Chapter 18
Bucky and Y/N went to her house to see what kind of shape it was in. When she filed for divorce from John she went to her old house, which was dusty and stale thanks to 3 years sitting empty, with an interior designer to redecorate and get the place ready to be lived in again. The trial ended faster than she expected so the work hadn't even been started yet.
Star spoke to the designer and learned that the paint crew was all sick and wouldn't be able to start for at least 2 weeks. And the living room and dining room sets she had chosen were unavailable with no eta. She paced the living room while being updated.
"I'm not sure what to do, I can find replacements for the furniture but we can't do anything until it's cleaned out and painted."
She sat next to Bucky on the milk crates that were on the front porch.
Bucky looked serious "Wait, I'm thinking."
"Don't hurt yourself" she snickered.
Bucky looked at her in awe, happy to see his fiery Star returning. He liked her much better than the sad, angry woman that John and her father had turned her into.
He gave her a big smile "We could paint. Get the guys over here and knock it out in a couple of days. Steve and I have done plenty of places, even have some tools."
She furrowed her brow "Are you sure? Obviously I can pay you all and-"
Bucky shook his head "Nope. You're not paying us, that's ridiculous."
She just stared at him for a moment "How is it ridiculous to pay someone for providing a service? It's way more out of line to expect people to work for you for free."
Bucky sighed "Star, we are your friends and want to help you. Besides I'll be living there too and want to help get it ready for us."
She still looked skeptical "I don't know, Jamie it just seems wrong. I've certainly never had any friends that refused money."
Bucky rubbed her hand "I don't know any of your other friends so can't speak to their motives but we aren't friends with you for your money or what you can do for us. We love you for you, doll."
She thought for a minute "Ok. You talk to them and after that we can go look for living room and dining room furniture."
Bucky spoke to Steve and Sam to get a group together to clean and paint the upcoming weekend. Then went with Star to look at furniture.
While they looked Bucky found a chair that he loved but when he saw the price he shook his head and walked away from it.
Star went to get the tag to add to her stack to take to the sales person when Bucky stopped her "What are you doing with that doll?"
She looked at him confused "Adding it to the stuff we're getting, why?"
He shook his head "I can't get it today, maybe some other time."
"I don't understand, this is for the house so I'm paying."
"I can't let you do that Star, it's not right. I'll save up and get it some other time."
Star giggled "I'm not sure what the problem is but I'm getting it."
Bucky took a breath and looked like he was going to say something but shook his head and stalked away.
Star dropped the tag and went after him but he didn't slow until he got to her truck.
She approached him, a little mad "What the Hell is going on with you Jamie?"
Bucky scoffed "I'm not John, Y/N. I don't need a sugar mama."
Her face scrunched in confusion "What are you talking about? This is stuff for our house."
He shook his head "No. It's for your house. I'm just the loser who can't give you what you need. If we had to live on my income, we'd live over my shop."
She clenched her fists "James Buchanan Barnes! You give me exactly what I need! Love and acceptance that my father never gave me. Money is just money and I'd rather be poor with you than rich with anyone else."
Bucky pinched his nose "You don't understand. It's easy for you to say it's no big deal because it never has been for you but for someone like me who has struggled all their life, it's a very big deal. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, not the other way around."
Y/N looked at him sadly "Jamie, please. You do take care of me, in every way that matters. Let me take care of you back."
Bucky sighed "Star, it's not right for you to spend a bunch of money on me. I'm supposed to be spoiling you." He looked down and mumbled "What kind of man am I anyways?"
Star hit his chest "What kind of man are you? You're starting to piss me off Jamie. Don't you dare badmouth the man I love. My father was one of the richest men in the country and my mother had every physical comfort, the finest of everything but it didn't make up for his cruelty or his cheating or the fact that he was behind her death. She would have given it all up for some peace with someone who truly cared for her."
She was crying now "It's not my fault I was born into this but I promised myself years ago I wouldn't be some shallow, vapid debutante without a thought in her head. I've been working on my plans for my inheritance for years and will be doing more than buying the newest Fendi bag every season."
She wiped her tears "You're the first person since my mother that saw me as more than a well dressed pretty face."
She looked at him with teary eyes "You do spoil me, in all the best ways. The ways that matter to me." She grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer. "I love you Jamie" she kissed him "and I'll spend whatever I want on you so either learn to accept it or, or just fuck off."
Bucky's heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest "You love me?" He kissed her softly.
She gave him a half hearted glare "Yes, dumbass I love you, so you better get used to being loved by a generous woman with money and good taste."
Bucky laughed, he still wasn't entirely comfortable with her spending large amounts of money on him but he certainly wasn't leaving her. Not when he just got her back. "I love you too, my sweet shining Star."
She grabbed his hand "Good, now let's go waste some of my fathers money!"
They went back inside the store and picked a living room set. Then another store for the dining room. Another couple of stores for rugs, pillows, sheets, towels and dishes along the way.
Bucky was overwhelmed at the amount of money she was spending every single time she put down that black credit card but forced himself to keep his thoughts from escaping. He didn't ask for anything but smiled at her and tried to keep the concern from showing. He had to work on some of his old programming, pushing back the shame that tried to creep up on him for letting her spend so much money when he couldn't treat her. A real, official relationship was going to require some changes in his mentality but he would do anything for her.
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Saturday morning they met Steve, Peggy, Sam, Peter, MJ, Nick Fury and even Dot at Stars house to clean and paint. They had it done in 3 days and the house was ready for new floors, cabinets & counters, which they left to the professionals.
It took another 2 weeks for all of the work to be completed, new furniture to be delivered and the house to be ready to move into.
Bucky, Steve and Sam had to work most days but Peggy, MJ and Dot helped her organize and put everything away. With their help it only took a couple of days.
The first night that Bucky and Star spent in the house everyone was exhausted from the days work so they just ordered pizza and drank the beer that she picked up for them.
After every one else was gone, Bucky looked around the house "Not too bad doll, I think this is the nicest place I've ever lived in. Still getting used to the idea of a real home that I don't have to worry about being kicked out of and isn't a room for rent in the bad part of town."
He pulled her into his arms and started kissing on her neck. "You're gonna spoil me Star. I'll have to think of some way to repay you."
Star giggled softly. "I'm sure you'll think of something. But for now, I'm very tired and sore. We have to get up early." She yawned "I get to start my work with my horses again. Gotta drum up some new riders to teach." She batted her eyes at him "I can probably fit you into one of my beginner classes, if you're interested."
Bucky chuckled "I was hoping for some private lessons but I'll have to figure out my schedule." He suddenly picked her up bridal style "Let me carry you over the threshold." Carried her into their bedroom and gently set her down on the bed.
Star shook her head at him "Carrying me over the threshold is a wedding night tradition."
Bucky winked at her "True but it doesn't hurt to practice. Among other wedding night traditions that we can practice if you're interested."
Star tried to hold back a yawn and Bucky laughed "You could have just said you were too tired doll."
They curled up together and crashed until her alarm went off before the sun was up.