Bucky couldn't stop grinning. Harper was so happy. She was practically skipping down the hallway to their apartment. It reminded him of their first Christmas season together as a couple. He shifted the pine tree tucked beneath his metal arm, appreciating that it had been bundled up and wrapped in mesh to make it easier and cleaner to transport.

The day before, Harper had gone out to her parents' house to borrow their car. She had parked it nearby overnight, so they were easily able to walk to the car and set off to the Christmas tree farm just outside the city. They had strolled through the snow dusted lot, enjoying their joint mission to find the perfect tree for their living room. Once they had made their selection, Bucky paid and made quick work of affixing the tree atop the car. Harper had cranked the volume on the festive music almost as soon as she hit the button to start the car and they were off back into the city.

The brunette grinned widely, pushing the apartment door open. Bucky entered with the tree, immediately setting out to place it in the stand. Harper fluttered around, chattering excitedly about how perfect it was going to look. The former soldier's chest warmed with fondness for her. With her instructive assistance, he adjusted the tree in the stand until it stood straight and secure. They then worked as a team to remove the mesh wrapped around the fir, allowing its piney branches to fall free.

"It looks great!" Harper declared, throwing her arms around Bucky gleefully.

He agreed, "You were right about it not being too full; it fills out this corner really well."

"Should we start decorating?"

"Sure, doll."

For the next hour and a half they worked together to carefully fill the branches with lights, ornaments, and more decorative poinsettias. They had gone shopping earlier in the week for a set of ornaments they both liked to add to Harper's robust collection of more personal ones. They had opted for the traditional red, green, and gold colors in various shapes from balls to teardrops to icicles to lampshades.

Once they were done and had taken a step back to take in the entire thing, Bucky had to admit it was pretty. Their first tree together in Bucharest would always have a special place in his heart, but he had a feeling this one would, too. They were newly in love then. Now, they had been through hardships together and apart, had grown and changed so much. They were different people who were still in love.

In truth, moments like these had Bucky thinking more and more about marriage. They just sang of right timing for a proposal. But he wasn't sure either of them was really ready for any sort of change in their relationship. They had been living together for about four months after reconciling from the second big fight in their relationship, but it still felt too soon. He wanted to prove to Harper that he was settled in as an independent military contractor and that he was absolutely here to stay with her. Time would be the key to reassuring her and to making it clear that he could be a good, reliable husband. He was sure Harper would think his reasoning silly, but he needed it for himself just as much as he felt she deserved it.

Still, perhaps someday while she was at work he should rifle through her seldom used jewelry box and investigate her ring size and style preferences.


Bucky watched Harper exchange goodbyes and well wishes with her family members from near the front door. Her father stood beside him, watching the flushed brunette whose balance ever so slightly compromised.

"This is one of those times I mentioned," Mitchel spoke up. "You know, where we're rather grateful you're willing and able to keep her safe?"

Bucky chuckled lightly. "She has always insisted she is perfectly safe and self-sufficient even after drinking, but back in Bucharest I was grateful she was also always open to me walking her home."

"So you're used to this then," her father nodded with a light laugh. "And it seems I owe you my thanks for taking care of her all those years, too."

The former soldier shook his head in the negative. "No thanks necessary. She has taken care of me, too."

"She's always been someone to take care of everyone else."

"Since the Blip, I've noticed she's a bit more receptive to being cared for," Bucky shared.

Mitchel chuckled. "Only with you, it would seem. Well, another tick in the gratitude column."

"Good night, dad," Harper joined them, wrapping her father in a hug. "Love you."

"Love you, too, Harper," he responded, returning the hug.

"Thank you for everything," the brunette added, squeezing tighter before stepping back. She moved closer to Bucky, prompting him to wrap his metal arm around the inward curve of her midsection.

"Yes, thank you," he nodded. "It was a really great day."

"No thanks necessary," Mitchel replied with a meaningful smile. "Merry Christmas, you two."

All farewells exchanged, the couple took their leave. As they walked down the street, Bucky tucked Harper into his side. His other hand held a tote bag full of the gifts they had each received from her family. His heart was warm having been well and truly included in the Montgomery holiday celebration.

Harper rested her head on his shoulder during the short bus ride back to the T station. Bucky guided them through the underground hallways to board the appropriate train. It was quite late and most of the other riders were also displaying the fatigue that came of a day of celebration. There were a few sketchy characters, but his bulky frame was enough to keep any gazes from lingering on them.

As they approached their stop, Bucky gently shook Harper's shoulder, rousing her from sleep. She blinked blearily at him before obligingly taking hold of his arm at the elbow and following him off the train and back above ground. It was a slightly longer walk home given his concern for Harper, though she made the trek without issue.

When they arrived back at their apartment, Harper scooped Aslan up, cuddling him and cooing at him about how they had brought back presents for him, too. Bucky settled their gifts beneath the tree as Harper gave the old feline his dinner, medication, and fresh water. The soldier yawned and headed to the bathroom to go through his nighttime routine.

Bucky moved next into the bedroom. He grasped the bottom hem of his Henley in his fingers, lifting it up and over his head. A pair of arms wrapped around his now bare torso, fingers feathering across the skin of his abdomen. Harper's lips found the space between his shoulder blades, kissing upward toward his nape. Heat flooded his body at her touch and he bit his lip in a bid to maintain self-control.

His resolve nearly crumbled when Harper pressed herself against his back, allowing him to discover that she had shed her clothes prior to entering the bedroom. The curves of her full breasts crushed against him shot blood straight to his groin.

Harper's fingers crawled down his stomach, slipping beneath the waistband of his jeans to rest teasingly on the skin between his hips. She asked, "Should we finally make up for that Christmas gone wrong?"

Bucky swallowed heavily. Her voice was husky and full of want. With a jerky shake of his head, he said, "Not while you're drunk."

He heard the sharp intake of breath that signaled Harper's surprise. "What…?"

The former soldier turned in her hold, ignoring her nudity to look into her bright brown eyes which were slightly hazy. Her cheeks were still flushed, and she wavered ever so slightly on her feet.

"Darlin'," Bucky said gently. "You're drunk. You passed out on the train, and I can see it in your eyes. Let's go to bed, sleep it all off, okay?"

Her lower lip pushed out in a disappointed pout. "But, James… I wanna cum."

His eyes squeezed shut for a moment. He had never taken advantage of a lady before, and he wouldn't now, no matter how much he would otherwise want to fulfill Harper's wish. "Doll, you need to get the alcohol out of your system. Tomorrow if you still want to, you know I'll help you cum as much as you want."

Despite looking sad, Harper nodded. Bucky quickly pulled one of his t-shirts out of the bureau and pulled it over her form. It was as much for his resolve and sanity as for her warmth and modesty. She coiled her arms around him again, resting her cheek against his chest. "I thought traveling home would sober me up. I'm sorry, hun."

"You don't need to apologize, Harper. Did you have a good day?" When she nodded, he said, "That's all I care about."

"Did you?" she asked, peering up at him from beneath her lashes.

Bucky scooped her up in his arms, prompting her legs to wrap around his hips. "It was great, darlin'. I hadn't had a family Christmas in over eighty years, and was happy to finally enjoy one again."

"My family is small, but they like you," Harper replied. "I'm glad you enjoyed celebrating with them."

The soldier placed Harper on the bed, averting his eyes from where his t-shirt was riding up her legs. He turned back to their bureau, grabbing the small package of makeup wipes from Harper's side and passing it to her. She accepted the package, extracting one of the damp wipes and beginning the process of rubbing it across her face. Bucky took the opportunity to quickly swap out his jeans for a pair of sweatpants. Once he was done, he slid into bed beside the brunette who was scrubbing lightly at her eyes to remove the remnants of the neutral shadow and dark liner.

"James, could you get Aslan, please?"

He nodded and left to collect the old feline. It was rather easy; it was a short wait for Aslan to finish up in the litter box and wipe his paws. Bucky gently picked up the orange cat and walked with him back to the bedroom. Harper was waiting, makeup now removed and the flush in her cheeks even cuter. Aslan was carefully settled into his favorite spot atop his blanket at the foot of the bed before Bucky rejoined Harper beneath the sheets.

Harper turned onto her side and he did the same. She wiggled closer and he pulled her into his arms. "Am I too drunk to kiss you?"

Bucky chuckled and said, "You can kiss me, doll."

She smiled and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. They moved together and Bucky pulled her in closer. Her tongue flicked across his lower lip. He grinned; there was always something particularly enjoyable about Harper taking the lead in their physical interactions. He liked leading most of the time and enjoying these moments when they happened.

With a groan, he opened his mouth and allowed her entry. Her tongue slid across his and she moaned at the contact. Harper rolled her hips against his, and he nibbled the tip of her tongue in a mild warning. She pulled back just far enough to pout at him before reconnecting their lips. Bucky turned over on his back, pulling the brunette along on top of him. His hands rested lightly on her hips. In the new position, Harper kissed him languidly, and he enjoyed each brush of their lips, touch of their tongues, and nibble of their teeth.


Harper sighed and readjusted the blanket across her lap. It was nearing the end of January and she found herself alone for the fourth day in a row. It was strange to think that six months ago it would have been no unusual thing to have been alone so long. Rather, it would have been totally normal and enjoyable to return to her own space after work. Now that she and James had been living together, she looked forward to coming home to him. While he was away on assignments, she found herself feeling a bit down.

The movie playing on the television was doing a decent job of distracting her, but as the winter chill began to reach her through her oversized sweatshirt and red plaid pajama pants, she began to think about how cuddling with James was the best way to stay warm. Unfortunately, she had to settle for pulling the throw blanket off the back of the couch and wrapping up in it.

Her mind drifted to her partner. She hoped he was doing alright. Obviously he was well equipped for the work he did, but somehow that didn't assuage her worries. There was physical danger in each assignment, certainly, but Harper also feared something would happen to trigger his traumas. His nightmares were rare nowadays and while his past had changed him in a lot of ways, he had been happier and healthier since the Flag Smashers. That his happiness might be threatened by his work was something she had a hard time with.

Her phone vibrated against her knee, pulling her thoughts in yet another direction.

Jordan: Dinner tomorrow?

Harper: Sure. What time and where?

Jordan: 7? Maybe somewhere sorta halfway between us?

Harper: 7 is fine. Maybe that Italian place we used to frequent?

Jordan: Ooh, yes! I could go for some meatballs.

Harper: Okay, it's a plan then.

Jordan: Mind if Jared joins us? You can bring James.

Harper: I don't mind. James is away, so it'll just be me.

Jordan: Oh, shit, again?

Harper: He didn't work much last month, so he's taken on a bit more work this month. He was gone eight days at the beginning of the month, and four days and counting this time.

Jordan: Still. Sorry, Harper.

Harper: It's alright. I'll be glad for him to come home, but until then, dinner will be a good distraction.

Jordan: I'd like to think I'm pretty distracting lol

Harper: Attention-grabbing more like. ;)

Jordan: Haha. See you tomorrow.


Bucky closed and relocked the door behind him. Quietly, he dropped his duffel in the armchair. On silent feet he made his way to the bedroom. Aslan lifted his head as the soldier entered the room, letting out a tiny meow of greeting. Bucky reached down, scratching between his ears for a moment as his eyes roamed to the other occupant of the bed. Harper was asleep on her stomach, dark hair fanned out across her pillow and falling in her face. Her lips were slightly parted, slow breaths passing between them. Bucky smiled, heart swelling with love for the beautiful woman he was lucky to come home to.

When he was shipped off to the front of World War II, he had thought longingly of returning to the home he was leaving behind – his parents, siblings, best friend, and a few dames he hoped might still be available. He'd thought about how much he'd miss his life, how grateful he would be to return to it, and about a future where he'd be content. What he hadn't known – couldn't have known – was all the ways that war changed a person. Even more so, he couldn't have known that he would be returning to a totally new time and a world that didn't have room for the content life he had wanted.

When he was lost, riddled with grief, and struggling to find his identity, he had no idea how much the disheveled young woman he met while looking for her cat would do for him. He'd put in a lot of work, too, but almost always with her support, empathy, and acceptance. Things hadn't been easy for them – individually or together – especially given all of the time they had lost. Perhaps that was one reason why it made his heart swell whenever he came home to her. He wanted to appreciate each moment they did have, knowing that too many had been torn away.

Careful not to make noise, Bucky pulled a pair of underwear and sweatpants from one of his dresser drawers before leaving the room once more. He closed the bedroom door but for a crack in case Aslan needed to leave. He then moved to the bathroom, repeating the partial door closure in case the feline needed access to the litter box. The soft smile he had worn since arriving home fell, seeing the medicine cabinet door partially opened and the lid on the container of Harper's injections askew on the base.

The soldier made quick work of shedding his combat gear, dropping everything to the floor and kicking it into the space between the toilet and the vanity. Cleaning everything properly now would make too much noise. Once the water was warm, he stepped into the spray of the shower. Blue eyes watched the water slide down his body and swirl down the drain, discolored with dirt, ash, and blood. Some contusions marked his form, the minor cuts he had sustained already closed. It hadn't been his fastest assignment, lasting longer than expected and totaling nine days, but it hadn't been especially dangerous. Relatively speaking, anyway.

Bucky didn't move until the water had cleared the filth and sweat from his skin. Feeling better already, he efficiently washed his hair and body before turning off the shower. The burgundy towel designated for his use by its position on the towel rack soon found its way around his waist. With equal efficiency, he brushed his teeth and ran his fingers through his short hair before patting the towel across his skin. Satisfied and refreshed, he donned fresh clothes.

As he returned to the bedroom, he noticed immediately that Harper was only sleeping lightly now. He knew that she was easily awoken, hence his efforts to block as much noise as possible with both the bedroom and bathroom doors, but his efforts must have been in vain. Still, he tried to silently join her without jostling the bed.

The tiny whine that nearly always preceded her waking met his ears followed by a sleepy, "James?"

"Hey, darlin'," he replied softly. "Sorry I woke you up."

"'S okay," she answered, eyes fluttering open and blinking blearily at him. Clearly not totally awake and aware, she asked, "You're home?"

He chuckled lightly and confirmed, "I'm home, doll."

"You're safe? Not hurt?"

"Just a few bruises."

"Was the mission…?"

"Nothing too bad. I feel okay," he answered, anticipating her line of linking.

Harper managed a small, tired smile. "Good. Welcome home."

"I'm glad to be home."


A/N: A day late, but a weekly update nonetheless! Thank you for all the support. Feedback is welcome and appreciated!