19th December 1977: Clint- 14, Barney- 18

Bucky entered the train carriage to find Natasha and Steve sat at a table in the corner of the carriage. It was pretty much empty except for those two. Steve already had his sketchbook out while Natasha had a book. Bucky threw himself into a seat and rested his head against the headrest.

"Hey Buck. What's got into you?"

Natasha snickered. "More like who hasn't. Castle still hasn't asked him out."

"Shut up Nat!"

Bucky could feel his face turning red. He'd seen Castle earlier bickering with Dean and nearly tripped over his own feet. The guy didn't even seem to know he existed. Sam, Laura, and Castiel arrived and forced Bucky to shuffle up next to Natasha. Sam flopped down next to Steve and stretched his legs out so he kicked Bucky.

"Whoops."

"Fuck you Wilson."

"I know you love me really Barnes."

"Guys." pleaded Steve. "One trip."

Bucky and Sam rolled their eyes at each other. Steve was always trying to make them get along. It wasn't like they disliked each other, it was just more fun to wind each other up. They had that kind of friendship. A new voice, still carrying an American accent drifted through.

"What do you mean everywhere's full up? See Frank, this is why we don't stop to wish the teachers a Happy Christmas."

"It was Professor Sprout!"

"Kissass."

There were scuffling sounds and loud laughter. Barton's head popped up over the seat divider.

"Hey."

His hand reached down to Natasha's hair.

"Touch my hair, I'll throw you off the train."

Barton immediately redirected his hand to wave at Castiel.

"Wasn't gonna."

"Liar."

Barton just laughed.

"Hey Clint," said Thor, "we have Detonating Snap. It's way more explosive."

Barton's face lit up but he bit his lip as he glanced at Steve.

"Should we go down the other end of the carriage? Will it disturb your drawing?"

Steve smiled. "No, it's fine. I can draw pretty much anywhere."

"Hey, am I gonna be staring at your ass all journey Hawk?" asked Dean.

"It's a perfectly good ass!" said Barton indignantly, twisting his head round.

"I'm not sure which is worse." said Morse calmly. "His face or his ass."

"Why are the girls in my life so cruel?" asked Barton.

Natasha pushed his face back. "Swap seats with me, I want to talk to Bobbi."

Barton frowned suspiciously. "Is this about the shower? Cos that wasn't funny!"

"No, but your scream was."

Natasha wriggled out, Bucky and Laura standing up to let her. Barton just pulled himself over the dividing seat and flopped into the corner seat. Bucky sat down with him. Castle came round, looking deeply put out.

"She kicked me out."

"She does that. At least when we reach King's Cross she'll stop. I live with her."

"I heard that!"

Barton sighed. Laura shifted over to let Castle sit next to Bucky. Bucky sent her a silent glare. Laura gave him a delighted smile as she sat back down.

"What's everyone doing for Christmas?" asked Sam.

"No idea." said Castiel.

"You're coming over to ours." replied Barton. "Well, Gabe and Gad are so I figured you were too."

Castiel smiled. "Oh, excellent. Will Lucky be there?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna buy him the biggest bone ever."

"I love Lucky." sighed Castle. "He's Clint's dog, cutest thing ever. Look."

He dug a photo out of his pocket and handed it to Bucky. The dog was a thin thing, missing an eye, and repeatedly licking Castle's face. Castle in the photo was giggling away and trying and failing to push the dog off.

"Can I meet your dog?" asked Steve.

"Stevie, you're allergic."

"I'll bring my inhaler."

"Allergies." repeated Bucky.

Steve ignored him. Barton glanced at Castiel.

"In the Easter holidays you guys could come over. Just not round Christmas. It's too short notice."

It was also, Bucky remembered, the first Christmas after his family's deaths. He felt a sudden pang of sympathy for Barton. Sam changed the conversation to Quidditch which perked Barton up. His brother had been signed to the Montrose Magpies and had been making a name for himself. Being Muggle, Bucky didn't get to keep up to date with much Quidditch but even he knew Moody was a beast.

"Yeah, he got picked for Scotland too."

"Any chance of him joining Appleby?" asked Sam.

"Nah, Aaron would kill him if he left Magpies. So would I."

Sam groaned. The conversation flowed easily then, punctuated by the occasional explosion, and swearing from the table behind them.

Bucky hopped off the train and looked round for his mother. He shouldered aside a seventh year that almost walked right into Steve and the two of them ducked to the side to shelter against the wall. Barton and Dean went with them. Natasha and Bobbi joined Barton soon after, with Castiel. The others said their goodbyes and disappeared. Dean scrubbed a hand through his hair.

"Dad said he was gonna pick us up."

"Go grab Sammy." said Barton. "If I see your dad, I'll holler him."

Dean vanished into the crowd.

"Sammy?" asked Natasha.

"His younger brother. Is that… AARON!"

Bucky winced. Novak appeared, towing along a grumpy Moody. Aaron, presumably. To be honest, Bucky got the older Moodys mixed up, especially the three that had been in Hufflepuff. There was only one now but Bucky had never quite worked up the nerve to ask Natasha which one had survived.

"I'm here, I'm here."

"Where's Pops?"

"How the fuck should I know?"

Barton rolled his eyes and stood on his tiptoes. Dean reappeared, a floppy-haired first-year behind him.

"Dean, I'm fine."

"You shouldn't have wandered off like that Sammy."

"God Dean, give the kid a break." said Bobbi. "Like you weren't twice as bad."

Dean scowled at her. They lingered awkwardly as the platform began to clear. A grizzled man with a terrifying artificial eye came limping over.

"There you are. Castiel, Gadreel, are you Apparating back to Cardiff?"

"I haven't passed my Apparition test yet." replied Novak.

The grizzled man nodded. "Right, you can come with us. Dean, Sam, your dad's working a case and Bobby's got ill. It's not serious but you can stay with us until he stops vomiting."

"You have such a way with words." said Bobbi.

Bucky shuffled his feet and wondered where his mum was. If she hadn't managed to get time off work, she usually sent an owl to him.

"Who are they? New strays?"

"Pops." groaned Clint. "They're Natasha's friends."

"Is that your mum Bucky?" asked Castiel.

It was, with Becca behind her. Bucky bid goodbye to them all and headed off. Castle smiled at him.

"Have a good Christmas Bucky."

"Yeah. You too."

Despite Steve's teasing later, Bucky did not turn bright red or stammer. He glanced over his shoulder as they were leaving. Natasha waved to him as she began to follow the grizzled man.