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Bucky enjoyed working on Sam’s families boat the rhythmic lapping of the waves on the sides, the feeling of getting his hands dirty in a good way, reminded him of working on the docks back when he and Steve were just trying to make enough money to stay in their shitty apartment and eat dinner that night. Back Before. “Before” had become shorthand for Bucky. It encompassed everything, the War, Hydra, The Winter Soldier, Steve, everything.
Bucky was swaying his hips to the soft jazz he had playing in the background when Sam walks in and wraps his arms around Bucky’s waist propping his chin on Bucky’s shoulder. “I woke up and you weren’t there. It was cold.” Sam pouted.
“Aww I’m so sorry baby boy. Did ya miss daddy?” Bucky cooed and turned around wrapping his arms around Sam.
“Mhmm.. Don’t like it..” Sam whimpered and buried his head in his daddy neck. “Come back please?”
Bucky chuckled and nodded “Alright baby I’ll come back. Give me a minute to finish up?”
Sam huffed and crossed arms walking over to sulk in the captains chair. “Fiiiinnneee”
“Baby. What’s the rule about sulking?” Bucky walks over and grabs Sam’s chin to make him make eye contact with him. “What’s the rule Sam?”
“Not to daddy. I’m sorry. Just woke up and you were gone.. got scared.” Sam mumbled and started playing with the too long sleeves of Bucky’s henley “Thought you left left. Like Stevie..”
Bucky’s heart shattered at the look on his baby’s face “Oh sweetheart no no. I’m not leaving. I’ll never leave. I promise.” Bucky knelt in front of Sam and held both of his hands. “Baby boy please look at me. I need you to hear something ok?”
Sam looked at Bucky with tears in his eyes and nodded “Kay daddy”
“I am not going anywhere. You are my home. And why would I want to be anywhere but home? You’re my best guy baby boy my best guy. I need you to believe me” by the end Bucky was crying too. He needed Sam to understand.
When Steve left it hit both of them really hard. Bucky lost what he thought would be his whole world in this future he was thrust into and Sam.. Sam lost his first real connection since Riley. His first taste of love since Riley. Granted it was always platonic but it was there and it was real. And then Steve left. Without saying goodbye and it really screwed with Sam’s head. For a long time. Until his connection with Bucky started to grow.
Bucky pulled Sam up to his feet them picked him up to go inside “Come on baby let’s go back to bed huh? What if we just spend all day cuddled up? Maybe you can catch me up on some movies? I heard they made the Hobbit into a movie. Wanna watch that?” Bucky kept up a steady stream of soothing chatter as he walks up the stairs to Sam’s room. Bucky sets him down on the bed and shucks off his dirty jeans and tshirt and crawls in to cuddle with his baby boy.
Sam is still crying a little bit and shaking. Bucky pulls him up onto his chest and tucks Sam’s head under his chin “shhhh baby it’s ok. You’re ok I’m right here. I’m gonna be right here till you’re sicka me”
Sam giggles wetly and peeks out at Bucky, “never gonna be sick of you daddy. I love you.”
Bucky smiles and kisses Sam’s forehead “I love you too my beautiful boy.”
Fin.