"I- I really need to go now!" I fight against the nurse and get interrupted by my cough that scratches against my throat. For minutes, I try to leave my bed and the hospital ward but this stupid woman refuses to let me go. It's a damn emergency, I need to talk to my best friend about this, about the indirect proposal that Bucky just did. I need to see Steve.

"See?! That happens when you want to leave your bed before you properly recover! And now sit down!" The blonde hisses and I glare at her while coughing as she hands me roughly a mug with a gray liquid. "Drink. That helps against your sore throat."

I do as she says, grudgingly choking down the disgusting and bitter medicine that I rather wanna spit out again. To my relief, Howard enters the hospital ward with a cup of hot steaming tea in his hand and a typical smirk on his lips. The nurse immediately flattens her dress, being sure that everything on her looks perfect. Oh, God, Howard probably slept with her and now she's his marionette.

"I brought you a cup of tea for your throat. It's not as good as Jarvis' but he took a few days off to see his wife Anna." He greets me friendlily and places the cup on the table next to me.

"Thanks." My voice is scratchy but I enjoy the glare from the nurse. "Have you seen Steve? I need to talk to him."

"I think Barnes is talking to him right now in the cafeteria, why?" Howard doesn't pay attention to the blonde which drives her angry, her furious glances reveal the frustration.

"Amazing." I mutter sarcastically and clear my throat, assuming that they're talking about what just happened a while ago. He frowns and I sigh, referring to the nurse. "Private matter."

"No problem. Samantha, you can go." He commands rudely and carelessly, not even wasting a look at her. She narrows her eyes before leaving the room with a quiet glare. "Drink your tea before you start talking about your problem, it took me really long to make it. And I wanted to look for you since it's basically my fault that you went into Hydra's trap."

Sipping from the tea, I feel how great it effects on my throat, it works much better than the gross medicine. "So you think they just tried to steal the Manhattan Project to make us walk into their facility? Because they knew we would definitely do more than just blowing up the facility then?"

"Exactly." Howard nods and sits down on the chair where Bucky was sitting before. "So what's the private matter you're worrying about?"

I press my lips together, not knowing if I should really tell him about this. I'd rather talk with Steve or Mr Jarvis but neither of them is here and I just need advice. Howard may have different views on the topic of relationships but I trust him, he's my friend and partner. "When I woke up, Bucky told me how scared he was and that I cannot die before... before, and I quote, 'becoming Mrs Barnes'."

Howard raises a brow in the air, being speechless and quiet before shrugging casually. "The guy definitely knows what he wants."

"Not helpful." I roll my eyes, drinking more tea although my tongue gets burned. "I don't know if he actually meant it serious or if he just said it because the anxiety overwhelmed him. God, this is so awkward to talk with you about it."

"I've had far worse conversations." He gives a shrug and leans comfortably against the chair. "And what would you answer if he actually meant it serious?"

"He's the love of my life." I answer without hesitation. "But... even though I've changed, I still have the feeling that I'm not enough for him. He probably wants kids and I don't know if I would be a good mother, I mean... how can I be a good mother if I never had one?" I pause for a second, sighing. "Get Steve, it's too awkward with you."

"No, no, I'm not gonna laugh or anything, I promise." Howard assures me with a serious tone. "Don't worry about kids, you're just, what, 24?"

"25." I correct him, rolling my eyes.

"25... already? Then it's about time to get married- " The pillow that lands in his face interrupts the crap he's talking about and he raises his hands acquiescently in the air. "Okay, all jokes aside, I've know you for almost a year now and what I've seen so far just assures me that you're one of the greatest people I've ever met. So just don't worry. If he meant it serious, then he'll show up again. And if not, then just wait for it."

I half smile and am thankful for his almost helpful advice. Bucky probably just accidentally said it, not meaning it. I mean, during those two and a half months, we didn't talk about our future, just focused on the missions. "Okay, thank you."

"See? It's not awkward to talk about serious matters with me, you can even ask me for advice when it's about sex- "

"Out. Now." I point at the door and groan as he lets out an amused chuckle. "And don't forget to leave the five cents for me. You crossed the border."

"Get well soon." He stands up, smirking before heading to the door. I glance at him and arch an eyebrow, remembering how Bucky mentioned the way Howard would apparently look at me and right now, I just realize that he described me as one of the greatest persons he ever met. But he probably just meant it as a friend.

"Howard." I stop him and he turns around, giving me an inquiring look. Tilting my head, I frown at my own ridiculous question. "You don't have a crush on me, do you?"

"What?" He raises his brows in the air and is taken aback, confusion is in his brown eyes. "How come you think that?"

"Bucky assumed it." I shrug, now being sure that Howard doesn't have more feelings than physical desires for a woman. "Doesn't matter, just wanted to ask."

"Oh, Eve, I think Barnes is the only one crazy enough to fall for you." He says teasingly and leaves the room while I chuckle slightly and roll my eyes. Bucky's jealousy probably gave him those delusional ideas.

***

I haven't seen Bucky since yesterday, he's been avoiding me this entire time and now I'm done with it because I miss him. Spending a day without talking to him is not even a day, it's just a lonely oblivion. And I really want to solve the little dilemma that has arisen between us. Walking around, I look for Bucky but I don't even find the others like Steve or Howard.

"Colonel Philips, I'm looking for Sergeant Barnes. Have you seen him?" I ask the chief of the SSR with a high amount of respect in my voice. I screwed up a lot with him.

"I can't believe that I'm doing this." He just answers, making me frown as he clears his throat and rolls his eyes. "Look for the blood red woman on a map and you'll get your next hint."

"Wait, what?" I tilt my head, raising a brow in the air. "I-is that a riddle? What's that supposed to mean, why should I look for a blood red woman on a map?"

"Just do as I say." He commands rather pissed and walks away, leaving me alone with discomposure and my jaw drops open. What the hell should that mean and why is he doing this??

This whole thing is ridiculous and doesn't make sense at all but it seems to be planned so I start thinking. Blood red, blood red woman... Well, that's not very difficult, he may mean Peggy since she's the only female soldier here and wears blood red lipstick. But on the map? What's that supposed to mean?

"Come on. Map, map, map, where are- " I pause and my eyes widen at the realization that hits me like lightning. There's a huge map in the conference room, she must be there. With fast steps, I rush to the conference room and after minutes, I in fact spot the brunette woman with a smile on her blood red lips. "Hey, Peggy, do you know what's going on? And where Bucky is? Colonel Philips just gave me a weird riddle to find you for some reason."

"Find the man who calls his helmet melon. A little hint to his location: he's surrounded by the smell of apples." She grins and I groan, my hand running down my face.

"Seriously, you too? Can't you just explain what's going on?"

"I'd hurry if I was you." She gives me this tip and turns back to her work. I groan annoyed, being done with this ridiculous game and just do as she says. Dugan calls his helmet melon and he's probably in the cafeteria since apple pie is on the menu today. Trotting tiredly to the cafeteria, I already notice the Howling Commando from the distance.

"Can't you just tell me where Bucky is, Dum Dum?" I sigh, interrupting him from eating his apple pie and he laughs joyfully. I slowly become impatient and still want to know why they're doing this. Can't I just talk to Bucky without this ridiculous game? I need to see him.

"He's a millionaire and- "

"Yeah, yeah, alright, it's Howard. Don't tell me more, I don't need to hear it. And I know that he's in the lab because where else should that idiot be. God, can't anyone tell me what's going on?" I groan and leave him, hearing his giggle from the corridor. Walking down to the basement, I enter Howard's lab and see him with goggles experimenting with chemicals.

"Oh, that was fast." He comments, not even looking up. Of course, he knows that it's me without glancing for once at the door. "Alright, listen carefully. America's favorite boy, the living flag of our nation is at America's favorite place to celebrate."

"Don't tell me I seriously have to go to the pub just to hear the next hint from Steve." I tilt my head, not believing what I'm hearing right now. The pub is like twenty minutes away.

"Nope, just kidding, he's just in the library." Howard chuckles and I roll with my eyes, heading to the door. "Oh, wait, Eve. Let me tell you one thing. This puzzle is worth it."

"Alright, I trust you." I shrug and walk to the library that is at the end of the corridor. They seriously let me walk around the whole SSR facility for the information to Bucky's location. He probably planned it to make it up for his accidental proposal and maybe is gonna take me out for dinner, it'd sound like him.

"Hey, Eve." Steve smiles innocently at me when I enter the library and I look around but Bucky is not in sight. "Are you feeling better? Sorry that I didn't visit you."

"It's alright and I recovered. Super-soldier serum." I reason and sigh. "You're my best friend, just tell me where Bucky is and this stupid puzzle game is gonna end."

"The sergeant is at a place where he feels home at most, safe and sound." He smirks happily and I shoot him an inquiring glance. "I can't tell you what's going on, you need to find it out yourself."

"I hate you all." I groan and could do it again when I realize that Bucky's in my room. He must have gone there when I was walking around like a maniac. Making my way to my room, I let out a sigh and yawn, being curious about the result of this puzzle now. I arrive there and open the door, seeing Bucky sitting on my bed with a large grin as if nothing ever happened.

"That's it?" I let out a little chuckle and stare at him with disbelief as he stands up. "Bucky, why did you plan this puzzle? You even included Colonel Philips which was pretty weird for me and why couldn't you just tell me where you were? I know that what happened yesterday was pretty new and we haven't discussed it but- "

"Evelyn Farrell." He takes my hand as he kneels down, smiling passionately at me with his shining blue eyes. "Will you marry me?"