1935

Jo stood in the front row at the graduation ceremony. Cheering as she watched her best friends walk across the small stage to accept their diplomas. The girl was the only one in the crowd for the two boys and she took her job very seriously. Pride beamed from the girl as she hollard and cheered, clapping her hands while Steve Rogers put his head down in embarrassment from the small girl's antics.

Both Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes had all odds against them when they lost their parents. Bucky's parents passed when the boy was a mere 10 years old, before getting shipped off to live with his grandparents - and while they housed him he was taking care of them more than they took care of him. Steve's loss was recent though, while his dad passed during the beginning of the war, his mother passed in the early months of the new year, leaving her son orphaned. Jo didn't know what it was like to lose your parents, her father was honourably discharged from the war when he got a bullet to the leg and her mother was the perfect housewife.

Mary and Dennis Elliot were always wary of Steve and Bucky. They were two years older than little Jo and yet they followed her around like lost puppies. But when Steve Rogers knocked on their door late one night, tear stained cheeks as he grieved the loss of his mother - their views changed. The two boys were now welcomed in the house any time they wished, Mary often finding Steve and Bucky sprawled out on cots of blankets and pillows on Jo's bedroom floor.

Bucky and Steve only had Jo now, and the girl took it very seriously. They were not only her best friends they had become her family. Although Bucky and Steve have been friends since they were in elementary school - being in the same class and all. They met Jo on her first day of high school when she was just 14.

It wasn't long after Steve accepted his diploma that the ceremony had come to a close. Jo fought her way through the crowds to get out of the building and find her boys as quickly as she could. When she was finally outside in the warm summer air, she found Bucky hitting Steve's shoulder lightly as he let out a laugh. "There they are!" Jo hollered making Bucky chuckle and open his arms for the girl.

The small blonde jumped into the boy's arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as he spun her around. "I can't believe I have to get through these next two years without you guys." Jo pouted after Bucky had placed her back on her feet and she found her way into Steve's warm embrace. "It won't be that bad, maybe you can finally make friends your own age." Steve said with a chuckle making Jo roll her eyes. "Yeah, but no one else can compete with you two." The girl said seriously, making Bucky chuckle and ruffle her perfectly curled hair.

"We aren't leaving your life JJ." The brunette told her. "We'll just be out getting job's is all." he added on. "But, you guys won't have time for me anymore." Jo replied, her eyebrows frowning together.

"Don't say that JJ, you can't shake us." Steve said, shaking his head disappointed that the girl would think of something like that. "Hey kids!" Dennis Elliot called catching the attention of the trio. "How's it going Mr.Elliot?" Bucky greeted with a large smile, shaking the man's hand - Steve following in suit. "Well would you look at these two handsome men." Mary greeted, giving the boys hugs before wiping at her eyes. "Mom are you crying?" Jo asked, a small laugh slipping past her lips. "What? Of course not!" Mary exclaimed before taking a deep breath. "Come on, let's get some photos of you three together." Mary said, pulling out her camera from her bag.

Jo found her place under Bucky and Steve's arm, the two towering over her 5'2 frame. "You guys really look amazing together." Mary commented, wiping at her eyes once more before snapping a few photos.

Before anyone knew it, Dennis was ushering everyone into his green 1935 Pontiac. He drove the five of them back to a two story pale yellow house with a mailbox at the end of the driveway that read, "Elliot's" in bold blue paint that Jo had re-painted a few months ago. "We have a surprise for you two." Mary announced, looking into the back seat at the two boys on either side of her daughter. "A surprise?" Steve asked as the three teenagers made their way out of the car. "Mom?" Jo asked, confused to which the woman smiled and said nothing.

Dennis and Mary promptly walked to the backyard, opening the creaking white fence and proudly showing the trio a backyard full of family members. Lights strung in the tree's and food laid out on tables. "You did this?" Bucky asked, looking around and finding his grandparents and aunts and uncles standing around and talking to Steve and Jo's family members. "You boys are family now. It's time we show you off." Dennis told them, clapping Steve on the shoulder before walking off to find his own brother at the barbeque.

"Did you know?" Steve asked, turning to look down at Jo. The younger girl shook her head but smiled nonetheless. "I-I had no clue." the girl told them in disbelief. Smiling widely before grabbing their hands and dragging them to mingle with different family members. The gathering was in full swing up until the sun had set and the stars were out. Slowly, family members started saying their goodbyes and leaving the Elliot residence. Mary and Dennis walked up to the three teenagers sitting in lawn chairs, the couple had their arms wrapped around each other and beaming smiles on their faces.

"What'd you guys think?" Mary asked excitedly. The two boys smiled up at them before Steve stood up and wrapped the only mother figure he had left into a big hug. Bucky followed in suit, Jo and Dennis letting the two boys hold onto the last woman to give them a chance at having a normal life. "Thank you so much." Steve muttered, his and Bucky's eyes both starting to water.
"You're family." Dennis finally said, after the boys dispersed from their small group hug. "We'd do it a million times over." He added in. "Now, we're heading to bed. Don't stay out here too late, and lock the back door when you come in." Dennis told the three, going back into 'dad mode'. Jo nodded her head, saying good night to her parents and leaning her head back on the wooden chair and looking up to the stars. Her arms wrapped around her knees to block out the cool June breeze.

"Wish my old man could see me now." Bucky finally said. The silence hanging over the three after he announced it. "Yeah me too." Steve whispered. Jo looked to the two boys on either side of them.

"Your parents are so proud of the two of you." Jo told them, before they fell into an extended silence. Taking in the cool summer breeze, and sitting under the stars.