An Unexpected Christmas

Part 4

"Hey lovebirds," Steve said.

You and Bucky looked over at him from your place on the couch. He pointed behind him. "Mrs. Barnes asked me to come get you, she's out on the porch."

You looked at Bucky, confused. He mirrored your expression. You got up and got your coats, quietly agreeing that Steve was a little punk who knew something and wasn't sharing, and neither of you liked that.

Sure enough, Bucky's mom was on the front porch. She turned to you as you came out, holding hands, and beamed.

"I hope Steve didn't catch you at a bad time," she said, winking.

Bucky groaned. "Mom."

"What?" She asked, smiling.

You were suddenly very warm under your coat and thick sweater.

"Steve said you wanted to see us," you prompted. Maybe a little too loudly.

The sound of trotting hooves made the three of you turn to the road. Your jaw dropped as a horse-drawn carriage came to a stop in front of the house. Mrs. Barnes turned back to the two of you. "Go on."

You looked at her, then the carriage, then Bucky, then back at the carriage, then back at Bucky. He stared at the carriage for a moment, then looked at you and grinned. He practically dragged you off the porch and into the carriage.

"Have fun!" Mrs. Barnes said, waving. The two of you waved back as the driver prompted the horses, and you were off.

There was a blanket draped over the back of the seat. Bucky wrapped the two of you in it, and you leaned against him, resting your head on his shoulder.

"You make a good fiancé," he said quietly.

You chuckled. "So do you. Steve is a little shit."

"Yeah, kinda wish I never told him."

"No, it's good he knows. We'd be screwed otherwise."

It was quiet for a bit, save for the horses. It was surprisingly warm, snuggled under the blanket with Bucky. You probably could've dozed off, even with your face freezing.

It just felt...right. Sitting here with Bucky. You belonged here. When you were with him, all was right and okay in the world. It didn't feel forced, pretending to be a couple, pretending to be engaged.

"Hey," Bucky said.

You blinked. "Hmm?"

"How much you wanna bet I can slip a snowball down the back of Steve's shirt?"

You started laughing. "Oh my God, he'd squeal. I can see it so clearly."

"Him jumping up and down trying to get it out, cursing me out."

"I'd be recording the whole thing to send to Nat. Think we could get Peggy to slip a second one after the first one's gone?"

You looked at each other, already knowing the answer.

"Absolutely," he said.

You chuckled at the thought. Bucky did as well, spurring you on to laugh harder, which made Bucky laugh harder.

By the time you got back to the house, you were laughing so hard that everyone thought you would both fall out of the carriage.

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You supposed it was only a matter of time before the questions rolled in. Honestly, you were surprised no one had said anything sooner. After all, Bucky's parents had never met you before, and now you suddenly show up as his fiancé?

"So tell me," Mrs. Barnes said during dinner. "How did you two meet?"

Bucky stared at her. Guess he hadn't thought that far ahead.

"We've actually been friends for a while," you said. "We met back in the city when he walked into me and made me spill my coffee all down my shirt."

"Hot coffee?" Mr. Barnes asked.

"Iced, actually," you replied. "Not nearly as bad, but still bad. He bought me a new one as an apology."

"And the day after that," Bucky added. "And the day after that, and the day after that."

You looked at him, softening your expression. "And one day, it just clicked, and I went for it."

"You asked him out?" Steve asked.

You nodded, not taking your eyes off Bucky. He smiled at you and lifted your hand and kissed the back of your hand. You smiled, wondering if you were truly faking this, or if you were really starting to fall for your best friend.