Small gatherings were not in peppers nature before they knew it they had invited almost 200 people about 150 more than they'd planed. Bucky was getting nervous "what if people didn't like me? Or think I'm not good enough for you?"
"It doesn't matter what they think, I love you. You love me. That's all that matters."" Steve said answering Bucky's questions. They were both sitting in the living space on the 4th floor; they were just sitting in the silence talking about the wedding and the engagement party, not planning just brainstorming. Steve wanted this wedding to be special for both of them but he was worried that pepper would get to involved and take over. Steve didn't want a camera crew following them around on their big day.
Bucky had his head on Steve's lap and was facing the ceiling he closed his eyes and smiled "I want a really big cake." Bucky reopened his eyes and sat up. "I mean really big!"
Steve chuckled "okay then I want a band that does music from the old days. None of this rubbish they listen to nowadays." Steve turned thoughtful "who should I pick for my best man?"
"Me" Tony said as he strolled into the 4th floor.
Steve burst out laughing and stopped when he realised Tony was being serious, "you're joking right?"
"No. Why would I joke about that? I'd be a great Best man." Tony threw himself onto the sofa opposite and requested an answer that Steve was too polite to give.
"Well... um... I just think... um... maybe you're not the most... um... reliable... man... for the job." Steve shifted uncomfortable, he didn't want to be rude "planning a wedding is hard and looking back at our past arguments, if we disagreed about something... we could start ... um... a war" Steve's phone began to ring and he sighted in relief. "Sorry I have to take this" he picked up the phone "hello? this is Captain Rogers..." Steve got up and walked swiftly into the other room.
Bucky looked at Tony who looked a little disappointed, "do you want to be my best man?" Tony looked over at Bucky in surprise. Bucky had intended to ask Clint to be his best man because he feels he's better friends with him than any other man on the team, he hadn't even considered Tony until now.
"Really?" Tony frowned "wouldn't you prefer someone like Thor or Clint or..." Tony shrugged "Natasha?"
"Yeah their all grate but can you imagine our stag do! It would be awesome." Bucky smiled at Tony. "Besides my first choice would have been Steve but that is no how it works so I chose you."
"I'm offended!" Natasha said jumping over the back of the sofa and landing next to Bucky.
"About what?" Tony frowned.
"That I wasn't Bucky's first choice, subtracting Steve from the equation anyway. Tony? Really? I would be a better best man, even Clint would be a better best man." Natasha shook her head.
Clint said standing behind Natasha "I'm sensing that was an insult but yes I would be better." He was leaning against the sofa with his hands on Natasha's shoulders.
Steve walked back into the room "Okay... yeah... um I'll be there by tomorrow morning at the latest. Thank you... bye" he said as he hung up on the phone. "Bucky can I have a word?" Steve said is a dull voice.
"Yeah sure" Bucky answered starting to get up then turned to the others, "sorry we'll have to talk about best man later" Steve and Bucky both walked back to their level "what's up?" Bucky asked after noticed Steve's mood. Ever since he'd got off the phone he'd been a little distant.
"I have to go to Washington tonight." Steve said.
Bucky frowned. "What's happened?"
"It's Peggy... um she's caught the flu and they don't know how serious it's going to get and are worries she might..." Steve's voice trailed away. "Her family just called me, to ask if I wanted to visit her just encase." Steve looked down at the floor.
"I'm coming with you." Bucky announced
Steve shook his head "you don't have to, I'll just..."
Bucky interrupted "I'll just be there for support for the worst-case scenario and I don't remember much but I do remember Agent Carter."
They both walked into the hospital, Steve hadn't said a word since leaving Stark tower. Bucky knew how important Peggy was to him, other than Bucky, Peggy was the only person to really appreciate Steve for who he was and not captain America for what he did. Peggy bought out a quality in Steve that Bucky had always admired but at the same time he'd always felt jealousy fill up inside him.
Bucky walked up to the receptionist and was about to ask where he could find Peggy's room but Steve just walked straight in without hesitation. Within minutes they were knocking on the door of Peggy's room, a small voice with a British accent called out to them followed by a horrid sounding cough.
"Steve?" Peggy sounded shocked as Steve poked his head through the door.
"Hey Peggy" Steve smiled kindly. He moved closer to the left side of her bed. There was only a young boy by her right side who Steve knew to be Peggy's son.
Peggy's face light up when he came closer "Steve" she reached out a hand and Steve took it in his own, he leaned over and lightly kissed Peggy's forehead he pulled up a chair next to her bed. Peggy started coughing and after she composed herself she looked over to Bucky who was standing awkwardly in the doorway. As far as Peggy was aware Bucky had died in 1944. The last time Bucky had spoken to Peggy was before he left with Steve on their mission to take down hydra.
The howling commandos were preparing to leave; they were getting ready to go out into Germany taking down all the hydra bases that they knew about. Everything had been loaded onto the truck and the team were ready to go. Steve walked over to Peggy, "well, I don't know when we'll be seeing each other again but I hope it's soon." Steve said.
"it won't be too long, I'm sure." Peggy smiled looking into Steve's deep blue eye one of the howling commandos called out from the truck telling Steve to hurry up. "You should go, don't be late." Steve nodded goodbye and turned to leave when Peggy stopped him. Without saying a word she slipped a piece paper into Steve's hand, Steve took it a jogged to the truck.
Bucky walked passed Peggy bowing his head respectfully "ma'am"
"Sergeant Barnes might I have a word." Peggy smiled as Bucky nodded in reply. "I was wondering if you could watch over Steve, I know I need not remind you but I do fear. I also know that you would do anything to protect Steve but please keep your safety in mind before you do anything reckless."
"ma'am, ever since I was a child it has always been my job to care for Steve and protect him, I would do anything to save his life, even if it costs my own. However Steve can be very dramatic so I do promise to protect him from his own stupidity." Bucky started for the truck when Peggy said one final thing.
"If you're protecting Steve from doing stupid things, who's going to protect you?"Peggy asked.
Bucky look back "We all have to make sacrifices for the one's we love ma'am." Bucky jumped into the truck and sat down next to Steve, he was looking at the piece of paper Peggy had given to him, it was a little round picture of her from a newspaper she'd been in, Steve pulled out his compass it was the perfect size to fit in the lid. Bucky looked at Steve and thought about Peggy's words.
Bucky had tried to look his best so as to not frighten Peggy he'd pulled his hair back and covered his arm with a baggy hoodie but the buzzing could still be heard. "You seem to have bought a friend with you." Peggy smiled.
Everyone turned to look at Bucky, "I'm a friend of Steve's" her son looked at Bucky from head to toe with judgment in his eye's he knew exactly who Bucky was, his trial had been very public.
"You look awfully familiar, have I met you before?" Peggy narrowed her eyes at Bucky. Before Bucky could answer Peggy started coughing again and she winced in pain closing her eyes momentarily when she opened them again she had a distant look then Panic spread across her face, she had forgotten where she was and when she saw Steve she calmed down a lot. She smiled then turned to her right and saw her son; she pulled a confused face "hello darling, when did you get here?"
"I never left mum." Her son told her.
"Oh... I see" peg turned sad. Bucky shifted his Weight from one foot to the other Peggy looked up at Bucky, "You seem to have bought a friend with you. Have I met you before young man?" Peggy repeated.
Bucky shook his head "no ma'am" he thought it would be easier not to explain to her who he was, it's a long story.
"Strange, he reminds me of a man I once knew, you're best friend Steve, Sergeant Barnes, a truly amazing man and friend." Peggy smiled to herself. "It's so sad what happened to him, he looked after you so well, Steve. He didn't deserve what happened to him."
Authors notes: I know it's a little bit of a sudden ending but I haven't posted all week, I just haven't had time. I can't work out who Bucky would trust most to be his best man so any suggestion would be useful. Thank you. I would like to post another chapter soon and wont take to long :) thank you ;)