Report after report continued to pour in of past raids of Thanos's on other planets. They were all the same story. Half of the life on each had been systematically eliminated. Granted, most were now thriving, but the overall feeling of each planet seemed to be that the survivors hated living. Sam called it 'survivor's guilt'. He said that soldiers experience it after returning from the battlefield and a fellow soldier doesn't. You begin to question why you survived and how to carry on with that burden on your shoulders. Plus the added pain of wanting to make your life counted for something and constantly feeling like you were always falling short.
Each society right after Thanos' raid reported a high suicide rate for months afterwards. Some just couldn't carry the burden of it all; being the ones left behind.
For over a month and a half now the Avengers had been training. Bruce and Tony had been diligently inventing new tech that would hopefully give the team an added benefit in the fight. Madison, Steve, Natasha, Bucky, Sam and Clint had been sparing and weapons training so much that they could practically carry out maneuvers in their sleep. Wanda and Madison had been practicing so much that their powers combined could do some awesome and frightening things. Tony and Bruce had convinced Steve and Natasha to allow them to test some Vita-rays radiation treatments on Madison (with her okay as well of course) with some fantastic results. Madison's powers she had absorbed so far seemed to only intensify with each treatment. She was now able to astral project a continent away, as well as duplicate herself up to eighty times over all while taking tangible form. Granted she still wasn't able to hold it for long, but being able to duplicate herself and do damage 80 times over could come in very handy.
Thor and Loki had decided they would take a ship to meet up with the Guardians in order to make a trip to Nidavellir. Nidavellir was apparently where Thor's hammer had been forged. Thor and Loki's sister Hela had destroyed Mjolnir and Thor declared he needed a 'Thanos killing weapon', so the two men headed out a few days ago to rendezvous with the Milano. Once united, they would continue on to Nidavellir to retrieve the new weapon.
The nightly family meals had continued on as normal even throughout all of the intense training sessions, so tonight's meal was no surprise to anyone other than who was preparing it. Madison, Bucky and Sam had decided tonight would be a fun night so it was barbequing night. One-by-one as everyone began trailing into the house, drawn in by the amazing smells of delicious things cooking, laughter could be heard throughout the living quarters as Bucky and Madison dashed around the kitchen checking pots, setting places at the table, buttering bread etc. It was funny to watch their super speed being used for something other than training as plates and bowls rattled to rest on the table. Sam stood just outside the main room next to the grill watching the shrimp, steaks, corn and potatoes as they cooked. Each lovingly prepared with his 'Louisiana specialty ingredients' he called it.
As the finishing touches were finally in place, everyone settled in to their respective places. Bucky and Sam brought in large platters full of food that was grilled to perfection, sitting them in the middle of the table. As they found their seats and before everyone could dig in, Bucky cleared his throat bringing the table to an eventual silence.
With everyone's eyes on him, Bucky took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm not one much for speeches," he said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear, "but I wanted to say that…Steve was the closest thing to family I've had for a very long time. Now with all of you," he said, feeling Madison's fingers interlocking with his own, "I feel like I've gotten a second chance to have what I missed out on for so long."
One-by-one, each member present gazed at the other, smiling as they continued to listen.
"This battle we've got coming, we've prepared as much as we can and although there is no assurance we will win in the end," Bucky took a shuddering breath, reigning back in his emotions, "I'm so very thankful I've got all of you to go into this with."
Leaning over Madison kissed Bucky's cheek as she fought back her own tears at his sweet words. "I'm very thankful that I've had a chance at a family again. A mother and father back together. Uncles and Aunts that I adore. Being with you all again this past few months has been like a dream…one that I'm going to fight like hell to keep."
One after the other each member said something they were thankful for that night. It might not have been Thanksgiving, but that night it was definitely the right time to express how important everyone was to the other.
The meal was fantastic and the fellowship one with another only added to it all. Tony hated to bring forth the gray cloud to the moment, but he knew there would never be a right time.
"We need to move forward with the next phase of our preparation for the battle," he stated, quickly quieting down the festivities of the room.
You could see the happiness and joy slowly slip off of each person's face as they were focused back on the task at hand. "I've been in contact with Dr. Strange in town and he's agreed to meet with me tomorrow. We need to explain everything to him so he can either help or keep his stone as far away from Thanos as possible."
Everyone seemed to be in a state of shock to realize that the next phase would really be happening and tomorrow was only a few hours away. It all seemed too real all of a sudden.
"Bruce and I are going to head into town tomorrow morning. Vision and Wanda are going to meet us there."
"Can't I come too," Peter spoke up, excited to possibly be part of the venture to meet the elusive Dr. Strange.
"No kid, you've got a field trip tomorrow remember. We all need to keep things as normal as possible." Peter's happiness fell quickly as he felt like he was being relegated to the kids table again. Pepper's free hand that wasn't lovingly stroking her still flat stomach reached out for his to offer support. "I'd feel better knowing you were safely away from all the action and drama anyway," she said, smiling sweetly at him.
Pepper and Aunt May were very similar in that they both loved Peter dearly and only wanted the best for him. The fact that they both wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap to keep him safe annoyed Peter greatly though.
"I can come," Madison spoke up, casting a side glance Bucky's way. "Maybe I can get a feel for the time stone while I'm there as well."
This suggestion didn't please Bucky one bit. Tomorrow morning was the day he was going to have to meet his new court appointed therapist. So that meant he wouldn't be able to be with Maddie to protect her. Tony and Sam had pulled every string in the book to try to get Bucky's case reassigned to Sam only. In the end, the furthest the judge would bend, after hearing about the horrible last experience with Buck's previous therapist, was to have him report in once a month to the new guy while having sessions with Sam. Originally, it had felt like a small price to pay, but now with the idea of Bucky being separated from Madison, it felt like a bad omen.
Madison could tell Bucky was gearing up to object but thankfully Steve jumped in to save his friend. "I'd like to tag along too if you don't mind," he offered, giving a small nod to his overprotective friend, "never can be too careful."
Tony nodded his head in agreement to having Steve and Madison tagging along. Before too long it seemed the night's meal was over and everyone began making their way to their rooms.
Clint had spoken earlier to the group to let them know he needed to make a trip home. He needed some time with Laura and the kids before the shit really hit the fan and right now, in the peace and quiet, seemed to be the right time. So he too would be leaving in the morning for his farm.
That night, as Madison got ready for bed, Bucky sat trying desperately to read to ease his mind before attempting to sleep, but nothing seemed to be helping. He found he had read the same passage three times without remembering what it was about before he slammed the book closed and threw it across the room.
It skidded to a stop at Madison's feet as she exited the bathroom. She bent down and slowly picked it up, turning it over to look at the cover. "The Hobbit," she read aloud, "you love this book," she said straightening the pages as she walked toward Bucky's somber form.
"I've read it," he gruffed out in answer, "in 1937, when it first came out."
Sitting the book down on the bed, Madison slowly climbed into Bucky's lap. Normally, such an action would have brought out the playful side of Bucky, but not tonight. Tonight he seemed almost to be pouting. The cool metal of his hand rested gently on Madison's hip as he settled her body lower on his hips. It was always difficult for him to remain angry when she did things like this to him. In their short time together Madison had learned, it seemed, every button needed to be pushed to elicit a response from him. Bucky loved it and resented it sometimes too. She was the only person who could always get him out of whatever mood he was in, often just with the touch of a hand. But not tonight. Tonight he was mad and he was going to stay that way.
Madison's fingers gently scratching his scalp as she ran them through his hair almost broke his resolve. When she leaned in and kissed his jaw, Buck desperately wanted to flip her over and trade his own love nips along her smooth flesh, but he didn't.
And when she rotated her hips suggestively against his boxer covered crotch he nearly said to hell with it, but he was able to restrain himself enough to frustrate Madison into realizing she wasn't going to get the reaction she wanted.
"What's wrong, Sarge," she said, sitting back on Bucky's lap, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration.
Giving a soft growl of frustration at Maddie's use of his new nickname, Bucky felt sure if he looked her straight in the eyes he could tell if she were lying to him as he said what was on his mind. "You know what's going to happen tomorrow already don't you?"
The fact that Madison couldn't hold Bucky's gaze after he made his statement told him all he needed to know. She did know and she was trying to orchestrate something without him being a part of it.
"Damn it, Madison," he called out loudly in frustration as he smacked the bed with his hands on either side of Madison's thighs. "You do remember that the agent said you could tell me things right? That you didn't have to do this alone?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you're right," Madison pleaded as she reached for Bucky's face to try to get him to focus on her again.
"I'm sorry," she said, this time as Bucky looked her straight in the eye, "I've just got a million different plans and strategies in my head and things are getting tangled and I just don't want to unload on you." Madison let out a frustrated sob, unable to look Bucky in the eye any longer.
Bucky reached up and cupped both sides of Madison's head in his hands, "we are a team. You and me. That's what I'm here for, for you to unload on when you need to. I'm not much good for anything else," he murmured as his voice faded off.
"You take that back right now, James Buchanan Barnes," Madison demanded sternly. "You do more for me, for this group than you give yourself credit for and I will not have you talking that way about yourself."
Bucky looked sadly at Madison before wrapping his arms around her, drawing her tightly to him. Madison could feel the desperate need Bucky felt wanting to be of help and so for the next hour they spent talking over strategy and secrets that no one could know but him.
"So you see my dilemma?" Madison said as she lay in Bucky's arms, her head resting on his chest. Bucky's fingers absentmindedly ran slowly through Madison's hair as he thought the whole situation through. "So tomorrow is the big day that ultimately sets everything on the fast track." He could feel Maddie as she shook her head yes to his question. "And you can't tell everyone directly what will happen, but you also can't run the risk that you aren't there to give Strange the proper incentive to turn over the stone."
"Exactly," Madison exclaimed as she leaned up from beside him. "If I don't go with Uncle Tony, then Dr. Strange may not agree to give us the stone to combat Thanos when he arrives. I don't know if absorbing the effects of the stone would be enough to go up against Thanos, I might actually have to have the stone."
Sitting up in bed, Madison covered her face with her hands as she sighed in frustration. Bucky moved to sit alongside Madison as he rested his hands on her shoulders and began gently massaging away the tension he found there.
After a couple minutes passed Bucky finally offered, "You and Steve go with Tony and Bruce to Dr. Strange. Sam is going with me to meet my new therapist I have to meet with. Vision and Wanda both have plans tomorrow so they should be safe. We'll deal with the consequences as they come. Peter will be safely on his field trip, so everyone will be safe while you take care of Strange. Worst case scenario, we'll all be in town while you meet with him, so if something were to happen or you need back up, we won't be too far away."
Madison looked over her shoulder at Bucky as he leaned into her. His strong hands working miracles getting the knots out of her back.
"What do I tell them all to make them go and yet also be prepared for what's to come? If history repeats itself like it did in my universe then the worst thing that could happen in my meeting is Strange turning us down."
Bucky leaned down and gently kissed Madison's shoulder he had been massaging before adding, "You can't worry about that. You do what you need to do to get Strange to trust you and get that stone even if it's just access to it long enough to absorb the power. We've trusted you so far, we won't stop now."
Madison gazed into Bucky's beautiful blue eyes, studying the fine lines around the edges that became sharper when he smiled. Reaching back and placing her hand against Bucky's stubbled cheek, she took a moment more of enjoying the view before finally speaking. "I love you James, more than you'll ever know."
Bucky tried to fight the smile that broke out onto his face but lost. He always knew when Madison called him by his real name and not his nickname she was speaking from her heart. Every time Madison declared her love for him it filled him with a kind of joy he had never felt before. "I love you more."
Leaning in Bucky kissed Madison deeply, trying to express the passion and devotion he felt for her. Wrapping his arms around her slim frame, Bucky brought Madison back tight against his body as he lay back on the bed.
As their hands began to roam along each other's bodies, things slowly began transferring from them talking strategy to showing their love for one another. One article of clothing after the next was slowly peeled away, leaving them both finally with nothing between their heated flesh. Bucky slowed long enough to look Madison in the eye, checking for permission and her certainty for where they were about to go for the first time together. They had made out plenty of times in the short time Madison had been there, but both had agreed that the first time wouldn't be frantic fucking like two wild animals but rather both of them finding and sharing the love they felt for one another in a tender moment.
"Please don't stop," she whispered before raising her head to meet Bucky's perfectly pink lips in a gentle kiss. Madison slid her leg slowly up Bucky's thigh until it was high upon his waist. She loved the slight pressure of his weight on her body pinning her to the mattress.
As Bucky's slightly calloused hand traveled slowly down Madison's body to rest on her thigh, she couldn't help her eyes closing in pleasure as the sensations traveled through her body, lighting each spot he touched on fire with desire.
"Don't close your eye, doll," Bucky whispered as his fingers slipped lower to test if Madison was ready for him or not, "I want to see your eyes the first time."
Gently brushing his hair back from his face, Madison held Bucky's gaze as he gently slipped inside of her warm, wet opening.
Sensation after sensation filled them both as Bucky proceeded to slide inside of Madison until their bodies were flush together.
Bucky watched as Madison tried desperately to hold his gaze as he had asked, but eventually the feeling was just too much as she arched her head back, pressing her breasts against Bucky's chest wrapping her arms around him.
Nestling his face into her exposed neck, Bucky kissed gently along Maddie's throat groaning as he felt her tighten around him.
Losing himself in the sensation of how hot and wet she was surrounding him, he nearly lost all of his control when Maddie rotated her hips against his trying to find some friction and to signal to Bucky she was ready for more.
Only pulling back slightly, Bucky slipped just as quickly back into Maddie, careful to thrust gently to give her time to adjust.
It had never been a blatant conversation between the two lovers, but in the moment neither could find themselves regretting the decision to forego protection. The sensation of hot throbbing skin to skin was more than either could have hoped for as Bucky continued to slip in and out of Maddie's tight grip.
Each time Bucky's thrust became a little more determined, reaching slightly further into Maddie's heat.
As Maddie's arms and legs lovingly wrapped around Bucky's strong frame, neither could control the declarations of love or desire filling the room.
Bucky's ego swelled as he listened to Maddie's pleas to fill her harder and faster as he continued the faster tempo, feeling his need for his woman rising with each thrust.
Maddie's hands gripped Bucky's back tightly it became slick with a light sheen of sweat as their bodies moved together.
She could feel her release building, starting in her toes that had involuntarily begun to curl as she tried desperately to hold back so that the moment wouldn't end prematurely.
Pants and moans became louder words of praise and desperation as Bucky drove into Maddie's welcoming body.
Instinctively, Bucky knew Maddie was close as her grip around his waist with her thighs grew tighter.
"Let go baby," Bucky said softly in her ear as his fingers slipped between them to find the tight little bud of Maddie's clit that was begging for just a moment more of attention to send her over the edge.
As soon as his fingers found purchase of the tender nub Maddie erupted. Bucky watched in fascination as her beautiful body convulsed underneath him. Her strawberry blond hair slick at the edges her hairline with perspiration spread out along the pillow, her head tossed back, eyes closed, barely breathing as the gorgeous globes of her breasts begged for his attention.
In that moment Bucky felt amazing, like he was finally something to someone that cherished him. He could feel his own release climbing inside him as he watched Maddie slowly come down from her wave of passionate release.
His balls were becoming tighter as he continued to thrust into her slick form. Knowing his own body, Bucky realized he had only seconds more before he spilled his release into her body so he gently began to pull out only to be stopped by Madison's legs wrapping tighter around him.
"No…please don't leave me," she begged him, wanting to feel him as he spread he came inside of her.
Looking her eyes, Bucky made the quick decision to do as she asked moments before settling back into Madison's wet heat. It only took a few more strokes before he too found his release as wave after wave of his seed filled Madison.
A few shuddering thrusts later, Bucky realized he was laying his whole weight on Madison's slight frame so he made to move but she resisted. Wrapping her legs firmly around his waist and her arms around his back, she nestled her face into his neck as she cuddled him close.
"Don't move an inch Sarge," Madison whispered playfully, "I like you right where you are."
He couldn't help it, in the moment Bucky wasn't sure which to do, laugh or cry, so he did both. His soft chuckle caused Madison to move slightly wanting to see the smile she loved so much only to be met with tears filling Bucky's eyes as well. "Baby," she whispered, concern filling her voice as she brushed the few tears from his smiling face.
"I love you Madison," Bucky confessed. Since their first 'I love yous' had been shared, neither failed to say it to the other whenever the moment arose, but right now especially, Bucky was overwhelmed with how true that sentiment really was to him.
Rolling slightly so that he brought Maddie with him, but not breaking their bond, Bucky explained his burst of sentiment. "I've never done that before," he said biting his lower lip and shyly looking down between them. Bucky found himself suddenly very entranced by Maddie's breasts as he gently cupped one with his hand, trying to distract her from his confession.
Madison couldn't help the confused look she gave Bucky as she remembered their conversation from before when they had discussed past partners. She knew he had had sex before, so she couldn't help but be a little lost by what he was referring to exactly.
"I've never finished inside a woman before," he confessed completely embarrassed having to spell it out to Maddie.
Maddie's smile grew wider as she slipped her thigh higher up Bucky's waist drawing him closer feeling him still inside her even as he grew softer between her thighs.
"Good," she whispered drawing Bucky's eyes back up to hers as she leaned in and kissed him, nibbling lightly on his bottom lip with her teeth. "But God it felt good."
The look of longing and lust Maddie cast Bucky's way was impossible to misread as this time she pushed him further so he was laying on his back bringing her with him.
Positioning herself upon Bucky's lap, Madison reached between their two bodies to guide him so that he was quickly filling her pussy again with his stiffening cock.
Both lovers sighed as they enjoyed the new position. Bucky's strong hands reached up, cupping Maddie's breasts. He watched fascinated as the cool metal of his left hand caused her rosy nipple to harden almost instantaneously under his touch.
Placing her hands on his chest, Maddie closed her eyes as she slowly began to set a pace riding Bucky. Her rhythm was driving him to the brink of insanity as she only allowed a small portion of his cock to slide from inside her before she took him back in.
He watched entranced as she began to move faster causing her breasts to move seductively before his eyes. Sitting up, Bucky leaned Maddie back, holding her in his arms as his mouth found purchase to a begging nipple. God her breasts felt amazing in his mouth and the more he suckled the tighter Maddie's pussy clamped around his cock.
Gasping and tugging at his hair, Maddie begged Bucky to suck and bite harder on her tender but aroused breasts, "Ooh God that feels amazing Bucky," she cried out.
Neither took long to find their release again as Maddie between to ride Bucky wildly wanting to feel him fill her again. Bucky gripped Maddie's hips attempting to aid her as she rode him.
She alternated between pressing his face into her chest where he lavished her breasts with nips and kisses, suckling like a starving man, switching to kissing her mouth, filling it with his exploring tongue whenever he'd lean down to kiss him.
Bucky loved this side of Madison. His sweet angel was replaced with a woman passionate and filled with desire desperately needing to be fulfilled.
She pressed her mouth against his as she begged him to cum inside of her again all of which Bucky was only too happy to oblige.
Burring his head in her chest, Bucky held Madison's body down tightly to his groan as ribbon after ribbon of hot, thick cum escaped his cock buried deep inside of her.
He couldn't control the shudders that filled his body as she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.
In that moment, for only a second, Madison connected to Bucky's mind to see what he was feeling. She expected images of love, maybe even a replay of their love making, but what she wasn't ready for was the image that filled her mind. Leaning back slightly, Madison stroked back the sweaty strands of hair from Bucky's face as she leaned down to kiss him. "I want that too," she whispered, declaring her love for her man.
As the night grew later and later, and several more sessions of passionate, gentle and sometimes frenzied love making were over, Bucky lay there exhausted and already dozing as his thoughts once again returned to his vison of a pregnant Madison, belly beautifully rounded, growing their child. As he slipped into blissful slumber he couldn't help that smile that creeped onto his face as he snuggled Madison close. Her soft breaths of slumber filling the room as her own dreams of brown haired little blue eyed toddlers began dancing in her head.