CHAPTER FORTY-THREE – We Are All Returning Home
"This is ours?" Hands on hips I surveyed the farmland spread out before me and Bucky.
We'd spent days cooped up together at the apartment, enjoying each other's company and for the first time in decades making plans for a future suddenly appearing so bright and within our own hands. Our sanctuary of Wakanda created possibilities we'd never considered, and I found myself staring at a blank canvas my years of training couldn't have prepared me for.
"T'Challa thought it would be good for me, some peace and quiet, something to keep me occupied."
I frowned at him. "Do you even know anything about farming?"
"Nope," he chuckled, completely at ease in the open space bathed in morning sunlight. "Didn't you grow up in the country?"
"Compared to Brooklyn, yes, it's the country, a small town and there were farms nearby, but my father wouldn't let us play with the neighbors' dog let alone be near sheep or cows."
"Seriously?"
I shrugged. "He said he was allergic."
We looked at each other. Bucky's confidence didn't reassure my concerns, but it was nice to see him genuinely excited about something.
"I think it best we do some reading on farm animals and farming in general." I watched the small herd of what I assumed were cows graze around the edge of a circular hut in the middle of the valley.
"Maybe we can grow some of our own food?"
"How about we focus on not killing the animals first?"
He nodded in agreement, dropping his arm around my shoulders. "I know this wasn't the plan we had," he sighed. "But it's something we can build together."
"Times were different then; I hear living off the land is very on trend, helps the planet and all that." I smiled up at him. "We can call it the Barnes homestead."
He laughed as we set off down to the hill. "I forgot to mention, Steve's gonna be here sometime today."
"Oh? It just slipped your mind until now?" I teased.
"This ain't like the other times. He gets you wanted to bring your family back together –"
"Half of my family! I abandoned you and Steve."
His arm tightened around me, keeping me from pulling away. "But we're big boys, we can handle it. Michael and Stark should come before us."
"It's not just my family, it's our family. You and Steve are my family as much as Tony and Michael. We're all in this together."
"I know, but you and Steve have got this bond no one can break, not even you. He's always gonna have your back and mine, no matter what."
"Okay," I sighed into his neck, hugging him close. "When you put it like that, it's worth groveling for forgiveness."
"Just don't go forgetting you two butt heads 'cause you're alike, always gotta get mixed up in some fight."
I smiled at his weary tone, wondering how he managed Steve before the super soldier serum changed everything.
"Well no chance of that, I'm officially retired… again. I'm just Genevieve Renard, aspiring farmer."
"You're missing a Barnes in there somewhere."
"Am I?" I raised my eyebrows at him, moving away to inspect the simple hut containing a small fire pit and pile of hay I suspected was a makeshift bed.
"Gin, Steve's here."
Departing the hut, Steve approached from the hillside, a smile forming on his face as the three of us came together.
"It's good to see you, Gin."
I moved with a smile into his open embrace. "You too, Cap."
"I'm gonna go check the animals, you two play nice." Bucky's warning only made me and Steve smile as we parted.
"He always uses that tone like we're going to start a war or something."
"Or run off to one," Steve added thoughtfully, burying his hands in his jacket pockets. "He's doing good though?"
"Yeah, he seems more at peace, and I think T'Challa's got some promising ideas, this farming thing is going to be good for him."
I linked my arm with Steve's as we walked away from the hut.
"Everything's been settled with Ross, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Michael filled me in."
I glanced up at my friend, discovering the usual creases furrowing his brow. "What is it?"
"You took a big risk trusting Ross, he could've found a way to keep you locked up forever."
"I know, but my trust wasn't in him, it was in Tony and Michael," I admitted. "I didn't think Tony would ever forgive me for keeping the secrets I did, and maybe there's a part of him that'll never forgive me entirely, that's okay. But I know Tony, I know his heart. I trusted in that."
"I wish I did."
I abruptly stopped walking, pulling Steve in front of me. "He'll come around; it'll just be on his time, like always." Gently shaking his muscular arms, I drew a smile to his face. "Besides, we always figure things out, if we can so can Tony."
He nodded in agreement. "So, you and Buck are really gonna be farmers?"
"Looks that way," I chuckled at the madness of two super soldiers embracing the simple life.
"Will you miss it, being in the field?"
"I don't know."
The helpless shrug didn't match the exhilaration of a new adventure laid out before me.
"Maybe sometimes I might, but knowing I don't have to look over my shoulder wondering who's coming for me and Bucky next… I think I can relax enough to actually enjoy life."
"That would've sounded really strange coming from you a few years ago."
"Yeah, so much has changed, hasn't it? Will you stay awhile?"
"As long as I can."
I beamed, no longer feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders as we walked back to the hut.
Bucky emerged. "You two sort things?"
"Of course, my love, as stubborn as we are, we are capable of seeing reason." I smiled wrapping my arms around Bucky's waist, leaning into him.
"Good, I need a hand fixing these fences."
"I'm not even here five minutes and you're already putting me to work?" Steve grinned pulling off his jacket.
"You pitch in, and then I'll make us dinner." I promised.
"Deal!"
Bucky's face fell. "I cook for you."
"Is that what you call it?" Steve teased, side stepping Bucky's lighthearted punch.
