Hearing the crash from the living room, Lizzie pushed herself away from her computer yet again. She had her video chat with Pepper in an hour, and she was trying to get all the paperwork for it finished in time. She pushed her chair back and headed out, to find out what had happened now.
As she walked into the living room, she felt the small arms of her 18-month-old son wrap round her leg. Bending down she picked him up and looked around the room and saw the broken lamp.
"Did you do that sweetheart?"
The little boy buried his face into her neck, and she felt him nod his head. Walking towards the kitchen, she saw Bucky getting the dustpan and brush out of the cupboard. He turned and he saw Lizzie stood there with Teddy in her arms. He watched as their son peered out and looked at his father.
"Dadda, mad?"
Bucky let out a sigh, becoming a father had been an adjustment, he loved Teddy so much and he loved Lizzie with all of his heart, but he had to admit having a toddler was hard work. Especially when that toddler had super soldier serum running through his veins. This was the 4th lamp to be destroyed, how do you baby proof a house for a toddler that can break through everything.
He walked over to the pair and watched as Teddy buried his head into his mother's shoulder again. He put his hand on the little boy's head, Lizzie looked at the hand, it looked so real. The metal arm the Wakanda's had made for him now in a box in the attic, brought out only when needed, instead they had made him this one, a gift for the birth of his son. The shade and texture of it was so like flesh, that the only way to tell the difference was by touch.
"I'm not mad, bud."
Teddy moved his head to look at Bucky. He was holding back tears, Bucky smiled at him. And just liked that Teddy was holding his arms out and wriggling out of Lizzie's arms to get to his dad. Bucky took him and smiled at Lizzie.
"Ok, well Momma is gonna head back to work. You boys got this?"
Teddy nodded at her, and Bucky lent forward and kissed her cheek.
"We got this; I think."
Lizzie laughed and headed back to her home office. Sitting back at her desk, she put her head in her hands. Life in this family is very different to that of any other, yer kids break things, it happens, Sam had told him his nephews had broken plenty over the years, but at 18 months Teddy had broken 4 lamps in the living room, had broken the guard on his bed, twice: and various other household things. He was definitely Bucky's son though, he was like a miniature copy of his dad, right down to that smirk he'd pull just when he was about to do something he shouldn't.
….
After 2 hours of her call with Pepper, their business was done. Pepper looked at the women in front of her.
"So how's Teddy?"
Lizzie let out a sigh. "He's good, great, but he broke another lamp today. Having a toddler is one thing, having one with serum in his veins, is something else. I mean we can't baby proof anything."
"Want me to see if the tech team here can come up with anything for you?"
"Didn't know Stark industries was into baby proofing."
"Only for close friends. How's Bucky doing with it all?"
"He's great, he loves Teddy."
"Why do I feel a but coming."
"I sometimes worry that all this isn't enough for him. I'm used to the quiet life. I love my job, but when we decided it would be easier for us to work from home and for Bucky to semi-retire, I don't think I considered that he might be bored or hate the fact that I work while he looks after Teddy. What if we aren't enough?"
"That man loves the bones of you both. He's been fighting his whole life, being with you two will mean everything and I bet he loves looking after Teddy. Tony loved being at home with Morgan. I think you guys need a night out. I think you need a girl's night and Bucky a boy's night. Let's go get drinks at the weekend. Call Sam and get him to take Bucky."
"That sounds great Pepper, but who do I get to babysit, it's not like I can just get anyone to look after Teddy."
"Oh I think I can cover that for you. I'll get him to ring you."
"Get who to ring me?"
"Peter, he's a great kid."
"Do we not think it might be overkill to get spiderman to baby sit my toddler."
"Maybe, but like you said, not just anyone can look after Teddy."
Lizzie rolled her eyes; she knew Pepper was right. "Fine. message me all the details and get Peter to ring me."
When Lizzie made it into the kitchen, Teddy was in his highchair, she kissed him lightly on the head.
"Hey bud, have you been a good boy for Daddy?"
"Yep!" Lizzie loved the way he popped his p. He always giggled after he did it and it made her love him even more. Bucky was pulling lasagne out of the oven, as Lizzie set the table. Over the last 2 years Bucky had become a pretty good cook. He didn't have a wide menu, but what he did was amazing. Lizzie watched as Bucky laid the bowl near his and her settings, she got a bowl for Teddy and put some in there, while she was waiting for it to cool, she gave him a piece of garlic bread to chew on as well as the cucumber sticks Bucky had sliced up for him. As she was dishing a plate up for them both, Bucky wrapped his arms round her from behind and kissed her cheek and neck, as he was about to kiss her neck again, he felt something hit his head. As he looked, he saw a piece of cucumber.
"Dadda no!"
Bucky walked round to Teddy.
"You can't throw things Teddy. It's not nice. You might hurt someone."
"No, kiss Mumma."
Lizzie had to hold in her giggle, Teddy had been like this for a few weeks, if Bucky tried to show her any sort of attention he would act out. They had tried to keep things cool around him, but sometimes it was hard, they loved each other and had always shown each other affection. Lizzie sat down and passed Teddy the bowl with his dinner. Hopefully this was just a stage he was going through.
The favourite part of Lizzie's day was watching Bucky read Teddy a story at bedtime. Lizzie would lay on the bed with Teddy, as Bucky sat in the chair next to the bed, he would let Teddy pick the book. She loved this, for in that moment, just for a little while, they were just a happy normal family. Soon Teddy was asleep, and Bucky watched Lizzie in their room as she changed into her PJ's, which consisted of one of his shirts and a pair of shorts. He walked up and wrapped her in his arms.
"Do you think he will grow out of the possessive thing?"
"I think so, unless he's going to follow in your footsteps."
"You saying I'm possessive?" Quirking his eyebrow trying his best to hide the small amount of worry that clouded his mind.
"Oh yes, but I love it." Lizzie replied with a smirk.
Bucky kissed her neck, hearing her give out a soft moan. Lizzie leant back against him. He ran his arms up the front of her shirt, he loved every bit of her body. Lizzie stopped his hands.
"What's wrong?"
"I can't tonight."
Bucky understood, there were only certain times when Lizzie would stop his advances.
"Shall we just cuddle on the sofa, with a movie?"
"I would love that. I can't guarantee I will stay awake the whole way through."
"As long as you're in my arms I'm not bothered."
"Ever the smooth talker, Barnes." She said, shaking her head with a smile.
Half an hour later they were laid on the sofa, Lizzie was nestled into Bucky's chest, she was running her hand up and down his side, she was trying to think of the best way to tell him about drinks at the weekend. Bucky knew there was something wrong with her.
"What's on your mind, sweetheart?"
"Pepper invited me out for drinks on Saturday night."
"That's good, you could use the break, you work so hard, I've got Teddy."
Lizzie turned in his arms and lay on his chest looking up at him, she ran her hand over his cheek, her thumb grazing his lips. "The idea was we both went out. I messaged Sam, he said he was planning on coming up at some point to see us all, so he said he will be here Saturday morning."
"Who's gonna look after Teddy?"
"Pepper had Peter ring me. He is more than happy to look after Teddy."
Bucky sat up a little straighter than. Lizzie moved so she was now sitting crossed leg in front of Bucky. "Peter is only a child himself. He can't take care of our child."
"Of course he can Buck. he's 19 now. Nearly 20, he's more than capable of it. And if I remember correctly, he's saved the world a few times, once alongside you and my grandfather. I think he can handle our toddler."
"Seriously, you'd trust him with Teddy. I mean…."
Lizzie reached forward and took his hand in hers. She knew that letting go was hard for Bucky. His whole world had been her and Teddy, from the moment he'd been born. For the last 18 months their whole lives had been about their family. Bucky had been on a few small missions with Sam, but he didn't like to be gone more than a few days. Lizzie had about 3 months off work after the birth and then had her office set up here. She loved her job and the work they had done had been amazing. They had managed to help so many people and once Pepper offered the help of Stark industries, they had hit a whole new level.
Even though she worked from home, Bucky had looked after Teddy most of the time, there were moments of complete harmony, then it never stayed that way for long. The moment Teddy started crawling and then walking, their world had changed completely. Being a grown up with the serum in your veins is one thing but being a toddler was another. It had dawned on Lizzie that she must have been a handful, how had her parents and grandparents coped and was Teddy more of a handful because he had bought her and Bucky in him.
"I trust him, Buck. He can handle Teddy."
"Fine. If you trust him then I do too." He said kissing her softly before growing more passionate and pushing her back into the sofa, his hand running over her. Lizzie pushed him up.
"I told you…."
"I know, but we can still make out. I love these moments with you."
"I love them too, as much as I love you."
"I love you too."
END OF CHAPTER 1