"Natasha and Sharon will be here in the morning," Bucky said as he handed Steve a beer before sitting on the couch across from him. "Nat has to check in with Fury when they get back, but Sam said he'd come up here instead of me going to him so you and Sharon can ease into each other's presence."

"We're not going to kill each other," Steve grumbled and then caught the look Bucky was giving him. "I'm kind of indestructible and I'm not going to kill her."

"Just don't get all preachy or high and mighty on her when she gets here, she's been through a lot."

"Haven't we all?"

"Her more than the rest," Bucky said, taking a long sip. "You just have a tendency to judge people when you don't like the path they've chosen, and you still see things very black and white when the world has become grey. She is very much living in that grey area these days."

Steve didn't respond for a while. He knew he always saw the world as filled with bad guys and good guys, but then after everything with SHIELD and the Accords, he wasn't sure how much he could trust who was on what side. Peggy had commented how different he was now compared to the Steve she knew not that long ago, in her time. He found it odd because she never said that when he visited her when she was older, but remembered she was sick at that time and had many years with SHIELD under the belt. They were both different, lived different lives with different people at different times. Maybe that's why they ultimately didn't work.

"Uncle Steve, when is my dad coming home," Morgan said as she rubbed her eyes sleepily and crawled into his lap. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't even notice she came downstairs. He put his beer down and helped her get situated, gently rubbing her back.

"I don't know," he said truthfully. "Your mom is sick and your dad is trying to make her better. Once he's done that, he'll come straight back here, I can promise you that."

"I miss them," she said quietly.

"I know, sweetheart," he said, kissing the top of her head. "But Aunt Nat will be here with Aunt Sharon, who you haven't met yet."

"I know Aunt Sharon," she said suddenly. "Daddy would video call her a lot."

"Did you know that," Steve asked and Bucky nodded. "No one bothered to tell me?"

"You never bothered to ask," Bucky shot back.

"You're very protective of her," Steve said accusingly, but keeping his voice down since Morgan had fallen back asleep.

"She's a friend who saved mine and Sam's ass too many times to count," was all Bucky said before standing up and gently picking up Morgan to bring her to bed. "I'll see you in the morning."

"You ready for this," Natasha asked as she landed in the yard.

"No, but it'll be like ripping off a bandaid," Sharon said as she unbuckled and began to grab her stuff. She spotted Sam and Bucky walking toward them.

"Hello boys, we have heavy lifting for you," Natasha said as she hugged them both. Sharon waved as she dragged her suitcases down the ramp.

"Did you pack your whole apartment," Bucky asked as he hugged her hello before grabbing a bag.

"No, just the necessities," she said as she handed Sam the other bag. "And some artwork I couldn't risk being stolen since I'll be gone for a while, and some weapons, and some other things. Where's my buddy?"

"Just the necessities," he repeated with a smirk as they walked into the house together. "He went for a run. I made him go for a run because he was going to pace a hole in the floor. I don't know when he'll get back."

Natasha was in the living room playing with Morgan to keep her occupied. She waved and winked at the two of them.

"She told me you told her we hooked up," Sharon said and heard him sigh. "You know she's going to get drunk and ask for a threesome."

"Yeah, she already brought it up," he said as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "If it helps, I think she was joking."

"I've been compared to Peggy my whole life, I don't need to add a comparison to the Black Widow to further destroy my self-esteem," she mumbled as she opened her suitcases.

"I'm sure the pre-cryo Bucky Barnes would have something smooth to say," he said as he sat down on the bed. "But no comparison between you two, you're both very different in amazing ways. I'm a lucky man."

"Not so bad, Barnes," she smiled. "Still no threesome."

"Damn," he smirked as he got up to help her unpack. "You okay being back here?"

"No," she sighed. "Morgan needs me though, so Steve and his pissy attitude be damned. I'll try my best to keep the peace, but if he tries me I can't promise anything."

"I know, he knows that too I think."

"But we both know him well," Sharon said and Bucky nodded. "I give it two weeks before I try to stab him."

"Sam is optimistic and thinks it'll be a month before your first fight, I give it until tomorrow," he said with a laugh as she threw a t-shirt at him.

"How long are you guys sticking around?"

"Sam and I have to head out by the end of the week. We're just a phone call away. For you, not for Steve," he grinned.

"I'm scared of how he's going to look at me," she said quietly as she sat down on the bed. "Being on the end of that disappointed and angry Captain America stare isn't great."

"You did what you had to do, that's all that matters," Bucky said, sitting next to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder to pull her close. "He won't understand right away, he may never fully understand, but who cares? You know who you are, that's all that matters."

"He'll never understand the serum."

"That one will take a bit, but Sam and me got it, and we were the ones under direct attack with no help from him, so I think if we can get over it so can he."

"Maybe," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.

"No funny business without me," Natasha said, startling them as she leaned against the doorway. "Steve's back. He seems anxious."

"Great," Sharon groaned as she stood up. "I have to finish unpacking and just get my bearings of this place before I deal with him."

"We'll hold him off," Bucky said, standing up as well and grabbing Natasha's hand.

"Did you talk to her about," Natasha asked and Bucky just put his hand over her mouth.

"It's not happening," they said in unison.

It was late when Sharon finally left her room. Everyone had left after Natasha put Morgan to bed. She skipped dinner because she wasn't ready to face Steve yet, which she was starting to regret as her stomach growled. At least she would have had back up if things got weird, but now it was just the two of them.

She quietly made her way downstairs, hoping he was in bed asleep and she'd have the kitchen to herself. She bit back a groan when she saw him sitting at the island with a bowl of pasta. Sharon took a deep breath to calm herself before walking into kitchen, purposely ignoring him. She had no idea where anything was in the kitchen, so it took her a few cabinets before she found the bowls so she could pour herself some cereal.

"There's leftovers from dinner in the fridge," Steve said and she just nodded, still not looking at him.

She leaned against the counter as she ate as quickly as she could. She felt Steve staring at her, waiting for her to say something. What he was waiting for, she wasn't sure. She glanced up at him quick and saw he looked sad, sadder than he looked after he woke up all those years ago. She felt her stomach knot up as she realized she still wanted to find ways to make him happy, that maybe her feelings for him didn't fully go away. She was nauseous at the thought. She scooped the last few spoonfuls of cereal in her mouth before turning to wash the bowl and put it in the dishwasher. She looked over at him once more, he caught her this time. He looked like he was about to say something, but thought better of it. Sharon gave him a short nod before heading back upstairs.

"It's good to see you," Steve said quietly to no one as he watched her go upstairs. This was going to be more difficult than he thought.