𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

'𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒? 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍'𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄'𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐑𝐊.'

December, 1939

        Christmas was always a favorite holiday to Katrina and Steve. They didn't have much, but it was the one holiday where they could scrounge up enough money to get each other something. So they could watch their faces light up when they open their gifts. 

        It wasn't even seven am when the Barnes' came knocking the door down on Christmas morning. Katrina was drinking her morning coffee at the tiny kitchen table, while Steve seemed to still be asleep in his room. 

        "Merry Christmas, you assholes!" Jaylen seemed to be quite happy, maybe it was the fact people were forced to give her gifts today. She had two in her hand, as well as Bucky.

         Standing up, Katrina hugged Jaylen, followed by Bucky. "Merry Christmas."

        "Where's Steve?" 

        Katrina pointed to the closed bedroom door. She scurried to the kitchen, fetching her two friends coffee. "Still asleep. Had a late shift last night. It's Christmas, everyone was out." 

        Putting the two mugs on the table, they sat down. Bucky realized something. "What time did you get off last night?" 

        "Had the day shift. Was home by four." 

        "Why didn't you come to ours? You spent Christmas Eve all alone!" 

        Katrina shrugged her shoulders. "Didn't know what you guys were doing. Figured you'd be out somewhere. Didn't want to bother you." 

        Jaylen took Katrina's hand. "Kat, you're always welcome at our house. Now I feel terrible you spent the night alone." 

        Katrina put a soft smile on her face. "I appreciate that, and my night wasn't that awful. I'm just glad you guys are here now." 

        Steve's small figure was shown in the corner of Bucky's eye, causing him to jump out of his seat. "Steven!" He grabbed the boy, giving him a big hug. "Merry Christmas." 

       Steve yawned, "He still seemed to be half asleep to the world. "Merry Christmas to you guys too." 

        Katrina questioned her brother, "What time did you get home last night?" 

        Shrugging his shoulders, Steve sat down and answered. "I don't know, around three maybe? There were so many drunk assholes who wouldn't leave the bar." 

        "So." Jaylen's smile was bright and voice was giddy, "Gift exchanges?" 

        Bucky smacked the back of his sisters head lightly. "You're such a brat, Jay." 

        "Ow!"

        Katrina sighed, getting up from the table, as Steve did the same. "Let me just get mine. I hid them so Steve couldn't find them this year." 

        "Don't act so innocent, Kat. I do the same thing so you can't take a sneak peak anymore." 

        Heading to her room, she had hidden them in her small closet on the top shelf in the corner. They were covered in a coat she had never worn anymore. It had grown too small for her to wear.