Till the End of the Line Vol. 6

Chapter 9 - The Truth

After dinner, Bucky takes their son for bath time and bedtime. Sometime later, Sofia is walking down the hall when she hears Bucky reading a book. She peeks her head through the door. Bucky speaks softly, "I love our time together as we start each happy day." Bucky is reading a book. Little Steve is falling asleep. "I love our bathtime silliness - the way we splash and play!" Sofia smiles as she admires how Bucky reads to their son—adoring her husband more and more. "We'll climb the highest mountain tops- hold tight, and you won't fall. I love to share the magic of the shining skies above. And think of all the different ways that we can show our love..." Bucky glances at Sofia and smiles as he thinks of her as he reads. He continues reading. "Like when we're touching noses. Playing chase. Or seeing friends. Our love is always with us, and it never ever ends." Sofia leans and walks away as she heads to their bedroom. "So snuggle safely in my arms; our day is nearly done. I love you to the moon and stars, my precious little one."

He closes the book and kisses his son's head. "Goodnight, Little Wolf." Bucky walks away and closes the door.

Several minutes later, Sofia is in the bathroom, getting ready for bed. Bucky comes in. "Is he asleep?" asks Sofia.

"Yep," Bucky replied. "As soon as I started reading, he fell fast asleep."

"Well, he had a long day. Not surprising he would fall asleep that quickly."

Bucky wraps his arms around Sofia's small pregnant belly and kisses her neck. Sofia smiles as she continues to get ready for bed. "How was your day after the appointment?"

"All right. Nothing special."

"Really?"

"Spending time with Nat is always good. But nothing special happened."

"Okay." Bucky moves away and gets ready for bed.

Sofia gets in bed. "How was work?"

"It was all right. I was helping Becca for a bit on the Power Broker case."

Sofia stops and looks away. She feels that something isn't right. "Oh? And what did she say?"

Bucky heads to the bathroom and does his routine. "Well, she found a list of names that have repeatedly gone to some of the black markets over the last two years and were at the markets we went to but didn't capture.

Sofia hesitates to ask more questions. "And what did she say?"

"They could be the perp, or the names are a cover-up for who the real one is." Sofia starts slowly silently hyperventilating, gets emotional as she is scared. Bucky prepares to come out of the bathroom. "She cross-referenced some of the names into the database for criminal records, but -" He stops when he notices that Sofia is emotional and hyperventilating. Bucky realizes that Sofia is hiding something. "Sofia?" However, she doesn't look at Bucky. He sits down next to her and tries to comfort her. Sofia is crying. "What's wrong? Tell me, please."

She breaks down. "I can't. I can't do this anymore. I don't want to lie to you anymore."

"Do what? What are you talking about?"

Sofia turns with tears in her eyes. "I know what the Power Broker wants."

"What do they want?"

Sofia sighs. Bucky looks at her with concern. "Me."

Bucky backs off slightly, confused. "What?" She heads to her closet to grab a box. Bucky watches as he is concerned and scared about what Sofia is telling him. "What is that?"

"It's something I should have told you. A long time ago. And it's something you need to see."

A few minutes later, Bucky is terrified as he looks at the pictures and letters sent to Sofia. Sofia watches him and cries as she sees the tears in his eyes. Bucky stutters in confusion and shock, "Oh my God. How long has this been going on?"