is about Sergeant Barnes then?" she says and I almost welcome the threat, knowing that if she wants to take me down she'd be taking herself with me. "Even if it isn't I've heard my fair share of rumours about you and Howard as well, and you and Captain Rogers for that matter."

I can only scoff at the last accusation.

"Even if I was screwing the three of them as well as Peggy the worst the Colonel would give me is a slap on the wrist," I tell her, considering she knows damn well the messes I've worked my way out of, even if it is a lie. "Keep Agent Carter's name out of your mouth, and if I see you alone in a room with either of those soldiers there'll be consequences." She winces at the pressure I apply to her wrist. "Is that understood?"

Her eyes widen and her voice is stiff. "Yes."

"Very good," I say and release her hand before leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek, just beside the corner of her mouth, on the off chance that she actually does believe her accusation about Peggy and I. "Good day."

She quickly finds her way out, and again I know Peggy would certainly not approve of threatening a woman's career over something so petty, but I was raised in a school full of girls just like Lorraine. She'd be the first to gossip if she did catch wind of either Peggy or I getting involved with those boys, and I know precisely how important a little bit of fear and a little blackmail is at keeping a person quiet. Even if she attempted to use her own against me we've established what she believes to be a mutually assured destruction, and whilst I'd escape with only minor injury she certainly wouldn't.

The man minding the entrance to the bunker passes judgement upon seeing me leaving for the third time today and considering I can't use the excuse that I left my jacket at church again I give a half honest lie. "I've been asked to locate Agent Carter."

He lets me leave and while it does take a little while to locate Peggy after a few minutes of asking after a woman in uniform I manage to locate her sitting outside of a nearby cafe.

Her face is downcast, even as she looks up to see me approaching and manages a smile, but I can see the remnants of tears on her face and she immediately knows.

"Which one of them told you?" she asks as I sit down with her.

"Steve," I answer and she's visibly upset at the mention of his name. "Although Howard was quite excited to show me the bullet marks you left in his shield."

That manages to make her smile properly, even if it's only in pride. "I might have gotten slightly carried away but I got my message across." She's quiet before looking at me in confusion "And where were you while this was happening?"

"I was out with Sergeant Barnes," I admit somewhat anxiously considering the situation, and she gives a shake of her head but she still manages to smile for me. "After he'd walked me back to our room I went to pull him inside to do things that I would have vehemently denied to you later, but I ended up nearly breaking Steve's nose instead."

"What?" she exclaims, as if I was the one that shot at him. "Because of me? And what the hell was Steve doing in our room?"

"No, but I was still tempted to punch him again after he told me what had happened," I assure her, patting her hand. "He was waiting inside to see me considering he couldn't find Bucky to ask advice on what to do. When I'd tripped over his foot in my haste to drag Bucky in there my first reaction was to throw a right hook." She seems far from upset, a slight mischief to her smile. "It landed well."

She manages to laugh before shaking her head in anger. "That American bastard. I should have known better. I should have known that the moment he walked out of Howard's death trap looking like he does now that he'd become like all the rest." Her voice drips with disdain. "A true soldier."

I know damn well that she would have kept a brave face until the moment she was alone, and that she'll continue to keep her head high and act unbothered when she returns to base, but I also know just how much she cares for Steve.

"I wouldn't be so certain," I say, gathering that she'd left before he could explain himself, or more likely that he simply failed to explain himself regardless. "As much as I hate to defend Steve right now, it was Lorraine who kissed him, and he was simply the idiot that didn't know what to do."

She looks up in surprise, clarifying "She was the one that kissed him?"

"Yes, and while he certainly isn't innocent he wasn't the one who initiated it," I say and that knowledge visibly changes something. "I did give him quite the lecture, and after that punch hopefully some of it's stuck."

Still, she's hesitant. "Either way it's for the best, I can't get involved in anything that could jeopardise my position, or at least more than I already have after that operation in Italy."

"I know," I say gently, knowing damn well just how much she risked for Steve. "And I told him as much. That your position is more important to you than anything else and that if his feelings are genuine he'll respect that and wait until the end of this blasted war for that dance." I squeeze her hand tight, telling her what I know to be true. "He's been mad about you since you met, and while he certainly deserved to be shot at, this error of his wasn't intentional."

She seems to believe that before she suddenly remembers something, scoffing before she exclaims "Did he tell you that he accused me of sleeping with Howard to justify it?"

My mouth falls open and I have to clear my throat, suddenly wishing that I'd hit him harder. "No, no he didn't."

"I'm so bloody frustrated with these men," she mutters while I reassess my approach. "Howard is a friend but god I want to strangle him sometimes with his damn flirting, and for Steve of all people to go and use that against me-"

She has to cut herself off and I assure her "Well, at least I know I'm not alone in having to explain to my soldier that I'm not sleeping with Howard either, although to his merit he inquired with a bit more tact than Steve."

"Bloody Howard," she mutters and we can share an exasperated laugh at that at least, and I choose my next words carefully, choosing to ease her frustration through distraction.

"Do you know what else I learned today?"

She sighs in hesitation. "What?"

"Apparently there's a rumour that we're lesbians and I'm pretty sure Howard had convinced himself it was true since we've never slept with him," I say, and it's that absurd we can't help but laugh. "Because surely that's the only reason his charms couldn't work on us."

She's still laughing as she asks "Where the bloody hell did you hear that from?"

"You don't want to know," I laugh and pat her hand again, deciding not to tell her about my conversation with Lorraine considering she may turn some of that anger towards Steve towards me for threatening someone. "At least we could always play into that if they caught us out with the boys. It's not as if they could prove it, and even if they did they'd be less likely to discharge us for fraternising with each other than they would be if they caught us with them."

"Yes well, it would be better for them to believe that and not find any proof than for them to actually discharge us for something legitimate," she says, but that amusement soon fades. "I just- what I saw was the last thing I expected after our conversation last night."

"I know Peg," I say gently and she holds my hand, struggling to keep composure. "You have every right to be upset, but at the end of the day he's... he's Steve."

"Is that code for utterly terrible with women?"

"Yes, and if it helps he and Bucky were both calling me ma'am by the time I finished the lecture I'd given him."

That manages to make her smile a little, but soon it again falters.

"I suppose it won't matter anyways, before long he'll be sent to the front," she says and my stomach drops slightly, and she pauses upon seeing the uncertainty in my eyes. "I suppose you were told about the meeting then?"

"Yeah, but we don't need to talk about that now," I say and hold her hand tight. "I can happily prolong thinking about the ordeal that meeting will be for a little longer."

She gives a strained smile, but still says "Even if they don't grant permission for you to join Steve's unit, I do have contacts here that I can bring you to meet. If the United States refuses to allow you to operate in the field MI6 would be interested in your services." I'm quiet as she continues "Obviously a deal would have to be made between your government and MI6, but it wouldn't be impossible."

I lean forward with my elbows on the table in contemplation. "From what I can gather, if I were to be put on Steve's team under a military rank it would require permission from the President himself due to the precedent it would set."

"Which is why I speculate that they'll give you the title of agent and remove any association with the WAAC's," she says and I nod in agreement. "Otherwise they'd have to tell the entire damn country that they've allowed a woman to become a front-line soldier and we both know the scandal that would cause, but the title of agent is ambiguous enough that they could just get away with it. If the United States won't take that risk, I believe that MI6 will in recruiting you to the SOE."

Female agents are becoming increasingly common in the West, playing vital roles in collecting intelligence and assisting in sabotage, but even the most elite are not sent out to do a soldiers job.

"I know that they'll tell me my skills can best be used elsewhere rather than on the front lines, MI6 would certainly make good use of them. Even in the Red Room we were repeatedly reminded that we weren't soldiers," I tell Peggy and she studies my face. "But..."

"It's personal," she finishes and I nod. "You want to be out there taking the fight directly to Hydra. You don't want to work from a distance, you want to be in the thick of it." Her voice turns serious. "Getting your hands bloody."

"I do," I say, relieved that she understands why I'm pursuing this even if she doesn't necessarily approve. "I want Zola dead and Hydra gone."

But she sees through the bullshit. "You want revenge."

And so I don't bother lying. "Yes."

She's hesitant, looking down at our joined hands with a pained expression. "Your anger is justified, and you know that I will support you in going into the field, but you must know that no amount of bloodshed will undo what was done to you."

"No, but it will stop it from being done to anyone else," I say and she knows who I'm referring to. "Steve's team is made up of soldiers, but it won't be enough. They'll go from base to base destroying everything in their path and they'll be praised as heroes for it, but they don't have the delicate hand that will be needed to infiltrate, extract and eliminate."

As an agent she understands the difference, she understands that it's our job to do the things they don't ask of common soldiers, but she still pinpoints my personal motivations. "What do you aim to learn from capturing and torturing Zola that you don't already know?"

I don't have an answer, and she reads me better than any person ever has.

"Or do you simply want to be the one on the other side of that electric chair? In control of his life, of his freedom. Putting him in the position you were once in?"

"Yes," I say again, letting go of her hand to reach for the cigarettes inside the pocket of my dress. "And I'll be doing the world a service."

"While following your own vendetta?"

"Two things can be true," I say as I light it. "But you know that my motivations aren't solely selfish, as much as I want revenge I also want to do my part in putting an end to this war."

"I know," she assures me, and there's no anger in either of our voices. We know each other too well for that. I've never had to pretend when it comes to Peggy, not when she was the one who put together my file, and I'm sure she knows that I've done my research on her as well. "I just don't want to see you put back into a cell."

"You and me both Peg," I exhale, and yet not even the smoke that invades my senses can bring relief from my nerves. "Let's walk back to headquarters, it may yet be the last night I spent there."

She nods and arm in arm we walk, it's not until we're back in the privacy of our shared room that she inquires "How was your date with Sergeant Barnes?"

"It was lovely," I say and my voice is unexpectedly strained. "He told me that if we're separated he wants to write to me, to be with me when this is all done."

She's confused by my anxious tone. "Is that not what you want?"

"I've never been allowed to want," I try to explain and my voice is hoarse. "Certainly never to dream. But I want to, and I want him. I want to dream of a life where I could be just like any other American girl, and maybe when I'm with Bucky I can pretend, but sooner rather than later he's going to learn that's not possible."

We've never spoken of it, but when two girls share close quarters they become aware of the more intimate parts of one anothers existence. She knows that I've never had a period in the time that I've been here and she knows what that most likely means, but still she clarifies "Because of your actions as a Soviet agent?"

"Partly," I say and clear my throat. "I told him my story, although admittedly with the more gruesome aspects left vague. I truly do believe that he may be able to overlook what I've done, even if he learns the true extent of it, but no, that's not what would make a future together impossible."

Peggy's quiet for a moment before she carefully says "Your worth isn't dependent on your ability to have children."

The air is suddenly cold and my voice shakes "You're right. My worth is dependent on my ability to kill." I manage to meet her eye and find only pain. "I was brought into this world so I could be made into an asset, born and raised with only one purpose in mind. So what am I without that? I'll never be a mother, the Red Room made sure of that."

She moves to sit down beside me, taking my hand in hers. "Are you certain that-"

"They tore out my uterus whilst I was still conscious, so yes I am quite certain," I say stiffly and her face falls, horror filling her eyes. "What's done was done and there's no undoing it, but-"

I choke on whatever words where going to come out and silently she brings me into her arms. I'm shaking as I hold onto her, fighting back tears. "My god."

"Do you understand now why I was so desperate to bring my sister to America?" I ask and pull back enough to look at her. "I raised her from when she was a baby and then suddenly I was seventeen on an operating table having my own chance at having a baby taken away. I didn't even understand what they were doing to me until it was over, then when the shock faded all I knew was that she was the closest thing I'd ever have to my own child. She still is."

"Oh Ada," she says sadly and I wipe at my face, determined to maintain composure.

"No matter how badly I wish that I could undo what they did, I can't," I say, and repeat what I'd been taught. "Love is conditional, especially the love of a man. As women we're taught that their love depends on our ability to give them children, to be a good and obedient wife. Love, no matter how passionate it may be, can always be ripped away. So without love, and without a mission, what will be left for me once this war's done?"

She doesn't falter in her answer. "Freedom."

Even now, freedom itself seems like a purgatory with this terrible thing lingering over me. "To do what?"

"Live," she says and holds my eye. "Despite what you were taught, you do have a place in this world, and I'll be damned if you don't find it." My lip trembles and I have to look away, but she remains steadfast. "Your worth is not dependent on your ability to blindly follow orders and take lives, and it is certainly not dependent on your ability to give a man children. You are an intelligent woman who wants to right the wrongs that she's done, to save people instead of what you've been trained to do, and that is precisely what you will do when you are given the title of agent."

There's tears in my eyes. "I don't know if a lifetime is enough to be able to right those wrongs."

"Well, it's enough to make a start," she says and leans in. "And as for Sergeant Barnes. Men are just men, and there is more to life than marriage. I know that you know that."

"But I still want it," I manage to finally admit. "I want to fight, to end this war, and then I want to live a normal life because that would be the greatest act of defiance against my upbringing. To prove to them that they were wrong, that I am capable of love... and of being loved, and that I do have a place in this world."

"See," she says softly. "You do believe it."

She smiles now, and so do I.

Tears slip down my face as she brings me back into her arms and I hold her tight, more grateful for her than I've ever been for anyone.

"I hope you know Peg, just how much you mean to me," I breathe through tears. "You were the first person to take a chance on me, and I'll never forget that."

She cups my face, wiping the tear from beneath my eye. "I can't believe that I've only just gotten you back and I might yet lose you to Steve and his band of soldiers."

That manages to make me laugh. "Don't worry Peg, no matter what happens with those two boys, you'll always be my favourite." I end up in her arms with my head on her shoulder, and this, being this close with another woman without fear of having my throat cut is something else I never thought would be possible. "And I might yet hit Steve again if he doesn't heed my lecture."

"Please do, you're the only other super solider in this building so someone has to," she says and we laugh together. "And for the record, if Sergeant Barnes sees you any differently because you can't carry children then he isn't the one." I'm quiet in contemplation as she strokes my hair. "If you want marriage and a family then it doesn't have to be in the traditional sense, the right man would be more than happy to adopt if it meant spending their life with you."

For a moment I let myself picture it, and know in my heart how badly I want it. Many women rebel against that type of life because it's what's forced upon them, and perhaps my own want for it is a form of rebellion in itself since they had so brutally tried to rip it away.

Still, all I know is that I want it. I want a family. Whether it's one that I've found or one of my own making. I want it more than anything.

"Thank you Peg," I say quietly, holding onto her. "And as for Sergeant Barnes... he might be a man but I really like this one." My face warms at the sight of the roses on the dresser. "I really do."

~

Once Peggy's returned to her duties I'm again left alone, mulling over the choices in front of me with a cigarette in hand until it grows nearer to the time of the meeting, and by the time there's a knock on the door I'm using a blanket to wave the cigarette smoke out of the room and into the vents.

"Come in!" I call out and look over my shoulder to see someone I don't expect. "Bucky?" I quickly turn back around and straighten my skirt, caught by surprise and ushering him in. "Another surprise visit?"

"I just thought I'd come by and see how you were before the meeting," he says, taking in my mildly disheveled state as shuts the door behind him and his hands settle on my waist. "Nervous?"

"I'm fine, just trying to get the smoke out of here before Peggy comes back," I tell him, and notice how his eyes trace my figure that's now dressed with an SSR uniform. "She isn't overly fond of it, and well she's already shot at one person today. God forbid someone else provokes her before the end of the day."

"Right," he says with a look of amusement on his face. "You know you've got a pretty damn good right hook."

"Well, thank you," I say proudly. "I'd feel bad if Steve wasn't a super soldier."

In truth I wouldn't, but I need to feign at least some empathy.

He laughs. "It's never stopped him from getting into fights before. Back when he was just a little guy from Brooklyn I'd be the one to step in and end it."

"I'm sure you were," I say, looking him up and down in his uniform. "It must be strange for you. One moment you're bidding him farewell and the next he's there all suited up as Captain America. I know that I was rather stunned by the effect the serum had myself."

"I won't lie, it was sure as hell a surprise," he says with a fond smile. "But I couldn't be prouder of him. All he wanted was to join the army and look at him now." Yet the apprehension in his voice contradicts his words. There may be pride, but there's more concern than anything else. "Last night before you showed up I told him I wasn't following Captain America, I was following that little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb to stay out of a fight. Although I never thought I'd have to talk him through what to do after a fight with a woman."

"Do let him know that it's quite poor form to try to justify kissing another girl by falsely accusing the one he actually wants of sleeping around," I say and mouths a silent curse, Steve also having neglected to tell him that part apparently. "But you are a good friend to him Bucky, he's lucky to have you. God knows that he never stopped talking about you to anyone that would listen."

That seems to surprise him. "Really?"

"Oh yes," I assure him. "Steve would tell me all about his best friend Bucky and the trouble you'd have to drag him out of. Now I think of it I never asked, you two are the same age aren't you?"

"I'm a year older," he says and I blink in surprise, both of us realising that while sharing our upbringings that we'd neglected the most basic facts. "You're the same age as Agent Carter aren't you, Steve said she was twenty... two?"

"I'm a year younger," I answer and he's visibly surprised considering women under twenty one are scarcely allowed to enlist. "My Dad had to pull a few strings to let me enlist when I was going on nineteen."

"So you were born in '22?" he asks and I nod. "I was born in '17"

"I thought you were younger," I mention and he blinks at me in confusion until I tease "You have a baby face when you're clean shaven."

He laughs loudly and shakes his head at me, holding me by the waist and moving us back towards the wall until my back's pressed against it, teasing "What was that?"

"At ease soldier, I never said you weren't handsome," I laugh, only for my breathing to become heavy and as his hand slips down to the small of my back, setting off a chain reaction that has me suddenly struggling to form any coherent words.

"Yeah?" he murmurs, and I nod absentmindedly, my eyes focused on his lips until he gently lifts my chin up with his knuckle to meet his eye. "You know... I think I could talk Steve into going out for drinks tonight, have the room to myself." I hum as his knuckle slips down the side of my neck, electrifying every nerve ending. "I know what we said about cherishing this, and believe me sweetheart I have every intention of that, but-"

"We can cherish this and still take our clothes off."

The words slip out without any thought and his pupils are blown wide as I look up at him, our lips colliding a mere second later. Sheer unbridled desire overwhelms any sense and the intensity of the kiss alone threatens to knock me off my feet. His tongue seeks mine out and I'm gasping into his mouth when he picks me up, my legs instinctually wrap around his waist and my back's flush to the wall as lips find my neck.

"Bucky," I rasp and I'm tugging his jacket from his shoulders at the same moment he crosses the room to lay me down on my bed, my legs slipping to hook around the backs of his thighs as his body covers mine, kissing me as if every ounce of pent up desire since we met's come spilling out at once.

When he pulls back his eyes search mine for just a moment and I nod, giving my consent for whatever follows. My chest rises and falls and my skirt's hiked up around my hips as his hand runs along the underside of my thigh, moving slowly up the side of my body and over my breast until it reaches the top button of my blouse.

The sheer intensity of his gaze alone has me breathless, even before he single handedly undoes the top button. I'm nodding him on in encouragement as he moves for the second button and his mouth dips down to my neck, gasping as he mouths at a particularly sensitive spot and I'm using my bodyweight to pull him firmly between my legs.

He smiles against my neck and moves for the third button before we're interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared and as he jumps off of me I'm faced with the sight of Peggy standing there with her hands on her hips, having caught us red handed.

She doesn't look overly angry, not even particularly disapproving, but just purely exasperated.

"Ma'am," Bucky says, red faced and standing at attention whilst I offer an apologetic smile, buttoning up the top of my blouse and sitting upright with my legs now tucked to the side, trying to subtley move my skirt back down my thighs.

"Sergeant Barnes," Peggy sighs before she raises her eyebrows at me. "Did you forget that your meeting is at seven?"

"And... what time is it now?"

"Quarter to seven," she says and I nod, knowing that I wouldn't have been late, or well, that I wouldn't have been before Bucky came to visit. "I'll give the two of you a moment to make yourselves decent."

She steps outside, shutting the door behind her, and I'm battling an inappropriate smile when I meet Bucky's eye, although he only looks slightly more mortified.

"Guess we probably should have locked that," he says as I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, picking up his jacket as I stand.

"Considering she has a key I don't think it would have bought us too much extra time to compose ourselves," I jest and he lets me help him slip back into his jacket. "Hey, it could have been worse. Just ask poor Steve."

That manages to make him laugh. "That's true."

"And I think we might have been a little too distracted to hear anyways," I say, straightening the front of his jacket, and his eyes soften as he gently fixes my hair and my collar for me, both of us wearing the same close-lipped smile. "I need to fix my lipstick too don't I?"

He nods and kisses me one more time. "That you do, sweetheart."

I peck his lips before kissing his cheek, wanting to stay close to him for just a moment longer and he brings me into his arms, nuzzling into me. "We're always getting interrupted aren't we?"

"Twice in one day," he says and we share a quiet laugh before he gently cups my cheek, studying my face before murmuring "You're an angel, you know that?"

I don't have the heart to correct him, not when I know that the truth is about to be laid out on the table for him and the rest to see, and so instead I hold his face and kiss him slowly.

"James," I say quietly, not knowing how tonight will end, but knowing that there are things he needs to know regardless of what my fate will be. "There's some things I need to tell you when this meeting's done."

He seems more concerned than alarmed by my grave tone and nods, leaning forward to kiss my forehead and hold me close for a moment longer before we hear Peggy quietly knocking at the door, wordlessly urging us to get a move on, and quickly I go to the vanity to fix my lipstick.

"Come on sweetheart," he says once I'm done, helping straighten my uniform before opening the door for me and I step out, almost the very picture of sophistication as we meet Peggy in the hallway who looks between us with hesitation, considering her words before she speaks.

"I recommend that the pair of you keep this well behind closed doors," she says and I know it's personal experience that informs her next words. "Being a woman in our position is difficult enough without our superiors using our relationships with men to discredit us, but there are also very strict rules regarding fraternisation that you would both be aware of. Even if you aren't discharged for it they certainly would not allow you on the same unit together."

That seems to make Bucky stand a little straighter, giving a stiff nod as the weight of what this relationship would mean for us, for me, especially if it's exposed. Although for me it's merely another variable in what is already an exhausting list.

"I'm a spy, I can be subtle when I need to be," I assure her, and give Bucky a reassuring squeeze of my hand considering we're alone with the exception of Peggy. "You go on ahead, I'll meet you there in a minute."

He nods and squeezes my hand back before letting go, and my heart's in my throat as I watch him walk away. Peggy and I stand there together a moment longer and she says "When you said that you liked him I wasn't aware of quite how much."

That manages to make me laugh a little before my voice turns quiet. "Well, we'll see what comes of it after this meeting." 

A/N: This chapter ended up reaching 14k words so I've split it into two, the next half should be up very soon. It also gets a little smutty at the end.

Throughout the story her upbringing in the Red Room will very much permeate Ada's character and the decisions she makes, especially when it comes to her distrust of other women as is seen in this chapter, although this will be something that is resolved.

There will be quite a few more chapters set in the 1940's considering that it will be pretty morbid for both her and Bucky after the time jump and I want to give them a fleshed out love story before getting into the tragedy.