Bucky's jaw literally fell to the floor right now as he caught sight of the miniature version of himself looking back at him. The girl not only had his same piercing blue eyes like he had but she also had a similar smile. Struggling to deal with the fact he was now a father, he reached out for a nearby table in a desperate bid to steady his feet as the shock overwhelmed him..

"I told them you'd freak out but they told me you needed to know" sighed Brogan "im sorry I didn't tell you Bucky...forgive me..." slightly panicking she placed the girl on the floor and reached for his arm "everything's fine Bucky...its going to be alright I promise"

Taking a deep breath, he turned to look at the little girl and smiled. She was just as beautiful as her mother. He couldn't get his head around how someone as broken as him could create something so perfect as this beautiful little girl standing in front of him

"is she OK?" He cried, turning to Brogan "nothings wrong with her or anything right? I I mean because of what I am?...what Hydra did..those experiments"

"she's fine Bucky" assured Brogan, cupping his face "she's your normal everyday two year old...her tantrums can be a bit extreme but that's about it...she turns into her own winter soldier at times.." she laughed "she's was so happy when they told us we could see you...its all she's been going on about all week...right Becky?"

"Papa...wake up now Mama" cried the little girl beaming up at Bucky "papa been sleeping...can we go play now Papa?"

Taking a deep breath and still stunned, Bucky dropped to his knees at the girls feet. Slowly he reached forward to gently stroked her curls and touch her face. Before he could say another word, Rebecca quickly wrapped her tiny arms around his neck and hugged him close. For the briefest of moments, Bucky didn't know what to do and looked nervously over at Brogan for guidance as his anxiety rose once more. This was all new to him now and instantly could feel his chest feel heavy at this sudden closeness from the youngster...His new daughter. After a reassuring look from Brogan, his body soon relaxed and he wrapped his arm round his little girl pulling her even closer. Nothing in the world could come close to his happy he was feeling right now, holding his girl in his arm like this. Everything had changed now... He was a father

"papa...I made a wish that you would wake up" said Rebecca, finally freeing himself from the lock she had on on father "so happy Mama"

"Rebecca..." cried Bucky, tucking a lock of the toddlers hair behind her ear "Sorry for not being here sooner...I wish I could make it up to you somehow " There was that oh too familiar guilt again hitting him hard at missing all those key early moments of her life "I hope you can forgive me..."

"you are here now though" Brogan cried, reaching for his arm and helping him to his feet "and that's all that matters Bucky...right Rebecca?"

Getting to his feet, Bucky slipped his arm round Brogan's waist. once again the youngster hurled herself at her fathers leg in a deep crushing hug and nodded furiously

"I hate the fact that I wasn't with you when she was born Brogan..." he sighed sadly, gazing solemnly at the floor "I hate the fact that all those early moments in her life that I've missed, I'll never get back" Brogan reached over and touched his shoulder reassuringly "im so sorry...you shouldn't have gone through all this in your own. I should have been there"

"now listen to me...I haven't been on my own. Everyone here has been amazing and Steve's been visiting when he can too" she cried, clutching his head in her hands to meet his heartbroken gaze " As soon as I found out I was pregnant Bucky, I wanted her to know who her father was. In the womb I used to talk about you constantly to her. Steve would also tell her stories of all that you got up to as kids and growing up" she smiled, gently stroking the stubble of his cheek "she knows you're her Papa Bucky because ever since she's been old enough to understand I've told her about you.. I've been bringing her to see you here every day since she was born...you may not have physically been with us Bucky but I've kept your memory alive for her...for all of us. You are here now and that's all that matters. I just told her you were sleeping because of a curse just like sleeping beauty...so technically I told her the truth"

"really?"

"yes, plus Steve gave us a load of pictures of you from the war. I've saved it in what she calls her Papa book. Every night before bed we look at the Papa book" continued Brogan warmly "she's never forgotten you Bucky and I'll never let her..."

"I thought your love was the greatest thing that ever happened to me but now we have her.." he smiled, reaching up to wipe her glistening tears on her ivory cheek "thank you"

"it wasn't just me..." she laughed, reaching out for his thigh "it was a joint effort...and what an effort it was...I'll never forget those nights Bucky.." Blushing furiously all those times they were intimate together "just perfect.."

"Yep..not bad for a 90 year old man right?." Proudly Bucky grinned "but now as I'm awake just think what the next time would be like...I have a lot of catching up to do ..."

"ill hold you to that later... Literally" she smirked, stroking his thigh. Knowing exactly they were both thinking the same thing. Getting herself together and snapping out of her naughty plans for him later, she quickly turned to her daughter "Becky why don't you go get the book we made for Daddy for when we was allowed to see him?"

The toddler instantly ran over to shuri who handed her a scrapbook from a nearby draw. Saying thank you, she took the book and handed it to Bucky. Turning each page, Bucky instantly felt a lump in his throat as he struggled to deal with seeing so many images of his little girl and all those heart-breaking moments he'd missed. The book started right from the moment Brogan found out she was pregnant with pictures of her first scan that she asked Shuri to take using her technology. Another was of Brogan, James and Steve holding baby Rebecca at Bucky's pod for her daughter's first birthday. There was image after to image of his smiling daughter at play at the grounds of the palace. Unable to hold it together, Bucky sobbed, running his thumb over that first image of his daughter on the grainy sonogram. He hated himself even more now for missing out on so much of Rebecca's life. Wiping his eye with his arm, he turned the page, with the next images coming from a baby shower shuri had thrown at the palace. The grand hall was filled with holographic pink balloons and pink banners covered the walls announcing the impending arrival would be a girl. He did have to laugh at one picture of Brogan holding a baby's vest over her growing belly. She had a surprised look on her face as she pointed to the words "my papa is with me till the end of the line" that had been printed on front. Running a trembling hand through His hair, he continued going through the book, pausing to look at each and every image. He loved that it started at Rebecca's birth, ending with the last images of her from couple of weeks ago. It was also very much plain to see that the youngster was indeed turning into a miniature version of her father. Both sharing the exact same smile and blue glistening piercing blue eyes

"Papa up..." cried Rebecca, tugging at his leg. Giving her a smile, he picked her up, bringing her to his hip. within seconds she rest her head on his shoulder while draping her hands round his neck. Gently she reached over to where his metallic arm once was and stroked the stump with her fingertips "love you papa...glad you awake now"

"love you too Becky..." Bucky turned to Brogan and kissed her softly "And so am I..."

"I told you we'd wait for you" cried Brogan "till the end of the line remember..."

Taking her hand in his with Becky still on his hip, Bucky led his newly reunited family out of the lab and back to the hallway, passing the huge windows looking out onto Wakanda. Neither he or Brogan knew just what the future may hold for them all here now but they at long last they were finally together..free from the past and ready to look to the future...as a family. Nothing in this world can shatter the true bond of family. Whatever challenges they would face here on Wakanda, they would tackle them together. As Nothing is more stronger than the bond of love within a family...something Bucky finally had accepted he was worthy of...

THE END