Life update at the end... read if you want :)

Don't call me lame when I cry over soldiers coming home
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The day you told him you wanted to join, he had mixed feelings. Not only was his mind a whirlwind of sadness and worry, but also of pride and happiness. He was so, so proud of you. But he knew of the risks.

"But we're not in a world war," "It's not that bad," "it'll only be four years," were all your reasons, and as much as he wanted to, he could not argue with them. When he was a Sargent, the world was in the midst of a bloodbath. In the twenty first century, the world was somewhat at peace.

As much as it broke his heart, he let you go.

You came to visit every Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus a week in the summer. It was hard on him, getting by without you. The bed was always colder, he didn't have someone to hold if nightmares came, he kept having an empty feeling fill his heart. It was like if you were to forget something, but not quite remember what you were forgetting, thus feeling that nagging sensation until you had that thing back. It was like that all the time to him.

When he finally got the call that you were coming home, he was more than happy. He ran down the hall of the apartment building and nearly punched Steve's door off the hinges. When Steve finally came to the door, with a serious case of bed head that is, Bucky was already a sobbing mess, exclaiming about your arrival the next day, how he was finally getting his girl back.

"It-It says th-this weekend." Bucky stuttered through his tears. Steve smiled despite the overwhelming tiredness in his eyes.

"That's so great, Buck. Come on, come inside."

The rest of the week was a living hell for Bucky. Each hour dragged on, each minute seemed too long, each second felt like two. It was pure agony, knowing you were so close to being in his arms, near his body, home. He wouldn't ever admit it, but he found as much sanctuary in your arms as you did in his. He was terrified and worried every second, even if he didn't show it. With his... job history, he knew of the real dangers and horrors of the world, and it made him parinoid.

But you, well... you were his rock. His cornerstone. His anchor. You held James down when Winter tried to push him away. You kept Bucky close when the soldier tried to send him flying.

Which was great, because Bucky was afraid of heights.

After what felt like a decade, heck, a century, Saturday finally decided to show up- fashionably late, that is. Bucky was up hours before your planes was scheduled to land. He filled the empty time with dish rags and various cleaning solutions, polishing every surface in your shared apartment until you could see your reflection in it. He loaded the washer and dryer with any article of remotely dirty clothing, swept the wood floors until not a single dust bunny was in sight, and vacuum the rug. He even vacuumed the couch, just to fill time.

He left the apartment an hour before your plane arrived. He knew he would be half an hour early (if he didn't get lost), but he was just too antsy to lay around any longer. He hopped in his car and broke every speeding law on the way to the airport, his heart already pounding against his ribcage in anticipation.

It was surreal to him. His mind was in shock. The woman he loved was finally coming home that day. Back as a soldier, if he showed any interest in a partner, they would go out on missions and never come back. Unbeknownst to you, that's why he held you so close at night, or began to worry if you left the room without him noticing. He was taught to beleive anyone he loved would die.

But you, you never died. You never left. Even when he screamed your name through his nightmares, even when he choked Steve half to death after being caught in a particularly bad hallucination, even after he didn't speak for three days because of a silly argument the two of you had. You stuck with him through it all, only because you loved him so much, and knew he loved you back.

You, in fact, we're the first person to ever steal his heart, before and after the Soldier. James was a womanizer in every way, but that was only because he never found a special girl, one that wasn't like the rest, batting their eyelashes and giggling at everything he said. That was, until he met you.

He always thought about how crazy it was, meeting you. Falling in love. He knew you were meant to be together, it was bluntly obvious, but it was all so crazy to him still. It boggled him how soul mates were born more than 70 years apart, how fate twisted and turned his destiny just so he would meet you. At first he wouldn't allow himself to love you, saying he was out of his time, saying it wasn't meant to happen, it couldn't ever happen. Boy, how wrong he was.

He tapped his foot anxiously against the blue carpet of the airport. He sat in an uncomfortable chair near your gate, families and women on either side of him. Of course, because of his luck, he hadn't gotten lost on his way to your gate, only making the wait for you longer and longer.

"Flight A7 unloading." An intercom system notified, making Bucky raise his eyes to the doorway. He stood as he saw the first few men begin to come out, crying as they saw their families for the first time in months, years. It brought a ghost of a smile to his face, and he begin to wonder what his family would've said if he had returned to Brooklyn. His smile only grew when he thought of his younger sister, Rebecca, standing there with one of those knitted scarves she always used to make, complete with the colors red and orange, Bucky's favorite.

He didn't realize his tears until one slipped down his cheek. He wiped it away and sniffled, trying to control his emotions. He couldn't help his tears, he was a Sargent once. He knew what it felt like to leave home, to not know how your family was doing. He also knew what it felt like to have someone you love fighting the war. It certainly didn't help that the particular person he loved used to be a twig with a temper.

The men continued to file out, and then his heart stopped. He caught a glimpse of your (H/C) hair, your (tall/short) stance, and he couldn't breathe momentarily. You looked around and finally spotted him, a smile breaking out on your face immediately. You dropped your carry on and ran towards him, tears forming in your eyes.

Your bodies collided, Bucky wrapping his arms tightly around your torso as he let his tears fall. A small, almost inaudible, sob escaped his lips, making your heart swell and break at the same time. You pulled away and hastily pressed your lips to his, over and over, in soft, chaste kisses. He took your face between his hands and pulled your lips to his, forcing you to kiss him longer, with such a passion you thought your heart would explode.

He pulled away and let himself stare, taking in your eyes, the beautiful eyes he could get lost in anyday, you lips, the soft pink lips that collided so perfectly with his, your nose, the cute little nose he was constantly leaving butterfly soft kisses on. Everything he was deprived of, every small freckle and wrinkle, he scanned and analyzed just so he could keep your beautiful face in his mind every second of every day.

After you being away for so long, he didn't want to forget it anytime soon.

"I love you, (Y/N), please don't leave again." He said, his voice strained from his tears.

"Never. Never again, Bucky. I love you too. I love you so much." You replied through your own tears, kissing him softly once more. He pulled your body to him and kept you there, not wanting to ever let go.

He finally got his girl back.

A/N

It's official.

Next year, I'm joining ROTC

(Aka Junior Air Force stuff)

((Aka for the military career I plan on having))

So yeah super excited.

:) I'm proud of myself

((( is that bad )))