Chapter Six

Jarvis watched the scene play out with his favorite person (well at much as a AI could favor a person). Miss Darcy was like the physical embodiment he sometimes needed to manage the Tower and Sir. She had a sense about her that made her an exemplary person. He would always do his best to assist her in her endeavors.

The talk between the three of them would take some time before they would join the rest of the team for dinner. He alerted Dr. Foster to make the necessary rearrangements. "Dr. Foster, would you be so kind as to take out Miss Lewis' brisket? I fear this delay will be longer than expected."

If James was surprised before, he was completely disarmed now. He remembered the feel of Darcy's lips 8 years ago, her soft, pliant body against his and her cries of pleasure. Kissing her now only intensified the feelings. He longed to deepen the kiss to take his time to relearn everything about loving Darcy, but…he couldn't do that. He had to stop himself. Not when she was Steve's girl. He gently pulled away from her. Fighting every bone in his body that desperately wanted to reclaim her.

"I can't kiss ya, Doll. It's not right." Darcy blinked back in shock. Had she misread the situation? He said he remembered her. Darcy just assumed he'd want to be with her. Why didn't he want to kiss her? She looked over her shoulder at Steve who was sporting a busted lip but nothing else, standing there in shock and awe. Maybe he remembered her and their time together and regretted it? She bit her bottom lip, if he regretted it then what about Jamie? Could she do that?

"James, it's me. Why? Why can't you…don't you remember?" Her voice barely escaped her mouth, the pain she was radiating was just as disarming as the look in her blue eyes. Betrayal, hurt, Darcy could never hide the emotions in those eyes from him. She looked tiny, shrinking in on herself instead of the force he'd known her to be.

James straightened up and looked above Darcy to Steve. At that moment James wanted nothing more than to punch the punk in jaw again. What was he playing at? How could he just stand there while he had his hands on her? If Darcy had been his girl and she was in another man's arms, James would see red. Action before questions.

"Darcy, let's take this upstairs." Steve's voice carried behind her. Darcy stared at James with sorrow in her eyes and nodded in agreement. They turned in the direction of the elevators and James followed, while his mind was running a million miles a minute. Had he read the situation wrong? Darcy and Steve hardly touched each other as they walked, completely different from this afternoon.

Darcy looked like he punched her instead of Steve. Her shoulders slumped underneath her sweater dress. Were they not a couple? If not Steve than who? That boy couldn't be more than 8 years old….Shit. The realization hit him and before he could get a word out his body took over and he was fighting the pain in his chest. The pain coming swift and knocking the wind out of him.

He didn't realize he was having an attack until Steve and Darcy were trying to get his attention, their worried looks pierced his heart. Between the two of them they could get Bucky to do anything - well he wouldn't tell them that until he was clear and stable. He reached for elevator panel and he slide against the wall.

"Steve he's having an attack! We have to let him come down on his own." Darcy turned and pushed Steve away as hard as she could in the small elevator. She crouched down, grabbing James's hand and placing it over her heart, while doing the same to him. "James, breathe with me. Feel that? That's my heart, feel the way my chest is moving. Match that for me. Please." James understood what she was trying to do, and he did his best to mimic the breathing. They were long deep breaths. They repeated the process until James shook off the attack.

"Tell me. Everything."

Darcy and Steve led James up to Steve's private floor, all of them in stone silence. Darcy's mind was firing on all charges and she bit her lip worried about Jamie…and James. Steve was busy processing the fact that his best friend was back. Well sort of. James it seemed was back. Steve wasn't hurt just he needed to know to proceed, but after the encounter between Darcy and James, Steve thought he should let them get sorted first.

"Jarvis please let everyone know we'll be joining them later; Jamie is to finish his dinner then go through his bedtime routine please." Darcy waited until James was out of earshot to give out instructions. She wanted to tell him herself about Jamie, about their lives after he left her.

"Of course Miss. Shall I enact a privacy protocol?" Jarvis was always thinking 7 steps ahead of everyone else, Darcy smiled softly.

"Yeah, that'll work. Please make sure to relay any messages for us." Darcy grabbed three water bottles out of Steve's fridge and made her way to the living room. Steve and James were in deep conversation already and Darcy felt a little pang of jealousy. Steve had an entire lifetime with James, they grew up together and fought together. She shook the feeling away, Steve missed James just as much as she did, if this was going to work they had to communicate. All of them had to communicate.

"Hey Doll," Steve motioned for her to sit down at a such an angle they were all points in a triangle, no one on one side or the other, they were equal. "I was just telling Bucky about my apparently pointless search for him and the dynamics here in the Tower." And avoiding anything about you he managed to say wordlessly. She nodded and took a sip of her water, handing the other two to the men on either side of her.

"Darcy, you have to tell me. I thought you were with Steve. I only came here because I wanted to be sure he was treating you right." James stared at her with an unreadable expression. Darcy had always been able to read people though their eyes but something had masked that with James. She couldn't gauge what he was thinking or feeling.

"First of all, me and Steve have never been item." Darcy was interrupted before she could continue her explanation.

"I saw you both at the school. You have a son." It was an accusation more than a statement or question and Darcy felt her anger bubbling up to the surface at his presumptuous tone. How dare he judge her? How dare he imply that he knew more than what she did? She was there! She knew the interaction far better than he did. She lived it. Everyday.

"You self-righteous bastard. I was there! I know what was said! That old harpy loves to pick on Jamie and me because I was a single parent. SINGLE." Darcy was on her feet and raving. She couldn't believe he would honestly think he knew more than her. He just admitted he was stalking her and instead of just asking her, coming to see her to check on her, he assumed she was with Steve, like that meant she was in capable hands. I'm a grown ass woman, I don't belong in anyone's hands. "Steve was just helping me out, and honestly now I really regret even letting him cover your ass." James stood up with her, waiting for her to admit was his mind had been screaming at him. That Darcy's son was his son. His flesh and blood and innocent. If she was telling the truth which he never doubted, Darcy didn't have it in her to lie. Let alone lie about something like that. "You want to know what happened?" Darcy's blue eyes were electrified as she stood toe to toe with the former assassin. "I got pregnant that night. On my 17th birthday."

Let it be known that Steve "Man with the Plan" Rogers, didn't have a plan for what just happened. His best friend was back, if only because he'd been keeping his distance under the assumption that he was dating Darcy. Darcy just dropped a huge bomb on him. Though from the way Bucky's jaw twitched he knew - he'd figured it out and was just wanting Darcy to confirm his suspicion. He'd always enjoyed Darcy's presence in the Tower and with her recent move their friendship had been cemented. He desperately wanted to say something, anything to break the stare down between them but he stayed silent. Just watching them as Darcy laid into him and Bucky taking it all in stride. Steve's mind did go on the alert because he wasn't quite sure how healed Bucky was - would he snap back while Darcy was yelling at him? Would he be forced to stop his friend? He pushed the thoughts aside before he could delve too deep since going there would solve nothing.

"You and Steve never dated. I have a son, and up until the battle in D.C you lived alone with him. Natalia bullied you in to moving into Avengers Tower because I was more dangerous than she was. Is that just about it?" James caught the unspoken words. Darcy hadn't been with anyone else since him. She'd devoted her entire life to providing for their son and making it all on her own. The fire still burned in her eyes and without the obstacle of Steve; James did the only thing he could. He closed the inches between and crashed his lips to Darcy's. His right hand cradling her cheek while his left held her against his chest. "You saved me. Every time I went under, you were there. I dreamed of you." His forehead was pressed against hers, both of them breathless. It was just a soft clearing of a throat that broke through the haze.

"I'm going to go check on everyone, maybe you should join us before it gets too late." Before Jamie goes to sleep and Bucky has to wait to meet his son. Darcy heard the silent words, and a quick glance at the digital clock over the T.V. told her not very much time had passed. They stayed quiet as Steve left the apartment. The two of them sat back down on the sofa, her head was spinning and she just wanted the world to re-right itself.

"What's his name?" James broke the silence. "I want to know everything about him." James looked at her like his whole world depended on her answer and the only thing Darcy could see was Jamie's eyes reflected in James's.

"James Henry Lewis. He weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and he was 18 inches long, his birthday is December 10th…" She retold her labor, Jamie's childhood, (the quick version) some of his favorite activities and characters while keeping an eye on the time. "We should head up to dinner, if we keep this up, Jamie will be in bed before you can see him." Darcy stood up and stretched trying to act like it wouldn't matter to her either way even though her heart was in her throat. James jumped up faster than Darcy thought possible and he grabbed her hand racing for the elevator.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Jamie eyed Steve as he walked into the dining room. Jarvis had Aunt Jane pull out mom's brisket and Uncle Thor had ended up disintegrating his math homework after his other uncles and aunt, Tony, Bruce and Pepper had collectively decided to talk to his mom about his education. He didn't want to leave his friends and when he voiced his opinion, Aunt Pep promised it was something called a "present-ence" for him to do one class at home. They agreed between the two scientists, CEO and Jarvis they were more than qualified to teach him the math he needed to know.

"Steve, where's my mom?" Everyone had been waiting on his mom to get back, even when Auntie Nat and Uncle Bruce strolled in later than usual. Jamie saw the way Steve stopped and then turned to him.

"She'll up be in just a minute Son, give her time." Jamie frowned. Steve wasn't telling him everything. He took the plates Steve handed him and help set the table while everyone else snacked on a fruit plate Aunt Pep set out. Jamie made his way around to Auntie Nat. She never lied.

"Do you know what's taking my mom so long? It's getting later, and I don't want to eat or go to bed without her." Natasha heard the footsteps at the same time Steve did. Both of them looking at the door.

"I think we're about to find out," She raised an eyebrow at Steve who gave her a strange look but said nothing.

"Miss Lewis wishes for me to convey a message." Jarvis voiced silenced the room, which held the daily chatter of everyone's lives. "No weapons, no questions, she will explain. No need for surprise." Was all Jarvis said before the door slide open and Darcy appeared, her hand intertwined with someone else. Specifically, a metal one. Before anyone could even breath, let alone stop him, Jamie was charging forward.

"Dad!" James instantly dropped to his knees to brace himself as the little ball of energy crashed into him. "I knew it! I just knew you'd come back! Mom never lies!" He wasn't sure what the protocol was for this. He'd never been around children. James had vague memories of his childhood with Steve, helping his ma with his siblings, but that was a life time ago. He did what he thought was right and wrapped his arms around the little boy cling to his chest. Soft brown hair brushed against his cheek and he nuzzled his chin against Jamie's head.

"Jarvis are you getting this?" Darcy quietly asked, leaning against the counter watching the Hallmark-esque scene.

"Of course Miss, uploading to your personal hard drive now."

"Alright, I hate to say this but, someone explain! Lewis!" Tony's voice rang out efficiently ruining the beautiful reunion in front of Darcy and Steve. Jamie popped his head up and grabbed James' hand, all but dragging him to the dinner table. The poor kid was on cloud nine as he went around introducing his dad to the Avengers. Thankfully everyone humored Jamie. Even Natasha held her tongue while James just nodded his head at the introductions.

"This my Auntie Nat, she's a super 'sassin and the best grill cheese maker." Jamie made his way over to Jane and Thor for the round. "This is Uncle Thor and Aunt Jane. He's the God of Thunder. I'm not 'fraid of thunder anymore! She's teaching me about super space stuff!" Jamie was extremely proud of the family that adopted him and he was eager for his father to like them too. He hoped if explained all their great points maybe he wouldn't have to leave again. "Clint is teaching me to climb in the vents, but only when Mommy's not around."

"Damn it Barton I said boundaries!" Darcy's voiced shouted from the kitchen where she and Pepper were doing their best to get dinner on the table and everyone fed and Jamie off to bed before anyone could inadvertently break the veil the little boy was under. "Jamie, let's eat. We can finish introductions in a minute."

The dinner was quiet, no one touched on why the Winter Solider had a little 8-year-old boy on his lap while they both ate dinner. No one questioned when said solider went through the bedtime routine or even why he stayed with Jamie until he was fast asleep. No, they simply waited in the common room for Darcy and Bucky to return and explain the situation to them.

Natasha hid her surprise when Jamie first exclaimed dad on the news feed. When she'd done more research she'd discovered that the Winter Solider had a mission close to Darcy's hometown 13 years ago. She suspected that's how Darcy had come to know him. She shared a look with Bruce and could see that he was doing his best to keep his mind calm and collected.

All of the scientists loved Darcy and Bruce especially doted on her. Not in the same way as Tony and Pepper, but in his own way. Natasha loved that about Bruce, while their meeting had been unorthodox, she was glad to have him in her life. For so long she'd only had Barton and the red in her ledger. Now there was green to help wipe it away, even if it was only temporary.

Steve sketched when he was nervous and at home. He couldn't do it during missions obviously, but at home he was free to relax and if that meant taking his nervous energy and putting it to use, well then. He doodled out a family picture of Bucky, Darcy and Jamie at the park, of just Bucky and Darcy, then of just Bucky, all sorts of things, Bucky from Brooklyn, the Howling Commandos, and finally the Bucky he was now. More than anything he wanted to hug his friend, to reminisce with someone who would understand what it's like to be in this new century with no one from their passed lives. Darcy and the team were like bright lights, gleaming and pushing the darkness of the memories away.

"Ready to do this?" Darcy bumped James' shoulder after they put Jamie to bed. She could see the fear in Jamie's eyes, he was terrified James would leave if he didn't cling to him. She ached wishing she could take the fear and pain from her little boy.

James was amazed to say in the least. Between the dinner and the motions of going to bed, Jamie was a ball of energy. But once in bed he was fading fast - he begged him to stay until he fell asleep and then begged him to be there in the morning. How had he, the Winter Solider, with the countless amounts of blood on his hands, received so much love from this tiny kid? Jamie looked at him like he was reason the sun rose and set. It was a new feeling for James. He'd only ever felt close to Darcy but now, it was like his heart had made room for Jamie as well. Could he really be freed from all his past mistakes?

Darcy looked at him with a small smile on her face, and for a moment, James thought, yea, he could.