Chapter 27

Steve asked both Bucky and Wanda to go to his house on Tuesday, their day off, which coincidentally was the same day. Steve had a lot to talk about with them, and they were well aware. Both Wanda and Bucky knew that Livy wouldn't be able to keep such a juicy secret, but they had hoped she would keep it for some time. They had wanted to avoid this conversation with Steve until they were sure they were ready for it. I mean, this was Steve's best friend dating his sister. Both of them knew that Steve would get overprotective even if it was his best friend. Thankfully, he had asked them over to his house while Livy was in school, so they didn't need to worry about her.

Tuesday morning arrived much too soon for the pair. Bucky had let Wanda know he was going to pick her up so that they would arrive together. Once they got to Steve's house, they just sat in the car trying to stall the conversation as long as possible.

"I think we should go in," Wanda said staring at the front door of the house.

"Yeah, I think we should," Bucky agreed.

"The sooner we get this done the better, right?"

Bucky nodded.

Neither of them made a move to get out. They stayed staring at the house dreading to go in.

Steve, who had heard them pull up, was wondering what was taking them so long to knock on the door or just to go in already. After waiting for some time, he decided to go out and see for himself.

Bucky and Wanda both jumped when they saw the front door open, and Steve poking his head out. "Now we really do have to go in," Wanda mumbled.

"Hey! You guys planning on staying in the car staring at the house, or are you planning on actually coming in?" Steve called out.

Bucky got out of the car and walked to the other side to open the door for Wanda and help her out.

Steve was a little bothered by that, but that was how he was raised. He wouldn't expect anything less. "Finally you two decide to come in. Do you want water? Lemonade? Juice?"

"You made lemonade?" Wanda asked a little doubtfully.

"Seriously, Wanda? I can make lemonade if it's the powder one. That one has instructions on the container. Livy drank some this morning and said it was very good."

"I'll have some lemonade, Steve," Bucky said.

"What about you, Wanda?"

"Water is fine with me, thank you."

"How about you two go have a seat in the living room, and I'll be right out with the drinks?" Steve suggested as he started walking towards the kitchen.

Bucky and Wanda entered the living room and sat on the love seat. "It doesn't look like he's going to grill us for answers," Bucky commented to Wanda quietly.

"No, it doesn't, but we just got here. Who knows what's going on in that mind of his."

Steve came back with three glasses and some coasters. "Water and lemonade," he said as he set the coasters and the glasses on the coffee table. He had served himself some lemonade as well. He sat down on the couch. "So, how have you two been?"

"We just saw each other yesterday, Steve. You know how I've been," Wanda said a little annoyed he didn't go straight into the conversation.

"Busy, I know that, but it could have changed since yesterday."

"I've been fine. Everything at work is going well," Bucky answered.

"That's nice."

There was a silence among the three and a thick tension in the air. Steve was picking his words wisely. He didn't want a big argument to come out of this. He should be happy about it, but he was also looking out for Wanda.

Wanda couldn't take his silence anymore, so she blurted out, "Just say it, Steve!"

Bucky and Steve both looked at her surprised at her outburst. They hadn't expected that from Wanda.

Steve cleared his throat. "So, how long have you two been dating?"

Wanda looked at Bucky, and Bucky looked at Wanda. "Since May," Bucky quickly answered.

Steve was surprised, to say the least, that they had dated so long without his notice. "About 3 months then?"

Both Bucky and Wanda nodded.

"How did it happen?"

Bucky once again answered, "I've had feelings for Wanda for a long time now. Probably ever since I laid my eyes on her, but at that time she was too young. On top of that, we were seniors in high school about to graduate and go off into the military. I didn't want to start something that I knew probably would never happen because you never know what can happen on the field. I wanted her to enjoy her adolescence and not have to worry about me. After the accident, I realized I wasn't going back no matter how much I wanted to. When I got back, Wanda was barely starting her Associate's Degree to be a secretary, so I knew I couldn't interfere. Once she finished, I knew I could actually ask her out."

When Bucky finished, Wanda started, "I didn't know I had fallen for Bucky until he was already overseas. I started to realize how much I missed him. Of course, I compartmentalized those feelings to focus on finishing high school and starting college. When I found out about his accident though, I was shattered. I couldn't believe it. If it weren't for college classes and homework, I think I would have stayed in that hospital the whole time he was in there. It wasn't until a few months after Peggy's funeral that we actually admitted to each other that we had feelings for one another. Bucky told me that he wanted to wait until I graduated to start officially dating so that I could focus on my studies and get good grades the last few months I had left. He kept his promise. Graduation day, he asked me to be his girlfriend."

Steve was processing all of the information they had just given him and stayed silent looking at the floor. His silence was nerve-wracking for both Bucky and Wanda. They so badly wanted him to say something like if he approved their relationship or not. The silence was almost deafening as they sat there waiting for his answer. He finally looked up. His expression was unreadable which was quite the feat for Steve. He cleared his throat. "This is a lot to process. I'd like to talk to you both one on one."

That statement was more frightening than his disapproval. "Who do you want to talk to first?" Bucky cautiously asked.

"Well, I was thinking about another day. It's kind of hard to do it now seeing as you're both here. Besides, I still need time to process it all. I'll let you know when I want to talk when and where I want to talk to you two."

"Steve, I think it'd be better if you just got over it now, for all three of our sakes. I don't know how long I can go with not knowing that you approve the relationship or not. It means a lot to us, so much so that we were trying to come up with a way to tell you, but Maggie kind of beat us to it," Wanda said seriously.

Steve looked at his watch to see what time it was. It was still much too early to go pick up Livy from school, so he couldn't ask one of them to go while he talked with the other. "You two really don't mind sitting out here while I talk to the other one?"

They both shook their heads. "We just want to get it over with," Bucky let him know.

"Fine. Buck, I want to talk with you first. Let's go to my office to have more privacy." Steve got up and led the way to his office.

Wanda got up and rushed to Steve's side. "Go easy on him," she whispered pleadingly.

Steve just looked at her with the unreadable expression still on his face before he kept walking. She felt horrible for keeping this from her brother for so long. She feared that her relationship with him would be broken by this and that his relationship with Bucky would also be broken. Oh, how she wished that she could go back in time and let him know from the beginning. He was her brother, and she loved him dearly. But in times like these, she knew that he was more like a father figure even though there was a three-year difference between them. She yearned for his blessing, and now, she felt that he wouldn't give it to them.

Once Steve and Bucky were in the office with the door shut, Steve let his emotions show. Bucky could see the hurt and sadness on his face, and he knew that he was to blame. Steve stepped behind his desk and sat down in his chair. "Buck, I've known you for a long time. You have always been there for me, saving me from fights and all. You're like a brother to me; I know that you know that. We have never hesitated in telling each other anything, so I can't understand why you had to hide it from me that you were interested in my sister."

Bucky, who was sitting across from him, hung his head. "I guess I was afraid of what you would say and how you would react. I know I should have come to you for permission because you're the man in the family, the oldest that is. I can assure you that Pietro didn't even know about it, but of course, he had a different reaction than you did. Being the oldest, I know you have a sense of protecting your younger siblings, and I totally respect that. I know that it was wrong of me to go behind your back and do this. I should have told you, but I was scared."

"It doesn't bother me that you want to date Wanda. I think you'd make a great couple. What I don't like is the secrecy. What I told you at the mall that day, I meant it. I wouldn't be able to stand seeing Wanda get hurt by a man she claims to love. What would hurt me more is if you were that man. I don't want you to hurt her because I know that if you do, I would stand by her even if it means ending our friendship. I don't want that to happen, Bucky, so I'm begging you to please not hurt her. She's still young and has suffered so much already. First, her parents die, and she gets put into an orphanage along with Pietro where their separation was imminent. Thankfully, my mom adopted them, but after some years, she died as well. I wasn't here to see that, but I know that Wanda took it hard. Pietro has told me. She doesn't need to get hurt by someone she loves."

"Steve, I promise you that I will never hurt Wanda. I would rather die before I hurt her," Bucky solemnly promised.

"Good, but remember what I said if you do. Now, the question I want to ask is, are you planning on moving in together or marrying her?"

Bucky's eyes grew wide. "Well, uh, uh, I would like to marry her in the future, but of course, I'll ask your blessing for that before I ask. As for moving in together, we haven't reached that stage in our relationship yet. We haven't talked about it."

"I was kidding about the moving in part. I don't have a problem with that as long as you're both ready. I appreciate that you're contemplating on asking for my blessing when you do want to marry her. If you weren't thinking about it, I would end this relationship right now."

"You don't have to worry about that. I've learned my lesson about keeping things involving your sister a secret."

"I'm glad. Well, that's was a nice chat. Now, I have to get through the harder one of the two. Could you send Wanda in?"

Bucky frowned. "Yes, I can, but I thought your conversation with me would be the hardest."

"Nope, it's not. I'm actually more disappointed in Wanda than I am in you," Steve honestly admitted.

"Oh, I guess you would be since she's your sister. I'll let her know you're ready for her," Bucky said as he stepped out of the office.

He walked a little slowly so that Steve would have a little more time to collect his thoughts. When he entered the living room, a worried Wanda jumped to her feet. "What did he tell you?"

Bucky shook his head, a grim expression on his face. "I'll tell you later, Doll. He's ready to talk with you now." He hugged Wanda before she left to calm her nerves down a bit.

Wanda walked slowly to Steve's office. She didn't know what to expect, but seeing Bucky's face when he appeared in the living room made her think it wasn't anything too good. The door was slightly opened, so she peeked in. Steve was looking out the window, so she couldn't see his face. She knocked before walking in, yet Steve still hadn't turned around. She sat down in one of the chairs and waited. Moments passed, and Steve still had her back to her. She cleared her throat so that he would acknowledge her presence. Ever so slowly, he turned around. His face mirrored the same expressions Bucky had seen, hurt and sadness, but also disappointment. "Why did you keep this from me?" he asked calmly, keeping his emotions intact.

"I don't know, Steve," Wanda answered ashamed.

"Ever since you came into my life, I've cared about you. Yes, the first couple of months I kind of ignored you because of school and Peggy, but once we bonded, I felt a sense of keeping you safe wash over me. I remember a time you would come to me for advice. I remember when I was overseas, and I'd call you, you'd share everything that was going on in your life with me. I always imagined the day you would come to me to tell me you had fallen for a guy and ask me what you should do about it. Finding out about your relationship the other day and now knowing how long you've had feelings for Bucky makes me wonder why you never told me. Is my opinion not important to you anymore?"

Wanda's eyes were filling with hearing him say all of that. "Of course, your opinion matters to me, Steve," she said as her voice cracked. "It matters a lot maybe even more than Pietro's because you're older and have more experience than he does."

"Then why keep it hidden from me?"

Wanda let the tears run down her face. "I thought you wouldn't approve because he's your best friend, and all I wanted was to date the man I love. I realize now that not telling you was selfish on my part because I knew that if you wouldn't agree I would never date him. I'm so so sorry that I stripped away the thing you wanted most from me."

Steve couldn't take the sight of Wanda crying, so he went over to her and hugged her. He decided not to keep talking until she calmed down a bit. After a few minutes, Wanda's crying had calmed down. Steve let go of her but stayed with her. "Wanda, you know I love you, and I don't ever want to see you get hurt, right?"

Wanda nodded her head and sniffled.

"I want what's best for you. What if the guy you feel in love with wasn't Bucky and was some guy I don't even know? Would you have told me?"

"Yes, I would have," she answered in a whisper.

"I know that you've known Bucky for a long time, and I've known him longer than you have. I know he's a good guy and will hopefully never hurt you, but I would have loved to know about your interest in him."

"I know. I screwed up," Wanda admitted.

"I forgive you, Wanda, but please don't do that again."

Wanda looked up at him. "I promise that I won't ever do it again. I've learned my lesson."

Steve smiled approvingly. "Now, I'm pretty sure you're wondering whether or not I approve of your relationship with my best friend."

Wanda nods. "I'm pretty sure what the answer is, and I'm prepared to break up with him even if it does break my heart."

Steve was a bit startled at that comment she made. "Um, I was going to say that I approve of the relationship. I think you two would make a great couple."

Wanda perked up upon hearing that. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm totally being serious," Steve reassured.

"I was sure you weren't going to approve because Bucky had the grimmest expression on his face when he walked into the living room!"

Steve laughed. "Well, you don't know him well enough yet. He doesn't like giving away information to people who are going to be finding out for themselves later. If he would have gone in the living room with the biggest smile on his face, you would have known before talking with me."

Wanda thought about it. "I guess I'll have to thank him for that. Otherwise, I don't think we would have had this lovely little chat."

"You are considering it lovely? You cried through most of it," Steve said.

Wanda smiled. "Yes, I did, but I got to learn something about my brother that I did not know yet, and he gave me permission to date Bucky. That's why I consider it to be a lovely talk."

"I'm glad that you're going to leave smiling and not crying. Let's go back to the living room."

When they entered the living room, Bucky had a huge smile on his face. When he saw Wanda, it got bigger.

Wanda went up to him and smacked him on the arm. "How dare you make me think that Steve was going to make us break up!" she scolded playfully.

Bucky just grinned. "It was fun, to say the least, knowing what he was going to say and seeing you walking to his office like you were going to the guillotine."

Steve burst out laughing at Bucky's comment. "Did she really look like that?"

"Oh, yes. She was practically shaking. I hugged her to calm her nerves down, but I don't think it really helped."

"No, it didn't because she was waiting for my hug to calm her down. I think that hug I gave her in my office calmed her down a bit."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you two."

"Well, I guess my congratulations are in order for you two now being a couple."

"Thanks, Steve. We'd better be heading off now. I believe Livy will be out of school soon, so we don't want to hold you back," said Bucky.

"You're right. I'm glad you two stopped by, and we got things sorted out."

"Me too. Now, we don't have to worry about hiding anything from you."

Steve smiled. "That must be a relief."

Wanda went to give Steve a hug, and she whispered, "I'm going to need to talk to you about a different subject. Let me know when you're free."

Steve nodded wondering what Wanda wanted to talk to him about. They said their final goodbyes, and soon Bucky and Wanda were already gone. Steve was satisfied with all that had happened that morning, and he had to admit that he wouldn't want Wanda marrying anyone else. He knew that Bucky would treat her every way a woman is supposed to be treated. He wouldn't have to worry about that. All he was worried about was the talk Wanda wanted to have with him.


So this was another short chapter compared to how long they've gotten to be. The next chapter will be a time jump of a couple of months. I'm still not sure how many, but I'll make sure it says so at the beginning of the chapter.