𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒~ 𝐵.𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑠

SEVENTY SIX

"Miss Rosie I'm nervous." I look back at Noah from the drivers side of the car and smile reassuringly at him. "You don't need to be nervous."

"But there's a lot of people there."

"Don't worry, Sam and Bucky are excited to see you." I say which seems to work with easing his nerves.

"Are you ok?" I look back at him and nod with a smile. "I'm fine Noah."

"You're not sick are you? My momma threw up lots too before she left." I shake my head and unbuckle myself so I can turn to face him properly. "I'm not sick, I promise Noah I'm not going to leave you." He looks at me for a moment before he nods. "You promise?" I nod and hold my pinky out. "Promise." I say as he hooks our pinkies.

"Now come on, let's not keep everyone waiting."

"Hey kid." Sam grins as he spots us, "uncle Sam!" It seems Noah's fears had eased the second he'd laid eyes on Sam.

"You took your time." Bucky says with a smile as he wraps an arm around me and kisses the side of my head. "Picking Noah up was longer than it needed to be." We hadn't actually adopted Noah yet, of course we had wanted to but adoption was actually quite a long process and we'd only just been able to foster him. But we both loved him and would work towards adopting him no matter how long it took.

"Was he nervous?"

"He always is."

"You know Bucky I really need to talk to you." I say thinking of the other reason why we were late. "Me too... is everything ok?" He asks after glancing at my face.

"Let's just go somewhere quiet."

He looks at me expectantly after we're alone and I suddenly am filled with nerves and so I reach up to my neck, to mess around with my old engagement ring like I always did only for my eyes to widen. "My ring!" Bucky's eyebrows furrow, "you wanted to tell me about your ring?"

"No Bucky it's gone, I can't believe I lost it, ok we have to look for it here and then the car and every other place I've been in."

"Hey Rose, c'mon it's fine it's just a ring." He says softly as he grabs my arms to stop me from frantically searching the ground.

"Bucky, I've had that since the forties. I've never once taken it off, not since you gave it to me. I can't believe it's gone, I've always taken such good care of it. I'm sorry."

"Don't cry doll, I know how much you love that ring." He says wrapping his arms around me tightly as I sniffled into his chest. "Ah I didn't wanna do it this way but you've left me no choice." I look up at Bucky confused as he smiles and wipes my eyes before kissing my forehead.

"Rosalie, I have loved you for as long as I've known you and so I have to ask you something." My eyes widen in understanding as he begins to get down on one knee. "I've been waiting eighty odd years but will you finally do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He asks with the same nervous smile on his face from when he asked me the first time.

"Rosalie?"

"You stole my ring!" He laughs at the accusation and nods, "well I knew how much you loved it and it wouldn't feel right to ask you with any other ring." He says rubbing the back of his neck nervously as his cheeks dusted pink.

"So? You gonna answer the question?"

"Yes! Yes, oh my god yes, Of course I'll marry you." He laughs as I practically tackle him and litter kisses all over his face.

"There's nothing that could make this day any better." He says contently holding me in his arms making me smile up at him. "Wanna bet?" He looks down slightly confused but it only makes my smile grow.