Save Us First (Bucky)

Epilogue

Steve and Loki showed up on her doorstep a week after Christmas.

"How is Bucky?"

"He...he hasn't slept on the floor since we got here. Not once", Ivy said softly, while staring at her hands, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

Steve had to smile, too, and sat down on the couch.
"That's great to hear."

"Yeah. He's...he's doing so good actually. His nightmares are way less intense, he doesn't get them every night anymore, he's just...so much happier. He laughs and smiles and makes stupid jokes, puts on music and makes me dance with him...it's honestly so refreshing to see him like this and it makes me so incredibly happy. He makes me happy. "

Steve smiled again.
"Ivy, I don't think you realize how happy you make him.
You're what he's decided to live for.
Not me, not the avengers, you. He chose to live for you.
The moment you took him back, his life made sense again, because you gave him something to look forward to - a future. A family. A life.
He didn't know where his life was gonna take him, but now he's here. With you. He finally knows what's gonna happen next, and he needed that security. "

"I know, I...try to plan as much as possible with him. No surprises, you know. What are we gonna do today, what tomorrow, what the day after. He's gonna hate having you here, that was so not planned."

Now, Loki grinned, too.
"He'll get used to it."

Ivy smirked and threw an almond after him.
"I've missed you, you idiot."

"I know you did."

"I really did. There's been so much going on, I missed telling you everything. But I also think it was good to have some time away."

Loki looked at her for a couple of seconds, then he raised an eyebrow.
"How far along are you?"

Ivy swallowed and broke eye contact again.
"Uhm...Almost 15 weeks."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks."

She smiled and Steve cleared his throat.
"W-Wait a minute, you're pregnant?"

"Yup. I don't know why Loki knows it, but...we've known for about two months. Let's just say it happened faster than we expected, but we're glad it's happening", she said grinning.

"Wow. I mean...wow. Congratulations. What does Bucky say?"

"Oh, James is so excited. Way more than I thought he would be", she told them smiling, while she prepared some coffee, and another cup of tea for herself.
"He talks to the baby sometimes, and is basically already planning its entire life. He's even started building a playhouse in the garden. I told him that can wait, but he couldn't help himself."
She chuckled and shook her head.
"He's such a softie."

"That's nice", Loki noted and Ivy looked up.
"You know what he told me yesterday? After we got back together, you two apparently had this short talk while I was asleep. And you told him it wasn't his fault."
Loki nodded slowly.
"Yeah...?"

"You have no idea how much that meant to him, do you? He still blames himself and he's dealing with lots of guilt, and he was so scared that you guys weren't gonna let him be with me and, like, around me and stuff.
And you saying that made him feel sort of...liberated. And accepted.
It helped him stop seeing himself as a monster. Because if even you said it, it must have been true. Because you'd never let him get away easily."

Loki chuckled and stared down on his hands.
"Well, uhm...you're welcome."

Ivy chuckled.
"Thank you, honey."

Steve chuckled, when they heard the door being opened and shut again.

"Doll, I'm back!", Bucky shouted and Ivy immediately smiled.
"Hey babe, we have visitors", she shouted back.
"What? Who -"

He entered the kitchen and had to smile.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?", he asked and hugged Steve and Loki, before he kissed Ivy, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and put his arm around her waist, turning to the other two again.

"We just thought we'd check in. And uh...Loki guessed the good news", Steve said, pointing to Ivy's belly.
"Goddamn sorcerer", Bucky grinned and Loki shrugged, chuckling.
"I just know when people cover things up. Also, it's pretty obvious, I don't know what you're on about."

"Really? You can already see?", Ivy asked frowning and Loki cleared his throat.
"Well, uhm...I don't wanna infuriate you, Buck, but...her boobs have, like, grown a cup, and she's not wearing a crop top but a button up shirt, even though it's super hot, so she's self conscious about her belly, because it has grown. Plus, she's making tea for herself, even though she doesn't like tea, because she can't drink caffeine, and there's not one bottle of wine in the fridge - you put them away, because you can't drink. And, I've seen the wood thing in the garden, that's probably gonna be the playhouse.
Also, you said there's been a lot going on but there's literally nothing here.
And that...concludes my ted talk", he said, while drinking his last sip of coffee, with a smug smile.

Bucky scoffed and ate a handful of cashews, while Ivy just giggled.
"Well, now that you point it out", Steve said grinning, and Ivy laughed.

"Can we stop talking about my boobs, belly or problem with caffeine now?!"

"Sorry", Steve grinned.
"Hey, how is it going with your adhd? Can you take your meds?"

"I don't. I mean, they're not exactly proven to be harmful, but I'm not gonna risk anything", she explained and Steve nodded.
"Yeah, makes sense."

_

It was already late when Steve and Loki left, Buck and Ivy stood on the porch, watching them drive away.

"That was nice. Having them here", she said, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah. It was. Although, the whole pregnancy thing is freaking me out, actually. That Loki knew. I mean, we would have told them anyways, but why the fuck does he always know everything?!", Buck said, shaking his head, and his fiancée laughed.

"Well, he's just smart I guess. Wanna go to bed?"
"Yeah."

They walked up the stairs into the bedroom, and Ivy opened the buttons on her shirt.
Bucky smiled, kneeled down and kissed her belly.
"Sweet dreams. Daddy loves you."
"Me or the baby?", Ivy grinned and he chuckled, getting up again.
"Both. Very much, doll."

She smiled, touched his face and gave him a kiss.
"You're so cute."
"I know."
"I love you, James."
"I love you too, Ivy."
"I can't wait to marry you."
"Me neither. And I can't wait for that baby to come."

Ivy chuckled and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're gonna be such a great dad."
"And you're gonna be a great mum."
"If I can get my meds back, yeah", she chuckled and he grinned, before giving her a kiss.
"We should totally..."
"Go to sleep?"
"You gotta stop trying to end my sentences, you don't always know what I think", he said chuckling.
"I do. You're thinking about things that are gonna keep me awake for at least another hour."
"Hm. Guess you do. What do you say?", he smirked.
"Hmmm...I guess it was a pretty great day, so...alright."

Ivy grinned and pressed her lips on his, making him chuckle.
He gently pushed her onto the bed and bowed over her.
"I just love you so goddamn much."
"I love you too Buck. So, so much."