Title: Mommies and Daddies
Rating: PG-13/T
Originally posted: 17th May 2021
Originally written for: HogwartsToAlexandria
Characters/Pairings: Bucky/Natasha & Tony/Pepper
Notes: for Drabble Exchange 2021 on Dreamwidth and AO3.
Watching them together was strange. A guy like Stark being a father, it was a brain-teaser, but it worked.
He was still Tony, but now he was Daddy too. Frankly, it was beautiful, the happy little family of three, but it hurt too, in ways Nat couldn't begin to describe.
"The downside to the overzealous metabolism," said Bucky, returning to her with drinks in hands. "These really don't have the effect they used to."
Nat smiled, took a glass and had a sip. "Poor super soldier," she deadpanned, watching him sit down beside her, his eyes searching her face.
He saw the pain and he knew. They just understood each other too well.
One glance at Tony, Pepper, and Morgan, then he shook his head. "You have to stop torturing yourself."
Nat sighed. "The war is over, we're supposed to get the happy ending."
"Hey." Bucky picked up her hand and squeezed, getting her attention. "I'm happy," he promised, "and if you really need a kid to complete this picture, there are ways. They let heroes adopt, right?"
He smiled, so Nat smiled too, looking back at the Stark family portrait across the lawn. She really hoped he was right.