A/N: This is one of those longer chapters I was talking about! Also Sarah is Steve's mom's name. This is where my first Author's Note comes into play... "I don't know anything about Orphanages or Adoption centers. Excuse: it's the 20's"

Umm Enjoy!

Early 1928

Why Would Anyone Want Him?

Steve and I were walking back to his place after school on a Wednesday. As soon as we got in, it was a regular routine, take your shoes off, say 'Hi' to Sarah, go into the living room and build army bases. It wasn't an actual good defense seeing as it was made of pillows, blankets and whatever else we could find. One time last week, Sarah was out buying groceries so Steve and I took the mattress off his bed and brought it to the living room to make a castle. Turns out Sarah wasn't pleased about that idea. We always cleaned up after ourselves, let it be forts, food fights or mud fights at school.

"Bucky, am I ever going to see where you live? I know it's a orphanage but don't you have your own room?" That was a good point. I never did bother seeing if friends could come over, although I hate the leader, I wanted Steve to experience something different.
"I'm not sure how they'll take to having non-adopting people visit but i'll ask tonight and see! Hopefully she's nice for once. You should ask Sarah first." The thought took awhile to hit Steve's brain but it did get there and he darted up, running to his mom.
"Mom! MOM!" I think I heard Sarah sigh.
"Yes Steve? What do you and James have planned today?"
"Mom, it's Bucky now remember?" I laughed quietly at Steve's nickname for me. "...but I was wondering if tomorrow I could go with Bucky to the orphan- his home and check it out, if it's okay with the... umm boss?"
"Now Steve, I doubt they let random children in." She had a point. I walked out to where they were.
"Yeah but it's worth a shot right? Steve needs change in his life!" I felt like a motivational speaker.
"Fine, but if it's a yes then stop by here first and tell me you're going."
"Yes Ma'am... I mean Steve's mom... I mean Sarah... Sorry, force of habit..." Both of them laughed at me and I just shrugged.

Later that night I went into the Fat Lady's office, there she was writing stuff down like usual. What could she possibly be writing, she doesn't do anything.
"Ma'am..."
"Yes?" She actually sounded like she was being nice. Then she looked up and saw it was me and instantly her face dropped and she did not look amused. "Oh, it's you. I thought someone actually important was here!" Well at least my voice sounds like an important person to her.
"I was curious about our code about visitors." She laughed.
"If you have relatives to visit you, wouldn't you think they would have taken you by now."
"Not family visitors, I was meaning school people." I didn't want to say a friend cause I would get an earful probably.
"In trouble at school are you? I expected sooner! Is it the principle? Your teacher? A janitor?"
"Why would a jan-... nevermind." I shook my head. "I was wondering more for... kid visitors..."
"No." She didn't even think about it. "Only visitors we have are ones who are thinking about adopting, too many kids and some might end up getting a second family!" She stared into my eyes. "Not like anyone would want to be friends with a kid like you anyways." She seemed like an elementary bully, it's kind of sad.
"Okay Ma'am, thank you for your time." Without looking back, I left.

The Next Day At School

"Sorry Steve, it was a no..." I was actually kind of disappointed myself.
"What did she say?" I walked in front of Steve, puffed out my stomach so I looked fat and began to waddle. I did a mocking tone of her voice.
"Only people thinking about adopting can visit!" I waved my finger in his face. "Don't want other children to get adopted and having two families!" Steve laughed.
"Don't be mean Bucky, she's just doing her job..."
"What job is that? Making kids depressed?..." I turned and walked normally beside Steve. "We'll figure something out pal!"

Sarah was home like usual when Steve and I arrived.
"Assuming by the looks on your faces, it was a no?"
"Yea..." both of us said with a monotone voice.
"What did she say?" I sighed having to repeat myself again. This time I said it without the mocking tone.
"It makes sense though." Sarah replied, continuing whatever she was doing.
"Steve said the same thing! I know where you get it from now!" I laughed slightly. "Wait... I have an idea!" I punched Steve's shoulder, not too hard, didn't want to break his bones. "You two go in as if you want to adopt, then she'll have to let you in! Plus then you can see her reaction when someone says they want to 'adopt' me. Don't go through with it of course but trick her, say you'll think about it and never return! I'm a GENIUS!" I said laughing, sort of evil but mainly just laughing.
"Fine, but once they get me filling out papers, I'm leaving." Sarah said with a foolish smile.
With that, I ran out the door rushing to get 'home'.

Steve's Point Of View

It was bright in the entrance way. I had to make it look like I was excited to have a brother. I would take Bucky in as a brother any day, but I know that wouldn't happen. There was an older lady at the front desk. She seemed too skinny to be the lady Bucky was always complaining about.
"Do you have an appointment?" The lady said without looking up.
"No we don't. It was a last minute decision to come here. Sorry if that inconveniences you." My mom said.
"It's okay, no one hardly ever comes here anyways. Are you looking to adopt, or drop off?" That was rather rude of her. Did I look angry, or sad? I thought I was looking happy...
"Oh dear lord no! I would never leave my son anywhere's!" My mother made an awkward laugh. "I was more looking for a boy around my sons age who could be a brother to him." The lady chuckled.
"Okay, right this way."

She lead us down a hallway and to an office. The sign on the door said "Head Master".
"We have a nice little family looking to adopt." Then the lady walked away. Inside there was filing cabinets all over the walls and a random desk in the center, with a overly large lady behind it. She smiled, but I could tell it was fake. This must be Bucky's worse enemy!

"I'm glad you took interest in our organisation!" She said, standing up to shake my moms hand. She ignored me, or didn't see me under all of her stomach hanging out. Okay Steve, you can't judge people. We sat down in the wooden chairs.
"What age are you looking for?" It sounded like we were buying a puppy.
"I was hoping around 10-11." She turned and went to one of the cabinets. She pulled out 6 files. They had names and pictures, stuff about the kid and about their parents.
"Is that all of them?" I asked the lady. She snorted but continued to ignore me.
"My son asked you a question." My mom pointed me out. The lady got up and grabbed a few more files. The very last file had only a few things in it, and was in great condition, unlike the other files that look like they've been passed around a lot. James Barnes. Not much about him I guess. Birthday, name, family, a not much else. My mom took the file from me and began looking it over.
"That boy isn't quiet ready to be adopted. He still has some issues that need to be worked out before we deem him fit to leave." The lady said.
"I would like to see him if that's okay with you." The lady's face fell, she didn't look amused at all.
"I'm not even sure if he's here right now, he never gets back until late, the trouble-maker he is." She scratched the back of her neck.
"May we check?" I saw worry cross over my mothers face. This lady was quiet rude to Bucky yet he hasn't done anything wrong.
"I'll check, stay here." and she waddled out.

My mother and I didn't say anything when she was gone. I could hear a kid complaining in the hall. The lady came in and there was Bucky, just in front of her. One of his ears were red as if someone was tugging on it. She motioned for him to sit down. The whole time was pretended we didn't know him, asking him questions we already knew. The lady stood behind Bucky's chair with her hands on the back. When Bucky would studder or pause she would tug his ear.
"Can I show them my room Ma'am?"
"No."
"I would like to see how my 'might be brother' has been living!" I said with a smile. My mother nodded.
"Fine but don't be too long, the kids get anxious when people are over." Bucky darted up and grabbed my moms hand.

We followed Bucky through the back yard which had these military-looking buildings. Some younger girls were playing with a skipping rope while some other kids played tag. They all looked happy. We entered one of the large buildings. There was bed after bed, no walls except the outside ones. There was trunks under each bed to keep their personal belongings.
"So this is where I sleep!" Bucky said with a smile. He seemed really proud of it too. I would hate to live in a place like this with no privacy. "Come on." We followed him to another building. "This is the kitchen and where we eat." Again, just rows of tables and chairs. There was some kids in the kitchen stocking the cupboards. Bucky then took us outside, far away from everyone else, it seemed deserted. Right by a fence there was a huge oak tree.
"I climb up there when I want to be away from people, but that was before I met you." He pointed at me. I laughed.

On our way back to the main building, the yard looked like there hasn't been a soul there in years. There was no kids outside anymore, it was sort of depressing. An older boy, about 16 years old or so walked up to us.

"Hey! Are you guys thinking about adopting this twit?" He ruffled Bucky's hair. Unlike the insults me and Buck give each other and laugh, the older boy seemed to make it as a joke but my friend didn't look very happy about this kid.
"Leave us alone John..." Although Bucky stood up against bullies for me, was he getting bullied here, but had no one to help him?
"Hey, don't get upstage with me twit. I'll see you around!" The older boy walked away, I think he also looked up my mother.
"He's a jerk, don't mind him any." And with that, our tour was over. It was a dump.

Bucky's Point Of View

Literally for the next few days, Fat Lady has been at me saying "You messed everything up, you could have been out of my face for the rest of my miserable life!" She's so over dramatic. It was funny when Steve described her face when they asked to see me.

Overall, I had a good day.

A/N: So I'm not giving fat lady a name because when I was writing the chapters and I realised she resembled a teacher of mine that I absolutely hated last year in grade 10... But her looks were more like my teacher in grade 2 who still used the ruler even after it was illegal... anywaysss... I'll be awfully glad if you review :3