Brooke fell asleep as soon as they got her strapped into her booster seat. Her soft snores echoed from the back and in her hand, cradled tightly, was her Bucka Bear. It's stitching beginning to come lose again and Bea realised as soon as they got home, she'd have to 'put it in operation' as she liked to tell Brooke.

Bucky's eyes kept travelling to the mirror, looking back and her. His face softening ever so slightly before he would quickly divert his eyes to the passing traffic and become hard.

"Whose Allie?" he asked her out of nowhere, shuffling in his seat to face her.

"What?"

"Allie. Brooke mentioned him before."

Oh. She was wondering why Bucky had been twitching in his seat nervously throughout this journey, "Right. Yeah… Allie's name is Alex. Brooke just doesn't know how to pronounce it properly."

"Right. Alex. Who is he?" his tone became snappier making Bea turn her head from the road.

"I didn't mean for you to find out about him like this, I was going to tell you later on." She would have done it when Brooke was out with Steve, having him sat down and explained everything. There was still so much he had missed out on.

"Was he your boyfriend?"

"-What!" Bea exclaimed, almost steering the car into a lorry, "Holy shit. NO!"

"Oh…"

"Did you – think - Bucky… there's never been anyone but you."

Bucky turned to face her and she could tell he was watching as closely as if trying to detect a lie. She wished she could turn to him properly and convince him, half tempted to pull over but they were on the middle of a highway. It can't have been easy for him, especially since she brought back another version of himself to the present.

Finally, he spoke, "Brooke said he hurt you."

Now was not the time for this conversation, "We should probably wait till we get home. Then we can sit down-"

"No. I'm sick of not knowing what's going on. I don't need to be sitting down to hear news. Just tell me, please…"

Sighing, she resigned to the fact this conversation would take place now. Checking that Brooke was still asleep and not just faking as she so liked to do, she explained, "Alex was a guy I worked with at the orphanage. I thought he was an okay co-worker but he'd lost his daughter in the snap so I felt a bit of sympathy for him. Then, he lost his apartment so I – admittedly stupidly – offered him a place to stay." Bucky visibly relaxed in the knowledge that Bea hadn't moved on from him. "Problem is he became obsessed with Brooke. Steve saw it straight away and kept warning me… he kept trying to convince Brooke he was her dad and when I did finally kick him out, he came back and tried to take her from me."

She didn't want to admit that what she feared the most was Alex coming back and taking Brooke from her.

"And he hit you?" A dangers wave cut across his voice.

"Slapped me. But believe me, I got him worse."

"And Brooke?"

"He didn't get to her." She said quickly, hearing the fear in his voice, "though we found out he had put a tracker on her."

"What?"

His sharp voice made Brooke whine in her sleep. Bea held her breathe, prepared to halt the conversation there and then, but her daughter snuggled into the side of her booster sit and sighed back to sleep.

"It's fine. It's fine." She calmed him, "We found it – it's why I got her out of New York and is now why I'm picking her up so urgently. I won't let anything happen to her."

"The creeps still out there?"

"Unfortunately."

"What and Steve or Natasha couldn't find him?" sharp accusation swam in his tone and with the mention of Natasha, Bea couldn't stand such anger being directed at her.

"Saving the universe kind of became a priority, Bucky!"

"I'm going to find him."

"I'm sure you will…" She nodded with him, "and I'm just as much out for revenge as you, but I really want to just enjoy the next few days of you getting to know Brooke rather than you running off to go hunt down a psycho. Anyway, Steve reckons he won't be as much of a threat now, since his own daughters back now."

"Doesn't mean he shouldn't pay," Bucky growled lowly.

*~it started with Pizza~*

She'd thought that after Bucky meeting Brooke things would go easy and her dream family would be complete. But Beatrice had to break the news of Natasha's untimely death to her. Over the next few days, it seemed impossible for Bucky to get to know his daughter, since she spent most of it silently sobbing in her bedroom. She had tried coaxing her out with chocolate ice cream and cookies but the five-year-old stubbornly stayed sat in front of her bedroom door so no one could open it. She even went to the extent of trying to force her door open, but Brooke just pushed back.

Beatrice only managed to pry her out of her room when she told her they would hold a funeral for Natasha in the garden. Brooke held tightly onto her mom's hand, as she leant down to plant a floor of forget-me-nots. Underneath the valley of flowers was a buried message in a bottle that Brooke had written for Natasha. What it said, Brooke refused to let her mom read.

"Is she going to be okay?" Bucky frowned as Brooke raced past them up the stairs when the 'funeral' was over to run back to isolate herself in her bedroom.

"I think so," but Bea wasn't really sure. Brooke had never acted like this, "She's never lost anyone so I've got no clue."

"Should we leave her cry it out?"

Bea honestly wasn't sure. She'd never dealt with this before and Brooke was usually so good at telling her how she was feeling. With the hard slam of her bedroom door, Bea winced, "I think I'll leave her for a few hours to cool off then go speak to her. There's no way I'll get through to her when she's like this."

Apparently, Bucky didn't agree with her, as an hour later she found him rapping on her bedroom door with his metal fist.

"I just feel like I should be doing something," he uttered, taking a large step away from the door when no response came, "I thought she liked me."

"She does like you," comforted Bea, "but I don't think she really understands what death means, and why Natasha's no longer here."

Spending time with Bucky wasn't easy, either. He would spend his days hidden in her bedroom (though the door was unlocked) eyeing the street down below like a hawk. When a person did walk past, his back would straighten and analyse them, like a dog watching out of a window, threatened by oncoming intruders.

Sat alone on the sofa, Bea contemplated demanding that they both come downstairs and sit with her. Realising it wouldn't do her family any good to force them to spend time together, she picked up her new phone and typed in her fiancé's name, but added the phrase 'army' at the end. Hundreds of websites appeared but she clicked on the image tab. For a moment she scanned her thumb along them. There was Bucky in his howling commandos' attire. One with his army uniform and hat, smiling proudly. Others were blurry screenshots from old world war videos.

She'd been thinking about him a lot lately. She didn't really have time to apologise. So suddenly she'd been swept away in the madness with returning everybody him. Bucky – the younger Bucky that was – had followed her onto a plane, to the modern age and into battle without any thought for himself.

And how had she repaid him? She'd left him alone.

Transfixed on the pictures, she only looked away when a key in the front door clicked and it creaked open. It didn't get far as with a small 'ow' from the intruder, the door clanked against the metal door chain, preventing it from opening any further. "hey, someone mind unlocking this?"

"Oh, hang on!" Bea jumped up to go and save Steve, "I'm coming!"

Rushing to slide the door unlocked, Steve came tottering inside, wasting no time collapsing down into a hug. He squeezed her tight. Usually she'd have felt her lungs crushing from his weight, "I'm sorry I haven't been here. Everything going okay?"

"Good… Well other than the fact my daughters depressed."

"What- Why?" Steve pulled her away but kept her rooted at arms length, "What's happened?"

"I told her about Natasha."

"Oh… I thought you meant she was depressed because Bucky was back."

"Oh, no," Bea shook her head quickly, "She was more than happy about him staying here but last two days she's been really struggling with knowing Natasha's not coming back. I don't think she really understands."

With a concerned look to the top of the stairs, Steve nodded his head.

"How is Buck?"

"He's-"

"Here." A creak sounded above them, and there at the top of the stairs where they had just looked, was Bucky. Perhaps it was the super soldier serum flowing in her veins, but somehow, he looked smaller, even standing above them. Ever so carefully as if the steps would crack underneath his weight, he began to tread lightly towards them.

When he was close enough, he pointed at the lock, "Sorry, that- that lock was me. I locked it."

A breath escaped Steve like he'd taken a calming pill. They hadn't spoken in days – and even in the aftermath of Thanos's army they had had no time to catch up. "Hey Buck."

His hands clenched behind his back, Bucky stayed put at the foot of the steps like an invisible barrier was forged between them. It didn't stop Steve, who dived in to break the distance and crushed him with what would normally be a bone breaking hug.

Awkwardly, Bucky brought his hands up and hugged his best friend back with a solid pat on the back.

"How you been?" Steve asked as they pulled apart, rather quickly.

"Been better. Can't complain though, least I'm alive."

"I missed you."

An unreadable look washed over Bucky's face. No matter how hard she tried to analyse it, she couldn't work it out. Bea wished she could read him the way he could read her. She had better luck understanding pre-Hydra Bucky, the years of coding and torture hadn't been forced onto him but right now she couldn't place the emotion.

"I missed you too," his voice sounded as if it was being pulled in different directions.

Steve's eyes caught hers. They were both wondering the same thing. Was he okay?

They had no time to question him when another set of thumps came down the stairs. Brooke was clutching onto the banister, plodding her way down. Her eyes rimmed red and pony tail coming out in straw but her sight was set on Steve and ever so slightly, a smile made its way onto her face.

"Stevie…" She uttered tiredly, pushing Bucky's leg out of the way to reach her godfather and demand to be picked up into his arms.

Doing as he was told Steve lifted her high and kissed her on the top of her head. "How's my best girl been?"

"Alright…" Brooke mumbled into his shirt, nervously fidgeting with his collar, "I'm glad I'm home."

"Are you sure you're alright?" Steve said, picking up her chin and making her look him in the eye, "You don't seem alright to me."

She fought his hands to aim her sight back down at the floor again, "uh-uh. Nuffin' I can do about it..."

"You could talk about it," Steve suggested lightly, bouncing her slightly in his arms, "not to me necessarily but you've got your mom and… and your dad."

"Hm…" Brooke mused as if bored.

For the next few minutes Steve tried to coax her out of her shell a bit more but failed miserably. Brooke just stayed tucked away in his shoulder, slumped like she'd given up on life. Neither of them knew how to operate Brooke anymore. She seemed like a completely different girl. She'd never been this distant. She would get angry and throw temper tantrums but this quite composed mouse of a girl, was not her daughter at all.

Now that she was downstairs at least, Bea turned the television on for some cartoons, hoping that would distract her. Her plan failed when Brooke didn't even look up and curled on the couch, occasionally picking at the ends of her hair.

As the first episode of her favourite cartoon came to a close, Steve kneeled down in front of her. "-Hey your mom text me saying you were growing flowers for Natasha in your garden. Well, I thought I'd make my own addition…" from deep within his bag, he pulled out a pack of sunflower seeds and gave them to Brooke, "Do you think you could grow them for me?"

"'dink so…" Brooke said quietly, taking the sunflowers into her palm and tottering to the backdoor. She barged Bucky's leg out of the way to get there.

Bucky watched her go and sighed, "Have I done something wrong?"

"No- no of course you haven't," Bea insisted as the back door clinked shut. He hadn't – although acting a little distant, she hadn't expected there to be some sort of magical miracle to happen and they would instantly bond and become a father and daughter duo. But… she had dreamed it.

Steve dispensed her thoughts, bringing her mail in from the hallway for her. "Bea, you really gotta read your mail as soon as it comes."

"But why would I do that when I can wait for you to come in and pick it up for me?"

"Have you seen Fifteen?" Steve asked conversationally, frowning as he saw Bucky turn his back to them and look out the window.

"Yeah- I heard she woke up this morning from Sam."

"Apparently she's struggling to speak, but she'll live."

That was a relief and at least Sam was there so she wasn't alone. "I'll take Brooke to see her in a few days, it might cheer her up…"

"That's a good idea. Just maybe pre-warn Brooke before going in. I've heard her face is pretty scarred."

Bea wafted her hand over the subject, "Oh you know Brooke, she'll end up just thinking it's cool."

The first letter was just her bank statement. She put it to the side along with a pile of other old letters she'd never read again.

"The – er – other Bucky wants to speak to you?" the letters she'd been ripping open fell to her lap as she looked up at Steve, but he wasn't looking at her. Instead his gaze was focused on the back of Bucky's head whose shoulders perked at the mention of his name. He still didn't turn around.

"He does?" She'd tried her hardest not to think about him… but she couldn't deny the clenching of her heart. It pulsed, thinking about him. Shifting her eyes to Bucky, she carefully asked, "What did he want to talk about?"

"His plans for the future." Steve said, "We've been talking to Hank Pym. He thinks he can make some more particles within the next few weeks. Think he wants to say goodbye."

"Do we have to?" Bea melted into her chair, "won't be easier if we don't say anything to one another and… you know… forget…"

Even she was aware of the selfish words tumbling out of her mouth and regretted them instantly. Steve didn't let her forget it, as his words turned stale and glare targeted itself at her. "You know full well forgetting is never the best thing. You owe him closure… you know how he felt about you."

"I know."

"Then you need to talk to him. You can't just pretend he never existed."

"I know, you're right. Sorry… sorry, I know that was selfish I just didn't think when I brought him back."

"That much was clear," Steve chuckled slightly and the very sound seemed to give Bucky the chills as his metal fist flexed.

"I never thank you either for letting him stay with you. I know it was probably an inconvenience, especially at this time." It seemed Steve was always picking up after her mistakes.

"-not at all," Steve countered, "it's actually been quite nice not to live alone again and we've been reminiscing about the war quite a bit. I'd forgotten quite a bit actually…"

"So, he's going then?" Bucky suddenly turned harshly, his arms crossed like he was strapped into a straight jacket, "in a few weeks?"

"Yeah," Steve sighed sadly, not noticing the glare he was receiving from the other end of the room but for once Beatrice managed to read his emotions. He didn't look like he was even bothering to hide it anymore. It was clear as day. He was pissed. At Steve. "He doesn't belong in this time."

"Good." Bucky nodded sharply and turned back to the window.

"Buck?"

"Like you said, he doesn't belong here."

Steve looked like he'd been slapped in the face, "Is everything alright, pal?"

"Look – it's bad enough that I've got a younger better version of myself in love with my fiancé, which Bea already traded me out for, let alone you doing the same."

"-Bucky!"

"Where are you getting this from?" She spluttered out. The letters she had in her lap, scattered to the floor as she snapped to her feet. Her eyes span to her that was still laying where she had last used it. She only needed to click it on to show the proof of how she really felt. "You never really even spoke to him."

"For godsake, Bea. He's me… I don't need to talk to the guy, to know how he feels about you."

That shut her up. She bowed her head in shame as Bucky's accusations turned to Steve, but Steve cut him to the chase.

"I'm sorry I've not been to see you since now," he apologised, holding an arm out in surrender and Bucky slapped his mouth shut waiting to hear what he had to say, "That was wrong of me but it had nothing to do with the other Bucky. I thought it best I stayed away to give you time to settle in to being a dad."

"Well I haven't settled in, have I?" Bucky threw him arm up so quickly, Bea feared it would fall off again, "After I became the Winter soldier, I gave up any right to be a father. I haven't got the first clue about being a dad to someone I never even wanted in the first place."

"BUCKY!" How- how… HOW DARE HE.

No one noticed the small footsteps making their way back from the garden until the back door slammed shut behind them. The anger flooded from Bea instantly and replaced with cold fear. Slowly, she turned to face her daughter who had wandered in at the wrong time.

Bea wanted to run to her. To cover her ears. To cry with her, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Brooke's outburst happened too quickly to stop. First her eyes bubbled with tears. Her body shook as she raised a shaky finger. With a red face, Brooke bellowed from the top of her lungs, "FINE. I DON'T CARE!" She stomped her foot so loud the whole house creaked, "AUNTIE TASHA DIED BECAUSE OF YOU. IF YOU NEVER CAME BACK SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE! I WISH YOU WOULD JUST DIE AGAIN!"

Steve was the only one sane enough to try and catch her as Brooke fled upstairs. He missed. Her daughter was too fast for even him to catch and the loud slaps up the stairs slowly getting quieter as she reached her room and one final loud crash of her door slamming, left a silent hole lingering darkly.

"Beatrice…" eventually Bucky whispered softly. All anger and accusations dried from his voice, "I did not mean how that sounded."

"No- no… I don't want to hear it." She parted distance between them. Gulping back the tears that threatened to spill. No – She would not cry. She wouldn't cry for Brooke's sake. Right now, she needed to go comfort her daughter. "And for the record. I would never leave you for another guy, even if it is another version of you. You're the one whose good at the leaving."

"It wasn't my fault I couldn't be here, Bea."

"I know," She nodded sadly, all emotion disappeared from her voice "but you still were gone all the same."

She went to leave the room but Bucky caught her arm. She thought about jerking her arm away from it. She was strong enough now. But she looked up and caught the lost gaze sparkling in the tears of his eyes.

She could count on one hand how many times he had cried.

"Let me try and talk to her," he pleaded with her, "Please."

He couldn't get through to her this morning. 'Why did he think he had a chance now?' She thought, her mind beginning to race with thoughts. For one she wanted to be mad at him, maybe even kick him out of the house since he didn't want to be part of this family. For two, the dream home she had planned was barely being gripped on to. Wanting so desperately to reach out and grab it, hold it and make it her own.

"One chance," She said firmly, sharply un-attaching herself from his arm

"Thank you."

Wasting no time, Bucky darted up the stairs and the silence once again swallowed the room. Steve heaved a deep sigh and turned to face her.

"I didn't realise it was bad."

"Neither did I."

Part of her was tempted to lean over at the bottom of the stairs, and listen in… but Steve was there and he would only scold her. She slapped her lips together. Dry, she ran a finger across them. She really could do with a cigarrete. An uncomfortable pound rested in the forefront of her mind she knew would be solved with the taste of tar.

"I'm going out for a cigarrete," She informed Steve, standing suddenly.

"Bucky know you smoke now?" Steve looked over at her in disapproval as she searched through her bags to find her pack, "Bea… you really need to stop."

Passively she ignored him. Finding what she needed. Her legs stretched doubly to reach the back door.

"Don't tell him then."

Whatever response Steve wanted to give, she blocked it out by slamming the backdoor. Not sure how long Bucky would be, her fingers shook trying to get the cigarrete out of the packet. Her smoke was rushed. Not drawn out like she wanted it to be. Needed it to be. The pulsing beating in her head barely ceased and her lungs still didn't warm like a hug being enclosed around them.

Unsatisfied, she squished the cigarrete under her foot and quickly headed inside.

Steve watched her sit back down beside him on the couch. A million thoughts travelled between his stare and hers. All disapproving of her.

"Don't mention it…" She rolled her eyes and picked up her abandoned mail.

"What do you think he'll say?"

"he already thinks so much has changed, let's just throw the fact in that I'm mentally unstable now too," she threw back at him in a hushed whisper and tore open a letter.

"You're not mentally unstable, Bea," Steve rolled his eyes, "and I should know. I did your psychological evaluation."

"Shut up."

She focused on the letters before her, feeling Steve continued stare. As best she could, she ignored it and tore open another scanned a letter in bitter silence.

"Oh…" Bea's head span, scanning the letter. That was not a letter she ever expected to get. She read it again.

"What's it say?" Steve asked, taking a seat next to her.

"I'm apparently wanted in an important meeting two days from now."

"You?"

Not appreciating his tone, she snapped, "Rude."

"No – I just meant… what for?" concern flew through his voice.

"To discuss the future arrangements of kids who have been adopted by other families during the five years, whose parents have just come back." One more time, she read the letter. "In the last five years I thought I was helping kids who lost their parents. Apparently, I've just screwed them up more…"

"Don't say that," Steve nudged her arm, reading the letter over her shoulder, "You did a lot of good. They wouldn't want you at the meeting to talk about solutions if you hadn't helped."

"I'm only invited because I'm an Avenger," She shrugged.

"Where does it say that?"

"It says I've been invited due to my 'expertise in the field and connections with higher organisations,' they couldn't put it more black and white."

Steve was silent for a minute, re-reading the letter before he shrugged, "it also says for your expertise in the field. Stop putting yourself down. Just go and suggest a solution."

That was easier said than done, "but- I don't have a solution."

"Well you've got two days to work – ah shit."

"Language," Bea scolded, "What?"

"That's over Tony's funeral."

"That's okay, I wasn't invited to Tony's funeral?" Tony had never liked her anyway. He wouldn't want her at his funeral and especially not Bucky – he did after all kill his father. Steve rolled his eyes and picked up a few other letters on her lap, before revealing a much fancier decorated one stamped with a time and date.

"You really need to open you're mail when you get it," he chided, "good thing I'd got us all motel rooms then."

"Well I can't go now."

"You can't miss Tony's funeral."

She read the invitation, her eye's resting on the name; Stark. Natasha hadn't been granted a funeral. Where was her fancy, decorated invitation? "it's okay." She realised, "the meetings at ten and the funerals at two. I can make it."

"It's a three-hour drive."

"I'll be a little late."

"Bea…"

"Tony wouldn't want me there anyway. He hated me," she tried to convince him but even Steve could smell her bullshit. Tony had done a lot for her, without her having to ask for it. "I can't miss going to this meeting, Steve. I've probably put these kids in a worse situation now with two lots of parents fighting over who's child it is… I've got to fix this."

A creak from the doorway shattered the rare peace that had befallen the house.

Steve and Bea looked up and found Bucky holding Brooke's hand, two very happy smiles tempting onto their faces.

*~It started with Pizza~*

Bucky's POV

This is for Bea.

Once he'd reached the top of the stairs, he didn't realise Brooke's closed door was so close. He'd imagine an endless hallway. He'd hoped for one. As in one slow stride, he was already by her door, his heart stuck in his throat. He had to rub away sweat beads from his forehead on the back of his gloved hand.

You can do this, he told himself, pushing back the voice that told him his daughter already hated him – not because anything she'd read in the media or how scared of him she was, simply because he had misspoken words he didn't even mean.

Almost every voice in his head told him to run. Flee the scene. Run back down the stairs and out the door. Most the voices were Hydra's whispering to him. Their voices cold and mocking. They told him this mission was pointless, that he would was a monster that couldn't be loved. He had thought those voices had died along with the coding.

Finally, one voice. Bea's soft voice spoke to him.

"One chance."

All the other voices drowned out.

His hands snapped up into a fist. Attempting to stop the tremors. Bea told him he had one shot at this. One shot. He wasn't going to waste it.

With a solid knock, he wrapped on her door.

"Can I come in?" He asked quietly, gently tugging at the handle but finding something was in front of the door. He could probably force his way in if not, but slowly moved his fingers from the handle and took a step back. If she didn't want him coming in, then he would stay right out here. "it's okay if not."

"Go away!" she was crying. He could hear the waves in her voice.

One. Chance.

Brooke was mourning. He had no idea what that meant for the girl. What exactly did she need right now?

As if he was on a mission, the familiar feeling of being dosed in adrenaline took over him. He had to solve this riddle. Bucky's eyes scanned her door. Stickers of what seemed like every type of cartooned littered her doorway. It was a splash of bright colour, reaching every corner. What struck him the most, however, was the dark black board hanging loosely in the centre. A bold 'KEEP OUT' written in faded chalk – rushed it seemed, as the letters were wonky and half missing but as he dusted a finger across it, he realised it had only just been drawn.

So she wanted to be alone? He came to the conclusion, stepping back-

No – she had come downstairs as soon as Steve had arrived and willingly accepted his hug. She had wanted to be comforted. Brooke had only turned away from Steve when he had offered to let her speak her feelings out, but she hadn't wanted to speak.

Bea kept telling him how much Brooke like to talk. He'd witnessed it first hand when he first met her. It felt as if she hadn't even taken a breath, she changed topics so fast. But the first time Brooke had run to her room crying for Natasha, Bea had insisted that when Brooke was ready, she would tell her how she was feeling and come to her. Everyone expected Brooke to talk it out. To tell others how she felt-

But she had written a letter to Natasha, now buried under the flower bed in the garden, and kept it close to her chest, refusing to let anyone read it.

Bucky sat down in front of her door. Uncomfortable crossed legged in between a bannister and a laundry basket-

Brooke didn't need coddling. No hug or wiping of tears would solve Natasha's death. She didn't need him to tell her everything was going to be okay – she needed someone to tell her they understood, without her having to explain it all first.

People who were mourning didn't want to talk about how they felt. For it was too painful to admit it out loud.

"It's okay if you don't come out," he spoke through the door, getting as close as he could in the small space of the hallway, "because I know it's hard to face the people you love when you feel like they don't understand how you feel.

"You said you read about me at the Smithsonian, so you know I'm from a different time, same as Steve. I had a sister once. A Mom. A dad. Friends – lots of friends." He'd actually been popular once. "One day, after I met your mom, it suddenly dawned on me I'd never see them again."

The distant memory of his 1940's life was something he tried to drown out. The bitter memory of a life he could have led and the only cure to his sadness was Beatrice, letting him lead a better life here – and he'd almost thrown that away with a few careless words.

"I was… sad and thought that no one else would understand how I felt. I – uh, I wanted to break things, and get mad at everything just so I could feel something other than sadness…" god he hoped she was understanding what he was saying. He was glad Bea and Steve were far away downstairs as he flushed with redness from talking to a closed door that he wasn't even sure the girl sitting behind it was listening to him. "I wanted to go back in time and talk to the people I missed for five minutes so I could say goodbye. It didn't feel fair it was happening to me – or to them, that they had died. I thought of all the things I could have done differently to change it."

There was no response to the things he was saying, and he was speaking so quietly he wasn't even sure Brooke could hear him. Not even the tiniest sliver of a breath could be heard behind the door and he leant backwards, realising perhaps she did just need to be left alone. After all – Bea knew her daughter better than him.

"Are you still sad?" came a quiet voice from the other side.

He rushed to lean forward again and almost banged his head on the door, "uh- sometimes. Not as much anymore."

"What changed?"

He smiled, "Your mom. I realised that even though I had lost some people, I still had people to lose, and that I couldn't just go back and get those extra five minute with my family and say all the things I wanted - But I could say those things to the people that were still there."

Silence settled between the space. He watched carefully the shadow emitting under her door, realising its outline was her small shape hiding the other side of it. The shadow swayed and he thought he'd lost her attention or told her something she didn't want to hear.

"But it's also okay if you want to sit in your room for a while and just think," he assured her, "I'll be waiting out here if you want someone to talk to – uh… or not. It's fine if not."

God he really needed a sign to let him know if he was doing this alright.

"Also, it's fine too if you want to blame me." – please don't hate me. "if I could, I'd trade my life to get her back."

"I don't want that really. I was just mad." He had to press his ear practically to the door to hear her soft sob. "I gave Auntie Tasha a friendship b'waclet. I 'fought it would keep her safe."

"I don't think she needed to be kept safe," Bucky offered, not sure what to say but getting closer at the sound of her voice. Words weren't really his speciality. "she made the decision to do what she did on her own."

A loud sniff sounded from the other side, "I just miss her."

"I know – but she loved you."

"How'd you know?" she snapped, venom seeping back into her voice.

"Your mom says she did," he said carefully, "plus… who wouldn't love you?"

"Do you love me?"

There was a shuffle the other side of the door. The shadow moved and it gave Bucky the time to think of an answer. His heart pulsing. Did he love her? He didn't want to lie, but he barely knew the girl.

The door opened and a red puffy eyed toddler's face slowly peered around the edge of the door. Even though his heart flew at her coming out, he wished she'd go back inside so he wouldn't have to answer face to face.

With big doe eyes, she waited for his answer.

"Of course, I do," he hesitated, "you're my daughter. Course I love you."

She smiled for the first time and slowly opened the door fully. Suddenly he was tackled and arms tangled around him in. He almost tumbled backwards by the force – a five-year-old wasn't supposed to be able to do that?

"I love 'du too."

She pulled apart and a silver glint called his eye from around her neck. His dog tag hung loosely around her. He reached for it and gently took it in his hands. "You have it? I was wondering where it had gone."

"Mumma gave it to me for Christmas – do you want it back?" She went to take it off her neck but he stopped her.

"No, you keep it. I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more."

Brooke showed her teeth, smiling, and he offered her his metal hand.

"Do you feel like going downstairs and seeing your mom?"

"I dink so – can I still cry?"

"I don't see why not."

A/N

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. You didn't think I'd actually make Bucky's reunion all happy, did you? Lemme know what your favourite part of this chapter was. Also if any of you are curious, if you wanted to know who I picture playing Beatrice, it's Bethany Joy. I got a PM from someone asking about it, so thank you for that. I might change the cover for this story soon as the person on it is not who I see playing.

Badwolffor3ver: Thank you for the review! Glad you found it a cute meeting

LunaEvanna Longbottom: Not gonna lie, I decided it would be hilarious if Brooke hates pizza. I really do miss tho when this whole fic was just me celebrating food each chapter. Might go back to that soon.

Neomulder: Thank you so much for the compliment and glad you liked the chapter! There's more protective dad mode to come. Hope you enjoy this one just as much x

BuckyBarnes07: Ah love your review and glad you loved their interaction. Lemme know what you thought of this chapter.

Narnain702: ah so glad you liked it, especially the bit with the metal arm. Brooke's too curious to be scared of his arm. I'm just writing the bit with Bucky and Alex. Thanks a million for reviewing, it really helps my motivation to continue writing.

Odie.18:S that's a good point to bring up. Yes everyone is pardoned – Bucky as well, which will be brought up when they're at Tony's funeral in the next few chapters. Thank you so much for the review! Hope you're safe x

Guest: Thank you so much for the review and glad you enjoyed the chapter! Bucky and Alex show down is going to happen! Hope you enjoyed this chapter just as much

SomebodyWhoCares: Thanks for the review! And hope you're staying safe

Fede67489: Aw I'm glad it made you happy. I know most chapters I do are quite sad and dramatic so I needed some happiness for Bea, Bucky and Brooke. Lemme know what you think of this chapter

Goldenfightergirl: haha to right. Thanks so much for the review, hope you enjoy this one