First Love || Bucky Barnes

Chapter Nineteen: Celebration Dinner

~January 22, 1942~

Elizabeth balanced the four grocery bags in her arms as she struggled to open the front door with her key. She silently cheered when she heard a click and pushed the door open with her foot.

She walked inside her house and kicked the door close with her foot. 

"Grandpa!"

Grandpa Jack walked out of the kitchen and immediately hurried over to his granddaughter and took two bags from her. "Let set them on the counter." "You got it," she said as she and Grandpa Jack placed their bags on the counter. 

"You got everything that was on the list?" he asked Elizabeth who nodded. "Everything's in these bags," she tells him trailing out of the kitchen and over to the front door to hang her coat up but Grandpa Jack stops her.

"Can you go see if the mailman came?" 

"Sure! I'll be right back!" she yells, leaving the house. She closed the door behind her and walks down the steps carefully, considering it was a bit icy from the recent snow storm they had earlier in the week.

She trudged over to the mailbox. She pulls the tab down and sees a short of stack sitting inside. She grabbed them and shifted through the stack as she walked back up the stairs.

Suddenly, she stops halfway as her eyes widened at the last envelope that was on the bottom. It was addressed to her but in the right hand corner, it said Howard Stark.

She wasted no time in ripping the envelope open, and pulled the letter out. Her eyes scanned over the first few words.

Dear Elizabeth Johnson,

Congratulations! You have been chosen to be my new partner for several of my upcoming projects. You scored exceptionally high on my test. Mark had informed me that you stood up for yourself against the test prospector when he refused to send your test in.

I wanted to inform you that he had been fired and will no longer give you or any other brilliant minded females any more problem. 

With that being said, if you choose to accept this position, please write back to this address and you can start right away. I hope you will accept my offer. 

The world could use your brilliant mind.

Sincerely,

Howard Stark

Elizabeth let out a squeal as she turned around and ran back down the steps.

++++++

Meanwhile, at the local park in Brooklyn, Steve and Bucky were taking a walk, enjoying the bitter cold air...well Bucky was. Steve on the other hand wasn't.

"I-I-I'm freezing." Steve said, his teeth chattering.

Bucky chuckles as he wraps an arm around Steve's shoulder, bringing him into his side. "Well you were the one that suggested we go on a walk." 

"I-I-I changed m-my m-mind." 

Bucky was about to suggest heading back home but he faintly hears someone yelling his name.

"Bucky!"  

Bucky and Steve look up and spots Elizabeth running full speed toward them. 

"I got the-WHOA!" 

Elizabeth slips on a patch of ice and was expecting to be looking up at the sky but instead she was looking at her boyfriend's handsome face. He had caught her before she had fallen.

"Hello doll."

"Hi Bucky," she said breathless.

Bucky steadied her back onto her feet. "Thank you." "Anytime doll." "What was y-you s-saying before?" Steve asked Elizabeth.

"OH! I got the job!" 

Bucky and Steve furrowed their eyebrows in confusion. They weren't sure what Elizabeth was talking about. "What job?" Bucky asked her.

"The one to be Howard Stark's partner!" 

Bucky and Steve's eyes widen at the news. "You did?!" they asked in unison. Elizabeth nodded and the boys smiled. "That's great news!" Bucky exclaimed while Steve congratulated her. 

"Bucky!" Elizabeth squealed as he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, giving her a bear hug. "I'm so proud of you doll," he tells her, setting her back down on her feet. She sweetly smiled up at him. "Thank you," she tells him as Bucky leaned down and kissed her. 

"Does Grandpa Jack know?" Steve asked Elizabeth making her break away from the kiss. She gasped. "Oh no! I didn't tell him. He told me to go get the mail and when I did that's when I found the letter. Next thing I knew, my feet took me here to the park to look for you two."

"Come on, doll. Let's head back and tell Grandpa Jack." Bucky takes Elizabeth's hand in his and together the three friends ran off towards the Johnson's house to share the news.

++++++

"To Elizabeth Johnson," Grandpa Jack began as he raised his cup up along with Elizabeth, Bucky, Steve and Winnifred. "You are going to change the world with your brilliant mind and I couldn't be more proud of you. If your parents were still here...I know they would feel the exact same way."

Elizabeth's eyes teared up at her grandfather's words. 

"To Elizabeth Johnson!" Bucky, Steve and Winnifred cheered as they all clinked glasses with each other. 

"Anyone else wishes to speak before we eat?" Grandpa Jack asked.

"I would like to," Winnifred, Bucky's mother spoke as she sat up straighter in her chair. "Elizabeth, dear. I have known you ever since you were a little girl and I have watched you grow and mature into a wonderful woman. I wish nothing but the best for you as you start your new journey in the Science field. To Elizabeth."

"To Elizabeth!" 

Steve went next. "Lizzie, you are one of my best friends and I can't wait for you to prove all the male scientists there that you do belong there and that you're much smarter than they are." Elizabeth smiled at Steve's words. "To Elizabeth."

"To Elizabeth!" 

Bucky stood up, holding a glass in his right hand. He takes Elizabeth's hand into his left before speaking. "Doll, I am so proud of you. I know you will succeed in this field and even show up Howard Stark," 

Everyone nodded in agreement while Elizabeth blushed and hid her face behind her left hand. "Bucky!" "Doll I'm serious! You're going to do great things and I can't wait to be a part of your journey just as much as you are a part of mine in the army." 

Elizabeth's eyes soften at his words. "I love you Elizabeth Johnson." "I love you James Buchanan Barns." Bucky leaned down and pressed a short kiss onto Elizabeth's lips before sitting back down next to her.

"Let's dig in!" Grandpa Jack announced as everyone started piling food onto their plates. As everyone began eating, Elizabeth leaned to the right and whispered into Bucky's ears. 

"Thank you for supporting me James." 

"I'll always support you doll." 

Elizabeth's heart fluttered. 

"And I'll always support you, James."

The couple smiled sweetly at each other before sharing a short but loving kiss.

[Published 2/23/2020]