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2 Months Later...
Indigo leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Bucky as he sat at the table, deep in thought, writing in his journal. It had been two months since the pregnancy scare, and while the relief of that night had settled, other worries lingered. Bucky's nightmares had been more frequent lately, his struggle with the Winter Soldier haunting him at unexpected moments.
She had awakened last night to his cries of Steve's name, a haunting echo that shook her more deeply than his usual nightmares.
He clawed at his metal arm frantically, as if trying to tear it from his own body, and it shook Indigo to the core. She attempted to wake and soothe him, but her efforts seemed only to escalate his distress.
The moment he stirred awake, she recognized it wasn't him—it was Winter, and she could see it in his eyes.
Reacting swiftly, she leaped off the bed, retreating with a cry, desperately calling his name to pull him back. It took a few tense seconds, but Bucky finally returned to her.
This night was different from all the others; Winter had manifested himself. The experience frightened her, and she could sense it had shaken him deeply.
Now, she observed him sitting quietly at the table, his thoughts consuming him.
He had started writing down everything—every memory, every haunting dream, every fragment of his troubled past. Seeing him commit to this process, even if it was without her direct involvement, brought a sense of warmth to Indigo's heart. It was comforting to witness his determination to confront his inner demons, to put words to the experiences that haunted him.
She quietly approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Bucky glanced up, his eyes reflecting a mix of weariness and gratitude. He covered her hand with his own, seeking comfort in her touch.
"Are you okay?" Indigo asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
Bucky nodded, but she could see the tension in his jaw, the lines of exhaustion etched on his face. "Just... thinking," he replied quietly.
Indigo sat down next to him, she looked up at him, concentrating on his eyes. "About what?" she prompted gently.
Bucky hesitated, then sighed heavily. "About everything. About the Winter Soldier... about what happened before, and what might happen again," he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
She felt his arms wrap around her waist and pull her into his lap. Indigo settled into his lap, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She didn't like seeing him sad; it weighed on her own emotions.
