No Time to Die - Bucky Barnes

Chapter 13

After you and Bucky collected yourselves, you dealt with the logistics of what you were going to do. You knew you were going to keep Ana. There was no question there. You agreed on co-parenting and since you live so close it was okay if she stayed in one of the extra rooms you had in your space.

There was still the concern of Natasha and what threat she might pose but it wasn't something you voiced. But it was something you wanted to do. Bucky did as well. For a long time now he had been meaning to end things off with Natasha. Not because of you, well not solely. Things just don't click anymore. He tried constantly, but whenever the topic was brought up Natasha would either change it as fast as she can or distract him with kisses and sex.

If he wasn't able to break up with her, Bucky would try to make her break up with him. He has been distancing himself which has been easy ever since Ana came into your lives. He would be at your place, playing with Ana when Natasha would come looking for him. Whenever she'd learn that he was there she'd roll her eyes and leave. Bucky knew just how pissed she was. She volunteered for more missions and started to sleep more in her room again and if she so happened to be in his room her back was facing him.

Even though this was his plan it was not what he wants. Not entirely. He doesn't want to hurt Natasha. People constantly left her in her life. She deserves to be loved but Bucky doesn't think he is the one that should.

Today was a day when he found himself in his own place. It felt strange spending most of the day there. It felt the same as if he came back from a long mission. Where it just smelled fresh and clean and new. Bucky did keep everything tidy, his military habits kicking in but it still felt strange. Before Ana came into your lives he wouldn't spend much time there either. Mainly choosing between the main living room and the gym.

Ana however loved being outside. Naturally, you and Bucky followed. Snow started to fall the past few days which brought even more joy into Ana's eyes. She would simply watch as the snow falls, sticking her tongue out to try and catch the flakes. She somehow managed to convince Bucky to do the same. It felt so normal. These moments with the two of them. Almost as if you were a real family.

Bucky heard a knock on his door. Opening up Natasha threw herself into his arms and started to kiss her way up his neck. He barely had any time to react to what was going on. Bucky tried to push her off by the hips but she just ground herself onto him. "Nat, what are you doing?"

"What? Can't I have some alone time with my boyfriend? It feels as if we barely see each other anymore?" It didn't sound like jealousy, more like annoyance with a touch of anger. Bucky didn't know how to reply but luckily he didn't have to because there was a second knock on the door. With an eye roll, Natasha steps back to allow Bucky to open the door. On the other side, it was you holding Ana in your arms.

"Hey. I know you had Ana for the past couple of days but I just got called in for a mission." At the mention of you leaving Ana tightens her grip around your neck and her legs around your waist. She has been hooked on you ever since FRIDAY told you, you were needed for a debrief before the mission. "That's okay Rose. Remember the time I got called away for a week? Think of this as me repaying you.." You loved how understanding Bucky was, even if you were clearly interrupting something.

"Why are they calling you in? You haven't gone on a mission in months." As spiteful as Natasha's words were, they were true in some regard. "Tony and I did a routine neuro check on the new set of kids and saw some discrepancies between them and the previous ones. We weren't sure what exactly it was so we sent them to Shuri." You further go on to explain Shuri's findings which discredit your belief that Sinthea was using the mindless to induce fear since the fear part of the brain was no longer being attacked. It is why you were then needed. Someone with your skill sets outside of fighting and wouldn't be affected mentally.