The Number One Rule

Chapter Two

As soon as she walked through the doors, Bucky and Steve could hear the scream that came from Sarah Rogers at her daughter finally being home.

"How full do you think that tank of energy she has is?" Bucky chuckled, pulling out the luggage from the bed of the truck.

"Oh, it's well below empty. But..." he paused looking at the house. "She'll put on a show for Mom. She knows she needs it."

Bucky nodded and they started walking to the doorstep of the Brooklyn home.

"My goodness! Did they starve you over there? You look two sizes smaller," Sarah said holding Y/N at arms length so she can get a look at her.

"No, Ma. They didn't starve me. They actually stuffed me with food every chance they got. It's all the walking around you do that makes you burn it off immediately," she chuckled. "And the lack of preservatives in their food."

"Don't worry. I'm cooking your favorite right now, and it should be done in 10," Sarah waved off.

The boys having been loading in the suitcases through the entryway, came into the living room seeing Y/N and her mom talking.

"Sounds good, Mom," she smiled.

Sarah gave her another thorough look over and the gloss in her eyes started to shine as she pulled Y/N back in for a hug.

She sighed on her shoulder. "He would have been so proud of you."

Steve's corner of his lip pulled up as he watched the interaction and Bucky did the same behind him. Pride, and a light feeling of longing, filled the room.

"Thanks mom. That means a lot," Y/N nodded, hugging her mom back just as tightly.

After a few seconds of intimate silence, Sarah pulled back and wiped her tears off with the tea towel she had thrown over her shoulder.

"Uh, I have to go stir the food, but Steve, help your sister unpack her things and get settled," she instructed. "Bucky, put those muscles to use too."

"Yes ma'am," the two obeyed.

Once she was out of the room and the group was headed up the stairs, Y/N made a note that her mom did look better. She had clearly gotten mostly out of the funk that involved their father's death. Though there was still a long road ahead, she had made progress and that's all that mattered.

"Wow, nothing has changed in here, has it?" Y/N said with wide eyes as she looked across her old highschool room. Her sense of style hadn't changed dramatically, but it definitely wasn't her 18 year old self's anymore.

"Yeah. Mom wanted you to feel at home when you got back, so she didn't touch it. Only dusted and vacuumed it the whole time."

"I can tell," Y/N laughed. "You guys don't have to help me unpack," she turned back to them. "You can just leave the suitcases over there. I'll get to them when I have the energy," she huffed, throwing herself on her bed.

"Hey," Steve said, pushing and shoving her so she wouldn't fall asleep. "Don't you knock out on me. We have to at least do dinner."

"Ugh, but I'm so tired," she dragged out rolling on her back and looking at Steve with puppy eyes. It always worked. She had learned from the best.

"No, I'm not falling for it," he shook his head looking away. It was the only way he was safe from giving in.

"Fine. I can do dinner, but if I fall asleep face first in my bowl, that's on you," she groaned, sitting up.

Bucky laughed again as he watched the two interact. But clearly, this was a family night so he didn't want to overstay his welcome.

"Ok, well, I'm going to head back to birdbrain and let you guys have some time," Bucky said, turning to the door.