bucky barnes imagines

lxxvi. FAMILY

A/N – Once again, weloveyasmin threatened to remove my vital organs if I didn't write this (one of the characters in this chapter is named after her, too). It's kinda a continuation of the last chapter, but this happens several years later.

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"Congratulations, it's a girl!"

You breathed a huge sigh of relief, happy tears gradually sliding down your face as the nurse placed your daughter in your arms. Wrapped in a fluffy white blanket, her crying slowly ceased, and she gazed up at you with wonder.

"She has your eyes," you whispered to Bucky. "And your nose, too."

"She's perfect," he breathed, his hand shaking slightly as he placed it on your shoulder, soothingly rubbing circles over your skin with his thumb. "Just like you."

"Have you chosen a name?" the nurse asked.

"Yes," you replied, smiling softly. "Işıl."

Suddenly, you heard Bucky inhale sharply; glancing to your right, you noticed that your daughter had reached out and clasped her tiny hand around his metal pinky finger.

For a moment, you were worried about how he would react; after being together for several years, you knew that one of his main concerns was accidentally hurting your child with his prosthetic, even though you constantly reassured him that it would never happen. But, to your delight, Bucky didn't attempt to move away at all, and an adorable grin spread across his face.

"Look, her hand– she's..." he stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. He honestly couldn't remember ever being this happy in his entire life.

"You should hold her," you suggested, already beginning to carefully hold the baby out towards him. Startled, she began to whine a little, but as soon as Bucky cradled her to his chest, she calmed down again.

"My gorgeous girls," he murmured, his own eyes now shining with unshed tears. "I love you both, so, so much."

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Işıl yawned delicately, her wide blue eyes starting to droop with tiredness. Subconsciously, Bucky rocked her to sleep while you sneakily grabbed his phone from his jacket pocket, using it to take a photo of them, before sending it to Steve.

"Congratulations, I can't wait to meet her!" he replied almost immediately, followed by a snarky but playful comment about how he never would've thought you and Bucky would make such a perfect couple.

It was true – years ago, the two of you used to act as if you hated each other's guts, before you both eventually ended up accidentally confessing your true feelings. But now, looking at your perfect little family, you couldn't be more glad that things had changed for the better.

Since your daughter was healthy and you were making a speedy recovery, you were cleared to go home the very next day. You arrived at the tower in the evening, to find the living room decked out with balloons, banners and confetti. As soon as you walked in, followed by Bucky with the portable baby seat, several of your friends popped up from behind the couches.

You'd already known they were there because Steve was terrible at hiding, but you appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

"Congratulations!" they chimed in unison. You grinned, stepping to the side so that everyone could properly meet the baby. Nat practically elbowed Scott out of the way to get to her first, which made you laugh.

"Be careful," Bucky frowned, looking slightly worried while everyone crowded round. You took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, silently letting him know that you trusted your friends, and that it was okay for him to do the same.

Luckily, your daughter seemed to be enjoying herself, smiling and making grabby hands as several Avengers took turns to pick her up. You were pleased that even Thor was extremely gentle with her – although you politely insisted on holding her yourself when he asked if he could give her a piggyback around the tower.

After a couple of hours, you were beginning to feel a little tired. Attentive as usual, Bucky noticed the yawns that you were trying to stifle, and he was by your side in an instant. He placed a soft kiss to your temple and wrapped an arm around your waist, smiling as you leaned into his embrace.

"Bedtime?" he asked, sounding just a tad childish, but hopeful all the same. You knew that he was tired too, so you nodded, before beginning to bid your friends goodbye, this time holding the baby carrier yourself.

He held your hand for the duration of the short elevator journey. You and Bucky had your own floor now, something which Tony had helpfully arranged when you'd announced your pregnancy. One day, you hoped to move out of the tower, but for now, this was a perfectly good home, finished with a cute little nursery.

You fed and changed the baby before taking a quick shower. Meeting so many people had evidently tired her out; she drifted to sleep as soon as you placed her in the cot.

"She doesn't cry much, does she?" Bucky commented, switching on the baby monitor as the two of you tiptoed out of the room, heading for your own bed at last.

"Thank God," you joked – well, you were only half joking, really. You knew that taking care of a newborn wasn't going to be easy, whether she cried often or not.

Somehow, Bucky picked up on the almost nonexistent note of worry in your voice. He helped you lay down and crawled under the covers beside you, before peppering your face with kisses and letting his arms circle your body.

"You're already a great mother, y'know?" he murmured, kissing your cheek once more as you happily snuggled into his chest.

"And you're an amazing father," you returned. It was true, after all – he was gentle, caring and helpful, just as he was with you.

You both remained silent after that. But, just as your eyes were beginning to flutter closed, Bucky's voice caught your attention once again.

"I never thought I would have anything like this," he sighed. "A girlfriend, a home, a family. I didn't think I deserved it, I guess. But doll, this is... it's all I ever wanted. I don't know where I'd be without you, honestly."

"Bucky..." you whispered, suddenly a little choked up. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. So much. Now, get some sleep, okay?"

You barely had the energy to nod your head; in a matter of minutes, you were already sleeping deeply.

Bucky, on the other hand, only shut his eyes when he was sure you were asleep. However, after a few seconds, he opened them again, slowly leaning across to set an alarm on his phone for rather early the next morning.

After placing the device in the drawer of his dressing table, he then quietly moved his hand a little to the left, grinning when he felt the item that he'd placed there several weeks ago. A small, black velvet box.

An engagement ring.

"Y/N Barnes," he whispered to himself, shutting the drawer and returning to his original position, hugging you tightly as you slept.

Bucky was still smiling when he fell asleep.