New Haven, Connecticut had a combination of parks, colleges, old buildings, immigrants, and churches that gave Bucky just a taste of home. Considered part of the larger NYC metropolitan area, Bucky could hop on his bike and get to Brooklyn or the new Avengers headquarters in less than two hours. The itch to be close was really strong on this day. The Fourth of July. Steve Rogers' birthday. Bucky yearned to be on a rooftop with Steve, watching fireworks like they did when they were kids. He wondered if Steve would be watching them later tonight, if he'd be surrounded by friends and family or be alone. If he would remember being at Bucky's side late into the summer night.

Two sets of footsteps were approaching him from behind. One belonged to a child, so unless his occasional pursuers had stooped to drastic new lows, Bucky was more curious than worried. People usually didn't approach a one armed man sitting alone on a park bench.

"I grew up around here, you know."

"I did not know that, Ms. Potts."

Bucky stood and turned to face Pepper and her daughter, Morgan. He had maintained a respectful distance from them at Tony's funeral, so he had not really interacted with either one of them in person. Although Bucky played no role in Tony's death, residual guilt about Howard and Maria Stark almost brought him to his knees. As it was, when Morgan pulled up in front of him, memories of playing with his sisters caused Bucky to kneel so he could greet her at her own level.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Bucky. What's your name?"

"Morgan. How do you know my mom?"

Bucky never liked lying to kids, so he tried his best. "We met at work."

"Did you know my daddy?"

Bucky looked at Pepper, who merely smiled kindly at him. No hints there. "Not very well. I did know your grandpa when he was younger, though."

"Do you like ice cream?"

Bucky had always appreciated the short attention span of children. "Of course."

"Mom, we want ice cream!"

Pepper rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, Bucky. She's turning into a little tyrant."

"With your permission, I'd be honored to buy her some ice cream."

"Hold my hand!"

Morgan grabbed Bucky's right hand and pulled him to an ice cream stand located about fifty yards from where he had been listening to the comforting sound of the Mill River. For a tiny park stand, there was an impressive array of ice cream and gelato choices.

"What flavor would you like?"

Morgan pointed at a label. "Rainbow."

"Rainbow isn't a flavor. What does it taste like?"

"Mom says it's pure sugar."

Bucky smiled, "And what flavor should we get for your mother?"

"Mom likes fruit because it's healthy. But not strawberries. Daddy always reminded Mom she was allergic to strawberries."

"Good to know. Thanks, Morgan."

Carrying the ice cream cones, Bucky and Morgan returned to where Pepper was seated on the bench Bucky had vacated.

"Bucky picked out a flavor for you, Mommy." Morgan excitedly handed a cone to her mother.

"Black currant and clotted cream. Morgan made sure to let me know you were allergic to strawberries."

Pepper teared up a little as she thanked him. "And what did you get?"

"Gianduia. Haven't tried it before."

"It's good to try new things."

The two adults sat silently, enjoying their treats and watching Morgan sloppily eat hers while playing with the ducks on the riverbank. Bucky wasn't much used to companionship after these several months of solitude, so he was grateful Pepper was easing him into conversation. He allowed himself to savor the flavors of chocolate and hazelnut, the cold creaminess on his tongue. A common treat these days, but such a rare treat in his youth that a simple ice cream cone seemed the peak of indulgence.

"You know, I waited until you were in a 100-mile radius of New York before seeking you out, so you brought this upon yourself."

Bucky smiled and crunched the last bit of his cone.

Pepper wiped some lingering ice cream from her mouth with the back of her hand. "I've been monitoring the bank accounts I set up for you. You've been incredibly frugal."

"In this rebuilding world, there have been a lot of good opportunities to barter goods and services for labor. Most of the time, when I tapped an account, it was to let you know I was alive. Didn't want you to have to worry about me."

Pepper shot an appraising look at Bucky. She must have approved of what she saw because she followed up with, "You're welcome back any time. I'm funding the tech for the team, you know. Sam is leading it. Whatever capacity you are comfortable with, we'd be glad to have you."

"I'd like to help out, if I can. Not out in the field, but I could train recruits or something. Some day, maybe. I'm not ready yet." Bucky was sure the shame showed on his face. "And I worry about harming the team with my reputation."

"You know, I'm considered a master at public relations. You have no idea how many messes I got Tony out of." Her smile betrayed the bittersweet nature of her memories. "I could help you out of the shadows."

"Think it's possible?"

"Of course." She nudged him in the arm with her elbow. "You could always get a haircut, make yourself look like you do in all the history books. Remind the public you're Bucky Barnes, not the Winter Soldier."

Bucky put a hand to his hair. It was still long, pulled back in a half ponytail. Longer than it had ever been as the Soldier and a far cry from the short hair of the 1940s. Letting it continue to grow out had been one of his first choices as a free man again, and afternoons spent with Wakandan children braiding his hair had been amongst his first human interactions while he healed. "I think I'll keep it."

Pepper nodded in agreement. "I'm glad. You're not either of those people. You're allowed to find out who you are now. I'll be happy to help in any way I can."

Bucky was too choked up to force any words out, so he nodded his gratitude.

"You were really good with Morgan."

"I had sisters."

"I know." Pepper giggled at his look of surprise. "Steve never really talked much about himself, but he would go on and on about you and the Howling Commandos. I feel like I know you better just sitting next to you for thirty minutes than I ever knew him."

"He always had difficulty letting people get close to him."

"How did you manage it?"

"Just lucky, I guess."

"Stubborn, more like it?"

"I prefer determined, ma'am."

That earned another giggle from Pepper. Bucky was glad he could make her laugh. Almost made him feel like a complete human being again.

The sparkle in her eye dimmed a bit as she watched Morgan play. "Tony forgave you. I want you to know that. We found eyes-only SHIELD documents from the Sixties referring to you, hidden away in one of Howard's many houses. Tony was devastated to learn they never attempted a rescue." The look Pepper sent his way was full of sympathy, but not pity. She continued, "Then Natasha showed him the Russian file. We know what you went through, how hard you fought." Pepper placed a gentle hand on his knee, seeming to need to assure herself of his well-being. "He couldn't hold your actions against you after that."

A sense of relief flooded through Bucky. He knew he had not willingly chosen to kill Howard and Maria, but that memory was still his, and the action had rendered Tony an orphan. When Tony died, he'd lost his chance to try to make amends. "Thank you for telling me. It does help, a bit."

"He never forgave Steve, though, and I'm sorry for that."

Bucky knew Steve usually did not care about forgiveness where his actions were concerned, but Tony's would have meant something to him. Not wanting to make Pepper feel worse about that, he hummed noncommittally.

"How about you?"

Bucky was confused. "Hmm?"

"Have you forgiven Steve?"

"Nothing to forgive."

Pepper started to say something, so Bucky kept going. "Look, Steve was tired. Really tired. Even before Thanos. If he had a chance to go after the life he really wanted all along, how can I begrudge him that?"

That saddened Pepper. "Seems to me you could be a little more selfish."

Bucky didn't know how to explain it. He'd always felt selfish about Steve. "You love someone, hoping they'll love you back. But them feeling the same way isn't conditional, you know? I just love him and want the best for him. I always have."

From the expression on Pepper's face, Bucky could tell she understood what he meant. She said, "But I get the feeling you still need him."

"I do. Nothing's ever going to change that. It's just…"

Pepper reached out and touched his hand.

Bucky choked up a bit over his next words. "… I need my Steve, and I'm scared he's gone forever. I can't see him and find out he's not the man I love. I'm just not up to facing that yet."

"Trust me. I understand."

Bucky regarded the woman next to him who had lost so much and yet was still so compassionate and optimistic. He sensed a kindred spirit in Pepper.

"Will you forgive me if I'm still upset with Steve on your behalf?"

"I'd never presume to tell a lady what to think."

Pepper laughed. Score another point for human Bucky.

After a few moments, she said, "You know, the view of the fireworks is better from the top of that hill over there. You can see them all around the bay, even some from the city."

"I know. But this is good enough for me."

"Good enough to just be surrounded by memories instead of the show?"

Bucky looked her in the eye. "Is that why you're here? Memories?"

"No. I'm here because I didn't want you to be alone on Steve's birthday."

Such kindness. He could not believe he deserved it.

Bucky had spent the last several months attending to his own pain. He'd forgotten there were others out in the world who saw his pain and wanted to help soothe it, and perhaps by their actions, soothe some of their own. It'd be selfish to turn down such a chance.

Bucky smiled. "How about I buy us some dinner, and we find a good spot?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Pepper called Morgan over. When she reached them, Bucky asked, "What would you like for dinner?"

"Cheeseburgers!"

Bucky didn't know why that response made a tear streak down Pepper's face, but she nodded her approval. Bucky stood and reached his hand out to Morgan. "I'm sure we could find some of those. Wanna come help me carry 'em, just like you did with the ice cream cones?

"Sure!"

Morgan grabbed Bucky's hand, and Pepper joined up at her other side. The three strolled along the path. Bucky lived in that moment, surrounded by laughter in the park, appreciating the simple joy of the talking of a child, taking the first steps into a new friendship. Venturing into the future without Steve was something Bucky had never wanted, had never planned for. But days like this reminded him that even without Steve, Bucky just might be okay.