Mine (Bucky Barnes)

Fifty-Two

New chapter, as promised! I just noticed the rankings for this fic. 3rd in Wintersoldier?! 11th in Jamesbuchananbarnes and 13th in buckybarnesxoc?!?!? Plus, we're at almost 89k reads?????!!!!?!?! I can't even begin to express my gratitude and all the love you've given me and this story. Thank you thank you thank you so much. Truly. <3 ARtie

------------------------------------------------

A week had passed. Baby Mira wasn't sleeping through the night, but otherwise wasn't a fussy baby. Before they left to go back to Wakanda, Dr. Omenma and Nwadike assured the new parents that it would be a while before Mira would get a solid sleeping schedule down.

Even the super soldier felt defeated at that statement. Even he needed rest. When he wasn't helping with Mira, he was taking care of Mirjana. Helping her bathe, getting her food and making sure she stayed hydrated. On top of that, Tony and Steve had approached him about getting a schedule worked out for when he would start helping to strategize missions and train the younger Avengers.

He was tired, to say the least.

Wanda had been, in Mirjana's words, a godsend. She often helped take care of Alpine. Mostly, she made sure her water bowl in the kitchen was always full and brushed her long fur every morning while they had breakfast together. It was also at Wanda's suggestion that Mirjana be brought out into the main living room, so she wasn't locked in her room all day.

Natasha and Steve were gone for a few days on some random mission. They returned that morning and demanded to watch Mira for the afternoon. Bucky and Mirjana had initially glad to hand her over. They took a short nap, prepared lunch, and rejoined everyone else in the living room to chat and meet a few Avengers they hadn't met, yet. Time ticked by and, although initially grateful for the break, the parents were beginning to grow weary. They agreed to let Steve and Nat watch baby Mira for 3 hours.

They had lasted all of two hours before Bucky burst into Steve's room, demanding his newborn daughter at least remain in the living room.

"Does she need a feed?" Mirjana asked the moment they entered the room. Natasha shrugged and handed the little one to her mother.

"I do not know how you managed to keep her alive that long," Yelena said, staring incredulously at the baby.

"It's not that difficult. Most of us have a natural maternal instinct," Nat shrugged as she settled in the couch next to her sister.

"Not everyone," Kate contradicted, just as wary of the tiny human in the compound. Kate, Yelena, and Wanda were attached at the hip. Wanda, however, seemed to be the only one willing to even hold little Mira.

"It is not so different from caring for Lucky," Wanda said from the other side of Kate. Mirjana, ignoring the younger women's conversation, began unbuttoning her shirt.

Steve panicked, immediately turning bright red and searched for an excuse to leave the room. "Uh, Buck? Wasn't – weren't – didn't we say we would start on the training plan for the younger Avengers?"

"Huh?" Bucky ripped his eyes away from Mirjana's partially exposed chest to pay attention to his best friend. "What'd you say?"

"The training schedule?"

"Yeah. We should discuss that. In another room. And take Sam with us," Steve continued, avoiding contact.

Sam, who had previously been minding his business scrolling through his phone, lifted his head. "What? Why do I gotta leave?"

Bucky look back at Mirjana when it clicked. He jumped up immediately. "Yes, we need to leave the room. Sam, come on."

"What?! Why do I need to leave? You're not making anyone else go!" he complained, but stood nonetheless.