"Candy, candy, candy, I cannot believe we have to go and get candy for this thing and on Devil's Night of all nights." Bucky was not a fan of Halloween. He had fought too many monsters in his time not to mention the monsters that popped up in his head most nights, he certainly didn't need little ones running around pretending to be them.
"Oh come on Buck, it will be fun. Stark and Pepper are throwing a whole big thing for the kids tomorrow at the children's hospital. We'll go meet some sick kids that need the cheering up and have some good PR from it as well. Pass out a few snacks and then escort little ones around for an hour of trick-or-treating. It will be a blast." Steve's excitement over Halloween was practically infectious to everyone he met, everyone except James Buchanan Barnes.
The sour expression on Bucky's face did not change as he grabbed five bags of miniature snickers and tossed them in the cart Steve had been pushing around.
"You can't tell me Maddie isn't excited about Halloween." This had the desired effect Steve was looking for as he watched his best friend's frown completely disappear and a smile grow in its place. "What did she decide to go as this year," Steve asked as he grabbed five bags of apples and oranges. Pepper insisted that on top of all of the 'bad for you' candy that Tony insisted on, something good be put into the goodie bags for the trick-or-treaters.
"I think she finally settled on Wilma Flintstone," Bucky couldn't hold his laugh in as he pictured Maddie dressed up in the costume she had shown him earlier. She already had the naturally reddish hair, so she didn't need the wig, plus the dress fit perfectly. "It was absolutely the funniest and cutest thing I'd ever seen…" Bucky's laughter died out quickly when he said, "until she told me I was going as Fred."
Steve's just couldn't hold it in, his laughter could be heard two rows over as he crowed loudly, grabbing his chest with one hand and holding himself upright with his other clutching at Bucky's shoulder.
It might have been because of their joyous antics and good natured ribbing of one another that they didn't notice the dark-haired woman silently watching them from the end of the shopping isle. Nor did they hear the words she muttered softly as she cast her incantation. You would have had to of been watching closely to see the dark purple mist like smoke leave her fingers and seep slowly through the air towards her prey.
She watched as the dark mist inched its way ever closer to the two laughing men, both oblivious to the life altering events about to happen. At the last moment, Steve walked quickly away from the cart he had been pushing to grab up a box of Rice Krispy treats. "Man, your mom used to make these for us all the time when we were younger," Steve said holding the box up to show Bucky.
It was only because Steve had turned to show Buck the box of treats that he was able to see the dark mist, but his warning of "Bucky look out," was unfortunately too little too late. Bucky turned just in time to feel the full effects of the spell as it settled into his body.
Steve saw only the dark hair of the mystery woman as she scampered away from the end of the isle, her laughter sounding like cackling as he raced to the end cap only to find the isle empty.
Looking back at his friend, Steve watched as Bucky looked down at his hands and back up again. "Steve, I think we should get back to the compound…I don't feel so good."
BACK AT THE COMPOUND
The jeep came to an abrupt halt as gravel sprayed the ground. Steve rushed around from the driver's side door to help his friend from the car. Behind him Steve could hear the door to the compound open and the desperate voice of his daughter crying out Bucky's name.
"Bucky! Dad what happened?" With Steve on one side and Maddie on the other, the two were able to slowly walk a weak Bucky into the compound.
As they entered the compound, one-by-one each team member began to appear asking questions and offering help.
Maddie stepped aside as Sam took her place helping Bucky to the nearest couch to sit down. At this point it was almost like dragging his body with each step he took.
Whatever had happened, Bucky was in a bad way. Sweat coated his hair, his shirt was soaked and yet his teeth were chattering so loudly you could actually hear them.
Maddie rushed to the hall closet and grabbed a spare blanket while Pepper, seeing how soaked Bucky was went to get a bowl of cool water and a cloth to tend to him with.
Sitting Bucky down on the couch, Sam and Steve stepped back as Maddie wrapped the blanket around Bucky's shoulders. Pepper handed her the damp cloth and they all watched as Bucky practically melted into Maddie's touch.
The cool cloth against his face felt good to Bucky. His mouth was so dry and his throat hurt each time he tried to speak. "Dad would you get him a bottle of water please," Maddie asked, never taking her eyes off of Bucky. She gently stroked his wet hair from his face as the cool cloth dabbed at his closed eyes.
"Here baby, take small sips." Maddie held the bottle of water to Bucky's mouth and watched as he attempted to sip the water. More seemed to dribble from his mouth than was actually getting in, which really worried Maddie.
"Where's Banner," Maddie asked looking over her shoulder at Steve.
"I'm here," Bruce said loudly as he rushed into the room carrying a large briefcase looking item.
Sitting it down beside Bucky on the couch he opened it and began attaching wires and devices to Bucky's hand and arm.
Bucky was growing more exhausted by the moment and hadn't said a word the entire time from the market. Laying his head against Maddie's shoulder, he closed his eyes and before he knew it was passed out.
Maddie felt Bucky's body go limp against hers and was able to hold him upright until Steve and Sam grabbed him and lowered him to a resting position on the couch.
Maddie looked on as Bruce examined the now unconscious Bucky. Steve wrapped his arm around his daughter in an attempt to offer some comfort but he knew she was worried. He had never seen something knock his friend off his ass so quickly before.
"I have no idea what is causing this," Bruce announced after checking Bucky's vitals. "Everything is coming up completely normal. His body temp is fine, his heart beat is within normal range. Everything reads as though he's perfectly fine."
"Then what is going on with him," Maddie practically yelled at Bruce, her fear spiking. Turning she buried her face into her dad's chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. Holding his daughter tightly, it was in that moment Steve felt more like a dad. He comforted his daughter, holding her to him as he listened to her sniffles as she cried.
Everyone looked on the sleeping form of Bucky, no one knowing what to do to help their friend.
Wanda's voice startled them all as she and Natasha came rushing around the corner from the direction of the garage. "Where is he?" Wanda said as she rushed forward towards the couch where her friend lay.
"Mom," Maddie cried, reaching for Natasha who pulled her into her arms and hugged her tight. "It will be okay, whatever this is, we'll figure it out," she cooed softly to her little girl. Steve couldn't help but look at his friend with new eyes in that moment. In another universe he had fallen in love with this woman. Most times she was a closed off woman who let very few close enough to know the real her, but in that moment, Steve knew exactly what he must have seen in her to fall for her. He saw a mother's love and that tugged at his heart.
Turning his attention back to Wanda as she hovered her hand over Bucky's body. "What was he doing before this happened," she asked.
Steve told the story of how they were picking up the candy in the store and everything was fine. It wasn't until he mentioned the purple mist that enveloped Bucky that Wanda's attention was really peaked.
"What did this woman look like," Wanda asked, turning to face Steve.
"I didn't get a very good look at her, but she was probably your height, dark brown hair, maybe mid-forties. But her laugh, I swear I'll never forget the sound of that laughter. It was like she was cackling." Steve shuddered as he retold the story to the group present.
"Agatha," Wanda said, as she stood to her feet and bolted for the door.
"Agatha, who's Agatha," Sam asked as he and Steve chased after Wanda.
"She's trouble, that's who she is. I swear I thought I put that little witch in her place. But it seems she's up to some nasty tricks." Steve grabbed Wanda's arm before she could make it out the door.
"Wanda, you gotta slow down and tell us what's going on. Where are you going?"
Wanda knew she had a lot of explaining to do about the past year she had been gone, but right now what she really needed to do was to find Agatha. That meant returning to the little town of Westview, New Jersey.
"Just keep him comfortable and call me if there are any changes. I've got to find her first before I can begin to hope to fix whatever is going on with him."
Both men were left with no answers as they watched Wanda shoot into the sky and quickly out of sight.
"Dad," Steve turned at the calling of his name as he looked at his daughter being comforted by her mother.
"How about we get Bucky to your room and make him as comfortable as we can. We'll be better able to keep a watch on him from there."
Nat wrapped her arm around Maddie's shoulders as they watched Sam and Steve hoist Bucky up between the two of them.
Sitting him on the bed, Sam held him upright as Maddie removed his soaked t-shirt and found him a clean, dry one to slip on. Natasha blushed and turned away as Maddie made to take off Bucky's boots and jeans so he'd be more comfortable.
"Mom," Maddie laughed lightly as she watched the blush cover Nat's cheeks.
Between Steve, Sam and Maddie the trio were able to get Bucky settled into bed and seemingly comfortable before Bruce made to set his equipment back up to monitor him overnight.
"There isn't a lot more we can do for him until Wanda is able to give us some answers," Bruce announced after getting all of his equipment reattached.
"I suggest we all turn in for the night." Bruce looked to Steve before adding, "I'm beginning to see why Bucky hates Halloween at this rate."
Climbing on the bed beside Bucky, Maddie was comforted that even in this state Bucky reached for her for support. His arm settled around her waist as she leaned against the headboard intent on watching over him during the night.
Seeing nothing else they could do, Steve and Nat moved towards the door. "We are just down the hall if you need us."
"I can stay if you want me to," Sam offered, pointing to the empty recliner in the corner of the room.
"Thanks Sam," Maddie smiled, "I'm hoping whatever this is will pass quickly and he'll just sleep it off."
Leaving slowly from the room, one-by-one Maddie found herself alone with Bucky. She allowed her fingers to run through his long hair. It had gotten down to his shoulders now and he had been talking more and more about cutting it. The new look, Maddie was certain, would be amazing on him, but she also had to confess she would miss the long hair. Strand after strand slipped through her fingers as she looked on, keeping watch over Bucky as the hours slipped by.
It was around six in the morning when something woke Madison up. The vigil she had been keeping finally caught up with her sometime around three, so she hadn't been asleep for very long. But what she saw had her heart skipping a beat in pain.
Sitting beside her on the bed was the most adorable little blue eyed boy she had ever seen. His shaggy long hair fell in his eyes as he looked around the room. He looked worried and scared as he scanned his surrounding, until his eyes fell on Maddie.
Maddie couldn't be sure she was still breathing as she looked into the big blue eyes that she swore she'd know anywhere. Sitting beside her, all three feet of him wrapped in a huge t-shirt was Bucky Barnes.
She watched as his little eyes began to fill with tears right before he stuck his hands in the air reaching for her, wanting Maddie to take him.
Reaching down for his little body, Maddie knew without a doubt as she cuddled him close that it was definitely her previously adult boyfriend. His metal arm even shrunk down to size as his body did.
She didn't know what kind of magic this was, but what she did know was that Bucky Barnes was currently a toddler.