For Better or for Worse (Stucky)

Reunion

„She's in there. She just ate and she's having a good day, we already did a picture quiz this morning." Jade smiled at both Steve and Bucky, standing a couple feet away from the door of Rebecca's room.
Bucky was shaking horribly, hugging his own chest, biting his lip and tapping his foot nervously.
Steve kissed his temple softly. „Sweetheart. It'll be great, I know it will."

Bucky looked up at him, the fear of what might happen written across his face. „What if she doesn't want to meet me anymore? What if she doesn't... what if she doesn't recognize me, Steve?"
„She will. You heard Jade, she talks about you daily, to anyone who will listen." Steve kissed his forehead gently, smiling at him reassuringly. „This is good, Bucky. She will be so excited. Do you want to stick to the plan? Have me go in first?"

Bucky nodded slowly, tilting his head back slightly and kissing Steve chastely. „I love you."
Steve smiled against his lips, nodding into the kiss. „I love you, too. See you in a bit."
Bucky nodded slowly, taking a seat on one of the chairs next to Sam.

Jade smiled as she knocked on Rebecca's door, the quiet reply that came melting Bucky's heart.
„Rebecca, it's me. Jade. You have a visitor. Can we come in?" Sam watched Jade fondly, so lucky to have found such a kind soul to be by his side.
Jade slowly opened the door when Rebecca excitedly agreed -always happy about visitors-.
Steve gave Bucky one last reassuring nod as he entered behind Jade slowly, the door closing behind them -leaving Bucky to wait in silence with Sam-.

Steve smiled softly as he entered the room with Jade, looking up at Rebecca who was sitting in bed, her beauty still present despite her old age. The Barnes' family had always been beautiful, all of them having flawless skin, dark hair -which had turned grey-ish white for Rebecca- and sharing the same big, deep blue eyes.
Rebecca looked at Jade first, smiling at her softly and looking up at Steve, her blue eyes widening and ironically making the wrinkles around them less pronounced as her mouth parted in surprise, a small gasp escaping her. „Steve."

Steve smiled softly, walking over to her and gently grabbing her hand that she'd extended to him, being extremely gentle on her fragile skin. „Hey there, Rebecca."
She inhaled deeply, squeezing his hand -the action strong for her, though it was nothing for Steve-. „I can't believe this!"
Steve smiled again, nodding at her. „Neither can I. You still look as beautiful as always." He carefully sat down by the chair next to her bed, his smile not leaving his face as he nodded at Jade, who politely left them alone.

Rebecca waved him off dismissively, chuckling softly. „Oh, still quite the charmer."
Steve chuckled as well, glancing towards the picture of Bucky on her bedside table. „How have you been, Rebecca? I would've come to visit you sooner if I'd known you're still around."
Rebecca nodded slowly, smiling thankfully as Steve helped her grab her water glass and aided her with drinking. „Well, you know the Barnes'. Not easy to get rid of us."
Steve forced a small chuckle, the nonchalant comment hitting way too close to home, but she couldn't know that.
Rebecca barely noticed, smiling at him as she continued holding his hand. „I've been fine... I lived a good life. Got married, all that."

Steve smiled again, frowning ever so slightly as something else dawned on him. „Did you have kids?"
Rebecca closed her eyes for a second, shaking her head a bit. „Not of my own, no. When I saw mother and father after..." She inhaled shakily, glancing towards the bedside table. „After what happened with James, I... I realized it's not for me. Against all the norms of that time, I couldn't befriend the idea of..." She struggled to find her words, shaking her head. „I didn't want to live with the risk of loosing my child before I pass, you see? I couldn't handle that, I think."
Steve nodded understandingly, swallowing harshly. „Yes, that makes sense. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, Becks. I'm sorry."