After Bucharest, after the accords had been settled, plums had become a constant in the Barnes' family fruit bowl. It had been satisfying to Bucky. The plums had been a choice, and now he was free to make that choice whenever he wanted. He did like plums - quite a bit, actually. Chris grew up with them and Natasha even enjoyed them. This made it common practice for Natasha and Chris to make plum pie every Christmas while Bucky went out with Steve to get trees for their homes. Bucky would head over to Steve's to help him set it up and decorate before coming home and doing the same with his family.

But Natasha and Chris had to have the plum pie waiting.

Bucky left early that morning, and Natasha and Chris got started on the pie shortly after he left. Natasha turned on the oven and got the plums from the freezer while Chris mixed the pie crust dough. They chilled the dough and waited for the plums to defrost. Natasha put in "It's a Wonderful Life" and they watched for a bit before turning it up so they would have some background noise while they worked in the kitchen.

Chris pulled out the dough and rolled it while Natasha cut up plums. Chris shaped the crust in the pie pan and cut out the cover while Natasha made the filling. Natasha poured the filling into the molded crust and Chris covered the pie. Natasha put the pie in the oven while Chris went into the living room to pick out the next movie.

~

Bucky unlocked the door and pushed it open before dragging the tree in the front door. Chris jumped off the couch to help him pull the tree in and set it up in the stand. ("I don't need help, Chris." "Cry me a river, Pop. I'm helping.") Bucky gave his son a noogie, holding him down with the metal arm, before walking over to the couch and giving his wife a kiss.

"How's Steve?" Natasha asked.

"Still won't move into the Tower. But I think we can push him to move in for the New Year if we all bug him enough," Bucky chuckled. "Hey, any idea what you want me to cook for dinner?"

Natasha turned and looked at him, mock-offended, "Have you so little faith in us?"

Bucky smiled, "Pie for dinner."

"Pie for dinner."

Natasha went to cut up slices of pie while Bucky and Chris went down into the basement to pull up the boxes of tree decorations. They ate the pie and then started decorating the tree.

Bucky had three of hid favorite choices all in one place: his plums, his wife, and his son.