Recipe for Romance: A Bucky Barnes Story

8: Ho Ho Ho

Christmastime in New York City is magic. The air flutters with snow flurries sweet with the perfume of pine and cocoa. Everyone walks bundled in scarves of red and gold. The only sounds louder than the voices of excitement-bubbling tourists are the jovial calls of corner Santa's with their bells. Frigid winds from the North bring clouds that dust the world of once silver and neon green in sugary white. Every shop shouts their holiday wares and the people bustle in and out in hurries to buy all that they'll need. Today, six days before the big holiday itself, I'm tugging my two best friends by the arms after me into every store we see. The blonde to my left grumbles unhappily while the powerful sorceress on my right does what she can to keep me from buying everything I see.

"Really, Sadie—you don't have to get gifts for every single person you know," Laurie sighs. She knows it's pointless to argue. I do this every year, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Don't be ridiculous! Gift giving is my favorite pastime," I answer.

Wanda glances to Laurie questioningly, causing the blonde to shrug.

"I'm almost done with my list, anyhow. I've only got two or three people left."

"And they are...?" Wanda gets distracted by something shiny in a jewelry store window. I pause to admire the bracelet alongside of her. The snow settles on top of our capped heads while Laurie turns her chin up to catch a few on her tongue.

I dig around my pocket. Finding a paper slip, I hold it to the fading evening sunlight. "Umm..." I squint until I can read the names properly. "My youngest cousin Tommy, Moreau, and..." I hesitate.

"And?"

I sigh. "Bucky." I stuff the list back into my pocket. "And I have no idea where I'm even supposed to start with him."

Wanda looks to me with pity. "I'm pretty sure the only person he did anything for last year was Steve. And even then, I think it was a pair of baseball tickets."

"I don't care if he's getting anything for anyone," I reply. I start to lead us away from the jewelry shop. "Not even for me. But I need to find him something." My eyes scour the brightly lit shops all around us. We've wandered a bit farther down 5th avenue than planned.

"Then let's get Tommy and Moreau off the list and you can come back to Bucky later," Laurie suggests. She runs her hands up and down her arms to try and fight the chill over the thick winter coat she dons. "Because it's freaking cold, and I'm hungry."

Wanda nods excitedly. "Ditto!"

Chuckling, I shake my head. "Okay, okay. We can go to the Disney store on our way home. I'll get something for Tommy there." My eyes scour the street. "But what about Moreau?"

"He is the baker, yes?"

I nod at Wanda's question.

"How about something for his kitchen?"

"He already has everything," I grunt. "That's the problem."

"Does he drink?" Laurie asks.

"Duh, he's French."

"There you go!" Laurie offers. She takes my hand and begins to walk me down the sidewalk. "We'll get him the best goddamn bottle of wine money can buy. And maybe some fancy cheese while we're at it, because he's the only person who's been nice enough to you at that damn restaurant."

"Agreed." Wanda gives a curt nod. She tugs on the sides of her red cap to cover her pinkish tinted ears.

"But I'm not an alcohol expert. I just buy whatever is cheap. I don't know anything about wine," I point out.