I woke up wrapped in the security of Bucky's arms - and wearing my nightclothes which I have to admit took a few extra beats to catch up to remembering the cause - but his lips were on mine and it didn't matter why. Nightclothes, late nights, even gunshot victims sleeping their pain meds off on our couch didn't matter - not when Bucky was kissing me awake.

"Brooke!," the tiny voice that called my name had both mine and Bucky's eyes snapping open and widening. "Buck kissed you up like Rora in Sleepin' Beauty." And then a round of toddler giggles that had both of us pulling away with what I had to think was a silent prayer of gratitude for our fucking nightclothes.

There, with her tiny chin propped on Bucky's side of our bed and her dark eyes staring up at us, was Bryn. And now that we were WIDE awake, I could hear voices downstairs - and if I wasn't completely fucking insane - I was hearing MORE than just Connie and Sharon's.

While I kept Bryn occupied, Bucky slid out of my side of the bed. A three year old does NOT need to see what Bucky Barnes is packing early in the morning, trust me. I pulled her up into the bed with me and grabbed the remote to the TV.

"What do you want to watch?" After putting it on her favorite early morning cartoon, I settled back against the headboard and smiled when I realized that Byrn had compared Bucky to a prince. "Bryn?" She hummed and I slid my fingers through her loose curls. "What's the prince's name in Sleeping Beauty?"

"Phillip." It didn't come from Bryn. It came from the doorway and a very masculine voice. I glanced over to where Bucky stood, fully dressed now and I grinned with a raised eyebrow. "What? She told me while we were talking about her dolls and our tea party."

I nodded and he came over to join us. "Did you do any recon?" He snorted. "What would you call it? Super sneaky Winter Soldier ninja snooping?"

Shaking his head, he kissed me again. "I did." He sighed. "Sam, Chris, Carrie, Connie, and Sharon." I knew my eyes were wide enough to be in threat of falling out of my head, but for fuck's sake. "Come on, Bryn," he held out his arms and she hopped up and jumped into them. "Let's go downstairs and see if we can get some breakfast ready for Brooke while she gets ready for the day."

I contemplated staying in bed. Our house had been invaded - and while I'd sworn that I'd answer my phone and door, I hadn't been given the OPTION of answering - they'd just barged right the fuck in. Giving myself about five minutes to stew and wallow, I finally rolled out of bed and grabbed some clothes to toss on. A stop in the bathroom to brush my hair and my teeth and then downstairs to meet the invaders.

They were in the kitchen - ALL of them. Gathered around the table and island, watching as Bucky worked on another omelet - omelets I corrected as I came in and moved closer to him. Sam was drinking coffee, and I almost asked where he'd gotten it since he was drinking out of one of my mugs, but then I noticed that someone had started up my parents' coffee maker. I hadn't tossed it out, of course I also didn't buy coffee for it - Connie shook her head and nodded toward the bags of groceries that she'd clearly put away before we woke up.

"Morning," I greeted our guests, "everyone." Started strong, but the landing left something to be desired. "To what do we owe this -"

"Well," Connie came over and wrapped her arm around my neck. "I knew that you probably hadn't had a chance to go shopping for groceries since you got back." Whispering very quietly in my ear that she knew exactly WHY I hadn't and she APPROVED of why. "I thought I'd do a run while Bryn and I were out -"

"We saw how much she grabbed and -" Chris volunteered, grins growing. Such good samaritans and great friends. "We couldn't let her struggle. She had her own stuff, yours, AND Bryn."

Carried piped up, "we stopped by her house and dropped hers off first. When we got here, Sam had just arrived." She was beaming - and why not? She just met the new Captain America, after all.

"Since I have a key for emergencies," Connie finished the tale with a shrug.

I nodded. "You have a key for emergencies and groceries are an emergency." Bucky's shoulders were shaking, and I knew he was enjoying this shit immensely. "And letting Captain America in - I mean, I'm sure he made it sound like it was an emergency."

Sam was taking a drink when I said it and he snorted, spewing coffee just a bit. "Don't make it sound like I was being all sneaky or something, Brooke." He sputtered.

I raised an eyebrow and reached for one of my tea towels. Tossing it to him, I waited while he cleaned up. "It's broad daylight, I highly doubt you were being sneaky, Sam." He nodded. "So?"

"So?" Confusion glowed on his face.

"The reason for your visit?"

"Ah," I shook my head as realization dawned on his face. "Sarah -" shit the print, but he went on. "She and I wanted to invite you and Bucky to a celebration back home."

They were planning on a huge party in Delacroix - and for good reason - hometown boy makes VERY good. And now that they weren't selling the boat, or house, I could see why they'd want to have a party. Bucky glanced at me over his shoulder, wanting my input on whether we should go or not, but in this instance the ball was in his court.

"Yeah," Bucky agreed, plating our breakfast - for all eight of us - and lining them up on the island for us to carry into the dining room. "We'll drive down."

"Drive?" Sam was curious, carrying his plate and refilled cup of coffee into the dining room. "Renting a car instead of flying?"

We settled around the table and I shook my head when Bucky moved to sit at one of the sides. "Head, Bucky." His eyes went wide, but I stood firm. OUR house, and he was the man of it. Everyone waited to tuck in until he sat, and then I took my seat. "Yes, drive, Sam." I smiled across the table at Bucky, who was staring at me like he was amazed by me again. "We like to take our time - Bucky and me." That got a few chuckles, but then everyone took a bite of their food and suddenly no one was laughing - because once again they were surprised by Bucky Barnes.

Our guests didn't stay too long. Bryn understood that it wasn't the day for our tea party, since she hadn't brought along any princesses for it. I watched as Bucky got down on his knee to have a long conversation with her - privately, they told the rest of us, and I smiled when she hugged him tight at the end of it.

"I think Bucky has a fan," Sam was beside me, watching Bryn with Bucky. "Seeing him like this -"

I felt my smile growing. I loved hearing anyone's tone change to reflect them seeing him in a new light. "You think this is the Bucky that Steve knew, don't you?" He hummed an affirmative. "It is," I bit my lip as Buck turned, his gaze meeting mine. "He's always been there, Sam. Just took him a little longer to surface than he expected." Bucky came closer to include me in Bryn's goodbye hug, and got me to promise her that sleepover too, despite my misgivings. A kiss to her soft cheek and she was handed off to Connie.

"We'll let you two get back to -" I rolled my eyes as Connie waggled her eyes in her attempt at being suggestive. "Bye, Brookie." She was grinning when she gave Bucky his own parting, then Chris and Carrie gave us a less gregarious, but no less friendly goodbye, leaving just Sharon and Sam behind.

"And then there were two," I murmured, getting a chuckle from Bucky, coupled with a soft sigh.

"I heard that," Sam offered, carrying a stack of dirty dishes to the kitchen and shooting Sharon a dirty look when she hissed while she tried to grab some to help. "Sit your wounded ass down."

She glared at him, but with a hand on her side, complied. "Hey," I got her attention and tilted my head toward the hall bathroom. "Want me to have a peek at your bandage?"

"Do you have -" she bit her lip, and I nearly laughed at her conundrum. Does she insult me by asking if I have first aid experience after I gave her clothing and a roof over her head or does she humor me?

"I took some classes," I assured her. "My parents liked to make sure all the bases were covered." Helping her carefully to her feet, I got her to the bathroom where one of the many family first aid kits lived. Opening it up and setting it on the countertop, I saw her eyes widen. "I told you - my parents liked to keep the bases covered." Our first aid kits weren't something you bought at a local pharmacy or online. "Mom was an RN," I gestured for her to take her place on the toilet seat again. "She made sure to keep me up to date on my safety classes." Every CPR class, first aid requirement, and anything else she imagined a layperson might need - she signed me up for. I helped Sharon with the loose shirt Bucky had grabbed out of my drawer, and smiled at the wrapping the ER had put on her wound. "Good news," I bent down and took a closer look. "You haven't started bleeding through the packing and wraps, so I don't have to rewrap you." She sighed and I chuckled. "Damn it," I glanced up to see her looking down at me wearily. "I kind of hoped to use you for practice."

She shook her head and a tiny smile threatened to creep onto her lips. "It hurts like hell though." She started to pull the shirt back into place. "Gonna make getting back on the road a trial," I was just opening my mouth to tell her she didn't have to rush when she stopped me. "Thank you, Brooke, for your and Bucky's generosity and hospitality, but trust me, I should go - and soon."

I nodded, standing up to help her to her feet. She was taller than me, just like every other person in my life. "Take my number," I watched as she pulled a phone from her pocket and I rattled off the number while she tapped it into the contacts. "If you need me or us -"

"Thank you," she smiled, a small one, but I thought it might be genuine. "Steve would have liked you."

"So I've heard," I shook my head and put the first aid kit away. "Do you need another change of clothes?" Sharon wouldn't hear of taking more from me, and insisted that she had a car coming to take her away. "If you're sure -"

"I am." We left the bathroom to the sounds of Bucky and Sam in the kitchen, soft music not hiding the sounds of them bickering over how to fill the dishwasher. "You're going to have your hands full."

"Yeah, I do," I agreed, shaking my head as I listened to the two of them, their back and forth, and thinking that they sounded more and more like brothers. "I think they're getting more -"

"Partners," Sharon nodded. "They're a team now."

"Scary." I heard a soft knock on the door and Bucky's head appeared in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room. "I think -"

"It's for me," Sharon offered, hand back on her wound. "Time for me to go."

"You sure?" It was Sam who asked, coming up on Bucky's left, arms crossed over his chest. "You could stay, I could always -"

"I think you're making enough waves, Cap." I bit my lip at Sharon using the nickname so soon. "I can wait for my pardon." She was moving toward the living room, with me behind her in case she stumbled. "I'll just grab my small pile of stuff and be out of your way." She grabbed her clothes - the ones she'd changed out of and turned to find me waiting at a close distance. "Hovering? That's a very Steve Rogers trait, Brooke." I rolled my eyes. "I'll be fine," she assured me, moving her hand from the bandaged side and sighing. "Keep those two out of trouble."

"Yeah, right." I muttered, opening my arms, thinking what the hell - a hug was warranted. She allowed it, awkward though it was. "Stay safe, Sharon."

"I'll try." She murmured. "You too, ok?"

I nodded and then she pulled away. I busied myself with the living room while she said her goodbyes to Sam and Bucky, thinking that less was more in the case of Sharon Carter leaving our house. I had just folded up the blanket and put it with the pillow when I heard the front door open and close.

"And then there was one," Bucky murmured, wrapping his arms around me. "What do you think the chances are that Sam goes home to prepare for the celebration and lets us follow behind?"

"Slim and none," Sam offered, leaning against the archway between the living room and the entryway. "Sarah doesn't need me to plan a party, and I have a couple loose ends to tie up here in NYC, so -"

"Don't put away the blanket and pillow, Brooke," Bucky kissed my cheek. "The couch has a new guest."