Sharon Carter is a super spy (exshieldagent) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-08-05 15:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, athos, bucky barnes (winter soldier), sharon carter |
Who: Bucky Barnes, Sharon Carter and Athos
When: Around Viv’s birthday
Where: Athos’ house
What: Cake smashing and swimming
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete!
Sharon didn’t often get into a swimsuit in front of other people. She was down to the last few pounds of baby weight, but it still made her feel a little self-conscious. Though, her training sessions had been going really well, and she was eating properly. Well, when it wasn’t Viv’s birthday, anyway.
But she had her swimsuit on underneath a sundress, and was carrying both the baby and a diaper bag as she made her way up to the front door of Athos’ house. She left Bucky to collect the cupcakes from the car as she hurried to the door and rang the bell. It was a little strange to celebrate her daughter’s first birthday a bunch of times, but that seemed to work better than trying to get all of her friends and loved ones together at once.
~*~
Swimming was something Bucky had never gotten interested in until the service. Public pools weren't the most popular hangouts in Brooklyn where he had grown up; it didn't help his family had needed him to work while trying to manage school. Raising a family of five without a husband had been hard on his ma which was why Bucky could respect Sharon all the more as a single mother.
He had agreed to wear long swim trunks which actually looked like the shorts version of his tactical pants -something Bucky couldn't think on too hard without having issues- along with a simple t-shirt and sandals. It helped his natural skin tone was more of an olive complexion. Bucky didn't feel too conspicuous as he stood with Sharon until the door opened for them.
"Hey! We brought the birthday girl and I even have special birthday cupcakes if you're ready for this?"
Bucky held out the covered tray of cupcakes with a grin as he smiled at the man who'd answered Sharon's buzz.
~*~
Athos was looking forward to having Sharon, Bucky and Viv over, he missed seeing his friend at work and he always liked it when their pool got some good use. D’Artagnan wasn’t a big fan of the water but he was slowly getting better with Athos’ patient help.
Opening the door he gave them all a nod and a smile, “Always ready for a birthday party” he said, “Especially a special one” he added to Viv who smiled at him and clapped, “See? Everybody is excited” he smirked, “Come on in, head straight out to the back, I’ve set out some drinks and things, and the hose is on standby” he winked at Sharon.
~*~
Sharon gave a little laugh at the idea of the hose being needed. There was no doubt in her mind that Viv was going to get cupcake everywhere, and would likely need to be hosed down before they could put her in the pool. “Good, good.” She smiled over at Bucky, then followed Athos’ directions to head straight through the house to the back.
It was pretty comfortable back there. Nice patio furniture, shade, the sun shining beautifully off the water in the pool. She set the baby down once they were outside, one hand holding Viv’s so the girl could walk over to a chez lounge and hold herself up. Then Sharon set down the diaper bag.
“Can you believe it’s been an entire year? Viv’s father called and we got to video chat with him. Hopefully they’ll come out soon for a visit.”
~*~
"Viv seems to be getting confused by the video chats so I hope he does visit. I figure it'll stop her from throwing a tantrum every time she talks to the TV and it doesn't talk back."
Bucky was joking, but it did amuse him endlessly to see the little lady playing with the television as if it were a giant video phone. She babbled at it more than spoke to it; Bucky didn't blame her for getting angry when it didn't babble back. It was rude to not speak when spoken to or something of the sort. He was sure his ma had told him something similar when he'd been growing up since she'd done all she could to make sure he had a few manners to his name.
He liked the set-up Athos had in his backyard. The loungers were comfortable enough he didn't feel self-conscious about kicking off his sandals to slide onto one with his bare feet up, soles feeling the heat of the sun flashing off the pool water. Bucky wondered how much a place like this would go for on the market. Money was something he didn't think about too often, but he was starting to consider doing better for himself than living as Steve's roommate.
"Thanks for having us over. I love what you've got going on here. It's almost as nice as this resort I booked for me and Sharon when I was trying to impress her. If I'd known her friends' place was this nice? I'd have tried harder, let me tell you."
~*~
Athos laughed at that idea, “I hope he visits soon too then” Though the idea of her getting annoyed with the television because it wouldn’t talk to her was amusing.
One thing Athos loved very much, other than D’Artagnan, was their home. It had been a small fortune, being on the beach wasn’t cheap and it was a new build with all mod cons and obviously the enclosed pool but it had been worth it.
“Thanks, we love it” he admitted, “Took us awhile to find somewhere but as soon as we saw this place we knew. I surprised D’Artagnan by buying it and then bringing him here and placing the key in his hand” It had been incredible to see the look on his husband’s face.
~*~
Sharon was wandering around the yard, following the toddling baby. It was slow work. She grinned over at Bucky making himself comfortable, and Athos who was a wonderful host.
“I want to find a place like this. Or… well, maybe not so nice. My budget isn’t quite--” she cut herself off and flushed a little. Was it rude to assume how much someone spent on a house?
“It’d be nice to find a permanent place where Viv can grow up. A thirty year fixed mortgage with a view of the beach.”
~*~
Money was something people didn't talk about with guys in Bucky's position. He'd grown up surrounded by poor, working class people. No one really talked about money except to comment on how there was never enough of it. He'd been working a job before it'd been legal. His ma worked as she could and Bucky did what he could to make up for the father he and his sisters had lost too soon.
He had money now---he just didn't think about it since the reason he had a small fortune tucked away was because he was half the man he'd been when he'd taken Uncle Sam at his word about wanting him to join the US Army.
"I want a backyard which looks out onto the beach," he admitted quietly, "I like the sound of the waves. I like the feel of the ocean air on my face. I like smelling the water without smelling the docks the way I did back home when I was in Brooklyn. One of these days, right?"
No one needed to hear him wax poetic about the house he envisioned Sharon chasing after Viv in the backyard of or that he wanted nothing more than to be able to have a memory where he was the one giving his wife a key to a house which would be all their own.
"Sounds like your husband is quite the lucky man. You definitely went all out on this surprise."
~*~
“I’m lucky I can’t deny that. My family invested well and I’ve lived relatively simply with the occasional exception such as this” he gestured to the house, he wasn’t ashamed of having money but he knew not everybody was as well off so he tried not to shove it in their faces. He couldn’t really help it when it came to the house, being built as it was and on the beach it practically screamed money but it had been himself and D’Artagnan who had turned it into a home.
“Living by the water had always been something I wanted, and thankfully D’Artagnan felt the same. I think we’ve both been pretty lucky in finding each other” he smiled, “I think you can both relate to that though” he added with a knowing look.
~*~
Sharon glanced over at Bucky. She knew that feeling. Luck was definitely on her side that day she’d been stuck, been kissed by a stranger. It’d turned into so much more, quickly and deeply. Her cheeks flushed. She picked up Viv and came back over to one of the tables to set her daughter in a chair.
“I think it’s cupcake time!” She said, trying to get the girl excited. “Cupcakes for my birthday girl!”
~*~
"Cupcakes!" Bucky agreed, moving to kneel in front of Viv as he watched Sharon retrieving the container, "Who's a birthday girl? Are you a birthday girl, Vivi? Yes? Yes? That's right. Say yay!"
He could get her to wave her tiny hands and even clap on occasion if he put enough spirit into his voice. Bucky had insisted on the sprinkles while Sharon had chosen everything else. They were the perfect size for Viv to grab onto and break into pieces she could shove into her mouth, icing going everywhere with pastel-colored polka dots appearing in the decimated dessert's wake. Sharon had a great camera on her phone. He couldn't wait to see her on video loop getting excited for her special cakes on her big day.
Every birthday was special since each year only came around once.
Bucky was glad he got to spend this one with Viv and Sharon.
Moving back so he wouldn't be in the shot, he winked at Athos, "I'm lucky and I know it. I got great women in my life. This one even comes with the benefit of sprinkles."
~*~
Athos watched Bucky with Viv and gave Sharon a sneaky wink and a nod, he was definitely a good one. He was pleased Sharon had found someone like Bucky, she deserved happiness and someone who would treat her right.
Chuckling Athos replied, “Which I am sure she’s going to get everywhere. As every birthday girl has a right to” he added as he watched Viv animatedly squeal in excitement when Sharon placed a cupcake in front of her. Even he had to get a few quick snaps on his phone.
~*~
It was probably obvious by the way that Sharon looked at Bucky. She was head over heels. She got out her phone and snapped a few pictures of Bucky and Viv before the smashing, then got some video of the baby eating her cupcake. Why was it so cute and funny and amazing? Then she sang Happy Birthday to the little girl, filming all the while.
“We’re all lucky,” Sharon added, once the girl was busy chewing and the camera was turned off. She’d met Athos’s wink (which made her blush) and caught Bucky’s eye. “I don’t know what I did in another life to deserve so much love in this one. Must’ve been something amazing.”
~*~
Bucky didn't miss the flush on Sharon's face. He grinned at her as he said, "You're something amazing. That's enough reason to be showered in love. Now though? I think we better consider showering off our girl before trying out the amazing pool here."
There was usually some hesitance in him to take his shirt off in front of strangers. People who weren't in the service or hadn't served often got squeamish when faced with scars the likes of his; Bucky hated the idea of making anyone feel uncomfortable in their own home. Athos had been such a gracious host to him Bucky almost felt as if he'd known the guy for months instead of only for their short visit.
He had a feeling about Athos, the good kind where he could tell there was something naturally kind in him.
In a way, he reminded Bucky of Steve which was the highest compliment he could ever give anyone.
Taking his shirt off, he draped it over the lounger while waiting on Sharon to fix up Viv, "I'll get in and you can hand her to me? I'm pretty sure she'll believe she's in paradise. It's like a giant bathtub which is always fun for our girl."
~*~
Listening to the two of them reminded Athos of himself and D’Artagnan, they were a good couple and he hoped nothing happened to disrupt that.
Once they were ready to hose Viv off and put her in the pool Athos helped Sharon clean off the baby so she could hand her to Bucky who was already in the pool. He didn’t bat an eyelid at Bucky’s scars, he’d been in the services in one way or another too long to be too squeamish after all. He just felt sorry that anybody had to go through what he must have gone through.
“Who can blame her? I’m personally a huge fan of giant bathtubs” Athos said with a slight smirk as he watched the child's reaction.
***
Sharon nodded, chuckling softly, then moved with Athos to clean up the baby. God, she wasn’t much of a baby anymore, was she? She was a toddler. Or, she was about to be. And the girl loved the pool. Sharon passed Viv over to Bucky in the water, then took off her own sundress. (She was, of course, wearing her swimsuit underneath.)
“C’mon, Athos. I need someone to toss me in the pool.” With a grin, she nudged her friend with her elbow. The four of them could have a wonderful time this afternoon, celebrating Viv’s birthday and swimming together. What a beautiful, little family.
~*~
"Don't push her too hard. I want her to want to come back. I think I'm in love with your pool."
Bucky was glad he'd agreed to meet Athos with Sharon. He'd initially agreed to spend more time with the baby on her birthday as much as to be with Sharon. It was a happy chance for him he thought he might have found a new friend courtesy of the woman who was becoming the most important person in his life. He really did hope they got a chance to visit again soon.
Or they could host a party possibly.
It was suddenly all possible: a normal life with a wife, kids, pets, get-togethers with friends, and the whole American Dream.
Bucky had Sharon to thank for that. Athos clearly loved his partner, too, which made him wonder what kind of man D'Artagnan was and if they'd get along so well. He hoped so, he really did.
All in all? It was the best birthday party Bucky had ever attended for someone else.