Chapter Thirty-five
James sits on the back porch steps while the chickens eat the corn off of the ground. He smiles amused by their heads bobbing up and down while eating. He felt the cool breeze dance across his face making him feel peaceful. In a week or so Bobbie, Clint, and him were going to go to the school district to register him to the school here. James had to be held back due to the events that have happen in the recent months. He was nervous to be starting at new school, but also extremely excited. He has already made so many friends. His main two friends are Cecile and Griffin. They hang out everyday. Cecile and James are the same age only a few months apart while Griffin is a year behind them. He'll be in third grade with Griffin while Cecile will be in fourth grade. The sun was setting low as the summer air began to decrease. He was content.
"No!" Bucky protests. "I will not lie to him." Steve and Natasha look at each other wearily. They didn't want this, but they had no other choice even though some would disagree. "What will happen when he finds out you two are alive?" He asks unable to bare the thought of how he will turn out. Steve sighs heavy before speaking.
"He won't find out." He admits knowing he promised to destroy Hydra. Natasha looks at him startled. Bucky rolls his eyes not believing his own ears. "If we find away to return back to him, we will. But in the meantime he will never find out we are alive. He will start his life in Iowa, and move on."
"You can't move on from loosing your parents! You know that first hand Steve! What did they do to you in there? Make you completely heartless!" Bucky exclaims exasperated. Steve looks away shamefully.
"It's his best chance at survival." Natasha chimes in. Bucky looks at her remembering what she said about him not being the same.
"Nat... You know he can't loose you." He says letting his anger dissipate for a moment. She shakes her head knowingly.
"I got into contact with Clint before all this, and he says he's improving. He's adjusting." Natasha adds weary. "I haven't told Clint or Bobbie the plan. I don't want them to be held responsible for lying to him, and I don't want you to tell them either."
"He's okay because he thinks your coming back!" Bucky yells over their bull. "This is bullshit." He mumbles furious.
"What's done is done!" Steve yells back. "You know what they'll do to him." He softens his tone. Bucky jaw tightens knowing he has to do as they wish.
"Fine." He says reluctantly. "But one day he will come, and ask about you two." He adds knowing this is wrong. Steve walks away unable to face Bucky anymore. Natasha looks up at Bucky with pleading eyes.
"I want the best for him..." Natasha whispers.
"The best for him? Then be there!" Bucky snaps causing Natasha to flinch. A tear escapes down her cheek.
"Just tell him how much I love him, and I'm sorry." She cracks. Bucky eyes soften knowing there will be consciences for their actions. He knew this would be the last time he would never see Natasha and Steve. "Thank you for all that you've done, truly." She wraps her arms around his stomach hugging him tightly. Bucky is hesitant to hug her back, but he slowly wraps his arms around her small frame.
"You're welcome." He struggles to say before letting a few inches apart from them. "Goodbye, Natasha." He whispers before kissing her forehead. He walks away from her leaving her breathless and remorseful.
"I hope we are doing the right thing." She says to no one while she watches Bucky leave.
When Bucky returned to the States he didn't immediately go to Iowa. He went to Charleston South Carolina to live there, and build a life of some sort. Two months passed before he went to Iowa to deliver the news.
Bucky steps out of the car when he reaches Barton's farm. He noticed the fall colors out full among the trees as the crisp October air fell around him. He walks up the stairs towards the front door feeling numb and hallow. He rings the door bell suddenly the nerves hit him hard. The door open revealing Bobbie. Bobbie greeted him with a bright smile while she welcomed into the house.
"It's a pleasant surprise to see that you came considering everything that has happened." She says honestly while they walk into the dinning room that leads into the large kitchen. Bucky nods his head knowing what she means.
"Is James home?" He asks shaky.
"No, he's at school right now." She answers curious on why he's suddenly showed up. Clint walks into the hallway when he hears Bucky's voice.
"Can you give this news to James?" Bucky asks not able to face James himself. "That is mother loves him dearly, and is sorry for what is about to be said. But she is gone." Clint looks at him perplexed.
"I talked to her three months ago. How can see be dead?" He asks not buying it knowing how Steve and Natasha run from problems that are too hard to fix.
"Their gone. He needs to know that." Bucky manages to say.
"What will we tell him?" Bobbie asks trying to understand everything.
"That their dead." Bucky answers slowly. "I will be coming around as much as I can. I'll keep in contact though." He adds slowly before heading towards the door.
"You don't want to see him?" Bobbie asks becoming highly confused. Bucky shakes his head no before walking out the door. He leaves before James can return home, so he doesn't have to face those broken eyes once again.
James runs down the street racing Francis like always. He felt the wind whip across his face making him let out a blissful laugh. He turns his head back around to see if Francis is back there. When he sees Francis had given up he runs faster. He smiles feeling good, and happy for once. "What ever happens is going to be good!" He yells while running towards the west.
The End
Author Notes: I will be posting an epilogue after this chapter! I will be posting the first chapter of the second book after I put up the epilogue. So I will give the name, and everything about that story at the end of the epilogue! Thank you so much for the support while I was writing this story! I hope you enjoyed it, and read the sequel! As always keep being swaggy! :)
-C.R.