"Is that...?"
Bucky threw out the first words as you just watched Natasha bring over the toddler and sit down in one of the chairs nearby, but you couldn't find it in you to muster anything out quite yet.
"Cory, say hi to your other mommy and uncle Bucky." She cooed, pointing to you both as you couldn't wipe the looks of pure shock off your faces.
The baby – or just kid – made happy noises and grabby hands out to you before Natasha was getting up to hand him over.
"Hi, C-Cory," You sputtered out with a smile, managing to collect yourself as you held the kid, and as he snuggled adorably into your chest, seemingly tired, you peered up at Natasha, "What happened?"
"I was carrying him around outside, getting some fresh air," She explained, watching on fondly as the child seemed to cling to you, "And then M'Baku came over to greet us, I let him hold him, but then Cory grew in his arms...it freaked us both out plenty."
"I could see why." Bucky whined in a high voice; his eyes still wide as he looked between all three of you.
"But then I remembered what Bruce said about this," She continued, much more calmly than you and Bucky currently felt, "And I figured it was pretty normal considering."
"And he's okay?" You whispered, "He seems...regular? Not evil?"
"He looks a bit more like you now, I think," She smiled softly and ran her fingers through his hair, "The hair is-"
"I was blonde until I was like twelve." Bucky cut in with a sniff and you sent him a warning glare.
"Explains why he's so blonde," Natasha chuckled, and you noticed she seemed so much happier as she looked over at the two of you, not having even spared Bucky a glance since she came into the room, almost like she thought everything would vanish if she looked away, "God, you two are just so perfect."
Your heart swelled at how she was looking over you, previously thinking you must look shit, and you kept your hands on Cory comfortingly as he snored lightly, rubbing his back gently. Bucky finally adjusted to everything, grinning at you guys happily, and sitting back in his chair more relaxed.
"I'm starving." You blurted and Bucky jumped out of his chair, startling you both.
"I'll go get us some food." He offered, quickly making his way out without any questions, and you cocked an eyebrow Natasha's way.
"Super dad." She smirked and you groaned, letting your head fall back against the pillows.
"Why do you not seem as weirded out by that as I am?" You narrowed your eyes over at her and she shrugged, still peering down at the sleeping kid.
"Don't get me wrong, it pissed me off when he first told us, but we dodged a bullet with Tony Waller not being the dad," She prefaced, and you nodded, "And having the dad be in the picture, whether we tell Cory about him eventually or just let it stay anonymous as it would have, well, I kind of like that."
"Bucky's a good guy." You nodded again, glancing down at the mess of blonde hair.
"Pain in the ass," She muttered with a light smile as you chuckled, "But yeah, if I had to pick someone we knew, he'd be up on the list."
"So, did they just have toddler sized clothes laying around Wakanda or...?" You teased and she rolled her eyes with a smile.
"They did, actually," She raised her eyebrows, "And the material is-"
"So soft." You finished for her, running your fingertips over the dress-like cloth that went over him.
"All-natural materials, even the fur." She told you, thinking back to how it matched what M'Baku was wearing since his people were the ones to supply it.
She smiled at the thought of how this baby seemed to be uniting Wakanda even more with how this birth was the talk of the land and everyone was cooing over the child they either hadn't seen yet or had only caught a glimpse of, but she loved the idea of Cory having a second family here. They were all so kind, protective, and caring, not to mention the fact that this place is beautiful, so if they ever wanted to babysit so you two could have some time alone, she'd definitely feel safe leaving him with any of them.
Not that she'd be ready to be away from this baby any time soon, but the thought did cross her mind.
"How're you feeling?" She asked quietly as you smiled down at him, already spotting the darker roots as he slowly grew in your arms, and when you hummed, she scolded you, "That's not good enough, feathers, I need to hear it."
"Demanding," You teased with a smirk before glancing up at her and her breath hitched with how the gold seemed to sparkle in your eyes, "And I feel good, great actually. Kind of weird."
"Some of the doctors think..." She trailed off, peering down at the kid as he shifted uncomfortably in his sleep with furrowed eyebrows and a set frown, so she picked him up and laid him carefully on the spare bed, thinking he needed more room, tucking him in before she turned back to you, "That maybe the things you've been...feeling were because of him."
"That's crazy, he's so soft." You scoffed and she pursed her lips.
"Mommy?" His little voice touched your ears and you melted as he scrambled to get up, crossing the room to climb into your lap, "Can I sleep here?"
"Of course." You smiled, brushing his hair back, and he snuggled into your side as you looked up at Natasha with puppy eyes.
"Goodnight, doll." He whispered in a sigh, clutching your middle tighter, and you widened your eyes up at Natasha who registered what he had said.
'What the fuck is that?' You mouthed to her and she just shook her head slowly, her eyes flicking back to the blonde boy.
"Crap," She mumbled after a moment of realization before mouthing, 'Bucky.'
'Bucky?' You scrunched your face up in confusion before it relaxed with a frown, 'Crap!'
"Hey, guys," Speak of the scruffy devil, "I was just – oh my god," He face fell into a melted look as his eyes landed on Cory curled next to you while your arm circled him protectively, "That is just-"
"He called Y/n 'doll'!" Natasha whisper shouted as they tried to keep their voices down, "Did you teach him that?"
"When?" He shot back defensively in a whisper, "When was I ever alone with him?"
"Dammit..." Natasha turned back to you as you just raised your eyebrows at her, "He must've picked it up before he was born...right?"
"But the real question is," Bucky used a more ominous voice as he spooned some ice cream – didn't even know they had what looks to be a pistachio gelato, either way it looks downright delicious, in Wakanda – and then he pointed his spoon towards you, "What else did he pick up?"
"Don't try to end the chapter all dramatically," You rolled your eyes and they looked to you in confusion, "He must've heard Bucky call one of us that earlier or something."
"He sleeps a lot." Bucky observed out loud with a shrug, getting back to what you really wish was in your mouth hole right about now.
"He's a growing boy," You defended, looking down at the now dark blonde, slightly bigger boy than when you had wrapped an arm around him, "Quite literally."
