Mine (Bucky Barnes)

Forty-Two

Not much to say, but I hope you all enjoy!

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Another week passed, bringing Mirjana's due date to just under a month away. As her energy levels lowered, her stomach (and breasts, much to Bucky's delight) grew, and Bucky's protectiveness increased. Wanda stayed behind to help speed up the process of undoing Hydra's trigger words for the Winter Soldier, even though Tony wanted her to fly back with him, Peter, Sam, and Yelena for a mission.

Everyone was determined to have this finished by the time their daughter was born.

Tony offered to put his arm back on before leaving, but Bucky refused it. They were at the point today where they were going to test the words on him to see if they were successful in removing them. The last thing he wanted to do was have the soldier activated and hurt one more person with that arm again. Since having it off, he's felt freer. Lighter – both figuratively and literally.

It took effort from everybody to get to this point. Mirjana argued to be there when the words were said, but both Ayo and Bucky shot her down in an instant. Ayo has become almost as protective of her as the soldier himself. Almost.

"I still don't understand why I have to leave the palace entirely. You said you were going to the water! Why can't I stand on a balcony and watch?" she whined. They'd just finished lunch and were preparing to head their separate ways.

Bucky and Ayo would head to the water to test the words, with T'challa, Okoye, Wanda, and Steve nearby in case things went south. Natasha, Ororo, Ramonda, and Shuri were taking a small army with them to a spa. (Wanda said she would be too worried to join them)

Bucky moved to cross his arms, remembered he currently only had one, and instead put his hand on his hip, an amused smile forming on his face. "How exactly do you plan on watching us, hm?"

She smacked his shoulder. "Do not be mean! I am sure there are some strong, er, what is the English word? The glasses that extend? A telescope?"

Bucky laughed, deep and hearty. The further along she gets in her pregnancy the more she struggles with her English. He finds it adorable.

"Binoculars?"

"Bind-bye-bind-ock-you...say it again," she huffed.

He gently cupped her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Bye."

"Bye."

"Knock."

"Knock."

"You."

"You."

"Lure."

"Lure."

"Bye-knock-you-lure."

"Bye-knock-you-lure."

"Binocular."

"Binoc-you-lyure."

He chuckled again and kissed the top of her head. "Close enough."

"Say it again!" She now pouted.

"It was close enough, miere."

"Noooo! I want to say it right!"

"Since when did you become such a whiny thing?" Natasha teased, entering their room.

"Only when I tell her no," Bucky answered. His tone was serious, but the look he sent Jana's way was playful.

Not that she could see it.

She made a show of crossing BOTH of her arms, glaring at the giant shape she knew was the father of her babies. "Do not treat me like I am a spoiled child, Sargent Barnes."