Day 10

Bucky woke up Friday morning in a considerably lightened mood. As silly as it sounded, playing with a passel of kittens was just what he needed. Darcy was fine and even a bit put out that he took what happened so seriously. She had assured him that she was okay, that she was made of sterner stuff.

They ended grabbing a pizza together at a small mom and pop pizzeria not far from the shelter. They talked for a good two hours while Bucky devoured three fourths of the pizza. He found out about her starting her college career as a poly sci major and ending it, as she put it, "kicking some major alien butt". She was funny and self-deprecating and witty and Bucky couldn't remember when he'd laughed so much.

He could have stayed with her for hours more, but Darcy received a text from Jane and it was time to go. He walked her to her door just down the hall from his own, and he felt strangely hesitant as they stood there wishing each other goodbye. He hadn't kissed a woman in seventy years and he had a feeling that a kiss with Darcy was going to mean something more than just mutual attraction. He was about to lean closer to make his move when the door opened to Darcy's apartment and Jane began to scold her for taking off without letting her know ahead of time, her worry coloring her chiding tone.

So, the moment was over before it began.

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Bucky made breakfast, a hot warm bowl of oatmeal, raisins and plenty of brown sugar and cinnamon. He turned on the string of lights and powered up his laptop to play the Christmas mix that his Secret Santa had gotten him. As he drank his coffee and ate his oatmeal, he found himself humming along to the music.

The doorbell buzzed and he bounded out of his chair, smiling along the way. Nestled next to his door was a long gray scarf tied up in a red ribbon. It matched the gloves he had gotten a few days ago. He took off the ribbon and wrapped the scarf around his throat, closing his eyes a moment, drinking in the softness against his skin.

"Best Secret Santa ever," he murmured as he entered his apartment and placed the scarf gingerly, almost reverently, in his chest of drawers, next to his new gloves.

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The day in the lab seemed to whiz by. To his surprise, he not only was able to understand most of what was going on, he was able to contribute a time or two, recalling some detail from his time with Hydra that proved relevant.

"You know how I ducked out at lunchtime?" Darcy asked once the workday had officially ended.

"Yeah . . ." Bucky replied.

"Well, Thor got a little tired of all the takeout, so I thought I'd try my mom's recipe for pot roast in the crockpot. I had to go back to the apartment to start up the slow cooker. There are potatoes, carrots, and onions, too. I invited Jane and Thor to come over for dinner. Would you . . . would you like to come over, too? There'll be plenty for everyone." She gave him a winning smile.

The thought of a home cooked meal made Bucky's mouth. He caught a glimpse of Bruce out of the corner of his eye, packing up his laptop. He leaned close to Darcy and whispered, "Could we invite Bruce, too?" He remembered how lonely he had seemed earlier that week.

"Oh," she said softly, disappointment tinging her voice. "Yeah, of course," she mumbled.

"Thanks," he said as he waved Bruce over. "Hey, Bruce. Darcy's making a big homemade dinner. Pot roast. Want to come over?"

Bruce's eyes lit up and he began to beam. "Pot roast? That sounds . . ." His eyes darted to Darcy, who was furiously shaking her head. "Like a horrible idea, actually. Because of science."

"Science?" Bucky asked.

"Uh . . . yeah. I need to look into some more . . . . um . . . properties of the infinity stones. And . . . I've . . . I've got a four simulations running at the moment. I want to be here when they finish up," he ended lamely.

"If you're running simulations, why did you power down your laptop and pack up?" Bucky asked.

"Uh. . . . conserving energy. Trying to save the environment, you know." He took a deep breath. "You kids have a good time. I'll see on Monday."

"Are you sure?" Bucky asked.

Bruce darted a glance at Darcy who was nodding enthusiastically. "Yep."

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After a meal that was so delicious that it rivaled anything he'd eaten since he left home, Bucky pushed back from the table, a huge grin on his face.

"That was a wonderful meal. I can't thank you enough for it. Let me get the dishes," he offered as he stood, holding out his hand to take Darcy's empty plate.

"You can wash and I'll dry," Thor suggested as he took Jane's dirty silverware and followed Bucky to the kitchen sink.

"No throwing my dishes," Darcy teased.

Thor colored as he picked up the red and green Santa dish towel. "I know. I know."

"Throwing dishes?" Bucky asked as he began to run the hot water.

"Jane explained it as a 'cross-cultural' misunderstanding. In Asgard, when one heartily approves of a meal, you smash your dishes to the ground to show your appreciation. It means that the meal was so exquisite that it can never be topped. Therefore, it would dishonor the plate to be used again," Thor explained sheepishly.

"Seems reasonable," Bucky observed. "Bet you run out of dishes quick, though." Although, he had to admit, if he had ever intentionally smashed a dish as a child, his mother would have been anything but pleased.

"Different realms. Different rules," Thor replied. "It takes a while to adjust."

Bucky nodded. It was hard enough losing seventy years of history. He couldn't imagine being displaced as much as Thor was, living on an entirely different planet. "Do you ever miss home? You know, Asgard?"

"Yes. And no." Thor wiped a few more dishes. "I grew up in a palace, had adventures across the nine realms . . . but the truth is . . . I had never known the type of joy that I've found here," he looked pointedly over at Jane.

Bucky snuck a glance at Darcy. "I can see that."

After the dishes were done, Jane busied herself making some hot cocoa while everyone back down sat around the kitchen table. She and Darcy had baked some sugar cookies the day before and as Bucky dipped the frosted cookie in his hot chocolate, he let out an audible sigh of contentment.

"This holiday food agrees with you," Thor observed as he selected another cookie from the enormous snowman plate that Jane had placed in the middle of the table.

"It really does," Bucky admitted. "I missed out on this for . . . well . . . decades."

"Well, we're going to make up for lost time," Darcy said determinedly.

"We are?" Bucky asked.

"I brought over a DVD. It's from right after your time. 1946. But it's a classic. It's my favorite Christmas movie," Jane confessed.

"What's it called?"

"It's a Wonderful Life. Have you seen it?" Jane asked.

"Can't say that I have. Hydra wasn't really big on the holidays," Bucky said drolly.

"Would you like to stay and watch it?" Darcy asked, biting her lip.

Bucky thought of sitting next to Darcy for two hours straight and couldn't help but smile. "Sounds like a plan."

Thor and Jane took the couch while Bucky and Darcy sat on the adjoining love-seat. Before the movie began, Darcy popped up and raced around to her room and bathroom. "Sorry, I forgot," she said as she plopped boxes of tissues in front of Jane, Thor, Bucky, and herself.

"What's this for?" Bucky asked, furrowing his brow.

"Darcy cries like a baby during this movie," Jane said, sticking out her tongue at her friend.

"No!" Darcy protested. "You're the one who weeps like a cranky toddler."

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It turned out that they were both right. Before the movie was even halfway done, both women were wailing so hard that Bucky didn't know quite what to do. He awkwardly patted Darcy on the back while Thor put his arm around Jane, her tears practically soaking his shirt. Thor glanced over at Bucky and gave him a sympathetic smile and a shrug.

Once again, it really wasn't the night for romance.

Oh well, he thought as his eyes began to mist over at George Bailey's plight and he had to grab his own tissue, there's always tomorrow.

Author's Note- I have a confession to make. I cry buckets EVERY SINGLE TIME I watch that movie.

Only two more days to go!