Alissa snorted. "Oh, I'm sure you'd lament the loss of your seat," she teased. "Besides, they're almost here, they're just dawdling over who-knows-what."

"I bet I know what," Bucky replied. He tilted his head a bit at them. "Look. I've never seen Stevie more smitten in my life."

"Aw, how cute," Alissa said with a grin. "Tay's pretty sweet on him too, looks like."

"And knowing him, it would never occur to him to ask her out on a date without a nudge," Bucky said, shaking his head a bit. "He's still got it in his head that ladies still see him like he used to be, I think. He's got no idea the kinda of looks he gets now."

"You could always give him a little nudge," Alissa said. "See if you can't get him pointed in the right direction while I work on Taylor."

"I might, if he doesn't get into gear soon," Bucky said, nodding. "He's got it real bad."

"Oh I'm definitely pushing Tay at him, I just can't not," Alissa said with a grin. "I'll talk to her tonight, after we head off to bed."

"I'll see what I can talk Steve into," Bucky promised. "Guess this means we'll have to find the two of you in the future, if you and I are going to push them together." He grinned at her. "I might be able to talk Stevie into a double-date..."

Alissa smiled slowly. "Well, I guess you'd better have a pretty date to take on this double date many years in the future."

"I'm sure I will," Bucky said. "As long as you say yes, at least." He grinned. "And who says it has to be that far in the future? I bet I can talk Steve into a double date next week." He paused. "I mean, as long as you'd like to go, at least."

Alissa grinned. "Well, at least you're giving me advance warning so I can be sure to find something decent to wear," she said, because he was flirting and it was fun and clearly the universe was trying to make up for dumping her in wartime Europe in the 40's.

"Is that a yes, then?" Bucky asked, hopeful. "That sounded like a yes to me."

"That did sound like a yes, didn't it?" Alissa mused. "Well then, soldier, guess you better ask when you mean it." She winked at him.

Bucky grinned.

"I'll be sure to," he said. "Best start looking for something to wear."

Alissa grinned, not even minding that their flirting time was interrupted when Steve pulled out a chair for Taylor.

As soon as Steve and Taylor were at the table, Bucky got up. With one last easy grin at Alissa, he went to get himself some food before it was gone.

A few months later, Alissa had found out shortly after the Howling Commandos left that they were going to intercept a train. As soon as she found out, she pretty much became a nervous wreck. Because they had arranged that double date, and then she and Bucky had gone a few times on their own. Alissa had become really quite fond of Bucky, and she really, really didn't want him to die.

So when the Commandos came back and Bucky was alive and well and with them, she was stunned, too stunned to realize what, exactly, she'd done when she'd told him to practice with Steve's shield.

Taylor stayed with Alissa the entire time the Commandos were gone. She knew as well as her friend did what mission they had been sent on, and she was nervous as well. Not quite as nervous as Alissa, since she knew Steve would be coming back, but still not calm, either.

Steve spotted the girls first and grinned. Mission was accomplished, everything went well, now for some well-earned relaxation with Taylor.

Alissa saw Bucky and went very still, because he hadn't fallen. Bucky hadn't fallen from the train. That... wasn't supposed to happen.

Taylor saw them and went over immediately to fuss over Steve.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "Not hurt or anything?"

"Hey," Bucky said as he got over to Alissa. "You okay? Look like you saw a ghost or something."

"I'm fine," Steve said. "We're all fine. Everything went off pretty well." He grinned, a bit amused still. "Bucky even had a chance to put all that practice to use."

"I... yeah," Alissa said slowly. "I'm okay. Are... are you?" She reached out, hesitantly, to take his hand.

Taylor blinked.

"Everyone came back?" she asked carefully, trying to wrap her mind around what that meant.

"I'm fine," Bucky said. "Still in one piece." He gave her that grin he'd noticed she liked. "Needed to use the shield. I'm guessing that was why you told me to practice with it. Good call."

"Yeah," Steve said. "Buck complained his shoulder hurt the whole way back, it was kind of funny to listen to. Pretty sure he's going to try it on Alissa to see how much sympathy he can get."

"Yeah," Alissa said faintly. "Yeah. You sure you're okay?"

Taylor gave a small, relieved laugh.

"I'm just glad you're okay," she said.

"I'm fine," Bucky replied. "Messed up my shoulder, but it's alright for now."

Steve grinned, pulling her in close and just settling his arms around her to relax a bit.

"Okay," Alissa said. "Good. Well, may as well go settle in, I've got a few more things I need to run around for Howard, so I'll see you at dinner, okay?" Without giving him a chance, Alissa turned and left to figure out what exactly she'd done and contemplate how much she'd screwed up the timeline.