Unexpected Sweetness

Meeting Dad

Shawna fiddled with her spinner ring as they drove to the Creamery. Her temper had gotten shorter as her body started to react more and more to her stress. Bucky had never seen her this fragile. It scared him a bit. He ran his thumb over her knuckles as he drove, trying to provide grounding and support. The sharp smell of peppermint rolled off her in waves as she crunched Altoids between her molars. He squeezed her hand, "Baby, it will all be okay. If it goes good. That's good. If it goes awful, then we will go home, I will wrap you in a blanket and you can cry till you feel better. Then we will eat ice cream and snuggle our sweet girls."  He encouraged, getting a raised eyebrow for his efforts. 

"I'm fine." She asserted her voice pitching up as she lied, trying to convince herself. It was Bucky's turn to give her the look. The conversation was cut off by them pulling into the parking lot and met by a tall man, who definitely was related to Shawna, if the chin and nose were anything to go by. Shawna waited for Bucky, who came around to help her out the truck. "Hey dad." She greeted the man, who hugged her tight.

"You look pretty, Sweetheart. That green is your color. Always has been." He said, leading his daughter inside, she looked back to her boyfriend who followed.

Bucky was seated nearest the door, in the wide booth as they ordered their burgers and drinks. Both men drinking beers, Shawna snickering as Bucky got carded. "Hush." Bucky growled, as the young waitress gaped at the birthdate on his id. 

Shawna's dad glanced between the pair, "He can't be that much older than you." He remarked to his daughter, who looked sheepish. 

"70 years give or take." She mumbled, playing with the straw in her bottle of Coke. 

"Shawna Marie, this is not the time to joke." Her dad scolded.

"I'm not. Dad. Meet Sergeant Bucky Barnes." Her dad went to start to argue. "Slow down there. And yes, that Bucky Barnes." She cut him off. 

"Then no, Shawna Marie, you cannot date him." Her Dad snapped, making judgements.

Bucky froze, squeezing her hand tight. Shawna's green eyes narrowing dangerously. "I didn't ask for your permission. Wasn't going to ask your permission and last and certainly not least, do not need your permission. I am grown. And if Bucky needed permission to be in my life, he and Uncle would have that talk. I think we are done." Shawna gently pushed Bucky so they could go close out their part of the bill. 

"Don't you dare. young lady. Do you know what he's done? What he is capable of?" Her father growled. 

Shawna handed Bucky her keys. "He is kind. He is gentle. He saved Kenzie from drowning. He makes me feel loved, protected and beautiful. And if I wanted to try, he would try to be the most amazing husband and father. I know what he was made to do. But I know the other important parts. I know he feels so guilty even though he shouldn't and I know that he will continue to make amends. So I think he is worthy of my heart." 

Her dad changed tactics. "Sweetheart, I don't want you to get hurt."

Shawna tossed her head angrily, her ponytail whipping down her back. "Bucky wouldn't let me get hurt. Just like I try to protect him." She blew out a breath. "I knew this was a mistake. It's always a mistake."

She left heading out to her truck. Bucky waiting, "McDonald's and home?" He asked, reaching over to wipe the beginnings of sooty black streaks on his sweetheart's cheeks. She nodded, as Bucky went to work, comforting her.