Sharon Carter is a super spy (exshieldagent) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-01-01 10:04:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, bucky barnes (winter soldier), henry townshend, sharon carter |
Who: Sharon Carter, Bucky Barnes, Henry Townshend
When: Early December
Where: Sharon and Bucky’s place
What: Christmas Photos with Viv
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Sharon had loved the pictures she’d purchased from Henry last year. They made absolutely beautiful Christmas Cards, so this year she wanted to do the same. And it was sort of commemorating the fact that she and Bucky had formed a family unit. This was forever to her, and she wanted her friends and family to know, too. Without coming out and saying it. Sharon figured if Bucky was in the Christmas Card Photo, then people would get the idea.
She invited Henry over to take photos like he’d done last year, and then spent the day cleaning the whole apartment. It was nearing time for him to arrive, so she got Viv dressed in her cute, Christmas dress. Then Sharon put on her nice, Christmas sweater, and fixed her make-up. It would have been nicer last year if she’d been a little more dolled up for the photo, but it’d come out nicely either way.
~*~
Christmas photos with the family weren't a tradition Bucky had ever indulged in either in his Dreams or in his life as he knew it. He'd decided on a red button-down with slacks, foregoing a jacket for a change to look more casual in the photos. Viv was a perfect doll in her dress; Sharon looked ready to bring out the milk and cookies for Santa. He could at least use both arms which meant he was a little more flexible for posing this year.
"Do you think I look dressed up enough? I actually don't own an ugly Christmas sweater. I thought about buying one for a joke, but then I realized it might not be funny. These are going out to people we know. Our first real Christmas family photos, right?"
He was glad it was Henry doing their photos rather than them going to a studio to have them done. Bucky still wasn't great at public outings. There was some part of him which expected people to be looking at him strangely. Sometimes he wondered if he didn't have a sign on his head which said "Dangerous Veteran: Observe Without Approaching." It was pure paranoia -he knew that intrinsically- but Bucky couldn't shake it regardless.
~*~
Truth be told, Henry was glad he was going to Sharon’s house again this year to take the family photos rather than her meeting him at a studio. First off, he still didn’t have his own studio, and, secondly, when he did, it wasn’t going to be that kind of studio. Pictures taken in someone’s home were always much more authentic looking in Henry’s humble opinion as a photographer. Places like The Picture Palace, his former place of employment, were a dime a dozen. Anyone could get the Holiday Cheer background for their holiday cards and Henry had actually lost count how many people had opted for that background when he had been working at the Picture Palace over the holidays.
Henry was also surprised, and quite pleased, that Sharon had contacted him again this year to take Viv’s Christmas photos. It meant that he’d done a good enough job for her to reach out to him again for a very special holiday picture. It just wasn’t going to be Viv and Sharon in the pictures, but Bucky too. Their first Family Christmas. Very important. It hadn’t been something Henry’s own family had done since he’d been about Viv’s age, but the photographer knew the significance regardless.
So it was up to him to capture the little family and give them the best Christmas portrait ever. This was part of Henry’s job as a freelance photographer he really did enjoy. He was a quiet man, unassuming and the kind of guy most people would forget about the moment he left the room (unless he’d opened his mouth and said something, which was usually something inappropriate. though he was getting better at not doing that these days). And to be honest, Henry preferred it that way. So, he afforded Bucky the same courtesy as he set up his camera tripod and lighting equipment in the living room, by not looking at the man any longer than what could be considered professional. He did glance at the little family every now and then out of the corner of his eye with a smile.
It only took him a few minutes to set up. Then he looked at Sharon, “I’m all set, if you guys want to take a seat,” he motioned to the spot in the living room by the tree, near where he’d taken Viv’s pictures the year before.
~*~
Sharon shook her head. “I think you look perfect. You and Viv match.” She said, moving to pass the toddler from her own arms into his. Once he was holding Viv, she leaned in to steal a quick, chaste kiss--not wanting to get make-up all over him. They were wearing complimentary outfits, which was just what Sharon wanted. Not identical, because that was corny. And this was going out to practically everyone they knew--so it had to be nice. Not perfect, but nice. It was the first introduction to them as a family unit, so it was important.
Sharon moved over to where Henry was setting up. The tree was lit, a handful of presents already wrapped underneath. There was a stool for her, Bucky could stand behind or beside her, and Viv in her lap? There was a second stool, too, so they could change things up. Sharon definitely wanted to get some portraits of Viv by herself, too.
“Thanks again, Henry. I know it was last minute. And snow.” Snow. In Orange County. Crazy, right? Sharon gave him a smile as she moved to take her position in front of the tree.
~*~
"I never thought I'd see snow here, that's for sure."
Bucky took his place beside Sharon, offering Viv to her mother as he went to place his hands on Sharon's shoulders. Viv grabbed his formerly lame left hand in her tiny fist which effectively thwarted Bucky's attempt to look as if he'd been professionally posed. He rested the other hand on Sharon's shoulder as expected. Henry was going to have his work cut out for him with them, Bucky could tell.
Smiling at him, he offered, "I'm a good guy when it comes to pictures. I know how to smile on command and I take direction well. I was in the military. I just don't know how well Viv will do what we want since our princess tends to do whatever she wants as she wants to do it on her own timeline by her own rules."
There was a reasonable expectation for a professional photographer to understand babies weren't the best subjects for still life photography. Bucky was glad the place looked festive enough no matter how they wound up settling in? They'd still look good for a Christmas card. He thought this was likely the first step in really making their relationship official for everyone else as it was their first genuinely public declaration of themselves as a family unit.
"She likes to grab my hand. If you distract her? I think she'll let go," Bucky suggested to Sharon, not certain what she wanted in terms of poses for their shoot.
~*~
“You’re welcome, Sharon,” Henry smiled back at her. It had been snowing last year when he’d come to her house to take photos of her and Viv, it kind of added to the whole festive holiday spirit, really. “I don’t mind the snow.”
He stood by as Sharon and Bucky got into position and tried not to smile too much when little Viv grabbed hold of Bucky’s hand. Aww, that was cute. Henry preferred his subjects to have natural poses, rather than stiff ones. Amber eyes moved up to Bucky and he shrugged a little, “she can keep holding your hand. It’s pretty cute and makes for a nice shot.” He moved behind his camera to snap the first set of pictures. Henry was quick with the shutter, always taking more than was needed. It was good to have a lot of exposures in case someone made a face, shifted position, closed their eyes, sneezed.
Henry chuckled a little to himself. He’d had plenty of experience with fussy babies. “I used to work at the Picture Palace in the mall,” he told Bucky after he’d taken his first round of shots. “I’ve taken a lot of pictures of kids.” Photographing kids was actually not as bad as some may have thought. He’d had Sharon pull out a few of Viv’s favorite toys, which Henry had lined up on one of the nearby chairs. When Viv got distracted, or decided she didn’t want to face forward, all Henry had to do was grab one of the toys, come up with a goofy sounding voice, and he had her attention again.
He looked at the trio from around his camera, “Sharon, do you want a picture of just Bucky and Viv? And then a set of just you and Viv and another of you and Bucky?”
~*~
Sharon was very pleased with the way the photo shoot went. Henry had done an amazing job last year, and had given her a ton of really amazing pictures. This year was looking to be about the same. “Yeah,” she agreed, when he asked if she wanted pictures of them in pairs. “Actually, that sounds really good. Don’t you think?”
Without waiting for a response, Sharon hefted the baby into Bucky’s arms--since he had two good ones now-a-days, she could do such a thing with little warning--and then climbed off the stool and out of the picture.
This was a big moment for Sharon. She felt some emotion putting pressure behind her nose and between her eyes. Bucky was stepping up as an official father-like person for Viv. Of course, they’d been together officially for almost a year now, and Sharon knew that this was forever, but it was a big thing to see it happening.
Viv turned to the camera, and smiled. She posed. It was as if she knew what was going on. (And, being almost eighteen months old now, maybe she had some idea.)
~*~
"Cute, huh? That's what every guy dreams of being told he is: cute."
Bucky shook his head as he let Viv hold onto his fingers while the photographer worked his magic. The guy seemed to be taking a million photos, but it wasn't as awkward as Bucky had imagined it being. There never was a moment when he came over to touch them or reposition their heads or said anything stupid like 'Say: Cheese!' It really was relaxed enough, Bucky had stopped thinking of it as a photo shoot.
They were a family dressed up for the holidays in their home with a guest over to commemorate the event. Easy. He knew he looked away from the camera directly a few times because his eyes kept wanting to wander over to Sharon. She glowed as if she were the happiest woman on Earth. Bucky only wished he'd managed to get a ring on her finger before this photo session so it could glisten as bright as their Christmas lights.
Startled as he was handed the baby, Bucky looked up on reflex while Viv seemed to pose like the most perfect princess in the world. He hoped he didn't wind up looking as terrified in the photo as he thought, but thankfully the photographer was going shutterbug crazy again so he might give him a break and get a photo of Bucky with his baby girl where he didn't look scared she was a bomb or he was going to drop her.
"How's this work? She likes it when I hold her up high," Bucky said as he turned to the side, lifting Viv with his hands under her arms so she could kick her feet and reach her hands for his face while he grinned up at him, "Who can fly? Can Vivi fly? I think you can fly."
He was rewarded with a laugh from the baby which he hoped made for a good picture.
"I figure that's probably as good as you're getting me, so I'll give you a break. Here, beautiful, pose for our friend so he sees how lucky I am."
Bucky hugged Viv close once before passing her to Sharon as they exchanged places for her turn to get photographed with their daughter.
~*~
The glances from Bucky to Sharon that Henry caught on film were great shots. The way he looked at her, anyone could tell how much he loved her and that really came through Henry’s lense. He hoped he was skilled enough to be able to catch it on film.
Henry waited a few moments while Sharon placed Viv in Bucky’s arms and took a step back. And Viv. What a little ham! Posing as if she knew exactly what was going on, No toys needed. The camera loved her too. Henry managed to get a few quick shots of Bucky holding Viv and not every shot looked as though Bucky was afraid he was going to drop her. When the man raised the girl up over his head, though? Priceless.
Henry had to take the camera off the tripod in order to step back and get the full shot and not accidentally cut off the top of Viv’s head in the frame. Easy enough. A few quick flips of a switch and a catch and Henry was able to back away with the camera in his hands. He was able to get the entirety of the Christmas Tree too, which was a nice framing touch. The shutter whirred quickly. Then Henry covertly zoomed in close to capture both Bucky and Viv’s faces. Viv clearly adored the man and Henry wanted to be able to show that to Sharon later.
Bucky stating that was as good as they were going to get from him signaled to Henry that the man was done. That was fair. One could only pose for pictures for so long and Henry didn’t want to push. He’d gotten more than enough shots to put something together. He stepped back up to the tripod and glanced at Sharon. “Your turn,” he smiled at her.
~*~
As Sharon watched Bucky and Viv posing for their photographs, a warmth spread through her. This was real. It was really happening. This thing she’d longed for for so long was finally here. She’d thought she’d had it with the guy she started dating after her one night stand with Aramis. But then he’d split, and she was left (mostly) alone. Sure, she had Aramis and Porthos, Athos and D’Artagnan, Veronica and Logan, Steve and Peggy, and Leon… but now she had romance. She had someone to hold (or be held by) every night as she fell asleep. Someone to wake up next to every morning. It was all she could ask for.
Then Bucky and Viv finished, and Sharon nearly had to wipe tears from her eyes. (Thankfully, she didn’t actually, because her make-up would have smudged.) She accepted the baby from Bucky, and took her place in front of the Christmas Tree to smile for the camera.
~*~
'You're the most beautiful woman in the world.'
Bucky wanted to say it, but didn't. His reticence was largely due to having a relative stranger in their home acting on a professional basis. In his Dreams, things were different. Men kept their feelings close to the vest. Women weren't outgoing the way Sharon was or they were considered loose. An unmarried woman with a baby? She'd have been his mother's worst nightmare and everything about that thought made him flush with anger.
His smile hardened a little as he watched his future wife hold her child -their child- alone in front of the Christmas tree.
"Hey, hold her up next to your face," he called out, turning to Henry, "Can you zoom in on their faces? Get a close-up with the lights behind them? You can see the resemblance better when you're looking right at Viv's face, can't you? I want to get a good one of my girls close-up so we can frame it maybe in an ornament."
They'd decorated their Christmas tree with ornaments made by hand back in his Dreams. It was all they could afford. Bucky couldn't remember much about Christmas from the past. His reality had been normal. There had been lights, store-bought ornaments galore, handicrafts from his sisters' school projects. No one had really talked about their father being missing at the holidays. He'd just been---gone. That was their reality.
A dead man made for a poor father figure which was why he wanted to be everything he could to be present for all the good times, all the bad times, all the holidays, every single one of them for Vivi.
"It's our first Christmas. Smile like you mean it, girls."
~*~
“Sure,” Henry said. As he had when Bucky had been holding Viv, Henry zoomed the frame in close and got a couple of close-ups of Sharon and Viv. Bucky was right, you really could see the resemblance up close. And they looked so happy. The lights on the tree sparkled and cast a warm glow over the faces of the mother and daughter. It was nice.
Henry wasn’t a sentimental man by nature and there wasn’t much from years past worth being sentimental over. However, he could recognize a Moment when he saw one and these moments? The ones he was catching on film today? These were Moments and ones he hoped Sharon and Bucky, and even Viv when she got older, would cherish for a long time. It was his job to give them something they could look at and smile in fond remembrance. It was an important job, especially in a place like this when you had no idea what tomorrow would bring.
It was a nice thought and Henry smiled faintly to himself, as the shutter continued to whir.
~*~
Sharon blushed deeply when Henry came in and took some close-ups. But she didn’t argue. There was no point in arguing--she knew how Bucky felt. She wanted close-ups of him just as much as he wanted them of her. She turned the baby and kissed her cheek, blowing a raspberry there to make Viv giggle. The girl was getting to be quite big now--with little bows in her tiny pigtails--and with little teeth poking out of her gums. She pointed to the camera and said “say cheeee~!”
When Sharon laughed, Viv clapped her hands together and laughed, too--a loud, boisterous, almost scream of a laugh.
~*~
Laughter burst out of Bucky before he could hold it back. He loved his girls so much. This was the best photography session he'd ever been involved in by far. Most of the time he'd had his picture taken? It'd been under duress. His mother was the kind to always want photos while Bucky never wanted anything other than to be left alone and not forced to wear stiff shirts or stupid pants with creases in them.
"There's my girls!"
Walking over to Henry, he offered his hand, "Thank you so much for this. It's been totally painless and I trust you to bring back some amazing shots for us to remember today with for years to come. I really appreciate you making Picture Day a fun experience, Henry. You can count on me for a recommendation to anyone willing to listen."
Bucky couldn't wait to see the final results. He only wished he could offer more than payment as due and a good word in exchange for what was an unforgettable experience.
~*~
Henry caught Sharon’s raspberry on Viv’s cheek and the mother and daughter laughing as Viv said cheese and with that final shot, the photo session was over. He signaled to Sharon that he was finished. She could put Viv down to play with those toys lined up on the sofa now if she wanted to.
Normally Henry would have just gone about taking down and packing up his equipment. Photographers were meant to be seen and not heard, unobtrusive, so he hadn’t expected Bucky to offer his hand, much less praise him for what had been a really simple job. Still, Bucky’s words were nice to hear, especially from the man who had been somewhat standoffish when Henry had arrived. “It was my pleasure, Bucky,” he answered, taking the offered hand. He gave Sharon the same discount he gave to everyone on the network. But word of mouth advertising was gold.
Henry finished packing his equipment. “I’ll process these pictures as soon as I get home,” he told the happy couple. “And I’ll have a package ready for you in…” he paused to think for a moment. “Probably two days. I’ll email you, Sharon, when it’s ready.” Henry already knew which shots he personally had liked best, and of course there were the requisite poses that Sharon had paid him to get. Happy little memories for them to look back on in the future.
Coat on, and camera bag on his shoulders, Henry headed for the door. He turned to smile at Bucky and Sharon. “Merry Christmas.”