Charlie's POV:
Around 3:00 in the morning I wake up feeling like someone is watching me. I look towards the doorway and see a shadow standing in the now open door. My arm reacts as I hit Bucky. He sits up with a jerk looking around, "What's wrong?" He whispers. I point over to the door.
In the time that it takes his vision to adjust to the darkness the shadow is gone, "Charlie, what's wrong?"
"I thought I saw someone." I jump out of the bed, running towards Maggie's room and checking on her.
Bucky stalks past me and walking through the house. "I don't see anyone. Maybe you were having a bad dream?" I still stand watching Maggie. Her eyes are open as she watches me.
"Mommy are you okay?"
"Why are you awake little pearl?"
"Thinking about daddy." She smiles at me, but doesn't cry.
"Are you okay? You want me to stay?"
"No. G'night." She waves her hand wanting me to leave. I turn on her baby monitor that I haven't used in a year.
Bucky puts his hand on my lower back as he guides me back into the bedroom and on the bed, usually he lays his head on my chest, but he brings me in to him. I reach over on his side of the bed and power on the monitor beside him. "Alright, super soldier, you have sensitive ears, if you hear anything weird let me know."
"Charlie, what do you think is going on?"
"I don't know, I just have a weird feeling. Something doesn't feel right. Just promise you'll use your good ears."
"Promise, doll. Let's get some sleep. Love you."
"Love you too, handsome." He kisses my forehead as we drift to sleep.
The next morning I'm woke up by a screaming Maggie, "Mommy! Wake up!" Bucky grunts next to me. "Like your new bed Bucky?" Maggie lets out a giggle. Oddly she is awfully chipper this morning. She has no idea what happened last night.
"Maggie, why are you waking up at 7:00?"
"Can't sleep." She jumps up on the bed and starts bouncing.
"Why's that Maggie James?" Bucky rolls over and sits up smiling at the girl.
"Daddy came to see me last night." My body is frozen. I can't think or even process exactly what she's talking about. I look at Bucky and his eyes are just as wide as mine.
"What do you mean by that Maggie?" Bucky asks, seeing how I'm just shocked.
"He read to me."
"Okay, little pearl, this isn't funny. Let's get dressed and we can forget about it." I throw the duvet over me and swing my legs out. I look back at the little girl and she's almost crying.
"Bucky said we can't forget." her body crawls over to Bucky as he pulls her into him.
"I did." He looks at me with a sorrowful face. He can't lie to Maggie, but he also sees by admitting this it's making things more difficult.
"Yes, but that was about Steve's memories. Not about him visiting my daughter in the middle of the night and reading to her. And the same night that I thought I saw someone watching us sleep...No, just no."
"He wanted to see you." She pouts at me.
"Margaret James Rogers!" I raise my voice until I look at her pouting face. "Just stop." I bring my voice down to a whisper. "I don't want to talk about this."
"Fine." She jumps off the bed and walks into her room.
"Doll, what if..."
"What if what? This isn't happening. I don't know who was in here, but it wasn't Steve. Not the Steve she remembers. But someone was here. So, what did they want?"
"I don't know. But let's say it was Steve. Would it be a bad thing?" Bucky looks at me trying to see different angles.
"For him? Yes. I'm going to hit him." Bucky laughs. "I don't find any of this funny. I feel gross. Do you think someone was actually here?"
"I didn't see anyone. I looked, but it seems weird that Maggie is saying Steve was here the same day that you saw someone in the doorway, and the door was open. Come here and kiss me though." I walk to his side of the bed and pull myself on his lap. Placing a sweet kiss on his lips. My body leans back before his arms wrap tighter around me, prolonging the kiss. "What is the plan for today?"
"Well, we need to do something about this closet." Bucky sucks in a breath. "I know you don't like seeing all of Steve's clothes in there. If there's anything you want to keep, you can. But wouldn't you want your own clothes?"
"We don't have to do that." He answers, pulling me even closer. Even though my head was looking at the closet his has never left my face.
"We don't have to do it, but I want that space to be yours." He smiles up at me, his nose scrunches a bit. "And then, we'll have to go shopping for some clothes for you. But before, I really need to tell Maggie sorry, and offer her some chocolate chips as a peace offering."
"Okay, I'll make breakfast."
I push on his chest, "No, we can have fruit and yogurt. You start on that closet." He huffs but stands up walking to the closet.
"We don't have to get rid of all of his clothes." He calls out from the closet.
"No, some I want to keep in storage for when Maggie gets older. I've even seen some cute ideas to make dresses for her."
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Bucky's POV:
For the past few nights, we've left the baby monitor on. We both have various of hours of not being able to sleep since the Steve reading a bedtime story incident. Maggie, hasn't struggled as much with bedtime. A couple days was a struggle. Still missing her dad, and not being able to understand exactly what's going on. There was nothing. No movement, no speaking. We both begin to think maybe it was a weird coincidence.
"Today is Thursday." Charlie reminds us at breakfast.
Maggie's eyes light up. "You weren't lying?"
"No, little pearl. We can have a peanut butter mixing party." Charlie tells her.
"Pizza, too?"
"I could go for some pizza." I say. Maggie jumps off her chair and runs to me, wrapping her arms around me, hugging me, and telling Charlie thank you and runs away.
"I've been replaced." Charlie deadpans.
"What?" I ask looking at her with a smile. Maggie opening up to me as quickly as she had, brings out a brightness that I never thought possible.
"Maggie. She loves you." I tilt my head at Charlie. "She does. It's not a bad thing, I just didn't think she would replace me, her mom."
"You're being entirely too hard on yourself. She loves you. But you're the mom. I'm the fun uncle." Her face contorts into disgust. "What?"
"You're more than an uncle, James. Sam is an uncle. You're..."
"Steve's her dad."
"Yes, I know. I wasn't saying that. You're a bonus dad." She smiles, proud of her name for me.
"Bonus dad? Really?" I chuckle. It doesn't sound bad.
"You're not an uncle. You mean more to me than a brother." She walks over to me. Her leg kicks over my lap as she plants herself on me. Her lips come closer to mine. "I don't think you know exactly how much I enjoy you being here."
"I think I know." I reach up, kissing her lips. Rubbing on her hips and bringing her closer to me.
"Enlighten me." She smirks.
"Remember on our way to Siberia?" She nods her head, smiling, remembering our first time together. Just us. "And I asked you to use your empathy when you were climaxing?" She bites at her lip as her fingers lace through my hair. "I saw this life..." I look around the house, and just being comfortably domesticated. "With me." She looks away from me sheepishly. "Even then, you didn't want this with Steve."
"No. I never imagined this life at all, until I met you."
"You didn't want this life when you first met me." Now would be the perfect time to tell her what I recall from our first meeting. It wasn't in Bucharest.
"Not first meeting. But soon after. There was something about you James. Almost as if..." She trails off, as she traces around my face, memorizing me.
"As if what?" I search her eyes. Does she remember.
"It's stupid. And sounds crazy." She tries to pull herself off of me, but I hold her close.
"I have a metal arm. We know aliens. You're friends with a god. That's crazy."
"When I first saw you, remember how I couldn't look away from you?" She remembers. "It was as if I had met you before." She doesn't remember.
"Maybe we did." I look down. I can't continue to lie to her. She should know.
"Maybe. Or maybe we're just destined to be together." She giggles. "I've got to clean up after breakfast." She stands and moves quickly away from me. I stand chasing her out of the dining room to the kitchen.
Clumsy woman falls to the ground behind the island laughing. I lay down on the floor. Her laughter vibrates off the furniture in the kitchen. It's almost as if there's lightness bouncing off of everything. It's completely contagious as I laugh with her. She stops for a moment bringing her hands beside my face as she kisses me. I pull her closer, deepening the kiss. "Did you hear that?" She asks, looking around paranoid of something.
I lean up looking around. "Doll, there's no one here. Even Maggie is still in her room playing." I bring my lips back down to hers.
"I'm being serious. I heard something." I begin tickling her trying to get her out of this paranoid state. Her laugh is uncontrollable as tears leak out of the corners of her eyes. She's perfect in this moment.
"Agent Allen. Sergeant Barnes." We both pause, almost sobering up as we turn to see a man.
"Fury. What are you doing here?" The joy in Charlie's voice disappears.
"You want to explain to me where Captain Rogers is Charlie?" He glares down at us. I stand, pulling Charlie up with me.
"No. I don't." Her body language is closed off to him. "Water?" He nods his head at Charlie as she pulls out cups for all of us. "Why are you here?"
"I was looking for Cap. No one wants to tell me where he is. So, I'm here asking his...why is Barnes here?"
"Steve's just a friend. You can call me his baby mama. But I don't know. He's his own man. If I see him, I'll let him know you're looking for him." She fills up the cups with water and forcefully puts his in front of him.
He drinks it, eyes never leaving Charlie. "How's the little one?"
"She's fine."
"I heard after the blip you retired. Can we ask you back? You never actually went into an official mission, since you got involved with Barnes."
"Nope. Not interested."
"I'm going to check on Maggie." I say starting to leave.
"Stay. I've got business with you. Didn't expect to find you here."
"Get to the point then Fury." Charlie takes a drink before slamming her cup on the counter.
"Barnes, you're going to be pardoned." Charlie's face lights up as she looks at me, "Are you two...?" He points between us. We both nod. "Interesting turn of events. There're stipulations. You will have a hearing, but I've got it worked out to court appointed therapy."
"What? I thought you said a hearing." I look at him, surely there's more to this.
"I'm Nick Fury. The hearing is more for public appearances. Not necessary. You have a week." He turns and walks away.
"A week? Where's this therapy at Fury?" Charlie screams to him.
"I'll send you the details."
"Ugh...he's so infuriating. Are you okay?"
"I guess." I look down at my metal hand. Why therapy? This is going to bring up my past more than it already is. I know the nightmares will get worse bringing up the past. I can't do that to Charlie. To Maggie.
"James?" Charlie's eyes search mine. "Can I?" She picks up my hand indicating she wants to read me. I nod.
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Charlie's POV:
I reach over picking up Bucky's hand and close my eyes. He's got a whirlwind of emotions. He's scared. He's scared for everything that can be brought into the front of his mind with therapy. He's scared of how this will affect our current life. He's scared he'll lose us. He's scared...he pulls away. "James, I might not know everything you did while in Hydra, but I told you, that was him. That's not you."
"It's easy to say that now."
"I saw him, I saw the Winter Soldier, he attacked me. And he's not you. He's not James Bucky Barnes." I pick up his hand, wanting to soothe him. I place his hand on my cheek. "This James right here, he would NEVER hurt me. He would never hurt Maggie. Do you realize how fast you were to get up when I thought someone was in the house? You protect."
"Thank you, Charlie." He looks at me with sadness.
"We'll do it together. Take things one step at a time. I know it won't be easy, but you are worth it. We're worth it. Bucky, it's you, and has always been you. So, I'm willing to do whatever it is you need me to do."
"Thank you, doll." He whispers out.
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Charlie's POV:
We rest a bit easier, over a week of no more mentions of Steve visiting Maggie, or an uneasy feeling of being watched. Bucky is doing his best to remain as positive as possible, but also, I see the fear in his eyes. His nightmares have become more consistent, but I'm willing to do whatever he needs me to do. Even sleeping on the floor when he needs to. He said the floor grounds him, and allows him not to sleep too soundly, which causes the nightmares. I just want to be with him.
Tonight, he hasn't dreamed, I wake up a little after 3:00 needing a drink of water. I hear voices. I look over to the monitor, it's on, but nothing's coming through. I look at a peaceful sleeping Bucky, and can't bear to wake him. I walk out the bedroom, leaving the door open just in case. As I get closer to the voice, my heart drops. It's in Maggie's room. I jerk open the door and a fear, dread, and shock vibrate through my body.
I could recognize this side profile anywhere. A young Steve Rogers sits in the chair by Maggie's bed with a book in his hand. Maggie smiles up at him. His head glances towards me and he sees my shock, "Maggie, go wake Bucky, tell him there's someone in your bedroom." I look towards her monitor, it's off.
"Maggie, stay there. Charlie..." Steve stands up, making his way closer to me. Who is this man to tell my child what she needs to do?
"No, Maggie, come here. Who are you?"
"Almost a decade with me and you don't recognize me." He walks closer, but he's not defensive.
"Don't touch me. Who are you?" I smack at his hand that he brings closer to me.
"Charlie, it's me." Maggie's eyes look between us.
"No, it's not. Who are you?" I shake my head aggressively not wanting to believe a word
"Princess, it's really me."
"How?" My head continues shaking as he places a kiss on my temple. "No." I jerk back from him as the tears break through.
"She'll be asleep in a few more minutes. Can we talk then?"
"Steve? What happens if Bucky wakes up?"
"Then I'll talk with him too. I'd rather not."
I stand at the door, not wanting to be close to Steve as he continues reading the story to Maggie. He kisses her forehead and hugs her. He turns of the lamp, and motions for me to turn on her moon lamp. I comply. Dammit.
A few minutes later he asks me to sit on the bed with Maggie. I shake my head no. Still not wanting to get too closer to him.
"I'm sorry."
"Do you really think that makes up for all of this? Steve what are you playing at?" I scowl down at him.
"Peggy works at S.H.I.E.L.D. and she keeps getting Pym Particles. I couldn't leave her."
"You already did."
"I deserve that."
"You deserve so much more than that, Steve. She cried for you. There were nights she cried herself to sleep. And you sneak in her bedroom to read to her? It was you, wasn't it? Watching me and Bucky sleep." He smiles and it pisses me off even more.
"Yes. You had clothes one." He smirks up at me.
"You're an asshole. Who do you think you are?"
"Confused." I shake my head in disbelief with him. "I don't regret going back in time to be with Peggy, but Maggie's mine. Just as much as she's yours. I should be able to see her."
"I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm saying you went back in time and chose a different family. Over her."
"And you fucking chose Bucky!" He screams in my head.
"I chose Bucky? We're turning this to be my fault? Are you fucking kidding me! You left your daughter. You didn't tell me. I had to watch my child cry out for her daddy. She blamed me! And it was because of your choices, Steve! And you want to blame me for falling in love with Bucky."
"You never loved me the way you love him."
"That's where you're wrong. I did. You said we were friends with benefits. You were older, and I just wanted you in any way that I could have you. So, I agreed. You used me, you even admitted it. I was taking Peggy's place. Until the grand moment that you could go back and be with her. Yes, I would be with Bucky even if you didn't go back in time. But don't you dare flip this on me."
"I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry. I just miss her, I miss you."
"You've got Peggy. Now go be with your wife and other family."
"All that time we spent together and you never think of me?" He comes closer to me.
"I think of you every day Steve. Your eyes stare back at me every day from our daughter. How could I not? But I'm angry, no pissed off at you. You could have told me what you were doing. Don't touch me!" I hit his hand off me. "You don't get to touch me anymore. You have a wife."
"You have a Bucky."
"You're right I do. And he's been amazing, even though he's dealing with his own things. Maggie, she loves him, but he's not her dad. Her dad left her."
"I won't be the only one."
"What the fuck does that me?" I glare at Steve. "How often through time do you travel? Do you just pop up at random times throughout our lives?"
"Yeah."
"Steve. I don't want to know. I'm happy. I'm happy and I'm hurt for Maggie. Don't play games with my daughter's heart. She doesn't deserve this. If you want to pop in on her to read her bedtime stories. Fine, but then you make it a regular thing. Don't do this and then disappear."
"You're right. And I don't plan on that. Peggy wants to meet her."
"What?! You're too much right now. I'm going to bed with my boyfriend."
"Charlie, that was too soon." Again, he comes closer, wanting to touch me.
"You're damn straight it's too soon. My daughter's dad that went back in time pops up in our lives randomly the same age as when he left. Steve, this isn't normal. And now, you want to bring your wife to meet my daughter. The woman you went back in time to be with, you left us for her."
"She wants to meet you too."
"You don't stop, you don't fucking stop. Can you please leave?"
"I wanted to just watch her for a bit."
"Don't watch me and Bucky then."
"Can we talk again? Another time? And keep this away from Bucky and Sam, for now?"
I shake my head at him. For now. Again, with this. "I'm not the person I was before, Steve."
"I know. I'm proud of you. But I'm being serious. It's not the time for them to know."
"Fine. Goodnight, Steve. Don't stay too long."
"Goodnight."
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Bucky's POV:
Today has been a difficult day for me and Maggie. She still brings up the fact the Steve reads to her at night. Charlie doesn't pay it much mind. Just says she's probably dreaming and it feels real. She hasn't brought up the person she saw watching us, which is odd. It's been difficult for me because I'm going to have to start therapy tomorrow. Charlie reassures me that everything will be fine. Her optimism is almost smothering me.
"You, okay?" Charlie asks as she walks into the living room, sitting beside me on the couch. Maggie has already drifted to sleep. Maybe dreaming about her dad on the moon reading her a bedtime story. I nod to Charlie, "You can talk about it. Tomorrow is the day."
"I'm fine, Charlie." I huff. She nods and leaves it there. We sit in silence for a minute when I grab the remote, turning anything on to break up the silence.
"James." Anytime she calls me this it usually means that she's wanting sex. I could use the distraction.
"Yes, doll?" I coo over to her.
"You know I love you right?" I nod my head. "We'll get through this together, okay?" I misread her inflection, and just nod.
"You wanna sit on my lap, and get comfortable?" She gives a smile, "Come on. I don't want to talk about this right now. I just want to feel you." Her legs shuffle and spread to straddle across my lap as I bring her closer to me.
Instead of kissing me she lays her head on my right shoulder while she rubs on my left arm. "I didn't invite you to sit on me, so you could pet me."
She giggles as she looks up at me, "Just trying to keep you on your toes James. I can't be too predictable."
"Oh really? So, what is going to make this not predictable?"
"We can't stay out here." We both know we have to be behind a closed door.
"We're going to have to get a couch for the bedroom." Her lips begin kissing all along my body, outlining me with her soft pecks. She comes up along my neck before trailing along my jawline and then finding my own lips. Immediately our tongues meet as we continue roaming each other bodies. My hands trace along her thighs slowly, coming to her hips, and then back down to cup her round ass.
Her breathing hitches, but I push her forward, closer to me, "We can go to the office." She whispers in between our kissing. Without thinking, I grip her ass tighter, lifting her and carrying her into the office. I feel her smile on my lips as I walk us into the office couch.
Once we enter the office, she reaches behind us and locks the door. And I continue the walk to the couch to sit back down. Her hands cup the side of my jaw as we continue our more innocent make out session. The hunger and want to have her continues building up in me as I find the hemline of her shirt, pulling it off, "Oh honey, you wore lace just for me." I sarcastically say, looking at her lace bra. It's not leaving anything to the imagination since it's just pure lace and not lined underneath. God, she's perfect.
"That's right, just for you James." My eyes roam over her body as her fingers search for my shirt's hemline. Once her fingers find it, she pulls it off and begins kissing along my collarbone and chest.
My hand finds her jaw as I jerk her face upwards. I want my lips to roam her body. She inhales when I jerk her upwards, she must like when it's a bit rougher. My lips connect with her warm skin, as I use my mouth to memorize her body. Her head leans back and her hands come up to my hair, running her fingers through my hair.
I reach behind her unclasping her bra, slowly I pull it off of her. Her face meets mine, "You're beautiful." She whispers bringing her hands to my face, memorizing me. I kiss along her jaw and neck; I continue using my lips to travel across her skin. Grazing my lips across her nipples, I stimulate them, until they protrude off her skin.
She pulls her body off of me, and pulls me up with her; her fingers reach down to my waist and removes my pants, jerking down my boxers. She pushes my body back to the couch. I watch as she removes her shorts and panties before she walks over to me. She stands there smiling, and I pull her on top of me. I guide my throbbing cock into her silky pussy. Both of us inhale deeply, feeling each other, pausing to enjoy the sensation of me being inside of her.
I watch as her body shifts backwards, and she places her hands on the floor to brace herself. She has given me the perfect viewpoint, to see me inside of her, and then to see her breasts move around as I pump into her. "Doll, you're doing so good. I like watching me inside you."
My praises make Charlie's breathing speed up. "You feel amazing James."
"Whose girl, are you?" I growl down at her, as I bring my metal fingers to her clit.
"You know I'm only yours, Sarge." Her moan escapes her swollen lips as I let my fingers vibrate on her. I watch as her legs shiver and hear a scream breakthrough, and pussy clenches on my cock.
I pull at her arms to wear she's facing me. "Fuck me." My voice is low and hoarse. My head lays on the back of the couch, and I place my hands on her hips and just watch and she bounces on top of me. When I feel myself getting close, I bring her mouth to meet mine as we breathe onto one another. She grabs a hold of my shoulder as I fill her up. Her head lays down on my shoulder as I feel her breathing on me. I never want to leave her, but I fear with therapy there will be more nightmares.
"I've got you." She whispers in my neck.
"Don't leave me." I whisper back as I draw shapes on her spine.
"I don't intend to."