Chapter 13
Staying with Bucky has felt like a dream ever since that night I made him dinner. We co-existed with no fear of making the other upset, sharing knowing glances and smiles when anyone was visiting.
I'm not sure when I'll be ready to pursue this connection between us, but Bucky has assured me that he has no problem with patience. He told me that whether it takes two weeks or five more years, he would wait every day for me.
It's been a little over a week since the conversation, and I've never felt more content. I'm truly starting to feel the progress from leaving Brock. I feel happier. Lighter.
When I woke up this morning, though, I was confused. Alpine isn't in her usual spot, curled up on my stomach. Instead, my door is cracked open, and I hear hushed whispers talking over each other.
Hesitantly, I pull myself out of bed, not even bothering to brush my teeth or fix my hair. Slowly I tip-toed out of the bedroom and followed the trail of quiet voices until I reached the kitchen. Alpine is winding through everyones legs, and when I say everyone, I mean everyone. huddled around the counter stands Bucky, Steve, Nat, Wanda, Pietro, and even Sam.
"No, stop, I wanna carry it, please just let me carry it!" Pietro threw his head back as he begged to do whatever task sat in front of them.
"Carry what?" I asked, alerting them of my presence.
All six faces whipped around to look at me and I was met with a myriad of emotions. Disappointment, shock, and frustration just to name a few. I felt my lip quiver as a couple of them let out sighs and Sam threw his hands in the air. My mouth tried to form words but I couldn't come up with anything to say.
"Happy Birthday!" Pietro suddenly yelled, pulling a popper out of his pocket and shooting confetti in the air. He ran over to me with a party hat and quickly placed it on my head before pulling me into a bone crushing hug.
"W-what?" I stuttered out in shock, is it already my birthday?
This seemed to prompt the others into action as they scrambled around him, shooting off their own confetti and wrapping their arms around me until I was at the center of a large group head.
"We were supposed to bring you breakfast in bed, Dandi!" Steve laughed as he pulled me into his arms once everyone else released me.
"I didn't even realize what day it was," I said with a giggle as I took in the sight around me. on the kitchen counter sat a tray with a stack of pancakes filled with rainbow sprinkles, bacon, and a large glass of orange juice. Two candles stuck out of the top of the pancakes, the numbers 26 being lit by a match. "You guys didn't have to do all of this."
"We missed the past five, we're not planning on missing any more," Bucky said with convention, and everyone around him smiled at me. They actually mean it, and even more, I believe them. Birthdays were tense events the past few years.
"Besides, I thought we should bring back an old tradition. There's a reason we haven't put up a Christmas tree yet." I couldn't help the wide smile that covered my face at Steves words.
"No way," I whisper, "You're letting me pick the tree?"
Being born in December means that a lot of attention is lost on your birthday. With holiday parties, shopping for presents, and then Christmas itself it made it difficult for a kid to find moments to make the month theirs. Ever since I was little my mom decided it wouldn't be that way for me.
Every year on my birthday my parents would drive me to as many Christmas tree farms as I wanted, so that I could find the perfect tree for the family. It was completely up to me and no one was allowed to complain about my choice. We would get cocoa and decorate the tree before hosting whatever party I chose to have for myself each year.
I haven't gone topic out the tree since I was a teenager.
"Of course I'm letting you pick the tree! It wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't."
I squealed in excitement as I slung myself into my brothers arms once more. he laughed in my ear as he spun me around before setting me back on the ground.
"Okay, birthday girl! Eat your breakfast and Nat and I will make a list of tree places for us to go look at!" Wanda pushed me towards the food, giggling as I slid onto the stool.
Sam gave me a sly wink as he carefully stole a piece of bacon off of the tray before letting me eat my food.
It was a flurry of events as I was getting ready to leave for the day. I couldn't find one of boots and Pietro was rambling about how he wore the wrong jacket. Wanda and Nat argued about which tree farm we should visit first and Steve tried to convince Bucky that we should stop for cocoa first instead of in the middle. I couldn't help but bask in the chaos, knowing that the me from a month ago would throw up at just the thought of this situation.
---
I couldn't help but squeal in excitement as the workers strapped our tree to the top of Sam's truck.
"You're sure that's the one you want, Dandi?" Nat asked with an unsure raise of her eyebrow.
"Yes, it's perfect," I said, staring at the tree with glee.
"She always liked the scraggily looking ones," Steve laughed, taking a sip of his third cocoa of the day.
"They have character, Steve!" Everyone laughed as I lightly loved his shoulder. This is the most normal I've felt since leaving. This feeling is the reason I left. I missed it.
"Sam fucking Wilson?" a voice called out, stealing all of our attention as we turned around.
"Eddie Brock!" Sam responded, a heavy chuckle escaping him as he was pulled into a bro hug.
"Barnes, Rogers," the man, Eddie Brock apparently, greeted with a smirk.
The two scowled at him in response, but that didn't seem to damper his mood. he only laughed as he shook his head.
Sam introduced Eddie to the rest of us, potting each of us out as he named us. He greeted Nat, Wanda, and Piet with polite smiles before finally reaching me. I swear I saw a mischievous twinkle fill his eyes as he took me in.
"Now where have they been hiding you," he said slowly, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing my knuckles, "I swear you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
I tried to hide the warmth on my cheeks as I glanced at the group around me. Nat and Wanda smiled at his flirting but Bucky and Steve did not look happy.
"You'd have to ask Steve that, you're sweet talking his sister," Sam laughed, dropping a hand on his shoulder.
"You're related to that ugly mug?" Eddie asked in shock, putting a hand on his chest, "you're mother must've saved all her good looks for you, because she sure didn't give any to that guy."
"Shut up, Brock," Bucky said with an eye roll, "Dandi isn't interested."
I glanced at him with furrowed brows, annoyed at his decision to take responsibility for this interaction. I can handle this.
Bucky made eye contact with me and I could see his regret at his action, but that doesn't take the action back. I also noticed Steve looking at Bucky with an unsure gaze.
"You know what, I see you guys are busy. I'll let you guys go." Eddie looked around the group, clearly noticing the tension. "I'll see ya around Wilson, and I hope to see you very soon, Dandi."
With one last wink, Eddie was gone.
Everyone stared at me, waiting for me to prompt the group forward. Waiting for me to decide the mood.
"Okay, who is ready to decorate the tree?"
and with that everyone loaded into the cars to head back to Bucky's apartment.