Chapter 35: Silver Bells

"So, will I see you at the Christmas Eve service this year?" Filip said, limping to his chair and trying to steady the cup of tea in his hand. Bucky reached out to help him, but the old man shook him off. He'd been stubbornly avoiding using a cane, and he was not planning on using a helping hand either. He shifted precariously for a moment before slowly lowering to the chair, his tea barely kissing the edge of the cup without dripping over. Bucky sat down across from him, the warmth from his own mug defrosting his cold fingers. Luckily it wasn't snowing, the weather giving them a nice reprieve as the time for their travels neared.

"I'm afraid not, Father." he replied. The service would be the next night, but for the first time since he moved to Bucharest, he would not be in town. He still felt the grip of anxiety around his heart when thinking about actually spending a holiday with someone, but he was determined to partake. That, and he couldn't say no to Mika when she asked him so sweetly to come with her and Nicoletta to their mother's house for the night.

"Other plans? Or just taking a quiet night in?" he asked curiously, taking a sip from his tea. The Father periodically invited him to service, but never pressured him. Really, all he asked for was their occasional visits, which Bucky was happy to give.

"I'll be spending it with a friend." he replied, and he worried his voice betrayed his affection for Mika. The wry grin Filip gave him confirmed his suspicions, and Bucky readied himself for the follow up questions that were sure to come.

"The same friend with whom you spend most of your time?" he asked further, trying to be subtle with his light, unassuming tone. However, the grin was still on his face, giving away his true intentions. Bucky almost sighed, but kept it in. This was a man of God, he couldn't lie to or be annoyed with him.

"Yes." he responded, hoping that would satiate Filip's curiosity, but knowing that it wouldn't. In fact, it only made the old man's smile grow.

"Christmas with someone is a big step." he sang, unable to hide his apparent glee at this turn in events. Gone was his wish for Bucky to attend mass; instead, he seemed very happy that he would be spending the holiday with a certain someone. Bucky shrugged in response, dropping his gaze to his cup to avoid the intense look he was receiving.

"First Christmas I've spent with someone in...a long time." he agreed, almost forgetting that he had to hide his casual comments betraying his age. He looked up again to find Filip staring at him with a look that he couldn't quite decipher, one that made him a little bit nervous.

"You know, Christmas can be a magical time." he started, his gaze unwavering. Bucky let a smirk break across his face then, interrupting whatever he was planning to say with a side comment.

"Thought the Catholic church didn't condone magic." he said, making the Father roll his eyes and wave him off. The joke didn't serve to deter or distract him from his goal, though that didn't surprise Bucky. The man may be old, but his mind was still incredibly sharp.

"Shut up." he said quickly before continuing as if Bucky hadn't said anything. "Anyway, as I was saying, the holidays are a good time to...you know, make affections known. To express things that maybe we wouldn't be so brave about expressing at other times of year."

"'We'? Do you have a frog in your pocket?" he interjected. The conversation wasn't really making him nervous; after all, Filip didn't know Mika or any of her friends, so the danger of any information leaking was minimal. Plus, priests were still known for their confidentiality...right? The man gave him an unamused glare before advancing undeterred.

"Stop deflecting. All I'm saying, is you've had this look about you for the past couple months every time you talk about her. And if you're feeling a certain way, you might want to let her know about it." he said, holding up his hands in an innocent gesture. Bucky put his half-empty mug aside, grasping his hands in front of him and lowering his eyes again. Filip was looking at him so intently that he was afraid the old man could see right through him, and he didn't want to see any revelations that he might have.

"I don't think that's a good idea." he said softly. Even though he wanted to hold Mika close and tell her every stirring of his heart, he held it back. He wasn't sure which he was more afraid of: the fear of rejection, or the fear that she might feel the same way (however small that chance was). Their friendship was so incredibly valuable to him that he didn't want to risk losing it, though he knew that was selfish of him. He knew he didn't deserve the happiness, didn't really deserve her in his life at all, but he couldn't help but try and stay with her as long as he could before karma or fate or whomever came for what he owed.

"And why not?" Filip pressed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his legs, matching Bucky's posture. Bucky ran his thumb over his palm, the bite of the metal softened by his thick winter glove. He was asking all the questions he'd asked himself, and now he had to voice all the reasons why he thought he couldn't tell Mika of his feelings for her. It was harder to say them out loud, versus letting them run in circles in his head.

"I wouldn't be good for her." he said, settling on that answer. Filip scoffed, leaning back against his chair and looking completely unimpressed with the explanation. Bucky looked up at him then, perking an eyebrow in a question that he didn't want to ask.

"And what, pray tell, makes you so detrimental, hm? Your unwavering loyalty? Your deep rooted concern for her well being? The fact that you care so much for her that you are willing to sacrifice your own happiness?" he said sarcastically, gesturing grandly with his hands. Bucky wondered if all priests nowadays were this concerned with their congregations relationships, or if Filip was just a special brand.

"I've done things that are...unforgivable. And I can't ask her to take that on." he said softly. One day, his past was going to catch up with him. And he had to keep Mika safe from that. Her life, her happiness, was more important to him than most anything. Filip made a loud noise of disbelief, surprising Bucky. The man was feeling more boisterous than usual tonight, it seemed.

"That's a load of bull. She's your best friend, Jones. She's already taken all that on." he exclaimed, as if the point were obvious. But to Bucky, this was an immense revelation. He hadn't thought of it that way. They'd been mutually supportive for a long time, him taking on her burdens as much as she'd been taking on his. He thought of the defining moments between them: The night in his apartment, where he confessed his true identity. Her revealing the truth about her sister, and the work she'd done for S.H.I.E.L.D. The day she nursed him back to health after the warehouse fire, so concerned about his life that she'd been reduced to tears at how nonchalant he was at his injuries. All those mornings in the gym, where he taught her technique after technique to keep her safe when he wasn't there. Perhaps the priest was right. His epiphany must have shown on his face, because Filip was looking at him with a very satisfied grin on his face.

"You make a good point." Bucky conceded, admitting that perhaps he needed to rethink what he was going to with these feelings. The Father laughed, loud and proud, making Bucky chuckle as well.

"Of course I do. Now, come on, help me up." he said, holding a hand out. Bucky immediately stood, taking the man's hand in his right one and barely resting his metal hand on his back. He helped him to a standing position, and as soon as he was steady, the older man shook him off. "I've got to prepare for tomorrow night, as do you."

"Thank you for the tea." Bucky said softly, following him out of the parlor. Filip sent a glance over his shoulder, and Bucky let out a sigh. "And for the advice."

"Better follow it, or I'm afraid I'll have to take matters into my own hands. Now, I may not know how the Facething works, but I've got plenty of kids in the congregation that would be more than happy to help." he threatened, the warning losing its sting by the hearty laugh tacked onto the end of it.

"Yes, sir." Bucky replied, going to the large front doors of the church. "See you next time, Father."

"Don't be a stranger, Jones." he said, waving over his shoulder as he hobbled into the sanctuary. Bucky grinned and shook his head, pushing back out into the winter evening and letting the heavy door close behind him. Part of him wanted to go straight to Mika's apartment and tell her everything, but then he remembered how stressed she was about the impending visit to her mother's, and decided that he would wait until after the holiday. Until then, he would just enjoy their time together as much as he could.

They left midafternoon the next day for the Corsof family home, which was only a couple hours away from the city center. Nicoletta gave Bucky the front seat as Mika drove, though she did make sure to have running commentary detailing embarrassing family stories as they made the trip. Mika was smiling and laughing and adding to her sister's stories, but in the brief moments of silence, Bucky could see her nerves. It made his heart constrict, his concern for her. He knew she didn't always get along with her mother, but at least they were still on good enough terms to spend holidays together. And that was really all he wanted - for her to have a good holiday.

"I still can't believe you brought flowers. And wine." Nicoletta said as they unloaded their things from the trunk of Mika's car. Their bags were small, since they would just be staying the one night, but the girls had presents for their mother, and even he was far removed from the manners of the 1940's, he knew his mother would absolutely roll over in her grave if showed up to anyone's house without the customary gift.

"Call me old fashioned." he replied, helping the girls with their bags before following them up the stairs to the house. It was a cute stone cottage, with a wrap around porch and a big green door that had a vintage wreath hanging on it. He thought they would knock on the door, but Nicoletta pulled out a key and unlocked it, leading them right in.

"No, you're just old." Mika retorted, giving him a cheeky grin as she crossed the threshold. He rolled his eyes, navigating around the things in his arms so he could nudge her with his elbow. The house smelled of something delicious; seems her mother had cooking skills that she did not inherit.

"Mum! We're here!" Nicoletta called, gesturing with her head to follow her into the kitchen. Sure enough, there were a few pots on the stove, covered and simmering and waiting for them. Bucky could hear footsteps on the second floor, his mental map following them as they came down the stairs and towards them. Nicoletta moved to the back of the kitchen, towards said stairs, apparently to intercept their mother before she came in. Beside him, Mika took a deep breath, steeling herself before walking towards the back as well.

"There you are! I thought you'd be here a bit earlier. You left nearly three hours ago." came a voice. Mrs. Corsof was short, much shorter than her daughters, but she looked at them with sharp eyes and a stiff posture that made her seem more formidable than she was. She embraced Nicoletta fully and kissed her cheek, giving Mika the same treatment a moment later. He thought their smiles looked a little tight, but perhaps that was just his own bias based on the comments both sisters had let slip prior to their arrival. Mrs. Corsof's eyes landed on him, and her face betrayed her surprise for but a split second before she had a matronly smile back on. "And who is this?"

"Mum, this is Bucky." Mika said slowly, as if confused as to why she was asking the question. She didn't see what was going on here, but Bucky sure did - she had no idea that he would be joining them. "My friend?"

"Ah, Bucky, nice to finally meet you." she said politely, never letting her expression slip. She would have made a good spy, in another life. Perhaps that's where Raisa got the idea from. She moved toward him, shaking his hand and accepting the flowers and wine that Bucky held out to her.

"Nice to meet you as well. Happy Christmas, thank you for having me." he said, trying to remember every shred of etiquette from his youth. She smiled again, gingerly placing the flowers and wine on the kitchen island and opening one of the lower cabinets to pull out a vase. She tried to keep her voice even, but he could tell she was slightly annoyed. Mika and Nicoletta were whispering from the other side of the kitchen, the former glaring at her younger sister and speaking through clenched teeth.

"I thought you told her we were bringing a friend." she said quickly. He didn't know if she knew he could hear her, but that wasn't what she was focused on. Nicoletta's eyes widened, and she struggled to keep her voice low.

"Me? You said you would!" she retorted. Mika shut her eyes for a second, calming herself just enough that she could keep her mother from noticing their tiff.

"You know she only agrees to things if you ask." she pointed out, her fists clenching in agitation. Mrs. Corsof either didn't hear the exchange, or pretended not to, going about filling the vase with water and carefully arranging the flowers. She interrupted their argument, pulling their focus back to the center of the room.

"I'm afraid the guest room hasn't been made up yet, so you'll have to give me a moment." she said, giving Mika a glance that clearly said she was in trouble. Mika smiled, pretending that her and her sister weren't about to brawl in the middle of the kitchen.

"No need for that, Mum. He can sleep in my room. And I-" she continued with a placating look as her mother made an absolutely appalled expression, "-will share Nicoletta's room."

"Yea, no worries." Nicoletta agreed, trying to diffuse the tension as it slowly built between the two. Mrs. Corsof paused for a moment before the smile was back on her face, though this one was definitely and obviously forced. Mika and Nicoletta eyed her with the same uncertain expression, and he had the distinct impression that the three of them were barely holding it together.

"Very well. Nicoletta, why don't you show Bucky upstairs? I think Mika and I should open this up." she said with a calm that was often prelude to storms, holding up the bottle of red wine that was resting on the counter.

"It's okay, I can show him-" Mika started, but her mother cut her off. She clamped her mouth shut, her cheeks burning at the light condescension with which her mother spoke.

"Oh no, dear. I need you to pull the cork from this, and use your height to reach the glasses on the top shelf." she said by way of explanation. Bucky opened his mouth to offer to open it for her and get the glasses, but a look from Nicoletta silenced him.

"We'll be right back." Nicoletta said, somehow making it sound like a comfort to her sister and a warning to her mother. She took him by the elbow, leading him towards the stairs at a less than leisurely pace.

"If my being here is a problem, I can-" he started to say, but she let out a stern noise to halt his statement.

"No sir. You are more than welcome here. This is just how it goes; trust me, it's easier to let them get the first one out now." she explained, leading him to the opposite side of the second floor to the very last room on the right. It was quaint, with a double bed tucked into the corner and the opposite wall filled with bookshelves. There was a small, slender table underneath the window, but impressions in the carpet led him to believe that there was once a larger desk there. Nicoletta made a noise of surprise as they walked in, pausing as she gave it a once-over. "Seems Mum has been redecorating. Again."

"Made a habit of it?" he asked, carefully setting his backpack down on the foot of the bed. There were very little personal effects around the room, and if she hadn't mentioned it earlier, he probably wouldn't have known that it was Mika's. Nicoletta laughed, nodding her head down the hall.

"Last year when we came home, we discovered Raisa's room had been turned into a sewing room. I haven't been in mine yet, but I'll be surprised if it survived." she replied. She furrowed her brows for a moment before stepping over to the closet, dramatically throwing open the door. The tiny closet was perfectly organized but stuffed to the brim, and Bucky had a bit of sensory overload as he took in the colorful clothes, the trinkets, and the stacks and stacks of books and magazines. Nicoletta gasped, digging a thick, pink book from the bottom of one of the piles and trying her best not to upset everything on top of it. She gave him a mischievous grin, holding up the book. "Want to see Mika's baby pictures?"

"Absolutely." he said, smiling back at her. Nicoletta looked excited for a moment, but then voices started drifting up from the lower level as whatever fight Mika and her mother were having started escalating. He thought he heard the words selfish and inconsiderate, and a glance at his counterpart told him that it was not thanks to his super hearing. She sighed, putting the book on the table and tapping it fondly. "I'll just, uh, leave that there for you to peruse later."

With that, she turned and exited the room quickly. He followed, wondering why Nicoletta's steps were so unbelievably loud as she bounced down the stairs. The voices in the kitchen quieted, and he realized that the volume was on purpose, alerting them to their arrival. When they finally got into the kitchen, Mrs. Corsof was focused on the stove, acting preoccupied with stirring the dishes for them to eat that evening. Mika had her hands braced on the island, facing away from them. The wine bottle remained unopened in front of her.

"Everything okay?" he asked quietly, laying a gentle on her back. She turned toward him, a blush receding from her cheeks. She gave him the biggest smile she could muster, grabbing the wine and cork screw.

"Yea, all good." she said, letting out a long breath and popping open the bottle. Nicoletta slid four wine glasses onto the butcher block countertop, giving her sister a look that was more a grimace than a smile. She filled them silently, the bottle holding just enough for the four servings, before sliding one to Bucky and another to her sister, the third going towards the side for her mother. The last one she held up to her lips, taking a big gulp of it before giving him a real smile. "You got the good stuff."

"Of course. You know I don't half ass anything." he responded, low enough that only she could hear him. She visibly relaxed then, affectionately touching his side before clearing her throat and standing up straight, renewed and ready for the rest of the evening.

"Anybody hungry?" Mrs. Corsof asked, turning back to them and smiling in the way mothers do when they're pretending they didn't just argue with their child.

"Starving." Nicoletta spoke for the group, patting her mother's shoulder affectionately as Mika fetched dishes from the cabinet. It seems Nicoletta was right - now with the initial quarrel over and done with, the family seemed to be moving a little smoother. He could see as the knot between their mother's shoulder blades started releasing, until she was finally at ease. He helped serve the plates and take them to the table, making sure to fetch a second bottle of wine as instructed. That also helped the situation.

By the time the third bottle was open and the plates were empty, the argument and stress from before was long forgotten. Nicoletta and Mika were alternating telling embarrassing stories about the other, passionately (and loudly) adding commentary. Their mother had even better remarks to add, considering she saw these events as an objective third party observer. Bucky was laughing so hard his stomach was cramping, his cheeks hurting from smiling. It had been so long since he'd been around a family, even one he wasn't a part of. His heart ached for Christmases past, even the later ones when all his blood family was gone. At least then he had Steve, and after Steve, he had his brothers in the 107th, and after the 107th, he had the Commandos. Christmas Day was a rough estimate at best and it was usually spent huddled around a fire, but he wouldn't trade them for the world. Now, sitting at the dining room table with Mika and her family, he finally realized that maybe he had a few more Christmas celebrations left in him yet.

"So, Bucky, what about your family? Are they far away?" Mrs. Corsof asked, trying to bring him into the conversation. It was polite of her, really. And her smile gave away that she could, in fact, be very warm and motherly when she wanted to be. It was an inevitable question. Bucky hesitated for a moment, and under the table, Mika's fingers gently grasped his hand and squeezed. He cleared his throat, searching for the best response to give her that wouldn't throw a wet blanket over the mood of the room.

"I, uh, I'm afraid I've been without family for a very long time." he said evenly. It was technically true, as he didn't think he had any living relatives left. He knew Steve was alive, somewhere, but that was too complicated to explain. Her smile faded, and she started fiddling with her napkin in an effort to rid herself of her nerves. Seemed she and Mika had that in common.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, dear." she said quietly, looking at him with pity that only a mother could produce. Mika's hand still held his, giving him a small comfort in this awkward conversation. He didn't fault her mother for asking these things; in fact, he'd expected it, prepared for it. But that didn't stop his heart from racing.

"Thank you." he responded, looking down at the table. He didn't know what else to say. Mika's hand left his, instead settling on his shoulder. Her touch was so gentle that he felt goosebumps erupt underneath the long sleeve of his shirt, and her eyes were so serious that he almost forgot to pay attention to her words.

"Well, we're very happy you've decided to join us for Christmas." she said, nothing but sincerity in her brown eyes. He gave her a half a smile and a nod.

"Happy to be here." he replied, reaching toward her. He stayed his hand for a second before convincing himself to be brave enough to finish the gesture, resting his hand on her knee. For just a moment, he felt like it was only the two of them in the room. He couldn't move his gaze away from her, couldn't shake the energy connecting them. Between her hand on his shoulder and his hand on her knee, he felt a level of warmth that he could only associate with Mika. Nicoletta cleared her throat, effectively breaking the spell. He pulled his hand back to his lap, turning back to the other women.

"Mum, you have presents to open." she said, though she was giving Bucky a grin that made him wonder if she was the telepath in the family. Mika tapped her hands on the table.

"Yes, you do." she iterated, pushing away from the table. Mrs. Corsof nervously looked towards him, and he could practically see the thoughts rolling through her brain. She hadn't known he was coming, and didn't have any presents for him under the tree. He didn't care, of course. He had everything he needed, and it would not hurt his feelings. He stood up, gathering the plates in front of them.

"That's alright, we can open them another time." she said politely, trying to make sure he wasn't offended. He wished he could plainly say how little she needed to worry about that. She was already kind enough to open her home to him, that was more than enough of a Christmas miracle.

"I believe you're outnumbered." he said, giving her a pointed look before taking the dishes to the sink. He heard as Mika and Nicoletta went to their mother, convincing her to go to the living room for gifts.

"Come on, Mum. It'll just take a minute." Nicoletta said, and he didn't know if their mother actually agreed to it or if they were just forceful enough to push her into the other room. He laughed to himself, carefully washing and drying the plates before returning them to where Mika had gotten them earlier. After that, he cleaned the pans and wiped down the counters; a clean kitchen was the least he could do for all Mrs. Corsof's kindness. They were still in the other room when he finished, talking lowly with smiles on their faces. He leaned against the door frame for a moment, watching the familial interaction. He could see how, when Mika and her mother put aside their differences for the moment, Mrs. Corsof was obviously very happy to have her two girls home with her. Bucky's throat felt tight, and he suddenly felt like he was intruding on a very tender moment. Without a sound, he slipped away, finding the back door and stepping out onto the porch. A wide porch swing sat to his right, and he hesitated for a just a moment before going and sitting on it. It was cold outside, but the air was still, and as he sat there gently rocking, he craved a cigarette for the first time in a long time.

He didn't know how long he sat outside, simply looking out over the yard and counting the stars in the sky. His meditation was interrupted by the door opening, Mika poking her head out from the warmth inside. She gave him a bright smile, which he reflexively returned, his heart stuttering for a moment at the sight of her.

"There you are." she said, crossing her arms tightly around herself and coming to sit next to him. She immediately pulled her knees up, tucking her toes under his leg to keep them warm. "Are you alright?"

"Great." he responded with a smile. She was shivering slightly but pretending not to, and he didn't ask before slipping his jacket off and handing it to her. She looked like she wanted to protest, but the desire for heat won. She pulled it on, the size of it looking comical on her smaller frame. He took a gamble then, reaching out and resting his arm around her knees. The gesture, while new, felt right and comfortable. He wanted to hold her close, wanted to keep her warm. "It's...been a while. Since I've had a family to celebrate Christmas with."

She rested her cheek against his shoulder, nuzzling it slightly. "Well, now you have me." she said softly, looking out over the grass as well instead of looking at him. He looked down at her, but she didn't see the surprise on his face. She hadn't said us, she'd said me. Again he was struck with the desire to kiss her, to tell her how he felt. But he knew this was not the right time. He would have to be patient, and hope that he didn't burn up from the inside before he found the perfect moment.

"And you have me." he said softly. Of course, she didn't realize the degree to which he meant his statement, but that was neither here nor there. He thought of resting his cheek against the top of her head, but decided that was too intimate a gesture. Instead, he just said, "Thank you. For inviting me tonight."

"Thanks for coming with me." she said, finally turning her head to look up at him. Her eyes seemed even bigger and more sparkling in the starlight. "I think my mum likes you."

"She doesn't dislike me." he corrected, though until that moment he didn't realize how badly he wanted her mother to approve of him. He swallowed the feeling down; he could not afford to get his hopes up. He didn't deserve a woman like Mika. That thought was always in the back of his mind, threatening to strangle him in his lowest moments of self doubt. But another thought, the one that said maybe she felt the same, maybe he didn't have to chase this idea of good enough, was becoming stronger. He didn't deserve her love. But what if...what if she could love him anyway? He stopped that train of thought, returning to the moment as Mika shifted away from him. For a second he was scared that she was retreating from him due to fear or nerves, but when she looked at him, she was still all smiles.

"Come on, it's freezing. And I've yet to give you your present." she said, holding her hand out to him. He took it, and she helped him up from the swing, holding on just a moment longer before letting go and walking towards the door.

"You didn't have to get me anything." he said quietly, following her back inside. The lights were lower now; Mrs. Corsof had retreated to her bedroom, and Nicoletta was in a puddle of blankets in front of the fire, idly sketching in her sketchbook. She winked at them as they walked by, her attention never wandering far from the page in front of her. Mika led him up back upstairs, and this time his trip was much quieter and much less tense.

"It's nothing big, just something functional. I think you'll like it." she murmured as they reached the second landing and walked down the hallway. A brief swirl of anxiety circled his stomach, but it wasn't to the same degree as last Christmas. That's because he was prepared this year. She moved towards the room across from the one Nicoletta had shown him to earlier; he assumed that was the other bedroom. "I'm going to change into pajamas and grab it, okay?"

"Okay. Gives me time to get yours." he said, his hand on the doorknob as his nerves swirled again. This time, because of the uncertainty of the gift. He'd purchased it weeks ago, and every day since had looked at it, willing it to tell him if she was going to like it or not. Her eyebrows rose, and she was unable to contain her surprise - and a little bit of curiosity. She paused in the doorway, one corner of her mouth lifted in a grin.

"You didn't have to get me anything." she said, but her tone gave away her excitement. He shrugged, stepping back into the bedroom.

"It's nothing big, just something functional." he said, mimicking her words from earlier. Her jaw dropped for a moment before her smile returned. She ducked into the other room, and he heard her bag zip open. He grinned to himself, going into his room for the night and carefully opening his bag. The small, brightly wrapped package sat at the top of the pile, where he figured it would be best protected from potential injury. He placed it on the bed before untying his boots and slipping them off, trading his jeans for his sweatpants. In his apartment, he normally slept shirtless, but he did not think that would be appropriate for this setting. Just as well, the soft cotton shirt that Nicoletta had convinced him to purchase a few weeks ago would be comfortable enough. He had just finished folding up his pants and placing everything neatly on the floor at the foot of the bed when a soft knock sounded from the door, Mika opening it just a peek.

"Decent?" she asked, stepping in before he could answer.

"As decent as I'll ever be." he remarked with a grin, though the comment was lost on her as she took in the new state of her old room. He couldn't tell if she was confused or shocked, but either way she was not expecting it to be organized the way it was.

"Wow, Mum's really done some work up here." she said, and he couldn't tell if her feelings were hurt by it or not. She spotted the closet, whose door was still open to divulge all its secrets. She smirked then, eyeing all her old things. "Ah, there it is."

"Nicoletta also mentioned baby pictures." he said, nodding his head at the pink photo album on the table. Her eyes snapped to it, a look of fear crossing her face. She tried to casually lunge for it, but Bucky was closer, and much faster, snatching it from the table and holding it away from her. She gave him a stern look, holding a finger up at him in warning and looking very much like her mother in that moment.

"Bucky. Give me the album." she said firmly, holding her hand out for it. He moved it further away, reaching down to pick up the small parcel on the bed.

"Do you want your present?" he asked, lifting one eyebrow. Her eyes flitted between the book and the package, trying to decide which she wished to salvage - her dignity, or her curiosity. She held up her own brightly wrapped box threateningly.

"Do you?" she countered. He had to admit that he did really want his present. It was bigger than he thought it would be, and he had no idea what could be inside. But to admit such a thing would be admitting defeat, and he couldn't have that. He put his thumb under the cover of the album, lifting it just enough to show that he could open it easily.

"I could just take a look right now." he said pointedly, leveling his gaze at her. He never had to admit his thoughts, he just had to make her believe his bluff. She stared at him for a long time, trying to decide which was worse - him seeing the pictures as they were, or having to continue playing this game of chicken. Eventually, her desire to see his face when he opened his present outweighed her embarrassment of her younger self. She groaned, her face going skyward for a moment as her resolve crumbled.

"Fine. But I get to defend myself and all the fashion choices." she said, offering a compromise. He could see the pictures, as long as she could explain them. And honestly, he wanted nothing more than to hear her tell the stories behind whatever gems were hiding in the book.

"Done." he said, tossing the photo album onto the bed and holding out her present. She handed him his, going to sit at the foot of the bed and tucking her legs underneath her. He sat down as well, making sure there was plenty space between them even though he wished she was closer, like when they were down on the porch swing. She carefully tore the paper off and opened the box, her face lighting up as she carefully plucked her gift from the paper. "To replace the one that was broken." Bucky explained.

"I love it. It's beautiful." Mika breathed. The mug had a careful spattering of flowers around it, with delicate, hand-painted little birds flying through the blooms. This was not something he found on the shelf of some run-of-the-mill home goods store. No, work like this was likely commissioned. And it was stunning. She always thought of the broken floral mug as his, but this one? This one was hers. And it was now her favorite. She looked up with a brilliant smile. "Thank you." she said sincerely, clutching it to her chest.

"You're welcome." he replied, and he looked at her so warmly that she thought her heart might burst. She wanted to leap across the bed and embrace him, but the likelihood of her either breaking her new mug or breaking his present was too high. Instead she just gestured to the box in front of him.

"Go on, open yours now." she said, bouncing in anticipation. He carefully removed his glove before prying apart the corners of the paper. His brows furrowed in concentration, as if this were a very difficult, very important task. When he finally held the box in in his hands, he couldn't stop the smile from breaking across his face. This wasn't one of the little grins or smirks that he usually gave; no, this was a real smile.

"It's perfect." he said, holding the single serve coffee maker up to look at it closer. The smile was still on his face as he analyzed every bit of it; it was the most excited she'd seen him in a very long time. He was happy to have it - he'd considered purchasing one for himself, but could never quite convince himself to. Her heart soared as he looked up at her, his blue eyes serious as he said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now we can both enable each others' caffeine habits." she said lightly, carefully tucking her mug back in its protective paper. She thought for a moment before crawling across the bed, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug. His arm circled her waist, pulling her just a little bit closer. She thought he rested his head against hers, but couldn't be sure. "Happy Christmas, Bucky."

"Happy Christmas, Mika." he murmured, his voice soft against her shoulder. She pulled away, taking both of their boxes and putting them on the little table before collapsing back on the bed, picking up the pink album and settling down against the pillows.

"Alright, let's get this over with." she said with a huff. He stared at her for a moment as she laid on the bed next to where he was sitting. Was he to lay down next to her? Should he stay where he was? She was looking at him expectantly, the photo album on her lap and her finger messing with the frayed corner. With uncertainty, he laid down on the other pillow. He didn't know how close they should be, and didn't want to make her uncomfortable. She took the initiative then, moving closer so that her head was leaning on his shoulder and her thigh was resting against his. She finally flipped open the photobook then, and he was met with old photos of a chubby little baby, laughing gleefully.

"There's me! I was, um, a rather healthy weight." she said, laughing at her own joke. He let out a low chuckle as well, taking in the vision of a few month old Mika, grinning with her cherub cheeks and reaching with pudgy fingers. She flipped the page, and he saw a toddler holding onto her precariously. It almost looked like Mika was trying to kick herself free of the other girl's embrace. "That's Raisa. She fancied herself my caretaker. But then when I would cry she would try and leave me in Dad's woodworking shed."

"That's not how you're supposed to handle crying children?" he asked sarcastically, relaxing slightly as he got used to their position. He wanted to move his arm so it was under her head, wanted to press his lips to her hair, but he refrained. She looked up at him with an admonishing glare.

"Of course not. It's too hot in there. You're supposed to leave them in the back bedroom with a window cracked." she said, turning her attention back to the photos. She carefully leafed through the pages, giving him details about the photos. He saw the progression as she grew up, from the chunky baby to an energetic toddler to a skinny kid. There were pictures of her playing soccer and rugby and basketball, and pictures of Nicoletta in a little cheerleader uniform there to support her. She, in turn, was Raisa's cheerleader, making the happiest faces as her sister won award after award. She had just entered her teenage years when the book ended, just before the really questionable fashion choices.

"Thank you for sharing that with me." he said as she closed the album. She laughed, sitting up and crawling over him to go put the book back on the table.

"Thank you for listening to me ramble about my childhood." she said, turning back to him. He sat up on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his thighs and looking at her with a smile. She absently picked at her nail polish, trying to be brave enough to hold his gaze even though her heart was nearly beating out of her chest. "So, what do you think? Good Christmas?"

"Best I've had since '41." he said with a smile, and she laughed more than the joke really deserved. He looked at his hands for a second, his expression becoming more serious as he returned his eyes to her. "Thank you for sharing Christmas with me."

"Of course." she replied immediately. She was going to add, what are friends for?, but never had she been more acutely aware that she wanted to be more than just friends with him. She put her hand on his shoulder for a moment before pulling away. Was it her imagination, or did he look disappointed at that? It was probably just wishful thinking. She picked up the box with her mug in it, holding it close to her. "Sleep well, Bucky. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight." he said, watching her every move as she walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her and stepping across the hall to Nicoletta's room. Her room was still untouched, the walls covered with various sketches and paintings from years past. She put her gift on the desk, figuring it was a safe place for it, then promptly face planted onto the bed next to her sister.

"You've got it bad." Nicoletta mumbled without opening her eyes.

"I know." Mika replied, her voice muffled by her pillow. She hadn't felt this way about someone in a long time, and even then, she didn't remember feeling it this strongly.

"Gonna tell him?" she asked, her voice sounding only slightly more awake. Mika took in a deep breath, then let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

"Eventually." she said, face still in the pillow. She groaned, a little louder than she meant to, making Nicoletta elbow her sharply in the ribs. "Sorry, I just...I like him so much it pisses me off."

"Then fucking do something about it." she sighed. Mika finally removed her face from the pillow so that she could glare at her sister, but she'd already rolled over so her back was to her. She let out another dramatic breath before turning the other way, not bothering to be gentle as she tried to settle. She laid there for a long time, her thoughts keeping her awake as she stared at the wall. She'd been sitting on her feelings for weeks now, trying to figure out if there was even a chance that Bucky felt the same way. Usually she could tell with men - the ones she'd dated before weren't exactly known for being subtle - but with Bucky, it was a mystery. While she'd noticed more little touches, more serious looks, it wasn't enough for her to think yes, we're on the same page.

Until tonight. Tonight was the first time she could see what Nicoletta was saying this whole time. It made her want to get up and march across the hall and confess everything, and to see what he said in return. But it was Christmas, and they were with her family, and it was not the right time.

She just hoped the right time was soon.

Ah, these two losers! That gosh darn mutual pining! Don't worry lads, their conversation about their feelings is happening soon. Like, really soon. Like, really really soon.

As always, thank you so much for the faves, follows, and reviews! I didn't get as much feedback as usual last chapter, but that's totes okay! Just know that I absolutely love hearing y'all's thoughts and feelings about my two lil nerds here.

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know what you think!

-XM