#retired Girl Scout Cookies

[lauralot89]

Retired Girl Scout Cookies

And How to Recreate Them

Disclaimer: I am only including recipes that are specifically listed as copycats for the original Girl Scout cookies or linked as a substitute recipe for a cookie. Van'Chos, for example, are chocolate or vanilla sandwich cookies, much like Oreos, but there don't seem to be any Van'Chos copycat recipes online and various commenters have said Van'Chos didn't taste like Oreos or similar cookies. So no recipes for them.

Scot Teas

What It Is: A shortbread cookie sprinkled with sugar.

Substitute Recipe: Original Girl Scout Scot-Tea Cookie Recipe

Kookaburras

What It Is: Wafer cookies layered with caramel, coated in milk chocolate

Substitute Recipe: Kookaburra

Cinna-Spins

What It Is: Cinnamon cookies in a swirl shape

Substitute Recipe: Homemade Girl Scout Cookies - Cinna-Spins

Lemon Coolers/Savannah Smiles

What It Is: Lemon wedge cookies dusted with powdered sugar. Lemon Coolers were reduced fat but otherwise the same.

Substitute Recipe: Copycat Savannah Smiles Recipe

Raspberry Rally

What It Is: A crispy raspberry cookie coated in chocolate.

Substitute Recipe: Raspberry Rally Cookies (Girl Scout Copycat Recipe)

ABC Bakers S'mores

What It Is: A graham cookie dipped in marshmallow creme and then dipped in milk chocolate

Substitute Recipe: Copycat Girl Scouts S'mores Recipe

Aloha Chips

What It Is: White chocolate chip and Macadamia nut cookies

Substitute Recipe: White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

Dulce de Leches

What It Is: Cookies with milk caramel chips

Substitute Recipe: Dulce de Leche Copycat Cookies

Rah Rah Raisins

What It Is: Oatmeal cookies with raisins and yogurt chips

Substitute Recipe: Copycat Girl Scout Rah Rah Raisins Cookie

Iced Berry Pinatas

What It Is: Shortbread cookies with strawberry jam, cinnamon crumbles, and white icing

Substitute Recipe: Iced Berry Pinata Knockoff

Cranberry Citrus Crisps

What It Is: Cranberry and orange shortbread

Substitute Recipe: Citrus Shortbread Cookies

Trios

What It Is: Gluten free chocolate chip peanut butter oatmeal cookies

Substitute Recipe: Copycat Girl Scouts Trios Cookies

[gsbracket]

Girl Scout Cookie Tournament

It's time to decide the best cookie flavor ever! Well, we actually already know which is the best selling flavor, so Thin Mints will go head to head with the winner of this bracket.

Follow this blog for updates and to vote in the next round.

Round 1

Caramel Chocolate Chip vs Toffy Tastic

Adventurefuls vs Caramel DeLites / Samoas

Do-Si-Dos / PB Sandwich vs PB Patties / Tagalongs

GS Smores vs Toast Yay!

Lemonades vs Lemon Ups

Trefoils vs Raspberry Rally

The following are retired cookies

Thanks a Lots vs Double Dutch Chocolate

Olé Olé vs Aloha Chips

Lemon Chalet Creme vs Dulce de Leche

Savannah Smiles vs Snaps

[lizadale]

How did you get into drawing?

as a kid I was pretty indifferent to art, like in kindergarten I was the only kid who drew actual bodies (albeit badly) instead of stick figures on assignments and the teacher liked to comment on that but I didn’t really think much of it

then I had an art teacher in 3rd grade who I hated because she’d harshly critique almost every project I turned in…she was very grouchy. but one day during 5th grade I was at her house briefly after she retired (I can’t remember why, selling Girl Scout cookies maybe?) and I remember she opened her door all the way and one of my drawings was THERE HANGING ON THE INSIDE OF HER FRONT DOOR. so like every time she had to leave the house this shitty colored pencil landscape I did would stare her in the face. it just floored me. that’s when I started drawing outside of curriculum art classes.

[bcolfanfic]

thank yew @swifty-fox for the 5 boring facts tag idk if these are boring enough but here goes

grew up a navy brat by pax river naval air base. which is funny in that i think the overexposure made airplanes boringgg to me, i never truly cared about them till i watched mota. my father is thrilled lol. he's retired now but worked on harrier jets for most of his career (:

the movie theater on base played a montage of the navy doing Cool Shit to the national anthem that we had to stand for instead of commercials and i didn't go to a normal movie theater till i was like 11 upon which i learned that was not normal

i was in girl scouts until i aged out when i graduated high school. selling cookies as not a cute little girl was humbling but overall i have no regrets and if i have daughters im gonna nudge them to do the same (: my troop leaders middle-high school were a safe haven from a very chaotic home life and one of them wrote my college rec letter.

i'm *17 years* younger than my older brother. technically him and my oldest sister than i'm 14 years younger than are half siblings but obv idc about that. i have another sister that's 3 years older than me but that's complicated in that she has a lot of severe developmental delays and as some ppl say in the sp-ed siblings world i'm her younger-older sister.

i'm half brit from my mom :p but me going to england for the we happy few tour was the first time i'd been since i was 2, my mom developed a really bad flying phobia and hasn't been back since then either. when i was there for the we happy few tour i got a kick out of being able to understand people's slang/british phrases we don't use in the states bc they were things i grew up with her saying.

bonus bc i realized i didnt include this and got sad lol: i'm a person who stutters and i love it (: genuinely. i take a very "fuck you i have a right to be here" approach to it, did model un/model arab league all 4 years of undergrad, am in law school now, did international moot court. i love to yap and people will just have to be patient.

[theoriginalmarke]

SUNDAY'S SUNNY SUMMATIONS

I managed to escape for a bit yesterday and it was a needed respite. I stayed closer than I had planned, though. Her mom's blood pressure was low during the morning nurse's visit. It came back up but I didn't want to be too far away in case we needed to take her to the hospital.

First up was a haircut with the MVP treatment. Got my beard trimmed and everything. I feel so pretty. Bonus: The hair technician is a fellow biker.

Are they called hair technicians these days? Barbers? Stylists? Cosmetologist? Shrug. She did a good job mowing down the hairs so I'll call her successful.

For lunch I finally got to try Kong Dog. They're a franchise that make fancy Korean-inspired corn dogs. You choose sausage, mozzarella, half sausage and half mozz, chicken sausage, or fake sausage.

Then you can pick tater coating, sweet taters, cereal, ramen, Cheetos, Doritos, and more. I went with the plain old crunchy original and it was just okay. Maybe I should have had one of the fancy flavors. The sausage was good, though.

My ankle started hurting while I was running around but I didn't think much about it until I got home and tried pulling off my boots and socks. That's when I realized just how bad it was. I'm pretty sure it's a gout attack. Hopefully the medicines will do their thing and flush it out.

Gout sucks. I don't recommend it. Zero stars.

While I was gone her mom's Girl Scout cookie order arrived. I think they hit her up first because they know the cookie monster will order enough that they can retire. It took the entire troupe working four hours using forklifts and hand trucks to unload the semi load into the carport.

Okay, I exaggerate. But only a little.

Now if you'll excuse me it's time to go take another round of gout meds. I'll wash it down with a Thin Mint cookie.

I love you, baby. Even more than Tagalongs and Do-si-dos. MWAH!

Y'all have a great day.

[diabolicrecreation]

My sister broke the news to me yesterday that MatPat was retiring and I am devastated beyond repair. Despite these feelings, I greatly respect the decision to end on a high note and prioritize his family as well as new projects.

Personally, I've been watching Game Theory, and specifically GTLive, consistently for basically 8 years. That's pretty close to half of my entire life right now. It would be an understatement to say that the channels have been my main source of YouTube content throughout the years. I vividly remember excitedly leaving middle school to watch MatPat play all sorts of games, start sprinkler time, etc. I also remember the first GTLive video I watched having been a FNAF world one where Stephanie was talking about mint thins and other Girl Scout cookies. These were all really solid memories that I continue to cherish. Since then I've moved a couple times, finished high school, and I'm practically done with college 👀.

So even through all the changes, both in my life and the theorist team, I hold fond memories of those who have been a part of the channel. While I highly doubt they'll see this post from a small blog on tumblr.com, I wanted to thank them for the past 8 years and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Here's to the last 9 theories!

(Ngl didn't think I would write this much but there it is I guess XD)

[sheep33hallow]

Brothercore (Wincest)

Summary: Dean suffered during the night. Waking up, he felt worse, and it only continued well into the afternoon.

AO3

Tags: ABO, O!Dean, A!Sam, Sam has secrets, Established relationship, post-series, retired,

______

Dean didn’t understand what was happening when he woke up. His back was aching, his throat was scratchy and he was tired beyond belief. He stretched his ankles out under the covers, his body shivering from the movement when he got resettled, laying on his belly with one bent. His other leg stretched behind him, trying to rub against Sam, who didn’t move. Sam slept like the dead even when their daughter was an infant. It was the worst when it was his night, and Dean had to be the one to wake him up when Silvia’s cry blared through the monitor.

It was summer time, school was out, and 2nd grade exhausted the whole family with the amount of projects, and spelling tests they did this year.

Fuck ever having another child.

They already had the checklist for the third grade year, and the Girl Scouts have been ‘trying’ to recruit their girl. Sam says they were simply selling cookies. No, he calls bullshit. That little girl with the colorful beads in her hair was a natural sales girl, talking to Silvia on how amazing it was to be a Girl Scout.

Sam got their information, and bought 6 boxes.

He knew he’d end up being a Scout Omega because he knew those girls didn’t know everything. He could make those girls more prepared, teach ‘em to make a Devil’s Trap, and Holy Water.

Sam said he didn’t need to. No one asked.

No, no. He was gonna.

He cleared his throat. Tasted bile.

Looking at the clock, he saw it was 4am. Sitting up, he got out of the bed. He had to make sure this didn’t continue. He had a long day ahead of him. Water parks, roller-coaster, giving the stink eye to single people eyeing an oblivious Sam. Like Sam was oblivious before, but once they had their kid, Sam just felt no one would find him attractive as a Dad, and got a bit of a Dad bob which made him more sexy.

Beard and all.

He remembers it scratching at his neck after Sam knotted him. Sam put his hand over Dean’s mouth when he came, then made it worse when he continued to fuck his knot into Dean’s cunt. Leaving him twitchy, over sensitive, and satisfied.

Walking into the en-suite, he grabbed his medicine bag that was in the corner of the counter. His body was aching. He could blame it on the sex. Though, he knew it wasn’t that.

Grabbing a bottle of aspirin, popped the cap, then tilt the container to drop two pills into his opposite hand.

He put the pills in his mouth, letting them sit on his tongue, while he grabbed a paper cup to fill up. Once filled, he drinks the water, allowing him to swallow the meds.

He quietly gags. Hating the taste of the coating.

Tossing the cup in the trash, he puts the meds back.

Flicking the light off, he hopes Silvia sleeps longer than usual. He’s going back to bed.

_____________

“You don’t look so good.”

“Shhh.”

They’re at the water park. Sam is soaked when he walks over to Dean, who’s sitting on one of the lawn chairs. Silvia runs over quickly to dry off before running over to a dry area to play with some of the friends she’s made.

Deans’ in his swim trunks, with one of Sam’s zip up hoodies on. Sam’s smell has been a comfort during his rough afternoon.

“Why don’t you go back to the room?”

“Hmm, you gonna follow me, Sammy?” He winks, then grimaces. The bile just sits in the back of his throat, not fully coming up.

Sam chuckles. He sits in his chair next to Dean, scooting it closer to his Omega. He pats his mate’s knee. “I think I have to be responsible today.”

“You’re responsible for me.” Dean tries to do a convincing pout.

“You’re right.” He leans over, kissing Dean’s mate mark on his shoulder. “But we also decided to have a kid.” He whispers into Dean’s ear.

“You should join me on this chair since you have to be responsible.” He lightly drags his nails down Sam’s wet hairy chest. “Dry off first.” He brings the liquid that clung to his fingers to his mouth, trying to be sexy, but that was the moment the bile finally left his mouth. He caught himself in time, using his daughter’s pail to collect his puke.

He heaved into the plastic toy longer than he intended too.

Sam rubbed his back throughout.

When he was done, Sam took the toy pail  without a word, getting up and walking away to where Dean assumed, was the bathroom. Dean grabbed his water out of his bag, drinking the whole bottle. He exhales, trying to crush the plastic. Wanting something to take his annoyance out on.

Stupid companies. He guessed paying two dollars more would be difficult to crush.

He tosses over his shoulder, not caring if it lands on a child. Sam will deal with it if so.

Sam comes back pail-less. Sitting on Dean’s chair by his feet.

Dean raises a brow.

“I tossed it. I’ll buy her a new one in the gift shop if she cares.” He takes hold of Dean’s ankles, massaging it.

Dean nods. “I’m going back to the room.” As he speaks he tries to think of what he ate the previous day. “Go ask that BBQ place if anyone else has complained about a sickness.”

“Silvia ate what you ate.”

“She has a young stomach. Things like a tank.” He turns to his side, his legs going over the side of the lawn chair. “Just ask.” He urges before he stands up.

“I’ll stop at the pharmacy after we’re done here.”

Deans looks at Sam. “What for? You know, I have every pill in my bag.” Fucking Mom bag.  

Sam ignored him. “Maybe it has something you don’t have.” He reaches up, patting Dean’s stomach.

Dean smacks his hand. “Don’t do that. I might puke on you, loser.” He bends down, kissing Sam. “Buy me crackers as well.” He says against his brother’s lips.

He feels lightheaded when he stands back up. He hopes he was able to hide it.

“Smooth.” He hears Sam say as he walks away.

Guess not.

_____

Their little family is in a restaurant booth the next morning. Silvia is sitting next to Dean, coloring next to the window from her LOL surprise book. He was never into toys because of obvious reasons, but the beauty of the LOL OMG dolls took him by surprise. Silvia plays with hers, and Dean collects his. The two he has, Sam bought him when he saw them playing in their daughter’s room.

Thinking of his daughter’s room, he inwardly groans.

  Pregnant.  

He’ll have to give up his office space for a fucking nursery. They bought a three bedroom home, not expecting more kids since the one they got was a damn surprise.

He feels Sam’s foot tap his.

Dean glares at him.

Sam smiles.

“Fuck you. ” He mouths.

Sam rubs his hand over his mouth, sticks his tongue out in between his pointer and middle quickly before pretending to scratch his beard.

Asshole came back yesterday with his daughter and a bag full of goodies and three digital pregnancy tests.

“You can’t be serious.”  He remembers saying.

  “Humor me.”  

And humor him he did.

All positive just like with Silvia.

He’s forty fucking five.

He doesn’t care how many people think he’s younger than he looks. His body knows his age, and Sam’s sitting across from him with a cheshire grin. Who wouldn’t, he suppose, when one gets pregnant cunt.

He can’t recall when he could have gotten pregnant. He takes his pill, and Sam will be getting fixed this time around.

“You’re getting fixed before I give birth.” He quickly smiles at the waitress when they bring their food. Silvia takes her book off the table, and into her backpack. She says  thank you , just like she was taught. Dean kisses the side of her head while Sam gives appreciation to the waitress for the both of them.

Sam picks up a piece of bacon. “What do I get in return?”

“Life. Continuing to live in a home, and not have your coworkers wonder why you’re sleeping in your office.” Dean lifts his cup of coffee to his mouth, sighing in relief that the smell doesn’t make him queasy. He drinks.

“I pay all the bills.”

“I take care of the home.”

“No you don’t.”

“Well I’m pretty. What more do you want?”

Sam laughs. He reaches over the table, taking Dean’s hand into his. “Nothing.” He laces their fingers together.

Dean can feel his face heat up. “You can ask for something, you b–.” He coughs. “You bear.” He corrects.

Sam eats some eggs next. “Let me think about it.”

Dean scoffs. “You already know what you want. So just say it.” He looks over at Silvia who seems to be enjoying her meal. He didn’t notice her putting on her sound proof headphones. He taps her shoulder.

She lifts a side up.

“You okay?” Dean asked.

She nods. Laying the side back down, and returning to her meal.

Dean looks back over at Sam when he squeezes his hand. “For real. Let me think.” Sam replies.

Dean takes his hand back. Wanting to eat his breakfast sandwich. “You have nine months to decide.” He looks at Silvia again, then back at Sam. “Bitch.”

_________

Sam is sitting on the shower bench with Dean on his lap, knotted together. He has a grip on Dean’s neck, directing the pace of their kiss. He’s slowly rolling his hips into Dean, swallowing every little moan his tired Omega lets out.

He loves his brother so much.

So much so, that he’s been sabotaging Dean’s birth control pills. For the last three months when he goes and picks them up for him at the pharmacy, he keeps the real pills in his office, and uses a pack of sugar pills he got from a friend at work.

After retiring from hunting, Dean really took to the spoiled Omega lifestyle. He works on cars part time, and the other half of his time he keeps his body in shape.

“You’re so pretty.” He says in a tone full of admiration. He drags his free hand behind Dean, down to his ass, pressing the tip of his finger into the hole. Playing with the rim. “And all mine. Always been too.”

When he started months ago, he wondered what took so long. When he did it with Silvia, a month of poking holes was all it took. They were only using condoms back then. Didn’t want to waste extra money on pills when they’ve been just fine with condoms for around the seven years they’ve been mates prior.

Dean was beautiful when pregnant. Glowed.

Sam never felt more Alpha in his life when people watched Dean. Carrying their evidence of new life.

He had to do it again before Dean really couldn’t carry again.

Sam separated their mouths, Dean tried to chase after him, wanting to continue. Sam moved his face out of the way, choosing to kiss along his jawline, down to his neck. Sucking marks into it. He loved his brother. Never wanted the evidence to fade.

Dean could hide his mate mark, but not this. He made hickies going upward to his ear.

“Sam.” He moans. Rocking his hips back and forth onto Sam’s knot, and finger. “Sammy.” The tone is a pitch higher.

“I’ve got you.” He jerks his knot roughly. Knowing it’s causing a stir in Dean’s cunt. “I got you.” He whispers, biting on Dean’s ear lobe.

He’ll buy a new forever home for them.

Enough for their home family, and the neighbors and friends they’ll continue to make on their journey.

He hopes for a son.

He hopes that Dean will be a Girl Scout Omega, and won’t embarrass their daughter too much.

Next to his ear, Dean’s cries from the pleasure his Alpha is giving him.

He hopes when he dies, he’ll get to do it all over again.

[jae0515]

Pfttt I started quite literally LOL when I read about the Girl Scout cookies HAAHAAHHA Not Bucky wanting a MINI WINTER SOLIDER 🤣

I LOVE RETIRED BUCCCY HAHAHAHHA With all the CHAOS HES DOING And Bucky asking for practise round, when’s the start date and the timeline 🤣

YES BUCKY DESERVE A FAMILY 🥺 When the baby was born 🥺🥺🥺 especially at 6 months old....... Bucky "rants" are all so cuteeeee!!

How's retirement, Bucky? | Bucky Barnes x f!reader.

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x f!reader

Themes: Funny. Bucky trying to find things to do to kill time, while also being a menace to Y/N and the neighbours. Prequel to 'Ouch, My face.'

Summary: Bucky decides to retire and leave the super hero world behind, but now he doesn't know how to be normal citizen.

A/N: Just another scenario tha rudely popped into my head. . .

Bucky Barnes was retired.

It still felt strange, even after months of settling into a life of quiet mornings and unhurried afternoons. He had fought in wars, spent decades as an agent of chaos, and dedicated years to redemption and healing. Now, here he was—waking up whenever he pleased, making breakfast in a house that didn’t have bullet-proof glass windows or a panic room, and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his day.

Today, like most others, started off simple enough: a run through the neighbourhood, a cup of coffee, and a lazy scan of the news. He’d even managed to fix the leaky faucet that had been bothering you for weeks, earning a soft kiss on the cheek as a reward.

But then… the day stretched on. There were no missions, no tactical planning, no world to save. Just the quiet ticking of the clock and the gentle hum of suburban life around him.

So, Bucky set his sights on something—or rather, someone—far more interesting: annoying you.

And thus began the saga of Bucky Barnes’ Retirement Phases.

Phase 1: The Handyman Hero Phase

Duration: One Month

Bucky started off strong, becoming the ultimate handyman of the household. Everything was fair game for improvement. Leaky faucets, creaky floorboards, wobbly shelves—if there was a screw to tighten, Bucky was on it like a well-oiled machine.

“Bucky, what are you doing?” you asked one morning, sipping your coffee as you watched him carefully measuring the distance between each picture frame on the living room wall.

“Making sure they’re exactly one inch apart,” he said without looking up, his voice deadly serious.

“Why?”

“Because last night, I noticed this one—” he pointed to a frame on the far left “—was slightly off-center, and it’s been bothering me ever since.”

You blinked. “Bucky, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine, Y/N. It’s one and a quarter inch apart. Do you know what happens when things aren’t balanced?” He gave you a haunted look, as if you’d just suggested destabilizing the world order.

“Chaos,” you muttered.

“Exactly.”

Within weeks, Bucky had rebuilt half the house, repainted the walls (twice), and installed a state-of-the-art security system that even Tony Stark would envy. You came home one day to find the couch moved three inches to the left, the coffee table completely gone (“I dismantled it; we don’t need it”), and Bucky seriously contemplating whether the kitchen would look better with marble or granite countertops.

“Bucky,” you said slowly, trying to remain calm, “I’m begging you—stop fixing things.”

He blinked at you. “What do you want me to do then?”

You panicked. “Anything. Just—find a hobby!”

He gave a solemn nod, as if you’d just entrusted him with a new mission. “Okay. A hobby. Got it.”

You breathed a sigh of relief. If only you’d known what was coming next.

Phase 2: The Google Scholar Phase

Duration: Two Weeks

With his newfound free time, Bucky discovered the internet. And when Bucky Barnes discovers the internet, chaos ensues.

It started innocently enough. You’d come home to find him glued to his laptop, his brows furrowed in concentration.

“What are you doing?” you asked, setting down your bag.

“Research,” he said ominously, fingers flying over the keys.

“Research on… what?”

He glanced up, his eyes wide. “Did you know sharks have been around longer than trees?”

“Uh—”

“And that banana slugs can grow up to 9 inches long?” He leaned forward, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “There’s a whole website dedicated to weird animal facts. I’ve been reading for hours.”

And so, you were subjected to two weeks of nonstop trivia.

“Hey, Y/N!” he’d shout from the kitchen. “Did you know an octopus has three hearts?”

Or: “Did you know cows have best friends?”

And: “Do you want to hear about the deepest point in the ocean?”

“Not really—”

“It’s called the Mariana Trench, and it’s seven miles down!”

You tried banning Wikipedia, but he just switched to obscure forums. You blocked YouTube, and he found a random chicken fact blog. The worst part? He’d share his newfound knowledge with anyone who’d listen.

“I’m calling Sam,” you muttered one evening after hearing Bucky recite the entire history of the humble potato to the mailman. “You need social intervention.”

Phase 3: The Home Décor Perfectionist Phase

Duration: Two Exasperating Weeks

Denied access to his newfound internet pursuits, Bucky turned to interior design. You were caught off guard one Saturday morning when he asked, “What do you think of paisley?”

“What’s a paisley?”

“Pattern. I’m thinking of reupholstering the couch.”

“Bucky, no—”

Too late. Within days, every room was a different colour. You came home to find polka-dotted curtains in the bathroom, and he’d somehow managed to install a chandelier in the laundry room.

“Bucky, why is there a 10-foot mirror in the hallway?”

“It makes the space feel bigger.”

“Bucky, this is a two-bedroom house!”

He paused, squinting at the living room wall. “I think the polka dots need to go.”

You nearly wept with relief when he announced he was moving on to the garden.

Phase 4: The Amateur Detective Phase

Duration: One Overly Suspicious Month

After redecorating the entire house, Bucky set his sights on the neighborhood.

“Y/N, did you see that guy across the street?” he whispered one morning, peering through the blinds with a pair of binoculars.

“That’s Mr. Henderson. He’s eighty-five.”

“Yeah, and he’s up to something. No one goes to the mailbox that often.”

“Maybe he likes getting his mail?”

“I’m telling you, something’s not right.” He tapped the binoculars. “I’m gonna get to the bottom of it.”

And so began Operation: Neighborhood Watch. Every delivery truck was scrutinised. Every dog walker received a full background check. The poor Girl Scouts who came to sell cookies left looking slightly shell-shocked.

The Girl Scout Incident: When Bucky Barnes Met Thin Mints

The Girl Scout incident started out innocent enough—just a kid selling cookies to the neighborhood. But when Bucky Barnes answered the door, things took a turn.

It was a sunny Saturday morning. You were in the kitchen, enjoying a rare moment of peace, when you heard the doorbell ring. Before you could even get up to check, Bucky’s voice echoed from the living room.

“I got it!” he called out, already making his way to the front door.

Curious, you peeked around the corner just in time to see him open it. Standing on the porch was a sweet-looking little girl, no more than nine or ten, decked out in her green uniform, clutching a clipboard and flashing a bright, eager smile.

“Hi, mister!” she chirped, clearly undeterred by the stern look on Bucky’s face. “Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies today?”

You watched as Bucky’s expression softened just a bit, his head tilting to the side in confusion.

“Cookies?” he repeated, as if she’d just offered him nuclear launch codes.

“Yep!” She held up a laminated chart with pictures of the various cookies, pointing to each one with a tiny, rainbow-colored pen. “We have Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas—uh, I mean, Caramel deLites—”

He squinted at the chart, clearly trying to make sense of it all. “Why would you need to sell cookies?”

You nearly face-palmed. Oh no.

The girl’s enthusiasm didn’t waver. “It’s a fundraiser! To support our troop activities and trips.”

“Fundraiser?” Bucky’s voice dropped suspiciously. “Who’s your troop leader?”

The girl blinked, a little taken aback. “Uh, Mrs. Patterson?”

“Uh-huh. And how many boxes of these so-called ‘cookies’ are you supposed to sell?”

Her smile wavered just a fraction. “Um, as many as possible?”

Bucky crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. “And where does all this money go?”

“Bucky—” you tried to interrupt, stepping forward, but he held up a hand without looking back, eyes still locked on the bewildered Girl Scout.

“It goes to our troop!” she answered nervously, glancing down at her clipboard as if for reassurance. “For badges and supplies and—”

“Supplies,” Bucky echoed, his tone suddenly sharp. “What kind of supplies?”

“Uh… arts and crafts…?” she stammered, clearly starting to get uncomfortable.

“Arts and crafts?” He leaned in, dropping his voice to a low, conspiratorial whisper. “Or something else?”

You saw the poor girl’s eyes widen, her grip tightening on her clipboard as if she was contemplating using it as a shield.

“Bucky, stop,” you hissed, stepping forward to intervene. But he was on a roll now.

“Who gets the money, huh?” He narrowed his eyes, peering down at her like she was an enemy combatant. “Do you get it?

“Or does it go to some mysterious ‘troop leader’ who’s hiding behind a desk somewhere, raking in profits from innocent cookie sales?”

“M-Mister, it’s just cookies,” she squeaked, glancing nervously at the boxes stacked beside her. “We just wanna go camping this summer.”

“Camping?” he repeated slowly, as if tasting the word. “And what kind of ‘camping’ are we talking about here? Deep-woods recon training? SERE training?”

The girl blinked up at him, clearly having no idea what he was talking about.

“Bucky, she’s nine!” you practically shouted, rushing over to save the poor child from what was rapidly escalating into a full-blown interrogation.

“But Y/N, this could be—”

“It’s not a conspiracy, Bucky!” you snapped, turning to the girl and giving her what you hoped was a reassuring smile. “Sweetie, how much for a box of Thin Mints?”

“Uh… f-five dollars?” she stammered, still eyeing Bucky like he might suddenly sprout fangs.

You reached for your wallet, pulling out a ten-dollar bill and handing it to her. “Keep the change.”

“Thank you, ma’am!” she squeaked, stuffing the money into her pouch with trembling hands.

You shot Bucky a glare. “Apologize.”

He crossed his arms, looking mulish. “But—”

“Bucky.”

He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Uh… sorry… for, um… asking about your troop leader and, uh… the money laundering?”

The girl blinked up at him, clearly not following.

“Bucky!” you hissed, elbowing him sharply.

“I mean, sorry for… for… being weird,” he mumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets.

The girl gave a hesitant nod, glancing back at her stack of cookies. “Um… would you like another box, mister?”

Bucky frowned thoughtfully. “Maybe. Which one’s the best?”

“Bucky—” you started, but he was already leaning down, listening intently as the girl launched into a detailed explanation of the flavour profiles of Samoas versus Tagalongs.

Twenty minutes later, Bucky was the proud owner of a dozen boxes of Girl Scout cookies, which the girl somehow managed to upsell him into buying. The look of relief on her face as she walked away was palpable.

You turned to Bucky, hands on your hips. “Really, Buck?”

“What?” he said defensively, clutching his armful of cookies. “I needed to make sure it was legit!”

“Uh-huh. And that’s why we now have enough cookies to feed an army?”

He shrugged, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I guess I got carried away.”

“Just… try not to scare any more children, okay?”

“Hey, I was just being thorough,” he muttered, glancing down at the boxes. “Besides… these ‘Samoas’ are actually pretty good.”

You shook your head, laughing despite yourself. Because only Bucky Barnes could turn a simple cookie sale into a full-scale interrogation—and then end up buying out the entire stock.

“Whatever you say, Bucky. Whatever you say.”

He gave you a sheepish grin, holding up a box of Thin Mints. “Want one?”

“Sure,” you sighed, reaching out to grab a cookie. Because, at the end of the day, this was Bucky Barnes: ex-assassin, super-soldier, and now… terrifyingly dedicated Girl Scout cookie connoisseur.

The Girl Scout incident, unfortunately, didn’t mark the end of Bucky’s neighbourhood watch endeavours.

“Hey, Y/N, that’s the third day in a row Mrs. Higginson has gone jogging past our house,” Bucky muttered a few days later, scribbling furiously in his notebook.

You glanced over from your spot on the couch, raising an eyebrow. “Uh-huh,” you replied absently, already wondering if now would be a good time to text Steve for a little ‘rescue mission.’ “Maybe she likes jogging?”

“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s not natural. It’s a cover for something. Probably espionage.”

“Bucky, she’s seventy.”

“Exactly. No one that age moves like that. She’s gotta be a retired agent.”

“Or she’s trying to stay in shape?”

“Or she’s spying on us.” He narrowed his eyes, peering through the blinds. “Maybe she’s HYDRA.”

“Bucky, she brought us homemade banana bread last week.”

“Which tasted suspiciously good,” he muttered darkly, tapping his pen against his chin. “I’m keeping an eye on her.”

It didn’t stop there. He began obsessively tracking patterns—when neighbors took out their trash, when they left for work, who picked up their mail first thing in the morning. His conspiracy board rivaled the one you’d seen at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, complete with photos, string, and a suspiciously large map of the neighborhood.

“Y/N, I need to talk to you.”

You blinked, looking up from your book. “What’s up, Buck?”

He leaned in, his voice low and serious. “Did you know Mrs. Patterson’s dog peed on our lawn three times this week?”

“I—what?”

“And Mr. Thompson left his house twice yesterday. Twice.”

“…is that a crime?”

“Yes. Who leaves the house twice in one day? He’s clearly up to something.”

“Like… groceries?”

Bucky frowned. “No. Something bigger. I saw him walking to his car, get this—without any bags.”

“Maybe he forgot something?”

He shook his head, eyes narrowed. “It’s a diversion tactic. I’m keeping a close watch on him.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re stalking the neighbours.”

“Of course not!” He paused. “I’m… observing. For science.”

“For science?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, Buck. I’m putting my foot down,” you finally managed. “You need to stop this. The neighbours think we’re crazy. You’re scaring the kids and… the mailman won’t come to the door anymore.”

Bucky looked genuinely confused. “Why not?”

“Because you interrogated him about his route last week!”

“He was being shady!”

“He’s a mailman!”

There was a long pause as you stared each other down, Bucky looking defiant and you looking exhausted. Finally, you sighed and ran a hand through your hair.

“Buck… I know retirement is hard. But you need a new outlet. Maybe something a little less—”

“Paranoid?” he offered, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. And a little less terrifying for the neighbours.”

He sighed deeply, like you’d just asked him to hang up his shield all over again. “I was just… trying to be useful.”

Your heart softened immediately. Because that was what it all boiled down to, wasn’t it? The man who’d spent his life fighting wars and doing battle against his own mind was now left trying to figure out how to fit into a world that no longer needed him to save it.

You walked over, placing your hands on his shoulders and giving him a soft smile. “You’re always useful, Buck. Even if you’re not interrogating the mailman about federal postal regulations or… spying on seventy-year-old retirees.”

He snorted, shaking his head. “I might’ve gone a little overboard, huh?”

“A little,” you agreed with a grin. “Maybe you should find something else to watch over.”

“Like what?” he asked, looking genuinely curious.

You bit your lip, thinking. “I don’t know… Maybe get a pet? You could… I don’t know, babysit a cat or something.”

Bucky blinked at you. Then his eyes lit up like you’d just handed him the Holy Grail of retirement activities.

“A cat,” he murmured slowly, as if testing the word. “A cat.”

“Yes, a cat,” you repeated cautiously, wondering if you’d just unleashed some new kind of havoc on the house. “You could train it to… I don’t know, not scratch the furniture or something.”

“Or… I could train it to keep an eye on the pigeons,” he muttered to himself, looking thoughtful.

“Wait, what?”

But Bucky had already gone inside, the gears in his mind clearly turning. You shook your head, deciding to let him have this one. After all, how much trouble could he really get into with a cat?

Phase 5: The Pet Phase (aka Operation: Find a Feline Friend)

Duration: Ongoing, with Fur Everywhere

You didn’t think he’d take it seriously. Until you came home the next day to find Bucky sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, a small, white ball of fluff curled up in his lap.

“This is Alpine,” he announced proudly.

You stared at the kitten, then at Bucky, then back at the kitten. “Bucky, what… why…?”

“You said get a pet,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “So I did.”

And that’s how Alpine, the grumpy old woman in a cat’s body, became part of your household. Bucky spent weeks trying to train him (“Sit, Alpine! Sit! … Okay, fine, just glare at me, that works too.”), set up elaborate obstacle courses (“Alpine, jump! No, don’t walk away—okay, you know what, just do your thing”), and spoiled her rotten with toys and treats.

With each phase, Bucky’s retirement became a new adventure. And while it drove you absolutely crazy at times, you couldn’t help but smile when you saw Bucky lying on the couch, Alpine curled up on his chest, both looking completely content.

“Retirement isn’t so bad, huh?” you teased one evening, curling up beside him.

He hummed thoughtfully, scratching behind Alpine’s ears. “I don’t know… I think I could use a new project.”

You groaned, but your groan turned into a laugh when he grinned at you, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Oh no,” you said, narrowing your eyes. “No more projects, Barnes. You’ve nearly redecorated us out of house and home, scared the mailman half to death, and—”

“Don’t forget the gourmet cookies,” he interjected with a cheeky smile.

You shot him a playful glare. “I’m trying to forget the cookies, thank you.”

“Aw, come on. I think I finally got the recipe down. I’ll just try one more—”

“No!” you practically shouted, your voice echoing through the living room. Alpine, unbothered, merely lifted her head, gave you both a disinterested look, and went back to napping.

Bucky chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. No more cookies. No more redecorating. No more… scaring the Girl Scouts.”

“Or spying on the neighbors.”

“Or spying on the neighbors,” he agreed, still looking a little too amused for your liking.

You sighed, leaning back into the couch and resting your head on his shoulder. “You know, most people take up hobbies like gardening or painting in retirement.”

Bucky nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, but those aren’t as exciting.”

“They’re not supposed to be exciting. They’re supposed to be calm. That’s the whole point of retirement, Buck.”

He glanced down at you, his gaze softening. “You really think I’m the ‘calm’ type, doll?”

You snorted. “No, not really. But it would be nice if, just once, I didn’t come home to find you plotting to build a moat around the house.”

“Moats are an excellent defense mechanism,” he said matter-of-factly. “But okay, I get it. I’ll tone it down.”

You gave him a skeptical look. “You promise?”

“Scout’s honor,” he said, holding up his right hand. The glint in his eye, however, told you he was already planning something new.

“Bucky…”

“What?” he asked, all innocence. “You don’t trust me?”

“Not for a second.”

He chuckled, then pressed a gentle kiss to your temple. “Alright, no more projects. I’ll just focus on Alpine. She’s a full-time job anyway.”

You glanced at the cat, who was now sprawled out like she owned the place. “You’ve turned her into a diva, you know.”

“He’s just refined,” Bucky said defensively. “He’s got standards.”

“Uh-huh. Like the way he refuses to eat unless you hand-feed her?”

“Refined,” Bucky insisted.

“And how she sleeps on your side of the bed and shoves you off with her tiny, evil paws?”

“Selective.”

“And how she sits on the counter staring at you like she’s plotting your demise?”

“Observant.”

You shook your head, laughing softly. “You’ve created a monster, Bucky.”

“Eh,” he said with a shrug, smirking down at you. “I’ve handled worse monsters. She’s a good one. Besides,” he added, scratching Alpine’s head fondly, “she’s family.”

Your heart softened at his words, and you smiled up at him. “Yeah, I guess she is.”

There was a comfortable silence as you both sat there, content in the peaceful moment.

Then Bucky cleared his throat, and you glanced up to see him shifting slightly, like he was working up the nerve to say something.

“So… I was thinking…” he began slowly.

“Bucky.”

“No, no, hear me out,” he said quickly, raising his hands as if to ward off your incoming refusal. “What if we… I dunno… made a baby?”

You blinked, certain you hadn’t heard him correctly. “What?”

“A baby,” he repeated, his voice steady, though there was a telltale blush creeping up his neck. “You know, a little human—our human. Someone we can train to take over the world… or at least keep me entertained.”

Your jaw dropped open. “You want to have a baby—because you’re bored?”

Bucky gave you a sheepish grin. “I mean, I was thinking it could be a good project… long-term investment… future troublemaker…”

“Bucky,” you interrupted, placing your hands on his shoulders and staring at him, bewildered. “Are you seriously suggesting having a child like it’s another DIY project?”

He shrugged, looking as nonchalant as ever, but his eyes were soft and serious. “Maybe. But I was also thinking it’d be nice to have something, or someone, that’s just… ours. A mix of you and me. Something that isn’t tied to the past, or fighting, or… all the other stuff.”

You stared at him, trying to wrap your mind around the sudden turn the conversation had taken. “You really want a baby, Bucky?”

He nodded slowly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. “Yeah. I do. Don’t get me wrong, Alpine’s great and all, but…” He sighed, his smile turning tender. “I just think it’d be amazing to have something more. I’ve spent so much of my life taking orders or fighting ghosts. But starting a family with you? That’s something I get to build. Something that’s ours.”

You bit your lip, heart swelling at his words. Despite the completely unromantic way he’d suggested it, there was sincerity in his gaze, a yearning for something deeper than fixing leaky faucets or buying out the Girl Scouts’ entire cookie stock.

“And you think you’d be a good dad?” you teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Please,” he scoffed, pulling you closer and pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’d be the best damn dad. I’d teach our kid how to throw a proper punch by age five, dismantle a toaster by six—”

You laughed, shaking your head. “So, what you’re saying is… you want to raise a tiny super-soldier?”

His grin widened. “Hell yeah.”

“Bucky, we are not turning our child into a mini-Winter Soldier.”

He pouted dramatically. “Not even a little bit?”

“Not even a little bit,” you affirmed with a chuckle. You leaned in, resting your forehead against his. “But… maybe we could talk about it. You know, actually talk. Not just… plan a tactical baby mission.”

Bucky’s eyes softened as he brushed his thumb along your cheek. “Yeah. We can talk about it.” He paused, then added with a mischievous glint, “After we practice a little more.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “Oh my God, Bucky.”

“What?” he asked innocently, his grin widening. “Practice makes perfect, right?”

You shook your head, letting out a breathy laugh. “You’re incorrigible.”

“And you love me for it,” he murmured, leaning in to capture your lips in a soft, lingering kiss.

“Yeah,” you whispered when he pulled away, your heart fluttering in your chest. “I do.”

You glanced down at Alpine, who was still sprawled across Bucky’s lap, looking utterly uninterested in the conversation. A baby. You hadn’t really thought about it seriously before, but now that Bucky had put the idea in your head… you couldn’t help but wonder.

There was a brief pause as Bucky gazed at you, his expression growing thoughtful. “You know,” he began quietly, “after that whole Girl Scout cookie fiasco… I kinda started thinking… I’d really like to have a daughter.”

You blinked at him, surprised. “A daughter?”

“Yeah,” he murmured, his voice softening. “That kid was just so… brave, you know? Standing there, staring me down even though I was being a total idiot. It reminded me of you—fierce and unafraid. I couldn’t stop thinking… what if we had a daughter like that? Strong, smart, and completely capable of putting me in my place when I get out of line.”

You felt your heart clench at his words, his quiet admission making your chest ache. “You want a little girl because she’d keep you in check?”

“That,” he said, smiling softly, “and I think I’d like the challenge. I’ve spent so much of my life dealing with people who only saw me as a weapon. I just… want to prove that I can be something else. That I can be gentle… and kind… and love someone unconditionally. The way I love you.”

You reached up, cupping his face gently. “Bucky, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

“I know,” he murmured, his gaze warm and intense. “But I still want to try. And I want to be the kind of dad who isn’t just a protector, but a friend. Someone who’d sit through endless tea parties and help her build pillow forts… and buy all the Girl Scout cookies she wants without scaring anyone.”

You laughed softly, tears stinging your eyes at the picture he painted. “You’d be a great dad, Bucky.”

“Yeah?” he asked, his voice low and hopeful.

“Yeah,” you whispered, smiling up at him.

There was another beat of silence before Bucky leaned in, his breath warm against your ear as he whispered, “So… when do we start?”

You felt your cheeks heat, a mix of laughter and surprise bubbling up in your chest. “Bucky!”

“What?” he asked, his smile as innocent as ever. “I’m just asking. I mean, you know I’m a man of action. Gotta have a timeline.”

“Oh my God,” you muttered, burying your face in your hands as Bucky laughed softly, his arms wrapping around you.

“Okay, okay,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your hair. “No rush. We’ll take it one day at a time, sweetheart. But just know… I’m ready whenever you are.”

And somehow, you knew this next phase—whatever it looked like—was going to be the best one yet.

× × × ×

Ten months later

The soft glow of the nightlight bathed the nursery in a warm, golden hue, casting gentle shadows on the pale blue walls. The room was still, save for the quiet creak of the rocking chair as Bucky swayed back and forth, holding the tiniest bundle of joy in his strong, yet tender arms.

His daughter, barely a week old, was nestled against his chest, her small, delicate breaths in sync with the steady rhythm of his own. Her tiny fist curled around the fabric of his shirt, as if she knew just how safe and loved she was in her daddy's arms.

Bucky hummed quietly, the familiar melody of an old lullaby drifting into the air. It was a song his mother used to sing to him when he was no older than his sweet little girl was now. The words came softly, almost whispered, as if they were sacred—meant only for his daughter.

“Darling, you're my bloodYou have my heartbeatYou have my heartbeat, beating loud,”

His voice was gruff, yet softened by emotion as he sang, the gentle rocking lulling his daughter further into her peaceful slumber. His fingers brushed through her soft, downy hair as he looked down at her with nothing short of awe. How had he, of all people, gotten so lucky?

He had been through so much darkness in his life—seen and done things he would never be able to forget—but here, in this quiet moment, everything seemed to fade away. The world outside could wait. Right now, his whole universe was cradled in his arms, and for the first time in a long time, Bucky Barnes felt at peace.

Unbeknownst to him, you stood at the door, your heart swelling at the sight before you. You had come to check on them both, worried that Bucky might need help with the baby. But when you saw him there, rocking your little girl and singing so sweetly, you couldn’t bring yourself to interrupt.

A soft smile tugged at your lips as you leaned against the doorframe, content to watch the love of your life in this vulnerable, beautiful moment. 

Bucky was a natural, even if he didn’t believe it. You had seen the worry in his eyes when you first brought your daughter home—the fear that he wouldn’t be good enough, that he wouldn’t know what to do. But here he was, proving himself wrong in the most heart-melting way possible.

The lullaby continued, each note filled with so much love it made your eyes mist over.

"You are my lighthouseA peak of light from the dark cloudsI've lived under my whole life. . .And there's nothing I won't do for you."

Bucky’s voice cracked just a little on the last line, overcome with emotion as he gazed down at his daughter and carefully wiped his tears away. 

She had his eyes—bright and full of wonder, even when they were closed in slumber. He couldn’t help but trace the delicate features of her face with his gaze, committing every tiny detail to memory.

Finally, you couldn’t resist any longer. You stepped into the room quietly, not wanting to startle him. Bucky looked up, surprise flickering across his face when he saw you standing there. His expression softened when he realised you had been watching him.

“How long have you been standing there?” he asked, his voice low so as not to wake the baby.

“Long enough,” you replied, your smile widening as you walked over to him.

Bucky blushed, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. “I’m not exactly a professional.”

“I beg to differ, I think you’re the best dad in the world.” you whispered, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his temple. 

Bucky’s heart swelled at your words. He never imagined he would be here—sitting in a nursery, holding his newborn daughter while the love of his life stood beside him, calling him the best dad in the world. It still felt like a dream.

“She’s so small,” he murmured, looking back down at the baby. “So fragile. I didn’t think…I didn’t think I could love someone I barely knew this much.”

Your hand gently rested on his shoulder as you gazed down at your daughter. “You’ve got a big heart, James. I always knew you’d be amazing as a father.”

He glanced up at you, eyes soft and full of affection. “You’re the amazing one.”

You reached out to gently stroke the baby’s cheek, and Bucky leaned into your touch, feeling more complete than he ever thought possible.

“I never thought I’d have this,” he admitted after a long silence, his voice barely above a whisper. “A family. A reason to feel…whole again.”

You knelt down beside him, resting your head against his shoulder. “You deserve it, Bucky. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Bucky kissed the top of youe head, holding you close as he continued to rock your daughter. The world outside could be chaotic and unforgiving, but in this room, in this moment, everything was perfect.

× × × ×

Baby at six months

The house was peaceful, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow through the windows. You were out running errands, leaving Bucky home with their now six-month-old daughter, who was currently kicking her chubby little legs and babbling on her playmat. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she reached for her favorite stuffed bear, the one Bucky had given her the day she was born.

Bucky sat beside her, legs crossed, watching her every move like she was the most fascinating thing on the planet. He leaned down, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. 

“You know, blossom,” he began, glancing over his shoulder dramatically as if checking to make sure Y/N wasn’t around. “Your mom thinks she’s the boss.”

Their daughter let out a high-pitched squeal, and Bucky grinned. 

“Right? Can you believe it?” he continued, keeping his voice low as if sharing the biggest secret in the world. “She thinks she’s in charge around here. But between you and me, we know the truth.”

His little girl giggled again, her tiny hands grasping at the air as if she was agreeing with him.

“See, you and I?” Bucky said, tapping his finger gently on her nose, “We’re a team. We know how to get things done. I mean, just look at us—surviving nap time, figuring out how to stack those weird little ring toys, and we don’t even need to look at the instructions. Meanwhile, your mom still thinks I can’t fold laundry properly.”

He paused for dramatic effect, raising his brows. “Can you believe that? Laundry. I fought in World War II, and she’s worried I’ll mess up the towels.”

His daughter let out a delighted shriek, her little legs kicking excitedly. Bucky reached over and tickled her belly gently, making her burst into even more giggles.

“Oh, yeah, I know you think it’s funny,” Bucky chuckled. “But trust me, your mom’s got some pretty high laundry standards. I tried to fold one towel, just one, and she came over with this look like I’d committed a crime. 'Bucky, that’s not how you fold them!' she said. And I’m standing there like, ‘It’s a towel, not a top-secret mission.’”

He leaned in closer, as if telling her something top-secret. “She doesn’t know this, but I might’ve folded them wrong on purpose so I wouldn’t have to do it anymore.”

His daughter cooed, her tiny hand reaching out to grab his finger, which she promptly brought to her mouth to chew on. Bucky let her, his heart melting at the sight. She was his little sidekick, always hanging on his every word, even if she didn’t fully understand yet.

“And don’t even get me started on the bedtime routine,” Bucky continued, shaking his head in mock exasperation. “Your mom’s got this whole plan—bath, story, lights out. Meanwhile, you and me? We’ve got a better plan. We chill, we rock, maybe sing a little. You get all cozy, and bam—out like a light.”

“Bababababa,” His daughter babbled something back at him, her little voice full of enthusiasm, and Bucky nodded seriously. 

“Exactly. That’s what I’ve been saying. We’ve got this figured out.”

He scooped her up from the mat and held her close, her head resting comfortably against his chest as he walked them over to the couch. He sat down, cradling her in his arms, and continued his lighthearted rant.

“And the thing is, she’s always right, which drives me crazy. Like, the other day, she told me you were gonna try to crawl soon. I thought, ‘Nah, she’s too young.’ But then what happens? Two days later, you’re scooting around like you’ve got places to be. I swear, your mom’s a psychic or something.”

Bucky gazed down at his daughter, who was now looking up at him with those wide blue eyes that never failed to melt his heart. She let out a happy gurgle, and Bucky chuckled softly, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

“You know I’m just kidding, right? Your mom’s the best. She takes care of both of us.” He sighed, feeling a rush of affection as he thought about Y/N. “Don’t tell her, but I’m pretty lucky to have her. She keeps me in line.”

Just then, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, and Bucky’s head shot up in mock panic.

“Uh-oh,” he whispered to his daughter, his eyes wide with exaggerated worry. “The boss is back. Don’t say anything.”

You appeared in the doorway, raising an eyebrow as you saw Bucky and the baby cozied up on the couch. “What are you two up to?” you asked, a knowing smile on your lips.

Bucky gave you his most innocent look, bouncing your daughter gently in his arms. “Oh, nothing. Just hanging out with my best girl here. Right, darling?”

The baby let out a little squeal, clearly delighted by the attention.

“Mmhmm,” You said, stepping closer and giving Bucky a playful look. “You haven’t been filling her head with nonsense, have you?”

“Me? Never,” Bucky replied, trying to keep a straight face. “We were just talking about how great you are. Isn’t that right, kiddo?”

Bianca, oblivious to the conversation, giggled and reached for you, and took her from Bucky’s arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Well, if she grows up thinking she’s in charge, I’ll know who to blame,” You teased, casting a glance at Bucky.

He grinned, leaning back on the couch. “Hey, she’s gotta learn from the best.”

You smiled, shaking your head in mock defeat. “You’re lucky she likes you so much.”

Bucky stood and wrapped his arms around you, resting his chin on your shoulder as you both looked down at your little girl, now happily nestled between you. “I’m lucky to have both of you,” he murmured softly, kissing the side of your head.

And in that moment, with his two favorite girls in his arms, Bucky couldn’t imagine a better kind of luck.

[survey--s]

574.

What area of science interests you the most? Outer space.

Where all have you lived? Various places in England, plus I spent a year living in France as a student.

Have you ever had a pet bird? Nah, I don’t really agree with keeping birds as pets unless you have the space to free-fly them or you’re talking about chickens.

What did you have for dinner last night? I didn’t really eat a proper meal, I just had snacks. I never eat properly when I’m house-sitting which probably isn’t great.

What's the weirdest baby name you've ever heard of? I find it really odd when people name their kids after random cities and countries.

What was the last thing you wrote down on paper? I honestly can’t remember.

Have you ever watched Breaking Bad? Nope.

Are your fingernails always painted? They’re never painted these days. It’s a waste considering what I do for a living.

What color is your bed frame? White.

Is the street you live on busy or quiet? Lots of people live there (it’s terraced housing) but it’s actually surprisingly quiet and we don’t really hear anyone.

When was the last time you stayed at home all day? Last weekend. 

What's your favorite movie genre? Fantasy.

Do you own any orange clothing? Nope. Orange is probably my least favourite colour.

Have you ever been in an inflatable bouncy house? Sure, loads of times as a kid.

How old were you when you bought your first car? The first time I bought my own car I was 29.

Did any of your neighbors come over to welcome you when you moved into your current house? No, but when I moved in, Mike was already living there anyway.

Do you have good health insurance? I don’t need health insurance. Universal healthcare FTW.

When was the last time you opened your bedroom windows? They’re open 24-7.

Do you have any t-shirts with funny sayings on them? I’m sure I do somewhere, yeah.

What's your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie? We don’t have those here.

Do you take a daily multivitamin? No.

Have you been sad about anything lately? Yeah, a stupid argument I had with Mike about a burger lol.

Are you a social butterfly, or more of a loner? I’m much more of a loner but I do like being sociable and I like spending time with my friends and family too.

What’s something you didn't realize how bad it was until it happened to you? Stress. Proper genuine stress. It was hell.

What color bra did you wear yesterday? I only own black bras.

What are three simple things that make you happy? Sunsets, animals, food.

What was the last thing you cooked that had onions as an ingredient? Uhh, I think a paella thing but it was horrible lol.

Do you post your survey answers to anywhere other than bzoink? They only get posted to Tumblr.

What does your father do for a living? He’s retired now, but he used to be a doctor.

The last bracelet you wore - what did it look like? I couldn’t even tell you the last time I wore a bracelet, I find them really annoying.

What can you hear right now? The TV, the pouring rain on the glass roof and my own typing.

Have you ever been snorkeling? Yeah, in Italy.

Are there any trees in your yard? No.

How did you first meet the last person you hugged? We met online.

[fly-chicken]

Can confirm, we had a trans girl in our very Southern troop; we didn’t care as long as she sold cookies and pitched in on camping trips…

The money we got (90 cents a box back when the boxes were 3$ each) was to help make summer camps for girls who couldn’t afford traditional ones, create a recycling program in our elementary and middle school, buy playground equipment for our school, bought toys for child cancer patients several years in a row (after watching my brother go through childhood cancer and hearing all the families who chose cancer meds over gifts for their children, I REALLY pushed for this project every year), helped track creek ecosystem life and various community projects like donating both money and time to retirement homes, children’s hospitals, and national parks in our area.

The Girl Scouts fuck so hard and work their asses off to make the world a better place for everyone; buy the cookies.

Support the girl scouts

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

336 of 2023

Created by emptyspaces

What area of science interests you the most?

Physics, particularly electromagnetic waves.

Where all have you lived?

Middelkerke, Belgium. Then someplace in West Pomerania, Poland. Then back to Middelkerke. Then Knokke, also in Belgium. And now Bruges. Also in Belgium.

Have you ever had a pet bird?

Do chickens count?

What did you have for dinner last night?

We don’t have dinners at night lol. This is Europe.

What's the weirdest baby name you've ever heard of?

Whatever you Americans name your kids. Seriously, naming people after random objects?

What was the last thing you wrote down on paper?

Grocery list for my parents.

Have you ever watched Breaking Bad?

No, I’ve never been interested.

Are your fingernails always painted?

They’re never painted. Apparently I’m not gay enough.

What color is your bed frame?

Wood colour lol.

Is the street you live on busy or quiet?

Very quiet. Most of our neighbours are elderly people.

When was the last time you stayed at home all day?

Omg I don’t remember. I’m definitely an outdoors person.

What's your favorite movie genre?

I don’t watch movies.

Do you own any orange clothing?

Yeah, a pair of these parachute cargo trousers. I’ve worn them only once, though.

Have you ever been in an inflatable bouncy house?

No, I haven’t.

How old were you when you bought your first car?

Never had a car on my own.

Did any of your neighbors come over to welcome you when you moved into your current house?

No, it’s not a thing in my country. We’re polite, but as distanced as possible.

Do you have good health insurance?

I have a very good health insurance. Actually I have two, one from work and one private. Thanks to them most of my hospital bills was paid.

When was the last time you opened your bedroom windows?

One of them is open all the time during summer.

Do you have any t-shirts with funny sayings on them?

Yeah, I have one that says “Trust me, I’m an electrician”, and one that says “the boyfriend of your crush”. Also, one that says “I have no idea what I’m doing”.

What's your favorite kind of Girl Scout cookie?

I still don’t even know what it is.

Do you take a daily multivitamin?

We Europeans don’t take any artificial supplements unless there’s a solid medical reason for it.

Have you been sad about anything lately?

Yeah, about not seeing this guy recently. It’s strange how he caught my attention and now he’s someone familiar, and yet I don’t even know his name. But I’m so drawn to him.

Are you a social butterfly, or more of a loner?

I’m a mix of both.

Whats something you didn't realize how bad it was until it happened to you?

A stroke lol. It was the worst experience of all. But also seizures. Such a horrible thing.

What color bra did you wear yesterday?

I’m a dude lol. I don’t ever wear bras.

What are three simple things that make you happy?

The sea, cat purring, beauty of nature.

What was the last thing you cooked that had onions as an ingredient?

Probably a soup.

Do you post your survey answers to anywhere other than bzoink?

I don’t even have bzoink.

What does your father do for a living?

He’s retired.

The last bracelet you wore - what did it look like?

I wear 10 bracelets that I never take off, 4 of them are meant to represent an asexual flag, 5 of them have charms (all 9 of them are string bracelets), and the last one is real silver and has two male symbols connected together, and it’s easy to guess what it represents :P

What can you hear right now?

A TV program.

Have you ever been snorkeling?

No, never.

Are there any trees in your yard?

Trees? Have you ever seen a backyard in an old Belgian house? Two people, two cats and there’s no space left.

How did you first meet the last person you hugged?

We met at work. Five years later, kaboom we’re married.

[mandrakebrew]

they retired my favorite girl scout cookie

[atvbs]

i just had a few girl scout cookies and i also just looked up a list of the currently exisiting gs cookies and the retired list... reading the latter makes me feel like an old man.

but another thing that always intrigued me were the ones exclusive to certain areas/regions. thats genuinely really cool to me.

[ank01-fan]

Woman Loses 50 Pounds Walking for Weight Loss, 70/30 Diet - TODAY

43 great last-minute holiday gifts you can still shop on Amazon Sections Shows More Follow today More Brands Welcome to the Start TODAY Walking Challenge sponsored by Easy Spirit. Sign up for our free Start TODAY newsletter to join the challenge with Al Roker and receive daily inspiration sent to your inbox. Then, join us on the Start TODAY Facebook group for tips and motivation, to connect with others following the plan — and to get real-time advice from trainer Stephanie Mansour! As a professional chef, Beverley Pierce, 62, spent her career surrounded by food. “You’re always tasting, and those tastes add up,” she said. She retired in 2018 to take care of her baby granddaughter, but the weight she had gained during her career stayed with her. In August 2021, she found the motivation she needed to make a change. She weighed 260 pounds, and she had always tried to get out of having her photo taken. That summer, she couldn’t avoid it. She, her husband and her three adult children were together for the first time in about five years, so they took a photo together. She said, “I saw that photo and thought, how had I let myself get that big?”  She also wanted to keep up with her 4-year-old granddaughter and her grandsons, who are 9 and 6. And she was noticing how out of shape she was. After jet skiing that August, she had to go to the chiropractor. “Jet skiing is pretty physical, and it was getting hard for me to even think about doing stuff like that,” she said. Even everyday activities were a struggle: “There was a lot of me to move around, and with that, my knees hurt.” She tried lots of diets over the years, but the weight never stayed off for good. “I’ve lost and gained and lost and gained,” she said. Now, with changes to her diet and activities, she’s on track to lose the weight and keep it off. She’s down to 210 pounds and is aiming for 185, the weight she reported on her driver’s license, and ultimately for 165. “This time, I don’t look at it as I lost 50 pounds. I look at it as I’ve released 50 pounds, and I’m not going to find it,” she said. Plus, she’s not camera-shy anymore: “I’m tracking my progress by taking selfies, and I’m even asking people to take my picture.” This time, I don’t look at it as I lost 50 pounds. I look at it as I’ve released 50 pounds, and I’m not going to find it. Even though Pierce had dropped 50 pounds, she doesn’t focus on her weight — she only weighs herself once every month or so. She prefers to focus on her measurements, and she’s seen the inches drop from her upper arms, chest, waist, hips and thighs.  Plus, she shared several other non-scale victories. She: Pierce’s doctor recommended that she work with a nutritionist, but Pierce had mixed success: “We butted heads a lot.” She felt the nutritionist was pushing her toward gastric bypass surgery, which she didn’t want.  But there were some pluses. The nutritionist taught her that she was binge eating. “There were days where if I wasn’t hungry, I wouldn’t eat at all. Then the next day, I might have breakfast and then eat a whole bag of chips. I could eat a whole row of Oreos. And Girl Scout cookies? The box was a serving. I don’t do that anymore,” she said. Now, she: Pierce walks in her Chicago suburb, even when it’s raining or cold. “When I first started, it was frustrating because I was walking and being more physically active, but I wasn’t seeing any changes,” she said. “Now, I get excited about going for a walk. Something in my brain has changed. Walking is so much fun for me now — I can’t believe I could be addicted to it.” For the past two months, she has been walking five miles every day. “Instead of adding distance, I compete with myself and try to walk a little bit faster than I did the day before,” she said. But she will occasionally mix in longer distances, such as an 8.4-mile walk home from her grandson’s football game. And she sometimes works out on a rowing machine to strengthen her upper body. Pierce joined the Start TODAY Facebook group in April. “I was watching TODAY Show, and Stephanie was on. She said, ‘You just have to do 20 minutes.’ I thought, ‘I have 20 minutes. I could put it in my planner and schedule it,’” she said. Now she participates in the monthly challenges that focus on things like stretching and strength training, modifying exercises like lunges when she needs to. “Between the other people in the Facebook group and Stephanie’s motivational daily reflection, it’s helpful,” she said. “And I try to give kudos to whoever is struggling. Because it’s not easy. Change doesn’t come overnight. You have to do the work, and the journey isn’t easy. I’m on my way to my goal. Is it attainable within this year? That doesn’t even matter to me anymore. All that matters is what I do today.” Related:   Stephanie Thurrott is a writer who covers mental health, personal growth, wellness, family, food and personal finance, and dabbles in just about any other topic that grabs her attention. When she's not writing, look for her out walking her dog or riding her bike in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.  © 2022 NBC UNIVERSAL source Read the full article