An Unexpected Christmas

Part 5

Bucky softly calling you woke you up. You shifted a little. He was laying behind you, arm draped over your waist. You rolled over to face him, eyes barely open. You shifted closer to him, relishing the warmth he and blankets provided.

"Mornin', doll," he mumbled, gently tracing patterns on your back.

You seriously appreciated his morning voice.

"Morning," you whispered.

Most people probably would've made a deal about sharing a bed while pretending to be dating, let alone engaged. You and Bucky were not most people. Having shared a bed several times over the course of your relationship, you had grown accustomed to it.

Now, though, you couldn't help but wonder if he could feel the slight change you did. You knew you were catching feelings for him, and those feelings were starting to shift your perceptions a bit. Take this moment, for example: you didn't just want to stay here because it was warm. You wanted to stay because it meant you'd get to be this close to Bucky a bit longer.

"Steve texted me," Bucky said. "He forgot to get Peggy a present."

"Isn't she coming today?" You asked.

"Mmhm."

"So he's fucked."

"He's heading to the mall today before she gets here. Wants us to go with."

"Why?"

You felt him shrug. "Dunno. Could be fun though."

"Mm, yeah, shopping at the mall a few days before Christmas for a last minute gift sounds like a blast."

"I'll buy you a hot chocolate."

You pulled away a little to look at him. "Trying to buy my love, fiancé?"

"I've already got your love," he replied.

Oh, if only he knew.

"Fine, sweet talker," you sighed.

"We gotta get up now though."

You groaned. Bucky chuckled and kissed the top of your head. He untangled himself from you despite your protests and went to go shower. You stayed in bed. Forget catching feelings; you'd already caught them.

-------------------

The mall was packed. Hundreds of people hunting for those last minute Christmas gifts, completely rude and unforgiving and disregarding of those around them. And you were one of them.

Well, Steve was one of them, minus the rude part. You and Bucky were just along for the ride.

The sounds of screaming children grew closer--or rather, you got closer to the sounds of screaming children. You were approaching good ol Saint Nick, and the surprisingly smallish crowd of parents and children waiting to get their picture taken with him.

"I expected a bigger line," you said.

"Maybe people were actually smart this year and did it early," Bucky replied.

You snorted. "People being smart during the holidays?"

"Rare, I know."

"Too rare."

"You should get your picture together with Santa," Steve suggested.

Bucky stared at him. "What?"

"Not a bad idea," you said.

He stared at you. "What?"

"Consider it the start of you paying me back for pretending to be your fiancé."