1942

Rumors are only as true as you believe them to be. So for Bucky, the rumor had broken his heart as he fully believed it.

He didn't bother checking her house. He knew if the rumor was true that she wouldn't be there. She'd be at her husband's house.

It was idiotic and childish to believe that she would have waited for him. He had never asked her to, and she was a grown woman. She had to make her own choices. It wasn't inconceivable to believe she'd grown tired of his absence.

Of course she had moved on. It was only natural. There was no way she'd have even known if he was alive or not, so of course she had settled down, found a man and gotten married. She deserved it, the normal life of a civilian, the safety of knowing her husband would come home everyday.

Didn't mean it hurt him less.

Bucky attended the urgent care in his first few weeks back. Steve was now Captain America and didn't need his help anymore, and they almost reversed roles. With his new job occupation, Steve was rarely around. Bucky didn't blame him. If anything he was proud of him, but he still worried when Steve was deployed and he wasn't.

The urgent care was busy, miners, farmers and soldiers lining the halls, nurses in crisp uniforms flitting from one poor soul to the next. The sound of telephones ringing and hydration drips filled the air, the occasional moan of anguish piercing the static hum.

A short woman with large eyes checked him in after nearly an hour, handing him a clipboard and ushered him to a small cot. Sheets were being used as walls, and after she settled him onto the cot, she shut them, leaving him alone.

Craning his neck back, Bucky shut his eyes, inhaling deeply. The scent of antiseptic was strong, along with a wood chip type odor. He paused. When had he ever noticed the scent of wood chips? It was oddly particular, but he can't ever recall noticing it before. The sound of the metal current hangers moving jarred his attention, but he kept his eyes shut. A rustling came from his left side, and then a sigh.

"I knew you were back."

Bucky sat up dizzyingly fast, peeling his eyes open as he searched for the source of the sound.

Dolores was fixing him with a slight frown, clipboard in hand.

"Hey, doll," he chokes, his throat thick.

She blinks before casting her eyes down to the clipboard. Her hair was pinned, the majority of it hidden under a white cap, and her nails were neatly manicured, tapping lightly as she read.

His heart sighs in relief as he looks for a ring, which was absent.

"Why...why didn't you call?" she asks, finally tearing her eyes away from the chart. When she looks at him, he feels terrible for making her look like that. "Steve was back, which meant you were back, and you didn't call."

"I-I didn't think you'd wanna see me," he replies, sitting up with a light wince.

Dot clicks her teeth, placing the clipboard on the side table and sitting down on the edge of the bed carefully, not touching him. "I can't...that's...that's ridiculous," she mutters, pressing the back of her hand against her mouth. "Do you know w-what's been happening?" He gives her a blank stare and she sighs. "I thought you moved on. I knew you were...alive. But you stopped writing. I cried for days and days and finally I just--" A sob escapes her mouth as she closes her eyes.

Bucky's heart swells. He reaches forward, placing his hand on her knee. "Dot..."

Opening her eyes, she glances at his hand. "You can't do that."

"Why?" he asks.

She glares at him. "Because people will talk," she seethes. "That's all they fucking do. They talk about my business. They say things that aren't even true." Her chin wobbles, and Bucky rubs his thumb on her knee. "I went on a date a few months after you stopped writing," she whispers, her voice ragged. Bucky nods, letting her continue. "He was...nice enough. But not you. When he dropped me off at home, he asked if he could kiss me." Dolores pauseds, glancing at him, trying to read his expression. "I-I told him he could, so he did. But, I didnt...I didn't know he meant that kind of kiss."

"What did he do?" Bucky grumbles, grinding his teeth so hard it ached.

Dolores sighs, patting his hand with her own. "Nothing I haven't done before. But...the neighbor saw. I don't know which one. And while I didn't...really want to, it made me feel better. So...we started necking every night on my porch." Dot pauses, an emmbrassed flush sweeping up her neck. "You know how people talk. And he didn't help the situation, either, telling people I was letting him...do more than kiss."

Bucky groans, squeezing her hand. They sit silently, hands join as Dot sniffed away her tears.

"It's alright, doll," Bucky murmures, scooting closer. "You don't gotta explain. It isn't your fault."

"Is that why you didn't call?" she sobs, turning away. "Because I didn't s-sleep with him, I swear."

Is that what she thought? That she had caused his absence?

"No, no sweetheart of course not," he corrects quickly, moving his hand to her shoulder. "I thought you...got married."

"What?" she snaps, eyes opening wide.

He shrugs, looked away. He had caused them so much wasted time in believing a small rumor. He thought being away would help her, that she was married to someone who could give her a stable life. "I heard you married. So I thought...I shouldn't come around."

She sighs, eyes fluttering shut and leans into his touch. "You would've known I hadn't if you wrote me back," she sniffs. Bucky nods in defeat. "I got all this...all this shit. Because of a boy."

"You're right. I should've," he confesses, leaning toward her. The scent of daisies was so thick it clouded his brain. "I'm so sorry. You don't deserve that, for some stupid fucking boy."

She looks at him, eyes flicking between his own and his mouth. "Fuck it," she whisperes, and Bucky is taken aback by the use of her profanity before she cupps his face and kisses him.

She's just as soft as he remembers. Fingers splayed beneath his jaw, Dot holds him to her, lips smoothly flushed against his as his hands encircle her waist. She moans softly, melting into his kiss, and Bucky lets himself be consumed by the pleasure of exploring her mouth for the first time in years. He flicks his tongue on the seam of her lips, pushing them open and delving inside, craving more.

Dot's arms slip around his neck, tugging him closer and she nearly slides into his lap, the soft material of her nurse dress rubbing against his knees. Bucky's hand wanders, sliding up to brush along the outer part of her breast. She sighs against his mouth as he cups her, massaging the flesh and her fingers dig into the nap of his neck.

"We can't, not harem" she says, pulling away. "I-I can't, I'm working."

Bucky gulps, missing the contact of her lips immediately, but nodding, anyway. She was right, anyone could walk in at any moment. He drops his hands from her chest, but lingers on the rim of her waist as she reluctantly pulls her arms back.

"I missed ya, doll," he mutters, watching her pink lips turn into a shy smile.

"I missed you too," she whispers, fear lacing her tone. "Can I...see you tonight?"

Bucky feels his heart hammer loudly, wondering if she can hear it, too. He was going to be shipped out again as soon as he was healed. He'd have to leave her again.

"Of course you can." She smiles, standing slowly and brushing herself off, hands lightly on her skirt. Reaching forward, Bucky grips her wrist gently, squeezing. "But I...I'll have to leave...again."

She inhales sharply, giving him a curt nod. "I know, and I'll wait."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking, I'm telling you," she interjects, her eyes piercing him with determination. "So stop it. Stop trying to come between us just because of this stupid war. If Steve can change into the world's best soldier, then things can change for us, too. You'll get out one day, and then you'll be home." She leans forward, kissing him hard. "And I'll be right here waiting for you."