Bucky's Hope (A Bucky Barnes Love Story)

Chapter 26

All morning everyone worked together to get everything ready for the party, they got the tent, tables, and chairs set up. Mrs. Williams went to the store to get everything that would be needed food-wise, and when she came back it looked like she came back with half the store from how much she got, but then they do have two super soldiers with very high metabolism so in a way Mrs. Williams was feeding an army, in no time the party was in full swing with everyone there in attendance and the food on the grill with Matt keeping an eye on it. Hope, having finished with all the chores that needed to be done in time for the party was in her room finishing getting ready when she heard a knock on her, she smiled when she saw that it was Kaitlyn and Emma.

Hope's POV:

I was in my room getting ready when I heard a knock at my door so I went and opened the door to find Kaitlyn and Emma there.

"Oh you guys made it, where's Daniel," I asked Kaitlyn as I hugged her.

"With Matt and the rest of the guys."

"I'm surprised that you came here instead of heading to the party tent."

"I had to talk to you about something so I asked your mom where you were and she told me you were here, but first what are you wearing to the party," I laughed seeing this sparkle in Kaitlyn's yes.

"Why the interest in what I'm wearing?"

"Well you never know, you might catch someone's eye tonight."

I scoffed, "who's eye here would I catch tonight?"

"Well there are three eligible Avenger bachelors here right now, hasn't one of them caught your eye yet, I mean they have been here for how many months now?"

I didn't say anything but Kaitlyn took that as an answer.

"Judging by your silence right now someone has already caught your eye, who is it?"

I sighed, "it doesn't matter Kate, he's an Avenger and must keep the world safe, he wouldn't want to leave that behind to live a life here on a ranch in the middle of nowhere."

"I doubt that, didn't your dad retire from being an Avenger to focus more on his family, I'm sure your guy would be willing to leave that life behind, maybe even welcome it, now stop stalling and show me what you plan on wearing."

I shook my head but got up and headed to my closet pulling out the dress that I was planning to wear, it was a blush-colored high-low maxi dress with flowers and it was also off the shoulder and a pair of white sneakers.

"What do you think?"

"I think you are going to look so beautiful and you will most definitely catch his eye the moment he sees you, so I'm going to have to pay extra attention to find out who it is."

I laughed, "alright, so what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh right, so I started looking for a therapist for you and I've narrowed it down between two that I think you will like, I'm sending you their info so you can decide which one you want to schedule an appointment with."

"Thank you, Kaitlyn, for doing this for me," she walked over to me and hugged me.

"Of course sweetie, you are my best friend, my sister, and I would do anything for you, even help you bury a body if need be and provide an alibi for you."

"Wow, you have a knack for comforting and then turning dark real quick."

"What can I say, it's a gift."

"Okay, let me finish getting ready and then we can join everyone else."

"Want me to help with your makeup?"

"Of course," I got dressed and went and sat at my vanity letting Kaitlyn have her fun, when she was done I was shocked when I looked in the mirror and saw how soft and glowy I looked, "oh wow, I look."

"Beautiful, both inside and out, now let's go join everyone 'cause I don't know about you but I am starving."

I nodded in agreement and quickly grabbed Emma before Kaitlyn could.

"Are you stealing my daughter away again?"

"Yes, now let's go," I said as I headed out of my room, Kaitlyn following right behind me.

When we got to the party tent, everyone was there laughing and talking with each other, just having a good time, as I looked around I then felt that someone was staring at me, as looked around, Kaitlyn caught my attention by whispering in my ear.

"So it's the sergeant that has caught your eye."

I turned to her, "what are you talking about?"

"He's been looking at you since the moment you got here, and all I can say is that I approve wholeheartedly."

I looked up again and saw James looking at me, the look in his eyes caused me to blush, so I turned back to Kaitlyn.

"Um, let's go find a place to sit," I led her to the table where Mom and Dad were at.

Bucky's POV:

The moment I saw Hope enter the tent my breath was taken away, she was breathtaking and I was at a loss for words, I must have been so caught watching Hope that I did not even notice Steve was trying to get my attention.

"Buck, Buck, BUCKY?"

I turned to Steve, "sorry, what did you say?"

"Seriously, you didn't hear what I said?"

"Uh, no sorry."

"What got your attention that you didn't even hear me," Steve then looked towards where I was looking, "ah, okay, I forgive you, but you need to stop staring and instead go ask her to dance."

We got surprised to see that there was a band playing as well, though actually, it was all the ranchhands here that brought instruments and everything they needed to play, while we were setting up the tent, Pepper coordinated where to put the tables and chairs so that we left room for a dance floor.

I didn't answer or move from where I was.

"Buck, what's wrong?" Steve asked me.

As I looked at Hope, I had this thought about not wanting to drag her into my darkness and trauma, she was pure and good and shouldn't have to worry about my demons.

"Steve, I can't do that."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't show Hope that I'm interested in her, I don't want her to be dragged along with me by my demons, she is too good, too pure, she doesn't deserve that."

"Bucky, I want you to listen to me carefully because I am only going to say this once, you deserve all the happiness in the world, you were dealt a shitty hand with what HYDRA did to you but now you are free from that control, from the Winter Soldier, you've been given a second chance so you need to take it and let yourself be happy and I have seen these last few months that Hope makes you happy when she is around you so don't let her slip through your fingers."

"But what if she isn't interested in me, what if she says no?"

"But what if she says yes, do you want to miss that opportunity?"

"You're not going to let this go are you?"

"No, I want to see you happy, now go show her that Bucky Barnes charm of yours and ask her to dance."

I took a deep breath and then let it out, "okay, how do I look?"

"Like your stalling now go over there and ask her to dance."

A/N: Alright, who all is cheering for Bucky right now, cause I know I am.