Earn Your Extra Credit

(27) The ESPYS

Two months later 

Bucky and the gang were all in LA for the ESPYS they left Milo with Jules' parents. The girls helped each other in one hotel room to get red carpet ready. Jules came out with the girls 

"Daamn ladies." Sam said 

Bucky smirked as he walked over to his wife. "Lookin hot tonight baby." He whispered as he spun her. 

"The limo is here." Steve said as he read a text. 

"Alright let's go watch Barnes here add to his collection of ESPYS." Sam said 

They all piled into the limo and headed to the venue. They pulled up to the end of the red carpet the valet opened the door and Bucky stepped out then took Jules hand to help her out. Following behind him was the rest of the Dolphins coaching staff and their wives. 

Camera flashes as they walked the red carpet they stopped for photos before heading inside for their table. The show began an hour after arriving at the venue. 

It was finally for one of two categories Bucky was nominated in. It was coach of the year award they went through the nominees. 

"And your winner is...James Barnes for the Miami Dolphins." Serena Williams said 

Bucky stood up Jules kissed him and he pulled her with him after he high fives the boys and the team came over to him. As he was making his way down to the stage. The announcer said 

"James is a 8 time Espy winner for when he played college ball and his time in the NFL." As Thunder by Imagine Dragons played. 

On the big screen was old clips of him playing and morphed into him coaching. 

"Thank you thank you. This will look great with the others. It feels good to be back it feels like home seeing everyone again. First I want to thank this beautiful woman beside me my loving and oh so supportive wife Jules. Our son Milo whose back home hi my boy and my family and my friends. For always being there for me and supporting me. And to my boys thank you for being the best team I could ever ask to coach. And thank you to the ESPYs I have another to add to my collection." He said as they walked off. 

Bucky and the boys also won Best Team of the year. 

The head of the NFL league and former Dolphins' head coach walked out at the end.

"We have one last award to give out and that is the Jimmy V Perservance award. And I know you all are probably wondering why we are here. Well that's because the person we are honoring with this award is someone special to this man here." George said as he grabbed Peter's shoulder. 

"This person doesn't know they are being honored so let's surprise him as well as we take a look back at his career." Peter said 

The room goes dark and Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith begins to play as the big screen shows Bucky on UF's college field. 

"Holy shit.." Bucky whispered 

Sam looked at him. "Buck oh my god." He whispered 

Thunderstruck began to play as the college clips began to play as his Dolphins days began to play. It shows the career ending blow to the knee at the end. His physical therapy clips.

"Mom.." Bucky whispered he knew that she sent those to them.

It shows him coaching the UF Gators and now the Dolphins. The video was over and on stage was Bucky's boys.

"Coach James Buchanan Barnes you are this year's honoree." George said 

Bucky brought everyone with him to the stage.

"Thank you oh my god thank you. I can't even..when I had that career ending knee injury I was angry. And in that year I was lost till I was back on a football field and I met this woman. I had these people behind me pushing me every day to get back to myself. Football has always been my first love. So thank you to everyone my wife my son my family thank you." He said as he had tears fell. 

The night was far from over though as they all headed to the after party.