Red White and Blue

Chapter 5: Working Woman

I stood there in Mrs. Rodger's white shirt and a pair of heels, a bouquet of wildflowers I made Bucky pick for me in hand. Steve stood across from me in his church clothes, his hair poorly combed back by Bucky. Bucky stood at the end of the trail of petals I laid out. He looked annoyed. He never liked playing family.

"I'll forever and ever and ever keep you safe," Steve says to me, a promise he's given me many times now.

"I'll forever and ever and ever share my sweets with you," I tell him back. I've lost count of how many times I'd said this to him now.

Bucky sighs, then stands up straighter, "You can kiss now,"

"Eww! No!" Steve and I complain together.

"That's what your mom said you do when you get married!" Bucky argues, "We've been over this!"

Steve shakes his head, "We can hug instead,"

I excitedly nod my head.

"Fine, you can hug now!" Bucky snaps.

Steve and I hug, a huge smile on both our faces. We pull our paper rings out and put them on each other's fingers.

"Okay, you're married now," Bucky says, "I'm not going to be the baby this time."

"You can be the cat. Your name is Winter, because you're a white cat," I decide.

"That's a stupid name. I'd rather get eaten by the dog than have that name,"

"Mom said we can't kill each other in games after last time," Steve reminds us.

"Right," I say. I turn back to Bucky, "Winter, cats don't walk like that."

Bucky sighs and falls over, "I'm a sleeping cat,"

A loud sound takes me out of the memory. I look over to see Howard holding a prototype and a hammer a few feet away from me. "So, what fun little Steve memory are you sharing with me today?"

"I was not thinking about Steve!" I lie.

"I can tell. You get this look, it's weird,"

"I believe it's called love, Howard," Jarvis says in a teasing tone. He's done it. He's found a way to tease us both at once!

We both turn to glare at him. He smirks back, proud of what he's done.

I turn and grab my prototype, "I bet you another sixty clams Steve will like this one best,"

"I'll take that bet if he gets picked," Howard tells me, "I gotta make sure you'll have sixty clams to bet."

"Easiest hundred and twenty bucks I'll ever make,"

~

Howard looks over the shield, "This is the size of a dinner plate,"

"Perfect for Steve," I tell him, "He's just a little guy. You say you're a genius, but with how you remember details, I'd say that you're a knucklehead."

"You're whistling dixie. Steve won't get picked if he's even half the man you describe,"

"If he was half of what's there, you wouldn't be able to see him. It's what's inside that counts, H,"

"Tightly packed organs? Why is he so small?"

I roll my eyes, pulling my prototype from his hands. I have to finish. We have two more days until the big day. I hope they don't hurt my Stevie.