A loud clap of thunder strikes, shaking the whole house and causing Bucky to jerk awake. For a moment there, he thought he was back in WW2. Echoes of the past ring in his ears; bombs exploding as they drop, guns firing rapid rounds, and the screams of the men as they fall all around him. The flash of lightning has him jumping out of bed and grabbing his knife out of instinct, ready for an attack.
The door to his bedroom squeeks open making him quickly turn on his heel in a defensive stance.
"Daddy?" the soft voice of his four year old daughter surprises him.
Bucky drops his knife and falls to his knees, "Eliza, what are you doing up baby?"
She stares up at him, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, "The storm woke me up, I don't like it Daddy."
He lets out a breath, holding his arms open to her, "Come here Baby. Daddy doesn't like the storms either. How about I make up some hot chocolate? Maybe get some of those cookies Mama made earlier."
Little Eliza nods her head, "Okay Daddy. Daddy, why did you have your knife out? Was a bad guy here? Did you get him?"
He gives her a small smile, setting her down at the kitchen table, "No munchkin, there wasn't a bad guy here. Daddy, um…"
"Did you have a bad dream? Mommy said that everyone has bad dreams, even big people. She said that the best thing when you have a bad dream is getting cuddles. Do you need cuddles Daddy?"
His heart melts at his daughter's sweet gesture, "Cuddles would be great munchkin. But first, how about that hot chocolate and cookies?"
"YEAH!"
Father and daughter sit at the table, giggling and enjoying their drink and sweet treat. They completely forget about the storm going on outside, and Bucky no longer feels the grip of the past or the anxiety of relieving the war. He wasn't that person anymore, he is no longer the Soldier. He is just normal, old Bucky Barnes; the dad to a beautiful and wonderful little girl.
Eliza lets out an exaggerated yawn making Bucky laugh, "Alright munchkin, time to get you back to bed before you Mama hurts me for letting you be up so late."
"But Mommy's not here, how'd she know if I stayed up late?" she asks, giving him the most innocent look possible.
"I'm not falling for that again you little devil. I see those horns holding up that halo of yours. Your Mama knows everything, we can't get nothing passed her. So as cute as you are, I'm not letting you stay up any later."
Bucky picks her up from the chair and heads to her room,
"But Daddy!" she whines, "I promised you cuddles! I gotta cuddle you to keep the nightmares away!"
"Bucky barks out a laugh, "Okay, you wanna sleep with me then? Maybe we can keep each other safe from the storm and nightmares,"
"Yes!"
Eliza wiggles out of his arms and runs right to the master bedroom. He moves after her, hearing her giggles coming from the room and finds her curled up in the middle of the bed. The king sized bed making her look even smaller and more adorable, if that was at all possible.
"I see you have claimed the bed for yourself, and now there's no room for me." he lets out a over dramatic sigh, "I guess I'll just have to go sleep in your princess bed."
Eliza gives a loud cackle, "Silly Daddy, there's LOTS of room for you here! Come on! I sleepy!"
Bucky crawls into the bed laughing at his little girl. She quickly curls into his arms, snuggling up close and lets out a small breath, "Night night Daddy."
"Night night sweetheart. I love you."
"Love you too Daddy. You sleep safe now, I keep all bad dreams away."
Bucky places a light kiss on the top of her head, "I've never felt more safe. Sleep tights munchkin."
In no time Eliza is sound asleep and Bucky lays there watching her sleep. Moments like this he finds himself actually happy to have gone through everything that he has.
If not for falling from the train, being held captive by Hydra and being turned into the Winter Soldier, he might never have survived this long to make it to meet his now wonderful wife of 7 years or have this beautiful little girl sleeping in his arms. Nightmares aren't all that bad when he has these sweet dreams to wake up too.