It's Not Over

by MidnightOwl31

Summary:

After Valentina announces the New Avengers. Bucky goes home to his husband, Sam Wilson, and their kids Winter and James Jr. He's torn between Sam's anger for a new team after Sam started forming a new Avengers team and wanting to stand by his new team. It ends up with endless arguing when Sam tells Bucky to leave. Bucky fears that Sam and he will be heading for divorce. But with the kids, they won't be just dropping everything to divorce. They need to take some time apart to figure things out. Bucky has a mission come up, complicating his attempts to get his family back.

Chapter 1

Notes:

The song It's Not Over by Daughtry is what I titled this work from.

Bucky knew it was a bad idea the moment Val had introduced them to the press as the new avengers. He had a bad feeling about it and he was right. This was what he was afraid of, coming home and now his husband is angry about it. Bucky sighs as he watches Sam rant on about how he’s already forming a new team of Avengers. Bucky knew this, Sam had decided after the whole thing with Ross Hulking out on everyone. But everything in the last few days happened so fast that Bucky hadn’t really processed it.

“And now you!” Sam yells.

“Wha-me?” Bucky questions. 

“Yeah, you. What do we do now that you lost your congress seat? What’s your plan? You do know we have a family to feed.”

“Of course I know that.”

“Oh really? Because you said you would be here, you’d take the congress seat and be there for the kids while I go be Cap. Now what?”

“Doll, I didn’t plan this but we’re gonna figure it out-”

“What about starting with turning down your new team?” 

Bucky stops and he thinks about it. He hadn’t thought about joining the team. Main reason, he can’t stand Walker. He still hasn’t forgiven him, but that’s another matter. Bob, Yelena, Ava, they weren’t too bad. He could tolerate them. Alexei was a toss up if he was going to get on Bucky’s nerves or not. 

“You’re not actually thinking about it are you?” Sam asks. 

“What?” 

“You are, you’re actually thinking about joining them. After you refused to join me? You said you were done with fighting-”

“Maybe I’ll never be done fighting.” Bucky sighs. He scrubs his face, he’s feeling frustrated. “Maybe I’m just going to keep going from one fight to the next!”

Sam is about to respond when Bucky notices that Sam’s looking past him. He turns around and sees their little boy, James Jr, he’s only seven. 

“Jamie, it’s-” Sam’s cut off when James runs off. Bucky sighs and he’s sure that James just overheard most of their argument. Bucky turns to Sam and he’s about to speak, before Sam beats him to it. “Just save it. You already gave me your answer.” 

“No, doll, wait-”

“Stop.” Sam demands as he heads out the door. “I gotta cook dinner. Someone’s gotta be the parent here.” 

Bucky is frustrated and sighs as he falls back on the bed. Taking a moment to just cool off and think before heading out to the kitchen. He knows they shouldn’t be arguing where the kids can see. Thankfully it was only James and not Winter. Winter was older, twelve, and she would end up getting in on it. Two kids, they had two kids to think about. Not just them. It wasn’t just about them anymore. 

They had to make sure they worked past this, for the kids sake and their marriage. There’s no way Bucky could let this get that bad. It was just a disagreement, he couldn’t lose Sam over this. But the new team they had formed, something about it was something he’d been looking for. That validation and just feeling of being useful rather than used. 

Hydra had taken so much from him, that he wanted to take some of that power back. To do some good. He thought congress could be something good for him to do. But he’d gotten more out of this last mission and helping Bob than he ever did with congress and reading the damn packets. 

There’s no point in dwelling on this now. He has to be there for his kids and his husband. There’s no way this argument could lead anywhere. So he goes about his night, he helps Winter with her history homework. James is excited to be helping Sam with dinner. But Bucky can feel the tension in the air between them. 

“Okay, what’s going on?” Winter asks once they all sit down for dinner. Of course she would pick up on the uneasy feeling in the room. 

“Nothing’s wrong baby.” Sam forces a smile. Bucky can see through that, he knows when Sam isn’t telling the truth. But he tries to play along.

“What makes you think something is wrong?” Bucky asks.

“I don’t know, you guys are being weird.” Winter shrugs. 

“Eat your food baby.” Sam picks up his fork. Bucky peers up to look at him and they both know that they need to push everything aside for later. It’s not fair to the kids to bring them into this. It’s not their fight. 

That night after tucking James into bed and saying goodnight to Winter, Bucky can feel the tension in their room when he comes in to go to bed. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. He feels at fault, he’s always making things worse. So they go to bed, facing away from each other in utter silence.

All he had to do was bring the team in and have them testify against Val, but instead he had to play the hero. It’s not like it was his idea to call the team The New Avengers. That was all Val and now the rest of the team was getting settled in at the tower in New York. New York did always feel more like home than D.C. ever did. But his seat in congress and Sam being the new Captain America, it made sense to be living in D.C. 

The argument seems to be going on for days, he can’t help it. He can’t see why Sam is being so argumentative over a stupid name. Yes he’s forming a new team of Avengers but it’s not like they’re not fighting for the same fight. They both want what’s best for the people, protection. 

“What did you say?” Bucky asks in the middle of yet another argument while the kids are at school. 

“I said, there’s no point in trying to put our trust in a bunch of criminals.” 

“A bunch of criminals.” Bucky repeats, almost in disbelief. 

“Yeah, a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that can walk through walls, a Russian super soldier that was broken out of a Russian prison, a Widow from the Red Room. Don’t even get me started on Walker and the ticking time bomb.”

“And me.” Bucky mutters. Sam frowns and goes quiet. “I’m a criminal now?” Bucky asks, he knows it’s the truth. “I get it, former Hydra assassin-”

“No, babe, I didn’t mean-”

“Didn’t you? Because I was with them, hell I led them.” Bucky argues. “Yeah, we’re a team that made some mistakes. But this is our chance to make things right.”

“We?” 

Bucky didn’t even catch on that he had said we. But there’s no taking it back now. He knows there’s a choice to be made, they both do. That’s what’s been causing the arguments lately. He takes a breath and nods. “Yeah, we. My team.” 

“So you refuse to join my team. Fight with me. You decide to run for congress instead and now you’re going to choose them over my team?” Sam asks. 

“This isn’t about choosing-”

“Oh, hell yeah it’s about choosing. You made your choice apparently.” 

“What are you saying?” 

“I’m saying pack your shit and get the hell out.” Sam yells. 

“What?” Bucky asks. This cannot be happening. He can’t be losing his family over wanting to do something right. There’s no way this is happening. “Doll, please just hear me-”

“No, I’ve heard you out. We have been arguing over this time and time again! I need some time and I need you to get the hell out of here.” 

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“Go live with your new team. That’s what you want isn’t it?” Sam argues. “That’s what all this arguing was for. You decided long before talking to me that that's where you want to be.” 

“No, it’s not what I want-”

“I’m done! I can’t keep having this same argument again and again! Just get the hell out!”

Bucky didn’t think twice he stormed off to the room. He starts packing a bag with whatever clothes of his he can get his hands on. He’s not even aware of what he’s packing. He just packs his bag with whatever he can carry and heads out the door. 

“Don’t ever fucking come back!” Sam yells as he heads out the door. Slamming it on the way out. 

Bucky gets on his bike and starts driving. He doesn’t know where yet, just that he needed out. He needs time to think. Time to figure out what to do. He’s not even sure if he has his wallet. There’s no one for him in D.C., just his husband and his kids. There’s Joaquin but Bucky doesn’t want to deal with him right now. 

Eventually he stops at a hotel and checks in for the night. He’s still processing what just happened. He knew the arguments would catch up to them. But he never imagined that Sam would make him leave because of it. He gets to the hotel and doesn’t bother with the lights, he drops his bag and lays on the bed. 

The silence is both deafening and comforting all at once. He needs the silence, so he can think. But it’s also too quiet. Winter isn’t complaining that James is bugging her. James isn’t running about. Sam isn’t trying to keep them both from arguing. It’s too quiet and not quiet enough. His thoughts won’t stop racing. 

He’s wondering what Sam is telling the kids about why their dad isn’t home. Would they be angry with him? Will they even know the truth about why they argued. Maybe they just need the night apart. Just to cool off from the near constant arguing. It wasn’t good for either of them. Especially not good for the kids. 

It’s a restless night, Bucky doesn’t sleep much. He can never sleep well when Sam isn’t by him. He doesn’t bother with dinner until it’s late and his stomach is aching with hunger that he finally leaves to get something.

It’s early and he’s running on almost zero sleep and gas station pizza to hold off his hunger. He knows it’s early but he also knows that Sam goes for a run to clear his head. Even if Bucky isn’t there he would ask Joaquin to watch the kids and bring them to school. When he gets to the Lincoln memorial he sees Sam on his usual route and steps out to stop him. He can’t let this go. 

“Sam, please.” 

Sam stops running, his chest heaving from the run. “What are you doing here?”

“I know we were having some issues but-”

“But nothing. You just left.”

“Because you told me to get out.” Bucky argues. 

“And when has that ever made you actually leave?” Sam raises his voice. Bucky can’t argue that, he’s been told to get out before. He’s never actually packed and left. He’s got no excuse, he needs time. But he didn’t want to leave completely. He just didn’t think that far ahead, his mind was too focused on their argument they had been having all week.

“I know, I messed up.” Bucky mutters. “But you weren’t hearing me. I just-” Bucky pauses, not wanting to further the argument. “I didn’t mean to just leave.” 

“James-” Sam sighs. Bucky looks up at him, he never hears his first name until he’s messed up. He’s never even heard Sam call him James before. He can feel the pit in his stomach. “-I think we need a break. Just some time to cool off.” 

“Wait, no we-”

“Stop.” Sam interrupts. But there’s no anger or sharpness in his voice like he usually has when he’s angry. “We both need a break.”

“What about the kids?” Bucky cries.

“They stay with me. I’m not uprooting them to go live with you in some hotel. Just-” He stops to take a breath and Bucky feels like his world is crashing. “Just stay away, for now.” 

Bucky watches Sam take off on his run to continue his morning run. Bucky doesn’t know what to say. He can’t argue, he can’t call him back. He doesn’t know what to do. This can’t be how it ends. This can’t be how he loses his family. His phone ringing is what pulls him back from his thoughts. Without looking he silences the call. 

He turns to go back to his bike, the thoughts filling his mind are all his husband and kids. James with his daredevil carefree attitude. Winter with her fast responses, always headstrong. He fears for anyone Winter decides to date, they’ll need good luck. What’s he supposed to do? He can’t just stay in a hotel, he may actually go crazy. He knows that things are still so tense with Sam, he can’t go home. He can’t go to Joaquin’s, listening to him never shutting up would drive him more crazy than an empty hotel room.

His phone rings again when he gets to the bike. He grumbles a slew of curses as he angrily answers. “What!”

“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” 

The voice on the other end sends a shiver down Bucky’s spine. His mouth goes dry. He can’t be hearing this. He turns back to where he last saw Sam to see him still running down the long path. What does he want? How was he even hearing his voice over the phone? There’s no way it was possible. 

“Been a while, soldier. You miss me?” Bucky can hear the smirk on his face through the phone. “Why wouldn’t you? We had good times.”

“What do you want?” Bucky asks through gritted teeth. His voice shakes, he hates it.

“I can’t call and say hello to an old friend?” 

“We’re not-”

“Oh, you don’t consider us friends?” 

“Shut up!” Bucky yells. “Rumlow, how are you even alive?”

Notes:

Thanks for reading. <3

Chapter 2

Summary:

Bucky has to deal with Rumlow, putting his argument with Sam aside until he figures out what Rumlow wants.

Bucky can feel the dryness on his mouth. He cannot be hearing this voice on the other end. The way Rumlow had treated him was something that he would never forget. That voice is burned into his memory. He can never mistake it for anyone else. He can feel his heartbeat raising and the sweat forming at his hairline. 

“How I’m alive isn’t relevant. I had to come back and see my favourite soldier.” 

“Rumlow, I swear when I find you-”

“You’ll what?” Brock chuckles, he hasn’t changed one bit. “Is that your voice quivering I hear?”

Bucky can feel his hands starting to shake. “Shut up.” 

“That’s a nice little family that you got there.” Bucky can hear the smugness in his voice. The mention of his family, it pushes away some of the fear. “Especially the girl, what was it you call her? Winter, kind of ironic isn’t it?”

“Don’t talk about my daughter.” Bucky warns. 

“I’ll be in touch.” Rumlow says. The next thing he hears is the beep signalling the end of the call. Bucky looked at his phone and the number was blocked. He checks back where Sam was and he’s sure Sam can handle himself. He needs his kids. He needs to check on his daughter. 

He gets on the bike and starts it with a loud rumble before taking off. He speeds through the streets to the familiar route to their house. He gets there and doesn’t bother with knocking, it’s still his house. 

“Winter? Jamie?” Bucky calls. 

“Daddy!” James squeals.

“Hey, woah.” Joaquin trips behind a running James. Bucky sighs and scoops up James in his arms as Joaquin gets up. “Strong little guy.” 

“Where’s Winter?” Bucky asks. 

“Uh, upstairs.” Joaquin answers.

“Winter!” Bucky calls.

“I’m coming.” Winter mumbles. She peeks down the stairs. “Dad?” 

“Come here.” Bucky waves her down.

“Papa said you had some meetings.” Winter looks confused when she comes down the stairs. 

“Yeah, uh, yeah. Meetings, I’m on my way back to them. I just-” Bucky hugs Winter and holds James in his other arm. Trying to think clearly. “I, uh, I wanted to bring you both to school.” 

“Papa has the car.” Winter mutters.

“That’s okay. Joaquin will let us use his.” Bucky looks at Joaquin.

“Oh.” Joaquin pats his pockets for his keys. “Right, uh, yeah.” He hands the keys over and Bucky gets both the kids ready and shuffles him out the door. 

“Where’s papa?” James asks.

“Jamie, you ask that every time I drive you to school and where do I always say he is?” Bucky asks.

“Running?” 

“That’s right.” Bucky forces a grin.

“What’s going on?” Winter asks. She’s forever observant. Bucky sighs. 

“I’m just gonna go away for a few days. I got some things to do and-”

“You and papa have been fighting.” Winter interrupts. 

“I know.” Bucky lets out a sigh. Winter is too smart for her age, she puts things together too quickly. Sam was shocked when Winter put together the tooth fairy bit before she even lost her second tooth. That didn’t keep them from sneaking in to switch out the tooth for some cash.

“Are you leaving because of us-”

“No.” Bucky interrupts sharply. He shakes his head and takes a quick look at Winter. “No, it’s never because of any of you. I just, papa and I are disagreeing on something right now. It’s gonna be okay. No, I’m going away to deal with some other things.” 

“For your congress seat?” Winter asks.

“Uh, yeah. Something like that.” Bucky nods. He tries his best to dodge most of the questions until he gets to the school and parks. He turns to Winter and stops her from getting out. “Baby, listen to me.” 

“Something is wrong.”

“Yeah, baby. But it’s got nothing to do with papa. Just listen to me. I want you to be careful. Okay? No talking to strangers, no-”

“Dad, you and papa already taught me not to-”

“This is different.” Bucky interrupts her. “While I’m away, you do not trust anyone. You hear me? Papa, Joaquin, that’s it. No one else.” 

“What about Aunty Sarah-”

“Of course, people you know, that we know. You can trust Aunty Sarah and Uncle Clint, Aunt Pepper. Everyone, but strangers. If someone, if a man ever comes up to you or your brother and says he knows me or papa. Don’t trust them. You get a teacher or you get your papa or Joaquin. You get an adult. You understand me?”

“No strangers.” James yells. 

“That’s right, pal. No strangers. Both of you, promise me.” 

“Promise.” Winter nods. 

“I promise, daddy.” James nods. 

“Good, come on you’ll be late.” Bucky gets out of the car. He lets James out and hugs them both. “Remember, be safe okay? Baby, can you walk your brother in?”

“Yeah.” Winter nods, she takes James’ hand. 

“Hey.” Bucky stops her. She looks at him and Bucky grins. “Remember, someone comes along. Right hook, just like how I showed you.”

Winter smiles and nods. “Right hook, like you taught Uncle Steve.”

“That’s right kiddo. Now get to class.” Bucky forced a smile. 

He waits until he’s sure they’re inside the building before he gets in the car heading back home. He commits them to memory. Winter in her jean jacket and dark pants with this week's favourite show on it. James in his favourite dinosaur shirt with the triceratops of course. His favourite red sneakers and blue jacket. His two wonderful kids. 

He gets back to the house and he sees Sam’s car. He’s not ready for another argument. But he has to warn Sam to be on the lookout for Rumlow. So he takes a deep breath and gets out of the car, readying himself to face the impending argument. Sam comes out the second the front door opens. 

“Where are the kids?” Sam asks.

“School, where else would I take them?”

“You come to me and then when you leave you come here and take them. What am I supposed to think?”

“I got a call, I had to make sure they were okay.”

“Oh what call? Because short of a death threat I’m still pissed off at-”

“From Rumlow!” Bucky raises his voice so Sam can hear him. Sam stops immediately and Bucky can tell by the look on his face he’s skeptical. 

“Rumlow is dead. Steve and I made sure-”

“Last time I checked a deadman can’t call. But it was him.”

“Uh, who’s Rumlow?” Joaquin asks. Bucky rolls his eyes and tosses the keys back to him. 

“He was a hydra agent. Steve and I saw him die. He blew himself up in Lagos.” Sam explains. 

“Sam, it was him.” Bucky looks at Sam. There’s very few people that know what Rumlow really did. What the Hydra agents ever did. Sam knew the full extent of what happened. It took a few months of being together for Bucky to open up about what happened in Hydra. He didn’t tell Sam everything right away, but over time he learned to open up more. “I’m going to lead him away, but he mentioned Winter so watch-”

“No you shouldn’t-”

“You wanted a break. You got one. I already told the kids I’ll be gone for a few days.” 

“No Buck-”

“Save it Sam. This doesn’t change anything. I just had to see the kids and let you know.”

“What are you gonna do?” Sam asks. 

Bucky stops with his hand on the door. There’s so many thoughts racing his mind now. He’s not sure what he’ll do. But he knows one thing. Rumlow is not getting anywhere near his family. “I’m gonna end it.”

He could hear Sam calling him but he wasn’t gonna let Rumlow win this one. However he was back. Bucky was going to make sure that he led him away. The argument with Sam now at the back of his mind. He drives back to the hotel and he packs his bag, not that he unpacked much. He’s securing the bag to his bike when his phone rings again. He sees the blocked ID again and answers.

“What?” 

“Had to check on the kids, huh?” Rumlow answers. Bucky’s body washes over with cold. His heartbeat was rising again. “You know, that school, that’s not a very secure place.” 

“Don’t.”

“Would be a shame to have some students go missing.” 

“Rumlow, I swear if you-”

“Packing for something?” Rumlow asks. Bucky looks down at his bag he has secured on his bike. He’s watching, Bucky immediately starts scanning the area. His brain runs through scenarios of where the best vantage point would be. The training he had from Hydra was still second nature. 

“I’m leaving, heading to New York. Missing home you know?” Bucky tries to sound casual.

“Trouble in paradise?” 

“None of your business.” Bucky looks around again. 

“Trying to lure me away?” Brock asks. Bucky takes a sharp breath. The fear for his family is overwhelming his instincts to just find him. “Fine, where are we going?”

“Manhattan.” Bucky says before hanging up. He looks around one more time when he spots the best vantage point. He looks closely and sees the figure of a person, that has to be him. But how is he here? Sam is right, he and Steve saw him die. But Bucky will have to figure that out later. He’s gotta go. He and Sam will have to figure their argument out later. For now Bucky gets on the bike and takes off. His mind wanders while he drives.

Sam is laying back in the hospital bed while Bucky paces with their baby in his arms. It was a terrifying experience to be there. But here they are with their new baby girl. Though Bucky will deny it, Sam continues to tell people that Bucky nearly fainted during the delivery. 

“We still need a name for her.” Bucky whispers. The baby in his arms is so small, he can’t get over how small. She’s so peaceful and content with the light bounce of Bucky’s walking. 

“Did you still want to do Rebecca?” Sam asks. 

“I don’t know. I was thinking about the other name you were suggesting.” Bucky says. He’s still pacing ever so slightly. He knows they’ve gone back and forth about the names. Tossing around old family names and new names. But Bucky was thinking about the one name, he wasn’t sure about it at first but then it grew on him. 

“That wasn’t a real suggestion. It was my pregnancy brain rattling off the first things in my head.” Sam chuckles. 

“Well, I was thinking about it and I think it could work.” Bucky shrugs.

“Are you sure?” Sam asks.

“What hydra made me, what they made that name. Nothing but bad came from it, there should only be good left for it.” Bucky explains. 

“Now why you gotta go all deep like that?” 

“That’s what you said when we made her.” Bucky smirks. He has to snort a chuckle when he sees Sam nearly choke on air. 

“Boy.” Sam whines. “I just had her. Wait twenty four hours before making me laugh.” 

“So are we okay with that?” Bucky asks. 

“Yeah.” Sam nods. “Winter Barnes.” 

“Barnes?” Bucky looks at Sam. 

“Yeah. Barnes.” Sam grins. Bucky smiles and looks down at their daughter. He’s a dad, for real. He stopped believing he’d be a dad the moment he got drafted to the war. Here he is, holding his baby girl.

“Winter.” Bucky whispered. She coos and her tiny nose scrunches. Bucky smiles. “I’ll protect you, you hear me? No one’s ever gonna hurt you.” 

It was a promise that he had made when she was mere hours old. It’s a promise he intends on keeping. This little girl that he helped make was going to be protected at all costs. 

Bucky tries to push the memory from his mind. He can’t let himself think about the past. He has to stay focused. If he’s not focused then Rumlow is going to get the upper hand on him. He knew Rumlow following him to New York was too easy. There’s another motive for him to just follow Bucky. But he doesn’t know what that is yet. 

He parks in front of the building, the last battle to take down Val still fresh in his mind. He never once thought that he would come back here, he hadn’t ever thought he would be an avenger or part of a team. Not that he agreed with who his teammates were. They all did bad things, each different from the other. But it’s the first time he felt like he was able to do something good, something to make up for what he did for Hydra. One where no one’s going to say he got the spot on the team because of his husband. 

He goes inside and it’s pretty quiet, going up the elevator is not. There is music coming from the speakers, based on the fact it sounds like some new pop song he doesn’t know, Alexei must’ve picked it. Once the doors open he can hear the bickering immediately. He steps off the elevator to see them all talking over each other, huddled around the table, Yelena looks like she’s about to put Walker in a headlock if he doesn’t shut up. 

“Guys!” Bucky yells. They all one by one, go quiet and look his way. 

“Bucky?” John questions. 

“The Winter Soldier!” Alexei cheers. 

“What happened to going home?” Ava asks. 

“Change of plans.” Bucky takes a breath. He drops his bag and looks around. “How about our first mission?”

“Yes!” Alexei stands and screams. 

“Woah wait, what mission?” Yelena asks. 

“Hydra.” Bucky sighs. 

Notes:

Thanks for reading.

Chapter 3

Summary:

Sam is trying to figure out how Rumlow is back and what he wants while dealing with the kids.

Sam went downstairs to the basement, putting in his passcode for the door to open. They had their work down there so the kids knew not to go down there without them. But it was also a safe place when the kids needed to be protected. Joaquin is close in tow behind him as he goes in, the lights turning on with the screens and computers.

“Wait, if he’s dead then who called Bucky?” Joaquin asks.

“That’s what we’re going to find out.” Sam says. He goes to the middle counter and looks at the screen. “First get into Bucky’s phone, find out who called him and from where.”

“On it.” Joaquin jogs over to the other computer. 

“I’m pulling up surveillance on the kids’ school. That asshole mentioned Winter, we gotta keep an eye on her.” 

“Didn’t you and Sam choose that school because it’s secure? Like all the congress and government officials kids go there?” 

“Yeah, but I don’t trust Rumlow. He’s scum, but he’s smart.” Sam looks at the surveillance from the school. Looking for any sign of something wrong. 

“If he’s hydra, does that mean he worked with Bucky?”

“No one worked with Bucky.” Sam snaps. He takes a breath and tries to regain what little control he did have. “They used him. He never worked with hydra, he was used by them.” 

“Right.” Joaquin mutters. “I’m sorry Sam.” 

“Just get tracing that call.” Sam tries to push it back. He can’t lose control. It doesn’t matter what happened between him and Bucky right now. If he isn’t focused it may cause the kids their safety. They have to focus and if it is Rumlow then they need to figure out if there’s been anyone messing with the time travel lately. “Keep working on that, I’ll be back.” 

“Where are you going?” Joaquin asks.

“I gotta call someone.” Sam says, making his way up the stairs. He pulls out his phone and hovers over the contact for a minute. If anyone knows anything then it’s him. He hits the number and brings the phone to his ear. 

“Hello?”

“Tic Tac.” Sam sighs.

“Hey, Falcon, Cap, no Cap. You’re Cap now-”

“Hey, listen. I got a question.” Sam tries to keep Scott on track. 

“Right, yeah, question. Fire away. Not literally just-I’ll shut up.” Scott rambles on.

“Time travel, what if someone found a way from the past to here?”

“Uh, well I guess there’s two-”

“No, this person died years ago.” Sam clarifies. 

“Uh, I don’t know. We were the only ones that had the tech to time jump. If someone else did, they-”

“Maybe Bruce would know.” Sam interrupts.

“Yeah, well, he and Tony said that it would create branches in the timeline. It wouldn’t change anything in the past or future. No past. What was it Bruce said?” 

“You know what nevermind. I’ll call Bruce, but if we needed to send someone back to their time. You got the PYM particles to do that?”

“Yeah, we have lots.” Scott says. 

“Alright, thanks Tic Tac.” 

“Yeah, no idea what I did.” Scott sighs. 

“I’ll call you later, keep some particles handy in case.” Sam says before hanging up. His next call is to Bruce.

“Hi Sam.” Bruce answers. 

“Bruce, hey, uh, you busy?” Sam asks. 

“Not particularly.” Bruce answers. “Okay, wait. If you got another coloured hulk again-”

“No.” Sam chuckles. “No, we got Ross squared away in the Raft. No, this is about time travel.” 

“Time travel? We haven’t-”

“Well someone did.” 

“Why? Who are you talking about?” 

“Rumlow is back.” Sam sighs. 

“Wait. Hydra Rumlow? How?” Bruce asks.

“I don’t have a clue, that’s why I’m asking if there’s a way we can find out if anyone’s used the machine lately.” 

“I’ll see what I can find out.” 

“Thanks Bruce.”

Sam hangs up and takes a moment of silence. He knows that he and Bucky have been arguing over the new Avengers team that Val built. He’s sure that they both took it too far and he can see how Bucky thinks he’s right. But he can’t focus on that. He has to focus on why Rumlow is back and what he wants. 

He should be calling Bucky, he should be getting more information. But he’s both angry and hurt that Bucky just left. Yeah, they’ve had their differences in the past but Bucky has never actually left when Sam told him to. Not for real, he’ll leave for a walk or to clear his head. But he’s never actually packed a bag. That’s the only thing that he’s struggling with, that Bucky actually packed a bag and left. 

“Sam.” Joaquin’s voice travels up the stairs. 

“Yeah?” Sam calls back, he takes a breath blinking away the tears threatening to fill his eyes. 

“I got the trace.” 

“Okay.” Sam clears his throat. “Coming.” 

He knows he can’t stand to dwell on past memories or current arguments. He knows that he’s right and he knows that Bucky thinks he’s right. Both stuck in a stalemate as they both think they’re right. He shoves his feelings down and heads back downstairs. 

“What do you got?” Sam asks.

“I traced the call and got some CCTV footage. Is that him?” Joaquin asks. On the screen there’s a fuzzy image but Sam would recognize it from anywhere. The scars on his face are the same as when they caught up to him in Lagos. 

“Yeah, that’s him.” Sam nods. “You have any idea on where he’s heading?” 

“Tracking the phone he’s heading out of town. Uh, it looks like he’s going to…”

“New York.” 

“Yeah, how’d you know?” Joaquin asks. 

“Because that’s where Bucky’s going.” Sam says through gritted teeth. Bucky knows how Sam feels about that team. He knows from every argument they had and that’s where he’s going. 

“What do we do?” Joaquin interrupts his thoughts. 

“We keep an eye on things. I’m trying to find out what he’s doing here and how he got here.”

“You really think he time traveled?”

“He had to. There’s no way this is our Rumlow. Steve saw him die.”

“You’re, like, really sure.”

“Yes, there was nothing, no body to identify. He set off a bomb on his chest. Wanda tried to get him up, away from civilians but she lost control. Took out an apartment building.”

“Where is Wanda now?”

“I don’t know, we lost track of a lot of people after Thanos.”

“Is there anyone else that might be able to help?” Joaquin asks. 

“I got some friends looking into time travel. Unless there’s someone that knows if there’s parallel universes, then I got nothing.”

“Well I’ll keep digging, see if I can find where this guy popped up from.” 

“Yeah, do that. I have some meetings to get to and then I gotta get the kids.” 

“So are you and Bucky, like-” Joaquin trails off and Sam knows he’s wondering what happened. 

“I don’t know anymore. Just drop it.” Sam shakes his head. 

“Shutting up, will do.” Joaquin nods. 

“I gotta go. Just let me know what you find.” 

“Will do.”

Sam makes his way to the car and he’s about to start it when he stops and takes the moment of silence. No arguments, no Rumlow just for a few seconds. That’s all he needs. He understands that Bucky feels a sense of accomplishment or something. He understands that but he’s still so angry. 

Sam tried his best to take a breath, he’s trying to hold onto his composure and be as understanding as he can. He looks at Bucky and opens his mouth to talk but that wouldn’t be a productive thing to say. He shuts his mouth again and starts pacing again. A nervous habit when he’s trying to work through his own thoughts. 

“Can you say something?” 

“Congress? Really?” Sam snaps, finally getting the words out. 

“Yeah, I figured that’s how you’d react.” Bucky sighs. 

“You don’t know a damn thing about the government on the other side. You’re just finally getting better.” Sam sighs and keeps pacing. “You can just join me. Come on missions with Joaquin and I-”

“But this way I could try to do something good without fighting.” Bucky answers and that makes Sam stop and listen. “All I’ve done was go from one fight to the next. This is a way I can do real good without a fight for once.” 

“You’re really serious about this.” 

“I think I can do this, I mean I need to get voted in or whatever first.” Bucky sighs. The nervous energy coming from him makes Sam feel bad for him. Bucky hates having eyes on him since coming back. 

“Fine.” Sam sighs and he comes to Bucky. He straddles Bucky on the bed feeling Bucky’s arms wrap around his waist. “You’re really sure about this.”

“No, but, I feel like it’s something I need to do.”

“I know.” Sam sighs. “I guess we get a campaign going.” 

“Really?” Bucky smiles.

“Yeah, really. If you don’t wanna fight anymore then we’ll get you that congress seat.” Sam nods. Bucky leans in and Sam kisses him. 

Sam pushes the memory aside. Bucky had told him he didn’t want to fight anymore. At the time Bucky probably meant it but then to find him on TV of all things. Sam doesn’t know what he’s more angry about, the fact that Bucky didn’t tell him he wanted to fight or that he found out on TV. Now Sam understands that Bucky can’t just drop everything and call home, Sam’s been on enough missions to know there’s no pause button in the middle of a battle. 

But for Bucky to not call and just come home looking exhausted and beat up. That was not how Sam wanted to find him or talk to him the first time. It was a whole mess, Winter and James were both concerned. Thankfully Joaquin was there to steer the kids away while Sam tended to Bucky’s wounds. He didn’t have to do much, thanks to the serum he would heal in a few days or so. 

But that’s when the arguments started and Sam had tried to talk it out. But they didn’t seem to get anywhere. Bucky thinks he’s right and in some ways he might be. But Sam is sure that he’s right and there’s definitely a way he is. But which one is gonna give in? If they want to make this marriage work something has to give. For the kids sake. 

Sam doesn’t even realize he’s made it to the school until he’s parking. It’s like he’s been on auto pilot. He gets out to look for his kids. The school was secure and they didn’t allow kids to wander so when he spots them a teacher allows them to come. 

“Papa.” James smiles as he runs to them. 

“Hey Jamie. Winter, how was school?” Sam forces a smile. He’s gotta be sure the kids are okay. 

“Where’s dad?”

“Get in the car.” Sam sighs. He knows they both love their kids equally. But Winter is a daddy’s girl. She does everything with Bucky. Sam makes sure everyone’s buckled and he starts driving. “Papa, why did dad have to leave? Where’d he go?”

“Winter, he just had some meetin-”

“Bull!”

“Watch your language and that tone.” Sam warns. 

“You’re both lying. I know when you’re lying cause you both suck at it.”

“Your dad had some things to take care of. He had to go back to Brooklyn. His congr-”

“Dad lost the congress seat.”

“Wh-how’d you know that?” Sam asks. 

“Kids in school talk. Is dad okay?”

“He’s fine. I promise.”

“Are you two getting a divorce?” Winter asks quietly. 

“What’s divorce?” James chimes in. 

“No we’re not. We’re just…your dad has some things to take care of.” He pulls into the driveway and parks the car. He looks at Winter and the sadness in her eyes is like a dagger to the heart. “Baby girl, it’s gonna be okay. I promise.”

“It would be better if dad was home.” She gets out and storms inside. Sam sighs and takes a breath, he knows out of both kids Winter will have it tougher because she understands more. 

“Papa, I’m hungry.” James pulls Sam from his thoughts. 

“Boy, you always hungry like your dad.” Sam gets out and opens the back door for him. “Go on inside and get a snack and I’ll call for a pizza.”

“Pizza?” He gasps. 

“Yes, pizza.” Sam smiles. 

“Yay!” James yells as he runs inside. Sam follows him in and hears the door shut. Winter stormed up to her room. Joaquin appears from the living room. 

“Everything good?”

“Fine, would you order a couple pizzas please?” Sam asks. 

“Oh pizza. Sure.” Joaquin smiles. Sam can’t help but chuckle. Joaquin is always over. It’s almost like Bucky and Sam have a third kid, but he is helpful with the kids. He can hear the ruckus from Winter’s room; she's definitely upset. Thankfully she hasn’t inherited any of the serum like they’ve seen in James. 

When Winter was born and she was growing up so well they never thought about the serum being passed on because she never got powers. But recently they noticed that James is gaining his strength. Bucky’s been doing what he can to help James understand that he can’t be so rough with people. 

With the teen years coming for Winter, sooner than later, Sam isn’t sure she’ll ever get the super soldier abilities. Bucky insists that she’s just late with it. She’ll develop abilities when she needs them. Sam doesn’t have the heart to argue that Winter may never get abilities. 

Notes:

Thanks for reading ☺️

I was looking through some TikTok videos and stumbled across this one. If you can you should check it out. It’s not my video. Credit to the editor, but it’s very much like this story.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSS3fE57x/

Chapter 4

Summary:

Bucky and his new team come up with a plan to protect Winter, while Bucky tries to let go of his past.

Bucky rubs his temple hearing everyone talk over each other. It’s been so chaotic he’s barely finished telling them what’s going on. They’re all talking over each other, Alexei is loud and ready to fight whoever. Yelena is busy trying to answer questions and get control. Walker and Ava are busy bickering like a couple of kids. Bob is by Yelena looking like a confused puppy watching everyone.

“Guys!” Bucky yells. Everyone keeps talking and Yelena sighs.

“Guys, shut up!” Yelena yells. Everyone goes quiet and Bucky is grateful that Yelena’s helping him get control of the situation.

“Okay, so we know he’s after my daughter-”

“Why do we know that?” John asks.

“He literally mentioned her, by name.” Ava smacks the back of John’s head. 

“But how do we know he’s not trying to draw our attention?” Yelena asks.

“Good point.” Bucky sighs. What would he want, how is he even still alive? 

“You said she didn’t have the super soldier serum?” John asks. 

“Yeah, Jamie’s got it but she didn’t. She just needs time to get it.” Bucky answers.

“Maybe she’ll never get it.” Yelena shrugs. Bucky looks at her, Sam says the same thing. “What? It’s not like an exact science. It’s like some kids get things from both parents but not everything.”

“She’ll get her abilities, that's all she’s looking forward to.” Bucky says firmly. 

“What if he wants to know why? I mean he’s hydra right? Nazi experimenting bullshit.” John adds. 

“Yeah he’s hydra. So was I.”

“Not by choice.” Yelena reminds him. “It’s like saying I signed up for the red room.”

“So let’s say he wants to experiment on Winter. Is he the science guy or the muscle?” Ava asks.

“He’d be the muscle.” Bucky mumbles, the memories both hazy and clear all at once. He remembers what Rumlow did most of all the memories he had. “But he knows how to work the machines.”

“What machines?” Yelena asks.

“The memory suppressing machine. It wiped my memory using electroshock.” Bucky explains. He doesn’t bother to look at anyone. He doesn’t need the pity look right now.

“If he’s the muscle, why did he know how to use that?” John asks.

“Doesn’t matter.” Bucky shakes off the memories. “If he is after my daughter to experiment on her then why tell me?” 

“To distract you.” Yelena mutters. Bucky looks at her and she’s deep in thought. “He knew that by telling you he’s after Winter you’d distance yourself from her. To keep her safe.” 

“So we make a plan, make him think you’re meeting up with the kid.” John shrugs.

“He’s smart, he wouldn’t buy that.” Bucky shakes his head. 

“He would if she played Winter.” John points to Yelena. 

“How would that work?” Yelena asks. She looks like she’s about ready to throw him out. “In what world would that work? I look nothing like her.” 

“I don’t know.” John shrugs. 

“Oh my god.” Yelena puts her head down rubbing her temples. 

“You know what, we’ll just figure this out later. Just go.” Bucky shakes his head. He watches the rest of the team walking away, Ava smacking John on the back of the head. He turns to look at Yelena. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with them.” 

“I don’t know.” Yelena mutters. “Natasha was better with people than I was.” 

“Yeah, Steve was great with people.” 

“So is this why you’re really here? What happened to your husband?” Yelena asks. Bucky looks at her, not really sure how to answer. “You never mentioned him. You just showed up with a bag.”

“We’re just…” Bucky takes a beat to think. “We need some space.”

“Oh.” Yelena bites her lip. “I’m sorry.” 

“Look, my relationship or lack thereof is not the problem here.” Bucky sighs. “Why would he mention Winter? How does he even get here?”

“You said he died, right?” Yelena asks. 

“Yeah. But obviously not.” 

“What if he did die.” Yelena mutters.

“What?” Bucky questions. 

“Hang on. Let me check with someone.” 

“With who?” Bucky asks as Yelena gets up. “Yelena.” 

“Hang on.” Yelena holds the phone to her ear. “Barton.”

Bucky sighs and throws his hands in the air. Now left alone with his thoughts. He still doesn’t know where he stands with Sam. Even if they figure out the whole Rumlow being back from the dead situation, he doesn’t understand why he would want Winter. 

“Clint said he’ll ask one of the big ones.” 

“Big ones?” Bucky asks.

“The Bruce or Thor or whoever they worked with.” Yelena shrugs.

“You get we’re avengers now.” Bucky chuckles.

“Are we?” Yelena asks. “Valentina might have said we are, but we really aren’t getting along. If you haven’t noticed.” 

“Oh, I’ve noticed.” Bucky sighs. 

“If you’re serious about staying, we got the room.” Yelena shrugs.

“I don’t know for how long.” 

“It’s fine, there’s so much space in this building. I asked for another room for my weapons and I got it.” 

“Really?” Bucky asks.

“Yeah, we say jump and Valentina says how high.” Yelena laughs. Of the team, so far Bucky doesn’t mind Yelena. She seems to be the most sane out of everyone. Yelena’s phone rings and she answers by putting it on speaker.

“Hey, Yelena.” Clint answers.

“Hey, I got Barnes here.” Yelena says.

“Hey Bucky.” 

“Hi.” 

“Okay, I called Bruce who called Steven Strange.” Clint explains. “I guess Sam called Bruce too. But Bruce said that Strange said there’s other universes.”

“Wait, what?” Bucky and Yelena say in unison. 

“Yeah, he met this kid. She jumps worlds, or something. Look, they said there’s a possibility that this Rumlow might be from another earth.” 

“So what would he want here?” Yelena asks.

“Well, that depends on what earth he’s from.” Clint says. 

“I thought time travel was the extent of weird shit to happen.” Bucky sighs. 

“Trust me. I thought the same.” Clint says. “You guys don’t need help or something, do you?” 

“No, we’re good.” Yelena shakes her head. She says a quick bye and hangs up on him. 

“So you two talk now?” Bucky asks.

“No. I got his number from Kate Bishop.” Yelena sighs. “Take whatever spare room there is.” 

Bucky watches Yelena get up from the table and leaves. Bucky knows that anything even close to Natasha is a tough subject for her. But he doesn’t have time to figure that out. He needs time to think. So he grabs his bag and heads to the elevator taking it down to the floor with the bedrooms. He finds an empty one and drops his bag. He’s exhausted and with everything going on he just wants to hold Sam.

The first night in the tower is different for him, it’s not like he hasn’t been in a living situation like this before. But he and Sam shared a room back at the compound. Now here, with a new team it’s a strange feeling but it’s also something that feels right. Like this is his chance to do some real good. Being in congress was doing good, but it was filled with so much red tape. There was no getting around it. Trying to make change from there was very hard.

“Buck.” The door swings open. John walks in. “Come on, I got it.” 

“There’s a thing called knocking.” Bucky quints at the light coming into the dark room, interrupting his train of thought. 

“We got a plan. Come on.” John takes off, leaving the door open. Bucky grumbles, he’s not even sure he got much sleep, if any. He goes out to find the team gathered. 

“What’s going on?” Bucky asks.

“We got a plan.” Ava says.

“No we don’t. He needs to agree first.” Yelena speaks up.

“He will agree.” Alexei says.

“It’s a fool proof plan.” John says. Bucky sighs.

“Would someone tell me!” Bucky yells.

“They want to watch Winter and move in when Rumlow tries to grab her.” Yelena explains. He can tell by all their faces they can see his anger.

“It was his idea.” Ava points to John.

“Wha-no, no, no, no. That’s not completely true.” John puts his hand up and steps back behind Yelena.

“You're trying to use my daughter as bait!” Bucky yells. He storms forward and everyone stands up. 

“Woah, wait.” Bob steps in. Bucky scowls at him and Bob slowly backs away. Bucky stops in his tracks. Bob fidgets and looks at the team before looking at Bucky. 

“If, uh, if you think about it.” Bob stutters. “W-winter, well she, she’d be safer. You know, with everyone nearby.” 

“It’s not bad, Buck.” Ava says. 

“He’s already coming for her, we know that. So if we watch out for her. We can stop him before he tries anything.” Yelena says. “While we watch her, Barton said Strange is seeing if they can find which earth he came from.” 

“Yeah, exactly.” John says. 

“If anything, we can prevent something from happening to her.” Ava adds on. 

“We go protection detail.” Alexei blurts out. 

“What do you say?” Yelena asks. 

Bucky looks at his team, each one looking like they’re hoping he agrees. He’s still angry about how it sounds. The last thing he wants is to have Winter in danger. But they do have a point that they can watch Winter. That’s if the team actually works together and doesn’t mess this up. 

“If anything happens to her.” Bucky warns

“It won’t.” Yelena says. 

“We’ll make sure she’s safe.” Ava nods. 

“Of course we won’t let her get hurt. We would like to live.” John says. Everyone looks at him and he shrugs. “He’d kill us if she gets hurt. I’d like to not die anytime soon.”

“So we do this?” Ava asks.

“Yeah we do this.” Buck sighs. 

“Yes!” Alexei yells. 

Bucky winces at his raised voice. Looking at Yelena silently asking her if she’s sure about this. It’s like she understands what he’s asking and she gives him a nod. From what he knows of Yelena she’s the one that wouldn’t let anything happen to a kid. Since she was just a kid herself when she got into this life. 

Not that anyone would really choose a life that would land them on the most wanted list at one point. Bucky can see Sam’s response to the team when he looks at the pasts of everyone. Everyone at one point or another worked for the red room, or hydra. Except for Bob and John who worked for Valentina. Ava, was technically S.H.I.E.L.D but they turned out to be Hydra so still counts. 

Bucky changes into some gear, although he really doesn’t have specific gear he grabs his leather jacket and dark shirt and black pants. He’s lacing his boots up as Yelena comes onto the jet. Valentina apparently had her hands on a quinjet that was now theirs to use. Bucky sighed when he heard Ava and John bickering about the seat between them. Bucky stands up and grabs Bob’s arm and brings him to the seat and sits him down.

“There, now neither of you get the goddamn seat so sit down. Or fall, whichever.” Bucky says. He goes up front and takes the co-pilot seat with Yelena. 

“Going all dad mode.” Yelena smirks as she preps the jet for flight. 

“They argue like kids, I’ll treat ‘em like it.” Bucky mumbles. 

“Hey, we’re gonna take care of this. It’s gonna be great and Winter will be safe.” Yelena rambles on as she starts taking off. “Then you and Sam can go back to whatever lovers spat that happened before this.”

“How did you-”

“Your bag was packed. Winter is in danger and your bag was packed? If it wasn’t an argument or like you said, you guys needed space. You’d be home with the kid. Not here with the cause of it.”

“You weren’t the cause.” Bucky sighs. 

“He doesn’t want the new avengers, does he?”

“He’s going to come around. It’s just that, Ross asked him to restart the avengers and he was doing that. Then-”

“Val went and made us the new avengers.”

“Pretty much.” Bucky nods. 

“You’ll work it out.”

“I don’t know if we will.” Bucky shakes his head. “I hope we do, but I don’t think we will.”

Bucky doesn’t speak up after that about Sam or his family. He can’t fathom the thought of losing Sam. He’s been the one constant thing he had since he started coming back to Steve. There were some ways that Sam helped more than Steve ever could. It had to be the counselling background Sam had. He just seemed to know what to say. And that’s probably what shocked Bucky more about why the argument happened. It’s something they’ve never done before. 

Sam is usually calm and understanding. But to see him pushing back this time. Yeah, the team was rough around the edges and they’ve all been on the wrong side of the law. But they’ve changed, at least Bucky hopes they have. There are still times he can feel like The Winter Soldier again. But he tries to remember that, that part of his life is over. The programming is gone and he never has to go back to being a puppet. The memories still haunt him. He closes his eyes trying to force the memories away. 

Bucky falls to his knees, out of breath and aching all over. He can feel a hand cup his chin, pulling and forcing him to look up. He never knew the name of his handler at the time, but he always remembered the face. 

“That’s it, soldier. Be a good boy.” Rumlow smirks. “I know you can take it.” 

Notes:

I know it’s been so long since I updated. But the motivation got lost. But I managed to get another chapter done! The inspiration just hits when it wants. Thanks for reading ❤️

Also wishing Sebastian Stan a happy birthday 🫶🏽

Chapter 5

Bucky sets each member of the team in a different spot around the school Winter and James go to. He made sure to pair Alexei with someone because he knows he gets distracted. So it’s Alexei and Walker on the north side. Ava on the east and Yelena on the west. Bucky took the south keeping watch on the school. He has the same set up on the way home and at home. To keep Winter safe. Bob was in the backseat of the car with Bucky, more because he didn’t feel like talking. Though he just told Bob that it was less suspicious if he hid in the back. Bob didn’t question it. 

“So we’re just going to sit and wait?” Bob asks. 

“Yup.” Bucky sighs. 

“I packed snacks, if you want.” Bob smiles. 

“Uh, maybe later.” Bucky looks at the school again. Hoping this plan works and even better Rumlow doesn’t even try anything. 

“So why would he mention Winter if he was going to try to take winter?” Bob asks. 

“I don’t know, Bob.” Bucky sighs. “Would you just eat your snack?” 

“Okay.” Bob mutters. Bucky takes a deep breath, holding onto whatever patience he has left. He jumps when the passenger car door opens and he blows out a breath when he sees Sam.

“What are you doing here?” Bucky asks.

“You guys know I spotted you when I was dropping the kids off for school right?” Sam asks. 

“We’re just keeping an eye on them.” Bucky says. 

“Yeah, a group of your criminal friends around my kids. That makes me feel really reassured.” 

“They’re my team and they’re not all bad.” Bucky sighs. 

“Walker.” 

“I said not all bad. Doesn’t mean I like them all.” Bucky pouts. 

“Hi I’m Bob.” 

Sam turns around and he sees Bob in the back seat. “Really?” 

“Bob, take a walk. But don’t go far.” Bucky sighs. 

“Can I go see Yelena?” Bob asks. 

“Yeah, sure whatever.” Bucky shrugs. He watches Bob leave with his backpack and Bucky turns back to Sam. “What?” 

“You know how I feel about this team of yours.” 

“Yeah, considering you kicked me out I know.” Bucky scoffs. 

“I asked you to join my team.” Sam raises his voice. 

“Can we not do this now?” Bucky frowns. “I’m trying to protect our daughter. Ours, she’s my kid too.” 

“Then act like it.” 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Bucky asks. 

“Instead of being there for your family you’re here. With a bunch of people with records. If you would man up you’d be home.” 

“I am trying to protect us! Like you are. Working with them is the same as you and Joaquin going out on missions.” 

“But Joaquin isn’t a criminal!” Sam yells. 

“And I’m not?” 

“You were pardoned. That wasn’t on you.” 

“I may not have had control. But I still did shit. I killed all those people, don’t dismiss that.” 

“But you didn’t want to. You had no choice. It wasn’t your fault.” Sam sighs. “Walker made a choice, he killed that guy.”

“Okay, yeah, Walker made a choice and so did Alexei working for the red room. But Ava, Yelena, Bob, they didn’t have a choice.” 

“Who is Bob anyway?” Sam asks. 

“Not the point. Sam, I know my team made some very public mistakes. But we’re just trying to make things right.” 

“I don’t care about your team. I care about us and our family, I’m already keeping surveillance on the school so, get the criminals away from our kids.” Sam demands. 

“Sam-” Bucky tries to reason with him but Sam gets out of the car and walks away. “Shit.” 

“So do we tell Bucky his comms is on?” Walker asks. 

“Walker, you ass.” Bucky mutters. 

“What? You’re the one that didn’t turn your comms off.” 

“Guys.” Yelena cuts in. 

“So what do we do?” Ava asks.

“We stay put. Something feels off, I don’t know.” Bucky says. He takes a breath and looks around and doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “Yelena, did Barton ever get back to you?” 

“Not yet, but he said he was told to talk to a Doctor Strange? I don’t know. Another big one I guess.” 

“Wait, check in for what?” Walker asks. 

“We’re just checking on something.” Bucky sighs. 

“Care to share with the class?” Ava asks. 

“The old avengers time traveled and they would know if someone used the machine again.” Yelena explains. 

“So this isn’t our Rumlow?” Walker asks. 

“Well obviously not, Walker.” Bucky snaps. “Rumlow is dead. Sam and Steve saw it, he’s dead. There’s no way-”

“Well he’s obviously not dead.” Walker interrupts. 

“Wait, who’s that going in?” Yelena asks. 

“Who? There’s no one on this end.” Bucky asks.

“Hang on, I'm running a facial rec.” 

“We have that?” Bucky asks. 

“Courtesy of Val, we got all the toys.” Ava answers. 

“Nevermind, he’s a teacher, has been for years.” Yelena says. 

Bucky sighs and sits back. Comms is a lot more active when it’s more than just him and Sam. He tries to keep his mind busy but he can’t keep his mind off his family. He was so terrified when Winter was born, scared of screwing things up. All he wanted was to make sure that Winter was safe. 

Bucky put the screwdriver in his mouth while he closed the cupboard under the sink where they kept some cleaning stuff. He pulls at it and makes sure the child lock is on properly. He’s already got the other lower cupboards done, this would be the last one when he hears a yawn he looks back to see Sam. 

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” Sam asks. 

“Late?” Bucky asks when he takes the screwdriver out of his mouth. 

“What are you doing?” Sam asks.

“We didn’t get these done before she came. I was just-”

“Baby, she’s two weeks old. I don’t think she’s going to be crawling to the cupboards anytime soon.” 

“Well, I still gotta do the bathroom. So maybe-” 

“Babe, hey stop for a second. Look at me.” Sam says as he takes Bucky’s hand. 

“What?” 

“What’s wrong? Talk to me.” 

“I just don’t want her to get hurt.” Bucky sighs as he leans on the counter. “I don’t ever want to see her hurt.” 

“So that’s why you’re baby proofing at four in the morning?” Sam chuckles. 

“She’s just so small and so helpless.”

“Yeah, babies are.”

“Wait, I didn’t hear her cry. Why are you up?” Bucky asks. 

“So I might’ve looked in on her again.” Sam shrugs. Bucky laughs, so it’s not just Bucky who’s being over protective. He sighs and hugs Sam. “No one said your first kid would be so terrifying.” 

“No kidding.” Sam nuzzles into Bucky’s chest. “I’m glad I have you.” 

“Me too.” Bucky kisses Sam’s forehead. 

The bickering in his ear calls him back from his thoughts. He rolls his eyes and listens to Ava and John going at it again. They’re worse than kids, they sound like Winter and James arguing over every little thing. That part he never thought that he would miss until he left home. Hearing them playing nicely together one minute and then arguing the next. Bucky or Sam having to yell up the stairs for them to settle down. 

“Guys shut up for two seconds.” Yelena tries to cut in. 

“Tell him, he’s the one that won’t shut up.” Ava argues. 

“Guys!” Bucky yells. He brought out his dad tone and it seems to have shut everyone up. “Can we have two minutes of no arguing?”

“I wasn’t argu-”

“Walker!” Bucky warns. 

There’s finally a moment of silence over the comms, at least while it lasted. Bucky never knew how long it would last. Until Yelena cuts in. 

“Buck, Bob’s coming back to you.” 

“Why me?” Bucky asks. 

“I can go to Ava-” Bob tries to speak up.

“Uh, no.” Ava snaps. 

“Or maybe Walker-”

“No, I already got Alexei.” Walker snaps. 

“Bob, just get over here.” Bucky sighs. 

“God, we suck.” Yelena sighs. She’s not wrong, their team isn’t much like a team. 

Bob comes back and he takes the passenger seat and Bucky sighs. He does feel bad for Bob when he gets shuffled off to each other. He’s basically the child of the team, that sometimes no one wants. He looks at Bob when he holds out a bag of trail mix. 

“Thanks.” Bucky mutters as he takes some, not really that he’s hungry but because he already turned down Bob’s snack earlier. When he’s not the void, he’s a pretty alright guy. 

The whole team needs some work. Bucky knows that he’s had enough trouble with himself and deprogramming the Winter Soldier, but so has everyone else. Maybe that’s why he feels like this team could be something great if they work at it. Everyone makes mistakes and this team has made some big mistakes. But it wasn’t all their fault. Ava and Yelena were thrown into this life, a child lab experiment and child assassin. Not of their own doing. 

Of course Bucky was still worried about the fact that Alexei was the one that brought Yelena to the Red Room. But having him nearby helps Yelena, despite what he’s done, Alexei is the only parental figure she ever had. Which Bucky sort of understood. It’s not like Alexei had much going on anyway. Walker was a wild card in Bucky’s opinion. He wasn’t fond of the guy since the whole taking the shield fiasco they went through. But Bucky’s hoping he’s learning to be a part of a team here. 

“What’s it like?” Bob asks. “Having kids I mean.” 

“It’s alright. They keep you busy.” Bucky shrugs. He’s not quite sure what to say, he’s known Bob for only so long. But aside from his other halves, he seems like an alright guy. 

“Sounds like it. I don’t know if I want kids.” Bob huffs. “I don’t think I’d be a good dad.”

“Yeah? I didn’t either. I was scared shitless.” Bucky scoffs. “But when they come, when you see them for the first time. It’s something else. I mean it’s gotta be, I have two of them.” 

“Maybe. I don’t know, I just…” Bob sighs. “Maybe I’m better off not raising kids, I barely raised myself.” 

“Because of your parents?” Bucky looks at Bob. “I mean from what we saw in the void?”

“Y-yeah.” Bob nods. “Yeah sort of. I guess.” 

“You know, when you have your own kids. You can make a choice, to not be like your parents. You can be better than they were. Do things for your kids that your parents didn’t do for you.” 

“You sound like you know about parents like mine.”

“Sort of. My best friend didn’t have the best father.” Bucky sighs. He remembers how Joseph was with Steve and his mom before he went off to the war. Joseph going to the war was the best thing to happen to Steve and Sarah, but he never said it out loud. “But even with that, he was great with kids.” 

“Really?” Bob asks. 

“Yeah, really. You don’t have to be your parents, Bob. You just gotta be you, whoever that is.”

“And if I don’t know?” 

“You’ll figure it out. It all works out, the way it’s supposed to.” 

“Oh, Bucky. Barton is calling back.” Yelena interrupts them. “Hello?”

“Hopefully he has answers.” Walker sighs. 

“When are we going to fight?” Alexei groans. 

“Guys shut up.” Bucky frowns. 

“Wait, what?” Yelena interrupts over comms. 

“Yelena what is it?” Bucky asks. 

“No, no I’ll tell him.” Yelena says.

“I think she’s still on the phone.” Ava says. 

“Yelena.” Bucky demands. “What’s going on?” 

“That was Barton, on the phone. He talked with Strange and Strange said there’s a girl that jumps universes.” 

“What?” Bucky interrupts. “Jumps universes? You mean there’s other universes?” 

“How is that even possible?” Walker asks.

“I mean the quantum realm is another universe.” Ava says. 

“Guys, shut up.” Yelena demands. “Bucky, this Rumlow is from another universe. They traced him back to the last universe this girl jumped from. Strange said this Rumlow followed the girl through to this universe.”

“Okay?” Bucky shrugs. “So what universe is he from?” 

“Bucky, in this Rumlow’s universe his husband was Sam.” Yelena explains and Bucky goes quiet, his blood running cold. “In that universe Sam died, Rumlow’s husband in that universe died.”

“So he’s not going after Winter.” Ava says.

“Where is Sam?” Walker asks. 

“Shit.” Bucky mutters.

“What is it?” Bob asks. 

Bucky doesn’t answer, he starts the car and hits the gas as Bob buckles up. His heart racing, he had it all wrong. Mentioning Winter and making Bucky think they had to watch the kids, it was all a smoke screen. He had to get home, he had to make sure that Sam was alright. He hits the number on his phone letting it ring. 

“Come on, pick up.” Bucky mutters as he runs through a red light. 

“You’ve reached Sam Wilson-”

“Shit.” Bucky hangs up. He hits the gas and speeds up as fast as the car will go. He can feel his breathing getting faster and more shallow. He can hear Bob asking questions or maybe updating the team. He’s not paying attention, his only thought is to get home to Sam. He needs to find Sam.