homecoming » bucky barnes AU

chapter one

The windows were down on the drive home. It was early, the hot air was sticky with the smell of the morning in the Italian countryside. Laecie had flown in at around 6am, the drive taking about 2 hours. She was sleepy from the journey from New York, her feet resting on the dashboard and her chin laid in her crossed arms as she shut her eyes and let the breeze float around her. The scent of summer here was unmistakable and held tightly the sense of nostalgia she looked forward to every year. She smiled to herself and turned her head to her father in the drivers seat.

He raised an eyebrow and gave her a quick side glance.
"What you staring at?"
He said, turning back to watch the road and trying to suppress a smirk.
"Just you."
"Just me?"
He said, fake offence in his tone.
"Yeah, just me, who brings you to Italy all expenses paid every summer and doesn't charge you any money to stay with me even though you're 23 years old. Just me though."
He said, grey bushy eyebrow still perched in its place.

Laecie put her head into her knees, giggling at him.
"Oh stop,"
She said, muffled by her knees.
"If you want money just ask."

Her dad scoffed, quickly looking over at her once more.
"I only have you for 3 months every year. Leave me to pay for you. What else would I be doing with my money, only buying myself nice things?"
He said, smirking again.

Laecie poked her head up.
"Is anyone else here yet?"
She questioned, resting her cheek on her forearm now to look at her dad.
"Hate to tell you that you're the last camper."
Her dad replied.
"Hm. Okay. I was hoping to have some friends over tonight for dinner, I was going to make something for everyone. Will I set a place for you?"
Laecie asked. Her dad pondered for a moment, as if hesitant to say something.
"What is it?"
Laecie poked. Her dad sighed, then smiled.
"Set an extra two spots. If you're bringing a friend I need one too. What kind of old man sits with a bunch of 20 year olds alone?"

Laecie smiled at him, shaking her head.
"That's different."
"How so?"
He responded quickly.
"I'll have to phone a friend."
Laecie said, mockingly placing a hand over her mouth, blue eyes widening.
"Whatever."
Her dad said. The car began to slow as the indicator clicked, signalling a turn right into her dads home. Just off the road, on top of the hill, sat her fathers country house. He'd lived in Italy since her parents divorced and every summer she stayed in his red brick hilltop house. He lived in a small community of other American families who vacationed there in the summer too. His home was midsize, a somewhat middle class italian home, but out the back after the beige patio and down the steps sat a pool, some lounge chairs and a small glass dining table. Behind it was old fashioned cement walls with cherubs and intricate designs sculpted onto it, nestled by vermillion trees and bushes, overlooking the glimmering lake.

It was the perfect destination for summer, and Laecie had made good friends over her years here, so each summer they'd come to visit and reunite. She was the only one of her friends who had a summer job. The rest of them had bigger houses, bigger cars, bigger pools and bigger trust funds than she did. But she didn't mind.

As she crunched her feet on the gravelly sand on her dads driveway, she shut the door of the red pickup truck and twirled around to get her bags from the back. She had two large suitcases and a carry on- not much you may think for 3 months but she always ended up buying more things to wear.

This year she had saved up a lot. Her job back in New York was better now, she got a bigger pay check, and was hoping that if she played her cards right, she wouldn't need to work this summer.

She lugged her cases in and padded down the smooth, hard wood floor to her room.
"I'm changing!"
She yelled, waiting for a response from her dad.
"Kay!"
He yelled back with a tone that made her feel like he didn't even listen to her.
She quickly stripped down and put on her black bikini. She paired it with Levi's denim shorts and a pair of black converse. She sat some cheap pair of rimless black sunnies atop her blonde head and walked down to the kitchen.