A/N: Okay, this was supposed to be chapter 20 and the previous one was supposed to be ch 21, but it's probably fine :) Just in case you were following the outline and got confused. Thanks for all the feedback! Today's chapter is a bit short, but tomorrow's will be a bit long :)

21. How do we change our prison to a sanctuary? In which Bucky makes everyone dinner after a mission.

"That wasn't any more ridiculous than that time with Loki," Natasha was saying as she stepped out of the elevator. Bucky turned from where he had been looking out the window in the living room to face the commotion of several people exiting the elevator.

"Yeah, fine, maybe those of us who could fly should have," Clint answered sourly.

"There are no outside doors on this floor," Thor's voice boomed, sounding somewhat offended at the suggestion.

"You guys didn't have to all follow me home," Steve grumbled, sounding tired.

Bucky was somewhat surprised when all six of the original Avengers, plus Sam, appeared in the hallway. They looked exhausted and dusty, and many of them had rips and tears in their mission gear.

"How'd it go?" he asked in a bemused tone, eyes flickering from Steve to Natasha, who were both looking at him.

"A guy with a metal arm might have been helpful," Tony muttered, pulling off his gloves and dropping them unceremoniously on the floor.

Bucky smiled slightly at the suggestion.

"What happened to 'we have a Hulk?'" Clint wanted to know. "Sorry, Bruce, looks like Tony's moved on."

"Tony?" Bruce asked, a mock-horrified look on his face. His clothes were in tatters and Bucky couldn't help the quick feeling of relief not to have been around when the Other Guy came out.

"Shut up, you guys, I'm tired," Tony said, dropping onto the couch with a sigh. "Well, Summer Sergeant, if you're not going to help us fight, are you going to make us dinner?" Sam, Steve, and Natasha all looked at each other, and at Bucky, sharply. Tony did not miss this exchange. "Are you worried your boy can't cook? Because he's been getting along pretty well without you for a while, Steve."

Steve looked annoyed, but was continuing to look at Bucky. "He has been doing well," he answered quietly.

"I'm sure he doesn't have to," Bruce cut in.

"Do we even have any food?" Clint said at the same time.

Tony looked at them and then at Thor, who hadn't contributed his opinion. "What, don't you guys usually have a feast waiting for you when you return from victorious battle?" Tony asked him.

Thor glanced at Bucky, then at Steve. "Frequently. But Midgard provides plenty of opportunities for prepared food to be brought to us. We need not impose on Sgt. Barnes, or anyone else," he said.

Tony sighed heavily. "Fine, maybe someone else can pick up the tab this time."

"Stop being so cranky or I'll go fetch Pepper," Natasha said, in a tone that implied she'd do much more than that.

Tony opened an eye to look at her. "Forget I said it. Anyway, Barnes, it was a rough battle, but we survived and we all followed Steve home because all the other sympathetic ears are out of the Tower right now."

Bucky looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and didn't answer.

"What is he talking about?" Clint asked Natasha in a stage whisper.

She smiled. "He means Pepper isn't here for him to go whine to. Though I think she took Jane and Darcy with her. So it's just us. And we don't pay enough attention to the poor guy," she added.

"You don't," Tony agreed vehemently.

Bucky cleared his throat and everyone turned to look at him. "I can make dinner," he said calmly. "Shut up," he added when Steve stepped forward, about to protest. "I'm not a child. I don't need to be treated like it all the damn time. I can certainly fix something for seven people. Assuming that we have any food," he added as he walked by Clint, who laughed. "What does everyone want?"

"Something with a lot of cheese," Tony called as Bucky got to the kitchen.

"Anything's fine," Steve said, sounding a little surprised.

"Chocolate," Natasha said firmly.

"You can't have chocolate for dinner, Nat," Clint admonished.

"Nothing spicy," Bruce put in.

"Let me know if you need someone to lend a hand," Sam offered.

Bucky opened the fridge and surveyed the options. This might be a little harder than he thought.

The Avengers settle around Steve's living room. Though each floor contains ample living quarters for everyone, some unspoken decision brings them to Steve's floor whenever they want to hang out. Perhaps because Steve has so rarely wanted to leave it since Bucky returned. In any case, they all make themselves comfortable and wait. Well, not all are comfortable; Steve frequently turns to look toward the kitchen with an anxious expression. Sam catches him at it and pats his shoulder, then shakes his head. The look remains on his face, but he stops checking.

"Come and get it," Bucky finally calls.

Clint is the first on his feet, and the rest follow more slowly. It quickly becomes apparent why it took so long. There is meatloaf, lasagna (with extra cheese), something Russian that Natasha seems particularly excited about, biscuits, bacon, pop-tarts (for Thor), and some cold sandwich ingredients laid out. Bucky stands next to it, looking tired, covered with bits of flour, but smiling.

"Wow, Barnes, that's impressive," Tony says sincerely.

The rest are quick to agree with him. Natasha tells him her sentiments in Russian, and everyone sort of pauses to look between them when he answers in the same language.

"Alright, then, let's eat," Sam suggests.

Noises of agreement come from everyone, and they fall into line to select what they want. The kitchen is surprisingly quiet, save for the sound of dishware and cutlery, as hungry superheroes choose their favorites. Steve waits until the rest have gathered food and returned to their spots in the living room, watching his friend.

"Good job, Buck," he says.

"Thanks," Bucky replies, moving to serve himself.

"I'm sorry for treating you like a child."

Bucky stops, and turns to face him. "It's fine. It's not like you don't have a good reason. It just gets old having people check up on me, ask me gently how I'm doing, all of the time. You don't do that to each other, and I'm far from the only… damaged person here," he explains quietly.

Steve takes a deep breath. "I know. You've come a long way in the past few months. We're very impressed. But that doesn't change the fact that we all feel for you and want you to know you're welcome here, not as an asset, but as a friend."

"I know, Steve. I know. Let's eat," Bucky replies gently, leading his friend back to the living room.