A/N: Hi, it's me again :) I would like to thank you all for your awesome support already, and it's only been one chapter! This one will probably come as a bit of a surprise... I hope. Let me know what you think ;)

BIG thanks to: strawberrylily, efbluc, dante784, WasTiger, Victorie Evans, Veggy's Onna, Lara Barnes, Jezabelle31415926, Jacksmum23, Head Auror Avenger of Five-0, Grandwrex, Dwyna, Cherokeefox20, BlackravenRedrose, AngelLove1728, Zyanya-Medici-9622, Regin, MidnightShadowJinx, LovingBOBThePacific, Dracula'sBowGirl, DancinThroughLife, kate. kasparova, a song on the pond, angelAnabiel, Judy85, CheekyLittleFoxy, wicca7002, gotenxbulla, Saphem, Lexipexie08, Choking On A Dream, PaintingTheRosesReddishPink and Dizzy010 for following/favouriting. WOW, guys. This is awesome! Thank you!

Review Response(s):

(Chapter 28 and Epilogue of UTEOG)

Lara Barnes: Aww, thanks. Glad to hear it :)

NESSAANCALIME6913: Yeah, I wanted to scream at them sometimes... And I wrote this stuff... Glad you enjoyed it :D

angelAnabiel: You literally made my day (and all days since) with that comment. Thank you so much!

Love. Fiction. 2016: Short but sweet. Thanks :3

Bookcrazey: I'm glad you liked the fluff. It was a lot of fun to write, I am not ashamed to admit. And have fun (and good luck) with your tests ;)

(Chapter 1 of WTPCC)

Lara Barnes: Haha, thanks, glad to hear ;)

angelAnabiel: I guess you'll have to wait and see...

2 - Vera Lillian

When Bucky finally managed to pull himself from the strange dream he'd been sucked into by the Maximoff girl, he was leaning against one of the walls of the jet. Ignoring the slight pounding in the back of his skull, Bucky got to his feet and headed towards the cockpit. He dropped into the seat beside Barton, feeling his exhaustion all over again.

"What did I miss?" he asked.

Barton snorted. "How long you got?" he queried rhetorically. He let out a sigh. "The witch girl got inside Bruce's head, so he went a bit... mad. He had made it to the nearest settlement by the time Tony managed to catch up to him with Veronica."

"Veronica?"

Barton shrugged. "It's a Hulk-sized Iron Man suit," he said vaguely. "The two designed it for situations just like this one." Barton glanced over his shoulder. "You two weren't the only ones who were hit. Steve and Nat are still out of it. Thor woke up only a few minutes ago, but he's not said a word since." Barton glanced over at Bucky and frowned, almost with suspicion. "You seem to have come out of it fairly okay. Why's that?"

Bucky shrugged. "I think the girl just showed us all the worst things about ourselves," he said. "I've already come to accept mine. Seeing all that again... it wasn't easy, but it's not like it tore me apart. I've already revisited it enough times for it not to affect me so much anymore."

"Sounds rough," Barton said, and if Bucky didn't know better he'd have said there was a tone of sympathy in the archer's voice.

"Where are we going?"

"A safe house," Barton said with a mildly pointed look, and Bucky nodded in understanding. "How is she?"

"Daphne?"

Barton nodded. "Yeah. It's been a while since any of us have seen you guys."

Bucky shrugged. "You've been busy," he said simply. "It's not like we hold it against you."

"Nah, you probably appreciated the alone time," Barton said with a laugh. "Newly married and all that." His face flattened. "But seriously, what's up? Because I know she wouldn't stay behind unless something was wrong."

Bucky shook his head. "Nothing's wrong," he said without hesitation.

"Then why's she not right here beside you?"

Bucky chuckled. "Well, if we're heading where I think we're heading, you'll find out before too long. That friend I mentioned earlier? That was Laura."

Barton raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why not Kaia?"

"Kaia's unofficially gone MIA," Bucky told him. "She's gone on a really long vacation," he explained when Barton shot him a questioning look. "According to her, only Daph and I are allowed to know where."

"A vacation? Why?"

Bucky shrugged. "I dunno. Something along the lines of wanting to tick off a few things from her bucket list. Personally, I don't blame her - I wanted to do the same thing as soon as Daph and I got away from Hydra."

Barton nodded in understanding. "Well, Barnes, you might want to find somewhere comfortable. We're still a few hours away."

Bucky nodded. "Sure. I'll see if I can't rouse a few of the others." And then he got to his feet, mentally willing his body not to collapse under the weight of his tiredness. Gods, he really needed a decent night (or five) of sleep. He wasn't exactly fond of the idea of keeling over. When he reached the others, he saw Steve blinking away the last remnants of his dream.

"You okay, pal?" Bucky asked, moving to sit beside him.

Steve nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just saw..." He shook his head. "Never mind."

"If you want to say, don't hold back," Bucky said quietly. "I'm willing to lend an ear for you."

Steve sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. "I saw what could have happened if I'd survived the war," he admitted. "I was at a dance with Peggy."

"Do you wish it had been real?" Bucky asked, genuinely curious.

Steve frowned, conflicted. "I don't know," he said slowly. "Part of me wants to say yes, because I'd have been happy with her, and everything would be familiar, but..."

"But?"

"But you wouldn't have been there," Steve said lowly. "And although this era is at times overwhelming, there are things I really do like about it. And the war is already so far in the past. At least like this, I wouldn't have had to live through the time when the world was trying to heal from it."

"Honestly, Steve, I'm not sure it still has," Bucky muttered. "After all, there are still survivors. As long as someone remembers that time, there'll always be a few wounds left open."

Steve smiled sadly. "Either way, I can't change what's already happened. Part of me wishes we'd been able to have just one dance, though."

"Don't give up all hope, buddy," Bucky said with a smile. "I mean, look at me. I'm the last person anyone would want to have a relationship with, and I'm married for God's sake! If I managed it, you're gonna have no trouble at all. You just have to let someone in."

Steve snorted humourlessly. "Honestly, Buck, finding a girl is not exactly on the top of my list of priorities."

"It never was though, was it?" Bucky teased with a laugh, nudging his friend in the ribs with his elbow. "Well, as always, if you ever want any pointers..."

Steve laughed, this time with genuine feeling. "I know who to come to," he finished with a smile. He nodded. "Thanks, Buck."

"Anytime, Steve. Anytime."

Barton landed the jet in the long, yellow grass not far from the white farmhouse which was smaller than his and Daphne's, though no less charming. Bucky was one of the first to leave the jet, eager to get back to his wife. He was certain she was fine, but not having her in his sights didn't help set his nerves at ease.

The first one to greet him, however, was not Daphne. Bucky chuckled as their heavy German shepherd barrelled into him, almost knocking the man right off his feet, barking eagerly. Bucky laughed, patting Felix on the head. "Hey, boy," he said. "It's good to see you too." Felix barked happily, then rushed away to see the others.

Bucky glanced at the house and saw Daphne already waiting on the porch. He froze on the spot.

"Bucky?" Steve asked in concern, looking between him and Daphne with a furrowed brow.

A scowl flickered onto Bucky's face, and he marched towards the house and up the steps, before he ended up in front of Daphne and roughly grabbed her arms. "You lied to me," he said, his voice dangerously low.

Daphne sighed. "I know."

"You said it was nothing important."

Daphne nodded. "I didn't want you to lose focus and accidentally get yourself killed," she said simply.

Bucky felt his frown deepen. "You should have told me, Daphne," he murmured quietly, though his voice still held that firm, scolding tone. He sighed through his nose and pressed his forehead against hers. "I understand your reasoning, but please don't hide something like this from me again."

Smiling slightly, Daphne nodded. "Okay," she agreed.

Bucky felt a thrill of nerves shoot down his spine. "Where?"

Daphne's face split into a bright beam, and she took his hand before leading him into the farmhouse. She idly waved at the pregnant brunette woman in the kitchen, who flashed them both a bright smile, before she pulled him towards the stairs. At the top, she let go of his hand for a moment and poked her head around a door.

"Hey," she said softly. "Your dad's here, if you want to see him." Then she stepped back to allow two very excited children rush past her and scamper down the stairs in search of their father. Daphne chuckled. "Those two are impossibly energetic," she said fondly, before continuing down the corridor.

She turned towards the last door on the left and opened the door very quietly, before stepping back to let him go in first.

The room was dimly lit with a soft yellow glow, the windows covered by curtains that didn't quiet block out all the light. There was a white chair in the corner, and a white set of drawers. But none of this really registered, for almost instantly his eyes fell upon the simple, wooden crib. His feet carried him silently towards it, and there, for the very first time, he laid eyes on his firstborn child.

The child was wrapped up comfortably in a single piece of cloth, a small tuft of chocolate brown hair dusting the top of its head. The child's arms were aloft, as if dreaming of cuddling the mother who was stood so closely by. Bucky couldn't stop himself from sliding his finger into the newborn's open hand, and he watched with sheer amazement as those little, pink fingers curled around it, the baby sleeping on. He felt soft breaths on the back of his hand, and it took a minute for it to fully sink in that this was really happening. He, James Buchanan Barnes, the Sergeant born in 1917, the Winter Soldier, was a father.

"Girl or boy?" he found himself asking softly, not wanting to disturb his child's rest.

Daphne smiled. "Girl," she answered. She placed her hand on the edge of the crib, before saying, "You can pick her up, you know. She's a very calm baby."

Bucky's eyes widened. "I don't want to wake her up," he said hurriedly.

Daphne smiled. "It'll be fine." She placed her hand over his free one, giving him a reassuring look. "She needs to see her father's face, Bucky."

Hesitantly, and not without the irrational fear of accidentally dropping her, Bucky picked up the girl from in the crib. He'd expected he would be awkward, and would need help with even holding her, but somehow the little girl settled naturally into his arms. She stirred slightly, her mouth forming an adorable little 'o' as she yawned, before she blearily opened her eyes. Green. Brilliant, emerald green, gazing up at him with openness and curiosity. All Bucky wanted to do was drink this moment in, this moment with his little girl in his hands for the first time. Her eyes were brighter than he could have dreamed they would be, her hands more delicate. She felt so light and looked so perfect. He hadn't known he could love so quickly, but now he discovered the truth. He knew, in that second, that he would be her protector for as long as he lived, and his love and devotion towards her would last for all time. Beyond the boundaries of life.

"She's beautiful, Daph," he murmured, smiling when his daughter reached out a small hand. He lowered his head and let her grasp hold of his face, her eyes intently watching the spot where her fingertips touched the stubble on his chin. "Vera," he said softly. "That's what we decided, wasn't it?"

Daphne nodded. "Vera Lillian," she muttered.

Bucky smiled broadly down at those bright green eyes. "Welcome to the world, Vera Lillian Barnes." And then he brought his lips down to her forehead and poured every ounce of the emotions whirling around him into the child in his arms. He vowed there and then that he would never allow any member of his family to feel unloved for even the shortest amount of time.

The sound of footsteps had both him and Daphne turning to the door, and a second later Laura Barton stepped into view with a tender smile on her face. "The others are beginning to wonder where you've disappeared off to," she said. Her face flickered into a frown. "Did you... not tell them? Any of them?"

Bucky shook his head, noticing Daphne do the same beside him. "We didn't want them to lose focus on their mission," he explained, glancing down when Vera wriggled in his arms. She was staring down at her feet as if they were aliens. He chuckled lowly, and her eyes flickered back to his face. Then, she smiled. Her eyes crinkled at the sides and her lips parted, and, were she to have any, she would have been showing all her teeth. She let out a soft cooing noise, and Bucky couldn't help but chuckle again. Vera waved her arms, letting out louder noises, apparently delighting in the sound of her father's laughter.

Laura drew his attention again. "I think now might be a good time to tell them," she said, before giving them another smile and disappearing back down the corridor.

Daphne turned to Bucky with a grin. "So what do you say?" she asked. "Ready to give Earth's mightiest heroes the biggest shock of the day?"

"After the day they've had, they might need it," Bucky said, leaning down slightly to peck her on the lips. "You go first. Let's see how long it'll take them to notice me, since they'll all start by fawning over you."

Mirth danced across her eyes. "Have I told you before that I love you?"

Bucky hummed. "Hmm, I don't think that you have, doll."

Daphne rolled her eyes, pressing another quick kiss to his lips. "I love you, you idiot," she said fondly. "Now let's go. It's been months since I last saw those guys." And then Daphne pranced out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time in her eagerness. Bucky shook his head, before following her out at a far more normal pace.

When he walked into view of the lounge, Daphne was squashed into a hug with Natasha, Steve and Tony all squeezing from different sides. Her cheeks were flushed as she laughed, trying (and failing) to embrace them all back. Steve's eyes shifted over Daphne's head and meet Bucky's gaze. Then his eyes flickered to the little white bundle in Bucky's arms and his eyes widened to the size of golf balls.

"Oh my God," he breathed, causing everyone to turn to face Bucky. Then many more expressions of shock and surprise were formed as Bucky finally stepped into the room.

Stark's face quickly turned into a grin. "Can I play with it?" he asked gleefully.

Daphne shoved Tony's shoulder, shaking her head. "She's not a toy, Tony," she said scoldingly.

"She's a she?" the billionaire questioned excitedly. "What's she called?"

"Vera," Bucky supplied.

"That's a nice name," Steve commented idly, moving closer to peer down at her. He blinked a few times. "Okay, wow," he said with a laugh. "She's got to be the cutest baby I've ever seen."

Daphne laughed. "Aw, thanks, Stevie," she said, teasingly pressing a kiss to his cheek and then laughing softly when his cheeks flamed pink. "I'm glad you think so." She looked at Bucky. "She's gonna love her Uncle Steve, I just know it."

"U-Uncle?" Steve spluttered.

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Come on, Steve, you're practically my brother. What else did you expect?"

Steve smiled softly, rubbing the back of his head. "Honestly, I haven't really had the time to come to expect anything."

"Yeah, about that," Natasha piped up, her arms folded over her chest and a severe expression on her face. "Why is it that the first time we learn that you guys are gonna be parents is after she was born?"

Daphne shrugged. "You were busy," she said simply. "You all said you'd visit whenever you had some free time. Since you didn't show up, we figured you were really focused on finding Loki's sceptre. So, we agreed we wouldn't let this distract you."

Natasha rolled her eyes. "That is the worst excuse I've ever heard."

"Well, tough luck, because that's how it happened," Daphne snarked with a grin. "Also, we've come to an agreement." Daphne's grin became a smirk as she mirrored Natasha's stance. "You, Natasha Romanoff, have a goddaughter."

Whatever response was waiting to come out of Natasha's mouth stopped instantly. The assassin stood there, shocked, for several seconds, before she came to her senses and shook her head. "Why is it you're so good at completely ruining everything I want to say?" she complained, even as she gave Daphne a tight hug, her eyes meeting Bucky's over Daphne's shoulder. He easily read the thanks in them, and gave her a nod of acknowledgement.

Daphne laughed and replied easily, "It's my superpower."