Daddy? (Captain America AU)

One Big Family

Bucky had just put Steve in bed when there was a knock at his door. He sighed as he walked over to the door. Once open, Bucky was immediately hugged by some strange woman.

"James!" she said happily.

Bucky was surprised by this. "Who are you?"

The woman let go and Bucky saw her clearly. She was a taller woman, slightly pale, and short, curly red hair. She seemed familiar, but Bucky couldn't place it.

"It's me, Natasha."

Bucky stared at 'Natasha' for a moment before something clicked in his head. "Natalia!" It was Bucky who pulled her into a hug this time. "Oh god, it's been ages! Last time I saw you, you were fifteen years old! What are you doing here?"

Natasha laughed. "It's Natasha now, and I moved here with my boyfriend. I didn't know you were living here too!"

Bucky glanced up to see a man standing down the hall watching them. "Is that him?"

Natasha turned around. "Yeah. Bruce! Get over here you scaredy cat!"

The timid man walked over with eyes fixed on the floor. He ran a hand through his curly brunette locks before taking off his round glasses to clean them. "H-hi... I... I'm Bruce," he said shyly as he put his glasses on and held out his hand.

Bucky shook it. "Bucky," he said in reply. "Would you two like to come in? I'm sure Natalia-"

"Natasha," she interrupted.

"Right, Natasha and I have a lot to catch up on."

"Of course." Natasha grabbed Bruce and dragged him into the apartment. "Wow, you have a nice place."

Bucky closed the door behind them. "Yeah. Have to give an arm and a leg to pay for it though."

Natasha was about to crack a joke about his comment, but she saw his left arm and thought better of it.

"So they weren't lying when they told me you were sent home because of your injury..."

Bucky smirked. "Yeah... I wanted to take you home with me. But..."

"They wouldn't let me go. I know. I overheard some of your friends talking one day."

Bucky put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. You're here in America now. You're free! You have a nice boyfriend, I hope, and a nice place to live. And now you have me again."

Natasha smiled and hugged him. "You're right." She began to look around once Bucky let go. "So... Where is she?"

"She?" Bucky asked in confusion.

"Yes. That amazing woman you were always talking about back then."

Bucky's face fell when he realized who she was referring to. "She... Died. About a year ago..."

Natasha's eyes widened. "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry." She looked to Bruce for help on changing the subject.

Bruce took a few seconds to register what Natasha was trying to tell him. "Hey... Uh... Do you have any c-coffee?" he asked awkwardly.

"Yeah," Bucky said as he led them to the kitchen. He could faintly hear Steve fussing. "Uh, I have to do something. Mugs are in that cabinet, coffee is right there." He then left the pair as he went to Steve to see what was wrong.

Natasha gave Bucky a weird look as he walked off. Shrugging it off, she searched for three mugs. She found what she was looking for, but saw something else above the mugs. "Is that... Baby formula and bottles?"

Bruce walked over to her. "It would appear to be that, yes." He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You told me he had no children. And if his wife is dead, how can that be?"

Natasha's face fell as she started to put the pieces of the puzzle together. "Bruce... I think she died in labor...."

They both heard the sound of a baby's cry and then a soft lullaby. Natasha told Bruce to stay where he was while she went to find Bucky and the mystery baby. She stood in the doorway and watched Bucky, who had his back to her.

Bucky was singing softly to Steve as he gently rocked the small child in his arms. Once Steve had calmed down, Bucky turned around to see Natasha.

"How long have you been there?" He asked.

"A few minutes." Natasha walked over to them. "What's his name?"

"Steve."

"May I hold him?"

Bucky nodded. "You have to hold him like this," he said as he moved Natasha's arms into the right position.

Natasha smiled as she gazed into Steve's beautiful blue eyes. "He's so... perfect. You're lucky Bucky." She then proceeded to snicker at her own unintended pun.

"I guess... But I'd be even luckier if she were still here. There are a lot of things I don't know what to do."

Natasha giggled. "Just be thankful that it's a boy. I think you'd be pretty lost if he were a girl."

Bucky smirked. "Yeah, but I'd still have Sharon for help with that."

"I like her, she seems nice."

"She's very nice."

Steve whimpered and then began to cry again.

Bucky sighed and took Steve from Natasha. "He must be hungry." 

He then went with Natasha to the kitchen where Bruce seemed to be having a nervous break down. Natasha quickly went to him. "Bruce, what's wrong? Bruce, relax and look at me."

"I broke the mug..." Bruce said quietly.

Bucky looked to the mug on the counter. The handle had snapped off.

"That thing? I got it from Goodwill. That stupid handle comes off all the time. Don't worry about it." Bucky gave him a reassuring smile.

"See Bruce. It breaks all the time. It wasn't your fault." She held up her hand for what looked to be a high-five. Bruce slowly moved his hand to touch hers, but she moved her hand so it was palm-side up. Bruce again moved his hand to be in the same position. Natasha let his hand rest in hers before moving her hand again then running it along his wrist and down his palm. These motions seemed to relax Bruce. "Come on. Let's go home." Bruce nodded and stood up with Natasha. "It was nice seeing you again Bucky."

Bucky nodded as he picked up a now warm bottle. "It was nice seeing you Natasha."

Natasha kept Bruce close to her as they left the house.

Bucky smiled to himself as he let Steve drink from the bottle. "This little building of ours just might become one big family Steve. Won't that be nice?"