Babydoll

Christmas at the Donahue's

"If you get overwhelmed let me know and we can go." Aurora tries to reassure him as they walk up the steps to her parents' front door. Steve and him had their arms full of gifts that had been in the trunk making it hard to see the steps, but he kept his eyes on her. As cheesy as it sounded he'd follow her anywhere.

"Doll I'll be fine. Like you said Steve is here and Matt, even Tony unless he decides to help your dad kill me." He tried to joke, but it came out flat.

"Come on, Buck, give yourself more credit. They'll like you. Just remember to smile and just be yourself." That was easier said than done when he was still remembering who he was.

Their conversation was interrupted by Tony telling them to get a move on and Pepper telling him to be nice. He halfway turned to give the redhead a grateful smile. "Merry Christmas Ms Potts."

"Merry Christmas Bucky and please, call me Pepper. You'll do fine. Richard and Sylvia are wonderful people, don't let Tony scare you." He grumbles under his breath, but is cut off when she shoves her elbow hard into his side.

Opening the door Aurora calls out, "Mom, dad we're here." Gesturing for them to follow her down the hall and to the right of the stairs into the sitting room where it looked like Christmas exploded.

The entire room was tastefully decorated, but every inch of the room was done up in lights, garland and whatever else the Donahue's deemed appropriate for the holiday. In front of the bay window was a nearly twelve foot tall noble fir tree draped in red, green and gold baubles, white twinkling lights and what looked like handmade ornaments. At the top in place of the star was a.. stuffed penguin.

Him and Steve stood next to Aurora as she took the presents from them to set next to the other gifts. He bit back a grin at her putting them down in a specific way that had her full concentration. "What's with the penguin?" He asked her when she was finished.

Glancing up at the stuffed bird she laughs and shakes her head in amusement. A soft, but deep voice from behind them says,"That is Sigmond. He's a puppet that Rory and Matt had from when they were kids." Steve and him turn to see a man about Tony's age, but a little taller with longish salt and pepper hair standing in the doorway wearing blue jeans and a green shirt with the Grinch on it that said 'I've got resting Grinch face'.

"When they were about eight her and Matty were playing around in here and broke the star when they knocked over the tree. Rory's solution was to replace it with her puppet. It became our new tradition to put him up there ever since." His hazel eyes dance with laughter at his daughter who walks over to hug her father. "Sweetness, introduce me to your friends."

Smiling up at him, Aurora brings him over to Bucky and Steve. Buck could feel the sweat on his right palm at the nervousness of meeting her dad. Trying to discreetly wipe his sweaty palm on his jeans he held out his hand. "Bucky Barnes, it's nice to meet you sir." Richard waved his hand before taking his and shaking it.

"None of that, call me Richard. It's nice to meet you Bucky, Rory and Matt have had nothing but good things to say about you." So she had talked to her parents about him. He grinned at the pink flush in her cheeks at being called out in front of him.

Holding his hand out Steve clapped his other hand on Bucky's shoulder to let him know he was doing good. "Steve Rogers, nice to meet you."

"I can't believe Captain America is in my house. It's nice to meet you Steve. Please let me take your jackets and then we'll head in for breakfast. Sylvie is just putting out the last few dishes now." He says, holding out his hands for their coats.

Slipping them off him and Steve hand them over while Aurora unzips her hoody and follows her dad to hang it up with a smile for him. Steve shakes his shoulder pulling his panicked gaze over to him. "Breathe pal, you're doing fine."