Third Person POV:
Steve Rogers runs through the streets of Lagos in search of Crossbones. Most of his men have already been taken down, but now it's just Steve and Rumlow. Finding his way through a crowd he spots a vest, panicking he looks around the crowd, "They ditched their gear." He knows that he needs to find him. "It's a shell game now. One of them has the payload." A bomb connects to his shield. Momentarily Steve allows himself to look at it before launching the shield above the crowd. It goes off, thankfully not harming anyone.
Before Steve can be happy about the quick save, he's hit roughly in the back, sending his body flying through the stalls of the market. "There you are, you son of a bitch." Rumlow made his presence known. If Steve thought this mission was personal, he has nothing compared to Rumlow's personal vendetta. "I've been waiting for this." He screams through the crowd. His body is fashioned with automatic arms that are doing most the work.
The makeshift fist connects with Steve's face and sends him hurtling in the distance again. Steve gets the confirmation that the payload is secure through coms, and now he has to finish this fight with Rumlow once and for all.
The two men fight through the market, Rumlow's mechanical fists continuing to hit his body harshly and occasionally throw him up against a stall. Getting Steve cornered and feeling he has the upper hand against him, he taunts Steve. "This is for dropping a building on my face." A knife comes out of the mechanical fist, but hits the wall beside Steve's face. The Captain throws an elbow to the side of Crossbones and is able to pull off one of the metal fists, dropping it to the ground like trash.
Not to be deterred, Rumlow releases a blade from the left fist, punching through the air and missing Steve. Steve uses his lower body strength and spins with a kick to his face, causing Rumlow's body to be thrown through the air. Rolling on the ground, he kneels removing the helmet that's kept his now heavily scarred face hidden. Steve stalks over to the man.
Jerking the man up so they can fully look at one another, "I think I look pretty good, all things considered." Rumlow responds when he spots the pity in Steve's eyes.
"Who's your buyer?" Steve demands.
Not to give into Steve's questioning, Rumlow decides to change the topic at hand. "You know, he knew you. Your pal, your buddy, your Bucky."
"What did you say?" Steve jerks Rumlow closer to him. Already distracted by the talk about his best friend.
"He remembered you. I was there. He got all weepy about it. Him and Pierce talked about some girl that helped him remember you. What was it that he called her?" Rumlow smiles up at Steve, seeing his eyes look around his own brown eyes, knowing he has Steve right where he wants him. "Oh, that's right, his China doll. His...Charlie."
"What did you just say?" Steve looks around Rumlow's eyes. Confused as to how Bucky would know Charlie, or even how Rumlow would know that her name would get under his skin.
"You know her? Pierce did tell him she would be running into your arms." He watches as Steve's face contorts with confusion. "You're fucking her, aren't you? She's lying to you." Rumlow smiles looking Steve's body up and down, he's easily played. "Before they put his brain back in a blender, he wanted you to know something. He said to me, 'Please tell Rogers, when you gotta go...you gotta go.' And you're coming with me." Rumlow detonates the bomb attached to his vest. Steve quickly steps back, but if it hadn't had been for Wanda using her powers to stop the blow, it would have taken Steve as well.
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Once the dust and chaos settled the four Avengers load up into the Quinjet to return back to the compound. Sam pilots the plane with Natasha, while Wanda and Steve are left to deal with their thoughts. Natasha continuously looks back at Steve seeing that there's something that he is fighting through. She stands walking back to him. "You want to talk about it?"
Steve is still lost in his thoughts. "He...said something about Charlie."
"Rumlow? They never met." Natasha looks over Steve's face, knowing that this is one of the things that allowed his guard to be down. "Is that what happened. He brought up Charlie and you froze?"
"He brought up Charlie and Bucky. Saying they knew each other." Steve's eyes still never meet Nat's. It has been a long day, and the only thing he could think of is to get to Charlie, needing her now more than ever.
"How? Charlie..." her voice trails off. Her and Clint met dead end after dead end considering her parents car wreck. Months after the wreck Charlie showed up, claiming to be younger than she remembered. Clint and Laura shrugged it off saying she must have hit her head. But Nat knew something was off. Fury told them she was healthy and fit. Even training with Nat, she watched the girl pick up things too quickly.
"What do you know about her parents' car crash?" Steve finally looks up at Nat. He sees there's more that she's telling him.
"Nothing. Her mom is essentially a ghost. There's no information on her parents, so can't trace anything back to the next of kin. However, no one believes Charlie was in that wreck. When...she wandered into the police station, she was healthy. When I trained her, she was a natural. Too natural."
"He told me Charlie was lying to me. He insinuated that...never mind." Steve's eyes glance down at his hands. Would his best friend and the girl he's now friends with benefits be able to know each other?
"Just tell me what you're thinking. You know Charlie and I are close. She's never once mentioned Bucky."
"She wouldn't. You said she barely remembers things before the crash." With a sigh Steve leans back in his seat, staring up at the ceiling.
"Rumlow is playing you."
"How? You said yourself they never met, that you know of. He knew Charlie's name. Even said that Pierce told Bucky that she would run into my arms. What is that even supposed to mean? If he never met her, how would he know to mention her name. Maybe she is lying."
"You know, I met her once when she was younger and her parents were still alive. She stayed with Clint and Laura, she was maybe thirteen, fourteen...she loved being there. She was a happy child. If she had contact with Bucky or Hydra, it would have been when her parents were alive. She was a bit quiet, but always happy. I don't think she's lying to you. Rumlow could have known that Charlie was a new recruit, and just assumed he could use Bucky and her as a distraction." Nat nudges his head up to look at her.
"You really believe that? He asked...if I was...well, fucking her."
"Are you?" Steve shakes his head no, but he fully intends to. "If Charlie was lying, and I knew, I would be putting you in danger. I wouldn't do that. And if she had contact with Hydra, she doesn't remember, she barely remembers her parents."
"They know how to erase memories."
"Steve, you're being paranoid. Maybe you're feeling guilty for wanting to keep things just friends between you two. She deserves more than you're offering. And so do you. If you feel she's lying to you, truly lying to you, end things. If you go to that compound and continue whatever fuckery you two are doing, then you need to trust her. She wouldn't hurt you. Even when she was still at the farm, she only spoke fondly of you. Don't disappoint her even further."
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Bucky and Charlie pull up at the Barton farm. Clint is actually home, so much of his time has been spent with Kate Bishop, but he couldn't miss the Barnes coming to the farm. Maggie's little legs run up the steps to the porch screaming for her Papa, while Charlie grabs Callan, and Bucky pulls out the luggage. They give one another a quick kiss, and Callan touches Bucky with his sparkles. They're not painful, but Bucky can feel his strength and control getting better. "Son, I don't need to remind you, that she may be your mom, but she is my wife and my doll." Callan can only squeal at Bucky, burying his into his mom's chest. "Those are mine, too." He taunts the baby.
"Stop. He's just a baby." Charlie giggles at her husband.
"He's a bit on the possessive side." Bucky's knuckles still rub on his son's cheek, making sure to graze Charlie's nipples.
"And you're not?" She asks her husband. "Come on, they'll want to see this sweet boy too."
The trio walk into the farm house, Clint holding Maggie in his arms as he shows her the new bow and safety arrows, he designed for her. Charlie rolls her eyes at them, and Laura yelps with glee at the nearly one-year-old Callan. "Oh, aren't you a handsome boy. Can I hold you?" Callan turns his head away, pulling down at Charlie's shirt.
"Cal, don't be shy. You know your Mimi." Charlie's voice is soft as she talks to her baby boy.
"Don't feel bad, he prefers her over me, too. It's mostly because he's jealous I kiss his mom." Bucky reaches over to his son, but he still refuses to go to anyone else. "See. Normally I would have Maggie James, but I'm nothing compared to Papa Bear." His hand rubs along Charlie's soft stomach, whispering, "One day," in her ear.
Laura notices, "Wait, are you two?"
Charlie shakes her head no, but Bucky can't hold his excitement, "But eventually." He kisses her temple and walks over to check out Maggie's new bow.
"You know, we went through your things. Nat left something for you."
Charlie's eyes go wide, "What do you mean?"
"I'm assuming it was during the blip. It's a video. We haven't watched it."
"But we want to! So, before we get too comfortable, shall we?" Clint calls over to the women. Taking a deep breath Charlie nods her head yes. "Great. We did gather all the diaries as well. Thought you and Bucky might like them. Got something for you, too Buck. Nat left it behind as well."
Clint goes around the corner returning carrying a large box, and on his back is a black backpack. Bucky and Charlie both gasp. "How did she...?" she asks looking at Clint.
"She was the one who confiscated it. I guess she noticed that this was left behind. Sharon must not have found it important." Clint looks at Charlie and sees her swallow bile at the mention of Sharon's name. Charlie is confused at the feeling. The last she saw Sharon they left on a clean slate.
Even Bucky cuts his eyes looking at his wife. "You okay, doll?" She nods her head. Bucky grabs up the backpack, unzipping it and seeing the dozens of notebooks still intact. The different colored tabs are bent and frayed, but it's all the broken mess of his memories. Now it's Charlie's turn to make sure her husband is okay. She presses her body against his, Callan cuddled in between the two, and her hand rubs along his arm. "Love you, honey."
"Love you, too, husband." Callan senses the unease in his father and reaches for him when Charlie pulls away. Bucky scoops the chubby baby up in his arms, pulling him into his chest for a squeezing hug. "Okay. I guess this is about the only time to do this."
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Natasha and Yelena travel to their next location. "So how is your new sister?" Yelena asks in her thick Russian accent looking over at Natasha bitterly.
"What are you even talking about?"
"Winter's Princess. How is she?" Yelena stretches her legs out on the dash in front of her, looking over to Nat. "Charlie. Did you already forget about her?"
"How do you know about Charlie?" Nat tries to keep her composure, barely looking over at Yelena.
"The Red Room knows all about Hydra scum." Thankfully Nat is well trained at keeping her emotions in check, but her mind wanders. She knew that Charlie seemed too familiar with Bucky. She also hasn't forgotten the conversation that she had with Steve, but Charlie also hasn't given anything away about a time in Hydra. "You didn't know did you?"
"How about you tell me what you know?"
Yelena laughs. "She probably picked up on training well, did she? She was sent to the Red Room for a short period of time. Pierce wouldn't let her fully commit though." Yelena pauses and looks at Nat who remains blank. "He had plans for her. He needed her uterus intact." Yelena busies herself by looking at her nails, Nat doesn't give her the attention she desires. "She was promised to him. The Winter Soldier. Oddly enough the name the world gave her is fitting."
"You're trying to tell me that she lived in Hydra, was supposed to have children with the Winter Soldier, and then also be a fighter why?"
"You really don't know. Apparently, her father is a god. Hydra wanted her to mate with the soldier, hoping to create an army of freakishly strong kids." The two sit in silence. Both sit alone in their thoughts.
"I don't think it's the same girl. She didn't remember Bucky."
"She stayed with him during that chase. She wasn't with the other Avengers."
"He took her with him. Both her and Steve said that he pulled her along with him."
"Fine, believe what you want to believe. I met her. She fought with me. She wasn't brain washed. She talked about the soldier. Said when she got older, she was going to marry him. Looks like she's well on her way."
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The Barnes and Barton's sprawl out through the living room. Maggie in between her mom and Clint, leaning into her mom, while her finger is being held by her nursing brother. Bucky's arm wraps around Charlie's shoulder, and his fingers play with Maggie's pigtails, and he pecks a quick kiss on Callan's forehead.
Clint plays the video, and pats on Maggie's leg. An image of Natasha during the time they were planning for the time heist comes up on the screen. Immediately Charlie's eyes fog up looking at her. Missing her now more than ever.
Charlie, if you found this, well then things didn't go well for me. I've been holding on to this information longer than I should have. I honestly didn't find it important with the current situation of your life. You're engaged to Steve. As of today, you have a two-year-old named Margaret James. She is the most beautiful little baby I've ever seen. And you're an amazing mom. I'm hoping that one day you have can a house full of kids.
When you told me that you were naming her after Steve's true love and yours, I should have talked with you then. Natasha takes a deep breath. Eyes going glossy. I'm sorry I kept this information from you. I honestly did not think it mattered. Even after the times I've talked with Steve about your lingering feelings about Bucky.
So, let's start from the first bit of info I got. It was after Lagos. Rumlow made a comment about you and Bucky knowing each other to Steve. Even insinuating a relationship between the two of you. To say Steve was beyond frustrated from what happened and what Rumlow said about Bucky remembering him, and of course you and Bucky would be an understatement. We all know how that ended, and I should have done more to protect you.
"Mommy, what happened?" Nat's eyes look around the screen as she further tries to recollect all that she knows. Clint pauses the video, looking over at the little girl, sadness clearly in his eyes. After Lagos is when the chaos of Charlie's life began. Charlie is stunned as to what to say to her daughter. "What did daddy do?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"But I want to know. Auntie Nat is acting like he did something to hurt you."
"Maggie, maybe you and I should go outside and practice." Clint begins to stand, pulling at Maggie.
"No. Why won't you tell me? Did daddy hurt you?"
"No, baby. Your daddy didn't hurt me."
"Then, what is Auntie Nat talking about?"
"You're too young to understand, but things with your dad just happened too fast." Bucky fidgets around, pulling up a now sleeping Callan into his lap. He has never heard about this story, but he can imagine. Steve could be a very jealous man.
"You promise?" Charlie nods her head, trying to withhold her tears. Maggie shuffles around to sit in Charlie's lab, pulling at her mom's hands to wrap around her.
After Lagos things happened quickly. I don't think anyone thought you would follow Steve, and maybe if you didn't you might not have gotten close with Bucky again. I told Steve at Peggy's funeral that he had someone real and alive with you and that he needed to protect you. He did protect you, but now I know he never fully committed to you. I saw he still carried her picture with him, even after all those years. I'm not quite sure why he could never get over Peggy, and you were the one that suffered for that.
Obviously in Bucharest you met Bucky, again. Steve told me that it was odd watching you two. He said you were frozen when you looked into his eyes. He told me that when he saw you staring at him that Rumlow's voice was in his head. Regardless of what he might have told you, he believed what Rumlow told him then.
Going back and watching how you moved with Bucky, after your supposed first meeting, I believed Rumlow's words too. You were too familiar with him. However, I know that Steve thought you knew, and you were good at hiding it. I didn't believe that. I wasn't sure what you remembered. But when you told me that you had never met Bucky, I believed you.
You know those few months that I wasn't with you guys on the run? I had met up with my sister. She had told me how you had trained with the Red Room for a short period of time, but Pierce didn't want you tainted. She said that you were promised to the Winter Soldier. Yelena talked about how they had plans for you two to create an army.
When I met back up with you guys, I saw how close you and Steve had gotten, I didn't feel it was worth mentioning anything to you. You still seemed oblivious to your past. I wanted to not believe everything, but with the more information I was given, it was harder to ignore. When I asked you about your time with Bucky and you told me that you loved them both, I should have told you. You questioned your love for him in such a short time, not knowing that it was because it was a love that lingered. I also didn't like the idea of Steve keeping Bucky coming out of cryo a secret from you. He might not have said anything, but I know he was worried you would leave him to be with Bucky.
During the blip, and while you and Steve have been playing house, I had a lot of free time. I looked through the files that I made public. Most of them were encrypted. Your file was heavily encrypted. Again, I should have said something, anything, when I uncovered them. I felt I was saving you. If we're successful, we'll bring him back. I don't know if a fresh start with him is what you need, or if you need to delve deep into your past. I also sometimes wish I could forget what happened to me in the Red Room. And you have experience there and Hydra. I guess I wanted to save you from more heartbreak.
The only thing I can say Charlie is I'm sorry. I watched those videos. Read the files, and saw how yours and Bucky's most private parts of your relationship was put on display and watched carefully. From what I saw he appears to have really loved and cared about you. We're in the process of hopefully bringing them back. I wish I could say that Steve was worried, but he did mention that if given the chance he will go back to be with Peggy.
Maggie, I have tried to talk to your dad out of that. He loves you angel. I hope that if you find this, he didn't go back to be with her. I wish I would have done a lot of things differently guys, but I can't change that now. I guess keeping secrets is ingrained in me sometimes. No matter how this finds you, I hope that you're happy. Charlie, I hope that we bring him back. All these talks we've had I know how much you love him, and I hope everything can work out.
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Long before the video ended Charlie leaned her head onto Bucky's shoulder, needing him close to her. His head rests on her own, placing quick kisses to her head. Callan is facing his daddy's chest, cheek pushed up against him while he sleeps, and a confused Maggie sits in Charlie's lap, holding her mom's hands tightly across her waist, her tiny fingers tapping on her mom's arms. If they weren't so upset from the contents of the video, it might be a sweet moment between the family.
"You promise daddy didn't hurt you?" Maggie's bright green blue eyes look up at her mom.
"I promise, little pearl."
"Did he ever hurt you?" Bucky's arm flexes behind her.
"Have I ever hurt you? Has your dad ever hurt you?" Maggie thinks about this.
"I mean, not on purpose."
"Your dad isn't perfect. So, I'm not going to lie to you and say he never hurt me. But those are all things adults should worry about. Not little girls."
"Did...did you know when you met Bucky again that you loved him?" Charlie finally smiles looking down at her small child.
"Not exactly. But it didn't take long for me to love him again."
"Bucky, did you know when you met mommy again you loved her?" Maggie's finger twirls one of her pigtails as she looks at her softly smiling bonus dad.
"It's not that simple. I think I remembered more than your mom. I knew she was familiar, and I knew I wanted to keep her close and protect her. There's only two other people that made me feel that protective with the first meeting."
"Who?"
"You and your brother." Maggie smiles big at the super soldier, grabbing a hold of his metallic hand.
"Do you ever wish that you didn't love daddy?"
Charlie shakes her head no, "If I didn't love your daddy then I would have never had you. And you, Maggie James are one of my favorite people in the whole world."
Maggie looks back at Bucky, "Do you still love daddy?"
"Yes, I hate that he went back in time, but I still love your daddy. He is one of my best friends. And because of him I have a bonus daughter."
The small family continue their day with Charlie's family. Callan finally waddled a few steps before falling and crawling over to Laura. Bucky and Charlie steal smiling glances at one another. Silent conversations of how much they love one another, or how much he can't wait until everyone is asleep. Both are happy that watching the video from Natasha didn't change anything. Thankful that they keep an open conversation about their past memories.
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Charlie's POV:
I walk back from laying Callan in the room with Maggie and Nathaniel. Standing in the doorway of my old bedroom I see my beyond handsome husband sitting on the bed, nothing on but his boxers and using his Vibranium hand to massage his flesh shoulder. "What're thinking about, Daddy?" I walk in the room, closing and locking the door behind me. Bucky smirks at the action, reaching out his arms for me, acting like the big baby he is, but he's my big baby.
I take off my robe, exposing the navy baby doll sleeper underneath. "Get over here. Now." He demands. Slowly I walk closer to the bed. When I crawl onto the mattress, I place myself on his lap, straddling his thick toned thighs. One roll of my hips and his hand wanders down, "You're wearing those crotchless panties, honey."
"I know." Leaving his hand at my entrance, he slowly teases my sensitive nub. "We haven't had a chance to really talk about earlier."
"Yeah. I thought it went well, all things considering." He pauses his idled teasing; however, his hand never moves. "What happened after Lagos?"
I sigh, looking away from him. "You don't want to know about that."
"Yeah, I do. What did he do?"
"It wasn't something we hadn't discussed." Bucky pulls himself closer to me, rubbing his nose against my cheek. "When Steve got back to the compound before he did anything he just pulled us to my room. We had discussed taking our relationship to the next level, and he thought that after Lagos was the perfect time. I didn't really have time to consider anything, and we had discussed it. I just didn't think it would happen so fast. At that point I thought I was still a virgin. It honestly left me more confused than anything. And then he found out that Peggy died, we flew to London. While in London I discovered his relationship with Sharon. Zemo framed you for the bombing at the UN building, and we flew to Bucharest to find you. A lot happened."
Bucky pulls back to look at me. "He never loved me like you do, babe."
"You don't regret being with me?"
"Never. You have flaws and you're not perfect, but you're perfect for me. I would go through all of that all over again, if it meant that we have the life that we have right now. I love you James Buchanan Barnes, with every part of me."
He slams his lips into mine. Our kiss is nothing but teeth and tongue. Periodically I feel his smile in our kiss. "Keep it down. Clint already warned me he better not hear me fucking you, doll."
"He did not say that."
"Maybe not fucking, but he said no baby making." My lips find his neck, nibbling around, leaving my marks on him, and I feel him shuffle around to pull his boxers down. His hands coax my body lower on his. "Just a bit further down, honey." Lifting my body up he lines his cock up with my wet folds and I slowly slink down. "God, those panties are perfect for you."
His hands attach to my hips, wanting me to move. "Just want to enjoy the feeling of my husband inside me, babe."
"You really like cockwarming, don't you?"
I nod smiling at him, "I just like how full I feel with you. Not to mention it gives me a sense of security." I lean forward, laying my head on his chest. Listening to the steady beating of his heart. Fingers slowly tickle both his arms. Loving the mixture of the warmth of his flesh and the cool tingle of his Vibranium. He rocks his hips up into me, and I don't protest.
"You want to be on top, while I fuck you huh?"
Lifting my head, I look up at the beautiful marble carving that is Bucky Barnes, peppering kisses along his stubbled jaw. I do miss his beard, but there is something about a more disheveled Bucky. The beard was always perfectly manicured, thanks to me, but this is how I remember him. "I take that as a yes."
He continues the rolling of his hips under me. "I love you, James." I whisper on his chest. With a slight inhale from him, and the beating of his heart changing, I want to be the one to praise him during sex. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You're a perfect bonus dad, and a perfect dad." His heart beats even faster in his chest. While I know this is a sexual moment, I also know how much he loves our family.
"You're so strong and protective for us. And I can't wait to give you a baseball team of kids."
"Don't say things you don't mean. I'll have you swollen until you can't have any more kids." I giggle at him. "You really are most beautiful carrying my child. The way you...stretch...the way...fuck...a part of me is always inside you."
Sitting up, I place my hands on his chest, using his body to anchor myself while I'm the one to fuck him. His hands move to my breasts, moving aside the thin material to expose them. Fondling them, pinching my nipples while he watches my face as I ride on top of him. "All mine, aren't ya doll?"
"Yes, daddy. My body is yours." I begin to see stars as my first climax rushes through me. Bucky's body flips us over, rutting into me roughly. The bed loudly squeaks with his thrusts. "Fuck, keep it down."
"Going to have to move this to the floor then." His cock still never leaves my swollen pussy as he picks me up, gently laying me on the floor before his aggressive pace continues. "I love watching you use me as your fuck toy, but you're so beautiful under me. Full tits bouncing around."
Welding his mouth to my neck he leaves his mark behind. Leaning back to smile at his handy work. "You mark me up, I do the same to you, doll. Play with yourself." While it's a command, I snake my hand in between us, matching his thrusts with my fingers that stimulate my delicate bud. My other hand coils through his soft brunette waves, pulling him down to join our mouths together. Feeling how close he is by his breathing. "Cum." Another command that I'm all too eager to comply to. His body tightens up with mine. Feeling the silky walls of the pussy that Bucky has claimed, constrict his pulsing cock, sucking him back in with every thrust, milking him until she's coated with his thick seed.
"Fucking hell." He pants out above me. "Not leaving you, until I'm soft again." My hand that had been stimulating my clit winds up my body and Bucky chases it with his mouth. "Wanna taste," growls out of his chest before licking around on my fingers with a moan of delight. My fingers brush his hair off his face. Blissfully smiling up at my husband. "I may make you quit your job just so I can keep you full of me."
"If I quit you quit."