Assistant

Part 23

You smile but dodge her statement by deciding to introduce her to everyone. You smile at your mom and then turn toward everyone. You make eye contact with Bucky, hoping he'll be ok with what you're about to do.

"Let me introduce you to everyone." You start at the point furthest from Bucky to buy a little time for your nerves to settle. "Mom, you remember Steve."

Steve smiles at her and nods, "Ma'am, it's nice to see you again."

"And this is Clint." Clint does a little wave, "Nice to meet you."

"This is Sam." Sam steps forward and shakes her hand, "Hi. It's so nice to meet you. I have so many questions about Y/N." He grins over at you. You roll your eyes at him.

"This is Nat and Wanda." They're sitting next to each other on the couch. They both give your mom a greeting.

You've reached Bucky and still aren't sure in your mind how he's going to react. From your prior conversation, you're hoping it's good. "And this is Bucky... my .. my boyfriend." You hold your breath slightly, because the two of you hadn't talked about labels. He gives you a reassuring smile and then looks at your mom. "It's nice to meet you ma'am."

Maggie smiled at everyone, "It's very nice to meet all of you, please call me Maggie. Steve, it's nice to see you again." Your mom looks at Bucky and then gives you a wink. " Well, despite what conclusions we may have drawn a few weeks ago, I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree with taste in men."

Clint had just taken a drink and started to choke. Sam is laughing while slapping him on the back. Wanda, Steve and Nat share a look and all start to laugh. Bucky blushes a little and chuckles.*

You blush and stare at your mom wide eyed. "Mom!"

Maggie gives you an innocent look, "What? It's true." She turns to Bucky and gives him a fake stink eye. "Although, young man, I'm still a little mad that you tried to kill my Nick. I know you didn't have control and I blame the people who made you do it, but -"

You stare at your mom in shock over what she just said, "Wait, what? Mom, what...what are you talking about?!"

Maggie's face drops, realizing that you didn't know. Everyone goes very quiet. Bucky won't look you in the eye.

"Bucky, what is she talking about?"

Bucky swallows hard and looks at the floor. "You worked for Fury and Shield. I thought you would have known."

"KNOWN?! Bucky, what do you mean KNOWN? You... You were the one who tried to kill my Dad?" Your voice breaks as you feel shock and hurt roll over you.

Maggie tries to diffuse the situation, "Honey, it's all in the past. Don't get upset! I thought you knew too." Maggie looks at Bucky. "I'm so sorry. I thought it was common knowledge here."

You can't believe what you're hearing. "Did everyone know?" No one looks up, which confirms your suspicions. You turn to Bucky and your anger and hurt spills over. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I've been completely honest with you about EVERYTHING in my past. I answered every question you've asked. YOU got mad at ME for sleeping with Steve BEFORE we got together and you made me feel like SHIT for it. And the whole time YOU just DIDN'T tell me you tried to KILL my DAD??!!"

You feel like you can't breathe and it's like the room is crushing in on you. You run out of the room and go to the balcony because you need some air. Wanda and Nat both start to get up. Maggie stops them with a shake of her head and holding up her hand. She sits next to Bucky so she's facing him.

Maggie looks at him with sincerity and sadness in her eyes. "If I had known she didn't know, I would NEVER have said anything. I'm not a crazy manipulative mother-in-law. When Nick told me about all of you, I knew you'd be the one she chose, even when she brought Steve to dinner, I knew you'd be her endgame. So, I made him give me all the information about you. You, James Buchanan Barnes, are a good man with a complicated history. I like you but I need to know, do you care about my daughter?"

Bucky doesn't look up but nods slowly. "I think I'm in love with her."

Maggie smiles warmly at him. "Good." She mom-slaps the back of his head, making Bucky flinch and look at her in surprise. "Then get off your ass and go get her! And don't give up until she forgives you." She points toward the door. "GO!"

Bucky grins and then bolts off the couch after you. Nat and Wanda look at each other and smile.

Wanda can't hold it in, "Did you say mother-in-law?" She winks at Maggie.

Maggie smiles in return, "I did. They may not be there yet, but they will be. I expect you girls to keep me in the loop about when he's going to propose."

Fury and Tony walk back in. Fury looks upset but overhearing Maggie's proposing comment stops him in his tracks, "Who's proposing?"

Maggie gives him a too innocent smile, "No one dear. What did you find?"

Fury walks to Maggie and kneels in front of her, taking her hands. "Mags, it's bad." He looks down away from her.

Maggie cups his cheek with her hand, "Nick, whatever it is, we'll get through it. Just say it."

Fury looks up at Maggie with tears in his eyes. "Erin's alive."

Maggie goes pale and crumbles forward into Nick. He wraps her in a hug to hold her while she cries. Tony motions for everyone else to follow him out. They all go to the meeting room.

Steve is the first to speak, breaking the heavy silence. "Tony, what's going on?"

Tony sighs, and looks around, "Where is Y/N? Fury and her mom need to be the ones to tell her this."

Wanda speaks before anyone else can answer, "She and Bucky needed to talk."

Tony nods, "The gist of it is, Y/N's dad was abusive. When Y/N's mom left him he was furious. He tracked them down. When he found them, he was in a rage and beating the hell out of Maggie, Y/N and Erin, Y/N's little sister. Fury stopped him. The dad disappeared. The doctor told them that Erin was deceased. Fury realized the best way to protect Y/N and her mom was to have them also be 'deceased'. So, he made them deceased on paper and gave them new identities. The file shows that Erin is not deceased. The information is unclear if the father worked for Hydra or gave her to Hydra. But she's been there for 17 years. It looks like she was put through training similar to Nat's. It's unclear if they experimented on her. But it'd be safe to assume that she was.There is mention that they want Y/N because they believe she was exposed to something when she was a kid before Fury changed her identity. The file indicates that's how they believe she survived her father trying to kill them all.

Everyone is silent, trying to process the amount of information that was just thrown at them. Sam rubs the back of his neck, "Damn. I assume we're going to get the sister, like now?"

Tony nods, "We need to figure out where she's being kept, but yes. We're getting her out of there."