First Love || Bucky Barnes

Chapter Twenty: Big News

~April 6, 1942~

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, sir!" Steve apologized as he ran through the park of their neighborhood. He pumped his arms to run faster. Ten minutes again he had gotten a 911 call from Bucky urging him to meet him at the park.

Steve spotted the back of Bucky's head and ran even faster. He skidded to a stop in front of a bench where Bucky was sitting ever so calmly. Steve bent over and placed his hands onto his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. He looked up at Bucky who was smiling at him. 

"W-w-why a-are you s-s-smiling? A-aren't y-you in danger?" Bucky chuckled as he patted the spot next to him on the bench and Steve accepted the invitation by collapsing next to him. "Catch your breath Steve," Bucky reminded him. Steve let out a struggled laugh. "I-I think I dropped my l-lungs back at my a-apartment." 

Bucky chuckled again. "I-it's not f-funny. I thought you were h-hurt." "I'm not hurt Steve." Steve looked over at Bucky wide eyed. "Then why did you say 911 on our phone call?" Bucky dug his hand into his left pocket. "Because of this."

Steve's eyes widen again as he stared at the small jewelry box Bucky held out toward him. Steve watched as Bucky opened the box and inside was a beautiful engagement ring. 

"An e-engagement ring?" 

Bucky nodded.

"O-oh Bucky, I-I'm flattered but I-I think you should ask Lizzie first." Bucky chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "Steve." "I'm joking Bucky." "I know but...can you give me your honest opinion?" Steve nodded. "Two things. One, will Elizabeth say yes to me?" Steve scoffed. "She would say yes to you in a heartbeat. You two have been together for practically forever." Bucky smiled as Elizabeth entered his mind. "Yeah...we have haven't we?" Steve nodded. "She'll say yes, don't worry."

Bucky breathed out a sigh of relief. "Okay, thank you man." "What's the second thing?" "Will she like the ring?" "Like?" Steve questioned as Bucky nodded. Steve shook his head. "No," he said making Bucky deflate. "She'll love it." 

"Steve," Bucky exclaimed shoving him to the side, making him laugh. "You should have seen your face." "Ha, ha, ha," Bucky let out a fake laugh as Steve was pleasantly enjoying himself at how nervous Bucky was starting to become at the thought of proposing to Elizabeth Johnson.

"Did you ask Grandpa Jack for his permission yet?" 

Bucky shook his head. "Not yet. I wanted you to be the first person to hear that I would be proposing to Elizabeth." Steve smiled. "I'm honored." "You should be," Bucky said, the two letting out a laugh. "No, seriously James. You are going to ask Grandpa Jack right?" Bucky nodded. "Of course. I'm actually spending the afternoon with him since Elizabeth is still working on a major project with Howard." 

"What do you two have planned?"

++++++

WHACK!

Bucky had swung his bat in time and had hit the ball. Grandpa Jack jogged slightly over the edge of the lawn and picked up the ball. "That was a great swing James!" he called out as he walked back over to his spot that was a feet away from Bucky.

Bucky smiled at the praise he had received. "Thank you Grandpa Jack," he tells him as Jack smiled back at him. "Tell me boy," he began as Bucky began warming up his swing again. "Yes?" "How come you didn't play baseball in school?" Grandpa Jack asked as he threw the ball again and Bucky hit the ball lightly, making it roll back to Jack's feet.  

Bucky shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I guessed I liked playing football more." Grandpa Jack eyed him. "James," he drawled out his name. Bucky looked up and leaned against his bat. "Alright, I forgot you can see through my lies." Jack nodded as he waited for James' response. "...It's because my dad was a huge baseball fan." 

Jack sighed as he made his way over to Bucky. He knew that his dad was a bit of a tough subject for him to talk about. "He played baseball all throughout his life, you know, before he joined the military. He made sure to teach me how to play before he got deported and he did. You know," Bucky picked up his bat and held it in his hands. "He promised me he would be back in time to watch me play against the kids in the neighborhood but..." 

Jack placed his hand onto Bucky's shoulder. "I get it now...sorry I asked." Bucky shook his head. "Don't be..." he let a breath loose. "Wow that actually felt good to get off my chest." "Have you told Elizabeth this?" "She knows bits and pieces but she doesn't ask knowing how sad I get at the mention of him." "That's my granddaughter," Jack said tapping Bucky's shoulder before bringing his hand back down to his side.

Bucky pointed his bat at Jack. "Speaking of her..." Bucky trailed off. Jack stuffed his hands into his pockets. "What about Elizabeth?" "I love her." "I hope you do," Jack said with a laugh making Bucky let out a nervous chuckle. "I want to spend the rest of my life with your granddaughter."

Grandpa Jack raised his eyebrows up at Bucky as he folded his arms across his chest. "You do?" Bucky nodded. "I do. I will always honor, respect and cherish her. I can't imagine my life without Elizabeth. I love her with all of my heart." Jack smiled at Bucky's words about his granddaughter. 

"I wanted to ask for your permission if I could have your granddaughter's hand in marriage." 

"...it's about time you asked me for permission."

Bucky breathed out a sigh of relief at Jack's words. "You're saying yes?" "Of course I am saying yes!" Bucky held out his hand toward Jack. "Thank you Grandpa Jack. Your permission means a lot to me and I know it will for Elizabeth as well." Jack shook Bucky's hand. "Son, I couldn't have asked for a better man for my granddaughter. You really make her happy, and for that I will always be grateful." 

"Thank you, Grandpa Jack."

"No son, thank you," he tells Bucky sincerely as the two hug. Jack patted his back before stepping back. "So tell me...when are you going to propose to her?" 

Bucky smiled. "On her twenty-forth birthday." 

"Her birthday is in less than two weeks," Jack informs him. "Do you have anything planned?" 

"I do. Are you ready to hear about Operation: Proposal?"

[Published 3/1/2020]

Author's note: It's happening folks! In the next chapter, Bucky will be proposing to Elizabeth! There are only 4 chapters left until I finally start including scenes from The First Avenger in this book. I'm so excited! :)