Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 73 - The Path Forward

I'm standing in the kitchen, watching Bucky out the window as he tinkers with the old motorcycle he's been fixing up. His sleeves are rolled up, exposing the Vibranium arm that, even after all this time, still carries so much weight for him. He's gotten better, though—more comfortable in his skin. I can see it in the way he moves, the ease with which he interacts with the world now, compared to the tense, haunted man he was when we first met.

I absentmindedly run my hand over my belly, feeling the slight curve there. Three months pregnant, and I still haven't found the right moment to tell him. It's not that I don't want to—I do. More than anything. But every time I've tried, something's stopped me. I tell myself it's because of everything he's dealing with—the past, the guilt, the weight of who he was. But deep down, I know it's more than that. I'm scared. Scared of how he'll react, scared that the news will overwhelm him, scared that he won't feel ready for this.

And so, I keep it to myself.

"Hey, you okay?"

His voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I realize he's standing in the doorway, wiping his hands on a rag. His eyes are soft, concerned, and I can't help but smile at the way he always seems to sense when something's on my mind.

"Yeah," I say quickly, offering him a smile. "Just thinking."

He steps closer, leaning against the counter with a raised brow. "About what?"

I shrug, trying to play it off. "Life. The future."

His expression shifts, and I can tell he's thinking the same thing I am. The future. It's something we've both been trying to figure out. What comes next after everything?

"I've been thinking about that too," he admits, his voice quieter now. "Trying to figure out... where I fit in."

I move closer, resting my hand on his arm. "You fit in right here," I tell him softly. "With me. With us. That's all that matters."

He looks at me, his eyes searching mine, and I can see the gratitude there. "I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmurs, pulling me into a gentle embrace.

I rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes and breathing him in. I want to tell him. I want to tell him right now, in this quiet moment where everything feels safe and right. But the words stick in my throat, and I stay silent.

---

Bucky and Sam have been working on more community projects lately. It's good for him, I think. He needs to feel useful, needs to know he's making a difference in a way that isn't tied to violence or fighting. And seeing him out there, helping people, smiling and laughing with the locals—it's a side of him I never thought I'd see. It fills me with a warmth I can't quite describe.

One afternoon, I go with him to the docks where Sam's family is hosting a small community event. Bucky is helping fix one of the old boats, and as I watch him work, I can't help but feel a deep sense of pride. He's come so far from the man he used to be.

"Hey," Sam's voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see him standing beside me, a knowing smile on his face. "He's doing good, isn't he?"

I nod, unable to keep the smile off my face. "Yeah. He is."

Sam chuckles, crossing his arms over his chest as he watches Bucky interact with some of the kids who have gathered around to watch him work. "You know, he doesn't give himself enough credit," Sam says. "He thinks he's just here to help out, but he's becoming a part of this community. People look up to him."

"I know," I say quietly, my eyes still on Bucky. "He just... he doesn't see it yet."

Sam gives me a sidelong glance. "And how about you? You doing okay?"

I hesitate for a moment, glancing down at my stomach. "Yeah," I say, though it feels like a half-truth. "I'm doing okay."

Sam raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but he doesn't push. Instead, he just gives me a small nod and pats my shoulder. "If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Sam," I say, grateful for his quiet support.

As I watch Bucky finish up with the boat, I know that soon I won't be able to keep the pregnancy from him any longer. He deserves to know. But for now, I'll let him have this moment of peace, of belonging.

---

Later that evening, Bucky and I are sitting on the porch of our apartment, a comfortable silence settling between us. The sun is setting, casting the sky in shades of pink and orange, and for a moment, everything feels perfect.

"You ever think about what comes next?" Bucky asks suddenly, his voice thoughtful.

I glance over at him, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?"

He shrugs, his eyes still on the horizon. "I don't know. Just... the future. What we're gonna do now that things are starting to settle down."

I bite my lip, the weight of my secret pressing down on me again. I think about the baby, about how everything is going to change once he knows. But I don't want to tell him like this. Not yet.

"I think," I say slowly, "that we take it one day at a time. Figure it out as we go."

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "I guess that's all we can do, huh?"

"Pretty much," I say with a small smile.

He turns to me then, his expression softening. "I just... I want us to be happy. After everything we've been through, I think we deserve that."

I reach over, taking his hand in mine. "We will be," I promise. "We already are."

He looks down at our joined hands, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You're right," he says quietly. "We are."

We sit in silence for a while longer, watching the sky darken as the stars begin to appear. In this moment, everything feels right. But I know that soon, I'll have to tell him. Soon, we'll have to face the changes that are coming, and I'll have to trust that we'll get through it together.

But for now, I let myself enjoy this moment—this calm before the storm.

"Whatever comes next," Bucky says softly, "we'll face it together."

I nod, squeezing his hand. "Together," I agree, my heart swelling with love for the man beside me.

And as we sit there, the future uncertain but full of possibilities, I know that no matter what happens, we'll find our way. Together.