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"I think that's the last of it," Sam said, drying off the final container from the pile.
"Good," Sarah said. "I don't think I can handle seeing anymore Tupperware for tonight."
Sam chuckled, moving away from the sink to stand beside his sister.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," he said. "But today was good. I think everybody enjoyed themselves."
Sarah nodded, "Yeah. It's getting late though. I should get the boys to bed."
"No, no, I'll do it," Sam insisted.
"You sure?"
"Of course. You relax and I'll go round up the kids."
Sarah rolled her eyes, but she had a smile on her face as she waved her brother off.
Sam headed into the living room where he and Sarah had last seen the boys playing with Bucky. He was a little surprised (and suspicious) when he saw only his nephews standing side by side, looking for all the world like they'd been caught doing something they shouldn't have.
"Hi, Uncle Sam," they chirped in unison, only raising Sam's suspicion.
"Hi," he replied, cautiously. "What are you two doing?"
"Nothing."
"Right, and you expect me to believe that?"
Cass shrugged, "Not really."
Sam let out a huff in amusement, "Okay, well, whatever nefarious deeds you two are up to can wait until morning when your mom and I have the energy to take you on. It's time for bed."
"Okay," AJ agreed, easily.
"Uncle Sam, we left a blanket on the porch. Can you pick it up, please?" Cass asked, his face the picture of pure innocence.
Sam wasn't fooled for one bit but he agreed anyway and let the boys rush past him to head upstairs.
"What's nefarious mean?"
"I don't know."
Sam smiled at that as he stepped out onto the porch, closing the door behind him as he took a deep breath of the cool, night air.
"Nice, isn't it?"
Sam turned to his left, smiling when he caught sight of Bucky leaning against porch railing. So, that's what the boys meant by blanket.
Of course.
Easy to get that and 'Bucky' mixed up.
"Yeah, it's nice," Sam said, approaching the other man.
"You know, Louisiana ain't half bad."
"Mhm."
"I was thinking...was thinking that...I could settle here myself."
At that, Sam turned to face Bucky, who hastened to explain, something akin to panic appearing in his eyes.
"I mean, not to stay here. As in here, in this house. Not that it's a bad house. It's really nice. I just..." Bucky sighed, cutting himself off. "I sound stupid, don't I?"
"Yeah, but I'm used to it," Sam teased, gently hip checking Bucky. It did the trick of getting the other man to smile.
"What I was trying to say is that I wouldn't mind being somewhere like this, with someone like you for the rest of my life, you know?"
Bucky didn't look at Sam, staring out at the dark maze of trees before him as he waited for an answer. His mind, racing with thoughts of 'What if?' and bad scenarios, soon began to calm down as he felt a hand slip into his, holding on tight.
"Yeah, I know."