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Sam had business to take care of in DC until well into the afternoon of December 23rd, so he was going to fly to Delacroix on the morning of the 24th to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with Sarah and the kids.
Of course, nothing could go according to plan for Sam, and a terrorist group decided to act on the morning of the 24th. He managed to stop them and the damage was minimal, but he missed his flight and there were no seats available later that day, nor for the next one.
The only thing the flight attendant could offer him for his “great work” was to notify him if any seats opened up for that day or the next, although they both knew it was unlikely to happen, and Sam, even though he left his work number, resigned himself to the idea of spending Christmas Eve and Christmas alone in DC.
He couldn’t travel to Delacroix and Sarah and the kids couldn’t travel to DC, so Sam was going to spend the holidays away from his family.
It was yet another Christmas he was going to miss with them, and he hated it. He had missed too many over the years, not only because of the blip, but also while he was a fugitive, and even when he left the Air Force and tried to start from scratch he had missed a couple.
When he came back to life, after five years turned to dust, and saw how much his nephews had grown, he promised himself that he wouldn’t miss a single Christmas ever again, that he would be a present brother and uncle and would make memories with his family.
Up until then he had kept that promise, but that year it had been impossible, so there he was, Sam alone in his DC home and thousands of miles away from the people he wanted to be with. Torres had offered to stay, but Sam had ordered him (and yes, it was an order) to go be with his family. Isaiah and Elijah were also far away, and with Bucky… with Bucky he didn’t even talk anymore; in fact, the former Winter Soldier was probably very happy celebrating Christmas with his new little group of Avenger friends.
Trying not to make the night any more bitter than it already was, he put on a TV show and sat in front of it in his pajamas with a huge tub of ice cream. He’d have time to regret it in the morning, although of course Sarah could never find out that he hadn’t even had a proper Christmas Eve dinner and had instead eaten ice cream in his pajamas. He glanced at the clock; his family should already be finishing the first courses or starting the second. Surely everything Sarah had prepared was delicious, but at least he had ice Cream. Ice cream always made everything better.
He hadn’t even had time to take the first spoonful of his delicious ice cream to his mouth when the doorbell rang.
He wondered who it could be at that hour and on that night. Possibly someone who needed help, so he left his ice cream on the coffee table and hurried to open the door.
His mouth fell slightly open in shock because there on his doorstep, wrapped in a coat, a hat, and with a scarf around his neck, was none other than Bucky Barnes himself, with a backpack on his back and a huge takeout bag in his left hand.
He blinked, thinking it had to be a dream, but no, he seemed very much awake.
“Hi,” Bucky said, running his free hand over the back of his neck nervously, more shy with Sam than Sam had ever seen him. “Sarah told me you couldn’t travel and that you were staying here alone, so I thought I’d come visit you.”
“You thought you’d come visit me,” Sam repeated slowly, as if he hadn’t understood.
“Yeah? I brought food,” he replied, showing him the bag. “I figured you probably wouldn’t feed yourself properly if you were on your own.”
Bucky was right, but Sam wasn’t going to give him that. How he ate was his business.
“Why have you been talking to Sarah?” he asked, sounding harsher than he meant to.
“I called her to wish her and the kids happy holidays, and I told her to send my regards because I didn’t know if it was a good idea to call you, and then she told me you weren’t there, that you couldn’t go and they couldn’t come, so… here I am?”
“You call Sarah to wish her happy holidays, but you can’t do it with me, and even though you can’t pick up the phone to call me or send me a damn message, you can show up at my door without warning?” Bucky looked a little stricken, and Sam couldn’t even identify the complicated, contradictory feelings in his chest. “What, your new friends don’t celebrate Christmas?” he added, finally letting the resentment take over.
“Actually, they do. There’s a party, but you know I don’t really like those when they’re full of the kind of people Valentina invites, and even if I did, I didn’t want you to be alone, especially not on a night like tonight.”
“You didn’t want me to be alone.”
“Of course not.”
Sam crossed his arms.
“I don’t need your compassion or your pity, Barnes.”
“It’s not pity, Sam. Look, I don’t want to bother you, and if that’s what I’m doing I’ll leave the food here and go, but I thought you’d be sad about not being able to be with them. I’m not saying my company compares to theirs, just that nobody should be alone on Christmas, especially not when they have someone who loves them and cares about them.”
“Funny way of showing that you love me and care about me, when you told me you didn’t want to fight anymore and then joining a new team behind my back when you knew I was building my own, trying to rebuild the Avengers and using that name.”
“Sam,” Bucky sounded exhausted. “Things didn’t turn out the way either of us expected, but wherever I am, whoever I’m fighting alongside, you’re my best friend. You matter to me more than anyone or anything, and I love you.”
Sam wouldn’t admit it, but hearing Bucky say that melted his heart. He loved Bucky, and he was glad to have confirmation that Bucky still loved him too, and that despite all that time and everything that had happened, Sam was still his best friend. But everything was so complicated. He sighed.
“Lately I don’t understand you, Bucky, and I understand you even less right now.
You talk to my sister, but not to me. You find out I can’t go to Delacroix, and even though you have a party in New York you decide to come all the way here to keep me company because I’m alone, all because, even though you joined another team without telling me and used the Avengers name, you love me. Is that it?”
“I actually came by bus. There were no flights left. But yeah.”
“You’re a damn idiot, Barnes,” but damn it if Sam wasn’t deeply moved.
“I see you don’t want me here. I made a mistake coming, I’m sorry, Sam. I really didn’t want to make things uncomfortable. I’d better go,” Bucky said, looking absolutely devastated. “But please keep the food. It’s your favorite dishes of the Creole and Cajun food.”
“You brought my favorite New Orleans dishes?”
Bucky nodded.
“Yeah. That’s why it took me a bit longer to get here. I figured since you couldn’t go home, I could bring a little bit of home to you.”
Sam was two seconds away from doing something stupid like kissing Bucky senseless, but fortunately Bucky spoke, saving Sam from making the biggest fool of his life.
“Well, I should go,” he said, holding the bag out to Sam again. “I need to find a hotel.”
That brought vivid memories flooding back to Sam of a similar conversation on his family’s boat in Delacroix, when Bucky had shown up with a vibranium Captain America suit made by Wakanda for Sam and had helped him fix the family boat, because that was who Bucky was. Bucky always showed up for Sam, even when Sam didn’t ask. And in that moment, Sam made a decision. He was going to let Bucky stay. They would spend Christmas Eve, and if Bucky wanted, Christmas together. Yes, they still had a lot to talk about, but that could wait.
However, before he could say anything, an owl landed nearby.
Sam gave the animal his full attention. Ever since he was a child, he had had the ability to talk to birds. It was something very few people knew, but Bucky was one of them.
“Is something wrong?” he asked the bird.
“Santa Claus needs you.”
“Santa Claus?” Sam asked, confused, unable to stop himself from exchanging a look with Bucky, who looked just as confused upon hearing Sam say that name. The owl nodded, and Sam thought it must be a man dressed as Santa Claus. That made more sense than the real Santa Claus needing help.
“What happened?”
“He and the sleigh fell, and Santa is stuck in a tree.”
“Wait... the real Santa Claus?”
“Of course the real Santa Claus.”
“What’s going on?” Bucky asked.
“Santa Claus and his sleigh fell, and Santa is stuck in a tree. I have to go.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not,” Sam said more out of habit than anything else. Well, also because working with Bucky again only for him to leave once more to be with the new Avengers would break Sam’s heart in indescribable ways.
“I’ll be right back,” Sam told the owl. He turned and started to leave, but noticed Bucky was still standing outside his door.
“Come in,” Sam said, and Bucky followed him inside. Sam went to his room to get his wings; he didn’t think he needed anything else.
When Sam came back out, ready for action, he saw that the ice cream was no longer on the table, Bucky must have put it away. He must also have left the food he brought in the kitchen and given the owl food and water.
“You’re staying here,” Sam told him, but as usual in these situations, Bucky didn’t seem inclined to listen.
“No,” was Bucky’s terse reply.
“Let him come,” the owl interjected. “We need brute strength. Besides, I like him.”
“You’re just saying that because he gave you food and water.”
“And because it’s obvious he’s a good person.”
Sam wasn’t about to praise Bucky to his face, so he didn’t reply.
“What’s the owl saying?” Bucky asked curiously, a satisfied smile on his lips, probably having guessed the owl was on his side.
“Shut up. Fine, you can come, but I’m in charge.”
“Always, Cap,” and those words made the traitorous butterflies in Sam’s stomach flutter.
The owl would show them where Santa was, so they’d have to follow her, and the most practical way was flying, which meant Sam had to carry Bucky, which meant Bucky completely wrapped around him. It wasn’t the first time they’d done it, but it was the first time they’d been this close since the whole New Avengers thing.
But Sam was a professional, so he focused on the mission and tried to forget and ignore the heat of Bucky’s body pressed against his.
The owl led them to a forest. Santa Claus was in a tree, the reindeer gathered around it, while the sleigh didn’t seem to be in sight. They soon discovered it was because it had come loose and fallen down an embankment.
Fortunately, there was no damage to lament, personal or material. The reindeer, Santa, and the sleigh were all fine, or at least showed no visible damage from above.
They thanked the owl for her help, and Sam set Bucky down near the sleigh before flying back up to get Santa Claus out of the tree, while Bucky took care of hauling the sleigh up the embankment. Sam joined him, even though Bucky had already made it most of the way, and together they managed it. Santa was immensely grateful to both of them.
“You’ve saved Christmas,” Santa Claus told them. And it felt good, really good, to be praised by Santa Claus himself, but it felt even better to have been able to work together again, to have helped Santa Claus and, by his own words, saved Christmas. Together.
Santa checked the sleigh and saw that the problem had been a strap coming loose, probably causing the sleigh to tip, and the other had broken from bearing too much weight, but nothing a little Christmas magic couldn’t fix.
After making sure the sleigh was properly secured, he offered to take them home. Sam was excited, but when he looked at Bucky he realized he was truly scared. Sam understood; Bucky had already fallen from a train, and he was probably thinking he could fall from the sleigh too. It didn’t offer the same sense of safety as a plane.
“Can you give us a moment?” Sam asked Santa, and after he agreed, Sam took Bucky by the hand and pulled him a little aside.
“I can fly us home myself, you know.” Bucky’s eyes widened, giving him a very funny look.
“And that you miss the chance to fly in Santa Claus’s sleigh? No thanks.”
“You sure?”
“Sure. Come on, Sam, I know you want to, and Santa Claus is waiting.”
Bucky started walking toward the sleigh.
“We’d love a ride,” he told the man, though Sam could see he was tense.
“Hey, Bucky,” Sam said once they were seated in the sleigh (Bucky in the middle, with Santa and Sam on either side).
“Yeah?”
“I won’t let you fall.”
Bucky smiled, and Sam held out his hand, which Bucky took.
Santa took them to Sam’s place at a normal speed, and Sam didn’t know how to feel about it. Part of him wanted to have flown at the supersonic speed Santa must usually use, but another part of him was thoroughly enjoying the ride. He looked at Bucky, and despite the fear, he seemed to be enjoying it too, with bright eyes, rosy cheeks, and a small smile on his lips.
“Tell me what you want for Christmas,” Santa Claus said once he dropped them off at Sam’s place.
Bucky didn’t seem inclined to answer that question.
“I’m sure you already know everything we want,” Sam replied, which in his opinion was much better than saying that with Bucky there he already had everything he wanted for Christmas because the only other thing he wished for was to see his family, and he feared that was impossible.
Santa smiled and nodded slightly before snapping the reins and taking off at full speed.
“I should get a hotel room for the night,” Bucky said.
Sam smiled, hoping Bucky remembered that conversation from years ago.
“You’re just gonna set me up like that, huh?”
A tiny smile appeared for a moment on Bucky’s lips.
“I don’t wanna make it weird for you,” he replied, and Sam knew that, like him, Bucky remembered that moment too. Just as they both remembered that Sam had refused to move his seat back then.
“Just stay here.”
This time, Bucky’s smile widened, and Sam realized how much he’d missed that smile.
Suddenly, a little white ball hit Sam on the head. They both looked up and found a sprig of mistletoe that Sam knew he hadn’t put there.
“Mistletoe,” Bucky said.
“Yeah. I don’t know where it came from.”
They stood in silence for a few moments.
“Santa,” Bucky answered the unspoken question.
“What?”
“Santa. He made the mistletoe appear here. He asked what we wanted, you told him he already knew, he nodded and suddenly there’s mistletoe over our heads.”
Bucky was right; Sam knew it. But that led him to an even more important question.
“Just so we’re clear, are you saying you want to kiss me?”
Bucky looked embarrassed. Even in the low light, Sam thought he could see him blushing. It was damn adorable.
“I…” He sighed, and Sam could tell he was conflicted, as if he’d been wanting this moment for a long time. “The truth is… yeah,” he finally admitted.
Sam simply took Bucky’s face in his hands and kissed him. Bucky responded immediately, and it felt like heavenly, but suddenly Bucky pulled back a bit too abruptly.
“Wait! are you kissing me just because of the mistletoe? Because I don’t want you to think you have to just because I want to and Santa made mistletoe appear over our heads.”
“Buck, Santa Claus wouldn’t give one of us what we want if it meant forcing the other to do it. I want to kiss you too. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time.”
It was like a weight lifted from Bucky’s shoulders. He visibly relaxed, smiled, and kissed Sam again. But moments later, he pulled back once more, looking worried.
“Oh, and what if you wanting me to stay is just a Santa thing?”
“Barnes, same rule applies, and I was already going to let you stay before the owl showed up.”
Bucky looked surprised.
“Really?”
Sam nodded.
“What can I say? Creole and Cajun food did it for me,” he joked because it was never the food, or at least not just the food. It was always Bucky. Bucky and his thousand ways of showing that he loved, cared for, and worried about Sam.
Bucky laughed and leaned in to kiss Sam.
“I think it’s going to be my favorite food from now on,” he said when they pulled apart.
“The ‘from now on’ part is slightly offensive,” Sam replied before kissing Bucky again, making him laugh.
The night improved considerably. They video-called Sarah and the kids, who were very happy to see both of them. They had dinner together with the delicious food Bucky had brought and ice cream for dessert. There was no shortage of jokes, laughter, kisses, and touches, and finally they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
The next morning, they were woken by the sound of Sam’s work phone. Worry and fear quickly turned to joy when the caller identified herself as an airport employee and informed him that two Business Class seats had become available for that same day at 11:30.
“Hey, Buck, would you like to come to Delacroix with me? We’d leave at 11:30.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” Bucky replied with a smile.
And that was how, thanks to Santa Claus, Bucky and Sam got everything they wanted for Christmas, and more.