"Come on, you need to hurry, Eve!" Bucky tries his best to sound serious but the giggling in his throat tells me that he's actually finding the whole situation amusing. If I was him, I would be laughing at me too, wearing boy pants. It would have been impossible to climb on the wall and get on the apple tree in a skirt or a dress, which is why, I had to put on Steve's old pants. I was surprisingly the best climber, making me the one whose duty is to steal the apples from the farm.

"Don't make her fall, Buck!" Steve shouts from the pickup that we had borrowed from Bucky's dad, laughing at us. He's sitting behind the steering wheel, being our driver while Bucky is standing under the limb next to the wall, catching the apples I throw towards him.

"Bucky!" I shout, signaling him to pay attention but it's too late and an apple lands on his head. He lets out a pained yelp, rubbing his hand against the place the apple hit him and I try not to burst into laughter.

"You did that on purpose!" He accuses me playfully and I just grin widely, shrugging like I don't know what he's talking about. "One day, I'll get even with you for that, Farrell."

"You'd need to be on the tree then, Barnes." I tease him back, smirking and alluding to my safe position on the tree. "But instead you should tell me how many apples we have. There needs to be enough for everyone."

He turns around and starts counting the apples that are in the rear of the pickup, then he glances back at me. "We have ten so far. But I know that the twins will eat more than one, so we need at least fifteen."

"Don't worry, just give me a minute." I promise and reach out for the red apple above my head. The sun is shining brightly, meeting my green eyes and making it difficult for me to see properly. It's also really hot for an early summer and sweat drops are already running down my neck from the heat. "By the way, do you see the farmer?"

Bucky jumps on the rear and stands up, he tries to protect his eyes from the rays of sunlight with his hand and squints, trying his best to see something. "Not yet. And this also shouldn't change, now come on, hurry!"

"Two apples are coming!" I warn him, already throwing the fruits to the rear and he leaps aside just in time to avoid getting hit again. Steve looks out of the window and knits his brows in confusion at us.

"What was that?"

"Eve's attempt to kill me." Bucky answers dramatically and I let out a laugh, shaking my head.

"Nonsense." I then continue picking apples whilst humming. Wearing pants is much more comfortable than skirts and I have to admit that Steve's pants are convenient, even though he was slightly embarrassed that he and I share the same size. I had to assure him that it's okay since he's too skinny for a guy.

"Eve!" Bucky suddenly urges panicking and I look down at him. "Shake a leg! The farmer- "

"Leave immediately my farm, you bloody thieves!!!" An old man in typical farmer clothes yells at us angrily, running towards us with a gun in his hands, aiming at us. My eyes widen and Steve starts the motor, ready to drive away and to escape. I look down again, realizing that I will definitely get shot because I won't be fast enough to climb down and get into the pickup.

"Jump! I'll catch you!" Bucky shouts from the rear and spreads out his arms, motioning me to do it now. I don't even hesitate and jump, led by adrenaline and my faith in Bucky. The farmer starts shooting, hitting the limb that is just some inches above me. The sound of the bullet rustles in my ears, deafening me for a second but Bucky catches me as he said he would.

We both fall into the rear of the truck as Steve starts driving away as fast as possible. While Bucky's head hits the hard metal of the truck, mines hits roughly against his chest and we simultaneously let out a groan. He tightens his grip around me, keeping a hold on me while I lay on him, hearing his heart racing like hell. I try not to blush and look at him in confusion, but he just motions me to stay down and listen. Then the noise of flying bullets fills the air and we flinch. I seriously don't want to know how afraid Steve must be right now.

The swears and bullets from the farmer get quieter as the distance between him and us grows bigger. Steve has to be okay since we're still driving normally. I feel how Bucky's chest goes up and down, how fast he's breathing and his heart is beating because my face is lying on his chest. I look up, staring at him.

"Everything's okay? Did you get shot?" He asks quite concerned but I just have to burst into laughter, burying my face into his chest. I feel his chin on my head and glance back at him again, still bubbling over with laughter.

"We- we just almost got shot because we stole apples." I chortle, shaking my head and repeat the beyond belief event. "We almost got shot. How crazy is that?"

"Pretty crazy." He snorts, joining my tittering and Steve's giggling from the driving seat is hearable. We stay like that, laughing and enjoying our goods and the warmth of the summer air.

***

"Hey, what are you doing up there?" Steve shouts and I look down. I'm sitting on a limb of a tree, watching how Winifred and Sarah are talking, George and Rebecca are eating apples-her father is making jokes and she's laughing- and how Bucky gets tickled by the twins, rolling in the meadow. They all look so happy and peaceful.

"Nothing." I shrug, dangling my feet in the air. "Just watching."

"Mind if I join?"

"If you can come up, Rogers." I smirk, challenging and he just lets out a chuckle, shaking his head at my childish behavior. Then he starts climbing up although he struggles a bit first, but eventually, he arrives the limb I'm sitting on, being out of breath.

"What's the matter, honey?" He asks playfully with the most ridiculous and exaggerated Brooklyn accent ever, clearly trying to cheer me up and I snort with laughter.

"What was that supposed to be?"

"I tried to cheer you up." He admits with a normal and more serious voice. "You look sad. So, tell me, what's the matter? You know that you can be honest with me."

I sigh at his empathy, making me want to tell him the truth. My eyes look at their families, hanging on their laughter and happy faces. Since I had talked with Bucky about it, it has become so much easier for me to open up. "I don't know. I just... I don't think that I fit into this. This typical family life and moments. I feel a bit like a stranger and I don't want to ruin your traditional Barnes-Rogers Day."

"Eve... " My name trails off after they have left his lips. "It's okay if you still feel like that, you're just adjusting because you do have a family now. But don't forget that you're an honored Rogers. You're not ruining anything, it's also your day."

His words soften me and I smile lightly at him. How happy I am to have a friend like Steve, always reliable and lighthearted. "Thanks, Stevie." Then I frown. "Wait, why a Rogers and not a Barnes? Just out of curiosity."

"Because it'd be weird if you were Bucky's family member." He cringes in disgust and I raise a brow in the air, being speechless and actually confused by his statement.

"As much as I'm honored to be a Rogers, I don't think that your mother likes me very much. She's pretty intimidating and all." I mumble shyly, hoping he won't get mad. But since it's Steve I am talking to, it's basically impossible to make him angry, he's the kindness in person.

"It's because of my father." Steve sighs and I wait for him to explain. I just know that he does not have a father, nothing more. "She lost him in the World War, he died before I was even born. It was through mustard gas. I don't know him and she's not talking much about him, but she must have loved him and probably still does after all these years. She raised me and I appreciate that she gave her best. Maybe you remind her of herself, being completely alone and on your own."

"I'm sorry, Steve." I murmur apologetically. The thought of war makes me uncomfortable. "I didn't want to bath in self-pity or something."

"You didn't." He shakes his head, disagreeing and shrugging. "I think everyone is broken in their own way. Some are more, some are less."

His words make me smile slightly and leave quite an impression. "The girl who's gonna marry you one day can be lucky to love such a kind guy." I then nudge him playfully. "Of course, she needs to get through me first."

"Same for you." He chuckles and I freeze for a second. To be honest, I don't think that I will ever marry someone, it's impossible to my eyes that there will be the one. The one person that will always be there for me, always protect me and make me feel better, make me laugh and appreciate life. Someone who would truly love me.

"Hey, Eve!" Bucky's call interrupts my thoughts and Steve and I look down. He stands under the tree with a bright smile. "You need to come down, it's no fun without- AAH!"

The twins have tackled him and now tickle him, making him laugh and they start rolling in the meadow again. I watch Bucky, paying attention to the details. His laugh lines are clear to see and the sound of his laugh that escapes his thin lips is bubbly, filled with happiness. It makes him squint his blue eyes and his mouth forms a wide smile, something that I will never forget.

"Help meeee!" He fake whines and stands up, stopping the twins by holding his hands against their foreheads while Steve laughs, glancing at me.

"I'll give you the honor to be his knight in the shining armor."

"Forget it." I scoff, shaking my head. "The twins will tickle me to death. You can save the damsel in distress."

"Hey, what do you think, could I land on my feet properly if I jump off this limb?" Steve suddenly asks and I try to calculate the distance between the limb and the ground.

"Probably." I assume, narrowing my eyes. "I mean, even I could easily jump off without getting hurt since it's not that high- " He suddenly shoves me and I let out a panicked scream as I fall down, not prepared for anything. My heart races against my chest while Bucky's eyes widen, immediately acting quick and catching me.

His arms are around my waist as my hands lean on his tight shoulders, I glance down, my look searching for a steady halt while my breath tries to calm down. His blue eyes are focused on me, half shocked and half relieved. I don't know how long we stare at each other, causing a strange feeling in my stomach, but he eventually puts me down, yelling at Steve a bit angry.

"Hey, Rogers, we don't shove people off the tree on Barnes-Rogers Day! Are you crazy?"

"She at least saved you from Will and Henry!" He points out, letting us know that the two devils in disguise have ran away, not wanting to deal with the situation and choosing to eat apples instead.

"Still not fair!" Bucky disagrees and I boo at Steve, pushing the weird moment between Bucky and I aside.

"I better stay here before one of you two wants to take revenge." Steve decides to remain on the limb and I laugh, shaking my head as I sit down under the tree, leaning against it with my back. Buck joins me and shakes his head too.

"What a punk."

"Agree." I nod, grinning and staring at the blue sky. That reminds me of one of my favorite songs that I had coincidentally heard in the orphanage. I remember that it was in one of those nights where I could not find sleep, so I walked around till I heard the radio in the kitchen. The song came on while Ms Whitman listened to it with a little smile on her lips and she didn't smile very often. How do the lyrics go again?

"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh oh"

The words leave my mouth, accompanied by the beautiful melody that has been written for it. The urge to sing is as huge as the urge to breathe or to live. My concentration is attached to the sky which isn't crying today. As the day itself, it's happy now.

"You can sing?" Bucky interrupts me, his eyes widen in surprise and I scoff a bit, not agreeing.

"Not really, but I like it. Actually, I wanted to be in the music class but it was already crowded there, so I got into art class where I met you two. I heard that song in the orphanage once."

He smiles lightly, probably liking the sound of that story and I wouldn't put it past him to think that it's destiny because he's optimistic like that. "Well, I think your voice is the most beautiful voice I've ever heard, I could listen to it all day. So c'mon, don't be afraid, stick by your talent and sing, canary."

His new nickname for me encourages me, making me smile at him. It's the first time that someone compliments my voice and his words give me the feeling to be someone. I start singing as he listens, somewhere over the rainbow.