The Encyclopedia Of Bucky Barnes' New Beginnings | Stucky

Nine ∆ Debates and Other Ridiculous Things

Bucky's court date was the day of the first Presidential Debate.

After he got out of the school at four o'clock, he didn't just go home because he'd have to come back out so soon. He didn't want to get comfortable, and he had already dressed up in an actual suit. So he sat in the parking lot for a little while, suit jacket slung carefully over the passenger seat, and called his mother.

He hadn't called her yet. He kept meaning to. Either something came up or he didn't have the energy. But even then, it was just so hard to tell her this. Steve's parents were different, even though they were family and they would certainly love and care for Olivia, they were a little disconnected.

Bucky's family had been through a lot. The loss of Wanda's husband and twin boys. George. Bubbe and Zayde. Now this. Something good, yes, but it wasn't at all foreseen and it caused so many huge changes.

He was waiting until the end of Christmas break to be able to think about seeing his mother and his siblings. Quarantine for two weeks with Steve, now Olivia, and if they were all doing okay then it could be discussed.

The dial tone ended, and Bucky's head stayed bowed. His phone sat in the cup holder with his wallet and ID lanyard, and his mom's voice came through the SUV's speakers. She sounded so happy as she exclaimed, "Hey, Jamie! Haven't heard from you or Steve for a while, have you guys been okay?"

Bucky was quiet for a moment, working up the courage to say, "Yeah, um. Mostly. I'm doing something today, soon. And I wanted to tell you before that happens."

"Oh. Well, I'm all ears."

"So. Uh. Dot - you remember Dot?" He knew she did, so he kept going. "Well. Apparently she left me in North Carolina because she learned she was pregnant. She was scared of what I would think. I got called to the hospital not even two weeks ago, Dot died. So, um, she's about four and a half. Her name's Olivia. She's been with us since Dot died, Joe and Sarah helped us get her things moved. I have a hearing today to establish custody. I'm next in line, Dot wanted her with me, but the cuntfaces of her parents made it sound like they would fight me for it. At the funeral, they didn't like that Steve was around her, and that I was married to a guy."

"This all must be really tough for her," she figured.

"It really is. And I just - I just feel like I'm doing everything wrong. It seemed like I just waltzed right into her life, I replaced Dot, I made her move. It all feels so wrong." He sniffed, the side of his nose suddenly itching. He continued speaking as he reached up to scratch. "Sarah told me I was doing fine, Steve keeps reassuring me the same thing."

"Does she like you guys?"

"She's warming up to me, but she isn't really a fan. She likes Steve a lot. They're home together when I'm at work, so I'm not surprised. He went to the city last week, so Wanda stayed with her." On the other end, Winifred gave a broken hum, and Bucky asked after a moment, "...Mom?"

"I just -" She broke off, and Bucky only heard silence. But she inhaled shakily, to say, "I can't believe this, honey. I'm - I don't even know what to say."

Bucky nodded. "I didn't, either. Steve didn't. But we've been figuring it out." He swallowed, hard. "I'm gonna bring her to meet you whenever I can. If it comes to it, we can talk through the screen door. I just want you to see her, Mom. You've gotta see her."

"I just - I can't believe -" His mother's voice wavered, and the annoying lump began to build in the back of Bucky's throat. She inhaled sharply, and then exhaled shakily. "I can't believe you have a kid, honey. You."

He scoffed, but his eyes were beginning to fill with tears. "Yeah," he responded, voice manipulated. "Me. Of all people."

~∆~