Bucky's Hope (A Bucky Barnes Love Story)

Chapter 57

Hope's POV:

I was outside sitting on the porch swing when I felt someone sit next to me, I looked and saw that it was James.

"Hey."

"Hey, did they both go down okay?"

"Yes."

I was quiet again and lost in thought as I looked up at the stars.

"What's wrong?"

I didn't answer and only shrugged my shoulders, James scooched closer to me.

"May I?"

I looked and saw he had his arm out wanting to wrap it around my shoulder, I nodded yes. He placed his arm around me and pulled me closer to him, I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"Everything will be okay, yes it will take time but things will get better."

I giggled, "Quite the words of wisdom you got there."

James laughed, "I guess being here has changed my way of thinking, you and the horses have taught me that and that second chances are possible."

"I'm glad to hear that," I leaned in and kissed James on the cheek then laid my head back on his shoulder as we both looked up at the starry night.

At some point, I must have dozed off and James probably carried me to bed because in the morning I awoke in my bed and my alarm went off. I turned it off and just laid in bed listening to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. I stayed like that for a while until I heard cooing coming from the baby monitor, I smiled as I heard Emma.

I got up and walked over to her and Morgan's room, Morgan was still sleeping so I quietly walked over to Emma's crib, she was wide awake so I took her out of the crib and walked back to my room. I got back in bed once more and settled Emma next to me.

As we both lay in bed I couldn't help but just watch her as she looked around then back to me, smiling each time. We were like for a while when something caught my eye, it was an envelope on my nightstand, it had my name on it. I recognized the handwriting as Kaitlyn's.

I had been so preoccupied yesterday that I had completely forgotten about it. I looked at it unsure if I wanted to read it just yet, I looked to Emma.

"What do you think sweet girl, should I open it now?"

Emma smiled and babbled.

"Well, that was no help."

I looked again at the envelope, I was between opening it or not, but my brain kept screaming not to, at least not yet. I decided to hold off for now and since I had an appointment today with Dr. Price, I figured to bring it with me and see if after our session I would open it then.

I decided then to get up and get dressed, I left Emma on my bed with pillows surrounding her while I grabbed some clothes to change into. I changed into a pair of skinny jeans, a white spaghetti strap crop top, a purple plaid button-up, and a pair of brown-heeled booties.

Once I was ready I grabbed Emma and went to get her dressed as well. I dressed her in a white long-sleeved onesie with overall jeans and a neutral color headband with a bow.

"Oh don't you look adorable, Princess, you look like you're ready to start working on the farm," Emma giggled, "Come on, let go get you breakfast."

I took Emma into my arms and headed toward the kitchen, once I got her into her high chair I began to get her bottle and breakfast going. Emma's first birthday is coming up soon, I was originally looking forward to it but now not so much at the moment. But I will still do what Kaitlyn and I originally planned for Emma, if not for them for Emma so that everything is still as normal as it can be.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear or notice when someone came into the kitchen.

"Well look at you all motherly right now?" Dad said.

I smiled, "More like I know Emma's routine down to the letter."

"And I think that gives you a head start already," Dad was silent for a moment, "What are you thinking about?"

I stopped what I was doing, "I'm just still trying to process so many things right now."

"Your not freaking out are you?"

"Would it make me a bad person if I said a little bit?"

"No honey, it doesn't, I would think you were crazy if you weren't, listen, Hope, it's okay if you are, your life has just changed in a big way and you are entitled to have a freak-out, but then after I want you to look at Emma and remember why you are doing this."

"You know her first birthday is coming up."

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yeah, Kaitlyn and I had planned something for Emma to celebrate, and even after what's happened, she deserves to have her birthday celebrated, it may not be the same but I know that they would want us to still do this for Emma."

Dad walked over pulled me into a hug and kissed my head, "Have I told you how proud I am of you?"

"Hm, not recently."

Dad laughed, "Well I am, I am extremely proud of you and I know that your mother and grandparents are proud of you and the young woman you have become."

I hugged Dad this time, "Thank you, for everything you have done for me, I wouldn't trade you for the world."

We held each other for a moment longer and then let each other go.

"So, what's for breakfast?"

"Well, for this little lady here, I was thinking of some banana pancakes before her morning bottle."

Dad looked at me as if I was crazy.

"Just watch," I told him.

I got to work and got some pancake batter ready, then took a banana and cut it up into slices. Once I was done with that I dipped the slices into the batter making sure to coat them well and then placed several slices one the waiting heated pan on the stove. All of that only took a few minutes, once it was all ready I put it in Emma's bowl and drizzled honey over the pancake bites.

"Tada, try it," I gave Dad a slice to try.

"Wow, where did you learn this from?"

"Grandma Maria, this was a favorite of mine growing up, and I thought Emma would enjoy it too."

I placed the bowl in front of her and she went to town eating up every bite.

"Looks like it's still a hit," Dad said smiling.

"Can you watch her while I make us something to eat as well?"

"Of course sweetheart."

I then got back to cooking and made Dad and me breakfast, we sat at the table with Emma, just talking as we ate together.

A/N: Sorry I took a while to update guys, just been having a lot of things going on for a while, but I hope to have more soon. Enjoy this chapter for now.