Author's note: omg how long has it been since I last updated?! Now that school has started chapter updates may be more sporadic so I apologize in advance.

Summary: Steve meets the parents.

Bucky fidgeted in his seat, drumming his fingers along the table. He stretched out his collar and looked around nervously. He'd already gotten countless irritated glares from some customers, but he couldn't help it. He was anxious. He started tapping his foot impatiently.

"You look like you're on a caffeine high," Phil noted as he set down a cup of coffee in front of Bucky.

Bucky hummed in annoyance and tapped his foot faster. The whole table was shaking now, the coffee threatening to spill over.

Phil placed his hand on the table and pressed down. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Bucky answered too quickly. He took a large gulp of coffee. If the taste buds on his tongue were on fire he didn't notice. They were probably all singed off by now.

The door opened and in popped a familiar head of blonde.

Steve's eyes wandered until they landed on Bucky and he made his way over. Bucky stood up slowly, trying to mask the nervousness on his face. Phil smiled sympathetically and patted him on the back before returning behind the counter.

"Hey," Steve greeted as he kissed Bucky on the cheek.

Bucky tried to give his best smile but it turned out crooked and forced.

If Steve noticed he didn't say anything. If there was one thing he learned during this whole year with Bucky, it was patience. When he was ready to talk, he would talk. And Steve would be right here to listen as always.

Steve smiled and tried to ignore the suddenly very wobbly table. It seemed Bucky's feet were playing tap dance again.

"Listen, uh—" Bucky ran a shaky hand through his hair "—I was wondering. You know if you're up for it that is. Rebecca, who is like the most meddlesome person in the world, has been badgering me about being too distant. And like how I need to come home more. So she… with me… and possibly maybe… you too?"

There was silence for a while.

Until Steve burst out laughing and people started staring at their table. Even Phil looked questioningly at them. Bucky's face went from pale to beet red in an instant.

After a couple minutes Steve managed to calm down and ask, "Why don't you try that again?"

Bucky grunted and turned his head to the side. He was pouting a little.

Steve nudged his foot under the table to try to prod him out of it. "Okay, okay. I promise I won't laugh anymore. Scout's honor." He did the boyscout sign to prove it.

Bucky squinted his eyes suspiciously but refused to speak.

"Come ooooon," Steve pleaded, folding his hands. "Please?" Bucky rolled his eyes.

"Fine okay. You win." Steve smiled triumphantly.

Bucky huffed a small laugh and took a moment to sort out the words in his head. He wanted to actually sound like a coherent human being this time. "My sister, she… she wants me to come over for dinner at my parents' place tomorrow night."

"Oh," Steve said, a little confused. That didn't sound as drastic as he thought it would be.

"But with you." Steve blinked. "She wants me to bring… you…" Bucky's voice grew quiet towards the end. He balled up his hands on his knees and stared at the table.

"You want me to meet your parents?" Steve finally asked.

"Technically it was Rebecca's idea. I mean, yeah eventually I was going to.. introduce you to them but you know I didn't expect it to be so soon. Soon as in tomorrow night. And Becca's gonna be there, same with Petey. But I kind of wanted to do it on my own time. So like if you can't come that's fine. Kinda last minute, I know."

He saw Steve's hand reach under the table to grab his. "Bucky, I would love to meet your parents." He looked up at that. Steve had this loopy smile on his face and looked like he was about to kiss Bucky hundred times over. Not that he wouldn't mind. Just that they were, you know, out in public and people already thought they were weird.

Steve gave his hand a squeeze. "Seriously, I would love to meet them. You don't know how happy that makes me." Bucky felt his own mouth slowly curling up into a smile. He stood up and leaned over the table to kiss his wonderfully awesome and perfect boyfriend. When he pulled back Steve still had that loopy smile with the new addition of a light blush.

"You're awesome. And like, perfect on so many levels." Bucky blushed before adding, "And I love you."

Steve looked down in embarrassment before mumbling something along the lines of, "Love you too jerk."

Well that went better than I expected, Steve thought as he tried to scrub off a rather nasty stain on the plate. Everyone else was doing their own separate activities, with Bucky, Pete and Rebecca in the living room, Mr. Barnes reading his newspaper by the window, and Mrs. Barnes cleaning up the dining room table.

Dinner with the Barnes was actually pretty nice he had to admit.

Immediately upon entering Peter had run up and given the two men their own bear hugs (well tackle was more like it). Rebecca followed after, hugging and kissing them both on the cheek. Steve was received very warmly by Mr. and Mrs. Barnes ("Honestly, no need to be so formal!"), while Bucky was given a stern look and a "Why can't you come home more often?! Do you even care about your poor father and me?!"

Steve was all smiles and charm with Bucky's parents. They couldn't get enough of him, nor could they stop making hints of possible plans for the future with their son. Steve wouldn't stop blushing at that.

Overall, they really seemed to like him and Winnie was already planning a second dinner.

"Ma, he hasn't even gotten through his first one yet," Bucky protested, scraping the beans on his plate to the side. Steve smiled. Bucky never did like beans.

"Nonsense! Surely Steve will be around for that long, won't you dear?" Winifred asked him hopefully.

Steve laughed nervously, the pink on his cheeks showing. "Well that's the idea, ma'am."

"Ma'am. Did you hear that George? He called me ma'am," Winifred directed to her husband.

Bucky raised his eyebrow at Steve, who just shrugged as if saying, "I didn't plan that."

"This one's quite a catch James," George winked to his son. "I hope you have the sense to keep him around at the very least."

"PA!" Bucky looked mortified now. Trust his parents to scare off a potential long-term boyfriend.

"Don't mind them. They're just excited James has actually managed to bring home husband material for once," Rebecca said to Steve through a mouthful of potatoes.

"OH MY GOD." Bucky covered his face with his hands. Traitor. They were all traitors.

"Rebecca dear, you're not six anymore. Eat with your mouth closed, please?" Winifred chastised. Rebecca rolled her eyes while Steve chuckled at the scene before him.

"Why can't I just have a normal family?" Bucky muttered into his hands.

"Because normal is boring," Rebecca stated matter-of-factly.

"Rebecca, your mouth."

Bucky groaned and stood up from his seat. "I'm going to the bathroom. Please don't do anything to Steve while I'm gone."

"It's not like he's gonna run out of here screaming. Wait, wasn't that your last boy—"

"SHUT UP REBECCA."

"Oh Steven, you really don't have to do that," Mrs. Barnes said as she brought more plates into the kitchen.

Steve waved her off and continued scrubbing. "Don't worry about it, Mrs. Barnes. I don't mind. It's the least I can do."

Bucky's mother smiled adoringly at him and patted him on the shoulder as she made her way past. "Steven, please, it's Winnie. I'll have none of this 'Mrs. Barnes' business."

"Alright then Winnie. Now would you do me the honor of just calling me 'Steve'?"

"Of course, Steve."

They smiled at each other and went back to work, Steve washing and Winnie drying the dishes.

"You'll have to excuse my children. For two grown adults they can be quite rowdy." She gave a pointed look to them in the next room over.

(Buckynearly threw his plate of leftover beans at her during dinner.)

Steve smiled down at the dishes.

"So how long have you two been together?"

"About a year I think," Steve replied nonchalantly.

Wait.

He paused and almost dropped the plate he was holding. A year. He and Bucky had been together for a year. He and Bucky had been dating. Kissing. Watching movies. Sex. For a year. Was it already that long?

Winifred smiled at the shock on his face. "I know honey. The realization just comes out of nowhere. Hits you like a ton of bricks."

Steve watched her carefully as she hummed and dried the remaining dishes.

"How did you know?" He asked.

She glanced up from her drying.

"I mean how did you know that your husband.. was going to be your husband?"

She looked at him thoughtfully before replying with, "Gut," and pointing to her stomach. Steve laughed and shook his head.

"No really honey. It's a gut feeling. You just know. When the time is right, your gut will be there to help you. It was for me," she said. Her eyes glanced behind her and she smiled at Mr. Barnes walking into the kitchen. He came up next to her and Winifred kissed him on the cheek. "See? That's the power of love." Mr. Barnes chuckled and hugged his wife around the waist.

Steve couldn't help feeling a little jealous of them. They were so in love with each other. His own parents had been like that at one point, a long time ago. He peered around the corner to see Bucky playing tickle monster with Peter and blowing raspberries onto his stomach. Steve's eyes crinkled at the corners and his heart warmed at the sight. He couldn't help staring at him. He was just so.. Bucky. And Steve loved Bucky. Probably would for a long time. That is if Bucky wanted him around that long.

Winifred chuckled and George winked at her.

"Steven it's alright. I can take it from here," George said as he sidled up next to Steve and took a plate. He smirked and jerked his head toward his son in the living room.

Steve blushed for being so noticeable and started to apologize, but then closed his mouth. He looked between the two of them before slowly setting down the unwashed plate and making his way over to his boyfriend. He tried not to seem too eager.

He could hear George and Winnie whispering behind him, but he ignored them.

Peter was giggling as Bucky tickled him all over. There was a huge smile plastered over Bucky' face as his fingers ran like spiders across Peter's stomach. Rebecca was smiling at them from her spot on one of the chairs.

Bucky glanced up and smiled at Steve. "Wanna help a fellow soldier out? I'm on a mission." He wiggled his fingers in the air. Peter laughed and made a grabbing motion for them.

Steve leaned over to ruffle Peter's hair. "Mind if I borrow your Uncle Bucky for a bit?"

"Kay!" Peter giggled. Bucky gave a questioning look but stood up from the couch anyways.

He followed Steve until they were outside on the front lawn. Steve sat down and motioned for Bucky to do the same. He heard a grunt and felt Bucky plop down beside him.

Steve sat cross-legged style and pulled at the grass. Bucky had his legs stretched out and was staring at the neighborhood enshrouded in darkness.

"I really missed this place," Bucky said. "It's actually kind of nice, being back in my old home. I'm glad you got to come with me." He looked at Steve as he said that.

Steve bit his lip and twirled the piece of grass in his hands. "Do you want to move in with me?"

Bucky started coughing violently, thrown off by the unexpected question. Steve quickly moved to rub his back and waited until the coughing died down.

"You're kidding?" Bucky choked out.

"Uh..." Steve didn't know how to respond to that.

"You want to move in with a nut case like me?"

"Bucky.." Steve gave him a pleading look.

"Steve. You know it's true."

"And because of that you don't want to move in with me?" He almost sounded hurt at that.

Bucky sighed and took Steve's hand. "No, of course I want to move in. With you," he added for emphasis. "But—"

"You're scared," Steve finished for him.

"Well, yeah. Aren't you?"

Steve thought for a moment. Honestly, he didn't know where the question had come from. It was just seeing Winifred and George and being reminded of his own parents and then seeing Bucky being adorable somehow brought up this… thing. He loved Bucky, and he wanted to be with him. Life without Bucky was like his life without art: meaningless. Maybe he thought moving in would seal the deal, bind them together for a little longer. And who knows. Maybe he would want to marry Bucky in the future. It could happen. Gay marriage wasn't exactly illegal anymore. But the question was did Bucky want this too?

"No, I'm not," Steve replied finally. He threaded his fingers through Bucky's. "Look, I love you. And I know you love me too, the feeling is definitely not one-sided. And if I love you then well, wouldn't it make it sense if I wanted to be with you?"

"But you are with me."

"Yeah I know that, jerk. I mean be with you. All the time. I mean waking up to see your sleepy face, arguing with you over who gets control of the TV, making breakfast and lunch and dinner together, having someone to come home to. I know we sorta do that now, but I want to do it every day. With you. Together in our own living space."

Steve took a shaky breath when he was done. He just poured out all of his entire feelings into that one speech. He looked at Bucky cautiously, searching for any signs of disgust.

He didn't expect tears to be streaming down Bucky's face though.

"B-Bucky? What—!"

He felt Bucky launch into him and wrap his arms tightly around his waist. Steve couldn't keep his balance for much longer and they ended up falling over together. Their legs were tangled and the grass was tickling sides of their faces.

Bucky burrowed his face into Steve's chest and breathed in deeply.

"Um, so, I take it that was a yes?" Steve asked uncertainly.

Bucky lifted his head and laughed, then pushed himself up so he was eye-to-eye with Steve. "Yes, yes, god a million times yes. Yes. I want to move in with you."

Steve was a dumbstruck at first, but he recovered quickly and kissed Bucky with such force their teeth were clacking together. But he didn't care. Bucky was moving in with him.

Bucky tried to re-position their mouths so they were kissing properly. They moved their mouths together, tongues twisting and turning and brushing against each other. They stayed like that until Steve pulled back, albeit reluctantly. As much as he wanted to continue this, he didn't want the neighbors to get any weird ideas about them. When they broke for air, their cheeks flushed and panting a little, they stared at each other and laughed.

They were going to move in together. This was actually happening.

"I love you," Steve said.

"Eh, I guess the feeling's mutual." But Bucky was smiling so hard that his cheeks were hurting.

Steve laughed. "Jerk."

"Punk."

"What in the world are they doing out there?" Rebecca asked, pressing her nose against the glass.

"Oh leave them be," George said while smiling down at his newspaper.

"Yeah but they've been just lying on the front lawn for half an hour. Should I go get them?"

Winifred exchanged a knowing smile with her husband.

She made a mental note to call the wedding planner tomorrow.