Bucky had decided not to tell Sam about the true reason they were going – he would keep it to himself until he could verify the existence of this "Rebecca Travis", after all it was a very personal matter that he had yet to discuss with him.
They entered the building, and were immediately greeted at reception by the company's smiley CEO Mr. Shaw, and a few other high-ranking employees. Sam was very friendly with them, as per usual, shaking their hands, while Bucky hung back slightly, hands firmly by his sides. When Mr Shaw looked at him, he forced a smile, and then immediately wished he hadn't. Mr Shaw took them up a lift, where they entered a busy office space, that smelled distinctly of office supplies, and was filled with sound of soft footsteps, the clicking of keyboards and the shuffling of papers. They went to a meeting room, where they sat down at a long, white and pristine table. Mr Shaw then explained, which he did while pointing at a large whiteboard at the other end of the room, the meaning of their meeting, and the hopes he had of what would be accomplished by working with the two of them. After this, he explained that he wanted to discuss the matter privately with each of them, so they could establish what way would work best for each of them. Sam volunteered to go first. Meanwhile, Bucky could explore the offices outside if he wanted.
Bucky left the room, and found somewhere to sit. In truth, he hadn't absorbed much of what Shaw had said, as his mind was too wrapped up in the possibility of actually being part of his own family again. Of course, he had Sam's family, but he needed to have his own life outside of Sam and the Avengers too. The last time he saw a member of his family was in 1943, and it was his sister, Rebecca, who was only thirteen at the time. Since then, she had lived a whole life without him, and now she was gone forever. As for his parents, they had died before the war had even started. He could hardly remember them now. But he could remember Rebecca. Poor, young, sweet Rebecca. He only wished that he had taken more time to get to know her, but the war had consumed him, and taken him from everything he ever loved.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt you, but are you Bucky Barnes?"
Bucky looked up and to his right to the source of the voice. It was a young woman in her 20's. She had shoulder-length brown hair, with highlights, and greyish-blue eyes. She was standing a few feet away, and she looked like an employee.
"I am, yes, who are you?"
"I'm Rebecca." She smiled hesitantly and stepped slightly forward.
"Rebecca Travis?"
"So, he told you about me? Dr Strange, I mean. He tried to contact me, but I wanted to meet you in person."
Bucky stood up. "You knew I'd come?"
"I hoped so. Do you shake hands?"
Bucky gave her his right hand to shake. "I thought all my family was dead." Bucky said, in disbelief.
"Well, someone's been lying to you."
"Yeah, the Government. Not that I'm that surprised."
"Yes, they like to do that, unfortunately. I'm sorry we couldn't have met sooner." She smiled sadly. "I never thought I'd actually get to meet you. My grandmother told me so many good things about you." She said, a nervous inflection in her voice.
"It's good to meet you too, Rebecca."
"Oh, it's Becca, by the way. Everyone calls me Becca."
"Becca, then." Bucky nodded.
A woman appeared behind them. "Mr Barnes, you are needed."
"Alright, thanks." Bucky replied.
"Looks like you gotta go. " Becca said.
"Yep, looks like it."
"Here," Becca said, taking a note from her pocket. "Take this, it's my contact details. Let's stay in touch."
"Thanks," Bucky said, "I appreciate it." Bucky sighed. "Well, I'm sorry we couldn't have talked longer. I'll get in touch as soon as I can, just gotta deal with," He motioned with his hand, "Whatever this is."
"See you soon, then."
"Hope so."
Next Scene
Sitting across from Mr Shaw in his neatly-decorated office, Bucky leaned back comfortably against the blue office chair.
"Mr Barnes," Mr Shaw began.
"Please, just call me Bucky." Bucky said, folding his arms.
"Bucky, well, I believe that it is important that we discuss your development as a member of the Avengers team for the future."
"I'm not an Avenger."
"Perhaps not officially, but you were at the Avengers meeting yesterday, as I have been informed?"
Bucky sighed. "Well, they asked me to come and I couldn't exactly say no, could I?"
"Mr Bar- Bucky, whether you think of yourself as an Avenger or not, you can't deny that you have a certain image that you need to uphold as the others do."
"What image?"
"The image of you as a hero, which believe it or not exists. And it didn't seem to me that you have any intention of retiring, unless I am assuming wrong?"
Bucky looked down at his hands, and thought about it. "No, I don't want to retire, I just want a bit of a break, just to step back a bit from the action. I'm barely holding it together as it is."
"I thought you went through some therapy."
"I did, but – that's the first step. I still have a long way to go."
"How much do you think your recovery will impact things going forward?"
"Maybe a lot, maybe a little, I don't exactly know yet." Bucky replied hesitantly. "Does it matter?"
"If it didn't at all matter, I wouldn't have asked you. Besides, there's something else I want to focus on."
Next scene
"So, what'd he talk to you about?" Sam asked on the drive back.
"You first." Bucky replied without thinking.
"Okay then, we talked about how I need to present myself to the public in the upcoming months, so that people can learn to accept that I'm Captain America, not John Walker."
"Thank the heavens for that." Bucky quickly added.
Sam smirked. "Uh-huh. Anyway, now it's all about official stuff, rallies, parades, posters, even merchandise; it's all about winning public support. Which won't be hard, since people already know who I am, so I can be less of a show-off. Not that I was planning on it anyway. They're giving me a team of people to manage all that." Sam said, then turned to Bucky. "Your turn now."
"It was – something about changing the public's perception of me, by assuming a new moniker, and a new outfit, among other things."
"And what's the new moniker?"
"White Wolf, what the Wakandans calls me. I don't know if I want to use it here though."
"I'm sure you'll come up with something else."
"Maybe, but I don't have time to get involved with whatever plans they have for me right now."
"Why? You're busy with something you haven't told me about?"
Bucky stared out the passenger window. "You remember I mentioned my sister had passed away?"
"Yeah, I do, you said you didn't want to talk about it."
"Well, now I do, because I thought she was my only relative. Turns out, the truth's been hidden from me. I have a living nephew, and a living niece who lives right here in New York. And I just spoke to her."
"Bucky, that's amazing, I'm happy for you, man. Was she nice? What's her name?"
"Becca, and yeah, she seems nice. I've got her phone number, maybe we can have ourselves a little family reunion soon."
"Well all I can say is good luck, and that it's not at all awkward."
"I don't think it will be, she seemed really excited to meet me. I don't think I've ever met someone who's already that much of a fan. If anything, this whole thing's gonna be pretty overwhelming, although that's something I'm used to."
Next Scene
Later that same day, Bucky called Becca on his mobile.
"Is this Becca?"
"That's right. Thanks for calling, Bucky."
"No problem. I was wondering when and where we might be able to meet?"
"I was thinking that too, and I thought the best place would probably be the Ranch."
"What's that?"
"It's my inheritance, this big ranch. My grandmother saved up all her money and bought it, then my mother grew up in it, and now it belongs to me."
"You don't live there, do you?"
"Oh no, it's way too far from where I work. It's kinda just where I hang out with my friends, sometimes. It's very atmospheric, and quiet, peaceful. I like that, let's me gather all my thoughts together properly."
"Sounds like a place I could use. Can you send me its coordinates?"
"Uh, yes, give me a second. *gives coordinates* You got that?"
"I do. Thanks." Bucky replied. "Are you free tomorrow?"
"Basically. I mean, yes." Becca answered haphazardly.
"You're sure?"
"Of course."
"What time then?"
"Anytime is fine, but let's say, roughly the morning."
"Good. Well, I can't wait to see you."
"Ditto. There are so many things I have to tell you, and show you. Life has been crazy during the Blip."
"Wait, you survived the Blip?"
"I did, that's why I'm so excited to show you this place. So much has happened since everyone disappeared and came back. Those were some scary years."
"I'm here now, and this time I'm not going to disappear."
"Good to hear." Becca said, with a laugh. "I guess see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow it is then. Bye Becca."