As they sat and ate, getting so full they could hardly move—unless, of course, it was to get another plate—it all started to feel so familiar. Cass sat by Sarah, AJ was comfortably seated by Bucky like he'd known him his whole life, and Sam was at the head of the table, having to remind himself to take bites of his food between glaring at Bucky for looking at Sarah in that very obviously flirtatious way he did. When Bucky arrived, he asked if Sarah had asked about him. Sam wished with every fiber of his being that it was a joke, so he treated it as such, brushing it off. But he knew. While Sam was in somewhat agony, Bucky was enjoying the kind of domestic bliss he never thought he'd get. Something like this seemed so out of reach even a month ago. He had to remind himself to take bites between looking at Sarah and trying to take her in all at once. What an impossible feat that was. Sarah, bless her heart, the older women at the cookout thought as they watched the poor thing try to keep her smile down. She looked away from him, but that didn’t help. She thought a conversation might.
“You enjoying the cornbread, Bucky?” Sarah knew full well he was. Not only was it her foolproof recipe, but this was his fifth piece.
Bucky nodded. “It’s delicious. Did you make this?”
Sarah smiled proudly. “Yes.”
“It’s sweet.”
The way he said it made Sarah sip her lemonade. “I drizzled honey on top.”
Sam looked back and forth between them in utter disgust. “I’m going to eat somewhere else.”
They all loudly protested. The kids were genuine while Bucky and Sarah were feigning their pleas.
“Uncle Sam, stay!” AJ and Cass said in unison.
“Yeah, Uncle Sam, stop being so dramatic,” Sarah said, raising her eyebrows and smirking, almost daring him to leave. “Sam, what is the problem with me asking my houseguest if he’s enjoying the cornbread?” She laughed and rolled her eyes.
“Houseguest?”
“Uncle Winter Soldier, you get to spend the night!”
“I can?” Bucky asked, looking at Sarah. “I wouldn’t wanna be in the way. You guys have already done enough for me.”
“Sarah, he’s right. We’ve done enough.”
“Sam, did you lose your southern hospitality all the time you were gone?”
“No, but this is enough hospitality for Louisiana. If he wants any more, he’s gonna have to go to Mississippi.”
“Bucky, ignore him. You’re like family now, so you will stay with us as long as you like. Okay?”
Family. He had some left in New York, but New York didn’t feel like home anymore. Talking to his 80-year-old cousin felt useless because he was seeking something that wasn’t there and could never be. Every link to the past was gone. Rebecca was gone. His mom and dad were gone. The girl he left behind for the war was gone. Steve was gone. At one point, Bucky was glad to be alone. Keeping a low profile, he’d gotten used to it. Until now, he was starting over in a real way. Starting over was what he wanted since he got back to himself. Now he was doing it with a family. Life like this is sweet, he thought to himself.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can you lift us with your arm?” Cass asked.
Sarah’s shock at her son’s boldness caused her to laugh a little.
“Absolutely.”
“AJ, I told you he would,” Cass said, over the moon that he gets to brag to all his friends that THE Winter Soldier not only stayed at his house, but he also gets to hang on the arm too.
Sarah reminded her kids that Bucky is not a jungle gym, but her heart was light when she saw how good he was with her boys.
Everyone was done eating and just hanging around. Sam went off to talk to some old friends and neighbors, and Bucky kept his promise to the boys. With ease, he had both boys on his arm and a line of kids begging to go next. Sarah sat and watched in awe, her big bright smile on display.
Looking up at him, she asked jokingly, “You do this often, Bucky?”
Bucky put his hand on his hip and started lifting the metal arm up and down, which made the boys squeal in excitement. “Only on special occasions.” He kept his eyes set on Sarah. “Alright, who’s next?”
AJ and Cass pouted and protested. Poor Bucky, the pouting almost worked on him. “Guys, tell Bucky thank you and move on. Y’all are monopolizing his arm.”
The boys reluctantly got down, and a little girl went up. “Great, now y’all can help me clean up,” Sarah said, rubbing salt in the wound.
“Sarah, if you need help, I don’t mind,” Bucky said, trying to find any way to get close to her.
“You couldn’t possibly help me right now, Bucky, you’re busy being the main attraction,” Sarah joked before walking away.
Sam was unlocking the door as the argument between the boys went on and on. Sarah had given up trying to get them to stop and was now hoping they would wear each other out.
“I wanna watch Jurassic World!” AJ yelled as they entered the living room.
“I wanna watch Jumanji! Wait, what do you want to watch, Bucky?” Cass asked.
Bucky was completely caught off guard. “His Girl Friday is a good one.”
Cass groaned. “Mom made us suffer through that last weekend.”
“I thought y’all liked it!” Sarah said, clutching her proverbial pearls.
“Can we watch something from this century?” Sam added.
Sarah, getting over all the back and forth, said, “Okay, we’re watching The Princess and the Frog. Boys, go shower.” Turning to the grown men, she added, “Sam and Bucky, y’all too.”
“Sarah, it’s not too late for me to get a hotel. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be in the way.”
Sarah put her hand on his arm softly, the contact throwing them both. “Bucky, you are staying with us. I will not hear anything else about it.”
After everyone showered, Sarah and Bucky got cozy on the couch. AJ and Cass sat on cushions in front of them, bundled in blankets, excited to watch their mom’s favorite movie. Sam was in the kitchen putting popcorn in a bowl.
Bucky took advantage of Sam’s preoccupation and got closer to Sarah. “So, His Girl Friday?”
Sarah smiled and leaned in slightly. “I’m a bit of a cinephile, what can I say?”
Sam caught the scene from the corner of his eye and ran to separate the two. He plopped between them, saying “nope” sternly and shaking his head. Sarah took a deep breath and gave Sam the most condescending "bless your heart" she could muster and pressed play.