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thesugarclubs-blog · 5 months

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Home for Christmas - a Stucky oneshot

warnings: Christmasy fluff, Stucky smut, 18+

word count: 6.5k

WP: https://www.wattpad.com/1405650983-home-for-christmas-steve-bucky

Masterlist

Bucky flipped through the TV channels, a beer in his hand and his feet up on the glass coffee table while Alpine purred in his lap. Outside, snow was blanketing New York, almost drowning out the sounds of the city.

And he felt content. For a few heartbeats, he almost dared to say he was happy. It was a dreaded word that Bucky had pushed away for years. He never thought he’d be here. Something inside of him was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because there was always another shoe.

But it never did. He could breathe again. That deadly vine that seemed forever wrapped around his chest had been cut. Ayo was right– he was free.

It had been two years since his Hydra deprogramming. Two years since he and Steve really decided to give a relationship a shot. They could walk down the street, hand in hand, and nobody batted an eyelash. For the first time in his life, Bucky felt like he had a partner who understood him inside and out.

“And that’s 123 for the Knicks and 133 for the Celtics.”

“Son of a bitch,” he grumbled, glancing down at Alpine. “Can’t play for shit.”

“Maybe they should let you on the team,” Steve’s voice echoed through the apartment as he shut the door, shaking the snow off of his jacket.

He was as gorgeous as ever, a tall, lean frame, dark blue eyes, a full beard, and his formerly tightly cropped blond hair had grown out. He wore it messier these days and seemed more calm and content.

Steve hung up his brown leather jacket in the closet.

“Feet off the coffee table, Buck.”

Okay, he was still a little uptight.

Bucky offered a challenging smirk.

“Yeah? Who says?”

Steve grinned, strutting toward him and rounding the back of the couch as Bucky tipped his head back. Steve leaned over, humming softly as he kissed him. Sparks rushed down Bucky’s spine.

“Always so combative. You’re a bad influence on our child.”

Bucky grinned, stretching his head back for more kisses.

“Your nose is cold,” he murmured as Steve’s lips found his again, tender and slow and warming Bucky through from the inside out. He shifted on the couch, twisting so they could kiss at a more comfortable angle.

“S’cold out,” Steve hummed, and then because he was the biggest little shit Bucky’s ever known, he cradled Bucky’s cheeks with two ice cold palms.

Bucky yelped, sending Alpine leaping from his lap and Steve falling into fits of giggles.

“Like it’s 1936 all over again,” Bucky muttered, but his eyes were soft and he smiled involuntarily as he watched Steve wipe tears of laughter from his cheeks. “It’s a good job I’m in love with you, ya punk.”

“I see you hung the stockings up while I was out,” Steve said, once he’d recovered himself. “They look good.”

Bucky hummed his acknowledgement, casting his critical eye once more over the mantle on the opposite wall. There were two large red stockings dangling from the ledge, with their names embroidered in sparkling gold thread. Another stocking hung next to them, smaller and forest green in colour, decorated with Alpine’s name.

“Seems like something’s missing though,” Bucky mused.

Steve put his hands on his lips and dragged his bottom lip between his teeth as his blue eyes raked over the space. Bucky was more interested in the way his back arched and tugged at the fabric of his shirt around his stomach. Steve hummed and the muscles in his jaw ticked but he nodded, figuring out the missing piece that Bucky was too distracted to care about.

"We need a tree," he said, turning to look at him with a determined smile.

"There's a lot down the block selling them, if we hurry we could probably grab one..." Bucky started but Steve shook his head.

"Alpine deserves something fresh," he declared.

“Fresh… like fresh out of the ground?” Bucky asked. “Where are you going to find one of those?”

“I’m sure I could find one,” Steve grinned, giving Buck a half smile.

Bucky chuckled, shaking his head as he set his beer down and got to his feet, wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist. Even after two years, this man still gave him butterflies. He’d been in love with Steve since they were teenagers, but never in his wildest dreams did he think anything would actually happen between them.

Through everything, Steve was his constant. The one person he kept coming back to. They understood each other in a way that Bucky never felt understood by anyone else. Both of them had been ripped from their lives and thrust into a world they were still trying to figure out. But they had each other.

Bucky nuzzled against Steve’s jawline, closing his eyes as his beard rubbed against his skin. He could feel Steve smiling, one hand sliding down to grab Bucky’s ass. He gave it a gentle squeeze as Bucky let out a giggle. He’d never giggled before Steve.

“I kinda like the idea of watching you chop down a tree for me.”

“I can tell,” Steve murmured, pulling back and kissing him. “I was thinking we could drive Upstate. Make a whole day of it.”

Bucky smiled so hard his cheeks hurt.

“I got nothing going on.”

Steve eyed him fondly, blues eyes and small smile gooier than the chocolate fudge brownie from their favourite diner. Bucky knew how Steve’s brain worked, he could almost read the thoughts running through his head.

“You’re glad I get to have nothing goin’ on, Steve. I know. Can we go chop down a tree now, please?”

Steve cleared his throat, huffing out a soft laugh as he hauled Bucky in closer for another kiss.

“Yeah— yeah,” he stammered in that adorable way he did when he knew he’d been caught out. “Go on, pretty boy. Go wrap up warm.”

Bucky turned toward their bedroom, beaming over his shoulder when he felt Steve tap him on the ass playfully; his heart already warm and Steve’s love settling further into his bones.

“Wear that dark blue sweater I love so much!” Steve’s voice carried through their apartment. Bucky smiled to himself as he went to the closet in search of said sweater.

“Since when did we start deciding that you’d pick out my clothes?”

“I don’t,” Bucky turned to see Steve leaning against the doorframe. “That sweater brings out your eyes.”

Blush crept up the back of Bucky’s neck. Images of Steve pressed against a snow covered tree, his nose bitten pink from the cold while they warmed each other up, flickered through his mind. “Fine, I'll wear the sweater.” He said, his voice already hoarse and his belly turning warm.

“Atta boy,�� Steve smirked, pushing up from the doorframe and sauntering back to the living room with a cheeky wink.

“Punk,” Bucky called out, his voice cracking a little as he grew more flustered.

He could easily hear Steve’s chuckle at his response and his face split into a broad grin as he pulled the sweater free from the closet and shrugged it over his head.

Eyeing himself in the bedroom mirror he raised a self-critical brow and then raked his hands through the long strands of his hair before fastening them back with the hair tie from his wrist.

"Handsome," Bucky praised and admired his soldier with a soft gaze as Steve and all his muscles came back into view.

Steve cocked his head to the side, a low moan of appreciation vibrating from the base of his throat, "keep looking at me like that darlin' and we won't make it out of this apartment."

"You promised Alpine a tree," Bucky teased and brushed his hand along the leather belt looped around Steve's waist.

Steve bit his bottom lip as he stared into Bucky’s bright blue eyes. “Compromise then… something on the road? We have a bit of a drive to get upstate.”

Bucky grabbed Steve by the waist and pulled him close, feeling his lover’s heart pounding beneath his sweater. His hands slid beneath the soft fabric, greeted with hard muscle and silky skin. Steve’s eyes fluttered closed and he licked his lips.

“I got a better idea, sugar. You get me the biggest tree you can…” Bucky reached down to squeeze Steve’s stiff cock through his pants. “And I give you an early Christmas present.”

“You fucking horndog,” Steve chuckled as Bucky peppered his face with kisses, nipping at his earlobe as the embers in his belly exploded into a full-blown forest fire.

He wasn’t very good at self control when it came to Steve. They had a lot of time to make up for, and if he had it his way, they’d have spent the past two years in bed.

“Language, Cap,” Bucky purred before taking a step back, knowing he was leaving Steve aching for more. “Come on. I want a tree, and you’ve got a deal to hold up.”

“You missed the part where I agreed to it,” Steve replied, tossing him a sly smile.

Bucky shrugged.

“Okay, then no road head and no fucking me against a tree.” He turned on the ball of his foot and strutted out the door. “Your loss, Cap!”

Steve’s honeyed laughter poured out of the bedroom as he jogged to catch up, swatting Bucky on the ass.

“I’d love to see you follow through on that threat.”

“I could,” Bucky said defiantly as Steve grabbed the keys and they each gave Alpine a little scratch under the chin goodbye. “If I wanted.”

“I know, baby. Except I also know you find me utterly irresistible.”

Steve winked, with all that clean cut Captain America charm that not so secretly drove Bucky crazy.

“Damn straight, I do.” Bucky pecked Steve on the cheek as they headed out the door. Giving Steve’s pert ass an extra little squeeze, he hurried ahead, leaping over the railing and calling behind him. “Race you to the truck!”

"Hey!" Steve yelled with a laugh though he could hear the dull thud of his footsteps on the pavement behind him as they raced each other outside. Bucky landed on hand on the passenger side door and beamed at his counterpart as he rounded the bed of the truck.

"Retirement has made you slow." Bucky teased as Steve sauntered towards him.

"You cheated." Steve's fingers wrapped into the front of Bucky's sweater, tugging him closer. Bucky's heart hammered in his chest feeling Steve's breath fan across his face.

"Debatable." Bucky breathed leaning into his vanilla scent and pressed his lips to Steve's.

He meant it to be a short, sweet kiss but Steve had other ideas, his other hand sliding around the back of Bucky’s neck to tangle in the hair that was rapidly escaping his hasty bun.

Bucky moaned, parting his lips slightly to deepen their kiss, losing himself in the feel of Steve’s lips and tongue against his. He whined when his love pulled back and nudged his nose against Bucky’s with a low, throaty chuckle.

“Easy there, big guy. You carry on like that and we’ll be giving the neighbours a real show.”

“Don’t care,” Bucky pouted, nuzzling his face into Steve’s neck and relishing the soft scratch of Steve’s beard against his skin.

"But what about Alpine's tree? Our little girl will be all bitchy if we don't bring her the tree we promised," Steve whispered in the gravelly voice Bucky loved so much. It immediately sent a shiver down his spine and into his cock.

"She'll be okay if we bring it a little later. I think I can't leave before fucking you inside of that truck, Cap."

His hand gave Steve's butt cheek a squeeze and he pressed his half hard cock against his boyfriend.

Steve couldn't stifle a loud moan and his hands fiddled for the handle of the truck door.

"You're really something else, Buck."

“I can’t help it… you started all of this to begin with!” Buck laughed. He let Steve open the truck door and climb in before he walked around and got in to join him.

“Proud of it,” Steve said smugly. “Anticipation makes it even better.”

Bucky clipped his seatbelt on as the engine rumbled beneath them and Steve double and triple checked the mirrors.

“Look at you, mister safety.”

“Hey!” Steve barked, smiling from ear to ear. “It’s important! It’s snowing, there’s a higher risk of accidents this time of year.”

“You know I fell off a train, right?” Bucky asked. “I think I could handle a fender bender.”

Steve whacked him in the arm as he pulled out of their parking spot and headed down the street. Bucky was fixated on the radio, flipping through stations to try and find something decent. It was all people yapping— stupid people with even stupider opinions. Parker always teased him about being an old man, but the radio was supposed to play music, not bullshit like this.

“You can plug your phone in, Buck.”

“I can’t remember how,” Bucky grumbled.

“Parker taught you.”

“Parker talks almost as much as these clowns on the radio.” He kept flipping through the stations until soft jazz dripped through the speakers and Bucky grinned, leaning back in his seat. “Plus, I found something.”

Steve grinned, keeping one hand on the wheel and the other on Bucky’s thigh.

“My stubborn old man.”

“Yeah, look who’s talkin’, toots. You yelled at the washing machine the other day.”

“They’re supposed to wash your clothes, not sing you a song,” Steve retorted.

Bucky chuckled, staring out the window. For the first time in 80 years, he felt fucking normal. Soft jazz filled the silence between them and a deep sense of peace consumed him. Steve began to hum along as music mixed with the rumble of the engine. If this was the rest of his life, he’d take it.

They should have anticipated the roads being busy. Getting out of the city was never easy but attempting it so close to Christmas was maybe not their smartest move.

Bucky huffed, fidgeting in his seat as the truck moved at a snail's pace. So close to open road and yet still so far.

“Got ants in ya pants?” Steve asked, cocking an eyebrow as Bucky twisted in his seat again.

“I’m bored,” he whined. He did that now too, apparently. Noticed the way Steve shifted too and tilted his head as they came to another stop.

“Wanna play a game?”

“I dunno, is it a game of how many times can Bucky make Steve come with just his mouth before we get there?”

“Were you always this horny?”

“Probably,” Bucky shrugged, “didn’t have you like that then though, did I?”

"You could have." Steve smirked as Bucky slid across the bench seat closer to him. His hand gripped the inside of Steve's thigh causing him to suck in a shuddering breath. Those dark blue eyes flicked to Bucky's, "You're playing with fire Sergeant." He rasped.

"I don't mind getting burned," Bucky cooed leaning into him and pressing his lips to the spot just below his ear. Steve let out a low groan gripping the steering wheel so hard the leather creaked beneath his touch. "Whattya say Cap? Should we test that focus of yours?"

Bucky’s hand slid higher, tracing an achingly slow path up the inner seam of Steve’s jeans.

“Buck…” Steve warned, his voice dark and low.

“Just be quiet and enjoy it, Stevie,” Bucky murmured, trailing the tip of his tongue down Steve’s neck.

Bucky’s other hand pulled down on the neckline of Steve’s sweater enough to let him drag his tongue across his collarbone, nipping gently with his teeth as he went, eager to tease out more of the soft groans of pleasure from his lover’s throat.

Bucky's hand pressed firmly to the growing bulge in Steve's pants and a grin formed on his lips as he drew closer to the buckle he so desperately wanted undone.

His thighs tensed as the buckle flipped free and Bucky was able to undo the button that separated them, "the thrill has always done wonders for you," Bucky whispered against his throat as his fingers played at Steve's boxers where they lifted slightly from his skin as his erection begged for attention.

Steve's gaze flickered from the road as Bucky teased the sensitive skin.

"Eyes up, Cap." He laughed breathlessly and tucked his hand into his pants without warning, dragging a sharp hiss from between Steve's lips as he fought to focus on the road ahead.

"What if someone catches us?" Steve hissed, his head pressed back into the headrest, knuckles whitening from the intense grip on the steering wheel.

"Extra point, I know you love the adrenaline." Bucky's hand wrapped around Steve's cock, slowly pumping him towards oblivion.

"God," Steve moaned, his cock hardening with every second.

Bucky's hand was made to be wrapped around Steve's cock. It fit perfectly around it as they were missing puzzle pieces. He knew he would be able to work wonders only with his hand, but his mouth was made to do a better job. They had plenty of occasions in the past years that would prove him right.

"I prefer when you moan my name."

Steve peered down at Bucky, a quick, sharp flit of his dark eyes before they were back on the road.

“I will,” he purred, his hand leaving the wheel and finding home in Bucky’s hair. Steve’s blunt nails against his scalp as he tugged coaxed a whine from Bucky. “When you’ve earned it.”

“Fuck, Stevie. Gonna give you the best damn blow job of your life.”

Bucky gave Steve another soft stroke, freeing his cock from his boxers and earning a rough groan. Hot and heavy in his hand, Bucky wiggled to get comfy before he lowered his mouth, flicking gently over Steve’s slit with his tongue.

“B-Buck—“ Steve stammered.

Bucky hummed, wrapping his lips around just the tip, relishing in the feel of velvety skin, slick and hot in his mouth as he sunk further.

Fuck, he loved this. Would probably always love this. Watching Steve falling apart from the gentlest touch.

Steve moaned again as Bucky alternated between taking him deep down his throat and licking the underside of his cock as he came up for air. One hand now cupping his lover's balls while his other gently drew circles on his hip

"Damn it Buck," he moaned.

Bucky gazed up at Steve as he swirled his tongue through the precum gathered on Steve's tip before taking him back in his mouth, Steve's hip raised to meet his nose as the traffic slowed again and he was able to take advantage and shift position slightly, letting slip a deep moan as his cock hit the back of Bucky's throat and he started to suck.

Steve’s fingers tightened in Bucky’s hair, tugging at the root. The car slowly lurched forward as traffic began to move but the low groan falling from Steve’s lips only egged him on. “Fu- Damnit Buck.”

Bucky smiled around Steve’s length, hollowing his cheeks out and moaning around him. His own erection painfully pressed against his tight denim.

He shifted in his seat, desperate for any friction against the heat of his cock as he continued to take Steve as deep as he could.

He finally came up for air, chest heaving slightly as he rolled his eyes up to scan over Steve’s face.

“You keep sayin’ that, hot stuff. Does it mean you want me to stop or-“ Bucky was cut off by Steve tightening his grip on his hair and his hips bucking decisively upwards, thrusting the head of his cock to the back of Bucky’s throat.

He gagged a little more than he usually would, knowing exactly the effect that sound would have on him. Steve moaned louder, hissing out a curse as Bucky hollowed his cheeks and swirled his tongue around his head.

“Fuck, baby, please…” Steve grunted.

Bucky bobbed his head, gripping his jeans with one hand while gripping the seat with the other. He whined as he felt Steve try his damndest not to fully thrust upwards and continue to drive.

Adrenaline rushed through Bucky, the thrill of someone catching sight of them urging him on in his quest to make Steve come.

“Holy— fuck. Buck, I’m not— I’m not gonna last much longer,” Steve whimpered through gritted teeth, his thigh tensing beneath Bucky’s palm.

Steve rocked his hips up to Bucky’s mouth, the car jerking a little as his foot slipped off the gas and Bucky choked out a laugh around Steve’s cock. The vibrations earned him a louder moan from Steve over the soft jazz already fighting to be heard over the wet, hot sounds of Bucky’s mouth.

“C’mon, baby. Gonna let me taste how sweet y’are?” Bucky breathed, pulling off Steve briefly and leaving a string of slick spit and pre-cum trailing from his lips. He had no doubts about how debauched he looked, or how close Steve was as he gently pushed Bucky’s head back down with a whispered please.

Bucky used his nose to trace the vein down Steve's shaft, pausing to inhale before his tongue licked a stripe between the base and his balls. He raised his face, watching as Steve tensed. He then blew on his tip. He knew Steve was close and this was sometimes his downfall.

Steve groaned and that sound went straight to Bucky's cock.

He took Steve into his mouth, his tongue swirling around his erection before flattening along it and sucking. Bucky couldn't stifle the almighty moan that left him and that proved to be Steve's undoing.

The grip Steve had on his hair tightened even more as he lost the battle with his self-control and thrust his hips up, driving his cock as deep as he could. His release coated the back of Bucky’s throat and he swallowed it eagerly, lapping up every drop.

Straightening in his seat, a cocky smirk on his face, he looked over at Steve; proud of how undone his lover looked. White knuckles gripped the steering wheel so hard Bucky was surprised it hadn’t cracked whilst Steve raked his other hand shakily through his hair, pushing it away from a face that was flushed and beaded with sweat.

“Christ, Buck,” Steve hissed, fleetingly taking his gaze from the road to drag his eyes over Bucky’s smug face.

Bucky raised an eyebrow and made a show of swiping the back of his hand across his mouth.

“Nice focus you got there, Cap,” he chuckled. “Good to see retirement hasn’t made you lose your edge.”

Steve panted, running his tongue over his bottom lip. “Focus, my ass,” he breathed.

“What? Mad at me?” Bucky asked, his eyes growing concerned.

Steve shook his head. “No, I’m not mad,” he assured. "I'll tell you one thing for sure," Bucky grumbled, "This cab is too small for super soldier fun times," straightening up and rotating his shoulder.

Steve grinned at him. "It was your idea, we could have tussled before we left."

"And another thing, our next truck won't have a stick shift and will have tinted windows."

Steve chuckled at Bucky's expression. "Where's the fun in that?"

"We'll see if your views change when I drive us home," Bucky smirked and wiggled his eyebrows at his lover.

Bucky helped Steve back into his trousers with a grin and then they slipped into the familiar, companionable silence that they’d only ever been able to find with each other. Bucky scrabbled about in the glove compartment for one of the many car snacks he had stashed and pulled out a bag of trail mix. Offering the packet to Steve, who declined with a smile, he tipped some into his mouth and then gazed out at the wintery landscape, his hand resting lightly on Steve’s thigh.

It wasn’t too long before they reached the turn-off that was signposted with a giant, hand painted Christmas tree and an arrow directing them which way to go.

The further they drove down the road the more dense the tree line became and soon the highway disappeared leaving them surrounded by snow covered forest.

"It's a winter wonderland out here," Steve said, trying to hide his excitement but the sun caught in his eyes like glitter as he pulled into the parking lot and parked the truck. "Never thought I'd be excited to cut down a tree."

Such a simple tradition but it warmed Bucky from his nose to his toes to see Steve with a smile on his face. Bucky decided in that moment he would help Steve cut down a thousand trees if it kept that boyish, handsome smile on his perfect face.

“It really is something. That’s for sure.” Bucky watched as Steve put on a pair of gloves then got out of the truck. Then he followed suit.

“I wonder what we do first,” Bucky commented as he shrugged his jacket around him tighter. “Or if we just… pick one?”

"Good thing we put our boots on Buck," Steve called, "the snow's deep over here." He turned, just as a snowball smacked into the side of his head."

"Oh Steve, I didn't mean..." he started "Ow," as he disappeared under a huge snowball.

Steve’s hand appeared to help him up and Bucky grasped it, shaking the snow out of his hair and rubbing it out of his scruff.

“Reminds me of my time in Siberia,” he teased but backtracked a little at the horrified look that Steve threw his way. “Sorry, too soon?”

He could have sworn he heard Steve mutter a curse under his breath as he turned away and began trudging through the trees in search of the perfect one. Bucky hurried his steps to catch up to him and nudged his shoulder affectionately.

“Hey, what’s the difference between snowmen and snow-women,” Bucky joked as a peace offering.

Steve grunted and shrugged but Bucky could see the slightest of smiles dancing at the corners of his mouth.

“Snowballs,” he finished with a giggle and was rewarded by a strong arm draping over his shoulder and pulling him into a broad chest.

“You’d have thought with all those years on ice you would’ve come up with some better jokes, Jerk,” Steve teased, pressing a kiss to Bucky’s cold temple.

"That joke is timeless," Bucky leaned into his touch, reaching out periodically to brush his fingertips against the branches of the tree.

Laughter from other couples and families filled the air as Steve took his time finding the perfect tree, they walked the rows for what left like hours before he finally hummed a confident sound and pointed.

"That's the one," he said triumphantly.

"That will not fit," Bucky shakes his head at the massive tree, it was at least seven feet tall and four, maybe five feet wide.

"I'll make it fit," Steve sounded determined and a strangled laugh tumbled from Bucky's cool lips. He had heard that more than once in his lifetime. "Later," his sweet, over-achieving boyfriend huffed like he knew exactly what was on Buck's mind.

“I’m telling you, that tree is too big for the apartment, Stevie,” Bucky countered. “You hardly fit in the apartment and this is a lot bigger than you.”

Steve shifted on his feet, hip popped, hands on his waist as he looked at Bucky with a quirked brow.

“Was I, or was I not the greatest strategist of World War Two?”

A laugh burst out of Bucky before he could stop it, growing louder as Steve’s face fell.

“Sorry, sorry. But really? You’re playing that card?” Bucky replied, schooling his features as Steve nodded seriously. “Well in that case, go for it babe. And don’t forget to bend your knees.”

“I’ll bend you in a minute,” Steve muttered, and Bucky grinned as he watched his love eye up the tree.

“Oh, please do.”

"Later, we have an audience," jerking his head towards a family heading towards them.

"So, this one for sure?" Bucky asked, back on task as the couple and young boy stopped to check out the trees in the clearing. "Hand me the saw and I'll make a start felling it."

"Saw? We forgot the saw.." Steve smacked his forehead, then grimaced.

"It's ok," Bucky soothed, "I'll head back to the truck and get it."

“Really? Thanks Buck,” Steve replied with a soft smile.

“No, not really,” Bucky said, smacking the back of his hand against Steve’s chest. “You’re a super soldier, pal, with serum running through your veins. What the hell do you need a damn saw for?!”

“Then how am I supposed to cut the tree down, smart ass?”

“You’re the greatest strategist of World War Two, Steve. I’m sure you can figure it out.”

Bucky gave him a wry smile and shoved his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket, pulling out a hip flask and taking a healthy swing.

Steve rolled those pretty blue eyes in his direction and eyed up the tree with his hands on his hips. He looked around, his eyes tracing the path they had made in the snow before he turned and started to count the paces backward.

"What are you doing?" Bucky asked, watching his tall frame twist at the hip as he stretched out his arms and shoulders. "Steve?"

"Super solider," he huffed, "I'm going to rip it out."

Bucky laughed, "Alright baby, rip it out."

He watched on in awe as Steve crouched down at the base of the tree and wrapped his large hands around the trunk.

He was really going to do it, and Bucky suddenly had the thought to fumble for his phone, opening the camera app. Parker had introduced him to Instagram, and his thousands of followers were going to love this.

“Buck, can you spot me?” Steve asked, getting a good grip on the tree. Bucky zoomed in on his ass, giggling. “Buck? Are you filming this!?”

Bucky nodded as Steve peered over his shoulder, shooting him an incredulous glare.

“You look hot, baby. All macho man yankin’ a tree out the ground. Of course I’m filmin’ this.”

"Really? Are we getting a tree or are you pursuing your career as an 106 year old social media mogul?" Steve stood, taking up his previous stance, hands on hips, whilst waiting for Bucky to pocket his phone.

Bucky shrugged, put his phone away and jogged back over to Steve's side. "What do you need from me?"

Steve crouched again, grasping the trunk again with both hands, "I think I'll need a hand Bucky. Can you get a grip and help me pull?"

"Oh I'll pull something." Bucky teased tossing a wink at Steve who let out an exasperated breath and shook his head.

"Seriously, I know you aren't deprived, since when have you gotten this horny." He laughed readjusting his grip around the trunk as Bucky stood over him and did the same.

"Can't help it pal when you've got an ass like that." Bucky grinned down at him. Steve shook his head again and sighed. "On the count of three?" Bucky asked.

“Yeah, one…” Steve began, taking the strain, his biceps flexing.

“Two,” Bucky continued, readying himself to catch Steve just in case.

“Three,” Steve grunted, bending his knees further and then heaving against the tree.

Bucky expected him to push it over but no, the grandstanding little shit hauled his grip upwards. Sharp cracking and tearing sounds echoed around the forest as Steve ripped the damn tree straight out of the ground.

Bucky’s jaw dropped a little even as Steve threw him a grin of triumph, which quickly turned into a look of panic as his feet slipped on the snow and he began to overbalance.

Bucky laughed, scrambling to keep them both upright as the tree's weight knocked off balance. Both of their massive frames tangled and toppled, sending them crashing into the snow in a mess of limbs and pine needles.

"You gotta be more careful big boy," Bucky picked a few pine needles from the blonde tuffs of Steve's hair. "That might be the most attractive thing I've ever seen you do," he licked his bottom lip and brushed their noses together.

“C’mere,” Steve murmured, and Bucky surged forward, kissing him. Hot and open mouthed and probably way too inappropriately for a Christmas Tree farm.

“Y’know, I think you might have just fulfilled the lumberjack fantasy I didn’t even know I had,” Bucky whispered as he drew back, wiggling his eyebrows.

Steve huffed out a laugh, breath warm against Bucky’s lips. If it weren’t for his jeans getting wetter by the second, he’d lay there in the snow with Steve all day.

“You’re ridiculous,” Steve drawled, pressing one last kiss to Bucky’s nose before he hauled himself up to his knees. “Come on, let’s get this tree home to Miss Alpine.”

Steve held out his hand, which Bucky accepted, and he helped him to his feet. Bucky hoisted the tree onto his shoulder as if it was a mere stick and the two men walked hand in hand back towards the truck.

Passing the young family again on the way out, the small boy turned to his Dad, whispering excitedly, "See, I told you it was Captain America."

Steve felt Bucky start to release his hand, he looked into his eyes. "It's ok, Bucky, it's not the forties any longer."

"I know Steve, but so many kids look up to you still, retired or not."

Steve stopped walking, pulling Bucky to a halt. Turning to face him, he raised his free hand to his lover's face, placing a tender kiss on his lips. "Love comes in all shapes and sizes Buck, that's a valuable lesson to teach too y'know."

Bucky's forehead dropped to Steve's as his eyes fell closed. He never thought he'd be able to have a life like this with him. Just the two of them and their fireball of a kitten trying to make it through every day life in a world that had changed twenty times over since they were kids. He let out a soft sigh and pulled back slightly, feeling the overwhelming emotion in his chest rise to his throat. "Sap." he muttered, the corner of his mouth turning upwards as he stared into those dark blue eyes.

Steve grinned at him, his nose bitten pink and lips plump from their kiss before. "C'mon, our daughter is waiting."

With a little wave at the young family the two soldiers made their way back to the car, firmly strapping their prize to the top and Bucky drove them home.

“You wanna make popcorn garlands for it, or newspaper chains like we did with your Ma?” He asked Steve, smiling softly as old memories resurfaced of Christmases long ago.

“Alpine would eat the damn things,” Steve chuckled. “Besides, we don’t need to make do now Buck. Life’s a hell of a lot easier, right?”

“Definitely,” he agreed.

“I still say this giant thing is not going to fit,” Bucky argued as they parked in their usual parking space, back at home.

“It will!” Steve encouraged. “I know it will.”

They quickly undid the cords holding the tree down and lifted it off the truck, carrying it up the stairs to their place.

“Steve, damn it- pick up your end it’s going to hit the wall-”

“It’s not gonna hit the- fuck. It’s just a little scratch Buck, nothing I can’t fix.”

Bucky rolled his eyes deep into his skull before sighing and continuing through to the living room, he and Steve only swearing a handful more times each before the tree was up in the corner.

They stood in front of it, and Bucky tilted his head to the side, holding back laughter.

“Don’t-”

“Greatest strategist my ass!” Bucky burst out, unable to hold back as he stared at the tree, at least a third of it bent against the ceiling.

“It’s not that bad,” Steve countered with a grimace, just as Alpine trotted up to them with a curious yowl. She approached the tree, whiskers twitching, before batting a branch with a paw and wandering away again unbothered.

“Well, that’s what she thinks of that,” Bucky chuckled, brushing past Steve and giving his hip a soft squeeze. “Be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just— wait there,” Bucky insisted as he disappeared into their guest bedroom. He retrieved the bags he had hidden in the closet, brimming with decorations he’d bought in anticipation of getting a tree, and made his way back to the living room, dropping them proudly at Steve’s feet.

“What’s all this? Bucky, when did you…”

“When you were at the VA Christmas fair with Sam last weekend. I figured it’s a special thing, getting to spend Christmas together as a real couple, finally. So I got a few things— well, a lot of things. We can get more, or make some like we used to but—“

His words died on his lips as Steve hauled him into his arms and peppered his mouth and cheeks with kisses.

“I love you,” he murmured softly, quietly against Bucky’s ear. “So much.”

Bucky wrapped his arms around Steve, holding him close as a content smile formed over his features. "I love you too, punk." He whispered, burying his face into Steve's neck.

With another yowl behind them, Bucky pulled back looking down at Alpine who hand tangled her paw into a string of garland from the bag. She rolled around at their feet only making the ball of tinsel an even further mess.

"At least she approves of that." Steve laughed kneeling down to untangle their furbaby.

With old-time Christmas songs playing softly in the background it took the two of them a good hour to hang the baubles and garlands that Bucky had bought. Despite Bucky’s protests, Steve was insistent that they hang every single one, using his artistic eye to good effect until finally there was just one piece left.

“Go on,” Bucky urged, pressing the golden star into Steve’s hands. “You do the honours.”

“No, Buck. You do it,” he replied. “You chose all the decorations so you should hang the star.”

They glared stubbornly at each other before bursting out into peals of laughter.

“Together then?” Steve suggested.

“Always.”

It wasn’t easy to fix the star properly onto the top of wonky tree but they managed it together, just as they always had.

Later that evening, surrounded by twinkling lights and the scent of pine, the two curled up together on the couch. Bucky had his nose buried in a book and Steve was studiously sketching a playful Alpine, who was currently batting around a bauble that she’d already managed to liberate from the tree.

Bucky lifted his head and sighed with a contentment he still had a hard time believing in. Here they were in their apartment, all decked out for Christmas, but to Bucky it didn’t really matter where they were. As long as they were together they’d always be home.

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