Chapter 9
Sam woke up the next morning to an empty bed. Sam grabs his phone and everyone had wished him a merry Christmas, and he send a quick reply. Sam proceeds to get dressed and heads down to the living room. Everyone was there at the dining table, enjoying Christmas breakfast that Bucky’s mum made.
“Good morning son.” Bucky’s dad greets him.
“Good morning dad.” Sam yawns.
“Merry Christmas!” Bucky said as he got up and gave Sam a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Merry Christmas to you too.” Sam chuckles in his embrace
“Now now James, Sam needs to breathe.” Bucky mum said as she puts down a plate of pancakes for Sam.
“I’m alright ma. Merry Christmas.” Sam chuckles as he walks over to the dining table.
“Sammy, it’s snowing outside, let’s make snow angles like we did back at home.” Sarah said as she sips the hot chocolate.
“Sounds fun.” Becky said.
“Alright fill your tummy guys, we can go outside after you all finish your breakfast and open your presents.” Bucky’s dad said as he sips his coffee.
Everyone nods and continue their breakfast, as they were done, Sam and Bucky did the dishes as Sarah and Becky went up and freshen up.
“Baby, why didn’t you wake me up?” Sam asked as he hands Bucky the mug to put in the dishwasher.
“You look so peaceful when you were asleep, I didn’t want to wake up my angel.” Bucky replies.
“It was so awkward to wake up late on Christmas morning.” Sam said.
“It’s okay, I asked Ma if I should wake you up and she said better not, as you went to bed late. She said she heard you coming down at night.” Bucky shrugs.
“I didn’t know I woke her up, I should say sorry.” Sam said as he turns to Bucky.
“It’s okay, she said she just got into the room. She had gone down to put the gifts by the tree when Sarah came down to grab a drink. She made for her hot chocolate and they had a small talk. She made extra knowing either one of us will come down to get a drink.” Bucky reassures him.
“Hey guys! Time to open the gifts.” Bucky’s dad calls out.
“Coming!” Sam and Bucky replied together.
As Sam and Bucky heads back to the living room, Sarah and Becky were already opening up their gifts, giggling at what they got each other. Becky got Sarah a set of matching necklaces with Sarah’s initial on them, while Sarah got Becky a set of Harry Potter’s books. Sarah got Bucky’s mum a new scarf while a set of tools for Bucky’s dad. Becky got her parents matching sweaters and got Bucky a new leather jacket. Bucky got his parents matching shoes as they always wanted new shoes, he got Becky a set of painting kits and for Sarah he got her the new series of Shadow hunters. Sam got Bucky’s mum a set of knitting materials and Bucky’s dad a fishing kit, Sam got the girls matching jewellery sets.
“Here’s yours baby.” Bucky said as he gave Sam his gift.
“Thank you love. What is this?” Sam asked as he held the box and shakes it a little.
“Open it, its’ something you most probably need.” Bucky said.
“Wow, this is cute and I think I would wear it every day.” Sam sighs as he held out Bucky’s gift. It was a leather jacket with ‘Bucky’s’ on it.
“And here’s your babe.” Sam said as he hands Bucky his gift.
“Oh my god! You did not?” Bucky exclaimed as he opens the gift, it was a new helmet with ‘Sam’s’ on it and a snicker bar sticker on it.
“Merry Christmas!” Sam chuckles as Bucky throws himself into Sam’s arms.
“Sammy, before I forget. Here’s your gift from us.” Bucky’s mum said as she hands him a paper bag.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have.” Sam said as he held out his gift, it was a sweater that Bucky’s mum knitted herself and there was a gift card too.
“Sorry I didn’t know what to get you.” Bucky’s dad shrugs.
“It’s okay dad, the thoughts that counts.” Sam chuckles.
“Bucks, here’s yours.” Bucky dad said as he hands Bucky his gift.
“Thanks dad, but gift cards again?” Bucky chuckles as he pulls a Taco Bell gift card.
“Hey, don’t blame me. I asked you early this year and you wanted a year supply of Taco Bell.” Bucky’s dad laughs.
“Ma, you didn’t have to.” Bucky said as he pulls out a matching sweater that his mum knitted.
“You know how much I love handmade gifts.” Bucky’s mum replies as she smiles at him.
“Now everyone has a sweater from ma and gift cards from dad. So, let’s take a family photo.” Becky said as she puts on her sweater.
“Sammy, Sarah, you should join us. You’re family now.” Bucky’s mum said as she pulls Sarah next to her.
Sarah sat next to her, while Becky sat next to her dad and the boys stood behind the parents. They took a few more photos before the girls decided to go outside and play with the snow. Their whole morning was filled with laughter, they made snow angels and had a snowball fight before Bucky’s dad calls them in for lunch. After their lunch they sat by the fire place sipping hot chocolate. Bucky parents shared childhood stories about Bucky and Becky, making them feel embarrassed especially when Bucky’s dad started pulling out their childhood photos. Bucky and Becky were inseparable when they were younger, and they still are. Becky cried when Bucky had to leave for college.
“Well at least Becky wasn’t like Sarah, she literally tried to hide all my documents and I thought I left it behind at my old place.” Sam laughed.
“Hey, I had no one okay.” Sarah replied.
“Your parents must be lucky to have you both.” Bucky mum said.
“They definitely were.” Sarah said as she reminded herself of her last Christmas with her parents.
“They must be proud at how you both turned out to be.” Bucky’s dad said.
“They’re rolling in their grave laughing at how their son turn out to be. A hopelessly in love gay boy.” Sam laughs.
“Were they homophobic?” Becky asked.
“Becks, that’s not a good question.” Bucky said as he nudges his sister.
“No, it’s okay. They’re not homophobic, they actually accept me for who I am. It’s just they have never seen me hopelessly in love before, I did date back then but I was never this hopelessly in love.” Sam replies her.
“Yes, very sappy and in love with Bucky. James, please keep him and never return to me.” Sarah chuckles.
“No worries, Sarah. I will never return him, there’s no receipts for refund.” Bucky laughs as he held onto Sam.
“Now I know why you both can get along easily. You both are literally kids.” Sam laughs as he tries to pull away from Bucky.
The Barnes’ home was filled with laughter again, Bucky’s mum sat there and couldn’t help it but tear up a little, watching her only son finally happy again and enjoying Christmas again, it’s a Christmas miracle for them. Sarah too couldn’t help it but smiles as she watched her brother happy again, laughing as Bucky tickles him. it was indeed a Christmas miracle.