Chapter 5
The paper bag crinkles as he brings it up to his apartment, taking out keys that are battered but still wornly new.
He holds his breath as he takes out the front door key, hand wanting to shake as he doesn't know what to expect inside. Before he can, the door comes flying open, finding one of his hands going down to where his knife would have been had he not fallen down the rabbit hole.
"Bucky!!" And he almost drops his bag, as he feels his eyes become slowly wet at the small girl now embracing his legs. "You're home!!"
"Becca." He sinks slowly to her level, all wavy hair and a face he never thought he'd see again. "Becca. Doll." He hugs her tight, smelling his Mother's perfume on her that she'd always sneak on her, wanting to be a grown-up. Feels a hand sewn dress and the pencil she has in her hand. Most of all, feels his little sister again for the first time in almost 80 years.
"I knew you'd come back, brother." She whispers in his ear as she cradles her head in his shoulder.
"How could I leave you." He says, more a question that a statement, feeling cascades of silent tears. He sniffs, letting go to quickly wipe his eyes on his sleeve. "C'mere, let me see you."
It's been a few years, and she's grown a few inches, her baby face still in tact and missing a tooth on the side. "Baby tooth?" He says, moving a lock of hair from her face.
"Aunt Lisa says the last one."
"You've grown."
"And you still have the same stupid face." She jokes, her own eyes tearing up.
"I missed you. God, I missed you so damn much Becca."
Steve appears behind her. "She's been waiting for you here since yesterday." He says smiling.
They talk for a while, and though he replies, listens, all he really sees is Becca as she sits and sketches, all those times she stole Steve's book paying off.
"Damn, it's 6." Steve says, getting up. "I gotta go."
"Finally, a date, huh?" Bucky says jokingly.
"Peggy. Teaching me how to dance."
"Tell her to watch her toes." Becca says, with that same smirk Bucky inherited from his Father.
Steve messes with her hair as he hugs Bucky. "I'll see you back here later maybe."
"Yeah, see ya." He replies, finally happy Steve has a happy ending.
The whiskey bottle remains untouched on the table, the only intoxication being this moment, as he doesn't give a damn if it's real.