The regiment had finally marched home. Boots on cobblestone, uniforms creased with dirt and sweat, the sound of laughter echoing as soldiers reunited with loved ones. You stood at the edge of the crowd, heart hammering, clutching the strap of your bag like it might keep you steady. And then you saw him.

James Buchanan Barnes, shoulders squared under his duffel, hair damp with summer heat, grin breaking wide the second his eyes found you. The noise of the crowd dulled as he moved straight for you, weaving past neighbors, past strangers-nothing in his path mattered except reaching you.

"My god I missed you..."

He breathed out, dropping his bag at your feet. No hesitation. He swept you into his arms, the kind of embrace that bruised your ribs and stitched every empty day back together.

For a moment, it was just him. His laugh against your hair. His heartbeat under your ear. His hand refusing to let you go, like if he blinked, you'd vanish. You were halfway out of the crowd with him, Bucky's hand tangled with yours, when a voice thundered from behind:

"Barnes! Barnes, don't you walk off! who was it?! Who the hell was it?!" You both turned as his sergeant came barreling forward, waving a thick bundle of letters tied up in string. His face was red- not with fury, but with utter disbelief.

"You!" the sergeant barked the moment his eyes landed on you, pointing like he'd just unmasked a criminal. "It was you?! Every day! every single damn day this man had a new letter! Do you know how insane that is? We thought he was bribin' someone! We searched his bunk for contraband! The whole camp was in an uproar!"

Soldiers nearby burst into chuckles, egging him on as the sergeant jabbed the stack of letters for emphasis. "What did you even write about, huh? Weather forecasts? Grocery lists? Fairy tales? You damn near killed half the ink supply on the East Coast! I had men- grown men! Takin' bets on whether you were real!"

Bucky just grinned, sliding an arm snug around your waist like he was proud of every word.

"Ease up, Sarge,"

He drawled, all Brooklyn charm

"Don't scare 'em off. Took me long enough to get back here."