It's been about 5 days since Maxim came. The day after their shopping trip, Bruce and Tony talked to Bucky about getting Maxim a tutor to help him get ready to go to school. They didn't want Maxim to get behind on his education and Bucky agreed.

"This kid's smart, I know it." Tony said.

All three looked back at Maxim in the living area. He was playing with his animals with Barton.

The next day Bucky found a big box filled up with children's books outside his door. They were all written in Russian. Maxim was a little amazed at them.

(You got cool books, Bucky.) He was looking through one.

(These are yours, not mine.)

Maxim popped his head up at Bucky. (Really?) He stared down at the book he was looking at. (I've never had a book before...)

He ruffled Maxim's blonde hair a little and hid the sadness in his face before Maxim could see it. (Well now you do.)

They sat on the couch and looked through the box. Bucky noticed a lot of the books were by the same author, Dr. Suess. They looked brand new and Bucky knew they had to cost a lot.

(Will you read this to me?) Maxim held out a book to him.

(The Cat in the Hat.) Bucky read out loud and took the book.

(Don't you like it? Cause it's a cat and Alpine's a cat to.)

(Yeah, I do.) Bucky grinned. (I wonder how they got a hat on the cat though. Alpine would never wear a hat.)

(We gotta read it to find out!) Maxim crawled in Bucky's lap. Gerry the giraffe was sitting beside them on the couch cause Maxim took him everywhere. He grabbed Gerry and squirmed around til he got comfortable.

(Okay, I'm ready.)

(Okay.) Bucky laughed and opened to the book.

0-0-0

Bucky watches as Maxim leans across kitchen table and starts his turn. His tongue sticks out to the side in concentration like he did before when they were playing Connect4. They were playing the game from the store Maxim got called Operation with Sam. Bucky never seen it before, but turns out being an assassin for around 70 years makes you pretty good at it since your trained to keep your hands steady.

Maxim tries for a piece in the right leg. The buzz goes off and Maxim's face falls in disappointment.

Bucky pats him on the back. (It's okay, you'll get it next time.)

(I've only gotten one, and you had to help me. I'm not good at this.)

(You just need practice. You'll get it.)

(Okay... I'll keep trying.) Maxim shrugs but smiles a little when he sees Sam give him a thumbs up.

It's Sam's turn next. He goes for one on the arm and it buzzes. Bucky goes next. He picks the same piece Sam tried for just for spite and places it with his other pieces.

(You did it Bucky your good at this!)

Bucky thanks Maxim for his compliment and grins at Sam whose glaring at him.

"I know what you're doing. That's the third time."

"I don't know what your talking about."

"Whatever."

Maxim goes again. He stays focused on the game and doesn't notice the other two arguing. He grips the tweezers in one hand and holds his wrist with the other.

(Don't hold so tight or you'll jerk.)

(Okay...) Maxim loosens his hands and starts. It doesn't buzz this time. Maxim holds the piece up in the air. (I did it!)

(I told ya you would, good job.)

"Good job" Sam says cheerfully. He high fives Maxim and starts his turn.

Bucky is disappointed Sam gets it this time, but Maxim congratulates and high fives him. Natasha walks in then and notices them.

"I've seen this before. I want to play." She takes a seat beside Maxim. He waves at her excitedly.

(You can play with us!) Maxim leans towards her and lowers his voice. (But they're really good. I only got one by myself and they got a bunch.)

Natasha laughed and whispered back. (Thanks for the heads up.)

"What he'd say?" Sam asked.

"Told me you two were pretty good."

"I'm flattered."

Natasha went next and successfully grabbed a piece in one swift motion. Bucky and Sam's eyes widen in surprise at how fast she went.

(Wow!) Maxim exclaimed, (You're good to!)

"I might actually have some competition." Bucky said.

"You only have two more then me!" Sam says. "I'm not even bad."

"Exactly, more than you."

"I don't know how Steve puts up with you two." Natasha said.

"Steve loves us." Bucky said and started his turn.

They played a little more. Natasha never missed. Bucky only missed once-much to Sam's joy-when he thought Maxim was falling of his chair. Maxim didn't fall though, he was just bending down to pick up Gerry when he knocked him off the table. Sam only missed once also. Maxim missed a couple times, but he was doing better.

By the third round Tony came in. He waved at them and went looking through the fridge.

(You think he would want to play to? We should ask him.) Maxim asks Bucky.

(He might. You know, he's the one who bought you your books and clothes. We should thank him.)

(Really?! That was nice of him. I'm gonna go say thank you.) Maxim grabbed Gerry and started towards Tony. He jumped and gave Tony a big hug that almost made Tony fall in the fridge.

"What the-" Tony caught himself and looked behind him. "Oh..."

(Thank you for giving me the books! Bucky is reading them to me and they're really good. And this is my giraffe,) Maxim held up Gerry with one hand. (His name is Gerry and he's real soft. You can hold him if you want. You wanna play a game with us? It's real fun. I'm not very good at it but Bucky says I'll get better. Wanna play?)

Bucky and Natasha laughed at Maxim's little speech. Tony looked down at Maxim with a surprised face. "I have no idea what he just said."

"Said thanks for the books and asked if you want to play this game."

"Sure I'll play, and your welcome." Tony patted Maxim's head and smiled at him.

Tony joined the game and they played until dinner time. Everyone came in the shared kitchen and ate pizza. Bucky noticed a huge difference in how Maxim acted around everyone when he first came compared to now. He isn't timid or shy anymore. He seems comfortable around everyone. Right now he's with Wanda getting more food.

"He seems happy." Steve said. He was sitting at the table beside Bucky watching Maxim and Wanda.

"He acts happy. Learned that he likes to read. Wants me to read to him all the time. His favorite is a book called Lorax."

"Lorax? Sounds interesting. What's it about?"

"Little, furry orange man that tells this other guy to stop cutting down trees. He says 'he speaks for the trees'. Read it so many times I think I have it memorized."

Steve laughed at that. "Must really like it."

"Those books are pretty interesting though. Some use strange words I've never heard before."

Maxim and Wanda came back. He climbed back up in his chair and started eating. (It's good!) Maxim said with his mouth full.

(It is.) Wanda said. "Do you want a napkin?"

"Yes, please." Maxim wiped his face before eating again.

Bruce left when it started getting dark outside. Soon everyone went to their own rooms to bed. Maxim walked in between Bucky and Steve on their way to the rooms.

(Want to read a story with us? Bucky always reads to me before we go to bed.)

Steve looked at Bucky to translate.

"He wants you to read with him."

"Oh, yeah, sounds like he got some interesting books."

Maxim looked back and forth to Steve and Bucky.

(He said yes, but you got to get a bath first.)

(Okay, come on!)

Maxim grabbed Bucky's hand and pulled him down the hallway to their room. (Come on Steve!)