Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 68 - A Protector's Choice

The battle's aftermath was chaos. I watched from the sidelines as Bucky moved through the destruction with an urgency that told me this fight wasn't just physical for him. It was personal.

From my vantage point, I could see the crumbled buildings, the fires that crackled in the distance, and the way people scattered, screaming for help. And then I saw him. Bucky. He wasn't focused on taking down more Flag Smashers—he was saving people, guiding them to safety. It was as if the mission had shifted in his mind. He wasn't a soldier anymore; he was a protector.

The moment I caught sight of him pulling a child from beneath a collapsed storefront, my breath caught in my throat. His movements were swift but gentle, his Vibranium arm cradling the little boy as if he was the most delicate thing in the world.

I couldn't help but smile, even through the fear that gripped me. This was the Bucky I had always known, the man I fell in love with.

He caught my eye from across the street, his face smeared with dust and grime, but his expression was one of relief. He set the child down next to his mother and nodded at me, a silent reassurance that he was okay—for now.

I wanted to run to him, to throw my arms around him and tell him that he was everything I had ever hoped for in a partner, but I knew now wasn't the time. There were still people who needed saving, and Bucky wasn't done.

I watched as he ran toward another group of civilians, a section of the building starting to fall apart just a few feet away from them. His strength, his precision—it was like second nature to him now, but there was no trace of the Winter Soldier in his actions. He wasn't a weapon anymore.

"Bucky!" I shouted over the roar of the destruction, trying to get his attention as a wall began to crack behind him. He looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting mine for a split second before he moved.

He was always fast, but the way he moved to shield the people from the falling debris made my heart stop. He positioned himself directly beneath the collapsing structure, using his arm to hold it up just long enough for everyone to get clear.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched the building crumble around him, but he emerged from the dust and debris, shaking it off like it was nothing.

"You're okay," I whispered to myself, trying to steady my racing pulse.

---

Bucky wasn't just focused on saving the innocent; he was trying to save the Flag Smashers too. I didn't understand at first. These people had caused so much destruction, so much pain. But as I watched Bucky move, as I saw the way he looked at them, I began to realize that he saw something in them—a reflection of himself.

I saw it happen across the street. One of the Flag Smashers was trapped beneath a collapsed beam, struggling to free themselves. Bucky approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the area for any remaining danger. I held my breath, half-expecting him to leave the Flag Smasher there, but instead, he knelt beside them.

The Flag Smasher looked up at him, fear and defiance written across their face. "Why are you helping me?" they asked, their voice shaking with confusion.

Bucky didn't hesitate. "Because I've been where you are," he said, his voice calm but filled with something deeper—understanding. "You don't have to keep doing this. You can stop."

The Flag Smasher stared at him, speechless, as Bucky lifted the beam with his Vibranium arm, freeing them from the wreckage. For a moment, they didn't move, just stared at him in disbelief.

"You can be more than this," Bucky said, his voice softer now. "You don't have to be what they made you."

I felt tears sting the back of my eyes as I watched him offer his hand to someone who had been fighting against him only moments ago. He was offering them a choice—a chance at redemption, just like the one he had fought so hard for himself.

The Flag Smasher took his hand, and I knew in that moment that Bucky was more than a soldier. He was a symbol of hope, even for those who had lost their way.

---

Watching Bucky move through the battlefield, saving lives, offering people second chances—I knew it was time. The fear that had kept me from telling him about the baby melted away, replaced by the certainty that he needed to know. He needed to hear that there was something beautiful waiting for him after all of this.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy. He had so much on his shoulders already, and part of me was terrified of how he might react. But as I watched him help another person to their feet, a quiet resolve settled in my chest. This was the man I wanted to build a life with, and we were going to have a family. He deserved to know.

When the battle finally started to die down, I made my way toward him. My legs felt like lead, and my heart raced with a mix of nerves and anticipation, but I knew this was the moment.

Bucky was standing with his back to me, his shoulders tense as he surveyed the damage around him. I could see the exhaustion in the way he held himself, the weight of everything he had just been through pressing down on him. But there was also something else—something lighter. Hope.

I reached out and touched his arm, and he turned to face me, his expression softening when he saw me. "Emily," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "It's over. We did it."

I smiled up at him, feeling the tears begin to well up in my eyes again. "You did more than that, Bucky. You saved them. All of them."

He shook his head slightly, as if he didn't believe it, but I could see the pride in his eyes. "I just did what needed to be done," he said, his voice low.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it. "There's something I need to tell you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Bucky's brow furrowed, concern flickering across his face. "What is it?" he asked, his hand coming up to cup my cheek.

I reached down, placing my hand over his. "I'm pregnant," I whispered, my voice trembling.

For a moment, everything seemed to stop. Bucky's eyes widened, and he stared at me, his expression unreadable. I held my breath, waiting for his reaction, my heart pounding in my chest.

And then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. It wasn't a big smile—just a small, quiet one—but it was filled with so much love, so much joy, that it took my breath away.

"We're going to have a baby?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

I nodded, tears streaming down my face as I smiled up at him. "Yes," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "We're going to have a family."

Bucky let out a shaky breath, pulling me into his arms and holding me so tightly I thought I might break. "I don't know how I deserve this," he whispered against my hair. "But thank you."

I closed my eyes, resting my head against his chest, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.