FOREVER YOUNG, b.barnes daughter

two. big steve

GUYS IK I SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON ELLIE'S FIC NOW THAT IVE WRITTEN ALL OF SEV'S FIC, BUT IVE BEEN ON THE PROWL WRITING THIS FIC BRO

JUDITH BARNES spent the days after her father left moping. She wandered from room to room, her small figure slumped with sadness. Every corner of the house seemed to remind her of her father, and the ache of missing him was almost too much to bear.

Dorothy watched her daughter with a heavy heart. She had always known that Bucky's departures were hard on Judith, but this time seemed especially difficult. Determined to lift her daughter's spirits, she decided to take action.

"Judy, sweetheart," Dorothy called gently, finding Judith curled up in a chair with a book she wasn't really reading. "How about we bake some cookies? You can pick the recipe."

Judith looked up, her eyes red from crying. She shrugged, not quite ready to be cheered up. "I don't feel like it, Mama."

Dorothy sighed inwardly but kept her smile. "Well, we could paint something together. Remember that pretty picture you wanted to make for your room?"

Again, Judith shrugged, her heart not in it. "Maybe later."

Dorothy walked over and knelt beside her daughter, brushing a stray hair from her face. "I know you're sad, Judy. I miss him too. But we can still have a good day together. How about we go outside and pick some flowers for the table? It'll brighten up the whole room."

Judith hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Okay, Mama."

They put on their coats and stepped outside into the crisp autumn air. Dorothy led Judith to the garden, pointing out the flowers that were still in bloom. Together, they picked a colorful bouquet, and for a moment, Judith's mood seemed to lift.

Back inside, they arranged the flowers in a vase, Judith carefully placing each stem. Dorothy saw a hint of a smile on her daughter's face and felt a flicker of hope.

Later, as they sat on the couch, Dorothy pulled Judith into her lap, holding her close. "You know, Judy, your dad loves you more than anything in this world. He's going to come back to us soon, and he'll have so many stories to tell. We just have to be patient and strong."

Judith sniffled, her head resting against her mother's shoulder. "But what if something bad happens, Mama?"

Dorothy hugged her tighter, her voice gentle but firm. "Your dad is very brave and very strong. He's faced a lot of dangers before, and he's always come back to us. He promised you, didn't he?"

Judith nodded, tears still glistening in her eyes. "Yeah, he did."

"When has your father ever broken a promise?" She said.

"Never..." Judith responded.

"Then you have to trust that promise," Dorothy said, stroking her hair. "We'll get through this together, and before you know it, he'll be walking through that door with a big smile on his face."

Judith took a deep breath, trying to believe her mother's words. "Okay, Mama."

"MAMA CAN I read that newspaper?" asked Judith, pointing to the folded paper on the kitchen table.

Dorothy looked at her daughter, hands on her hips. "Now, what do you want to read a newspaper for, Judy?"

Judith sighed. "I'm bored, Mama."

Dorothy smiled gently and picked up the newspaper, handing it to Judith. "Alright, but I don't think there's much in there that's exciting for a little girl."