The Collection- Bucky Barnes

Off the Clock- v

Christmas is always her favorite time of year. She knows this Christmas would have been the best one yet. It easily could have been.

But now...

Will is pushing food around his plate. His dinosaur nuggets haven't been devoured as usual. Instead, they lay soaked and soggy in ketchup. Y/N and Bucky share a look. They've decided not to tell Will about the mysterious and unwanted reappearance of his mother. There's a strong chance, Bucky says, that she'll tuck tail and run off after quickly changing her mind on Will. And neither of them wants to upset the six year old with the idea of meeting the woman just for her to run off before or right after.

Y/N, for two days, hasn't been able to get the picture of Maureen Sanders out of her mind. The way Will looks exactly like her but also nothing like her. It was easy to see Bucky in every piece of him when that was the only comparison she had.

"What's the matter, bud? You've hardly touched your dinos." Y/N leans over and picks up one of them. "Mr. Triceratops knows you're hungry." She thinks Will wouldn't be in such a strange mood. Today was his last day of school until after Christmas Break. He's got two and a half weeks before he has to go back to school again.

Will glances up at her and then to his dad. "A strange lady came to my school today."

"What?"

Will nods. "At recess. She gave me a spinning top. It's blue and green."

Y/N swallows before meeting Bucky's eye. His jaw is clenched, eyes dark. Will doesn't seem to notice.

"Why don't you go upstairs and play for a little while before bath time?" Y/N whispers. "I'll come up in a little bit." She ruffles his hair as he slides out of his chair. Watches as he runs from the dining room and waits to hear his little feet pounding up the stairs. When she looks back at Bucky, his eyes are trained on his plate. "Bucky..."

"I have to go. Can you stay with him until I get back?"

She blinks back at him. "Uh, yeah. Of course. Where-?"

He's already up and heading for the front door. He grabs his coat and shrugs it on. "I'll be back later."

And then he's out the door.

Y/N watches with a creased brow as he backs out of the driveway and speeds off. She feels a little...pitiful for being hurt that he's been so distant. That he left with very few words and no kiss at all. No explanation of his intended whereabouts.

She misses the sound of Will hopping down the stairs. He grabs onto her hand. "Where's Daddy goin'?"

She puts on a smile and bends down to look him in the eye. "I bet he's going to have a long talk with Santa about that list of yours." Will's mouth quirks up. "C'mon, let's get you in the bath."

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Steve lets him in without so much as a word between them. All it takes is one knock and for Steve to see his face and he's stepping aside to let him in.

"You want a beer?"

Bucky nods but doesn't speak. The apartment is quiet as Steve retreats to the kitchen and brings back two beers. He hands one to Bucky. They're silent as Steve takes a sip of his beer and Bucky practically drains his.

"Look, what I said the other night..." Steve trails, "I'm sorry. I'm really glad that you've found someone that you care about and she cares about you and Will. You're my best friend and I only want the best for you. If that's Y/N, then-."