When Love Blooms || Bucky Barnes x OC

Chapter 3

Songs: Wonderful Christmastime; Last First Kiss

Veronica kept the house moving over the next few days, doing the laundry, the cooking, cleaning, running errands. In between all of that, she took care of her dad, bringing him anything he needed, making sure he took his meds, and helped him walk around the house when he wanted. Bucky did his best to help out but he also had to work at the sandwich shop, and make sure things ran smoothly in Steve's absence.

It was the day before Christmas Eve, and Veronica had just gotten back from shopping, Bucky having stayed with Steve, leaving the shop in the hands of some of the other workers. She was in the kitchen, putting groceries away when she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to see Bucky walking in with a couple bags of chips and glasses.

"Hey Bucky. Movie over?" Veronica asked, turning back to the fridge and dumping in the food she was holding.

"Nah, your dad fell asleep. Those pills really knock him out, the fuckin' lightweight," Bucky laughed, setting his stuff on the counter. He pulled clips out of the drawer, closed them and put them in the pantry. Veronica watched him with an amused look on her face, Bucky looking completely at home going to put the glasses in the dishwasher, looking up at her as he was closing it and pausing. "What?"

"You and my dad are really close aren't you?" she asked, smile slowly sliding off her face. Bucky stood, shutting the machine and crossing his arms, studying her.

"When we were younger, we were like brothers. We've gotten there again I'd say. Working together everyday has really brought us back. We'd been through hell together- not much could truly separate us." Veronica nodded, meeting his gaze briefly before lowering it. "Why do I get the feeling that's not quite the answer you were looking for?"

Veronica sighed, shaking her head slightly, then looked up at him again. "I just...I didn't realize how close you were 'til now. What you two have." Memories of her old best friend surfaced and she raised a hand to her eyes, wiping them as tears suddenly built and spilled over. "Sorry, god this is embarrassing."

Bucky shook his head softly, gesturing to the kitchen table and said, "You don't have to be embarrassed. Wanna sit down? I can put the rest of the stuff away, I know where Steve likes his shit." Veronica nodded, crossing by him, reaching out and touching his arm briefly. She whispered a thank you, sitting down at the table, and rested her head in her hands.

"If it'll help to talk, I'm here, Vee," Bucky said as he pulled food out of the bags and began putting it away. Veronica took a deep breath, pressing her hands to her eyes until spots formed, then sighed and pushed her hands up through her hair, holding the back of her neck.

"I don't know if my dad's told you any of this, but my best friend committed suicide when we were eighteen. Things were- they were hard for her." Veronica turned her head and folded her hands under her chin, watching Bucky nod as he moved in the kitchen, perfectly at ease. She felt tears prick her eyes again and she blinked quickly, trying to stop them.

"What was her name?" Bucky asked softly, putting the bags away in the closet. He walked over to the table, Veronica watching and facing him when he sat, chair pulled out from the table a bit so his legs could stretch out.

"Penelope," she grinned, then laughed and said, "Pen. She'd kill me for telling you her full name. Probably do something drastic in revenge, like tell my dad about one of the times I snuck out."

"One of the times?" Bucky asked, raising an eyebrow as he laughed.

"Shh, now you're in on the secret too!" Veronica giggled, settling into a content smile. She realized after a few seconds that she was just staring at Bucky, and she blinked, sitting up and looking away, blushing. Bucky kept his eyes on her, soft smile still on his face.