Part one

Sitting peacefully on a log, Bucky Barnes watched with an unwavering gaze as the fiery red orb of light above his head slowly sank beneath the horizon. The threads of light continued to linger in the sky as he watched in awe at the sight in front of him. A warm smile soon filled his lips as the defiant sky adorned itself with a mass of brilliant reds and oranges. As he sat, he had a perfect view of the half glowing radiant light on the horizon of the lake in front of him. No matter how many times he'd seen it now there was nothing more magical and hypnotic as a beautiful Wakandan sunset.

Bucky had lived here in Wakanda for just over 2 years now. Brought here by his best friend Steve Rogers in a desperate bid to erase his Hydra programming from his mind once and for all and hopefully return aspects of his former personality to him permanently. It had been a tough few years for the former "Winter Soldier" but finally at long last, he was free from the deep emotional pain and anguish of his previous life. He owed Shuri and her incredible team everything now. Firstly for not only breaking his Winter Soldier HYDRA programming but for also for reuniting him with the love of his life Brogan once more.

8 months had now quickly flown by since the pair were emotionally reunited here in Wakanda. From that very first meeting back at the Smithsonian museum, there had always been a deep connection between them both. At the time, Bucky didn't know much of the world and let alone his past but his love for Brogan was without a doubt the one thing he was truly sure of. For Bucky she was his soulmate. she made him feel whole, healed and intact. Yes he had a troubled past, constantly believed he wasn't worthy of her love but Brogan loved him still despite everything. She loved him fully, faults and all. With Brogan constantly telling him it was the two of them against the world. With her love, he felt he could do anything and right now couldn't imagine her not being at his side. She truly was his soulmate and after several long decades, he at last felt he'd found his heart's other half.

Being reunited with Brogan was of course wonderful but nothing truly prepared him for discovering that he was now a father to a soon to be 3 year old. It broke his heart at missing so many key moments of young Rebecca's early life but here she was now and he was determined more than ever not to miss a single more moment with his young daughter.

As he continued to sit on the log he caught sight of little Rebecca playing innocently in the long reeds of grass in the distance. A proud warm smile filled his face as he watched the giggling youngster being chased around by her obviously adoring big brother. The boy catching her in his arms as she called out his name in delight. Both children fell soon backwards still giggling and rolling in the grass as Bucky watch on. He thought Brogan's love was the greatest gift he'd ever received but now he had also little Rebecca in his life. For this he would be eternally grateful to her even more.

Since being reunited several months now, Bucky and his family had moved into simple yet small farmhouse not too far from the palace. It was indeed small but it was their home and all of them had never been happier. For Brogan, she was with the man she loved, had her beautiful children at her side and that was more than enough. For the first time in years she felt truly happy. To further aid in Bucky's recovery, T'challa had giving Bucky a small farm to tend to. It was decided that this would give him something to focus on and further aid in the still long recovery process. The farm was small but it suited Bucky down to the ground. After everything he'd been through he was tired, exhausted beyond words and craved the peace of a quiet life. He loved feeding the goats, tending the fields and growing his own crops. Yes it was tricky now he'd lost his arm but the children always helped him daily as did Brogan. He did have to laugh at this new career change though. Here he was a former brainwashed killer assassin now happily enjoying the simple life of farming in Wakanda. After everything he'd been through this suited him down to the ground perfectly. With his love for Brogan and his children still etched in his heart this was all he truly needed...

"Hey you.." smiled Brogan suddenly appearing from behind him. She slowly slipped her arms around his neck, moving some of the long locks of his hair away and kissed his neck "Dinner shouldn't be too long Bucky...hope you're hungry"

Brogan rest her head on the crux of his neck and begin to stroke his chest. Immediately she felt him tense up and freeze at the tenderness of her touch. Kicking herself for pushing him too far once again, she moved her hand away and began to softly stroke his hair instead. Bucky instantly began to relax and soon managed to control his breath. Yes he loved her dearly and they'd been reunited for 8 months now but the pair of them still hadn't been intimate yet. Yes they had shared numerous kisses and made out numerous times but he just couldn't bring himself to take things further. The loss of his arm had affected him more than he let on and could bring himself to tell her. Yes he hated that metal arm so much and the constant minder of the past that came with it but now it was gone he felt less human for some reason. In his mind he wasn't a man now and was scared of getting close to Brogan. He got it in his head that she wouldn't want him like she once did in the past and wasn't worthy of showing her any form of physical love. Every time Brogan would try to initiate taking things further, his anxiety level shot through the roof and it was constantly leaving him feeling like he was having a full-on panic attack as his heart beat furiously in his chest. Of course this was complete rubbish as Brogan wanted Bucky just as much as she did on that first day he bumped into her back at the Smithsonian museum. She wanted him in exactly the same way she did on that first night they made love and the numerous other times after that eventually led to the conception of little Rebecca. Brogan soon came to the conclusion not to push him to take things further and just support him in other ways she could. She knew she'd have to be patient with him. If Bucky wanted to be intimate with her she'd be ready and waiting. Yet as 8 months had now soon past and the pair still hadn't made love. Brogan didn't care though she loved Bucky more than anything and was more than willing to wait till anything physically developed between them

"Are you ok Bucky?" Brogan smiled as she continued to stroke his hair " what you thinking?"

"Nothing. Just at how lucky we are with all that we've got here" his gaze fell over at little Rebecca now being swung around by her big brother " I just keep thinking I'm going to wake up soon and this is going to be all some kind of dream. I'm going to wake up back in that freezer with hydra, I'll be dragged back to that machine again and the winter soldier will be back..."

"It's not a dream Bucky" slowly she planted a soft kiss on his bearded cheek and a warm smile filled Bucky's lips "see...you're awake.. I'm here as is our family...we will never be apart again. I promise you. The winter Soldier has gone Bucky and he's never coming back..."

Getting to his feet he slowly slipped his good arm around her waist pulling her into a deep loving embrace. He gazed deep into those beautiful green eyes that still bewitched him just as they did from that very first meeting. Saying nothing he cupped her face, stroking her soft ivory cheek with his fingers. Slowly Brogan turned her head and kissed his fingers followed by his palm gently

"I love you Brogan" he whispered Softly " I love you more than anything and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you and our family... I never thought I'd be worthy of all this...I never want this happiness to end"

"Hey where's all this come from?" Brogan laughed, gently tucking a loose lock of his ponytail behind his ear. She reached forward placing her hands over the centre of his chest as he pulled her even closer " I love you too Bucky Barnes...we all do. Talking of which, have you spoken to James today?"

"Only briefly before he and Becky went to play...why?" there was a deep expression of confusion on his face "why?"

"Oh I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. He said he just really wanted to talk to you about something. Probably just Becky's birthday that's all" Bucky knew she was hiding something. They had been together so long now and he was able to read her like a book " just take him to with you when you go lock the goats up later...give him a chance to talk to you"

"Brogan Markson what are you hiding?" smirked Bucky. He indeed did have an amazing relationship with her son. She 100% credited him in at how James had recovered from intense PTSD he suffered after seeing the appalling violence inflicted on his mother when he was growing up. He and Bucky truly had an amazing close friendship, adored on another " you know something don't you?"

"Just take him with you Bucky" she smiled biting her lip in the process and hoping he couldn't indeed tell she was hiding something "tell Becky to come home. Give you a both a chance to talk. Don't worry just let him speak Bucky... You won't be disappointed trust me..its a good thing that's all I will say... now go"