I couldn't believe Shuri told me I had developed a split personality! And the Asset could come out again? I didn't think that the dark voice in my head could actually be him but it makes sense in some way. I had been him for so long that of course a part of him would stay, even with those stupid words gone. He could have hurt Emi!

'No.' I sat up.

'What was that?' I looked over at Nik but she was asleep. I was supposed to be asleep too but I couldn't get my brain to slow down enough to relax.

'I would never hurt the little spider.' I flung myself off the bed and ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I splashed some cold water in my face and looked at my reflection. The dark circles under my eyes were really prominent tonight.

"What the fuck." I whispered to myself. I was the weirdest thing but I swear my reflection was no longer me. I watched my eyes darken and my expression become more serious but also with no emotion. "Asset?" My reflection just nodded. "How?"

"You need me still."

"No. I tried to get rid of you." I whispered harshly. "I tried to get rid of you to protct my family. You've already hurt my wife. You could seriously injure or kill my kids. I can't trust you."

"I didn't know who she was. It was strange being back. The little spider told me of Tanner, Jamie, and Jocey."

"Her name is Emi. She's not a little spider. Natalia and I aren't training her like that." The Asset lifted an eyebrow at me.

"She is skilled for one so young. I would like to see Tanner in training."

"You're here to stay." He nodded again. "Can I trust you? With my family?"

"Are they not my family as well? We are the same."

"No. We're not. You're a weapon. For HYDRA."

"I am a weapon for whoever is in control of me. I have no command words so I have no handler. I have no mission."

"Protecting my family.. can that be your mission?" His dark eyes were skeptical. "If you're going to be here, I need to know that I can trust you with the things that I love. Or I'm locking us up and throwing away the key. Even Emi won't be able to visit."

"Protect the family." He nodded. "That is my mission." I spent a few more minutes standing at the sink in the bathroom showing my reflection pictures of Nik and the kids and then of everyone on my team. Even Peter. Anyone I might go on mission with. The Asset agreed to protect them. I would have to talk to someone. A shrink. How does one go about living with someone else inside their head?

Knock knock.

"Bucky?" I whirled around and was shocked to see Nik standing inside the bathroom. I guess when I left to get pictures, I forgot to lock the door again. Nik gasped and took a step back. I turned fully towards her.

"What's wrong?"

"You.. you weren't Bucky for a second."

"I'm sorry. We were… talking."

"You were talking to him?"

"I gave him a mission. And he agreed to it."

"What mission?"

"Protect you guys. If he ever comes out again, he won't hurt you." Nik walked over and wrapped her arms around me. I did the same and then buried my face in her hair. She smelled of oatmeal cookies.

"Can we trust him?"

"I don't know yet. But I think so. I want to trust him. I mean, he was me for years." I felt her nod before I lifted her up and carried her back to bed.

*One week later*

Nik and Emi were walking down the streets of New York having mommy-me time shopping for a daddy/daughter dance. Bucky had heard about it and insisted on taking Emi. He felt like it was the only proper way to thank her since she unscrambled his brain! They had already been in 3 stores but couldn't find the perfect dress. They did find a tiara though! And Bucky said to get his little princess anything she wanted! Nik was just texting Bucky a picture of said tiara, laughing at something Emi said, when she heard her name. She looked up and any happiness previously shown on her face disappeared. Panic flooded her chest as she stared into a pair of emerald eyes. Nik pulled her daughter behind her, hitting the call button on the previously open text screen. She knew the moment he answered, felt the phone stop vibrating.

"What a surprise Nichole! Seeing you here of all places!"

"Paul. What're you doing here?" The flashbacks were almost as painful as the real thing. The broken nose. The broken ribs and hand. The black eye. Trying to console her son who was crying for her. The feeling of 'this is my fault! If I'd just done better!' She saw his eyes drift to the little girl peaking around her back.

"I was just in town for a convention. Who's this?"

"No one." At the same time, Emi walked around her mother to stand in front of the man.

"I'm Emi." She offered her tiny hand to him. He knelt down to be eye level with her and shook her hand.

"Well, hi Emi. It's nice to meet you! How old are you?"

"I'll be six soon!"

"Really! And might I say, those are some beautiful eyes you have." He looked up at Nik and gave her a look that she interpreted as 'I can do math and those are my eyes.' She gulped. She felt the phone in her hand vibrate like Bucky was talking but she didn't know what he was saying.

"Emi, come here. We have to go."

"Now Nichole, I just want to talk! Can I get you a coffee?"

"No."

"I've gotten help Nikki. After you left, I got help. I was diagnosed with bipolar and manic depression. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry I did!" She just nodded but couldn't shake the panic. She needed to get away from him! She needed him away from her daughter.

"We really need to go." She grabbed Emi's hand and started to walk away. Nik put the phone to her ear but her shoulder was grabbed before she could say anything. With the phone closer to her face, she could just make out Bucky saying he was almost there.

"Nichole. Do not turn your back on me!" She looked at Paul and saw fury in his eyes. The same fury that always brought her pain.

"Winter…" The phone was smacked out of her hand, shattering on the ground, before she could finish the rest of the safe word. She only hoped Bucky heard it and hurried.

"I know that's my kid Nikki. You kept my daughter from me?"

"No. She has a dad. It's not you!"

"I'm her dad."

"No, you're not." Emi said, having picked up the bigger pieces of phone. "My daddy is at home. He's taking me to a dance!"

"You let someone else claim my daughter? Without my consent? How could you Nikki? You ran away from me without telling me you were pregnant! We had something special! We were going to get married!"

"I ran away after you broke my hand for not having dinner ready! You hit me! You're a monster!"

"Don't say that about me baby. Not in front of my daughter."

"She's not yours!"

"Yes, she is!" He was mad. She needed to get them away from him. Before she could stop him, he picked up Emi, none too gently either.

"No!"

"Put me down!" Emi cried out.

"I'll be taking her with me. Spend some time with my kid." He smacked Nik across the face sending her sprawling onto the floor. "That's for running away." He kicked her in the stomach. "And that's for keeping my kid from me."

"Hey! Fucker! Put my daughter down and step away from her and my wife!" Nik and Paul looked up to see Bucky walking across the street towards them. Bucky and Paul were about the same height but Bucky was far more muscular. When Nik was with him, Paul had been a mechanic. He was strong, sure, but he was thin. Paul looked down at Nik and scoffed.

"You married some body builder? Let some steroid junkie raise my daughter?"

"Daddy!" Paul put a hand over Emi's mouth.

"Quiet! I'll teach you manners later." He looked up and Bucky was standing inches from him.

"I said to put my daughter down." He whispered dangerously. Nik had never seen Bucky this angry and it actually kind of scared her. Even the Winter Solider had never been this angry. Paul backed up a step and swung at Bucky, Emi still slung over his shoulder. Bucky caught the man's punch with his metal hand and squeezed just hard enough to cause pain. The man hissed and dropped the little girl. She landed on her feet and clutched her dad's leg.

"Idi k mame." (Go to your mom.) Bucky said to Emi but didn't take his eyes off of Paul. She did as she was told. Nik had managed to sit up against the wall and wrapped her arms around Emi. She buried Emi's face into her own shoulder and wrapped herself around the small child.

"You're teaching my kid Russian? You have a metal hand? What kind of freak are you?" Paul asked, tears in his eyes from the pain in his hand. Bucky just pulled the man closer.

"Nik and I teach our daughter whatever we want. And you are not her father." Bucky whispered. "It's my name on her birth certificate. My last name she carries. You may have had a hand in creating her but I have raised her. She's my daughter. If I ever see you around her or raise a hand to my wife again, I'll kill you. And it'll look like a fucking accident. Do you understand me?"

"Yes." Paul squeaked. Bucky released his hand and he ran off. Bucky turned to Nik and saw her sitting on the ground clutching Emi to her and starring at him with fear in her eyes. His anger couldn't go away, not when he could see the bruise forming on her face where she was struck. He could feel the Asset begging to be let out to hunt down the man who hit what was his. He took a step toward her but froze when she flinched. He knew that look. That was the face of someone having a flashback. A flashback filled with pain. He raised his hands to show her he meant her no harm and slowly dropped to his knees in front of her. The Asset was quiet now and Bucky could feel all the anger melt away.

"Nik, baby girl, it's me. It's Bucky. You know I would never willingly hurt you. You know that, right?" It took a heartbeat before she started crying. He pulled her into him, hugging her tight to his chest, Emi's hand clutched in his. "You're okay baby girl. You're okay now. I won't let him anywhere near my girls again. He stood up, standing her up but holding her close to his side. Emi was sitting on his hip. Carefully he walked his family, and their shopping bags, to one of Tony's sports cars. Tony wasn't going to be happy! Oh well! Nik silently cried the entire car ride home. Emi was only too happy to take her tiara out to show Aunt Natalia as soon as the car was placed in park. Bucky just picked Nik up and carried her into the compound and to their apartment. The only thing he knew to do was hold her close.

"How did he find us?" Nik whispered.

"I don't know. But he won't come around you again. If he does, he won't survive. I promise you." She nodded.

"Where's Emi?" Nik whispered as Bucky held her to him on their bed.

"She's with Natalia. She's fine. I promise."

"What if she hates me for keeping them apart? What if she wants to know him?"

"Didn't you hear her? She told him he wasn't her dad. He may have helped create her but Emi is my daughter. Tanner is my son. You're all my family. Mine to protect." He let out a small chuckle. "Even the Asset wanted out to protect you from him."

"He did?"

"Absolutely."

"Sargent Barnes, Ms. Romanoff needs to speak to you in the lobby." FRIDAY spoke up.

"Is it urgent? I'm busy."

"She says it's a matter of security." Bucky sighed before pulling away from Nik.

"I'll be right there." He kissed Nik before walking out the door again to find the woman he thought of as a sister. He found her in the lobby standing with her arms crossed. He could tell she was furious.

"Natal'ya."

"Chto sluchilos' s Emi i Nikom?" (What happened with Emi and Nik?).

"Ikh nashla byvshaya. On udaril Nika i sobiralsya uyti s Emi." (Her ex found them. He hit Nik and was planning on leaving with Emi.)

"I on yeshche zhiv?" (And he's still alive?) She was getting more agitated.

"Yesli ya snova uvizhu yego gde-nibud' ryadom s nimi, on dolgo ne prozhivet." (If I see him anywhere near them again he won't be alive much longer.)

"Mogu li ya pomoch'?" (Can I help?)

"Konechno sestra." (Of course sister.) Nat wrapped her arms around Bucky and kissed his cheek. He knew that Nat was very attached to Nik and the kids. They were as much family to Nat as they were to him! And if the Avengers did nothing else, they protected their family. Everyone in this building were all family.

For the next few days, Nik was very hesitant about leaving the compound or the upper levels! And she was constantly keeping tabs on where Emi was. After Tony found out what happened, he had FRIDAY look up the man in question and have facial recognition constantly scanning the areas around the compound for him. Paul was coming nowhere within a mile of Emi or Nik ever again. It was finally the night of the dance and Nik was a nervous wreck. Bucky and Emi would have to leave the safety of the compound! Bucky was pulling his suit out of the closet and could see Nik sitting on the bed.

"Do you want us to stay here?" He asked her. She looked up quickly.

"No! She's really been looking forward to this dance! I'm just nervous." He knelt down in front of her.

"She's going to be okay. She's not leaving my sight tonight and if I feel off about anything we will leave. I promise."

"Okay." Nik kissed him on the forehead before leaving the room. She had left Emi in the tub. An hour and a half later, she was taking pictures of Bucky, looking as handsome in his suit as the day they got married, and Emi, looking as pretty as a princess in her baby blue baby doll dress and silver tiara. Her hair was in perfect ringlets down her back. Her tiara was slightly sown into her hair so it wasn't going anywhere. Nik kissed them both and waved as she watched them walk hand in hand down the hall.

"Mom?" She turned around and smiled at Tanner. He had grown so much in the time she knew Bucky. It was amazing.

"Hi honey."

"I've got the turds if you want to go to the roof. I know you like going up there when you're stressed and I know he stresses you out more than anything."

"What are you talking about honey? Who?"

"Paul. I heard you and dad talking." He looked down at his feet. "I remember what he did to you. Not well, but I remember he hurt you a lot. I remember being angry that I couldn't stop him." Nik pulled Tanner into a hug. It was weird being able to easily rest her cheek on her son's head!

"I didn't know you remembered or heard me. I'm so sorry honey!"

"You have nothing to be sorry for mom. Now you go to the roof and chill. I've got these two and dad's got Emi!" He looked up at her and smiled. "And I have my paintball gun fully loaded." Nik laughed before kissing her son's cheek. She walked back into the apartment for her sweater and slippers before going up to the roof. Tanner was right. There was something so calming about being up there. Sitting on the edge of the roof and feeling the breeze. For her, it was far more relaxing that anything she's ever tried. Nat had ballet. Steve had painting. Tony had tinkering. Nik had heights. She wasn't sure how long her was up there before someone was sitting next to her. She looked over and smiled at Tony.

"I don't understand your fascination with sitting up here."

"And you probably never will." She bumped her shoulder into his. She noticed his expression. He was nervous about something. "What's wrong?"

"How do you… do… kids?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, how do you know if you will be a good parent when you never had a good parent yourself?"

"You just have to be the kind of parent that you wish you had! Why? What's going on?" She was turned toward him while he was still facing out.

"Pepper's pregnant."

"Tony! That's wonderful!" Nik exclaimed! Tony just half smiled before turning to her.

"I'm scared." She grabbed his hands.

"Tony, you will be an amazing dad. I've seen you with Tanner."

"Yeah, but he's not a baby. Even when Pep and I watched Emi or the twins, I didn't really do much. I don't want to break em! I'm worried that I'll ruin this child." Nik just shook her head.

"Babies don't break very easily. And your baby will be different from mine." He raised his eyebrow. "It'll be yours. Your baby. Not your nieces or nephews. And you'll have Pepper and me to help you. And Tanner. You know he kicked me out? Told me to come up here? He's the best big brother ever and he'll be an amazing cousin!"

"Thanks Nik! You really think I'm not going to screw up this dad thing?"

"Oh, you'll screw it up!" She laughed at his shocked expression. "It's our job as parents to screw it up! The best we can do is teach our kids everything we know and just hope they turn into semi-decent adults. They'll hate us and think we suck from time to time but as long as they know we love them then we've done our job!"

"I'm going to be a dad!" Nik and Tony just sat and laughed for a minute before they both headed back inside.