Chapter Text
Hours later, Clint found you sitting on the dock. You were hugging your knees, back against the bench near the water's edge and he silently sat next to you.
“How am I supposed to tell Murdock her dad isn't coming home?” You finally said after several minutes of silence.
“You and Steve have always prepared her for that possibility,” Clint softly reminded. “Ever since she was born, more or less. You made sure she was ready.”
“No one's ready to hear they'll never see someone they love again. I've been through it enough times to know,” you countered.
Clint swallowed, knowing you, of all people, would know. “I'm sorry, Kes. No matter what, this isn't going to be easy. But, like you always tell your daughter, you won't be alone.”
“I wasn't supposed to have to lose him to get Bucky back. That wasn't the plan,” you whispered as you stared out at the calm water. “Clint, this is so incredibly fucked up and unfair.”
Clint nodded in agreement. “You're right, kid, it is. It's the most fucked up mess we've ever had to get through.”
Clint stood up, and took both your hands, yanking you to your feet before you could protest. “But we will get through it. We have to. Steve gave his life for that goddamn stone. Let's make sure it was worth it.”
***
You stood in the lab surrounded by the team as Bruce prepared to put on the glove and see if everything you'd just gone through had meant anything. You and Clint were behind Tony's energy shield, weapons drawn, completely unsure what was about to happen.
“Friday, do me a favor and activate Barn Door Protocol, will ya?” Tony said.
“Yes, boss,” the AI responded and blast doors dropped across all the doors and windows, sealing the lab.
“Everybody comes home,” Bruce said quietly as he slid his arm into the gauntlet.
Bruce groaned and fell to a knee as tendrils of multicolored energy laced up his arm and into his chest.
“Bruce, are you okay?” You asked.
“Take it off! Take it off!” Thor shouted.
“Talk to me, Banner,” Tony said.
“I'm okay. I'm okay,” Bruce breathed, eyes squeezed shut. With a deep breath and concerted effort, Bruce yelled as he brought his fingers together and snapped.
You watched him fall to the floor and drop the glove.
“Bruce!” You shouted, coming to kneel beside him. “Don't move him,” you instructed, putting a hand out to stop Thor.
Clint kicked the glove away from him as Tony covered his arm and shoulder in nanites to seal the wounds.
“Did it work?” Bruce gasped, grabbing your arm.
“We're not sure. It's okay,” Thor soothed, putting his hand on Bruce's forehead.
The blast doors had opened and Scott was making his way through, staring at the window across the hall where you could see a tree. A tree that was now full of birds. Clint heard his phone vibrating on the table and slowly walked over. He saw the name on the screen and came to a stop. Swallowing, he answered the call.
“Wanda?” You heard Clint say and your heart leapt into your throat.
“Guys,” Scott said from the hallway in a hushed and amazed tone. “I think it worked.”
But before anyone could say another word or take another step, everything was engulfed in explosions.
***
***
Everything that happened next was chaos and madness. Thanos was here. Again. The compound was gone, reduced to rubble. Everyone clawed their way to the surface and instantly a fight erupted.
Eventually, you found yourself locked in a battle against Thanos. You Tony, and Thor. A losing battle. Your only goal was to keep him from acquiring the stones, from undoing everything, from rendering your sacrifices empty. The battle persisted. The three of you lay bloodied and broken.
You rolled, trying to get back to your feet and you noticed something in the rubble. You dragged yourself up, running to the object and prying it from the wreckage. Steve's shield. You gripped it tightly as you heard Thanos behind you.
“In all my years of conquest… violence… slaughter…” he began slowly looking around. “It was never personal. But I'll tell you now, what I'm about to do to your stubborn… annoying little planet… I'm gonna enjoy it very, very much.”
You turned back to see his army was arriving, thousands and thousands blanking the battlefield. You felt despair growing in your gut, but you gripped Steve's shield, gritting your teeth. You thought about what Steve would do if he was here.
With a grunt, you threaded your arm through the shield and tightened it down in place. You set your jaw in determination and slowly walked toward Thanos again.
Then there was a crackle in your com, a distant, faded voice.
“Hey, Cap, you read me?… Cap, it's Sam. Can you hear me?”
You froze, putting your hand to your ear.
“On your left,” Sam said.
You slowly turned over your left shoulder to see a portal opening. The glowing ring increased in size and slowly, figures emerged. Your shoulders slumped with relief as tears filled your eyes. It worked.
Sam flew out, encircling you from above. Additional portals started opening across the area. Stephen. You saw Stephen and another wave of relief hit you, only to be overridden with pure joy when the next person you laid eyes on was your nephew.
“Peter!” You shouted, feeling tears spill out.
T’Challa was chanting as dozens of Wakandan warriors were streaming forward. Scott emerged from the rubble, blasting his way through in his giant form. The battlefield was flooding with returning friends and allies. Everyone was poised, determined to win this fight.
You took a deep breath, raising Steve's shield and praying for him to be with you in spirit.
“AVENGERS!” You shouted. “Assemble.”
And with that, chaos erupted again. Fighting and shouting and mayhem was everywhere. You could barely keep track of anything or anyone. You swung the shield and blocked blows and just kept moving.
Then you heard a familiar voice shouting behind you. Your heart stopped and for a split second the noise of the battle faded away. You turned in slow motion, it felt like, and there he was, running toward you at a breakneck pace, barreling through anything and anyone that got in his way. You couldn't move. You felt like you were hallucinating.
Bucky finally reached you, letting his gun sling to the side as he grabbed you with a hand around your waist and the other behind your head.
“Hey, doll,” he whispered before pulling you into a kiss, one that was filled with relief.
It was only a split second, that's all you could spare given the circumstances, but it felt like a lifetime. It felt like you were finally breathing after spending far too long trapped underwater. It felt like a part of your soul was finally returned.
Bucky broke away, forcefully shoved you behind him, and gunned down enemies that were headed your way. You saw more coming on his six and you launched the shield, knocking them down, before it returned to you. You grimaced a little at the impact, but kept going.
“Woah, when did you get so good with Steve's shield?” Bucky asked, grinning at you as you continued fighting. “And why do you have it?”
“Buck! Maybe we can talk about this later?” You groaned as you fought off three assailants at once.
“You got it, doll,” he said with his devilish grin, the one that made your heart stop, and then he was back to being a blur of movement as you fought back to back.
***
When later finally came and everything was done, there were no words for what you had just been through. All you could think about was what Stephen had told you all those years ago when he said there was only one way to win; that the cost would be staggering.
And that's exactly what it was, you realized, as you held your devastated nephew in your arms, watching Clint pilot the quinjet back to the farm. Bucky was sitting on the bench behind you. You couldn't see him, but you could feel his eyes on you. You knew he was grappling with grief and shock too, but he was forcing it down so you could help Peter.
“Dr Strange said it's been five years,” Peter said slowly, clinging to you as his quiet tears trailed down your tacsuit. “Lots must have changed.”
You felt a gnawing in your gut. “Yeah, bug. Lots of things certainly changed.”
You turned your head to check on Wanda. She has barely spoken since you got in the air. She stared blankly out the viewport. You wanted to offer her some kind of comfort, but you knew first hand the kind of grief she was battling and you knew there was absolutely nothing you could offer that would lessen the pain.
Peter sat up, rubbing his face and clearing his throat. He turned around.
“I'm really sorry about Steve, Uncle Bucky,” he said. “He was a good man, if there ever was one.”
You turned to see Bucky, swiping his thumb at his eye and he gave a nod. “Thanks, kid. So was Stark.”
You watched Bucky closely for a moment, your heart continuing to break over the pain you saw in his posture, even more so as you contemplated everything you had yet to tell him. Before you could get swept away by the ocean of anxiety, Clint was landing the jet. You stood and Peter followed suit.
“You're right, Peter, there's been a lot of changes and I'll tell you all about it, but for now, just go with Clint, okay? You can stay at Kate's place tonight, since she has an extra room and I know she'll be really glad to see you. I'll explain everything in the morning,” you told him as you pulled him in for a tight hug.
“Alright,” he agreed.
Clint and Wanda were walking down the ramp and Peter caught up to them. You saw Bucky get up and turn to follow, but you grabbed his arm.
“Buck, we need to talk first,” you said, trying and failing to keep your voice steady.
His face was sullen and hard and you knew he was fighting the rage that came with the loss of a loved one. But he stayed put.
You took a deep breath. “I wasn't lying when I told Peter there were a lot of changes,” you started out, trying to keep from bursting into tears again. “Five years is a long time. But I need to know if you're ready to hear about it now, or if you can't handle more than the grief you already have.”
Bucky let out a breath and rubbed at the back of his neck. He paced back and dropped into a chair, propping his elbows on his knees and resting his chin on his clasped hands.
You watched him cautiously. You knew that stance. He was fighting the rage that was just beneath the surface and he was trying to detach himself, even just slightly, to keep it from causing damage. You'd only seen him like this a few times, but it never ended well.
“If you need time, then that's okay. You just gotta let me know. You can stay on the jet tonight and we'll make a plan for everything else tomorrow,” you offered.
“You married him,” Bucky stated. He didn't look up or move. His gaze was fixed on a distant point, fists clenching and unclenching rhythmically.
You took a seat across from him, watching him closely. “Who told you?” You asked. “I'm sorry you found out,” you added. “I wanted to tell you myself.”
Bucky gave you a knowing smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. “Nobody told me, doll. It wasn't hard to figure out.”
He hesitantly reached out and took your left hand. “That's not my ring,” he said as he ran his thumb over the jewelry. It felt like he wanted to let go of your hand after making his point, but he didn't. “I've never seen you that good with his shield before, and he wouldn't let just anybody train with it,” Bucky continued. He finally raised his eyes to look at you, stabbing your soul with the sadness and hurt they held. “But what really sold it was the look in your eyes when Clint told me he was gone. You only hold that kind of pain and regret for someone you love, really love. That, and the fact that you couldn't tell me yourself.”
You burst into tears again, dropping your head to your hands. “Bucky, I'm so sorry,” you sobbed. “I'm sure this feels like such a betrayal to you. From your perspective, yesterday, we were practically newlyweds and now you're being told I jumped in bed with your best friend. God, I can't imagine the anger and pain you're feeling,” you rambled, scrubbing your hands down your face repeatedly.
You sobbed quietly for a few moments before your hands were being pulled back, gently encompassed in his, and rested in your lap. You snapped your eyes up to look at him in confusion.
“You're right, doll, I am angry and hurt, because I'm human,” he began, taking a slow steadying breath.
“And because you're definitely the jealous type,” you added with a quiet attempt at a laugh.
Bucky smiled. “Yeah, I guess I am,” he admitted. “But I'm also grateful that Steve was there for you, that you didn't have to face the last five years alone. I asked him to look after you and that's exactly what he did. It'd be pretty damn stupid and selfish of me to stay mad at you for whatever happened because he was keeping his promise.”
You gave him a sad smile. “So you don't hate me?”
“Hate you? Oh, baby, of course not,” he assured you. He slid out of the chair to kneel directly in front of you, letting go of your hands so he could grab your face. “I could never hate you, doll. I'm so goddamn in love with you.”
He slowly pulled your face to his and placed a tender kiss to your lips. “What I need to know now is whether or not you still love me,” he breathed as he held your face in his hands and searched your eyes.
You tilted your head a little, giving him a look that was almost confused. “I've always loved you, Buck. That never changed.”
You reached into your suit and pulled out the chain where both of your wedding rings hung. “Until a week ago I thought this was all I had left of you. Well, this and-” you stopped short realizing it might be best to do this slowly. “It doesn't matter. I love you, Bucky. I always will,” you assured him and pressed your lips to his again.
Kissing him felt like coming home. It was so easy and so familiar, even after all these years. You wrapped your hands around his neck and sighed against his lips, feeling momentarily freed of the pain of the last 24 hours. He broke the kiss and you dipped your head to rest your cheek against his.
“I missed you so much, Bucky. I thought about you every single day. I thought I'd never see you again,” you whispered as more tears slid down your cheeks and landed on his.
“I'm right here, doll. I'll never leave you again,” he promised.
He slid his hands down your sides and grabbed your waist, pulling you forward to sit in his lap. You straddled his thighs, your fingers sliding up to tangle in his hair and he captured your lips in another searing kiss, branding you with the fire in his veins. You moaned quietly when he moved his lips down to your neck, his grip around you tightening, pulling you flush against his body.
You let yourself be flooded by the feel of him; his scent filled your nostrils, his soft dark hair between your fingers, his tongue caressing your skin, it was so familiar and calming and washed away all the ugly grief that threatened to tow you under.
Bucky pulled back to breath, pressing his forehead to yours.
“Do you want me to stop?” He asked quietly as he ran his hands up and down your sides. “I don't want to push you. You don't have anything to prove,” he assured you.
You shook your head, hoping he didn't let go of you. “No, Buck, I don't want you to stop,” you earnestly replied. “But I have other things to tell you…”
You trailed off when his hands moved from your sides to grab your ass and pull you up against his crotch, pressing you firmly against his erection. You whined and ground your hips down against him.
“What do you need to tell me, love?” Bucky asked as his fingers grabbed the zipper on the neck of your suit and started inching it down. You tightened your fingers in his hair when he slid his hands inside the suit and ran them over your skin, moaning loudly at the contact.
“It can wait until tomorrow,” you decided.
“Good,” Bucky purred as he worked his hands further into your suit and began shoving it off your shoulders. “Because I don't think I can handle any more surprises right now. I just wanna feel you.”
He gently pushed you down to lay on the floor. He stayed kneeled above you as he unbuckled his vest and shed it, his under shirt quickly being pulled over his head and dropped to the floor. You took a moment to admire a sight you hadn't seen in years and felt a fresh wave of arousal hit you.
Bucky caught you staring and gave you a lopsided grin. “Look as good as you remember, doll?” He teased as he leaned over you.
“Better,” you assured him, giggling as he ran his stubble over your exposed nipples. He laid his tongue down, licking over one and you squealed, arching your back off the floor. “Damn, baby, you're real sensitive. You had a bit of a dry spell?” He smirked against your skin as he pulled your nipple into his mouth and made you arch into him again with a whine.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” You asked, breathlessly as he continued to play with your breasts.
He ran his hands up your stomach and kneaded one in each hand. “No, probably not,” he admitted. “I think your tits got bigger, doll,” he remarked as he continued to show them attention.
“I'm sure they did,” you mumbled back.
He groaned as you ran you hand down his body and palmed him through his pants. He let go of your breasts and grabbed your suit, shoving it down the rest of the way until it was at your ankles. Your hands flew up to undo his belt and then he was helping you push his pants down far enough for his cock to spring free. You grinned and reached down to grab his length, giving hard, long strokes. You watched his face as his lips parted and eyes squeezed shut. God, you missed seeing that look.
“Bucky…” you softly purred and his cock twitched in your hands as he let out a groan.
“You're still gonna be the death of me, doll,” he hissed as he reached out and pushed your bent knees down, exposing your wet pussy for him. You moaned as he saw you dripping and reached out to run his fingers through your folds. You cried out and arched into his touch.
“Bucky, please,” you whined and he groaned again, swiftly laying over you and lining himself up with your entrance.
He paused. “Are you ready for me, doll? I know it's been awhile and I don't know how-”
You reached back and grabbed his ass, pulling him against you and rolling your hips up to pull him in. He sunk into your heat, burying himself to the hilt in one stroke and you moaned his name. He let out a strangled cry and rested his forehead on yours as he began to move. You brought your hips up to meet him with each thrust, falling into a steady perfect rhythm as he worked you both toward your release. Your hands flew up to tangle in his hair again as his name fell from your lips like a prayer.
You moaned again when he angled your hips up and hit deeper, brushing over your spot with each stroke.
“God, I love hearing those sounds, baby,” he breathed, doing his best to pull as many moans out of you as you could give.
“Bucky,” you whined, pulling at his hair. “Baby, I'm so close.”
He chuckled, dipping his head to attach his lips to your neck. With his next thrust, he bit at your pulse and you screamed his name, coming around his cock. Your release triggered his and his hips stuttered as he came.
You both took a second to catch your breath. He kissed you, all the love and devotion that you remembered still there, still coursing through him and into you.
When your lips parted and your eyes fluttered open, you were staring up at the man you had lost five years ago, the man you had planned to spend your life with, the man you were still madly in love with, despite everything that had happened since. You were so unbelievably grateful to have him back. It hit you like a freight train and you couldn't stop the sobbing that started.
Bucky's face immediately morphed into concern. He sat back, pulling you up with him and hugged you to his chest.
“Hey, hey, doll, I'm sorry,” he muttered. “Jeez, I'm so sorry. I shoulda known it was too soon. Oh, baby, forgive me, please,” he was begging as he squeezed you tight and stroked your back.
“No, no,” you managed to stutter through the sobs. “No, you didn't do anything wrong, Bucky. It's just- I missed you so much. Don't ever leave me like that again,” you cried, digging your fingers into his biceps as you clung to him with all your might, afraid he might disappear if you let go.
Bucky felt tears in his own eyes as he listened to your desperate plea. “I'm not going anywhere, doll, I swear. No matter what happens. I'll be right here.”
“I really hope not,” you muttered quietly as your breathing began to steady, the tears slowing down. “I hope you mean that.”
Bucky grabbed your face and made you look at him. “I put that ring on your finger and made you a promise that I wouldn't leave. I meant that. I know things have changed and everything is a mess. I know that. But I'm gonna keep that promise. You gotta believe me.”
You searched his face but found nothing but determination.
“I believe you, Buck,” you breathed.
***
You brought Bucky back to your apartment in the barn. Clint had said they would keep Murdock tonight and you were ever so grateful because you did not have the bandwidth to introduce Bucky to his daughter and have to tell her that Steve was gone. Not tonight.
Bucky looked around as you set things down and kicked off your boots.
“This is nice. When did Clint put this in?” Bucky asked as he took off his boots.
“After the Snap,” you replied. “He and Laura decided they need to officially have enough space for everyone.”
“When did you and Steve move in?”
“Oh, we didn't. We stayed at the compound. We just spent a lot of time here, so Clint made sure we had a place to stay.”
You went to the kitchen, suddenly aware of how badly you needed water and you were filling your third glass watching Bucky peruse around the space, when you stopped in your tracks.
Bucky was looking at pictures and paintings on the walls. His gaze stopped at a frame sitting on the bookshelf. He picked up. You knew which one it was. It was one of your favorites. He walked over to you, cradling the frame. He turned it toward you and you stared at the picture of Steve holding Murdock in his lap while he read her a book.
“She looks like me,” Bucky quietly remarked, his finger tracing gently on the glass.
You set down your water and took a deep breath. “That's because she's yours,” you replied just as quietly.
Bucky's eyes slowly moved from the photo to meet yours. “So you decided to keep it,” he said. “I didn't know if you would, since you never told me.”
You shook your head. “Steve told me you figured it out, after you were gone. I thought you died without knowing, but he told me you knew.”
“Actually, Steve figured it out,” he said with a muted chuckle. He set the picture down. “I didn't think you would keep it. I knew you didn't want kids. Did you-” you watched him pause to compose himself. “Did you change your mind for Steve?” He asked, trying to maintain a calm face, but you could see how crushed he would be if that was the case.
You put your hand on top of his where it rested on the counter. “No, Bucky. I changed my mind because of you,” you assured him. You saw him relax and he put his other hand on top of yours. “I changed my mind because you were gone and the only thing I had left was this part of you inside of me. I couldn't lose that. It was a gift.”
You took a breath to steady yourself. “But you also have to know that Steve was her dad in every way that mattered. He was there from the day she was born.”
Bucky slowly nodded. “He was here. I wasn't. I get it,” he said quietly. “Does she… know about me?” His question was so soft you almost missed it.
You tilted your head, giving him the softest look you could manage. “Of course she does. We talked about you everyday. We made sure you were as much a part of her life as you could be. She knows you're her dad.”
Bucky smiled. “I'm a dad. Oh, that sounds strange,” he remarked with a light laugh.
You laughed too. “Well, I hope you can get used to it. She wants to meet you. She always has.”
He looked up at you with excitement and more than a little fear. “I hope I don't disappoint her,” he said as he rubbed at his neck.
You really laughed at that as you poured another glass of water and handed it to him. “You can't disappoint her, Buck, she's your carbon copy. I swear there's nothing about that girl that comes from me.”
Bucky turned toward you, tilting his head with a wry smile. “I'm sure that's not true,” he disagreed. He pointed to a sketch that hung from the fridge with a magnet. “She definitely didn't get that from me.”
You glanced at the drawing and shook your head. “Or me, that's all Steve,” you countered.
Bucky shook his head at your stubborn refusal. He sipped at his water and kept wandering slowly, looking at pictures and paintings, trying to learn more about the years he missed. He paused at a framed painting in the hallway near the door.
“And this? You gonna try and tell me she didn't get that from you?” He was pointing at another piece of artwork Murdock had made, a recent one, a painting of a lake and mountains from a family trip earlier in the year.
You smiled. “Alright, I guess she got some things from me,” you conceded. You walked over to stand near Bucky and pointed at a picture on the shelf to his right.
“But she's your spitting image, Buck, I mean look,” you said.
Bucky examined the picture and he couldn't argue with you. There was his daughter, posed with a steely, menacing look on her face and some kind of covering that looked just like his metal arm covering her own. The resemblance was undeniable.
“Wow…,” he breathed as he stared at the photo. “Who taught her that look?”
“Nobody taught her anything. It came with your genes, apparently,” you said with a chuckle.
You watched Bucky's smile get a little wider and maybe just a little dopier as he looked at the picture. You couldn't help but smile too, so grateful that you were given this second chance.
“Is she here?” Bucky asked. “We're not gonna wake her up, are we?” He said, dropping his voice to a whisper.
“No, she's up at the main house with Clint and Laura,” you replied. “I really didn't know how this was going to go and I didn't think any of us could handle that kind of confrontation tonight,” you admitted. You dropped your eyes and your voice got smaller. “And she doesn't know about Steve yet.”
Bucky nodded, his face looking sullen again. “I can't imagine what that will be like for her. God, I wish she didn't have to go through that,” he quietly lamented, running a hand down his face.
You just watched him for a moment, feeling simultaneously heartbroken and happy, which was so odd. You stepped closer to him and wrapped your arms around his waist, curling into his side. He instinctively wrapped an arm around you.
“You're gonna be a good dad, Buck,” you whispered into his side.
“I hope so, doll. I'll definitely try my hardest,” he replied, pulling you tighter to his side.
You stood holding each quietly for a few moments and you decided to tell him everything and get it over with.
“The last thing Steve said was ‘tell Bucky I'm sorry and I hope he can forgive me’,” you shared.
“That punk. The last thing he said shoulda been telling his girl that he loved her,” he chided with a quiet chuckle.
“Don't speak ill of the dead,” you chided back, but you were smiling. “He said that too,” you assured.
“Of course I forgive him. Like I said before, he kept his promise and I'm grateful,” Bucky said as he placed a kiss on your forehead.
“Now it's your turn, Bucky,” you whispered. “Now you gotta be there to take care of the people Steve left behind, just like he did for you.”
You lifted your head so you could look him in the eye. He smiled, reaching his hand out to tuck loose strands of hair behind your ear. “I will, doll. I'll be right here for you and our daughter,” he promised.
He watched you bite your lip nervously and he furrowed his eyebrows. “What is it, baby? What aren't you telling me?”
You gave him a very nervous smile and grabbed his right wrist. Slowly and carefully you set his hand against your stomach.
Bucky watched you lay his hand on your belly and cover it with your own. Slowly his eyebrows raised up and his eyes got wider.
“You're pregnant?” He asked in a hushed tone.
You nodded your head, unable to speak as you held your breath waiting for his reaction. He didn't say anything, just stared at you with wide eyes. After several seconds, you started to feel panic rising in your gut.
“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you, this was too soon, I'm so sorry, Bucky-,” you said, words spilling out quickly as your anxiety continued to climb.
“Baby, stop. Relax, just breathe,” he quickly said. “It's gonna be okay. I'm not angry,” he soothed. He pulled you close and tucked you under his chin. “I was just surprised, is all. It's alright.”
“I know this is so much to take in all at once,” you said, your words muffled against his jacket. “I probably should have spaced it out more. I'm sorry.”
“It's alright, doll,” he repeated.
“I can't imagine how hard this is for you… but, Buck, I can't give it up, just like I couldn't when it was you,” you explained. You lifted your head up to look at him again and he was nodding slightly.
“This is all we have left of Steve now,” you reiterated. Bucky nodded again.
“If that's what you want, then okay,” Bucky stated firmly. “Steve was there for our daughter when I couldn't be. It's only right that I do the same for him.”
You bit your lip nervously again. “Are you sure? You can live with that?”
“Steve did,” he answered.
“Steve and I weren't together when I got pregnant with your daughter, Bucky. There was no potential resentment there. This is different. This has to feel different for you than it did for him,” you cautioned.
Bucky let out a slow sigh. “Yeah, baby, it does, I'm sure. I can't promise I won't have bad days or that I'll always feel good about it. I'm sure it won't be easy,” he paused to look you in the eye, making sure you knew he meant what he said. “But I love you and I'm not leaving. Steve was my brother. I owed him everything, even the fact that I ever found you. There couldn't be a better way to show how much I appreciated that than looking after his kid, especially since he did the same for me.”
You let out the breath you were holding. You fought back the tears that wanted to come. No more. There had been enough of those today for a lifetime.
“Alright,” you said softly. “Then I guess we're gonna have another baby.”
Bucky smiled, his grin a little sheepish. “I feel like I have so much to learn.”
“Ask Clint. He'll gladly share his pearls of parental wisdom, I'm sure,” you said with a chuckle.
Bucky rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I think I'd rather wing it than give Barton the right to gloat about that.”
You laughed. “You might change your mind when you meet the four year old version of yourself.”
You let go of him and turned to tug his vest and jacket off, hanging them by the door.
“Can't wait to get me outta my clothes again, huh, doll?” He teased, wiggling his eyebrows.
You rolled your eyes. “We need a shower and then sleep, Barnes,” you stated firmly.
You walked past him, side stepping his attempt to grab you and ducking into the bathroom. You were turning the shower on when you felt strong, warm arms snake around you from behind and his lips were at your ear.
“I've been sleepin’ for five years, doll,” Bucky purred softly. “I've gotta make up for lost time.”