Truth

Charlie's POV:

I sip my coffee as Clint, Laura, and myself watch the kids play outside. I forgot just how peaceful and calming being out here at the farm actually is. Deeply breathing in the bitter brew, I see my young daughter run around chasing the older kids, laughing at how normal this is. Normal hasn't happened to me in quite some time.

"So, you know we're not finished right?" I glance over to Clint who snorts out a laugh.

"Yeah. You're never finished. That's the job. There will always be something. How often was I at home?" He answers, Laura's hand comfortingly rubs on his arm.

"I know that. We just haven't caught Karli. We're no closer to finding out exactly who the Power Broker is. And we've kinda been benched."

"You can't use your leverage at Stark Industries to go around that?" Laura glances up at me through her lashes.

"I try not to use that influence too much. Eventually they'll tire of me. And I didn't build that company. Tony did."

"Oh, Tony would for sure use his resources." Clint chuckles. "You just use it to get Bucky out of jail."

"First off, I didn't use my Stark Industries influence for that. I used my sparkling eyes and the fact that John Walker wanted me to be his partner. I might have vaguely answered that I might owe him a favor for that. But then I reminded him that he outed my nonexistent marriage to Steve and my daughter on national television." I cut my eyes over to Clint and take another sip from my mug. Why is coffee the drink of the gods?

Clint just nods. "Maggie, you going to practice your archery?"

Laura smacks at the man's arm, "She's three. Can she not be a kid?"

"She might be three, but her dad is a super solider, and her mom...well she's something." My eyes narrow at Clint's. I know he's talked to Laura, but I just want to enjoy my time with my family.

"And we're not talking about this. The reason why I brought up the fact that we're not finished. Pepper has always said she doesn't care to keep Maggie and I don't want to ever feel like she's a burden to anyone. If it's a last-minute thing, Pepper is closer. But you have her number in case of an emergency." I begin rambling.

"Charlie, you and Maggie are never a burden. I missed almost three years of her life. Five years of yours. This guy did, too." She elbows Clint. "I know that whatever happened before when you were with my brother, things obviously weren't the best for you. I'm almost glad you don't remember. I want to have all the memories with you guys, I also don't want to take any from Pepper. You guys were there for each other during that time. I'll forever be grateful to her and Tony. But if it is a last-minute thing and she can get to her, I think that's a great plan. And if she ever feels overwhelmed, we're only a call away." I missed this woman. I love Pepper, almost like I do Laura. They're vastly different, but I've needed them both. They're the closest thing I've ever had to a mom, Nat was more of a sister.

"Thanks, Laur. I'm glad you're back. Seeing these camps have given me a bit of guilt for my part in bringing everyone back." Clint looks at me, almost worried. "I mean, I wouldn't change it. I don't want to think about where Steve and I would be if we didn't change it. But there's a lot of displaced people out there now. It isn't right either."

"How's Bucky? You two seemed to reconnect quickly." Laura asks, watching my facial expressions out of the corner of her eyes.

"He's good. He's got to finish up a few things. I'm taking Maggie down to visit Sam and Sarah. He's going to bring something for Sam."

"Okay...and what about you two?" She digs around for answers. Clint sips his coffee smiling.

"He wants to take me out on a date." I smile.

"Steve never did that." Clint states. I shake my head no. "He's okay with yours and Steve's past?"

"If he wasn't would I be talking to him? I have a child with Steve. That will never change, she's a part of him just like she is of me. And he can't deny her. Look at her, she looks just like the man." I smile at my young child and she smiles back before running around again.

"True. Was Steve ever okay with yours and Bucky's relationship?" Clint asks and I look at him with a furrowed brow. "Come on, Charlie, don't deny it. Remember you let me read you at the airport. I got a vision...of you and Bucky. Even then you chose to fight with him over Steve. You lied to Steve to visit Bucky. Now I'm blind to a lot of things, but something tells me you weren't just feeding goats in Wakanda."

"I wouldn't say Steve was okay with it at first. And then he accepted it, because I wasn't Peggy." Clint nods his head, understanding exactly what I'm meaning.

"He did love you though. After the first meeting he talked about you a lot. I think it was more a crush or an obsession than anything." Clint tells me, trying to make sure that all this doesn't hurt me. A few years ago, it might. I came to the conclusion years ago Steve was never really in love with me. He was in love with the idea of me.

"I know he loved me. We should have just remained friends though, but then I wouldn't have the most precious thing in my life if we didn't."

"What's the deal with Steve being on the moon?" Laura asks with a laugh. I join in and hear my phone ping, alerting me of a text from Sam.

"You know...I'm not really sure. But it started after Bucky read Maggie her favorite bedtime story, I Love You to the Moon and Back. It's her way of keeping him with her."

"And the fact he has scheduled days to come to present time to read to her." I choke on my coffee and look at him. "Yeah, your mission might have taken to long and the man showed up. Not going to lie, kind of scared the shit out me. I heard voices in your room where Maggie was staying and then I find him. Could have mentioned that to us. I tried to kill him." I let out a laugh.

"He didn't want too many people to know he was doing that. I thought it was a joke, too. The first night I woke up and saw him watching me and Bucky sleep. The second time I saw him in Maggie's room. And one of the last time's Bucky was the one that heard him. Causing him to think I had cheated on him and he left for five months."

"You don't think it's a bit weird?" Laura asks.

"Well yeah...but that is her father. When we're at home we have scheduled times during the day. He wants us to meet Peggy. And while I'm over that. I also don't want to meet her, not now. I just feel like he chose Peggy over Maggie, you know?"

"He didn't want to see you happy with Bucky." Laura blankly tells me. "Makes sense. If he stayed, he would get to see you and Bucky have a good relationship, not pretending. Bucky would be the one who played a more permanent role in Maggie's life. He would be the one to see her almost daily."

"I would never keep Maggie from Steve. Obviously. Look at this situation." I put my hands up. It truly is confusing.

"Well, no, but you can't deny the fact that he would hold resentment towards you two. He could have stayed, and chose not to be with Peggy, and here you had something good with Bucky." She's right.

I finally look at my phone.

When ya leaving Harry Potter?

Harry Potter? We're leaving tomorrow.

Yeah, lightning. Wait, he just has a lightning bolt. So lightning rod! I guess we'll see you soon. Sarah is looking forward to it.

Please don't call me lightning rod

Pikachu then

I just made this worse.

__________________________________________________________________

Charlie's POV:

The humidity and salty air melt into my skin as soon as Maggie and I get off the plane. It's a welcome feeling, a homey feeling. Maggie was so excited to fly, and now her excitement seems to be buzzing off her skin. "Calm down, little one, we're almost there." I tell her, hoping that she can just breathe for a bit.

The drive to Sam and Sarah's family home is just breathtakingly beautiful. I watch the town as we drive by. It has an almost old history air about it. Traditions, smells, food, sounds, everything just seems to be deep. Proud. I'm going to love it here. We arrive at the house, positioned close to the bayou. "Is this where we're staying?" Maggie asks with bright eyes.

"Yep, this is the Wilson's place." The driver informs us. I get out, paying the man and he grabs out our luggage. "They know you're coming?" He asks I nod with a smile. "You one of Sam's special friends?"

Not understanding what he's meaning, "Oh no, we're just friends he's like a brother to me."

"I meant, his special Avengers friends." He lets out a deep belly laugh. "You're too pretty for him." I laugh along with the man and I hear the door open.

"Manny, quit hitting on the woman and let her go." Maggie hears his deep voice and runs straight to him. He picks her up throwing her in the air. I grab our luggage and tug it up the stairs. "Sarah got the guest room all settled for you two. I should warn you, there's no room in that bed for Bucky though. Is he coming?"

"Eventually. But he's got a hotel room."

"No. We'll find him a place. How did things go with Zemo?" He asks. Clearly, he hasn't talked much with Bucky.

"The Dora Milaje arrested him. He's at the Raft." I follow Sam up the stairs, guiding us to our room. I watch a shudder run through his spine.

"Terrible place. But I'm proud of him. I thought for sure he would...well ya know?" He opens the door and the room is homey. It reminds me of my room at the farm.

"Me, too." I smile. I really am proud of him.

"You never doubted him though, did you?" I shake my head no. "But you two are still talking?" I nod my head yes and he gives me an honest smile. "Good, because I won't be too kind next time."

"Uncle Sam, where are the boys?" Maggie asks while she pulls Sam's face to look at hers.

"They're at school." She pouts at him. "They'll be back soon Magpie. And one day you get to go to school."

"Nope." She shakes her head. I stifle a giggle.

"Oh yes, Uncle Sam will make sure you're smart like him." He bites at her cheek and sets her on the ground. "Come on, Sarah wants to see you two. All this time and you've never met."

__________________________________________________________________

Bucky's POV:

I can't wait to get to Charlie. I know that I'm not fully finished with my personal mission, but I need some time with her. I hope that Sam likes the gift I got for him, he needs new wings anyways. Walker thought he had destroyed Sam from flying again, little does he know. Charlie tells me that they're at the boat dock today, so I know not to even go to Sam's house. She informed me that Sam has been teaching Maggie how to do small things around the boat.

I walk out along the boat dock, my eyes shift around, mostly looking for her, but still looking for Sam as well. And then I spot him, they're unloading a truck, and I overhear him mention they don't know how they're going to get it out. My turn. I effortlessly pick up the motor and place it on the boat, "You're welcome."

My hand connects with the case, containing Sam's surprise. "Just dropping this off." I place it on the back of the boat where the motor once was. "You can sign for it and I'll go." Not really. I still have to find her. Sam's hand traces along the trunk. He knows what it is, but isn't ready to look at it. Not here. "I called in a favor from the Wakandans."

Behind me a hose begins hissing and sputtering out steam. "Sam!" I hear her scream. Sam's attention is brought over to hose, and he runs over to it. Mine is only at hers. I don't see Maggie trailing along behind her. She gives me one of her sweet smiles and her eyes actually light up, "Hey." She tells me.

"Hi." I quickly peck her cheek and go to help Sam. He's spent too much time flying and not enough time on the boat. I tap on his arm, "Hold on, hold on. You gotta go up." I hold the wrench in my arm and twist up, slowly the steam subsides.

"Why didn't you use the metal arm?" He asks.

"Well..." I look down at my metal arm. "I don't always think of it immediately. I'm right-handed." He lets out a bit of a chuckle, "So, this is the boat, huh?" I look up at it, and glance back at Charlie, she's still watching me with a smile and admiration. God, she's immaculate.

"This is it."

"It's nice." I shake my head at him. Again, my eyes catch her, and when I face back to Sam he just smiles. "You want any help?" Of course, he does, she already told me does. That's why she's here.

Sam nods his head, standing back up from his leaning position, "Yeah. Come on."

Charlie's small frame walks closer to me. "Hold on." Sam stops, looking at what's happening before rolling his eyes and continue walking. "Hey, doll." I quietly say with a smile, helping her onto the boat with my hand.

"Hello, handsome. I missed you." Her fingers entangle in my hair as she brings herself closer to me. Her lips meet mine and I pull her up to me. Knowing we're out in public she chooses not to actually wrap her legs around me, but I don't care. She's here, in my arms. And I can taste the sweet vanilla lip gloss that she always seems to have on.

"Bucky! Charlie!" Charlie laughs in our kiss, but doesn't pull back at Sam's I'm-being-serious tone.

"Mommy! Bucky!" And that pulls her away. I release her from my arms and she turns to see a smiling Maggie, "Bucky! Where have you been?"

"Saving the world, Maggie James." Charlie shuffles over to help her on the boat.

"Uncle Sam lets me help sometimes. I was with Aunt Sarah." She points back to Sarah, Sam's sister.

"If you're going to help, you need to help." Sam huffs back at me.

"Yeah, I'm going to go back and help Sarah make some food. See you in a bit." She smiles picking Maggie up in her arms. I place a peck on her lips and help the two girls out of the boat. Following Sam to see what all needs to be done.

Immediately he puts me to work, sanding. Working on the boat is familiar. It brings back the time, in another lifetime, where I worked at the docks myself. Helping provide for a frail, and orphaned Steve. I find comfort in the constant and monotonous movements of cleaning and repairing the boat. It feels freeing to use my strength for something good.

I even get to help Sam out, using my brute strength. I chuckle at the fact that he may just be slightly annoyed, "Think Karli's gonna throw in the towel?" I ask him.

"I think she's gonna double down." He answers. We continue collecting water in our buckets and dumping them.

"And idea how to stop her?"

"I got Joaquin working on something." Sam answers. He's a smart kid.

"Well, Zemo says there's only one way." That's one of Sam's fear. He hopes that we don't have to kill her. None of us do.

After a long day on the boat Sam walks over to a cooler and hands me a beer and grabs one for himself. We sit quietly thinking about the impending battle with the Flag Smashers and our day, "Well..." I hit my bottle with his as I stand up. It's getting late. "Gotta catch my flight tomorrow." I take a drink of the beer, wondering where in the world is my girl. "Get a hotel room for the night. Crash, you know?" Sam chuckles to himself.

"So, you're just gonna set me up like that, huh?" He's figured out what I'm trying to do.

"Well, I don't wanna make it weird for your family."

"So, you're telling me you would sleep in a hotel when Charlie and Maggie are here?" I take another drink smiling. "Just stay here. The people in this town are the most welcoming people in the world. They don't care if you wear small T-shirts, or if you have six toes, or if your mom's your aunt." I laugh. I don't care where I'm at as long as I'm with her. With them.

"Okay, I get it. I mean, you know, people are nice." I laugh at him.

"You're just worried about the one, aren't you?" He laughs smiling at me.

I take another drink of the beer. "That obvious?"

"I've never seen her smile like she does around you, or even just talking about you. Listen, she's special to me, like my little sister. When you...well, your ass disappeared, she didn't break down, but she wasn't happy. Maggie has been through a lot; she needs you too. Don't run off and leave again."

"I'm not. I love her, both of them. I want to stick around. She's...she's it."

"Good. They're in the guest room so I guess you're on the couch. So, don't have any funny business going on, on my couch." He shudders.

"No." I shake my head.

"Cause if you do, I'll have Carlos cut you up, and feed you to the fish." Sam's voice is serious and it's annoying.

"Okay." I huff out not looking at him, but then I feel I need to thank him for letting me stay. I nod my head before I make my way off the boat. I need a shower, and to see her. I don't even want to think about sex with Charlie, because I do want her so bad. But I've decided we're not having sex again until after the first date, when she's ready.

When I make it to the house, I see the boys and Maggie playing on the porch, "Mommy's inside."

I sit down beside her. "What makes you think I just want to see your mom."

"Because you love her. She loves you. I told you that." She smiles and places a small hand on my metal arm.

"You did. The first time we met. How do you remember that, Maggie James?" It might have been a few months ago, but she's too smart for a three-year-old, but then again, if he's her grandfather...makes sense.

"I'm smart like Tito." She smiles up at me. "Are you coming back to the cottage?"

"Maybe not this time."

"You still have things to finish up without mommy?" Her bright Steve Rogers eyes bore into me.

"Yep. Hey, Maggie James, normally I would ask the father this, but I think you're the most important person in your mom's life."

"And you." She interrupts.

"I can't ask myself this." I laugh. "I was wanting to know if I can get your permission to take your mom out on a date?" The boys look over at me confused.

"Like a real date?" I nod my head. "You're not taking her to the movies, are you?"

"You think that's a bad idea?" It's a terrible idea. I can't look at her, or talk to her.

"Yeah. You're not supposed to talk at the movies. So, dinner?" I smile and nod. "Okay. I give you, my permission." Even though she's three she speaks very well, although there is a cute speech impediment of her R's turning into W's, and a very slight lisp. She taps my arm where her hand had been resting. "Now go on. You haven't seen her all day." Her finger points into the house and I happily obey her orders.

I hear a faint sound of music the deeper I walk into the house I hear it coming from upstairs, "She's upstairs." Sarah calls from the kitchen. "Follow the music."

I heed her orders and slowly walk upstairs. I open the door quietly where the sound is coming from. I'm met with Charlie packing up hers and Maggie's clothes, softly singing along to some Doris Day, I lean against the door, watching her delicate movements as she sings, I'm in the Mood for Love. I just want to touch her, quietly I walk behind her, wrapping my arms around her. She spins and looks up at me surprised, "Dance with me, doll." Her little body smiles up at me and we dance around the small room. Completely soaking each other in. I watch as her head gently rests on my chest and I pull her in even closer. I love our perfectly innocent moments together.

"I need to shower." I kiss the top of her head as the song ends and another 40s song comes on. "You listening to that just for me?" I ask.

She laughs shaking her head no, "Lyrics were different then. More sincere. And the songs aren't overproduced. Just raw talent, raw emotions." She gently kisses my lips. "Can I join you?" Yes. No. You can do this Bucky.

"Yes, but I've been warned, no funny business."

She rolls her eyes, "Sam... he's a drama queen. But he means well. So, no funny business. We can do that, right, James?"

"Bucky." I can't have her murmur my real name. As if knowing why I said that, she nods with a smile. I grab out some clean clothes from my bag, Charlie turns the music up a bit louder, grabbing herself some clothes and I follow her into the bathroom.

She leans over, feeling the water with her hand, getting it just right, and pulls up the stop to turn on the shower. My eyes just rake over her movements, I'm mesmerized by her. She walks closer to me, placing her hands on the hemline of my shirt, "Do you mind if I help?"

I smile down at her, "Of course not, if that means I get to help you." She pulls up the shirt, exposing my stomach, her gentle fingers trace along my skin, and my breathing speeds up. I grab at her hands, "Charlie..." her name barely makes it out of me as a whisper.

"I know." Charlie pulls me down to give me a kiss. "I just feel, like we've waited so long."

"We can wait longer, but not if you keep rubbing on my skin."

She smiles. "There's other ways to get off..."

I almost glare down at her, "No, doll. Maybe I should shower alone." My eyebrows cock at her.

She pouts up at me, "Fine." She rolls her eyes but continues undoing my pants. This time her hands move more swiftly. I had to open my mouth. When I'm fully naked it's my turn to undress her, I pull up her shirt, desperately trying not to take my eyes off her face, I feel the heat rise up me as I unbutton her pants.

And I reach my point of not stopping. I come closer to her, kissing on her neck when I undo her bra, letting it fall to the floor, she chokes out a breath and removes her panties and quickly jumps in the shower. I chuckle. "It's not funny Bucky. You have no idea how crazy you're making me feel right now."

"Oh, I have an idea." I almost whisper, jumping in myself. "Can I wash your hair?" I take one step closer and she puts her hand on my chest shaking her head no. "Seriously? Why'd you ask to join me then, doll?"

Deviously she smiles at me, I realize my slip up. "I don't know, James." Utters out of her soft pink lips. She leans her head back in the water, when she leans back up to look at me, a smile crosses her lips, and she grabs the shampoo before lathering it in her hair. How am I going to do this?

I step closer to her, and put my hands through her soapy hair. I hear her breathe deeply but watch as her body relaxes to my touch. My hand lifts her chin up and back into the water as the flow rinses out all the suds. I grab the conditioner and work it gently through her ends, repeating the process of rinsing and I hear a soft moan escape her lips. Dammit. My body reacts before my brain does and I place my flesh hand on her mound. Charlie sucks in a breath before looking at me. "Is...is...fuck...is this, okay?" I ask.

"Yes." She whines, already whimpering at my touch. I watch as her body almost goes limp, leaning into my chest. I will allow myself to pleasure her, but I don't deserve to be taken care of. I left her.

Her folds are warm and wet. Fucking hell. She places her head on my shoulder, and I feel every breath she takes on my skin as my fingers circle along her clit. She instinctively lifts her leg up to my hip, and I hold on with my metal arm. I look down at her, unadulterated ecstasy is painted on her features. She's waited on me to touch her, claim her for so long. My lips place a kiss on her nose, "Whose girl, are you?" I smile down at her, placing a finger in her tight cunt. Son of a bitch, she feels amazing.

"Your...yours, James. On-only...fuck...yours." She gasps and pants out. I feel her pussy clenching me, bringing me in deeper, I place another finger in her, watching her face and how with just my hand I have her body writhing and melting on me.

Her small hand moves to the base of my hard cock, "Fuck...Charlie...don't..."

"James, I just want to feel you." She whimpers and her hand slides up my shaft, using her thumb to move around the pre cum over the tip.

"I'm not putting it in you, doll."

"What if you just put it in a little bit?" Her voice comes out as a whisper, I shake my head no. "It won't even count." I smile but still shake my head no. "What about like that much." She uses her hands to show me the amount. "That's nothing, I won't even feel it." I stop my movements and begin to pull my fingers out of her. "I understand, it's fine." She lets out a growl of frustration.

We stand in silence, minus our shallow breathing and I begin circling her clit. I can't leave my girl hanging. I won't give her what she is really wanting, but I can still make her feel good. I feel her breathe in deeply before she herself starts pumping my dick in her hand.

I feel her walls start to flutter around my fingers and her breathing on me comes out in deep pants, she's close. She still makes the same face, her eyebrows still come together and slightly raise. She cums heavily on my fingers and she bites me where my neck and shoulder meet, quieting her own sounds. "Doll, stop." I go to pull her hand off me. Not today. I just want her to be taken care of.

"But you haven't..."

"I know. I want this to be about you." I kiss on her forehead and drop her leg.

"James..." I raise my eyebrows at her. "I just..."

"I know, honey. Soon. How about you give me a minute and get dressed?"

"You can't hold out on me forever." She gives me a serious face.

"I'm not. Now get out." Her naked, wet, and pleasured body gets out of the shower. But she doesn't leave once she's dressed. She sits and listens to my movements. Listening to me, pleasuring myself, the same thing that I've done countless times, dreaming of her legs wrapped around me. Every pump of my dick in my fist was always thoughts of Charlie racing in my mind. And now she's here, willing to spread herself open for me, letting me fill her up with my cock and cum, and I'm too fucking stubborn to do it. But I want to take care of her. I never want her to feel that what I feel for her is just lust, I truly love her. Every part of her, even the part that was engaged to Steve fucking Rogers.

I cum with a heavy breath, feeling sweaty and defeated. I hear Charlie's labored breaths listening to me. She knows how crazy she makes me, but in this moment, I know exactly how much she wants me. And we've both continued to tease the other these past few weeks. Fucking hell. I won't be able to do this much longer. "You okay out there, doll?" I ask while I quickly wash off my body.

"Shut up." She playfully calls to me.

"You didn't have to stay."

"I know."

__________________________________________________________________

Bucky's POV:

I lay on the couch; the house is too quiet. Charlie is asleep upstairs with Maggie in the guest room, and I'm miserable without her, slow close, and still so far away from her. I think about where I would like to take her for our first date. What restaurant would be the most perfect place, and what she deserves?

"You awake?" Her sweet voice whispers? I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts I didn't hear her tiptoe downstairs.

"Yeah." I reach my hand up to her and she lays down on my chest, her small fingers trace shapes onto my metal arm. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Didn't want to be away from you." She yawns and I know she's in fact sleepy. Maggie is used to sleeping alone and in her own room, so I don't feel too guilty for Charlie being down here.

"Go to sleep." I tell her. It isn't long until her sweet and soft humming snores start and I myself am falling asleep to her own form of a lullaby.

The next morning, I stir to tiny human sounds. I jolt awake and find a sleeping Charlie on top of me. I look to see all the kids playing with the shield. All three are fascinated with the piece of metal. Maggie, mostly stares at it, sadness when she thinks of it being her dad's and how she will never have a normal relationship with him. And the boys because they're happy their uncle is the new Cap.

The kids continue to play fight. Maggie even pretends to shoot a bow. All of them make quiet swooshing and hitting sounds. One day this will be our life. Mine and Charlie's. I smile as I watch them. "Hey!" I call out to them. Charlie stirs a bit on top of me.

"Put it back!" AJ tells Cas.

"Hurry, hurry!" Maggie squeals before they all run out. Maggie turns back around and waves, I throw my hand up waving back and then my arm drops on Charlie's back.

"Good morning, handsome." She smiles up at me.

"Morning, doll." We give each other a quick peck and she goes to pull herself off of me, I pull her back, and prolong another peck, before allowing her to actually sit up this time.

My eyes fall to the exposed piece of the shield. Overwhelming thoughts race through my brain. It does belong to Sam, but a part of it will always belong to Steve. Steve of the past. My best friend. The scrawny kid that I had to protect, and constantly get him out of trouble, to the large man that saved my life. More than once. The man I fought for, to the man I fought with, to the man I fought beside. Any angry words and bitterness I had towards Steve make me feel guilty. He always fought to find me and protect me. I'm grateful to him for many things. But mostly how he was one of the few who never doubted me. He always believed in me.

I feel Charlie's eyes on me as I roll my eyes away from the shield and up towards the ceiling, "You, okay?" She asks.

"Yeah."

"You can tell me. He doesn't affect me like he used to."

"I know." I give her a weak smile. "I just miss him."

"He misses you, too." Knowing that I need to feel her on me, she lays back down on me chest, rubbing on my arm and then playing with my dog tags.

"We flying back together?" I ask.

"For a bit. We're going in a different location. You're going to the city. You...are you...?"

"When I'm finished yes." I know she's asking if I'm going to come back to her home. She smiles on my chest. And I tightly squeeze my arms around her. "I'm not going anywhere this time, Charlie. You're stuck with me."

"That's not a bad thing, Bucky."

"Come on, let's walk out to the docks." I still have normal clothes on, but she's not too inappropriately dressed, leggings and a shirt of mine. Glad to know she didn't clean out the closet this time. I pull her along with me as we watch the sun fully coming up over the water. It's gorgeous. "I'm going to help Sam a bit. You, okay?" She nods and turns to walk back to the house.

I find Sam working below deck. "Push the stopper." He tells me. I do as he wants. "Oh, in there...thanks." He responds back to me when he accomplishes what he was working on.

"Yep." I turn to walk away.

"Hey. Start loosening those bolts." We fall in a comforting mostly silent routine.

"Got it." I grab the tool he hands me. I feel his eyes on me and I return the gaze. "What?"

"She slept on the couch with you." He smiles. Not sure why he's bringing it up. It's not that big of deal. I shrug, and continue working on the boat.

"You want to say something else." I glance up at him.

"You showered together." I look up at him. Squinting my eyes. "What are your intentions with my little sister from another mister?" I roll my eyes and continue working on loosening the bolts. "I'm being serious. The boys said you asked Maggie for permission to take her on a date. That's big. I don't think he ever...well you know."

"What are you getting at, Sam?"

"I didn't like you for her when we met. I mean how could I? You stole her from us in Bucharest, even tried to kidnap her in a helicopter. And then...well Vienna...but you two, you're good."

"Oh." I draw out the oh. "You're giving me your seal of approval. Is that what this is?"

He nods his head, "You're welcome."

"I love her." I tell him.

"I know."

"She's it. Pretty sure she always has been."

"I know that, too. You're different than him." I look up at Sam and then back to the bolt. "So does that mean?"

"It means I'm taking her out on a date." I huff.

"How was the shower? You guys held out for a long time." Really?

"It was hard."

"Spare the details."

"It was hard, because we're still holding out. It's like starting over again. I want to take her out first. It's hard, because I just want her." He nods understanding.

"Well, I'm glad. Because I did say no funny business." I roll my eyes.... I know. "So, you just want to date her?" He smiles. I shake my head no. He gives me a big toothy grin. "I approve." He tells me. Good to know I have his approval, I guess.

__________________________________________________________________

"Okay, so..." Sam starts trying to explain what to do with the motor.

"Excuse me. No..." I hear Sarah coming up behind us. We've been caught.

"There should be a three-sixteenths bolt that goes in the big gear." He continues.

"Nope." I answer flipping through the manual.

"No. Uh-huh. No. No."

"What do you mean no, you didn't even look." He tells me. We're going to ignore Sarah, I guess.

"I didn't have to." I respond.

She stands over us and I watch out in the distance as Charlie and Maggie come around with a basket of food. "Hi, Sarah." I tell her.

"I told you specifically that the water pump was not the problem, and yet, here you are." She scolds us.

"Yep, Samuel."

"Look, in our defense, we were supposed to be done long before you woke up." Sam is turning on his charm and he grabs a wrapped breakfast burrito from Maggie, pulling her into his lap.

"I don't come up to the sky to tell you how to barrel roll, or whatever, so don't come down here and start messin' around with things you clearly don't understand." I watch Charlie bite her lip, holding in a laugh and Sam glares at her.

"Wow. Wow." He answers to both women.

"Bye. Off. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate you. I love you, bro." Charlie hands her the basket and more people begin to take the food out, she hands me several, I take them and wrap an arm around her.

"She's a very mean person." I tell Sam.

"It's tough love. No. If you did what I told you to do, we would have been done before any of this took place. And I bet if Charlie wasn't making breakfast, she wouldn't have woken up."

"There is no such thing." I take a bite of the burrito and hand one to Sam.

"There's a prowess that goes into my madness." He lifts the small girl's legs high in the air and she squeals before he holds on tightly and safely to her again.

___________________________________________________________________

Bucky's POV:

Charlie, Sam, and I set up a practice course of sorts for Sam to throw the shield. It's an odd feeling watching Charlie with the shield. She mostly glances over at Sam. She wants this so bad for him, and loves watching him grow into Captain America. Once everything is set up, she stays behind, watching Sam and myself throw and catch the shield, even she catches it at times. "You gonna wrap the shield with lightning again, Pikachu."

Her hazel eyes glare at Sam, "Don't call me that."

"Why? You're small, adorable, and can manipulate lightning." She hits me in the stomach, and Sam chuckles.

"I can't win with you, two. I'm going to start making dinner. Sarah's busy at the docks, she'll like coming home with a clean house and food. Bye boys." She starts to leave and I pull her back into a kiss. We pepper kisses against each other's lips before I hear Sam clear his throat and I smack at her jeaned ass as she walks away giggling.

Sam throws the shield at one of the wrapped trees and catches it, "It feels weird...picking it up again." He looks over at me before he launches it again and it bounces off a few more trees before I catch it. "The legacy of that shield is complicated, to say the least." God, I hate that word.

"When Steve told me what he was planning, I don't think either of us understood what it felt like for a black man to be handed the shield." Steve just saw the good in people. I was vastly too naïve to understand and worried about my own insecurities. "How could we? I owe you an apology." I step forward, handing the shield to him. "I'm sorry."

He grabs the shield from my arm, "Thank you." And he really means it. We're at a comfortable place, Sam and myself. In the beginning he was far from my favorite person, but still he was one of Steve's and Charlie's best friends.

"Whatever happened with Walker, it wasn't your fault...I get it." I tell him. "It's just, that shield's the closest thing I had left to a family. So, when you retired it, it made me feel like I had nothing left. Made me question everything. You, Steve, me, Charlie."

"You have Charlie and Maggie." He calmly tells me.

"I didn't then. I owe you a thanks, too. Without this mess...I don't know if I ever would have gotten the courage to see her again. I was ashamed of what I did." My eyes stay on the shield. I can't meet his.

"What did you do?"

"Lie to her. I didn't tell her I remembered her in Hydra. And..."

"And?" I meet his eyes and sigh. "It's complicated?" He laughs.

I scratch the back of my neck, "You have no idea. So, I just left her. Because I couldn't deal with it. I left her crying on the floor. Confused that I remembered her and..."

He slaps my shoulder, "We don't have to talk about this now. There's obviously something you don't want to admit, or you can't, but you're here now. That's what matters. But I will kill you if you hurt her again."

"You know, I've got his, uh..." I pull out the little notebook of Steve's out of my back pocket. "I've got his book. And, uh...I just figured if it worked for him, then it'd work for me." My fingers ruffle through the pages. Seeing handwriting from both me and Steve. I look over to the house and I see her figure through the window, she's sweeping, making their family home cleaner than what we found it.

"I understand, man. But Steve is gone." Not quite. I sigh, not wanting to add more, "And this might be a surprise, but it doesn't matter what Steve thought." He meets my eyes. He wants me to think about his words. What Steve thought about everything. It doesn't matter. He chose to go back, and I stayed. I can't continue living my life according to what Steve thought. He throws the shield, and I just absorb his words.

"You gotta stop looking to other people to tell you who you are." He throws the shield again, bouncing it between trees before I catch it, "Let me ask you. You still having those nightmares?"

"All the time." Images of everyone I harmed or killed while I was the Winter Soldier. "It means I remember. It means a part of me is still there. Which means a part of the Winter Soldier's still in me." Angrily I toss the shield and watch it bounce until Sam catches it.

"You up for a little tough love?" He turns his body to face me and I look at him and he continues, "You want to climb out of that hell you're in, do the work. Do it."

My body turns away from him, "I've been making amends."

"Nah. You weren't amending you were avenging. You were stopping all the wrongdoers you enabled as the Winter Soldier, because you thought it would bring you closure." He pauses, allowing more of his words to sink into me, into my conscience. "You go to these people and say 'sorry,' because you think it'll make you feel better, right? But you gotta make them feel better. You gotta go to them and be of service. I'm sure there's at least one person in that book who needs closure about something, and you're the only one who can give it to 'em."

"Probably a dozen."

"That's cool. Start with one."

I look at Sam, Steve made the best decision, "Good talk."

He chuckles at me. "C. Allen...?" He begins. He's thought about that since we were on the plane. "She's on the list isn't she." I nod my head. "Well, I think she's more than forgiven you." He looks over to the house and I see her bring out hers and Maggie's luggage, I smile at her and she returns the gesture, walking back in the house to get something else.

Sam wraps his hand around mine, shaking it, "You know Karli won't quit."

"Ah, you call us when you have a lead, and we'll be there." I smile looking back at Charlie and Maggie as they come out to meet me. I bend over picking up my own stuff. "Not necessarily as a team."

"Nope." He answers.

"We're not that good." Maggie runs over to me and I put on my back pack as I lift the blonde girl up.

"Definitely not." Sam agrees.

"We're professionals." Charlie meets us and I lean to kiss her soft lips. Her stride fits perfectly in between mine and Sam's.

"Definitely."

"And, uh, we're partners." I add.

"Co-workers." She says, knowing exactly what we're talking about.

"But we're also a couple of guys that have a couple of mutual friends." I speak. Charlie's arm snakes around my waist, bringing herself closer to me and Maggie.

"One friend's now gone." Sam answers.

"So, we're a couple of guys." I say.

"With me." Charlie laughs.

"And me!" Maggie giggles.

"I can live with that." Sam responds, he reaches over to get Maggie and gives her a hug before we load into the car.

"Perfect." I smile down at Charlie. The situation is perfect, and she's perfect.

"Thanks for the help, guys. Meant a lot." We stop and turn towards him. He looks down at Maggie, seeing our best friend's eyes mirrored in his daughters, constant reminder of how Steve will always be with us.

"Of course." I slap at his arm.

"Anytime, pigeon." Charlie laughs. Sam drops Maggie on the ground and she walks beside us as we go to meet the car.