Porch Swing

Bucky has been gone for a few days. You don't know how long he's going to be away. He's called every chance he could. "I love you doll" and the call ends. It's all you get, it's the only way you know he is okay. You both just moved in together and he had to leave. Just you and Alpine. You know as soon as he comes back his time will go to fixing the house. You've never built or fixed anything in your life. Is that going to stop you? No, no it's not.

You're standing out in front of your cottage in the woods. You remember Bucky spoke about how great of a condition the house is in. "Nothing a few cans of paint or stain can't fix," he said thinking you needed convincing on getting the house. When you told him you'd live in a shoebox as long as he was by your side you meant it. After a few YouTube videos and calls with Sam, you started working the front porch.

You wipe the sweat off your forehead and begin to clean up for the night your phone rings.

Sam Wilson would like to FaceTime.

"Y/N, you're not really out there fixing that house." He says jokingly.

You struggle to sit on the front steps you say, "Absolutely not, I'm out here planning to steal the Declaration of Independence." You laugh.

"Sam, I need...uh I wanna get a porch swing. One strong enough to hold Bucky." You smirk as he laughs.

"Lemme tell you now, that needs to be custom-made because nothing from Amazon will be able to carry Bucky and his attitude." He pauses "Well I was just checking in to see how you were doing. Are you sure you don't want my help?" He asks.

"Thank you, Sam, I don't know how long he will be gone for and this will help me get through it" you end the call with goodnights.

—

None of those YouTube videos prepared you for the aches in your back and the pain in your knees. Sanding, staining, and painting an entire porch was something you didn't think was going to be so straining. He always made things look so easy. Your phone rings and you run inside to get it. It's Bucky.

"Hello Doll, I love you." He says.

You pull the phone from your ear. You look at the screen and realize he is still on the line.

"Omg Bucky I miss you so much, I cant wait to see you!" you say as quickly as possible. You don't know how long you have him on the phone.

"The days feel longer, the nights are always colder without you Y/N. I don't know when I will be home but I had to hear your voice. I love you and I hope to see you soon. Goodbye Doll."

The call ends. You lean up against the front door frame. You place your phone on your chest and slide to the ground. You clutch your phone close to you.

*HONKKKKK*

Startled you look up across the yard. Sam is pulling up along with a Stark Industries Van.

"What the hell!" confusion in your voice.

Sam steps out of his truck, the van doors slide open. Natasha, Wanda, Vision, and a few Stark employees step out.

"Your home is beautiful," Wanda says reaching out to help you up.

"Hey, guys wh- what's going on?" you stutter.
Still confused why they are at your house.

"Sam called us, he said you might need our help. From the look of it, he was right."

Natasha says nodding at Sam.

–

A few days have gone by, who knew multiple hands would help speed up the process. As Sam is helping you set up the swing he made with Vision he jokes, "Buck might just come back and marry you after he sees all this."

You strain to hook up the chain of the bench to the ceiling you let out in a struggled breath " That's been the goal from the start."

"Well Y/N, when I first saw the house I don't know what you two saw. Now after my help I'm starting to see it," he says as he picks up his tool bag.

"Thank you for coming down and helping me out. It sure made it easier." You know by the look on Sam's face he knew you meant keeping you company and not the work being done on the porch.

"Sure thing. I'll see you later." He says as he walks over to his truck.

You watch him pull away. He's down the road and you lose his truck in the trees. You walk down the steps and admire the house.

"Bucky is crazy, we didn't need to paint it," you mutter to yourself.

"You're right, we don't. It looks amazing, better than I could've ever done" a voice behind you says.

You turn, your beat-up love standing right behind you.

"BUCKY!" you run and jump into his arms. You wrap your legs around him. He holds you. You didn't want to leave his embrace.

"I missed this. I needed this," he says into your neck.

He looks over to the house.

"What did you leave me to fix?" he teases.

He places you down and you both walk up the steps hand in hand.

You sit on the swing placing your hand on the empty spot next to you.

"I don't think that swing will hold ... me, let's go inside?" he reaches out for you.

You grab him and pull him onto the swing. Nothing happens. He has the sweetest smile across his face. He kicks off his boots and leans over and rests his head on your lap.

"This really is heaven." he's says softly. You place your hand on his face.

"You're home now, you're home with me." your lips pressed on his forehead.

His eyes heavy, he turns to look up at you.

"Don't let me leave anymore," he opens a small box and places it between you and him.

A ring, it's perfect. He places it on your finger. He turns over keeping your hand on his face.

"I love you." he lets out before he falls asleep.