A/N: Hi guys….I have more Captain America fic for ya! I decided to split this one into a multi-chap, mostly because I had this first part written and it felt like a good place to stop. I'll try and get the second chapter up by tomorrow, but no promises =)
Also, reviews will probably make me write faster *hint,hint*
"I'm sorry to ask," Kit sighed, dropping her suitcase to the floor, "It's just…I didn't want to bring him with us and obviously we can't leave him alone. And we figured…his uncle might…I'm sorry."
Her words broke off into tears and she clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling sobs before turning and running back into her and Steve's bedroom.
Bucky turned a concerned gaze to Steve who shook his head.
"Sorry, she's…not handling it well. She and her aunt were very close," Steve explained, hefting the two suitcases into his hands.
"I think I understand. I just don't see why you wanted me to watch Liam," Bucky shrugged, taking one of the suitcases from Steve's hand.
"Thanks, follow me to the car?" Steve hit the button for the elevator, "Bruce and Pep are the only one's around right now, actually. Thor's back in Asgard for the rest of the month, Stark, Barton and Rhodey are…I think out west. Some kind of threat, I wasn't actually listening. Nat is with Maria, trying to sort out some security protocols. Which leaves you. "
Steve paused, and then shook his head, "Not that you were our last option. Just explaining why we did ask you."
Bucky smiled easily, glad that the action was happening more often.
"I don't care when you asked me. Does he know that you two are heading out?" he tossed the suitcase into the open trunk.
Steve sighed heavily, "No. Kit…doesn't want to have to explain death to our four-year-old. And she just got the call a couple of hours ago."
Bucky narrowed his eyes, "Her aunt just died?"
Steve nodded, "Yes. The funeral is on Saturday, but Kit wanted to head out and be with her family."
"Saturday?" Bucky repeated, "But today's Wednesday."
"I know. Again, we're really sorry about this. I don't want to leave Liam, but I also don't want to send Kit on her own. You saw her up there," Steve jerked his thumb behind him to point at the Tower.
"I saw her," Bucky frowned, "I've never spent so much time with the kid, one-on-one."
"You'll be fine. He loves hanging out with you. Maria, Nat and Pepper are all just a phone call away, if you really need them," Steve slammed the trunk closed and leaned against it, "I've got faith in you, Buck."
"That makes one of us," Bucky muttered, following Steve back into the Tower.
Kit wiped at her eyes, "Thank you, Bucky. Really. We'll call when we get to my parents' house. It'll probably be late. Um, Liam should be out for the night. But he's been having nightmares lately, all thanks to his wonderful Uncles. I swear, who lets a four-year-old watch Hitchcock?"
She shook her head, "Clint and those damn birds. I can't even take hi to the park without him having a meltdown over a pigeon."
Steve snorted slightly, schooling his features into a neutral expression when Kit rounded on him.
"You won't think it's funny when it happens to you, Rogers," she sighed, shouldering her handbag.
"It has happened to me," Steve countered, "Remember the six months he was simultaneously in love with and terrified of The Hunchback of Notre Dame? He wanted Daddy to stay with him."
Kit's mouth turned up in a small smile, "Right. Of course. And Daddy complained every night about the kicking."
Steve laughed, and turned to Bucky, "The kid's built like I was, scrawny, but damn he's got a good hit."
Bucky nodded, "I remember. Even as a little kid he was a good kicker."
"He's also in a punching phase," Kit frowned, "I think it's a byproduct of sitting in the room while Natasha and Clint spar. If he hits you, just like, tell him no and that it's bad."
Bucky nodded, listening carefully as Kit continued to tell him things she deemed necessary for him to know about Liam.
Finally, Steve gripped his wife's elbow, "Kit, Buck can handle this. Come on, we should be on out way."
Kit sagged into Steve's grip, "I'm just nervous."
"Nothing to worry about, Katherine," Bucky smiled, reminding Steve of the charming smile he used to use on women back in the day, "I think I can handle it."
She nodded, "I still don't understand why you insist on calling me Katherine. Even Steve gave up on the properness."
Bucky shrugged, "Give me some time, maybe?"
Kit nodded, "Okay. Um, he usually has blueberry pancakes on Thursday mornings…but I don't want you to have to…."
"Even soldiers know how to cook," Bucky laughed, "I can figure out pancakes."
Kit launched herself forward and hugged her husband's best friend, "Thank you. I really don't know….I'm so grateful to have all of you around."
Bucky stiffened under Kit's hug and Steve noticed.
"Kit, doll, come on. We should head out," he gently tugged her arms from around Bucky's shoulders and pulled her close to his side.
"Okay," she sniffed, wiping her hand under her nose, "Tell Liam we'll be back soon and that we love him."
Bucky nodded, clapping Steve on the back as he walked them to the elevator.
As soon as the doors shut, Bucky blew out a breath of air. He loved Katherine, but even almost six years after his deprogramming he still found it hard to be around people, and she was a person that liked to give hugs and was loud and excited all the time.
Sometimes she gave Bucky a headache.
Bucky locked the door and headed back into the living room to throw himself onto the couch.
He still had several hours before Liam would wake up in the morning. He'd need all the sleep he could get.
The shrill ringing of a phone jolted Bucky awake.
"Damn," he cursed, climbing off the couch and moving quietly to lift the phone off of its receiver.
"Barnes," a habit he'd been unable to break, answering the phone like a soldier.
"Buck?" Steve whispered, "We're in New Haven. Liam asleep?"
Bucky looked at the clock over the stove. Just after 1 in the morning.
"Haven't heard him. I assume he's out."
"Can you check on him, jerk?"
Bucky can hear the laugh in Steve's voice.
"Yeah, let me look."
Quietly, Bucky moved down the hall and cracked open the door to Liam's room. It was dark, but Bucky could see the lump in the middle of the bed that meant Liam was curled up under his blankets.
"He's good," Bucky said quietly into the phone.
Miles away, Steve sighed, "Good. Kit fell asleep on the drive up, so I'm going to get her in the house. She may want to call and talk to him in the morning."
Bucky shrugged, "Your kid. Don't have to ask me."
Steve snorted a laugh, "Wasn't asking, jerk. Warning. Kit'll talk for hours on the phone."
"Thanks for the heads up, punk," Bucky replied, shaking his head.
"The kid usually gets up by 7, so be prepared," Steve muttered, grunting a little as he lifted Kit into his arms.
"Don't worry about me, punk. Keep that dame of yours calm," Bucky poured himself a glass of water and leaned against the counter.
"Thanks," Steve grunted, "I'm going to go now. We'll try and call in a few hours."
Bucky grunted a good-bye and attempted to hang the phone back on its receiver. It took three tries, but no one would have to know.
Bucky threw himself over the back of the couch, resting his head on the arm. It was still early, but he wasn't tired anymore. Years of being cryogenically frozen and then brainwashed had really gotten rid of any need or desire to sleep.
Most nights Bucky ended up staring at the wall or attempting to slog through the various 'necessary to your well-being' films, TV shows and novels recommended by the other Avengers.
The quality of the recommendations really varied as Bucky learned by watching Sharknado as insisted upon by Clint.
Bucky wasn't a huge fan of most TV shows or films.
He did like Hogan's Heroes though.
It had enough of the army to remind Bucky of the good old days, and enough comedy to keep his mind from going to a dark place.
So, now that he had a little over five hours before Liam woke up, he stuck his hand in between the couch cushions and searched for the remote.
Once he found it, Bucky stared at the buttons for a little bit, trying to remember the right combination that would turn the TV on and pull up the specially recorded Hogan's Heroes episodes.
Settling back and letting his mind go blank, Bucky watched the adventures of Hogan and his friends.