Chapter Text
"Are you sure about this?" I whispered squeezing his hand as we stood in front of the wooden door.
"I have to do this." I nodded understanding as he raised his hand to knock. It took a minute but the door opened revealing an old man.
"Hey what are you doing here? It's late. Come in before someone sees you." So this was him. The man Bucky had mentioned. He had killed his son and now he was going to tell him.
"Oh and you've brought a lady." I gave him a small wave and shook his out stretched hand.
"This is Y/n." I stayed near the door, giving them some privacy as they moved around a corner. I knew how hard this had to of been for him. He had really grown to like this man and yet after today he probably won't be able to look at his face again.
"What are you doing here? It isn't Wednesday." I swallowed as I studied the rug beneath my feet.
"I have to tell you something... about your son." I sucked in a breath when I saw the memorial for his son. Candles around a smiling picture of a boy.
"He was murdered." Oh Bucky, there were so many ways you could do this better.
"What?" I looked back to the rug, tracing the ornate lines. It was bright colours that had been faded after years of use.
"By the winter soldier." Oh god. You couldn't have gone back and explained the brainwashing first?
"And that was me." I squeezed my eyes shut waiting for something, I'm not quite sure what.
"What?" The older man's voice was shaking and I was suddenly glad I couldn't see them
"I didn't have a choice." You couldn't have started with that? I had my hand on the door handle ready to make a run for it if things got bad. Everything else they said was hushed and I didn't press to hear. Soon Bucky returned alone, the old man peaking around the corner. We stepped out into the hall. He didn't look at me instead, staring at the floor. We walked in silence as I gave him time to refocus as we made our way back home.
Home.
It felt odd to finally say it. I had spent months in a lab. That wasn't home. 5 years gone. Then between the time I had between waking up from cryo to the Blip, I had a small apartment I had never cared about. It was a roof over my head but it wasn't a home. Hydra wasn't a home. Yet a few weeks with James Barnes and I was home.
He walked down the hall ahead of me, pulling out his keys to open the door. The hinges squealed as it swung open. He remained silent not bothering to turn the light on, just tossing the keys onto the counter. I closed the door behind us while he hung his jacket on the coat rack, immediately vanishing into the bedroom. I kicked off my shoes taking my time before following him. I saw him curled into a ball and my heart nearly broke. I didn't bother changing, instead crawling into bed beside him. He didn't move but when I pulled him close and he buried his head into my chest he began to weep.
"It's okay." I murmured, stroking his hair. He wrapped his arms around me as I placed soft kisses on the top of his head. His breathing was laboured as the only English lullaby I knew began to fall from my lips.
"Hush-a-bye, don't you cry. Go to sleep, my little baby. When you wake, you will have cake, and all the pretty little horses." I brushed his hair slowly as his soft sobs filled the room.
"Blacks and bays, dapples and greys. A coach and six white horses. Hush-a-bye, don't you cry. Go to sleep, my little baby." I continued to place soft kisses as he held me tighter.
"Way down yonder, down in the meadow There's a poor little lamby. Bees and butterflies flitting 'round his eyes. He's crying out for his mammy." He began to calm down as I continued the soft tune.
"Hush-a-bye, don't you cry. Go to sleep, my little baby. When you wake, you will have cake, and all the pretty little horses." I gently rocked us back and forth as his gasping turned to hiccups. I could feel how deeply he wished he could take back his actions as the Winter Soldier.
"Blacks and bays, dapples and greys. A coach and six white horses. All the pretty little horses." My grasp on him tightened, holding him so close I could feel his breath across my collar bone.
"Hush-a-bye, don't you cry. Go to sleep, my little baby. Go to sleep, my little baby. All the pretty little horses."
~♡~
"You know, I think my apartment may be too small for the both of us." I glanced up from the warm coffee in my hand.
"Are you asking me to move out?" I'm sure my eyebrows shot up in shock. I thought things were going fine, just yesterday he had insisted on holding me captive in our shared bed.
"What? No!" He looked shocked that my mind had immediately made the jump there.
"I meant, we should get a house... together." I blinked rapidly. He was ready to pack up his life for an ex-assassin?
"You, want to get a house... with me?" As the words sunk in I felt joy bubble in my chest, I placed the cup of coffee on the counter.
"I mean if you want to-" I jumped him, wrapping my arms around his neck and legs around his waist. He caught me easily despite the surprise. I smashed my lips to his as overwhelming happiness washed over me. I had never felt so light and free. I had to admit I may more than just 'like' this man.
"Is that a yes?" He chuckled, adjusting his grip to keep me pressed to his chest.
"No, that's just how I reject offers to buy a house with me. Yes, that's a yes!" I placed a soft peck on the tip of his nose as that perfect smile appeared on his face.
"We should get a sickly looking goldfish and name him Sam!!!" I shrieked as he burst into a fit of laughter.
"Deal."
The End