When Love Blooms || Bucky Barnes x OC

Chapter 11

Songs: Falling (Harry Styles), Before You Go (Lewis Capaldi)

Veronica woke with a start, taking a second to remember where she was, as she stared up at the ceiling. The wires and beeps swam into focus, and she sat up on the cot she was on, barely remembering falling asleep on it. She rubbed her eyes and looked up, seeing her dad's bed empty. Before she could panic, the door to the bathroom in the room opened, and she could hear shuffling.

"Oh!...You're awake," Steve said, hobbling across the room with Bucky's help. She stared as he got Steve back into bed, who looked better than he had the day before. Bucky stepped back and glanced at Veronica, a tight smile on his face dropping as fast as it had appeared.

She smiled back, a little worried, but happy to see him helping her dad. She pushed herself up off the cot, standing next to Bucky, but he immediately backed up, heading for the door.

"I'll go let the nurse know you're ready to eat," Bucky said to Steve, who nodded once. When he had left the room, Veronica turned to her dad, stretching and yawning.

"What time is it?" She asked, glancing around for a clock.

"A little...after ten," Steve replied, making room for Veronica to sit on the end of the bed. She did, and turned to him.

"And are you being nice?" Veronica asked, not sure how long he and Bucky had been awake and mostly alone for.

"I'm being...perfectly civil," Steve snapped, then sighed. "It's been a...long couple hours...waiting...for you to wake up...kid."

"Why, Dad? He's still the same Bucky that you've known your whole life! That didn't change just because we're together," Veronica tried to explain, the door opening before Steve could reply.

"Alright Mr. Rogers," the nurse said with a smile, "Here's your breakfast!" She put it on a tray over Steve's lap, checked the levels on his meds, then headed out with a "Press that call button if you need anything!"

Bucky walked in after she went out, his hands full of food and drinks. "Went to the cafeteria to try to score some better food," he said, placing everything on the bed. "Got some yogurt, some cereal, some apparently really good pancakes, and bacon and eggs. Pick whatever you want, I can always go and get more."

"Thanks Bucky," Veronica smiled at him, opening the containers and digging in. Bucky leaned back against the wall, watching her tensely as she ate. "You don't have to stand there you know, you can sit down," she laughed as she opened the yogurt, gesturing at the chair in the room. Bucky shook his head, remaining where he was.

"I'm good, gotta head out soon anyways. Needta check on the store, make sure the guys are on top of it," he said offhandedly, glancing at his watch. "Steve, listen to your nurses and doctors for once, huh? And Vee, I'll-"

"Actually, could you bring me home? I need to get some stuff again if Dad's gonna be here so long," Veronica interrupted Bucky, not letting him finish whatever he was about to say to her. She turned to her dad who had a look of displeasure on his face. "Dad, don't, please. We took my car last night, we both need to get home, it's better to go together. Open mind?" she reminded him, and Steve sighed, wincing.

"Fine!...Go and get...stuff from home...Come right back," he said, and Veronica nodded, turning to Bucky.

"I'm ready whenever you are," she said, and Bucky nodded, walking over to the window seat and grabbing their coats. He handed Veronica hers, and they left the room, Veronica pressing a kiss to her dad's cheek and calling out, "Be good Dad!"