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Sam enters his and Bucky’s apartment and is immediately met with the smell of an apple pie baking in the oven. The sweetness of the cinnamon. The tartness of the apples. Sam immediately begins to salivate. It’s a Pavlovian response. But he cannot help it. Bucky’s baking is divine. Sam has written poetry about Bucky’s baking. Sam was unsure if he would make it home from his mission in time to celebrate his birthday and Bucky hadn’t mentioned any plans. Sam just assumed that Bucky hadn’t mentioned Sam’s birthday during their phone call the previous evening because Bucky didn’t want to get too excited and assume Sam would return in time. But apparently Bucky was just planning a surprise welcome/birthday celebration and Sam must admit it makes his boyfriend even more endearing.
Speaking of Sam’s boyfriend, Bucky is nowhere in sight when Sam enters the apartment.
“Buck?! Honey, I’m home!” Sam calls out and listens for a response.
Sam hears the sounds of the TV on in their bedroom and follows the sounds down the hall to locate Bucky. Sam enters their bedroom and sees Bucky sitting in the middle of their bed, dressed as a Lord of the Rings character and watching The Fellowship of the Ring. Honestly, it’s not the weirdest thing Sam has caught Bucky doing.
“What are you doing?” Sam asks with a chuckle.
“What does it look like, Samuel? It’s Tolkien week and I’m celebrating accordingly. I’ve got an apple pie in the oven, I’m marathoning the movies. And honestly, this isn’t even the weirdest thing you’ve caught me doing.”
“Well are you celebrating anything else?”
“Well yesterday was Hobbit day. And the whole week is Tolkien week. So I’ve basically been celebrating all week.”
“You also realize what today is, yes?”
“I already said. Yesterday was Hobbit today. The whole week is Tolkien week. I don’t think anything significant is today.”
“Nothing significant. You do realize that today is my birthday, right? Like me? Your boyfriend? Your very much real and alive boyfriend?”
“Oh shit. Oh, Sam! I’m so sorry. I didn’t think about it while you were away. I just wanted you to come home safe. And I didn’t think about the date. Damn it, you’re probably so upset with me, but I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, baby.” Sam cuts Bucky’s rambling apology off with a kiss.
“I say this with all my love and affection, but you’re so stupid babe,” Sam accepts Bucky’s apology with a smile.
Their reunion is cut off by the sound of the smoke alarm from the kitchen.
“Fuck!” Bucky spits out before sprinting to the kitchen.
“Love you, Buck!” Sam shouts affectionately.
“Happy birthday, Sammy!” Bucky calls from the kitchen while the smell of burnt crust makes it way through their apartment.
Sam’s birthday/welcome home may not have been what he was expecting, but it was pretty damn perfect.