Steve wasn't exactly sure what he'd been expecting.

Probably, for the most part, he had been anticipating that Bucky wouldn't be there at all. And then, with the tiny part of him that wasn't wrapped up in that denial, he had most likely been expecting to see the Bucky from the helicarrier – dishevelled, angry, and outfitted with a full weaponry.

But this was… Actually, Steve had no idea what this was!

Because the last thing he would have ever expected to come out of number 37 was Bucky Barnes resting a baby on his hip.

Being a man of the 40s, Steve Rogers was well aware that it was incredibly rude to stare open-mouthed at people – but in this instance, his facial expression seemed to be beyond his control. And so, he stood there, eyes wide and mouth open, attempting to comprehend what he was seeing.

It was Bucky. Not helicarrier Bucky, it was Bucky-Bucky.

He wore long sweat pants, with a plain white t-shirt; his face showed preliminary signs of some 5 o'clock shadow, and his brown hair that had been chin-length at their last meeting was now cropped into the same style he had sported in the 40s.

In fact, if it weren't for the modern day clothing and the metal arm supporting the infant on his hip, Steve would have sworn he had stepped back in time.

Bucky, he noted, had yet to say anything; however he didn't seem to be as surprised to see Steve as Steve was to see him. Actually, if Steve didn't know any better, he'd say that Bucky had been expecting such a visit but just hadn't been looking forward to it – judging by the expression of vague annoyance written on his friend's features.

Apparently getting bored of being stared at so shamelessly, Bucky was the one to break the silence.

"Yeah?" He questioned, his tone of boredom accompanied by a slight shoulder shrug.

Steve, who was still in a state of shock, blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

"You have a baby."

Glancing over at the baby in his arms briefly, Bucky returned his gaze to Steve, "Did you really come all this way just to tell me that?"

"No… No, of course not. I just… you know, I just wasn't expecting it. The baby, I mean." Steve could tell he was rambling, but he didn't seem to be able to stop himself now that he had started.

"Is it your baby?" he continued. "Did you… did you have a baby?! I mean, not you, obviously. But, you know… is he yours? You didn't steal him, did you?"

"Why would I steal a baby?" Bucky deadpanned.

"So, he is yours then…"

"No, he's not"

"So, wait, are you saying you did steal him?!"

Steve wasn't coping well with these new developments. This was not going how he had intended.

"Relax, Steve. I didn't steal a baby. Jesus." Bucky rolled his eyes, as he readjusted his grip on the current conversation topic. "I'm just watching him for a friend."

"Oh" was all Steve could say, an awkward silence descending down on them immediately.

After several excruciating minutes, Bucky finally relented, knowing how angry Grace would be with him if she found out that he'd sent Steve away without really talking to him.

"Well, were you planning on staying out there all night or did you want to come in?"

Not really knowing what to say, Steve offered a shy smile to his friend before moving towards the open door as Bucky moved aside to allow him entry.

And with that, the door to number 37 was closed once again.