Summary: A year after the civil war, The Avengers are still divided with friendships broken and loyalties torn when they are sent to find a powerful young woman whose life has been destroyed by HYDRA. While Bucky seeks redemption, Martine seeks to get revenge on the people who murdered her grandmother. Co – Written with WalkingPotterGirl14. Bucky/OC, Wanda/OC, Clint/Natasha and Steve/Sharon. Rated M.

Divided We Fall

Chapter 23

Bucky chuckles and runs a hand through his hair. "Yeah, a little. But I know he'll get be a great husband to her." She looks over and smiles before taking off her shirt. He watches her change into a nightgown, before biting his lip.

He glances down at the sweatpants and places them on, changing quickly. As she sat down on the edge of the bed to run a brush through her hair, he pulls her down so that she was underneath him. Surprised, she giggles, but he silences her with a kiss.

She smiles against his lips and wraps an arm around him, as he kissed her passionately. Her hands moved to tangle in his messy hair, and felt it run through her fingers. A moment later, he pulls back runs a hand across her cheek.

"What was that for?" she asks softly.

Bucky sighs, looking away. "I just...I really care about you, sweetheart. A lot." She smiles a bit and leans up, looking at him. He had a nervous look on his face. "I just don't want to fuck this up."

"Baby, you won't," she instantly says, cupping his face. Martine leans in and kisses him softly, before pulling away and nuzzling her nose against his. "You aren't going to fuck anything up. You're right here and nothing bad is going to happen."

Bucky nods and looks down at the ground, before sighing. "Yeah...yeah, you're right."

She smiles and lays down. "Now, c'mere. I wanna be warm." Bucky smiles a bit and lays down, taking her into his arms. She easily snuggled against him, head on his chest, and falls asleep almost instantly.

Bucky pushes her hair back and kisses her forehead, before closing his eyes. He needed to move on from his fears and just cherish the time he had with her. Who knew when it would end? The world was fucking unpredictable nowadays.

Over the next couple of days, Bucky felt himself becoming more nervous at visiting his sister, but he knew it had to be done. So when Martine had gone out with the girls to go and get some more stuff done for the wedding, he decided to visit Rebecca.

It was a small nursing home, deep in the middle of Manhattan, but he was there none the less. He went inside, asked to see Rebecca, and was shown to a room where she was watching TV in her bed.

"Becky?" he calls out softly. The woman had grey hair, but that same smile he remembered from years before.

She looks over, a look of confusion on her face for a moment, and he almost thought she forgot about him. But then it brightens, and she cries out.

"Jamie!" Bucky let's out a breath of relief and walks over, hugging his younger-or older, technically-sister's body tightly. When he pulls away, she was still smiling. "It's been so long. Oh, I've missed you so much, Jamie."

"I missed you too," he says quietly, leaning back. "It has been too long, but it's not going to be like that anymore. I'm sorry for never being there for you, Becky. I swear, I'm always going to be here for you now."

Rebecca rests a hand on his cheek. "Don't worry about the past, Bucky. Worry about now," she says softly. "I'm happy to see you here, smiling. No one with you?"

Bucky rubs the back of his neck. "I invited my girlfriend, but she said it's better if I came alone." Rebecca raises an eyebrow.

"Girlfriend?" she asks, her voice an amused question. Bucky chuckles before taking out his phone, showing her a picture of Martine. "Oh, she's so beautiful," she gushes. "What's her name?"

"Martine. We've been together for a while. I'll bring her next time I come." He smiles a bit and looks over at her. "I think you and her would get along."

Rebecca waves her hand dismissively. "As long as she makes you happy, it's okay in my book. That's all I need. You deserve happiness, James."

"Thanks, Becky. I saw photos of your son and grandchildren. I'm proud of you, string bean," he said softly and kissed her forehead.

Rebecca took his hand tightly and listened to him as he spoke about everyone and how he was settling in. She told him about her life, and how their two brothers had passed away in a car crash.

"You love Martine, don't you?" Rebecca asked softly. Bucky was silent for a while, biting his lip, before nodding at her silently, letting her know that he did love her.

"I love her, Becky. Really, I do love her, but I haven't told her because I'm scared that I might hurt her," Bucky admitted quietly, remembering how he had nearly strangled her to death like he had done to poor Maria Stark.

Their deaths haunted him.

"Jamie, I know you blame yourself for what HYDRA made you do, but you are not to blame. You were brainwashed into doing what HYDRA made you do, those terrible things. Now you go tell Martine that you love her, and she'll tell you that she loves you too. I expect plenty of nephews and nieces to spoil rotten," Rebecca said amused. Bucky smiled.

"You got it, little string bean."

After sitting and talking to Rebecca for a few hours and looking through the family photo albums, his sister had started showing signs of Alzheimer's disease. It just came out of nowhere, when she had just thought he had come home from his post in Italy.

It broke his heart and it must have broken her son's heart, along with his two children who had thanked him for visiting. Bucky kissed her forehead and left a note for her with his phone number, and had found out that she only had two more years to live.

His baby sister was dying.

He stepped out of her room and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he saw Martine in front of him wearing a black coat. She had come to get him. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding him close.

"She's dying, doll. I've outlived everyone, and now I'm gonna watch my sister die, along with her kids and grandchildren. Steve had to watch Peggy die. It's not fair, doll," he choked pained. She hugged him back tightly.

"I know, James. I know," she whispered comfortingly and held him tightly to her. Bucky knew that she had seen someone she was close to die of Alzheimer's disease.

"What do I do? Do I just watch her slowly die and forget who she is?" Bucky asked pained. She held him even more tightly and took him home, seeing one of the nurse's smile sadly.

Bucky had already lost so much, and now he was losing Rebecca.

Everyone who was talking a bit fell silent after seeing Martine guide Bucky to their bedroom. He got into bed and crashed out. She kissed his forehead, and left to tell Steve and the others.

"How is he, and how's Rebecca?" Steve asked quietly.

"He's coping, and Rebecca...her condition is deteriorating. Her Alzheimer's is getting worse. She spoke to Bucky for three hours when she started coughing and didn't remember him. She thought he and you had just come home on leave from Italy," Martine said sadly.

Everyone looked sad.

"Poor guy," Scott said quietly while Hope nodded sadly.

"I'd rather be dead than not remember who I was," Tony said firmly and he folded his arms.

"I'm sure she does too," Martine says quietly, glancing over at him. "I'm sure anyone would rather be dead and gone than have to forget who they were and everyone else around them slowly. But sometimes you can't prevent that. Sometimes it just comes for you when you least expect it."

Martine runs a hand through her hair before grabbing a cup of coffee, heating it up for Bucky. She turns back to Steve and smiles a bit.

"But Becky had a lot to say about you. He told me that she used to look up to you when you guys were in the army. Also said you were one cute guy to look at."

Steve rolls his eyes, but she sees the little blush appear on his cheeks. Sharon chuckles. "Watch, he'll leave me for a grandmother."

"Never," Steve state quietly before sighing. "I should visit her though. With Bucky. I remember her. She was a little hassle."

Martine smiles before taking the cup of coffee. It swished around as she walked back to her bedroom, tiny droplets falling to the ground, but it didn't really matter that much to her.

Bucky needed all the comfort he could get, so she'd be there for him.

When the day of the wedding came, Bucky realized how long it really took for girls to get ready.

While he had just put on his suit and pulled his hair back, Martine was literally taking hours. Hair, makeup, dress, shoes-fuck, even nails.

At this point, he was sitting on the couch, watching the TV, waiting for her. They had some time before they had get there, but he had to admit he was getting a bit bored of just watching reality shows over and over.

"Martine? You almost ready?" he finally asks, exasperation in his voice.

"Hold your horses, I'm almost done!" She yells back. "I'll be out in a minute."

Bucky waited patiently while tapping his feet. Finally, the door opened, revealing Martine. She was wearing a dark plum purple v neck bridesmaid dress with spaghetti straps, and it hugged her figure. It gave her a 1940s style.

She had dark smoky eyeshadow and eyeliner. She smiled at him and took his hand, as he gave her a kiss on her lips. She was wearing red lipstick, and she looked perfect.

"You look beautiful, doll," he whispered softly. Martine smiled at him as she looked at his outfit. She saw him wearing a rose on his jacket, but it was a bit crooked. So, she adjusted it, and he smiled at her.

"You look handsome. You clean up good, James," she said softly. He smiled at her as they joined Rebecca, who was wearing a simple but beautiful dark blue dress with an oriental style, despite her being seventy-one years old.

The weather was chilly, and it was lightly snowing. They all drove to the church and entered it. Bucky and Adrian went to join Steve, while Wanda, Martine and Sharon were in the room where Sharon's dad, Peter, was to walk her down the aisle.

"You nervous?" Bucky asked amused as he looked at Steve. He was wearing a black tuxedo. Clint was beside them, along with Tony, Rhodey, Vision and Peter, not to mention Sam.

Even Fury was present, with Phil Coulson and Maria Hill. Coulson's team were on the pew too, all dressed smartly and looking happy. The music began to start.

"Nervous as hell, but it's worth it, Bucky," Steve said positively. He smiled then at his best before the wedding march started, and a photographer began taking photos then.

Bucky watched as Pepper, Natasha, Darcy, Jane, Helen, Wanda, and Martine walked down the aisle. They all joined them, before seeing Sharon walk down the aisle.

Her dress was simple but elegant. In her hands was a bouquet of red roses and orchids, giving her a soft but beautiful look, and her four month baby bump barely showed. She reached Steve, and her father sat down next to her mother.

Bucky took Martine's hand and she held it tightly. They watched Steve and Sharon say their vows to each other, as the priest spoke about finding love.

It felt like a normal wedding, but at the same time it was a lot more special than that.

"I do," Steve said with a happy smile.

"I do." Sharon repeated happily. Everyone cheered as photos were taken of the couple while they exchanged rings.

"You may now kiss."

Steve and Sharon kissed as everyone cheered loudly, and then they went to the wedding reception.

Martine sat with Rebecca who seemed completely happy, but she also seemed deep in thought.

"I'm afraid," she admitted quietly. Bucky looked at her quietly as he took her hand tightly, with Scott taking her other hand. Her grandson looked at her, while her brother looked worried.

"Of what, Becky?" Bucky asked worriedly.

"Forgetting who you all are. This morning I was fine, but a little while ago I forgot where we were. I thought this was Uncle Patrick's wedding. It can't go on like this Jamie...I want to die with dignity, and not die with someone wiping my ass or having a catheter inside of me," Rebecca said defiantly and swallowed.

She then handed them all a letter.

"I'm going to kill myself."

Martine looked shocked, while everyone else was either confused or horrified. Bucky didn't say anything until he felt it pass through him.

She was going to kill herself.

"Becky..."

"Jamie, I refuse to die like that," she says quietly. "I know this is a bad place to tell you, at a wedding, but...but I need to do this. It's going to be a procedure. Simple and painless. It'll be like I'm falling asleep...and I get to remember all of you."

Bucky looks down at the letter as Scott held her hand tightly. "We'll be there for you, mom," he says quietly. "I swear we will."

Bucky swallows and nods his head, forcing a smile on his face. Although it was more of a grimace. "If this is what you want...then yes, we'll be there." He hugs his sister tightly, before pulling away. He looks back down at the letter and then away. "I...I have to go."

Bucky suddenly stands and heads outside, causing Rebecca to frown. She looks at Martine. "I knew this would happen. Can you please go talk to him?"

Martine sighs and nods, before standing and walking outside, following where he had gone.

When she found him, he was leaning against the small bridge that was over a pond. It was chilly out, but it obviously didn't affect him. And as she got closer, she saw he was shaking.

"James?" she asks softly.

"I missed everything." His voice was croaky, and filled with distraught. "I missed everything in her life and everyone else, and now she's going to off herself. I've missed...everything..."

She looks at him quietly before walking over, moving him away from the bridge. She tilts his face towards her so she could get a better look at him, and felt herself sigh. He had been sobbing. Tears had come down his cheeks.

"She's the only person I have left," he whispers brokenly. "And I'm gonna lose her too."

"You know that's not true," she says softly. "You have Steve, even Becky's children and grandchildren...you have me and the others. You aren't alone, Bucky. You never will be. Never again. And even if she is deciding to do this, at least she chooses how. She gets to end the suffering before it gets worse."

Bucky sniffles and looks down at the ground. She tilts his head up, looking at him firmly.

"You need to be there for her, James. I know it's hard, but it's her choice. And no matter what, she'll always be there with you in here." She places a hand over his heart and he looks down, before taking her hand in his.

"I know," he says quietly. She smiles a bit and hears a song start to play.

"Now...how about we put on a smile and go and dance? We can talk about it more later?" she asks softly.

"I'd like that," Bucky whispered quietly. Martine held him tightly, and they headed back inside the building, and danced to a slow, forties song.

Bucky held her tightly and she held him back, knowing how upset he was, but he was hiding it. She held him close, trying to let him know that he wasn't alone, right up until the dance was finished.

Steve and Sharon stood by the entrance to the hotel. She held her flowers in her hands tightly, before throwing the two bouquets at the team.

Wanda and Martine, along with Kimberly, caught the bouquets, causing people to cheer. They waved at Steve and Sharon who waved back, before driving away in the car.

Bucky held onto Martine tightly and looked at Rebecca, who was smiling happily. He gripped her hand tightly, she held it back, and smiled.

In the end, it had been decided that Rebecca would die at home. She wanted someone to have her room who needed it more than her, so after the wedding, Bucky sat with her and Martine beside him.

The team were showing their support. Steve along with Sharon had shown their support. Tony had even got his lawyers involved, in case the DA tried to take Rebecca to court.

"I am Rebecca Catherine Barnes-Proctor. I was born in 1930 on the eleventh of November. My parents were Aaron and Bethany Barnes, my three older brothers are James Buchanan Barnes, Patrick Adam Barnes and Ryan Ethan Barnes. I am the wife of William Connor Proctor, and the mother of Jason Proctor and Mary Proctor. I am the grandmother of Scott William Barnes Proctor, and Kimberly Catherine Barnes Proctor, and I was a midwife. I am doing this video in order to say goodbye to my loved ones, as my Alzheimer's is becoming worse, and I do not wish to be one a person who doesn't remember her own friends and family," Rebecca said calmly.

And with that said, she took two sleeping pills, and gulped it down with water, and then took another two.

"There, done," she said calmly.

No one said anything. Bucky gripped her hand tightly. She held it back, and smiled at Steve on the screen.

"Stevie, go enjoy yourself with Sharon. You two don't need to worry about me. I'll be in a better place," Rebecca said reassuringly.

"We're not leaving you, Becky," Steve said sternly. Sharon nodded in agreement.

She smiles and lays her head down, looking up at Bucky. She was getting sleepy, and Martine rested a hand on his shoulder. He didn't show it much, but he was shaking.

"James," she says softly. "You are going to be such an amazing father one day...husband as well. But don't forget that you are amazing just as yourself...I hate it when you out yourself down all the time. Like I said, you're deserving of love."

Bucky nods, looking down at the ground. He was, he just had to keep believing that. "I know," he whispers.

Rebecca looks over at Martine and smiles. "It was nice to meet you...keep him happy."

Martine smiles and took a deep breath to stop her own sadness. This wasn't her place to be sad. It was Bucky's. "Thank you."

Rebecca nods and looks back at Bucky, and then at the others. "I'll always be with you," she whispers softly, and then closes her eyes.

Within a few minutes, she had passed out. And then a little while later, she was gone. Her chest stopped moving.

Bucky felt a few tears run down his cheeks, but he turned into Martine, who rubbed his back as he hid them in her neck. She saw a few of the others take her body away so she could be properly laid to rest, and then she pulls away, looking at Bucky.

He was quiet and silent. She looks over at Steve and Sharon.

"Thank you for being here for him," she says quietly. Steve nods and rests a hand on Bucky's shoulder.

"We'll be gone for a few days, but you can call at any time, Buck." He nods, looking up at him.

"Just go and be with your wife. I'm okay," he says calmly. "Or I will."

Steve nods and hugs him, as does Sharon, before the two leave. Bucky turns to Martine and takes her hand, before standing up.

"Let's go home. Please."

She nods, and the two say goodbye to Scott and the others, before leaving. Bucky held Martine close the whole way back, thinking about what had happened.

His sister was gone.

'You're deserving of love, James.'

He looks down at Martine and stops her, before cupping her face and kissing her as hard as he could. She was surprised at the ferocity of the kiss, but she replied anyway.

When he pulled back, he looks at her with the most tenderness and compassion she had ever seen on his face. His hands cup her cheeks, and he was resting his forehead against hers.

"What's wrong?" she asks softly, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm just...I'm thankful I have you, sweetheart," he murmurs. "So thankful."

Tissues everyone, this chapter was emotional for me and WalkingPotterGirl14. Enjoy and review :)