Chapter four
It was supposed to be a peaceful getaway, a special birthday trip for Maria. Natasha had booked a resort a few hours away, one nestled in the mountains, with views of rolling hills and quiet forests. The car ride had started off smoothly enough, with Michelle and Maria happily engaged in a game of "I Spy" and Natasha driving, her eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror to catch her daughter's smile.
But about halfway into the drive, the car sputtered, coughed, and then came to an abrupt stop on the side of the road. Natasha groaned, a slight sense of dread sinking in.
"Please don't do this, come on," she muttered under her breath, trying the engine once more. No luck.
"Great," Maria sighed, glancing at Michelle. "We are okay."
Natasha frowned. "This is practically the middle of nowhere."
" Call for help?" Michelle asked, already looking out the window, trying to spot something that looked like a sign of civilization.
"We're about halfway there," Natasha said, checking her phone—no signal. Of course.
"Well, we could always walk the rest of the way," Maria suggested. "It might be faster than waiting for roadside assistance."
Natasha shot her a look. "You really think that's a good idea? We're in the middle of a forest, babe."
Michelle pouted in the backseat. "I'm not walking," she declared, crossing her arms and glancing out the window.
Maria sighed. "Well, guess it's up to me." She leaned over, giving Natasha a playful look. "Hop on mom's back."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You think you can carry her all the way there?"
Maria shrugged. "I've been lifting heavy things for years."
It was dark now, the sun having set behind the trees as the family set off on foot. Natasha led the way, Maria following closely behind with Michelle riding on her back.
"We are falling behind, mom" Michelle complained, though her voice was muffled by Maria's shoulder.
"Maybe you could walk?" Maria teased, adjusting her grip as they walked. "I swear you get heavier with each step."
Michelle huffed. "I'm hungry!"
"Of course you are," Natasha teased, looking back at her, "for someone who is not doing much, you are complaining a lot."
Michelle rolled her eyes but didn't argue further. Instead, she focused on her favorite part of the walk—the stars above them. The night was so still and quiet, a rare moment of calm amidst their usually chaotic lives.
When they reached the resort after what felt like hours, they were tired, hungry, and a little irritable. But things quickly took another turn when they arrived at the check-in desk.
"I'm sorry," the receptionist said apologetically, "but your room was given away since you arrived late. We have no available rooms left."
Maria's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"
"Unfortunately, the reservation was marked as a no-show," the receptionist explained. "We can offer you a single room. It's not ideal, but it's all we have."
Natasha and Maria exchanged a look.
Back in the room, the bed was surprisingly cozy, but it was small for three people.
While Maria was bathing Michelle, Natasha rifled through their luggage, for something to sleep in. That's when she found it—an elegant, black set of lingerie tucked inside Maria's suitcase. Natasha froze, staring at it for a long moment. She leans on the bathroom door, holding the lingerie up.
"Huh," Natasha muttered to herself, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly did you have planned for tonight, Maria?"
She didn't give her wife any time to answer, raising an eyebrow.
"A birthday suit," Maria gasped, clearly caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she fumbled with the soap in her hands. "That was supposed to be a surprise.
Natasha raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "A birthday suit? Thought we were just going to be relaxing here, or did you have something... special in mind?"
Maria blinked, her blush deepening as she struggled to keep her composure. "It's nothing, I just thought we could... you know... celebrate... later."
Michelle, hearing the conversation from the other room, piped up, confused. "What's so funny? What did Mom pack?"
Maria looked at her daughter, wide-eyed, trying to hide her embarrassment. Natasha, ever the tease, leaned closer and whispered to Maria, "I'm sure she'll figure it out in time."
Maria was left speechless as Natasha left the room, her laughter barely contained.
After a while, Michelle was fast asleep between them in the bed. Michelle, of course, took up the center, sprawling out like a starfish while her moms' tried to find any possible way to get comfortable.
Natasha and Maria, exhausted from the long day, were finally able to relax. They looked down at their daughter, her small form nestled between them.
Maria smiled, a soft, loving smile that made her eyes shine. "Happy Birthday to me," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper, "You already gave me the best gift. Our daughter."
Natasha's heart swelled with love, and she kissed Maria softly. "I think it's safe to say she gave us both a little bit of sanity, too."
They lay there, holding each other in the quiet of the night, a sense of peace washing over them as they listened to the sound of Michelle's soft breathing.
After a moment, Natasha pulled back slightly and smiled. "You know, I think you should put on that lingerie. You never know when you might need to... surprise me."
Maria let out a surprised laugh, but the playful twinkle in her eyes returned. "We'll save that for another time, honey."
Together, they quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Michelle. The two of them moved to the couch and curled up together, content to cuddle in the dim light of the resort room, without the need for words.
The sun had just begun to dip behind the trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Bucky and Michelle were hiking up a narrow path, the sound of crunching leaves and twigs under their boots the only noise between them.
"Almost there, kiddo," Bucky said, his voice low but warm, the slight rasp of it making Michelle smile. She looked over her shoulder at him, her brown eyes lighting up.
"Really? Cause that's what you said 6 hours ago." she teased, her voice full of the lightheartedness that only a child could have.
Bucky chuckled softly. "It's not about the destination, it's the journey."
The pair continued, making their way to a small clearing by a stream, as Michelle picked a spot for the tent, Bucky started gathering kindling for the fire.
"Let's make this a good one," he muttered to himself, though Michelle heard it clearly.
The tent was set up with practiced ease, the fire crackling warmly between them, casting flickering shadows. The smell of dinner filled the air—something simple, a stew cooked over the open flame.
"You're going to love this," Bucky said, his voice warm as he handed her a bowl of stew, the steam rising gently. He watched as Michelle's eyes lit up, a rare, full smile spreading across her face.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," she said, and Bucky's heart swelled. He was so used to seeing the guarded, wary look in her eyes—something she'd carried since the day she had come into his live.
After dinner, they went to lay in the tent.
Michelle shifted, her small hand reaching for his. He didn't hesitate to take it, squeezing gently. Her voice broke the silence, quiet but sincere.
"Dad... sometimes I hear you. When you sleep. You don't always... sleep good," she said, her eyes soft and searching.
Bucky froze, his expression unreadable, his fingers tightening around hers. He had been trying to protect Michelle from the horrors of his past, but she wasn't a child anymore—she was too perceptive.
"I know," he said quietly, staring up the tent. "Sometimes... it gets to me. The past." He hesitated before continuing, his voice rough, almost as if it pained him to speak of it. "HYDRA... they did things to me. Things I can't forget."
Michelle looked up at him, her brow furrowed with worry. "Do they scare you? The nightmares?"
Bucky's gaze softened. "Yeah. They scare me. But not in the way you think. They remind me of what I did, what they turned me into. But the good news is," he paused, glancing at Michelle, "the nightmares don't last. I have you now. And I'm not alone anymore."
Michelle shifted closer, resting her head against his shoulder. "I worry about you sometimes, Dad. You're... you're so strong, but I can see it hurts you."
Bucky closed his eyes, fighting back the surge of emotion that came with her words. It was hard, too hard sometimes, but hearing Michelle's honesty made it a little easier to breathe.
"I love you so much, kiddo," he said, his voice thick. "You have no idea how much. You're everything to me."
The next morning, the two were up before the sun, stretching and warming up in the cool morning air. Michelle, ever eager to learn, stood tall as Bucky handed her a pair of combat knives.
"Remember, form is key," Bucky instructed, watching her carefully. "Don't let anger guide your moves, use precision."
The training was intense, but Michelle rose to the challenge, matching her father's movements with surprising agility and strength. Bucky couldn't help but feel both proud and terrified as he watched her. His little girl.
"That's it, Michelle," he said, nodding approvingly. "You're getting stronger."
She smiled, sweat beading on her forehead. "I won't stop until I'm better than you, Dad."
Bucky smiled, but inside, a storm raged.
After training, they lay together on the grass, staring up at the sky, the world around them calm and peaceful. The only sounds were the breeze rustling the leaves and the rhythmic, steady sound of Michelle's breathing beside him.
Bucky pulled her closer, his arm wrapping protectively around her. He planted three soft kisses on her forehead, each one full of the love he couldn't always express.
"I love you, kiddo," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
"I love you too, Dad," she replied, her voice small but strong. "Can I tell moms' about the knives, cause they're cool."
They both chuckles. Bucky leans in and kiss her forehead. "Let me tell them first."