[Brooklyn] What are you doing New Year's, New Year's eve?

[from_the_outside]

Her parents had been in full party-prep mode when she and Bucky rolled up to the house, Alpine in his brand-new soft-sided carrier. They'd dodged the caterers and florists and the cater-waiters and found Harrison and Amanda deep in a discussion of which champagne glasses to use. Sharon, recognizing the signs, had given them both a hug and a kiss and promised she and Bucky would be in attendance, then brought Bucky and Alpine up the stairs to her room.

The early sunset had been gorgeous, glowing off the snow-coated woods, but full dark has fallen now. She can hear cars pulling into the drive and the strains of music drifting up from the big room where her parents are greeting their guests. 

She's not quite ready yet, blinking at herself in the bathroom mirror as she applies mascara, her hair in curlers. "How's it going in there, baby?" she calls towards the room. "Does that suit fit okay?"

Comments

[from_the_outside]

"If I hadn't before, I definitely would have now," Sharon laughs. "I wouldn't miss out on dancing with Bucky for anything."

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky squeezes her hand and smiles. Dan laughs, too. “Sarge, better hang on to this one.”

“I’m sure trying.”

[from_the_outside]

"No worries on that count," she promises. "I'm not going anywhere."

She runs her thumb over his knuckles and smiles at the others. "So, anyone have any resolutions?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m taking up woodcarving,” Eric volunteers.

“You already tried that,” Paul points out, and Eric shrugs. “Try, try again.”

“That’s the spirit,” Bucky agrees.

[from_the_outside]

"I'm hiking the Appalachian Trail," Jerry tells them, and everyone makes impressed noises.

"Good one," Sharon says. He grins at her. "How about you, Miss Carter?"

"Still thinking about it," she tells him. "There are a lot in consideration."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Better hurry,” Dan teases. “You’ve got less than an hour to figure it out.”

“Right’s better than fast, isn’t that what they say?” Bucky challenges, amused.

[from_the_outside]

"Well, there are a lot of things I could work on," Sharon admits, smiling. "I'll try and pick one before the ball drops."

[nerves_of_ice]

“I’m going to start smoking,” Paul declares, and his son groans. “Dad, you stopped two years ago!”

“That’s why,” Paul says, dry as dust. “I need some vices to give up next year.”

Bucky can’t help it - he laughs aloud.

[from_the_outside]

Sharon laughs. "At least it's not gambling," she tells Eric, who shakes his head.

"Don't give him ideas!"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Now there’s a thought,” Paul says in the wake of Eric’s protest. Bucky shakes his head at Eric. “You’re in for it now. Good luck, soldier.”

[from_the_outside]

"Mine is to stop gambling," Danny laughs. "Stick with me, I'll keep you on the straight and narrow."

Sharon laughs with the rest of them, then nods at a server to come by and deliver fresh glasses of champagne to them all.

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky takes his glass in turn, the raises it to the others. There’s still a little time before midnight; no need to hold it untouched yet. “Here’s to a happy new year for us all.” As he says it, his gaze finds Sharon and lingers.

[from_the_outside]

She watches him back, eyes warm, and lifts her glass. "Happy new year," she echoes, and clinks her glass with the others' as she watches him, smiling.

"Everyone, your attention, please?" Sharon looks over to where her mother is standing with the band, clinking her glass. "We have the Times Square countdown on in the main room. We invite everyone to join us as we watch the ball drop, and for a surprise outside after."

[nerves_of_ice]

“Sounds like we’ve got our orders,” Dan laughs. Bucky turns to Sharon and offers her his arm again. His smile is soft and warm and fond.

“Do you know what the surprise is?” he murmurs.

[from_the_outside]

"Yes," she murmurs back, taking his arm with a smile and pressing close to his side. "And it's a good one. A little over the top, maybe, but there's a lot to celebrate."

[nerves_of_ice]

“As long as it’s a good one.” He relaxes a little, trusting her, and leads her to where the screens are set up to show Times Square.

“This takes me back.”

[from_the_outside]

She sips at her champagne and lets go of his arm to slip hers around the small of his back. "Did you and Steve ever go to watch the ball drop?"

[nerves_of_ice]

“Not in the square itself. Too crowded for him,” he tells her, as he puts his arm around her waist and draws her close. “We skinned up to watch it from nearby rooftops a few times. You? Live, I mean.”

[from_the_outside]

"Never live."

She relaxes against him, her glance warm as it moves over the crowd in the room. "Always like this: at the party, on tv."

And not at all over the last few years, but she doesn't want to bring the shadow of Madripoor into the glimmer and light of this night.

[nerves_of_ice]

“Maybe someday. If you want.” He suspects she won’t want to miss this, though. He can’t say he minds. Bucky drops a light kiss on her hair.

[from_the_outside]

"We live in the right place for it."

She sets her head against his shoulder and enjoys herself by watching her parents and their friends, and listening as the vets joke with each other and with Bucky. A year ago at this time, she never would have believed she could feel this deeply happy ever again.

[nerves_of_ice]

“True,” he agrees, amiably, watching as people arrange themselves around the room. “Looks like it’s getting close.”

[from_the_outside]

"It does."

The servers are moving through the room, topping off everyone's champagne, and this time Sharon doesn't sip at it, waiting instead as anticipation builds. She watches as the camera pans around the enormous crystal ball on the tv, and listens as the room hushes to hear the last few minutes of the year tick away.

[nerves_of_ice]

It’s only natural, he supposes, that in these last few moments of the year he’d think about Steve. Steve and him on a rooftop long ago, watching the ball drop. Talking about their hopes and dreams for the future, the truth of which they never could have imagined, ever. Steve, his best friend, the constant and guiding star in his life…until now.

His arm tightens around Sharon as he silently wishes the best for his friend, wherever he is now, and sets aside his thoughts to watch as the bright gleaming sphere begins to descend.

[from_the_outside]

"Ten!" chants the crowd. "Nine! Eight!"

Sharon counts down with them and lifts her glass as the party erupts into cheers and shouts of "Happy New Year!"

"Happy new year, baby," she murmurs, touching her glass to Bucky's as the quintet kicks into the strains of 'Auld Lang Syne.'