Chapter 60-Bucky meets James

By: MysticFantasy

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"Come on, baby. Come to mommy." Natasha urged her five month old.

She sat cross legged on the floor and only five feet away was her infant son. He was lying on his belly and propping himself up with his arms.

For the last few days, he had been showing promising signs of crawling but hadn't actually accomplished it.

Right now, he was just happy to lie on his stomach and smile at his Uncle Thor who sat on the couch to the side of where his mother was sitting.

"It seems that he needs the proper motivation." Thor suggested.

"Anyone home?" a distant voice called.

"Perfect timing and perfect motivation." Natasha said. "In here, Steve."

"Yes, perfect. The little one truly adores his father." Thor said.

"Nat, we have company." Steve announced as he came around the corner.

"Willing?" Natasha questioned teasingly with a raised brow.

"Somewhat." Steve answered as he walked into the room and was followed by a quiet and hesitant James 'Bucky' Barnes.

The former Winter Soldier has both hands shoved into his pant pockets and his eyes cast to the floor, away from the baby.

"Hello Bucky." Thor greeted.

"Hey." Bucky greeted quietly.

"Is he trying to crawl again?" Steve asked and smiled at his son who smiled in return.

"Trying." Natasha answered.

"James, want to come to daddy?" Steve quested as he kneeled on the floor.

His young son looked up at him before returning his gaze to the floor.

"Guess he's just building suspence." Steve said. "Bucky, please, sit."

Bucky nodded and quietly sat on the chair next to the entrance of the room. Since he had recovered his memories of who he really is, he'd been hesitant about coming near any of the Avengers.

Steve in particular.

Bucky couldn't bring himself to really be around his friend after what he had done. He couldn't forgive himself even though Steve had.

Now the captain was wanting Bucky to be part of his life. Be around his family even.

Bucky just couldn't trust himself to be around Steve's friends, his wife or his child.

"Heads up."

Bucky snapped out of his thoughts at Steve's voice. He looked up and nearly jumped away when he saw that the infant was crawling toward him.

"He's crawling." Natasha exclaimed happily.

"To his namesake." Steve added proudly as his son came to the nervous Bucky's foot and tapped on his shoe.

"He wants you to pick him up." Natasha said.

"No," Bucky whimpered, shaking his head from side to side. "I can't."

"Bucky," Steve said softly. "We trust you."

"I don't."

"Buck, this can be a way for you to learn to trust yourself again."

"You trust me to be around, hold, your son?!"

"I do. You're my friend." Steve answered.

Bucky lightly gulped and looked down at the baby still waiting to be picked up. His bright blue eyes were looking up at the man who was his father's childhood friend.

Slowly, Bucked reached down with shaking hands. Carefully, he reached under James' arms, lifted him and placed him on his lap.

James smiled and lightly tapped his hands against Bucky's metal arm.

"See. He trusts you." Steve said with a kind smile. "James, meet your Uncle Bucky."