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John returned just after sunset, carrying Esie on one hip—she’s half-asleep against his shoulder—and a little blue gift bag dangling from his other hand.
“We’re back,” he stage-whispered. “Nobody panic. Everyone survived.”
Bucky emerged from the hallway, towel still draped over his shoulders from his shower. “Hey, sweetheart,” he murmured to Esie, brushing her hair off her face as she sleepily reached for him.
Then she remembered the gift bag and perked up. “Bubba! Present!” She squirmed until John put her down, then shoved the bag into Bucky's hands.
“For Han’kah!” she announced.
Bucky smiled softly, carefully pulling out the yellow tissue paper.
Inside is a small canvas—bright blue handprint smack in the center, glittered swirls radiating outward like a very enthusiastic nebula. A handful of yellow stars—clearly drawn by John—float around the edges, wobbly and uneven. There’s a little heart sticker stuck slightly off-center, and… is that a googly eye? Yes. It is.
Bucky stared at if for a second, then looked back at Esie. "You made this for me?"
Esie nodded so hard her curls bounced. “Uh-huh! Me and Jack and John! John helped with the stars, 'cause I couldn't make them right."
Bucky huffed a quiet laugh, but his eyes were still fixed on the canvas, softening at the edges.
“It’s beautiful,” he said, voice a little lower, a little rougher. "Thank you, Es."
John smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. “She worked really hard on it. Jack too. He went through three pieces of paper trying to draw a dreidel.”
From the couch, Bob called out, “Tell him it’s okay, I still can’t draw one either.”
Bucky rose, Esie now clinging to him like a sleepy little koala. “Thanks for taking her today,” he said quietly.
John shrugged, ears going pink. “Yeah, well. She’s… a good kid.”
Esie nods proudly. "We used all the glitter."
John scrubbed a hand down his face. “There is glitter in my truck. And on my kid. And in my hair.”
Ava pat his shoulder. "You're the one who wanted custody of your son."
Esie yawned and reached up, and Bucky easily scooped her into his arms. She tucked her head into his neck.
"C'mon," he murmured, brushing a curl away from her forehead. "Let's get you ready for bed."