Unexpected Sweetness

Bucky to the rescue

Shawna opened her eyes, her phone display saying 4:30. Her head felt like a sledgehammer was being slammed into it repeatedly and her stomach rolled and dipped like she was on a boat in a storm. "Alexa, what is the forecast for the next two days?" She croaked.

"Today, rain showers with scattered thunderstorms. Tomorrow, Thunderstorms." She sighed, reaching for the excedrin she kept by her bed. Taking a dose and sipping on her water. Bekah pressed into her leg to steady her, as she got a cold rag for her forehead. The three girls curled up in bed.

Bucky watched out his window, sipping his coffee. Shawna was late. She never was late for walks with her dogs. Her truck was in her driveway, so she was home. His cell phone pinged. A text message waiting from his neighbor.

"Could you do me a favor? I'm knocked flat by a migraine and haven't been able to walk the girls. Would you walk them?"

Bucky sighed, replying, "sure thing. Spare key?"

Her reply was quick, "under a loose brick by my door. Thank you."

He pulled on his jacket and was there in five, letting himself in. A low rumbling growl led him to the bedroom where both dogs tried to make their girl feel better. Flo let out another warning growl. Bucky dug in his pocket for half a cookie he had been saving. Breaking it in half he gave Flo her share. The greedy pooch wolfed it down, wagging her tail. Bucky gave Becky her bit, but she refused, instead eye on her charge, who was cocooned in throws, shivering. "Hey there." He called gently, touching Shawna's shoulder, and feeling her forehead for fever. Dulled moss green eyes squinted up at him, her glasses on the table. "Feeling any better?" She shook her head, burrowing into the covers. "Why don't you take a shower? It might make you feel a bit better. I'll walk your girls. And then we can sit and watch movies, till you feel a bit better. Maybe get some soup in you." Shawna sighed, willing to try anything. "That a girl." Bucky praised. Shawna's cheeks turning pink. The dogs followed him out of the room and she eventually heard the front door shut. She headed to the shower, turning it on as hot as it could go. Shawna went to her medicine cabinet and pulled out her essential oil basket. She added peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender to the steaming shower causing fragrant steam to billow. Cueing up a playlist that helped most of the time, she stepped into the barely illuminated shower and just breathed through a good half hour of music and just let the water soothe her.

Afterwards she did feel a little better and was sitting on her couch, t-shirt and yoga pants on, hair in wet braids. Bucky came back in with both girls who ran to their mommy. Shawna looked up at her neighbor, "Thank you. And your suggestion helped a bit."

Bucky smiled, "I'm glad." He smelled something good.

"I also started warming some soup. I keep homemade frozen for times like this. Plus I always make way too much. Stay? It's the least I can do since you walked my dogs in the rain." She offered, playing with a pom pom on the hem of her blanket. Bucky went to the mud room and pulled off his jacket and boots, before settling on the couch on the free cushion not taken up by her feet. "I hope you don't mind. I watch Disney movies when I don't feel good. That or season 1 of Supernatural." She started 'Lilo and Stitch' Bucky noticing the blue alien on a few of the things in the room. She must have been tired, because she was soon asleep again. Bucky watched her sleep for a moment, her face relaxed and pain free.

The next morning she woke up in her bed. Shawna lay there for a moment puzzling things out. Realizing that she wasn't being asked for cuddles or morning walks. She went looking for her dogs, but found a note.

"Hope you are feeling better. Sleep seemed the best medicine so I took the girls with me on my morning run. Soup was put away in the fridge. Be back soon, B." She closed her eyes, trying to remember the fuzzy evening. Had he carried her to her bed and tucked her in? And if so had that forehead kiss been real or just a figment of her imagination. She hadn't had forehead kisses since she was a little girl but secretly they were one of her favorites. She drummed her fingers against her tea mug thinking. She shook her head clearing the thoughts, pining would do no good and she knew she read social cues wrong a lot. He was just a really nice guy and obviously a good friend. A good friend who deserved some cookies. She set to making her shopping list.

A few days later, Becky carried a gift bag while the cookie plate piled high with peanut butter and peanut butter blossom cookies was in the hands of her girl. Shawna knocked, not sure her neighbor was home. Bucky opened the door, not expecting company but giving the trio of females a smile.

"Hey beautiful girls." He greeted the dogs, "and Miss Shawna. What brings you to my door?"

Shawna blushed. "I baked you some thank you cookies. And Bekah brought you a small gift." The dog dropped the small gift bag. Bucky put the cookies inside before opening the bag, inside was a house key attached to a Mickey Mouse Keychain. He looked at her confused. "So you can borrow the girls whenever you like. And open invitation for movie nights."She explained. "I just noticed you seemed kind of a loner and I wanted you to feel welcome. Besides, we like you." Shawna patted the dogs who leaned into her touch.

"Thank you, for trusting me." Bucky said, earnestly.