𝗕𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗦

White Christmas

SONG REQUEST FOR THIS CHAPTER: WHITE CHRISTMAS by BING CROSBY

1,148 Words

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I had this idea to write a chapter where Bucky and Avery have a normal Christmas with their daughter, without all the chaos from the Walking Dead universe. For those wondering, this is an alternative universe from my TWD book 'Dauntless'.

The soft glow of early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting gentle shadows across the room. The familiar scent of Christmas hung in the air, a mix of pine, cinnamon, and something sweeter—like sugar cookies.

The house was quiet, save for the distant hum of the heater. Bucky's steady breathing beside me was the most comforting sound in the world. I could hear the faint crackling of a fire downstairs and the occasional rattle of an ornament hanging from the tree, but for the moment, it felt like everything was peaceful, frozen in time.

That peace didn't last long.

With a sudden burst of energy, our daughter leapt onto our bed. "Mom! Dad! Wake up! It's Christmas!"

Bucky groaned, his arm instinctively moving to shield his face from the burst of light that followed his daughter's arrival. "Samantha, it's too early," He mumbled, his voice still thick with sleep.

But Samantha, with her infectious enthusiasm, wasn't having it. She bounced up and down on the bed, giggling. "Come on! It's time to open presents!"

Her laughter was the perfect melody for a Christmas morning. Our daughter, at ten years old, had the kind of excitement that could fill an entire room. And the love she had for her parents—unconditional, bright, and pure—was something that never ceased to amaze us both.

Reluctantly, Bucky rolled over and sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. He shot me a tired but affectionate smile. "I swear, one of these days, you're going to be the death of me, kid," He said to Samantha, reaching out to ruffle her hair.

She beamed at him, her dark brown eyes sparkling. "You know you love it, Dad."

"I love it, alright." He grinned, then stretched with a groan. "But next year, we're starting this Christmas thing a little later, okay?"

I chuckled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "She's right. We have to get up anyway. You've been telling her about that tree for weeks now. Let's go."

Bucky shot me a teasing look. "You're on her side, huh?"

I leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Always. You know I can't resist her charm."

The three of us stumbled down the stairs, our feet padding softly on the wooden floors, the sounds of Christmas jingles and muffled laughter filling the house. Samantha's little feet danced excitedly ahead of us, her energy endless as she rushed to the living room. She immediately stopped in front of the tree, eyes wide in wonder at the piles of presents stacked beneath it.

"Look, Mom! Look, Dad!" Samantha shouted, her voice full of awe. "Santa came! He really came!"

We joined her by the tree, smiling at the joy on her face. Samantha knelt down, her tiny hands eagerly picking through the wrapping paper, her giggles filling the air with the same brightness as the twinkling lights on the tree. Bucky and I shared a glance, our hearts full as we watched her experience the magic of Christmas.

"Alright, alright," Bucky said, his voice filled with mock seriousness. "One gift at a time, Samantha."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," She replied, already tearing into a present with wild abandon. She pulled out a small doll, her eyes shining with happiness. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Her enthusiasm was contagious. Bucky and I shared a smile as we watched our daughter open one present after another—each one greeted with the same infectious joy. From clothes to books to little trinkets, Samantha's delight never wavered.

When the last of the presents had been opened, Samantha looked up at her parents with bright, excited eyes. "This was the best Christmas ever!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around both of us in a tight hug.

Bucky smiled and kissed the top of her head, his voice soft. "You make every day feel like Christmas, kiddo."

I laughed, my heart swelling with love as I wrapped my arms around them both. "It's the three of us. We're a team, remember?"

Samantha squeezed us tighter, a contented sigh leaving her lips. "I love you both so much."

When the embrace ended, Bucky stood and walked toward the couch, then returned with something in his hands—a small, neatly wrapped box. He handed it to me with a soft, tender smile.

I looked at him, surprised. "What's this?"

Bucky's eyes softened. "For you," He said simply.

My fingers trembled slightly as I peeled off the wrapping paper. Inside was a velvet box, small but elegant. My heart skipped a beat as I opened it. Nestled inside was a delicate silver necklace, the chain slender and beautiful. At the end of the chain was a locket. I lifted it from the box, turning it over in my hands before opening it carefully.

Inside was a picture of the three of us—me, Bucky, and Samantha, smiling together, a memory captured in time. My eyes watered as I traced the image with my fingers, the love and warmth radiating from the photo.

"Bucky, it's beautiful," I whispered, my voice shaky with emotion. I looked up at him, tears welling in my eyes. "This is... this is everything."

Bucky smiled, a little sheepishly, as if he wasn't used to receiving such heartfelt thanks. "I wanted you to have something that was just for us. To always carry a piece of this with you."

"I'll never take it off," I said, my voice full of sincerity.

He kissed my forehead softly. "I know you won't."

Samantha, who had been watching her parents with curiosity, jumped up and wrapped her arms around me. "It's perfect, Mom! I love it! Now you can wear it all the time and think of us!"

I smiled, my heart full. "I always think of you two. And now, I'll have a little reminder, right here." I pointed to the locket resting against my chest.

The warmth in the room, the love that enveloped us, was like the glow of the Christmas tree. It wasn't about the presents or the decorations. It was about these moments—these memories that made our little family so strong, so full of love. We had been through so much together, and yet, every year, on Christmas morning, it was always like the first time, full of wonder and joy.

"Alright," Bucky said, glancing at the clock. "We have the rest of the day for more family fun. But first, what do you say we have some breakfast?"

"Pancakes!" Samantha yelled, jumping up and down.

"Pancakes it is," Bucky agreed with a grin. He turned to me, winking. "You okay with pancakes?"

I nodded, still holding the locket in my hands. "I'm more than okay. This Christmas is already perfect."

And with that, the three of us moved to the kitchen, where the simple joys of family life awaited. Together, we were everything we needed. And nothing could take that away.

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