CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
THE RIGHT PARTNER

THEY MARCHED TOWARDS THE CAMP, Celeste walking beside of Bucky with her head held high. The claps of the other soldiers could be heard, cheers following closely behind and Celeste couldn't help the wide smile that fell on her face when she saw Evenly standing there. She could see the relieve that fell over the blonde's face. Steve stopped in front of Phillips.

     Steve gave him a salute. "Some of these men need medical attention." Colonel Phillips looked towards one of the medics and the man immediately started rounding the wounded up. "I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action."

     "That won't be necessary."

     Steve looked at him before nodding his head. "Yes, sir."

     Phillips turned towards Peggy before saying, "Faith, huh?"

     Evelyn was quick to go up to her brother and pulled him in for a hug to which he gladly hugged her back. Celeste watched the interaction with a small smile on her face. Evelyn pulled away before punching from the hug before punching Steve in the arm. "What the hell, Steve? I've been waiting days for your call."

     He held up the destroyed transponder before shrugging. "Couldn't call my ride." Evelyn scoffed and rolled her eyes before the siblings exchanged a hug once more.

     "Hey!" Bucky called. "Let's give it up for Captain America." The men all cheered and Evelyn smiled before making her way over towards Celeste and pulling the angel in for a hug. Celeste didn't hesitate to tightly hug her back.

     "I'm so glad you're okay." Evelyn whispered.

     "Me too." Celeste nodded. Evelyn squeezed her a little tighter before pulling away and offering her a small smile before Celeste turned towards Bucky. Celeste stopped in front of him, looking up as he looked down at her. Their eyes met. Bucky watched as tears seemed to fill her eyes, Celeste shaking her head as her voice grew soft against the loud yells of the other soldiers.

     "What is it?" Bucky asked.

     "You can call me crazy all you want, but I was sent here to protect you, James." Celeste told him. "I'm a guardian angel. I was sent to protect you, and I couldn't even do that with such failure."

     Bucky shook his head, placing a hand on her cheek. "You are not a failure. You know why?" Celeste shook her head. "Because here you are, standing here to protect me from the things that have taken place and the people that want to do nothing but harm to me." He offered her a small smile. "Celeste, you saved my life. And if it wasn't for you and Steve, I would probably be dead right now." Celeste offered him a small smile. "What do you say you and I go dancing tonight?"

     Her smile widened. "I would like that very much."

     "Me too." He looked at her for a moment before he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Celeste's eyes fluttered closed as she kissed him back, her heart pounded in her chest and stomach did several flips, but nonetheless she couldn't help the wide smile that fell on her face.

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     Evelyn, Celeste, and Peggy all stood there, watching as Steve pointed out all of the other bases that he managed to find out on the map. He managed to point out six of them on the map before looking at the three women who were looking at him with surprise. He shrugged. "I just got a quick look."

     "Well, nobody's perfect." Peggy answered before walking away. Evelyn looked at her brother and just rose an eyebrow. He sent her a small smile before Celeste, Evelyn, and Steve all made their way to the table where the map now laid out with tiny structures of the bases and the possibility of where they would be at.

     "These are the weapon factories we know about." Steve started. "Sergeant Barnes said that HYDRA shipped all the parts to another facility that isn't on this map."

     "Agent Carter, coordinate with MI6. I want every allied eyeball looking for that main HYDRA base."

     "What about us?" Evelyn questioned.

     "We are going to set a fire under Johann Schmidt's ass." He was handed a paper by a blonde woman who seemed to have bored look on her face. "What do you say, Rogers? It's your map. You think you can wipe HYDRA off of it?"

     "Yes, sir." Steve nodded. "I'll need a team."

     "We're already putting together the best men."

     That's when Steve and Celeste exchanged looks with one another before Steve turned back towards Phillips and said, "With all due respect, sir, so am I."

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The three women made their way to the bar, the group of loud singing men going silent as their eyes lingered on the three absolutely gorgeous females. Evelyn was wearing a blue dress whilst Celeste went with a soft lilac color that made her look so innocent and Peggy was wearing a vibrant red that fit her body well. Celeste glanced towards Evelyn to see she had a smirk on her face before spotting her brother and walking towards him with Peggy and Celeste following after her.

     "Eve, Celeste, Agent Carter." Steve greeted them as he and Bucky stood a little straighter at the sight of the women.

     "Howard has some equipment for you to try." Peggy told the man.

     Celeste smiled as she looked at Bucky, the man immediately smiling at her as he reached for her hand, their fingers interlacing as he pulled the angel a little closer to him. "You look stunning."

     Celeste smiled at this. "You don't look too bad yourself."

     "Tomorrow morning?" Evelyn asked her brother as Celeste tuned back in to the other conversation taking place.

     Steve nodded. "Sounds good."

     Peggy glanced towards the group of men that Steve and Celeste had rescued, those men happening to be the ones he was taking with him along with Bucky and Celeste. Peggy turned back towards Steve. "I see your top squad is prepping for duty."

     "You don't like music?" This came from Bucky, his arm wrapping around Celeste's waist.

     "I do, actually." Peggy answered. "I might even, when this is all over, go dancing."

     "Well, what are you waiting for?" Evelyn asked, her voice filled with what seemed to be irritation. Celeste raised an eyebrow at the girl.

     Peggy didn't move her gaze from Steve as she answered, "The right partner. 0800 Captain." And then she walked away.

     "Yes ma'am. I'll be there." Steve called.

      Celeste eyes Evelyn for a moment, watching the woman's jaw clench as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion before a sigh fell from her lips as she turned to look at Celeste. "You coming?"

     Celeste looked up at Bucky before smiling as she looked towards Evelyn. "I think I might dance for a little while." Bucky's smile immediately widened at this statement.

     "After you m'lady." Bucky told her, motioning a hand forwards. A laugh fell from her lips before her blue eyes met Evelyn's.

     "I'll see you before we leave." Celeste assured her, and Evelyn nodded. Celeste grabbed Bucky's hand before dragging him to the dance floor, and letting another laugh flow from her lips as he twirled her around, dipping her before bringing her back up and allowing for their lips to connect. Celeste closed her eyes, smiling into the kiss before pulling away at the sound of hoots and hollers coming from the men she had rescued earlier.

Celeste looked at them and just shook her head, playfully rolling her eyes whilst Bucky just chuckled in amusement before grabbing her hand and continuing to dance. The night continued on, and kisses were exchanged until they were so heated that the two agreed they had to leave before something else happened. And through the entire night, Celeste couldn't stop smiling. She felt truly happy, and she couldn't help but be thankful that she had fallen for Bucky of all humans.

But Celeste should've known that there would be consequences for having a relationship with a mortal, because she wasn't at all prepared for what it was that was about to take place, and her angelic heart wasn't made for so much pain and heartbreak.