Love that Lasts Forever

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A/N: words: 2431. hey just saying i have no clue how adoption works. i tried to you know, adhere to reality, but i did not do the actual experience much justice, so i apologize for that one. anyway, enjoy!

"You see what Monica said?" Bucky asked over dinner a few days later, looking through his email as he ate. Sam nodded, taking a bite of gumbo Bucky had prepared.

"Yeah," Sam confirmed around his food. "The information we found is actually going somewhere, that'd be a first."

"Only costed you a concussion."

"And you a fractured wrist." Sam retorted, to which Bucky rolled his eyes.

"D'you know when we're actually going into work?" They were meeting with Stephanie in 3 days. Bucky had been nervous about it for the past week, reading articles about everything and anything he could find, which Sam found absolutely adorable.

"She said in a week, we're good." Sam assured, reaching over to squeeze Bucky's hand. Bucky smiled softly. The sound of the crickets filled the air, silence seeping into the room until Bucky spoke again.

"I was thinking- I was thinking of retiring." Bucky admitted quietly, bowing his head. Sam's eyes went wide. He probably should've seen it coming, seen the fact that Bucky would want to retire. But it still took Sam by surprise, still knocked the wind out of him.

"I- oh." Sam muttered, lips parted, taken aback.

"Yeah, I just- I felt like I was finally ready, I guess. Stop fighting, start..." Bucky trailed off, face unimaginably soft and young.

"Start living."

Bucky smiled, nodding. "Yeah. I just figured, when they get here, I figured I'd stay home." And that makes perfect sense. Because someone would have to. Someone would need to take care of their child. And the thought of a retired Bucky to come home to, holding their sleeping child in his arms with a book on another hand, dozing off himself, already made Sam's heart swell.

"Makes sense." Sam agreed, smiling softly. "Now, I have been thinking-"

"Oh, lovely-"

"And," Sam continued pointedly, "I have a list of names, and I would like your opinion."

"You need my opinion." Bucky countered. Sam rolled his eyes, pulling on a folded piece of paper from the pocket of his hoodie.

"You are incredibly annoying." Sam told him, handing his husband the piece of paper. Bucky grinned, plucking it from Sam's grasp.

Stevie

Riley

Natalia

Darlene

Becca

Karli

Taylor (If you pick this I will shoot you in your sleep)

"The fact that you think I'd actually name our child after a 21st century pop star makes me worried for our marriage." Bucky commented, his smile amused. Sam laughed, a grin spreading across his lips. "Also, Stevie? As in Stevie Wonder or Steve Rogers?"

"Okay, the fact that you thought of Stevie Wonder makes me very proud of you, and second, both, obviously both."

"Okay, but what did you think of first?" Bucky countered, his smile smug.

"Steve!" Sam told him.

"You're a liar." Bucky argued.

"Pick a name!" Sam shouted, changing the topic, the smile on his lips seeping into his words. Bucky grinned, sparing a glance at the list again.