His Inheritance

Promises Kept

Steve did indeed get home early the next day. You'd just finished showering after your workout when you heard voices out in the drive. When you gazed out of your bedroom window, you saw an unfamiliar Rolls Royce there and your husband stood waiting for someone to emerge from the back of that car.

The driver took his time walking around to open the door for the occupant. You weren't entirely surprised to see Bucky Barnes climb out of the back, sliding on sunglasses and smoothing the front of his tailored black jacket.

You just couldn't hear what they were saying.

As Dyson ushered them into the house, you realized you wanted to know what they were talking about. Someone shot Clint and you didn't know if that was resolved. Other things had been happening behind the scenes and to hear Steve tell it, you were in a constant state of danger. Shouldn't you know exactly what was going on?

And if he wasn't going to tell you...

You crept down the stairs, recognizing the sound of Steve's study door closing. You gave Dyson enough time to head back down the hall, returning to help Yelena install the barre in the room they were converting into a ballet studio for you. Workers had installed the mirrors this morning. Dyson and Yelena were setting up a barre so you wouldn't have to rely on the portable one you'd used since you'd moved into Steve's house.

In the next couple of days, more workmen were coming to redo the floor there for you.

Just now? You had a little time on your hands.

It was funny, you'd never been interested in listening to any of your father's conversations the few times he'd stayed with you, but you regretted it now.

Why was Bucky Barnes here to talk to Steve?

"Can I help you with something?"

At the sound of Scott's voice when you reached the bottom of the stairs, you'd been caught. But you made your nervous reaction work.

"Scott, I don't want to bother Dyson and Yelena because they're working on the studio for me," you rambled nervously. "There's a... spider in our room. A huge spider. I'm... terrified of them. Could you please get it out of there?" Clasping your nervous hands before you, looking at him pleadingly. "Please."

Scott grinned, nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. Where in the room is he?"

Your relief was real. You were relieved he'd bought it. "It was crawling around my window and then he... scurried right under the bed." You shivered for good measure. "I really appreciate it."

"No problem," Scott told you, making his way up the stairs on the mission you'd given him.

The minute he was out of sight, you pressed your ear to the door. Their conversation was well underway. Steve's voice was raised.

The old wooden door was thick enough that his words were muffled even so and you cursed your luck. It was rare you had a minute to yourself and now that you did, your plan was still foiled.

Left to your own devices, you wandered through the dining room into the kitchen. Luca was busy in the kitchen, wrapping up food items on the counter before him. He grinned when he saw you.

"Excited, huh?" he asked, grabbing his cigar from the ancient plastic ashtray next to him and taking a big drag from it.

"About what?" you had to ask.

Luca pointed to what looked like wrapped sandwiches on the counter. When he reached under the counter, he pulled out an old-fashioned picnic hamper.

He laughed at the confused look you were cutting him.