After a while of sitting outside, Bucky looked over to find Jo asleep. Her head resting on her arms and her eyelashes dusted against the top of her cheeks. Jo Elliot was unlike any woman Bucky Barnes had come across. Where the girls he would spend his nights with were put together, always wearing the newest dress or the trendiest skirt - Jo found comfort in overalls and t-shirts and her pro-ked hightops rather than heels. She had worn the soles out of so many pairs that Dennis Elliot would shake his head every time he had to buy his daughter a new pair. Steve glanced over to Bucky, noticing his eyes linger on their best friend.

"Can't keep denying it Buck," Steve said with a sigh. "She's not what you thought she was." he added in, Bucky looked back over to his best friend. Their blue eyes met before Bucky shook his head and stood up. He moved towards Jo before picking her up in his arms, her head falling against his chest as she let out a kitten like groan. "She's exactly what she always has been, Steve, family. Nothing more," Bucky replied before he started his walk to the back door of the house. "You coming or what?" He called back. Steve shook his head before standing up off the lawn chair and following behind Bucky.

Bucky was quick to remind Steve to lock the back door when they were inside the kitchen. They both kicked off their shoes and made their way up to Jo's room, making sure to be quiet to ensure they didn't wake up the girls parents. When they were safely inside the four white walls of Jo's room, Steve quickly fell down onto his cot of warm blankets and cushions as Bucky gently placed Jo on her head. The girl hummed as the oldest boy gently untied her sneakers and slid them off. His blue eyes lingered on her before he slid her sweater off and pulled the blankets up to her chin.

Glancing down to Steve, Bucky noticed the boy's back was facing him and his breathing was steady - he was already asleep. Bucky leaned over Jo, making sure she was wrapped up in the covers tightly and pressed a kiss to her forehead. The boy tossed his jacket onto the chair in the corner of the room before flicking off the bedroom light and finding himself laying on the floor beside Steve.

But Bucky couldn't bring himself to sleep, he laid awake staring up at the ceiling. Steve's breathing was steady beside him and Jo's incoherent sleep talking brought a smile to his face. The blue eyed brunette couldn't help but always falling back into his blonde best friend. She was selfless, and followed the boys wherever their lives took them. But he knew the truth was, Bucky and Steve would follow the younger girl to the ends of the earth if she asked. Bucky was wrapped around the girl's finger, her smile lighting up any room and her arms bringing him a sense of calm after the worst storms.

"Buck, are you awake?" her voice was so soft he thought he imagined it. Bucky sat up, looking to Jo's bed finding her already sitting up rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, what's wrong?" Bucky asked, quickly standing up and finding his place on the edge of her bed. The boy ushered her to lay down once more, letting her find his hand and hold it tightly. "Come on doll, we don't keep secrets, remember?" Bucky pressed on. Jo looked up to the ceiling of her dark room, tears welling up in her eyes before she sighed.
Bucky could feel her squeezing his hand, and in return he squeezed hers back. "I can't lose you two, you know that right?" Jo finally said, making Bucky look down at the girl. He felt something inside him clench as he heard her say those words. "Come here doll," Bucky whispered, not wanting to wake up Steve. The boy crawled over her and to the other side of the bed. He laid down, his head resting on her pillows. Bucky brought the petite girl into his arms and pressed his lips to the top of her head. "We aren't going anywhere Jo. The three of us, we're going to be best friends until we're in old age homes." he told her, making the small girl laugh lightly.

"You sure you can deal with me for that long?" she asked, making Bucky chuckle. "I'll be right by your side forever. I could never leave you behind." he promised, making Jo nod and close her eyes. "Start tonight." she whispered, her way of asking not to be left alone tonight. "Whatever you want," Bucky replied, squeezing her tightly.

When the sun rose the next morning, there was a knock on Jo's bedroom door. Mary didn't even receive so much as a 'come in!' but she pushed open the door either way. Inside she found Steve, sprawled across the bedroom floor - his limbs thrown over where Bucky was laying at the start of the night. But looking up, Mary Elliot found Bucky holding on to her daughter tightly. Jo's head pressed against the boy's chest as his arms wrapped around her, his cheek resting against the top of her head. Mary smiled softly before making her way up to the pair on the bed. She grabbed Bucky's arm and shook him softly. The boy hummed in response before opening his blue eyes.

"Morning sweetheart." Mary whispered with a bright smile, Bucky returned the favour with a tired smile. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, be a dear and wake up these two okay?" Bucky nodded his head before turning onto his side as Mary left the bedroom - closing the door softly. In an attempt to stretch out his limbs, Jo grunted in her sleep before snuggling her head deeper into his side. The boy smiled to himself before pushing her blonde hair behind her ear and propping himself up on his arm. "Hey little one," Bucky cooed softly making the girl shake her head. "You gotta wake up, doll." he tried again.

Slowly, Jo opened her eyes to find Bucky hovering over her. "Morning doll." Bucky greeted with a smile, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her bright blue eyes. "Morning." the girl replied, stretching out her arms and ruffling Bucky's brown hair in between her fingers. "You gonna help me wake up Steve?" Bucky asked which made Jo smile brightly. "Of course." she grinned before slowly sitting up, her nose brushing against Bucky's not realizing he was yet to move from on top of her.

Bucky cleared his throat before moving away from her and handing her a pillow. "Your weapon m'lady." he offered, Jo grinned before taking the pillow from her hand and chucking it at Steve from the bottom of the bed. The boy shot up, his eyes darting around the room until his eyes landed on his two best friends peeking out from the bottom of the bed. Their laughter carried out through the entire house, making Dennis look up from his newspaper and to his wife who was setting the table.

"She got lucky with those two." was all Dennis could say.