Breakthrough

Eleven

He wandered around the backyard. You had closed yourself with Autumn in your bedroom, and when your brother got home Bucky ended up feeling uncomfortable with the way the alpha glared at him. The backyard was neat and pretty, just like the rest of the house. A small vegetable and herb garden was off to one side, flower beds scattered around the edges. There was a play set; complete with swings, slide, sandbox and monkey bars. A yellow miniature house, which had a white door, blue shutters, and with pup-sized furniture.

All in all, he could see why you lived here.

There was a sound of a door opening and he turned around to see you standing there, your hand resting on top of Autumn's head where she was currently plastered to your leg, peaking at him with one blue eye.

When Bucky's eyes met yours, you gave a short nod, and he crouched down so that he was more at her level as he said, "Hello Autumn."

The pup pressed her face against your leg, and you stroked your hand down her curls. "It's okay Autumn, go on. He just wants to get to know you."

Bucky waited, staying as he was until she peaked back around at him. Then she came out from behind you, twisting a strand of her dark hair around her finger. She stopped right in front of him, intelligent eyes studying him carefully. When her eyes landed on his metal hand she asked, "What happened to your hand?"

"Autumn don't be rude," you admonished quietly.

Bucky just held his hand up, flexing his fingers and hearing the low whirring of the plates. "I had an accident a long time ago. So, they gave me this one."

"Did it hurt?"

"I don't really remember," Bucky answered, no point trying to explain any of that.

He looked into eyes that mirrored his own as she seemed to process that for a moment, then she said, "Mama says you're my daddy. Is that true?"

"Yes, it's true."

"Where were you?"

Bucky glanced up at you, seeing you standing in the same spot with your arms wrapped around your stomach. Focusing back on Autumn he said carefully, "I wasn't well."

"You were sick?"

Her curiosity and straight to the point questions were something he wasn't really prepared for, and he sent you another look. You hadn't moved, and Bucky realized that you were waiting to see how he handled this, handled her. Sighing, he nodded. "Yes, I was sick."

It was true enough.

"You aren't sick anymore?"

"I am much better now."

She seemed to think about it for a long time. Then she asked, "Am I supposed to call you daddy?"

Bucky blinked. "Um. Well, if you wanted to you can. But I'd you don't that's okay too."

"What's your name?"

He smiled at her, feeling like he had made it over some kind of hurdle. "James Buchanan Barnes. But most people call me Bucky."

"Bucky is a funny name." was the pup's opinion.

"Kinda. But I like it."

In that lightning quick change of mood that only pups seemed to have she grinned widely at him and asked, "Do you want to play?"

"Uh sure. Can you give me a minute though? I wanna talk to your mommy first."

"Okay! I'll be in my house." She skipped away, her attention now on playing as Bucky stood up and moved closer to you.