Chapter 26
By: MysticFantasy
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Steve felt his eyes go wide when he saw a bullet hole appear in the center of Henry Zola's forehead.
The body of the self proclaimed doctor fell limply to the floor and remained still with blood slowly escaping the wound, down his face and to the cold floor.
He looked over to his wife who looked just as shock as he felt. Her pistols had been lowered some time when Steve had been observing Zola's dead body.
Looking away from Natasha, Steve looked over to the person who was standing a few feet away with a smoking gun in their hand.
"Bucky." he said softly.
James Barnes lowered his gun and placed it back in its holster before disappearing behind a wall. He returned a second later with a bundle in his arms.
Natasha and Steve instantly ran forward.
The mother beat Steve by a split second and quickly took her son in her arms. She hugged him close and savored holding her child again.
Steve placed a loving kiss on his son's forehead, so happy to see him alive and back where he belongs. But after a quick moment, he looked up in time to see Bucky try to leave. He quickly hurried over and grabbed his arm.
"Bucky."
"You need to change his name." Bucky said. "He doesn't need to have the same name as me."
"Do you know why I named him after you?" Steve questioned.
"Because we were friends at one time."
"Not just that. I named him after my best friend who was also like a brother to me. A friend who saved my life on more than one occasion and who fought at my side during one of the biggest wars known. I named him after a man who I saw as a friend, a brother and a savior. Bucky, I'm so sorry about anything I've done to cause you any pain and suffering but I want to thank you for giving me my son back."
Bucky sighed.
"You're still easy to put the guilt trip on." he said. "You didn't do anything to me Steve. Looking after your kid has brought me out of the manipulation that the Russians had put me under. I started to remember the good times we had together when we were younger and when we were in the war. I knew that I had to help get him back to you."
"Thank you." Steve said. "What are you going to do now?"
"Disappear for a while." Bucky answered. "I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of and I need some time to clear my head."
"I know that this is going to be a long shot but...why don't you come with us to SHIELD?" Steve offered. "We can help you get past everything. They helped me with a lot of things. They can do the same for you."
"Steve, we both know that can't happen." Bucky said. "At least...now right now. Maybe some time in the future but not now."
Steve nodded.
He was a little upset that his friend wanted to vanish for a while instead of allowing them to help him over come his time as the Winter Soldier under the command of the Russians but he could understand and respect his wishes.
"Kid is going to be like you when he's older." Bucky said. "He's gonna use those eyes of his as a weapon."
Steve lightly smirked. He recalled when Bucky had claimed that he was able to get a few things when he used the 'puppy dog eyes'.
"I'm going to leave before the rest of your team shows up. I don't want to be on the end of that big guys hammer." Bucky said.
"Thor won't hesitate." Steve said. "Go."
"Don't do anything stupid while I'm away."
Steve smirked as he recalled the very same conversation they had all those years ago when Bucky was being shipped off.
"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."
Bucky lightly smirked and walked toward the soldier.
"You're a punk."
"Jerk." Steve muttered and embrace his friend.
He felt a wave of satisfaction flow through him when he felt his friend flesh under his finger tips. He was so happy to know that Bucky really was alive and well.
The two parted and Bucky quickly vanished from the room.
Steve promtly turned back to his wife and son and embraced them.
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Tony looked over to the family of three as they quietly slept huddled together. Natasha held James close to her and she was held by Steve who was barely able to stay awake and look at his sleeping family.
Tony was so glad to see that James was alright and hadn't been hurt in any way.
When he and the others had found Steve and Natasha with their son, they had questioned the two about what had happened. After hearing the story the two offered, Tony had a feeling that they would see Winter Soldier some time in the future.
It was just a question of when.
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"How is he?" Steve asked as he gently cradled his son.
"Nothing is wrong." Bruce announced. "The worst thing is that he got a little diaper rash. But that'll clear up in two days or so with medication."
"But nothing else is wrong?" Steve asked. "He wasn't too cold or not fed?"
"James is in good health." Bruce confirmed. "He was fed, kept warm, given a diaper change...He's perfectly fine, Steve."
The captain sighed in relief and held James close. The infant gurgled happily in his arms. He was so happy that his son was alright and couldn't help but feel that some of that credit was due to Bucky.
He saw the way that Bucky had held James. Absolute care. It made him sad that his friend hadn't wanted to come back with them.
"Thank you, Bruce." Steve said.
"No problem." Bruce said with a smile and lightly tickled James' cheek. The baby smiled. "He's going to be ok. He's back where he belongs."
"And I'm never going to let him go." Steve said as he looked at his son.
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"You are going to like this new version of night light." Tony said as he lead the two parent's into the lab with James still in Steve's arms.
"Stark, if you don't mind, we'd like to spend some time with our son." Natasha said.
"You'll get that time but I'm sure you'll want it to be a little more secure." Tony said as he grabbed a small black box that looked exactly like the first night light that the inventor had made for the child.
"Works exactly like the first one but I added a little something extra. Watch." Tony tapped the top of the box. The same holograms appeared and began to dance on the walls.
Only this time, a barely visible shield surrounded Tony in a dome manner.
"What is this?" Steve asked.
"A protective shield." Tony answered with a satisfied smile. "Any time this thing is on, it'll put a protective dome around our little rugrat. The only way that it can be turned off is by a voice command. Only us six Avengers can de-activate the shield once it's been activated. It can also grow to protect multiple bodies. Come on Cap. Try punching it."
"You're serious?" Steve asked.
"Prove how strong it is." Tony replied. "Punch it."
Steve carefully handed his son to Natasha before walking over to the dome. He raised his arm, balled his fist and launched a punch.
"OW!"
The soldier held his hand while Tony came out of his unintentional protective hunch.
"Well, we know it's strong." Natasha said as she lightly patted her son's back. "Are you alright Steve?"
"Fine." Steve answered. "Just gonna bruise."
"Deactive." Tony said and the shield vanished and the holograms disappeared. "I plan to let Point Break give it a good whack with his hammer later but I think it'll pass that test."
"I think it will too." Steve said. "Thanks for the replacement and upgrade Tony."
"No problem. It's the least I can do for our little guy. After all, I do need someone to spoil until Pepper finally drugs me and another baby 'mysteriously' shows up."
"I think you'll know when Pepper wants children." Natasha said. "She wants them now but I think she'll want to wait a while longer. She likes getting hands on practice with James."
"The only reason she hasn't been able to hold him since we got back is because you two haven't let go of him." Tony said. "Have either one of you not been in contact with him since we got back?"
The soldier and spy cast their eyes to different things in the lab. That right away gave Tony his answer.
"You can't blame us." Steve said.
"No, I can't." Tony agreed. "Anyway, until the thunder god returns to the tower the box if yours to use as much as you want."
"We're going to put this thing to the test." Steve said as he picked up the box. "Don't be surprised if we bring it back from overuse."
"That would be a first, actually." Tony said. "I welcome the challenge."
"Famous last words Stark." Natasha said with a smirk.
"Like I said, I welcome the challenge."
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"Hey there little man." Pepper greeted as she sat next to Natasha and looked down at James. "I've missed you so much."
"Want to hold him?" Natasha asked.
"Can I?" Pepper asked with a tone of excitment in her voice. "I mean, he just got back home after a horrible experience. I can understand if you and Steve don't want anyone else in contact with him."
"I know but I trust you." Natasha said.
Pepper smiled at hearing that Natasha trusts her with her infant son. The strawberry haired woman carefully accepted James in her arms and smiled happily.
She couldn't wait to have children of her own. Holding the son of Captain America and Black Widow, Pepper felt like she was given a great honor that she was able to do such a task but she also couldn't help but feel like motherly emotions were starting to surface.
"Oh what? You're so ready to have one that you snatch James?" Tony asked dramatically. "We at least name him after me."
"Say that again and we'll see how long you're standing." Natasha said.
"Better keep your mouth shut." Clint advised as he walked in with Bruce and Steve.
"Let's see how long that'll last." Natasha said as she stood. She left the room with Steve at her side.
"It's good to have the family together again." Tony said as he took the spies spot on the couch.
"It is." Clint agreed as he sat across a near by armchair. "I really think that they're going to over use that new night light you made for James."
"It would be a first for sure." Tony said. "So, when should we have our victory party?"
"I think we need to think about the chance of James Barnes showing up." Bruce said. "Can we trust him?"
"He protected James and kept him safe until Steve and Natasha showed up." Clint stated. "Didn't make any kind of threats to James and Steve even said that he seemed like his old self again."
"Except for everything that happened to him after he was discovered." Tony said. "I don't know. Can we trust him if he shows up and claims to want a second chance?"
"Steve says we can." Clint answered. "If he's willing to trust him, than I am."
"Me too." Bruce said. "Steve has never let us down before. I think we can trust Barnes."
"Alright. I'll give it a try." Tony said. "But if Fury calls and demands why we have the famous Winter Soldier here, one of you is telling him."
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Steve tapped the top of the black box and laid down as the shield appeared and surrounded the large bed. He smiled at his wife who returned his smile and then they looked at their son who slept between them.
"I'm so glad that he's ok." Natasha said as she placed a finger in James hand. The small fingers lightly closed around hers and the small boy continued to sleep soundly.
"He's back where he belongs and we're never going to let him go." Steve said as he brushed back the fine blond strands of hair on James forehead. "I'm grateful that Bucky looked out for him."
"Would do you want to do if Bucky comes back and says he wants a second chance?" Natasha asked.
"I'd trust him." Steve answered. "He kept our son safe and gave him back to us."
"You really think that we can trust him? He did help train me."
"I trust you with my life." Steve stated. "Look how amazing you are, Natasha. I know your past was rough but look at all the good you've done now. Look at the beautiful son we have. That didn't just come from me."
Natasha lightly smiled as she stared at her son's sleeping face. He looked so much like his father and would surely be like him when he was older but she couldn't help but think that James would have a little bit of herself in him.
"You're right." she said. "I think we can trust Bucky. He did look after James when we weren't able to."
"Yeah and he would be great friends with Clint." Steve pointed out with a smirk.
"Oh no. There's going to be even more trouble if they ever become friends." Natasha lightly chuckled.
"Let's get some sleep." Steve said. "We're finally together again and we can sleep soundly knowing that we have extra protection."
"I'll have to thank Tony for this later. Maybe I'll take away one of those death threats I put on him." Natasha said.
Steve lightly chuckled before he and Natasha placed loving kisses on each of James' chubby cheeks and promtly fell asleep themselves while still having some kind of contact with their baby boy.