Sam stood at the edge of the bustling fishing port carnival, the salty air filled with laughter and the scent of fried food. He spotted Bucky leaning against a wooden post, his blue eyes scanning the crowd, looking more anxious than usual.

“Hey, Bucky!” Sam called, waving him over. “You ready for some fun?”

Bucky pushed himself off the post, his brow slightly furrowed. “I don’t know, Sam. This is… a lot.”

“Trust me, it’ll be good for you. My sister Sarah and little Cass and AJ are already here. They’re waiting for us by the games.” Sam gestured toward the colorful booths, where the sounds of ringing bells and delighted shrieks echoed.

Bucky hesitated, his fingers twitching at his sides. “What if… what if I don’t know how to do this?”

Sam stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Bucky’s shoulder. “Just be yourself. You’ll be fine. Plus, Sarah’s already excited to see you. She thinks you’re a hero.”

With a small nod, Bucky followed Sam into the carnival, where vibrant lights illuminated the evening sky. They found Sarah and Cass at a ring toss booth, where Cass was eagerly attempting to land a ring on a bottle.

“Look who decided to join us!” Sarah beamed, pulling Bucky into a quick hug. “You’re just in time. Cass needs a partner for the next round!”

Bucky smiled shyly at Cass, who was bouncing on his toes. “I don’t know how to play.”

“Don’t worry! I can teach you!” Cass exclaimed, dragging Bucky to the booth. Sam watched with a mix of pride and affection as Bucky crouched down to Cass’s level, his anxious demeanor slowly fading.

“Just aim for the bottle, okay? Like this!” Cass demonstrated, and Bucky watched intently, absorbing every detail.

As they took turns tossing rings, laughter bubbled around them. Bucky began to relax, and soon, he was cheering for Cass and AJ, the tension melting away..

As the sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, Sam looked at Bucky, who was laughing genuinely, the weight of his worries momentarily forgotten.