Holding On| Stucky

Chapter Ten

"Why do you want such a fancy dinner today Stevie?" Bucky asked he looked over his shoulder. Steve shrugged as casually as he could. His head turned slightly to the left, looking at the Christmas Tree still up. He hated that he didn't even get to spend Christmas with his Bucky.

"I just feel like it's close to dinner, and we've been out and about. I just want a nice dinner with just the two of us." There was a barking and Steve looked down. Jackie was looking up at him expectantly. Steve smiled and rubbed the top of her head without leaning down. "Well, you and me and Jackie."

"You can never forget our little drama queen." Bucky rolled his eyes and grabbed his apron from a hook next to the stove. The sight brought a smile to Steve's face. It read, 'Don't kiss me, I already kiss a Captain'.

"That apron is still inaccurate." Steve pointed out, he stood up from his chair trying to catch a peak of what Bucky was making.

Bucky looked down at his apron and shrugged, he tied it tighter around his waist. "It's factual enough for me."

"I wasn't even a Captain you know, I was a Sargent."

Bucky rolled his eyes and picked up a mixing spoon and open a lid to one of the pots. "I know, you tell me all the time. I don't care if you weren't a Sargent or not, you're a Captain to everyone else."

"Well everyone else is wrong." Steve, walked over to him. Bucky put a spoon to his chest and pushed him back lightly.

"Not so fast Stevie, even your presence in the kitchen is enough to burn something randomly.

Steve feigned a small pout. "You could at least tell me what you're cooking."

"Well, this is some sticky rice for the steak tip shish kabobs that I'm making." Bucky stirred the contents of the inside a bit and closed the lid again.

"What are shish kabobs again?" Steve asked, he went back to the table and leaned against it again.

"It's just meat and vegetables on a stick, your favorite."

Steve cocked his head, not following. "I don't think I've had a shish kabob before."

"No, you enjoy meat and hard sticks." Bucky turned around with a mischievous look in his eyes.

Steve blushed slightly, but remained unimpressed. "That was stretch even for you."

Bucky frowned and huffed softly under his breath. "Go play with the dog, you are not allowed to comment on my inappropriate jokes. Now shoo."

Steve laughed and unconsciously rubbed the ring on his finger. "It's your own fault you've conditioned me to expect a higher standard, than subpar inappropriate jokes."

Bucky scoffed dramatically loud. "Subpar? Wow, well if you think those were higher standard comments prepare to have your face red constantly."

"Oh, you were going easy on me?"

"Yeah, well not anymore. Prepare yourself, Stevie." Bucky winked ominously and bent down to open up the oven. Steve rolled his eyes and looked at his engagement ring. He sat down on the floor next to Jackie. She laid down and rested her large head on Steve's thigh.

Steve rubbed the top of her head, scratching at a specific spot near the back of her ear. He glanced at his ring again and took it off. He loved looking at the stone and remembering the moment. Something dark caught his eye on the inside of the ring. He raised the ring higher so that it met his eyes. A gasp got caught in his throat and his heart began racing faster.

"Til' the end of the line?" Steve read, he looked to Bucky silently asking for an explanation.

Bucky looked over his shoulder then looked back at the stove. He made a small sound of realization and looked fully at Steve. "Oh, you finally found it. I almost forgot I even put it there."