Letting You Go.

'Our Precious Girl'

"C'mon Bucky, its time..." Elle drags Bucky up the wooden porch steps to her front door, she smiles teasingly at the terrified look on his face.
Bucky trudges behind her reluctantly, his heart pounding nervously.
She stops at the closed door and turns to him, "hey..." she places her hand ever so softly on the side of his face "whats wrong?"
Bucky chews his bottom lip whilst flaring his nostrils and heaves an almighty sigh, "I've never been introduced to anyone before, wh...what if they don't accept me." He holds out his hand pulling back the leather glove exposing the steel metal hand.
Elle lifts his hand up to her mouth and plants a kiss on it, "they'll love you because I love you."
He fixes his glove again, smiling through his nerves, he'd do anything to keep Elle happy, even this.
"Before we go in," he grabs her hand pulling her tightly into his chest, then cupping her face he kisses her forehead, the tip of her nose, each cheek and then finally her perfect pouting lips.

"Grams... Gramps... I've brought someone to meet you." She walks into the lounge with Bucky trailing behind her sheepishly, Elle makes her way over to an elderly woman sitting on the sofa reading a book, "hi," she smiles sweetly kissing her on the head.
The older gentleman sits on an armchair reading the paper, he sets it down holding out his arms impatiently waiting for his hug.
"I'm coming Gramps, hold your horses!" She skips over kissing him on the cheek, then she peers into his shirt pocket lifting out toffees "two today Gramps?" She looks at him suspiciously.
"One for you, and one for your guest." He nods acknowledging Bucky who stands in the doorway, with a half smile escaping his mouth.
Elle tosses him a toffee wrapped in emerald green foil as she pops the other into her mouth, "this is James Barnes, my boyfriend." Elle beams, heart full to the brim.
"Buck, this is my Grams and my Gramps." Elle pushes Bucky to sit on the sofa next to Grams who sits smiling ever so gently at him her eyes glistening with pride.
Gramps lifts up his paper pretending to read looking up at Elle who is shuffling her feet standing behind the sofa with her arms lovingly draped over Bucky's shoulders, "Ellie, be a dear... go fetch us some tea."
She nods, ruffling Bucky's hair before exiting the living area.

"It's lovely to finally meet you James." Grams reaches out her arm, patting Bucky's knee gently. Her blue eyes sparkle in the light of the room, her resting face is kind and welcoming.
"Please, call me Bucky. I'm so glad to meet you both, Elle talks about you all the time." Bucky replies politely, rambling a little nervously.
He glances around the room, family pictures on every wall, a beautiful home full of love, but with a slight undertone of sadness.
Bucky's brows droop reminiscent of what could have been.
Grams reaches her hand out placing it on-top of Bucky's, feeling the hard metal underneath his glove, a curious look etches itself across her face softly, "life hasn't been kind to either of you, I'm so happy you found one another."
Bucky's stomach churns, he wasn't aware that Elle had told them everything, but he isn't mad, the opposite actually he is relieved, thankful.
"So you know?" A involuntary panicked tone comes from his voice.
"Elle told us everything dear." Grams leans forward with empathetic tears in her eyes.
Not an ounce of judgement, Bucky felt more and more at ease with every passing moment.
The guilt that lives within him taken over by the fear that everything that HYDRA put inside him is still there, forces Bucky to defend himself, "I would never hurt Elle, I love her." He looks down at his feet, the mixture of feelings overwhelm him.
Tears of happiness fill Grams eyes, she places her soft hand gently on Bucky's cheek, "oh darling boy, she loves you too. We've never seen her so happy." Tears flow down her cheeks.
Bucky breathes a sigh of relief, feeling thankful for being accepted, ready to start and idyllic life with Elle. He may not always be sure of his mind, but he has never been more sure of his love for Elle.
"You never need to worry about a thing James," Grams reassures Bucky's fears without him even having to voice them. Her presence calms him.
A joyful smile sweeps across his face he takes he clasps both his hands over Grams "I'm just so happy to be welcomed by Elles family." He nods contently around the room.
Gramps sets down his paper after listening intently to the entire conversation, he nod encouragingly at his wife, she smiles back at him pursing her lips before turning back to look at Bucky, "Oh sweetheart, we're your family now too." Pressing her hand on the side of his face again, a tear falls from his eye onto her thumb. She hands Bucky a handkerchief, and watches as he wipes his eyes.
Bucky sits feeling comfortably vulnerable, allowed to be himself with someone other than Elle. Feeling the love float around him, the acceptance, which is all he has ever wanted. Just to be allowed to be himself, and to be loved.
Gramps leans forward in his chair, catching Bucky's gaze "Just don't hurt our precious girl, or you'll have me to deal with."
Bucky matches his gaze, "I promise."
And he truly meant it.