Bucky walked a few steps behind Annie as they made their way to her apartment door. He waited as she found her keys before realizing that he was the last person to close her door, and he hadn't locked it. He was honestly surprised he'd closed it at all. Bucky reached around her and turned the knob.

Annie gave him a puzzled look before he explained the events of the previous night as they went inside. He looked so lost as he told her of the phone call he'd received while standing in her home.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into my mess of a life," she whispered.

"I'm not," he answered confidently.

She just shrugged before walking into her bedroom. Whatever was left to say between them would have to wait. She was physically and mentally exhausted. Her head hit the pillow and soon she was deep asleep. Bucky stayed and napped off and on on the couch. A few hours later the smell of coffee woke him.

He sat up and stretched before coming into the kitchen to find Annie pouring herself a cup of the strong black liquid.

"You're still here," she said flatly.

"I am." He propped his hip against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. "I wanted to make sure you were okay. Plus, we have some unfinished business, don't you think?"

"Such as?" She turned her back to him.

Bucky sighed, frustrated, "I'm trying to apologize. To tell you how much of an idiot I was," He stared at her back. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly.

He came up close behind her. "I had no right to say any of those things to you. I was just...shocked. Still, that's no excuse. I don't know if you'll ever forgive me. And I don't know if what we were building together is gone, but I promise I'm going to be there for this baby. If you let me...if you want someone like me around..."

He touched her elbow, and she slowly turned around into his embrace. The arms she'd come to know so well wrapped themselves around her and held her close. She breathed deeply the scent of him as her head lay against his chest. He hooked a gentle finger under her chin and brought her gaze up to his. She closed the small distance between them and planted a sweet kiss against his lips.

"I love you. You know that, right?" He whispered.

"I do now," Annie stared into his eyes. For all his bravado she could see the little boy lost inside him. The fear of failing. The fear of never living up.

"What are you really afraid of?" she asked.

He held her close, "Losing you. What I'm involved in is dangerous. They've already threatened Sam's sister. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you. And now...our baby." His hand lightly brushed across her belly. "I'm no good for you, honestly. I knew it from the start. I should have walked away when I had the chance...to protect you, but I was too selfish. I wanted you." He sighed, "And now I'd never leave you, but it's more dangerous than ever."

"We will be fine. Whatever if coming you'll handle it," she touched his cheek, "I believe in you, Bucky Barnes."

That night Bucky fell asleep with his arms wrapped around the woman he loved, and his hand rested gingerly on her belly. There was a baby in there. A child he helped make. Heck, he wasn't even sure he would be able to have children before now. After all his body had endured over the years, it just didn't seem plausible. Truth be told it wasn't something he'd actually given much thought.

Until now. Now he had Annie and their baby. Leverage for anyone to use against him. The sooner this business with the Flagsmashers was over the better. He rested that night not knowing how soon he'd get his wish.

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