“Did Jodie really come?” Aisha asked, as soon as Sarah answered her door, allowing them to step inside.
No “hello,” no “hi, ti-ti,” not so much as a wave, but Sarah couldn’t even be mad, and she certainly wasn’t surprised. Lately, they’d all noticed that Aisha was more into hanging out with her older cousins at family gatherings, Jodie in particular, than staying attached to her father’s hip.
“Yeah, she’s in the family room with Cass, AJ, and Jim.”
“Yes!” Aisha said, and started to take off running in that direction, but Sam grabbed the hood of her coat and gently pulled her back.
“Do we run in the house?” Sam asked, trying to look stern as his daughter glanced up at him.
“Yes?” She said, confusion clear in her eyes.
Sam heard his sister let out a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. He couldn’t look at her to confirm though, or he would’ve probably ended up cracking up too.
“Aisha,” he tried again, while biting back a smile, “are we supposed to run in the house?”
“No,” she muttered, then immediately started to head towards the family room again, albeit at a slower pace, but, again, Sam reached for her hood and gently held her back.
“And do we walk into someone’s house without greeting them?”
“No,” she repeated, though that time, she actually did look a little sheepish. “Sorry, Aunt Sarah,” she said, gaze shifting to her auntie.
Sarah, who was clearly still trying not to laugh, shook her head and gave her niece a smile.
“It’s okay, baby girl. I know you’re just excited to see Jodie and the boys. Go ahead, and grab some cookies on your way. I just put some chocolate chip ones in the cookie jar.”
Aisha didn’t need to be told twice. She threw her arms around her auntie’s waist, gave her a quick hug, then headed straight for the kitchen, her little feet moving as fast as they could without crossing over into running territory.
Sam waited until Aisha was out of sight before turning to frown at his sister.
“What?” She said, full of faux innocence.
“Grab some cookies on your way,” he mocked, before rolling his eyes. “See, stuff like that and your McDonald’s money, is why she thinks she can cut up now.”
Sarah burst out laughing. “Sorry,” she said, not sounding sorry at all. “But her telling you that yes, she did in fact have McDonald’s money will never not be funny. And, I was so surprised Jodie actually showed up for my annual Christmas Cookies Day now that she’s all grown up and able to drive, that I practically fainted myself—
Sam snorted. Gideon’s oldest child had been trying to assert her independence ever since the school year began, and part of that “independence,” was insisting that she was too old for a lot of the family outings. Oh, she’d still show up for Sunday dinners at their parents’ house, but trying to get her to accompany them and her younger cousins and brother to the movies or zoo, was like pulling teeth.
Jodie was always booked and busy on Saturdays, and Aisha had been feeling both impressed and left behind by that particular older cousin, so Sam understood his daughter’s momentary lapse in manners due to her giddiness at being able to see her favorite relative, but that still didn’t mean he was going to let it slide… even if his own sister was practically egging her on.
“— so I’m not about to fault Aisha for being overcome when I was too. You need to stop picking on my baby girl.”
Sam pursed his lips, while Sarah didn’t even try to hide the fact that her own lips were twitching in amusement. Honestly, he didn’t even know why he bothered. Sarah and Big Cass, and even Sam’s old stick-in-the-mud brother Gideon and his far more laidback wife, Lauren, would probably let Aisha get away with murder if she smiled at them just right while she did it, so he didn’t know why he thought Sarah would ever back him up on something as simple as “always greet people when you enter their house.”
“And don’t go looking at me like you don’t dote on your nephews and niece,” she added, taking in his judgey expression. “Especially considering I saw the Christmas list AJ texted you last week.”
“It was a Christmas Wish List,” Sam corrected, tartly. “And it’s not like I bought everything on it.”
Sarah raised her eyebrows slightly. Her brother hadn’t ever been a good liar.
“I didn't!”
“Mmm hmm, so what all did you buy him then?”
“That’s between me, Santa, and AJ,” Sam said, smartly.
“Boy—
“Besides, I’m about to be late anyway, so—
“Late for what?” She asked, interrupting. “I thought you were skipping out on cookie day to do some last minute shopping. How can you be late for shopping?”
“I’m meeting Bucky. He’s going to tag along and keep me company while I run my errands,” he explained.
“Oh, I didn’t know this was another date with your new boo-thang,” she singsonged. “You guys have been on… what, six dates now?”
“Seven,” he corrected. “This one will be our eighth, but technically I wouldn’t actually call them all—
“So when do we get to meet him?”
“Never.”
“But Sam—
“But nothing,” he cut her off, not liking the mischievous look in her eyes. He knew his siblings, well, really probably just his sister and sister-in-law, were dying to meet the person who had gotten him back out there, but he didn’t think he was ready yet. He and Bucky were having fun, sure. Sam definitely liked the guy, and enjoyed spending time with him. However, he didn’t know if he was ready to take it to the next level yet.
Hell, Sam wasn’t even sure what the next level was to be honest. It had been so long since he’d really been in the dating game — even the few times he had liked someone enough to give them a chance, it had always ended before it could even really get started. So he was sort of flying blind in this thing with Bucky. The only thing Sam was sure of was that he enjoyed hanging out with the guy, and got a kick out of kissing him.
Well, okay, so maybe “enjoy” and “got a kick out of” didn’t quite cover his feelings, but… he wasn’t ready for anything more. Or, at least, he wasn’t ready to admit to wanting anything more.
“Bucky’s just a new friend at this point,” he continued, shaking himself out of his thoughts. “We’re just having fun, okay?”
Sarah resisted the urge to scoff. Yeah, he and Bucky hadn’t been seeing each other long, but Sarah knew her brother. Sam could downplay it all he wanted, but there was no way he’d spent the past seven weekends with the same person if they were just a new friend.
Sarah wouldn’t push though — any more than she already had that is. Frankly, she was just glad to see her brother out there having a social life again. If anyone deserved to have some fun, it was Sam. And if he wasn’t ready to admit to himself just what category the new source of that fun fell into, well, that was his prerogative.
“That's all it is: fun. Casual. Simple,” Sam added, a note of finality in his voice, as he observed the skepticism on Sarah’s face.
Famous last words, Sarah thought, but made sure to just nod gravely in response. She wasn’t going to push alright, but she was definitely going to feel more than a little smug when the other shoe eventually dropped for Sam.
🎄❄️☃️🎄❄️☃️
Bucky whistled low in his throat as he watched Sam load the last of his purchases into his trunk.
“Alright, that’s it,” he said, while nodding appreciatively. “If I ever get ‘hold of a time machine, I’m coming back as a Wilson, ‘cause judging by the amount of stuff you just bought, there must not be a single toy left in the store.
“I didn’t buy that much,” Sam said, as he closed his trunk.
“Please,” Bucky said, with a laugh. “I didn’t even know they made that many kinds of dolls, and I have enough nieces to fill a baseball team.”
“Well,” Sam said, rubbing the back of his neck as he grinned sheepishly. “Aisha wrote to Santa asking for “every Barbie, and all of the Rainbow High and Shadow High dolls, and something called LOL Surprise Tweens, which I guess are somehow different from the two dozen LOL dolls she already owns.” He shook his head, feeling bemused. “So, I had to get at least a few of each.”
“A few? More like a few dozen.”
Sam laughed, but he didn’t deny it. Instead, he changed the subject. “Either way, at least I’m done with my shopping… for now.”
Realistically, if he knew his daughter, and he did, Aisha would have ten more items added to her list by the time Christmas Eve rolled around. She had a knack for randomly letting him know every year, about five minutes before Christmas morning, mind you, that the present she wanted “most of all” had changed… and it always changed into something he’d never heard her mention before. So, yeah, Sam knew he wasn’t really done shopping, even if his trunk and his closet were already full of gifts.
“So, what’s the hot toy this year?” Bucky asked, as they made their way over to the strip mall’s sidewalk, so they could take the path over to Art’s Diner.
“Huh?”
“Like, when Becca was maybe twelve she would’ve sold her soul for a Nano Baby. And I’m still salty that I didn’t get a Nintendo 64 the first time I asked Santa for it,” he said, only half joking. “So,” he nudged Sam’s shoulder with his own as they walked along, “what’s the most popular toy this year? What’s that one thing Aisha can’t live without?”
“Well, I don’t know what the most popular toy is, but the gift Aisha swears she can’t live without is an iPad.”
“An iPad?” Bucky repeated, incredulously. “For a ten year old?”
“I know.” Sam shook his head. “But according to her, ‘everyone has one,’” he said, with a laugh.
“Well, are you getting it?”
“Honestly,” he shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“I know,” Bucky said, smirking at him. “You’re getting it. Shoot, Wilson, I’m pretty sure you’d get her the moon if she asked.”
“You sayin’ I’m a pushover, Barnes?”
“Nah,” his smirk morphed into something softer, sweeter. “You’re just a really great dad.”
Despite the chill in the air, Sam suddenly went hot all over, before mumbling, “Thanks.”
Then they just stood in the middle of the sidewalk for a moment, staring at each other goofily, until Bucky cleared his throat and started walking again.
“So, uh what’s the top item on your Christmas list?”
Sam snorted. “Nothin’.” He shrugged again. “Christmas is for the kids.”
“Christmas is for anyone who wants to participate,” Bucky argued. “And, given the amount of money I’ve seen you drop today, nobody could accuse you of not wanting to participate.”
“Yeah,” Sam conceded, briefly dipping his head in acknowledgment. “Buying presents, giving gifts, that’s fun. But asking for something for myself?” He almost shuddered. “Yeah, no. There’s no reason to — I have everything I need, and almost everything I want.” He shrugged again, laughing lightly. “I’m good.”
Bucky couldn’t help but to scoff before replying, “Well, so am I, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have Christmas wishes.”
“Oh yeah?” Sam said, shooting him a grin.
“Yup,” Bucky said, just as they reached the entrance to the diner.
He didn’t make any move to open the door and let Sam in like he usually would though. Instead, he sort of moved off to the side, heart in his throat, as he reached for Sam’s hand and pulled him off the path too.
“I uh… might’ve had a special request or two for the big man in red.”
“Okay,” Sam drew out the word, confused by the sudden redness tinting Bucky’s cheeks, but willing to play along, “so what do you want for Christmas, Buck?”
“You,” he said, simply.
Sam started, his eyes widening almost comically, but Bucky kept talking.
“I want to be with you, permanently, officially,” he explained, looking Sam right in the eyes. “I’ve really enjoyed hanging out and getting to know you, more than enjoyed it really.” He laughed, sort of bemusedly before continuing, “And I’d like to keep doing it, for as long as you’ll let me.”
“Bucky—
“Sammy,” he cut him off. “I want to get to know Aisha, I want to meet your family that I’ve heard so much about. I want holidays with you, and well— I just, l… I just wanna be yours, and I’d really like you to be mine.”
Sam was still staring at him, his mouth half dropped open in shock, or maybe a combination of shock, dismay, and disgust — Bucky couldn’t exactly tell. So, he asked:
“What do you say? Will you be my boyfriend? Significant other? Partner?” He smiled at him, hopefully. “Please, Sammy.”
Sam hadn’t seen this coming, at least not today. Shoot, honestly, if he was keeping it real with himself, Sam hadn’t seen himself becoming serious with anyone ever again after his wife had passed.
But… with Bucky looking at him so openly, so hopefully. With the way Bucky had been the only person to ever make it out of the flirting stage and to an actual date. With Bucky not only managing to get his attention, but also keep his attention, and keep him coming back for more.
Well, with all that floating in the back of his mind, Sam couldn’t be mad that this was happening, even if it was unexpected. Actually, as a matter of fact, Sam was pretty happy about it.
Bucky was looking straight into his eyes, declaring himself in front of Sam, God, and all of the shoppers on State Street, wearing his heart on his sleeve in the most genuine and earnest way possible, and Sam could feel himself fighting the urge to grin like an idiot.
Hell, maybe he was more than happy.
“Yeah,” Sam breathed, smiling tremulously. “Yeah, okay.”
Bucky blinked, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Sam leaned in and kissed him, and, though the kiss was brief, it held a world of promise. “Really.”