Jack Sparrow: That's a great question! The thought actually crossed my mind whilst writing chapter thirty-seven. But if you think about it, would they really believe Aubrey if she said she'd been with Bucky? In the government's eyes, she would've been just as suspicious/at fault as they thought he was. What worth are the words of an ex-assassin? They might have even tried to arrest her too. (Or at least that's how I thought about it) Thank you for commenting!
Three months passed. Aubrey had gone from the Avengers compound straight back to her parent's house. She felt herself falling further and further back into her mind. During that time, she had placed Bucky's journal on the counter, not having the courage or stability to open it. Restless energy started building….she needed something to do….something to help the rest of the world. But the rest of the world was in chaos, still reeling from the losses.
One night, she bolted awake, pulling on a ragged sweatshirt and padding into the front room. She eyed the journal for a moment before picking it up and deftly turning the pages. The handwriting was blocky and messy but she knew it well and read it without problem.
Brie's eyes lit up when she saw her family again, even now, as I'm on watch, her face is lit up. It seems that being here has kept some of the nightmares away. All is quiet, everyone is asleep. As much as I liked watching her be happy and look alive…..I could tell that her relatives would've preferred that I wasn't there. I understand that...but…..
Aubrey leaned back in the chair, puffing a breath out of her lips and blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. She waited a moment before continuing on.
Seven more months passed in silence.
She spent the time grieving and letting the numbness overwhelm her.
Aubrey had no plans to leave her parent's house until one night, a message popped up onto her burner phone.
You promised you'd visit. You're always welcome at the cabin Aubrey, Morgan can't wait to meet you. -Tony
Aubrey landed in front of the house Tony had told her about. It looked like a large cabin, with a wrap-around porch and a homey feeling that made her feel welcome. She made her way to the door, unsure what Tony's reaction would be when he found her at his door...especially after his message. But Aubrey knew she needed to be with people...she felt numb...alone. Both her best friend and family had been taken away from her, she had no one left. Raising a hand, she knocked once before lowering it and waiting. Footsteps sounded on the other side and it clicked open. Pepper's face slacked slightly before she recovered, stepping forward and pulling Aubrey into a hug. She knew the reaction had come from her tear-stained face and haggard look. She melted into the touch, the harsh emotional walls that had been built in her mind cracked.
It was the first time someone had hugged her in a long time.
Aubrey let herself rest her head on the woman's shoulder for several moments before she pulled back with a watery smile.
"Aubrey, I'm so glad you came, come on in" Pepper stepped back, a kind smile on her face as Aubrey shuffled into the house. It had a feel that felt both open and secluded as she took it in. To her left sat a living room, and stairs, a worktable sat in front of her and she thought she saw a kitchen and dining room on the other side of the stairs. Her duffel bag dropped to the floor and Pepper said she'd go get Tony before disappearing upstairs.
Heavy footsteps sounded several minutes later and Tony came to the top of the stairs. At the sight of Aubrey, he gave her a small smile before coming down.
"Tony...I'm sorr-" he stopped her
"Of course Aubrey. My invitation wasn't just for courtesy, you can take the spare bedroom beside Morgan's room."
"Are...are you sure?" Aubrey glanced towards the stairs where she knew his child was.
"Yes, Pepper thought it was a good idea too. Besides, it'll be nice to have you around again...speaking of Morgan-" Tony turned as Pepper came down the stairs, a wiggling bundle in her hands. Aubrey's eyes turned to the baby girl and she felt her face light up at the sight of her. They moved towards the living room and Aubreygingerly sat on the couch, watching as Pepper sat beside her and Tony in an armchair across from them.
"Do you want to hold her?" Pepper asked
"I..don't know how" she wanted to….more than anything in the world.
"It's easy, here" Tony's wife showed her how to position her arms before gently resting the baby in them. Aubrey stared down at the girl's sweet face, wisps of brown hair peeked out from beneath a soft pink beanie. The baby babbled, her big blue baby eyes staring up at her.
And there, at that moment, as she gazed upon the precious girl's face, Aubrey promised herself that she wouldn't let anything happen to her.
She wanted to be there for Morgan and keep the dangerous world away.
"She's perfect" Aubrey tore her eyes away, glancing at the two of them before looking back down. "She's amazing Tony"
"Yeah, we like her too" He leaned back in his chair, a sarcastic gleam in his eye. But when he glanced over Aubrey the gleam became concerned. Reluctantly, she handed Morgan back to Pepper, watching the mother kiss her child's forehead. Something rose up in her chest and she had to fight its overwhelming waves of feeling. Grief. She turned her eyes away, instead watching the roaring fireplace.
"How….How are you?" he started, sounding tentative.
Aubrey opened her mouth but nothing came out, clearing her throat she tried again. "I...Everyones gone" she had meant to say something else but the words rushed out before she could stop them and Aubrey looked up at the ceiling, blinking tears away.
"Everyone?" Pepper asked quietly, sounding shocked. Silently, Aubrey realized that Tony hadn't told Pepper about her family.
"My….my parents...whole family…..Bucky-" Aubrey brought a shaky hand up to her face as she curled her feet under herself. "They're all gone...I'm..I didn't know where to go and Tony said I could come here if I ever needed anything and-" she stopped, watery eyes finding Pepper's, whose eyes brimmed with tears for her.
The words that had been locked into her mind slithered quietly from her mouth in a whisper "I'm very alone."
Pepper unwound a hand from Morgan and took one of Aubrey's cold ones
"Stay however long you like, come and go, play with Morgan, whatever you need to do to heal"
"Thank you" words couldn't describe the gratitude she felt for Tony and Pepper at that moment.
And with those words, the damn in her mind broke loose and she felt the emotional walls crumble.
Aubrey rocked Morgan in the mahogany rocking chair, shushing the whimpering baby. A warm feeling bubbled up inside of her as she stared at the girl's soft face. Pepper came in, folded laundry in a pink basket in hand as her eyes lit up. She seemed to realize how much Aubrey loved Morgan and enjoyed caring for her. Several weeks had passed and at first, she had been timid around the baby but Pepper had somehow seen something in Aubrey that she hadn't even seen in herself.
And so she was there for Morgan, promising that she wouldn't let anything happen to the precious girl. She was there when she pushed onto all fours and crawled to her beaming father. Aubrey steadied Morgan as she took her first steps to Pepper, pride welling up. Both Tony and Pepper started using the name Aunty Brie for her.
One afternoon, as Morgan gripped her hand, they stepped off of the stairs and Aubrey smiled softly at her. Morgan babbled happily but somewhere between her unintelligible words she thought she heard her name. Pausing, Aubrey crouched down to her level, her brows angled down.
"Did you say something Squirt?"
Morgan gave her a toothy grin before her face scrunched in concentration and a word popped out of her mouth.
"Bwie"
"Yes, Morgan! Brie, I'm your Aunty Brie-" she grinned, hoisting Morgan onto her hip and making a sprint back into the house. "-Pepper! She spoke!"
"What?" Pepper's head poked out from the kitchen, a smear of flour across her forehead.
"Morgan said, Brie!"
"What?!-" she repeated in disbelief. Morgan reached for her mother and Aubrey transferred the girl to Pepper's arms. "- Did you speak baby girl?"
"Bwie-" the toddler grinned again, throwing her hands up into the air. "-Momma!"
Pepper's face slacked for a moment before she recovered and gave Aubrey a huge grin "That's right Morgan! I'm your mommy, there's your Aunty Brie, and your daddy is in the garage again."
"I'll go get him" Aubrey turned and made the short trip to the back door, it clicked open with ease. Tony glanced up from his spot at the workbench, hands covered in oil.
"Everything alright?" he paused, giving her a second look.
"Morgan spoke"
"What?!" Tony sounded just as shocked as Pepper had, within seconds he had pushed past Aubrey and headed towards where Pepper was with their child.
Morgan's speech came faster than they had expected, soon she had upgraded to short sentences. But Aubrey knew they should have seen it coming, her parents being geniuses and all.
The waves of the lake lapped easily at the edges of the shore and a cool spring wind blew softly through the clearing. Leaning back onto her palms, Aubrey watched a flock of ducks daintily touch down on the water's surface, quacking among themselves. Bucky's journal sat beside her on the blanket, it's pages rustling in the breeze. Her eyes drifted back to it, rereading the page.
Brie's dog woke me early this morning. Even though he's a nuisance….I'm glad he did. I'm not sure what would've happened otherwise. She was already up and about, I think she was up most of the night. It seems her mind never lets her rest. Something's bugging her but I'm not sure what. The goats are grazing in the yard and from my spot on this fencepost I can see Brie with her horses. It's an amazing thing to watch her with them. They follow her around and steer her away from holes or anything she could trip on. Even the donkey takes care of her and he hates everyone. Maybe they sense the peace she brings wherever she goes...or maybe it's just me who thinks that. In some ways, she is the only peace I have, consistent and persistent. She knows when I need to say something but don't want to. It might be selfish to think this but….I'm glad she has the serum too. I'm not alone, even when I feel like I am. She will always be here for me and I for her. That's something I constantly know about her, she will protect me and I will protect her. If it came down to me or her, I hope it's me who goes. Brie has her family and other people who will care for her. I just have Brie...and Steve. But I'm not the Bucky he grew up with...and I think he's finally figured that out. It's nice though, when he's around, to hear about our friendship and childhood. But he will never understand like she does. There's no one like her.
I wish I
The entry came to a halt there, and after reading the date, she had realized that it was soon before she'd left to go visit Shuri and the fight had happened.
The remaining pages were blank.
Just thinking about that…..he would never touch the leather journal again brought tears to her eyes. The rustling of grass behind her brought Aubrey out of her mind, recognizing the wobbly gait.
"Hi" Morgan plopped herself down onto the knitted blanket, eyes glowing.
"Hey Squirt, what brings you here on this fine evening?"
The girl concentrated on her words "Momma says I'm...I'm bored."
A small grin stretched onto her face as Aubrey bumped her shoulder gently against the girls. "Why are you so bored?"
"I dunno,-" Morgan shrugged, fiddling with the blanket they sat on. "-What are you doin?"
"Watching the water, see how the Mallard Ducks landed in the middle? Earlier this morning I saw a deer on the other side."
"Wow!-" Morgan's eyes shone as she stared at the writhing waters. She leaned into Aubrey's side, swiping loose hairs away. "- Can I see one?"
"A deer?"
Her small head bobbed up and down.
"Maybe if we watch we can see another one. But deer are easily scared, do you want to wait for a little bit?"
"Yeah" Morgan snuggled closer into Aubrey's side and she let herself smile softly at the girl.