Part 8

After quickly slipping on some clothes, Bucky soon found himself in the backseat of the car that Steve has arranged to take him to Brogan's home. As the car sped along the highway he couldn't help but aimlessly stare out the window deep in thought. His chest almost felt hollow as he took several deep breaths in a desperate bid to control his ever growing anxiety. His face almost felt numb but part of him couldn't help but wonder why he was feeling anxious? This was just his wife after all. This was the love of his life. There really was no reason to be afraid. Yet he here was. Terrified of what may await him.

As the car soon came to a stop in some traffic, he caught sight of a nervous man of similar age to himself pacing furiously in the garden of a nearby house. Instantly Bucky could see so many of his own anxiety traits in the pale man. The pacing furiously, the pale clammy hands and the repeated notion of looking down at his watch for what felt like the millionth time. Yes he could definitely see so much of himself in the nervous nameless man in front of him. Even more so when a police car containing a woman and two children pulled onto the driveway. Bucky soon just couldn't take his gaze the scene, watching on as the man sobbed dropping to his knees and enveloping the happy youngsters in his arms. His "wife" pulling him to his feet, kissing him furiously as she reached for his face. The woman soon hurling her arms round his neck as the man still sobbing, buried his face into her collar bone and still unable to take in that she was back. Judging by the reactions, Bucky knew instantly that it was the woman that had been "Dusted" along with her children and Bucky had just witnessed the emotional reunion between them all. A warm proud smile filled Bucky's face as the man quickly picked up one of this children on his hip, took his wife's hand and went inside their home...ready to start his new life...reunited with his love..

"never let her go my friend..." Smiled Bucky. Yes he had no idea who the man was but seeing that moment connected them both. In some way, putting his mind at rest and giving him the reassurance he needed at his own awaiting reunion "enjoy your happy ending...just as I'm going to"

Brogan let out an exhausted sigh now as she at long last pulled her car up outside her home. She and the children had just braved the store to stock up on supplies and for the entire journey home, all she could think about was relaxing on the sofa with a large glass of wine or maybe head down to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of sitting by the creek next to her home. She soon reached into the boot and handed both children a bag of shopping before slowly heading up the porch steps and crossing to the kitchen. Bringing up the rear, Rebecca's eyes soon fell at the newspaper propped up on the steps of the front porch. Immediately the headline caught her eye and caused her to almost drop the shopping in the process. Falling to her knees, there on the front page was a huge picture of her Uncle Steve with the other avengers and in huge capital letters was the words "RESSURECTED-THANK YOU AVENGERS" . A proud smile soon filled the little girls face now as she scanned the article praising the avengers for their actions in reversing the decimation and also mourning the loss of Tony Stark. For Rebecca, this was her proof why she woke up this morning elated and feeling on top of the world. She sensed good news was brewing and overwhelming surges of joy spread through her body now as here was her proof infront of her that her beloved papa was finally coming home. The little girl quickly pushed the paper under a chair and headed back into the kitchen to join the rest of the family

" mama can James and I go play outside please?" grinned Rebecca turning to her equally confused brother " I really want to show him how I can do a one-handed cartwheel now. he doesn't think I can do it across one of those wooden beams I built in the barn but I've been practising..."

"but I've seen you do a cartwheel before..." said James, running his hand through his hair "what's so different this time?" ignoring Rebecca's look he reached into the fridge for a can of coke "ok then Becca. I need to go check on coco anyhow. She was lame earlier. Want to see if she's OK"

"James just go with her...I'm going to head down to the creek anyway and do some sketching so just go and enjoy some time with your sister" Brogan smiled, reaching for a loose lock of his that had fell over his face "even the man of the house needs some fun time.. Its too nice a day to stay inside... If you need me I'll be at the creek.." picking up her sketchpad, Brogan kissed both on the head and smiled "You both be OK?...come find me when you're done and we'll go for picnic later..."

"Okay, what are you hiding Rebecca Barnes?" smirked James, following his sister who had now decided to skip out the front door. When the pair reached the porch the little girl was still grinning furiously as she handed him the paper hidden still under the chair "I might not have super soldier instincts like you but you know something...what's this then?.. What...the hell!" instantly James clasped his hand over his mouth and gasped loudly "it worked...you mean...Papa?"

"yes...yes James. What uncle Steve and the others did...it WORKED!" the little girl almost had tears in her eyes now as she hurled herself at Her brother in a deep crushing hug "Hes coming home...Papa is coming back to us...just he promised he would"

"we gotta tell Mama.."

" no I don't know what it is but something telling me that we shouldn't have her know just yet" Rebecca reach to her brother's arm with her look almost piercing a hole straight through him " call it gut feeling but Mama needs to find out on her own and not from us.. I'm dying to tell her but it just doesn't feel right if I do"

" Rebecca answer me one thing... you know when he's coming home don't you?"

"Yes...I'm still learning these new gifts that Papa has given me but I just can't escape the feeling that its soon...I can feel him James. Hes been with me ever since he left to join the fight all those years ago. Its been Even more so now" the little girl almost looked like she was crying "This morning I woke up so happy and my head was just full of him. I could see him smiling at me as we had a cuddle and he held me close...it all felt so real. I've missed him so much it hurts. I know its today though James...wish these gifts would at least tell me when exactly..i feel so helpless. Its stupid me having Papas gifts and I cant even feel exactly when he will coming home"

"Listen to me... I believe you...I always have done" James dropped to his knees and stroked the little girls hair softy. He reached up to take her head in both his hands and gently wiped away the sole tear than ran down her cheek from her now glistening blue eyes that were identical to Bucky's "You are an amazing little girl Rebecca Alice Barnes and I'm proud to have to as my sister. If Papa is indeed coming home today then we will deal with it when it happens...we don't need to know exactly when he will come back to us, only that he will...never doubt the gifts he gave you Rebecca...they are what make you who you are" he smiled kissing her on the forehead "I love you. And Papa will be so proud of how you've embraced everything... Talking of which...I thinking really do want to see you do that cartwheel...let's go to the barn"

After hearing enough of the driver talk about what it felt like to be one of the dusted for what was probably the millionth time, Bucky had had enough and told him just to pull over at the pathway that would lead him directly to the house. He just couldn't take anymore and decided that he'd walk the rest of the way. On the path was a huge mass of bluebells that lead straight up to the very front of house. Several minutes later and Bucky soon found himself looking up at it in all it's glory. It was quite small in statue but was still 2 stories high and was surrounded by a white picket fence. As he looked up, a sudden memory from deep within his past hit him hard. Bucky clutched his head almost in pain and closed his eyes. Soon through the cloudy mass of his mind an image of a very similar looking house slowly began to emerge. This house was identical to this one and turned out was one that his parents owned and he had grew up at. This house was one of the last places he saw them just before he left to join his Regiment at the start of the war and a lot of his troubles started. Struggling to breathe, he could still see his parents, Alice and Henry, standing on the porch waving him proudly as he left to join the 107th

"you just had to choose a place like this didn't you?" He smiled, gazing up at the house "If only you knew "

Heading to the side of the house, Bucky next headed over to the vegetable patch and couldn't help but smile as he saw a pen that housed a very familiar animal friend from the past. Crouching down he ran his hand over a wooden panel that has the word "coco" carved deep into the woods. He couldn't help but laugh as he remembered that it was in fact James that helped him carve the wood not long after the goat was born back home in the Wakanda. He reached over the pen and gave the animal a gently scratch behind the ears. The goat bleated contently almost like he was remembering him. As Bucky continued to talk to the animal, he was quickly soon bought back to reality when the door to the huge barn opposite suddenly swung open. Lucky for Bucky, his super soldier instincts kicked in and he raced to hide behind a nearby oak tree just opposite. Taking a deep breath he peered round the corner and to his joy there at long last he caught sight of his beautiful Rebecca. The little girl dragging a huge plank of wood along the floor and placing it on two tree stumps with relative ease

"oh my god...look at you" Bucky thought to himself, his heart already swelling with pride "You're beautiful... My baby girl...my Rebecca"

He continued to watch on in awe as the little girl managed three quick cartwheels in succession on the beam before being greeted with a round of applause from her big brother emerging too from the barn. The anxious father struggled to hold it together at the sight of seeing his children for the first time again in 5 heart-breaking years. There was James, his hair scraped back into right ponytail now, looking almost like a miniature version of himself and almost a teenager. There too was his beautiful Rebecca. Her eyes identical to his own caught hers briefly as the little girl burst out laughing at her brothers attempts at copying her cartwheel across the beam and failing miserably. Her smile glowed instantly from the light within her. It was at that moment all Bucky wanted to do was run over to them both, take them in his arms and never let them feel alone again. Oh it killed him how much he missed them both...

"OK..few more attempts and I'll be just as good as you Missy" James laughed, brushing himself down after yet another failure "I'll get you next time.."

"yeah yeah...you're just all talk big brother.. You'll never be a good as m..."

Unable to finish her sentence, Rebecca's eyes grew wide as she gasped loudly and clasped her hands tightly over her mouth. Slowly the little girl turned her head and stared almost trance like at the tree Bucky was hiding directly behind. Her young face showed no emotion as she failed to hear James desperately calling out to her. Her eyes locked on the tree as he desperately grabbed at her arm as she slowly took steps forward...

"Rebecca! Talk to me!" cried James, blocking the path ahead of her and reaching for her shoulders. Hoping she'd wake up from whatever had a hold of her right now "wake up! What's going on? You're scaring me.."

Knowing that his daughter was literally the other side of the tree, Bucky soon began to feel the panic inside him begin to resurface once more. Almost like volts of electricity hitting him hard in the abdomen. His breathing coming in short sharp gasps as his heart beat rapidly inside his chest. His head was spinning as he clutched his chest

"Papa? I know you're there...I know its you..." cried the little girl. James watched on stunned as she reached out and placed her tiny palm on the tree "I've felt you all day...I know you're scared but its OK. Everything's going to be fine...you trust me yes? Please Papa...let me see you...its just us..please"

From behind the tree, Bucky's jaw dropped in sheer disbelief. She felt him? That had to be the effects of the serum flowing through her veins for sure. Yet as he heard her speak, the words calmed him instantly and he started to relax. The way she spoke was exactly like her mother and immediately he felt reassured. After taking one last deep breath, he placed his metallic hand over his chest and took several steps round to the front of the tree. There indeed was his two beautiful children. Seeing their father after so long hit the youngsters hard and both immediately burst into tears. Running at Bucky fast and nearly knocking him off his feet in the process. As all three dropped to the floor, Bucky took them in his arms pulling them close and never wanting to let go

"I can't believe it's really you...you're really here Papa" sobbed James after Bucky eventually released them from his embrace. The boy reaching out for his beloved father's beard "Becca. You was right!...you was right!"

"look at you both... You've grown up so much" he took her each ones head in his hands and kissed them on the forehead. Yet as always pangs of that all too familiar guilt hit him hard "Im so sorry I left you both...I'm sorry for what I've put you through Rebecca...I hope you can forgive me"

"Papa, you NEVER have to apologise to either of us. You did what you did because it was the right thing to do" Rebecca smiled, she reached for a loose lock of his hair and playfully entwined it round her fingers "As for all the gifts you've given me because of the medicine you had...I'm not afraid and if anything I'm proud to be your daughter.. I love you Papa"

With his metallic hand gently brushing Rebecca's cheek, Bucky reached for her chin and tilted it up to look at her. For the last five years all he'd expected to see was judgment buried there but as he looked into those eyes that were identical to his own, he could only see love and deep joy. Holding back his own tears no longer, tears soon rolled unchecked down his face. Before he knew it both children were hugging him tightly, Bucky felt every single one of the tears dampen onto his shirt. He managed to encircle his arms round them both once more. Both children forgetting the world around them. All that mattered now was that their Papa was home at last. As one of Bucky's hands clasped James's back, his other began to softly stroke the long wavy curls of Rebecca's hair. After so many years apart, here they was reunited and ready to make new memories as a family...

"Mama's going to be so happy" at last the little girl finally released him from her crushing bear like hug. She gently ran her tiny hand once more through the long locks of his hair before reaching for his face and brushing away own Bucky's glistening tears "I knew you'd come home to us.. "

"Where is she then?" whispered Bucky, slowly getting back up to his feet "is she here?"

"She went down by the creek at the back of the house papa" Cried James. As little Rebecca clung to his leg "want me to show you?"

"no its OK Son..." continued Bucky, his heart almost ready to burst at the thought of her being so close "ill find her...your mother and I always found a way.."

Letting his instincts be his guide, Bucky soon found himself down at the creek at the rear of the house. His heart was pounding now, desperately he tried to hold it together and stay calm. His eyes soon caught sight of Brogan leaning against a tree as she sat peacefully on a fallen log sketching into a book. As he stood there watching her, slowly all the nerves and anxiety instantly began to slip away. In its place was now was something much more stronger... love. Love for the woman who never gave up on him even when she knew the full extent of his past, love for the woman who had given him the greatest gift of all in his beautiful daughter and love for the woman who owned his heart for all eternity. Even five years later, for Bucky Barnes she was still as beautiful as he remembered...

"Brogan?..." He whispered in a tiny gentle voice "im home..."

At hearing that all too familiar voice, Brogan gasped as goose bumps shot up all over her body and a chill ran down her spine taking her breath away. Slowly getting to her feet, she tried desperately to speak but her voice only faltering into nothing but an unintelligible whisper. Starting to cry she forced her eyes shut but soon felt a soft hand cup her cheek while another gently brushed through her hair

"open your eyes...' Bucky's long metallic fingers continued to stroke her cheek "please?"

"I can't.." Sobbed Brogan "im scared that this will be a dream again... It will kill me if I open them and your not here..."

"maybe this will make you change you mind..."

Leaning slowly toward, Bucky pressed his lips to hers and kissed her softly. Gentle and sweet, the kiss was still full of fire and passion. Slowly his hands slid down her back, exploring every curve of her body as the kissing continued. Eventually as they pulled apart, Brogan slowly opened her eyes and sobbed even more at finally seeing proof that he was indeed here. For several seconds they just stared deep into each others eyes. Bucky's were full of wonder that she was still as beautiful as ever and Brogan's so happy that he had indeed come back to her just as he promised. No words were exchanged but the intense impact of his return filling both of them to the core

"You're here...you're really here" She cupped his slightly more heavily bearded cheek and smiled "just as you promised me...oh Bucky"

"I'm home and I'm never leaving you again" Bucky beamed as Brogan literally hurled herself at his chest, wrapping her arms tight round his torso. Her head pressed over his heart as he lowered his head onto her own. Holding her gently as his metallic hand began stroking her back once more "I promise..."

From the darkness of their forced separation, for Brogan right now this embrace felt like a little taste of heaven being in his arms once more. Bringing her at long last after five painful years, a real sense of peace and contentment. In that moment as they finally embraced in a tight loving closeness, both felt as if the world around them had all but melted away. Bucky's chest rising and falling against her almost in unison with hers. Joining them together once more and being together at last...just as it should be...