This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to Captain America, any of its characters or any characters within the MCU… Much to my disappointment. This will have some violent content and possible triggers. Steve/Bucky Established Relationship. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it.
Chapter 9: Bugged
As Steve took the shortest route back to the tower, Bucky read the texts that had been sent. They didn't contain much information. Mainly it was an emphasize of Rebecca requesting his presence before they moved any further forward. Forward on what wasn't explained but it indicated that his eldest was concerned about what was going on.
When they reached the tower, Steve was speculating why Hill didn't go into detail about why they were needed but figured that he shouldn't be focusing on that so much as the fact that they were needed by their children. Steve told FRIDAY to take them to the medical floor where he presumed everyone was waiting. Once they reached the floor and the doors opened, they saw grim faced adults and upset little girls.
"Daddy!" Rebecca reacted immediately and was instantly rushing over to Bucky as he exited the elevator. Sarah had silently done the same, hiding behind Steve rather than clinging to him as Rebecca had.
Natasha, meanwhile was trying to calm a tearful Natalia as Dr. Banner wrapped a bandage around the small child's arm. Tony was pacing and frequently looked to his daughter, worry written over his face. Steve and Bucky's arrival was uncomfortable as Tony immediately ordered FRIDAY to block any new frequencies going out of the room. Steve immediately frowned at this.
"Tony, what is going on?" Steve practically growled out.
"I don't know. Why doesn't your boyfriend tell us?" Tony was instantly hostile. "Why didn't he tell us that they put tracking and listening devices in all the kids. And I mean all of them. FRIDAY?"
"No new signals beyond Captain Rogers phone have been detected, boss," FRIDAY responded immediately.
"What?" Bucky squeaked out, his face draining of blood. "They did what?"
"Bugged them. Little kids. Like little, mini Trojan horses. What's more, your kid won't let us remove the ones in her or Sarah or the boys. We managed to restrain her so that we could get the one out of Natalia," Tony nearly growled.
"It is probably why it was so easy to get them out Steve. Hydra likely wanted to know what we were up to and this is a pretty clever way of doing it, though I doubt that is the original reason they created the kids," Natasha wasn't nearly as accusing as Tony as she stood after Bruce gave Natalia a lollipop for being good.
Bucky immediately crouched down to look Rebecca in the eye while Steve picked Sarah up and carried her over to Bruce. His grim expression saying loud and clear that he wanted the devices out of his children. Bucky spoke gently but firmly, "Rebecca, did you know about these devices being put in you?"
Rebecca shook her head no immediately, "They gave us lots of shots at random times. A lot of them made us drowsy. I didn't know, I swear!" The look of panic and fear was all Bucky needed to believe her.
"Okay. It's okay. I don't blame you. However, those devices are dangerous to you all. They need to come out and you need to let the nice doctors take them out. Okay?" Bucky's serious expression made Rebecca nod hesitantly.
"How are they dangerous?" She whispered.
"If they can track even one of you, they can track us all and that means they can find us no matter where we are and they can come and get any of us any time they want. Worse, they can hear what we are talking about, so they can learn lots of secrets that could make Hydra even more powerful," Bucky explained as simply as he could.
Rebecca nodded more firmly and took his hand, letting him lead her over to Dr. Cho. Bucky let her sit in his lap while Dr. Cho injected a localized numbing agent to keep it from hurting before making a small incision over where the device was placed and used tweezers to remove it from her arm. When she finished she carefully stitched the cut closed and then bandaged it. By the time that she finished, Bruce had already finished with a now upset Sarah and giving the girl another lollipop.
When they finished with the three girls, the two doctors directed their assistants to hold the twins' arms still while they repeated the process on the thankfully asleep boys. Tony didn't relax until Bucky allowed himself to go through a full body scan, his prosthetic arm included, to ensure that he didn't also have a device that was just temporarily inert.
"So, what were you two up to that distracted you from the phone going nuts?" Bruce asked after Tony had calmed and decided to buy more toys for all the children as an apology for making them have very minor surgery to remove the devices.
"Well, I am guessing by the rings that both are wearing, getting engaged and then celebrating that engagement in a very adult way," Natasha smirked at the two who instantly blushed, Steve more so than Bucky.
Bruce looked between the men in confusion, "Wait, that wasn't a joke? Nat was actually right? You're engaged?"
"Yes…" Steve murmured, his blush deepening.
"What other reason would we being wearing matching rings?" Bucky asked more calm over the thing. This made Tony do a double take. Bucky was acting increasingly confident the longer he was around the other Avengers.
"Isn't that rushing things a little? I mean how long have you two been together?" Bruce asked, seeming to think they weren't in a relationship for long.
"Since we were 17? Wait, I was 17, Buck was 18. I never stood a chance," Steve's grin had gotten goofy again, now that the issue with the bugs had been resolved.
Bucky smirked, "Those days were nice. I had way less women to worry about jumping you. Not that I'm complaining about the improvements made by the serum mind. It's nice to not worry about you getting sick all the time but sometimes I miss the you before the serum. You were adorable."
Bucky's words caused Steve's blush to deepen even further as he spoke. By the time the words adorable passed Bucky's lips, Steve's face matched Natasha's hair color. This was too irresistible for Bucky and he took advantage of the distraction of his new fiancé to steal a kiss, "Sometime you still are too."
Natasha chuckled while Tony's expression was of disbelief, having not seen the open displays of affection yet. Finally, he shook his surprise off and moved onto other things, "Ok, well, that's interesting. On to other things though. My legal team has been working on the paperwork for legalizing our custody details. They should be here shortly. Does anything need to be changed before they get here?"
"Yes, Sarah is going to be a Barnes as well. Since we are going to be one big family, the kids should all have the same last name," Steve stated before Bucky could protest.
"Are you sure? This is their legal names we're talking about here," Tony pointed out.
"Yes. There's no reason why she shouldn't have the same last name as her other siblings. I'll take the Barnes name too if that lessens the complications," Steve shrugged.
Bucky's jaw dropped at this information. When he finally got his mouth working again, Bucky groaned, "Is that really a good idea, Steve? Your name is kind of a big deal. You're a national icon. How do you think people would react? Wouldn't it be better if we all took on the Rogers name?"
Natasha raised an eyebrow over this ridiculous turn of events. Steve just sighed, "No. It is going to be bad enough that my perceived fame will limit the privacy our children will have. This will be better."
Bucky recognized the stubborn look that Steve gets when he won't be budged on a matter. Deciding not to mar the day they got engaged any further with arguing.
"Besides, who cares what the public thinks. It isn't their life or family. It's ours. I want this Buck," Steve added more softly, breaking any chance of Bucky arguing further.
"You really want it?" He asks tenderly, stepping in close to Steve.
"Yeah," Steve's response is tender, just above a whisper.
"Ok, Barnes family it is then," Bucky smiled softly before kissing Steve. Both absorbed in the kiss, they miss the arrival of Hill and the smirk of Tony. They don't pull away until Tony starts slow clapping and Maria whistles her appreciation of the scene.
"What did I miss?" Maria asked as the two separated.
"Apparently Captain Rogers is going to become Captain Barnes. It was a touching scene. I will have FRIDAY send you a video. On a side note, are we all done here? I am sure Bruce and Helen want a chance to review what information they can glean from the examinations. Also, I want to figure out how much of an education the kids have gotten, if you don't mind my taking the three girls," Tony stated.
"How is the search for a tutor and nanny going?" Natasha aske Maria as they all entered the elevator.
"I have put out a posting for the position but I can't really begin to narrow it down until Stark gives me more specific parameters for what we need. We could be looking for someone who teaches pre-k or calculus depending on the kids," Maria pointed out.
Tony took the girls all up to a spare lab, the majority of the others following them. Not even two minutes later, a judge and Tony's legal team arrive while Tony is setting the girls up with headphones and tablets. He holds up a finger asking for a minute while getting them settled before joining the adults.
"Well, Mr. Stark. I always go on thinking that nothing else you can do will managed to surprise me. You always manage to prove me wrong," the Judge was dressed in golfing gear.
"Well, I don't usually go out of my way to surprise family court judges. I have always been cautious about avoiding unintentional consequences of being a playboy. I wasn't expecting anyone to go stealing my DNA to make a super kid," Tony countered. "I am surprised that you would give up a Sunday afternoon for me though, Judge Culver. I thought you would be here tomorrow."
"Yes, well when I get a phone call from your legal team stating you need to take legal custody of your daughter and Captain Rogers and Sargent Barnes needed assistance doing the same for their collective four children, two of which are their, joint, twin sons, I give up my Sunday golfing. Though, I am hoping to get in a few rounds after we finish here," Judge Culver stated.
"Well that's convenient for us. Have you read through all the paperwork yet?" Tony asked.
"Not all of it. I think we should go through all of it together," Culver directed him over to some tables. Steve, Bucky and Natasha joined them. Maria and Vision take hold of the boys while they go through all the paperwork with the legal team and the Judge.
A full two hours later, all the paperwork was signed and the Judge only needed to give his signature before they were done. He had signed for Steve and Bucky's kids with little reluctance but paused for Natalia's paperwork, "Now you are certain you two are comfortable with sharing full custody of her. Mr. Stark, I only ask because you have fought more than a few paternity cases in the past."
"Those weren't my kids. DNA tests proved that. Those women were looking for a quick buck. I fought for those DNA tests to determine the truth, not because I didn't want a kid. Natalia is my daughter. That is the very big difference of those cases and this one. I have no issue being a dad to my own kid," Tony was firm and the Judge realized he meant what he was saying.
"Alright. I just wanted to be sure. Not everyone is cut out to be a parent," Culver signed the paperwork and then gathered it all up. "I will make sure this all gets filed first thing tomorrow. On a side note, I do have one concern I think should be expressed. You may want to make up some emergency plans to ensure those kids' safety. You all do draw a lot of attention to yourselves and a plenty of it isn't the friendly, curious kind."
"Two steps ahead of you. No way my little princess gets hurt because I am a hero," Tony nods his understanding. The Judge seems happy with this and leaves, it now far too late for him to get some golfing in.
The legal team leaves just after the judge leaving the Avengers to their privacy. Steve and Bucky were about to go as well, to start settling Steve's stuff into his rooms in the tower and waited for the elevator. The elevator however opened revealing Pepper Potts, stalling their departure.
"Alright Tony, what is so important that I had to fly across the country?" She called out, walking out of the elevator.
Tony perked up. He had hoped that she would come in person but figured it was more likely that she would just facetime him, "Pepper, my dearest. I have very important news." Natasha rolled her eyes and went over to watch Natalia go through the assessment program Tony had the girls going through, no doubt being run by F.R.I.D.A.Y.
"Why are there children here?" Pepper asked, side tracked by Natasha's movement.
"That is why you were called here. Yesterday, we went on a mission. That mission revealed five children. Four of them are Steve and Bucky's… One of them was mine and Natasha's. Apparently, Hydra stole some DNA from us," Tony, for once, got straight to the point.
"You have got to be kidding," Pepper looked at him like it was a joke. "What is this, international prank day or something? No, it must be a joke. You would never let someone get ahold of your DNA."
"Hydra did. This isn't a joke Pep, I wouldn't joke about something like this," Tony argued, using logic. He didn't joke about children.
"Tony, I'm not sure you understand what having a child entails. You would have to give up the parties, the drinking, all your wild way, out the window," Pepper pointed out, her voice worried as she realized he was serious.
"I know. I don't want to be my father. Natasha will help but I am not ignoring my daughter either," Tony responded, completely serious.
"Tony, you don't even like kids. You've had dozens of paternity cases where you fought tooth and nail to be kept free of that responsibly," Pepper's voice was sharper now.
"Because they weren't my kids. I wasn't those kids father. I am Natalia's father. We did a DNA test immediately after we found them. She's my daughter. I can do this. I asked you to come here so that I could tell you in person. I didn't want you do learn about it in the press conference tomorrow. You deserve to hear it directly from me," Tony was trying to keep calm but the way Pepper was becoming more agitated was upsetting him.
"Tony, you can't do this. You just aren't father material. You've had no good examples," Pepper was borderline panicking now.
"I can't, or you can't?" Tony finally figured out what was bothering her. "I know you aren't a big kid person, but I kind of figured you wouldn't have an issue with it when we had kids."
"When we had kids? KIDS?! As in plural? No, absolutely not. I would have been willing for one child if we agreed on a nanny and full childcare in advance but I have a lot of things that can't be avoided. I'm the CEO of your company. I don't have time for kids," Pepper finally revealed her position on the matter. "You're child enough."
"Really? That's it? One kid? And then what? Nannies, house staff caring for them. We go on like always? Pepper, you know how much I hated my dad because he always ignored me. You want me to do that to my own kid? To make my little girl think that she isn't loved because I'm too busy with work and parties? You know I can't do that," Tony pointed out, now angry. He glanced over to where the girls were working on their assessments. He was relieved to note that they weren't disturbed because the headphones blocked out the noise. Steve and Bucky were giving them space and entertaining the boys.
"So, what then?" Pepper growled out, frustrated.
"So, nothing. You don't want kids. I have a kid. There seems to be only one option here," Tony stated, giving up the thought of keeping Pepper in his life. He would stand his ground for once. There was a line that needed to be drawn and she was crossing his.
"Oh, don't be a child. I am sure there is some way we can work this out," Pepper snapped.
"Really? You think there is a way to work around another human being. Are you going to ignore her? Pretend she doesn't exist like you pretended I didn't exist for the past month, since the Ultron incident? I don't think so. I get that I screwed up with Ultron. We all know that but this is different. There isn't a work around. I cannot have a relationship with someone who isn't going to accept my daughter needs to be a priority," Tony made an effort to not raise his voice.
"And who is going to run your company?" Pepper glared.
"You're going to refuse to be CEO to Stark Industries if I break up with you?" Tony asked incredulously.
"I can't just work for my ex Tony. You have your line, I have mine. I am not going to be that pathetic girl pining after her boss," Pepper snarled.
"So, you're going to try to black mail me into being your boyfriend? Fine, quit. You would be surprised how useful the rest of the team can be. Natasha and Clint don't have any job other than the team now. Steve is actually a bit of a genius when it comes to business. He really knows how to work the stocks. I can be CEO again and make it work with their help," Tony crossed his arms and glared at Pepper.
"Fine. I'll contact the legal team in the morning," Pepper huffed.
"Don't bother waiting. They are downstairs right now. They just finished with the custody papers," Tony's arrogance was in full swing now.
"Fine," Pepper turned and stormed out. The elevator opening as she approached and closing immediately after.
"Thanks, FRIDAY. Well, that could have gone better," Tony sighed as Steve and Bucky came over.
"Certainly didn't look pleasant," Steve pointed out. He was holding George and feeding him.
"You heard everything, didn't you?" Tony asked sighing.
Steve shrugged, "Super hearing. Sorry, we weren't trying to listen in. And, we will absolutely help out. You can do paperwork while Natalia does school work. We'll split who covers the social events. The kids are going to be homeschooled, I'm guessing, so we can bounce around a bit more."
"Thanks, Steve. I appreciate it. On that note, FRIDAY, how are the kids doing?" Tony chose to focus on what he deemed most important.
"Rebecca is on 12 grade math, science, and English. However, it seems she was never given history lessons or art lessons, in fact, none of the girls have. She is also capable of college level programing. Natalia is at roughly 8th grade math, science and English. She has even more advanced computer programing than Rebecca is. Sarah is on 2nd grade math, science and English and only beginner programing. They all appear to be fluent in English, German, French, Russian and Mandarin as well," F.R.I.D.A.Y. gave an immediate update. "I believe they have reached the extent of their knowledge that can be tested at the moment."
"Thank you," Tony nodded and walked over to the girls. They were already taking off the headphones. Tony immediately picked up Natalia and crowed over her. "Look at you, my little genius. You make not have been in my plans but if I had to pick a kid, you would be it."
Natasha rolled her eyes but let him have his moment, "We should probably plan for supper soon."
"Bucky and I can make it, if you will take the Sarah, George and Joseph. Rebecca, you're going to help us," Steve looked at his, now by law, daughter.
Rebecca nodded in understanding. Wanda had arrived while they were getting the girls' assessments. She quickly took Joseph from Bucky while Natasha took George. Both women were happy to let the men do the work.