Crescent Acres (Steve Rogers AU)

27

Darby

After being stuck in hospital for almost a week, we finally got Steve home and on the road to recovery. Which means that he needs to sit on his ass and do nothing while I tend to him in between getting the barn's interior ready.

Sarah and I take it in turns to be with him, and so far he's been a very compliant patient. Doctor Banner, the local doctor in town, usually visits every few days and even he has said that Steve will be back on his feet in no time. His meds have been upped for the time being, just to cope with the pain, and I've also managed to talk him into finally going to therapy.

It's what he needs and even though the conversation wasn't the greatest to have, he finally agreed to it. A battle that Sarah told me she's been fighting him for years on.

He's just been too stubborn to admit that he does need that help.

I'm cooking breakfast as he comes downstairs one morning and kisses me. "Let me do that". He says.

"No way, you go sit yourself down, plus you only have one arm for the time being so you're more of a safety hazard now than you were before".

He rolls his eyes. "Very funny", and goes to the fridge to get some juice out.

"Morning!" Bucky all but lets himself in and dumps something on the table. "Got you a spare arm, just in case we ever need to chop yours off".

Steve looks at the arm and then at him. The serious expression on his face doesn't change. "Did you make that outta duct tape?"

Bucky looks proudly at his art project. "Yep, although I kinda used my own arm to make the mould for it..." He trails off realising that it probably wouldn't fit Steve anyway considering his muscles are probably bigger.

"Oh my god". I groan in disbelief and look at the duct tape arm on the table, it even has fingers so how he managed to do that and then take it off is beyond me. "Get it off the table and sit your ass down. I'm guessing you haven't eaten yet?"

"Well if you're offering then thanks". Bucky doesn't think twice in sitting down along with Steve, helping himself to some juice from the jug.  "How you feeling today pal?"

Steve glances to me and then smirks. "Well considering I'm not allowed to do jack shit? Relaxed I guess".

I come over with their plates and place them down in front of them both, looking at Bucky. "Want me to cut yours up in to kiddie pieces like I have to do with his?"

"We're still talking about the food right?" Bucky muses and then looks to Steve. "Considering you fell off that horse a few weeks ago, you're looking pretty good".

Steve puts his good arm around my waist as I stand next to him. "Coz I have a fiancée who's making sure I'm eating right and actually listening to her".

We see Bucky's face change, "wait...are you..." I hold up my hand and show him the ring that's been present there since Steve got out of hospital. It's amazing how no one has noticed yet. But then again only Sarah knows of our plans.

Before we open for the season, Steve and I plan to christen the barn by being the first couple to get married there. I know it sounds all mushy and lovely, but what better way to kick start it's use off with none other than our own wedding?
I still have to finish the inside décor, and other small things need their ends tied up, but we've met the deadline to finish the place so now it's over to me to finalise it fully.

"That's amazing". He now gets up and hugs me, patting Steve's head and grinning. "If I slapped you on the back I might break something else, and we don't need that".

I sit down with them now and Bucky jabs at his eggs. "So do you have a date?"

"Few weeks before we open for low season, need to give the barn a test run, and it seems the right way to do it". Steve reaches over and squeezes my hand.

"I bet Sarah's bouncing off the walls".

I chuckle and finish my toast. "It's all she's talked about. But we need something good after all this.  Both of us do".

A man who actually loves me and has done for years. I know this time around it won't end the way my last marriage did, because it won't end at all. This is who I'm meant to spend the rest of my life with.

My parents can't quite believe the turn of events. At first they thought I was having some kind of rebound, rushing back into another marriage before even getting my head straight as to whether it's what I want and if it's with the right man. But I assured them that it is, and I just hope that when they see each other again at the wedding, that they won't cause a scene. I don't think they will. My dad re-married and so did mom, they've both moved on so I'm hoping they can tolerate one another just for one day. They managed to make it through the last - just.

Mom is coming to stay in a few weeks, so we will see just how this goes. I know she'll love Steve and get along with Sarah too. That's all I can ask for.

After we're all finished, I shoo the boys away so Bucky can keep Steve company while I stack the dishwasher. I've fallen into life so easily here that I'm beginning to forget just how it was before I came back. It's like the old me doesn't exist anymore, but to be honest? I'm ok with it.

New life. New start. New job and a new love.

Nope. I know for sure that I don't miss the old me at all.