Those Who Fall: Falling Series 3 (Modern Domestic Stucky AU)

Thirty-One

It wasn't until they were climbing out of their vehicles that Steve noticed the shirt that Katie was wearing. A long sleeve black crop top with skeletons holding pumpkins that were very clearly supposed to represent breasts. At the house, Katie had been wearing a cardigan, so Steve didn't see it at breakfast. He especially didn't see it once Steve and Bucky started placing the wooden Candy Land inspired decorations around the front yard.

Good-humoredly, Steve shook his head, "Cute."

"Felt it was appropriate," Katie agreed with a shit-eating grin. Then, she said, "Auntie Tibs sent it in her care package."

"Tabitha," Bucky reprimanded, not looking at the shirt as he was busy getting the wagon out from the trunk.

"Geez, throw me under the bus," Tibby feigned offense as she slung her camera around her neck. Pointedly looking at her brother and brother-in-law, she accurately accused, "As if you two haven't worn suggestive shirts."

Remembering the shirts that Natasha had gifted them and had only stopped once they decided to become foster parents. Steve remembered the time the pair wore matching shirts with Bucky's claiming, "Good Things," and Steve's solidifying, "Small Packages," and Winifred told them to explain why they found it so funny to a confused nine year old Tibby. After that, they stopped wearing the gag-gift shirts around family and refused to go anywhere that children might be.

"Fine," Steve rolled his eyes, then quietly warned, "If the minis start asking questions though, I'm having you answer them."

"Fine," Tibby scoffed as she gladly accepted Sophia's hand. Swinging their arms, Sophia led Tibby towards the pumpkin patch while she asked the little girl, "What are you thinking about carving this year?"

"A scary face," Sophia exaggerated, scrunching her face and hunching her back as she wiggled her fingers in Tibby's direction to seem spooky.

Holding her hand to her chest, Tibby pretended to be frightened by the expression as she said, "I don't know, Soph. That might be too scary."

Steve chuckled under his breath and helped Ethan out of the van. When Jonas finally arrived, pulling up beside their van, Steve's brows furrowed. First by the way Jonas was vaping, and exhaled a puff of cinnamon donut scented vapor out the cracked window. Second was when Vis climbed out from the back and assisted Wanda out of the older model vehicle.

"Hi," Steve greeted, brows still furrowed.

"Hi," Vis smiled, fidgeting. Almost as though he was worried he wasn't welcomed.

Steve smoothed out his expression and asked, "Ready to pick some apples? Find a pumpkin? You're coming over to carve them, right?"

"Oh," Vis bit back his lip at the offer, "I wasn't sure if you'd want me around since I was there yesterday."

"Nonsense," Bucky confirmed, taking Holly from Steve and sitting her in the stroller wagon. Buckling the -- now -- eleven month old baby into the seat, Bucky assured, "We were going to make tonight a whole thing."

Steve agreed, "Make some apple crisp. Carve some pumpkins. Watch some Halloween movies."

"C'mon, it'll be fun," Wanda encouraged, lovingly nudging him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Even Ethan started excitedly hopping up and down as he begged, "Please, please, please!"

Clearly about to cave before he finally agreed, "Yeah, it sounds like fun." Sheepishly peeking over at Steve and Bucky as they placed the canopy onto the wagon and asked them, "If that's okay."