Better For Me

.part six.

Four hours was not long enough. To say you didn't want to arrive home to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was an understatement. Bucky took a hold of your small hands and pressed it against his warm mouth.

"What's on your mind?" He whispers,

"I don't know if I should've taken you home."

"You don't want me there?" His faced dropped and he sighed,

"What? No, no, of course I want you there, I just, I don't know what you'll think of me after."

"Look," He turned your head to face him, "look at me, doll," he kissed you softly, "no matter the outcome of this, I'll still be here, okay?"

"Buck, you can't make that promis-"

"Yes, I can, if I have to spend the rest of my life showing you, I will."

"You're a silly, man, James Buchanan Barnes." You smiled,

"I feel something good coming out of this." He leans in to kiss you and you rest your hands on his face, smiling against his lips.

The plane landed shakily, your hand gripping Bucky's hand tightly. It wasn't because you feared the plane. You were afraid to go home. You only go home to see your little sister, to check if she's okay. To make sure what happened to you, doesn't happen to her. Your daily phone calls weren't enough. You wanted to see her, you just couldn't afford to fly home every weekend or every other week, you also couldn't afford bringing her to New York to live with you, so Christmas was the only time she could see you. Bucky took your hand and you both headed out of the airport, the breeze making your hands feel like ice. You hauled a taxi and packed your bags in the trunk, entering the cigarette smell filled vehicle.

The car ride was silent, just the sound of the radio playing 'Jessie's Girl' by Rick Springfield which Bucky was tapping his foot to. You arrived at the house after thirty minutes. It was still concealed from the sunlight, almost foreshadowing the evil within it. You let out a big huff as you walked out of the yellow car, paying the cab fare, Bucky grabbing the bags from the back. You walked to the front door of the house and knocked. You heard hurried footsteps, almost instantly knowing who it was. The front door swung open.

"Lily!" You opened your arms as she jumped atop of you, "Hi, sweetheart, I missed you so much!" You gripped her tightly,

"I missed you too, Y/N."

"I want you to meet someone." You dropped her on the ground and stepped back so she could take a look at your Bucky, "Lily, this is Bucky, my boyfriend, Bucky this is Lily, she's my sister."

"Nice to meet you, Bucky." She said holding out her hand for him to shake. Bucky let out a chuckle and shook her small hand,

"You too," she nodded and gave him a smile, "you know, for a-"

"Ten-year-old she has a good grip?" You finished his sentence,

"Yeah, how'd you..."

"She gets it from her big sister, a lady who has a good grip, shows?" You implied for her incoming,

"Shows strength and independence!" She chirped in,

"Good girl." Bucky saw your eyes light up, the more you looked at your sister, something he'd never really seen before, "It's a little chilly out here, you gonna let us in, kid?" She nodded and let you both inside, running off through the hallway. Bucky grabbed your arm before going in, crashing you into him for a kiss. He pulled away as the air from your lungs began to cut out, "What was that for?"

"You just... Never cease to amaze me." You playfully pushed him and laughed, leading him inside.

You were met with a façade of love. Your mother, Jean, and your step-father, Sean, in the kitchen dancing to the slow music coming from the radio near the fridge. You rolled your eyes and cleared your throat. They were caught by surprise and turned to face the figures at the door.