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When you and Bucky started dating, you re-introduced him to al the holidays he'd forgotten. That was almost four years ago, now every Hanukkah for two hours before lighting the candles, Bucky would disappear on you.
You never asked what he did and he never told you. That was until today.
"Can you help me today?" He asks softly, a pouch in his hand.
"Help with what baby?"
"Remembering."
You blink at him and nod before getting up from the couh and walking to the door to get your coat and boots on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You were prepared for many things when it came to Bucky's memory. Pulling up to Cypress Hill National Cemetery was not one of them.
"James, what are we doing here?" You ask as you climb out of the car.
He takes your hand and interlocks your fingers. "You'll see." He kisses your hand before walking with you into the cemetery.
As you walk you notice many covered in snow with dying wreaths on them. "Bucky, I don't-" You stop as he stops in front of a headstone curved into a Magan David. You watch as Bucky brushes the snow off pulling something from his pouch. When he steps back, you see a stone; smooth, oval and a pinkie tan color sitting on the headstone.
"It started as something for Steve. Then it made me think of all those soldiers and sailors who aren't remembered by anyone." Bucky says, the fingers on his metal hand flexing. "When you talked about mourning rituals, I figured what better way and time to remember all the Jewish men and women who gave everything."
You wipe the rest of the snow off the headstone to see the name. "Arnold 'Arnie' Roth, US Navy."
"Steve's best friend."
You look at Bucky to see the shine in his eyes. "You don't just do this for Arnie, do you?"
Bucky shakes his head and sniffles. He coughs trying to get passed this. He hasn't cried while doing this since the first year. But now you're here in the snow when you should be making dinner and getting ready to light the Hanukkiah.
"I'm sorry." He chokes out.
You quickly wrap your arms around him. He holds you close and buries his face into your neck.
You stroke his hair as you feel his body shake with emotion. Your strong, stoic and flirty soldier, letting go after holding so much in about the tradition he started.
"You have nothing to apologize for." You move and cup his cheeks, his blue eyes glassy with unshed tears. "You are doing something brave, James. You're remembering forgotten souls." You give him a sad smile. "You are making sure everyone who comes here knows these men and women are remembered. That their names are not lost to history or time." He sniffles as you lean your forehead against his. "And I love you even more for it."
At that Bucky pecks your lips. "Want to help with the rest?"
"I would love to."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that night, while the candles are burning; you cuddled up against Bucky, bundled under blankets fast asleep. Bucky looks over at the group photo of him as a punk-ass 16 year old with Steve and the Howling Commandos, he realizes he carried all of them in his memories.
"Happy holidays, guys." He whispers to the photo before looking down at you smiling, as you sigh contently against him.