It's Been A Long, Long Time ; Bucky Barnes

Chapter Fifteen

2015 - Day off

Cara quickly shut the door, "Mom?" She rushed up to the woman in front of her, "I- Is it really you?"

"It's me," Her mom said, "Oh my sweet flower." She pulled Cara into a warm embrace as tears flooded both of their eyes.

"How... how are you here?"

"I don't know," Sarah looked around the room, "I felt you. It was like you called out to me."

Cara was looking at her mother when the door opened, Bucky walked in and sat on the bed. The way he saw it, Cara was standing in the middle of her room looking at the wall, "You okay Care?"

"James Buchanan Barnes," Sarah said, "He got handsome, needs a haircut though."

"Care?" Bucky repeated. Cara looked away from her mother and over to Bucky, "Caroline." He dragged out the "I" in her name, dramatizing how he said it.

"Hey Buck," She said, walking over to him. Once she got close enough he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his lap. Cara pushed herself off of him, "Um, sorry. Now's not really a good time." Bucky grew confused, his eyebrows furrowed, "I'm tired... just not really in the mood." She told him, even though the real reason was because her mother was sitting right next to them.

"No worries," He stood up, wrapping his arm around her waist. He kissed her on the cheek, "We have our own rooms now, or did you forget? We can be together whenever we want." Cara laughed as he walked out.

"I remember when you first told me you had a crush on him," Sarah said, sitting back on the chair at Cara's desk, "You were obsessed with him. Who would've thought you two would end up together?"

Cara rolled her eyes, "We're not 'together' mom. We're just... friends."

"Is that why you're keeping it a secret from your brother?" Sarah asked, Cara opened her mouth to say something but no words came out, "It's alright sweetie. You're older than I am now, I trust you know what you're doing."

"I really missed you mom," Cara said, a tear falling from her eye.

"Oh sweetheart," Sarah said, pulling her into another hug, "I'm happy. I'm at peace, your father's there too."

Cara let go of the hug, "Dad's in heaven?"

"It's not really heaven," Sarah replied, "It's more of a customized haven. I'm with Joseph, that's all that matters to me."

Cara furrowed her eyebrows, "Dad shouldn't be in a haven. He was a terrible father and a terrible husband."

"I love that man with my whole heart," Sarah said, "And he's your father, you should too."

"Well, I don't," Cara said, "He treated me like shit and he treated you like shit."

"He's changed," Sarah let out a sigh, "But I'm not here to talk about dad."

"So what are you here for?"

"I don't really know. I guess just because you and your brother," She hesitated, "Well, you both have lived hard lives. You may be strong super-soldiers but you've still missed your entire lives." Sarah cupped her daughter's face, "I just want you to know that you have someone on the other side looking out for you."

Cara began crying again, "So what? You're gonna leave me again?"

"Oh, my sweet girl," Sarah wiped a tear from Cara's face, "I've never left you. Plus with the power you gained you can always reach me... and your father, who will probably want to see you as well. Give Steven a hug for me."