Chapter 25. Celebrating

The following day, Christmas Day, saw a gift exchange that brought all three women in Bucky's life to tears as they opened the heartfelt gifts he got them. Janice received a warm hug from Bucky for the 18-year-old bottle of Macallan Scotch she gave him. Rhodes name was also on the gift and the two men shook hands. Bucky gave Rhodes some cigars. He looked at the box.

"How did you get Cuban cigars?" he asked. "They're illegal to bring into the US."

Bucky smirked. "Didn't come through customs from Wakanda," he said. "I bought them in the Bahamas. They weren't illegal when I was a young man."

"Let me get this straight," said Rhodes. "You bought Cuban cigars on your honeymoon, knowing that you couldn't bring them through US customs ... Oh, I get it. You knew you wouldn't be coming home the same way. I should report you; you know."

"You could or you could just accept them and have one out in the back yard with me later," smiled the super soldier. "It's kind of silly to prevent the best cigars in the world from entering your country. I mean, the Bahamas and Canada allows them and last time I checked they were both pretty good places."

Rhodes looked at the box for some time before he decided to keep them.

"If anyone finds out it will be my job," he said. "But what the hell. You only live once."

Bucky clapped Rhodes on the shoulder then looked at Rebecca's gift, opening it eagerly. She bought Bucky the latest book on astronomy and a book on alien intelligence that explored the intelligence of some of the world's most unique animals.

"I've been looking at this book for a while," he said. "You must have been looking at my search history. Thank you."

"You're welcome," she smiled.

Tracey came forward then and held out a little box to Bucky. "I didn't know what to get you then Rebecca told me something," she said. "She said you had to sell a motorbike you restored because of bills."

Bucky's face went pale as he opened the box to find a key. He dangled it.

"This isn't a motorbike key," he said, puzzled. "The one I restored didn't have a key."

"I know," she replied. "That's the key to a storage locker where there is another motorcycle for you to restore. Pepper Stark helped me find it. It's a World War II Indian Scout model that was used by the US army, possibly even by the Howling Commandos. The provenance is kind of muddy on that as it appears it was rebuilt using parts from several motorcycles at one point. It needs a lot of work. Once we get that garage built at the house I figured it would keep you busy during your down times."

He said nothing at first, then he got up and pulled Tracey into a tight embrace before kissing her passionately. The other three looked self-consciously at each other as the couple became lost in each other.

"I guess he likes his present," said Rebecca.

Bucky pulled away from his kiss. "Hell yes," he replied. "Can I go look at it?"

"Sure, I wrote the address of the storage locker down," said Tracey. "Just don't ask me to ride it when you're done. I'm terrified of them."

"Oh, darling, if I'm riding it you're riding with me," said Bucky with a big grin. "I'll never let you fall."

He got his jacket on then looked at Rhodes and motioned for him to join him. With a smile the new director of the Avengers jumped up and grabbed his jacket. They headed out the door and were soon on their way to the storage facility. When they arrived Bucky inputted the code on the keypad then drove to the storage locker. Kneeling down he unlocked the lock and slid open the door. The outline of a motorcycle was under a tarpaulin. Turning on the overhead light he lifted the tarpaulin off and gasped at the bike.

"Look at that," said Rhodes, kneeling down beside it. "A classic."

"Huh," said Bucky, running his hand over the seat, then over the saddlebags.

He removed them and pulled a Swiss Army knife out of his pocket, using it to remove some screws from the rear fender. It was just enough for him to lift it slightly so that he could look on the underside. He must have found what he was looking for because he smiled broadly.

"It's Bessie," he said. "It's really her." He looked at Rhodes. "We had several of these in the Howling Commandos. Steve rode a Harley WLA Liberator, a monster of a bike that was customized for him, but the rest of us liked the handling on these. They were easy for us to maintain and repair. We put them through hell and if they did get damaged it was easy to get replacement parts. Other units would just put theirs back into the motor pool, but we took them and cannibalized parts from the one that was damaged the most." He shifted his attention to the front fender and felt along a spot inside the edge with his finger. Another big grin erupted on his face. "It's really her. I fixed this bike in 1944. Other parts of it are different ... like that seat and some of the motor parts but I rode this bike."

"That's incredible," said Rhodes. "What are the chances? How did you learn to work on them? Were you a mechanic?"

"Not trained as one but I learned the basics about cars from my dad. When I worked on the docks before the war we could be assigned to a repair dock and I learned more about engines there. Once I joined the Howling Commandos it pretty much was what we did in our down time, that is when we weren't in the pubs or chasing girls. I can't believe this."

Rhodes looked inside the saddle bags and noticed a Manila envelope inside. There were records of what had been found out about the motorcycle prior to Tracey buying it. He skimmed through it then found the part about the Howling Commandos, handing it to Bucky.

Reading it, Bucky shook his head in disbelief. "After I fell they put this back into the motor pool but no one would take it out because it was associated with me and I bought the farm. It didn't get ridden for the rest of the war. The Smithsonian took it ..." His voice trailed off and he put his hand to his mouth, handing the page to Rhodes.

He read it then looked at Bucky before he finished it. "When it was determined that Bucky Barnes was the Winter Soldier it was removed from the Smithsonian exhibit on the Howling Commandos and sat in a storage facility for several years, its provenance deliberately destroyed because of the actions of the HYDRA super soldier. The decision was made to destroy the motorcycle because of its connection to the assassin." He looked at Bucky. "Obviously that didn't happen." Quickly he scanned through the remaining pages. "A private collector formally objected to the destruction of the motorcycle and offered the Smithsonian a million dollars for it. In early 2018 he was permitted to buy it at that price. It was kept in a storage locker... Bucky, it was brought here, to this address. Whoever bought it wanted you to have it."

"Does it say who the collector was?" asked Bucky, his face neutral. "Is there anything identifying who it was?"

"Nothing, except he was a mechanic," said Rhodes. He gave out a short grunt. "Shit, I think I know who it was."

He went back to the saddlebags, re-checking the one he took the large envelope out of then the other, finding another smaller envelope. It was addressed to Bucky. Gingerly, he took the envelope from Rhodes and opened it, finding a folded letter inside. He looked at the signature then back to Rhodes.

"Go ahead, read it out loud," said the other man.

Clearing his throat Bucky began reading.

February 17, 2018

To: Bucky Barnes

I can't begin this letter in the usual way as you are not dear to me. I'm still working on forgiveness but that is my issue. Since you and Cap left me in my broken suit in that Siberian hell hole I've had the time and the opportunity to explore the HYDRA files on what you were subjected to as a prisoner of war. There is no doubt in my mind that what you underwent would break any man. That you managed to break free at all must be a testament to the real James Barnes, the one that Cap saw and fought for. I accept that now. It doesn't make my parents' death any easier to accept. Rather, it angers me even more that some individual decided that the serum, that was forced upon you, was worth more than the lives of Howard and Maria Stark. That they had to wipe your memories, and subject you to a horrific level of torture to ensure your compliance in their demise angers me. You were not responsible for their death, but everyone who kept you in servitude was, including Alexander Pierce and his band of thugs who infiltrated SHIELD, betraying everything it was supposed to stand for.

I don't know if you will ever make it back home to the States. I hope you do. Having learned that you were given asylum and treated by the Wakandans I am confident they were able to provide you with some peace and a reason for you to go on. You don't need to fear that I will come looking for retribution. It won't bring my parents back and it will just add to the wrongs that were done to you.

If you are reading this letter sometime in the future it means you have come home and you have been reacquainted with the motorcycle, the same motorcycle you used, worked on and cherished in World War 2. From one mechanic to another, she's a beauty, a true workhorse of a machine. I think she may have been used a little for parts while she sat unused in the motor pool and that someone from the Smithsonian without an imagination put any old replacement part on her to put her in their Howling Commandos display. The tassels on the seat and saddle bags definitely have to go. In the storage locker where the motorcycle is stored are several boxes of replacement parts to restore her to what she was during the war, a great motorcycle.

Accept this as a peace offering from this mechanic to you. Someday, I'll be ready to forgive you for what you had no choice in. Perhaps then we can work together on her, talk engines, and drink some good scotch. Until then, be well.

Tony Stark

Bucky looked up from the letter, a little shaken, and folded the letter back into the envelope. Behind him he saw several boxes and opened them, seeing a multitude of parts, perhaps even enough to build a second motorcycle if he ever came across another derelict specimen. He stood up and faced Rhodes.

"I don't think I can accept this," he said. "Stark paid a million dollars for this. I'm not sure I'm worth that kind of gift."

"Tony was a billionaire," said Rhodes. "A million was no big deal to him but maybe doing this was. The aftermath of the fight in Leipzig that split us apart, then you and Cap fighting against him in Siberia, had quite the effect on him. He was used to being right almost all the time. It was easy for him to see you as a villain until he saw the evidence of what HYDRA did to you. I knew he was diving deep into your past because he wanted to be right about painting you as evil. The evidence didn't support that, and he began to question a lot of his perceptions. It got worse after the Snap because he blamed himself but when he found out that you fought on the line in Wakanda, I guess it finally hit him that without the HYDRA programming you were heroic. Take it, enjoy it. It's what he wanted for you, to enjoy this motorcycle again. I was his best friend for a long time, and I believe he did this as a gesture, a grand Tony Stark gesture, but a genuine one."

For a few more moments Bucky stood there. "Do you think Tracey knows?" he asked.

Rhodes shook his head. "Knowing Pepper she likely made it sound like a bargain of a deal that she came across. She probably took a reasonable amount from Tracey and gave it to a charity. I'm guessing Pepper knew Tony did this and saw it as an opportunity to get it to you. Don't tell Tracey as it was still a gift from her heart."

Nodding, Bucky covered up the boxes and the motorcycle, resting his hand on top of it for a moment before turning off the light and closing the door, then locking it. The two men got back into the SUV then Bucky turned to Rhodes.

"Now that I have you here, I have to ask," he said, grinning slightly. "What are your intentions with my mother-in-law?"

Rhodes grinned back. "Quite honourable," he replied. "I enjoy her company, she enjoys mine. We haven't ... you know but once her divorce is final I can see our relationship progressing. I wouldn't ask her to move and leave your sister stranded. They're quite the pair, I'll tell you. Does that satisfy you?"

"It does," replied Bucky. "We'll talk more over scotch and a cigar tonight, after dinner."

With smiles between them the two men returned back to the house where the preparations for Christmas dinner were already underway. Both of them asked to help and were put to work preparing vegetables, peeling, or chopping what was assigned to them. When the doorbell rang Bucky went to the door, looking through the cutout window and smiled. He opened it up to the dark-haired woman standing there, offering her his hand.

"You came," he said. "I'm glad. Please, come in."

When she entered he offered to take her coat, hanging it up in the closet. Tracey came to the door as he had told her about the invitation when they went to bed the night before.

"Tracey, this is Olivia Walker, John's wife," he said. "Olivia, my wife Tracey. Come in and meet the others."

Smiling tentatively, Olivia entered and shook hands with Tracey, then reached inside a bag, bringing out a wrapped present.

"This is just a little thank you for inviting me here today," she said. "It's just chocolates. I was going to eat them on my own while I watched TV."

Tracey immediately extended an arm to Olivia and hugged her, bringing tears to both their eyes.

"No one should be on their own for Christmas Day," she whispered. "You're more than welcome. Come into the kitchen. Everyone is there."

Bucky watched as Tracey introduced Olivia to everyone; so proud of his sister as she also hugged Walker's wife. Janice was warm to her and Rhodes told her that he would be keeping an eye on her husband, making sure he was treated with dignity as his case made its way through the justice system.

"I was there when Dr. Strange and Wong undid what Karl Mordo did to your husband," he said. "It overwhelmed him. He'll be alright and if he gets some counselling, I'm sure he'll come through it."

"Thank you," she said. "I know that when Val began talking about this group they were forming he was alarmed. That's why he tried to warn you, Bucky. I couldn't believe that it was all a ruse to get you to trust him because he came to admire you a lot in the past year. You adapted to live a normal life and he began to hope that perhaps he could do the same." She waved her hands across her face, trying to keep from crying, while breathing deeply. "Now, what can I help with? Please give me something to do."

Janice brought out several containers full of baked treats, then found a Christmas platter for them to be arranged on, leaving that task to Olivia. With Rhodes offering her a drink of egg nog, they all jumped back into preparing dinner together. A vibration from Bucky's phone had him pulling it out of his pocket and going into the living room where he looked at the text message, then laughed.

"Do we have enough food to feed a few more people?" he asked. "Peter spent the evening at his girlfriend's home. Their stove broke and they can't make Christmas dinner. So, he's asking for himself, MJ, her mother, and his friend Ned."

Rebecca came out from the kitchen. "We have more than enough food for them, but you'll have to set up another table out here."

"I'll go out to the shed and get the patio table," said Bucky. "There are three chairs with it and maybe one of the chairs from the bedroom."

Placing her hand on his cheek, Rebecca smiled. "It's just like the old days, isn't it? When we had Steve and his ma over, then someone else would knock on the door and Ma would invite them to stay. How many times did we have a full house because Ma kept asking people?"

"I seem to remember it was most years," replied Bucky, hugging his sister. "Maybe they have some board games we could play after."

"Not Monopoly!" yelled Janice, from the kitchen. "I hate that game."

With a grin Bucky phoned Peter and told him everyone was welcome, and to bring board games for after, as long as Monopoly wasn't one of them. As soon as he hung up Bucky put his jacket and boots on then went out back to the shed, wading through the snow drift in front of the shed. After unlocking it he stepped inside and pulled out the three patio chairs, then the table. They would need to be wiped down so he left them on the back steps while he went inside and got some rags to clean them up a bit. Once he was satisfied he carried the furniture inside, setting the pieces up at the edge of the living room, close enough to the dining room that they wouldn't feel too separate. Olivia came over with a tablecloth and together they set the extra table.

By the time Peter and the others arrived the dinner was almost ready. They didn't come empty handed, as MJ's mother, Madeleine, brought some of her own baking and a salad that she had already prepared. The three younger visitors brought several games each, not one of them Monopoly. As the food was brought out and placed on the kitchen counter so everyone could help themselves then find a place to sit at the tables Tracey put a Christmas music playlist on then excused herself suddenly, quickly going to the bathroom. Bucky followed her then came back, apologizing to the newcomers.

"Sorry, she's experiencing some morning sickness right now."

"She's expecting?" asked Olivia. "I thought ... never mind." Everyone looked at her strangely while she looked embarrassed. "Of course, Val would lie. She said you were sterile. Apparently Alexander Pierce told Thaddeus Ross and he told her. Pierce said it was better that way because your kids would be ... I'm sorry but I can't repeat it. It was disgusting. Another reason why John wanted out. They kept telling him how special he was then he'd hear them talk about him in the same way." She started to cry. "We decided not to have any kids because we didn't want to subject them ..."

Tracey came out to hear the last bit and looked at Bucky, who nodded. Gently, Tracey helped Olivia up from her chair and took her to their bedroom. Bucky went with them. As Olivia and Tracey sat on the bed Bucky leaned against the door, his face concerned.

"They told you they would be little monsters, didn't they?" asked Tracey. "That the changes in John would transfer over and make them unmanageable."

"They knew about the Siberian super soldiers," stated Bucky. "They were unmanageable because those people were already hardened killers, with no sense of empathy, or feeling about what they were doing. The serum amplified it. Olivia, you know what John did in Latvia."

Olivia nodded. "He tried to brush it off as justified but I knew. The things he had to do in the military really messed with his head. You have to believe me, he is a good person, deep down but after Afghanistan he was suffering. He tried to hide it from me, but I knew. After he took the serum, I could see he was different. At the time he wanted to believe he did it for the best of reasons but the things that Val had him do since then made him think that he wasn't a good man, and he began to question it. You were the only one he could talk to about it, the only one that would understand."

"He needs help," said Bucky. "Professional help. I talked to him on the phone before I phoned you." Olivia looked at him, surprised. "I can't forgive him yet but I will help him. First of all, he has to be honest with himself and with you. Until he does that, nothing I say will make a difference."

"The baby, was it planned or accidental?" she asked.

"Completely an accident," smiled Tracey. "I had an IUD, which moved, making the pregnancy possible." She looked at Bucky. "Being the first woman pregnant with a super soldier baby means that I'm going to be monitored closely. I'm a nurse so I get the medical and scientific reasons for it but honestly, a part of me is worried. There have already been some things in me that have changed. I heal faster, just like Bucky. It's made me wonder if I'll get some super strength or other abilities as the baby's hormones flood my body. Will we be enough to make sure he or she grows up to be a good person? I do know this much; that baby is going to be loved unconditionally by me and Bucky. If you're raised with love then that should be enough, right? I grew up with an abusive father but my mother always made sure that I knew she loved me and I'm going to do the same with my child."

"Well, it's obvious that you two are going to be great parents," said Olivia. "I noticed today how welcoming you were to everyone, Bucky. The fact that the other Avengers came to your side so quickly when they took you shows me that you're a good man. So there is hope for John."

Her eyes glistened as she looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then wiped a few tears that came out of her eyes. Bucky pulled a tissue out of a box for her and she took it gratefully. After a few more minutes gathering herself Olivia stood up and the three of them returned to the dining room. No one appeared to be uncomfortable with her outburst. Instead, it felt nurturing to her and as the meal went on the conversation took on more happy overtones. By the time it was over Bucky had everyone laughing at how surprised he was the first time he met Peter, during the fight at Leipzig Airport.

"Here's this little guy, in a spider costume," said Bucky. "I go to punch him, pulling my punch because he's so small compared to me and I didn't know how strong he really was then he grabs my metal hand and stops it. What did you say?"

"You have a metal arm? That is awesome, dude!" repeated Peter, smiling. "It was the coolest thing and I wanted to look at it, you know, figure out how it worked."

"What really surprised me is when he said the words it was obvious he was a kid!" exclaimed Bucky. "How old were you?"

"15, no 14, because my birthday wasn't for another couple of months," smiled Peter, who then shrugged. "I knew you were strong. I mean we saw a lot of what you did on the news, right? You know I didn't want to hurt you or Sam, right?"

"Same here," replied Bucky. "I was trying to prove I wasn't the Winter Soldier anymore, that I could control myself. You made it difficult, showing both of us up like that."

"It all worked out," said the younger man. "You're a good guy now."

"Amen to that," said Rhodes. "Funny how time and a little perspective can change things. I was one of the first people to sign the Sokovia Accords but by the time Thanos came I could see they were very flawed. I showed up in Wakanda, saw Bucky walking towards me with a new arm and a big smile on his face when he saw Cap, old Cap. You were a changed man, Bucky. Under the old accords that would never have happened. You would have been left to rot in the Raft or a mental hospital. That would have been a tragedy." He noticed a downturn in the atmosphere and smiled, picking up his drink. "Let's make a toast. Look at life with an open heart and an open mind. Be open to love and new perspectives. Be true to yourself and enjoy the company of friends. Here's to all my friends, including the new ones I've made tonight."

He drank his wine, and the others followed suit with their drinks. Bucky announced that the men would be cleaning up. Half an hour later they all looked at the games that were brought and chose to play Uno Extreme. It was loud, raucous, and they all laughed whenever someone who had called Uno for last card pressed the button getting a handful of cards spit out at them, denying them the opportunity to win the hand. Rebecca ended up winning the game, proving age was not a factor in playing cutthroat style against one's friends. The next game was Pictionary, which was still fun but didn't last long as Tracey remembered It's a Wonderful Life was on.

"Isn't that an old movie?" asked Ned, who had crumpled up paper balls thrown at him for insulting the older people in the house.

As they watched it, everyone said the popular lines out loud, but at the end they were all quiet, feeling good about the sentiments it brought out. Olivia announced she was going to go home, as she had promised to visit John first thing the next morning. Rebecca took out a plastic container, filling it with turkey, salad, and rolls. Then she filled another one with baked treats.

"You take this to John," she said. "I'm sure it will be better tasting than what he got there. You give him my regards."

The others decided it would be a good time for them to go as well as they had a long drive back to Queens. Rebecca made up a couple of containers for them as well while Bucky promised he could come and look at the stove to figure out what was wrong with it. After they were gone Bucky and Rhodes looked questioningly at each other deciding it was the right time to go for that cigar and a scotch. While Tracey and Rebecca both went to bed, Janice stayed up finishing the last bit of clean up.

Outside, on the back steps the two men lit their cigars and looked at the backyard awash in the fairy lights that were still on. As they took the first puff of their cigars Rhodes looked at the illegal item in his fingers.

"You're right, these are too good not to have." He waved his hand towards the fairy lights. "That's really pretty. Did they have stuff like that in the 1930s?"

"Nah, candles, or a kerosene lantern, maybe," replied Bucky. "I miss the music and my parents, obviously. It was a slower pace but I like living now."

"I understand you could have gone back," said Rhodes. "Why didn't you?"

"Steve asked," said Bucky. "But the vibranium arm was just too different to explain. Plus, if HYDRA saw me suddenly show up they may have come after me again. I never was as good as Steve blending into the background." He took a puff on the cigar, watching the smoke as he blew out into the air. "I was changed, as well. Before, I was mostly about the party, dancing, drinking, finding a girl to chase until I caught her."

"You never considered marriage?" asked Rhodes.

"No, not really. I wasn't ready and they knew as I made it clear I was just looking for fun." He took a sip of his whiskey and closed his eyes as the liquid flowed down his throat, tasting the different notes in the vintage. "When I began living with Rebecca, I was too busy trying to keep the house, and look after her, to consider dating. When I met Tracey, I knew she was special. I wanted to be with her, in a meaningful way." He took another puff of his cigar. "What about you?"

"Married to the military," replied Rhodes. "I knew Tony from college, as I'm an engineer myself, and he had more than enough women for me to take his leftovers. It was fun, until it wasn't. The accident made me rethink a lot of things that I took for granted before. Still can't believe I'm in charge of the Avengers."

"You'll be alright," said Bucky. "Maria Hill knows the layout. I think you can depend on her the same way Fury did. I think Sam has a thing for her."

Rhodes turned his head towards Bucky, raising his eyebrows. "Really? She's a smart woman and deadly with a gun. He's a good Cap. Hell, they're all good. They all showed up, except Hope because she had a suit failure. Even the new ones, Shaun, Shang Chi, and Kate Bishop, the new Hawkeye." He smirked. "She's got the goods. We're the United Nations of superheroes. It's going to be an interesting time."

Bucky raised his glass to him and drank some of his scotch. The two men sat there talking until their cigars were ready to be put out. The house was quiet when they went back inside. After showering Bucky quietly entered his bedroom, wearing only a towel around his waist. He dropped his clothes in the hamper, as they smelled of cigars. Opening the drawers of the dresser to get some clean underwear and light sweatpants to wear he was startled when Tracey spoke.

"Don't get dressed," she said. "Just get into bed."

Never one to question when a woman told him to get into bed with her Bucky did as he was told, receiving a seductive kiss from his wife. As the kiss led to other more pleasurable activities the super soldier felt like he was the luckiest of men. He had an incredible wife, a child on the way, a job that was important and fulfilling, and most of all, he wasn't alone any more. There were friends, family, co-workers, and neighbours who were invested in him, enough to stand with him when he was in trouble. So much was going to happen in the coming year and he was so ready for all of it.

"Bring it on," he thought.