[oom] take it easy

[from_the_outside]

By the week after Bucky had found Alpine caught in a soaking downpour and brought him home, Sharon can hardly remember a time when she woke up and didn't feel the little white cat curled somewhere nearby.

Today's no different, although it seems like he's decided to set up camp on her chest instead of by their feet as usual. Sharon mumbles, tired, and pushes at the sheets to get the cat to move, in the process realizing two things:

First, she's lying on her side, not her back.

And second, when Alpine's small miaow? comes, it comes from the floor, not the blanket. 

Sharon takes a breath to respond to him and instantly breaks into a series of wet coughs that she does her best to stifle.

Well, crap.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky disconnects the call and puts the phone back in his pocket rather than give it back to Sharon.

“I think she liked Alpine,” he muses. “Want me to make you that toddy now?”

[from_the_outside]

"Yes," she says, and unwinds Alpine from around her neck, handing the cat to him. "But first I want you to tell me why you're so squirrelly about the idea of my parents visiting us."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Huh?” He runs a hand down Alpine’s back and automatically shifts him to his shoulders. The little white cat nudges against the back of his head before draping himself comfortably with front and hind paws on either side of Bucky’s neck.

“I’m not being squirrely.”

[from_the_outside]

"A little squirrelly," she says.

"Do you not want them to come?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“No! I meant it, they’re welcome.” He starts to get up to go make her the hot toddy.

“And we can have the guest room ready before they get here. They’re just used to … more.”

[from_the_outside]

"Baby."

She pushes the blanket off and pads along behind him towards the kitchen. "First of all, they probably wouldn't even stay here. They'd get a hotel. And if they did, they wouldn't care what shape the guest room is in."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Hey! You’ll get a chill,” he protests, turning around.

“And I mean, it’s okay. It is. I just don’t want to - to disappoint them.”

[from_the_outside]

"I'll be fine for thirty seconds without a blanket," she points out.

"And they wouldn't be disappointed. We have a beautiful place and they adore you."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Okay then.” Alpine, annoyed at the sudden about-face, eels to the ground and goes to investigate his food dish. “I like them too. They’re good people.”

[from_the_outside]

"Okay."

She steps out of Alpine's way and comes to lean against the kitchen door opening, arms folding. "But for my own sanity I'll probably tell them to get a hotel anyway."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky stares at her. “What? No. Of course not.”

[from_the_outside]

She stares back at him. "Why not?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Because that would be rude?” he tries, visibly and honestly confused.

[from_the_outside]

"How?" she asks, bewildered.

"That way we all get to see each other and we don't have to worry about them being in our space. Win-win."

[nerves_of_ice]

He stares at her, then shakes his head and sets water to boil while he gets the whiskey, lemon, and honey.

“Is this - am I being old-fashioned?” he asks. Sam had understood, though, so maybe not, but he’s really not sure.

[from_the_outside]

"What do you mean?"

She watches him move around the kitchen. "If you prefer them to be here, that's fine, too. But I guarantee it won't be their first thought."

[nerves_of_ice]

“When we were - before,” he starts. “Travel was hard and expensive. If - after Becky moved, for example, back to Shelbyville? She’d have stayed with us when visiting.”

[from_the_outside]

"Sure," she says. "But it's not like that with my folks."

A little ruefully, she adds: "I know the way they live is pretty different from what you're used to."

[nerves_of_ice]

“It’s not that. I just don’t want them to be insulted. Or think that I don’t want them here. Or anything like that.”

He mixes up the ingredients, carefully adding hot water.

“But they’re your parents, baby. What you say goes.”

[from_the_outside]

"They wouldn't be, either way. And they definitely wouldn't think that. Promise."

Even through her stuffed nose, she can smell the lemon and whiskey as he adds steaming hot water. "And seriously, I'm pretty sure you can do no wrong in their eyes."

Not after bringing her home and bringing her to see them.

[nerves_of_ice]

“I don’t know about that,” he drawls, and hands her the drink.

“Here. C’mon, curl back up on the couch.”

[from_the_outside]

Sharon, holding the mug carefully so it doesn't spill, pretends to swoon against the doorway.

"It's so far," she says, fluttering her lashes outrageously. "I'm so weak. I don't think I can make it."

[nerves_of_ice]

His smile is gentle and warm as he sweeps her up in his arms and cradles her against him.

“How about I help with that?”

[from_the_outside]

Even stuffy and muzzy, even tired and achey and gross, she gets the same little thrill she always does when he sweeps her up like she weighs nothing at all and holds her securely in his arms.

Sharon leans her head against his shoulder, cradling the mug between her palms, and smiles. "Perfect."

[nerves_of_ice]

He holds her a little tighter, just for a moment, then carries her to the couch and gently lowers her to it. Bucky smiles down at her, then snags the blanket and starts to tuck her back in.