[WWII AU] the streets of london

[nerves_of_ice]

Becky's last letter had suggested she'd be sending a longer one soon, and between that, the previous promise of a knitting circle, and the time of year, Bucky's pretty sure that a care package will be coming their way with the next one.

Given that, it's not too hard to convince Steve that it might be nice to pick up a couple of small things to send back in appreciation when they can. And with that in mind, to suggest that maybe the Agents Carter might enjoy doing a little shopping themselves, and that it'd be only polite for the two of them to help carry packages and make sure they didn't get overcrowded on the streets, or anything like that.

He's pretty darn sure that Steve sees right through him, but his best friend agrees to it, if Bucky can talk Sharon and Peggy into the idea.

He's smiling to himself as he makes his way toward their respective quarters.

Comments

[from_the_outside]

She makes a face and laughs at him. "Yes, really. She's a human with needs and wants, you know."

[nerves_of_ice]

Mischief sparks in his glance, but he doesn't have a chance to say anything before Steve's elbow connects solidly with his ribcage. "Oof. Okay, okay," he says, holding up both hands. "Peace. I just meant I was glad to hear it."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon wrinkles up her nose at him, but magnanimously lets it slide.

"Either of you see anything here you like?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Found a pair of silk gloves that I think Becky'll like," Bucky tells her, looking pleased as a cat in the cream for a moment before his expression shifts into something rueful. "I sure hope they fit."

"They will," Steve assures him. "Probably. It's the thought that counts, right?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon glances at her own hands, then shakes her head. "I'd offer to try them on, but who knows if her hands are around the same size as mine."

[nerves_of_ice]

"No idea. Thanks anyway, though." It's better not to risk her catching sight of the other small package nestled in with the gloves in the bottom of the bag, beside the one Steve had entrusted to him.

"Anyway, that's one sister taken care of, three to go."

[from_the_outside]

"Had any brainwaves about what to do for Maggie?" she asks, as they wait for Aunt Peggy to return. Nothing in here screamed 'teenage girl' to her, but maybe she'd missed something.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Not yet, but it's only the first shop, right?" he says, cheerfully.

[from_the_outside]

"So I hear," she says, amused. Behind her, she hears Aunt Peggy and the shopkeeper returning. Aunt Peggy looks flushed and pleased, though she keeps her expression sternly controlled as she joins them. "Everything all set?" Sharon asks.

[nerves_of_ice]

"All set," Peggy reports, with a smile for her niece. Bucky can practically see the pleasure in Steve's gaze as he takes in how content she looks. He turns to Mrs. Hughes.

"Thank you so much," he tells her. "I'm sure we'll be seeing you again soon, but just in case it's not before the holidays, have a merry Christmas, won't you?"

[from_the_outside]

"The same to all of you," Mrs. Hughes replies, waving them all off with a warm smile. "Thank you so much for stopping in."

Steve gets the door, and Sharon and Peggy file out first, then wait for the boys on the sidewalk. "Pretty successful first stop," Sharon says, smiling. "Where to next?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Wander down towards the square and window-shop along the way?" Bucky suggests. "That way we can stop in anywhere interesting, or else visit the department stores once we get there."

[from_the_outside]

"Sounds good to me."

She waits for Steve to offer his arm once more to Aunt Peggy, then comes to stroll at Bucky's side, pleased with herself and with the day in general. "It'll be nice to see all the decorations."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Can't wait to see what they come up with," he agrees, cheerfully. "It may be wartime, but people are pretty creative when they need to be." He looks back over his shoulder at Steve. "You know, I'm pretty sure the girls still have the ornaments you drew for them that year."

[from_the_outside]

"It's sweet of them to humor me," Steve says, while Sharon's mouth twitches.

"I'm sure they're great," she points out. "What were they drawings of?"

[nerves_of_ice]

"Hey, they liked them!" Bucky insists. He turns back to Sharon. "Christmas stuff. He drew all the kinds of decorations you'd expect to see at a holiday, using his art school supplies, on thick paper so they'd last."

He tips his head back, trying to think. "There were gift boxes with ribbons, a teddy bear, a doll, at least a couple of candy canes, a Christmas tree..."

[from_the_outside]

"A star," Steve puts in, flushing a little as Aunt Peggy looks at him. "A couple of angels... and the three Wise Men, I think."

"They sound lovely," Aunt Peggy assures him, smiling. "I'm certain the Barnes girls adore them."

[nerves_of_ice]

"They do," Bucky tells them. "They keep them between layers of tissue paper in an old glove box except for the holidays, so they won't get messed up."

[from_the_outside]

The pang she feels is a familiar one by now, and she's well-versed in turning her head to look at the shop windows they pass until she's sure her expression won't betray any of her feelings. "Maybe you could send a few more with the package," she suggests. "Get them a whole Nativity."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You really think they'd like that?" Steve asks. Bucky's grin flashes quick and bright.

"Are you kidding? They'd love it."

[from_the_outside]

"I really do," Sharon assures Steve, who looks thoughtful and a little bashfully pleased. She glances up ahead and smiles. "Looks like you'll be able to get some inspiration from our outing."

The street ahead is as festive as it's possible to get in the middle of a war.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Merry Christmas," Bucky laughs. "Maybe a little early, but still."

He puts his other hand over Sharon's on his arm and squeezes. "Come on. Let's see what there is to see."

[from_the_outside]

"Lead the way, soldier boy," she teases him, delighting in his delight. Aunt Peggy's watching them like a hawk, she knows, but she hopes her aunt will relax enough to stop thinking of herself as a chaperone as they stroll along the cheery market street.

[nerves_of_ice]

Rationing has limited a lot of the options, naturally, but there's fresh greenery carted in and ribbons tied, and a few street-cart vendors selling their limited selections with determined cheer. "There's one in the eye for the Germans, eh?" Bucky hears one of them say as he wraps a package for his customers, and shakes his head in admiration.

"I have to say, I like London almost as much as I do New York. Almost," he hastens to add.

[from_the_outside]

"New York has its charms," Aunt Peggy admits, looking around. "But it is nice to be near home."

Hard to believe the year is growing so old. Sharon realizes with a start that she hasn't thought about getting home even once yet today. If she's still here at Christmas, it'll have been months since she first arrived.