The Song Of The Broken

9.)

It takes me a few minutes to be able to control my emotions.

Once I do, I head to the bathroom to wash my face before heading downstairs again.

“Took you a while, are you okay?” Nat asked as she sat down next to Sam.

I nodded, staring at my kids, to keep me centered.

She sighed as she looked at someone over my shoulder. “Looks like Barnes has arrived and wants to have a talk too.” She informs me.

I snort and shake my head in response as I feel someone stop in the back of the couch, heat radiating from their body as they do.

I sigh and look up to see that it's Bucky standing there.

“Can we talk?” He asked me quietly.

I shook my head, “Not right now.” I said as Xander walked over, eyeing him suspiciously.

He looked like a miniature version of Bucky, same eyes and expression.

“I don't like you.” Xander finally says.

Bucky blinks, before looking at me wide-eyed. “Uh, w-why is that?” He asks him, nervously.

“You made my momma cry. I don't like it when people do that.” Xander says, protectively.

I held back a smile, before sighing and reaching out to him, “Sweetie, he didn't make me cry. The situation did. Don't worry. He's not a bad person.” I reassured him.

Xander huffed, and gave him a look, “I don't believe that.” He says, before turning and making his way over to where Arie is sitting.

I watched as Ali sat with them and all three of them began to whisper to each other while throwing glances our way.

Bucky sighed and shook his head as he rounded the couch and sat down next to me. “Fuck, Beth, I'm so fucking sorry about everything.” He said as Nat quickly stood up and made her way to where Steve was standing talking with Pietro.

I sighed, in defeat, and shook my head, “I should have checked in with you after I left… I fucked up too.” I breathed and leaned my head back to look up at the ceiling.

“We both did. Especially me. I shouldn't have said all those things to you.” He replied as he looked over at the kids, wonder on his face.

I hummed as I stared at them too.

They were plotting something.  I could feel it in their gazes.

“So, what are we going to do about this?” He finally asked.

I frowned and took my eyes off of the kids to look at him. “About what?” I asked.

He sighed, “Us. I-- I know I said that--” He trailed off, as his face and eyes flashed with pain. “What I said, but I want to be in their lives. I want to get to know them.” He told me.

I turned to look back at my hellions, nodding wordlessly as I did.

“You're not going to oppose it?” He asked me, in disbelief.

I shook my head in response, watching as Xander's eyes began to glow.

The billiard balls began to float before they shot in our direction.

“Shit!” I gasped as I threw up a shield, and glared at all three of them.

Everyone in the room gasped in disbelief as I turned to see the cue sticks now moving.

“Cut it out!” I called out to them, as I sent them back to their rightful place.

“He made you cry!” Arabella said, stomping her foot.