First We Were Friends - A Bucky Barnes Novel

Chapter 13. Commitment (Sexual Content)

Greg was as good as his word.  Working around Bucky's missions he started Bucky out on the foundation crew to teach him the basics then moved him to the framing crew where he met Jed and had a good conversation about Terry Edwards.  From there he went to door and window installation to get the house to a lock-up phase.  After learning about insulation, HVAC and hanging drywall, Bucky was put on the flooring crew and learned more than he ever thought possible about the different flooring options and how to install them.  From there he went to kitchen and bathroom installation and finishing.  Although Greg used a painting company and a ceiling finish company to finish the walls and ceilings those crews answered Bucky's questions about everything.  Between June when he started, minus the days of all the missions he went on, until the beginning of December which he took off to help Julia prepare the house for Christmas Bucky learned more about building houses than he ever knew was possible.  On his final day with Greg before his leave of absence his boss asked him out for a drink.  Both men ordered a scotch and sat there sipping it.

"You're good," said Greg.  "Everything I threw at you was handled well and you helped me out in the process."

"Why did you show me all of it, Greg?" asked Bucky.  "I would have been happy doing odd jobs."

"I know but I have an ulterior motive," admitted the man.  "Julia told me about wanting to make an offer to Bob Johnson for the house.  If you're successful you'll need to know a lot to fix it up.  That family let so much slide but the house itself has good bones.  My grandpa built it for them back in the 1940s.  It's the only way to keep a guy like Terry Edwards from building one of his modern monsters on that property."

Bucky nodded.  He had a suspicion it was something like that.  "Did she tell you we've talked about getting married and staying here?" he asked. 

Greg nodded.  "I've known Julia since she was a kid and I hung out with her brothers when they came to visit the grandparents," he said.  "I have an autistic brother, not as high level as she is.  She never really needed protection here because we cared about her.  None of us liked Mason but he had a hold on her.  He never saw her as an equal.  You, on the other hand, have seen her as an equal from the start.  I was at the bar the first night she brought you there and saw how you watched over her.  There was never the vibes from you that Mason gave off.  You love her and you treat her right.  Hell, you moved here to stay with her.  That counts for a lot.  You're part of the local community now Bucky and we locals look out for each other."

Bucky smiled and sipped some more of his scotch.  "I'm asking her to marry me soon," he stated.  "Hopefully my army settlement comes in and I can use that money to buy the Johnson house.  I like living here and I think my kids will be safe here."

Greg's brow furrowed.  "As safe as anywhere," he noted.  "Is there something about your future children that concerns you?"

"Most of the changes HYDRA made to me were also genetic in nature," replied Bucky carefully, in a low voice.  "There's a good chance my physical abilities will be passed on to my children.  They may be targets for some unscrupulous organizations.  Some place like here is a better place to raise them as it's out of the way, private and, like you said, the community will watch out for them.  I want them to have as normal an upbringing as possible."

Greg extended his hand.  "Then you have my promise to help you," he said. 

Bucky shook Greg's hand.  "Thank you," he replied, then drained his glass.  "I better get home to Julia.  We're going to have a fire tonight, roast some marshmallows, drink some Bailey's and hot chocolate."

Greg smiled and drained his glass as well.  Out in the parking lot Bucky looked at the truck Greg leased for him.  Because he was already well covered for medical benefits the man had offered to lease the truck on his behalf instead.  He was free to use it for work and for pleasure.  Greg even paid for the snow tires and chains that would be needed when the snow really started falling.  It was just another indicator of the decent man Greg was.  There hadn't been much snow the past two months but the forecast was for a big snowfall that night and Bucky was glad to be prepared.  Waving goodbye Bucky drove home.  It was snowing heavily when he got to the house and he had to stamp the snow off his boots before entering.  Julia had already started the fire and it was toasty warm inside.